Garage Before Pictures

Here are my garage before pictures...I am hoping to get a good chunk of work done on it today so I can share some progress pictures tomorrow!!

Garage Inspiration

I have decided that my next big project is going to be to tackle our garage. I really want to turn it into a functional, usable, happy space!! Here are some of my inspirations:

via

via

I definitely plan on including a crafting area...maybe something like this?

Stay tuned for some horrifically revealing before posts of the garage!! Do any of you have a cute organized garage? I'd love some ideas!

Day #18 Keepsakes

We have a ten month old. I suddenly have a new need for keepsakes and less time to keep track of them! All of my mementos of us as a couple are actually creatively scrapbooked or repurposed into decor! The picture below is all ticket stubs and travel information laid into a monogram "M". I wish I could say I still had the energy to maintain that, but it just isn't my focus or the season in my life right now!

So here is my plan in the meantime. I first read about this idea HERE. I created this from a jar I already had (score!) and scrapbook letters. This time capsule will be a dumping ground for all keepsakes and mementos in 2011. On New Year's Eve we will go through it, reminisce, and then put it on the shelf. A new one will be made for 2012. I am sure my system will expand once there are art projects, school reports, and love notes to add!!

This post is being linked to A bowl full of lemons.

Day #17 - Mail!

So this is a little out of order...but I got it done today so I wanted to post about it. I added a mail station to my linen closet. I put it together using supplies I had on hand already. I used a scrapbooking tool carryall as my outgoing mail supply corral (envelopes, pens, stamps, cards, labels, etc...) I had a file box out in the garage so I decided to use it here - I am not loving the yellow labels, but I had them so for now they are going to work! I apologize for the picture quality...

This is being linked to A bowl full of lemons.

Day #14, Under the Bathroom Sink

And here we are again with WAY too much product!! I threw away some body wash from 6 years ago...I can't believe it!! Here is my hubby's sink before:

After:

Mine before:

And after:
This post is being linked to A bowl full of lemons.

Day #13 Medicine Cabinet

Be prepared for PRODUCT overload in the next few posts...I can't believe how many products I had...anyone else feel the same way??

Here is my medicine cabinet BEFORE:

And here it is after some much needed purging. I also removed one of the shelves - now all of my taller products fit standing upright. A super simple change but I love it!!

This post is being linked to A bowl full of lemons.

Freezer and Spice Cabinet

This post will be quite unexciting - I apologize. The freezer I am still not thrilled with, but until we eat up some of the food, this is how it is going to look! And the spice cabinet is really a spice "shoe organizer". I love that it is clear so I can see everything at one time!! Whew, I am finally caught up - I promise there will be a more exciting post, and a more consistent posting schedule tomorrow!!

This post is being linked to A bowl full of lemons.

Laundry Room

So our laundry room had a start in the right direction...I don't have too many before pics to share with you for that reason.

Here is the only before I have...

Here is behind the door...don't worry the toxic Swiffer is only hanging there until trash day...

Here is our message center...LOVE!!

This is the new shelf I added, now my hangers are right where I need them...I am loving all the blue at Target right now!

And my favorite part! The green frame holds Real Simple Magazines illustrations and instructions on how to clean your laundry room in 15 minutes...

This post is being linked to A bowl full of lemons.

Toy Organization!

Toy organization was an area I sort of had a system in place for already! Here is a brief tour of how the toys are organized...

Here is a bookcase with baskets of her wooden and wool toys (the red bin holds diaper supplies).

Here is her kitchen complete with felt tools and wooden eggs.

This hutch was made by my mother's grandfather. I switched the knobs out with some from Anthropologie. This holds our "learning activities" that I use with her during Tot School time.

Each month I switch out the contents of this basket to fit our "theme" - this month our theme is snow and winter.

This is our art corner - not used too much yet.

This post is being linked to A bowl full of lemons.

Coat Closet - Very Late!

This week has left me with no time to post!! Expect all this week's challenges tonight and tomorrow...mostly in order!

I had been putting off the coat closet, waiting to find some inspiration and then today I found it!

I saw this at Honey We're Home and fell in love! I am not quite as handy as she was so I had to modify a little but I am still thrilled with the results!

Here was my before:

Here is my after:

This post is being linked to A bowl full of lemons.

Day #7 - THE PANTRY!!!

WOO HOO!! I was so excited about this challenge. We are lucky enough to have a fantastic pantry. But over the holidays it had been used and abused. Here is the dismal before shot:

Here I am using the leftover contact paper from the under the sink project to make the walls in the pantry look prettier. It was so easy and made such a difference! (Yes, I am in my pajamas still...sorry Flylady!)

Here is what the contact paper looks like up.

The jars are from IKEA. I have ordered adorable vinyl labels for them...I love them!

This is an after shot of the whole pantry. There are still some things I would like to do. I want to find a cozy rug to cover the stain on the vinyl I can't get out with anything.

Here are my clipboards with my awesome printables from IHeart Organizing. I have our meal planning/shopping lists as well as our daily cleaning routine checklist there. If you haven't been to her site, go now! It is awesome and I get so many great ideas from her all the time!

Over the pantry door I used a clear shoe organizer for all of our spices. We love to cook and as consequence have lots of ingredients!!

This nook of the pantry holds and organizes tablecloths, napkins, paper goods, baking supplies, and unique ingredients. Labels to come soon!

So here is my new and improved pantry. Not finished yet but definitely on its way. How is your organization coming along this 2011?

UPDATE: Here are my newly labeled canisters... I LOVE them!!!

This post is being linked to A bowl full of lemons.

And

Challenge Day #6 - A Sampling...

So, I wasn't super excited about tackling today's assignment because I knew it would be a big project. Well, I was right - but it is done - and I am determined to keep them looking this way. All in all I attacked ten drawers today...here are the highlights...

BEFORE:

AFTER:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
BEFORE:
AFTER:

Sigh...doesn't it look better? I would share more but I am off to make dinner for the family!!

Linked to A bowl full of lemons.

Challenge Day #5, Back on Schedule!

I was so excited to be able to deal with my under sink disaster area! I have ordered Norwex and Shaklee products, which haven't yet arrived so I know the layout of this area will change again when they do. I borrowed a couple of ideas directly from Toni - the contact paper and the dish rack. I think they make such a difference! The metal baskets I got from the Target dollar spot - I had looked at almost identical ones at Crate and Barrel yesterday!

So here it is...the toxic tragedy...

And the after...SOOOO much better. Once again, I am so grateful for this challenge and the motivation from all the other participants.

This post is being linked to A bowl full of lemons.