Operation Organization - Week 8

It's the final week in the Battle for Order hosted by Melinda at Coming Clean. This past week my goal was to go through our "junk" drawer in the kitchen and re-organize the linen closet in my boys' bathroom. (For before pictures click here.) Neither of these areas needed a lot of work, but it's nice to have gone through and weeded out some stuff that we didn't need anymore and rearrange what was left to make it easier to find and use what we need.

I have a short week at home this week since we're going to visit family, so my goal for this week is to clean/declutter/organize as many extra "pockets" as possible before we leave town. I don't have any before pictures since I'm not exactly sure what I'll get to, but some examples of what I'm hoping to get to are: the area around my bathtub, the basket of dog supplies, the perpetual hot spot on the kitchen table/bench, the dining table where tools have accumulated, etc. I'll try to take pictures before and after I tackle a new spot, but no promises. Most of these places become easy "landing areas" for stuff and I need to find homes for the things that are there (or get rid of them) and create a system to make sure they don't fill up again. Good luck to everyone with their goals for the week! Thanks for checking in and cheering me on. Head on over to Melinda's blog to link up your own organizational challenge.

Operation Organization - Week 7

Can you believe it's already Week 7 in Operation Organization?!? I have loved the motivation and support that this "blog carnival" has inspired in me and the changes that I've made in our home. There's just something about having the accountability of this post and the camaraderie of others who are soldiering alongside me (even if we've never met in real life!). This past week my goal was to reclaim our master bedroom. I still have a few more things to do, but have made a huge dent in the clutter. I had lots of stuff that simply needed to be put away (and still have a few lingering things that need to find new homes). I'm definitely on the right track. For "before" pictures click here or scroll down to Week 6. Here are the "after" pictures for this week.

This week my goal is to complete the master bedroom, clean out the 'junk' drawer in the kitchen, and reorganize/straighten up the linen closet in my boys' bathroom. Here are the "before" pics:

Check out Melinda's blog for more inspiration or to link up your own organizational challenge.

Org Junkie's Monthly Round-up - August

This month over at I'm an Organizing Junkie, Laura is focusing on Command Centers. It just so happens that as part of Operation Organization at Coming Clean I re-did my "command center." The area that I worked on is a counter in my kitchen by the phone where everything just seemed to land. I needed a place to keep bills, things that needed to be filed, basic office supplies, and other necessities for keeping our household running as efficiently as possible. I cleared out all of the clutter and set up a simple file system that lets me keep what I need at my fingertips, but not take over the kitchen. I smile whenever I walk past! The binder on the counter is my "household management binder" where I keep routines/schedules, household budget, calendars, cleaning lists, menu plans, phone numbers, etc.

The "Before" - what a mess!!!

Do you think I needed a better filing system???

Ahhh - the beauty of the "after"
If you're in need of inspiration for setting up your own command central, head on over to Org Junkie and check out all of the other great posts. I'm sure you'll find something to inspire you!

Operation Organization - Week 6

It's week 6 in Operation Organization at Coming Clean! We've already made so much progress and we still have 3 weeks to go!!! Last week my goal was to do something to organize the toys that had started to take over our living room. I didn't post any "before" pictures, but I do have a few "after" pics to share. I was tired of the toys just getting piled up and strewn about, plus I wanted to cut down on the number of options available in hopes of creating more excitement when "new" toys come back out. We have a beautiful toy chest that my husband's grandfather made for our oldest for Christmas last year. It's a gorgeous piece of furniture that we actually keep out in our entry hallway. It's a little tall for our son to use independently, so I took full advantage of the space to store away some of the toys that need a break. Hopefully when I switch them out next month (or whenever necessary) they will be given new life and the boys will be more excited to play with them. In doing this, I cut down on the number of toys that need to be stored in the living room. Now, we have books on one shelf, puzzles and games on another and a couple of large totes that slide under the coffee table for the rest. I'm happy with the solution and don't feel like I live inside a toy store anymore. Plus, it should be easier for my 2 year old to keep clean. I'm making picture labels for the totes so he'll know what goes where.

Inside the toy chest

Puzzles and game shelf

Under the coffee table

This week my goal is to reclaim our master bedroom! I'm embarrassed to even show you these pictures, but I know you won't judge too harshly. I really want to reclaim our bedroom as a place of sanctuary. Right now it's full of stuff that just hasn't made it's way to its proper home: bags for goodwill, tools from projects, luggage from our trip last weekend, the list goes on and on. I am determined to create a place that is warm and relaxing for my husband and I to share. Check back next week for the transformation!

For more inspiration or to link up your own organizational challenge, visit Melinda's blog!

Operation Organization - Week 5

Wow! We're halfway through Operation Organization hosted by Melinda at Coming Clean. I am loving the progress that I see happening in my own house and am so thankful for the support that I feel from all of you. Walking through or past the areas of my house that I've already conquered makes me smile! I'm happy to report that things are staying the way I left them at the end of their appointed week - it's so much easier to maintain. My husband is definitely noticing the changes too and has been so encouraging. I love feeling like I've made a difference. This past week I tackled our upstairs landing/desk area and tided up my little "desk" in the corner of the living room. For my "before" pictures click here. I love walking through the upstairs now (which I do frequently since my boys' rooms are upstairs) and seeing all the open space. I know that I'm going to have to be more diligent about keeping this area uncluttered. It's such an easy place to drop stuff when you're on the go. But hopefully having these "after" pictures to look at will be motivation enough.

This week my goal is to tackle/tame the toys! I don't have any before pictures, just take my word for it - we need some organization and help! Let me set the stage: my oldest son is 2 1/2 and my youngest is almost 5 months old. They are the first and only grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nephews in our family. (My husband and I are both the oldest and our sisters aren't married.) You can only imagine the multitude of things that we have. I'd love to get a rotational system started and make it easier for my sons to put their own things away when they're done.

Head on over to Parenting Confessions and link up your own organizational challenge and encourage the other participants!

Operation Organization - Week 4

Time again to check in on our progress for Operation Organization. This past week I tackled my laundry room and hall closet. Neither was very bad, but there were several things that needed to be taken care of in each area. I still need to do some deep cleaning in these areas, but at least the bulk of the clutter is gone! For "Before" pictures click here, or scroll down to Week 3. Here are the "After" pictures. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to keep it looking this good, and maybe even better!

This week my goal is the "desk" areas in our house. We have a table that serves as a desk upstairs on our landing and it and the surrounding area have become landing zones for all kinds of things. Also, I have a little corner in our living room where I keep my laptop and various bits of paperwork that needs some tidying up. Here are the "Before" pictures:

Now, head over to Melinda's blog and link up your own organizational challenge and visit the other Operation Organization participants. Let's keep encouraging each other!!

Works for Me Wednesday - Hanging Baby Clothes

It's time again for "Works for Me Wednesday" hosted by Kristen at We Are That Family. This week my tip is one that was given to me before the birth of my first son. Most new moms are inundated with new clothes for their new bundle of joy. In my experience most of these clothes are size newborn or 0-3 months. Most babies grow so quickly those first few months that often clothes only get worn once or twice before they are outgrown. In an attempt to make sure that every outfit gets worn at least once, my tip is to hang everything up by size/length. Now, you have to be careful here, because baby clothes sizes are far from standard. What is a 0-3 in one brand may be the same as a 3-6 in another. In addition, there is often great discrepancy in size even in the same brand. (I know I had several sets of onesies that came together, were the same brand, were marked the same size, and yet differed by as much as 1 1/2 inches in length.) So, after you've washed and dried the new clothes measure them against each other and hang them from shortest to longest in the closet. Then you'll be able to make sure you get to everything, instead of reaching for a new outfit, only to find that it's already too short!

For more great tips, head over to Works for Me Wednesday at We Are That Family!

Operation Organization - Week 3

Well, we've made it through 2 weeks of the Operation Organization Challenge over at Coming Clean. I'm so excited about the progress that I've made and am motivated to keep getting things done! Last week my goal was to organize our master closet. I'm so pleased with the result and my husband is loving it too! I packed away all of my maternity clothes (my son is 4 months old now) and weeded out a trash bag full of clothes that I no longer wear to bless someone else. (Now, if I could just get my husband to do the same...) Here are the "After" pictures - to see the "Before" pics click here or scroll down to Week 2.

This week my goal is to tackle our hall closet and the laundry room. They probably won't have the biggest impact, but they've been on my to-do list for quite awhile now and it will be wonderful to have that done. Here are this week's "before" pictures.

Hall closet (under stairs)

Top of washer/dryer and shelves above

Bench area (inside garage door)
Opposite wall (catch-all)

Now, head over to Melinda's blog and check out the other posts and link up your own organizational challenge.

Operation Organization - Week 2

Last week was the beginning of Operation Organization at Coming Clean (click on the picture above for more information or to join us). For the next 7 weeks we'll be tackling one area at a time to try to restore some order in our lives and our homes. Last week I tackled the kitchen counter catch-all. I'm really proud of myself and so pleased with the result. It makes me smile each time I walk by!! (To see the "Before" pictures click here or scroll down to Week 1)

Now, onto the next area! This week my goal is to organize our master closet. The closet isn't in the worst shape, but we've definitely let it slide. I know that it will be a blessing to my husband to have an organized space to walk into and it won't hurt my feelings at all either! Now, here are the "before" pictures.

Head on over to Coming Clean and link up your own organizational challenge! Let's cheer each other on!!!