WEEKEND CHALLENGE: Help around the HOME

Looking for something to do this weekend? Sure we'd all love to lounge around on our front porch swing and sip mimosas but it's time to get our butts in gear. There is always something to do around the house and now is the perfect time to do some of them. If you're dying to make a honey-do list then here are some home projects that will help you prepare your yard for outdoor living and freshen your home with a good Spring cleaning.

1) Yearly "Step into Spring" Deep Cleaning - Vacuum everything: Use attachments or the floor nozzle on the walls, furniture and baseboards. Empty the canister or bag for maximum effectiveness. Then throw everything—plastic toys, shower caddies, even sturdy knick-knacks—into the dishwasher for a once-a-year cleaning. 2) Take Stock of your Stuff - Start with the bookshelves: Clear everything off and give it a good dusting. Donate or sell any books you no longer want and replace everything in its newly clean space. Do the same for all videos, DVDs, electronic games, and music. Lastly, sort through your computer equipment: donate everything that is still usable and find a recycling center for dead electronics.

3) Dust the Ceiling Fan - Call it spring cleaning, call it an allergy-reducer, or just call it cumbersome...but don't skip it. It's a good idea to dust the blades and external motor of your ceiling fan once a month. Use a dusting cloth with an extension, a broom with an old t-shirt tied around it or climb up on a ladder with a dust cloth in hand. 4) Open up the Attic - To keep air moving through your home at this time of year, open the ridge vent now. If you don't have one, keep your gable vents open all year long.

5) Steam Clean your Carpets - Winter rain and snow means lots of mud on carpets. Now that the skies are clearing, give your carpets a thorough cleaning - or better yet hire a professional if you have the dinero. Trust me; you'll be thrilled to have clean carpets and extra time to enjoy the spring weather.

6) Plant Entry Flowers - Try this for an extra burst of color: buy a bowl-shaped planter and fill with only one kind of blooming plant such as pansies or violas—all in the same color. Whether it's white, red, pink or another shade you love, strategically filling your planters with one color will give your porch a more elegant look in minutes. You may think one color is boring but it looks amazing if you plant in abundance. 7) Let the Light Shine In - Wash your windows and screens. This is the perfect project for my MUST HAVE CLEANING PRODUCT! If you missed that post, check it out here. For a quick fix when you run out of window cleaner, mix two tablespoons of white vinegar with two quarts of water. Dip a clean rag in the solution and wipe down the windows. Wipe them dry with wadded-up newspaper. Brush screens to remove dust and debris.

Now that should keep you busy...for a few weekends I'm thinking. Have a fantastic weekend y'all!

WEEKEND WARRIOR CHALLENGE: Shoe solution

You may remember Pig Pen, Charlie Brown’s friend who always had a dust cloud around him that swirled even when he was still. Despite his uncleanliness, everyone loved Pig Pen. Why? Because he's relatable. We all seem to have our own little invisible (or not so invisible) dust cloud. And somehow it never fails that our home organization efforts are thwarted because of this lingering nuisance.

Where are places in your home where the dust cloud hovers? For me - it was my shoes. I always had good intentions of keeping them nicely lined up on the floor but in a hurry I would kick a pair here, there and everywhere. Somehow my shoes never seemed to make it back to the closet. They were in the entry way. Next to the couch. Outside on the porch. One under the bed, the other inside my gym bag. Or if by some fat chance they were all together, it was a disastrous pile of mismatched chaos. Nine times out of ten my tardiness could be blamed on my inability to find find a match.

Being that I am 1) a perfectionist and 2) hate being late, I needed to get rid of this dust cloud. Through trial and error, I found the shoe solution that works wonders for me - clear plastic boxes with a drop front opening. I've tried boxes with lids but un-stacking them every time I needed to open a box was annoying and time consuming. I was thrilled to find the drop front at the Container Store.

If you're in dire need of finding a shoe solution that works for you, here are some recommendations depending on the amount of space you have. And no a basket is NOT an option. Although throwing boots, flip flops, heels and sneakers into one big bin gets them cleaned off the floor, it doesn't solve the problem of the keeping pairs visible and together.

18 or 30 pair Shoe Wheels/$42 or $65. Holds men's and women's shoes. How cool are these?? If I had a big walk-in closet, I am almost positive I'd have a shoe wheel. The shoes are inserted into the pockets through elastic bands that secure them into place. The 1/2 wheel (Shoe Pod) holds 18 pairs and sizes up to 14+. The full circle wheel (Shoe Wheel) holds 30 pairs.

Couture Shoeboxes/$29.99 per box. Holds women's shoes only. With a solid box, it is imperative to display a picture on the front. These couture boxes have a 4x6 frame on the outside of the box to make this possible. A genius idea but a little pricey for my taste.

12-pair Under Bed Shoe Organizer /$19.99. Holds men's & women's shoes. If space is an issue, under the bed - the most under utilized space in the home - is an excellent option. But this doesn't just have to be used for shoes. Think outside the box - you could organize winter scarves and hosiery nicely in something like this. For tennis shoes or larger men's shoes, you'll have to put one shoe per pocket allowing it to only hold 6 pairs. 12-pair Shoe Organizer /$37.99. Holds men's & women's shoes. The only downside I see, is that it's made for sandals or low-heeled shoes. Unfortunately if you rock the high stilettos, I'm afraid they won't lay right. And for larger men's shoes or athletic shoes, it is best to put one shoe per opening. Not ideal. What I do like is that if you have a free compartment, you can store small handbags.

12-pair Canvas/Bamboo Over the Door Shoe Organizer/$19.99. Holds men's or women's shoes. Love the idea of utilizing the back of the door if you are limited on space but I personally can not stand seeing the hardware exposed on the front of the closed door. Pockets are very functional for belts, scarves and accessories.

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE - Drop Front Shoe Boxes/$7.99 per box for women; $9.99 for men. I love the transparency of knowing what is inside each box and the drop front opening so I don't have to unstack. Only downside - the women's box only will hold up to size 9 and the men's caps out at size 10.

If none of these work for you, I encourage you to check out Target's wide selection here. There are a million ways to organize. Pick one and stick with it. And before you organize, make sure you have the heart to heart with each pair. Ask yourself - when's the last time I wore them? Are they even still in style? No need to spend the time organizing shoes you'll never touch again.

WEEKEND WARRIOR CHALLENGE: Closet Chaos: END. IT. NOW.

It's time to stop procrastinating and time to finally bring order to that war zone you call your closet. Especially before you get the itch to buy any new spring clothes. Ok I'll admit - I'm a little obsessed with organizing. And I love closets. So I thought I'd channel my obsession into something helpful: a list of tips on what I've found are the most effective ways to organize your bedroom closet.

Did you know that people wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time? Believe it. And you better believe that if your closet is pure chaos, you will be too. Who wants to start their day off on the wrong foot because of something so managable?

Below are my five solutions that will conquer your closet clutter. For this WEEKEND WARRIOR CHALLENGE, I encourage you to put closet cleaning on your list. Even if all you have time to do is a quick sweep. Ready...set...go!!!!

1: Start from scratch - Pull everything out. While you are taking out each item, access if it's:

• a keeper; you wear it frequently, it's one of your favs, staple in your wardrobe
• one to try on; you pause, still love it but are on the fence. Does it still even fit? Still in style?
• time to donate; out of style, too small, never wear it
• trash worthy; holes, stains, stretched out

Take a few minutes then to try on the 'iffy' clothes. This is a time to be brutally honest with yourself. If you're holding onto hope that you might one day fit into it, let it go. This isn't the time to reminisce. It's also a time to be extremely selective and follow the Golden Rule of organizing - don't keep anything you haven't worn in the last year. I personally like the 6-8 month rule. While you're closet is empty, vacuum the floor, dust off the shelves or do whatever is necessary to tidy up.

2: Make piles - Now sort through the clothes and make piles of like items - long sleeved, short sleeved t-shirts, dressy tops, tanks, sweatshirts, jeans, dress pants, capri pants, etc. If you don't have a ton of closet space, I suggest you separate the seasonal clothing (Fall/Winter & Spring/Summer) from one another at this time. If storage is an issue, the best bet for seasonal clothing are long plastic bins ($8.99/Target) or fabric store bags ($14.99/Target) that can scoot under the bed. 3: Get hanging - First toss out all wire or mismatched hangers. Major pet-peeve. Wood or plastic hangers are best. If you prefer wood, I suggest the Bumerang clothes hangers from Ikea ($4.49 for an 8-pack). I personally prefer cheap all white hangers that have the notch/indent to hold tank top & dress straps($2-3 for 10/Target). For pants & skirts I suggest using tiered or cascading hangers to maximize space ($13.99 for a 2-pk/Target). And always hang ties and belts on a hanger ($11.99 for a 2-pk/Target). Do not hang sweaters. Over time, the hangers will ruin the shape of your sweater. Instead fold them and put on shelf.

4: Organize - Now assign closet space logically. However the flow works for you is best. Rule of thumb is to place items you wear frequently at eye level. Less worn items lower. And least worn items, high on the shelves. I do suggest that if your closet is nicely divided, you put tops on top, pants on bottom section.

Now it's time to color coordinate each bunch of like items. My favorite part. I personally like to use the rainbow as my guide. Start on the left with reds, then pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. Then I'll do brown, grey, black and white. Patterns go together at the end of each bunch. If an item is striped, I will place in the color section of the primary color.

5: Find a home for everything - Most people don't have room to hang & display everything in one closet so embrace the idea of bins. Baskets, plastic bins, collapsible cubes, fabric boxes are all ways to give items a proper place. Even drawer organizers ($14.99-$19.99/Container Store) for the little things like lingerie, hoisery, ties, or undergarments stacked on your closet shelf will work. I personally like boxes with lids so I can stack them and utilize the most space in my closet. Nonetheless, you must have a "home" for each item if you truly want to be organized. In my spare closet, I have two 3 drawer plastic storage bins ($19.99/Target) for things like bathing suits, winter socks, scarfs, belts, tanks, etc. They are very functional and I can always get into them.

My one beef about closet organization however is that there are a million and one organizational products on the market. And you can quickly spend a lot of money on trendy, over-priced storage bins. Keep in mind that you need to find a solution that works for you and your allotted space. If all that makes sense is a boring ol' plastic bin, so be it. Don't get caught up in how cute your closet should look. Above all, it needs to be functional. And most likely, you are the only one who is going to see inside it so what does it really matter!?!

But what about the shoes???? Come back for next Friday's Weekend Warrior Challenge: SHOE SOLUTION! Happy organizing!!

WEEKEND WARRIOR CHALLENGE: Be thankful

With guests to be arriving soon and Thanksgiving just around the corner, this weekend is sure to be hectic. Speaking for myself here. But amidst the madness, we all need to be reminded of what this upcoming holiday truly means.

History aside, Thanksgiving is a holiday for individuals - to be celebrated any way we see fit. There are no rules, no religion and no presents. It's simply a time for us to reflect on all that we have and be grateful for the many blessings.

This weekend I challenge you to stop and think about all the things you are thankful for. It can be as sentimental as your freedom to believe in your own beliefs and think your own thoughts or as simple as the Internet, for giving the possibility to meet, learn from & share with so many incredible people, so easily.

Have a wonderful weekend and THANK YOU for following my blog! xoxo

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." ~ Oprah Winfrey

WEEKEND WARRIOR CHALLENGE: Walk a mile in their shoes

This post title may be a little misleading. No need to get all wound up - I'm not asking you to fish out your dusty ol' tennis shoes to do any physical walking. What I am asking you to do is wrap your mind around this...Imagine yourself with no where to go. No home to keep you comfy and warm. No socks or shoes to keep your feet warm. No hot meal on the table. No consistency. Imagine living in fear. Scared. Cold. Helpless. Unloved. Kinda hard to put yourself in those shoes when you're biggest worry is what private school your kid should attend or where you're going to wine and dine for dinner tonight right?

Sadly, these are the things children - 2.8 million actually - across America, the richest country in the world, face EVERYDAY. These are innocent children thrown into a scary world expected to survive. They didn't paint this picture. They are victims. And have to somehow figure out how to make the best out of the situation with little to no resources. Could you imagine your 6 year old child, cold and hungry, living on the streets being exposed to all the sex trafficking, gangs, and extreme weather conditions? It's beyond anything I can comprehend. More so now than ever, I have a soft spot for these young children that are born into lives of poverty.

Here are some alarming statistics that may too make your heart ache for these young children:

1 out of every 5 children is poor. A "status" they did not choose.

According to Feedthehungry.com, 12 million children are at risk of going hungry.

According to a study done by Feeding America, more than 33% of households have to choose between feeding their families or other basic necessities, such as rent, utilities and medical care.

The average age of a homeless person in America is nine.

1/2 of the 2.8 million homeless children are under the age of 6.

In the last 2 years the number of homeless children has DOUBLED. The main factor - the home foreclosure crisis & recession.

Children make up 27% — the fastest growing segment — of the U.S. homeless population.

A study by the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth shows that nearly 1,000,000 homeless children are enrolled in U.S. schools. This represents an alarming 41% rise from just a few years ago.

Nearly 1.16 million of homeless children today will not graduate from high school due to this major recession.

Pretty depressing huh? Imagine how those kids feel around the holidays? What should be the happiest time of the year is just another fight for survival. This is a time of giving. A time to turn a frown up-side-down. What can you do this weekend to get involved? I encourage you to do some soul searching. Try to put yourself in the shoes of those less fortunate. If you don't have a heart for children, that's ok. There are several ways to give back - whether you do it one time or donate monthly. You'd be surprised what little it takes to change someone's life. In my hometown of Tacoma, WA, it takes only $2.22 to feed a homeless child for Thanksgiving. All you'd have to do is cut back on your Starbuck's for 5 days and you'd fill 10 children's bellies. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money. It can be as simple as going through your closet and giving your clothes to the Salvation Army. Or you could donate an hour of your time at a local food bank and serve them a meal. Or maybe you could ask everyone attending your holiday party to bring a can/bag of nonperishable food items to give to the Rescue Mission.

I personally decided to get creative this year - Every year growing up at my grade school, St. Charles in Tacoma, WA, we would give a pair of shoes to needy children. Instead of just giving the shoes, we would fill the boxes with age appropriate gifts (toothpaste, socks, toys, crayons, jewelry, match box cars, etc). This project will cost me about $16.00/box. This year on Thanksgiving day my family and I will be assembling 20-30 boxes and shipping them to the underprivileged children in Tacoma, WA. This will be an inspiring reminder for my family to give thanks for the little things in our life - like the dry pair of shoes on our feet everyday. I encourage you to find ways to make this time of giving memorable for both you AND your family.
If you decide that you want to start making a consistent impact in someone's life and have no idea where to begin, here are some charities I particularly like:

Save the Children has been working hand-in-hand with families and communities in rural America and in more than 120 countries around the world for over 75 years to help the lives of children in need. One of my favorite ways to give is by going on their catalog and choosing a gift that touches your heart within your budget. When you choose a gift from this catalog you'll give joy and lasting change to a child in need and put a smile on someone you care about when you purchase the gift in their honor. You can search gifts by price or category. Two of my favorites are: For $65.00 you can educate a girl for an entire year or for $100.00 you can stock a library and keep kids reading for years! http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.cvKSIeO0IjJ4H/b.6079419/k.BF11/Home.htm

Feed the Children , a Christian organization founded in 1979, has become one of the nation's largest charities - dedicated to feeding the bodies and minds of hungry girls and boys to prepare them for healthy, successful lives. They are committed to delivering food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty, or natural disaster. Just a $5.00 donation can feed a child for an entire week!!!

Samaritan's Purse is a Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine. They have several community development programs that are helping people all over the world. One of my favorite programs is the Operations Christmas Child. Over 8 million children last year received a shoe box filled with gifts. Something so simple to us, yet so memorable to them!

African Renewal Ministries is located in Ggaba, Uganda, East Africa. Their desire is to reach the lost and to renew the people of Africa through salvation and education. Their hope is to get them off the streets of hopelessness as soon as possible. Once in our care, they’re fed, given medical attention, clothed, and put in school. One of my personal favorite ways is to adopt a child. For $35.00/month you can drastically change a child's life. You'll provide them with school tuition, lunch, a school uniform and a pair of shoes for the year. You can also choose to sponsor a teacher, adopt a village, or give to the orphanage.

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger relief charity, its network provides food assistance to more than 38 million low income people facing hunger in the United States, including more than 14 million children and nearly 4 million seniors. One in eight Americans rely on Feeding America for food and groceries.

Enjoy your weekend and take some time to think about how you can make a difference in someone's life this holiday season!

WEEKEND WARRIOR CHALLENGE: Live life unscripted

Unscripted: adj - Spontaneous, different, unusual, unique A thing that doesn't go as planned but ends up a lot better than expected.

To live life unscripted goes against all my Type-A, Virgo traits. I hate uncertainty. I thrive on routine. I like to know what's next. I'm a borderline control freak. I don't like when things go wrong. Most days I love the person God made me to be. Other days, I can't stand myself. It's a gnarly love/hate relationship. But at the end of the day, all I can be is me.

One of my goals however over the past few months has been to live more freely. For me that's as simple as being ok with leaving the bed unmade. Or ordering something off the menu other than chicken. It's a work in progress but I am getting there, one baby step at a time. Naturally, we are all creatures of habit to some degree. There's a lot of comfort and predictability in doing the same ol' same ol'. A good routine becomes a well oiled machine over time so it doesn't take much effort. It's natural that when everything else around us seems to be going wrong, we instinctively cling to the things we know won't fail us.

Do you find yourself in a rut doing the same ol' thing day in and day out? I've watched my parents as they have gotten older fall into this trap. They seem content going to the same restaurants, sitting in the same seats, hanging out with the same people. But as the oldest daughter I feel it is my duty to challenge them to step out of the box. I gave my dad this morning the same Weekend Warrior Challenge that I am going to propose to you - this weekend do something out of the ordinary. Forget the lists. Meet up with a friend you wouldn't normally hang out with. Eat at a restaurant you've never tried. Leave work at work. Call a family member you haven't talked to in months. Wear red lipstick and high heels. Sleep in. Go for a run. Go to church. Line up a babysitter and go away for the night. Order dessert. Dance like no one is watching. Be in the moment. Buy yourself the jeans you've been eyeing. Shut off your computer. Agree to go to lunch where your daughter suggests even if it's the most obnoxious place on earth. Guaranteed your weekend will be a lot better than you ever expected!

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

WEEKEND WARRIOR CHALLENGE: Be mindful

Mindful: adj - attentive, aware or careful.

The "season" is officially upon us. Which season you ask? Oh, you know exactly what I am talking about. The HOLIDAYS. Deep breath...now sigh. It's the infamous time of year where all bikinis and bets are off. Where we come up with every excuse in the book as to why we can't exercise. It is a very dangerous time for the health-conscious and waist-watchers. It first starts with those addicting, festive, pumpkin-flavored lattes (with a sugar content similar to that of a King size Butterfinger) and then the true beginning of the madness begins: Halloween.


Halloween is that super sneaky holiday. You think it's for the kids but it's just as tempting to us adults. Those cute, bite-size, harmless treats become so irresistible. One leads to five and next thing you know, you’re shoveling your way out of a mountain of wrappers. Don’t get me wrong. I am not painting sweets to be the devil. I love candy. And so does the baby in my belly. And if I could enjoy a "Dracula Martini" I absolutely would.

So why is this a WEEKEND WARRIOR CHALLENGE? I have no doubt you have a busy Halloween weekend ahead of you. Between school functions, block parties, pumpkin patches, costume soirees, football tailgates, and trick-or-treating, you're sure to have plenty of monster-licious treats and spook-tacular cocktails everywhere you turn. My challenge to you is simple - BE MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU PUT IN YOUR MOUTH. One of the most significant diet dangers revolves around sugar consumption which starts THIS WEEKEND.

Here’s some scary food for thought: that chocolate bar screaming your name might only take a few minutes to eat but those 500 calories take ONE HOUR AND 20 MINUTES of walking to burn off. That's comforting. Here's another frightening fact - to gain five pounds from now to the end of January, all you have to do is eat an average of 200 calories per day more than you need - an ounce of fudge here, an ounce of gravy there, a sliver of pecan pie. If you need to ‘get a grip’ on eating splurges, the winter holiday months are key to your long range planning. Don't think just because you cheated alittle that you've entirely blown it so that gives you the green light to really blow it. No need to feel guilty come Monday. Just keep things in moderation and be intentional about making good choices.

Cheers to a happy and safe Halloween!

WEEKEND WARRIOR CHALLENGE: Design on a dime

I'm always thinking about what's next to do around the house. Fortunately I have a very helpful husband who for the most part willingly embraces my "honey do" lists with a smile. And ladies, if you don't have a honey-do list for your husband, he is getting off way too easy in the home department. The one area however that's all me is the decorating. He likes to think he has a say but what man really does??? :) Last week I was dead set on getting a new bedroom set. After 7 years of the same ol' same ol' I was sick and tired of it. Oh my gosh, I'm kinda embarrassed that I just admitted that. 7 years of the same bedding? We kinda take the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" to the extreme. I set out on a mission during Chase's nap (my luxury when my husband is working from home). I had 3 hours to tear through as many home stores as I could. I like to make sure I know what's out there before I settle on the one. And you better believe that when I get in the 'mode,' I WILL find something.

So at the end of my time being here, there and everywhere, I ended up finding a bedding set at my old faithful - TJ MAXX. Why do I bother ever going anywhere else? I completely revamped my room for a total of $198. Bedspread, sheets, and 8 decorative pillows. Side designer note: don't skimp on the decorative pillows. They finish off the look.

If you've never been in a TJ Maxx, especially a TJ Maxx Home Goods, I encourage you to seek one out. You will be like a kid in a candy shop in their home section. They have awesome decorative accessories for every room in your house - pillows, candles, mirrors, frames, lamps, rugs, baskets, towels, flowers, vases, etc. They even have furniture, tableware, holiday decorations, clothing and a kid's section at great prices too!

(Pictured above - candle holders (had): Crate & Barrel; lamps (had): Pottery Barn; Frame on nightstand (had): Target; Picture on wall (had): Cost Plus World Market; Bedding: TJ Maxx; Decorative pillows: TJ Maxx; Flower (had): Target)

Ok so why is this a WEEKEND WARRIOR CHALLENGE? There's got to be some room in your house that needs a little pick me up. Maybe a new rug? How about new bathroom towels? I'm not telling you to go out and spend a ton of money. I'm encouraging you to design on a dime. Get creative. Add a pop of color. Rearrange some things in your house. Change out your candles. Get a picture on that bare wall.


(Pictured above - Mirror: Crate & Barrel; Candle holders: TJ Maxx; Flowers: Michaels; Lamp: Target; Decorative pillows: TJ Maxx; Rug: Target)

As you can see, I'm a huge fan of TJ Maxx and Target. You can't go wrong with Ikea prices either. Cost Plus World Market is also at the top of my list - they have great selection and prices too. I'll sometimes find stuff in Pier 1 Imports. Marshalls is ok but don't waste your time at Ross. They are always so disorganized you'll get frustrated before you even begin. When I want to splurge a little more, Crate & Barrel & Z Gallerie are staples. I don't do a lot of shopping online for home goods. I have to see it and feel it and I hate wasting money on shipping.

Now that you know where to go, have fun DESIGNING ON A DIME! And remember, it's hip to be a Bargainista. :)

WEEKEND WARRIOR CHALLENGE: Conquering the toiletry chaos

Is your morning routine, or lack thereof, making you start your day off on the wrong foot? Are you digging through drawers of 'stuff' to find what you are looking for? Are you constantly late? If you answered yes to even one of those questions, you could benefit from this Weekend Warrior challenge. I know everyone is "busy" but there has got to be at least one hour you can carve out of your weekend to conquer your bathroom chaos. Trust me. You do it once and maintain it (*key word - MAINTAIN), and you can kiss goodbye the morning outbursts of frustration. Ok so let's get your mind right and tackle this...

First, take ONE drawer at a time. Or better yet, one section of the huge pile that has taken over your vanity top. If you try to take on too much at one time, you'll get frustrated and want to give up. Grab the garbage can and start to weed out the stuff you don't ever use. Like those stupid samples you just can't seem to toss but have never used. What's up with having such a hard time throwing away something that was FREE? Or what about the multiple lotion bottles that you never finished but somehow can't part with. As if you're going to reach for those crusty pumps. If you hesitate on any one item, TOSS it. Or maybe you have multiples of things. Reality check - you only need one hairdryer, one straightener, one curling iron. Donate or toss the extras.

Now that you have only the essentials, visually place all like items together. Perfume, body sprays, and lotions together. Medicines. Make-up. The items you use during your daily routine (i.e. deodorant, lotion, vitamin, hair product, etc) I know that goes against clumping 'like items' together but this is important to streamline your routine and the amount of time it takes you to get ready. By putting your items in clumps it shows you what you're working with and you can easily assess how much room you need for each group.

Now's the fun part - Depending on the space you have to work with, start putting your items AWAY in places that make sense. Not just organized on the counter. Clumps of items on the counter make my head spin. But that's coming from someone with OCD tendencies. I don't believe a drawer or closet can be truly organized without the help of some type of organizer. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. I personally HATE those little ones that clip together. They are always too small. I encourage you to get creative and think outside the box. Don’t just shop in the bathroom aisle for bathroom products. Look in the office aisle, kitchen section or outdoor area.

My personal favorite drawer organizer is actually a $3.00 "Antonius basket insert" from Ikea. Love that store. And their prices. FYI - the quality of their products are so much better than what they used to be. I apologize that I have no clue what section I found it in but it was the organizing piece for a stacked shelving unit. Talk about thinking outside the box! I love it because it's a durable plastic that I can wipe down. It's all one unit. It has different size compartments to fit just about anything. It works for me.

My make-up drawer. Note: The make-up bag to the right. What's in there? My everyday make-up. Why do I do that? Stay tuned. That's an entirely different post.

My "everyday" drawer. My go-to drawer to find everything to complete my daily, get ready routine.
Alright, now that you know that I use Pro-Activ and wear Arrid deodorant, it's your turn. Go out and find the drawer organizer that works for you and get that bathroom under control.