Getting organized Mondays: desk drawers

In the past few months, we have organized so many drawers and closets at our house, but some of them still remain in need of help. I wanted to devote one a day a week to a small organizational project, and preferably, a free organizing project :) This one is both.

Our office desk drawers were not that bad, but they definitely could use a little help. They certainly could use a little "prettying up."

I used scrapbook paper to line the drawers because I had a bunch of it, and most of it was pretty!

I already had the clear trays; I found them at a local dollar store a few years ago.

I think the overall result is way better, don't you? And best of all, this project cost us nothing.



Linking to Stonegable, Worthing Court, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, Confessions of a Plate Addict, and French Country Cottage!

Four Days, Four Drawers: a recap

Last week, I participated in a mini organizing challenge with Jen Jones of I Heart Organizing. She challenged her readers to organize a drawer a day for four days. I had recently reorganized several drawers around here, but there were certainly some that needed a little tune up. The first drawer I tackled was the top drawer of our nursery changing table. It wasn't that bad, but there was too much in it, and I figured that would make those late night diaper changes simpler.

Before 

After

My next project was my husband's sock drawer. Once again, it could have been much worse, but it needed a bit of straightening.

Before

                                                                             After

Next, I straightened my daughter's bottom drawer of her dresser. It wasn't bad, either, but it needed a bit of straightening up.

Before 

After

My last drawer was also in my kiddo's room- her nightstand drawer was basically a glorified junk drawer. It contained a plastic pinwheel, a birthday card, a flashlight, a bookmark and some bottle labels. She's four.

                                                                                 

Before 

The book and flashlight made it back in there, but that's it. 

After

Thanks for taking the time to read about #4days4drawers! I hope you have a good week.

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Linking to Stonegable, Worthing Court, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, Confessions of a Plate Addict, and French Country Cottage!

Playroom organization

My daughter's playroom is one of my favorite rooms in our house.  It is one of our two bonus rooms, and there are windows in the wall so you can see into our office. This is especially handy when E is playing in her playroom and I am working in the office.

We purchased one of the cube shelves you see here. We already owned one of them, as we used it in her closet at the old house.

Dirty little secrets: our disorganized TV cabinet

Our TV cabinet started out organized. It really did.

I'm not sure how or when, but at some point, it became terribly disorganized. There were bins for our DVD collection, but nothing was categorized. Our CDs were in a bin in the top of our spare closet. One side of the bin held workout equipment, with the bottom shelves largely unused.

I decided to move our scrapbooks and photo albums to the unused side of the TV cabinet. They were previously stored in the bottom of our craft cabinet, which is another source of frustration I am trying to sort out. The work out equipment found a new home in our storage cubes. In case you're wondering, that is a yoga mat, three elastic bands and a yoga block. Hand weights and kettle bells are located in the bottom of the basket, but you can't see them in this picture. 

                              

Command center DIY: Mail organizers

Mail sorting used to be a problem in our house. All of the mail in our house either ended up getting piled up on the console table by the front door, stuffed into the baskets under that table, or piled up someplace in our office. I'd get frustrated because the mail would end up getting lost.  I also hate paper piles, so even if the mail didn't get lost, the piles still frustrated me.

I coveted various expensive mail organizers for months. I scoured the internet in search of knockoffs, but couldn't find what I wanted anywhere. I was just about to buy some lumber and beg my crafty daddy for help when I had an idea.

21-day challenge: spring cleaning during spring break

The 21-day challenge UPDATE

I used my spring break to do some heavy cleaning and organizing. My linen closet was a true source of frequent consternation for me, but my very handy daddy helped solve that problem. I also tackled kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, bedroom closets and under beds. Because I didn't want spring break to be all about cleaning and not at all about family, I didn't get to everything I'd planned.  I've also added a few things to my list that I have not yet tackled.

Spring cleaning: the 21-day challenge!

Surely, if you're on Pinterest, you've seen this.

I know now that spring is upon us, most of us have plans to do some sort of spring cleaning. While I agree with most of the things on the list above, I have a few additions. Here is what I plan to add: 

1. Wash all bath tub toys

2. Wash all cloth toys 

3. Wipe down and disinfect all plastic toys

4. Donate anything unused for more than a year

5. Organize out of season clothing

6. Move furniture and clean beneath it. 

What are your spring cleaning plans?