Apples for organizing?

OK, so I get ideas in the craziest ways sometimes.  Here is what I bought at Costco back a week or two ago.

Desk re-do

You may remember my desk dilemma where I had this desk:

...and then changed this area with a dresser to hold all the necessities.

So, this desk is now going in my son's room to replace his tiny desk he's been using - a desk without a drawer {which is an organizing disaster having no drawers}.  

 It's cute, but it's a little too girly and very outdated, don't you think?  I turned it into this!

Next week I'll share with you how I did it, and then I'll show you how we organized it!  We're working on getting his room updated and looking a little more grown up, so this will go with his new bedding...and we'll eventually get him a new closet system for his closet and paint some in his room and put up a cool decal - all of which I'll be sharing with you along the way!

His room is starting to grow up!

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Don't walk away - how to have a {fake} immaculate house (part 4)

10 Snacks Kids Can Make Themselves

I love anything that can help my kids be more independent!  My SIL, who has four boys of various ages, was a great example to me of teaching them to make their own breakfasts and lunches!  So, I've taught my kids too!  Here's some other good snacks your little ones can do for themselves without Mom always around to help them! Click on the link below!

Family room peek...

Just a peek at our ever evolving home:  our family room.

 

Finish what you start - How to have a {fake} immaculate house (Part 3)

OK...so I am the first to admit that I tend to be somewhat ADD when it comes to doing projects around the house.  I bounce from thing to thing - it's sort of how I work.  BUT, I finish them...I finish them!  That's important.  It doesn't really matter how I get them done, as long as I finish them.  A project left undone - even 95% undone - totally bothers me.  My husband?  Doesn't bother him.  Probably cause I'm home all day and he's at work, but I digress...

We're dating...

So, a few years ago I discovered something.  I started writing the dates on most anything that I opened.  I wrote the date I opened or started using it.  You're probably thinking...why in the world would you do that?  Well, I'll tell you why.  I would wonder, "How long did this last me?"  "When did I last buy this?"  And that's when it donned on me...marking the date on things.  Like...

Laundry soap, fabric softener, and all that stuff.

Vitamins

Vacuum cleaner bag

Make up

Well, you get the picture, right?  To make it even easier...I bought several sharpies to keep nearby {I even keep one in my vanity drawer} so that I don't forget to mark my make up {I even mark my mascara}. I keep one in the laundry room right near all the laundry products.

I've figured out now about how long I can go until buying more stuff.  It's really neat.  I know I can go about six weeks with the laundry detergent - I never knew that before!  I can go about two months with the kids' vitamins...and so forth.  It's great if you want to cut expenses for yourself and can't decide if you really need to buy more of something or if you want to wait until it's on sale.

I think it's a great idea...I only wish I'd thought of it sooner!

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Organizing the entry

OK, last week I showed you our problem area:

Then, I showed you the solution and the dresser I'm now using to keep it the solution!  Now, let me show you how I organized the inside.

The top of the dresser I declared for phone charging only {and a lamp}!  Hubby agreed! I also bought a piece of glass to fit on the top of the dresser to make it more durable. 

So, drawer #1 - to replace hubby's pile that had formed from the drawer to the top of the old desk.

You can see I put a couple of plastic organizing trays for him to put his books he's reading or paperwork and other misc. things he brings in.  His sunglass cases, watch, and a place for his change inside.  He can throw it in and I don't care what it looks like inside.




Then, drawer #2:

I put two of the same sized tray in this drawer.  One is labeled "Mail" where I put what's left from today's mail - see my post on mail on what you actually should keep. The tray on the right hold receipts - mostly ones for home improvement and things that will possibly need to be taken back (hubby loves keeping these).


Drawer #3 is the biggy!

I bought stackable trays for the entire dresser since the drawers are high and deep.  This way I could stack things.  I have two trays for coupons - the one on top for everyday coupons and underneath for long term coupons.  The divided tray in back holds all kinds of office supplies.

Notice that I even labeled the dividers for the pens and pencils.  I stacked the keys on top of the other tray.

And, of course I got a large open tray for hubby's "junk" that he can throw in there.  What in the world IS all that stuff for anyway?  I don't even know...but now he can have it there without his wife nagging him to move it out.


On to drawer #3:

This drawer doesn't have much...which I love!  I only have a few craft supplies, a couple more trays, and some large notebooks.

You can find these here

So, we've conquered an area that has bothered me for years!  Sometimes you have to think out of the box and come up with solutions using things you wouldn't normally. 

Linking to:
Iheart Organizing
Goodbye, House Hello Home!
Simple Mom
Organizing Junkie

Iheart Organizing

Like what you see here? Consider becoming a follower or subscribe via email!

Join me on Facebook - where we interact and have lots of great fun. You can also see behind the scenes pictures and fun stuff I do on my Instagram!

There are some products that are linked to my Amazon affiliate link.

 

15 minutes of cleaning? - How to have a {fake} immaculate house (part 2)

To see the whole series on how to have a {fake} immaculate house, go HERE!

 

Ok...I have lots of friends who are seriously skeptical but I'm telling you, it's TOTALLY possible to keep your house clean with just 15 minutes a day of cleaning!  Really!  I did it for years....when my kids were babies.  It was not possible for me to spend an entire day cleaning.  I must tell you, this doesn't mean if your house is right now a complete pig-stye mess that you can get it cleaned up in 15 minutes.  NOPE!  Nice try....this is a way of MAINTAINING your home with just 15 minutes of CLEANING each day - not picking up or putting away, CLEANING!

 A basket of cleaning products is great 

to have to cart around and get the job done quickly!

Years ago, I was inspired by Emilie Barnes,the author of MANY organizing books.  I can't even tell you exactly which book it was that inspired me.  It may have been Simply Organized or another one I can't even find now!  Anyway...I set up a schedule for myself based on reading something of hers. Here is how I did it {I actually found this schedule from years ago on my computer}:

**I no longer use any bleach products. I suggest using one of my favorite cleaning products instead**

You see...it's not much.  If you timed yourself, you can clean a bathroom in minutes - REALLY!  You do not have to sit there with a toothbrush and scrub the floors absolutely, perfectly clean!  Just wipe down everything and get it sanitized!  Depending on your house, you can vacuum it in 15-20 minutes.  Our old house was smaller than our current one - it was about 1800 square feet, but it was also two story, meaning I had to drag a vacuum cleaner up and down stairs AND vacuum stairs!  This would also make a difference if you have more or less bathrooms {my absolute most-hated room to clean}. 

 Time yourself...how long does it really take to do that?

If you need to vacuum daily....you may have to give that up - let it go!  If you have a dog {which we have} you need to keep that dog OFF your furniture {yep, it's possible} and assign him/her a spot to sleep in so the fur stays in one place.  This doesn't mean you now ONLY have to do 15 minutes a day of anything for keeping your household up, either.  This is just to maintain the cleaning!

Now, let me tell you, there will be days you won't even have time to get to your assigned "chore" - potty training, baby crying all day, having your period, whatever!  Just skip that chore and do it the next week.  It won't hurt your house for one week to skip it, really!

Now, get to it...sit down and make up your weekly schedule and put it on your frig!

Just as a quick side note...I no longer do just fifteen minutes of cleaning a day.  Our house is a bit bigger so it takes me about 20-25 minutes a day but I still do one chore for the day.  Remember, as your kids grow, your schedule will need to change and be more flexible.  For example, my summer schedule can be seen here.

Want to know where I got that product? 

Go HERE and find it!

15 Minutes a Day Cleaning Schedule

 

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How to {fake} and immaculate house series: