Q&A: Part 2

To view part 1 of the Q&A, click here.

Organization Related Qs

You have lots of organizational tips and ideas, but do YOU feel like an organized person? 

Yes and no. Right now, my closet is a mess. It's turned into a dumping ground. I tried cleaning it yesterday, and just didn't feel like tackling it. It's scheduled for today's task. I definitely do follow by most of the tips I give. When things get out of order, it makes me crazy, but I'm not super strict with myself (or husband) on keeping things "perfect".

Have you always been interested in organization? 

Yes! Ever since I was little, I've always loved organizing things - especially for others. I wanted to be a maid for the longest time because I wanted to clean other people's homes for them.

What are three tips (or more) that are most important to you? 

- Color code everything. Give each family member a color and stick to it when planning (write in that color). Color code categories when filing. Just color code it all. =]
- Use containers/baskets/bins/etc. to store things in your home. It helps cut clutter - but can also create a dumping ground. Always go through your storage bins on a regular basis.
- Create a filing system for your home. Use a system that makes sense for you and your family. It can be something as simple as a few labeled folders kept in a basket on the table or more complex like a filing cabinet drawer sorted into categories. Paper needs a home - find it one.
- Scan what you can and get rid of the rest. I don't like paper clutter - so I digitize what I can.
Can you tell that paper clutter is my biggest concern?

When you feel overwhelmed by a house full of clutter and disorganization, where do you start? How do you combat the feeling of complete being overwhelmed? Also, how do you stay motivated once you start? 

Start small. Tackle a pile of paper clutter. If you feel okay after that, move on to something else...but not until you've completely finished the first task. If you start something, always finish it. If you decide to tackle a whole room and become overwhelmed, break it down into sections or by task and work on them one at a time. It makes it more manageable and allows you to take a break if you do need one...once you finish the section/task at hand. To stay motivated I always envision what I want from what I'm doing and most of the time I'll map it out or write it down. It keeps me focused and allows me to see that there is an end in sight. Fun music always helps as well.

How do you manage paper clutter?

Check out my October Project that I did this year. It's all about managing my paper and digital clutter. It's also a topic I'll be focusing on during one whole month in 2012.

I love organizing my home, however I never feel like my kitchen is really organized. Any suggestions? 

Label, label, label. Containerize. Consolidate. Keep an inventory. Go through all of your drawers and cabinets - get rid of 7 of the 10 pot holders you never use (and so on). This is my biggest downfall - I love kitchen gadgets/tools. I've (finally) learned to keep a handle on my obsession and stop buying these things. I keep my inventory up to date so I'm not bringing in more food than I can handle (although...I'm deeply embarrassed by my kitchen cupboards right now).

What tips to you have to organize a bathroom closet?

Containerize. One of my favorite things to organize when I was living at home was my parents' bathroom closet. I containerized/consolidate and categorized everything and then labeled. It makes a world of difference. Fold towels and sheets nicely - it also make a huge difference. I wish I had a bathroom closet in my apartment - instead I'm stuck with large under sink storage, but it's not enough for me.

What are your best tips for organizing kids?

Make the organization process simple and fun. They love using recycled materials (tissue boxes can hold crayons and other art supplies) to store things in. Take pictures of the toys contained in a box they can't see through and put both the picture and a label on the outside of the box. If you want things shelved in a certain spot, take a picture of what goes in that spot and tape it on the shelf. The simpler, the better. My 2nd graders love these things that I've mentioned.
I would definitely use print with kids and organization though - it helps with word/sound/letter recognition.

What would you suggest as a starting point to organization for a busy working mom?

Start small and create a plan/schedule. Don't feel like you need to get it all done in one day. Your organization system will change constantly if it's new, until you find something that works for you. If it's something you want to do, then use some of your "me" time to tackle it. For me, personally, organization gives me piece of mind - so I'll use my "me" time to organize things. If it's not a priority for you - or your family - then just fit it in when you can. Don't stress over it. =]

What is something I can easily do each day to keep my house organized and not so overwhelming?

Schedule it - add it right to your calendar. Or do a quick, 10 minute run through of your home with a basket in hand. Pick up everything that's in the wrong place/room and then put it all away. If you have children that are old enough to help out, take your basket of items and sort out their items into baskets with their names on them and have them put their own stuff away.

How do you organize your kids' home art supplies? How do you organize what to keep/recycle? How long do you keep art before it gets recycled?

I don't have any children of my own yet, but I'd buy a plastic drawer set and label it with pictures and words for them. If something spills in the drawer, you can clean it since it's plastic. As for kids' artwork - check out this post I wrote back in July about this topic.

What is your favorite room of the house to organize and why?

I love organizing closets. They're fun to label/containerize. Plus, there's so much you can do with a closet!

What is your favorite craft (if any) and how do you organize that? 

I love all sorts of crafts - but mostly paper crafts. I like to organize my crafting supplies in cute picture/shoe boxes from Michaels. If I had a crafting room, that'd be heaven. But right now I'm stuck storing everything in my closet.

Home Life Related Qs

How do you get it all done?

This question cracks me up. Many people asked this one.
Here's the honest truth: I don't. Not anymore at least. I'm taking life as it comes right now, being in a transition with my new job. During my winter break, I plan on reorganizing my home management binder and changing it to suit our "new life".
Over the summer I had all of the time in the world to organize, clean, and keep things in order around the house. Now, I'm lucky if I get everything cleaned every week. I'll keep you updated on the changes I'm going to make to my HMB. I'm definitely going to literally plan out everything for each week - what days to do laundry, vacuum, dust, etc. If I don't, I won't do it.
A HMB definitely helps me keep my mind sane when it comes to keeping my home in order. I keep track of the last time I've done everything - right down to seasonal cleanings (light covers, washing windows, washing curtains, etc.) so I know when things need to be done again. This is actually something I've just started doing in the last year and it makes things easier for me.

How do you clean your home? Do you have a system to it?

I prefer to do the same task all at once all over the house. If I'm dusting, I'll dust everything. Same with vacuuming and everything else. It makes it easier for me to focus on one task at a time. If I try to tackle one room (completely) at one time, I always get sidetracked.

What is a dream splurge space of yours (like a theatre room, crafting room, etc.)?

Definitely a home office or studio of some kind for just me. I'd love the space for all of my teaching materials that I have at home for planning, a place for my crafting materials, and a place for my blogging/etsy store materials. A room just for me. =]

I would love to know how your cleaning schedule looks--daily, monthly, quarterly, yearly.

When I figure it out this week (or next) I'll let you know. It's something I'll be working on for my HMB over break!

How do you keep your priorities in order?

I don't. lol. I try though. Chris and I have made large goals for our life - the main one right now is paying down our student loan debt. So both of us work a lot to bring in as much money as we can to throw at the debt. We both understand if things get put on the back burner because of our stress from work. For example, we both come home and make dinner, watch TV together, and then I blog/search Pinterest and he plays video games. We're okay with that. It's our destressing time. If I feel like I'm good to go on my stress level, I'll tackle other things that need to get done. If I need help, I'll ask Chris and he's willing to help. We have a relationship of knowing (and understanding) what each other needs/wants and we make it work.
I can't imagine what life will be like once we have kids. I know we'll make it work, but it's going to turn our world upside down, I'm sure.
On the other hand, I rely on lists and my planners. When I get to it, I get to it. (Unless it's on a Post-It note - then it's a must do ASAP type of task.)

Do you have a favorite method to organize your finances such as www.Manilla.com? Any thoughts to keep all that incoming mail re: bills in check? 

My favorite method of organizing my finances is Mint.com. It allows me to categorize everything and automatically merges the transactions from both of my bank accounts. It also has an Android app, so I can keep track of things on the go. Mint lets you set up budgets as well, and will let you know when you go over. PageOnce is great too because they send me emails when I receive a new billing statement with my credit cards, internet company, etc. That's the only feature I really use with PageOnce though.

When I receive bills in the mail, I pay them automatically. I pay everything online (except rent). So I just set up the payment for each bill when I want it to be paid, write it on my calendar in my HMB (to keep track) and let the internet do it's magic. I strongly believe in only looking at each (paper) bill/email alert for bills once. I just want to get it over with so I don't forget to pay it.

If you can't go digital with bills, keep a filing system for them. Set up one day a week that you'll sit down and pay bills (this is something I learned from my Dad) and just get it over with. Once it's paid, file it.

What's your secret to staying organized, blogging, working, and running a household? My biggest problem is I'm so tired after work that I hardly have time or the energy to do much more. Any tips?

Finding balance and loving what I do. Because I truly enjoy blogging, I find time to do it when I want to. I'll admit - I obviously not had the time I used to for blogging, but I want to continue it, so I find time for it. The good thing about my blog is it motivates me to keep my home in (some kind of) order so I have something to blog about. If organization wasn't something I enjoyed, I wouldn't bother. If I'm ever burnt out, I step back, assess what needs to be done, and get it over with - then I relax.

Blog/Etsy Store Qs

Regarding your printables - are you a "self taught" kind of person, or did you take classes? 

With everything technology related, I am completely self taught. It's something that interests me, so I send most of my free time exploring the tech world.

Did you do your own {blog} designing? What have you done to get your blog page out there?

Yes, I have designed everything myself on my blog. I'm trying to learn Photoshop, but I don't really have the time right now.
And to expose my blog, I've linked up to parties other blogs host on a weekly basis when I have a project worth sharing. Pinterest has also been one of the biggest exposures for me. When someone pins, it can just go nuts from there if they have a lot of followers. It's viral. =]

When do you work on your blog? Morning or night?

I work on my blog at night. I'm not a morning person, so when I get up in the morning, I get ready and go. I sleep as long as possible. I usually don't begin to blog until 9 PM (which is nuts on my part) - but I schedule all of my posts to post automatically for me - like this one!

Another Personal Q

What are your New Years Resolutions?

I don't have any. I don't like making them, because I never follow them. I used to make a list every year, and it seemed like those things on the list were never accomplished, but the things that didn't make it on the list, did get accomplished. (Reverse psychology?)

I'm more of a goal maker - with deadlines. It helps me accomplish more in my life - in a more manageable way.

Still coming - in their own posts: what's in my bag confessional / my favorite organization tools / my daily and weekly schedule /my favorite blogs.