{Organizing} in the New Year

Hello Hello! Yes, I am still alive over here. I so miss you all as you have been apart of my blogging journey for over 4 years! I have decided for now that the blog (& my cleaning) are just going to have to take a back seat for a little while so I can enjoy sitting on the floor playing "peek a boo" with my babies. I know this time will not last.... I am soaking it up while I can. I have waited a LONG time for this. With that said...I will be sure to post when I can, so if you are loyal followers, THANK YOU! Thank you for following along as I learn how to juggle it all (or not). And yes.. my babies are now 9 months old! Get the tissues out for this mama. It is going way too fast.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and welcome to 2016! Can you believe it? Nope...me neither. I usually do a New Years "Goals" post that has to do with items I want to accomplish around my house. The New Year just gives us that fresh start that most of us need. Time to review the past year and look forward to achieving goals and aspirations that weren't accomplished the previous year. I really don't have a whole lot of ideas for our home at this time. A little tweak here and there, but I am starting to get ready for a new project. The Hubs says within the next two years, so you better believe I  have already been scouring the market! Ha! Don't worry I will have lots of ideas and inspiration for you as we continue to make our current house a home on a daily basis.

One of my main goals this year is to organize my photos! Right now all of the pictures of the babies are currently either on my I-phone or a camera card. I NEED to get them off and get them organized before they turn 18. Technology can be a blessing and a curse...can I get an AMEN?

I have compiled some of my favorite projects for inspiration as you all start organizing your own spaces. All of these projects, once completed, really helped us live more simply and efficiently.

Small Master Closet Organization

Laundry Closet Makeover

Master Bathroom Vanity Storage

Kitchen Drop Spot

Master Bath Linen Closet

Pantry

What are you up to tackling in the new year? Organization? House Construction? Maybe just survival?

Have a wonderful week! Hope to meet you back here sooner than later!

House & Personal Goals for 2015

Now that all of the decorations are put away and company has left, I have had some time to reflect on the past year and create some goals for 2015. I am more of a goal setter rather than a resolution maker. For one, I feel as though I can never keep my resolutions and then I feel discouraged and quit. A goal seems more achievable for some reason. So here we go...you must keep me accountable this year my friends!





1. Continue on a Path of Healthy Eating:
John and I really eat pretty healthy and try to create a healthy routine around here. It has been a bit hard since being pregnant because of my lack of energy. I know that I will continue to feel more and more tired and have even less energy when the babies are finally here. So I would like to put aside a couple of weekends to create some healthy freezer meals for those days when I am not in the mood to cook. This will alleviate the impulse to run out and grab fast food. Do any of you have some great tasting freezer meals to share? Do Tell!

2. Breathe:
This past year has been a crazy one and this year is going to get even crazier by doubling the size of our family. I couldn't feel any more blessed and excited, but with more responsibility comes more anxiety. I have approximately four months (maybe less) to get everything done before babies arrive. I need to put life into perspective. I may not get EVERYTHING finished that I would like. Do babies really care? No. Are they going to live in a happy and healthy environment? Yes.
So one of my goals is to take time to Breathe. To sit down in the mornings and start my day with daily devotions and prayer. To stop and smile every time I feel those babies moving. To look around my home and see the good things...the things that bring me joy. To meet friends for lunch dates. To rest when I feel I need a rest. To spend quality time with my husband. To be present and Laugh!

3. Learn Something New:
Besides diving into "how-to" baby books, I want to learn something new! John got me some online interior design/decorating classes for Christmas and I can't wait to dive in and start learning some new tips and tricks to share with all of you. I would also like to up my game when it comes to taking pictures. I will soon have two models to practice on daily, so I want to put my learning cap on before they arrive. Oh and this might sound a little funny....but I have always wanted to learn how to use some serious power tools. I am determined to take some lessons from my dad and brother on using an electric saw so I can build something...anything! So here's to a year of new endeavors!

1. Baby Nursery:
Well if this one isn't obvious! Ha! Since we were on the waiting list for adoption a year ago, we have already started working on the nursery a bit. The walls are painted, light fixture hung, closet stenciled and organized and dresser bought.
With the surprising news of being pregnant with twins, we have had to revamp a little. This room is quite small at only 11'x10', but we were able to figure out a layout that will work with two cribs, a dresser and glider. Can't wait to share the plan and updates with you all next week!

2. Office/Guest Room Revamp:
So since we are going to have quite a few visitors over the next year, I wanted to update our guest room and give it a fresh vibe. I am thinking new paint on the walls, some wall sconces, new bedding and a bench at the end of the bed. The walls are still builder's grade and I really haven't done much to create a cozy guest space over the past few years. Time for a change!

Guest room in the current state:

On the other side of the room is my little office nook. I have enjoyed having this space to write my posts, get a little real estate work done and have plenty of space for organizing files, etc. Now that I have slowed down a bit with real estate, I don't need quite as much shelving space, but I am finding I need more desk space. It would be great to spread out my projects and get a possible second screen for creating mood boards and editing photos.

Here is the current state of my small office space:

I recently bought this desk and can't wait to get it set up and put to good use! I am envisioning something like this with some skinny shelves against the smaller wall and a large mood board for ideas and organization:

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3. Finish Master Bathroom Projects:

Last year was the start of updating our bathroom with just a bit of lipstick. In other words we painted the walls and vanity to update the builder grade space. We added a large piece of artwork and an oriental rug to give it a bit of character. This year it is time to finish adding some touches! 

Current State of Bathroom:

First up....adding some floating shelves behind the toilet. I am thinking some industrial looking shelves like these from restoration hardware. The only difference....dad and I are going to DIY them!

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I would also like to frame the plain mirror and add a window treatment to give the room a little color and texture. I found this tutorial on how to make a faux relaxed roman shade. I might have to try my hand at this as well!

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As you all can see I have just a few projects to finish as well as take on motherhood x2 this year! I am trying to be realistic and know that not everything will be accomplished in 2015, but am looking forward to trying to reach some of these goals. 

Do you make New Years Resolutions or Goals? What is one thing you are hoping to accomplish in 2015?

A Look back at 2014 {Top 10 Posts} According to you

Well hello and Happy New Year! I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season. It was great to put most technology away for a couple of weeks and focus on time with family and friends. I am anxious for this new year and what it will bring. I always love a fresh start...don't you?

Today we are taking a walk down memory lane. This past year has been full of ups and downs, but without your support of this little blog I wouldn't be doing what I love. Even though I didn't crank out as many posts as previous years, there were still quite a few that were memorable.

Below are the top 10 posts of 2014...according to all of you!

10. A "Spotted" Nursery Closet- I love this sweet little closet and now that we only have a little less than 4 months to meet our babies, I am so glad I finished this when I did! Can't wait to share more ideas and nursery projects with you all this year! Let's just say that there are TWO little cribs set up in the nursery and I can't help but stop and peek in from time to time.

9. Adding Character to your home {Furniture in the Bathroom}- This post was full of great inspiration when trying to add a bit of character to a bathroom. I love the idea of adding a vintage or industrial piece for that unexpected look. 

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8. Outdoor Dinner for Two- I enjoyed created this little dinner for two on our patio this summer using the limited edition green Ball Jars. Using what I had and nature around me made for a romantic summer evening. 

7. Top Design Mistakes {Rug Sizes}- This post is also full of inspiration and ideas on what to do and not to do when it comes to adding rugs to your space. 

6. DIY Colorful Fruit Umbrellas- I got my craft on and created these adorable umbrellas using Scotch Blue Painter's tape. It would be a fun project to do with your kids! Pick a favorite fruit and create!

5. How to Decorate & Style Shelves- I find that built-ins and coffee tables can be a bit tricky to style. In this post I gave you some ideas on how to use what you have around the house to decorate and style your shelves in 7 steps!

4. Master Closet Organization- I was determined this year to get our master closet in order and I actually accomplished what I was set out to do! Our closet was a walk in, but a very small walk in. And with babies on the way we had to move some of our dress clothes and other storage items that were stored in the guest room, into our closet. So I shared some great tips on how to organize a small closet without spending an arm and a leg! See for yourself....

3. Master Bathroom Updates {Painted Vanity}- After living with our builder grade bathroom for 6 years, we decided to make some changes. We added some color to the vanity using Sherwin Williams- Urban Bronze and lightened the walls using Sherwin William's- Shoji White. We added an oriental rug and some new artwork. Even though we still have a bit to go in 2015, I am liking the new and fresh updates!

2. Flip House #5 {Before & After}- We completed our 5th flip home this past spring. It is always fun to look back on the homes that we buy and sell to see how far we have come. We are hoping to add at least 3 more flips this year....so stay tuned for updates as we move along. To see all of our flip homes click HERE.

1. Keeping Organized in the New Year- This was the top post in 2014! I guess many of you like to get your organization on. Well this post has plenty of ideas including some free printable labels, organization tips that you can complete in 5-10 minutes and some of my "go-to" organizational items that I use over and over.

So there you have it! Thanks for following along in 2014! I am excited to see what 2015 has in store for this blog.

Do you have any suggestions or posts that you would like to see more of from Eat.Sleep.Decorate? Any blogging series that might peek reader's interests? I am open for suggestions.

Tomorrow I will be back to share my 2015 House Goals. Happy Monday!

My Top Tips for Keeping Organized in the New Year

How many of you have resolved to stay organized in the New Year? Me too! The one thing that I hear from a lot of reader's is knowing where to start. If you open your closets, stand in your kitchen or walk into your children's room you may feel quite overwhelmed and have a hard time finding what to organize first.

For me it is tackling those piles of paperwork that need to be filed or going through old photographs and/or magazines. Paper seems to pile up everywhere I look!

Today I am partnering with HSN and their re:fresh program to help you stick with your resolution of organizing your home and staying organized throughout the year. They have asked me to share my top tips for organizing with all of you. I hope at least one of these tips inspires you to get started!

1. Sorting Paper Clutter:
I know that I am starting with a hard one, but believe me I have a hard time with this one as well! If the piles around your house have an organized spot, then that is half the battle. Think of how much paper floats around the house and takes up space!
First, go from room to room collecting your piles and start by separating your paperwork into categories and throwing away anything that you don't need. Stack those categories into separate piles and mark them by either using large paper holders or a simple metal filing system like below:

Create file folders for each category that you will need. Example: Bank Statements, Taxes, Warranties, etc. Once a quarter make an effort to file the papers away where they need to go. Some of you are thinking "that would take forever" and it just might, but who really wants to file paperwork weekly or monthly? Not me! So start somewhere whether tackling the mail daily or weekly. Your sanity will thank you.

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2. Bins and Baskets are your BEST FRIENDS!
I have said this many times, but if you want your house to look organized (even if it might not be perfect) you will want to run out and grab some bins and baskets for organization. They can work in any room throughout your home and you can find them in any price range based on your budget.

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3. Label, Label, Label...
Need I say more? If you have a bin or file folder sitting on the drop spot of the kitchen and you keep telling your husband he needs to put the mail in one and the kids school work in the other, will he really remember? Yeah...didn't think so! So it is important to have everything labeled so the whole family is on the same page and it doesn't hurt that it looks nice too!

These Free printable labels are some of my favorites which I used in our Laundry Closet Makeover. There are so many free labels around the web...just search them out or make your own!

4. Use What You Have Around The House

Before you go spending hundreds of dollars on organizational items, check around the house for items that could function in the same way for free!

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Baking sheets as clutter catchers in shallow desk drawers.

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Use PVC pipes as shoe organizers in your entryway/mudroom.

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Cereal boxes and craft paper as drawer dividers.

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Use coffee cans to sort mail and paperwork.

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Organize your beauty brushes with a vase and some decorative pebbles or beads. 

5. Get Everyone Involved

If you aren't the only one that lives in your home, everyone should share in the wealth (and chores). Put your family members to work! Believe it or not, even little kids love to help around the house.

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Create a "drop spot" for the kids (and even for the husband) where they can hang up their backpacks and file away their teacher notes each day.

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Give each member of the family a number which will keep them accountable for their own towels, laundry baskets, shoe bins, lunch bags, etc.

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I love this idea of creating a chore list for the family each day!

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How about picture labels to help the little kiddos properly put their toys away?

6. Organizing Tasks that take between 15-30mins

We are all busy busy busy. We don't always have time to create a beautifully organized closet or rummage through our attic with bins and labels. So why not make a list of tasks that can be done in a shorter time frame? That way you will feel like you are accomplishing something without feeling overwhelmed.

Here are a few tasks that would take less than 30 minutes:

*Pick a Drawer..any drawer! Go through it by tossing items that don't belong, placing certain items in a separate box for Goodwill and then putting everything else back in a neat manner.

*Clean Out Fridge One day throw out expired foods and wipe down the drawers and shelves. On a different day categorize remaining food by type and label food containers with expiration dates using a sharpie or Washi tape. 

*Have I worn it in a year? Keep a basket in or near your closet and toss those items that you haven't worn in a year and aren't planning on wearing again. Once your basket is full it is time for a Goodwill run or why not have a clothing swap party with all of your girlfriends!? Make it a fun night of wine, appetizers and acquiring new outfits from friends!

*Email Clean-out Delete spam and old emails. Unsubscribe from unnecessary Social Media sites. Reply to anything that needs a quick response. 

7. My Go-To Organizing Items

You all might think I am totally crazy, but I could talk and talk about organizing till you were asleep! Seriously! I love keeping an organized home as much as I can. It really does keep stress levels down when you know where an item is and it's a calming feeling when everything has a place. Please know that my home is not always organized! I promise. In fact, as I am typing this post my kitchen sink is piled high, there is a three inch thick pile of bills that need to be filed and my outside Christmas lights are still hanging on the bushes. But, I try and at least organize something each day whether big or small.

Below are some of my favorite organizational items from around the web that have helped me stay organized.

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So...are you ready to get started with that New Year's Resolution? What are you going to tackle first??

To help you HSN is also motivating us with a kick start called re:fresh 2014. Whether your resolution is to stay organized, get fit, finally take that vacation, become a better cook or refresh your fashion & beauty sense, HSN has some fabulous tips and tools. They are also giving away 15 prize packs valued up to $500 each to help inspire you for the New Year. All you have to do is click on over to their re:fresh 2014 page, fill out your info and start pinning! If you are anything like me, you are constantly on pinterest anyway...so why not have a chance to win some fabulous prizes while pinning tips and tricks for 2014!?

I hope you all are having a great week! See you back here tomorrow! 

XOXO

***This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of HSN and their re:fresh campaign. All opinions and organizing ideas are 100% mine!***

Linked at: Liz Marie Blog