Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Challenge: Complete!


WOOHOO! The Org Junkie 29 Day Organizational Challenge is COMPLETE!

Aaaaaaand {drum roll} the room is exactly where I wanted it to be at this point!!
It is not completely ready for Baby J to arrive {obviously}...but I completed the goal I had for the room, which was to empty it of everything we did not need for Baby J and the guest bed.

BEFORE
 AFTER







BEFORE
AFTER



 BEFORE
AFTER


Obviously, I do have  more goals for the next few months.
March:
* baby shower!
* clean room and touch up paint
* add shelving and organization to the closet
* bring clothes/towels/blankets down from attic
* have recliner cleaned and moved into room
April:
* move bed out and move crib in
* add ceiling fan
* decorate for Baby J


Here are the challenge summary questions from The Organizing Junkie...
1. What space did you decide to organize and why? Our guest room, have to change it to a nursery for Baby J {due May 10}!

2.  What steps did you take to ensure you completed the space within the 29 day timeline? I made notes in my calendar and worked a little bit each day, as our schedule permitted.

3.  What was the hardest part of the challenge for you and how did you overcome it? I have 2... 1. The hubs not taking care of his "stuff" in the room. 2. Finding a place for everything that came out of the room.

4. What did you do with the “stuff” you were able to purge out of your newly organized space? 1. photographed and posted online to sell, 2. prepared for our MOPS Swap, 3. relocated to other closets/rooms/attic/garage

5.  Tell me one of your proudest moments during this challenge? COMPLETION! ...being one step closer to having the room ready for Baby J.

6.  Explain any organizing “tools” you used to help you create additional space and to establish some limits and boundaries? Here is what I will be doing: - re-purposing the dresser and bins from other areas in the closet for organization, - adding shelving in closet

7.  What is ONE piece of advice you’d give to someone else to encourage them on their organizational journey? Do not be overwhelmed. Even if you have a big area, pick a small section to start with- empty a drawer or box. You can take small steps to complete a big goal!





Friday, February 24, 2012

Preschool Love

Here are a few other
Pinned it, Did it Items
from Valentine's Day...
these are all how
SBJ spread the preschool love.

"We hope you have a BALL"
in all of the kids' treat bags

"Thank you for teaching me
all the 'WRITE' stuff"
for his teachers
with a pen, pad of paper, and candy.
Inspired by this

"I think you are a real gem"
Ring Pop Valentine's for
his 4 special girlfriends.
  {created all by myself!}



 Thank you, pinterest!

Almost there!

WooHoo! We are almost where I want to be with this challenge! My main goal for it is to get everything out of the room that does not belong for our new little boy...and guess what? We are SO CLOSE!
Here are the latest photos...
 All that is left a few things for The Hubs to decide on {and if he doesn't...into the garage they go!}. The bed will go, but we need for guests a little while longer.


The dresser made it into the closet and I think it will be a good addition. My {very handy} dad is going to work on some other shelving in there and we are going to get bins to help organize!
 I have commissioned a friend to work on curtains that match the new bedding we picked out... And we have other crafty-creative friends thinking about wall art for the room.






Continued thanks to the Org Junkie for the challenge and the tips!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

New Nursery

I registered online 
for our first items for
Baby Boy #2!

We wanted him to
have his own nursery decor...
we {well, I but hubs is awesome and let me have my way} chose
from The Land of Nod!


What a great way to start
getting some NEW things for 
this sweet boy!


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Caesar Chicken Pasta


 Since I posted our Valentine's Muffin Tin Meals last week, I decided to share the dinner recipe. It is so delicious!

Caesar Chicken Pasta
Ingredients:
7oz cooked penne pasta
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
1 bottle creamy Caesar dressing
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup chopped bell peppers
6oz shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Caesar croutons (crushed or whole)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Combine first 6 ingredients.
Pour into large baking dish, top with croutons and parmesan cheese.
Cover and bake 30 minutes.
We generally serve with crusty rolls and a Caesar salad!


ps...sorry no picture, will take one and add next time we have it!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Making Progress

NOW we are getting somewhere! YAY!


Everything is out of the closet, except for stuff for our new sweet boy.There is so much potential in the closet...I am hoping to add more storage solutions and incorporate the dresser.

Everything is off the walls, except for a calendar for guests. We need to wrap up the wall hangings and take them safely to storage.
 
Almost everything has been taken to storage or the garage. There are a few more piles...one is {current}holiday decor I need to deal with, another is for the hubs to take a look at, and one more for my mom to check out. 

I will admit that the top drawer of the dresser is still full of stuff that I need to figure out what to do with and were to put it.

Other items that will need to go {eventually}: the bed, the small shelf in front of the window, the curtains, the side table with attached lamp, and our safe needs to be moved into our room. 






More thanks to the Org Junkie for the challenge and the tips! 

Valentine's Gift

Thanks to Pinterest,
I made several Valentine's
gifts and treats!

I found the "Love" message board
I made this one for the hubs.

 Mud Pie Studio listed
{101...whew, that's alot---and they are cute!}
I modified the Rolo "Bomb" idea
that she found here
as a sweet treat for the hubs from SBJ. 
 

 Next week, 
I will share the other items
we did for SBJ's preschool!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Valentine's Day Meals

We waited to do 
our Muffin Tin meals
until today because 
I knew I was going to do
special Valentine's lunch and dinner
for SBJ.

 For lunch we used our heart tin.
SBJ had
~ heart shaped PB&J,
~ special Vday M&M cookie,
~ watermelon,
~ baby goldfish,
~ strawberries.

 For snack we used a pink muffin cup
and new Valentine's cup.
SBJ had
~ heart shaped fruit snacks
~ water.
 

For dinner we used a special heart plate
with a few red and pink muffin cups.
SBJ had
~ chicken caesar pasta,
~ strawberries and watermelon, 
~ special brownie with Vday M&Ms, 
~ salad.

Happy Valentine's Day from our family to yours!

Muffintinmom.com

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Challenging Challenge

This challenge is going slower than I had hoped. February is a super busy month {really, what month isn't busy...}!

So far, I have only gathered items that I hope to sell, photographed them, and posted them online. Thankfully, I have sold a few things and have a plan for moving the boxes out of the room {with the help of the hubs}.

My main focus for the challenge is getting everything out of the room. Finding a new "home" for it all...either in my home, another person's home, a donation center, or the trash!

 These are the "GET OUT OF HERE NOW" items. The boxes will be moved to the garage this weekend. I will work on other items that I know I can relocate this weekend...hope for a much bigger update next week!



These are organizing tools I have gathered from other areas of the house that were not being used to their full potential! I look forward to finding a new place for them and using them more efficiently!

















Thank you to the Org Junkie for sponsoring this challenge!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Super Lunch

SBJ's Muffin Tin Lunch
was inspired by the
Super Bowl yesterday.

None of our teams
were in the game...
so we just enjoyed 
time with family and friends,
a few commercials,
and half-time.

And, now our Super Lunch!
"End Zone Marker" Carrots
(sortof) Football shaped PB&J
Chips and Dip
Yogurt with "post-game confetti" sprinkles 
Party-favorite brownie bites
Muffin Tin Monday at Muffintinmom.com

Friday, February 3, 2012

New Friday

I've got a new idea 
for my Friday posts...
I recently joined the 
Pinterest craze
{warning: it is awesome}.

So, on random Fridays
I am going to post
things that I "pin"
and actually do!
I am super stoked
because there are 
so many amazing ideas out there!

Have you joined the craze?
What do you typically "pin"?