Toni Hammersley's Blog, page 2

2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 14 The Garage

 

Congratulations, friends. You made it to week 14 of the 2021 Home Organization Challenge. If you stuck it out, way to go. It’s such a major accomplishment. This week we are organizing our garages. Everyone is home now, so we should be able to find the time. If you missed any of the previous weeks, you can find them here. 

  

If you’re new to the challenge, print out the schedule and checklists below and begin on the current week. If you missed any challenges, re-visit them when you have free time. 

PRINT –> Free Challenge Kit

GARAGE CHECKLIST:

1. PREPARE – Gather several boxes, bins and trash bags. Label boxes to sort items: keep, donate, trash, house.

2. SORT – Sort through everything in the garage. Empty it out completely (weather permitting), going through one item at a time, and placing it in the designated bin or box.

3. CLEAN – Once you’ve sorted trough everything, the garage should be empty. At this point you can sweep, leaf blow, or hose down the floor. This is an important step. You don’t want to organize a dirty garage. If you have a problem with spiders or ants,  you can spray the perimeter of the garage with insecticide. Living in the south, we have to do this every three months.

4. ORGANIZE – Once you have sorted through everything and cleaned, its time to set up a system of organization. Label plastic totes to contain items that will remain in the garage. Place the organized bins and boxes back into the garage. Hang things on wall hooks.  Try to keep everything up off the ground. Spiders like to hide behind stuff on the ground and so does dust.

 

Our 3 car garage is very simple. I used tall white cabinetry and our old kitchen cabinets to store our things. We purged a lot of stuff, when we moved. So we just have the basics in here now. Our bikes and lawn mower are in the middle bay of the garage. Let me take you on a tour and show you what we have in here.

  

Since we are Ohio natives, we had to show our team (and state) spirit by decorating the garage in Ohio State gear. Go Buckeyes!

  

The wall color is Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams. We keep an extra refrigerator in here for overflow food and entertaining. It also has a water line hooked up so we can get water when we’re in the home gym or outside doing yard work.

  

We keep grocery bags in these organizers. I’ve had the bins for years but I think I got them at TJ Maxx. The numbers are from Lowes. 

  

The glass cabinet is from Facebook marketplace. I use it to store paint and plant food. The Seed & Supply sign is from Michaels. 

  

It’s a good idea to categorize your cabinets. This cabinet contains our gardening items.

  

On this side of the cabinet, we store power tools, oil supplies, ropes/bungee cords, and paint supplies.

  

I have a drawer devoted to my gardening tools & gloves.

   

The large white cabinet holds a lot of stuff! It’s great because it hides clutter.

  

We keep car care and detailing items on these 2 shelves. I found the black microfiber cloths here. We use them to dry the cars.

  

This shelf contains our disposable paper products. I found the bins at Target.

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Below, we have our pet carriers, grooming caddy, party decor, and my sons fishing bags.

  

The tall shelf holds a lot of things! The basket at the top contains our gardening mixes and plant fertilizers. The bin at the bottom contains a variety of tape.

  

I found the long clear containers & teal baskets at TJ Maxx. Labeling everything clearly keeps things tidy. There should be no question as to where things go.

  

Store a few cleaning supplies in the garage to use on car messes. The lazy Susan is from here.

  

The double doors lead to our back patio and pool. The folding table leaning on the cabinet is our dogs grooming table. We found it here.

   

On the other side of the garage is our home gym. Take a tour here.

  

Here are several blog posts that will inspire you to get your garage organized.

How to create a garage mudroomMy garage home gymGarage organization Garage Organization 

For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as a ton of inspiration and tips about the spaces we will be organizing. No need to log onto the computer for ideas, this manual has it all!

  

If you need more guidance on cleaning your house, be sure to pick up The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of tips and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

  

Take a few days this week to clean out and organize the Garage. Purge as much as you can. Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge. Thanks for joining me this year!

 

The post 2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 14 The Garage first appeared on A Bowl Full of Lemons.

5 Spring Cleaning Tips & a FREE Starter Kit

Spring Cleaning month has arrived and there are five items that I always add to my checklist each year. My full spring cleaning plan can be found here. Keep reading to see what I’m deep cleaning this month & check out the current FREE Grove Collaborative spring cleaning starter kit.

Slipcovers & Throw Pillow cases. If you have slipcovers, it’s time to take them off and wash them. While you’re at it, take off all throw pillow cases and give them a good washing as well. This job should be done at least twice a year (or more often depending on usage).   

2. Deep Clean the Refrigerator. This definitely needs to be done more than once a year, but yearly I take out every removable attachment in the refrigerator and wash it down. All drawers and shelves should be removed and washed & wipe down the walls.

   

3. Clean the Windows. The windows are a pain to clean but they get a film on them and need to be deep cleaned at least once a year, if not more. Take off all curtains (wash them), dust the blinds, and scrub those windows good.

   

4. Deep Clean all Cabinetry. I love using my Mrs. Meyers Multi-Surface cleaner from Grove to scrub down the cabinets. Clean the doors and the shelves. This means taking out all of the dishes and food. Work quickly and it’s not too bad of a chore. Turn up the music!

   

5. Deep Clean Baseboards & trim work. Finally it’s time to get down on your knees and scrub those baseboards & trim work. Use a pillow for your knees, if you need one. These get really dusty so they should be done a few times a year but definitely make sure it’s on your spring cleaning checklist. Fill a bucket with hot soapy water & a squirt of dish soap (I use Mrs. Meyers Fresh Cut Grass dish soap) and scrub them with a sponge.

   

Bonus: Decorate for Spring. We can’t forget to reward our hard work by decorating the house for Spring. Tulips, peonies, bunnies, faux eggs, and Spring wreaths brighten up the home and help to shake off those winter blues. There’s nothing better than welcoming Spring into your home with some beautiful home decor.

   

To help get you started with your Spring cleaning checklist, you’ll want to get the FREE starter kit from Grove Collaborative. They are giving a FREE spring cleaning starter kit to all new customers who place their first order. They only ship to the lower 48 states at this time. Sorry they cannot ship to Canada, Hawaii, or Alaska.

     

So give Grove a try. They have thoughtfully chosen all of their products and their goal is to be plastic free by 2025. They have lots of plant-derived and sustainable products to choose from. They deliver everything to your home for free!

   

You can choose any of the Spring scents to put in your FREE starter kit. Their limited edition scents are Fresh Cut Grass (exclusively sold at Grove), Rose, Mint, and Lilac.

   

Happy Spring cleaning!

 

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by Grove Collaborative®. All opinions are my own & I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe my readers will enjoy. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Please click here for full disclaimer.

The post 5 Spring Cleaning Tips & a FREE Starter Kit first appeared on A Bowl Full of Lemons.

2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 13 Launch Pad

 

Happy Saturday friends. How are you doing with the challenge? Our homes are thanking us, for clearing out the clutter and bringing calmness to the space. So far, we’ve organized most of the house. We only have 2 spaces left.  It’s week 13 and we are clearing the clutter from our launch pads (aka mudrooms or the space where you keep the family calendar, keys, backpacks, etc). 

If you’re new to the challenge, print out the schedule and checklists below and begin on the current week. If you missed any challenges, re-visit them when you have free time. 

PRINT –> Free Challenge Kit

 

For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as a ton of inspiration and tips about the spaces we will be organizing. 

  

If you need more guidance on cleaning your house, be sure to order The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of tips and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

  

In our new home, our launch pad is near the back door. In this space, we have designated areas for our coats, bags, shoes, keys, and pet items. The launch is the place where you drop your things, when you walk in the door. It doesn’t have to be a big space and anyone can make one.

If you don’t have a designated launch pad, now’s a great time to create one for your family. You can create a launch pad in any of the following areas:

FoyerHall closetKitchenGarageLaundry Room   

By creating a space for our things, our home remains organized.  There’s no reason to bring these items into my kitchen and drop them on the counter. This system helps to eliminate piles of clutter. My kids have a place to put their things so they don’t just drop everything on the floor.  The keys are hung, backpacks have a spot, umbrellas have a basket, shoes have a tray, etc. The goal is for everything to have a place. 

  

A shoe tray keeps dirt & snow off the floor. I found this tray at Target.

    

I keep our dog walking items in this basket. It includes an umbrella, leash, and pet waste bags.

  

It’s always a great idea to have a place to keep your keys. This one is from Target.

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Below are a few examples of launch pads I created in my previous home. Be creative. The sky is the limit.

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My foyer launch pad. Details here. 

  

My garage launch pad. Details here.

  

My mudroom launch pad. Details here.

  

Launch pad in my old office. Details here.

  

Spend a little time this week creating a launch pad in your home.  Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge. Keep up the great work. You can finish all 14 challenges! I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.  Good luck. I’ll see you back next week for the final week of the challenge. Happy Organizing!

~Toni

 

The post 2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 13 Launch Pad first appeared on A Bowl Full of Lemons.

2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 12 Playroom/Toys/Hobbies

 

Hi friends. We are almost finished with the challenge. Yay! Welcome to week 12. This week is an important one. If you have kids or hobbies, Im sure this area of the home needs attention. It’s time to organize the toys or your hobbies. Let’s get started.

 

This week, we are organizing our kids toys and/or our hobbies (sewing, planning, crafts, home gym, etc). If you are new to the challenge, you can find the first 11 weeks here. It’s time to have a little fun and create an organized toy or hobby space in your home. I’m sure you can get the kids to help out this week.

If you’re new to the challenge, print out the schedule & checklists and begin on the current week.  Free Challenge Kit

 

My kids no longer play with toys, so this post is here simply to inspire you. Our “toys” are in our home gym. My family loves to exercise and that’s where we spend a lot of our free time. This is what our toy room looked like, when our kids were smaller. 

  

I always kept their toys organized in these bins (from Target). The shelf is from Ikea. I labeled the bins clearly, so there wasn’t any confusion as to where things needed to go. 

  

They picked up after themselves and it always stayed fairly clean. This is a great organizing solution families who have children in this stage of their lives. 

  

Now, our “toy” area is our home gym. Here’s a peek into the space. You can see details on this blog post. 

  

Here are few more blog posts that will inspire you to get toys organized.

Toy room organizationReading nooks for toddlersPlayroom Organization 

For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as a ton of inspiration and tips about the spaces we will be organizing. No need to log onto the computer for ideas, this manual has it all!

  

If you need more guidance on cleaning your house, be sure to pick up The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of tips and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

  

Sort through all of the toys in your house this week. Purge what your kids no longer play with. Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge. Hold yourself accountable and finish all 14 challenges! I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.  Good luck. I’ll see you back next week for the week 13 challenge. Happy Organizing!

 

The post 2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 12 Playroom/Toys/Hobbies first appeared on A Bowl Full of Lemons.

2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 11 Kids Closets

 

It’s Saturday and time for week 11 of the Home Organization Challenge. Let’s clear the clutter from our kids closets. This is a fun week where you can bring your family into the challenge with you. If you don’t have children, pick another closet to organize. It’s important to get your kids involved. Have them sort through their things, purging and donating what they no longer use, fit, or love. Spend the day with your kids and get them organized!

If you’re new to the challenge, print out the free challenge kit. It will guide you through each week. You can find it here. It has all of the weekly assignments and checklists.

 

Closet space is a precious commodity. We need to be smart with how we organize the area, but relentless with purging things we no longer use or need. Before you organize your kids closets this week, take a little time to purge things. Start fresh and claim more usable space to store the things you actually use. 

Here’s a look into my daughters organized “teen” closet. She is very good about keeping it clean and organized. She will organize it on a regular basis, without me asking. I love it!

  

She keeps travel bags, vacation miscellaneous, and out of season items in the bins on the top shelf.

    

She stores make-up bags, wallets, hats, scarves, gloves, and sun glasses in these bins. I found them at TJ Maxx.

    

She keeps her collection of backpacks in this basket. (It’s from Target).

  

When your children have an organized system set up, it’s easier for them to maintain the space. It just takes a little time and effort to help them purge the clutter and teach them how to keep it clean.

  

Here are few blog posts that will inspire you to get your Kids Closets organized.

Kids Closet OrganizationTeen Closet OrganizationBoys Closet Organization (My guest post to Home Depot Blog) 

For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as a ton of inspiration and tips about the spaces we will be organizing. No need to log onto the computer for ideas, this manual has it all!

  

If you need more guidance on cleaning your house, be sure to pick up The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of tips and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

  

This week, clear the clutter from your kids closets.  Purge what you can and bring it back to order. Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge. Hold yourself accountable and finish all 14 challenges! I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.  Good luck. I’ll see you back next week for the week 12 challenge. Happy Organizing!

 

The post 2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 11 Kids Closets first appeared on A Bowl Full of Lemons.

2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 10 Linen Closet

 

Happy Saturday, Friends. We have made it to week 10 of the challenge. We are transforming our homes, one space at a time. If you’re new to the challenge, you can find the previous weeks here. Today we are working on the linen closet or the space where you keep bedding, extra sheets, etc. Let’s tackle this project together.

 

If you’re new to the challenge, be sure to print out the free challenge kit. It will guide you through each week. You can find it here. It has all of the weekly assignments and checklists.

    

My linen closet is small and oddly shaped so I had to be creative with the organization in here. It also doubles as a utility closet. 

  

I store extra pillow cases, towels, curtains, and cleaning miscellaneous in this space. You won’t see bedding because we keep the extras in our bedrooms.

  

This shelf is used to store essential oil diffusers, vacuum attachments, sewing miscellaneous and cleaning products for this wing of the house. (It’s above our garage).

  

I store extra linens on this shelf. The bins are labeled curtains, hand towels, (seasonal) pillow cases, and microfiber cloths.

   

The bins are from Target.

  

I love this closet. I have a place for everything and it’s easy to find what I’m looking for quickly.

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Here are few blog posts that will inspire you to get your Linen Closets organized.

Linen Closet OrganizationLinen Closet (Guest Post)Farmhouse Linen Closet 

For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as a ton of inspiration and tips about the spaces we will be organizing. No need to log onto the computer for ideas, this manual has it all!

  

If you need more guidance on cleaning your house, be sure to pick up The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of tips and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

  

Purge your linen closet this week. It should only take one afternoon. You can do it! Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge.  Hold yourself accountable and finish all 14 challenges!  Good luck. I’ll see you back next week for the week 11 challenge. Happy Organizing!

 

The post 2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 10 Linen Closet first appeared on A Bowl Full of Lemons.

2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 9 Dining Room

 

Hello, fellow organizing junkies. Welcome to week 9 of the Home Organization Challenge! We are getting things done and have completed so much already. So far, we have organized 8 areas of the home. You can find them here. It’s week 9 and we are cleaning & organizing the dining room (or space where your kitchen table is located).

  

Our dining room is an open space with only 3 walls (all windows). It’s a simple and decluttered space. There’s no place to store anything so we just have the table and chairs here. If you’re into minimalism, this room is for you. If you have things to organize, keep reading.

  

My table and chairs are from Steven Shell Living. The decor is from www.frenchmercantilehome.com.

  

I have shared many dining room organization posts in the past. If you are lucky enough to have a space to keep your dining room things such as napkins, place mats, extra dishes, etc, definitely check out these posts. There is so much inspiration.

  

Clear the clutter from your dining room this week. Remove all of the things you haven’t used in over a year. Wipe up those dust bunnies and deep clean the table legs and chairs. 

 

Here are a few blog post links that will inspire you to get started in your dining room.

1. Dining Room Organization2. Organizing Heirlooms & Collectibles3. Decorating the dining room4. Dining Room Rug Makeover5. 2018 Dining Room Organization 

If you’re new to the challenge, be sure to print out the free challenge kit. It will guide you through each week. You can find it here. If you’re a visual person, you’ll want to get the challenge companion guide and cleaning book. 

  

This should be a simple week. You can do it. I will see you back here next week for a brand new challenge. Have a great weekend.

 

The post 2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 9 Dining Room first appeared on A Bowl Full of Lemons.

2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 8 Living Room

 

It’s week 8 of the 2020 Home Organization Challenge. So far, we have completed the laundry room, home office, kitchen, pantry, master closet, master bedroom, and bathroom.  This week, we are clearing the clutter from the living room (or family room). 

  

If you’re new to our challenge, be sure to print out the free challenge kit. It’s your guide for all 14 weeks. You can find it here. If you’re a visual person, you’ll want to get the challenge companion guide and cleaning book. Both of these are essential tools that will help you get your homes organized and cleaned from top to bottom. There are lots of pictures to help guide you through the challenges.

Every winter, after the holidays, I clear the clutter from my living room. I empty everything from the baskets and drawers and purge things we no longer use. It’s always nice to have a fresh start after the holidays.

  

The coffee table is a great place to store things. I keep votives and candles under ours. I also have game boards in another basket.

  

We have a chest of drawers to store living room items. (The chest is from TJ Maxx).

  

The top drawer contains my essential oils.

  

I store candles in this drawer.

  

The final drawer contains family games & puzzles.

  

It’s completely fine to display home decor in your living room, as long as it doesn’t take over all visible surfaces. Get rid of trinkets that no longer bring you joy. Simplify as much as you can.

  

I love architectural salvage pieces.

  

Much of our home decor is from The French Mercantile.

  

Use baskets to store throw blankets and kids toys. You can also keep a blanket or a decorative rug over the back of your sofa.

  

Sources: My sofas & arm chairs are from Ikea. The coffee table is from Restoration Hardware. The curtains are from Pottery Barn. The wall color is Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams. The decorative pieces are from French Mercantile.

  

We have a cocktail cabinet that contains liquor, wine, & essentials that go with it. We have everything needed to make a mixed drink in this cabinet. It’s from TJ Maxx.

   

Concentrate on the living room this week, decluttering and purging things you no longer use. Give it a deep clean and move the furniture around (if you have time). It’s a great way to get those dust bunnies that are hiding. Create an inviting and cozy space while eliminating the clutter.

  

Here are several blog posts that will inspire you to get your Living Room organized.

2018 Living Room Organization2019 Living Room OrganizationOrganizing Heirlooms & Collectibles Organizing the BookshelfOrganizing DVD’sOrganizing Magazines2015 Living Room Organization 2013 Living Room Organization

I’ll see you back here next week for another challenge. Have a great weekend. 

 

The post 2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 8 Living Room first appeared on A Bowl Full of Lemons.

2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 7 Bathrooms

 

Hello! It’s Saturday and time for another challenge. Before we begin, I would like to congratulate you on a job well done. You’ve made it half way through the 14 week challenge. This week, we are decluttering, cleaning, and organizing the bathroom. If you’re new to the challenge, we have completed the laundry room, home office, kitchen, pantry, master closet, and master bedroom. We are moving along swiftly!

  

To get your weekly homework, be sure to print out the free challenge kit. It has a checklist and guide for every week of the challenge. You can find it here. If you’re a visual person, you’ll want to get the challenge companion guide and cleaning book. Both of these are essential tools that will help you get your homes organized and cleaned from top to bottom. There are lots of pictures to help guide you through the challenges.

My bathroom is clear of all clutter. The countertops are clean and organized. The floors are clear and the bathroom products are put away.

  

I keep a basket on my counter to store my phone and watch chargers. It keeps the space clutter free.

  

I love this drawer organizer for my narrow bathroom vanity drawers.

  

Store like items together.

   

You can find more of my favorite organizers here.

  

My makeup vanity is free of clutter and messes. My trifold mirror & tissue cover are from Pottery Barn and the perfume tray flowers, & make up mirror are from TJ Maxx. 

  

I keep my makeup tidy using this drawer organizer.

    

I keep towels folded neatly on this rack from Pottery Barn.

  

I hope you gained inspiration to get your bathroom organized this week. Don’t forget to declutter the shower and wash your bath mats. Have a great week.

  

If you want more inspiration, be sure to check out this bathroom organization post. It even has a video of my master bathroom in our old home. I’ll see you back here next week. We’ll be organizing the living room.

 

The post 2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 7 Bathrooms first appeared on A Bowl Full of Lemons.

2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 6 Master Bedroom

 

Hi, friends. Welcome back to the 2021 Home Organization Challenge. If you’re new to the challenge, so far we have completed 5 weeks – the  laundry room, home office, kitchen, pantry, and master closet.  You can find all of them here. This week, we are cleaning, decluttering, and organizing the master bedroom.

  

If you haven’t done so, print out the free challenge kit. It has the checklist and tasks to complete each week. You can find it here. 

  

If you’re a visual person, you’ll want to get the challenge companion guide and cleaning book. Both of these are essential tools that will help you get your homes organized and cleaned from top to bottom. There are lots of pictures to help guide you through the challenges.

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Our master bedroom is clear of all clutter. I have eliminated all unnecessary items from the table tops and drawers. Take a few minutes to do the same. If you don’t use it, need it, or love it, let it go. * We painted the walls mindful gray by Sherwin Williams.

  

The bedding is inviting and comfy with a fluffy duvet cover & pillows from Target (Fieldcrest). We spend so much time in our beds, it’s really worth the investment to get something comfortable and visually appealing. My cream pillow is from Bed, Bath and Beyond.

  

I use white bedding all year long. It brightens up the space and makes me feel like I’m in a luxurious hotel. I wash the sheets weekly and the blankets monthly. I always get asked how I keep the bedding so white. My tip: Never get into bed without a shower and clean pjs on. We don’t take naps, so this is an easy rule to follow in our house. (The bed was purchased at At Home).

  

Our master closet is large enough for all of our clothes, so we keep bed linens in our dresser. The drawers are organized by type (sheets, duvet covers, throw pillow covers, etc).

   

My nightstand contains my most used bedtime items. I organized it with drawer bins. The dresser and nightstands are from Restoration Hardware.

  

You can find similar organizers here and here.

  

We have a seating area to relax while reading or watching television.

  

Add some personality to your bedroom. Whether it’s an heirloom quilt, a beautiful bouquet of roses, or a wedding picture, make it yours.

  

Get some more master bedroom inspiration here. 

  

Take some time this week to clear the clutter from your master bedroom. You deserve to unwind in a chaos free zone. I’ll see you back here next week for another organizing challenge. PS. If you share, be sure to tag me in your social media posts @abowlfulloflemons and use the hashtag #abfolchallenge. You can find me on Instagram  here. 

 

The post 2021 Home Organization Challenge: Week 6 Master Bedroom first appeared on A Bowl Full of Lemons.