Permanent Top Ten List- Daily Life Assignments

To do lists. They are ever changing and on going. They are written or typed up almost as if we have an automatic "list it" button that goes off daily. There are the weekly grocery lists, 
always the least or most popular, depending on how you feel about them. I am certain to carefully plan them out days prior to my food shopping extravaganzas. You may even prefer to plan your food menu list for the week, which could include your children's lunches.The appointment lists run a close second behind the food to dos. The appointment times and locations are always in plain sight on my fridge's magnetic dry erase board. Then of course the lists of gifts to purchase around the holidays or the decorations needed. Every occasion needs a list! I can safely assume these to dos have morphed into daily life assignments for all of us. As an organizer I recommend lists and praise them. They do offer a moment of clarity as you write down your tasks. In what could be a jumbled mess swirling around in our heads, somehow seeing them on paper offers us a brief sense of accomplishment as we cross begin to cross things off.

Two years ago I created a permanent to do list. One that is not defined by how busy I am or how I ran out of soy milk and eggs. It doesn't list all of the appointments my husband and I have, or the bills that need to be paid. The only change it does require is from within. It encompasses the broader aspects of our lives that we sometimes can miss out on because we are too busy making other plans. A midst the daily tasks of life it does help to put things into perspective.  I'm going to share with you my top ten to do list, or as I refer to it my "permanent top ten". 

1. Once per week part with one item in my home and donate it. 
2. Take time everyday to be a good listener.
3. Be grateful for what I have, it is enough.
4. See everyday challenges as a learning opportunity rather than an obstacle.
5. Call friends and family every week to say hi.
6. Go through one area of my home monthly that I feel needs some organization inspiration.
7. Face fears and hesitations with confidence, never losing sight of my dreams.
8. Replace I wish with I will.
9. Do not let comparison steal my joy.
10. Everyday be myself.

If you found this post to be helpful or have comments you'd like to share please feel free!

For everyday organizing tips follow me on Twitter or Facebook, and happy organizing!

     

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Bathroom Closet Organization Tips

Just as any closet in your home can become cluttered up quickly your bathroom closets can certainly do the same. My organizing mantra is to always take stock on what you have and purge any items you no longer need. That goes for the bathroom too! You'd be surprised on what you can find in your linen closets that you can rid yourself of. Old blankets and sheets that could be donated. Expired medications and beauty products. Even older hair brushes. Take some time to sort through what can stay and what can go to create a bathroom closet that is functional and organized!

Once you have decided the keepers here are some tips on keeping it organized so that the sorting chore is a chore you will only have to do once! 

• Place all like items together in groups. Hair products, lotions, medicine, etc. Always be certain expired medications have hit the road, as well as an older make-up or hair products. Great article here on how to determine the shelf life of your beauty products. 
• Place each category in bins and label. No more searching through a sea of items to find whats needed.
• Be sure your bins are within reach on the shelf and items you need daily are within arms length. Anything you may not want easily accessible to your children should be stored higher. 
• Re-fold linens to create more space and place sheet sets within pillowcases. This keeps like sets together and opens up room in the closet. Great tutorial here on towel folds!
• Utilize baskets for larger items, or even to hold any of your children's bath time toys. Make a trip to the dollar store to find colorful and inexpensive ways to organize. 

This bin, stored in a child's bathroom, contains first aid items and medicine for the little ones. Have some fun with labels and encourage your children to place items back in their designated spots!

Diapers, baby wash and teeth care stored in bins and labeled

Sorted and labeled by medicine type

Dollar store bins for items bought in bulk or even toys for the tub! 

For even more bathroom organizing tips check out the link below! 

http://www.marthastewart.com/275280/bathroom-organization-tips/@center/277006/bedroom-and-bathroom-decorating#/273297

Comments and questions are always welcome! 

For everyday organization ideas follow don't forget to follow me on Facebook and Twitter, or follow my blog and be part of the organization fun! In the Rhode Island area? I'd love to help you de-clutter, check out Organized for Life!

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Creative Spaces Designed for You

We all need a space where we can relax, curl up with a book and feel completely at ease in our environment. Whether that space be in your living room, bedroom or even on the front porch consider the possibilities of creating an area just for you. By incorporating your favorite colors, quotes or even just a beautiful plant this can help to project positive energy. Always keep in mind that clutter in any room will drain your energy, and hinder your best intentions. By taking the time each day to be sure the favorite areas of your home are free from clutter, and incorporated with some of your favorite elements, you will feel recharged and enthusiastic. I'm inviting all of you into my home office where I can read, blog and feel creative. Here are the key elements I worked into the space to keep productivity, good energy and creativity flowing. 

                         Some of my favorite quotes displayed throughout the room

Always thinking budget friendly I used an older kitchen table we had in the basement as my desk space. Considering there are no drawers I added the storage cubes on the desk so that items such as pens and sticky notes were located close by. A chair would be a bit too crowded in the space so I placed the black storage units under the desk. These function as storage, a seat and a foot rest! My printer and paper is seated right beside me. I placed the desk farthest from the the door with most of the room visible, a powerful element in Feng Shui design.The desk is clutter free with cords hidden. The bright yellow decorative plant adds some softness to the desk area, and the natural light from the window helps me feel recharged.

I love to look through magazines for inspiration and ideas. I keep each one for three months tops before it hits the recycle bin. Any articles I find that I'd like to keep I place in a folder. These are located right next to my magazines placed in fun and colorful patterns. I love to keep books for as long as I can however I believe there is nothing better than passing on a few good books. While putting together the book shelf I was able to donate some to the local library, and my personal favorites remain on display.

Feel free to comment, share ideas and send feedback!

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5 Quick Steps to Maintaining a Clean Kid's Room!

I'm sure it's every mother's dream to find that the toys are always neatly stacked away. That the adorable little t-shirts and dresses are never crinkled up on the floor and placed correctly in the closet. That every sock has found it's mate. What makes our children so special and amazing however is there vivid imaginations that will take them on fantastic journeys in their rooms. A little girl's love for playing dress up and making sure her dolls look just as fabulous as she does! Then there are the oh so many toys that come with very teeny, tiny pieces. The result of this magical world that children live in can create, well a mess. So where to begin? In my recent projects organizing children's rooms I thought my top 5 tools for creating and maintaining organization might help you get started!

Utilize draw separators and bins! Items will stay divided and organized, and for an added bonus place stickers on each divider of which items are to be placed there. A picture of a shirt, hat or socks will help them to learn some great organizational skills. 

By simply using hanging labels and a shower ring you can create zones within your child's closet to designate clothing areas. Having the items sized within their category is a great way to keep track of which items your child may have grown out of.

Double hang for extra closet space! 

An over the door hanging shoe rack is the perfect way to keep shoes together and you can create bins for hats, mittens and scarves. 

Keep books in a basket or bin easily within your child's reach, this way they can choose which ones they'd like to look at and when placing back in the bin there's no mess! 

Quick, easy solutions to help bring function and organization in your child's bedroom!

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Basic Tools for Family Organization

Planning and routines are such an imperative part of the well-being of our children as well as for our own growth. Every family is different, which means systems will work differently for each one. The intent of this post is to explore some very basic strategies that can be implemented regardless of family size, no matter how big or small. Of course there are plenty of times for fun and games too, it just wouldn't be fun if things were perfectly organized all the time!

 If you would like some insight on some simple ways to keep the organizational process flowing in the house, read on. You may already have a plan in place that works well for everyone, which is great! Remember one of the keys to allowing more time for yourself and for your loved ones starts at home, so why not begin by taking some time saving steps to enjoy that time!

Create a Family Binder

Put together a family binder, accordion file or even storage boxes which can hold important documents that you may need quickly and keep in a safe place. Use tabs or labels and create categories such as-

Emergency contacts (great for a babysitter to reference)

Auto Information

Insurance Forms

Home Improvement Receipts and Documents

Finance

Birth certificates

Passports

Medical records

Accordion Filing System

Decorative Folders with Tabs       

Magazine File for Folders

When you using a binder you can get creative with the design and have your children help! Create tabs for each family member, even your pets. As records become updated you may need to occasionally purge paperwork but stay consistent with filing these documents in the binder. When you receive documents in the mail file immediately so that they aren't piling up on the counters. This method is quick, easy and a time saver when looking for paperwork!

Family Mail and Appointment Center

The kitchen is always the center of the household and one of the best places to display a mail filing and appointment/task center. There are so many possibilities to organizing this area! One of my personal favorites is utilizing a dry erase board on the fridge and listing daily appointments and reminders. This can also be used to list chores for the kids. Allow them to choose which chores they would like to do that week which creates a sense of accomplishment and also independence.

One of the best ways to reduce a mail mess is to sort the minute you get the chance. Place mail in an over the door organizer, mail scroll or magnetic mail file like the ones pictured below. Create an in and out going pocket and toss mail you don’t need right away. The purpose of in-coming and outgoing keeps bills on track and acts as a reminder of when mail needs to hit the road.  The magnetic mail holder is also great for take out menus! Rather than have your menus hidden in a junk drawer transfer them to the mail file on the fridge. Think of the systems mentioned as a process to keep things flowing in the house and a way to rid yourself and your home of clutter. When everything has a designated place you will notice the difference! 

Hanging mail and key holder

Creating Zones

Creating zones in your household is a vital part of keeping items organized whether they are toys, books, mail etc. One of the key things to pay attention to when creating zones is the habits you and your family have developed over time in the house. For instance do your children tend to play in every room or just in one or two areas of your home. When you walk in the door do you toss your keys and purse anywhere or in a specific area? Begin to set up key spots in your home for specific activities. If you decide to sort through mail in the kitchen this is where the mail organizer should be stored. If you place your keys and purse by the door have a key rack available or storage for bags. Another great trick is to prepare a backpack with items you may need when running out the door quickly with your kids. Items such as books, dvds, snacks or extra diapers. Keep this emergency bag close to the door where your keys are so you won't leave the house without it.
 If you find yourself looking through magazines in the living room have a basket or bin for reading materials.

Organization beginning at home is one of the best ways to teach your children the importance of systems and a process. Children may not always recognize the process of organizing as a fun task so there are a few ways for them to grasp it. Keeping them involved with writing their own to do lists for school, providing specific bins for toys, helping you create a shopping list or even helping you plan a vacation will provide them with some tools to encourage organizational steps. If there is a place for everything and everything in its place you would be surprised how quickly your family will catch on! There are certainly no magic wands to wave around the house for everything to just fall into place in this department, but going step by step will help!

Ideas and comments are welcome! For everyday organizing tips follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/laugia or find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/laurenorganizedforlife. Happy Organizing!

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3 Quick Closet Tips!

If we put so much time and effort into our shopping sprees for that perfect outfit, or just the right pair of shoes then why not extend that extra attention to our closets! Here's a few quick closet tips in no specific order to keep your closet refreshed and fun.

• Mix it up in the storage department. Utilize book shelves for shoes or purses. Grab some funky colored bins to store items or add some colored wall art and a mirror to your closet. Use hooks on the walls to hang belts, scarves or jewelry. The more organized and inviting the closet becomes the more you will want to keep that space clean!

• Beat closet clutter by taking stock before you shop! Get to know what's in your closet before you purchase an item that you may not need. Stick to the one in one out rule. If you can't see it you won't wear it, so keeping your closet uncluttered is key!
• Ever stand in front of your closet and say, "I don't have anything to wear!" Not the case! You probably just feel tired of looking at the same items, worn the same way. Hang some of those fabulous Pinterest outfit ideas up in your closet and just start mixing and matching with the items you have! Or use pages from magazine for outfit inspiration.

For more organizing ideas follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/laugia or here on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/laurenorganizedforlife. Happy Organizing! 

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Photography Studio Project! With Ideas and Tips for Any Work Space

When I first walked into Sara's Photography in Westerly and saw her studio space I was thrilled at the opportunity to organize an area I hadn't dove into before. Closets, kitchens and basements are the most popular spaces I have organized in the past. This was filled with amazing props, backdrops and photography accessories that I had never even seen. What I did see however was an opportunity to create the organized space Sara and her staff so deserve, in this studio where children come to laugh and so many memories are being made I felt honored to help make it come to life. Please take a moment to view the before and afters of how very simple organizing ideas all came together. I hope the creative energy continues to flow at Sara's Photography for many years to come!

Prop Room Before

Prop Room Before

  

After! We took a clean, purge or donate approach! 

 We cleaned, purged and donated! The very first steps to organizing, always begin with only what you need. Items that are not useful or no longer serve a purpose should be parted with. The existing shelving unit was used for costumes, props and accessories. Sara and her staff in this busy studio need to grab items quickly. Having all items visible, within reach and labeled will make that possible!
                                                                                                                             

Baskets and labels! 

Labeling is one of the best guarantees your items will stay within their homes. These French inspired labels were large enough to use on the baskets, and easily tied around the handles. Take a trip to any local arts and crafts store for a fun and interesting selection of labels you can use in your own space!

Blankets were labeled and stored in stack-able bins so that they are easily within reach. Hats were stored in the large bins, also easily within reach. Like items grouped together!

 Costumes were labeled based on the theme of the clothing using labels, ribbon and shower hooks.

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Hanging the chairs added character to the prop room, created floor space and was the perfect spot for all of the stuffed animals!

The receptionist booking area and closet was also an area that was re-organized to add to the already inviting space.  My goal was to be sure Sara and her team feel relaxed from the moment they walk in the door and see the clean and organized desk space so they are ready for the day! A clean desk area will increase your productivity and create mental clarity. Taking a few moments out of your day at work or home to clean your work space is a great way to feel recharged.

Closet before

Closet after!  Storage boxes, bins and a good clean up left the closet space clean and refreshed.

Desk drawer before

After! Desk gadgets all together.

Corner shelving unit before

After! Many of the items were stored in the closet in a designated spot to create simplicity on the book shelf. 

It was truly a learning experience for me from start to finish to be able to work in Sara's Photography and implement an organizing system in her studio. I help others organize because I believe in making spaces come to life and the power of what organization can do. Please feel free to post comments or contact me with any questions! For more organizing ideas, tips and tricks please follow my Facebook here http://www.facebook.com/laurenorganizedforlife. Thank you for visiting! 

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