cleaning house

{ in an effort to simplify my life (my constant struggle) i'm deleting my 'organize simple' blog and posting all future organizational blurbs here. i seem to have a problem compartmentalizing every aspect of my life. all my "roles" split up into different sections, different time slots, different places- exhausting! i blame the franklin planner i received when i was 12.

...so here i am- all of the many mes. phew- that feels better!

clips

{ oh my heart oogles!... if that were a word, that's exactly what i did when i saw these awesome clips by Stephen Reed. sigh- the possibilities- the stacks of papers i could hold together with these sweet treats, the presents to be adorned, the cards to be clipped, the photos to be displayed, or i could just stash the whole sheet away in my drawer to look at again and again :)

millions of peaches

{ for the last two years now, i've canned salsa- it is an enormous endeavor due to the amount of salsa that my husband can consume. so, this year i opted to forgo the salsa and do peaches instead. the idea of trying to keep track of all the boiling pots on the stove, chop the millions of vegetables, and keep my little boy from licking an outlet seemed a little too daunting for me right now :)

despite the shear madness of canning there is something so meditative about it. i don't know what it is? the step by step process, the moving things around at just the right time, trying to keep it all balanced- or just the complete loss of self in the craziness of the task? whatever it is, i love it! the first time was a challenge, because i didn't know what i was doing. but the last two times i've canned, an indescribable sense of calm has come over me as i hover over the stove or pull the skins off my fruits. it's a sweet feeling that i'd love to channel into my everyday life. perhaps that's why i love organizing so much. there's a parallel of order there- steps to follow to get to a desired goal- surrender of the ego- process.

hip hip for order!

my biggest challenge with canning is storing all of the equipment after. where do i keep all the jars once the salsa has been chowed or the peaches gulped. where do i put the HUGE pots? how do you deal with all the canning clutter? i'd love to hear your suggestions.

back?

{ i'm back to posting on this blog {i hope} it's been a crazy year and a half. being pregnant and now having a 6 month old. i'm still not in the swing of things, but trying everyday. i must lack some gene- the gene that this lady has 'soule mama' or this one 'tara whitney' or every other mother in the world.

but here i am again- i have to do SOMETHING! and i love the idea of this blog and a community centered around one of my passions- organizing. so here i go- i plan on trying to post at least once-a-week. wish me luck.

ok. disclaimer done. check.

something that i've been playing with now that i'm a mom and due to the afore mentioned lack of gene is glue. glue is a handy dandy alternative when you don't have time to fire up the sewing machine {i.e. during your kids nap that you pray lasts an hour and a half, but more than likely will be 45 minutes} i was given 'mighty mendit' {i apologize for the infomercial} by my father-in-law and i'm loving it! it dries fast and holds well. so instead of sewing, i've been gluing up these little wallets in my spare moments. hopefully someday i'll have time to run the sewing machine around them, but until then, the glue is getting the job done quick and is going to stick. tee hee. so for all of those moms out there that are struggling to organize some time for sewing/crafting, take a short cut and use some glue. also, i just used a beat-up pair of pants for my fabric- i'll rarely throw out material that can be reused in some way.

use it

{ a word on half used bottles. if you're anything like me, you can't stand the half used bottles of product that line your shower. it drives me bonkers! i can't even explain the satisfaction i get from using every last drop of shampoo, and the difficulty i have throwing out something that's still half full- torment!

tips to help avoid your shower being taken over by product:

1. i never buy something that i already have- only one bottle of body scrub necessary, even if the perspective product smells like coconut and the packaging is 'oh so beautiful!' i can always pick it up when i'm done with my old bottle.

2. buy shampoo and conditioner in complimentary amounts- i tend to go through shampoo faster than conditioner? {i know it's usually the opposite for most women} so, i buy two bottles of shampoo and one conditioner, or if i still have plenty of conditioner left, i'll just buy a new shampoo. your shampoo and conditioner don't have to be the same, plus, mixing it up a bit helps avoid product build-up.

3. use product for multiple purposes- so you've had that bottle of facial scrub for quite a while- use it to start exfoliating your knees, elbows, and feet. that 3/4 full shampoo that just isn't going anywhere- use it to shave your legs. repurposing product works great.

pic via clinique

clutter tip

{ i know it's been said a million times, but a tried-&-true tip to reduce clutter is to keep a container handy for donation items. i keep a big, sturdy basket in an accessible spot, so that as i come across things that i either don't need or want anymore, i can just toss them in. when the basket is full, i drop its contents off at my local donation center.

as you start your spring cleaning, it's a good idea to grab 3 containers and mark one as 'keep,' one as 'toss' {or donate}, and one as 'not sure.' as you move from room to room, reevaluate all of your clutter and sort accordingly. you'll feel lighter, be more efficient, and feel more relaxed as your environment becomes less jumbled.

de-cluttering ideas:
organized home
real simple

pics:
1. cb2
2. the container store
3. mamas & papas
4. ikea

pocket change

{ piggy banks are so sweet. the right one can be soothing to look at and also add a little organization around the laundry room. i keep a darling little bank next to my washer and dryer. that way, as i sort through all of our pants pockets, i have a handy place to drop loose change. when the bank is full, i can run out and buy a new mascara and a latte....thanks oinkster!

picture above via morphorm
view more cute banks and where to get them on my other blog: wake's ripple

function

{ part of the excitement in organizing is finding new uses for things that you already have. don't get me wrong, i love nothing more than buying a set of beautiful, matching containers from ikea, but the ever growing environmentalist in me, makes me repurpose as much as possible. i love to save old tea tins and use them for pencils, coins, or my collection of wine corks. there's something exquisite about opening my desk drawer and seeing my beautiful tins all in a row :)

real simple magazine is one of my all time favorite sources for finding new uses for old things. they're full of great ideas- see above.

- using a clip as a money holder

-rubber bands around hangers so your straps don't slip- genius- but where do i get those darling elastics?

-coat rack as a jewelry holder

-color coding keys with nail polish

-toilet paper roll to organize cords

-paper file for cookie sheets and cutting boards- i bet some would even fit in your cupboards nicely

-tissue box for plastic bags

-clip attached to stove top for easy reading of recipes- you could use a magnet on the clip so it could be removable

-laundry bag in dish washer so you can keep small lids etc from falling to the bottom

thanks real simple for your never ending ideas.
pic via real simple

order

{ i'm an organizer- through and through. i love cleaning out my desk drawers, filing away documents, sorting all my do-dads. i can spend hours in the office supply aisle looking at paper clips. one of my favorite stores is staples! i've embraced my need for organization- it can't be bad if i enjoy it so much- right? :) if you're a fellow organizer, this blog is for you. i'd love to hear your ideas and methods........for a more organized tomorrow.....

pic via apple of ipod socks

unique

i just thought this was so fun! it inspires me to think outside the box, be unique, have fun, & always remember to be myself.

some inspiring thoughts from people about this video-

from ali edwards:

It also totally reminds me to stop just going through the motions, or doing things just because that is the way they have always been done. What a tremendously wonderful celebration of life.

It seriously makes me want to get up and dance.

I want my life to be so joyously lived

from ordinary courage:

To choose joy over the fear and vulnerability of being different or weird or ridiculed is a tremendous act of courage - one that touches all of us.

maui

every once in a while i start to feel a tug...my whole being starts to get antsy...and i start daydreaming about maui...start thinking about diving in the most beautiful water ever, to visit this little guy...few things make me smile like this little fish. although, i actually laughed out-loud under water once, when the biggest orange fish i'd ever seen came moseying by. he had a huge grin himself and was swimming in the opposite direction of everything else in the current- looked like he had toked a little before his stroll :) awesome!!

bear-a-licious

...so 'dern' darling...from etsy seller: stitchface...

mobile

...i searched high and low and finally found the perfect mobile for my baby's room {i don't know if you've noticed, but i like orange!} this sweet bird trio came from etsy seller alibabette :)

do without

...i just love this! one of my favorite artists, heidi swapp, made this as a reminder of her new goal. you can read all about it here and also download your own 'do without' sign.

2009

...i love planners a ton! i could spend hours looking at different planners, writing in my planner, making lists....planning :) i can never really find one that suits my needs, so this year, i made one.