Master Closet Project: Plan, Cleanout and Clothes

Once I decided to repurpose a portion of the hang-up storage for drawer storage, I started doing online research for a storage solution and ended up on IKEA.com.  Since we don't have an IKEA super close by, I did the measurements and ordered online.  I had to use lots-o-lots of brain cells for this part of the project.  Almost as much thinking as I did in Calculus.  #notkidding

Bottom Line: Creating your own storage system and ordering the parts online is hard but possible.

Here is my drawn image of the storage solution.  I really am posting this to demonstrate that you don't have to have a fancy computer program or be an interior designer to design a closet space (you definitely can, but you don't HAVE to).

I contemplated using the Container Store system, but it was PRICEY.  Way more that I wanted to spend.  The total I spent on the ALGOT System with IKEA was $249 including shipping.  Much more affordable. 

To prepare for the storage system, I cleaned out the closet.  This part felt really good.  Sometimes the cleaning part can be overwhelming but the more I cleaned out the more empowered I felt.  I could see the true potential of the space.

I decided to use the 2 year rule which is "if I haven't worn it in 2 years, it's GONE."  Pretty liberating.  No holding onto the random shirt that was oh so cute that one time ... before I had kids???  .... GONE.  See what I mean? 

Sidenote: You have to be in the right state of mind to really clean out your closet. Almost an aggressive state of mind.  A "take no prisoners" mentality.  Did I just compare prisoners with cleaning out a closet? 

Anyway, that's where I was that day. Totally focused.  I made it happen.  To say that my husband was surprised by the mounds (please note the plural) would be an understatement.  

Then the many packages arrived from IKEA and my hubbie installed and put them in.  

Master Closet - Big Reveal

Finally, the reveal of my Master Closet.  This has been in the works for a L O N G time.

Here are some better angles of what was REALLY going on.

Okay, deep breaths.  To summarize this picture, I will use the following words: stacking, cramming, stuffing, hanging, messy, and in short overwhelmingly unorganized.

This half of the closet is a smidge better but BARELY.

Big Takeaway:  Transform a portion of my hang-up storage and replace with drawer storage.

Next week I'm going to run through each of the smaller projects that went into this closet overhaul.  But for now you can enjoy my sense of accomplishment by viewing the after pictures:)

Happy Friday, right?  Everything has a new, stylish, organized place:)  Details revealed next week!

 

Easy, Classic Fall Mantle

Two times every year I update the Living Room mantle - Fall/Thanksgiving and Christmas.  By the time October gets here, I'm ready for some browns, reds and oranges in this room.  We don't use the Living Room during the day much but I am in that room when I teach piano so I like it to be neat, fresh and updated.

Total time for this project: 35 minutes

Time breakdown:
20 minutes perusing "Free Fall Printables" on Pinterest
5 minutes printing the Free Printables and putting them in frames
10 minutes to place them and hang the wreath in the right place (without my husband present who has a keen eye for the exact right spot things should be in)

I was tempted to get do a more intense mantle arrangement, but I knew I would feel overwhelmed with it all.  Plus our mantle is pretty narrow so it is hard to do two-dimensional look on it.

I like to think of myself as simple and classic (hopefully my friends and family will agree!), so that's how I decorated the mantle.  Not too much, but just enough to recognize the beautiful change of the seasons.

God is so good.  Beautiful leaves changing colors.  The smell of pumpkin spice.  So many things to love.  Gifts from the Creator.  

 

31 Days of Praying for my Child

Long time no see, right?

Why the long break?  Well, it's quite a long story, but here is the condensed version.  I was putting too much of my time and energy into the blog.  I was choosing to work on organizing projects instead of taking care of my responsibilities as a wife and mother.  So I stepped back, reevaluated and adjusted my priorities accordingly.  I have continued to work on small projects but I allowed myself grace to just let things be instead of constantly working to make things better (more colorful) and more organized.

We are in a good school routine now and I am enjoying have a bit more time to myself so I have slowly picked up a few projects.  The first one was to put together a "31 Days of Praying for my Child" calendar.  We, as Christian parents, are called to be on our knees for our children.  I want to be purposeful in my prayers so I put together this calendar.  I have it printed in color, laminated and hung above my kitchen sink.

Will you join me in praying for our children?  I'd love for you to use this FREE PRINTABLE to help guide your prayers.  Click on the link or the picture to go to the download screen.

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