Hall Closet Re-Vamp!

It's time for a little more organization around my house! I have had a great time reading about different ideas from other bloggers! You all really do have a great big ole creative side!! I'm also very happy that my last organization post was so well liked by fellow bloggers!

Today's post isn't as grand and snazzy, but it has to do with a small space, and I think that a little organization goes a long way when you need to store multiple items! I did a "before" and "after" of my medicine/body wash/catch-all shelf in my hall closet. It was really a disaster before I got started in there! I threw a lot of things out that were expired which is always a plus and made me feel much better about what I have on hand! 

This is the "before" picture. If you notice, there is an empty spot on the left side of the shelf. This is where I keep small containers filled with little odd -n- end items. I have all my band-aids in one and all of our medical tape, Gauls, wraps, and patches in the other, and then I have one that is empty which works great for holding things I may use up quickly but not need out in the open.

The rest of the items in here are just shoved around and a hot mess! We just "scoot" things our of our way to get to what we need! I knew I needed to clean this space out to hold my new body washes I picked up at Bath and Body Works for my birthday! As it sits in this picture, that wasn't happening!!

 
This is my shelf now! It's more organized and functional! You should see all the bottles neatly aligned in the back! I placed the medicines we use on a more routine basis in the front and all extras in the back. You can see my containers on the side in the picture. I love how they stack on the shelf so easily! I also have a round caddy in here full of nail clippers, beauty items and other things that can be easily transported from room to room if needed. It really is a great time saver!

I was real happy with my project once it was completed! I had been putting off doing this for a while. It's always a great feeling to get rid of things that aren't needed anymore and re-vamp your storage area! I think we all can agree on that!

Be sure to leave me a comment and let me know what you have organized in your house this week! I would love some more inspiration for my own house!!!


From my front porch to yours,

It's Organization Time!

It may not be spring time yet, but it's never too early to start "Spring Cleaning!" I have noticed a lot of my fellow bloggers showing off their new and creative ideas for organization this month. I decided today that I needed to get my butt in gear and get started as well! Not to mention, there's so many little ones sick this month in my area (you have no idea how many kids float through my house on a weekly basis) that I decided there was no time like the present to start cleaning, organizing and "taking out the trash" around the Spencer household!

I decided to dive right in and get my bathroom in order for today. Our bathroom is rather small so it didn't take a whole lot of time, but I must say, it looks much better now than when I started! I wish it was a little bigger; but hey, you work with what you got!

I mainly did some straightening up and threw out some items that should have honestly been discarded long ago. I also gathered my small items and made sure the sink, door knobs, toilet and baskets were cleaned and sanitized.

I keep a small tray on the back of my toilet for items I use in my shower, facial cleansers and my hairspray! I keep other items that I need on hand but not for everyday use in the cabinet and under the sink. I also have a shower caddy for shampoo, body washes, and other items along with hooks behind my door for bath accessories!

This neat little organizer was a gift from my mom for my birthday. I knew instantly what I wanted to use it for! We purchased this at Catos. It's actually for jewelry, but I decided to hang it on the back of my bathroom door to catch my little things that normally get lost if I just set them in my tray!

Right now, I have make-up and hair samples, barrettes, tweezers, a few small make-up items, and other little things it the pockets. I love the fact that it is see-through so I always know what is in each pocket! The sections also zip closed and are divided into three parts! The bottom roll has two larger pockets which is going to work great for my concealer and favorite eyeliner!The absolute best part about this little hanger is that it is double sided! I have just as much room on the front as the back! It's such a great little organizer!!

I have it hanging from a Command hook and I also have my hair ties on the hook as well on this neat little round holder that came with them! It's like a big key ring for your ponytail holders! I love it so much!

It feels wonderful to know that I have started cleaning my home for 2013! Now, I just need to start tackling the other rooms!! I think my son's room might be my next big project. We'll have to see!


From my front porch to yours,



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Show Your Pride ~ Team Stockings

Whew! It has been such a long weekend! Christmas will be here before you know it. Thankfully, all my present are bought, thanks to a whole weekend of shopping and not blogging! I have so many great things to share with everyone ... I honestly have no idea where to begin!

This post is all about stockings! I have a few that I put out every year but only one of them is ever fully on Christmas morning, Logan's of course. My husband found this neat stocking that was made like a hoodie sweatshirt while we were shopping at Big Lots. He was so excited to show me because it is Kentucky Blue (for those of you that don't know, we are die hard Kentucky Wildcats fans). So, being crafty and in the holiday mood, I was like okie dokie, let's get it and I'll make it into a Kentucky stocking!

The stocking before I added anything to it. I really like these "as is". They are totally cute!

The back of the stocking. See the hoodie at the top? Way cute!

White glitter craft glue from Wal Mart for the writing.

Ah, perfect! Not bad for a first time stocking!

I'm really happy with the way this turned out! The white glitter glue really dried to a nice finish and made the whole stocking sparkle!

Our Big Lots had these stockings in red and blue. You can use any stocking that you like. You can even you a plain one to add your favorite team logo too. This is all about creativity and what you want to do with your stocking!

I'm sure you could also incorporate different elements on to your stocking as well. You can use different colors of glitter glue or even sew fabric that has your team logo onto the stocking. You may even want to use things that you have like stickers or something of that nature to decorate your stocking.

Always remember, the best craft projects start with a little imagination. Don't be scared to try something! If it's not what you hoped for at first, don't get discouraged ... tackle it again with what you have in play!

I hope everyone has a great week! Be on the lookout for more fun craft ideas! Oh yeah, before I forget! Be sure to stop back in on Sunday for my first Southern Sundays post! I will be sharing my favorite recipes!

Countdown to Christmas

This year, I have been looking for new ways to get my family in the Christmas spirit all month long. I must admit, Pinterest has played a huge part in my craziness this year as well! I have found a ton of ideas for things to do this year as well as crafts to try next year. I am so addicted!

My project this Christmas is a great alternative I found to the traditional advent calendar. My fellow blogger friend Amy has posted a Christmas bucket over on her blog (which I found via Pinterest) that I instantly fell in love with!

Amy's Blog -- feel free to go and check out her blog and be sure to check out her bucket! She is so creative!

I must admit, my little basket isn't a snazzy as hers, but I quickly threw this together just to see how much fun my soon to be 10 year old son would have opening different things each day leading up to Christmas. So far, he's had a blast with this countdown project so next year, I will be able to add a little more detail to our basket! Ah, a new Spencer family tradition in the works!

This is my completed basket! I think it turned out great for a first time project!

To start out, I went to our local Dollar General and purchased a little Christmas basket along with a cheap roll of wrapping paper. I also cut out squares of construction paper in both red and green to write my messages on for the envelope days.

These are the items I bought for my gifts to include in my basket. The smaller things I wrapped just like a present and placed them in my basket. The Gingerbread House was put up in a safe place until Logan opened the envelope for this project. Luckily for him, it was what he opened on day three! He was so excited!

Here's another shot of the small gifts I purchased. You can do as many gifts as you want and as many envelopes as you want. I just chose to get a few small items this year as a trial run. Next year, my basket will have more gifts, I'm sure, and less envelopes. I got a coloring book, a reindeer paper chain craft, and a pack of Holiday Tic-Tacs.

These are the messages I wrote on the construction paper for Logan to open for each day that he didn't chose a present for the basket. I will include a complete list of things you can include in my blog post.

As you can see, this is pretty simple to assemble. I put mine together in under an hour! Here's some different things you may wish to include in your basket or bucket or whatever you use to place your creation in! Be as creative as you want! This project is totally up to you!

The ideas listed below do not have to be new items. You can wrap up things you already own as far as favorite Christmas movies and books. You may also want to consider wrapping one or two favorites and purchasing one new to add to your collection! The possibilities are endless as far as what you can create!

Also, if you have more than one child, you may want to add a some ideas they can work on together as well as some things each child can get for that day's project. You can put as little or as much into this as you wish!


Gift Ideas:

• Christmas movies
• Christmas books
• Christmas crafts
• Gingerbread house
• Christmas coloring book

 Envelope Ideas:

• Bake Christmas cookies
• Go look at Christmas lights
• Make homemade ornaments
• Wrap presents as a family
• Mail Christmas cards
• Take a family Christmas picture
• Watch a Christmas movie together
• Write a letter to Santa
• Make a Christmas cake or cupcakes

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Be sure to add your own creative touches when putting this project together for your family! I hope you children love it as much as my son has! Be sure to let me know how yours turns out!

I hope everyone has a great Thursday!