I’m just keeping the essentials around here. Before my husband and I got married, we each owned established homes, so we entered our marriage with double of everything. It was gadgets galore over here! We had some sales to try and downsize, but some of the stuff I couldn’t part with (it felt wasteful to me) because it was in perfectly good condition and “we might need it some day.” Fast forward to almost 12 years later and I have a completely different mindset. I only keep what we need and donate the rest of our belongings to people in need. My latest donations were given to a charity that helps young, struggling mothers get on their feet and become independent by giving them goods to establish their own households. I absolutely love that!
Last year, the Mr. gave me a 2nd silverware set for my birthday. It was the perfect gift. In the past, I would run the dishwasher before it was full, just so we could have clean silverware. Now we have more than enough silverware and our household is running even more efficiently. When it comes to anything regarding your home, the answers are usually right in front of you. Is something bringing you stress? Remove it. Is there an object that takes up space, but doesn’t bring you joy?? Get rid of it. Is there a gadget you haven’t touched in years??? Donate it. Is there something that could make your household run more smoothly? Add it.
This drawer was such a thorn in my side. The cardboard packaging from the food storage bags would catch at the top when I would open the drawer, resulting in torn cardboard that would stick up and catch even more. I had some drawer organizers that weren’t being used (due to my epic purge 🙌🏻) and I wondered if I could make this drawer function any better with what I had on hand. Bye bye original cardboard packaging. It’s amazing how something so simple can result in such a dramatic “before” and “after”. I’m calling this overhaul a success. Are there any simple projects on your to-do list?
Do you have children? Store your kid-friendly, unbreakable items in your lowest drawers. As time goes on, you might have to rearrange cupboards/closets/drawers/pantries so they function efficiently for you and your growing family. What works now, might not work later and that’s ok. Just reassess when you need to; systems can always be improved. I receive a lot of question about the containers in my fridge that I use to store my produce. They are the @rubbermaid brilliance line and they are the clear containers shown in this photo.
Store kid-friendly dishes in a drawer or cupboard that your children can reach so they can help themselves and become self-sufficient. I always choose dishes that are microwave/dishwasher safe. (If it’s not practical, it’s not welcome in my home…. you know what I’m saying?) I found the majority of my kid-friendly dishes at @target. They are lightweight and inexpensive, so you better believe I stocked up; perfect for everyday use, hosting play dates and all of our summer picnics – we love eating lunch in the lower level of our playset or on the front porch. The best part about having summer picnics, besides the fresh air, is there won’t be crumbs on your kitchen floor! 🙌🏻 Who else is amazed at the pile of crumbs one child can leave behind? 🙋🏼♀️🤣
This use to be my “junk drawer”, but in the middle of this journey to simplify my home, it got eliminated. Why was I storing things that belonged somewhere else or didn’t serve a purpose?? I threw all of the junk in the trash, and put everything else in the proper place, and now I have a coffee/tea drawer, which is much prettier in my opinion. Give me all the coffee!!! ✨
A couple of weeks ago, I took some time to repurpose the top drawer right next to my stove. I wanted all of the things that I use most often while I’m cooking easily accessible. I used spice drawer liners from @youcopia and the process couldn’t have been easier. Since the liner came in a 10 ft roll, I was able to cut each strip to size so they fit my drawers perfectly. Organization + Practicality for the win!! 🙌🏻 Pop by my Instagram highlights so you can see exactly how I set this drawer up. Do you keep your spices in a drawer or a cabinet?
I had a couple of strips of spice drawer liner left over from that project, and I knew right then and there what I could use them for. ✨ So, without further ado, I present to you, our “baking drawer” that also includes a few utensils that are a bit awkward in size. I created this drawer with my older daughter in mind. She absolutely loves to bake, so this will be her go-to drawer next time she whips up a brand new recipe 🥧🧁🍰🍪. I, on the other hand, do not bake at all. I don’t have the patience for taking the time to properly measure things. That’s why I enjoy cooking so much; I can eyeball everything, and sprinkle in this and that, without ruining a thing. What about you?? Do you prefer to bake or cook? Maybe you don’t enjoy either, and that’s fine too.
Keep your lunch prep essentials in one place to make the mundane task of packing lunches a little easier. Do you pack a lunch for work or do you enjoy going out with your co-workers? What about school? Do you pack a lunch for your kids (or do they pack their own??) or do you order food from the school cafeteria?
The task of organizing is something that genuinely makes me so happy, and it has kept me calm in so many different facets of my life. I hope you enjoy my organizing tips/tricks + practical, affordable & achievable ideas for the home. Thank you for following along. I hope the information that I share is very helpful to you. ✨ ~ Colette
Are you interested in some of the products/accessories that I use in my home? You can shop some of my favorite items here.
