Tidy Heidi Milton ( Marietta Professional Organizer of Operation Organization by Heidi )
Proudly Presents this Farmhouse Pantry Project Makeover!
Heidi helped her client source materials similar to photos that the hard working mother and wife had saved of her ‘dream pantry’ and then happily set to work to bring that dream into reality!
Before, there wasn’t consistent clear and defined categories for certain items to belong and groceries landed where ever there was a place available…
Heidi chatted with her client about their family shopping and food preparation habits, their priorities of products used and with what frequency.
Before : Multiple Categories stored on over-crowded shelves…
Clear and Defined Categories were created with the help of these bins as well as strategic placement in order to separate multiple Food Types and other kitchen and pantry related supplies. Now, items can be found and re-stocked with ease…
Many of my clients have several pesky areas in their home that they’d like to improve upon when they reach out to inquire about my Professional Organizing Services. In this particular home, I completed a Pantry Organization project, Master His and Hers Closet Organization as well as revamping a linen closet. I am always SO proud when a client is able to implement ideas that come up during our time together all on their own – and that’s what this post will highlight: How to Organize Board Games!
My client knew that she wanted to use this hall closet in a more intentional way, as well as put together better storage for her family board game collection (some of their games were also stored elsewhere in the house).
The family had only been in the home for about a year, and this area had become a bit of a ‘stash and dash’ zone where things were being kept ‘for now’ until they found a more permanent home. Based on the location in the home, it was my impression that this closet would traditionally be used for coats. However, the home owner hadn’t used it for that purpose yet, and didn’t feel a distinct need for that storage in this zone.
BEFORE: Hall Closet Stash Zone
I suggested that a good principle of organizing is to always make it your aim tostore like items with like items. Based on the number of games they owned, both she and I thought this closet could work but my client wasn’t sure the best way to store them…
I suggested looking to purchase some free standing shelving that could be moved easily, should they decide they wanted to move the game collection elsewhere or re-purpose the closet for more traditional use…
My client found this shelving on Amazon that was perfect for the space and ordered and stacked two of them. I loved that she placed the board games side by side in order to house more as well as make it easier to remove and replace a game to and from the shelf.
There are so many options to pay bills these days. It can be difficult and overwhelming to keep up with what’s been paid, when and HOW. You can pay through vendor websites, over the phone, draft an electronic check through your bank, and the ‘old fashioned’ mailed check with a paper statement still works too.
While the convenience of on-line bill pay is attractive, one still needs to actually pay on time to avoid those pesky late fees and it does not eliminate the stress of keeping up with the paying all of them.
I decided to create a Bill Pay Log to help stay on track!
I have been personally using this log to successfully track the following:
1) When bills are due
2) The amount that is due
3) When bill has been paid
4) The method in which it was paid (and confirmation # if it was done on-line)
5) I also added a space to track income and expenses and note any other financial events.
Using this log has given me such a peace of mind knowing that all my expenses are taken care of.
The method and confirmation space has been especially helpful to have logged in the event there is a discrepancy with payment. You can record both the outlet you used to pay, and the type of payment (specific card or account). Then, if you are notified of a late or missed payment that you disagree with, you have an easy reference to quickly and easily determine if the payment really did go through or not.
My Bill Pay Log lives in a 3 ring binder and I simply slide it in one side of an Avery Slash pocket Divider:
It’s important to remember that just having a system like this established is not enough to keep you organized in paying your bills. A few HABITS need to also be in place to ensure your success…
When I get notification of a bill being due, I have gotten in the habit of recording it right away.
This is part of my daily Paper & Mail Flow System (more to come on that system soon!)
After I write down the due date, bill type, and amount –
If you have e-billing you can either just use the log to write down when you receive an electronic notification, or you can print out a hard copy of the e-statement.
It’s SO great to have it all in one place!!
Another habit I have formed around this system is to review what bills coming up due each week. That way, I can track with the help of my calendar to keep tabs on when I need to make an appointment with myself to sit down and take care of what is due.
I had the pleasure of creating a functional / organized space from a beautiful blank canvas in this featured project! The client had visions of creating a hobby / crafting space in her 2nd story sun porch. All the crafting supplies were there and packed away, but a lot of sorting needed to take place in order to weed out any materials not used or needed before the best storage solutions were created.
I am so thankful that my fantastic clients often graciously volunteer to share the amazing transformation of the spaces we work on together (I only publicly share photos with written permission from client projects).
Here is where we started – a room full of boxes…
And here is the glorious AFTER!!!
Another view of the room before…
NOW, there is a place for all the supplies!
The shelving (KALLAX) and white bins (DRONA) / boxes (TJENA) are from IKEA.
Aqua printed fabric bins from Wal Mart.
Check out the built in dividers inside this IKEA TJENA box! Perfect for all the fun little embellishments:
As a Professional Organizer, I’m always game for chatting about the many strategies for success in organizing. So, it was a distinct pleasure to participate in a podcast with Mark Dillon, host of Organize Mindfully.
“Twice a week the Organize Mindfully Podcast brings you organizing professionals, designers, mindfulness teachers and people who are living an inspired and organized life. They share amazing insights, new ideas, tips & techniques so you can grow, gain inspiration and bring order to your life. From there you can accomplish anything. “
One thing I wanted to expand on from our interview was what helps me shake out of an organizing ‘slump’, or how I can get motivated to get my motivation back after periods of rest. After further reflection, I recalled that what really helps me the most is the use of lists and creating habits.
Utilizing task and to-do lists never fail to keep me on track. Creating habits around the use of these lists (a particular day or time to refer to the lists and / or the items on them) is a huge factor in getting / staying motivated.
This certainly goes with the theme of the rest of our conversation that featured the importance of writing things down. By having a list of things I need or want to accomplish daily / weekly / monthly, the list can become my ‘boss’ or ‘manager’ reminding me and prompting me of what important tasks need to be done. A habitual day or time to refer to these lists serves to either keep me on track, or gets me back on track.
Check out some FREE PRINTABLE CHECKLISTS that I created to help stay on track of recurring home management tasks.
Mark produced a great follow-up episode to our discussion, expanding on how to keep track of things in your life on Episode #59 as well.
If you enjoy expanding your knowledge on all things organizing or you’d like an outlet to hear from other organizational industry professionals, make sure to explore and subscribe to the Organize Mindfully Podcast!
