Back to School Command Center

We have all experienced that back to school hustle in the mornings, that leaves us all feeling a little frazzled. It’s hard not to feel behind from the moment we wake up, because most families are going in ten different directions during the day. Easing from the fun of summer to the more structured days of the school year can be hard. It’s a good idea to set up a family command center as the school year begins, and you may have seen something similar on Pinterest or other decor sites. While the idea of a command center is nice, sometimes they are not very aesthetically pleasing. Here are our best ideas for setting up a command center that’s also beautiful to look at:

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Start with a beautiful calendar: There are so many more options than there used to be, and you don’t have to use a cork board style or boring paper calendar anymore. Begin with a calendar that you love, and build your command center style around that. We love the new, modern glass calendars that you can use write on/wipe off style markers on. It’s sleek and pretty.

Add in storage: We recommend sticking with a similar color tone for your storage. Some ideas include baskets, hooks, pen holders, and bins. Good neutral colors include taupe, cream, white, or black. Using similar tones for these items keeps everything looking cohesive. If you want something a little more upscale, natural colored wood also lends a nice texture to your space. Use hooks to hold things like backpacks, purses, or tote bags. It is also a good idea to have a little area for your keys or mail, since many people use a command center space to house these things, too.

Finish the space by showing your family how to use it: If you have little ones, it’s good to show them where things go, especially if you’re trying to utilize it to keep everyone organized. Show them where to hang their backpacks, coats, or put sorted mail or homework. Ideally, your family will also use this dedicated area to set out things that are needed for the next day, like sports uniforms or books to return, etc.

Tips for Decluttering Before the School Year

As every school year begins, I want to do a big purge of my house. It is nice to get anything we don’t need out of our spaces before the hustle and bustle of school starts (and all the paperwork, backpacks, shoes, and stuff comes piling in!). It gives us more space to mentally “breathe”. Here are some tips as we head into the fall to give you a head start on de-cluttering.

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1. Get the kids involved. I know, it sounds like it will take even longer with kids helping, but if your children are older than 5, they can help! They can also be more invested in keeping their own spaces clean and clutter-free if they feel involved in the process. Some jobs you can give older kids include: cleaning out trash cans and replacing trash bags, packing up donations for Goodwill, sorting out their stuffed animals, or folding clothes.

2. Don’t forget to change out the seasonal clothes: One thing that is really helpful when organizing is to rotate out clothes for the upcoming season. It means there is less clothing in the closets and dressers, and therefore less to keep tidy. Large or bulky items like hats and ski coats can be stored in large plastic totes in the garage, and then you can put warm weather items in the totes (think swimsuits, beach bags, sun hats) on the opposite season.

3. Go through the school supplies and art materials: Since your kiddos will likely be getting new school supplies, it’s good to take stock of what you already have at home, too. Watercolors, crayons, colored pencils, construction paper, and acrylic paints can dry out and break. We recommend tossing any broken or dried-out supplies, and sorting them into an art caddy or plastic drawers, and replacing what’s missing as needed.

4. Tackle any space that makes you feel overwhelmed: Often, messes or too much clutter can impact our mental health and cause anxiety or overwhelmed feelings. Think of the spaces that feel most stressful to you (an overflowing spice cupboard, a corner that has tons of paperwork or mail, or a kid’s closet that’s bursting at the seams), and set aside a day or two to get it done. You’ll be surprised with how good that makes you feel!

Streamline your Back to School Routine:

Heading back to school can be a real eye-opener when it comes to having a routine, but this year has been exceptionally different! For many families here in my little part of the country, our children have been out of traditional school for quite some time because of COVID. Many kiddos are heading back now to in-person school, so it’s time to get back into a routine! Here are my best mom tips to getting back into a smooth routine, and to make your mornings less hectic: 

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• Make Ahead breakfasts: Breakfast is the thing that can trip me up the fastest! Whether it’s a new recipe that takes much longer than anticipated, or realizing we are out of milk when we are heading out the door, making breakfast ahead of time makes my mornings much easier. Some of our favorite dishes are baked oatmeal, which like a cross between a cobbler and oatmeal, and it can be warmed up and eaten with a fork or even just on a paper towel. Another favorite is mason jar overnight oats! These can be customized with lots of berries, peanut butter, or even mini carob chips. Check out my favorite recipe here.

• Making expectations clear: One super helpful thing to do is set little alarms or reminders on Alexa or a Google device to help your kids make transitions and feel less stressed. You can say things like “Set an alarm in 15 minutes” and remind them what tasks need to get done in that 15 minutes (like putting your shoes on, getting jackets or homework, etc). This is really helpful for younger kids, who may struggle to understand long lists of tasks without a sense of how long they will take. Visual lists on the fridge or doors can help, too.

• Pack backpacks the night before. Make it a family rule that homework be completed (as much as possible, except maybe older students who may be up early studying for tests, etc) the night before. Then, pack backpacks up with all the papers that need to be turned in, books, and supplies the night before. Put lunches in the fridge with water bottles so that everything is cold and ready to go in the morning. Have kids help double check that their sports uniforms, shoes, or outfits are washed the night before and laid out.

• Sit down as a family to help identify stressors: Sitting down as a family may help you see new ways you can support one another through the transitions of going back to school and/or work after being home or virtually learning for several months. It can be hard on each member of the family, and sitting down gives you all a chance to express your emotions. Be an active listener and try to understand if your children are extra emotional or having a hard time with the newer schedule and routine. Help one another brainstorm ways to help out or emotionally support the changes!

Space Saving Strategies

There has been a lot of talk in 2021 about cleaning house and getting rid of clutter! We love it. A functional house is often one that is tidy and organized, and that you feel peaceful in. I have come across some awesome ways to achieve more storage space in your home, no matter the size. For those of you with very little storage, these will be particularly helpful, because they free up drawers and shelves!

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-Digitize your images: Nothing scares me more than losing photos. It’s every mom’s worst nightmare; to lose images and memories that can never be replaced. That’s why I was so happy to find this mini USB that connects right into an iPhone. Even if you have the Cloud or digital storage, having one additional space where your photos are will give you peace of mind. This little USB is under $20, and can plug right into an iPhone and download your photos on it. I’d recommend keeping one or more copies, and putting one in a safe deposit box or a fireproof safe. You’ll want to update it every six months or so. It frees up storage because you don’t have to keep making tons of prints in fear of losing your Facebook memories or phone photos.

-Tackle box junk drawer: Do you have a junk drawer that makes you crazy? We all have one place where all the random stuff goes, whether it’s an actual drawer, or a cupboard or basket. I saw a great idea for using a tackle box that goes hidden into a cupboard or pantry, filled with the things that you’d normally put in a junk drawer, like: charger cords, scissors, post its, pushpins, paper clips, tape, glue, etc. You will also free up a drawer, which can be precious real estate in a kitchen or office!

-Under the bed bins and organizers: For those who have no room for an extra dresser, under the bed bins are a lifesaver. While we know those are nothing new, we hadn’t seen one that had dividers for shirts before. It’s under $30, and it really can replace or give you a drawer’s worth of space! Find it HERE. You can usually fit 2-3 of these organizers under a queen size bed, which can really improve your ability to store off-season clothes or shoes that are bulky.

-Tight space shelving: I have seen some brilliant little shelves that are built behind a door in a laundry room. Although they are not as aesthetically pleasing to the eye, they can really amp up your storage in a very small space. They also come in wire versions that are very inexpensive, and that can be hidden in a closet or a mudroom wall.

If you are struggling to make your space work for you, please let me know. I would love to brainstorm with you about how to choose furnishings or decor that makes the most of the space you are working with. Please reach out today, and we can get started!

Organizing Your Home After the Holidays

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New year, new me! …Well, maybe not. But I always feel motivated after the holidays to make crucial changes in my organization, and it’s never too late to get started! Although we are well into January now, I find myself still purging and organizing plenty of things around my house, and I wanted to share some tips that help me stay tidied up and get situated after I pack up all that holiday decor. Maybe the urge feels a bit stronger this year because of the strange-ness of 2020, but I’m here for it! Here are some ways to keep you chipping away at the clutter:

-Tackle just one thing a day (or week): If you’re a busy mom at home with littles, you may only get to one “project” a week, but if you have older kids or no kids, you will possibly have a bit more time to knock out some bigger projects. The goal of one a week is attainable for almost everyone, and I recommend that you create specific things rather than entire rooms. If your goal is “master bedroom”, I think it may feel looming and overwhelming. Instead, be specific, like, “my half of the closer in the master bedroom”. Put it on your calendar, so you stay accountable!

-Don’t be afraid to invest in some storage: If your storage is broken, nonexistent or ugly, it’s okay to invest in some great pieces from a big box store! You’ll be surprised what a few plain glass or plastic canisters can do in your pantry when. you add pretty labels, or that simply adding under the bed bins can increase your storage tenfold! Set aside a little cash to hit up your local big box stores or order from somewhere like Ikea, so your storage matches and looks more cohesive. You’ll feel better about the aesthetics if you have some matching, neutral bins. If a local small business or hardware store sells these, even better!

-Organize your holiday stuff before you put it away: Nothing is worse than unpacking the holiday items in December only to discover tangles of lights and broken glassware or wooden decorations with pieces snapped off. I recommend assigning certain bins to your holiday decorations, and storing them carefully. When you pack them up, add newspaper or bubble wrap to keep things in good shape, and pack them in the reverse order of how you want to unpack them. That way, your most immediate needs to be accessible early on when you begin to decorate! Take the time to do it right, so you don’t have to waste the time when you just want to put your decor up!

-If you haven’t used something since last year, it can probably head to Goodwill or be donated to someone who might want it. Don’t be afraid to purge out your home from the things you don’t use, so that you can free up space and not feel so cluttered. Did you know your good used condition items are tax deductible at Goodwill? You can get a receipt online, so save them up until the next time that you do your taxes! Items must be in good working order to be deducted.

Stay tuned for more organizational and home tips!

Get (and stay) Organized this Year

If you’re working on organizing your home, you may know the three areas that are the toughest to keep tidy: the closets, the pantry, and that dreaded garage! These spaces tend to become “catch-alls”, especially if you have children, and it can be super hard to keep them up as the year wanes on. Here’s how to get a head start on making your home usable, tidy, and how to maintain the clutter-free environment!

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Start by clearing out the things you don’t use. This seems pretty obvious, but you’ll be surprised at how many things are in the crevasses and closets that you simply forgot you owned. The less items that are in the garage/pantry/closets, the less you’ll need to organize and clean, so it’s a major win to get rid of as much as you can. Begin by actually removing everything, and we mean EVERYTHING. Be sure to ask your family members before you throw all of their things away (ha!). Vacuum, sweep or mop, and scrub away any dirt in grout/hardwood/tile or carpet. You want to start with a very clean and sanitized space so you don’t have to continue moving things in and out repeatedly. 

Tackle just one space at a time: It is very easy to get overwhelmed quickly when you start this project. Instead of committing to do every closet in the house, pick just one. Spend a whole day working on the pantry, and allow a few solid days to tackle a large project like the garage. Enlist older children or your spouse to help, but delegate tasks so you’re all not hovering in one tiny space or getting in each other’s way. It actually helps if you can split it up over five weekends or five days to do two days of closets, one on the pantry, and two for the garage. Block out the time and commit to it…you’ll be so glad you did. 

Ditch the packaging in the pantry: If you’re used to keeping all the boxes/containers in your pantry, this may sound strange, but the aesthetic and organization that happens when you put your staples and food into glass or plastic bins will motivate you to keep it tidy. It also looks beautiful and cohesive in your space, and allows you to clearly see what you have on hand. We recommend Amazon, Ikea, or the Container Store for inexpensive and durable containers to get your pantry under control. I recently saw a great idea where instead of a spice cupboard, someone used a drawer! They minimized their spices to what they really used and then laid they flat in a kitchen drawer, making them easier to sort, find, and maintain, rather than rifling through a cupboard. Keep cereal, baking supplies, chips, crackers, and kid’s snacks in clear, easy to see containers, and get can racks for things like chicken broth, beans, and veggies. You will also save time by making the pantry more efficient. 

In the closets, make a system: If you have children, sort out clothing that is too big or too small, and designate a bin for each. Get rid of things with stains, items that don’t fit, and don’t forget their dressers or wardrobes in addition to their closets. If you’re using the closets to additional toy storage, figure out how to separate out both toys and clothes, so that you have it divided neatly in half (top and bottom, or left and right sides, etc.) If you can afford to, buy matching hangers so that the clothes will hang evenly (and look nicer), and purchase matching plastic bins or drawers for additional storage. If you have a larger budget and a walk-in closet, consider adding wooden shelves to provide more space for baskets and bins for hairbows, belts, hats, scarves, winter wear, etc. If your kids are past the baby stage, cycle seasonal clothes to the garage to free up space and help your children find their current items more easily. If you are organizing your own closet, follow the same steps. You may find that you hardly wear the majority of your closet, and you could donate or consign the nicer items. This purging and organizing will also save you time (which we can all use, right?!), because you will stop searching for missing shoes, certain sweaters or tops, or by being overwhelmed by the amount of clothes/decisions. 

-Beautify the storage: As we mentioned, pretty storage solutions will motivate you to keep your things in their place. Ikea has an amazing selection of white totes of various sizes, as well as metal hooks and baskets for hanging storage if your space is small. If you can’t afford a ton of new items, focus on one area at a time, as your budget allows. It is better to fully complete a single space, than to put off all of the closets/messes until you can afford them all. It is also an emotional process, because you will feel more likely to continue if you can “complete” one fully at a time! 

Beautiful storage solutions can free up the time you spend cleaning, organizing, and putting things away. This is a principal many people use when they live a minimalist lifestyle, but you don’t have to be a minimalist to appreciate and utilize these ideas! Good luck as you organize and plan out a tidier 2020!