I'm Baaaack!

Last March, I started this blog with good intentions of keeping it up and running.  I managed to do 9 posts before I needed to put it on the back burner.  So, you may be wondering, "what happened?"  As people sometimes say, "life got in the way".

During that time, I was unhappy at my job.  The pay was low, the commute was long (especially in the Wisconsin winter weather), and I was indifferent about what I was doing.  My husband didn't like me being away from home so much.  So, we decided that I would become a full-time homemaker with part-time jobs.  During the commute to my job, I had lots of time to think, so I came up with my C.H.A.M.P.S. plan.  Which stands for:

C - Child Care Giver- I set up an account on care.com to allow parents to find me.  I have a child that I watch regularly, and I absolutely adore him.
H - Home Organizer - Currently, I do jobs for friends and family, but I would love to expand.
A - Aimee Time - I want to make sure that I take time for myself.
M - Math Tutor - There are times that I miss teaching.  Tutoring is a great way for me to share my passion for math, kids, and learning.
P - Pampered Chef Consultant - I love their quality products, it's a great way to meet people, and I love trying new recipes.
S - Substitute Teacher - Subbing is a lot less stressful than I thought that it would be.  I love getting to work with students of all ages.  

With getting all of those jobs up and running, this blog had to fall to the wayside for awhile...a looooooong while.  I needed to take time to get my life reorganized.  It was well worth it.  I average more money per week now, than I did at the job I was working in March, and that is with putting in half the hours.  Plus, I am way happier.  I have time to spend with my family, take care of my home, and I have control over my schedule.

As many of us do, I have been reflecting on the past year, and deciding what changes I want to make going forward.  One thing on that list is the return of my blog.  My goal is one post per week.  You'll need to keep following me for other things that I have in store.

Thanks for reading.  Happy New Year!!

Reduce, Reuse, Recyle!

With Earth Day just around the corner, I thought that I'd talk about the 3 R's:  reduce, reuse, recycle from an organizer's perspective.

Reduce
I like to watch HGTV and other home improvement programs.  I am often amazed at people that think they need to move because they don't have enough space, yet every room in the house is cluttered.  Before going through the stress of house hunting, getting a mortgage, and moving, I think that they should try to organize their things and get rid of things that they can't even use in their clutter.  Sometimes, simply bringing in an organizer can help you tackle your things and find storage solutions for the items that you still want.  Doing this solves the need for more livable space and can save you money.  Here's some other advice:

• Being organized allows you to reduce the amount of items that you bring into your home, because you'll be more aware of the items that you actually own.  I'll admit that I like to stock up on certain things, especially if they are on sale.  However, if I don't have the space for it, it stays in the store.
• To help me remember what extras I have already purchased, I keep a shelf in my bathroom for all of the extra health and beauty aids.  If I have an extra on the shelf, I definitely do not need to purchase another.  
• Keeping cleaning products in a common location also prevents me from buying more when I don't need it.  
• My ready made grocery list allows me to check my current inventory and only mark the items in which we need.  It also can save money since we won't buy things that we don't have time to eat before they expire.  
• When I buy non-consumable things, I donate or throw the old ones away depending on the condition.   Twice a year, we go through our clothes and donate what we no longer want to wear.  This prevents our closets from getting out of control.
• Yesterday, I blogged about mail and how you reduce your mail by using online bill pay and canceling magazine subscriptions.

Reuse
Just because something is designed for one use doesn't mean that it can't be used for something else.  Again, referring to yesterday's post, I made mail sorters out of cereal boxes.  Re-purposing items is easier on the environment, but can also make things easier on your wallet.  Here's a brief list of ideas:

• Reuse paper or plastic bags when you go to the store if you don't have reusable bags.  Some stores will even reduce your total by a few cents per bag.  The small plastic bags also work great for garbage liners for trash cans in your bathroom.  Bread bags can be used to clean up pet waste.  Keeping an extra plastic bag in the car can also come in handy for various things that occur. 
• My husband loves to reuse plastic jars that held food for things, such as hardware, in the garage.  If you drop them on the ground, they don't shatter, and you can easily see what is in them.  They can also be reused for food or craft supply storage.  I store my measuring spoons in one in the cupboard and keep it next to the measuring cups.
• Scrap paper is great for writing notes to members of the family or for to do lists.  I like to use the back of envelops that held my mail.  We then like to save some of the paper to start fires in our fire pit during the summer.  
• Newspapers can be used to wrap gifts.  I use stamps to dress them up a bit and add color.
• Spray bottles can be cleaned and reused to make homemade bug repellent, window wash, fabric spray, etc.  You might like to put water in one to spray yourself on those hot summer days. You'll not only save money on bottles, you'll save money on what you make to put in them. 
•  Old toothbrushes work great when cleaning small hard to reach places.
• Mint tins come in handy to hold small items like paper clips, tacks, and bobby pins.  

Also, don't forget that you don't need to be the one to reuse the items.  Donate the items to a school or charity, such as a women's shelter or a community member in need.  Or you can try to sell the items in a rummage sale or online.  We have a sign that we sometimes stick in the yard to advertise that things are free.  After all, "one man's trash is another man's treasure". 

Recycling
While recycling saves room in our landfills, it tends to take up quite a bit of room in our homes.  My house was built way before recycling was conceived, so finding space for it can be a challenge.  The containers designed for recyclables are often large and come in loud colors.  I would recommend keeping the larger containers outside or in the garage unless you have the space.  I would love to have the cupboard space to have pull out containers, but I don't.  I decided to think outside the box and find something that wouldn't scream recycling.  Here's what I found:

What I like about it is that the drawers pull out completely and can be returned with ease, it has wheels, and it comes in black.  It is meant to be used in a closet and/or bedroom.  Assembly was required, but took me less than 10 minutes and included the tools needed.  I have labels on the handles of metals, plastics, and papers.  I also have it near my garbage can, so it is easy to sort what needs to be recycled.  Once they get full, the drawers are pulled out and put in their containers that will go out to our curb on recycling day.

Because the Mail Never Stops!

Regardless of how you feel about the USPS's recent decision to stop delivering mail on Saturdays, organizing your mail can be an issue.  So, today's post includes some tips on how to better manage it.

If you want some comic relief, click on the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL6ubXD9ZjY
I am a huge Seinfeld fan, and always thought that Newman's ranting about the mail was quite funny.  I give mail carriers a lot of credit, even though I don't always want what they are delivering.  But as the saying goes, "don't shoot the messenger".

My husband used to pile up my mail on a chair.  This drove me nuts, as you can image.  After a long day at work dealing with paperwork, the last thing that I wanted to deal with before sitting down was my mail.  To solve this problem, I made "mailboxes" to put in our office.

To make these, I used cereal boxes and covered them with scrapbooking paper to match the decor.  Then I used chalk to write our names on them.  They were easy and inexpensive to make, lightweight to hang on the wall, but strong enough to hold our mail.  The best part is that my husband actually uses them. 

Above our "mailboxes" we have a bulletin board.  At the bottom of it, I use binder clips and tacks to hold the envelopes, stamps, and return address labels.  Viola, a cheap and easy mail center that is easy to find and take stock of. 

Here's some other ways to lessen the burden of your mail:

• Recycle or shred junk mail right away.  Otherwise it piles up over time and can become overwhelming.
• After opening the mail, get rid of the envelopes.  They take up space and addresses are usually written on the inside correspondence. 
• Use e-statements and online bill pay.  You can easily file your statements in your email.  Plus you can sign up for email and/or text reminders for when your bills are due.  You also save money on postage.
• Cancel subscriptions to magazine or newspapers if you don't have time to read them.  The amount of space they take up adds up fast.  If you do have time to read them, get rid of them when you are done reading them.  Ask a teacher if she can use them for a class project if you don't want to just put them in the recycling.  Many magazines now offer e-subscriptions that can be viewed on your tablet or computer.  Since they don't use paper, they are often less expensive.  Otherwise, visit your local library to read the hard copy version.  
• Find a place for the mail that requires your attention.  Choose a day and/or time to deal with these at least once a week.  Pay attention to due dates. 
• File needed papers immediately after you are done dealing with them.  Waiting until you get a big pile makes it much more of a chore.  

As an inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City reads:  "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."  And I am ready for all that they deliver. 

Airing My Dirty Laundry...Room

We all know laundry is a chore that is never done.  What I dislike about it most is all the steps: sorting, pre-treating, washing, drying, ironing, folding or hanging, and putting it away.  I am just thankful that I live in a day and age in which we have washers and dryers.  I am also thankful for having these machines in my home.  I don't miss the days of trucking my dirty clothes to the laundromat or to my parents' house. 

My ideal space for a washer and dryer would be in a walk-in closet, so I wouldn't have to lug the clothes to and from the machine.  For now, I will need to be satisfied with my current laundry room. 

The cupboards above the machines come in extremely handy, but you could also use shelves or pedestals for storage.  (My mom uses an armoire next to her stacked machines.)  I chose not to have pedestals so I could utilize the tops as a folding table and a place to iron.  I am short and don't have back issues, so having the machines low to the ground isn't an issue.  There is a space between the machines and the cupboards.  To cover up the hook-ups, I painted a 1 x 6 board and had my husband use c-hooks to hang it. 

Laundry items are kept in the cupboards above the washer.  Detergent is placed in a plastic canister, since the boxes of detergent I buy are too big and heavy for me to keep handy.  Those I keep under the utility sink.  I also make sure to keep the handles of the vinegar, bleach, and fabric softener out so they are easy to grab.  There is an outlet in the cupboard, so I keep my iron there.  I also have a glass liquid measuring cup, Mr. Steamies, delicate bags, dryer sheets, and a lazy Susan with Wool-lite, Static Guard, Shout, a bleach pen, lint rollers, and cheap hair spray (for removing ink stains).

When I did the major reorganization last summer, I found duplicates or triplicates of cleaning supplies in the kitchen, bathroom, and/or laundry room.  So, I decided to put my cleaning supplies in a single location, which is the cupboards above my dryer.  This has freed up the space under the sinks in the bathroom and kitchen.  However, if it is a cleaning item that is kitchen specific, I still keep it under the kitchen sink. 

Not having a basement in our home means that we have our furnace and hot water heater in the closet of the laundry room.  I also utilize that closet for hanging the mop, broom, dust pan, Swiffer, and duster, as well as, the ironing board.  There is also a hamper and a drying rack that folds which is stored below the ironing board.

You're Not Just Moving Their Cheese

Change is difficult for many, even when it is for the better.  You may find that those that live with you resist your attempt to reorganize things in your home.  Old habits are hard to break and the usual way that things have been done brings comfort.  My reorganizing journey didn't come without a few bumps from my husband.  After all, I literally moved his cheese to a drawer in the fridge.  

To make things easier for those that live with you, here's a few words of wisdom to make the transition easier:

•  Let those that live with you know that you will be reorganizing to improve your home and your lives.  I told my husband that I would be donating things, throwing some things away, and possibly finding new places for old things. 
• Don't throw or donate others' belongings without their permission.  If you think that it should be gotten rid of, explain why.  For example, they don't use it, they have multiples, etc.  Listen to their rationale for keeping it.  Comprising is important. 
• My husband started to trust my decisions and stopped going through everything.
• For multiples of things, give them a concrete amount of space to use for those items or negotiate the number to keep.
• If it is important to them, find a place for it.  After all, it is their home too.
• After moving things, give the people you live with a "tour" of where you moved the various things.  You'll be excited to show off your hard work, and they will appreciate knowing where things belong in the house.  
• Share your rationale for why you put things where you did.  Helping others understand the "why" works wonders.
• Label things to give them reminders of where things go.  I even labeled the drawers in the refrigerator.  The labels don't need to be permanent. 
• Be patient.  The new locations or ways of doing things will become old habits eventually.  

I knew my husband was proud of my hard work when I heard him bragging to his buddy about it.  He loves the improvements that were made.  I hope that your loved ones will appreciate your hard work too.  

Don't Have a Mud Room?

I don't remember exactly how old I was when I heard of a mud room, but I do remember thinking that having a room for your mud was crazy.  Obviously I was quite young and have since learned the purpose for a mud room.  

My house is quite old and doesn't have a mud room.  We do have quite a bit of closet space, but no one in the household wanted to use a hanger when putting his/her coat away.  The first couple of years that we lived in our home everyone threw his/her coats on chairs when coming into the house.  Then it dawned on me at an elementary school...hooks!  It is easy for people, including children, to hang their coats on hooks.  

Now that I knew that I wanted to use hooks, I needed to figure out where to put them.  When entering and leaving the house, we use the back side door.  To exit, we must first walk through a hallway.  Which lead to my next epiphany...hang the hooks on the wall in the hallway.    

Mud "Room"

Once the coats were back there, the shoes and boots followed, so I added a shoe rack.  With the boots came the mud and melted snow.  To solve this problem I made a boot tray.  I found a white plastic serving tray on clearance at Target and filled it with rocks from the home decor aisle.  

Boot Tray

Setting the boots on the rocks makes it so the boots don't sit in the mud and water when the snow melts.  For under $20, I don't have to see a mud puddle in my mud "room" from November-March, which is worth every penny.

I probably should place a shelf above the hooks, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.  For right now I store the extra hats, gloves, scarves, etc. in labeled baskets on shelves in the "coat" closet.  I use clothes pins to keep gloves and mittens together in pairs. 

Storage for Winter Miscellaneous Items

While the mud "room" works well for members of the family, it doesn't work well for guests since they enter through our front door.  After opening our front door, you are in my living room.  The layout of the room makes it difficult to arrange furniture.  Putting hooks on the wall didn't work as well here.  So, I searched for a coat tree.  I couldn't believe how expensive these can be or how wide their bases can be.  I wanted to place it behind a chair, so I wanted a small one.  I found one that met my needs at Gordman's for $30.  

Coat Tree for Guests

Since, it is the first day of spring, I am looking forward to storing all of the coats for the warm weather months, as I am sure that you are too.  Until then, I hope that you can use at least one idea from today's post.

Putting Lazy Susans to Work

I am not sure how the Lazy Susan got its name.  I googled it and found different stories about its origin.  If it was invented by a woman named Susan that didn't want to ask others to pass things to her from across the table, I wouldn't call Susan lazy, I'd call her a genius.  We all know that it can be awkward butting into a conversation to ask for more food or a condiment.  I guess "Genius Susan" doesn't have the same ring to it.  

Lazy Susans come in various sizes and are most commonly found on dinner tables.  When I traveled throughout China, a big glass Lazy Susan was commonly found on the table to help accommodate our family style meals.  The ones that I have seen in the U.S. on dinner tables tend to be much smaller and hold ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, and maybe some napkins.  The Lazy Susans in Auer home aren't on the top of any table.  I use them in on shelves in closets and cupboards.  

In the Bathroom Closet

In the Kitchen Cupboard

I am far from being the first person to come up with this idea.  When I first saw it, I didn't like the idea because of all of the empty space left on the shelf.  Therefore, I started with two in the bathroom, since I thought that the idea might have merit.  I used one for personal hygiene stuff and the other for hair styling products.  What I loved about using them was that I didn't knock things over as I had when I reached for stuff at the back of the shelf.  It was also easier to see what I had.  They made it easier for kids to see and reach for what they need, so I added two more: one for mouthwashes and another for toothbrushes and toothpaste.  I liked them so much, I added some in the kitchen.  They work great on hard to reach shelves.  I am now a Lazy Susan convert. 

Lazy Susans come in various sizes and vary in price.  I have found that Bed, Bath, and Beyond has the most sizes to choose from and are reasonably priced.  Target has better quality ones, but I only found them in one size, and they were more expensive.

While on the topic of things that spin, I must give a shout out for Pampered Chef's Tool Turn-About.  

 
I grew up in a house that had all the large utensils in a drawer.  It made the drawer difficult to open and close, and it was even more difficult to find the utensil you where looking for.  I am big on keeping the counters clear to avoid clutter, but I definitely think that this is worth the space that it is taking up on my counter.  It makes it easy to find a wooden spoon or a spatela. 

Simple Ideas to Make Meal Planning and Grocery Shopping Easier

Meal planning and grocery shopping are chores that not many of us relish.  Hopefully, these tips will help simplify your life.

My husband loves it when I make a menu for the week.  Problem was, it was constantly changing, and I didn't like to view a scribbled document on my refrigerator.  Then one night, I thought about how to solve this issue with materials that I had around the house.  Using fishing line, tacks, clothes pins, and some paper, I made this:

The clothes pins have the days of the week on them and are clipped to the fishing line that is tacked to the wall.  It is easy to rearrange meals if needed.  We find that we basically eat the same 10-14 meals, so we reuse the slips of the paper.

My husband is also infamous for asking if I need anything from the grocery store as he is walking out the door.  Put on the spot, I seem to always forget what I want.  Don't get me wrong, I am very thankful that is the primary grocery shopper, but often we don't get all that we wanted to make the meals that we planned.  Therefore, I made a list of items that we buy on a regular basis in a spreadsheet.  I categorized it based on the layout of the grocery store and alphabetically in each category.  I am able to update it as needed.

 
 

The Room That Got it All Started

Before

Before

Before

Before

Before

Before

Above are the before photos of our home office/craft room.  You will notice how it is in major disarray.  The furniture overtakes the space, clutter is everywhere, and the room seems gloomy and dark.  When people came to visit, I shut the door.

Now for the after photos:

After

After

After

After

 Now the room appears bright and cheery with minimal clutter.  I am now able to keep the door open when I have visitors.  

The white desks and shelves were purchased from IKEA and assembled by my dad.  I bought the fabric drawers from Home Depot, since I wanted to be able to put labels on them.  My niece arranged the drawers so that each color appears only once vertically in each column and only once hortizontally in each row.  

The floor is Allure Ultra, also from Home Depot.  I eventually want to do my entire first floor with this, since it is water proof and scratch resistant.  It is easy to clean, and with dogs and kids visiting that is a must.  

For the walls, I wanted chalkboards, so I bought cheap door mirrors and painted them with magnetic primer and pink chalkboard paint.  To organize things like paper clips, rubber bands, erasers, tacks, etc, I bought magnetic spice holders and a pizza pan.  The French memo boards were made with framed canvases, material, ribbon, and the clear tacks that twist in.  Finally, I switched out the dark green curtains with the cream color ones that I found on clearance at Target.

Introduction

Welcome to my new blog "Auer Organized Home".  I am Aimee Auer (pronounced like "our" or "hour"), and I must confess that I love to organize.  Hopefully, you will take away a few valuable tips from the information and photos that I share.

During the summer of 2012, I cleaned out every closet, drawer, and cupboard in my house.  It was amazing how much stuff my husband and I collected during the 8 years that we have lived here.  I found multiples of things that a home only needs one of, expired medications and dry foods, and things that I even forgot that I even owned.  Most of the unneeded items were donated and a few things were thrown out in the trash.  Everything that stayed found a place.  While reorganizing, I realized that I loved doing it.  I would spring out of bed and look forward to the results of my efforts.  Which for those of you that know me, know that I am not a morning person.  

I still love viewing organization tips online, and I thought that I would pay it forward.  If I have accidentally taken one of your ideas, please let me know so that I may give you credit.  Many of the ideas that I got online, I found on more than one site, so I didn't know to whom to give credit.
 
Please be kind about any typos or imperfections on my blog.  :)  I do my best, but we all make mistakes.