As I mentioned last week, summer is just around the corner for us. For me, summer starts when school ends, and we’re now at just seven days left (after today). So it’s time to kick the summer organizing into high gear. Here’s a summer organizing idea from Barb M., a participant in one of my online workshops. I love picnics and eating outside, so I thought the idea of creating a picnic mini zone was so much fun…that I just had to share it here!
To set up a picnic mini zone of your own, start with a picnic basket or a market basket like this one. Then, fill it up everything you need for outdoor eating on the go.
Barb uses a plastic handled basket for her picnic mini zone and she stocks it with the following items:
- A cute tablecloth (or you could use a picnic blanket)
- Paper towels
- Napkins
- Paper plates, plastic cups, and tableware
- Kitchen trash bags
- Two sizes of baggies (just a few), foil, and matches or a lighter
- Small containers for leftovers
- Wipes
- Some cute salt + pepper shakers
- Bug repellent
Barb keeps her picnic mini zone along with her packed beach bag in the car from Memorial day on. All she has to do is add condiments, drinks, and food—and she’s got an instant picnic. Love that! Thanks, Barb, for this terrific summer organizing idea!
What’s on your to-do list to get organized for summer? I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks ! I have been missing this type of creative blog post
I have a room that is off the kitchen. The builder called it a dining room, but it became our home office 6 years ago. I use the adjoining room for daycare and with 3 babies, we are crowed. I’m turning the room into a dining room/ playpen area for sleeping babies.
So… our office that housed all the books, papers, filing, charging station, shredder and computer stuff all needs a new home:)
The purging started 3 book cases out 2 relocated to the basement with the books, and one in the living room to hold photos, year books, bible and the wooden board games.
I have a huge pile on my folding table with the contents of my daughters school year. I’m going to let her choose what to keep. I purged those files early (School isn’t out till June 3rd). Next year we will try your incubator idea.
I cleaned out the file cabinet to make a couple mini zones within it. I have a mail zone (a 3 ring binder with my address list, christmas card list, birthday last, address labels, stamps and a pocket file folder with blank envelopes.
I also made a daycare craft mini zone with a BUCKET! It’s an oval tin bucket with 2 handles. It holds another tin bucket with crayons in it, a folder with the weeks worksheets in it and all the craft supplies. Scissors, hole punch, Glitter, yarn, ribbon, glue and wiggly eyes now gathered without last minute scrambling . Wiggly Eyes are in a small baby food box:)
Still many new homes to find for all my stuff, but plenty of purging as we go with make lest homes to be needed:)
Thanks for all the ideas you give me!
Love this idea! I plan to set up ours in the next week.
What a great idea, Aby! Just today I saw this same style of collapsible basket in my local Wal-Mart ($8.00 in my store) in bright summer fabrics. I was so drawn to it and kept wondering how I might use it. I was also thinking that it would make a great holder for outdoor games and balls for when we go to the park or to visit grandparents. Thanks for sharing more mini zone ideas!
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