a-tisket... a-tasket....

... I love a storage basket! They serve so many purposes.... I don't think one can have too many. Put one in your mudroom, kid's room, playroom, bedroom... the list goes on.

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*I recently found four of these baskets at Home Goods (two of the medium size like the ones above to use in Collins' room and two BIG ones to hold toys in the playroom)

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pinned here

the planner

It's that time of year. New calendars and planners. Even though I do own an iphone... I do not use it for keeping up with appointments, birthdays, etc. I am a paper calendar kind of girl.

For the past two years I have received this planner for Christmas from Paper-Source which I have really enjoyed:

Tonight while playing on Facebook one of my college friends asked in her status update what planners people recommend. I was blown away that almost EVERYONE responded (over 20 people) with the Erin Condren Life Planner. While I have heard of Erin and her work before... I wasn't familiar with her line of planners. The comments made me want to order one ASAP even though I have a brand new P-S one sitting on my desk!

Do any of you have a life planner by Erin Condren? Would love to hear your thoughts!

thinking about the pantry

It's an area that I haven't given much thought.... but now that they are about to start on it I'm thinking I should. It's a small space but could have lots of potential. Here are a few that have caught my eye:

my favorite by Melissa at Veranda Interiors:

Mine will be mainly for food... but look how pretty this is:

And the one we all have saved to our files:

*via here

under stair storage

We have a small door that will be underneath our stairs leading to a hot water heater. There is some extra room beyond that I won't be able to access because the WH will be in the way and I was trying to think of ways that I could use the space. I love all of these creative ideas found on Pinterest:

*via Pinterest

Organization

The move is less than a week away and my house is in complete disarray. I know, I know... it's supposed to be. We are packing up 5 years of living here and moving to another state. But this mess has me craving some organization. Here are some high hopes for the new house:

*via my Organization Board on Pinterest

Simplifying & Organizing

I'm back. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I enjoyed my time off and now it's back to the grind. I thought that I would use today's post to organize my thoughts for what's on my mind for 2010.

For January- I want to focus on cleaning out and organizing my house. I want to simplify things. I know that it's much easier said than done. I'm still trying to tackle this home office of mine that is a complete mess.

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*images via Deliciously Organized via Houzz
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Once I get my house organized and cleaned out- I will then focus on the nursery. I have a little bit of time since the baby isn't due until May. Note: I will only need one baby bed, not two like the photo below!

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Some goals for this year:

- take a painting with watercolors class (my mom said she would even pay for this if I painted some things for her)

- read the Bible the whole way through (this is a great guide)

- make 2 new recipes a month

- blog more consistently (I did great with this until around October and fell off of the wagon)

- read at least a book a month (I love to read but I often neglect it)

- update my Etsy site

- focus on our monthly budget and be a better steward with the resources that God has given us

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What are some of your goals for 2010?

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Happy New Year!

Brooke

Forgiveness vs. Permission

You know the saying- "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission." When I think of this quote- I often think of my friend Leslie. A few years ago when we were out shopping she fell in love with a chair and knew she shouldn't get it- but did anyway. And just asked for forgiveness when she got home....

That plays into my plans for today. My home office/third bedroom is a mess and it's where I have been working out of each day (so it drives me crazy). On Wednesday Marianne and I made a trip to Ikea in ATL where I found a few things to help me on my quest to organize the office.

For the past three years... it has been Mac's room and was painted brown (which he likes). I went on a spree of painting all of the walls in my house Monterey White by Benjamin Moore which Mac was okay with- as long as I didn't touch 'his' office. Well, now it is technically my office. So I'm painting the walls white today to go with the rest of the house. I hope to have a before and after post on Monday. Although--- it won't be a huge difference due to restricted funds.

And although I don't think he will really care if I paint the walls.... I'll just ask for forgiveness if he does.

Here is a sneak peak of the new things to come:

Monterey White for the walls

(Benjamin Moore)

Sherwin Williams' Hardware

for the bookshelves and sewing table

New Filing Cabinet

New Chair for the Sewing Table

A rod to help organize a few things above the table

and the basket hangs on the rod....

Shelf to go above the rod

$7.99 Lack Table that I am adding casters to

(for my second printer/scanner)

We'll see how it turns out.... wish me luck! I hope everyone has a great weekend.

OCD at Home- Not at Work!

I think this post will really surprise my friends that have been to my house. I am what some people would call OCD. I don't think I am OCD- I just think that everything should have a place and that everything should be in it's place!

I feel that I have been MIA from so many things lately all due to work and an upcoming deadline. I have been so busy that it looks like a bomb has gone off at my desk. As soon as this project goes out the door- I am planning on organizing this space!