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Well friends, I had high hopes that I would have a studio update for you all today, including a pretty new rug and closet curtain.  However, the rug was baaaaad and the curtain fabric just wasn't right.  So sadly, I have nothin'.  There were a few other hang-ups, but I will get into all of that within the next update.  I thought it would be fun to take a break from studio talk today and focus on my inner organizing nerd instead.

In the past, I have shared my purse process, which basically consists of me carrying a tote that holds my planner, iPad, pens, sunglasses, some other girly things and my wallet.  I take the tote in the car with me when I travel, but don't take it inside with me when I run into stores as I much prefer to just carry a single clutch or wallet most of the time.

Do you ever get frustrated with your purse and just dump it all on the table and give it an instant organizing session?  I did that earlier this week and noticed that there is always a common trend when I do this.  Pesky bobby pins!  Seriously, can't stand those things but I always carry them and use them to pin up my hair.  I know, I know, this is really important stuff right here.


It isn't just the bobby pins though; it is also hair ties and jewelry.  They always seem to be floating around in random pockets inside of my tote.  I decided I needed a small container to corral those itty bitties.  Plus, there are times when I need to occasionally remove my wedding ring when I am out {no hubby, you don't have to worry...  think manicures and long typing sessions at the coffee shop}, and I liked the idea of having something to keep it in so it isn't floating around inside of my tote.

Enter an empty prescription bottle.


Riveting right?  No, this is not rocket science organizing and I know I am not the first to use a prescription bottle to organize little items inside of my purse.  But why not share the big projects with the little right?  So here you have it.  I spray painted a prescription bottle... {I figured if the genius Courtney can spray paint a bleach bottle cap, I could spray paint a prescription bottle}


And then covered it in a vinyl cutout done with my die cutting machine.


And it turned out as adorable small storage for my tote.


I am sure I will continue to use upcycle these containers for other small storage, and next time I will probably save the trouble of the spray paint {it can easily scrape off if you don't put a thin coat of primer on it first and/or a protective finish over it after} and just use decorative paper or fabric and Mod Podge instead.  Live and learn and share I say.  At least it is cute!


This project reminded me of the sweet little headphone storage I created out of a Q-Tip container awhile back, which I still use all of the time.  I adore when everyday packaging can be re-purosed.

What product packaging have you been up-cycling for storage lately? 

Hooray!  It is the end of week two of the four week "Wait No More Challenge!"  Are you still organizing full speed ahead?  I am really loving the challenge and checking off some much needed projects from my list.  We are not talking about dramatic room makeovers or major DIY improvements.  These projects are the projects that are impacting our day to day lifestyles.  The ones that slow us down, cause us frustrations and make us shake our heads in confusion.


This week I tackled our vehicles and I went into the project thinking it would be a walk in the park.  Boy was I in for a surprise!  It would be a miracle if we could pull off a successful drive to the park with the condition of our vehicles.

In my making excuses defense, it is nearly impossible to clean our vehicle for about 6 months out of the year due to our cold climate.  Truthfully, I don't think either of our cars have been touched in over a year though, so I really don't think that my excuse holds that much weight.  The funny thing is, I can't stand a dirty car because I just love the feeling of a fresh clean car so much more.  But I had some major goggles on or something, because they both just got progressively worse and worse to the point where I didn't even realize how bad they really were.


No joke guys, I went out this week to clean out the cars and had a minor panic attack in the middle of the day, in the middle of our driveway, in the middle of our neighborhood.  I knew the cars were bad, but the back of the vehicle that we primarily use to travel as a family, was in far rougher shape than I realized or even could have imagined.  Remember, this is a judge free zone friends.

Toys, crumbs, dirt, coloring pages, books, water bottles, clothing, sporting equipment, more clothing... You would think we live out of these vehicles.  Wait, we basically do lately!


The front seat wasn't all that bad.  Just felt dirty and had a lot of disorganization in the cubbies and crannies.


I am sure cleaning out a car and organizing it isn't the most thrilling post to read, but my goodness, the outcome sure was thrilling to me.  I completely underestimated the mess, and therefore, completely underestimated the amount of time it would take to clean out and organize both cars.  Here are the steps I took to whip both vehicles back into beautiful shape.

STEP 1:  Assess (like really assess).  Check out all areas of cars to determine scope of project and potential needs (this is where I failed to realize how bad things really were).  I used my project planning printable to come up with a game plan.



STEP 2:  Create solutions for trouble spots.  We were lacking in preparation and organization, so I put together a few kits to be better prepared while traveling.



STEP 3:  Sort and purge!  Just like any organizational project, I got out some bins and started the sorting process.  You can download your free sorting signs here.


The goal was to empty the cars 100%.  I enlisted the help of all of the boys, they were partly responsible for the mess after-all.


STEP 4:  Clean!  Once we had the cars completely empty, it was time to scrub them top to bottom. 


This process probably seems pretty straight forward, and it really was.  I used a combination of our shop vac and Dyson attachments to get all of the carpet clean.  A slender attachment worked well to vacuum out all of the narrow nooks, door pockets and cup holders.  I decided to cheat for this project and purchased some Pledge Multi-Surface cleaner (I usually DIY my cleaners).  I was impressed with how well it worked on all of the interior surfaces, including the windows.  Not to mention, it smelled amazing. #notsponsored #justlove

A small scrub brush paired with a bucket of warm water and dishsoap removed all of the salt stains from the floor mats.  Once they were dry, I went back over them with our upright vac.



STEP 5:  Take it all in.  Every last minute! 



STEP 6:  Implement new systems.  I had a chat with the kiddos, and we agreed that majority of the items we put in our car kit, should get them through shorter car rides without the need to bring a bunch of extra coloring pages or toys.


We also agreed that part of the problem was not being diligent about bringing things in when we returned home.  Our "keep" bin was full of items that needed to be brought back into the house and put away.


I added a small trash bag to the back of the passenger seat in both cars.


The sporting equipment was also put away, and replaced with a bin of essentials and our reusable shopping bags.


I actually divided our reusable shopping bags into two sets of 5 bags each, keeping one set in each car.  In the past, they were stored in the house and they were forgotten for far too many grocery shopping trips.  The woven basket in our car holds our returns, and can easily be moved from trunk to trunk.


In the front of both cars, I made sure we had a plug and cord for each of our phones.


At this point, it is probably not a surprise that the glove compartments were also a smidge on the messy side...


We keep spare fuses in both glove compartments.  Our car had a nice divided case, so I mimicked it for the SUV.


I also added a small container of money for tolls, parking meters or an emergency gas stop.  I don't typically recommend leaving money in your vehicle, but I wanted to add a small back-up fund in both cars just in case.  Does iced coffee count as an emergency?


I didn't want to continuously purchase Swiffer refills, so I upgraded each vehicle to a reusable duster instead.  They are compact enough to fit in the glove compartments.


We were also lacking in any type of document management in the car.  We didn't always have insurance cards in the car, and have been trying a few different methods for tracking mileage (we both need to track it for business purposes).  To solve the problem, I put together a thin Auto Binder to slide under each passenger seat.



How about a quick look inside?


I used a generic white 1/2" three ring binder and dressed it up with some decorative paper and a label.  Inside, I used tabbed binder pockets, which are great for holding miscellaneous documents and receipts.

Right inside the cover, I added our insurance card and proof of vehicle registration.


Behind another tab of more insurance docs/details, I printed out a new auto maintenance log, and filed away the previous one which we had been keeping in our Household Binder.  The pocket is great for holding maintenance statements and receipts.


Next tab is a Mileage tracker, which I created for this project.


Would you like one too?  OK!

(download your FREE mileage tracker here)

For the final tab, I decided to take my own advice and keep a donation tracker in each car.  We are always dropping off a small box of items at local donation facilities, and I find myself jotting down notes at the last minute in my phone or on random scraps of paper.  Now, I have a much more organized way of keeping those details straight.


The one shown above is from my shop here, but you can also download another version for free here.

A pen fit perfectly inside each binder, and the cover provides a hard surface to write down all details while on the go.

And that is that my friends!  Our cars are no longer embarrassing or gross or dirty!  Although I may be hiding under a rock in shame, I am doing so with a smile!




I am sure I am a bit more excited about the before and afters this week than 90% of you, but that is what these organizational challenges are all about. Doing something you have been putting off for far too long and then celebrating your accomplishments. #cheers 




I was so overjoyed to see how many of you joined in with me last week!  Let's keep the organizing momentum going this week!

UPDATE!  Congratulations to this week's winner!  #16 has been selected by Random.org as the winning participant of Week Two!  Keep an eye on your email, I will be contacting soon to coordinate your Amazon.com gift card winnings!   


You can find all of the challenge details in this post here, and also download some FREE project planning printables to help you get started!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hello pals!  I hope your week is off to a beautiful start!  I am currently in NYC for a really amazing brand collaboration, and have been enjoying my time in the city.  Always such a fun change from small town rural life.

I apologize that I will be MIA for much of the week while exciting things are happening behind the scenes.  I will definitely be checking in during spare seconds and still have a few posts lined up.  I was also hoping to share with you our hardware selection for our kitchen yesterday, however, the pieces I selected for the glass cabinets didn't work out during Saturday's installation day.  Fingers crossed the new pieces arrive and everything goes swimmingly when I get back home.

When I arrived at the hotel on Sunday, I realized I haven't yet shared a little gem of a packing tip.  I may be late to the game, but one little change really made a fabulous impact to my travel experience.


Three words: Mesh Garment Bags.  These things are amazing.  They come in a variety of sizes, and allow me to really maximize the space in my carry-on suitcase.

When I pack for a work trip, I never know what to expect in terms of clothing, weather and event experiences.  Things change at the drop of a dime, and I like to have back-up options in case I make a mess of myself or realize I completely mis-judged appropriate attire.


For this five day trip, I packed three pair of jeans (white, black and blue), two skirts and eight tops.  I also packed under garments, layering tanks, a blazer, two sets of pajamas and accessories (not shown above).

So why do I love those little mesh sacks?  So glad you asked:

• They are less expensive than typical travel cubes.
• I prefer to roll my clothing when I pack to save space, the mesh sack conforms to the shape of my clothing, yet keeps everything from unrolling.
• They come in a variety of sizes to accommodate different clothing types.
• They are small enough to bring a few extras to separate out dirty laundry.
• They can be used to pack specific outfits for each day (include shoes, jewelry and clothing pieces into a separate sack for each day), or divide out clothing by function (sleepwear, pants/shirts, etc...).

suitcase

1. Mesh laundry pouches - as outlined above, they are a great packing cube alternative.
2. Jewelry rolls keep jewelry safe and prevent tangles.
3. Travel sized lint rollers will ensure you are dust and lint free on meeting/event day.
4. Mini cosmetic cases are wonderful for holding everything from daily vitamins to stud earrings.
5. Tuck a few dryers sheets in your suitcase between clothing to keep everything smelling fresh.  They are also great for rubbing onto your blouses and skirts to prevent cling issues.
6. Pre-pack a toiletry bag with your favorite products emptied into small, TSA friendly bottles.
7. Select a cosmetic bag with multiple pouch options and one with handles that allow you to hang it on the back of the bathroom door or nearby hook.
8. It is always important to add identification to your luggage.  Tech Tags that utilize cloud technology to help insure your items a safe recovery if lost. 

carry-on

1. Headphones will keep you entertained during your flight.  Keep them tangle free with an ear-bud cord wrap.
2. Ear-buds keep your ears happy with tunes, gum keeps your ears happy while changing altitudes.
3. Corral all of your important travel documents and keep them right at hand with a handy travel wallet/organizer.
4. I don't know about you, but I always feel a little rough after a flight, especially after sleeping in a crunched up ball.  I like to keep a travel size bottle of dry shampoo to give my hair a little refresh/bounce after landing.
5. Same story for the face.  I don't pack the pressed powder in my toiletry bag; that goes right into my personal bag to rid my face of oil build-up during the flight.
6. Mini hair brush for that mini bed plane head fixing.
7. When I am traveling all day, I am sure to burn through my phone/tablet battery sooner than normal.  A pre-charged battery cell will get you a few extra charges throughout the day if needed.
8. I pre-load my tablet with magazines and books prior to my flight.  This saves on bag space and shoulder pain, as I use to lug those items with me.  They are also handy to have for games, music, movies and even web browsing on Wi-Fi flights.  Lastly, load Dropbox on your tablet to keep all of your important digital files easily accessible at any time.
9. Most often, I am meeting someone straight off of the airplane.  I like to give myself a little spritz of perfume during my quick freshen up process.  Most perfumes come in travel sized bottles, or you can purchase them and transfer your favorite scents at home.
10. Flights always make me feel dried out; both my hands and lips.  For hands, I always keep a small tube of hand creme in my carry-on.
11. And a little chapstick for my lips!
12.  These folios are also great for travel docs, receipts, and any other files you may be transporting across the globe.
13. It is probably no surprise I take my planner with me everywhere, so of course it makes the cut onto the plane.  In fact, I love to store all of the hard copies of any travel docs I have right inside the cover.

So now that I spilled my favorite travel/packing tips (which ended up being a few quick tips), what are yours?  What one item is a "must" when jet setting off for business or pleasure?


Looking for more quick tips?  Check out the entire series here!

Welcome to Week Two of the "Wait-No-More" Organizing Challenge.  To recap, I am focusing on four main areas of our life that need a lot of organizational help.  Instead of biting off more than I can chew all at once (and subsequently becoming quite overwhelmed), I am tackling one space each week.

• Time Management
• Automobiles
• Master Bathroom
• Master Bedroom Closet

And many of you are joining in and working on a few of your own spaces, which I totally love!  For this week's organizational challenge, I am focusing on our vehicles.  More and more, it feels like our cars are our second homes.  We are always heading to school and sporting events as well as running frequent errands, trips to the park and taking off for a weekend away.  We live in a small town, so we have to take trips to "the city" quite frequently.  All of those miles add up and the interior of our cars have been feeling the traveling pains.

We snack in the car, we sleep in the car, we read and play games in the car.  I am not one to keep strict rules about food, drinks and toys because I want everyone to be happy and comfortable while traveling.  However, my goal is to take back the room on wheels that we spend so much time in, and to find a few ways to better maintain them moving forward.


Above you can see my plans for the cars.  By Friday, I will (fingers crossed) have before and afters of two messy vehicles turned nice, clean and organized vehicles.  Wish me luck!

My first step in the process was to address some areas we have been lacking.  We have umbrellas near our front door, but what happens when we are heading to the grocery store and a rain cloud comes out of nowhere?  We keep our sunglasses in our shoe cabinet, but again, what if we forget them at home and happen to be driving into the sun?  What if our oldest gets hit with motion sickness or I happen to get a headache?  When we head to the park, there is a high probability that our accident prone kiddo will scrape up his elbow, forehead or knee.  And after having three flat tires in the past two years, I can't risk not being prepared for another.  All of these things have happened and have left us feeling frustrated that we didn't have some basics on hand.

So I decided to put together some kits to help us be better prepared on the road (you all know I love a good kit!).  We are still using some of the pouches we put together two years ago here, but since then we have ditched the basket and the rest of the system.  The lidded basket was too bulky and we found we didn't move it from car to car (the basket has been working much better in my closet storing off-season items).  This time around, I decided to create two of each kit, so that we don't have to do any moving between vehicles.

I started by picking up two large fabric bins (similar) from Target.  They are a grey, felt-like material and reminded me of the interior of our cars.  I also picked up two small craft cases and four plastic shoe boxes.

Kit number one is a very simple and basic First-Aid kit.  The small craft case was the perfect size for the bandage boxes and medicine bottles.


Inside each kit I added the following items:

• Pain Reliever
• Digestive Relief
• Motion Sickness Relief
• Itch Relief
• Instant Cold Pack
• Antiseptic/Pain Relieving Spray
• Bandages
• Kleenex
• Athletic Tape
• Gauze
• Scissors
• Tweezers

There is still room to add a few additional items if we find we have missed anything, however, we are pretty covered for accidents at the park or ball field.  I used my Silhouette die-cutting machine to create vinyl labels for each lid.


Next up I created a kit to keep behind the driver's seat in each car.  My goal is to completely clean out the cars and only keep this single bin of items in each.  I used an Avery Office template to create the labels for each kit. 


Inside each of these bins I added the following items:

• Wipes
• Umbrella
• Storage Bags
• Spare Charging Adapter
• Lip Gloss
• Lotion
• Markers
• Notebook
• Pens
• Kleenex
• Sanitizer
• Sunglasses
• Playing Cards

Now, if the kids forget their travel bags, they still have activities to keep them busy.  These items are intended to always stay in the car and never go into our home.  My guess is the contents may evolve or be swapped out, but I already feel much more prepared knowing that we have some basics on hand anywhere we head.  Because you know, hands get sticky and accidents will happen.


The last kit I put together is in case of a roadside emergency:

• Fix-A-Flat 
• Tire Plug Kit
• Headlamp
• Roadside Flare Light
• Tire Gauge
• Glass Breaker/Seatbelt Cutter (which will ultimately live in the glove compartment once the cars are cleaned out and organized)
• Booster Cables

And again, everything went inside one of the small plastic bins.


So to recap, each car will be equipped with the following:


Each container is quite compact, and the shoe box sized bins fit perfectly in the larger canvas bin.


The larger tote will sit in the trunk of each vehicle and the extra space will be used to hold a few reusable grocery bags and a picnic blanket in each (the "Happy Travels" bin will stay behind the driver's seat in the car).


To prevent the bins from sliding around in the trunk, I added a few heavy-duty Velcro strips to the bottom side of each.


No two families are the same, so what you opt to store in your vehicle most likely looks different than the items I selected.  To prepare, I thought about sticky situations where we didn't have what we needed... And just literal sticky situations.  Plus, I am always digging in my purse for chapstick, lotion, pens and sunglasses, so it is nice to know that the basics are always within reach.  

It is a beautiful week for us to get outside and start vacuuming, scrubbing and cleaning out each vehicle, and I can't wait for us to get back that "new car" smell.  In fact, that reminds me, I need a few air fresheners to battle the wonderful aroma of baseball socks. #savemynostrils