Author: Clarita

I’m writing from a strange computer in a familiar place.
Back “home”, which is Pennsylvania.  
There are a myriad of mac computers, which are quite complicated to me.
Control + C doesn’t copy. I don’t know how to paste.
And I love my little shortcuts on a normal computer.
I’m behind the mac-times like that.

But I am finding myself in the midst of a quiet afternoon, all alone in the house actually.
Sister-to-be-married is getting some beauty things done :)
Other sisters took one of my girls,
mother took the other on another errand,
brothers and father are gone,
husband is still in the south and will be arriving over the weekend.

It’s so fun to be here, to have time to spend with the family before the busyness of the wedding next weekend.
It’s harder to be gone from husband with two little children for a longer amount of time,
but he was gracious and my family is so helpful.
The Little Love is due is less than five weeks, so we are not giving him/her any options but to hold tight until after the wedding. :)

There hasn’t been a wedding in the family for almost 7 years, when Ben and I got married,
so this is high excitement.
I get to be in on last dress fittings, wedding details, reception decor,
and I love it. :)

But I can’t show too many pictures yet and give away the bride’s wedding detail secrets!
Later. :)

But I wanted to do the third [and last] edition of the Tricks of the Trade!
There have been some wonderful contributions, and I love it!
Thank you so much to all of you who sent in pictures and ideas!
I was a little nervous at first that I’d have some blank posts, and no responses, but it’s been wonderful.
I am very much indebted to you!

So enjoy these last ideas and tips! :) 

And it’s with a resounding cheer that I bring you these lovely ladies!

Cindy

i LOVE organizational bins!boxes!jars!labels!

(if i had a label maker and laminator? i would need an intervention for sure.
nothing would be safe. i’m a dork that way.)

and yet. while i can point at what i’m working on. there’s so much more…haha. that i’m not.
and should be.

but this is all about sharing. learning. and fun. right?

my top three fav things are:  
(my favs are directly related to staying sane efforts.)

1. my bin labeled “too small”

 
my kids grow out of stuff left and right.
it gives me a place to stash those items out of the way,
till i can sort what i want to share with friends or give to the goodwill.

2. my box labeled
“things i am not wearing but cannot part with yet.”

sounds dumb.
but. it gets my odds and ends out of the way.
while i pray for a re-purposing brain cell to suddenly activate in my head.

3.color coded cups and folders for my kids.

seriously. before color assignments for precious children?
we would have used 20 or more drinking glasses a day. made me nuts.
the folders are mine to keep important school info, report cards etc. throughout the school year.
handy because i can read colors faster than words. ;)

i want a bulletin board for my kids…but till then…
old frame (needs to be painted. what do you think?) for free.
thick dollar store foam board. (can you guess how much?)
hemp string and clothespins.
cheap with acmoore coupon
free map and i now have a…
a place in addition to my fridge, doors and walls :) to hang my kid’s masterpieces!

i am loving making tags and labels using old book pages.
i use alot of cardboard boxes for bins that i got for free.
(the bigger bins here are for shelves above our desk.)
bought brads with coupon at hobbylobby. cheap.
covered boxes with fabric scraps. free.
using spray adhesive. cheap.
i like writing free.
sorry ’bout that.
or paper and glue sticks. which are cheap.
i like writing cheap too.
sorry ’bout that.

if you haven’t thought *dork* already, this one will do it.
but trust me. i have very good reasons.
our house is old, we heat with coal, our closets were built on stone walls.
let’s just say dusty, dirty and damp.
so to save my shoes, i keep the boxes (yes. space hogs i know)
and when i was weary of digging through boxes…
i *blush* had a photoshoot with my shoes and pasted the pictures on the boxes.
like colors, i read pictures faster than words.

the remainder of the pics are just misc for toys, shoes, ribbon etc.

and this one is seven recipes taped to the inside of my kitchen cupboard.
it’s my “save my procrastinating butt” approach to dinner. :)
all of them are ways to use one pound of hamburger
and have a meal ready in about 30 minutes or less. 

Gabrielle



I love our spices like this.  Years ago we’d done the lazy-susan idea but we never could find what we needed fast and we’d tried the stair-stacking idea but then when you get one in the back all the rest would fall down.  Here we used the spice racks from the container store.   I love ours like this because they’re right by the stove and I can quickly get to them and they’re put in there alphabetically so their easy to find too.  Actually the ones we use the most don’t even have labels on them because they’ve worn off.
 
If you had more room on your door and did it just right you could probably figure out a size of spice you buy at the store and just use those jars instead emptying them into glass ones.  We just didn’t have enough room here and it works fine.

Next up is our teeny tiny corner closet.  Literally it’s not more than like 1 foot by 3 feet at the most but it’s 9 feet tall. 
What do you do with such a closet?  You make it into a wrapping “center” 

The wrapping paper is held up along the outside of the shelf at the top of the roll
by jumbo rubberbands fastened onto long nails sticking out in the corners. 
So all we have to do to get it is slide it out and it’s easy to put back too.  Hope that makes sense.  
(though right now we’ve got a couple wrapping papers that are either to long or too big that don’t fit too well.)

Second Shelf is bows and ribbon

Third is gifts and packaging stuff

Fourth is bags

Tissue paper is on the door in ziplocks nailed on the door with pins

Here’s my mom’s card/craft room.  She just recently organized this and I thought I’d show it off. :)
  Again this is a really tiny room. It was hard to get pictures.   It’s actually one of the 3 dormers and right off a bedroom and closet.

Here’s where we keep the stamps, idea books, paper and some supplies. 
The ribbon and glue and ink pads are in old sewing machine drawers.

And lastly laundry, that thing that all mothers seem to talk about and that’s never caught up.  Growing up we had baskets labeled for whites, permanent press, towels, jeans, and maybe a few others.  Even little kiddos can do this. Every morning people would bring their clothes to the laundry room and sort them out.  Then, when the washing was done, each person had also a box-you can kinda see the big brown boxes at the bottom of the picture and that’s where all the clean clothes would go.  They could then empty them out whenever they got around to it.  That means all the laundry would stay in the laundry room unless it was put away.  Nowadays since there is only 3 of us we each have our own baskets and then a whites and towels one and a few extras.

Lucy

Theory #2: If it doesn’t have a “place”, it might need to be gotten rid of. That theory either motivates me to find a space quickly or take a trip to the thrift store.

Theory #3: Be a minimalist. I hate clutter and since I live in a two story row-house with two closets and no attic, storage place is precious. It has turned me into a bit of a minimalist. I seriously look at my overflowing closet full of clothes, sometimes and just want to rip out half of it and give it away. And honestly, I can live with way less. 

P.S. Just a side note about the minimalist theory. After a trip to Ikea’s showroom one day, I lay in bed that night freaking out about how much stuff and space we really have. I figured out that we could totally live on our first floor (if we had designed things different during the remodel), and we could divide our upstairs into two rental units . It would be so practical. Crazy, yes, but practical. :)

_____________________________________________________________

Thank you so much! All you who contributed, and those of you who encouraged those who contributed!
This was such a fun thing for me to do, and I was often in open-mouthed amazement
at the wonderful ideas that came in! Some of these I will definitely be trying in my own home!
Many many thanks! 

~clarita

I just returned from a most lovely weekend away in the company of nearly 30 beautiful ladies. 
I flew on a jet plane for the first time in years, that was so fun in itself!
I am still whirling mentally from all the conversation and late nights, and smiling at the memories made.
Getting to meet such beautiful women in real life that I’ve only dreamt of interacting with…
Words evade me about details. :) But a huge thank you to those of you present ~ you know who you are!

Thank you for the comments and feedback on the first Guest Post!
I am thinking I’d like to have them a regular feature. Or goodness, they may as well just take over.
They’re far more popular. :)

And this is just a little heads-up for whoever is interested…
Ervina and Claudia began a blog when they were in Cambodia for several months in the summer of 2010.
And Claudia has a small business making lovely feathered headbands and headpieces, found on facebook at The Feather Factory.
100% of all profits go toward the ministry in Cambodia.

____________________________________________________________________

And now this is like a second guest post, only by many contributors!

At first when I gave the invitation made the plea for organization tips and ideas,
I was a bit nervous that I’d be left high and dry and end up saying [sheepishly],
“Umm, sorry, ladies, but um, no one sent ideas…….”

I am so very happy to say that there were so many wonderful tips and ideas given,
and they should probably each have their own post, there were that many!
I am so grateful and very much indebted to you all! Thank you, thank you!
There are so many great ideas, and as they kept coming in
I thought to myself that each one of you could easily be featured in some great article on housekeeping!

What I loved about all the ideas and pictures is that they are so real life and yet so wonderful.
I am not one that goes for a sterile, stark, and cold environment.
Magazines and the pictures in it are lovely, but so often they feel so staged to me.
Like, really, someone actually lives there? not sure about that.
What I like is order and calm, but where it also looks inviting and warm.

And that is exactly what these pictures and ideas portray to me.
To say I’m thrilled with every single contribution is an understatement.
Thanks again, ladies, so very much!

I’m going to be separating the ideas into two separate posts, so if you sent me some pictures and ideas, you are not being forgotten!
[and I apologize for the long delay, it’s been a whirlwind here].
Also, if you were wanting to still send in some pictures you are welcome to do so.

Annnnnnd, *drum roll, please* here are the featured contributors!

 Esther offered some tips on organizing containers on her blog, as well as a kitchen tour after their remodel!
[I’d show pictures, but I’m not really a picture-stealer, so… :)]

 From Laura:

“Just thought I would my two cents worth your organization article, Part II.
I am not by nature an organized/super clean person…however, I married one. =)

General pick-up/put away gets done all through the house every day of course, but actual bucket-and-rag cleaning has its designated day.
It has worked wonderfully for me! I can do my days chores, then spend the rest of the day sewing or whatever I choose/needs attention,
without feeling bad about the rest. And yes, when company comes, the entire house does get cleaned all at once.
But for day to day, normal living, a little each day is perfect! Just wanted to share what works for me…”

From Tracy Cassel, some great tips on laundry and mudroom organizing…

“Here are a few pictures from my mudroom/laundry area.
These shelves hold my bigger pot and occassional kichen necessities.
We hang our coats on the bar that runs along the bottom.

Another view of the same area. 

 
To the left of the shelving is the front door of the mudroom.
I love having a place for all of our shoes and boots, back packs, and hats.  
Under what we call the 'the shoe bench', 
are three canvas boxes where socks and other winter gear are kept.  
This works well for us. 
 

 
To the right of the shelves is my washer/dryer.  
Right outside of the door is the back yard where my husband build me a large 'Amish' 
wash line system a few years ago.  
I hang my wash year round and only us the dryer on occasion.
 
 
 
 
From Mary, with some wonderful organization…
This is in the nursery.  Elizabeth’s changing table/dresser is right by her closet so I have this hanging inside the closet door.  
It’s handy and keeps the dresser free of clutter.  
 
I love plate organizers!  They’ve helped out with our dinner plates.
  I’ve also liked having quite a few of those white things that fit into cupboards, I forget what they’re officially called.  
They’re great for making efficient use of tall counter space; stuff can go on the top and bottom of these handy things.  
 


This is a cupboard above the stove.  I love this for kids’ meds, adult meds and spices that I buy in bulk.  
 
 
Self-explanatory picture of where I keep paper products.  
 
The fridge!  I am big on keeping this thing wiped out constantly because I don’t like a dirty fridge.  
It takes seconds to wipe out a spot before I set something else in there.  
I also move things as quickly as I can which helps with making sure food doesn’t get wasted.
  If I have leftovers and there is still some left after already using some, I move this into a smaller container.
  It helps keep the food looking nice :) which is more appealing and uses less space in the fridge.  
My friend, Tracy, [look above! ~c] is the fridge queen and I’ve learned some of this stuff from her. :)  
 
 I am with you, Clarita, on not being sure how to store empty storage containers.
  For as long as I’ve had my own house, I have stacked them with the lids on and that mostly works well.  
I just think it takes too much space but this is how I do it……until I find a better way. :)  
 
This is my pantry.  A few years ago, I saw this shoe thing used on the back of doors.
  I’ve loved it especially for little things that might otherwise get lost on pantry shelves.  
Using ice cream buckets isn’t the fanciest thing but it sure has helped keep stuff organized.  
I typically keep bulk food in bags and then just stick it right into the bucket, it helps keep food stuff fresh.  
 
This is a cupboard right above the coffee machine.  
I again used those shelf organizers to help keep the mugs organized and not falling over.  
I still do stack the mugs on top of each other but now it’s only two instead of five or more. :)  
It’s handy to have this right above the coffee pot.  
 
This is supposed to be over by the other picture that has the cupboard above the stove.  
This is the other cupboard above the stove.  
Lazy susans have been great just as you said in your post and for me, it’s been the best way to keep my vitamins and spices organized.
  I love that these kinds of things are above the stove, away from eager beaver little hands that would love to have all this stuff.  :)  
 

 
 

Aimee, from My *Pink* Life  said,
 “I like to think outside the box when it comes to organizing and running a house. 
We don’t need to things like our moms and grandmas did things ~ this is something I’ve learned throughout my married life. 
And sometimes what works for you doesn’t work for someone else. 
You have to make solutions for yourself that work best for YOU.”
She referred me to a great post she did recently on a baking station –
 just beautiful and yet practical, so worth visiting her site to see!
[sneak peek]

 
Thelma:
“I too have my little morning ritual. I’m much more in the mood to get my house in order in the a.m. then at night. 
I always go through my upstairs rooms and put away any stray clothes, make the beds, put away random shoes, 
clean off the bathroom counter, it’s amazing how it gives you this good feeling later when you dash through and see everything nice and neat, 
at least in that part of the house. i do the same in my kitchen too…”
Bek said,
 “I hate clutter and I feel like I’m always fighting it in this small house full of busy little children.
 In the past year I’ve come to the solid belief that less is more. The kids can only play with so many toys. 
I’m not going to throw away their precious toys, but i will pack half of them away for a while… then trade them out again.
 It’s fun for them and I’m tripping over/picking up half the amount of the toys.

And clothing… used to pick up anything at yard sales, or on bargain racks. 
It turned out that we all had a lot of clothes, but not much really nice to wear. 
So… totally cut back. All the kids need is a few skits/pants, and a few nice shirts to go with them. 
Of course there are a few Sunday dresses hanging in the closet too. But I love how it simplifies everything in their room.
And that’s about all I know. Organization is very much a work in progress around here!:)”
[I LOVE the trading out toys idea!! I’m definitely going to start doing this! [~c]
 
A reader:
“About your container drawer… ;) 
I’ve found that if I keep all my containers in a cupboard, nested in each other as nicely as I can, and keep all the lids in a drawer, it works best. 
I sort my lids- all the round ones in one drawer, and all the square, rectangular, or otherwise odd-shaped ones go in another drawer.
 I have a very small kitchen, and I had to give up some other things that I really wanted in drawers & cupboards 
to be able to do this, but it is by far worth it to me. “
And that concludes Part II! Thank you all so much again for your tips and tricks and contributions!
And Happy Leap Day! 
~ clarita



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