My Organized Lifestyle

Don’t Lose Your S*&$% in the Back of the Cabinets

stacey — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:00:47 +0000

One way to lose your stuff at the back of a cabinet, especially the lower kitchen cabinets, is to not utilize every square inch to its fullest. To avoid disorganization and maximizing space, pull-out drawers work wonders. Years ago, pull-out drawers were only available as a custom option in cabinets, but today you can find them at Lowe’s, Home Depot and many online retailers.

Here are some examples of how you can make your kitchen (or bath) feel like a custom experience.

Storing and accessing cleaning supplies should be simple too.

Great for pots & pans!

This is my favorite because it reduces the number of appliances on the counter top.

Great for under a kitchen or bathroom sink to store cleaning supplies.

Note: All images are of the Rev-a-Shelf products that are available at Lowes.com.

For more inspiring images and ideas, visit my Cabinet Organization board on Pinterest.

Quick Tip on Tuesday

stacey — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:24:48 +0000

Want to create more time in your week to relax? Group tasks together.

First, instead of literally running all over town, map out your errands and get them done in one afternoon, starting at one end of town. This will save time and gas. Make it a mission and don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked by a bargain or an unplanned stop along the way!

Next, take the time you have “leftover” and do something fun and rewarding like a walk outside or an afternoon at the beach. Try and make it something that doesn’t require you to spend money (other than perhaps the gas to get there), to get a sense of true relaxation (more time and no financial burden). Here are 15 ideas for how to spend enjoy some down time:

Read a book
Listen to music
Drink an herbal tea
Look up at the sky
Write a letter to someone special
Take a bath
Give yourself a facial
Take a nap
Snuggle with someone special
Prepare a healthy snack
Go to the beach
Paint something (if it relaxes you)
Garden
Knit or do a craft
Do Yoga or stretch

Go do it and comment below as to how you spent your time!

A WINNING Mother’s Day!

stacey — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:06:11 +0000

And the WINNER is…Tarryn Macpherson Lankford. Congratulations!!

NOTE: Contest extended through 11:59:59 on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. ENTER NOW!

I’m excited to offer you the opportunity to win a special Mother’s Day gift for yourself or someone special in your life!

Enter to WIN a copy of The Organized Mom: Simplify Life for You & Baby One Step at a Time AND a beautiful handmade picture frame from Paige at West Ashley Wall Art.

Paige is the creator of gorgeous one-of-a-kind custom picture frames. I had the pleasure of meeting her recently and viewing her work. It’s gorgeous!!

(click photo to enlarge)

Here’s how to enter to WIN:

1. Like my Facebook page (if you haven’t already)

2. Like West Ashley Wall Art’s Facebook page

3. Comment on both pages in the post that is pinned at the top of the page titled “WIN a Mother’s Day gift.” This will confirm your entry.

4. If you “share” the contest on your page, you will be entered twice!

Here’s exactly what you’ll win:

An endorsed copy of The Organized Mom book a custom picture frame.

The Organized Mom book is a 272-page hard-cover AND spiral bound, which makes it an easy read for a mom with a baby in her arms. Book lays flat when opened to a page. The overall size is 8 x 7.7 x 1 inches.

The frame is a chunky distressed wood Black with a colorful striped wood mat. Just loosen screws & change out the photo as often as you would like. Holds a 5″ X 7″ picture; overall frame size is: 9″ x 11″, equipped to hang on the wall or put in a stand.

Good luck and Happy Mother’s Day!

The winner will be selected through a random generator at the close of the contest on Monday night, May 14, 2012 at 11:59:59. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 9am on both Facebook pages.

Mother’s Day is Just around the Corner

stacey — Sun, 06 May 2012 22:10:42 +0000

With Mother’s Day in a little more than one week, my daughters started asking me what I’d like as a gift. As a single mom, my first response is “Please bring me coffee and be nice to me all day.” My kids are genuinely good kids, so the “be nice to me” is basically a request to not ask for anything more than, “what would you like to do?” It could happen one day out of the year.

We will actually enjoy a Mother’s Day weekend, beginning with a Moms’ Run (it’s the 9th annual!!) to support the Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation, dedicated to educating and supporting mothers and their families with postpartum depression, which can be seriously debilitating and is often misunderstood. Please visit the web site to learn more. The event takes place on Saturday, May 12, starting with the race at 8am and family fun afterwards. My oldest will run the 5K with me (I’m very excited! This will be our first run together) while my youngest, who opted out this year, will do some volunteer work. After the race, we will stay for some family fun (here are some pictures from last year’s event).

After the race, we will likely spend the afternoon resting and relaxing before a dinner somewhere outdoors, weather permitting. It’s been in the 80s recently, so as long as it doesn’t rain, we’re good! On Sunday, I’ll opt-in for breakfast in bed, then perhaps a run (although I may want to take the day off), and then to the beach! Living on the coast has its advantages, one being close proximity to some of the best beaches.

Photo Credit: HuffPost Travel

All in all, I know it will be a good weekend because I’ll be spending it with my two favorite people in the whole wide world: My daughters, who are the reason I get to celebrate this holiday of Mother’s Day in the first place.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner…

I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you that if you know an expectant or new mom, that organization is the key to a new mom’s sanity and making the most of her time with baby and family. Remember your expectant and new mom friends this Mother’s Day by giving her The Organized Mom: Simplify Life for You & Baby One Step at a Time to help her start of motherhood on the right foot. Although it’s not medically proven, organizing can reduce anxiety associated with being a new mom. As a new mom, there’s so much to manage. When a new mom can feel at ease, it creates a more serene environment, which helps ultimately helps baby relax!

If you’d like a personalized gift-wrapped copy delivered in time for Mother’s Day, email me at staceycrew at gmail dot com by Tuesday, May 8th at 3pm.

Come & Go with Ease: Front Hall/Closet Makeover

stacey — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:48:14 +0000

Photo credit: bhg.com

Some houses have an entryway with a closet and others don’t. Your main “entryway” for the family may be the back or side entrance that doesn’t have a closet at all. Whatever the circumstances, busy families need a dropping point for things that come and go every day, such as jackets, book bags, keys and mail.

Recently, a twitter follower of mine asked “How do you get coats, shoes, boots and all the stuff a family of 4 to fit in a hall closet?”

Good question! Here are three simple steps that will solve most problems:

Limit the number of coats and shoes for each family member.
Remove and store out-of-season elsewhere, creating space for what you’re currently using.
Make a place for everything–When there’s room for everything, putting it away becomes effortless and easy for every one in the family to help.

Ideally, a front hall closet should be for items you use regularly. If you’re “storing” items here, relocate them. Think of the hall closet as a permanent place for items that are used frequently during a particular season. When it’s summer, consider packing up and storing winter items elsewhere. This will make it much easier to grab what you need without weeding through what’s currently not in use. Also, closed storage is a great way to keep the hallway from looking like a bomb went off (even my front hall looks like that from time-to-time, but having a hall closet makes it a quick fix to put everything away).

So, to effectively organize your space, here are solutions if you DO have a hall closet and if you DON’T.

If you DO have a hall closet, use it for:

1. Jackets and bags–Whether it’s hangers or hooks, make sure there are enough for what you’re using currently.

2. Shoes–Limit the number of shoes that are kept in the immediate are to two pair per person. Flip Flops and sandals take up minimal space, so consider a basket for those items.

3. Incoming/outgoing mail–Add an in/out box for mail so you know where it is. Sort regularly so it doesn’t accumulate. Hang a double on the inside of the hall closet to give new meaning to “dropping” the mail.

Photo credit: Staples

If you DON’T have a closet, here’s what you need to make your entryway functional and family friendly:

1. Coat Rack or Hooks–To hang jackets and bags

2. Hall Table–for a key bowl and place to drop mail

3. Chair–or a bench if you can fit one. Makes putting on shoes easier or if you want to sit and open the mail.

4. Shoe Storage–If your hallway is tight, consider a table (#2) where you can keep shoes that are worn daily. For busy families, it’s unlikely that you’ll put the shoes away in their permanent storage place every time you come and go, so make a space in the hall.

5. Mirror–If possible, a full-length mirror is great so you can “check yourself out” before you leave. If there’s only room for a standard size mirror, you’ll at least be able to check from the waist up.

For fabulous examples of entryways and hall closets, click here to visit my Pinterest board:

Please comment with additional questions or comments so I can continue to help you solve your organizing challenges! If you’re on Facebook regularly, pop over and “Like” my page too.

Maximize Your Closet Space: Big or Small

stacey — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:00:50 +0000

I want to feel like Carrie when I enter my closet. Don’t you? Hey, we start and end our days in the closet. It’s where we choose what we’ll wear to head out into the world. How do we make it a great space? Simple…

Unless you have a ginormous closet, you want to remove all out-of-season clothing AND clothing that no longer fits. We all have some clothing we hope to get back into one day or know we won’t, but simply don’t want to part with, but unless you have a clear fitness or weight loss goal that you’re working on, remove anything that doesn’t currently fit. Why? When you have a closet full of items that don’t fit, every time you walk into that closet, your subconscious is recognizing those pieces. That little voice is saying, “Oh, you’re never going to fit into those clothes again.” “I remember when those clothes fit.” It’s all negative and puts you in the past versus the present. TAKE THOSE PIECES OUT and fill your closet with items that make you feel good NOW! I promise you that removing those items will change your entire outlook on getting dressed!

Store the out-of-season clothing in labeled containers. If you’re seriously considering getting back into the smaller size, then keep them and put them in a labeled container (stored elsewhere). Maybe keep one pair of your favorite jeans for inspiration hung in a special place and attach your written goal to them. State the goal in the present. For example, “Now that I’ve lost 10 pounds, I’m wearing my jeans and feeling hot and sexy.”

Doing the above will solve or reduce many tight-space issues and the issue of not seeing clearly what you have available to wear NOW. During this process of removal, also take the time to purge clothing pieces that are out-dated, worn out, and items you never wear.

Next, identify the problems and implement the solutions. Here are the most common:

Problem: Underutilized vertical space

Solution: Use labeled containers to store items on upper shelving to maximize vertical space. You may want to consider moving the rod up higher to give you space below to store shoes.

Problem: Uncategorized items. For example, shoes strewn all over the floor (use clear shoe containers or a shoe bag), sweaters and tops tossed on a shelf (use clear sweater boxes), or hanging items shoved anywhere on the rod (sort by categories and color: short-sleeved tops, long-sleeved tops, dresses, pants, skirts, etc.)

Solution: Space plan the closet. Choose where items will live; contain items that sit on shelves to prevent co-mingling.

Problem: Unrelated items in closet

Solution: In addition to out-of-season clothing that doesn’t fit, remove items such as exercise equipment, gift wrap and anything else that accumulated due to not knowing where to put it (next week I’ll post on an organized hall closet, so perhaps you could put these items there).

Here are the main categories of closet items and tips for containing them:

Short hanging–tops, jackets, pants folded over the hanger. Double up your closet space by hanging two rods for short hanging.
Long hanging–dresses, long jackets, etc. Put all long hanging together to maximize vertical and horizontal space.
Shoes, boots & sneakers–remember to “remove” any out-of-season footwear. This will make room what you’re currently wearing. As mentioned, use hanging shoe bags or shoe containers that stack.
Handbags–Perhaps you put the more commonly used bags in an easy-to-reach place and the others in a basket on the top shelf. Another solution is a handbag file that holds up to 8 bags in clear pockets to keep them organized and dust free.
Luggage–if there’s room, store in the closet. Otherwise, store in the attic, basement, under the bed or spare room closet. Nest the bags to save space.
Jewelry–Hanging jewelry bags work well because they take up little space and you can see what you have.
Belts–Roll them up and place them in a basket or use a belt hanger to minimize space.
Scarves–Fold and place in a basket, a clear drawer so you can protect but still see them, or a scarf hanger.

To further maximize space, contain what you can. Mostly this will be accessories, belts, shoes, jewelry and scarves.

To really make the closet your own, add some personal touches such as a interesting light fixture, a shelf for your most-often-worn jewelry and a box that contains special mementos. For a full-blown closet makeover, hire a closet specialist to install shelving, rods and even drawers. Do yourself a favor though, purge and organize what you have first. Hire an organizer, if you want fast results!

To view a gallery of closets where you may find inspiration on taking your closet to the next level, visit my Dream Closet board on Pinterest.

Also take a peek at the fun videos Bluefly.com Closet Confessions with a handful of celebrities by clicking here.

Mad about Running

stacey — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:00:42 +0000

Yes, I admit it: I’ve gone mad! This running thing has taken over and I’m actually setting a goal of running a Half Marathon this year.

My journey started in January. My goal was to “do” (whatever that meant…maybe run/walk/cry at some point) the Cooper River Bridge Run, a 10K. The commitment was easy because I simply had to drive across town. Honestly, I don’t think I really knew what I was committing to. However, I’m competitive and all about setting goals, so that was it.

In January, I quickly worked up to consistently running four miles, four days a week for the months of January, February and March.

The Bridge Run was March 31st. The most difficult part was the incline leading onto the bridge. I slowed up, walked a bit, then started running again. I finished the race in 1:06:41. A little disappointed that I didn’t finish in under and hour (my goal), but I quickly reminded myself that I only started running in early January! I’m proud of my accomplishment.

Next on the race schedule was a 5K Mother’s Day weekend: The Moms Run. Then I discovered the iFiveK on April 19th in the evening in downtown Charleston. Without giving it any thought, I signed up, showed up, and finished in 28:55, meeting my goal of finishing in under 30 minutes. (I’ll keep you posted on the Mother’s Day weekend run).

Truly getting that, for me, running is more than logging miles, I began thinking about how I could further challenge myself. If I could “train” for just three months and run a 10K, then if I gave myself six months, surely I could run a Half Marathon. And there it was: A reason to set this new goal.

More to come…

I’m tracking my workouts on The Daily Mile.

A Girl’s Dream Closet

stacey — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:00:39 +0000

Remember Carrie Bradshaw’s closet? The walk-through that housed her funky stylish clothing in her tiny New York apartment.

Or how about the super duper closet Carrie wound up with in her apartment when she finally married Big.

So most of probably don’t have either one of these closets. However, there are a few ways to feel like a princess in your own closet. Stay-tuned next week for a post on making the most of the space where you start and end your day.

Have a specific closet challenge? Comment below and tell me. I’ll incorporate a solution into next week’s post.

Clear the Bathroom Vanity Once and for All

stacey — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:23:10 +0000

My tween and teen share a bathroom, which means there are A LOT of cosmetic and beauty products strewn all over the vanity area. Add to that the iPod speaker (because we all know you have to listen to music while taking a shower or blow drying your hair), the flat and curling irons, the soap dispenser, makeup case and dental hygeine tools–and you’ve got the potential for one big mess!

In an effort to eliminate most of the clutter, I searched for some ideas and products that clear the vanity and get everything stored away neatly. Here’s what I came up with:

The modified shoe bag is a great way to store items that otherwise would wind up in a heap at the back of the cabinets. Although the woman who originally created this pocket holder sewed it from scratch (Yes, she did) you can easily modify a store bought shoe bag holder to accomplish the same thing. And instead of using the metal hanger brackets that generally come with the shoe bag, use Command Brand hooks instead. If you need a little demonstration of how to remove the hooks, I did one of those not too long ago: Click here for the video.

The modified shoe bag could be used for cleaning supplies (rubber gloves, sponges, brushes, cleaning solution, etc.) or the many products our teen girls/boys use: deodorants, razors, hair serum, lotions, feminine products, etc.

If bending is an issue and you don’t mind the visual on the back of the bathroom door, hang the long version of the shoe bag there and you’ll have many more pockets for all kinds of stuff. To keep it neat and orderly, label the pockets even if you can see through so you everyone knows what belongs in each one and clean up is simplified!

So this Lazy Susan (L.S.) is shown with kitchen items, but the Lazy Susan is great for shampoos, lotions, contact lens solution, etc. Definitely make sure the L.S. has a “lip” on it, in the event a product leaks, it won’t leak all over the bottom of your cabinet. Add this to the under counter space for easy access to what would normally wind up at the back of the cabinet.

The Multi-purpose bins from the Container Store are one of my all-time favorite containers! They’re so versatile and easy to clean. For under the sink, use three: One for toilet paper, another for your “quick cleanup” in the bathroom supplies (cleaner, sponge, roll of toilet paper and glass cleaner), and a third for feminine products and overflow of shampoo/conditioner and soap.

Other uses for these containers: Under the kitchen sink to house all supplies and contain potential spills, laundry room for supplies, kids rooms for storage of small toys, closets for belts and purses (the extra large multi-purpose), garage for cleaners and tools, great for arts & crafts supplies (paints, liquids, etc.). In an office these work well to hold files, use one for an “Action” filing system. Please comment below with your “good use” for these awesome containers!

My all-time favorite bins!

Trouble with Cloudy Dishes? Serious Quick Fix!

stacey — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:00:47 +0000

An interesting fact: In July 2010, there was a ban on phosphates that required the reformation of dishwasher detergents. Since then, consumers noticed that their dishes are just not as clean as they used to be. And I thought it was my dishwasher. The cloudy film builds on top of previously cloudy film, which is incredibly frustrating to anyone who expects their dishes to come out clean and spotless.

So, OxiClean® developed a Dishwashing Booster designed to eliminate spots, residue and cloudy films in just one wash. I was pleasantly surprised that it worked…well! The directions on the product instruct you to add two squirts of the booster directly into the bottom of the dishwasher and fill the rinse agent dispenser. Then use your regular detergent. I was especially pleased with my wine glasses that had been cloudy the last time they were used. I rewashed them and they were sparkly. No kidding! I just wish Billy Mays who was doing the commercials for this brand!

The OxiClean® dishwasher booster is designed for your dishwasher. It helps boost the cleaning performance of the dishwasher by removing the cloudy film, food particles, spots and streaks that many detergents alone can leave behind.

For more details on the OxiClean® Dishwashing Booster and a list of retailers, click here.