Apr 26, 2022 | Family & Home, Home Organization
This may come as a shock (note a little sarcasm here), but food is one of the deepest foundations of my home.
I connect with my family and the people around me through my cooking. My love for creating food makes my kitchen the heart of my house. My love for creating food makes my kitchen the heart of my house. But with five kiddos running amok, it isn’t always the safest place for them to be. It’s important to me to make food as much a part of their lives, as it is in mine, which makes childproofing the kitchen an absolute must. With a little help, my kitchen has become an environment where they can be present, participate, and explore without danger.
Out of reach, out of danger. Here are some of my favorite tips for childproofing your kitchen:
Get on their level!
The best way to determine what dangers your kitchen presents is to view it from your child’s point of view. Get down to their height (even if that means sitting your booty right on the floor) and look around. What objects or drawers are in reach? Are there electrical outlets present? Does your island have sharp corners at head height? By seeing the kitchen through their investigative and curious eyes, you can determine what dangers are the most accessible for them and get a starting point for what to address first.
Out of reach, out of danger.
This may seem like an obvious statement. But the first true step to childproofing your kitchen is to put objects out of reach of your kids. Move refrigerator magnets high up to prevent choking hazards. Place heavy pots and pans or appliances with blades into upper cabinets. Slide anything displayed on your countertop away from the edges toward the wall. And please, please, please don’t make a step-ladder easily accessible to your kids!
Secure, secure, secure!
If it opens, spins, or slides, secure it! Little fingers find a way of getting into things they shouldn’t and getting squished by things that hurt. I started with the old-school rubber band method on cabinets, but learned quickly to put drawer locks on everything. These can be found anywhere from Target, to Amazon, to Home Depot. For the most part, they are inexpensive, easy to install and use, and can be removed without damage once your kids are old enough.
When all else fails, hire help!
If you’re a new mom, or even a third-time parent, sometimes consulting an expert can make you feel more confident. You aren’t expected to know everything so please don’t be scared to ask for help from an individual or a company with professional experience in childproofing.
Do you have any childproofing techniques that have worked for you?
Apr 3, 2022 | Family & Home, Home Organization
I’ve made my home a special place for my family to thrive and live in comfort, but all that “comfort” requires one thing: clutter-less space!
Let’s talk about the bathroom, specifically. Between everyone’s clothing, bath toys, tons of hygiene products and haircare for every age in the house, and random things that just end there, avoiding clutter in and outside of drawers/cabinets is a constant task. Luckily, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that have helped me overcome the mess. It can be easy to let items overflow and take over your bathroom, but if you put these five pointers to work, you’ll have a cleaner, more organized bathroom in no time!
Splurge On Cabinet Organizers
Bins, drawers, cabinet organizers, and baskets are my BFF! And nowadays, you can find a container for any space and opt for whatever style fits your lifestyle. Clear bins are great for easily seeing your items, but colored organizers show off your style and look sleek. No matter what you choose, remember this: label everything. Creating categories for your items will help you sustain your cabinet organization in the long term.
Make Sure Functionality Equals Accessibility
I’m keeping up with a lot of active kiddos, so the quicker I can reach for items like diapers, toys, and cleaning supplies, the better. I make sure to give some thought to where my most important items will be. By spending time finding the perfect spot for my things, I avoid the frustration of struggling to reach what I need quickly, and I’m less likely to reorganize later down the line. So if you need to move as quickly as I do, devote time to organizing everything right the first time!
Tackle Your Towels Properly
This is a small habit that will make a world of difference. By folding towels small and neat, you can easily place them in file position or flat depending on if it’s a drawer or cabinet. Now those bulky towels take up less space and create a clean look! This also leaves room for plenty of spares for future guests.
Rule #1: Put It Up
The phrase “set it and forget” only works if everything has a place. Try to make an active choice to put things in the bathroom back where they belong as you use them—or at least before you leave out. When you can’t or are short on time, set aside about 15 minutes a week to get straggling items back to their home. Over time, you’ll find that your bathroom clutter piles become smaller and smaller as you find a spot that fits into your organizational system.
Use The Bissell Drawer Vacuum
You won’t always have time to handle the daily dust and dirt that magically appears in your home. I’ve invested in a small Bissell drawer vacuum to keep those hard-to-reach drawer spaces clear. After a quick once-over with the vacuum, I wipe down any handle, countertops, or appliance with a Clorox wipe. When you give it a try, you might not get to everything in one go, but be sure to have these on hand to fight off grime and bacteria.
You are not alone in your bathroom cleaning journey; we all get messy sometimes! But you don’t have to let that stress you. I hope these tips help you tackle that clutter and keep it at bay.
Nov 8, 2021 | Family & Home, Home Organization
I will be the first to admit that the idea of building my “forever” home has been a bit of a distraction. I am obsessed with all things home-related.
Looking to procrastinate? Just whittle away countless hours on Pinterest, saving interior decorating inspiration! Need a good lunch spot? Trade food for a trip to Restoration Hardware and fill up on furniture! I am an expert at scrolling social media for architecture, home decor, and everything in between.
But lately, I’ve slowed down on the idea of my “forever” home — realizing that it’s my eternal home that needs my focus.
A More Lasting Forever
I am reminded of Matthew 6:19-21 NIV, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
A scripture so powerful yet so easy to overlook. Although my prayer is that my earthly home always be a place filled with God’s presence and love, I must remember that it will never come close to experiencing our Creator and Savior in Heaven.
Construct Your Eternal Foundations
We must, first and foremost, remind ourselves that we will not live forever on Earth. It is merely a starting place for us to use scripture to build our eternal home’s floor plan. How do we do this? I may not have all of the answers, but I’d like to share what I am working on:
- Making it my priority and prayer to spend eternity in Heaven rather than plan for it on Earth.
- Keeping myself from seeing my home and the people in it as idols.
- Using a firm belief in Him as a foundation upon which to build.
- Establishing a plan that will guarantee I will receive keys to my eternal home when life ends here.
As we have excitement for things as trivial as our “forever” homes, we must surpass that excitement with a dedication to building our future in Heaven. Lay down your spiritual foundations with pride and exchange the material for the immeasurable. Only then can we rest assured our eternal home is waiting for us.
Nov 21, 2020 | Family & Home, Home Organization
We recently survived our 11th move to be exact, and I just couldn’t endure the thought of unpacking and organizing solo with all I currently have going on—especially with the holidays right around the corner. I often say organizing is one of my superpowers, but at the moment, my battery was low. I had to rest my pride. So, if you’re feeling like I did and you’re wondering how you can ever get your life together before the holidays hit, here are 5 suggestions:
1. Reach Out For Help.
Like I mentioned, I rested…tied down…let go of…my pride! If you can hire someone to help you quickly organize, I’d highly recommend it! Whether it’s your entire house or just one room, it can drastically change your life.
My friends over at A Pinch of Help showed up with superhero capes a few weeks ago and tackled the project better than I ever could’ve imagined. More details to come on my experience with them, but they’d be my top recommendation. You can request this as an early Christmas or Birthday gift, as I did!
2. Purge & Place in the Room(s) Most Used.
Decide which room(s) you will use the most during this holiday season and purge and place everything in a basket or bin to contain it. This will hold it in place and give the allusion of “organized” for my mind’s sake until you have more time. Baskets help everything appear neater than it may essentially be. Don’t leave any loose items or toys around. And most importantly, make sure everyone in the family knows and agrees to place what belongs in each basket DAILY.
3. Wipe & Dust Everything!
A clean smell can do a lot! It gets you off to a good start. Aim to tackle one room per day for only one hour. Incorporate the quick “purce and place” tactic, and then, the days following, take out the Windex, the All Purpose Cleaner, the Bleach, and wipe it all down. Sweep or mop. Dust the rugs and furniture. You will feel better! When things look and smell fresh, it makes a world of difference! And quite honestly, it doesn’t take as much time as we think.
4. Involve the whole family!
Want to get it done quickly? Involve the whole family. Create teams, assign each team a couple of tasks, turn on some music, create a completion list, and turn it into an organizing party for the entire family!
5. Ask a Friend.
Can’t turn to your immediate family for help? Turn to another trusted family member or even ask a friend to help you for a couple of hours. Establish a plan beforehand that you guys get started. You can use this time to bond, have a glass of wine, and get the job done! You can also offer to help them do the same thing!
That’s a wrap! Enjoy an organized holiday season! Always feel free to message me for more tips!
Jun 25, 2020 | Family & Home, Home Organization
Organizing makes my heart happy! I’m always working on home improvement tasks, and it brings me great joy to see it all come together. Like most of my projects, my organization method changes according to the task at hand. I’m constantly moving items around to find the perfect, most efficient places for things.
Regardless, I want to make sure that the most vital items are nearby and easy to find when I need them. Even in my junk drawers, I typically keep a pack of baby wipes, pens, coins, batteries, and the list goes on! I’m sure it’s obvious by now that I like to be prepared.
I have three great tips for getting your drawers organized (regardless of what room those drawers are in) and keeping important items at your fingertips.
Start Fresh
Anytime I’m organizing a new drawer, I begin by removing everything. Doing this gives me a clean slate to work from, and it inspires my vision. Once everything is on the counter, I categorize all the items. This is the time to toss anything unnecessary and take stock of what’s left. After you’ve narrowed down your collection, it’s time to organize everything into containers.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
For deeper drawers, I recommend drawer dividers. For smaller, shallow drawers, I recommend drawer organizers. There’s nothing like seeing all your items in their own spaces. You can also measure your drawers to ensure you purchase the right tools for your project. This way, those dividers will fit perfectly into position. These products and so many others can be found at The Container Store local spots or on their website.
Give Yourself A Win
For clothing, I typically hang the majority of our things, t-shirts included. We use drawer space in the bedrooms for undies and some athletic shorts. For the kids, I like to fold their pajamas and thin lounging sets, putting each outfit together. This way, my kiddos are able to find certain outfits without destroying the whole system. This saves time, gives the kids some independence and maintains my folded arrangement. It’s a win for everyone!
Containers, drawer dividers, and baskets always provide a cleaner look and solve any mess. And the good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to make your drawers look sleek! I prefer iDesign, The Home Edit, and The Container Store products, of course, but I also randomly find other great organizing pieces at Target or At Home Stores. Even the Dollar Store has great organizing items.
Here’s a great tip to leave with you: Don’t leave valuable drawer space filled with unnecessary things! Organizing your drawers is easy and worthwhile. I encourage you to reclaim your junk drawer, today!
May 23, 2020 | Family & Home, Home Organization
I absolutely thrive with an organized fridge. Seeing those containers all lined up or stacked neatly is so appealing. I can see exactly what and where things are stored. When it comes to time to figure out our meals, I can create a plan with a quick look into our fridge. I prewash all of my fruits, veggies, and fresh meat as soon after a grocery trip as possible, which cuts down on clutter and keeps the fridge in order.
In the beginning, it may seem overwhelming to get your fridge in order. But remember, just like most things, it’ll be a breeze to maintain after the first overhaul. Here are 5 tips for getting your fridge in order:
1. Out with the Old (and Expired!)
Before tackling Project Fridge, take inventory of what’s already in there. How old is that mustard? Are both those containers of shredded cheese still good? Throw away anything that’s expired or rotten. This is also a good opportunity to see what items are bought, but never completely used. This will help streamline your grocery list to items that your family uses.
2. Meal Plan to Perfection
For some items, I store them based on what recipes I’m planning to make. Meal planning works to offer purpose to what’s in the fridge and to make sure we’re actually using what we buy. No one wants to throw away money, but that’s what happens when grocery items are wasted. Try to set aside a day every week to map out your meals, then create your grocery list.
3. Break Out the Organizers!
As I mentioned in past posts, I use Lazy Susan’s fridge bins and meal prep containers to group items together. Everything’s shipshape in labeled containers. There are affordable, effective fridge organizers for all types of items. If you keep bottled waters or juices on the shelf, consider a bottle or a can dispenser. Feel free to get creative and shop around for what works best for your fridge.
4. Fast Food, the Healthy Way
I store fruit, raw veggies, and cheeses low so the kids can reach them if allowed to grab a snack independently. Those prewashed and cut eats will be appealing to the eyes and ready to go when the kids or anyone needs a quick healthy treat. Be sure to use easy to open containers to make it that much quicker for smaller hands to get what they need.
5. (Re)Organize Frequently
I’m all about the “organized look” for my sanity so my systems change frequently—and my family may or may not love that! There should be a general order to your refrigerator, which will help you know what’s missing as you create your grocery list, but don’t feel like everything is set in stone. Certain things may work better on a lower (or higher) shelf.
These are just a few tips to guide you to a Pinterest-worthy fridge your family (and your grocery list!) will appreciate!
