I’ve really had the fever lately to get some spaces in my home reorganized and changed around a bit … maybe that’s why I haven’t been blogging so much 😉 We even rearranged the furniture in our great room and it’s like having a whole new space in our home! We use it more and everyone loves it! It’s such a great feeling to create positive change in your home. Wouldn’t you agree? Ah …

Is it just me? Or do you have the fever, too? My fever is really on par with my normal spring cleaning binge. Must be something in this cooler, fall air!

So … have you ever noticed that when life changes, it becomes harder to stay organized? Sometimes, it can be as simple as getting a puppy. (Did I just put puppy and simple in the same sentence?) Well, anyway when our little lab puppy joined our family things had to change a bit. We have a cubby system in our laundry room that has been a real life saver in keep us organized … until the teeth known as Maggie came on the scene. Suddenly, four of twelve cubbies were no longer safe and we had to make room for puppy paraphernalia — dog food, chew toys, treats, water bowl, food bowl, leash, and so on. Now … this doesn’t seem like a big thing (and certainly compared to really BIG life events like, say, a new baby, it’s really nothing.) But … considering the essential role this cubby system played in keeping my family organized … it was big for us. Reclaiming this space was my focus this past weekend.

So, here’s a question for you. Do you have a workable system in place for you and your family’s comings and goings? Do cell phones, back-packs, purses, lunch boxes, keys, wallets, umbrellas, jackets, shoes, MAIL, etc. have a happy home? Or … do these things wander into other areas of your home and make *you* a bit unhappy? I’m living proof that if you can designate a spot for these things — those that came into and go out of your house on a regular basis — you’ll be taking giant leaps forward on keeping clutter at bay.

My challenge for you over the next few weeks is to simplify your comings and goings. Designate a spot for mail. Assign a place for backpacks, keys, cell phones, and everything else that left to it’s own devices would mysteriously end up on your kitchen counter, dining room table or other space in your home that truly has a different intended purpose.

So that’s the organizing part: simplifying your comings and goings by assigning homes to the things you take with you when you come and go. Now for the fun and creative touches … a glimpse at one piece of my coming and going system.

Laundry_room_labeling_summer_bin_cropped

The bin is from IKEA — so, from the get-go this is fun, yes? (Wish I had an IKEA in my neck of the woods … now THAT would be fun!) As you can see, this bin is now labeled “summer” so as it’s name would suggest, it holds all sorts of summer related items — bug spray; sunscreen (yes! it’s Hawaiian Tropic, Lisa!); sunglasses; hand-sanitizer; etc. — things you may want to grab when you’re headed out the door to a picnic, the pool or a trip to the beach. (Or for this time of year, a neighborhood block party or bonfire.)

Here’s a  close up of the label:

Laundry_room_labeling_005

The label was made using BaisicGrey

[un] dressed chipboard tags and Making Memory rub-ons. I used a binder ring so it’d be easy to change the label as the season (and our storage needs) change. Underneath the summer label is label called “winter.” Once the first frost hits and we no longer need sunscreen or bug spray, we’ll simply switch the label to winter and load up the bin with ice scrapers, gloves, mittens, scarves, and so on. The summer gear will go into storage until next year (except for sunscreen which we’ll buy new next season.)

So how about it? Are you up for making your comings and goings more simple and more fun? Great! Check back here for more ideas … coming soon! 🙂