Easy Organizing & Gift Idea!

I got this super cute gift from one of my best friends recently, and knew I just had to share it with you!

Do you need a way to organize:

magazine pages you tear out
fabric swatches
room measurements
party ideas
craft patterns
...and more??

Take a look at this!

She took a fun file folder tote and simply added Scrabble letters to the front with some hot glue to spell out "IMAGINE".

Boy, does she know me well! :)

This is perfect for someone (or yourself!) who loves to decorate, plan parties, or get crafty!

What a great way to organize and keep all of those loose tear sheets and samples for a project!

Use Scrabble letters to spell out any number of things:

DECORATE
LET'S PARTY
DREAM
NEST
CREATE
IMAGINE
or
-your blog's name-

Use the file compartments for lots of different ideas (one compartment for each room of your home)

or

for gathering all of your ideas and samples and inspiration for just one project!

Then just change things out when a new project comes a' callin'!!

Isn't this fun?!!

I can't wait to fill mine up with Dream ideas for decorating my home!

Thanks, Friend!!!

{i think this file folder came from target}

*********************************

p.s.: DON'T FORGET...

You only have until Midnight today (Thursday, May 27th)
to enter the book giveaway!

Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Organizing Giveaway is: Teatotaler! Congratulations!! I hope you enjoy your organizational inspiration! :) Shoot me an e-mail and I'll get your goodies in the mail to you!

10 Things...You Can Organize in Less Than 15 Minutes & A GIVEAWAY

Get Organized in 15 minutes or less?

You bet! By focusing on one small area at a time, you can be organized in no time!

Ready? Set your timer..... Let's go!!

1) Purse -- Enter receipts into your checkbook. Throw out gum & candy wrappers. Write reminder dates (from the business card you got today from the hair stylist, doctor, etc.) on the calendar. Put all miscellaneous items (read: your kids' stuff) that inevitably end up at the bottom of the purse where they should go. Put the essentials back in & you're ready to go!

2) Coat Closet -- Hang coats facing the same way, adult coats together & kids coats together. Give each family member a basket or bin to hold personal items like scarves, gloves, ball caps, purse, etc. Put the shoes that are currently just tossed on the floor into another big basket or line them up on a large old baking/cookie sheet (with sides to prevent wet, muddy shoes from messing up the floor), and put extra shoes where they go in the bedrooms.

3) Junk Drawer -- Pull everything out. Put in an adjustable utensil organizer. Throw out the real junk & trash, and file the papers you need to keep where they should go. Put similar items into one "space" in the organizer...pencils & pens together, tape & scissors & glue stick together, paper clips in one space, sticky note pads in another. Close the Junk Drawer, you're done!

4) Pet Items -- Give your pet a basket or bin with dividers to hold all of their things. Place toys, scarves or sweaters, treats, shampoo, & brush inside. Hang a hook to hold your pet's leash near the door where you take them "out".

5) Magazines -- Start with last month's issues. Chances are that you don't need to keep the entire issue, so just pull out the pages with ideas that inspire you. (Hint: When reading a magazine if you think you may want to reference a page again for a recipe or decorating inspiration then fold down the corner of that page. Then it's super easy to find & tear out that page when going through your magazines!) File in your recipe box or inspiration folder, and recycle the rest of the magazine! Do this every month when your new issue arrives!

6) Car Console/Glovebox -- Throw out the trash & add in some needed items: Your car's manual, tissues, wipes/hand sanitizer, maps, breath mints, extra napkins you get from the drive thru, a plastic bag (for messes), and whatever else your family needs.

7) Paper Pile -- We all have one...the dreaded pile on the kitchen counter! Think about what ends up in this pile the most. Kids school papers? Create an in-box for each child. Dates or events you need to remember? Write them on your calendar, or post on a small bulletin board. Coupons go in a small envelope/file. Create a folder for take-out menus. When you create a place for the papers to easily go for future reference, then the paper pile disappears and you get your counter back!

8) Under the Kitchen Sink -- Pull everything out & wipe down the inside of the cabinet. Place dish soap, scrubbies, and cleaners in a plastic bucket or bin to minimize the mess of spills. Spray & wipe out your trash can and put a clean trash bag inside. If you keep a dish towel under there then hang a hook or rod inside to hang the towel on to dry better. Put an extra roll of paper towels underneath, and you're done!

9) Entry Table -- This tends to be another "dumping ground" for most families. Make it a pretty spot & you'll be less likely to want to see it full of clutter! Make a place for keys -- either a hook by the door, or a pretty dish on the entry table to toss them onto. Remember, "A place for everything, and everything in it's place"! Have a specific spot for your keys & never go searching for them again! Sort mail right away, tossing/recycling the junk mail and putting bills, magazines, and invitations where they belong. Shine up the mirror or glass on your artwork & put some fresh flowers there to enjoy!

10) Powder Room -- Place extra rolls of TP under the sink or in a pretty basket. Put extra trash can liners at the bottom of the trash can so it can easily be emptied and replaced with a new liner. Hang a clean hand towel, and put some new soaps in a dish. Keep sink cleanser and paper towels or a rag in the cabinet (if you don't have young children) to quickly wipe down the sink and counter. A fresh flower in a little vase is a lovely extra touch!

There you go! A more organized space in only 15 Minutes!!!

Here's a little something to get you inspired:


A GIVEAWAY!



How do you enter?
Leave a comment on THIS post by this Saturday at Midnight (central time)!

and you are entered to win:
"BHG's Secrets of Getting Organized" Magazine
my favorite shopping list of all time from Real Simple
&
a set of 6 chalkboard tags for fun labelling!

That's it! :) Easy-peasy!!
Good Luck!

Organizing 101 : Bookshelves

What did you do this weekend?

I spent Saturday afternoon organizing the furniture & bookshelves in our new living room!

This is true "use what you have" decorating in this space!!
I only used things that we already owned, and so far so good! We have all of the major furniture pieces, except a rug. And I have a little something (actually 2 little somethings) that will be added to the bookshelf later on 2 of the middle shelves with only a small out-of-pocket expense!

I used to be unsure of how to decorate bookshelves so that they looked "pulled together" and not like a jumbled mess.

Once I figured it out though, I have "decorating-the-bookshelf-fear" no more! :)

Here are a few easy pointers to Organizing Your Bookshelves:

• *First, decide the overall "look" you are going for. Do you want shelves full of treasured books, with a very library-like feel? Or, do you want a more decorative approach with just your favorite books and added accessories too? Having a vision in mind will help you get your bookshelves organized just how you'd like them!

• *Next, it's time to de-clutter! Go through your books and decorative items and decide what could be donated. If you're pretty sure that you'll never read a certain book again, why keep it? Pass it on to someone else! Are your shelves loaded with knick-knacks? Why give yourself more to dust, not to mention a clutter-y look in your space? Choose only a few special things to display.

• *Get your bookshelves dusted so they are nice & clean & ready to hold your items!

• *Group books together by: size, color, paperback vs. hardback, subject, fiction vs. non-fiction, etc. Decide on a system that works for you! I personally choose to organize my books by subject (decorating books, fiction, business, Christian, yearbooks, cookbooks, etc). This is an easy way for my family to find what we're looking for! You do what would work best for YOUR family!

• *Start to place your books on the shelves. If you're going for a library look, then you can just fill them up! If you'd like some decorative items on your shelves too, then leave some spaces open for adding decorative accessories, such as: greenery, framed pictures, a decorative box, pieces from a collection, or seasonal items.

• *For a more interesting look, place some books standing up and stack other books on top of each other.

• *If you have sections to your bookshelves, like I do, you can make things easy by keeping things symmetrical. My two end bookshelves are arranged as mirror images. If you only have one bookshelf then just start by arranging the books so that they are pleasing to the eye.

• *When adding accessories be sure to think "zigzag"! For example, if on one shelf you have an accessory placed on the right, then on the next shelf down put an accessory on the middle, and then the next shelf place it on the left, then middle then right. If it's a shorter bookshelf then just do: left, right, left for example. You just don't want all of your accessories grouped in a line straight down. It looks better to "stagger" them.
  

• *Don't feel like each shelf needs an accessory either. Be selective!

• *Try things out, move items around, and have fun!!! The most important thing is that YOU like it! Now, go get that bookshelf organized!!!
  

:)

{I haven't decided what day of the week I'll be doing the "Organizing 101" series yet....so it may switch a couple of times till I find the perfect day!}

Have a great Monday :)!!

Organizing 101

A Sweet Little Nursery

Today I'd like to share my nephew's bedroom with you! My sister did an amazing job of making a small-to-average-sized room work and live large!!
A perfect example of how a smaller space can be stylishly organized!

My sister and bro-in-law decided to do a gender neutral nursery theme. They chose buttery yellow, sage green, and white for the main colors, with the idea that they could add navy blue or pink to the mix when the baby was born!

They also added a little lamb "theme", with a few lamb accessories & it's SO cute!!!

The key to a child's bedroom being organized is to make sure it remains clutter free!

When your child outgrows clothes get them out of the space: either put them into a bin in the attic for your next child, or donate them to someone who could use them.

If toys are in this space, go through them regularly & only keep the ones your child loves and plays with often.

Make sure everything in the room has a "purpose".

Think "outside the box" for extra storage options!

Make sure to maximize the storage you do have. Install inexpensive closet organizers, or at least add a lower clothes rod that your child can easily reach. Don't forget about storage under the bed! A great spot for off-season clothing or storing special artwork and school papers.

But the best tip:
Teach your child how to make their own bed at an early age. Also to put dirty clothes in the hamper, and toys on the shelf. As a parent, Don't aim for perfection, just general neatness. If they are very young, have them "help" you. This teaches responsibility! :) They will be learning skills they'll need throughout their life, and will feel so proud of themselves!

{Even if they grumble a bit, encourage the kids to do this daily. In our family, my girls must make beds, put away night clothes and the dolls & blankets they sleep with into a basket on a low shelf, get dressed and brush their hair before coming down to breakfast. Having a routine and putting things in order is a great way to start a day out right!}

In this nursery:

The dresser doubles as a changing table, and she put another small dresser into the closet for additional storage. A waste pail and hamper right next to the changing table/dresser make for easy disposal of diapers and dirty clothes. A basket next to the changing pad holds diapers, wipes, and ointments, along with a little hairbrush and lotion. It's so easy to get my nephew ready for the day!

Everything here has a "purpose" and is used daily.

The rocker was perfect for nighttime feedings when he was a baby, but now that he's a big boy of 2 years old it's still used every night for snuggles, prayers & songs before bed! It's also easy to read books with your child this way!

There is the most darling, soft rug in the center of the floor for playtime! And it's easy to find and put away the books and a few toys that are on bookshelves nearby.

My brother-in-law added this wonderful molding around the top of the room for some architectural detail. The soft green paint color really draws the eye up! :) As easy as molding strips and little blocks for the corners on the ceiling.

A hook on the back of the door can hold bath towels or a robe.

Small shelves hold precious mementos, and my favorite way of thinking outside the box is........

.....turning closet doors into display space! No space is wasted here in this room!! :)

My sister made little fabric & ribbon covered memo boards, and attached one to each of the closet doors. This is perfect for little photos of loved ones, artwork from school, birthday cards, etc.

I hope you enjoyed the little "tour" of my nephew's bedroom!

Since this series has been so popular with you, I plan to make
"Organizing 101" a weekly feature!

We'll go over all of the spaces and places you've had questions about, choosing one (or part of one topic!) each week!!

Organizing 101 -- The Entry

Welcome! Come on in & let's talk Organizing Your Entry!!!

Whether it's the front entry or the back door, we can all use a little inspiration for getting things organized!

Keys, mail, purses, backpacks and coats all need a home. So, where do we put them? I've showed you my coat closet, but what if you don't have a coat closet of your own? What if there's very little entry/foyer space, or no separate entry space at all? Where do you store all of your "stuff"?

It CAN be neatly organized -- with style!

My front door opens up onto the main hallway. The stairs are ahead on the right, and the living room is just to the left. There is no planned "foyer" in this home, but we have carved out several little spaces for Entry Organizing!

1) A Console Table behind the loveseat separates the living room from the "hallway" area, and has drawers that could hold keys and mail, and shelves that could hold baskets for shoes, gloves & scarves, & purses.

2) This piece is by the front door and also has shelves that could do double duty if needed. A cute tray or bowl to catch keys as they are tossed down would work well here, and no one would ever have to search for lost keys again! :)

3) We have a coat closet, but I always love how mirrors expand a space, and these extra hooks are sure handy! This hangs on the wall behind the door. It takes up next to no space, and really gives this wall some organizational purpose!

A little beadboard topped with a shelf and some pegs or hooks & you'd have a great coat/backpack area here!

In my other homes, I have only had one "true" foyer/entry space. Everywhere else, from apartments to houses, I've had to get creative!

I've used dressers as entry tables, a slim bench with hooks above, and in my last house where the door from the garage opened straight into the family room I put a basket under an end table to hold shoes and a little shelf with hooks above the end table to hold keys, purse, & mail.

There's always room for a little organization :) , no matter how small the space!

{photo: theshabbynest.blogspot.com}

Above is an ingenious idea from Wendy at The Shabby Nest -- She turned a little used closet into a Mini Mudroom! Click here to see how she did it!

{photo: haskconstruction.com}

Check out these super slim locker spaces above! This would fit into even a very narrow hallway beautifully!

{photo: justbeachy.blogspot.com}

I love how Chris at Just Beachy added some hooks and a mirror behind her door that even the little ones could easily reach! Great for those "extra" kids that always hang out at the house!

{photo: apartmenttherapy}

I love the photo above because it shows how you don't need much room to make a big organizational impact!

Using an old dresser or desk can yield big storage space. Use the drawers as is, or remove the drawers and install plywood shelves and baskets to corral your "stuff"! This desk can pull double duty for you to pay bills at or, even better, do a little blog-surfing! :)

I also love having a mini ottoman or chair tucked nearby for putting on shoes, holding a bag, or even extra seating when pulled into the room!

{photo: southern living}

How about a small armoire?!! Perfect for making a mini coat closet out of! Jackets, backpacks, purses and more will fit easily inside! Put a tray on the bottom for shoes, and hang cup hooks on the interior of the door for keys. Look for one secondhand and re-do to fit with your decorating style!

Hope this gave you some Entry Inspiration!

Till next time....

Organizing 101 -- Part 3

Ok, everyone! You're doing great!! You've cleared the clutter from your first space.

Now for Simple Organizing!

A Place For Everything, and Everything In It's Place

{I really would love to have a mud room! Someday! :) But in this home I have a deep yet small coat closet. Keeping my family's needs for coat, shoe, backpack, puppy, & purse storage in mind, and not wanting to spend much money, here's what I did! A basket for shoes keeps the pile off of the floor. Matching hangers work for big and little coats. Locker baskets for each family member's gear go on the shelf with a little tag showing the initial of each name. Hooks on the wall hold puppy gear. Too simple!!}

Keep your family in mind. Think about how your family uses the space. Make it easy for them to use your organizing system. For example, if items are always tossed on an entry table, use a system that enables your keys to be tossed into a pretty dish on the table. If your kids can't reach the hangers in the coat closet, install a few lower hooks for them to use. By keeping things simple and going with a system that works for your family & how they use the space, you'll ensure success!!

{I've never had my own master closet before! Our philosophy is that no matter the size of the closet, all of our clothes must fit inside it and the dresser. No more room, no more clothes!
Here I have "like" items together. All pants together, all tops together, all dresses together. And then organized by color. It makes finding my blue shirt so much easier! Sweaters are in insect free bins above, and purses line the shelf on the other side!}

Keep "like" items together. For example, in my kitchen I have just glassware in one cabinet, just dishes in another. Coffee & tea items including mugs, filters, scoops, sweeteners, etc are in their own little cabinet over the coffeemaker. By assigning each cabinet a specific "job" I have made it easier to find, use, and put away things in my kitchen.

The same thing works for just about anything in your home. Keep magazines in one holder & when it's full tear out the pages you want to keep, file them, & recycle the rest. Gardening things are placed together on a shelf in the garage. Keep it together!

{Puppy gear is stowed on hooks near the door where we take her "out"}

Keep items where you use them. Make it easy on yourself! If you always play games in the family room, why hide the games in the basement? Put them in a pretty basket and enjoy! This is the idea behind my "Coffee/Tea Station" above. By keeping all the coffee things where I use them (by the coffeepot), everything is quickly handy and easily accessible, and I'm not digging all around the kitchen for things on a daily basis!




K.I.S.S. -- Keep It Simple Sweetie!! Organizing a space does not have to cost a lot or be complicated! In fact, simple and low cost or FREE is best!

Don't feel like you have to have expensive bins and baskets in order to really be organized. Often, just placing an item neatly away in a space is enough. But if you have little things to corral, or items to separate into "like" things, sometimes you need a little something extra to help you stay organized.

Think about what you need for the items you're keeping and the space that you have. Then first look around your house for organizing options! Check thrift stores or dollar stores for baskets and plastic bins. Don't like the color? Just spray paint! If needed you can use a cute label or tag to help identify the items inside.

{This is my kids' playroom. They can easily and quickly put toys where they go with these inexpensive bins and wire shelving from T@rget. The bins each hold a different type of toy. Inside the bottom of the hutch holds dress up clothing. Just because it's a kid space doesn't mean it can't be attractive for the whole family!}

Stay Organized!

Once you have a place for things, everyone should know where to put them away! Every member of the family needs to be involved! Even quite young children can pick up toys or their shoes & toss them into a basket.

Make keeping this space neat & tidy a good habit! Getting organized is great, but keeping it that way takes just a little daily effort. It may only take a few extra seconds to hang a coat on a hanger or peg rack instead of tossing it on a chair, but it's so worth it!

For those things that don't get put away immediately during the day, we like to use a "10 Minute Clutter Cleaning" (click to read) method each evening to make sure the house gets picked up and the clutter stays under control.

The more you see and get used to a neat space, the more you'll want to keep it that way!

Beginning next week, I'm going to show you easy ways to tackle your clutter "Problem Areas" that you have mentioned to me! I'll be giving specific tips and be using lots of great pictures to help you out! :)

Happy Organizing!!!

ps---Thank y'all SO MUCH for all of your well wishes while I wasn't feeling my best this week! I just am so thankful for this blog community and all of the wonderful friends I've made here!! You're the best! :)

Organizing 101--Part 2

"How To Get Started!"
Before we can actually organize, we first have to get rid of our clutter!

Wow! What a great response to the Organizing 101 series!! I plan to address those clutter issues that you are dealing with throughout this series. But first things first! I think for many of us the hardest part of getting our home organized is just getting started!


Ready?

Before you do anything else, Take Some Time For Evaluation:
Get a notebook and pen and write down your thoughts regarding the following:

1) If you haven't read my last post, take a minute or two to do that. Determine what your home's clutter could be a result of. This will help give you insight to the start of the problem.

2) How do you want your home to feel? How do you want your life to be?

3) Where are your home's organizational "Problem Areas"? This could be an entire room, or sometimes just a smaller area like a countertop. List them all. Next to these spaces, write down your answers to: How does your family really use these spaces?

These answers will give you insight on how to come up with a system that works for YOUR family!



Set?

Choose one of your "Problem Areas" to begin in. I would suggest starting with the smallest space/job first. Not only will this be easier to get your organizing skills going with, but it will give you great satisfaction when you're done & motivation to do the next job!!

Don't think about ALL the organizing that you have to do in the house, just focus on the one small task at hand. (*this is especially important for women like me who get overwhelmed easily & freeze up, only making the problem worse!)

Go!!

I guarantee that if you objectively look at the objects in that space, much of it is not needed.

Make 2 piles: "Get Rid Of" & "Keep". Trash will immediately be put into a wastebasket. The "Get Rid Of" pile will be for donate/sell items (you will sort that at the end -- keep your decisions now focused only on whether you'll get rid of or keep the item). Only keep what is beautiful, useful & ACTUALLY USED, or loved.

Now, this is where I'm going to get tough, people!

I think that getting rid of the clutter is the most important step in the organizational process. I also believe it's the hardest step for people to actually do. This is where you have to detach yourself a bit and think objectively. And if you have trouble with letting things go, this is where you ask your friend to be the "tough guy" and challenge you if you really NEED the item. Not WANT the item. Not think you'll use it "someday". But do you NEED it?!!

Only you can determine what you really need to keep on in your home. But think back often to your evaluation lists. Does having extra clutter around help you reach your goals of how you want your home and life to feel? Does keeping these clutter items help you with how your family uses this space? Will hanging on to so much ultimately bring you peace or stress?
Think about this if you're having trouble deciding if something goes or stays.

Once you've gone through the entire space, take a look at your "Keep" & "Get Rid Of" piles.

Quickly look at that "Keep" pile to see if anything else in there could be added to the "Get Rid Of" pile. I'm sure that a couple things you weren't sure of before can make their way over there!

Next, go through the "Get Rid Of" pile and sort into "Donate" or "Sell" items. Immediately bag up the Donate items and place in your car trunk or call an organization to pick up. If you are going to Sell any items, then right now determine when your garage sale will be in the short future or get them listed on Cr@igslist.

Congratulations!!! You did it!!! :)

On Wednesday I'll give you the next installment of the Organizing 101 series!
Come back tomorrow for a fun post :)!

Again, if you have any questions about problem areas in your home, or spaces you'd like to see mentioned in this series, let me know in the comments section! I plan to go over each of your issues starting later this week!! :)

Organizing 101

As a former "messie girl" turned "organizing enthusiast", I know first hand how living a life filled with clutter can affect you, your family, & your home! Because my passion is helping other women Create Welcoming Homes, I'd like to start a series called:

Organizing 101 ~

"A Place For Everything, and Everything In It's Place"

I grew up with the 2 neatest, most organized parents who ever existed. How I was so messy as a teenager was beyond them! Even as a young wife and mom, I struggled with keeping control of the clutter in my home. It's not that I didn't have a CLEAN house. Oh, I cleaned and scrubbed, washed and folded, dusted and mopped......it's just that I had these little piles....piles of clutter! It's not that I was a "pack rat" either, although I had certainly married one which didn't help. My problem came from being un-organized!

Do you relate? Feel overwhelmed by the clutter in your home? I'd like to share what I have learned through the years here with you!! :)

photos from Google images

Clutter can be a result of several things:

1) Procrastinating ~ not taking care of things immediately or in a timely manner. This can include waiting to go through the mail, not putting laundry away, & tossing papers in a pile "for later".

2) Trying to "do it all", all by yourself. Let me tell you now, it just can't be done! You need the help of EVERY family member!

3) Feeling overwhelmed ~ You're so overwhelmed by it all that you figure adding one more thing to the pile won't matter. Or, you get so overwhelmed that instead of taking action, you do the opposite and "freeze up", unable to even start a small project.

4) Being a perfectionist! It's true! You feel you have to have the time or energy or space or special bins and labels to "do the job right". You end up thinking, "Without these things, why bother?" And when you do start a clutter cleaning project, you drag everything out & make an even bigger mess than there was to begin with trying to do a job "perfectly"! Then you get sidetracked or overwhelmed, and are stuck.

5) Holding on to objects for the wrong reasons.

Clutter Results In:

1) Drained Energy ~ It literally feels like you are being dragged down. It sucks the Peace out of your life.

2) Drained Time ~ Your family wastes precious time looking for keys, library books, a pair of shoes, even the chocolate chips! Time better spent feeling at peace, spent together, spent actually doing something productive with what you are looking for!

3) Drained Bank Account ~ You'll end up spending more $$ if you know you HAVE an item and can't find it, or FORGET you have an item and purchase a duplicate.

4) Children who may end up living their lives with disorganized habits as well. Habits that could affect schoolwork, family time, and in the future, jobs and home lives. {*in my opinion, if nothing else will get you to stick to keeping out the clutter, this thought should!}

Are you feeling overwhelmed by clutter? Do you have a certain area in your home that tends to collect the clutter? Do you want to know how to organize a specific place in your home?

Share it in the comments! And I'll do my best to address these things in this series!!

Next time, I'll share "How To Get Started!" :)