The Secret to an Organized Home is That There Are No Secrets. It's in What You Make of it

My home is not always perfectly organized and cleaned. That would even freak me out. It's lived in and cozy. It has its bouts of orderly perfection and then in the blink of an eye can become a disaster that needs to be tamed. There is however a place for everything. Every magazine, all the toiletries. Even the paperclips and thumbtacks. They all have a home. I also can say there is nothing in our home that we do not find to be useful or beautiful. It's a quote I know, but one I take very seriously. When I enter a room there is nothing greeting me that I did not welcome. I've carefully chosen every detail to reflect all the things that we love. Give it a home and make sure that you love it. The other part of it is making sure all parties involved know just where to place things.

So on it goes. Clean and tidy and as the week goes on a bit messier. When I do take the time to clean I can say without hesitation it's easy and smooth sailing. There is no built up clutter from months of no maintenance and if things do seem to become a little too congested then I re-evaluate the space and decide on what's causing the clutter.

So the secret is there is no secret. It's all in how you decide to maintain it. So this week I challenge all of you to decide what may or may not be working for you in your home and decide to tackle it once and for all. There is never a need to rush or feel overwhelmed. Just take it one day at a time and eventually you will love your space, every bit of it.

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30 Days of Gratitude

We all feel a lacking in our lives at some point. Sometimes it's the restful night's sleep we are desperate for, other days it's wishing we could escape life for a few days and head out on a vacation. We may not realize it, but that few moments of feeling as though you crave more in life may set you back.  By putting ourselves in this box of wanting more, we are subconsciously focusing on what we lack. I've been thinking alot lately about the idea of being thankful, feeling full of gratitude. How important it is to remind ourselves of what is abundant in our lives, rather than what is lacking. If we constantly focused on what we felt is lacking how would there be anything to look forward to? If we were never grateful for all the amazing things in our lives, how would we learn to understand the feeling of gratefulness? 

While I take the time to be grateful for major events in my life, I have decided to also shift my focus to the little things. Everyday things like my favorite green tea latte from Starbucks, or my kindle that can instantly download a book I've been wanting to read. November, being the month of Thanksgiving, I couldn't think of a better time to start my 30 days of gratitude. 

I invite everyone to post below what they are grateful for or maybe start your own gratitude journal. Look around you and notice everything that is not lacking in your life. Write it down, share it or keep it to yourself. Your daily practice is up to you. I came across this Be Thankful poem below and thought it was the perfect way to embrace gratitude. So what are you grateful for today?  

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you've made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

~ Author Unknown ~ 

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Back to School Organization Tips and Free Printables! Fun Ways Save Time and Stay Organized

Another summer is just about up and the summer to fall transition will soon be in full effect. Back to school shopping, new bedtime rules, homework before dinner and after school activities. Anytime there are schedule changes within households things can have a tendency to become a bit hectic before the new routine settles in. Having a plan in place and being as organized as you can is the key to allowing for an easy transition! I have some simple tips to get you and the family on board for a smooth back to school season, as well as some fun printables. Just remember it requires all hands on deck and some team work!

Talk about the new morning routine prior to when it starts. Establish the new bedtime rules about a week before school starts to make for an easier morning wake up call. Nobody wants to be rushing around the first day of school and sending the kiddos off in a frenzy! I love this free Super Sleepers printable below by Sissyprint! It's a great way to keep the bedtime routine fun by having the kids add stickers next to each task they've accomplished before bed.

The morning routine is just as important! Here's a fun printable from PopSugar Moms that will be sure to keep the morning going as smoothly as bedtime!

Weekly lunch and snack prep is a great way to keep yourself organized in the a.m.. Designate an area within your kitchen specifically for lunch and snacks, the food going in your child's lunch and the after school snack. Keeping the foods separated will help you prepare lunches quickly in the morning, big time saver! Create a snack drawer, or an area in the pantry, and an area in the fridge. Utilize bins and labels to make it fun!

Lunch bin for the fridge

Snack drawer

Deciding on a specific area and implementing a system for artwork, school papers and appointments is a great way to stay organized throughout the school season. Use wall space preferably in the kitchen to create a school zone station, similar to the below. Each folder is designated for art work, homework and activities. A chalkboard, dry erase board or calendar is located above the folders to jot down the upcoming week's activities. Short on wall space?  Utilize a bin for each child with hanging folders and attach a weekly or monthly calendar to the front!

This paper station was designed for each child to keep their school work and art organized with a chalkboard to jot down appointments 

Collapsible bin from Staples with hanging files to store school and artwork. 

Take 20 minutes on a Sunday evening and put together outfits for the week using clothing labels! These fun labels from Parenting with Professor Poppins  will keep you super organized throughout the week when getting the kiddos dressed and ready for their day.

Each day of the week is covered using these closet clothing labels 

Wishing all of you a fun and organized back to school season!

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The Closet Diaries-When You Have Nothing to Wear. Revelations from a Reformed Shopaholic

The latest over on the Organized for Life website...http://organizedforlife.net/the-closet-diaries-when-you-have-nothing-to-wear-revelations-from-a-reformed-shopaholic/

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Simple and Affordable Solutions for a Few of the Hardest Items to Stay Organized! Including a Sheet Fold Tutorial

Tupperware lids, buttons and batteries, sheets, bags...the one thing they have in common? How they can easily drive us nuts in terms of trying to keep them organized in our homes. I have put together just for you some simple organizing solutions to conquer these items and whip your closets and drawers into shape. At times its as simple as incorporating new ideas and getting a little creative! Links to where you can find some of the affordable and functional finds are included!

• Organizing Tupperware Lids, 2 Simple Solutions 

1. Utilize plastic napkin holders for lids, separating by size. 

2. Use a lid organizer like this one from The Container Store .A quick solution and does not take up space!

• Organizing paper bags 

Magazine holders can double as a paper bag holder. Easily stores under sinks, in cabinets and in your trunk!  

• Organizing small items such as batteries, pins, paper clips and buttons solved!

Small bins, like these from The Dollar Tree, are perfect for getting hard to find small pieces in order. 

• Sheet fold tutorial to keep your sheets from becoming a jumbled mess! Use a flat surface for best results. I used a queen set, but follow the same rules for any size. 

The Pillowcase 

Fold in half as shown above and below

  

Next up- The flat sheet

Fold in half three times being sure to have all edges meeting eachother

Fold into thirds 

Completed flat sheet

Folding your fitted sheet up next!

 Bring corners in on bottom and top and then bring together folding into thirds

 Completed flat sheet 

 Add all sheets into the pillowcase

Completed and ready to put away! 

Feel to share if you enjoyed the tips, and don't forget to subscribe to receive my blog updates right to your inbox! 

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Organized for Life Summer Giveaway!

Thanks for stopping by the blog to enter the Organized for Life Summer Giveaway! I've teamed up with Terri-Lynn, a Clever Container consultant, to offer three great organizing must haves! If you aren't familiar with Clever Container head over to her  Clever Container website to check out the catalog. It is filled with amazing and affordable organizing items! We are giving away three great products meant to be practical, versatile and will make organizing fun...just the way it should be.

The contest begins today and will run until Monday July 15th at noon. The fabulous prizes are listed below. Don't forget scroll down for the instructions and additional info on how to enter, good luck!

A pretty junk drawer, instant make-up organizer or even to hold your children's arts supplies, the 'stuff it" is the perfect versatile bag to hold all of your stuff! Easily flattens for traveling as well. 

The car litter bag attaches to the back of the seat and keeps your car tidy. Great for road trips or running everyday errands you will love having less mess on the floor and a cleaner car! 

The shelf dividers are the answer to keeping your t-shirts, towels, sweaters and pants organized! The perfect addition to any closet. 

Two simple steps to enter -

1. Comment on this blog post in the comment section below and leave your name as well as a valid email address. 

2. Head over to Terri-Lynn's Clever Container Facebook page and give it a like! You can tell 'em Organized for Life sent ya if you'd like! The link is here, https://www.facebook.com/CleverOrganizingWithTerriLynn. 

That's it! Simple! Remember, you must complete both steps to qualify. 

Winners will be chosen at random on July 15th by noon eastern standard time and notified via email the same day. The 3 prizes will be sent via USPS, please allow up to 14 business days to receive in the mail. For a complete listing of rules and regulations see below. 

Organized for Life does not share any of its contestants contact info including addresses, names, emails or phone numbers. You must be at least 18 years old to enter and a legal resident of the United States. No returns, exchanges or refunds allowed on the merchandise. Organized for Life does not endorse nor is it affiliated with Clever Container. 

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Bathroom Organizing Tips and Tricks

From medication to make-up, from towels and kids toys to every free sample we received at a cosmetic counter the bathroom is the place where it all will get stored. So what's my secret to keeping our bathroom organized, de-cluttered and a stress free zone? While you're reading this you may say to yourself, I have alot more to store in my bathroom than she does. Fair enough. However wouldn't it be great if you were able to get your bathroom down to the basics? To walk in, feel at ease and find what you need. It's possible if you follow these simple bathroom rules.

1. Toss the expired. Medication has the expiration date loud and clear on the box. Take a few minutes every couple of months to go through medications and throw out the oldies. Make-up and lotions also expire. Here are the rules of the game for beauty products-

• Mascara and any liquid eye make-up keep for four to six months. Eye shadow is good for about 2 years. 
• Lotions and any foundations keep for 6 months to a year. 
• Powder based products have a long shelf life and you can keep those for 2-3 years. 
• Lipstick,lip gloss and lip pencils keep for 2-3 years as well. 

Here's a little trick for knowing how long you have had the products. The minute you purchase it right the date on the bottom. Keeping track of how long you have had the products is the key to keeping the beauty rotation in your bathroom going. When you toss it ask yourself how much you used it, if the answer is never don't bother replacing it.

Date your beauty products

2. Only keep in your bathroom the items that are part of your family's everyday hygienic and beauty routine. Of course if you have kiddos the bath time toys can be stored in there as well. This is the part that entails lots of purging and decluttering if you feel you have cramped drawer space or an overstuffed bathroom cabinet. Get down to the basics of what you need. Zone in on your daily routine and what you are using for a night out. Once you have the essentials organize by type and utilize storage containers as well as labels. Avoid cluttering up your counters and group the bathroom items by family member and particular usage. Designate drawers for each group. 

Clear the counter tops and store by type and by usage in drawers and cabinets. 

Nail polish and pedicure essentials together using clear draw separators. 

Medication, vitamins and first aide labeled by bin

A draw just for him with shaving essentials, deodorant and cologne. 

Don't let under your sink become a haven for a cluttered mess. Utilize storage units and bins. Sometimes getting a little creative goes a long way. 

This metal rack used to hold saran wrap and foil in the kitchen. I converted it into a holder for the curling iron and hair straightener. Storing items upright helps to save space under the sink as well. 

The pipe under the sink is sometimes an awkward spot when you have alot to store.  I place the hair dryer on the pipe , after it cools down of course, and it is a great space saver.

Hair brushes and products are stored in a bin using a two tiered rack. Underneath the rack is the perfect spot for extra toilet paper as well as a magic eraser for everyday clean ups. Keep cleaning products to a minimum in your bathroom by only storing the items you need for quick clean ups. 

I love this clear three draw storage unit for make-up. Each draw is labeled by type, lips. eyes and face.

 

Beauty products from lotions to make-up and hair accessories are all together in this draw.  Draw separators are the best way to keep like items stored together. 

3. If you lack storage space in your bathroom think outside the box in terms of utilizing and maximizing the space the best you can. Tall free standing storage is a great option to keep extra towels and toiletries if you lack the draw and cabinet space. Install racks under the sink in the cabinets for towels as well. Floating shelving can also be installed on the walls above the toilet and elsewhere in the bathroom. Utilize storage baskets to add some character. 

Always remember it's not about the lack of space but rather how well you are maximizing and accommodating the space. We don't always have enough room because we are holding onto too many things. Declutter, get it down to the basics and love your bathroom! 

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