If you're looking for a sturdy, affordable shoe solution in your closet this may be the solution for you! Here is the video on Instagram if you want to see it in person.
Hello! I have boys that LOVE Legos and it has always been a storage frustration with what to do with all of them. We've tried plastic totes and separating them by color but their collection quickly outgrew those little plastic drawers and let's be honest -- they never stayed separated by color. We also tried keeping them on a big blanket so you can move them and gather them up quickly but we're ready to try something new down in the basement next to the ping pong table. We got these cube storage shelves from Walmart and I've already shared my love of these BH&G storage totes that hold all of the Legos, plus ping pong balls and paddles.
I have also loved these wood Studio McGee lamps at Target that we put on each end -- they also have a dimmer switch on them!
This isn't the first time we've used the cube organizers -- they are great in boys' closets and one of the most popular posts on 320 Sycamore -- a mini closet makeover. They make the cutest storage bins now!
I would love find something great to put on the wall above the cube organizers -- I'll keep you posted! I hope this gives some ideas for the things you need to organize. Thanks for stopping by.
Hello! January organizing and clean out continues! This is the same closet that I used for my Dollar store makeover in 2015 but I needed some bigger containers for some of these and something a little more durable than the lighter plastic. One of my favorite places for organizing bins and containers is actually Ross stores. Most of these on the top 3 shelves were 3.99, 4.99, or 5.99. I try to get them in neutral blues and tans so they look better together.
My FAVORITE that I've found (I also used them in our master closet on the top shelf) are these Better Homes and Gardens cube organizers. I love the fabric, the price ($5??), they hold ALOT and they have a little label holder as well! They don't come with the label but you can just use the back of a notecard or cardstock. I'm using them on a project downstairs as well and they just came back in stock online! If you're looking in store they are usually in the closet organization section but I have also found them in the cube organizer section near furniture.
I also have to tell you how much I am loving pulling up meals in Google Sheets. I just have to pull it up at the beginning of each month and just moving meals around and I don't have to think about it much. Or I can pull it up on my phone at the store. It's one of the favorite things I've done for meal planning so I just wanted to share it again.
Happy organizing and meal planning :)
I had been looking for a good solution to store everything and decided on these 14X17 art portfolios. (ETA: this one on Amazon is only the 12 page! If you want the 24 page/48 view look here on B&H Photo) I love them because they are larger than your typical binder or photo album so they are perfect for artwork!
Everything had been in a big storage bin and so I sat on the bed and sorted and sorted and threw things away. Then I brought each child's pile out to the kitchen island and tried to sort into chronological order.
I was worried about the quality for under $20 but it ended up being the perfect solution! It is just like light metal pipes that you put together with these plastic-like cloth shelves but shoes aren't usually too heavy so unless you've got some crazy big boots this should work for you.
I just love that it holds ALL of our shoes together and we can see them. I do have summer sandals in a bin that I switch out for the winter boots and I see some right now that I can get probably get rid of but it was so fun putting them all on here when it was all put together. I just wanted to share it in case you are looking for something similar that won't break the bank. They also have different sizes if you don't want one so tall.
Happy Organizing!!
January Randomness: Paper Clutter, Canvas Bags, Cereal, Strawberries, Cute Bins, Cold
23 January 2019
* I have been trying to keep my desk area clear – it just helps my mind a little bit more focused (maybe?) Top tricks: go through mail on the way back to the house from the mailbox and go right past the garage garbage and throw most of it away. If it needs to be dealt with right away, I try to do it right then (like a birthday party on Saturday – make sure I have a gift or order one on Amazon, put it on Google calendar). If I don’t have time or it isn’t urgent, I just shove it place it in a canvas bag below the desk (this was just one my husband brought home from a conference) and leave it to deal with it on Tuesday morning because that is my paper day. That is the day when I pay any paper bills, cut out coupons I want to keep and put them in the car coupon organizer (mostly for haircuts, restaurants, oil changes), categorize receipts in our budget software (my husband is a financial planner so this has always been a part of our marriage), make appointments, etc.
The bag is a game changer though because it can stay under the desk -- or anywhere you want it – and it is the place for the randomness to go until you can deal with it and the counter stays clean. Or, if it isn’t clean, you can quickly whisk everything into the bag. Kids papers (papers they need to keep like for monthly projects or book reports) go in the wood organizer but they know to look in the bag if something is mysteriously missing.
* We need to talk about this cereal. We had a bunch of family visiting over Christmas break and thought this would be fun to try. No one liked it –like NO ONE. It just sat. How would they ever think this would be a good idea? Have you tried it?
* the car my daughter drives (2001 Camry named Arnie) would not start. We thought it was the battery and changed it out. It didn’t start right away but started the next day so we didn’t take it in. Then it wouldn’t start again and we thought it was because of the cold. I was getting it ready for AAA to come tow it to the mechanic and was trying to get it to shift to neutral and I tried again and it started so we drove it straight to the mechanic. They called back and said that we could pay $300 for a new sensor or we could just jiggle the gear shift a little if it wouldn’t start. We chose to jiggle and it has worked. I love honest mechanics.
* If you are looking for a great fundraiser – Valentine’s is coming up and the chocolate covered strawberries was a great success for my daughter last year. Tip: I wouldn’t do the the pretzels. I would just stick with the strawberries. Pretzels broke easily and took double the time because you do caramel first and then chocolate and then sprinkles.
* Look at my friend Jamie’s cute, organized bins! Who knew they could be cute and organized?? She used white duck tape. I kind of want to throw all of my ugly yellow & black construction bins out! She can make anything look good. ♥
* AND if you are in the mood for a gripping story – the COLD podcast has me hooked. It’s the story of Susan Powell – she disappeared in 2009 and her body was never found. Her husband was prime suspect but never arrested and it just gets crazier from there. It’s an investigative report with a fascinating, creepy look into the mind of narcissistic sociopath. Everyone needs a good listen while scrubbing the bathroom, especially in January!
Some randomness for you on a cold January morning. Thanks for sticking with me!
Hello and Happy New Year! I love dreary, cold January because it is a perfect excuse to stay inside and purge, refresh, and organize. I’m trying to get to each room, closet, cabinet. One of my favorite Christmas gifts was this card organizer – the Iris Card Keeper with 6 adjustable dividers. It’s $9.99 and usually can be combined with a code to get it for less. My cards were a hot mess spilling out all over – I love how this keeps them all contained and in order. You can buy all of your cards in January and be set for the rest of the year and ready for any occasion.
I love how it easily fits in a cabinet, drawer, shelf, or under the bed.
Speaking of organizing! These are the most popular organizing posts on 320 Sycamore:
* 10 Storage Solutions for Small Spaces
* Simple Entryway Solutions and Organization
Happy Organizing!
Holidays are coming! Whether that makes you jump for joy or want to crawl into bed and hide, it is true. Here are 7 things to start thinking about now that will pave the way for a less stress, more meaningful holidays. These are great points to talk about over family dinners or on date night.
7. Figure out Halloween costumes this week. Or soon! Whether you pull them out of the dress up box, borrow from a neighbor, make them at home, or order online it’s a good time to start thinking about it! You don’t want to be driving around on October 30 trying to find a gold and maroon Gryffindor tie or paying crazy prices for overnight shipping. I love that a neighbor texted something like – “Sam would like to be a ninja warrior, does anyone happen to have one?” I love to see costumes get used again, there is no need to buy new every year! I do have to say the downside with this is that your kids may want to change their mind. It’s good to let them know that is fine but we’re not spending any more money, it will have to be something you make or that comes out of the dress up bin.
6. Establish a budget for the holidays. Some questions to consider: What do we want our holidays to FEEL like? What will we remember and what do we want to focus on? What will we give? $$: How much for each child? How much for the family? Who else will we be buying gifts for? Would we like to give an experience instead of stuff? Will we be traveling? How much will we give to charity? Are we buying office or neighbor gifts? How much Halloween candy do we need for our neighborhood/trunk or treat? We got rid of our tree last year, how much are we going to spend on a new one or other decor? Will we be hosting a party or Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner?
5. Schedule family pictures. October is a perfect month for outdoor pictures! Or find some favorites from the year or a family vacation. If you are doing holiday cards, order them as soon as you choose your pics. You will kiss yourself in December instead of scrambling.
4. Think Charitable. If you would like to participate in some community service during the holidays, begin thinking of a family or a shelter or a hospital you would like to donate time or goods to. Schedule now as time slots quickly fill as the holidays approach.
3. Get holiday concert and theater tickets! If seeing a Christmas Carol or attending the Messiah or the Nutcracker is part of your traditions, look ahead so that you can get the night that works best for your family. It’s also a good time to schedule outdoor lights if you hire those out. Many companies will give October and early November discounts.
2. Stocking Stuffers -- take notice of kids’ favorite things and treats, it’s a great time to get ahead on stocking stuffers! I keep a running list on my phone of what I have for each child and a separate grocery bag/small empty Amazon box in a top secret undisclosed location where I stash them as I get them.
1. Send yourself notes on your calendar! I have talked about this before, but I LOVE getting a message that pops up in September about what I should remember for the upcoming months. I just use Google Calendar because I can pull it up on my home computer or phone and then send myself a note after a vacation, holiday, anything I want to remember and schedule it to pop up well in advance of the upcoming event. If you find a favorite campground or hotel, you send yourself a note to book it early, take pics of your decor when it’s up because did you know you can attach them to the calendar note?? Then you know what you have and how that really cute thing you want to buy will fit in. Or maybe you decide it won’t. I am happy to report that the candles did go on sale at Costco and because this message popped up on Sept 4 I knew to buy them! I love, love this because how am I supposed to remember in my brain the cute pj’s I got on clearance last January or that we got rid our tree with half the lights burned out??
I hope these help! They are helping me get my buns in gear ~
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