Getting Worker Bee Organized

I LOVE getting things organized!

I have to confess that I'm not always great at keeping things organized however.

And....well.....Worker Bee is even worse.  (Sorry Worker Bee, I called you out there AND threw you under the bus.)

Well, it was time.  Time to get Worker Bee's side of our closet organized.  

 Hey!  It doesn't look so bad....

Cue the ominous music....

Oh yes, I see danger lurking there in that bottom right corner....

Eeeeeeek!  Why is there a Trader Joe's bag in there Worker Bee? 

(Boy am I glad HE doesn't have a blog where he can point out all the mess on MY side of the closet!)

 How does all that junk fit in that tiny closet???

What happened to my pretty little bed?

Well after 4 ginormous bags of clothing Worker Bee donated,

we had this....

Now doesn't that look grand?

A nice big basket for shoes (uh...Worker Bee....why aren't there more shoes in there?  Are they out in the living room again?) and

all the shirts nicely sorted by type.

 Okay....I have to admit....I'm kind of proud of this idea.  I used foam door hangers I picked up at Michaels and cut a slit so it would go over the closet rod....

 so long sleeved knits are separated form long sleeve button shirts, which are then separated from polo shirts, and then those are separate short sleeve button shirts and so on and so on....

Ahhh......organized nirvana.....

 Then Worker Bee's sweaters are stacked nicely on that top shelf.  Worker Bee might be almost as addicted to sweaters as I am.  Although I'm exponentially more addicted than he, as in for every 1 of his I have 12 (or maybe more she confesses sheepishly).

 All his ties are hung neatly on a little peg rack.  (And really, Worker Bee, you couldn't get rid of the cheapy Christmas and St. Patrick's Day ties?  Those would have easily fit in those 4 huge bags.)

A nice handy hook for hanging his robe, pajamas, or whatever....

And one of our favorite inventions for tight closets.....stacking pants hangers.  Just clip them on and you can fit four pair of pants in the space of about 2 pants would take up on normal hangers.

Doesn't it look marvelous???

Next up....my side of the closet, Baby Bee's closet, the hall closet,the coat closet....I could go on and on, but it sure does feel good to have one closet tackled and done.

So what are you working on to get organized?

(And have you noticed?  Two projects done!  Yes, I know, none from on my sidebar, but those WILL happen someday!)

Thanks for buzzing by!

Getting a Start on Bee-ing Organized in 2013

Raise your hand if you are a fan of Martha Stewart.  Oh yes.....I see quite a few of you.

   

Now, how many of you know about her fabulous office line at Staples?  Lots of you again.

Well, I am a sucker for Martha so I headed out to Staples in another attempt to help Worker Bee and I stay organized.  (And yes, the milk glass taco is helping with the mail.)  I decided to buy some of the plastic envelopes with a wide adhesive strip to put on the doors of our computer armoire.  

Up until this morning I had cork tiles adhered to the doors of the armoire.  Great for pinning things up there, but not so great for organization.  (Can you believe I found mammogram results from 2009 on it? How embarrassing!)  

Well, of course, I couldn't just buy the envelopes, I also had to get some cute labels for them too.   

 I didn't think to get a before picture of the cork tiles, but they were just your basic cork tiles from Target that I cut to custom fit them into the insets on the doors.

I left one panel up on the opposite door, but I can see right now that those cards that Baby Bee made for Worker Bee are from about 3-4 years ago.  And Baby Bee hasn't been on Webkinz for about 3 years at least.

Hmmmm......already looking prettier than before....

Now when we sort the mail it has a labeled envelope to go in.  

 I labeled the 4 envelopes with Bills, To File, Action, and Baby Bee.  They are supposed to hold up to 50 sheets in each envelope.  I'll let you know if we have a sudden avalanche of paper.  

 And BONUS!  

Okay, I know it is totally dorky to get excited about paper clips, but look at those colors!  

They are red and JADEITE green!  Jadeite green paper clips – the paper clips of my dreams!

Hey, I told you it was dorky.  

 Don't they look all pretty and full of potential all nestled in their little aqua bed?  

 I just love how cute all of this looks.  (And yes, for those of you with eagle eyes that spotted those sad little post-it notes, they have been replaced with pretty post-it notes.)

 Now I just have to sort through this pile!  Pooey!

What are you doing to get organized for 2013?  

It sure is nice to see you stopping by for a visit.  

I just can't stand it!  I am so excited about the giveaways I have lined up over the next few weeks for you!  I am trying not to be a tease, but I am a dreadful one, aren't I!

Well, to power through that pile of papers (alliteration - a third grade standard) I'm whipping up a white mocha.  Would you like one too?

Pretty Organization Giveaway!

I am so in need of some organization.  

I'm working on it, believe me.  It's a work in progress.

But I have to share one of my favorite ways to get organized is to use labels.  I LOVE labels!  I mean really......don't tell Worker Bee.....but if I wasn't already married, I might marry my label maker.  I even named my label maker - with a label, of course - Mr. Pedicure Jr.  Why Mr. Pedicure Jr.?  Well who doesn't love a pedicure and who doesn't love a label maker.  Am I preaching to the choir?  Can I hear an amen?

Well I found some pretty little labels that I know you will love to help get you organized.  Cath Kidston labels.  Yes.....really.....for you!

Plus, I think you know how much I loved the sweet little doodads from the Michaels $1 bin that reminded me of Cath Kidston or Greengate and.......I got some for you too!  You'll get a pen, a notepad a pencil pouch, and some cupcake liners.  Don't you love it????

All right, all right.....I hear your impatience.....how do we sign up???

1.  Leave a comment on this post (and definitely leave a way for me to contact you) about what you really need to get organized OR what needs labels at your house.

2.  For a second chance to win, take my giveaway button and post it on your blog, come back and leave me a comment so I know.

3.  Giveaway open to United States and Canada only (sorry World).

4.  Giveaway ends on Saturday, Feb. 4 at midnight PST.  Winner will be notified on Sunday, Feb. 5.

Thank you so much for buzzing in to visit

and let's get organized together!

Here's a picture of Mr. Pedicure Jr.  

Isn't he marvelous?

Say Hello to My Little Cupboard

Welcome to my favorite kitchen cupboard!

Say that like Al Pacino would......

Nice to see you here.  I'm looking forward to seeing some of your favs.

Technically, this is really our pantry, but it works so much better for us as a appliance/pan cupboard!

One weekend last January (2010 to be specific) I reorganized my pantry and cupboards to better fit my mixer, platters, griddle, waffle maker, etc., etc.  I think you get the picture.  

Frankly, it was probably the best and most successful project I've ever completed.  

Why do you ask?

Well, after 15 months - it is STILL organized!  

Um - just keeping it real here - but usually my stuff does not STAY organized.  And Worker Bee and Baby Bee help put stuff away in here too.  It just goes to show that if you have a space for everything (and you don't add to it) it can all stay organized.

Please enjoy more organized nirvana......

Had to show you my little apple green basket we keep the chalk in for the chalkboard.  LURVE that color!

Looks like a lot of clutter, but really it is super organized!

The dream machine and her twin (the Kitchen Aid food processor) share these tight quarters.

Sauce pans and frying pans.....

Stock pots galore......I sure love to make soups and stews.

Sweet little Mary Engelbreit hooks for aprons, and my cherry plastic bag holder.

More pans hanging from hooks on the side of the pantry wall.  Can you see the coffee maker peeking out?  Doesn't get much use with my espresso maker going all the time. 

A bucket of skewers for grilling!

A fun enamel tub filled with grocery bags for recycling.

Can you see the "box" that these are resting in?  These came with the house/pantry when we moved in and they are just perfect for Worker Bee's grilling equipment.

Here's another one of those boxes and it's just perfect for my cookie sheets!

Appliances, appliances, appliances.......plus pretty packaging supplies for making a homemade treat that much more special.

And MORE appliances......plus all my baking cups.

Platters, tins, and jelly roll pans - oh my!

Well, that's it!  

It is one jam-packed little space, but it is super functional! 

I love it!

Thanks for buzzin' by!

Wanna' know what I'm making for dinner tonight?  We're having turkey burgers with marinara sauce and mozzarella, a Caesar salad, and some garlic bread.  Then it's off to a Parent Teacher Club meeting at Baby Bee's school.  I think we'll have enough for you if you want to join us!

And thanks Sheila for hostessing this fun little get together!

P.S. I hope you can stop by my giveaway post. Leave a comment there to be entered!  Easy peasy!