Nursery Neatness

I apologize for my extended hiatus from blogging. I have a good excuse; I swear! I was busy getting ready for this little guy's arrival and then adjusting to being a new mom.

Rhett Sawyer Campbell

But now that we've had a chance to get to know each other quite a bit and fall madly in love with each other, I am beginning to re-enter the world. I have quickly learned that organization is key as a mom, so I spent some time recently sorting out Rhett's nursery. Check it out:

Good storage is a key component, so we purchased a six-drawer dresser that doubles as a changing table as well as a standing shelving unit that houses all of the little guy's toys and books. 

The top left drawer holds diapers, wipes and other necessities that make changing time a breeze...well, at least when Rhett doesn't decide to squirm around. All of the clothes that are in current rotation are housed in the dresser too. 

And to make getting dressed as easy as possible, everything is labeled by size and type. Currently Rhett is rocking the 3 month clothes, but when he moves up a size, it will be easy enough to replace the 3 month label with a 6 month one and swap out clothes that fit. 

 

Problem:   We were lucky enough to get lots of cute clothes as gifts for our little man and we want to be sure that he gets to wear them all before he grows out of them. 

Solution:   Create outfits from clothes at the top of the stacks. After doing laundry, place the freshly washed clothes at the bottom of the stack. This keeps everything in a regular rotation and ensures that your little one has lots of cure looks!

The closet houses blankets, linens, outerwear and special holiday outfits. Additionally, clothes that Rhett hasn't yet grown into are kept in this handy 6-slot organizer sorted by size. When he gets to the next size up, these clothes will be moved from the closet into the dresser. 

I am realizing already how quickly babies grow! At 2 months old, Rhett has grown out of his few newborn clothes. The clothes that he no longer fits into get washed, put in a Ziploc bag and then put in a storage container which is kept in longer term storage in the basement. It keeps his room from getting cluttered with things he no longer fits into but keeps everything fresh for future use. 

Admittedly, I still have A LOT to learn about being a mom! But trying to stay organized is helping me to devote as much time as possible to my precious little Rhett.

Table Time

Last weekend one of my wonderful clients and I worked on an area that is front and center in her home - her kitchen table. Because it is such a prominent piece of furniture, it has become a catch-all for many items en route to their "homes".  When we started, this is what the table looked like:

We immediately got to work tackling the contents of the table. There were lots of questions asked along the way:

• What would you ideally like to use this space for? 
• Do you really need to keep this item or that? 
• Is there a better place for this item? 
• What can we re-purpose or recycle?

My client thoughtfully replied to each question and together we were able to create a much more streamlined space for her office essentials as well as room for what she someday hopes to do...eat dinner with her husband at their kitchen table!

Great organizational tools

I took a recent trip to Ikea and was so inspired by many of the organizing products I saw there. We all have areas where we need to maximize space, and Ikea is filled with inventive ways to do just that. Not only do the products make staying organized much easier, they are also very visually appealing. Additionally, they would go great with many different types of decor.  Here is just a small sampling of the wonderful items I discovered...

Great utensil & spice holders that take up hardly any space!
And stainless steel goes with any decor.

Collapsible table can be stored out of the way when not needed but  also includes storage!
Why not keep  your fancy table linens in the drawers in between dinner parties?!

How nifty are these racks?
Great ways to store pots & lids  when cabinet space is limited.

Not sure how to keep the refrigerator from being overrun with your kids' artwork?
Try these wire hangers for a rotating art gallery.

Feeling Overwhelmed? Create Order

I recently came across a passage from a book called Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach that really resonated with me. Here is an excerpt:

"Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed by outside circumstances - worries about money, concern over a sick family member, or anxiety over prolonged business negotiations - instinctively I turn to homegrown rituals to restore my equilibrium. There is an immediate emotional and psychological payoff to getting our houses in order. We might not be able to control what's happening externally in our lives but we can learn to look for our own inner resources for a sense of comfort that nurtures and sustains...If you feel constantly adrift but don't know why, be willing to explore the role that order - of the lack of it - plays in your life. No woman can think clearly when constantly surrounded by clutter, chaos, and confusion, no matter who is responsible for it."

Just as Ms. Breathnach writes of, I notice a shift in my mood when my surroundings are chaotic. The good news is that working my way out of a funk can be as easy as picking up just one room in my house. If you ever find yourself feeling this way, know that relief can be found pretty quickly. Start small and in the place that provides the most sanctuary for you, be it your bedroom, bathroom or living room. (You know you've picked the right place if this is the place that you want to retreat to whenever you are feeling stressed.) Simply by putting a few things away (start with just one small corner), you can regain a sense of order and control. When your personal space feels more in order, so does your mind and soul. Then it's time to sit back, kick your feet up and enjoy a little well-deserved "you" time! The rest of the world can wait...

Creating Workable Space

I recently worked with a fabulous client on a really fun and impactful project. We transformed a desk that sits in her living area. The desk had become unusable, as it served as a repository for all sorts of miscellaneous stuff...bills, photos, candles and decorations, notepads, doggy toys, etc.

Work Area - Before

In a matter of just a few hours, we were able to get rid of many of the items in and on the desk and find homes for the things that she still needed. We were able to clear the top of the desk to allow for a convenient "inbox-style" filing system to keep track of current projects and to house her printer which had been hidden next to the couch. Now she has a place to pay bills, surf the internet and keep track of important documents. This transformation has also added a sense of order to her living room, allowing her to  really relax at the end of a long day!

Work Area - After

Wrapping Up the Holidays

On this, the first day of a new year, I must admit that I am somewhat ambivalent about bidding adieu to the holiday season. The holidays bring with them so many joys that I am always sad to see them go. However, I love the idea of starting a new year with a clean slate...which led me back down to the basement to pull out all of the boxes where I store my holiday decorations. Surprisingly, the process took me less than an hour thanks to some basic organizing tips.

If you are feeling a little overwhelmed by the process of putting away your holiday decorations, I recommend the following steps.

1.) Set aside enough time without any distractions so that you can focus on the task at hand. You will feel much better if you can complete the whole job and check it off your list!
2.) In order to most effectively store ornaments, I suggest using a plastic (great for moisture-resistance) or cardboard tote that has sectioned off areas.
3.) Wrap strands of lights individually and secure with twist ties to keep them from getting tangled.
4.) Before you put the boxes away, be sure to get rid of any broken decorations or things you no longer plan to use.
5.) Label the boxes and them store in one area so that you know exactly where to access all of the decorations when the time comes to put them back up next winter.

For more great tips, visit this helpful article on Real Simple's website: http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/christmas/storing-holiday-decorations-10000001133623/index.html 

Happy New Year!

Making Space

Do you ever find that your day to day life feels too full? Are you days packed full of appointments, errands, obligations to family and friends? And do you find your home, office, or car too full of STUFF? This is a common feeling in this fast-paced world we're living in. All of this clutter can cause us to feel weighed down and stuck. It can feel like we're hardly enjoying life because we are too busy managing it all.

There is an inherent connection between our physical space and our mental and emotional space.

Play along with me for a moment...I would like you to visualize two different places. First, whether you've been there yourself or have only seen photos, think about Times Square in New York City. It's a place teeming with tall buildings, thousands of people rushing about, huge billboards, lighted signs, taxicabs screaming down the street, policemen directing traffic with whistles. Do you have an image of Times Square in your head? Can your visualize standing in the center of it all ?

Now think about how you're body feels right now. Is your heart beating faster? Are your shoulders tensing up? Is your mind beginning to race just thinking about all of the stimulating activities and noises going on?

Okay, now I'd like you visualize a different kind of place...think of a spa. Most spas are made up of comfortably sized rooms painted in muted colors and have just a few serene paintings hung on the wall.  There may be one or two soft, inviting couches or chairs, a soothing waterfall, and a few fresh plants. You have plenty of room to move about in this space. Imagine being in this room.

Now stop and check in with your body right now. Has your breathing slowed down? Has tension in your Do you feel more at ease?

What you likely noticed was just the thought of being in a spa was more relaxing than envisioning being in Times Square. This simple exercise is related to how we experience our personal space as well. When we walk into our cars that teem with fast food wrappers and last week's mail or our homes that are filled with piles of paper on counters and sticking out of cabinets, clothes spilling out of closets and laundry rooms, this physical clutter tampers with our mental clarity. By addressing the "stuff" in our life and bringing some order to our spaces, we can actually feel lighter and more energetic. This ultimately allows us to make room for the things we truly desire - a sense of peace, rest, time for friends and family, even sleep!