DIY-Charging Station

I just bought this green Lacquer charging station from PB. Available here but cheaper in the stores (I paid $25 or something like that).

This homemade charging station from Martha is fabulous though. I definitely like this one better.

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DIY-Charging Station

Awesome Idea we should all copy...

Sarah, a very cool mother of five and blogger over at Clover Lane (my new favorite--new to me)came up with this great idea. This dresser works as a family landing center of sorts. Isn't this genius?! Recently she painted the dresser a new fresh color for spring. I love both colors. I'm officially on the hunt for a dresser like this.

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Awesome Idea we should all copy...

Meal Planning

My friends are always asking me to share my Monthly Menu with them so they don't have to think about it. So here goes..But first a quick note on organizing all this.

As previously stated in my Organizing Meals Post you can use google calendar to plan your menu. The easiest thing for me is to use my portable monthly calendar (more on that in another post) to quickly plan it out. I plan my menu while I'm waiting for my son during piano, it really doesn't have to take that long if you break it down. For instance I force myself to use a whole chicken at least for one meal a week. I put it in the crock-pot with lemon pepper, seasoned salt and garlic salt on low for at least 8 hours(I've forgotten about it and left it overnight and it turns out great--you can't mess this up) A whole chicken once shredded makes for great lunches and soups etc...and it also freezes really well.

Then I basically break it down like this:(Sorry to be so repetitive, I've written this in another post)
Mon-Mexican
Tue-Pasta
Wed-Something Easy
Thu-Whatever or asian..
Fri-Homemade Pizza & Dessert
Sat-Something New
Sun-Something Good (comfort food)

**Disclaimer...I only plan for the main dish, obviously salads, breads, and sides can be added. Also, my meals are so not gourmet by any means.

Another note. In my recipe binder, on the inside pocket I keep print-outs of recipes to try. When I plan the monthly menu I plug those in first.
So here goes...4 weeks of meals

Week 1
Beef Fajitas
Creamy Fettucine (Martha Stewart)
Homemade Hamburgers & Fries
Tortilla Soup
Chicken Pizza & Brownies
Rosemary Chicken
NOT COOKING THIS EASTER SUN..YAY!

Week 2
Tacos
Stuffed Shells
Chicken Salad Sandwiches(on croissants) fruit salad
Potatoe Soup
Pizza & Fruit Cobbler (whatever fruit I find in the store)
Breakfast for Dinner(French Toast, sausage, fruit)(sometimes we have Belgian Waffles)
Roast Potatoes, green beans

Week 3
Chicken Burritos
Creamy Fettucine With Chicken
Tacos
Beef Stroganof
Pizza
Chicken Lomein
Lasagna

Week 4
Chicken Fajitas
Penne Pasta with Golden mushroom sauce (and seasonal veggies..zuchinni and whatever I find at the store)
Nathan's Hot Dogs with everything (the only ones I'll eat and my kids will love this)
Free DAY!
Pizza
Lemon Fusilli with Arugula
Chicken Chili


I also use a Spreadsheet where I put my grocery list along with this menu. I'll try to save it as a PDF or just leave a comment if you want it. ◦

Meal Planning

Organizing your life with Binders..again.

I’ve been pretty uninspired, hence the lack of posts. January has been really busy around here, and as is usual at the beginning of the year I like most people I'm always looking for a little more order in my life.

Routine and schedules can make me feel like a bird in a cage sometimes but when life is chaotic and when time is in short supply it's good to have a starting point. I would not take the time to write these posts if these things didn't make a huge difference in my life--they are huge! People ask me all the time how I find the time to do so many things (not necessarily well but I can definitely juggle)...this is how I find time. I organize my life in a way that keeps me from wasting time on routine stuff so I can spend time doing the things I love.

I’ve already covered Paperwork Management in this post. Hopefully that has helped someone..It wasn't a perfect system and It may have been a bit confusing so I have simplified it even more and I’ve come up with an idea to update it and to do an Organize your life series. I was completely inspired by Simple Mom who is a genius at organization. Here’s what I’ll cover:

Organizing Meals

Organizing your Time/life

Organizing your Email

Organizing your Money

Organizing your Craft Supplies

What else...any suggestions?

Sound good. K. let’s get started.

Organizing Meals

*these are merely suggestions, if what you do works for you and this seems like too much--by all means skip it, or at least share your great ideas with us in the comments. These ideas require a little prep time. My theory is a few minutes of thoughtful planning and organizing saves hours of decision making, finding things, making extra runs to the store and generally losing one's mind. This has also saved us a ton of money.

At the beginning of the month Plan a Monthly Menu—I actually plan my menu from the 5^th to the 5^th but you get the idea…plan a month or so of meals.

• If you use Google calendar create a new calendar and make it a different color than your main calendar fill in and print.

• To simplify menu planning Create themes that work for your family. For example. Mondays we have Mexican, Tuesdays we have pasta, Wednesdays we make something easy (because our oldest has piano lessons and we get home later) Thursdays we have asian or stir-fry, Friday we have homemade pizza (using this recipe)and dessert. Saturdays we have something new and Sundays we have something good…Now obviously Monday Tuesday and Thursdays are interchangeable, having a theme is not essential it just makes it easier to fill in the entire month.

• Plan a menu for 2 weeks and repeat if a month seems like too much work

• Once you print the calendar with the menu planned use the white space to write the ingredient list, and then circle what you need in a Master Grocery List. Simple Mom has a great Master Grocery list here (scroll down a little to find it).

• Do the bulk of your shopping once a month using the menu as your guide. We go to the store weekly for fresh items and fruit, but most of the ingredients can be purchased ahead of time. Now that I make mostly everything from scratch my shopping is really basic—we are saving so much and our meals are so much tastier.

Still with me. That was the menu planning.

Now for Time Saving Tips—

Snacks like pretzels, animal crackers, and whatever else I’m buying for the kids out of boxes and bags and it all goes into snack size zip lock bags and in a big shallow basket in our pantry (see above pic..it's not too shallow). When I’m making school lunches or running out of the house in a mad rush it’s ready to go in the bag. I also do this with baby carrots, grapes, etc..the key here is to do this on shopping day and stock the pantry and fridge right away. This also helps me know when I’m running out of things. I just look in the basket. Or in the fridge drawer I designate for snacks.

· Put all sandwich making supplies (cheeses, meats, and whatever else you want) in a large container with a lid.

· Use delicious. This is a tool that I ignored for a long time, but a quick subscription later I am LOVING it. When I find a recipe online I want to make, I tag it and use the key words totry. I also add words like recipe, dinner and more specific stuff like pasta. Delicious makes it super easy to find and print when I’m creating the monthly menu.

· For those of you with little ones, create a drawer dedicated to sippy cups, bibs, little plates, etc. I also have two sippy cups ready in the morning with water. My son knew very early on where his cup sat on the fridge and grabbed it himself when he needed it.

· I make homemade snacks in bulk about once a week-whole wheat muffins(which are really really good) (recipe here), cookies and breads and sometimes a batch of salsa to have on hand. It takes about an hour of prep time and we always have good homemade snacks around.

I don’t have any ideas for breakfasts and lunches.I think I'll make homemade Belgian waffles ahead of time and toast them to warm them up in the mornings--putting frozen pancakes in the toaster works well too. For lunches I think I’ll make a table in word and put in some lunch ideas—so as to rotate. There's not much variety in my son's lunches (for his main meal) any ideas? I'll share my chart as soon as I have it.

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Organizing your life with Binders..again.

Organizing your paperwork and Time

I am ALWAYS re-working my systems, until I find the perfect solution I'll keep doing this. I am loving this. It's a better version of my old one. This is good for those of you who have a lot of paperwork in your life.
I don't like wasting time doing these types of things so my system is made so I can sort my mail and paperwork quickly and right when I get it.

In case you're interested in trying this..

1. Get a soft cover skinny white binder (like the first row of pictures). I use 1/2 inch because anything bigger would allow too much paperwork. In sheet protectors I have a copy of family goals, Our daily schedule (which is rarely followed but makes me feel good to have)this includes, naps, dinnertime, everything. Let me know if anyone is interested in taking a peak. I also have a copy of my weekly schedule (just in case I go into a coma and loose my memory)Monday-cleaning/laundry day/grocery shopping (clean your fridge before you go grocery shopping..please I beg you or whenever just clean it, or have me do it). Tuesday--freeday-playgroup day, and I also usually bake lots this day for some reason. Wednesday-Desk Day: go through to do's weekly and daily..bills, correspondence, clear email tray, fold laundry that's been sitting out since Monday day, start Sunday lesson. Thursday-Errand day and Library day. Friday (the ideal: call friends, clean out purse, clean out car, check fluids, clean laundry room) the reality: clean car, volunteer at Daniel's school, clean our purse (i do this a lot) work on one of my 50 unfinished projects, play at the park. Movie night. Saturday: this is usually the day I decide to undertake massive organizing projects for fun..and we also go do stuff. SUNDAY: church day, nap day, menu plan day, do nothing but enjoy my family day.

Purchase multicolored pocket folders (plastic ones) I label my pockets:

Weekly menu & shopping list- I created a spreadsheet for this because I don't like to shop for very long..I leave clear copies of it in this first pocket to fill by hand. The sheet has the menu on the left column (no specific days I just plan 7 meals) and two columns on the right with the heading Grocery list...the first column is for items necessary for the menu separated into meat, dairy, canned (this sounds anal, but I can send my husband shopping and it takes him no time at all. (can someone tell me how to link a copy of this spreadsheet for you??or just email me) and the second column (far right) is for other items. The two column thing is because I like to see how much I'm buying for my weekly meals as oppossed to staples and paper stuff. The last column is also separated into Wholesale club and Supermarket. This makes is to much faster easier to shop.

TO DO this week: right now my folder has a bookclub list that I have to email. A bunch of recipes to type in. Some pictures that need to be framed, and a few bills I have to make phone calls on.

TO DO this Month: A little more time consuming projects like stuff to translate, a picture I want to have blown up and framed for my mom, Etc.

TO CALL: It's crazy that I have a whole envelope for this, but you know insurance claims...(I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES) church stuff...etc..this folder is on the outs. I'm combining it's contents with my TO Do this week. I may make this my projects folder...hmmmm....thinking...

FILE: this holds letters and cards that need filing but I need a place for in the meantime...


Great! Got all that.
Next Is my Bills folder. I have a large finances binder where I keep EVERYTHING..budget, financial goals,debt info, student loan info, and payment receipts, and paystubs. For receipts I have the long letter envelopes labeled Jan-Dec and I file the bill the month it was paid--with conf #, the next year when I get to Jan again I'll throw everything away.

For my bills folder I like the 3 pocket drop folder (found at target) pictured in the far left middle row. I put my current bills in one pocket, my checkbook and a calculator in another. I like having the bills separate because It's easier to take with me when I sit down to pay them.

I use an excel spreadsheet for all my finances but recently I found this great free finance software, Rudder. It's great for tracking spending although I'd really like to find something that could track my spending and hold a budget with which to compare it to. Dave Ramsey's is pretty good but I don't want to pay $10 a month.

The folder in the middle is pretty but everything slips out and moves around so save your money and try something different. I like it for organizing Daniel's stuff like homework, music lessons and sports stuff, PTA stuff (usually stuff they're making kids sell) and return to school stuff, usually some envelope we have to send money in..I also like to keep my own little envelopes in there for when I send cash for school lunch or if I need to send a note to his teacher.

So there it is. Please ask me if you need clarification or have a better system to share. So far this is the best solution I've found to keeping table tops clear and actually managing, not forgetting the piles of paperwork in my life.

p.s. forgive all grammatical errors it's very late. ◦

Organizing your paperwork and Time

Organize your recipes

Since everything is online now, and most of my recipes lately come from bloggers posts, I've been putting them into a word document and printing them on 8x8 sheets. I love the idea of using these 8x8 scrapbook albums (less than $7 at Joanns) and color coding the recipe types.

So far the red book holds all my desserts and breads. I love the size of this, and that the recipes will be protected from my spills (I secretly like the spills because it gives the recipes character). I also really like that the album is expandable, you can fit a lot. I have the big recipe organizing binder they sell at barnes and noble, and while having the recipes all in one place is nice, the things is huge and actually because of all their bulk inserts and my huge collection of recipes it's bursting and just too heavy. I didn't use my recipes as much. The smaller album is perfect I'm tellin' you. I also plan on taking pics of things as I make them and putting them in there as well.




and here are some NO FAIL recipes I've been making around here lately.

My Friend Ashley's Molasses cookies..
3/4 cup oil
1 cup sugar and additional small amount of sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp.cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix oil, sugar, molasses...then add egg. Combine together dry ingredients, then add to wet mixture. Form into balls and roll in sugar. Bake at 375 for 8-12 minutes or until light brown

Easy Caramel Popcorn
( I wish you could see my sons face when I make this..pure joy)
Ingredients:
2-3 bags of popcorn (depending on how gooey you want this...! suggest 3 bags for not too gooey), or 2/3 c unpopped
1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 c. butter)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 bag of mini marshmallows or about 20 large marshmallows

Pop the popcorn and put in a large bowl. In pan, heat together brown sugar and butter. Stir until melted. Add marshmallows and heat until thoroughly melted. Pour mixture over popped popcorn and stir until mixed.

Pico De Gallo
4 tomatoes, seeded and choped
1/2 cup finely chopped onion (use white or purple)
2 jalepeno peppers, seeded and chopped fine
1/4 cup cilantro (chopped)
2 T. chopped red bell pepper (optional)
juice from 1 lime
salt, pepper and garlic salt (to taste)

Mix well and serve

BEST Pumpkin Bread. EVER! (this deserves a post all its own)

Wet Ingredients

1 can of Pumpkin (2 Cups)

3 C Sugar

1 C Oil

2/3 C Water

4 Eggs

Dry Ingredients

3 1/2 C Flour

2 tsp baking Soda

1 ½ tsp Salt

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Nutmeg

½ tsp ginger

Combine wet ingredients beat for 1 minute. Sift dry ingredients and add to wet combine and stir for 1 minute.

Grease and flour bottoms of 2 loaf pans (large)

Bake at 350 for 65 minutes and bake another 10 minutes at 300

Cool for 5 minutes and enjoy!

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Organize your recipes

This makes me so happy..

From Flickr

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This makes me so happy..

So Organized

I'm in awe of this...Genius!


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So Organized

Domino on Organization

Organizing Inspiration from Domino.

I really like this idea for a playroom and it would be really easy, the shelves are sold at most wholesale stores...I've seen them at Sam's and Costco.

That's a bookshelf. This may be my favorite new idea. But one question? What man has this many shoes???

Nothing new here, I just like this closet.

This is a great way to organize--by category. Pants, skirts, long sleeve/short sleeve shirts.

And I can't find the image I had for this, but I have to say, nothing makes a closet look more organized than wood hangers. They sell them by the box at Target (online they're $20 for a box of 30). Wood hangers make it so that all the clothes hang on the same level, that alone really makes a difference.

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Domino on Organization

No Room?

Try a closet for your office.

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No Room?

The Albums

I've been looking for Bound Leather Albums for a while. I want to have the years engraved on the spine and put all our family Pictures in matching albums, with the exception of the Kid's baby albums of course. I like photos glued onto the paper with photo corners and if I want to write a caption I do it on a separate little paper, like resume paper and glue it on. I like uniformity. Wow I sound super anal. I like these from Jenny Bick.
I also like these leather 3-ring binders. ◦

The Albums

Speaking of Storage

I've had my eye on this storage tent for a long long time. I would love this in a playroom. Assuming I had one. You can get the cover only for $159. I always hesitate to buy things like this because I think I could easily make it, but realistically I never will.
Oh and here's another thing I refuse to buy because I can theoretically make it. It sits on your table so it can double as a playhouse. (I completely forgot where I saw this, sorry) ◦

Speaking of Storage

Organizing on a Budget

Thanks to Cottage Living's Website I found some really great organizing ideas. I looked through like 150 images to find the best for you all.

Those are shoeboxes. How great is that?

Berry containers work great for toiletries but this would work great for craft odds and ends too.

Jars. I like. I actually use a jar for my hair rubber band things another good option comparable to this are inexpensive bowls from TJmaxx or thrift shops.

I know some hate this look, but I think it depends on the fabric you use. In this case it looks lovely. And these carts are so cheap, and can often be found on craigslist.

What a great way to store CD--Music as Art ..

I picture this being used as a craft shelf that can be tucked into any nook.

I love this! A jewelry box as make-up storage. I love dividing my make-up into little categories (but then again I'm slightly neurotic) Check out TJ Maxx for really cute jewelry boxes.

I think I've mentioned how much I love this idea before. DVD's and CD's in binders are so neat and such a space saver. The binder CD pockets are fairly inexpensive too.

And last but not least the file box. Everyone sells a version of this so you can get it at any price point. I like this better than a filing cabinet. There are some things that don't need to be out and accessible all the time. I also like dividing things into categories (as you've probably noticed) and most of all I like portability. I have two, one for Financial Paperwork (long term storage like tax returns) one for home/personal (everything else) when my husband had his own business I had one for him. I love these.

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Organizing on a Budget

Paper Clutter

I'm always reworking my systems until I find the one that suits me best. See the tabbed folders under the agenda?I got it at Target for $3.99 and it works great for paper clutter. It's tabbed, it's thin and most importantly portable. The agenda is great because that's where my to do list is and of course it reminds me of events and appointments, but so often what I have to do any given day has paperwork attached. This tabbed project folder is a great solution for mail clutter, with this handy thing by your side you can completely eliminate it. So I put everything into the following categories.

1. Do Today-here I put paperwork that has to be managed obviously today
2. Bills-Here I put my current bills that have to be paid(they no longer go in the financial binder(pictured above also) although I still use it) once paid they go into permanent folder (no longer in finance book) in a file labeled for the month of the year it's paid. The bills in there now will go in the Feb folder, next year when I get to Feb again I'll throw away this years things..does that make sense?)
3. Action- this week- Things I need to make phone calls for, things to mail, sports sign-up paperwork, tickets to buy
4. Action -this month-long term things that don't need immediate action like the paperwork to order a birth certificate, or usually something I have to translate.
5.To File-Here I put cards that needs to be put away in my permanent files, or any important financial paperwork I get in the mail. I go through this once a week

Behind the last tabbed folder I have any paperwork for parties I'm working on. Like when I start planning my sons Birthday party I will put a guest list there, mailing lists etc..

This system works so great I'm thinking of getting another one for Coupons& gift certificates, performance schedules or even recipes to try.. I actually have a great system for my recipes and it includes a whole section called recipes to try, but this would work well too. ◦

Paper Clutter

Time Management 101

Image from Paul Costello

amazing photographer and husband of gorgeous Domino Editor Sara Ruffin Costello whose home and style I am mildly obssesed with

I am a woman with many goals and resolutions. I take this stuff very seriously. It's not so much about accomplishing item by item in a checklist like way, but more about having a general direction. Having goals and challenging myself to try new things keeps me happy and sane. More to come on this years resolutions..but for now I have a few time management skills, tips and ideas.

Go buy yourself an Agenda or a planner (I used a blackberry last year, and I did not like it, my husband loves it though..there is something I love about good ol' pen and paper). At Barnes& Noble right now you could probably find a leather agenda for less than $10. ( I bought a nice looking one at Walmart for $4.95 but the format is retarded..no weekdays written by the numbers, and the little monthly calendars on top of the page are of January 05-2010..weird..I want to look at the month ahead at least. STAY AWAY FROM THE WALMART ONES...I will use it as a message book by my phone or something...

Ok so back to the agenda...go get one. Maybe this one on sale at Barnes & Noble online for $5.82

Or this one.

Step 2. These agendas will have a daily format with plenty of room to write in for each day of the week..What I'm trying this year is on the 1st day of the month I write a numbered list (in order of priority) of the things I want to focus on or accomplish. My list for January looks a little like Finish painting Goodwill frames, Start on baby's album, Finish curtains for Ginny, Sign up for (Blank) lessons...whatever you get the idea..

Then each Monday, I write a list of what I need to accomplish that week and I keep referring back to that one list. I do this because I can't commit to accomplishing a long daily to do list, this gives me some flexibility...I have a daily to do lists too but they usually only have one or two things on them.. Today's to do list..clean the car and meet with the realtor.

If I have to write in an event for that day I just write it in different color ink so it will stand out.

For chores and things blogger du jour has some great ideas..check this out. I love how she breaks down her chores.

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Time Management 101

Grateful for Naps and My Organized Life

My little kids took like a 3 hour nap today--words cannot express my joy. But onto my organized life. I have a "system" for just about everything. One of the things I cannot live with is paper clutter. I don't have an office so I've devised some clever (I think) little systems to deal with it all.

Below are some shots of how I manage everything that comes into my home. I pretty much sort out the junk mail as soon as I get it, everything else goes into the black folder, this way it's all in one place and I don't have to look at it. I go through it at least once a week. Bills are put into this free online program called Bill Bugger and there's even a widget that sits on my desktop that tells me the bill, how much and when. Super easy and simple.

The Bills then go into the BIG BOOK of Finances , I kinda use that binder for all financial paperwork, I divide it in tabs, in the front is clear zipper folder with a calculator, pen, checkbook. Then are the folders with built in tabs. My tabs are Current Bills, Budget(with a print out of our budget ), Receipts (I write when I paid and confirmation number and only keep them for a few months), Car documents, Debt, Credit reports, Lease & contracts (we rent), and lastly I have a Student Loan tab.

The black folder also holds invitations, pictures to frame, stuff to file. Then there's the file box that sits on the counter, this is where my different binders go there's even an emergency plans binder--hurricane info and supplies we would need, Phone book, and a zippered pouch with camera, cords for camera, Mp3 player cords and battery charger--anything cords I use with my laptop basically.

Anyway, my friends always ask why I don't have anything out..this is why. It sounds like a lot of work but it's so easy...

Oh and that message board, I made it. It holds invitations for upcoming events. It's an old frame painted black with a thin piece of wood I got at home depot with a sheet a metal glued on then sanded. It cost like $12. See how Mabel's mom furnishes her home on a budget by the way.

There's the black folder and with one of the many binders this one is for a committee I'm on and to the right my to do list. The dining table serves as the desk so the paperwork has to be somewhat contained

Wow the file box looks hideous in the pic...I think I'll be spray painting it very soon. On top sits the Finance binder

That invitation is my brother-in-law the wedding was long ago (they're already expecting) but I can't bear to take it down.

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Grateful for Naps and My Organized Life

Fun for less than $1

This weekend I was reminded that fun can be had for very little money, whether it involves an .88 cent beach ball, or looking through organizing books for ideas and inspiration....My son decided he wanted to spend some of his own money on Saturday and after a fun breakfast with friends (which involved pretending to fill a wagon and go on a trek with a bunch of 3 and 4 yr olds--fun for free!) we hit the store. 5 dollars and 20 minutes later we were home having a great time. We picked up one beach ball and some water guns and had a water gun battle in our little patio. Husband got the worse of it since we made up a rule to be nice to mom (I'm still toting around another human being in my belly--it's only fair). The beach ball is still getting a lot of play (which if you buy your kids toys you know is a miracle), even as I write, my son continues to kick, slap, and run after the ball, and best of all I don't have to monitor much since it is the safest, softest toy EVER! Anyway, what is the point of this post you ask? well here are some fabulous tools and ideas from around the web that will prove once and for all that organizing, like a fun-filled weekend, doesn't have to be expensive.




These are great for kids rooms and craft closets...you can color code for each child or by theme (i.e., sewing, painting, playdough, etc..) They're a buck so you can go nuts!

An inexpensive label maker and a great idea book are good starting points..(courtesy of the lazyorganizer on flickr)

Check out TJ Maxx, Ross, and Big Lots for baskets and containers:

Have fun!

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Fun for less than $1

Linen Closet Nightmare solved!

I'm new at this and a daily blog is just not happening right now, the belly and it's contents have been priority #1.. I'm 2 weeks and 2 days away from the induction and my mind and body are not functioning well enough to give solid advice, opinions, updates etc..I am not myself. In spite of that, I will still try to blog on a regular basis, so keep checking, I have so many cool ideas I can't wait to share, and I can't wait to hear yours. Organizing is so therapeutic and healthy, and at the risk of sounding cheesy everything seems possible in life when things are in order, so please read on and share your great ideas. For today, here are mine on one of my favorite things:LINEN CLOSETS...

I love linens and linen closets but most of us just don't have the space to store the mountains of mismatched towels, sheets and pillowcases we all seem to collect and hold on to over the years.

So here is my first official little tutorial, I hope this can get you started on the journey that is an organized home.

Organizing is a pretty logical process; you figure out what you have, what you use, what you don't and then you find a place it all (in a variety of containers) the problem, however; is we all have a lot of things we might need someday..right? Unfortunately most of us do not have as much space as we need (or as much as we think we need) and an unorganized linen closet is ineffective and frankly not so pretty to look at. So here are the steps to getting even the tiniest linen closet in order.

To Begin:
1. Empty the closet and group like items (towels, queen bedding, king bedding, blankets, etc)

2. Keep what you use and what you might use every 3 months or so. Limit yourself to two sets of bedding for each bed (2 total as in one on the bed and one in the closet)

3. Store things you can't part with (space bags are fabulous and fit under beds). Be ruthless here--ask yourself: would I really go through the trouble of digging this out of storage...ever?

4. Donate the rest. Get rid of shabby towels, sheets and itchy things..treat yourself and your family well.


When putting things back in the closet:

1. Sort items into categories (towels on one shelf, sheets on another etc..)

2. Use labels on the shelf (if you have wood shelves) or tie narrow ribbon with a tag on plastic shelves (like the ones in the pic). I like to group sheet sets together inside their matching pillowcase, but you can also group twin fitted sheets, queen flat sheets..you get the idea.

3. Put newly washed towels and sheets on the bottom and work from the top, this way everything gets even wear.

4. Have a shelf (or two) dedicated to guests, keep towels, sheet and extra pillows on that shelf and that shelf alone. (hopefully this will give you perspective on how much you have and how much you need) Most of us don't have more than 2 people staying with us at one time. Take it a step further and add a small basket with soap, new toothbrushes, lotion and small bottles of shampoo and conditioner, not only will it be organized but it will look great and you wont be rushing to get things ready when guests arrive.


If the stuff you "need" still doesn't fit:

1. Fold towels into thirds and roll. Store them in a big basket in your bathroom. I like this solution even if I do have the space because it looks great. (my little secret, on the bottom of the basket I like to keep extra toilet paper stashed, you can't see them and they give the towels a little boost so you can see them better..I do not recommend this in a guest bathroom since you want people to be able to access extra TP)

2. Store linens in the rooms they are used. If you're desperate you can even store the spare sheets in between the mattresses. Old towels can be kept in the garage, in the laundry room or under a kitchen sink for unexpected messes.

Now lastly, if you have a little extra space after serious editing, get matching baskets to store soap, shampoo, toothpaste and like items. Stock up when you see a sale and build a little reserve, no one wins when you run out of toothpaste....

Happy Organizing!
and from the web:
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Linen Closet Nightmare solved!