Organization that's attainable is nice but MAINTAINABLE is better.

Pictures below-

Look,  I'm gonna be real. Ok. So there's  that one area, that one closet, that one drawer. We dont want to talk about it. You know where its at. Well, start there, with one. I found that when I started with just a very small drawer, my desire spread from there. Just start small. One area a day for 30 days or whatever but baby steps. 

I started by making lemonade with lemons, the lemons?  No summer break really but yes really. Because, the kids were sick and we were cooped up for about 4 weeks...true story !! I said, " I have cabin fever!" and then I said, " I'm gonna make the best out of this cooped up summer!"  and started with one drawer. Can I tell you, it feels so awesome! I'm not talking about a clean house but I mean, no junk drawers, all under-the-sink stuff is contained and organized, no miscellaneous closet spaces, easy access pans and Tupperware and Im not done yet! It's wonderful! 

Which reminds me, Dr. David Gibbs once said, " It doesn't take money to be neat." And I agree, you do not need a ton of money not to be a pig, so true. 1Corinthians 14:40" let all things be done decently and in order." Some of us are clean but struggle in the organization department, they ARE different. So cleaning is great,  I actually like it but I think organizing helps you to retain order and stay neat. Because cleaning is the easy part in my books but keeping order in the home can be challenging, for children especially and their things.

Anyway, back to getting organized. 

Purge-Sort- Contain. Three steps. 

Sometimes, with the big, brand-name products out there it can get pricey, sometimes up into the hundreds. But thanks to Dollar Tree and a little Pinterest research on how to use stuff you already have, we've cut that cost way down. And it's functioning for us very nicely. Whats more, the children are following the system set in place quite well. But may I share two things I've learned as I'm signing off here: organization systems are like shoes, you might love it on somebody else but it might not fit you comfortably at all. So do what works in your head and what can easily be maintained... that's the key to success in all of this, to maintain that organization or what's the point in setting a system in place, right? And second, repurpose. What do you already have you can use for containers? Pickle jars, mason jars, vases, crystal light containers, pringle cans, baskets, caddy, buckets, empty tackle boxes, tissue boxes etc... Empty them, clean them use them.

Most of what you see, I already had and wasn't using to the best of its ability or went to dollar tree. That's it. Oh and you must purge, purge, purge dont be a hoarder! Give away, sell, trash. Have three piles. You must do this. It's costing you money because you don't know what you have and you double or tripple buy or you have to store it all and pay for that. Just know when you have more than enough of something, and purge. 

Here's some of our problem areas fixed and I will post before and after pics. next time because I really didn't plan on sharing this when I did it.

Make-up drawer 

School supplies 

Kitchen sink

Pantry- tired of snacks everywhere. And dried fruit and nuts everywhere. So just labeled bins and throw them in. Easy.

The blue basket is gluten-free stuff until I get a white one and a label for it.

Spices

Turn table for stuff I use every time I cook

My loose teas were...too loose. So we fixed that. 

Measuring utensils

Baking

Silverware

My Closet  - socks,  scarves, handbags

Bathroom sink- my side

Kids toys- each child has one of these plastic cabinets. Best idea (thank you Hubs) and been working very well. Also, the middle one is for "all things hair " for my girls. Headbands, bows, tools / sprays.

That chart hanging there on the wall is Sara's weekly chore schedule she has an every day personal 15 mn checklist to get ready by and a 15 mn morning chore list and a 15 mn evening checklist. Each child has one. Soooooo much less fuss about who does what! Can't begin to tell you. 7,8,9 and 11 year old? All going every which way? No more. And we change chores up ever few weeks but thats different blog for a different day.

 Seriously, these simple adjustments changed our life. I know it sounds funny but I'm NOT joking. Do it, try it, you'll be a believer. Your day will run more efficiently. May you be blessed :)