Fast-Fix Friday-Towel Drawer

Today is TOWEL DRAWER day!

Yeah for us!

EASY, EASY!

Here is the BEFORE:

We have about a dozen washcloths missing and several bibs, but we got the job done!

Here is the STEP-by-STEP:

STEP #1-EMPTY-Empty everything out of your towel drawer. There may be things in there that don’t even belong. (Like the licorice we found this morning!)

STEP #2-VACUUM-You may think that you don’t need to vacuum drawers, but you do. Vacuum the corners especially!

STEP #3-WIPE DOWN-Wipe down the drawer inside and out. Don’t forget the knob if you have one.

STEP #4-ORGANIZE-Organize all the towels folded the same way. Organize anything else that you keep in there. Make sure it makes sense to store the things that you have in the TOWEL DRAWER.

STEP #5-REPLACE-Place all towels in an orderly fashion back in the drawers.

TOWEL DRAWER-CHECK!

and the AFTER:

For tomorrow:

For SUPER SATURDAY, we are going to tackle another BIG kitchen project…the OVEN.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-Pots and Pans

You are probable asking yourself, “What do pots and pans have to do with therapy?”

Well, we are on our KITCHEN adventure and I love to add a little reflection as we work.

First the reflection…I seriously do love when my little ones play in the pots and pans cabinet. Truthfully, I only love it for about 30 minutes, then I have to redirect them before the migraine sets in, but I do love the look on their faces when they realize how loud they can be.

Now the work…

Here is our BEFORE:

HERE IS THE STEP-by-STEP:

STEP #1-EMPTY-Take everything out of the POTS and PANS cabinet.

STEP #2-VACUUM-Take the edger piece of the vacuum and vacuum the corners, the middle and the track of the cabinet.

STEP #3-WIPE DOWN-Wipe everything down. Wipe the inside of the cabinet, the tracks and the door, inside and out.

STEP #4-ORGANIZE-Organize all like pots together, pans together, and lids. Get rid of pans you don’t use or that you have several duplicates of.

STEP #5-REPLACE-Replace all pots and pans back in cabinet with the most used in the front. It is ok if they would look better in the back, put them where you will use them the most. It will be easier to keep them organized as they are put away.

POTS AND PANS-CHECK

AND the AFTER:

For tomorrow:

For FAST-FIX FRIDAY, we are going to do the easiest drawer in the KITCHEN…the TOWEL DRAWER!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Monday Madness-Spring Break & Kitchens

I know that normally you wouldn’t put “Spring Break” and "Kitchens” in the same sentence, but here at HEAPS OR HAPPINESS, they go hand in hand!

At our home, we do a “Spring Clean” on the kitchen on the first day of FALL BREAK and the first day of SPRING BREAK.

I let the kids sleep in for as long as they can, (which at my house is about 8am,) we have a big breakfast, and then we pick our cabinet and drawers.

Everyone in the house has to pick 3 cabinets and 2 drawers in the KITCHEN to start our cleaning.

I usually come up with a really COOL bribe, like the movies, picking a new swimsuit for the season, or double chore money. Whatever you have to do to get the team on board…

GO FOR IT!

Here is the STEP-by-STEP on how to get started and prepare yourself for this major project:

STEP #1-CHOOSE-Choose the day that you are going to accomplish this, choose the “bribe” and have everyone pick their cabinets. We use POST-ITS with everyone’s name on them and take turns choosing cabinets. Some cabinets and drawers are much harder and time consuming, so try and make it even. If you don’t have a house full of helpers, choose what cabinets you are going to start with and plan according.

STEP #2-BEGIN-Each drawer and cabinet should follow the same pattern. As we go through each cabinet and drawer over the next couple of weeks, you will see the same pattern repeated over and over. EMPTY-VACUUM-WIPE DOWN-ORGANIZE-REPLACE.

STEP #3-REVIEW-Review every cabinet and make sure everything is in its’ place. If you have something that came out of a cabinet that belonged elsewhere, put it away. Make sure all of the cabinet doors have been wiped down and lighted oiled (we just use a simple cabinet oil cleaner to polish the doors.)

For tomorrow:

For TACKLE TUESDAY, we will begin with the hardest CABINET…the PANTRY.

Part I-Cans, Pasta, Backup will be on TUESDAY

and Part II-Baking Supplies will be on WRAP-UP WEDNESDAY.

With the TWO HARDEST done first, you will be able to cruise on the easier drawers and cabinets like POTS and DISH TOWELS.

Off to clean my two pantry cabinets.

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Special Sunday-A Time for Reflection

Take a few minutes today and REFLECT on the past few months.

It has been almost three months since Christmas and two months since you made those New Year’s resolutions.

Write down some of your memories over the last few months in your journal.

• You can pick a certain event and tell about it in detail, or write down a quick list of happenings.
• You can write down your accomplishments or how you are doing on those goals.
• Take pictures of the things you have finished and write about how it makes you feel to have them done.

When you write things down, it gives you the chance to reflect on what is working, what is not, and how blessed you are!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

For tomorrow:

For the next TWO WEEKS, we are going to be tackling everything in your KITCHEN, so rest today, and be ready to put on your working shoes tomorrow!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Super Saturday-Give-away & that Refrigerator

First, let’s get down to some business. In February, one of our followers, Becca, won the first ever, HEAPS OR HAPPINESS GIVE-AWAY!!

Do you want to see what she won?

Lucky girl won a GREAT SUPPLY of everything you would need to start this journey of organizing valued at $60!

• Storage containers for storing clothes or holiday items
• Laundry baskets for sorting or you know…laundry
• An expandable file for kids’ papers, bills, etc.
• A coupon holder for receipts or coupons
• Dish tubs in four colors for sorting, storing paper or supplies
• 10 shoe boxes with lids for bathroom or office supplies
• A desk calendar for family scheduling or personal goal setting
• File folders for the TO FILE pile
• Drawer organizers for pens, pencils, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair ties, etc.
• And a pack of gum to happily chew along the way or for bribing family members to join in the work

CONGRATULATIONS BECCA!

Now for our next GIVEAWAY…many of you have been working very hard right alongside us everyday and I think a night out is in order.

So…for those of you who are willing to share our organizing website with a friend, family member or friend…you have many chances to win this time.

First, you can comment on your favorite post and enter yourself to win

AND

Second, you can pass our site along to someone, have them comment so that we can welcome them, and then we will add BOTH your names to the drawing.

THE GIVE-AWAY FOR APRIL IS…

a $50 GIFTCARD TO OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE and

a $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THE MOVIES!!!

Who doesn’t want to go to a great dinner and the movie after working so hard all week?

JOIN US AND WIN! Not just this month’s prize, BUT the PEACE that comes from putting your life in order!!!

NOW TO SUPER SATURDAY…

YOUR REFRIGERATOR!

Take an hour today and clean the refrigerator.

This is the MOST USED appliance in the house, so give it a good cleaning.

I try to tackle mine the first week of the month, but you may be able to go longer or feel the need to clean yours more often.

Either way, let’s go through it STEP-BY-STEP!

STEP #1-EMPTY-Empty everything out of the refrigerator. Obvious, I know, but sometimes people try to clean AROUND what is already in there. Get everything out, and throw away the bad as you go.

STEP #2-SORT-As you are emptying, or right after, SORT everything that you have in your fridge. Sometimes there are THREE bottles of ketchup opened, because they are on three different shelves. Put all dressings together, meats together, etc.

STEP #3-CLEAN-Wash down, with dish detergent, EVERY shelf, drawer and space in that refrigerator. Remember that your shelves are COLD when you are washing them, so use no hotter than WARM water to wash them down. As the glass warms, you can do a final rinse with HOT water. If you rinse them with HOT water to start, you run the risk of breaking the glass, so be careful! Don’t forget to wipe down the inside of the door, the walls of the refrigerator and even the top. If you have a sticky mess, like popsicle, get your towel full of very HOT water and let the towel sit on the mess for a couple of minutes, and it will come right off.

STEP #4-REPLACE-As you put everything back in, store like things together in a sensible place. This sounds really basic, but you would be surprised how many people store their items all over. Pick a drawer for produce and put ALL PRODUCE in that drawer. Choose a drawer for meats and cheeses and store all of them together. Always put the MILK on the same shelf, that way, everyone knows where it is, and you can glance quickly to know if you need to add it to the shopping list.

STEP #5-REPEAT-Repeat the above steps for the freezer and you will have a CLEAN REFRIGERATOR in no time! In the freezer, remember to store things that need to be cooked or eaten first, on the upper shelves, so that you see them first.

For tomorrow:

SPECIAL SUNDAY is a time for reflection, so we will do just that!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Fast-Fix Friday-Bookcases and Baskets

For FAST-FIX FRIDAY we are going to talk about

BOOKCASES AND BOOK BASKETS.

We spoke earlier in the week about having a SPECIAL PLACE for reading and relaxing...so what does yours look like?

Do you have your books organized and ready to read?

The best way to organize them in your rooms and special places are with

BASKETS and BOOKCASES.

They don't have to be fancy or expensive, just functional!

You can find bookcases at your local store, garage sales and sometimes right in your own house hidden in corners.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:

Find a room that needs a BOOK BASKET or BOOKCASE, decide which one you need based on the space available and the number of books.

BUY or FIND what you need and organize the books, tallest to shortest.

SIT DOWN AND ENJOY!!

For Tomorrow:

SUPER SATURDAY is perfect for tomorrow's task!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura

Therapy Thursday-Making Memories

I know that we have been talking about these two rooms for days, but let’s just talk about some things that we can do to make some memories in these spaces.

What good does all your hard work to organize your room do if you never take the time to enjoy the spaces?

Here are two suggestions:

#1-CALL SOMEONE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN OR VISITED WITH IN A WHILE.  Invite them over and take the time to catch up in your LIVING ROOM!

#2-PICK A BOOK AND READ TO ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN.  Take the ten minutes, and snuggle tight with them.  They will LOVE this!

OR

PICK UP YOUR CURRENT BOOK AND READ FOR AN HOUR.  No distractions, just you and your book!

For tomorrow:

FAST-FIX FRIDAY is going to reveal the giveaway that BECCA won last month, introduce the next giveaway and finish the FAST FIXES for your READING SPACE!

See you tomorrow!

~Laura