Cheap, Easy Organization

It’s been awhile since I’ve done an organizational post–and you can tell if you take a peek inside my house. I always think summer will be when I get myself together. You know: clean out the basement, organize the closets, get rid of kids toys that never get played with. But this seldom happens. Who wants to stay inside when we can be at the pool or running around in the sunshine? Who wants to do manual labor when you’re sweating just sitting on the couch? Not this girl!

Still, I need to find some way to wrangle the mess that is my house. Since I’m both cheap and always looking for ways to be eco-friendly, I love the idea of organizational pieces that can easily be made from things I already own (or things that would only cost me a few dollars).

So off to Pinterest I go…

Cutesy Measuring Cups

I keep seeing really adorable measuring cups on Pinterest. This morning I finally got to the point where I absolutely had to put together a little roundup of the cuteness:

turtle, sheep, penguin, whale, mastryoshka, milk bottle, cats, cupcakes

Don’t they make you want to put on a frilly apron and whip up a cake (or perhaps these insanely delicious looking red velvet brownies)?

They would also make for a cute gift. Pair it up with a jar of cookie mix or some fresh baked cookies and the sweetness level is unbearable!

Sidenote: I’m entering the second week of a 21-day sugar cleanse, can you tell I’m missing my sweets?!

Organize Me

If there’s anything that this week’s posts have taught me, it’s that the best way to get organized is using old things in new and creative ways:

(all via Pinterest)

But when you get right down to it, all of these organization posts I’ve been doing this week are for one reason: I need to organize my life.

Organizing specific rooms in my house will make me feel like I have more control over everything, but what I’m truly looking to do is get my life in order. I need to line up work, balance my schedule, and get into a good routine. Conquering the chaos around me will help me feel one step closer to that.

Luckily, I came across two pretty awesome checklists to get me started:

This first one is from the awesome Anna of IHOD. It’s a free printable that helps you keep your to-dos in check without putting too much pressure on yourself. Hop over to her blog to print it out (clicking the picture will take you to the correct post)!

The second is a free printable from the equally fabulous Meg at Mimi + Meg. This one is a list of all of the places you should clean for a nice, fresh start to the year. I love check lists, because it feels so good every time you can check off another task!

I hope this week of organization has been helpful to you. Shoot me a comment below to let me know what other themes you would be interested in seeing in the coming months!

Organize My Kitchen

Yesterday, I told you all about my bathroom organization woes. They are nothing in  comparison to the disaster that is my kitchen.

I think our biggest issue is that we have too much stuff. We inherited a lot of things when we first moved in together. We bought a bunch of things between then and our wedding to fill in and then we got all new things at my bridal shower.

Then there’s the fact that I’m sort of a chronic hanger on-er. I don’t like to get rid of useful things when someone (say my younger brother) might need them one day. That’s not to say we haven’t given anything away. My other brother came up from North Carolina after getting married and he and my new sister-in-law shopped our unused stuff.

I really need to let go at this point though. I will never be organized unless I do. I’m going to look into giving things away on Freecycle or to shelters that might need what I’m not using.

After I weed things out, I can concentrate on the really fun stuff… like implementing some of these awesome ideas:

all via Pinterest

Great ideas, right? I know I never would have thought about storing cans in a magazine holder without a little nudge. And I love the idea of using towel racks and magnets in unexpected spaces to create more room.

What do you think? Are these organization posts inspiring you at all?

Organize My Bathroom

My bathroom has a limited amount of storage that I have yet to master. The result is a mess of products and beauty tools bleeding into the rest of house.

I would love to keep my beauty supplies neatly tucked away in my bathroom, where everything has a home. Instead I have drawers crammed with crap and a cabinet that explodes whenever it’s opened.

I need more organization inspiration!!!

sources: magnetic backing, terra cotta pots, shelving 1, shelving 2,
vintage tray, above the door shelving, mason jars

All of these solutions are cheap and relatively easy ways to make more space in a small bathroom. Maybe if I utilize unused spaces (like above the door and inside cabinets), I’ll be able to navigate my bathroom without the fear of my obituary reading that  I died by flying hair products.

Do you have any bathroom organization tricks?

Organize My Office

Way back in September (seriously, it feels like forever ago!) I wrote a post on how I need to organize my life. One of the biggest reasons I did that post was because of the state of my office (well, office may be too grand a word for the corner of my bedroom that has become my workspace since my little bean’s birth).

It was and still is a complete disaster. I don’t know about you, but messes can really get to me when I’m trying to work. I can’t concentrate completely when I’m surrounded by clutter because it distracts me (honestly, it’s a wonder I get anything done considering the state of my house on a regular basis… just ask my husband).

I think my biggest problem is letting little things go (like the mail or papers sent home from school with my daughter). Little things become big things when they pile up. My workspace is just one big mess of little things.

I wish my office looked more like these gorgeous spaces (see Pinterest for sources):

Don’t these spaces make you drool?! They’ve sent me into an online window shopping frenzy. I love office products in the first place, but now I’m on the hunt for relatively inexpensive, clever organization solutions. Here’s a little taste of what I found:

spice rack :: drawer organizer :: baskets :: 5 drawer cabinet :: birdcage
shampoo rack :: cardboard organizer :: paper sorter

These ideas have totally inspired me to tackle my mess. I might (might) even go crazy and tackle one of these DIY projects (lord knows I have a hefty collection of empty boxes left over from the holidays!).

What is your work space like? Are you messy like me or does everything have its place? And if you’re neat, please share your secrets! I need them!!!

Lust List

Santa’s on a budget this year, but if his pockets were bottomless, these are a few of the things that would be on my list!

1. MARC BY MARC JACOBS bag
2. J. Crew skirt
3. Kate Spade jacket
4. Ralph Lauren throw blanket
5. CB2 rug
6. Banana Republic dress
7. Anthropologie skirt
8. Pendleton bag

 

I’m linking up with the ladies for Monday Mingle again this week! Click the picture at left to check out some other fashion posts!

Covet: Mirror Collage

I love mirrors. Not because I’m particularly vain, but because they’re shiny and (as I’ve mentioned), I’m a bit of a magpie.

I like sparkle and I like light and mirrors help with both of those things.

Enter Anthropologie’s Collected Memories Mirror:

This handmade collection is made of found mirrors, which means no two are exactly alike. I would want one just like the one shown in this picture!

How great would this be for a big, blank wall?

With a $700 price tag and no sure idea of what it will look like when you get it, I don’t see myself purchasing this guy anytime soon. But a girl can still drool, right?

Could make for a fab DIY project though, couldn’t it?

Lust List

1 Anthropologie :: 2 Alyssa Norton  :: 3 Rachel Parry Resort ’11
4 Sweetpeatoad :: 5 Michael Kors :: 6 LOFT
7 Forestbound :: 8 Earth Sea Warrior :: 9 Armenta
10 Brian Atwood :: 11 Alice + Olivia

Bedding Woes

I’ve got a bit of a bedding problem. Like most of the things I do in life, I bought my bedding without really thinking it through.

You see, my bedroom is painted this really light and airy blue-green. I loveit. It’s calming and aquatic and everything I wanted it to be. So I bought a big, fluffy bedding set in the palest blue, with a little bit of floral embroidery at the bottom.

When dolls get makeovers like this one, how do I expect anything to stay clean?

It’s pretty and it’s cloud-like… and it’s entirely too light for a house with two kids and a cat. It’s stained and discolored and just not as pretty as when it came out of the bag.

So what’s a girl on a budget to do? I’m not about to go out and buy a new bedding set. Ours is comfy and worn in and I love it, I’d just like to hide the spots when people come over.

For the moment I have a big, fat down blanket folded at the foot of the bed. It looks a little ridiculous, but it does the trick.

I’ve decided that if I find the right combo of throw blankets and decorative pillows (yes, dear husband, I’m talking about more pillows that you’re not allowed to sleep on), I’ll have an eclectic, homey look that suits our style and hides the ugly.

Here are some of the pieces I came across in my search:

Earth Lab

Ikea

Next Door to Heaven

Room 39

Lands' End

Ikea

The Simple Standard

PB Teen

I’m basically going to hunt for texture and pieces with an earthy, natural feel. I think they’ll complement the room nicely–plus they’re good for hiding messes!

What kind of vibe do you go for in your bedroom?