Unorganized Organization

So today started out with no specific goals in mind, but after going upstairs to find one fall decoration, off on a tangent I went.  Reorganize my craft room and everything I find in the process!  Is that how it goes for you?  One tasks leads to a tornado of chaos which hopefully leads to organization in the end.  It always is with me.

So off I went creating chaos...

A big giant mess is always the best way to start a reorganization project.

First thing I found in the process...Old Christmas Cards.

A big pile from the last 4 years.  Please...that's awful.  I want to always remember what year they were from so I can watch the babes grow.  

So I whipped up a few tags ...

to make adorable bundles organized by year!  Voila...

Cute and organized!  I totally suggest this method.  Although I have heard of people who put them in photo albums which sounds nice, but too much work honestly.  Come January when I actually take down my decorations, I am so over it that I don't want to spend the extra 10 minutes to make the book.  So pretty bundles it is.

Oh and by the way...I made my husband help me make our Christmas card list in the process.  He was a good sport despite the fact that it is October 1st.  He knows I love planning ahead!

2nd thing I found...all of my random gift bags, tissue paper, and ribbons.  I was semi-organized in an old plastic comforter bag, but I just couldn't keep it organized easily the way I wanted.  So I pulled it all out.  Made a mess.  And started over.

All the small bags organized by size placed in a less important bag...just in case...wouldn't want to rip your favorite bag.

All the bigger bags placed in another unimportant bag with all the folded tissue paper by color. 

Now I know this isn't the most amazing organization you have ever seen but it works and it was free!

Third things I found to spend way to long organizing...Tulle and Ribbon!

In the process of organizing all of my recycled gift bags, I found spare ribbons attached to bags, stuffed between bags... everywhere.  So I decided to something needed to be done.  I upcycled some old toilet paper rolls to tidy up my tulle.  I rolled up all the ribbon using pins to keep it rolled.  Then used paint brushes to stack them up to avoid wasted space.  I put all the un-rollable or small pieces of ribbon in a glass container.

I tidied up my sewing area with all the piles of fabrics and fabric scraps by rolling my fabrics and displaying them in vintage metal kitchen canisters.  Aren't they so cute!

All in all, I never found what I was really looking for...frustration!  But...I really reorganized upstairs and got really excited about Christmas when I organized the boxes in our little attic closet.  I know its far to early to talk Christmas, but soon!  What are some of your organization tricks?  I love all the tips and tricks I find on pinterest, but I haven't actually employed any of them yet.

Oh well, here's to fun fall cleaning!

Pin It Up!

For real this time.  Don't get me wrong, you know I love all the virtual pinning on Pinterest.  You know I do.  Uuummmm....maybe I'll do that next.  Any who.  I now have a real place to pin things.  I made a corkboard.  Not just any corkboard.  A pretty one.  Covered in one of my new favorite fabrics.  

First things first...Like always we must gather our supplies:

Ratty old corkboard from garage....Check!

Pretty fabric that pulls together all the colors in your home in the most perfect way....Check!

(You made need a cheap white piece of fabric to cover the board first if your pretty fabric is a little see-through.)

Stapler...Check!

(I suppose you could use a staple gun...never done that.  I just pulled out the old stapler from the desk drawer and it worked like a charm.)

Measuring tape...Check!

Decorative Upholstery Nails...Check!

Lesson learned:  I encourage use of a newer corkboard that has a wooden frame.  The metal frame was difficult to hang.  With a wooden frame it would be simple to add a nail or frame hanger to place your new corkboard on the wall...we had to rig it up with gorilla glue to get the hangers to attach.  It would be easier to just buy a newer one.

I literally cover/wrap the board because I'm not the kind who can cut exact square.  It's said really.  So instead of practicing my cutting skills on this project I just didn't even attempt it and went the all-rigged-up way.  Like my Momma always said, "If Courtney can't win, she won't play."

So like I said...Cover the  board with white muslin.

Staple.  Staple.  Staple. Neatly folding the corners.

Cover with pretty fabric of your choice.

Trim excess fabric if necessary.

Once fabric is securely in place with all the staples you can give it.

You can apply your trim.  I chose upholstery nails because I like the shininess.  You could use ribbon, twine, rope.  Whatever strikes your fancy.

Choose the distance you want between the nails and use your tape as a guide.

YES...Your fingers will be sore after applying a hundred nails.  There are upholstery hammers if you feel so inclined.

Finished product.

Sorry for the awful pictures...que disgusted face.

 I chose to place mine in the kitchen after moving it about 10 times.

I use mine to post invitations and announcements from my favorite people.  Pin my favorite new fabrics.  

By the way...what do you think...I was considering using them in my bedroom as a headboard and curtains or to cover cushions in my dining room with coordinating curtains.  I'm trying to integrate new colors...hence the darker blue.  I'd love your opinions.

And of course I needed a pocket for all my coupons for restaurants and stores.  Mostly because I lose them if they do not have a designated area.

Love cute organization!

O_R_G_A_N_I_Z_A_T_I_O_N day!

Yeah for fall clothes!  Better yet, let's get excited for fall re-organizing and cleansing!  

It feels so good to have an organized closet!  I love organization...however, I am really only good at it if I have time to commit to complete the project in one sitting and ideally enough room for everything to have its own place.  Let's get real folks...I rarely have either of those things.  Who am I kidding?  I NEVER have enough room.  Have you seen the cottage I live in? ...cottage makes it sound so cute and cozy doesn't it...  Despite the odds, I do my best every few weeks...more like months to re-organize my house.  A great time to do this when you change out your summer and winter clothes.  It always makes me feel so clean, which is a nice change since I am not a big fan of showers.

So here the method to my madness:

1.  Clean up first.

I can NOT get organized if it is messy.  I need a clean slate to work on... and so do you!

... so this needed to go.  Just making the bed makes this task so much easier!

2.  In order to get organized, you have to create structured chaos.

You may not be able to tell what all these piles are but I knew.  There were piles of things to re-organize and replace in the drawers to keep for winter.  There were piles of summer clothes to store in bins in the attic.

Lastly, there were piles to go to goodwill.  I have trouble getting rid of stuff sometimes...Not in a TLC-Hoarders kind of way, but a "well maybe next year I will fit in that" or "What if I have a clinical that makes me wear _____".  The first excuse is ridiculous...I never go down in sizes only up.  The second is totally legit or so I let myself believe for 1 more year until I know what kind of physical therapy I want to do when I grow up.  So have kept those 5 polos that I own and haven't worn in two years just in case I am required to dress like a man in khakis and a polo on a clinical in the spring...I hate that outfit.  I look like a box.  Women want to be on hourglass not a big, manly, burly square box.  The last excuse I have is "Awe, I wore this when _____ happened".  That is why I still have these 2 shirts that I haven't worn in 2 years.

The sweet cream strapless number is what I was wearing when B proposed.  Awe!  I know it was special and looked fab with my new bling!

The hot coral number is what I wore on our first date!  That's how I hooked such a great catch!

3.  Decide on what organization style will work best for you.

I like organizing by color so I can quickly find the specific shirt I am looking for.  In the past, I have organized by color separately within my tops, pants, and dresses.  This year, I took a tip from my fabulous sis, Carebear, and organized tops and dresses together by color.  I think it will be much easier.

In B's closet, I organized by type of shirt then by color.  His closet looks much neater due to a much better size to amount of clothes ratio.

B doesn't care for the color organization so much but he lets me do what I want and I don't get on to him when he doesn't keep it that way.

4.  Finish the task by properly putting all of your bins and random miscellaneous stuff you found in your closet away.  You know whenever you organize your house you find the random-est stuff you haven't seen in months!  Here is all my chaos before Carebear helped me put it in the attic.

This is a lot of random stuff, huh?!  Notice my hanging clothes lying in the front of the photo.  I just place a trash bag over top and pull one up the bottom and tie them together.  Works great for keeping clothes clean in my crazy attic.

My mom taught me a lot so once again I will share the wealth of her knowledge with you.

Jackie Tip's for your Closet:

• Always button the top button of a blouse or sweater or men's shirt.  Not only does it make it look nicer and help it stay on the hanger, but it also helps it keep its shape.  No one wants a collar that is awkwardly positioned...folks...popping your collar is way over.
• Keeping to the button theme...Always button at least every other button on the top for all of the above reasons.
• Always button your pants before you hang them.  
• Always hang your pants with a proper crease in the front.  You can do this by grasping a few inches on either side of the zipper/button and folding them toward the middle.  Then just fold the pants over the hanger.
• If you put it away correctly the first time, you will have less to do later.

A few months ago I re-organized my kitchen cabinets and it was life-changing.  I know I know some of you are thinking...Man she uses that "life-changing" word a lot.  You're right, I do.  And sure I'm not talking Jesus life-changes because nothing can compare to that.  But I do believe simple things can change your life for the better.  Case in point...when I watched Oprah's bra revolution.  No kidding...I never joke about this moment in my life.  You guys have heard me tell this story and I think you would agree many lives were changed that day.

Back to my new cabinet set up:  I recommend it to everyone at least twice a year.  You realize quickly how wasteful you can be when you find food past its expiration date.  Performing this cleansing will help refocus you and maybe you can get creative to eat what you already have in your cabinets.  And no one ever regrets being able to find things a little easier!

So have you gotten re-organized this fall?  What organization style do you use?  

Please share I love hearing other people's perspectives!