The latest from our Heart and Soul

Back to school is just around the corner, bringing tight schedules and busy mornings with it. In my house, this means kids fighting for time in the bathroom, and finding my 7 year old's brush that has gone missing yet again! Some clever ideas on how to organize your kids’ bathroom could really help everyone get out the door in the morning, on time and with fewer battles.

Traditionally, the second bathroom is a small space and tends to lack suitable storage. The counter space can get messy real quick, so it is especially important to use vertical spaces…the door, the walls of the shower, the mirror, and any nook and cranny you can find!

Let’s assume you have 2-3 children sharing one bathroom and you’re in need of simple solutions to allow the typical grooming to happen without too much drama. How to organize the bathroom? First off, no hair blowers, straighteners, or make-up allowed in this space. There simply isn’t enough space for it all. Instead, give each child a portable “bathroom caddy” to store their toiletries. They can keep either a plastic or mesh version in their rooms when not in use.

Whether toiletry caddies will work for your kids or not, there is still the need to find storage solutions for additional supplies, especially the necessary items to do quick clean ups.

How to Organize the Bathroom - Shower/Bath Supplies: If bottles of shampoo and soap are “spilling” into your tub, use the shower wall space to keep the mess at bay.

• Suction storage baskets are easy to clean, and easy to reposition.
• If you still have little ones, there are tons of mesh hanging bag options for toy storage.
• Power lock hooks work well to hang face cloths on the back of the shower wall to dry.

How to Organize the Bathroom – Towels: On the floor, on the bed, in the tub and sometimes even in the toilet!

• Store a few rolled towels in a bucket or basket on the back of the toilet.
• A wine rack storage system mounted to the wall is the perfect solution for hand and face towels.
• Install a wall of hooks rather than the standard towel racks. Purchase wooden letters at your local craft and have your kids paint their initial.

How to Organize the Bathroom - Teeth Care: Toothpaste drops and splatters on the mirror are inevitable, but finding a vertical space on the wall above the sink can lessen the mess!

• Try suction cup storage to keep paste and brushes clean and off the counter.

How to Organize the Bathroom - Under the Sink:

• Any of the hardware store roll-out organizers create easy to access storage for toilet paper and cleaning supplies.

How to Organize the Bathroom – Grooming: If you have tweens or teens, “primping products” take over every horizontal space imaginable. Besides the personalized caddies, there are other solutions to store these items in this small space.

• Inexpensive flat-backed self adhesive cups that easily mount inside cupboard doors.
• Hang a clear view shoe pocket organizer on the back of the door.
• Use drawer dividers to keep the little things from cluttering your vanity.
• Use a dry erase marker to write grooming reminders for the kids on the bathroom mirror. Smiley faces and I love you’s are nice once in a while too!

Get your kids involved when talking about how to organize the bathroom and adopt one or more of these simple storage solutions before the first week of school. It’s always a good idea to iron out the kinks before the big day! If you want to view my favorite find, check out this image from Better Homes and Gardens. A few IKEA kitchen organizers, and some magnetic paint will give you this ultra functioning bathroom door!

It’s no secret that my favorite room in my house is the kitchen, but I’ll be honest-organizing the kitchen is something I have to really work at. With such busy lives, we don’t have time to be rummaging through the kitchen to find things; we want them right at our fingertips, ready to use when we need it. The kitchen really is a workspace, and cooking so much easier and more enjoyable when you know where everything is. I admit that I’m not the most organized person, and keeping my kitchen streamlined takes a lot of effort, especially when I have a teenager who often puts things away in the wrong spot. Over the years, however,  I have found that these tips really help me organize the kitchen.

Organize the Kitchen: Location and Groupings

Pots and pans by the stove, glasses by the sink; it seems so logical You want to reduce the amount of walking around that you have to do while you’re cooking. Some things may be obvious, some may take a little adjusting to in order to figure out just the right spot, but for an organized kitchen it’s worth taking the time to figure it out. I like to keep all my baking equipment together, all my plastic containers together in one large drawer, casserole dishes in one cupboard, etc. That way I always know where everything is. One thing we discovered that I find helps is to store all the plastic container bottoms in one drawer and the tops in another. Not only does it help keep the plastics under control but it cuts down on madly searching for the matching lid to a container. I also like to keep a jar of wooden spoons and basting brushes close to the stove so they are always close at hand. We also keep one drawer dedicated to storing aluminum foil, parchment paper, wax paper, cling film, etc. It really comes in handy when I’m packing lunches!

Organize the Kitchen: Make a Coffee Station

A friend of mind keeps a section of counter completely dedicated to her espresso machine, with all the accessories and coffee close by. In my house, we have a section of counter that houses the kettle and drip coffee maker, with the cupboard above stocked with filters, coffee, tea, and everything one would ever need to make a hot drink. It’s one of the most used spots in the kitchen! Also, it’s handy when someone wants a coffee and I’m doing the dishes because we aren’t running into each other.

Organize the Kitchen: Be Container Smart

Over the years I’ve tried various ways to store spices and I’m finding that 125 ml sized mason jars are is the most efficient. The jars stack, wash well, are the perfect size to easily fit measuring spoons in them, are clear so I can easily see what they contain, and when labeled with Mabel’s Labels, they are organizing nirvana. Use larger mason jars for things like lentils, beans, dried fruit, chocolate chips, or rice. For my baking cupboard, I recently discovered Rubbermaid modular containers and I absolutely love them! They are the perfect size for all my baking supplies, and since they stack, they free up a lot of space in my cupboards. Also it’s really easy to find what I need instead of digging through all kinds of clutter in the pantry.

Organize the Kitchen: De-Clutter

Do you really use that toaster oven or has it sat in the cupboard for the past three years? About once a year, go through all the cupboards and get rid of gadgets that you never use or that are broken or damaged. Decide how often you use your appliances and store them accordingly: on the counter or within reach if you can’t live without it, in a cupboard if you use it occasionally, in the garage if it’s something you only pull out once or twice a year. Also, ask yourself if you really, really need it. If not, maybe it’s time to give it someone else.

Organize the Kitchen: Odds and Ends Together

There are lots of little gadgets in a kitchen: cookie cutters, cake decorating supplies, blades for food processors, Popsicle maker sticks, bits and pieces of things that belong with various appliances, lids and other odds and ends. To organize the kitchen, gather them together, label, and store in stackable plastic containers. This will save you the trouble of rooting around through the cupboards when you need them, or better yet, keep them from getting damaged by being banged around in the drawers.

Organize the Kitchen: Be Recipe Smart

If there’s anything I hate, it is when I plan a menu for the week and at crunch time I can’t remember where I put the recipe. While most of my cookbooks and magazines are stored in a large bookshelf in the kitchen, the most recent often get lost in the sea of culinary reading. I recently created a spot on my counter, next to the microwave, for the books I am cooking from the most, so they are close at hand. Want to be an organizing maven? Bookmark the recipe when you find it, and there’s no guess work whatsoever. Even better? Write the menu on a calendar and post it on the fridge.

Organize the Kitchen: Purge the Pantry

The pantry should get a good purge about once a year. Throw away expired food, donate food that you will likely never eat, and take stock of what you have so that you can use it up. Things such as flours, nuts, seeds, and grains (flax and wheat germ) should be stored in the freezer. Group items together in your pantry, like dedicating a shelf to baking products if you bake a lot, another to canned goods, and so on. (Editor’s note: checkout EverythingMom’s guide: Healthy Up Your Pantry.)

Organize the Kitchen: Make Use of All the Space

The most unused space in a kitchen is that section between the top of your cupboards and the ceiling. Organize the kitchen and get the most out of this space by storing small items in baskets or containers, or even larger, rarely used items up there.

The idea of organizing your kitchen may seem overwhelming at first, but if you just start with one drawer at a time, it’s far less daunting. What I love about it is I never know what I’m going to find! Suddenly that long lost digital meat thermometer shows up, or I discover my Popsicle molds hidden way in the back of a cupboard. The best thing about organizing the kitchen is that in the end, I know exactly where everything is when I need it.

Well,that is until my teenager rearranges it all over again on me.

There is nothing more frustrating than rummaging through a mound of clothes searching for that the perfect shirt to match the skirt you are wearing.  As you frantically move from one pile to another, you realize you’re running late for work, again!  You vow to be more organized tomorrow, if you could just find that shirt…

Our bedrooms tend to rate low on the household to-do list.  Why?  Because it is too easy to close the door and call this space “off limits” to guests and children.  Over time the bedroom becomes the dumping ground for items that don’t belong. Has your room become the storage space for toys, laundry, random paper piles, or craft supplies?

Let’s not forget that this is where you begin and end each day, so creating a clutter-free sanctuary allows you to go to sleep with a peaceful mind, and wake up each morning with enthusiasm!

Make every space count in this private space, and be savvy when choosing storage items and organizing systems to organize the bedroom. Choosing a small 3-drawer dresser rather than a nightstand provides dust-free storage for books and personal items.  Skip the night table altogether and free up some floor space by installing a floating shelf and a wall mount reading light.  If you are in the market for a new bedroom suite, there are some multifunctional pieces out there worth looking into.

If purchasing a new bedroom suite isn’t going to happen anytime soon, you need to work with what you have.  This can be a challenge, especially if you have a king sized bed monopolizing the room and a love for shoes!  Not to worry, there are plenty of cost effective storage solutions out there to organize the bedroom.  Check out my “top five” and where to get them.

1. Drawer dividers
2. Stacking trays for jewelry etc…
3. Closetmaid cubeicals
4. Shelf dividers
5. Shoe storage
6. Over the door organizers

If you are looking to maximize your closet space and change the way you get dressed every morning, take stock first.  You’ll experience more success if you sort through the 80% of clothing that rarely get worn.  Yes, the 80/20 rule also applies to our wardrobe ladies, so be ruthless!  Now you can purchase a few necessities to store what you deemed worthy of keeping.  Here’s a few organizing tips when it comes to maintaining order in your closet.

• Create a system for dirty clothes and dry-cleaning. (preferably not on the floor)
• Make certain you can easily access daily items, and utilize under-bed storage or that top shelf for out of season apparel.
• Categorize items to make selecting an outfit easier.  (casual vs. work wear, color coordinated )
• What about the other stuff?  Purses, scarves, belts, lingerie, shoes, ties, books, and jewelry can be the worst clutter culprits.  Designate storage for all of your accessories.
• With each change in season, sort through your closet and dresser.  If you find it difficult to let clothing go, try the reverse hanger trick.

Maybe now you won’t have to keep your bedroom under lock and key, for fear someone may unveil your secret.  Maybe now, you can walk into this room with a smile on your face, and a feeling of peace.

I love to cook. I love to bake. It’s probably because I really love to eat, but beyond that, I do enjoy creating with food.

There are certain kitchen essentials that are a must. An investment piece like my KitchenAid mixer was a want that has become a need and my dream appliance is a double oven. This article lists a slow cooker and immersion blender as must-haves and I completely agree.

Your kitchen likely already has measuring cups, measuring spoons, mixing bowls – items that you have collected over time, were wedding gifts or hand me downs.

But for those just starting out and learning to cook, or those who are trying to do it more often, there are a few smaller, simpler kitchen essentials that will quickly become your best friend – no matter how novice you may be.

Here are my four recommended kitchen essentials:

Garlic press
Sure, you can just chop garlic very finely, but having a good garlic press makes adding 6 cloves of garlic to your favourite chili a snap, or quickly adding it to olive oil to brush on crusty bread.

Santoku knife
When you first start out with cooking, you may think a knife is just a knife. But insert your best ‘you think that’s a knife? THIS is a knife!’ from Crocodile Dundee and that’s how I feel about my Santoku. A good, sharp knife is a kitchen essential because when you are chopping, dicing, slicing and more, you want something that works with you, not against you.

Wooden Cutting board
I have two styles of cutting board. One is a BPA-free plastic that I use for meats and fish, the other is wooden.

I actually have two wooden cutting boards. The first is left on my counter always and is for meal preparation, quick cutting, chopping, slices apples for the kids and so on. The second is a pastry board that is only used to roll dough.

Why do I think a wooden cutting board is an essential kitchen tool? I love the natural quality of it, the way it cleans easily and the way it looks on the kitchen counter. Not to mention it’s a large size and gets a lot of use.

Citrus Reamer
I have been calling mine a juicer, but apparently the correct term is reamer. This inexpensive kitchen tool is a perfect way to get all of the juice out of your lemons and limes for use in salad dressings, desserts and beverages. This was a recent addition for me and I’m left thinking ‘where has this been all my life?!’

Do you have any small kitchen essentials that are a must have? Are there any you have that surprised you with their usefulness?