Friday Favorite: My Deckbox

First of all.....TGIF!!!

(Raise your hand if you're with me!?)

Today I want to tell you about my favorite way to store our outdoor toys....this amazing deckbox!

We got it from Sam's about 2 years ago, and store it in our carport. It's held up really well, despite being out in the weather, and being manhandled by my kids and a few dozen neighbor kids :) It's 5 feet long and can also be used as bench for your kids....

 To organize our outdoor toys, I used a few buckets from the Dollar Tree, as well as a few old Rubbermaid tubs from my basement. One tub holds all of our balls & sporting equipment, and the other tub holds a few old beach towels / blankets that my daughter likes to build forts with :) Buckets hold our bubbles and chalk spray, and underneath the bucket my daughter has a small Rubbermaid tub (with a lid) that holds craft supplies. (She & a neighbor like to make crafts outside and sell them in their "business," so let me know if you want to place an online order. Ha!)

 Last up, we have water blasters contained at the back of the deckbox, and two folding chairs at the front. My kids don't *always* put things back where they belong, but I feel like the tubs & buckets make it easier when they do.

Hope you enjoyed this edition of Friday Favorite!

Click here to check out the link for the deckbox again. It's a great buy!

Friday Favorite: Trunk Organizer

This month I will discuss tips for a space that

is often overlooked when it comes to organizing....your car!

Let's face it: if you have kids, you pretty much live our of your cars some days. Playdates, school pick-up & drop-off, and chauffeuring them to after-school activities like piano or football or gymnastics.  Not to mention trying to have snack time and do homework in there too.

 

**Which is why you need a trunk organizer!!!**

I absolutely love this idea and think it's handy for so many reasons. This organizer is large enough to hold an outdoor blanket, sunscreen & bug spray, an extra coat, a homework box (that I mentioned in this post), wipes, car jumper cables.....the list is endless! And best of all, it keeps it all contained and not rolling all over the back of your car :)

 

Stay tuned for more car organizing tips this month....

Friday Favorite: My Pool Bag

I don't know about you, but me & my kids spend A LOT of time in the summer at the pool / splash pad / beach. Anything involving water really, since Alabama is HOT in the summer!!

I must say though, I get quite a few looks every time we roll up to the pool and I have my H.U.G.E bag over my shoulder!!! Let me tell you though................it is the absolute best !!!

Local friends, I found this ginormous Scout Bag at Anna Kate & Co. a few years ago. And by ginormous, I mean that it's 24"w by 12"d by 18"h. (It's big. And amazing.)

*For those that aren't local, Amazon has a similar option. Click here to see that!*

And I promise you, it holds everything!!!

 I think the key with *anything* big is to break it down into smaller sections. So, I use 2 buckets from the Dollar Store in my bag:

The orange bucket holds all of our swim/dive toys & goggles, while the pink bucket holds our suntan lotion, bug spray, wipes, and my daughter's sunhat. These buckets really help to make sure all those small items don't get lost. Then I pack my daughter's puddle-jumper, the kickboards,

and water squirters on the sides.

For Layer #2, I put our towels on top of the buckets. There is still room left in the bag to store a small cooler or whatever else you might need on the left side.

Finally, I attached a small pouch on the outside of the bag - with a carabineer - that holds all my essentials.....ID, money, keys, comb, lip balm etc.

So tell me....what does your pool bag look like?!  Are you carrying 3 small bags plus towels plus a cooler plus - oh yeah - having to hold your kid's hand so they don't dash across the parking lot?! If so, I recommend you invest in a large bag like mine. It's so nice to have everything in one place. And, as an added bonus, it weighs 20+ pounds once everything is inside. So, you get a workout in too! :)

Friday Favorites: Toy Cubbies

I have had MANY clients that need help organizing their playrooms. And my first recommendation is always the same: Get some toy cubbies!!!

Toy cubbies are this weeks "Friday Favorite" for so.many.reasons!

 

1. They hide the clutter.

2. They make it easier for your child to find what toy they are looking for.

3. They make it easier for your child to put away toys.

4. They are super cute!

 

Here are just a few examples of some amazing toy cubbies out there. The possibilities are endless!

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This was taken at a client's house a few months ago. Click on the "source" link below to see what her playroom used to look like before the cubbies came along!

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Do you use toy cubbies? If so, leave a comment or show me a picture of yours!

Friday Favorite: Hooks in Every Bathroom!

Happy Friday, everyone!

 

For today's Friday Favorite post, I want to share with you one of my most favorite organizing products: hooks!

 

They can be great assets in every room of your house, but let's just talk about in your bathrooms.....

 How often do your towels (or maybe your kids' towels) end up like this?? On the floor, in a wet heap, or just thrown over the towel bar haphazardly....

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 Well, that's why I'm such a huge proponent of hooks! They are easier for kids (& adults) to use, and can help de-clutter a bathroom instantly. Love these two examples:

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 Or how about this idea....using a hook rail that has a shelf as well?! The picture on the below left is actually from my master bathroom. The hooks hold my towel & robe, while the ledge acts as a makeshift jewelry station. I also love the idea on the below right with the kids' picture to designate each hook.

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Or, if you don't have the wall space in your bathroom for a whole row of hooks, you can't go wrong with just a simple double hook on the back of the bathroom door. This is my daughter's bathroom, which has a bird motif :)

 

Do you use hooks in your bathroom?! If so, let me see your favorite one!

Friday Favorites: 8 Must-Haves For Your Nursery

I couldn't pick just ONE "Friday Favorite" today, so instead, you get EIGHT!

 

1. I adore this Diaper Caddy (with the option of a personalized liner!) from Pottery Barn Kids. I used this with both of my little ones, and it was super handy to have right next to them on the changing table. The liner has 3 compartments, which keep all your baby-changing essentials organized.

 

2. I mentioned in my post earlier this week that Hanging Organizers in the closet are the best! Both of our kids' closets still use one, even though they're not infants anymore. These organizers can hold anything....from linens to shoes to stuffed animals.

 

3. Now, this is not an organizational item, but I couldn't resist throwing it in. These Aden + Anais swaddle blankets are hands-down the best. Moms with infants: go get some today, if you don't already have them!

 

4. This DexBaby Nursery Organizer is perfect for hanging on the side of your changing table, or and holds all your essentials. When my kids were little, we set up a second "changing station" downstairs, because our kids' rooms were upstairs. This handy thing can just clip right on the front of your pack-n-play and voila! Double diaper duty.

 

5. Cube Storage pieces are so versatile, and can be used to organize SO many things in your nursery. Books, toys, stuffed animals.....even clothes or linens! And I love that you can mix concealed storage with open storage.

 

6. Every nursery needs a pop of color. And these Canvas Bins from The Land of Nod can provide that pop, as well as lots of functional storage. (I have an upcoming client who needs her nursery organized, and the gray striped bins are already in my shopping cart online! :)

 

7. We have Hooks in almost every room of our house! They can serve many purposes in your nursery....whether that be to hang up your diaper bag, itty bitty jackets, or even your carrier/sling.

 

8. I cannot say enough good things about these Drawer Dividers from IKEA. (Hello, a set of 6 dividers only costs $8!) They can be used inside your changing table/dresser to organize diapers, wipes, pajamas, socks, onesies and even swaddle blankets.

 

 So there you have it, folks! My 8 Must-Haves for your nursery.

 

*If you click on all the links above, you will see that I have a few "go to" sites for kids' organizational products: Amazon, Pottery Barn Kids, IKEA, The Land of Nod, and Target. Please keep in mind that in these opinions are all my own, and in no way did I receive payment for this post*

 

 Happy Organizing!

 

Friday Favorite: Spice Clips

For this edition of "Friday Favorites," I'd like to introduce you to my teeny tiny spice cabinet, and the spice clips that have worked wonders for me!!

 

 

My spice cabinet is only 11" wide, so I had to get pretty creative with the layout. (Especially because I cook every night, and seem to have a large collection of spices!) I found these spice clips on Amazon, and have been loving them ever since. They've held up well and have provided the extra storage I needed. In fact, I still have one strip to be used, since it came with a pack of 20 clips!

{One note: The clips don't hold the glass spice jars very well.}

What's your favorite way to organize your spices??

Friday Favorites: From My Clients' Pin Boards

One of my favorite parts of my job is making Pinterest boards for my clients! I love finding the perfect product for their space, as well as being able to offer visuals for all of my ideas.

 

Here is a closer look at some of my favorite products from two of my

current clients' pin boards. Enjoy!

A good way to organize coats in an entryway, or even corral hats & bags in a teenager's room....

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 Where was this product when I was a teenager?! I absolutely love this dry-erase calendar

decal from Pottery Barn.

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 I'm going to turn this rustic utensil caddy into a homework/art caddy for a special little 5 year old...

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 A good "catch-all" for mail, keys, and miscellaneous items as you walk in the back door....

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 This charging valet can do double duty on a nightstand, and hold glasses, loose change, jewelry, etc.

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Happy Friday!

Friday Favorite: Gift Wrapping Organizer

Has anyone out there begun their Christmas shopping yet?????

 

Well, I have....(so please don't judge. I'm one of the crazies, and I know it.)

 

I love, love, love this gift wrapping organizer from The Container Store. It holds up to 24 rolls of wrapping paper, not to mention tissue paper, gift bags, and ribbon galore. It can easily slip into a closet or slide under a bed when not in use.

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If anyone is shopping for MY Christmas gift, I would like two of these please! (One to hold Christmas-themed wrapping paper and one for birthday/miscellaneous wrapping paper.)

 

Happy shopping!

Friday Favorite: Boot Rack

Today I want to feature one of my favorite products....

(And yet again, it is related to Fall-like weather. Can you tell I'm excited that it's Fall!?)

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I love this boot rack from The Container Store for it's functionality, sleek design, and price! Usually a pair of boot shapers run around $10. But this puppy holds 4 pairs, and costs just $20.

 

So, if you have 30 inches of width to spare in your closet, I highly recommend this boot organizer :)