Heaps or Happiness

Surprise in 2012

2011-12-28T07:06:00.000-08:00

There is a surprise coming...tune in January 1st to see the plan for 2012!!

Can't wait!

~Laura

Organizing tip with baskets

2011-10-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

Today I am linking to one of my favorite organization blogs

www.iheartorganizing.blogspot.com

This girl is adorable, kind, and amazing at organizing AND blogging about it.

My tip today has to do with baskets.

Everyone has them, so put them to use.

Here are just a few ideas we have used here at the Cecil house.

Today is FAST-FIX FRIDAY and I have tried to post this post THREE times!

Let’s see if three times is really a charm!

FAST-FIX FRIDAY is full of fabulous baskets that we can use to store many different things in a very visually appealing way. (Say that line five times fast!)

Here are some ways that we use these great baskets:

CD BASKET-This is a great rectangular basket that works beautifully for CD storage. This one is just the little collection of CDs that we keep in the kitchen near the stereo for some sweet music to calm this place down and fun music to dance in the kitchen with.

TOY BASKET-Toys are often needed at a moments notice with little ones around. Medium wicker laundry baskets do just the trick for storing toys in a family or living room. These baskets fit in the corner and don’t take away aesthetically from the look of the room.

DIAPER BASKET-I love having a diaper basket ready on every floor of our home. It makes changing a wet baby much easier. This is just a basic basket with all the goodies needed to change the diaper. This is a well-loved basket in our home. Notice the gnawing marks of our puppy, Daisy.

HOMEWORK BASKET-I have a great system for papers to be signed and returned, field trip forms and homework, BUT this is the place where everything is stored that gets used daily, but not turned in. Things like Everyday Math workbooks, exercise records, Brooke’s part in the play as Little Bo Peep, bookmarks, and flashcards. Anything that I find that is school-related goes right here. Easton, literally just walked in the office just now and asked where his school planner was…in the HOMEWORK BASKET was the answer!

CHURCH BASKET-The “CHURCH”BASKET sounds like a funny name, but that is really what it holds…church stuff. It holds our pass-along cards, quick reference information, Faith in God books, YW/YM booklets and class information. Much like the HOMEWORK BASKET above, any time that I find church stuff that is not tucked away in scriptures, I put them here.

BOOK BASKETS-Baskets, like the ones above, are perfect for storing books in a visually appealing way in any room you want. I love books! Who doesn’t? I love having books on hand, anytime, when a little one wants to grab one and take a look. Having books in more than one location makes for more opportunities to read with our children.

SOCK BASKET-We will go into more detail on the SOCK BASKET tomorrow, but for now, I LOVE this basket! It sits near our front door, and insures that little ones have socks available for shoes anytime. We don’t like stinky shoes around here, so if you don’t either, make a SOCK BASKET!!

The possibilities are endless for BASKET STORAGE. Remember that you can find very in expensive baskets at places like Marshalls, TJMaxx, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Wal-Mart, Target, garage sales, etc.

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow for SUPER SATURDAY we are going to talk about SOCKS! Too fun!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

First Day of the rest of my organized LIFE!

2011-10-24T05:27:00.000-07:00

GARAGE: BEFORE & AFTER

Above is a garage I helped a friend with a few weeks ago.

Her husband wondered if I had any ideas for their garage, and this is what we did!

(names have been held to protect the owner of that little tricycle.)

As many of you know, I love organizing!

I mean, I absolutely love it!

If I could do anything I wanted everyday, I would organize.

(other than play with my husband and children on the beach somewhere)

I would organize anything in my house, but the real fun comes from organizing someone else's home.

I love going into someone's "trouble zone," assessing the needs, visualizing the solution and doing it!

When I climb in my car, though usually physically tired, I am on a high.

The high that some people get with shopping, or finishing a great book with an interesting fictional character, or eating a delectable cupcake from one of those fancy cupcake stores.

I get that organizing.

So, today I decided that I am going to start a new series called "Heaps to Happiness."

I know, I know, a little play on the blog's name, but it is about time I just live my life and share on the side.

As I work on something here at the house, or if I get a chance to help someone else, I am going to BLOG about it!

I have been pretty good at blogging about our family at www.thisheavenonearth.blogspot.com, but this will be great for my organizing efforts.

Can't wait to start!

I have a master closet that has been destroyed by baby clothes for a baby who, by the way, is growing WAY to fast, shoes that could be worn by Tymber, Annie and myself, and both maternity clothes and six different sizes of other clothing!

It's Monday, and I am motivated.

I will show you what I did soon!

Don't forget. If you have an area you need help in, you may be able to find it on the sidebar. Just click the room you need and follow the step-by-step.

Look what we are having...another GIRL!!

2011-02-03T19:07:00.000-08:00

It's a GIRL!! I would show you the actual picture of proof, but for some reason it just seems wrong.

She is so cute! Look at her! If I turn the picture right side up, she looks just like Annie. Too fun!

Many of you know that I seriously told the big man upstairs that I would love to have a house full of boys.

Now, as I embark on having another little girl join our crew, I am so thrilled.

Something happened a few weeks ago when I realized that having another girl was a very strong possibility. I thought about the five of them becoming mothers. The thoughts that crowded my mind of grandchildren, missions, college graduations, and hopefully, many phone calls for opinions and ideas just brought light to my eyes and literally, warmth to my heart.

These girls are going to be extraordinary. They are so far beyond where I was at their age. Their testimonies, their hair-styling abilities, and even their brilliance far surpass anything I was. They are helpful, wonderful and challenging. They are also surrounded by all of your girls who are equally extraordinary. I love it!

I have no idea what this little one's name will be, or what color her eyes will bare, but I do know that she will be loved.

I am so grateful and feel so blessed.

Grow baby grow. We can't wait to meet you!

~Laura

Once A Week Might Do The Trick!

2011-01-30T05:57:00.000-08:00

Life has just become busier with every passing day.

I thought, "it's summer" on my last post, I can find time everyday to do a project, take a picture and post it.

But, as you can see it was a busy summer.

Then Fall came. Great! Five out of six kiddos in school. I can do this once a day, but alas, it was a busy Fall.

I don't have to tell any of you about how the holidays are. Parties, presents, church, traditions, etc.

So here we are, almost the final day of January.

I figure it is just like that first day you swim in the summer, sometimes you just have to JUMP IN!

My goal is one, hopefully great, organization idea a week. Maybe after a few more years of doing that I will have accumulated 365 posts!!! Thus making the blog a true success!

I am going to try and post on Mondays, because Mondays are the days when I am usually home running crazy amounts of laundry, making the bread for the week, and feeling a fresh start from Sunday!

See you Monday!

~Laura

***If anyone has any requests that they need immediate attention to, just comment and leave me a suggestion, and I will try to be helpful!

Back by Popular Demand

2010-06-14T06:54:00.001-07:00

Ok, I don’t know if “popular” is the word, but I would say that dozens of emails has done the trick.

Have you ever felt like the shoes you decided to put on were TOO BIG?

Well, I decided that I was going to be that mom this year.

You know the one.

The one who puts her kids first.

Before signing up on the meals for others sheet, before pursuing personal indulgence, before dates with friends, and even putting their goals and aspirations before my own.

You see my children have been helping me fulfill my responsibilities at church for awhile now, so I figured this year was their turn.

I had all the balls in the air and it was all going along just fine, until we hit Spring Break.

We headed to Arizona and had a great time.

When we got home, life took over.

It was the home stretch for school and with 5 out of 6 kids in sports, teenagers running track at school on top of travel teams, gymnastics for a 6 year old who had waited too long to try something herself, an 8 year old with piano competitions and a recital, not to even mention the school play, talent shows, field days, field trips and so on….

I was overloaded….just like these shoes are for the feet trying to fill them.

It is summer and the children are ready and willing to help me with one of my dreams…to help any one I can get more organized.

So, each morning mom has TWO hours, one for the exercise she has just reestablished in her life and one for our organization blog.

Yeah!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Super Saturday-Oven Cleaning

2010-03-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday is a perfect day to clean the ‘ole OVEN!

If you have a SELF-CLEANING one, Saturday is a perfect day to set the OVEN to clean and then play or work outside.

If you have one without that feature, there are some fumes from the spray cleaners that you would probably not want your children inhaling, so send them out to play.

Follow the same steps that you would if it were a cabinet or drawer.

EMPTY-Leave all racks IN for the cleaning, but remove everything else.

VACUUM-Use the edger on crumbs, so that it lessens the burn.

WIPE OUT-Wipe out large chunks BEFORE cleaning and wipe down all walls AFTER the cleaning process.

ORGANIZE-I store the broiler pan in the bottom oven, so make sure that it is clean before you put it back.

REPLACE-Replace all racks and other items after everything is clean and ready.

DON’T FORGET…

For our next GIVEAWAY…many of you have been working very hard right alongside us everyday and I think a night out is in order.

So…for those of you who are willing to share our organizing website with a friend, family member or friend…you have many chances to win this time.

First, you can comment on your favorite post and enter yourself to win

AND

Second, you can pass our site along to someone, have them comment so that we can welcome them, and then we will add BOTH your names to the drawing.

THE GIVE-AWAY FOR APRIL IS…

a $50 GIFTCARD TO OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE and

a $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THE MOVIES!!!

Who doesn’t want to go to a great dinner and the movie after working so hard all week?

Tell someone every day in April and you will have 30 chances to WIN!!!

JOIN US AND WIN! Not just this month’s prize, BUT the PEACE that comes from putting your life in order!!!

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow is SPECIAL SUNDAY, and we are going to explore a “new” kind of RESEARCH!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Fast-Fix Friday-Towel Drawer

2010-03-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

Today is TOWEL DRAWER day!

Yeah for us!

EASY, EASY!

Here is the BEFORE:

We have about a dozen washcloths missing and several bibs, but we got the job done!

Here is the STEP-by-STEP:

STEP #1-EMPTY-Empty everything out of your towel drawer. There may be things in there that don’t even belong. (Like the licorice we found this morning!)

STEP #2-VACUUM-You may think that you don’t need to vacuum drawers, but you do. Vacuum the corners especially!

STEP #3-WIPE DOWN-Wipe down the drawer inside and out. Don’t forget the knob if you have one.

STEP #4-ORGANIZE-Organize all the towels folded the same way. Organize anything else that you keep in there. Make sure it makes sense to store the things that you have in the TOWEL DRAWER.

STEP #5-REPLACE-Place all towels in an orderly fashion back in the drawers.

TOWEL DRAWER-CHECK!

and the AFTER:

For tomorrow:

For SUPER SATURDAY, we are going to tackle another BIG kitchen project…the OVEN.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-Pots and Pans

2010-03-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

You are probable asking yourself, “What do pots and pans have to do with therapy?”

Well, we are on our KITCHEN adventure and I love to add a little reflection as we work.

First the reflection…I seriously do love when my little ones play in the pots and pans cabinet. Truthfully, I only love it for about 30 minutes, then I have to redirect them before the migraine sets in, but I do love the look on their faces when they realize how loud they can be.

Now the work…

Here is our BEFORE:

HERE IS THE STEP-by-STEP:

STEP #1-EMPTY-Take everything out of the POTS and PANS cabinet.

STEP #2-VACUUM-Take the edger piece of the vacuum and vacuum the corners, the middle and the track of the cabinet.

STEP #3-WIPE DOWN-Wipe everything down. Wipe the inside of the cabinet, the tracks and the door, inside and out.

STEP #4-ORGANIZE-Organize all like pots together, pans together, and lids. Get rid of pans you don’t use or that you have several duplicates of.

STEP #5-REPLACE-Replace all pots and pans back in cabinet with the most used in the front. It is ok if they would look better in the back, put them where you will use them the most. It will be easier to keep them organized as they are put away.

POTS AND PANS-CHECK

AND the AFTER:

For tomorrow:

For FAST-FIX FRIDAY, we are going to do the easiest drawer in the KITCHEN…the TOWEL DRAWER!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Monday Madness-Spring Break & Kitchens

2010-03-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

I know that normally you wouldn’t put “Spring Break” and "Kitchens” in the same sentence, but here at HEAPS OR HAPPINESS, they go hand in hand!

At our home, we do a “Spring Clean” on the kitchen on the first day of FALL BREAK and the first day of SPRING BREAK.

I let the kids sleep in for as long as they can, (which at my house is about 8am,) we have a big breakfast, and then we pick our cabinet and drawers.

Everyone in the house has to pick 3 cabinets and 2 drawers in the KITCHEN to start our cleaning.

I usually come up with a really COOL bribe, like the movies, picking a new swimsuit for the season, or double chore money. Whatever you have to do to get the team on board…

GO FOR IT!

Here is the STEP-by-STEP on how to get started and prepare yourself for this major project:

STEP #1-CHOOSE-Choose the day that you are going to accomplish this, choose the “bribe” and have everyone pick their cabinets. We use POST-ITS with everyone’s name on them and take turns choosing cabinets. Some cabinets and drawers are much harder and time consuming, so try and make it even. If you don’t have a house full of helpers, choose what cabinets you are going to start with and plan according.

STEP #2-BEGIN-Each drawer and cabinet should follow the same pattern. As we go through each cabinet and drawer over the next couple of weeks, you will see the same pattern repeated over and over. EMPTY-VACUUM-WIPE DOWN-ORGANIZE-REPLACE.

STEP #3-REVIEW-Review every cabinet and make sure everything is in its’ place. If you have something that came out of a cabinet that belonged elsewhere, put it away. Make sure all of the cabinet doors have been wiped down and lighted oiled (we just use a simple cabinet oil cleaner to polish the doors.)

For tomorrow:

For TACKLE TUESDAY, we will begin with the hardest CABINET…the PANTRY.

Part I-Cans, Pasta, Backup will be on TUESDAY

and Part II-Baking Supplies will be on WRAP-UP WEDNESDAY.

With the TWO HARDEST done first, you will be able to cruise on the easier drawers and cabinets like POTS and DISH TOWELS.

Off to clean my two pantry cabinets.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Special Sunday-A Time for Reflection

2010-03-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

Take a few minutes today and REFLECT on the past few months.

It has been almost three months since Christmas and two months since you made those New Year’s resolutions.

Write down some of your memories over the last few months in your journal.

You can pick a certain event and tell about it in detail, or write down a quick list of happenings.
You can write down your accomplishments or how you are doing on those goals.
Take pictures of the things you have finished and write about how it makes you feel to have them done.

When you write things down, it gives you the chance to reflect on what is working, what is not, and how blessed you are!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

For tomorrow:

For the next TWO WEEKS, we are going to be tackling everything in your KITCHEN, so rest today, and be ready to put on your working shoes tomorrow!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Super Saturday-Give-away & that Refrigerator

2010-03-20T06:40:00.000-07:00

First, let’s get down to some business. In February, one of our followers, Becca, won the first ever, HEAPS OR HAPPINESS GIVE-AWAY!!

Do you want to see what she won?

Lucky girl won a GREAT SUPPLY of everything you would need to start this journey of organizing valued at $60!

Storage containers for storing clothes or holiday items
Laundry baskets for sorting or you know…laundry
An expandable file for kids’ papers, bills, etc.
A coupon holder for receipts or coupons
Dish tubs in four colors for sorting, storing paper or supplies
10 shoe boxes with lids for bathroom or office supplies
A desk calendar for family scheduling or personal goal setting
File folders for the TO FILE pile
Drawer organizers for pens, pencils, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair ties, etc.
And a pack of gum to happily chew along the way or for bribing family members to join in the work

CONGRATULATIONS BECCA!

Now for our next GIVEAWAY…many of you have been working very hard right alongside us everyday and I think a night out is in order.

So…for those of you who are willing to share our organizing website with a friend, family member or friend…you have many chances to win this time.

First, you can comment on your favorite post and enter yourself to win

AND

Second, you can pass our site along to someone, have them comment so that we can welcome them, and then we will add BOTH your names to the drawing.

THE GIVE-AWAY FOR APRIL IS…

a $50 GIFTCARD TO OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE and

a $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THE MOVIES!!!

Who doesn’t want to go to a great dinner and the movie after working so hard all week?

JOIN US AND WIN! Not just this month’s prize, BUT the PEACE that comes from putting your life in order!!!

NOW TO SUPER SATURDAY…

YOUR REFRIGERATOR!

Take an hour today and clean the refrigerator.

This is the MOST USED appliance in the house, so give it a good cleaning.

I try to tackle mine the first week of the month, but you may be able to go longer or feel the need to clean yours more often.

Either way, let’s go through it STEP-BY-STEP!

STEP #1-EMPTY-Empty everything out of the refrigerator. Obvious, I know, but sometimes people try to clean AROUND what is already in there. Get everything out, and throw away the bad as you go.

STEP #2-SORT-As you are emptying, or right after, SORT everything that you have in your fridge. Sometimes there are THREE bottles of ketchup opened, because they are on three different shelves. Put all dressings together, meats together, etc.

STEP #3-CLEAN-Wash down, with dish detergent, EVERY shelf, drawer and space in that refrigerator. Remember that your shelves are COLD when you are washing them, so use no hotter than WARM water to wash them down. As the glass warms, you can do a final rinse with HOT water. If you rinse them with HOT water to start, you run the risk of breaking the glass, so be careful! Don’t forget to wipe down the inside of the door, the walls of the refrigerator and even the top. If you have a sticky mess, like popsicle, get your towel full of very HOT water and let the towel sit on the mess for a couple of minutes, and it will come right off.

STEP #4-REPLACE-As you put everything back in, store like things together in a sensible place. This sounds really basic, but you would be surprised how many people store their items all over. Pick a drawer for produce and put ALL PRODUCE in that drawer. Choose a drawer for meats and cheeses and store all of them together. Always put the MILK on the same shelf, that way, everyone knows where it is, and you can glance quickly to know if you need to add it to the shopping list.

STEP #5-REPEAT-Repeat the above steps for the freezer and you will have a CLEAN REFRIGERATOR in no time! In the freezer, remember to store things that need to be cooked or eaten first, on the upper shelves, so that you see them first.

For tomorrow:

SPECIAL SUNDAY is a time for reflection, so we will do just that!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Fast-Fix Friday-Bookcases and Baskets

2010-03-19T23:45:00.000-07:00

For FAST-FIX FRIDAY we are going to talk about

BOOKCASES AND BOOK BASKETS.

We spoke earlier in the week about having a SPECIAL PLACE for reading and relaxing...so what does yours look like?

Do you have your books organized and ready to read?

The best way to organize them in your rooms and special places are with

BASKETS and BOOKCASES.

They don't have to be fancy or expensive, just functional!

You can find bookcases at your local store, garage sales and sometimes right in your own house hidden in corners.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:

Find a room that needs a BOOK BASKET or BOOKCASE, decide which one you need based on the space available and the number of books.

BUY or FIND what you need and organize the books, tallest to shortest.

SIT DOWN AND ENJOY!!

For Tomorrow:

SUPER SATURDAY is perfect for tomorrow's task!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-Making Memories

2010-03-18T22:05:00.001-07:00

I know that we have been talking about these two rooms for days, but let’s just talk about some things that we can do to make some memories in these spaces.

What good does all your hard work to organize your room do if you never take the time to enjoy the spaces?

Here are two suggestions:

#1-CALL SOMEONE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN OR VISITED WITH IN A WHILE. Invite them over and take the time to catch up in your LIVING ROOM!

#2-PICK A BOOK AND READ TO ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN. Take the ten minutes, and snuggle tight with them. They will LOVE this!

PICK UP YOUR CURRENT BOOK AND READ FOR AN HOUR. No distractions, just you and your book!

For tomorrow:

FAST-FIX FRIDAY is going to reveal the giveaway that BECCA won last month, introduce the next giveaway and finish the FAST FIXES for your READING SPACE!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Wrap-Up Wednesday-Are your spaces ready?

2010-03-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

Today, we are just reviewing our LIVING ROOM and READING SPACE!

How does your LIVING ROOM look?

Have you invited a neighbor in?

Did you make sure you cleaned out all the clutter?

Did you clean your spaces?

Have you tried out your READING SPACE?

Is it comfortable?

Does it have enough lighting?

ENJOY these spaces!

For tomorrow:

For THERAPY THURSDAY we are to ask some prompting questions to help you make the most of these two new spaces.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Tackle Tuesday-Reading Corner

2010-03-16T21:37:00.000-07:00

Here it is!

SO SIMPLE, BUT SOOOO GREAT!

This is our little reading corner.

Finding a reading space is so simple. It can be a corner of your basement, a little corner in your apartment, or wherever you can stick a basket of books and some blankets.

Here is all you need to make a space for you and your family:

STEP #1-CHOOSE-Do you see a pattern from yesterday? Choose a spot that you want to work your magic on. Think about a space tucked away from the busyness.

STEP #2-PLAN-Plan what you need. Do you want a chair, couch or just a basket full of blankets? Beanbags are also perfect for these spaces. Remember, write down your plan, and then FOLLOW IT!

STEP #3-CLEAN-Yes. Clean it all up. Vacuum, edge, dust and wipe everything down. No one wants to read with clutter and dust all around.

STEP #4-SET-UP-Set it all up. The chair, the blanket, the books. I love having a bookcase right there full of fun books. I even stash what I am reading in there too.

STEP #5-INTRODUCE- Introduce the family to everyone’s new reading spot. Not everyone will use it, but it is there. I love to escape to this spot.

STEP #6-ENJOY-Grab a little one and read a classic Dr. Seuss. Maybe, just grab a book you are working on and curl up in the chair!

For tomorrow:

WRAP-UP WEDNESDAY is just that. Wrapping up the two rooms we worked on this week.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Monday Madness-A “living” Living Room

2010-03-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

Is your Living Room livable in the sense of being ready for company anytime?

Could you invite a friend in off the porch and visit with them in a clean, organized and inviting space?

Don’t underestimate having a room that is ready for a good visit.

Let’s work on it “step-by-step”

STEP #1-CHOOSE-You have to choose a room that is going to be your sanctuary. You may have an actual “living room,” which is great, but if you don’t, what room can you dedicate yourself to keeping ready for company?

STEP #2-PLAN-What is your plan? Do you need furniture? Do you need to move things in or out to keep it ready? Write it down, step-by-step.

STEP #3-CLEAN-You knew I was going to say this. Clean the entire room from top to bottom. Don’t forget curtains, windows and baseboards. If you start with a clean slate, you will be ready to enjoy everything when it is ready to go.

STEP #4-SET-UP-Set up your room, so that it is the way you would have your furniture to enjoy company. Don’t forget decor and pictures. Have fun and be creative.

STEP #5-VISIT-Now just enjoy it. Invite that neighbor in to visit. Let your visiting teachers linger a little longer in a space you put together.

For tomorrow:

TACKLE TUESDAY is going to tackle another space you have to enjoy life a little more.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Special Sunday-Start a book

2010-03-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

Today is a perfect day to relax and START A BOOK.

Maybe you are one of those people who are always reading two or three books, sit down and finish one.

Maybe you are the kind of person who never slows down enough to read a book, sit down and read one.

Books are amazing!

I am the kind of person who thrives on multi-tasking, and books don’t allow you to do that.

They want all your attention!

They want you to sit down and read with them right now, and they do their best to hold on tight to your attention.

Just like my children.

When I take the time and read an uplifting book, it truly changes my life.

I love bettering who I am by what I read.

Grab a great one and get reading!

Are you reading a great book right now that you want to tell us about?

Share!

For tomorrow:

MONDAY MADNESS is helping us continue in our MARCH MADNESS with a trip around the house. Last week we started at the FRONT ENTRY and moved our way to the COAT CLOSET.

Tomorrow we will conquer the LIVING ROOM. Does anyone want to be in there? Is is wonderful, or not so wonderful?

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Super Saturday-Socks, socks and more socks!

2010-03-13T20:54:00.000-08:00

Saturday is a perfect day for SOCK HUNTING!

SOCK HUNTING is a little Cecil tradition where we try to find

EVERY SINGLE SOCK we have ever owned. (We sometimes find neighbors’ socks as well!)

We look in places like under the trampoline, on the pool deck for those spontaneous dips, the driveway, the cars, etc.

It is really a fun game, so try it today. Have the kids look under beds in gym bags, and maybe your spouse just leaves them, like usual, right next to the bed!

When you have collected all the socks…

CLEAN, EVALUATE, PAIR, PUT AWAY, and THROW AWAY!

Let’s talk about all those things for a minute:

CLEAN-Clean all the socks. I would wash the colored ones together and give the whites a good shot of bleach.

EVALUATE-When the socks are all ready, evaluate each one for holes, wear, stretching, etc. THROW the bad ones away.

PAIR-This might sound like a simple and obvious one, but pair the socks matching heels together and folded at the top.

PUT AWAY-Have everyone put their socks away. I also have a fun idea that I showed you yesterday that you might want to reconsider if you didn’t do it yesterday. We have a sock basket by the front door. I know that may sound very tacky to some, but for us, it is wonderful! I store all the kids’ socks here. It is wonderful for my “sock patrol” in the morning. No stinky feet!

THROW AWAY-Last, but not least, throw away any unpaired socks. This step is very hard for me. The frugal side of me just can bear to throw away a perfectly good little girl sock, but do it. You will be better off. You will have a fresh start!

For tomorrow:

SPECIAL SUNDAY is great!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Fast-Fix Friday-Fantastic Baskets

2010-03-12T20:09:00.000-08:00

Today is FAST-FIX FRIDAY and I have tried to post this post THREE times!

Let’s see if three times is really a charm!

FAST-FIX FRIDAY is full of fabulous baskets that we can use to store many different things in a very visually appealing way. (Say that line five times fast!)

Here are some ways that we use these great baskets:

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow for SUPER SATURDAY we are going to talk about SOCKS! Too fun!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-Visitors' greeting

2010-03-11T05:48:00.000-08:00

Now that we have taken care of the physical spaces of the

FRONT PORCH, FRONT ENTRY and FRONT CLOSET,

how does it feel?

When you enter YOUR home, do you feel a sweet feeling?

Sometimes, opening ourselves up, has very little to do with the asking of company to come over, and more to do with the peace we feel with the condition of our homes.

Invite a neighbor in.

Next week we are going to work on the

LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM and a READING PLACE,

so those areas will be tackled too!

Think about WHO you would like to invite over.

Maybe it is just your sister who hasn't been over for awhile, or a neighbor after she drops the kids off from carpool.

For tomorrow:

For our FAST-FIX FRIDAY, we are going to talk about how DECORATIVE BASKETS can help us organize things.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Wrap-Up Wednesday-Welcome Guests

2010-03-10T21:29:00.000-08:00

Today is WRAP-UP WEDNESDAY, so let's DOUBLE CHECK on our welcome to our guests!

Saturday, we conquered the FRONT PORCH. Monday, we did the FRONT ENTRY, and yesterday, the COAT CLOSET was tackled as well.

If you haven't gotten this far, do the finishing touches TODAY!

If you are done, take a walk outside. Walk up the front walkway, ring the doorbell and come on in!

Does it look clean from top to bottom? Is it inviting? Could it use a nice picture or lamp? Is the closet ready for guests to hang their coat and have a great time? Are there extra hangers for their coats? Did you make a sock basket for your little ones? Could your door use some Spring wreaths?

Today is the day to finish!

For tomorrow:
Tomorrow is THERAPY THURSDAY, so I will greet you first thing with the question of the day!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Tackle Tuesday-Front Coat Closet

2010-03-09T21:09:00.000-08:00

The thing we are tackling today is...the FRONT COAT CLOSET!

Let's just get started!

Here's the STEP-BY-STEP:

STEP #1-EMPTY-The first thing that you want to do is empty the entire closet. Take all coats, on their hangers, and place them on the floor in the closest room. Take everything off the shelves, and clear the floor.

STEP #2-CLEAN-Start at the top and clean everything. Wipe down the shelf, wipe down the coat rack, wipe down the baseboard and vacuum and edge the floor. Last, but not least, wipe down the door, inside and out!

STEP #3-SORT-Sort through everything that you had in the closet. Does it need to be there? Is there a better place or way to store this item? If so, do it.

STEP #4-REPLACE-Replace everything to its' place. Store the jackets sorted style and color. Store all light jackets together, heavy coats together, and so on. Let it result in an organized appearance as you open the closet. Store things on shelf in an organized manner as well. I use labeled dishpans to store chargers and video equipment. What can you use to make it look uniform?

STEP #5-REVIEW-Once you are done, close the closet, and then open it and see where your eyes are drawn first. Does it look in order? If not, what can you change?

YOU DID IT!

Great job!

IF YOU WANT TO VIEW THE OTHER POST ON COAT CLOSET, CLICK ON THE SIDEBAR UNDER COAT CLOSET!

It has great ideas for bag storage and storage for hats, gloves and scarves!

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow is WRAP-UP WEDNESDAY, so let's wrap up the front part of the house!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Monday Madness-Front Entry

2010-03-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

Saturday, we started the MARCH MADNESS and today it continues.

Last time we did the FRONT DOOR, now we have the FRONT ENTRY.

The FRONT ENTRY is the first thing that greets your guests after they walk in the door.

So, let's make it great!

Here's our STEP-BY-STEP:

STEP #1-REMOVE-Remove anything that is in your entry that does not belong!

STEP #2-CLEAN-Clean your entry from top to bottom. Clean windows, wipe down baseboards, dust all entry furniture, etc.

STEP #3-REPLACE-Put all things in place where they belong after being cleaned.

STEP #4-ADD-Decide what you need to add to make your entry more inviting. Do you want to add a bench, a coat rack, or maybe even small table for entry lighting?

Once you have you FRONT ENTRY together, go outside, and walk in the front door. What more can you do? What organization things could you put in the entry to help life go smoother? We keep a sock basket full of everyone's socks for easier mornings. We have a picture of Christ on the table to enjoy as we come in. What do you have? What could you add?

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow is TACKLE TUESDAY, so let's tackle that COAT CLOSET!

We already have one COAT CLOSET tackled on a previous post, but let's look at another option.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Special Sunday-Sweet treats

2010-03-07T18:53:00.001-08:00

Sunday is a perfect day to bake up some SWEET TREATS and share them with a friend!

They say that, “the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” well, I believe that applies to SWEET TREATS for neighbors, friends, and family.

Take some time today and put together a little something sweet, pair it with a thoughtful note of thanks or friendship and you have the perfect package for a drop off.

Grab one of the kids for a “one-on-one” in the car and head out.

My kids LOVE to DOORBELL DITCH, so recruit one of them to help brighten another’s day.

Have fun!

For tomorrow:

MONDAY MADNESS brings the mayhem at the FRONT DOOR!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Super Saturday-Front Porch Project

2010-03-06T18:52:00.000-08:00

SUPER SATURDAY has a little project in store for us.

Since March is the month where we are starting at the

FRONT DOOR and working our way through the whole house, let’s start with the

FRONT PORCH!

What does your front porch look like?

Is it clean?

Is it inviting?

What can you do to improve it?

Here is the step-by-step:

STEP #1-CLEAR EVERYTHING-Take everything off your porch. Remove chairs, tables, pots, etc.

STEP #2-CLEAN-Hose down everything from top to bottom. Wash all light fixtures. Wipe down door. Wipe down all pots. Weed any flowers, if you are fortunate to live in a warm climate. Spray down any outdoor furniture that may be kept there. Spray down any doormats. Wash all windows. Just make sure everything is in the best condition possible.

STEP #3-REPLACE-Replace any plants that have died. Replace the light bulbs in the fixtures. Look at the condition of your doormats. Do they need to be replaced? Once everything is fixed, replace all items back on the porch and set them up.

STEP #4-IMPROVE-What can you do to make your porch look even more inviting? What else could you do to improve it?

STEP #5-CHORE CHART-Add this area to your family’s chore chart. Add it so that it stays picked up and welcoming.

For Tomorrow:

SPECIAL SUNDAY is wonderful!

Think sweet for tomorrow!

~Laura

Fast-Fix Friday-More than ties!

2010-03-05T07:04:00.000-08:00

Today, we have a little thing called a TIE RACK.

But, it is more than just for TIES!

Here are some ideas for this little ditty:

The obvious…TIE RACK

BELTS

JEWELRY

KEYS

What can you do with this LITTLE “TIE” RACK?

For tomorrow:

SUPER SATURDAY IS JUST THAT…SUPER!

Tomorrow we are going to tackle the FRONT PORCH!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-What can you let go of?

2010-03-04T22:44:00.001-08:00

Now your CLOSET looks GREAT!

Now I want you to walk back in there…LOOK AROUND…and see what you DON’T USE or DON’T NEED.

Maybe it is maternity clothes, or old sweaters, or if you were me, size 6 jeans that I haven’t worn for EIGHT years!

Gather these things together and DONATE THEM to someone who can use them NOW!

For tomorrow:

FAST-FIX FRIDAY is a quick organization tool for the CLOSET, BATHROOM, and maybe even the GARAGE.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Wrap-up Wednesday-Clean the corners

2010-03-03T22:35:00.000-08:00

If you have finished the MAIN portion of your closet, take a few minutes and clean out the CORNERS.

If you have any small things cluttering up your closet, TAKE THEM OUT.

If they need to stay, FIND A WAY TO ORGANIZE THEM and store them NEATLY.

For example: I had RIBBONS and RIBBONS and RIBBONS, cluttering up my closet.

I found a cardboard “dresser” at the local Wal-mart for $5 and stored the ribbons, SORTED by COLOR, in the drawers.

What do you need to de-clutter?

GET TO WORK!

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow is THERAPY THURSDAY and I want you to think…what can I let go of?

See you tomorrow.

~Laura

Tackle Tuesday-Adult Closet Organization

2010-03-02T22:20:00.000-08:00

I think that I have learned my lesson on “tackling” projects the same day that I would like to post them.

No more.

I will jump ahead of the rest of you from now on, so that the posts are ready to go.

Hopefully, that will help you be the most successful with your time.

As for today…ADULT CLOSETS, HERE WE COME!

Here’s how we did it:

STEP #1-Yesterday you should have laundered, hung and folded ALL YOUR CLOTHES and found EVERYTHING that belongs in your closet and got them ready to go.

STEP #2-Let’s start with SHOES!

Shoes can be stored however you like, but I like TOES OUT for dress shoes and HEELS OUT for boots, matched as a pair. It doesn’t matter if you have fancy shelving or just line them up on the closet floor. If you match them and place them neatly, they will be easy to find and look organized.

STEP #3-SHIRTS-I like to hang shirts in a certain order. You can do whatever works best for you, but just think

VISUALLY ORGANIZED. I hang short-sleeved 1st, from lightest to darkest, long-sleeved 2nd, from lightest to darkest, turtlenecks, sweaters, and some sweatshirts. Maybe you fold some of these on shelves, that is great, just keep in mind how you want them to look.

STEP #4-PANTS/SKIRTS-I store pants by size with jeans first and them dress pants lightest to darkest. If you are like me and could potentially wear three different sizes in ONE season, store the pants together, but sorted by size for easy convenience. You can also store pants neatly folded on shelves. Just remember, store CURRENT size on top. Skirts are just great to hang. They are easy to find and hang nicely.

STEP #5-JACKETS-Jackets should follow the pattern of everything else, short-sleeved lightest to darkest, long-sleeved lightest to darkest.

STEP #6-DRESSES/SUITS-Dresses and suits need space length-wise, so remember that when choosing WHERE to store them. They also can be hung lightest to darkest for the best VISUAL result. I also hang extra robes in this section because of their length and boys’ suits for a quick find on Sunday morning!

STEP #7-SWEATERS/SWEATSHIRTS-Sweaters should usually NOT be hung, because of their weight which can stretch the sweater. I prefer to put them on shelves in the closet, but they can also be stored in an armoire, or storage shelf as well. Fold them in a similar pattern to create a continuous pattern and organized section visually. Shelves are also a great place for extra blankets.

STEP #8-PJs, SWEATS, and SHORTS-I store all of these items on shelves, because it is a lot more practical than hanging them! Store PJ sets together, sweats and shorts lightest to darkest. Dressers are also a GREAT place for these items. When storing them in drawers, use the same strategy and things will be easy to find.

STEP #9-BELTS/TIES-Belts and ties can easily be organized and kept neatly on very inexpensive tie racks. Here is a picture of how I store my belts. A very simple tie rack can do the trick. Look for these in your local store in the house wares section. So handy, and great to keep them organized.

STEP #10-OVER-THE-DOOR organizer-Remember how I LOVE this thing? Well, they can be used for your shoes, your extra supplies, belts rolled up, ball caps, and for me…baby shoes.

STEP #11-IRON/IRONING BOARD-I store these two things in my closet, because that’s where I store the things needing to be ironed. I know, WAY TOO LOGIC! If you have room in your closet, or a nearby linen closet, these inexpensive organizers are easy to hang and keep the board and iron in a great place.

STEP #12-BASKETS STORAGE-Don’t forget how useful simple baskets can be. Here are a couple ideas on how I stored little things in my closet using these nifty things. I share a closet with the baby, so here are her tights in one, and socks in another.

That is the SOCK MONKEY standing guard over the socks!

THE MAIN THING WITH YOUR CLOSET IS:

TAKE ONE GROUP OF THINGS AT A TIME.

GATHER***SORT***PUT AWAY

NEXT GROUP

I spent an afternoon doing this after all clothes were washed, folded and hung and I LOVE THE RESULTS.

I know that lightest to darkest isn’t going to be perfect everyday, but if you store like things together, they are just much easier to find!

For Tomorrow:

For WRAP-UP WEDNESDAY, I want you to complete your closet and send us a picture is you are so inclined.

I believe in POSITIVE PEER PRESSURE, which is why I choose my friends VERY CAREFULLY!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Monday Madness-March Madness-Adult Closet

2010-03-01T12:56:00.001-08:00

Today is Monday.

Which means LAUNDRY, BREAD, LAUNDRY, ROOMS and MORE LAUNDRY!

So, get your clothes all done and collect EVERYTHING that belongs in your CLOSET.

DON’T FORGET:

All shoes

All clothes

All belts

All jackets

All suits and/or dresses

All PJs

**Hint: Everything that you normally store in your closet, MUST BE COLLECTED!!!

Then spend the rest of your Monday catching up on the EVERYDAY TASKS, because tomorrow is TACKLE TUESDAY!

For tomorrow:

For TACKLE TUESDAY, we are TACKLING that CLOSET!

If everything is ready, you will be able to be successful in your closet!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Special Sunday-You’ve Got Mail

2010-02-28T07:04:00.000-08:00

“You’ve got mail.”

Such sweet words back in the day when you would hear them upon opening your email.

There is even a darling movie that shares those same words as its’ title.

These days, however, it may seem a bit more overwhelming if your email looks anything like mine.

(Currently 382 unread messages, and 32 pages of old email that I cannot seem to transfer to trash fast enough!)

BUT…

Today can be the day to change all that!

TAKE 5 MINUTES AND SEND SOMEONE AN EMAIL TODAY!

Email a missionary on dearelder.com (If you know where the missionary is serving, you can email them anytime. Very COOL!)
Email a college roommate you have lost touch with.
Email your spouse to the email account that they will check on Monday morning.
Email one of your children’s gmail account for a sweet message.
Email someone from church with a thank you for teaching.

JUST HAVE FUN WITH IT!

“You’ve Got Mail” or in my case “Your current INBOX” may just have a special message

RIGHT BACK AT YOU!

For tomorrow:

MARCH MADNESS is beginning TOMORROW, so GET READY!

Tomorrow, we are tacking the YOUR CLOSET!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Super Saturday-Edging is Gold!

2010-02-27T06:13:00.000-08:00

Today is a perfect day to get the VACUUMING done!

When you are vacuuming today, or supervising children like me,

DON’T FORGET THE EDGES!

I know that everyone vacuums the middle of the room, but do you take the time to EDGE?

Edging puts the FINISHING TOUCHES on a room!

How does this apply to ORGANIZATION?

You must have clean corners in a room and no clutter along the wall to EDGE with greatness!

Take a few minutes in EACH room to prepare them for EDGING during vacuuming.

Here’s how we do it: (Follow STEPS for EACH room)

STEP #1-ASSESS-Walk in each room and assess what needs to be picked up on the floor.

STEP #2-PICK-UP-Pick up everything that is in the corners and on the floor. In kids’ rooms, don’t forget around the base of the bed and behind doors where things love to hide.

STEP #3-SORT-Sort everything that you found for where it goes.

STEP #4-PUT AWAY-Take a few minutes and put away everything that is out of place.

STEP #5-EDGE-Use edging piece of vacuum to vacuum the baseboards 1st, and then all the edges of the carpet and around the base of all furniture.

STEP #6-VACUUM ROOM-Vacuum the rest of the room and TA DA…it’s a beautifully vacuumed room!

For tomorrow:

SPECIAL SUNDAY will greet us with a little thing that I think ROCKS!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Fast-Fix Friday-Little Drawer Wonders

2010-02-26T22:32:00.001-08:00

I LOVE THESE LITTLE DRAWER WONDERS!

These can be found on the shelves in the home department of Wal-Mart!

They are 2 and 3 for a little over a DOLLAR!

They are a STEAL!

They can clean up ANY DRAWER, ANYWHERE in your home.

A few ideas:

KITCHEN-Put them in the silverware drawer to hold the baby’s spoons. Store the misc batteries in them. Of use them to store the corncob holders!

BATHROOM-I use the long slender one for “girl products”, the large one for toothbrushes and toothpaste, and the medium one for hair ties.

BEDROOM-You can sort your jewelry VERY EASILY by using these. Separate your bracelets, watches, earrings and necklaces with a variety of these!

OFFICE-Use the slender one for pens and pencils, the large one for Post-Its, and the medium one for paper clips and desk accessories.

THE USES COULD GO ON AND ON!

What do you use them for?

For tomorrow:

SUPER SATURDAY will be a surprise for both of us!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-What do you need?

2010-02-26T22:16:00.000-08:00

The therapy question of the day is:

“What can you add to your supplies to help your work run more smoothly?”

How about more sharpened pencils?
How about more pens?
Do you need a back-up supply of printer paper?
How about printer cartridges?
Do you need Post-its for quick notes?
I love having a notepad for quick ideas and thoughts. Do you need one?

Whatever it is, GO AND GET IT!

Being organized in an office setting is invaluable!

Put your finishing touches on your office and sit back and ENJOY!

For tomorrow:

FAST-FIX FRIDAY has another, very inexpensive, but very valuable

ORGANIZATION TOOL!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Wrap-Up Wednesday-File the files

2010-02-24T22:04:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a chance to conquer your OFFICE SUPPLIES!

If you haven’t, GO FOR IT TODAY!

Here is what I did to have a place that would work with our small arsenal of SUPPLIES:

I stored mine in a FILING CABINET!

Here are a few pictures of the drawers:

I stored all extra supplies together including file folders, two-pocket folders, spiral notebooks, lined paper and composition notebooks in a drawer for easy access.

I also sorted all paper into FILE FOLDERS individually by color, type and style and then LABELED them for ease.

In the top drawer, I stored the boxes that hold shipping and address labels.

I LOVE THIS!

It cleared the clutter out of our office, and the kids now know EXACTLY where to find paper, school and filing supplies!

Did you find something that was incredibly successful and want to share?

Email or comment to us, and we will post it to help everyone!

For tomorrow:

THERAPY THURSDAY has a simple question that you can answer and build on the organization of your OFFICE SUPPLIES.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Tackle Tuesday-Office Supplies

2010-02-23T21:15:00.000-08:00

I got a little in over my head!

Look at the loot I found all around my house in the OFFICE SUPPLIES category!

CRAZY!

My kids came in today and said, “Where did we get all this stuff?”

I replied, “Under the stairs in the basement, in the utility room, in dad’s office, on mom’s desk and a little in the garage!”

I apologize for giving you two days at once, but it literally took me BOTH days to get this together.

Here we go:

STEP #1-COLLECT-Collect all office supplies if you have not done this yet. Look everywhere!

STEP #2-SORT-As you can see from the pictures above, I separated like piles, such as, binders, cardstock, clipboards, etc. together.

STEP #3-STORAGE-Decide how you want to store everything. I decided to use an old, tall, filing cabinet in the basement to store most of my supplies. The EVERYDAY items are shown in the last photo and are stored in a cabinet in the kitchen. Do what works for you!

STEP #4-PUT AWAY-Put everything in the predetermined spots. *HINT:As you are putting things away, stack things with like colors and styles together. Think, “What looks best and is the most accessible.”

STEP #5-LABEL-Label all containers for convenience in finding things, plus it LOOKS great too!

For tomorrow:

For WRAP-UP WEDNESDAY we are going to put the finishing touches on your OFFICE SUPPLIES.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Monday Madness-Finding the Office Floor

2010-02-22T20:58:00.001-08:00

Today is almost over, so for MONDAY MADNESS, take a few minutes and FIND everything that you consider an OFFICE ITEM.

Here are some things that I would list:

PAPER OF ALL KINDS (printer, cardstock, craft, scrapbook, etc.)

PENS

PENCILS

PADS OF PAPER

POST-ITS

FOLDERS

BINDERS

EXTRA SCHOOL SUPPLIES

FILE FOLDERS

ENVELOPES

PAPER CLIPS

SCISSORS

THANK YOU NOTES

CARDS

MARKERS

COLLECT ALL OF THESE ITEMS AND WE WILL ORGANIZE THEM TOMORROW!

For Tomorrow:

We will organize the above for TACKLE TUESDAY!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Special Sunday-The Art of the Thank You

2010-02-21T22:43:00.001-08:00

Have you ever gotten a thank you that truly “moved” you?

I have.

There are very few things better than actually sharing your heart and feelings with others.

I have a friend who is amazing!

She is one of those people who you don’t want to throw away her simple thank you, because the words she writes, can change the course of your day.

I have always enjoyed taking a few minutes and thanking someone who I know, worked so hard on behalf of the rest of us.

I love how comfortable it is to thank someone, in writing, and tell them how much they mean to you.

Here are some things to remember when thanking someone special:

Address the person by name

Note the specific thing that touched or impressed you

Let them know exactly what it meant to you

Tell them how it made you feel

Recall other times, when maybe a thank you was not sent, when you felt their love

Tell them what impressed you about their spouse or family

Let your heart do the writing

ALWAYS REMEMBER:

You will never regret thanking someone for something that they did for you,

but you may regret NOT thanking them!

For tomorrow:

MONDAY MADNESS is going to lead us to ORGANIZING OFFICE SUPPLIES.

It sounds easy and straight-forward, but we are going to tackle it for a couple of days.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Super Saturday-Finishing Touches on Kids’ Closets

2010-02-20T07:17:00.001-08:00

Today is Saturday and a perfect day to take each child and take care of the finishing touches on their closets.

Here’s how to finish it off RIGHT:

STEP #1-ALL CLOTHING-Make sure all clothing is hung and folded properly. Make sure that it all fits and is in proper condition.

STEP #2-ALL SHOES-Make sure shoes are paired correctly and stored in an organized fashion.

STEP #3-BASKET STORAGE-Organize the baskets in such a way that they can be used for easy and convenient storage.

STEP #4-TEACHING-Take a few minutes after everything is in its’ place, and teach your child the best way to put things away. If you teach them how to hang the clothes facing the same direction and how to store like things together. They will better be able to find their shoes, create coordinated outfits and have a place to store their extra things.

*Tip: I always keep a small basket or box for misc. items for quick pick-up. On Saturdays, they can easily put away the small toys where they belong, or sort through papers, and other things in their quick pick-up basket.

GREAT WEEK! I CAN’T WAIT FOR NEXT WEEK!

For tomorrow:

SPECIAL SUNDAY is always a time for learning, reflection and peace.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Fast-Fix Friday-Medium storage boxes

2010-02-19T20:55:00.001-08:00

Today is Friday, and we get to learn how to use an another very useful organization tool…MEDIUM STORAGE BOXES.

These boxes are GREAT for many of the following:

Memory boxes for each child

Emergency storage for cars

Flip-flops by a backdoor

A file folder storage center

Perfect for the too small/too big boxes needed for children’s closets

A sorting box for paper

The uses are endless!

The great thing about this size is that it can organize those things that do not need the space of the large storage box.

Here are a few pictures of kids’ memory boxes. Just one of the great uses for these medium storage boxes!

For tomorrow:

SUPER SATURDAY is going to be a “teaching moment” for our little ones and their new and improved closets.

Tune in!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-Put a smile on your face

2010-02-18T22:48:00.001-08:00

Today I want you to put a SMILE on your face because…

if you have been following along with us and working very hard, you probably can do many of these with no problem:

find a coat, gloves, scarf and hat for any member of your family in ONE place
know that none of your children can come down to go to school in an outfit that has holes or is too small, because those clothes are no longer available
you can find your favorite movie, in its’ case, ready to go
you can find that special music to catch a little dance in the kitchen
you know exactly what organizer would work perfect for sorting your receipts
you know how to do a quick-pick up in a moment’s notice
you can take a paper pile and turn it into filed bills, memory folders, or recycling
you have a month’s worth of memories on your video camera of the most current and fun things your family is doing
you have holiday boxes stored away, properly labeled and ready to go for next year
you know FIVE different ways to use an over-the-door organizer
you have emergency supplies right in your car
AND MANY, MANY MORE!

If you, or someone you know, needs this, PASS IT ALONG!

SMILE TODAY, because you are MORE ORGANIZED than you were on January 1st, and so am I!

For tomorrow:

Another FAST-FIX FRIDAY has another organizing item that we could all use in some way!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Wrap-up Wednesday-Kids’ Clothes & Closets…Done!

2010-02-17T23:46:00.001-08:00

Today is WRAP-UP WEDNESDAY and that is exactly what I want you to do…wrap it up!

If you have run into a problem that we didn’t cover, EMAIL ME TODAY, and we will include it in today’s post!

I have been taking multi-tasking to an UNHEALTHY level, so I am committing to finishing projects BEFORE trying to tackle another one!

Today when you are wrapping up the KIDS’ stuff, put a smile on your face that their rooms are coming together.

The clothes in a child’s room is MORE THAN half the battle!

We will tackle the other things in the upcoming weeks.

For tomorrow:

THERAPY THURSDAY is going to give you moms something to really smile about, and for everyone else, who has been finishing up other projects, a smile for you as well!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Tackle Tuesday-Child #2, #3, #4 etc. Closets!

2010-02-16T23:34:00.000-08:00

Today is TACKLE TUESDAY, so we are going to just keep on going on those closets!

You should have organized everyone’s clothes last week and weeded out the

GIVE-AWAY and the WORN and kept the GOOD!

If you feel like you have a closet you would like to show-off, send us a pic!

*Side note:I know that posts have been coming later and later, but I have a really great excuse…actually I have SIX of them. Namely, A.J., Madison, Easton, Brooke, Ellie and Annie. And if you want to know the truth, a small puppy, named Daisy, that needs to be taken outside 3 times an hour to add to the mix.

This last weekend our oldest daughter, who is my personal life-saver most days, was out-of-town for a competitive volleyball tournament, so to reward her helpfulness, my husband and I took on re-doing her room.

The result is:

THIS…

And many late night POSTS!

So fun to see the excitement in her eyes, even though it was 3 am for her arrival!

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow is WRAP-UP WEDNESDAY, so we are going to do just that…WRAP-UP the KIDS’ CLOSETS.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Monday Madness-Kiddos closets

2010-02-15T02:49:00.000-08:00

I am playing a little catch-up, so here is our MONDAY MADNESS post…KIDS’ CLOSETS.

There are a lot of different ways you can organize your children’s closets, but I have tried to make all of mine pretty similar to make our focus of staying organized easier.

Here’s how we do it:

STEP #1-HANGING-I hang all shirts and pants for anyone in our family over 6 years old. At about six, I find that they can get ready for school, church, etc. much easier if they can see their options right in front of them, not stacked in a drawer.

When they are little, drawers seem to hold little shirts and pants quite nicely, but as they start to pair outfits together, the hangers are a great fit.

STEP #2-SHOE RACKS-I also make sure they all have shoe racks. I like the one shown below, that has little shelves that can hold pairs great. *Note: We do keep our current season shoes in the garage on shelves for easy convenience, so these racks in their closets hold slippers, church shoes and off-season shoes.

STEP #3-SHELF STORAGE-As you can see below, I also have shelves in their closets for misc. clothes that are off-season and don’t currently need to be hung, as well as, baskets that can hold all sorts of things.

STEP #4-BASKET STORAGE-I use baskets in their closets for quick storage of belts, memory items,books, etc.

Our children also have their laundry baskets, in or near, their closets for a place for dirty clothes, and a way to keep the clean and dirty separate.

STEP #5-HANGING ORDER-I also hang all clothes going the same direction, in short-sleeve to long-sleeve order, and I am a little OCD, so when I am helping with straightening a closet, I do put clothes in rainbow order. (I realize that this is not NORMAL, so I don’t require it of my children or husband, but seem to find myself compelled to do it more than I would like to admit.)

The specific order of how I hang their clothes for all you fellow neat freaks with OCD is: tank tops (no sleeves), short-sleeve (lightest to darkest, like colors together), long-sleeved (same order as short sleeves), sweaters, sweatshirts (non-hooded first, then hooded), vests, jackets, dresses. On the lower level I hang pants and skirts. I like to hang jeans together, dress pants together and skirts together.

STEP #6-DRESSER ITEMS-I usually use a dresser for items like undershirts, panties or underwear, socks, PJs, sweats and shorts.

I think by using both HANGING and FOLDING strategies, your kids will better be able to keep their clothes sorted and organized.

STEP #7-HOOK RACK-In each closet I also like to hang at least one hook rack, for hats, bags, and robes. In little girl closets, these are great for little purses and belts as well.

STEP # 8-OVER-THE-DOOR-If your closets have a door, don’t forget the over-the-door organizer that you can put on the backside for shoes, hair-ties, belts, and other misc. items.

STEP #9-STORAGE BOXES-I also store two boxes in the top of the closet if I have room. *Note: If you don’t have room in each child’s closet, you can still have these handy organizers, but store them in the basement, garage, attic, etc. with LABELS of course showing what size the clothes are and who they are intended for next.

The two boxes hold #1:CLOTHES that are TOO SMALL and #2:CLOTHES that are TOO BIG.

The great thing about these two boxes is, when you have an item that a child has outgrown, it can immediately be taken out of “circulation” and put in the TOO SMALL box. The other box can be labeled with the next size of clothes, so that they are handy to use when a child’s jeans get too short, or they need to more to the next size.

CLOSETS CAN BE OUR FRIENDS!

Take one closet STEP-BY-STEP, and remember to complete one all the way

BEFORE proceeding to the next one.

For tomorrow:

For TACKLE TUESDAY, we are still working on KIDS’ CLOSETS, because most people who have taken on this parenthood thing have more than one child.

For those of you with no children and quiet nights, take a look at the beginning of our journey and see what you may have missed doing or completing and choose one of those things to do for the next couple of days.

Have a great night!

~Laura

Special Sunday-Secret to Success

2010-02-14T21:51:00.001-08:00

I thought that I might share a little secret this Valentines’ Day.

I love Sundays.

That is not the secret, I just thought that I should mention it.

I love sitting in the pew in church surrounded by my family, even when some weeks almost bring me to tears with children’s behavior.

The secret to loving Sundays,

is the planning for the upcoming week.

I love to plan what we could accomplish in the week ahead.

I love to review children’s goals for school, church, etc.

I love looking at the events that we will be participating in.

I love to look at the blank spaces in our schedule, where, if we are really lucky, we can have those “moments.”

The moments that make all the crazy Sundays worth it.

Tonight, as you are preparing for bed, think about the upcoming week.

Think about what you would talk about with each child if you got them alone.

Think about what is more important, cheering on a loved one at a game or play, or finishing your book.

Think about all the little things, that when you are sitting in that pew next week, you will be so grateful you did!

I love Sundays!

So should you!

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow, for MONDAY MADNESS, we are going step-by-step through KIDS’ CLOSETS. We organized the clothes last week, so let’s finish the closet!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Super Saturday-Sports Day

2010-02-13T22:31:00.001-08:00

Today is SPORTS DAY!

If you don’t have children in SPORTS, you may want to organize your workout equipment. You can wipe down the treadmill, wipe off the weights, etc.

Here’s how we do it:

STEP #1- OFF SEASON SPORTS-I take one organizer for each sport and store all uniform pieces together. I also add things that are small like cleats, baseball sports cups, kneepads for volleyball, etc. I label the sport on the box and store in the garage on a shelf.

STEP #2-CURRENT SPORTS-Since we have six children, I separate the boys’ and girls’ baskets for easy use. I use the wonderful, very cheap laundry baskets in two different colors and store all current uniforms and supplies in each. I keep the baskets on a shelf in the laundry room, so that as clean uniforms come out of the laundry, they go right in the basket. No more lost uniforms on game day!

STEP #3-OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT-We store our balls, gloves, etc in the garage. We keep all the gloves and bats in the baseball bags, hanging in the garage. We keep all the balls in large buckets for easy use, in the garage as well. We hang tennis rackets on .98 cent hooks in the garage. We also hang sleds and anything else we can to get it off the ground.

STEP #4-SCHEDULES-As soon as we get sports schedules, we write them on the family calendar and in my planner. I also make a copy for grandparents and anyone else who wants to support our kiddos!

If you have any great ideas that work for your SPORTS stuff, email us and we will share!

For tomorrow:

SPECIAL SUNDAY is time for a special secret that I will share with you. Hopefully, it will bring a smile to your face like it does to mine!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Fast-Fix Friday-More than just a BOX

2010-02-12T21:15:00.001-08:00

I love MEDIUM STORAGE BOXES!

They are wonderful, and they are our FAST-FIX FRIDAY item!

WAYS TO USE THESE WONDERS:

STORE CLOTHES-You can store clothes that are TOO BIG, TOO SMALL, or ONES TO SAVE.

SPORTS CLOTHES-When we have OFF-SEASON sports gear, we store it in one of these and label the side with the sport. The next season, TA DA, it is all there.

BALLS-These are great for the garage or backyard and can hold all kinds of BALLS.

SHOES-These can also work for storing shoes in the garage, or FLIP-FLOPS for the family when they are out of season (this would not apply to my CA friends where flip-flops are NEVER out of season!)

GARAGE BOXES-It is too dark tonight, but tomorrow I will post picks of GARAGE boxes. We store things like 72-hour kits, paint supplies, tents, etc. in our garage in these boxes with coordinating labels.

TABLECLOTHS-I do not have enough room in my kitchen drawers or cabinets for all my tablecloths, so we store them in one of these.

HOLIDAY-These are my favorite size for all HOLIDAY, because they don’t get too heavy to put up in the attic, and they store perfectly!

I am sure there are many other ways to use these boxes, but you guys will have to share them!

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow for SUPER SATURDAY, we are going to go into detail on storing SPORTS items and clothing!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-From Babies to Breathing

2010-02-11T20:28:00.001-08:00

Ok, so 8am was TWELVE hours ago, but I do have great excuses for being so late, but I won’t bore you with any of them!

Today was BABY CLOTHES and CHEAP THERAPY!

For those of you without the WEE ones in your life right now, we will start with THERAPY, which will actually be a great way for you to end your Thursday.

ASK YOURSELF:

“How does it feel to have de-cluttered my clothes and benefited others by giving away what I am not using?”

Do you have PEACE in your heart, mind and closet floor?

You should.

Did you remember to take a picture of your donations for tax purposes and then drive them to the give-away bin?

If not, plan on doing that in the morning.

Don’t let those things that could help someone else, right now, sit in your garage.

Great work!

Ok, you sweet women who are probably wondering how you are ever going to finish everything, because you have a little one pulling apart your piles faster than you can fold and sort!

Here we go:

BABY CLOTHES

STEP #1-GATHER all clothes and set on floor in front of you. Make sure you have everything.

STEP #2-SORT by shirts, shorts, skirts, dresses, PJs, shoes, etc.

STEP #3-ORGANIZE each pile by size. Store all outfits together. I hang EVERYTHING! I hang my baby clothes by outfit, so that anyone can dress the baby in a flash. I actually think that Annie can practically dress herself the way we have her set up. My sister, Julie, embraced this practice of hanging all clothes in outfits several years ago, and it has now blessed our lives immensely.

STEP #4-HANG all outfits according to size, and in each size range, hang shortest to tallest, or by style (i.e. SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, etc OR by COLOR) Whatever, you feel, looks the most uniform and organized.

STEP #5-DETAILS. Take care of all the little details that are left. Store socks and tights in baskets, drawers or bins. Store shoes in over-the-door organizer (scene on a previous post.) Hang coats on main floor for quick use. Organize any diapering supplies that are kept near clothing.

TOMORROW I WILL POST GREAT PICS, but tonight I am crashing!

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow’s FAST-FIX FRIDAY is a GREAT piece for organizing. It is one of the main things that BECCA won last week! Maybe, I will even get her prizes off to her tomorrow!

Have a great night!

~Laura

Wrap-up Wednesday-Kiddos clothes

2010-02-10T20:07:00.001-08:00

Hey guys and gals.

I am aware that my posts are lagging later and later, but I will try and start posting every morning for those of you that have your organization time before 8pm, which is when I find myself with children in bed and work to be done.

With that being said, today is KIDS’ CLOTHES DAY!

Here’s how we can do it!

STEP #1-CLEAN, HANG AND PUT AWAY ALL CLOTHES.

STEP #2-SHIRTS-Look for holes, check sizes and sort by color.

STEP #3-PANTS-Look for holes, check sizes, and sort by style.

STEP #4-SHORTS-Look for holes, check sizes and sort by style

(Do you see a pattern here?)

STEP #5-UNDERCLOTHING-Look for holes, check sizes and stack in an orderly manner.

STEP #6-SOCKS-Look for holes, too much wear, and pair remaining.

STEP #7-CHURCH CLOTHES-Check for wear, check sizes and hang together.(tie with suit, black socks in shoes, matching ribbons with dresses, etc.)

Next week we will cover KIDS’ CLOSETS, so just check clothes and place back in drawers and closets for now.

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow we are going to cover BABY CLOTHES, and for those of you without a WEE one in your life, we will have a WEE therapy session.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Tackle Tuesday-Adult Access

2010-02-09T20:06:00.001-08:00

We are tackling the access to your wardrobe today.

I have been working on mine and my husband’s all day, so I think I have some tips for you.

Now with all of your laundry clean and put away, we are ready to start.

Here’s how we can do it!

STEP #1-PANTS-I began with pants. Maybe it is because I have sizes in my closet from one end of women’s sizes to the next. I ended keeping the size I currently wear, and one size down on my hangers. The other sizes I neatly folded and put on the shelves I have. If you don’t have any extra shelves, you can store your extra sizes in a storage container and label it. If you are at a weight where you maintain and have no need for those larger sizes, GIVE THEM AWAY. Someone could use them right now. I folded all of my pants button in and a pleat down the legs, hung on a hanger. If you store your pants on shelves. Fold them all the same way and store likes together.

STEP #2-SHIRTS-I went through my shirts, one-by-one, and hung them all on hangers facing the same way. I took out all shirts that have not been worn in the last year. Some I still liked quite a bit, but I have always been taught that if you haven’t used it in a year, give it to someone who will. I gathered a pretty nice pile of give-away. I then organized the shirts in an organized manner. This is the order that I think looks the best for me: SHORT-SLEEVED TEES, LONG-SLEEVED TEES, SHORT-SLEEVED SHIRTS AND BLOUSES, LONG-SLEEVED SHIRTS AND BLOUSES, AND HANGABLE SWEATERS AND JACKETS.

STEP #3-SWEATERS-If you didn’t wear it last winter, or yet this one, give it away. Take all the sweaters left and sort them by color or style, whatever you prefer. Fold each one in the same uniform pattern and place on the shelf.

STEP #4-PJs and EXERCISE CLOTHES-I took out anything too worn or not used and added to the give-away pile. I them sorted PJs by sets and singles and folded in a uniform pattern and placed on shelf. I then did the same for exercise clothes.

STEP #5-UNDERCLOTHING-Empty drawer of all clothing. Wipe down drawer. Sort through all underclothing using the same method as above. Except, underclothing is not given away. Just throw away too worn clothing and fold and place in drawer the rest.

STEP #6-SOCKS-Empty drawer. Wipe down inside of drawer. Pair all socks looking for worn heels, any holes or too much wear and tear. Place pairs neatly in the drawer putting the lesser worn in the back or on the bottom, with the most used in the front or top.

STEP #7-SHOES-Shoes are wonderful! I love how I can always feel great in my shoes now matter what size of pants I am currently wearing. This ability to make us feel great is why we need to have them paired to perfection so that they are ready at a moments notice. Pair each shoe together, toes together, and in a straight line. Just remember, straight lines with shoes, hangers, etc. make for an organized space.

IF THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE ADULT IN YOUR HOME, MORE TO ADULT #2 and REPEAT #1-#7.

I ACTUALLY FEEL LIGHTER!

For Tomorrow:

Tomorrow we are essentially do the EXACT same thing, except kid-style!

We have a few tips for smaller people clothing.

Send us BEFORE and AFTER photos of your clothes piles. I will post mine tomorrow after I finish my husband’s with him tonight.

See you tomorrow.

~Laura

Monday Madness-Conquering the laundry

2010-02-08T13:39:00.001-08:00

Today is laundry day, or as it is in my house…MONDAY MADNESS!

I have no idea what happens to our laundry piles between Friday and Monday, but I am convinced that they multiply supernaturally!

All we are doing today is the LAUNDRY.

COLLECT…SORT…WASH…DRY…FOLD…HANG…PUT AWAY

EVERYTHING

If you are working today, do what you can, but the more you get done, the more organized you can be.

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow we are just going to jump right in. We will be working on all ADULT closets in the house.

If you only have a certain amount of time for laundry today, make sure the ADULT laundry is done first.

Off to finish hanging and folding our 12 LOADS for the day!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Special Sunday-Memories in the making

2010-02-07T15:40:00.001-08:00

I hope you had a wonderful Sunday.

I think that you will have a great experience with what we are doing today and the days to follow.

This will only take about 30 minutes, but will literally give you HOURS back in your week!

Here’s how we do it:

STEP #1-GATHER all those supplies we talked about on SUPER SATURDAY. You need your recipe books, a pen and some paper. If you already have a two week menu plan, you ROCK! But it never hurts to try a new process or improve on the one you have. I have experienced this many times.

STEP #2-PLAN-Take each child, one-by-one, and have them choose two dinners that they love to eat(depending on the size of your family, have them choose one to three meals and you and your spouse can choose the rest.) Then plan them according to the family planner on when that child is available to help make their dinners. **I also have them suggest breakfasts that they like and would like to try. **I even have them suggest new lunch items if we need a change up. This individual planning time is GREAT! Take the time to talk to them about what they like, how they are doing, and what could change.

STEP #3-MAKE SHOPPING LIST-After you have all the meals chosen and written on your calendar, make your shopping list. I have a pre-printed list and put checks next to what I need. You can make a list of your own, or find one online. This is great for a quick cabinet, pantry and refrigerator check for supplies. Often I would miss things like vanilla or potatoes in the corner of the pantry. If you have a pre-typed list you are less likely to miss things.

Here is a great grocery list that I found online at http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=1544972&dn=y.

STEP #4-SHOP-Don’t forget to take your list. If you forgot it, go back home if you live close. You will spend less with a list and avoid missing ingredients for your upcoming meals.

STEP #5-MAKE THE MEALS AND MEMORIES! If you have your children and husband help in the making of dinner, they will appreciate the process and the meal even more. I believe this. Your children will also learn how to make their favorite meals, making them more self-reliant and self-confident. Most importantly, you will make meals while having conversations with them that will change your relationship. Second to bedtime, is the sharing that happens around the making of food in our kitchen that enhance our relationships with each other. I promise you that you will never forget teaching them to make spaghetti for the first time, or watching them as they ice their first cake. Don’t miss out on this.

No matter what plan works for your family, DO IT!

If you have a good plan, improve the conversation. Tell them stories about yourself. Read inspirational stories during the day that you can share with them. OR JUST LISTEN TO THEM. I have taught teenagers for years, and the thing that builds the trust and love is all in the LISTENING, NOT THE TALKING! When you listen, you can be prompted by the Spirit to really hear them and know what to say or not to say.

Have fun!

For tomorrow:

For MONDAY MADNESS we are starting another incredible week.

We are conquering CLOTHES!

So tonight, before bed, have everyone quickly collect their dirty clothes so that you can start on them first thing.

I will try and post early for those of you with all your clean clothes taken care of and put away, put if I don’t, DO ALL LAUNDRY and we will be organizing it ALL WEEK!

Have a great night visiting with your family and planning your two week menu!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Super Saturday-What’s on the menu

2010-02-06T20:51:00.001-08:00

Before we start…

WE HAVE A WINNER!!! BECCA IS OUR WINNER FOR OUR FIRST GIVEAWAY!

Now to Saturday…What’s on your menu for next week?

If you don’t know, we are going to spend the next two days on it.

Today, collect all the recipe books that you love. Grab the ones with only one you love to the one with more sticky notes than you can count.

Get a pen and paper.

That’s it!

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow, you can spend time with your family planning meals that they love and can schedule time with you in the kitchen.

Can’t wait!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Fast-Fix Friday-Love those laundry baskets

2010-02-05T21:57:00.001-08:00

FAST-FIX FRIDAY was more like FREAKY FRIDAY. It is now 10:40 which is completely appropriate, and on a scale of 1 to 10 of how tired I am, I am a 10 and today was my sweetheart’s 40th birthday and we still haven’t opened gifts!

Long, but great day!

Now let’s get down to business…LAUNDRY BASKETS!

Today is a perfect example of how wonderful these little things are!

Today we decorated at the church in one of those events that we insanely take upon ourselves, and LAUNDRY BASKETS were carried in with frames, scissors, material and even chips and salsa.

Then I went and helped a friend move…and there they were…LAUNDRY BASKETS carrying bathroom supplies, and kitchen items and even…real laundry!

Here are a few ideas of how these $3 pieces of magic can help with more than laundry:

1. They can be used to sort paper. (As we have already learned.)

2. They can be used for quick pick-up.

3. They can hold bags and backpacks in the bottom of a coat closet.

4. They can hold shoes, both clean and dirty, in the garage.

5. They can be used to quickly empty the car for Saturday clean-out.

6. They can be used to easily transport things in the car.

I would go on and on, but now I am an 11 and I can’t let my hubby fall asleep without me on his birthday!

For tomorrow:

Just a warning…the event that needed SIX hours of decorating today, will happen tomorrow, and need to be put all away, SO tomorrow’s post will not happen until the afternoon. If you have time planned in the morning, look back on a past Saturday and make sure you have all the previous Saturday posts covered.

***I also will announce the winner of our weekly giveaway. If you know me, you know that I believe in 2nd chances, so I will still let you guys comment and still be in the running, so DO IT!

Good night organization friends!

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-Magical Music

2010-02-04T06:55:00.001-08:00

Our “therapy” question for the day is, “What do you love to listen to?” Is it Christmas music all year like me? Or do you love to listen to music that makes you dance? Whether it is uplifting church music or books on tape, have you put these things in a place to bless your life?

Whether you own one of today’s fancy phones that can hold all the music you love or just a CD player in the kitchen…get your music in a place where it can enrich your life EVERYDAY!

Learn how to put your favorites on an IPod, MP3 player, or your fancy phone.

If you are much simpler than this, take your favorite CDs and tapes and put them near a stereo, so that you can listen to them while preparing dinner or folding laundry.

Whatever it is that answers this question above for you, put it where it can raise your spirits anytime you need it!

Here is something I love to listen to and watch. Whenever life seems like it is taking its’ toll, I just play this and I am reminded of who I am and what I want to become. That is one of the blessings of music in our lives.

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow we have one of my $3 favorites. Don’t forget to tune in!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Wrap-up Wednesday-Tapes and CDs

2010-02-03T19:17:00.001-08:00

This is just an addition to yesterday’s post in WRAP-UP on the media in our homes.

Today, is TAPES and CDs.

I understand that some of you may not even have tapes anymore, but for those of us that just can’t bear to throw them away, storing them organized is essential.

Here’s how we are going to do it:

STEP #1-COLLECT-all tapes and CDs throughout the entire house. I checked every child’s room, the CDs in the cars, the office and anywhere else they could be hiding. You will put them back in the right rooms, but this is a way to have all the media come together and be organized.

STEP #2-SORT-Sort all CDs in one pile and all tapes in another. I sorted into church music, children’s music, etc.

STEP #3-CHECK all CD and tape cases have the correct media.

STEP #4-WIPE DOWN all containers, shelves, etc that hold the media.

STEP #5-REPLACE all media to the proper spaces. Note: I went ahead and vacuumed under where CD towers and tape cases were stored since they are not moved very often.

YOU DID IT!

You have your DVDs, video tapes, audio tapes and CDs all ORGANIZED! Two quick projects that really only need to be done every 3 months or so!

Here are some pictures of ways you can store CDs and tapes.

If you have any great storage ideas for tapes and CDs, email me a picture and we will share it with everyone!

**ONLY TWO MORE DAYS TO TELL US YOUR FAVORITE POST AND HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN AN ORGANIZATION KIT AND CUSTOM FLOWER CLIPS!!

COMMENT TODAY TO QUALIFY!

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow we are going to ask a question and, hopefully, give a solution that will enrich your lives now that your media is organized.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Tackle Tuesday-Tame those videos and DVDs

2010-02-02T17:36:00.000-08:00

Today, I have the perfect family project…

Organize all the videos and DVDs in the house.

Sounds like a big deal, and it is.

If you take the time to organize your videos and DVDs once a quarter (every 3 months), you will know where they are and be able to enjoy them as a family.

Here’s how we do it:

STEP #1-COLLECT all videos and DVDs in the house. Check kids’ rooms, behind the t.v., and under the couch.

STEP #2-CHECK all boxes for the correct movie. Very often I can tell in what order my kids watch movies because the last one is in the box of the new one and so on.

STEP #3-WIPE DOWN all shelves that hold the movies.

STEP #4-ALPHABETIZE-Ok, this is a little OCD, but if you do it once every three months, you would be surprised how easy it is to find movies.

STEP#5-REPLACE on shelves.

Below I added so photos for ideas of WHERE you can store movies. You don’t have to have the “video tower” in the corner. You can compliment a room by having a nice piece of furniture hold them. You can also use bookcases, boxes and end tables to do the job as well. Be creative, and remember, if everything has a place, it is easy to find and easy to pick up.

Do you have any great ideas for videos and DVDs? Send us a picture!

For tomorrow:

For WRAP-UP WEDNESDAY we are going to organize our TAPES and CDS. It’s electronic week, so let’s get it together!

DON’T FORGET TO TELL ME YOUR

FAVORITE POST FOR A GIVE-AWAY!

Yesterday, I offered an ORGANIZATION PACK and today we added some of these CUSTOM FLOWER CLIPS FOR GIRLS!!

(If you have all boys or a quiet home with no little ones, think adorable baby gifts!)

Take a look here for choices www.petalsonaprincess.com.

She has a new product on the way she wants to share with us.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Monday Madness-1000 HITS-Collect your giveaway!!

2010-02-01T16:00:00.001-08:00

This past weekend we hit 1000 visits to our blog!!!

YEAH!

That means that, hopefully, a lot of us are a lot more organized and on our way to more PEACE in our home!

To celebrate this milestone…WE ARE DOING A GIVEAWAY!!

THE GIVEAWAY WILL BE A

CUSTOM ORGANIZATION START KIT!

It will be an assortment of goodies you need to always be organized!

We will run this for the entire WEEK!

Don’t miss out!

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS POST A COMMENT AND TELL ME WHAT YOUR FAVORITE POST WAS…AND I WILL RANDOMLY CHOOSE OUR WINNER ON FRIDAY AT NOON!

If you have been waiting to share this resource with someone you love…WAIT NO LONGER…TELL THEM TODAY!!

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow is TACKLE TUESDAY and we are going to tackle something everyone wants organized!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Special Sunday-Bedtime Stories

2010-01-31T19:57:00.001-08:00

For those of you who aren’t in bed for this 8:50 pm post, here is something that I believe in.

I believe that if you take the time to tuck your little ones in and sit on the beds of your teenagers right before they sleep, you will have some of the best moments of your relationship.

There is a time, just before slumber, after a sometimes, very long day, there can be moments of MAGIC.

A time to teach, to show an outpouring of love, and to just be one-on-one.

Try it this week.

Some of you might wonder what this has to do with organization, but it does.

It does, because if you have worked so hard to make your home “a house of order,” you will be able to have a clear mind to have these moments with your children.

Thank you for coming on this journey with me.

I LOVE THIS!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Super Saturday-Paint Power

2010-01-30T17:23:00.001-08:00

First of all, I apologize for a 6pm post, BUT, I did have a great kid day with lots of games, cheering, and fun.

Now to business…PAINT!

This project will probably take you less than 30 minutes, but will save you time and money in the future!

Who doesn’t want that?

Here’s how we do it:

STEP #1- COLLECT all of your paint. (We are talking house paint, inside and out. We will organize craft paints later, so don’t worry.

STEP #2-SORT all you paint into upstairs, downstairs, basement, and outside.

STEP #3-LABEL with Sharpie. Surprise, I want you to label each one according to the coordinating room. (See picture below) You can label anywhere on the can, but make them all uniform, so that when stacked they are aesthetically appealing.

STEP #4-DOCUMENT all colors, brands and any other important information by room in a binder for house information. If you don’t have a binder just yet, print on paper and tape to wall above where paint is stored.

STEP #5-STACK by room in a cool spot. You can stack them in milk crates for easy moving, or just in a safe corner of a cool basement or garage.

THERE WE GO!

YOUR PAINT IS ORGANIZED, READY FOR A QUICK TOUCH-UP DAY, OR AVAILABLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow is SPECIAL SUNDAY, and we are going to have a sweet moment to talk about something I feel very strongly about, as well as, introducing how we are going to celebrate 1000 visits!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Fax-Friday-Terrific Tubs

2010-01-29T13:35:00.001-08:00

Today’s special organization tool is none other than the DISH TUB!

DISH TUBS aren’t just for the kitchen sink.

These little babies can work for more things than I can count.

I will show some pictures and give you some ideas to get you started on your love affair with DISH TUBS.

#1-CHARGERS-These tubs hold chargers perfectly! They hold my chargers for the camera, video camera, etc. It fits perfect on the top shelf of the front coat closet. It is wonderful to know where your chargers are at any minute.

#2 GAMEBOYS/SM. ELECTRONICS-I stash the kids’ handheld game boys, their games, their chargers and cases in this tub in the front closet. We don’t use these very often, but they are ready at a moments notice with every necessary part all together!

#3 TO SORT-These work great for collecting small stacks of paper that need to be sorted later.

#4 TO DO-This is my HOT tub! I call it my “hot tub” because it works great for keeping all my things together that need to be taken care of NOW!

#5 GIRLS’ HAIRBOWS-If you have a small to medium collection of hair bows and clips, these tubs house the ribbons quickly and they are perfect to fit under the sink.

#6 PAPER SORTING-These are great for sorting paper. See a past post for the “how-to.”

#7 KIDS’ PAPERS-Need a place to keep your kids’ school papers for review later? Grab a tub.

#8 BOOKS-One of these tubs would be a great place to store your library books to be read, cuddled up on a couch.

#9 VIDEOS-These tubs are the perfect size to take a load of movies, on the go, in the car.

#10 SMALL TOYS-Maybe you need a place to tuck away a small collection of small toys, in an office, kitchen, etc…one of these tubs would work great!

THERE YOU HAVE IT! TEN WAYS TO USE THE “PERFECT TUB!”

If you had a way you use one of these universal tubs, send us a picture!

For tomorrow:

For SUPER SATURDAY we will be talking about organizing all those PAINT CANS in your garage!

Don’t miss it!

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-Do you feel the “light?”

2010-01-28T12:21:00.001-08:00

Do you feel “lighter?”

You should.

With your special place organized, and your paper under control, you should feel empowered!

I do.

I am still working on some paper boxes that I came across, hiding in the garage!

Today, I just want you to journal, somewhere, how you FEEL about having these two things done.

It can be on your family’s blog, your personal journal or take a before and after photo.

Just write it down, because it is not going to stay perfect, but with a system, you will enjoy being organized in these two areas.

January has been great for me!

I hope that it has been great for you as well!

For tomorrow:

I think we are going to hit our 1000th visit to our organization blog today!

If we do, tomorrow I will introduce you to the many different uses for another one of my favorite organization tools,

AND have a GIVE-AWAY.

If you have been hesitating sharing this resource with a friend or family member, DO IT TODAY, so they can get in on our journey!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Wrap-up Wednesday-Goodbye Paper Madness

2010-01-27T15:24:00.001-08:00

We are going to do a little REVIEW on our PAPER MADNESS journey!

If you are just joining us today, you can review the last couple of weeks of posts.

QUICK LOOK AT OUR PAPER:

**You can use this same technique anytime your paper starts to take over again.

Step #1-Take boxes or baskets and collect EVERY piece of paper in your home.

Step #2-Sort paper into five categories:

TO DO, TO FILE, TO SHRED, MEMORIES, and TRASH.

Step #3-Empty each basket individually and put paper away.

Step #4-Organize each category using different strategies and containers.

**(See past posts for pictures and ideas)

IF YOU ARE DONE WITH YOUR PAPER AND HAVE SOME GREAT BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES, SEND THEM MY WAY FOR DISPLAY!

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow is THERAPY THURSDAY, tune in for a simple question with an answer that will bring a smile to your face.

Still finishing my PAPER MADNESS!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Tackle Tuesday-To File, My Style

2010-01-26T14:52:00.001-08:00

Today is the TO FILE basket’s turn to be organized!

Lucky basket!

My system is simple to me, but you may have one in place in your home already.

Just do it!

Sit down and start going through those piles.

Here is how I do it:

STEP #1-Take one more walk around your entire house in search for those things that need to be filed. Don’t forget your cars, your office, maybe on top of a dresser, a church bag, wherever it is all hiding.

STEP#2-I take the trash can and my basket over to the couch, and plug in a good movie. I don’t know why, but I can accomplish so much more if a have a little entertainment. It is like having the radio blasting while washing a car, or headphones while mowing the grass, you get the picture!

STEP#3-SORT AWAY! I actually sort things into piles that go directly to the filing cabinet. For example, I don’t just pile all medical paperwork together, I sort by children or doctor. Remember: Use what works best for you!

STEP#4-I throw all trash directly in the trash can while sorting and make a separate pile for shred. When you are done sorting everything, take care of these two piles first, TRASH and SHRED!

STEP#5-I pick up pile by pile and put DIRECTLY in file cabinet. Do not stack them up to be put away later. Take the extra 10 minutes or so and file them directly into their folder.

YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR!

Here are a few photos of the filing cabinets I use and an example of the filing system. Just basic, put everything is better with pictures.

For tomorrow:

Tomorrow is WRAP-UP WEDNESDAY and we are wrapping up the PAPER MADNESS SERIES!

If there is something we did not cover that you need help with or you have a suggestion for us, PLEASE EMAIL OR COMMENT me and we will cover it tomorrow.

Otherwise, we are moving on!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Monday Madness-Storing Memories

2010-01-25T11:31:00.001-08:00

I love memories.

I love the ones in my head, and I love the ones that are represented in journals, drawings, pictures, projects and the like.

Today, we are going to sort the MEMORIES box.

Here is how we do it:

STEP #1-First you need a container for each person in your family. I use these plastic containers from Wal-Mart. They are about $4 each. You can use office boxes, other containers or even FREE apple boxes from the grocery store. I like these because they are inexpensive, keep things clean and dry and are critter-proof.

STEP #2-Sort all your things from your MEMORY basket.

STEP #3-Label the boxes and store in a safe place together. I store ours under the stairs in the basement.

This is how I store each of the kids’ school year memories. Take a poster board, cut in half and then fold halves together and staple sides. I have a file drawer in the kitchen to store the children’s work throughout the school year. At the end of each year, we go through it together and only keep the favorite work, and store them in these cheap folders and place in the memory box.

If you have a great way to store your memories, PLEASE SHARE.

Let me know and send me a picture and we will post it!

For tomorrow:

TACKLE TUESDAY is going to be our day to tackle that TO FILE basket. So, look around and find EVERYTHING that needs to be filed, and we will take care of it tomorrow!

Off to finish my memory boxes!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Special Sunday-Daily Journaling

2010-01-24T13:23:00.001-08:00

Ok, is it the word “DAILY” that was scaring you, or the word “JOURNAL?”

Hopefully, after today, you won’t be frightened by either word.

I have a dear friend, Amy Stewart (CO), who journals a little something about her life in a daily planner.

I have the same daily planner, but fill it with appointments, to do lists, etc.

She uses it in a completely different way…that I absolutely love, and have started one of my own!

Here is how you do it:

STEP #1-You get a daily planner of some sort. You can get one like the one I have written in below that has a week-at-a-glance where you store your little memories, or you could even use one, like the other one shown below, that has a month-at-a-glance with a little box for each day. The first daily planner can be found anywhere office supplies are sold for between $8-$10. I got the month-at-a-glance at Wal-mart for about $3. I even got one of the monthly ones free in the mail from our old real estate agent.

STEP #2-Keep the planner in a place that is convenient to just jot down a few things that you would like to remember from the day. I keep mine in my purse or near the phone. It gives me a chance to fill in different things that happen when I have a quick minute.

STEP #3-Then record what it is you want to remember. I have written down things like new teeth coming in for the baby, new words that she has said, the feelings of a child that I have noticed or they have shared with me that I want to remember, a kind deed by a family member or friend, a prompting that came to me, etc.

I love this!

You think that you are going to remember every funny word that your kids say, the cute habits they have or the moment when they learn a new thing…but you won’t. Trust me. I have a great memory. It is one of my gifts. I can vividly recall childhood memories of family trips, playing in the woods and phone numbers of dear friends, but I don’t always remember what that “cute” thing was that Easton said last week.

Write it down. The good, bad and ugly. The simple, sweet and priceless.

If you don’t get to it everyday, don’t worry.

Even if you only capture the memories of the week in little “snippets” it will still be more than most wrote down from last week, and you will have precious moments recorded from throughout the year!

Have fun with this. Maybe get one for your spouse, your teenager or one specifically for a baby’s first year.

For tomorrow:

For our MONDAY MADNESS we will be learning different ways to save, file and organize our MEMORIES basket from last week’s PAPER MADNESS!

Look around to make sure you have collected everything that you would store in your MEMORIES files.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Super Saturday-Coat Closet

2010-01-23T14:08:00.001-08:00

Take 20 minutes and give your COAT CLOSET a mini-makeover.

We are halfway through Winter, and now is a great time to take back over that closet.

Here we go…step-by-step.

So simple, you can print this off and pass it off to a child or spouse with some free time this Saturday.

STEP #1 Empty everything from the closet. (*Tip-As you empty, sort things into piles (ex. kids’ coats, gloves, hats, scarves, etc.)

STEP #2 Clean out interior of the closet: Vacuum baseboard, vacuum floor, vacuum shelves, wipe down shelves, wipe down baseboards, wipe down walls, wipe down door (inside and out,) wipe down doorknob, and wipe down hanging bar.

STEP #3 Hang all coats the same direction and in order from largest on the LEFT to smallest on the RIGHT. (This will ensure that little ones see their coats first, and the closet will have a neat and organized appearance.)

STEP #4 Decide what containers, if any, will hold gloves, hats, scarves, bags, etc.

STEP #5 Sort items into organization systems that will make them easy to access and easy to put away.

Some examples may be the following:

A HANGING SHOE ORGANIZER-For gloves, scarves, and hats

A MEDIUM SIZE CONTAINER-For smaller items like baby hats, missing gloves, extra supplies, etc.

AN INEXPENSIVE WICKER LAUNDRY BASKET-For bags, backpacks, and extra supplies.

AN INEXPENSIVE LARGE DISHTUB-For groups of things to be stored together (ex. chargers, camera and camcorder supplies, etc.)

AN INEXPENSIVE PLASTIC LAUNDRY BASKET-For large item storage, such as shoes, bags, backpacks, etc.

A WELL-ORGANIZED COAT CLOSET CAN HOLD A LOT MORE THAN AN UNORGANIZED ONE!

There it is! If you have a closet that ROCKS, send us pictures and we will post them on the site!

For tomorrow:

Come on over for a quick tip from a friend in beautiful Colorado on DAILY JOURNALING.

Don’t be scared, it is easy and wonderful!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Fast-Fix Friday-Box of wonders

2010-01-22T14:44:00.001-08:00

Ok, so calling our BILL BOX, a box of “wonders,” is a little stretch, but it isn’t if you look at it like organization in this area saves us time AND money!

Today we have a GUEST LINK to www.crapivemade.blogspot.com.

Below is an example of Char’s Bill Box that she has agreed to share with us today. I have highlighted her entire post in BLUE. You really should jump over and check her out, she is AMAZING! Thank you Char for today’s post.

Today, I'm showing you my bill box. Oh how I love my bill box! Going out to buy one *might* be my favorite part of the new year.
You've all seen these accordion files before, right? You can get a solid colored one at any office supply store or super center. Those run about $8. I usually spend a little more and get a cute one to make my bill paying life more pleasant.
Here's last year's:

I label it with the year clearly on the outside.
Some of these files come pre-labeled. I don't really like their categories, so I re-label. I bought a pack of file folder labels for just a few dollars 7 or 8 years ago and I still haven't used them all.

You can label them however fits your needs. I use the following categories:
Bank Account
Cable
Chase/Old Navy/TCP
Debit Receipts/Check Duplicates (I clear this one out after I've entered receipts and reconciled statements)
Dental
Insurance
Medical
Mortgage
Newspaper/Magazines
Pay Stubs
Questar (gas)
Qwest (phone)
Receipts (for major purchases)
Retirement
Taxes
Tithing
Utah Power (electric)
Water
At the end of the year, I take the entire box downstairs to our storage room. It doesn't take up a lot of room and it's easy to locate something should the need arise. Like the time the cable company turned us over to collections for a $16 bill because they hooked cable up at a house we hadn't lived in for THREE YEARS and then tried to tell me I never paid off our original account.

Thank you CHAR! www.crapivemade.blogspot.com

Another way of using this system that I learned years ago when I was teaching organization classes and had a friend guest speak on her BILL BOX is the following.

My friend, Jill Mason (CA), had a similar system to Char’s above, with just a little different twist.

Jill uses the same great BILL BOX base, but separates hers’ into the months of the year, with the front pocket being used for incoming bills. She talked about how when current bills came in, they went in the TO PAY front pocket.

She would sit down once or twice a month, pay the bills and then store the paid bills in the month that corresponds.

At the end of the year, she takes all 12 utility bills, puts them in order, staples them in the corner and stores them in her main file cabinet.

She then shreds the set from FIVE years back that no longer needs to be kept.

VIOLA!

So simple.

She can even tote her little box to the park, let her kids play and complete her bill paying for the month.

Thank you Char! Thank you Jill!

I love both ideas.

This little BILL BOX can also be used for lots of other things.

Just a few I have thought of are:

To store sheet music

Organize Personal Progress

Store cards

Organize paper

So many ideas, so little time.

We may cover some of these ideas later in the year, but for now organize those bills.

For tomorrow:

If you are not done with all your paper, don’t panic, just keep sorting or working on the stage you are in, because we are tackling the tails of the paper Mon, Tues and Wed of next week.

Tomorrow, we are going to tackle a mystery closet, so don’t miss it.

See you tomorrow.

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-Process your paper

2010-01-21T15:49:00.001-08:00

Today we are going to ask a question that will prompt us to complete a certain paper pile that will change our lives.

I want you to ask yourself,

“Which of these piles effects my life the most RIGHT NOW?”

Is it the TO DO box that needs the quickest attention? For me, it is. It is the one that holds Christmas rebates, thank yous, upcoming registrations and so on.

Is yours the TO FILE box that needs to be taken care of in order to be ready for tax season?

Before you do something about the question you answered and focus in on that one,

THROW AWAY ALL THE TRASH and SHRED or BURN THE SHRED PILE!

TWO BASKETS DONE ALREADY!

Now focus on that “special” box.

Do the things you have time to get done today. If it is make an appointment that you have on paper, make it, write it on the family calendar and move to the next thing.

If you are still working on your paper piles, KEEP GOING!

We are going to work all next week on PAPER, FILING, BILLS, ETC., so keep up the great work.

I found SIX more paper containers with MOVING STICKERS that I need to get to.

Wonder if there is anything important in there, (considering our last move was SIX years ago!)

For tomorrow:

I have another wonderful FAST-FIX FRIDAY organization item!

Don’t miss it!

We will be featuring Char from the website www.crapivemade.blogspot.com (admittedly one of my favorite bloggers, even though I am no crafter!)

We will also be featuring a friend in California with a tip to share.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Wrap-up Wednesday-Pretty Paper Piles

2010-01-20T08:49:00.001-08:00

Did you know that paper piles can look “pretty?”

Ok, not really pretty, but sorted in a way that is it simple to stay up on everything, which makes everything look so much better!

Today we are going to take that TO DO basket and SORT it again, to make it really work!

Here are the categories today:

I use these GREAT dish tubs to sort my paper into manageable categories. They can be found anywhere house wares are sold, Wal-Mart, Target, etc. for around $2-3. You can buy them in different colors and sort that way too! You can also use the organizing bins just bigger than the shoe box.

Sort your TO DO basket the way that it works best for YOU!

This is how I do it that works best for our family.

Here is what “qualifies” a paper item for each tub:

TO DO-NOW-This tub is RED for a reason! I consider this my “to do list” with the papers to match what needs to be done. This is the tub that holds rebate information, thank yous, lesson material, Scout info, etc.

COUPONS-This one holds coupons on the back of receipts for dry cleaning, coupons that Nana cuts out for us (thank you Nana,) grocery coupons before they are filed, and any other coupons that you come across before they are filed into those nifty coupon holders.

TO FILE-This category is for things that you have taken care of that now that need to be filed.

BILLS-When mail comes in and goes in the TO DO basket, this is where the current bills land.

RECEIPTS-I use my receipt holder in my car, but occasionally receipts come from other places and can’t get lost. They may also belong in a tax folder, stapled to a warranty file, or need to be turned in for church or business.

BUSINESS-This is where my ideas go for my organization “business/hobby” and anything to do with the children’s jewelry company that my sister and I own.

I have a great system for being organized in each of these areas. We will cover that next week day-by-day until the PAPER MADNESS is GONE!

If you have any ideas that work for you in any of these categories and want to be featured next week, just email me or comment for your link.

I have some great ideas that have been sent already that will be featured in the upcoming weeks.

KEEP THE IDEAS COMING!

This is a great way to show many different possibilities!

For tomorrow:

THERAPY THURSDAY is going to ask a very important PAPER question, so make sure you tune in!

My organization task for the day is done, so I am off to clean the house to surprise a hard-working husband who gets back from a very long week out of town!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Tackle Tuesday-Sorting Paper

2010-01-19T17:51:00.001-08:00

Ok, everyone, the day kind of got away from me.

Let’s talk PAPER SORTING.

I am going to tell you something that you are not going to want to believe, because it is so positively simple, BUT IT IS TRUE!

ALL PAPER CAN BE SORTED IN TO FIVE BASIC CATEGORIES

I know, too simple to be true, but it is my friends.

Here are the categories:

TO DO

FILE

SHRED

MEMORIES

TRASH

Now that you know the categories, go pick your favorite movie (mine is Father of the Bride Part II, those who truly know me would easily be able to tell you that,) take your baskets or boxes of paper that you collected yesterday, and we will begin.

First you need FIVE pieces of paper labeled TO DO, FILE, SHRED, MEMORIES, and TRASH.

Tape each of these papers to empty baskets or boxes that are lined up in front of you.

Before we begin, let me talk briefly about each of these categories.

TO DO-This box contains anything that needs to be taken care of. For example, field trip paperwork, current tax items that are coming in the mail this month, coupons, wedding announcements, etc. These items answer yes to the question, “Do I need to take care of this item?”

FILE-These are things that are already taken care of, but need to be saved for reference. For example, medical bills that are paid, bank statements, warranties, etc.

SHRED-These are items that have your address or personal information on that are not necessary anymore, but need to be shredded or burned. For example, a credit card application, expired bank cards, old address lists, etc. If it can be traced to you personally, be safe and put it in this basket to dispose of later.

MEMORIES-These are items that are specific to someone in your family that you would like to save for them. Examples can be awards, report cards, special art, advancements in school, church or Scouts, etc. If it is special to you, keep it.

TRASH-This category should be obvious, but just in case, this is where you put old calendars, past schoolwork that has been graded, junk mail, etc. Hint: If it doesn’t fit in one of the above categories, it probably belongs here.

Make a large glass of water, turn on the movie and start sorting. It may go slow at first, but once you get the hang of it, you will be flying through it in no time. Just remember: Ask yourself, “What is the purpose of this paper?” Then answer the question by putting it in the corresponding basket.

This may take you the whole movie or two. Just remember that today we are not reading old letters or looking at that advertisement we found, we are only SORTING!

Tomorrow we will work on the next step.

For tomorrow:

Speaking of tomorrow, just get your sorting done tonight and then enjoy how much you have accomplished in just two short days.

Have a great night!

~Laura

*If you don’t have a movie you love, Biggest Loser is on tonight and it can motivate you to exercise more with all your new free time.

Monday Madness-Paper Madness

2010-01-18T11:08:00.001-08:00

This is what I collected at my house today. I literally put every single piece of paper I could find in these baskets.

Do you have PAPER MADNESS at your home?

We used to. NOT ANY MORE!

Once a month, I collect EVERY piece of paper in the house.

Sometimes there is a lot (like the end of the school year,) sometimes there are just a few piles to go through.

Today I searched high and low and came up with these three baskets full.

HERE IS THE SYSTEM:

TODAY you are going to find EVERY piece of paper in your home.

Take a laundry basket or box and start at the front door. Put every piece of paper you find in the basket.

Today is JUST COLLECTION DAY.

Tomorrow, on Tackle Tuesday, we will talk about what to do with all this fun paper.

Some places where paper could be hiding that you may or may not of thought of: Office, kitchen counters, kitchen desk, taped inside and outside cabinets, front closet, table, bedside table, kids’ rooms, cars, garage shelves, family room, book bags, diaper bags, church bags, purse and maybe even the garage.

FIND EVERYTHING and tomorrow we will free you from your PAPER MADNESS!

For tomorrow:

Have baskets that you collected today, ready. Carve out an hour or more depending on how much paper you have.

I’m off to do our task for tomorrow, so that you have pictures to see.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Special Sunday-Today is your day!

2010-01-17T15:13:00.001-08:00

Today is your day.

One of the major reasons for getting and being organized is to have the extra time to do something that you love.

Today, do something that you love.

Something that you usually don’t allow yourself to do because there are so many other things needing your attention.

It can be calling up an old friend, a relative out-of-town or a college roommate.

Maybe it is making a special meal, reading a long overdue book, or taking a nap.

DO IT!

You will feel rejuvenated to complete so much more in the upcoming week.

I rarely take the time to snuggle with my little ones on the couch and watch a movie of their choice. I do sit with them often, but I am sorting paper, folding laundry or checking homework.

Today is the day I do it just for us!

For tomorrow:

THIS WEEK IS A DO NOT MISS WEEK!

The most requested need for organization was concerning PAPER.

PAPER and I used to not be friends…now we are!

We used to get in arguments about dates, times and due dates…not anymore!

Tune in tomorrow to start our PAPER MADNESS WEEK!

MONDAY MADNESS is the perfect day to start this challenge.

Tonight-think of EVERY place you have paper. It could be the kitchen, office, car, maybe even your nightstand. Think of every place it would be and I will see you tomorrow.

~Laura