Organizing, Designing, and Getting It All Together

Prodcut Feature- Rubbermaid Bento Containers

2013-04-19T10:22:00.000-04:00

As I was dream-shopping in the container section of Target today, I came across these neat boxes from Rubbermaid. They're called Bento.

What makes these containers special is the flexible dividers inside. You can leave the divider flat against the sides for a traditional fabric storage container.

Or, you can flex open one strong divider for one small section and one larger section.

Or, you can use both dividers and have 4 smaller sections.

How neat! I really like this idea!

One of my problems with traditional fabric storage bins is the lack of dividers.

Usually things are just thrown in. I want to be able to find the smaller items without taking all of the larger items out first. That drives me crazy!

The Bento storage containers are sturdy, stack-able, come in small, medium, and large sizes, and have lots of possibilities.

I'm thinking of getting one or two for my hubby's dresser. If you saw it, you'd agree! :)

We'll keep thinking & designing for more ways to Get It All together.

What do you think of these new containers? Have you seen them before?

Functional Before & After

2013-04-15T10:55:00.001-04:00

Today’s Before & After isn't so much about the dramatic looking difference. It’s more about functionality.

In the Before photo, it doesn't look too bad. The vertical space is being used wisely. The closet door still shuts and all three items have a home.

The problem:

The items were hanging by nails and when the door swung open or shut, all 3 items swung with the door, falling off, getting tangled, or jammed the door from closing.

How aggravating! My kids were especially annoyed and whined for a solution.

Here’s what I came up with:

This hook set was wasting away on the wall above the dryer. It was in a terrible location (from a previous owner who must have rearranged things before they left).

It couldn't be used because there wasn't enough space between the dryer and the wall.

So, it got taken down and moved to the back of the closet door. Thanks, hubby! (He’s much better with the electric drill than I am!)

The re-purposing took less than 10 minutes (once the hubby helped) and it works so much better!

The kids will be thrilled the next time they help sweep the kitchen…sort of. :)

Remember when designing a space to look around the house and see what you can re-purpose.

It may be your $0 Budget Solution that helps your household Get It All Together.

Spring Break!

2013-04-08T09:10:00.000-04:00

It's Spring Break!

I'll be taking this week off, cleaning, organizing, and enjoying time with my family.

Have a great week & I'll see you back here next Monday with more inspiration on

Getting It All Together.

Spring Cleaning- One Chore a Day

2013-04-05T05:00:00.000-04:00

I was reading an article from HGTV.com and discovered a great calendar with a daily tip for spring cleaning your house.

I really appreciate simple, daily tips. They help keep me on track without overwhelming me and my ever-growing to-do- list.

Today's tip is to "Lose the Magnets."

The refrigerator is a magnet for attracting clutter (haha!) and weighing down a perfectly clean kitchen.

It's easy to see from these pictures that it's definitely time to "lose the magnets" and de-clutter.

It's true- when you spruce up the refrigerator your whole kitchen seems cleaner, brighter, more free, and less cluttered.

So, it's time to throw out the expired coupons and take-out menus, move art work to its more permanent home, and tidy things up a bit.

I always like to:

Take everything off
Wipe it all down so it's clean & shiny :)
Decide what really stays and what goes
Carefully put back what's necessary, not cluttered

Take today's HGTV.com calendar challenge and start your Spring cleaning today. Your entire kitchen will thank you and you'll be one step to closer to Getting It All Together this Spring.

Product Feature: The Container Store's Long Underbed Box with Wheels

2013-04-03T09:03:00.000-04:00

Here’s today's dilemma:

Not enough storage space for the kids’ blankets and toys. The closet isn’t really an option and there is already a tight budget that won’t allow for additional shelving. What’s one solution?

Under the bed storage!

The Container Store carries these under-bed storage containers called,

“Long Underbed Box with Wheels” and they are the Product Feature of the day.

Product Claims:

"Utilize the storage space under your beds with our Long Underbed Box with Wheels. Designed and molded to our exacting specifications, our box is made from clear, virtually unbreakable polypropylene to provide uncompromised visibility of the contents. Each box features an easy-open, locking lid and wheels that can be installed to allow the box to roll in either of two directions. The extended length allows you to store oversized and extra long items with ease.

Made from the clearest, virtually unbreakable, acid-free polypropylene available"

-courtesy of The Container Store.com

Does it really live up to its claims?

Yes, it does!

Features I like:

The size- It fits perfectly under the bed without wasting space or preventing additional boxes to join the ranks. We can fit 4 under 1 twin-sized bed. One online reviewer said that he could fit 6 under his queen-sized bed.

Wheels-The wheels are very low profile so the box isn’t too tall. They help move the box easily and effortlessly.
It’s Clear- I really like to see what’s in the container. This is even more important when it’s under a kid’s bed that is too young to read the label “Blankets” versus “Cars and Trucks.”
Comes with a Lid- The lid fits nicely, is very durable (as our family has proved), and opens to the middle for easier access to things inside. Plus, it cuts down on dust!
Versatile- We chose to store bedding and toys. But, the possibilities are endless. You could store shoes, sweaters, wrapping supplies, and more.
Durable- My kids have stepped on-top of the box with the lid on, inside the box, thrown the lid, and more. We try to limit the amount of abuse it takes; but kids will be kids. :) It still looks great and works just as good as the day we purchased it.
They're on sale now! In case you're also looking for a great deal, they are on sale for a great price.
TIP: If these are a bit higher than your space allows, try a bed riser to raise the bed a few inches.

Bed Risers

Today's product was a success! We'll keep searching for more storage solutions and ways to Get It All Together.

What's your under-bed storage solution?

Easter Candy Overload

2013-04-01T09:35:00.000-04:00

Easter was yesterday and you know what that means for today....lots of leftover candy.

Today that may be okay. But by Wednesday, all that candy laying around will mean real trouble. What do you do with it (besides eat it and gain 10 pounds)?

Here are a few options to think about:

Throw it out!- This might not make the kids happy, but it will definitely save you a few pounds.

Hide it- I'm not really a big candy eater. I do like to have a piece or two occasionally. For years I've hidden/saved one holiday's candy until the next, eating a piece or three when I wanted it. It allowed me to get it "out of sight, out of mind" and stretch out the calories.

Take it to work/church/school- Who dosen't love to see a welcoming candy dish on your office desk? It can brighten a visitor's day and help make the day a little sweeter.

Decorate another project with it- This is one of my favorite ideas. I like to get creative with food and this is a really fun way. Once you're done you could eat it, but I usually like to toss it if it's been on display for a while. Check out our Easter creation that we made for dessert. It was so much fun for the kids to help with and it made a great dessert to share with our visiting family.

Check out these other amazing ideas from Delish.com:

How's that for inspiration?!

Whether you throw it out, share it, hide it, or get creative, you're sure to be one step closer to Getting it All Together.

Product Review: Frog Tape

2013-03-29T05:30:00.000-04:00

If you’ve ever watched HGTV, you already know the

cheapest design method to dramatically change a room is to…PAINT!

Painting is exactly what I’ve been up to lately.

This time I’ve taken on an ambitious painting project- paint all of the trim in the entire house. (sigh!) Luckily, our house doesn’t have as much square-footage as some. (Hooray! )

I haven’t had much success with blue painter’s tape in the past. It takes so much time to prep and it tends to bleed through, creating messy lines that drive me crazy (grrr!!). Normally, I prefer to use a steady hand and a damp rag to create crisp, professional-looking lines.

But, with this daunting project in front of me, I was willing to revisit the tape option and see what was new on the market.

Here’s what I found: Frog Tape.

It was a little more expensive than the blue stuff I’m used to seeing. It was just under $10 at Wal-Mart for a huge roll with 60 yards.

Would it live up to its promises?

Packaged Promises:

“PaintBlock Technology: Frog Tape is the only tape treated with PaintBlock technology. PaintBlock is a super-absorbent polymer which reacts with latex paint and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape, preventing paint bleed. The results: Very sharp paint lines!”
“Tape can stay up for 21 days before you paint (7 days in direct sunlight)”
Multi-Surface use

Results:

I REALLY like it! It does live up to its packaged promises- clean lines that turn out beautifully and with minimal effort.

Here's the proof:

I recently painted the wall color blue, but the trim got a little blue on it too. What's a girl to do? Re-paint!

The wall color had been dry for about a week when I cleaned and prepped the trim with Frog Tape. I made sure to line it up as straight as I could get it and press the edges of the tape down to ensure a good seal. Then, I painted the trim with an interior high-gloss white latex paint.

I was a little cautious in the beginning; but in the end I learned that I could be a little more carefree in my painting and still get great results. Following the instructions, I immediately removed the tape once I finished a section.

Then....

Check out this great line!!! Crisp, clean, professional-looking lines make me really happy. :)

So, I'm off to prep, tape, and paint some more.

Who knew Frog Tape would be another great tool for Getting it All Together?

Vegetable Garden Planner

2013-03-27T07:37:00.000-04:00

It's Spring!

(Or so my calendar says. You'd never know by how cold it is outside right now!!)

Warmer weather and sunshine mean it's time to get back out in the yard.

Are you planting a vegetable garden this year? If so, you might really like this tool from growveg.com. It's a great way to plan out your vegetable garden and it's free for a 30 day trial period or $25 for a one-year subscription.

Sample Garden Plan from www.growveg.com

I used it a season or two ago and really liked it. You can make your plans as simple or as detailed and complex as you'd like.

Features I Like:

Customizable- draw out your garden space
Features over 130 varieties of fruits & veggies
Visual layout makes planting and spacing easier
Square foot gardening options
Adapts to your location
Email reminders
Free for 30 days, no automatic subscriptions

Beginning a Layout

I love the visual layout. It helped me easily measure out the space that was needed over the season for the plants I chose.

For instance, I knew that a watermelon plant would start off small, but how much space did I need to reserve for it to grow and not crow out my tomatoes?

When you "plant" in growveg, it highlights the area around the seedling. This serves as a visual representation of how much space is really needed. It's so easy to avoid overcrowding!

Plus, they offer options for ponds, fruit trees, walkways, and more. You can design a beautiful space right in your own yard. Who says designing is only for inside the home?

Start designing your garden of plenty and take one more step towards Getting It All Together.

How does your garden grow? Let us know!

EEBA

2013-03-25T07:42:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wanted to use the cash envelope budgeting method but

still wanted to cling to the modern, electronic world?

Here's a $0 Budget Solution to try: EEBA- Electronic Envelope Budgeting Application.

It's the electronic version for cash budgeting. It's free online and has a free app for your Android or iPad.

It's pretty cool!

Here's how it works:

You create a household user name and password.

EEBA allows you to create up to 10 envelopes of cash for specific categories like groceries, gas, Before & Afters, etc.

You fill the envelopes with their allotted budgeted amount and specif where you received the funds from.

Then, when you spend at the store, you enter the amount (on your smartphone or online at home) and EEBA tracks how much you've spent and calculates how much you have left for the month (or other time period you designate).

Once your envelope is empty, you know to stop spending.

It's that simple!

You can sign up to pay a small fee for upgraded features such as additional envelopes, tech support, track your bank accounts, and scheduling.

For most basic households, the free version will work just fine.

I hope this tool helps you stay within your budget and Get your Finances All Together.

If you've used EEBA before, please share your comments. I'd love to hear from you!

Master Bedroom Closet- Part 2

2013-03-22T05:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to our Master Bedroom Closet Before & After!

In Part 1 we cleaned out the mess,

evaluated what stayed and what didn't,

re-purposed hardware, and got ready to go shopping.

Shopping

Cheat Sheet- Before I left the house, I made a handy little cheat sheet.

It had a small sketch of the floor space, the dimensions, what items I was shopping for, and the numbers of items that each piece of hardware had to hold.

Tie Rack: 20-30 ties
Hat Rack: 10-15 hats
Shoe Solution: 10-15 pairs of shoes

I've learned that if I'm not truly sold on a product in the store, I shouldn't buy it. Sometimes, that means going to several different stores. That's what happened today.

First stop: Home Depot

I was after some other hardware for another project and found this hat rack for $19.98. It was really advertised for jackets, scarves, and belts. It works great for hats, too.

I also came across a great tie rack. But, my handy dandy cheat sheet told me that it was too large to fit in the allotted space. It would stick out from the cubbies and be a real problem. So, I kept looking.

They had some great shoe solutions, but they weren't right for this project. Some were too big. Some were way too big and others just weren't right.

So, I kept looking.

Next stop: Target

They didn't have any tie racks. So, I kept looking.

I did find a great shoe solution. It would be small enough to fit in the space we had available, hold enough shoes, and was a nice price at $14.79.

Next Stop: Wal-Mart

The only item left was a tie rack. I found a revolving tie rack that was compact enough to fit in our tight space of 11.5" or less and hold up to 30 ties. I was happy to see the price tag of just $11.97.

Our Budget: $50

Shoe Rack: $14.79 (Target)

Tie Rack: $11.97 (Wal-Mart)

Hat Rack: $19.98 (Home Depot)

Total Spent: $46.74!

Installation

Time to find the drill and start installing! Before screwing hardware in, I measured to make sure there would be enough space between items.

For instance, when I hung the dress hanger, I made sure to leave enough space so that the dress sleeves didn't overlap with the clothes already hanging adjacent to them.

I also made sure to hang it high enough to give room for our shoe rack, but low enough to reach it and the hat rack that would be above it.

Getting It All Together

Finally, it was time to put things back in their new homes and organize fully. The cubbies are a wonderful resource, but they're really small and took a little creativity to get just right.

Bedding & Blankets

In order to get all the bedding tamed, it took a lot of folding and re-folding! In the end, when folded properly and housed in a pillowcase, the sheet sets looked amazing!

In order to fit bulkier items like blankets, I adjusted the shelves to a larger size. Again, there was a lot of folding! It was worth it because the blankets were off of the floor! What a difference!

Shoes

Once the shoe cubby was assembled (thanks, hubby!!), it corralled most of the shoes and looked so much better! The old wire shoe rack was bent and shoes got caught on it a lot. Boots that were kept in their boxes had plenty of room in cubbies.

Ties

The tie rack had more than enough room and fit nicely.

Dresses & Belts

Belts looked great in their new home and the dresses were no longer in the way on the closet door.

Hats

The hats are a little higher on the wall than I really like. But, I can still reach them when I occasionally wear a hat.

Extra Room

Notice that there are still a few empty cubbies! That makes me really happy! :) That means we've done a really good job. Not only did we fit in everything, but we have additional space for new items (or ones we found later!).

You can actually walk in the (small) walk-in closet! Blankets are on shelves, not the floor. Ties are no longer protruding out of their broken home, bedding fits properly on the shelf, shoes have a lovely new home, and items that didn't belong in the closet anymore were purged.
What a difference a Before & After makes!

What makes this even more amazing is that we were able to keep this within our $50 budget-awesome!

In some ways, it's exciting to improve an existing space and create

a new design that makes you appreciate all of the space that was really there,

but was hiding in plain sight.

Good design and progress are thrilling!

This master closet has been mastered & we've Got It All Together.

Master Bedroom Closet- Part 1

2013-03-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

What a mess!

Time for a major Before & After overhaul.

Today we highlight Part 1 of this transformation.

Friday we'll highlight the final fixes in Part 2.

Let's breakdown the problems:

Bags and bags of crafty, kid, and miscellaneous things taking up residence where they don't belong
Blankets on the floor/shoe rack
Broken tie rack; ties don't fit
Bedding runneth over
Shoe overload
Hats falling down
Crowded closet door hanger
No room to walk in the walk-in!

Our Budget: $50

Meager for some, but no problem for us!

(We're used to $0 Budget Solutions.)

Let's Get Started

I almost always like to get started by removing everything and cleaning it all out.
Once you see the clean space you have to work with, design ideas start flowing.

Evaluation Time

What stays and what goes?

My fantastic hubby helped by going through his belts and ties. We were able to eliminate things that didn't work for either of us anymore. That Donation Station I created a few weeks ago sure came in handy!

There was a definite conflict of interest going on! There were bags and bags of leftover crafty project supplies, not to mention kid toys that were hastily stashed out of reach of little hands and never removed. It was time for these items to join their crafty counterparts in the craft section, not the master bedroom closet.

Why wasn't the old arrangement working? What are the "keepers" we have to work with?

Although there were lots of shelves and cubbies, they weren't being used to their fullest potential. Shoe storage was all over the place. The crafty stuff squeezed out the blanket's home and booted it to the floor. How embarrassing!

The old hat hook was not really made for hats. It badly needed an upgrade. The tie rack had gotten too small and broke because of it. A new one was also badly needed.

What space and resources are available?

After things were cleaned out, I noticed there was a blank, unused wall! This was wasted space, a valuable resource.

This was a key to gaining more storage space within the same square footage.

Re-purposing

I removed the broken pieces from the tie rack and discovered that it still worked well. It just held a smaller amount of ties. So, I headed over to the boys' closet to remove their old hook (which was also not really made to hang ties on).

Their hook was exactly what I was looking for! It would work perfectly to hang long dresses on in the blank space. It was a win-win! I swapped hooks (with some hubby help!) and was pleasantly surprised at how much better the closet was already, without spending anything.

I moved the old belt hanger from it's location to the blank wall. It would be much easier to access and it was free!

Shopping!

Come back on Friday to see how my shopping trip went, what I ended up with, and the big reveal.

We're working on Getting this master closet All Together.

Beauty or Function?

2013-03-18T08:40:00.002-04:00

Let's talk design. When design is done right, it's really right.

It is beautiful and functional. Good design doesn't have to sacrifice beauty for functionality or vice versa.

However, sometimes things so awry. Take a look at this lovely bathroom counter. It's really nice to look at.

The counter top is a nice warm color and modern looking with wide a space for toiletries. The lines are clean. The bottom shelf allows for additional open storage space.

Is it beauty and functionality at their best?

Not really. Most bathroom counter tops are about 31" - 32" in height. This allows for a wide variety of people to access the piece comfortably.

This counter top, however, is about 37" in height. What a difference! That difference in height creates about 6" in additional height that even tall people are very uncomfortable with. It creates awkward movements that make simple everyday tasks, such as brushing your teeth, more labored.

Also, notice the curved portion of the counter top around the sink. It makes accessing the sink almost impossible for children. The average adult has to lean over dramatically to access the sink, creating more awkward motions. (This doesn't begin to take into account those with special needs.)

When designing a space of your own, remember to take into account both beauty and functionality.

Good design doesn't have to sacrifice one for the other.
You'll feel more at home, more at ease, and you will be more efficient while you Get It All Together.

Did I pack everything?

2013-03-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

Picture this- you're packing for a family trip out of town for a few days. How do make sure you have everything? Will you (or your hubby) be making a mad dash to Wal-Mart in the middle of the night?

Try today's idea out and save yourself (or your hubby) a trip to the store. He'll thank you for it later :)

The Conundrum:

Over the years our family has grown, and so has the amount I have to pack.

Questions like these (and more) were swirling around in my head:

Did I pack 3 shirts for the youngest or was it for the oldest?

How long are we going to be gone again? How many shirts do we need to pack?

I think I packed 3 pairs of pjs for the girl.

The oldest still needs 2 more, and 1 load is in the dryer with 2 for him, 3 for her, 1 for me, and 2 for the hubby.

How many did I need again?!?!?

I was getting so confused!

The Solution

A customized packing list! This solution is so simple, but it has worked wonders for our family. Here's a glimpse:

A few key features:

Easily divided up for each child to pack on his or her own. We use scissors to cut it into two or three lists that each child uses to pack. I supervise and help as needed.
The "# needed" column indicates how many of each type of clothing is needed.
The "#packed" column really helps if the packing process takes place over a few days. It lets you know if you need to wash more of pjs or underwear and how far along the process is. Love this part!
Promotes independent children.
Allows me to do laundry and put it right into suitcases.
It's more efficient than putting everything away and then hunting it down again to pack.

I created it in Excel and update it according to how many days/nights we'll be staying. It's not fancy, but the kids love it! They really like to be independent and pack themselves. This gives them guidance and the ability to do more. It's one more tool that helps us Get It All Together.

2013-03-11T09:19:00.000-04:00

Today's post is about

Designing!

Check out this terrible attempt at a wall color and then the awful things thrown on the shelf. This area definitely needs attention.

First let's look at the wall color. It was originally supposed to be a different hue of green that matched another piece of palm tree decor and be restful in a master bedroom. However, the color turned out all wrong and reminds me of green peas- yuck!

Paint is an easy and inexpensive fix. You can always paint over it and that's the first correction we'll make here.

Next, the shelf will emptied of its contents, cleaned, and rearranged. I found some great ideas for arranging photographs from Pinterest.

The new shelf and wall design will be up in the next week or so.

Check back to see the new and improved wall color and the big reveal as we work on Getting It All Together.

To Keep or Not To Keep...

2013-03-08T08:06:00.000-05:00

...that is the question. It can be really tricky and emotionally taxing when weeding through things.

How do you decide what's worth having around?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

When was the last time I used it?
Do I really love it?
Would I be heartbroken if it were gone? In other words, would you regret tossing it out?
Where is its home? Do I have a place to store it?
Does it still fit?
If it's paperwork- do I need it for taxes? Do I need it to pay bills?
Do I have duplicates? If so, consider downsizing to just what you need.
If it's broken- Can it be repaired for a reasonable cost?
Does it have value?

But, what if you still can't decide? Then what?

Here's what I do:

I wait. Yes, that may sound counter-productive; but, I put it into a box and wait until later. Sometimes I come back to it a month later. Sometimes it's a year or more. I move on to other things that can be taken care of today and wait to decide on the most difficult items.

When revisited, my mind is clearer and a better decision can be made. Most of the time I realize that I wasn't as attached to the item as I thought and it was time to purge it.

Be brave! Don't be afraid to make a decision today. Line up the laundry baskets and a trash can, start sorting the closet, and letting things go. Have the trash can handy and use it as an option. Keep the laundry baskets around to sort other items into piles that will be kept or donated.

Clutter can weigh you down. Free yourself by letting go. Give what you don't need to others and be lifted while you Get It All Together.

Breakfast Solved

2013-03-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Are you tired of the same old boring milk and cereal for breakfast?

Is each member of your family whining for something different?

Check out this $0 Budget Solution-

It's a pretend-you're-at-a-restaurant Breakfast Menu that your family plans, not you!

I've really enjoyed the benefits of having a meal plan, but somehow breakfast always got left out.

Everyday was a "I'll wing it" day. After lots of "winging it" I came up with a solution that took less pressure off of me and got the kids involved.

Here's how it works-

Each child gets to choose what the family will have for breakfast and write it on the special breakfast menu.
No arguing! If you're not crazy about what someone else picked, remember that you also had the opportunity to choose and your day will come.
In 2 weeks, lay it out for the kids to choose again.

Details:

I created a blank menu in Excel, featuring each day of the week and spaces for them to write in their choices.
Choices are at the bottom. It's kind of like having your own personalized restaurant at home!
The categories included "Drinks" and "Breakfast Foods." I made sure to include options that I was willing to make and that we normally have on hand.
If we were out of something or if time wouldn't permit a meal with a longer preparation time, I'd try to let them know while we were planning.
I like to create 2 weeks' worth of ideas at once because it gives me more time before I have to do it again, and it makes me feel like I've really accomplished a lot! :)

I don't know about your house, but in mine, breakfast can be a scramble. (haha!) Between sleepy kids, trying to get them ready for school, and managing differing tastes, it can get hectic quickly!

So, after squelching bickering over the breakfast fare for (hopefully) the last time, I came up with this idea that's worked well in our home.

It's just one small step that's helping us Get It All Together, together.

What's your family's breakfast routine?

Untangling Technology

2013-03-04T13:18:00.000-05:00

We all love technology. It's so helpful and it's everywhere in today's world.

Often times cords- lots of cords- accompany that technology. It's great that you can go wireless on so many devices. But, if you have a desktop computer, you're bound to have a tangled mess of cords hanging from the back of your computer desk.

As embarrassing as it is, this was hiding under my computer desk. I'd had a vision of what I wanted it to look like and what I thought it should look like. But, I couldn't face it then and opted to ignore it in favor of higher priorities like family and school. So, today's Before & After is long overdue and happily accomplished!

What a jumbled mess!

Supply List

Velcro strips for bundling wires --They have both sides of Velcro on one piece, so all you have to do is wrap it around the cords. They're about $5 online.
If you don't gave Velcro strips, you could use a zip cord (but this isn't easily removed), cord covers, long bread ties, or string.
Clear Command Hooks

Here's How I Untangled My Technology:

I started by turning off the computer. (Well, I checked out the wires first, then decided that I'd better turn it off to be safe!) :)

Next, I traced each wire to it's device and it its outlet. Once I knew which cord belonged where, it was easy to see that there was an extra cord down there! I quickly unplugged it and tossed it aside for my IT hubby to take care of. Whew! One less cord to deal with!

Then, I grabbed the Velcro strips. They had been hanging around the house, waiting for me to use them. Finally, they had their moment to shine! My IT helper graciously helped bundle the mess. He used about 3 strips at the top, middle, and bottom to create one large cord. Once you've got one cord, it's a lot easier to handle.

Then, I attached one Clear Command Hook to the back of my computer desk. This would hold the bundled cord in place, hiding it behind the desk.

Once it was firmly attached, I just hooked the bundled cord on it, tidied up the rest behind the computer tower, and ta-da! It was finished!

After is so much better! Now it's neater, safer, and it's helped me move one step closer to Getting It All Together. What works for you? I'd love to hear your comments.

Donation Station

2013-03-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Last year I read a great website that had a Declutter Calendar. The author's ideas were so simple and easy to do that I got really excited about it. Today we're getting back to her first step-

Creating a Donation Station.

This is a great idea! Every organization project involves sorting & purging through things. By setting up a place for items to be donated, it will cut down on multiple donation piles scattered throughout the house. (These drive me crazy!)

You can use anything from a new trash bag, to a cardboard box, a clean, unused trash can, or a laundry basket, assuming you have an empty one!

Some things are necessary and should be kept around. But, often we grow out of things. In other words, our lifestyle has changed and these things are no longer a match for us or for our family. When this happens, its time to reevaluate.

The next time you're sorting through things, ask yourself:

Do I still use this? When was the last time I used it? (If you can't remember, be honest with yourself.)
Do I need this item?
Do I want this item?
Could someone else benefit from this more than me?

If I don't need or want this anymore, could someone else benefit from it? If the answers lead you to donation, consider someone close to you. Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and other thrift stores are also great options.

No matter who you choose to give to, you'll feel good about sharing with others. You'll feel lighter and better after freeing yourself of unwanted things that can weigh you down. Setting up a donation station is just one more small step towards Getting It All Together.

Laundry Area- Before & After

2013-02-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today's project is the laundry area.

My laundry "room" is really a walkway, not a room. It's a long, narrow hallway that used to be a back porch when the home was originally built over 70 years ago. Over the years, previous owners enclosed it and made a small space for the washer and dryer.

It's not fancy. It doesn't have many shelves, hooks that are functional, or enough space to hang my ironing board. I did put a laundry sorter in front of the washer a few years ago that got most of the dirty laundry out of my room. Yay!

Before

Requests:

Get rid of the junk! No toys on the dryer that were saved after being washed.
Shelves or spaces for all the laundry soaps, etc.
Clean- no more dryer lint everywhere
Make it more functional

Budget:

$0 and whatever I have on hand
Painting & additional shelving would be great, but they're not in today's budget

The Process

First- Clean
I took everything off & wiped it all down. No more laundry soap granules, lint, or spilled fabric softener! It looked so much better already- wow!

Second- The Evaluation Process
Do I still need this? Have I used it? (The coupon expired in 2008. I think it's safe to go! haha!)

Never used - time to trash!

Yes, I still want to keep the bleach. No, I don't need 3 partially used containers of it. I consolidated the containers and tossed out the empty bottle.

No, the bottle of Shout isn't full. It's empty. Time to toss it!

Yes, I'd like to keep the bar of Fels Naptha for spot treating. No, I don't want it to sit directly on the dryer- must find a container.

Yes, I'd like to keep the lost coin jar.

Yes, I'd really like to keep the laundry soap! But, the container doesn't fit anymore- must find a better container.

Third- Containers
I found a traveling soap container that works great for the Fels Naptha to sit in. Now my space is protected and the soap has a new home.

I've been making homemade laundry detergent lately and keeping it in an old ice cream container. A "new" whipped topping container that fits better and allows me to free up some much needed space.

Fourth- Organizing
Now, it's time to really get to work. When putting things back, they have to be functional. You wouldn't put the flatware in the garage because it just doesn't work. The same principle applies here.

Things should be arranged so that they are in the most efficient place- a "home" that is accessible and in the closest location to avoid duplication of motions or spillage. These lead to inefficiencies, frustration, and the clutter bug.

I realized that I really didn't like the fake foliage that was spilling from the wall near the washing machine. So, I took it out! It felt so good to be free of the cheap plastic leaves that had been placed there to make the house more appealing to buyers over 10 years ago. (Why did I wait so long?)

In its place I discovered that I did have another shelf- wow! After some cleaning, it became the new home for the ironing supplies and bottles that were on the dryer.

Fun Discoveries of the Process:

A car seat manual. Who would've thought to look on top of the dryer?!
Buttons
Outdoor Christmas light hangers
Detergent samples
Shoe laces
A child's watch and ring

This project has given me a fresh start on laundry! (haha) I feel lighter, uplifted, and happy to see improvement.

Organizing and designing a space that feels comfortable and that truly works for each individual is what I really enjoy. Keep following along for more ideas that help you Get It All Together.

Before & After

Sweater Disaster- Before & After

2013-02-25T09:23:00.001-05:00


Before

Eeek!

Look at all those sweaters ready to fall out of the closet!

What a disaster!

Okay, let's admit it- sometimes even the best intentions get thwarted by the clutter bug. So, when the clutter bug settles in, it's time for an organizational overhaul.

Today's project is this disastrous stack of sweaters- AKA The Leaning Stack of Sweaters. haha!

Problems:

Messy!
Too many sweaters stacked on top of each other
Gravity is about to win
Can't tell what's in there

Solutions:

First, everything comes off the shelf. We've got to see what's there and sort it out.
Adjust the shelves! This closet comes with adjustable shelves. There are WAY too many sweaters for just one shelf. So, we'll adjust the shelves to create two spaces and divide the tower in two.
A solid foundation- fold every sweater in a uniform manner for stability. Plus, they're so much prettier!


One Sweater

Keep folding & stacking, keeping the large, more bulky ones on the bottom.

After

After- Two Shelves

Ta Da! The stack is no longer leaning. Plus, you can actually see all your options available for the next cold, winter day.

It's a simple, easy, and free fix that can help you Get It All Together.

Hello Again!

2013-02-23T16:47:00.001-05:00

Hi. It's been awhile since we've seen each other. Thanks for hanging around!

I've been busy gathering lots of new ideas, adding new projects, and new photos.

Stick with me for new posts each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday while we Get It All Together.

Clutter

2012-07-26T08:34:00.002-04:00

I came across this great quote while my kids were in school this year. It's ironic that I just found it in a stack of papers that was, well.....clutter. (how embarrassing!)

Clutter can grow into stacks of grief.

'A place for everything, and everything in its place.'- Isabella Mary Beeton

I saved it to share with you and remind us all that clutter is mostly just great stacks of stuff waiting to be sorted through. Sometimes we stack it because we can't face it right now. Sometimes we create clutter because we don't have the time to take care of it right then.
Either way, I've never seen a pretty stack of clutter. Have you?

So, here's to un-cluttering our lives and homes and determining what really matters to us.

Keep organizing and Getting It All Together.

FREE Fixes with Great Returns

2012-04-30T18:58:00.001-04:00

Not all organization projects need big bucks to shine. Sometimes there are great fixes to everyday problems using what you already have.

Yes, that's right, that makes these fixes FREE! In my book, these budget-friendly ideas are always at the top of my interest list.

Let's look at a few free ideas I found on Pinterest.

1- This idea is so simple! Computer cords seem to be everywhere under our desks getting tangled, collecting dust, and just being ugly. So, why not tame them and take back control? First, untangle them and figure out which cord goes to which appliance. Next, take a Sharpie and write where it belongs to, clasp it onto the cord, and you're done! How easy! If you really wanted to go the extra mile, you could secure the cords together with a small piece of Velcro, a cord wrap, or even a few neatly placed rubber bands. Whatever your choice, it's sure to be better in the end.

2- If you've ever been frustrated with keeping wrapping paper wrapped up, this is for you. Use an old toilet paper core that's been cut in half lengthwise to manage wrapping paper.


Why didn't I think of this?

3- I've seen this around the internet and it's a great idea. My sis-in-law actually got to try it out before I did and I like the way it works. Under her sink, the rod doesn't have enough space to hang straight across. So, it fits diagonally around the pipes and still works nicely to hang bottles of cleaners.

If you have an extra curtain rod that will fit under your sink, try it out! I really like this idea because it makes great use of the vertical space we often forget about or waste.

Tension rod under the sink

What ideas have you designed that work in your space?

Let us know and help us all Get it All Together.

It Is Better To Give

2012-04-23T21:03:00.001-04:00

Last week I happily donated a bag full of our old treasures that I hope someone else will enjoy. I was very excited to make more room in our home and purge what just didn't work for us anymore.

Saying goodbye to all of those things made me remember how good it feels to give to someone else.

We've all heard it before- It is better to give than to receive.

But, have you tried it lately? If it's been awhile since you donated

something to someone else,

I challenge you to give something to someone else this week.

It could be a bag of clothes from your newly cleaned-out closet, toys you quietly removed from your kid's bedroom, a surprise note of admiration to a friend, or even a hand folding the laundry.

Whatever you choose to give, donate with love. Give because you can and someone else will happily receive. You'll be happier that you've de-cluttered, given something to someone else, and moved one step closer towards Getting it All Together.

Jewelry Week- Summed Up

2012-04-13T14:20:00.001-04:00

All week long we've looked at great ideas for organizing our sparkles and glam.

Today we look at a few "out-of-the-jewelry-box" ideas that are great for a small, versatile collection.

Idea #1- Hanging Organizer

If you'd like to make it easier to coordinate your jewelry with your outfit, this is a great option for you. Numerous pockets on the front make it ideal for earrings, rings, everyday pins, & small bracelets. The hooks on the back give more space for necklaces to hang freely without getting tangled up and for chunkier bracelets that need more space than the pockets allow.

Idea #2- Stacking Jewelry Trays

These trays are so versatile! They can easily accommodate rings, earrings, pins, bracelets, and more. I like this option better than your average jewelry box because it has more compartments so you can organize your pieces better and still have room to store them in a small space. Plus, it could fit into a more secure location if you're concerned with safety.