A Simpler Home: Weekly Outfit Planning

I have been striving to make my home a happier, simpler place.

Over the next few weeks I will share some little tricks and tips that are working for our household.

I started planning Levi's outfits each week a few weeks ago and it has REALLY helped our mornings be even simpler.

Here's how I do it:

You know those 2 piece "outfit" hangers you get at the store?

And you have no idea what to do with them afterwards?

I took seven of those and labeled them for each day of the week.

I simply wrapped some Washi tape around the hook (told you I am addicted!) and then used my label maker to make a label for each day.

Then each Sunday I look at the 7 day forecast and plan out his outfits for the week!

 

Then I hang them up at the front of his closet so it is all ready to go!

My little tip for an even simpler morning!

DIY custom labels (using picmonkey!)

So, I have no idea why, but I'm on a HUGE organization kick.

As I've mentioned a bazillion times...I'm not naturally organized.

At.all.

But, after reading many organizing blogs, I was inspired.

I am in love with labeling everything!

It helps me know what goes where, and I hope down the road it helps Levi to learn how to put things back.

AND I figured out an EASY and CHEAP way to make CUTE labels.

All you need is a computer and shipping labels.

First, find a cute image you want for the background.

I happened to have pictures of fabric samples I used.

(Go to fabric.com, right-click and save your favorite fabrics to use!)

Go to picmonkey.com and click 'edit picture'

Select the picture you want for the background

Resize the image to 400 x 200 (If your labels are 4" by 2"...just take whatever your dimensions are for your labels and make the inch into a 100"

Next click an overlay to put on top.

"Geometric" or "Labels" are good ones.

Enlarge the overlay, center it and make it whatever color you'd like

(I chose white)

Next, click the text and choose a font

(I chose Lobster Two)

and select a color, and adjust the size to your liking

That's it! 

Be sure to save your image!

Now, for the other labels, just change the text to what you need.

Next, go to avery.com

Select "print and design online" and type in the design number of the labels you have

Then, select to edit each label at a time

And click to 'add image'

Then adjust the picture to fill the entire label.

Once you've filled the page, click to print!

(Make sure the label paper is in correctly!)

I absolutely LOVE how they have turned out!

Completely custom!

Simple Ribbon Storage

This may not be a genius idea....but it is for me. Haha.

I was re-arranging some things in our family room and found that I had a round glass vase with no current purpose.

Then I recalled I had several pretty spools of ribbon to store on my sewing table.

Ba da bing, ba da boom.

 

 Isn't it so cute and colorful?

Perfect for a craft room or sewing space!

Do you have any great craft storage tips?

Reorganized Sewing Area

So, with my Etsy business growing, it was time to re-evaluate my work space.

This space is in the corner of our family room, so if I am sewing or working on something, I am right there with my family.

We are on Spring Break this week, so decided to tackle this project and have my work space meet my current needs.

Take a peek...

This little desk top organizer is fabulous. It keeps everything I need within arms reach 

{scissors, pens, seam ripper, tape, pins}

yet, out of Levi's arm reach.

Yes, we are definitely at that phase, folks.

 The desktop organizer and cute little "things" jar were from Michaels.

To the left of my sewing table, I hung my homemade cork board.

I thought this would be perfect to highlight recent projects and fabrics.

Above my desktop organizer, I have a little white dry erase board to keep a list of my projects and people to contact.

The boxes contain my iron I use as well as fabric scraps.

 Inside the sewing table got a complete overhaul.

The built in little cubbies on the doors now hold my shipping supplies.

For my fabric, I followed a little Pinterest trick and took cardboard and wrapped all my fabrics around them.

It looks so organized now!

The blue basket contains more fabric scraps.

 All done! 

Now just have to get all my projects done!

Weekly Home Blessings

As I strive to be better at organizing our home and lives, I decided to come up with a more efficient weekly planner.

I had seen on someone's blog (I'm not sure where now...) that she called them "weekly home blessings". 

I loved this perspective.

Much more motivating than "chores".

I wanted to include a weekly menu, prayer requests and a week-at-a-glance.

{Plus a little verse to help keep me motivated}

Here it is!

And better yet, you can download it here free!

Hope this helps bless you and your organizational goals!

Etsy Shop Organization: The Business Side

 I've previously shown you the physical make up of my little Etsy "shop". 

It's just small corner of our family room.

To check out how I organized all the "things" that come along with a shop, look here!

Now, onto the "business" side of things.

I use this term loosely, as it is more of a hobby for me.

But, have to keep it organized!

So, I started with an adorable green chevron binder on clearance at Target for $1.20

 Cute huh?

Then filled it with practical items I use with each transaction.

Let's peek inside.

 On the left are stamps, business cards and a pen.

Next comes the paperwork. If have forms to fill out to keep things running smoothly.

It includes a place to list current orders

 A place to keep track of current inventory and items I am needing

 And a form to track my expenses....to see if I'm really making a profit!

 You can download these forms for you! For free!

Click here!

Next, in page protectors I have thank you cards w/envelopes.

I include a little handwritten thank you with each purchase. : )

 Next are some plain white mailers for small orders.

 Then my stash of bags for local orders

 Lastly a pad of legal paper to jot notes and ideas

I'm a newbie at this whole Etsy thing, but so far, so good!

Keeping organized really helps me manage my little store, with work, home, husband and baby!

Any other Etsy shop owners that have any tips on how they keep organized?

Home Organization: Hall Closet

 Week Two's goal was to organize the hall closet.

This hall closet is always changing based on our current needs.

Since our house is small, we don't have a lot of storage so have to be smart with what we have.

She may not be the prettiest, but I gave everything a place and reused baskets and totes I already owned.

Mission cost: $0

 Our hall closet contains our necessities:

Coats/jackets

Work bags

Vacuum/ Steam mop

Winter gear

Hats

Purses

Reusable totes

Purses

This is also where our mismatchy hangers go before they die. So no, this isn't the prettiest closet space you'll see.

But its functional.

Here is how the top of the closet is organized

 These are items we use on a nearly daily basis.

By corralling them into baskets, it gives a much neater appearance as well.

And yes, Mr. Free has a ton of hats.

Almost as many hats as shoes.

As "temporary" closet doors, we've hung bed sheets from drapery clips to cover our closets.

I use the word "temporary" loosely because they've been that way 5 years and counting..

This works for us, as it can cover the closet and not take up any precious hallway room for a door to swing out to access our stuff.

Mission accomplished.

My Home Organization Challenge

I've mentioned how I am taking the Home Organization 101 Challenge from over at A Bowl Full of Lemons.

It's a great inspiration and motivator and I encourage you all to take it along with me!

The only thing is, is that I have a small home (as you know) and not all her weekly challenge spaces were applicable.

So, I created my own timeline.

I based it off of hers, but tweaked it to fit my needs.

Tada.

My challenge is three weeks shorter, because I have much less square footage and rooms than the average America.

Less to clean! : )

So, feel free to use my timeline, A Bowl Full of Lemons, or make your own!

Week one is already done, so only nine weeks left until I have a totally organized home!

Who is taking the challenge with me?

small kitchen organization

As previously mentioned, I am on a mission to organize my entire home in 14 weeks. I had done a lot to organize it in the past few months, but now's the time to fine tune and be ready for the holidays!

The first week of the challenge is the kitchen!

Our kitchen is small.

Teeny tiny.

Most people's closets are bigger than our kitchen.

So we have to be incredibly particular on what belongs in it to keep it functional.

Here's the breakdown of what we keep where

 

 We decided to keep only food items that are used on a daily basis in the kitchen. The excess and seldom used items go down to our basement pantry.

We don't have a pantry in the kitchen, so our food items must go in the cabinets.

Before, we had items that were hardly used or too big.

I purged anything old, used some baskets I already had to corral different groups of items and moved hardly-used things down to the basement pantry. MUCH better!

In moving out all the rarely used items, I was able to clear off the top of the fridge (where cereal and snack foods liked to hang out) and put them in the cabinets. Now the top of the fridge looks much better!

The big basket contains our lunch bags, and the little basket has excess tea towels.

Next came my bakeware cabinet. This is a deep cabinet, but the only cabinet available for bakeware, bowls and appliances.

I took everything out and utilized the organizational pieces I already owned.

I grouped like items and made sure they were easily accessible.

Next, the plastic plate drawer. 

Our upper cabinets contain our "good" plates and glasses, but there wasn't enough room for our plastic items.

Unfortunately, the drawer also began to house junk as well.

I just got back to the basics. Only plates allowed.

Our bottom drawer contained all of Levi's items. Sippy cups, food storage, dishwasher basket, bibs, etc.

Yikes.

I lumped everything according to category and made them all easy to reach, with the more used items toward the front. Tada!

So, that's what I've been up to this long weekend. 

It's been so nice to have an organized kitchen to cook in!

And small kitchens can be both pretty and functional!

It just takes a lot of effort.