Getting Organized for Fire Prevention & Giveaway

This is a sponsored post on behalf of First Alert. All opinions are my own.

October is "Fire Prevention" month and I have been preparing for disasters now even more because of how many I have been watching all around our country. I have personally had family effected by the natural disasters and it has made me more aware of how lacking our household is in terms of preparation. 

Mom and Daughter Tiny House Adventure

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a Tiny House? Maybe you are like my daughter and I, watching all the Tiny House shows that are on right now and thinking "how could people possibly live in those?" Well, I definitely wondered how that would feel to live in one of those tiny houses and NOW I can say I have lived in one! Let me share how...

THE STORY OF MY ONGOING WEIGHTLOSS JOURNEY

About 8 years ago, I lost 40 pounds - I guess it was "baby" weight but I was well passed that stage! I worked really hard, walked daily, used Weight Watchers to help me keep track of every little thing I ate, and felt amazing. 

About 4 or 5 years ago, I began gaining back that weight. I hadn't changed my eating habits much and I was still working out. I was puzzled as to why I began gaining back my weight and started realizing my addiction to sugar and breads and thought that I needed to figure out a way to get that under control. Meanwhile, in the last 5 or 6 years, I have discovered all things natural, clean, organic, and wholesome! Our family now does as much clean living as possible. 

AMAZING Wall Treatment and Command Center Update

This post is sponsored by the Formica® Corporation. All opinions are my own.

Last time I shared with you how I was getting that organizing itch again! Remember that? Well, I've been doing a LOT of fun projects in our home because I just love organizing and decorating! Our command center area had been working well for a while, but then it stopped really working and we needed to update it! I have the big reveal of what we did - and it's AMAZING!

The Bee's Knees!

Wouldn't you love to get some FREE summer skincare essentials? Skincare products that you don't have to worry about all that harmful and "who knows what's in it" products? Well, I have an amazing offer for you, so check it out!

Organizing Those Awkward Small Spaces in an RV + Giveaway

I was give product and compensated by

Tidy Living to share my awesome organizing experience. 

We have been vacationing again in our RV/motor home {have you seen our incredible made over RV?}, and  I can't wait to show you some great ideas for small space organizing in THERE, but also in your own small space at home that you can get ideas for! PLUS, I've got an amazing giveaway that YOU can enter to organize your own space! 

The Organizing Itch

This post was sponsored by Formica Corporation

I've got that organizing itch again and so I've been busy trying to work out a few areas in my home to fine tune and get re-organized. I've noticed, and I'm sure you have to, that many of the areas around my home need an organizing update - kinda like my schedule as the kids get older and more independent. I no longer need the big command center area that I once did, but I still need that entry dresser and I wanted to make the space even more functional for our lives now.

I decided that things weren't looking so well and my friends at Formica Corporation told me about a few amazing new products that they wanted to show you, in a normal, everyday environment like mine! So, I agreed - let's do this!

First, I needed to figure out what was the problem because lately our command center area was piling up with more and more stuff. So, I went through and cleared out the clutter on the top of the dresser and got rid of a lot of unnecessary stuff. 

Second, I went through the dresser and determined that I had too much in there, also - surprise! It didn't take me very long to do this process, maybe 20 minutes.

Third, I decided to make this area function a little differently. Instead of having so much stuff on the wall, I wanted something functional yet pretty! This is where I decided that using the Formica® Writable Surfaces came in! I decided that using these surfaces both on top of the dresser and also writeable panels for the wall treatment would be exactly what would work for this area! Formica® Writable Surfaces come in six colors and designs, giving you the opportunity to make lists, jot down inspirational quotes or even doodle. These surfaces, like all Formica® Brand products, are budget-friendly and durable.

 

Now, I can't wait to show you the surfaces I chose and how the project came together....but, you'll have to wait just a little longer before it's ready!

 

  Want to know where I got that product?

 Go HERE and find it!

**I have a few affiliate links in this post - this does not mean you pay a dime more for the product when you purchase through my link. It just means I made it easier for you to find what you might like, so I make a few cents if you purchase. I SO SO SO appreciate when you support Organizing Made Fun. Thank you!!**  Like what you see here? Consider becoming a follower or subscribe via email! 

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Essential Kitchen Cleaning

I LOVE my new kitchen, but I'm going to be completely honest, it's more work to keep this kitchen clean than my old kitchen! I think it's a combo of surfaces that need cleaning, new pots and pans with different care, and the fact that I actually care that it looks spotless most of the time!

Label Up!

I have been compensated by DYMO MobileLabeler to share my opinions. 

If there is ever a tool that is important for organizing, it's a label maker! I love having a label maker. So, if you're getting ready to make a resolution and want a quality tool, think about how a MobileLabeler from DYMO would be so nice to have - for the professional organizer, the office worker, or just someone like me who labels all things necessary! It's got the potential to make labeling all those things possible and with style and class! So, it's time to Label Up!

Making the Most of "Leftovers"

Do you like leftovers?  If not then you probably haven't made the most of them!  I used to think that the best way to handle leftovers is to pack them up and send them to work with my hubby, but now I've actually started cooking extra on purpose so that I can use the leftovers for another meal all together.  

The Best Thing About Reusable Bags + Giveaway

I have been given compensation from Full Circle Home to express my 

opinions on their product and share with you. All opinions are my own. 

Over the years I have become more and more of a conscious Mama, who is focused on a natural, organic lifestyle, the more I learn about the things that are in our food, our health, and environment. So, to say that I want to have environmentally conscious products, describes me completely! One of my newest favorite companies is Full Circle Home - a company dedicated to earth friendly, non-toxic products. This is something I can get on board with! 

Today I wanted to share a new product that I've been using and offer it as a giveaway to you - reusable bags. It's one of the products I've been searching for a long time to find that really works, can be washed in the dishwasher, and is truly leak proof. I found it - AND I get to give them away to one of my readers! Please read on to find out more...

I Hate Packing and 10 Reasons I'm Learning to Like it Again!

I was given compensation from EzPacking to share with you my experience with their amazing product that will make you a much happier packer, too! Plus, I've got a great coupon code for OMF readers...so read on!

If there ever was something I'm happy to share with you, it's that I hate packing. I'm not exactly sure what makes it so awful - perhaps it's the idea that I can't fit everything in that I want or the not knowing what to wear or maybe just the having to put outfits together and not knowing what "mood" I'll be in when I get there. Do you feel my pain? Maybe not, but packing is just one of those dreaded things for me. Funny thing is, my husband can pack in like 5 minutes - well, he actually likes ME to do his packing but he can pick out all his clothes in 5 minutes. Anyway, I digress...

Where to Get Those Kitchen Products and Appliances

With all that has gone on in the past months with our kitchen, I wanted to share some of the amazing products that I used and recommend for you to use also, should you decide to re-do a kitchen, update a bath, or just pin a few of your favorites. 

I work with a lot of great companies and I was able to reach out to a few of them that I have worked with in the past to provide me with a few things for my kitchen. Other things are just fun finds that I found on my own and want to share my opinion about how it works and whether or not it was worth the money to purchase that products. So, I'm going to go through everything and hopefully answer all your questions about them.

The New Kitchen: Organizing the Drawers

This new kitchen is truly AMAZING! Having someone take what was in my head and design it on paper, then to have it actually in my home, is just an amazing feeling! I can't wait to show you all the organization that I've done in the new kitchen, so today I'm going to share all the organizing in the drawers! There is so much organizing that it's going to take multiple posts to share it all - there is just THAT much awesomeness! Are you ready to PIN some great organizing ideas? 

To begin with, my dream was to have as many drawers as possible in the new kitchen. I wish I could have had many more than I have - I would have liked two big drawers under my cooktop but I had to sacrifice those drawers in order to have the downdraft exhaust fan - since that exhaust fan takes up a big chunk of space under the cooktop, so no room for drawers. I also would have loved it under the sink, but being that I wanted to have actual plumbing it's nearly impossible to have drawers there, also! I have drawers all over the place, though!  In my opinion, drawers are much better for organizing things than a big, open space. So, I'm going to start with my coffee/wine bar drawers in the dining area of the kitchen, because I just want to start over there and bring you around the kitchen.

The Kitchen is Done - the BIG Reveal!!!!

I have been given the opportunity, from MasterBrand Cabinets, 

to join with them in our kitchen renovation, which includes the donations of 

these unbelievable, quality cabinets. 

I can't believe it, but the kitchen is DONE!! It is unbelievably beautiful. We've increased our counter space by three fold! It's truly the most functional kitchen I've ever had! Are you ready to see it? I hope so, because I'm going to flood you with beautiful photos!

Let me start with where our kitchen began, and you can go back to the beginning of our design process and demo process to see. We moved into our home in 2006, and this is what our kitchen looked like ten years ago, above left. Six years later, I have improved it as much as it could possibly be improved by painting the cabinets and putting new flooring in. But, it still lacked counter space, so I was using a hodge podge of things to add more counter space. The kitchen also felt very cramped! And now...

August 2016 Wrap Up

Our house has been busy with our kitchen remodel this month and each day we get a little closer to being done.  In addition to kitchen updates, I've shared some tips about staying organized and having a stress free morning along with dorm room organization and back to school readiness.  Don't you just love getting organized at the start of the school year?  

Have a Stress Free Morning

I am partnering with IKEA to share some of my best tips for the #First59 Campaign. 

With school just around the corner, or just having started for many of you, I am guessing that the one area you struggle with is having a stress free morning! Am I right? Yes? Well, let me tell you that you aren't alone! Having a stress free morning CAN be done and I have a few tips that will definitely help you out the door and on your way to work or kids off to school. 

Wake Up Happier with Simple Organization

I am partnering with IKEA to share some of my best tips for the #First59 Campaign. 

Oh, the mornings can be a bear some days! Some days we just don't want to get out of bed and deal with what is going to go on that day. Am I right? I don't! I have found that it's CRUCIAL for us that we get our mornings set right when we have routine for the First 59 and Last 59 minutes of our day! It's especially crucial when school starts, so this is a great way to get ready for that next month, by preparing today and getting organized!

Tips to Improve your Nighttime Routine

I am partnering with IKEA to share some of my best tips for the #First59 Campaign. 

It's always been important in our home to have a nighttime routine. I've been a mom for nearly 17 years and STILL have the kids do a simple nighttime routine, and I have my own too! I have come up with 16 great ways to do that, using a few simple everyday products from IKEA and some creativity, to keep your mornings and evenings from becoming a nightmare! Today I'm going to share two of my tips, focusing on your nighttime routine. You can find all the tips from myself and other experts by going to IKEA's First59 page. 

How do you say "LOVE"?

This month has been fun!  We've added some color and pattern to our walls, our son has earned his driver's license and I've shared some of my favorite organizing products and tips with you all. We had a nice month of LOVE!