Drumroll please...

The winner of 2 hours free organizing time is SARA ROBERTSON!!!  Congrats Sara!

Sorry to all of you friends who live so far away...I so wish I could come help you!  Thank you for "liking" Org-N-Ize!

Toys Conquered!

This is one of those times I'm kind of really embarrassed to reveal the "before" pictures.  Underneath our coffee table lies this wonderful shelf that I thought I could just keep a few toys on...you know, just to get them off the floor.  However the toys began to take over.  I would cringe every time I was in - or even walked through - the room.  It was time for me to get my organizing groove on:

{In case you're wondering...those green and orange pool noodles are the table "bumpers" for our not-so-child-friendly coffee table.}

Here's a good idea if you have preschoolers...along with labels, include pictures of the contents of the bins:

Now the space is a pleasure to be in and look at - I love these bins!  They're from my favorite happy place, Target.  And if you need cute and FREE {yay!} downloadable labels, check here!

Stay tuned because tomorrow I will reveal the winner of 2 hours FREE organizing time!!

the wonderful world of BAGGIES!!!

The good ole sandwich storage solution is one of my favorite tools to corral "like" items:  barbie clothes...Nintendo cartridges...ribbons and bows.  Whenever I get something new that comes with cables, cords and instruction manuals, the 1st thing I reach for is a gallon size baggie.  All those little itty bitty squinkies that my daughter has...when not being played with goes into a baggie.   Storing toiletries in my suitcase when traveling.  Keeping flour and sugar fresh in my pantry.  Think about it - there are so many sizes to choose from (I don't love the price but I do LOVE the XL and XXL big baggies)  plus they're clear so you can easily find what you're looking for.  The uses for baggies are endless and we all keep them on hand!  Perfect. 

Maximize Your Space

Think VERTICAL!  That is the 1st thing I look for when organizing a space.   This is so often the place we don't take advantage of.  You can pack away those out-of-season clothes and shoes, party decorations, wrapping and bows up high because they aren't things that need to be readily accessible.

Here's a look at my laundry room/mud room/craft room/wrapping room:

{Please forgive the semi unorganized mess on the shelves - they've been neglected through the holidays}

The BEST way to maximize your vertical space is shelving.  The unit on the right is from Target and they are my fave!  Well-priced, sturdy, and you can get either 3, 4, or 5 tiers.  Oh and they're 18" deep!   Get the tallest, deepest storage that your space affords you.

So the next time you find yourself saying "I'm out of space" just look UP!

Command Center

Happy 2012!  I don't know about you but I absolutely love a fresh start - and a new year brings so much of that.  The one thing I am most excited about is my new "Command Center".  Really it's just a pretty 3 ring binder with all kinds of good info on the inside.   It holds just about EVERYTHING needed to run our family, including:

*a calendar (don't you just love a brand new calendar?!) that shows week-at-a-glance, month-at-a-glance and the entire year

*our Family Mission statement

*Important Phone Numbers

*Important Dates

*Favorite Meals

*Gift Ideas

*House Projects

*Home and Auto Info

*Monthly Traditions

*Master Home and Garden Planner

What I love most about it is that I completely customized it by finding FREE printables {LOVE that!!} online - SCORE!!!   One of my favorite sites is http://www.tipjunkie.com/ - tons of cute, practical, and functional printables.  

Here's to an organized new year with everything in 1 notebook!