Challenge ME #6 : Kids Craft Supplies

My kids love to do crafts. I prefer that they do things at the kitchen table, so I can supervise, and clean up has to happen for us to eat dinner. So, we have two clear drawer systems that we use right next to the table (and our awesome chalkboard wall...I will post on that later!)

Here are all the items that need to fit and be easily accessible for everyone.

Here is the outcome...

Paint

Playdough

Scissors, Staples and Punches

Glue and Tape

Chalk, Erasers, Sharpeners, Markers

 Coloured Pencils (clear zipper case), Crayons and Mini Markers (inside two containers)

Learning Supplies (flashcards, Math and Reading books, etc)

 Art Supplies (stickers, puzzles, tokens, fake money, pipe cleaners, pompoms, beads, clothespins, popsicle sticks, foam...all in ziplock bags)

Notebooks, Colouring Books and Workbooks

Paper

The last drawer is used for computer paper, cards, and misc. things like art work that we want to keep, but that needs a home until we decide what to do with it!

30 Minutes...No problem...I am not counting the extra time I took the sharpen each pencil and coloured pencil. I must love my kids!

Challenge ME #5 - Bathroom Drawers

Here is a look at the bathroom drawers in our home, organized in 30 minutes.

Master Drawer 1 - Things we use every morning, quick grab items

 Master Drawer 2 - Everything else organized into areas (nails, face, hair)

Master Drawer 3 - Large, bulky items

 Kids bathroom drawer

The trick to very organized drawers is finding the right containers/bins/holders to keep everything in. You can find containers like these anywhere. I got these at Fields.
Check out the container store for more ideas.

 We find it effective and efficient to keep similar items together, so if someone is looking for the nail clippers, they will be able to find them!

We also keep the kids teeth stuff in the drawer, rather than on the counter, to keep mess to a minimum.

Some other pics of organized bathroom drawers...

    

Challenge ME #4 - Under the bathroom sink

Under the bathroom sink at our home, organized in 30 minutes.

Master Bathroom

Left container is for extra soap, toothpaste, lotions, floss, etc.
Right container is our medicine bin. Yes, this is all our medicine/first aid for the whole home.  We keep one extra first aid kit in our basement, with our emergency kits.
In between we keep extra large bottles of lotion, shampoo and conditioner.
This cupboard is kept locked, so little hands never touch it.

The other side...extra set of towels, our travel kits, scale, extra TP and contact solution. This cupboard can stay open and keep our 1 year old distracted, and we can put it all back easily.

Kids Bathroom

Basically, we keep all the kid oriented things under the sink, for them to use. The stool, tub toys they can grab, and the black IKEA potty (for when we start potty training)

The kids bathroom has an extra cupboard we use for laundry (and extra shampoo, soap, etc for visitors). Our laundry is at the top of the stairs in the hallway, and there is no room to keep supplies there. This works well, and is safely tucked away from little hands.

We keep all extra toilet paper out of this bathroom, since our kids love to unroll the stuff..or plug the toilet with it! 

In every situation, you have to do what works for you and your family. 

That is the fun of organizing, because as your family grows, things change, and you can organize all over again. I am sure one day, I will be able to put the toilet paper in this bathroom!

Here is a video on how to organize under your bathroom sink!

Challenge ME #3 - Pantry

BEFORE

I got a little excited starting this challenge, and emptied an entire shelf before taking a picture. 

Here are the contents from the shelf.

I am going to be honest, this challenge took me longer than 30 minutes. It actually took 2 hours. We had 4 little ones to watch, and keep away from all the food that was all over the island, table and floor.

I found out today that organizing is more than just getting the job done (my effective way!), but setting up a system that works for the home owner, so they can stay organized in the future (Scott's efficient way!) He was right again! This takes more time, but in the end the result is better. Each item and shelf was discussed before a decision was made. We used what she had in her home and the finished product looked fantastic.

AFTER

Things you can do to organize your pantry:

• Take everything out and clean it. Make sure the space is big enough to see all the items.
• Place similar items together, and assign them a shelf. Label the shelf so everyone remembers what goes where.

Top shelf: cereal 

2nd shelf: pasta and rice (all the half used bags are kept in the green pull out container) 

3rd shelf: Baking (with all her coconut, chocolate chips, nuts, etc in the container with lid) 

4th shelf: Snacks (open bags of crackers, chips, etc are in the pullout containers)

Bottom: Cans and large items bought in bulk.

• Improve Access: In this pantry, the sliding door could not be used, and the pantry actually has about a foot to the right (inside) that you cannot see. We had to leave room (where you can see) for pull out containers so that she could reach to the right for the other things without having to move things out of her way.
• Expand the space: Use wire racks, wood racks (as you can see at the bottom), containers and bins, so you are not dangerously stacking cans, and store things compactly. 

You will find when you start the pantry, it will lead to all other areas of your kitchen...take the time to make a decision where things will go, and keep it that way. So, when you come home from a grocery trip, anyone in the home can help you put things away.

Here are some other cool pics of an organized pantry...

Challenge ME #2 - Under the Kitchen Sink

BEFORE

Under the kitchen sink becomes a catch all for all types of cleaners, scrubbers, plastic bags, unused fish tank supplies, pans, bottles, hardware...some others keep their garbage can and/or drying rack for dishes under the sink as well. That is a lot of stuff to keep in one place, and I am not sure how sanitary it is to keep all these things together. 

AFTER

Steps to take:

1. Take everything out and give everything a good scrub down.

2. Find something to put on the bottom of the cabinet. In case there is a spill, or leak of any sort...it is much easier to clean it up. (or replace). You could use vinyl paper, peel and stick tiles, adhesive backed plastic or even aluminum foil. We found plastic cardboard (the stuff used for creating signs) and cut it to fit.

3. Decide what you want to go under the sink and find a new home for anything that does not belong.
(In this case, there is no garbage or drying rack or plastic bags to put under - those are kept elsewhere, so there was plenty of room for the cleaners)

4. Find a caddy or container that is portable. Keep the basics like all purpose cleaner, window cleaner, paper towels, scrubbers, in it, so when you need to clean anywhere in the house, you can take it with you. This also saves on you having to keep cleaners under every sink in your home.

Here are some more neat ideas to make your under the sink more efficient and effective!

Challenge ME: #1 - The Spice Cupboard

Who has a cupboard like this?

All the spices, baking supplies, cake decorating, candles, etc..are put up here, and you can't find what you looking for in 10 seconds?

Here is what I did:

Step 1: Take everything out and put it on a flat surface.

Step 2: Clean the empty cupboard.

Step 3: Sort alphabetically

While sorting, throw away/recycle empties, check expiration dates and clean off the containers to be put back on the shelf.

Step 4: Consolidate the duplicates

This family loved Italian seasoning and Onion Salt, they had numerous half empty containers in various spots in the kitchen. I found them all and consolidated for more space.

Step 5: Find a storage solution

There are many great ways to store spices out there, check this out: Ten Spice Storage Options

But if you want to be frugal, use what you already have...

remember I only had 30 mins to do this challenge. 

Try this...

- I put all the small liquid bottles (extracts) together a see through plastic container. 

- I placed all the decorating needs(tips, candles, mini icing tubes) in a ziplock bag (all together and easy to grab when you are ready to decorate)

- I took all the bags of herbs that were opened, that would not fit into a jar, in separate snack size ziplocks and marked them with a sharpie. These were put into another plastic container.

- They had a healthy supply of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg, so I grouped those together in another small plastic container. 

- Placed one container on top of the baggies of extra spices/herbs that are only needed to refill the jars.

- Took all the baking supplies (oil, breadcrumbs, salt, etc) and grouped them together.

- Placed all the extra packets (soup mix, taco season, gravy mix) in a large ziplock bag.

- Put all the spices back alphabetically, so they are easy to find (with the ones less used at the back)

DONE in 30 minutes! 

While timing myself, I had to stop the clock a few times...I had to find a sharpie, ziplock bags, and storage containers that were not in use in other parts of the house. 

Neat thing is...the family had a cool storage idea in a wasted space between a wall and cupboard in the kitchen, so we used it to put the large containers, and the three most used spices for easy grabbing!

If you want to get really crazy, check out this blog:

A Cozy Kitchen: Organize your spices

Challenge ME: Organized in 30 minutes

I love to clean and I love to organize. 

Anyone who knows me well can testify of this.

I want to challenge myself and see how quickly I can get the task done.

My house is boring, because we already maintain a high level of organization (it is not perfect, and does not stay that way all the time, but basically, everything has a place and everything is in its place)

I want to come to your home!

Challenge ME

Find a few small areas of your home that you think I can clean and organize in 30 minutes. 

You have to live close by, and you have to let me take before and after pictures for this blog. 

I will not post names, or any information about yourself. 

This will be fun!

I know..most of you are thinking...fun and cleaning..she is crazy.

How can you resist..someone to clean and organize your home..come on!

Join my blog and then email me your request.

Can't wait to hear from you.