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Tips for Organizing a Basement

Lolli — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:00:01 +0000

We live in a 3-level townhouse, so our basement (that 1st level) is a very important part of our living space. For the first few years that we lived here, it was a dark dungeon-like storage room (which is often what people think of when they hear the word “basement”). Luckily, we renovated the basement as our first big home project so that it could be useable space for toys and the TV along with needed storage and office space.

Our basement has gone through many stages over the last 18 years. Although we’ve continued to store games and books and toys for ALL ages (the kids have spent many hours playing down there!), we no longer need that kind of space with a house full of teenagers. We recently undertook a huge project to make our main basement room into the LuLaRoe boutique (you can join me in my Facebook group or send me a message if you want to learn more or shop!). No more couch, no more big entertainment center, and no more self full of picture books and toys. It’s a major transformation!

Your basement may have a different function than ours. Maybe you’re used to using basements simply for long-term storage. If your basement is out of control and full of stuff, then it is time to get it organized. Organizing your basement may not be at the top of your to-do list, but this is your year to get things organized. Here are a few tips for organizing a basement.

Note: Amazon affiliate links are used within this post.

Remove the junk

There is no possible way to organize a basement (or any other area of the house, for that matter) when it is full of junk. Your first step in gaining control of the basement is to spend some time getting rid of everything you are not using. While you may think you will need something later, keep in mind that the space is something you need now. You will be happy once you get the junk out and have room for space for the family. I always look at things we’ve been storing or holding on to and ask myself 1) does it have sentimental/historical value? and 2) is it replaceable?

Go through what you’ll be keeping

When organizing, I always do a second look of the things I plan on keeping. Do I really need to keep it? What am I saving this item for? A double check on the item can help determine if I really need it or not. I need all the space I can get, so this step is extra helpful.

Labeling is your best friend

When organizing a basement, especially when it’s a space you don’t go into as much as the rest of your house, labeling is a must. You can buy a labeling machine cheap, and I know you will get your money’s worth. It’s well worth it to stay organized! If you do not want to buy a label maker, paper labels from the Dollar Tree will do the trick.

Keep things off the floor

This is just a little trick I learned over the years. Keep everything in your basement off the floor as much as possible. Not only does it keep things more organized, but it helps protect your items. Since the basement is the lowest level of the house, you never know what can make its way indoors. Your best bet is to use shelves for items and to hang up as much as you can. I personally think it is much easier to keep things organized when you are not putting everything on the floor.

Everything in its place

This tip applies to any section of the house. When putting things away, make sure you’ve given everything a “home.” As you’re maintaining your organized space and cleaning up on a regular basis, it’s so much easier for the whole family to know where to put things away versus searching for an empty shelf or nook to stuff it. This step helps when looking for things, too. If you know where items belong, then finding things is as simple as walking downstairs and grabbing them off the shelf. It saves time in the long run!

What tips do you have for organizing a basement? Removing the junk and labeling items are two of my favorite tips. Don’t be shy about sharing your tips with me!

Tips for Organizing the Kitchen Cabinets

Lolli — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 14:36:04 +0000

The day after Christmas, we started a couple of major projects in our house – all in an effort to be more organized and have our house in better shape for the new year.

The first project we undertook was to get our kitchen ready to paint and to renovate the cabinets. Although we’re still in the middle of the project, the first step we took – to get the cabinets organized – has made a huge difference in how our kitchen both feels and functions.

Whether you’re planning a kitchen remodel or just wanting to get order back in the kitchen, here are a few tips to follow:

Note: Amazon links are used within this post to point you towards some products I love.

Remove all the old dishes and other items

I am a person that has a hard time saying goodbye to items, even if I do not use them. However, getting rid of the unused items is super important. You cannot be organized when the cabinets are full of junk- so to speak. By removing all the old “items” you are making room to keep things organized. We’ve gathered a mishmash collection of cups, mugs, plates, silverware, etc. over the years and although it feels nice to have “plenty,” we’ve found that the mismatched dishes don’t stack well and take up more space than if we had the same number of the same dish.

Have a game plan ready

Have you seen all the awesome ways to organize your kitchen cabinets on Pinterest? Using hooks (I love this system!), pot racks (we’ve got something like this), baskets (functional and gorgeous!), shelves, spice racks and anything else you can get your hands on will help you stay organized in the kitchen. One of my favorite organizational tools in the kitchen is a Lazy Susan.

Keep inventory low

I have found that it is easier to keep inventory low in my kitchen cabinet. When you don’t have a ton in your cabinets, it’s much easier to organize. This is especially true if you have a smaller kitchen – less is more! I get frustrated and annoyed when I have too much stuff in my cabinets and I have found that this tip really works. I keep at least one dish for each person in the family. For example, one plate per person…plus a few extra for guests. I mean, I don’t need 5 sets of unused dishes in my cabinets.

Utilize the unique space in your kitchen

When I look in my kitchen, I try to embrace the unique shelves and space I have. When organizing, I try to find those unique spaces in which I can store things. If you look close enough, you may just find these unique spaces in your kitchen.

Keep your kitchen organized

The last step seems like the most reasonable step, but it makes the most sense. Once you get your kitchen organized, make sure to take the time to keep it this way. I set aside time each week to spend time organizing my kitchen. It only takes about 15-30 minutes to get things organized correctly in your kitchen.

What tips do you have for organizing the kitchen cabinets?

Tips For Getting & Staying Organized in the New Year

Lolli — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 13:00:49 +0000

2017 is right on our heels. We’ll blink and it will be here. A New Year gets me excited and scares me a little bit, too! Getting organized has never been hard for me, it’s the part of STAYING organized that seems to be the challenge. With some experience under my belt, I wanted to share how you can get organized and stay organized in the coming year.

Pick your battles

There is no way you are going to have your entire house organized at the same time. The way I get organized and stay organized is to pick my battles. What are my “main” areas I want to stay organized? For me, it’s my main living areas. Keeping those areas organized is super important.

You will notice that it is a lot easier to be organized whenever you don’t have the pressure to keep every single nook and cranny organized.
Checklists are your friend (whether you want them to be or not)

Listen, I know checklists are so pre-internet and smart phone, but they work! When I make a checklist, it is so much easier for me to stay organized. I will admit that checklists help me to stay organized with my kids, grocery shopping, and extracurricular things. Plus, I love having a list to “check off” when I get things done, don’t you?!

Keep the kids accountable in the organization department

If you are anything like me, you can get organized, no problem. It is the staying organized that is hard. Part of the problem, at least in my house, is that the kids seem to have a natural ability to destroy any sort of organization I’ve created.

If you want to stay organized this year, then you need to keep your kids accountable. They need to help YOU stay as organized as possible. I write my kids little notes to help them stay organized. I’m sure you can find a way that works for you!

Keep ongoing appointments

One area that I have been working on in the organizational department has been with appointments. I have found something that works and helps me stay organized. Instead of picking a “new time and date” every time I need an appointment, I keep a standing date. For example – hair appointments are every 6 weeks at the same date/time/place. Grocery shopping same date/time/place. Date night with the hubby — same date/time/place (it’s ok to pick a different restaurant or activity each time, but having that set date helps so much!). When you have repetition in your life, it’s harder to be disorganized because you know what to expect. In fact, this will make you look so organized that people are going to stay wondering who you are.

I hope some of these tips help you get more organized {and stay organized} this year! We can all use a new tip here and there, so share your tips with me. I’d love to hear them.

Morning Routine For Busy Moms: How to Start Your Day Off Right

Lolli — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 20:00:42 +0000

My mornings start at the crack of dawn. I thought that the summer would be a break from our crazy routine, but with early morning swim practice this summer, we haven’t had much time to catch up. I was kind of hoping that the change of routine would allow for later mornings and a little more sleep for this mama. And now we’re about to start a new school year. A mother’s job truly never ends, does it?

Since I’m confident that I’m not the only mom whose mornings tend to be controlled by kids, I thought it would be helpful to share a few tips for making morning routines more productive and positive (….instead of the opposite, where you realize that you’ve been up for 4 hours and haven’t gotten dressed or eaten breakfast and just want to crawl back into bed when the kids leave!).

Here are a few tips for starting your day off on the right foot so that the rest of the day is as productive and positive as possible.

Morning Routine for Busy Moms: 5 Tips to Start Your Day Off on the Right Foot

Start your day with meditation – My most positive and productive mornings begin with some sort of meditation. Prayer, gospel study, and stretching always put me in a better frame of mind to tackle the rest of my day. When I convince myself that my morning is too chaotic to stop for 15 or 30 minutes to meditate and study, then the rest of the day remains chaotic.

Exercise – I admit that it’s tough to make the time to exercise in the morning (this is a relatively new habit I’m trying to establish) but I always leave feeling energized and ready to get to work. I’ve also noticed that when I put off exercise in the morning, thinking that I’ll get it done later in the day….it rarely happens!

Get dressed – Showering and putting on fresh clothes makes a huge difference in my mindset. Getting dressed for the day is my way of saying I’m ready to get to work, whether I need to leave the house or not.

Make your bed – The habit of making the bed only takes a couple of minutes but it sets the tone in the house. It’s especially important for me since my office is also in my bedroom. You can take it one step further and find one other spot in the house to tidy. It always amazes me how much of a difference a few minutes of cleaning can make as I’m starting my day.

Establish a routine for your kids – Get your kids into a morning routine so that YOU aren’t doing everything for them. This can apply to many ages. Even toddlers can get used to – and thrive in – a morning routine that includes getting out of bed, getting dressed, packing a bag for the day, and even getting something to eat.

Eat a filling breakfast – Making sure that I take the time to eat a nutritious, filling breakfast is one of the most important things in my morning routine. I’ve never been one to “forget” to eat (I could never understand those people. My stomach does not let me forget!) but I’ve noticed that what I eat really does make a difference. Since I’m often on the run in the morning, and since I frequently leave breakfast to the very last task on my morning routine, it’s especially handy to have a few options that I can grab before I head out the door or start my work day at the computer. One of my favorite new options for a wholesome, delicious, protein-packed breakfast is Jimmy Dean Delights Frittatas.

I’ve been eating a high protein, low carb diet lately and breakfast has been one of my favorite meals of the day. New Jimmy Dean Delights Frittatas fit perfectly with my goals. They are made with real ingredients like whole eggs, lean meats, and real vegetables, and are an excellent source of protein. What’s even more amazing is that they contain 9 to 10g of carbs per serving, which is exactly what I’m looking for in a breakfast food.

Busy moms like me will appreciate the fact that Jimmy Dean Delights Frittatas are ready from the microwave in just two minutes. And they taste delicious – like I made them myself!

Jimmy Dean Delights Frittatas come in 3 flavors:

Bacon and Spinach Frittatas
Turkey Sausage and Bacon Frittatas
Turkey Sausage and Veggies Frittatas

Which flavor are you most excited to try?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

How to Organize a Desk

Lolli — Thu, 05 May 2016 15:20:28 +0000

If there is something I’ve enjoyed doing a lot of lately, it is organizing. It seems as though this is my year to get down with my bad self in the organizing department. The kids may think I’m crazy, but it really is a good thing to get organized. One area that I got tired of looking at in my house is my desk. It’s so full of clutter and disarray. So, you can guess that this week, this is what I tackled.

Note: I’ve linked to some helpful resources on Amazon. The links to the products are affiliate links and I can earn a small commission if you choose to buy anything, but the price for you will not be effected.

Are you like me and need help organizing your desk? Do you work at home? Or maybe you’re a student and use your desk for studying. Whatever your routine, an organized desk will help you stay focused on your to-do list. Stop letting yourself get distracted by the mess! Here’s where you can get started:

How to Organize a Desk

Ditch the paper stacks: On my desk, you will find tons of paper stacks. Sometimes they aren’t even stacks – they’re just lots and lots of papers that never got thrown away. Between the kids, mail, and my paperwork, you really never know what you’ll find. For this reason alone, I’ve been trying to make everything as paperless as I can. Makes more sense and it’s less work for me in the long run.

Make your desk functional: Sometimes, I put way too much stuff on my desk and it really makes no sense at all. This week I focused on making my desk more functional. I removed anything that I was no longer using and I put things away that don’t go on the top of my desk. You would be surprised at the amount of stuff I found on my desk that didn’t even belong there.

Ditch the junk drawer: I probably have a junk drawer in every room of my home. I ditched my desk junk drawer this week. There were so many random items in there. It’s really a good feeling to get rid of the items we don’t use and obviously don’t need. Plus, the sooner I get rid of those items, the less likely they will end up back on my desk.

Invest in a few desktop organizers: One of my favorite things about an organized desk it having room for real desktop organizers. You can find these super cheap almost anywhere you go, or you can just use organizers you have on hand. If you are feeling feisty, you can even use drawer organizers to keep everything in its place.

Below are just two examples:

Assign a place for everything: One of my biggest challenges has always been not knowing where to put all of the “things” I collect through the course of a day-week-month. When I don’t know where to put something, it usually ends up in a messy pile on my desk or in the junk drawer where it’s forgotten. My greatest long-term organizing successes come when I create a place to put each item. Note: that “place” is more than often NOT on or in my desk!

While organizing my home hasn’t always been the easiest task, I realized that I just need to take it one step at a time…and this week it was to organize the desk. Gone are the days where I let “things” and “stuff” overwhelm me. Are you ready to jump on the organizational train?

How to Organize the Bathroom

Lolli — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 16:05:51 +0000

I am SO glad you’re here!

You know why? Because it means that I am probably not alone in my challenge to keep my house organized.

Do you feel like staying organized is a constant, daily challenge?

I know I do.

But, I do have many years of experience behind my belt, so despite the fact that I still struggle with it, I do know a tip or two to keep the house organized.

Now, putting it into practice (ahem, finding and making the time to actually keep up with the organizing!) is another story.

Today, I’m focusing on keeping the bathroom organized. Hey, it’s a room we all spend a lot of time in, right? And I don’t know about you, but I hate a cluttered bathroom. Organization means clean to me, and I want my bathroom to feel clean and orderly.

How to Organize the Bathroom (and Keep it Organized!)

Just like any other room in the house, it would be amazing if the bathroom simply organized itself. However, I’m sure you know that this is not how organization works.

I wanted to start a new series on organization because this is something everyone needs to work on, including myself. One of the first steps to getting a bathroom organized, is to get started. That’s it. Just get started.

Ready?

How to Organize the Bathroom (and Keep it Organized!)

Clean it up: Before you can begin to organize your bathroom, it needs to resemble some sort of clean. Giving it a quick wipe down is a great idea!

Put a trashcan in the bathroom: Hey, you probably already have a trash can in your bathroom, but just in case you don’t, it’s a smart move to help keep it organized.

Keep the dirty clothes OUT: Traditionally, most people have a hamper in their bathroom for all of their dirty clothes. Skip the hamper in the bathroom and keep a basket for everyone in their rooms. It makes it much easier to keep the bathroom organized when there isn’t an Eiffel Tower made of clothes.

Bonus tip: Get everyone in the family their own laundry basket. These collapsible laundry baskets are easy for kids to carry from their room to the laundry. As the kids have gotten older, we’ve transitioned to having everyone do their own laundry, and it just makes sense to keep the dirty laundry separated in their own rooms. Get them HERE.

Get rid of the extras: If you have 5 bottles of shampoo and 50 razors, it’s time to part with some of them. It’s okay to stock up, but you may need to find a better stocking shelter for your bathroom supplies. Getting rid of the extras in the bathroom will leave space for the items that really matter.

Keep it simple: When it comes to organizing the bathroom, it’s important that the items you have in the bathroom are kept simple. Bathrooms are tiny and there isn’t much space, so the simpler you keep things, the easier it is to keep it organized.

Buy extra storage: Nowadays there are some really awesome storage options when it comes to bathroom storage. In order to get your bathroom organized, you may want to consider buying extra storage.

One of our MOST HELPFUL bathroom organization purchases has been a towel hook bar. I can’t recommend this enough! You may not have 7 bath towels at a time like we do, but I can’t begin to explain how helpful it is for each towel to have it’s own place. Plus, who else hates wondering if someone else has used your towel? Every person in our house has their own hook. Boom. See what we use HERE.

Spend time organizing once a week: Now that your bathroom is organized, you’ll want to keep up with it. Spend 15-20 minutes each week changing the trash, getting rid of the extra clutter, and putting everything back where it goes. You can handle once a week, right?

Remember that an organized bathroom means the cleaning time will be cut. No more spending hours organizing and then cleaning. Now you can do a quick wipe down of the bathroom and be on your way!

What tips do you have for organizing the bathroom? What have you found that works for you? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments section.

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5 Tips for Getting Your Family on a Schedule

Lolli — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 21:38:11 +0000

Struggling to get your family on a schedule? Do you feel as though your family life is full of chaos? You are NOT ALONE! Believe me….I know all about chaos as a mother of five. I thought things were chaotic when I had 5 little ones running around the house (and tearing it up faster than I could put it together). Perhaps it feels like no one knows what is going on and everyone is tired, grouchy, and frustrated. A family schedule is a great way to keep everyone’s moods joyful. And we all love joyful, right? It can be hard to not know what’s going on, which is why a schedule is critical for maintaining a sense of peace in the home…and ensuring that everyone in the family is on the same page.

5 Tips for Getting Your Family on a Schedule

Know the Importance of a Routine

Kids need structure and routine; in fact, they thrive off of. The truth is, adults also thrive off a routine. It’s good for the soul. Routines help bring about rules that help keep everyone in check. Keep in mind that no two families are alike, so a routine that works for someone else, may not work for you. From firsthand experience, routines help everyone in the family keep their sanity in check.

Simplify Your Life

Before you get your family into any type of schedule, you will want to simplify your lives. Find out what everyone enjoys doing and what everyone dislikes participating in, from there you can make some decisions as to what you will cut and to what you will keep. A simpler life is always more fulfilling and a lot less chaotic for all involved.

Have A Rest Period

When it comes down to it, everyone needs some sort of rest period. Younger kids need some sort of nap time and a firm bed time. Adults can also have a period of rest to give their brains and bodies a break. When you are trying to figure out your routine, always consider having a rest period.

Be Consistent

One of the most important parts of getting your family on a schedule is being consistent. You need to make sure you are following through with the standards you put in place. Keep in mind that your kids are watching you, so if you are not consistent, they will easily know how to play you. Consistency wins every time, even when you do not want to be consistent.

Post Your Schedule

When kids get home from school, they may be sort of lost because all day they have been on a schedule. By putting up your family’s schedule, you are keeping everyone in check. If they are confused about what’s next, they can easily look and see what activity is coming up next. Post your family’s schedule in a place that everyone can see it. You can even make it look super pretty and stylish by using a dry erase board or a chalk board.

When it comes to getting your family on a schedule, it can be an easy process if you approach it the right way. Remember that consistency is a huge step in progress towards a schedule everyone learns to rely on.

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Check out my “TIPS FOR MOMS” category for more helpful parenting tips and tricks from a mom who’s been around the block a few times!