Day 9: Craft Supplies Organized=A Little Stress Relief

Just joining in?  Read the entire series {HERE}.

Welcome to Day 9!  I am ready to show you the white cabinet I turned into craft supply storage!  I am so excited about it not only because it is incredibly organized, but pretty too!

Being organized is such stress-reliever.  Before when I would go to get supplies for a project out, I would go to 3 different places in my home.   I also would keep items I had purchased recently in the bags they came in--so I had bags from JoAnn's everywhere.  No more!  I completely took everything out of bags, boxes, and containers and sorted, purged, and organized it all!  Remember this white cabinet before:

Now, with all of my craft supplies and fun-ness:

Isn't it fantastic?   I lined the back of the cabinet with cute wrapping paper and used paper tape (from the same set I used on the computer armoire that I posted about yesterday) to line the edge of the shelves.  I already had the photo boxes and the navy blue fabric containers.   Some of the containers are empty!  Empty!  That is how much storage this one set of cabinets has given me!   If you are wondering about the other cabinets, I will posting on those another day this month. :)  All those photos and albums?  On the floor in my basement.  A huge, heaping pile.  But I'm NOT letting it get me stressed because I know I will get to it soon and all of the photos, school papers, and gift wrap/supplies will be stored in the white cabinet next to my craft supplies!  Of course I will show all of this to you when I am done!

Soon I will put labels on all of these baskets and containers, as well as share with you what it is inside all of them.  I just couldn't get it done to be able to post for you today.  I had parent-teacher conferences today until 7:00 (and I am posting everyday!!!)--I'm sure you understand.   :)   I will be sure to show you all of the fun labels I will be creating for this project when I am done!

I am so excited about going right to this space and finding exactly what I need every time.  My kiddos will also be able to find things easier  (not that my boys craft, but you know, they might start now.....)  and know right where things go to be put back.

So, have I inspired you to organize something?  Let's go!  You can do it!

Sharing with:
Not Just a Housewife
A Thoughtful Place
Savvy Southern Style
Delightful Order

Day 8: Sense of Accomplishment: A Fun Armoire

Just joining in?  Read the entire series {HERE}.

Happy Monday!  Hope you had a productive, stress-free weekend!

It's true that all of yesterday I worked on my white cabinets project.  It's lookin' good but I'm not quite ready to show it to you yet--just a couple more things to go.

As I was working on these cabinets, as expected-- a number of other little projects surfaced.  I have been an organizing, productive machine!  It's feels good.

I did finish a little project that I didn't even know 2 days ago was going to be a project, but hey sometimes it's best like that.  Do you ever start a project and get side-tracked and end up getting something else done instead?

We used to have an old desktop computer with all of the components in a computer armoire in our basement.  We got rid of the computer about 2 years ago, but kept the armoire to hold the printer, paper, and our DVD and CD collections.  The large, main section of the armoire was only holding the printer and there was tons of wasted space.

The other day I showed you our board games that used to be stored in the white cabinets.

My daughter also had games in her bedroom closet.  I decided to combine all of the games in our house (after deciding to donate a few) and put them in the armoire.  I moved some shelves around in there that were adjustable, decorated the inside panels of the upper doors, and moved the printer to the bottom where is was less of the focal point.  Look!

My new obsession with paper tape (from Target) framed the door panels as well as the edges of the shelves in the armoire.

This armoire may someday be painted, but for right now, it has a new life as our game/music/movie/printer armoire.  I'm lovin' how it turned out!  I love that we can find any game or movie that we want to play or watch so easily!  And the printer is easily accessible with the paper basket on top which is much neater than before.

What piece of furniture or item in your home is wasted space and can be converted for another use?  How can organizing it and/or making it useful make you less stressed?

Linking up to:
Brassy Apple: Make it Monday
Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Not Just a Housewife
A Thoughtful Place
Savvy Southern Style

Day 7: Messes Can Mean Progress

Just joining in?  Read the entire series {HERE}.

Happy Sunday!  Welcome to Day 7!  I started organizing my white cupboards that I posted about yesterday....let's just say I didn't realize how big of a project this would turn out to be.  Has that ever happened to you?

I decided that instead of getting stressed about this whole process, I was going to feel calm, proud, and relieved that several things are going to get organized, sorted, and purged in our home which is a wonderful thing!

Let me show you the progress thus far.  Look at my title of this post:  Messes Can Mean Progress.  So I am about to show you a mess.  It gets worse before it gets better, yes?

My mission to organize my craft supplies and put them into these cupboards has created more missions for me to tackle, including:

1.  Organizing hundreds of loose photos.

2.  Adding to my kiddos photo albums.  I have a small album for each of them for general pictures, and an album for each of them for their sport pictures.  The problem is, I haven't added to these in a couple of years.  Bad mom I know.  But I am tackling this now!!!  Woo Hoo!!!

3.  Sorting through greeting cards.  I save all of my kids' cards they have received for birthdays and other occasions.  I also have all of the cards that they have made or given to my hubby and I.  Do I keep ALL of these?  I am not sure yet.  What is your take on this?  Do you save all of your cards?

4.  Updating my storage boxes that I have for each kiddo that contain special school and artwork.  I actually think I may change how I have this---will update you on that when I get to that little project.  I have a good idea that will be so much easier to maintain and keep current.

5.  Making labels for all of the containers, baskets, and drawers that are housing all of this stuff!  Who doesn't love a pretty label?  They are functional and make things oh-so-easy to find.

This week I will continue to show you progress on my mess and those white cupboards.  I already love what I have done and can't wait show you the finished product!

What about you?  Do you think messes (the right kind, not milk spilled on the floor) mean progress?  What mess are you going to create to progress toward making your nest less stressed?

Day 6: Organization: Finding Hidden Potential

Just joining in?  Read the entire series {HERE}.

Hello! Welcome to Day 6!  So far we have talked about creating routines that will help us be less stressed and remembering the little things that we can do for ourselves to relax and enjoy more.

This weekend I am going to conquer some organization, a sure stress-buster.  For all of us being disorganized and having clutter causes us stress, wastes tons of time, and takes away from the joy in our homes.

Like many of you, I have lots of crafting supplies, acrylic paints, glues, fabrics, etc.  Some of you have these fantastic rooms or spaces to store them all in--lucky ducks!  There are certainly many of them out there on Pinterest and blogs to dream about.

I have been considering what to do with all of my supplies.  I don't have an extra room to turn into a crafting room or a room that can even be shared for this purpose.  Ashamedly, the 6 years that we have lived in our home I have stored our craft supplies in our master bedroom closet.  Yeppers.  Our closet has these strange "steps" since on the other side are the actual stairs that go down to our main level.  I have never known what to do with this space in our closet because it is awkward and hard to access.  However,  it is rather large and can hold lots of stuff, apparently even crafting supplies.

In writing my posts for the series, I knew that organizational projects had to be part of my posts and organizing all of my craft supplies was top of the list.

In our basement, which I've never spoken about because there's not much to it, (it's a partial basement that is finished and not too big) and although it's not nasty or anything, it's not really decorated or cozy.  However, it does have this massive set of white cupboards that were there when we bought the house.  They are utilitarian-looking, but hold a ton of stuff!  (Sorry the pictures are kinda dark, there are no windows in the basement.)

Today I want to show you about finding hidden potential in our homes.  I found it in these white cupboards.  Here is what is currently being stored in these babies:

My step-son's shoes and hats (since he doesn't have a real closet in his room, which is also in the basement):

 Photo albums, photo boxes, and misc. sentimental/important "stuff" (also needs to be sorted through and decluttered):

 Blankets, pool towels,  more "stuff":

Toys my daughter does not play with anymore:

Board games (these need to be sorted through and the ones we don't ever play need to be donated):

I think I know what you're thinking, right?  LOTS of wasted space.  HIDDEN POTENTIAL TO STORE MY CRAFT SUPPLIES!!!  Will I use all of these cupboards?  No, I don't need them all.  But can I put a couple to good use to organize my little heart out with those supplies?  YES!

This weekend I will be doing just that.  Remember, organization=less stress.

Here is where my supplies are currently being stored in the master bedroom closet.  Not pretty.

Finding hidden potential in your home is like finding treasure.  What spaces in your home are not being utilized to their full potential or can be better-suited for another need?

Stay tuned this weekend for some progress on these cupboards!

Day 5: It's the Little Things

Just joining in?  Read the entire series {HERE}.

Everyone who is lucky enough to have had a luxurious massage or facial, or take a nice, relaxing vacation knows that those things help relieve stress.

However, not everyone can afford or take time to do those things on a regular basis or maybe even ever.   Today I want to remind us of some little things that are free that can relieve our stress and make our home more calm and peaceful.

See what you already do on this list, or what you can try more often:

1.  Light a favorite candle, or even just deeply breathe in it's wonderful scent while closing your eyes.

2.  Put on your favorite song, maybe fast, maybe slow.  Whatever makes your heart sing along.

3.  Snuggle with your spouse/significant other/pet.

4.  Snuggle with your kids.  Breathe in their scent and take it all in.  They may be the cause of some of your stress, but holding them makes it all go away, at least for the moment.  Some day you'll wish they were there causing you stress and snuggling with you.

5.  Read positive quotes or something inspirational to you.

6.  Look at old photo albums or pictures.  You'll see how far you've come,  and remember sweet memories and happy times.

7.  Take a bubble bath.  (If I did this I would need to remove the Cabbage Patch Doll that has resided in my tub for far too long---one of those procrastination things I talked about yesterday. She's being kicked out this weekend for good!)

8.  Write in a journal, a pretty notepad, or on your computer.  List all the things you are grateful for. 

9.  If you have time,  put on a favorite movie that makes you feel good. 

10.  Take a walk, exercise, meditate, or just be still.  All are good for the mind and body.

See?  Free, easy, and most take hardly any time but are well worth the effort.  

What do you do to relieve stress?  Do you sometimes forget about all of the easy, wonderful ways to do this for yourself?  

Make sure you tune in this weekend, I've got a couple organization and fun posts planned!  Thanks for following along!

Day 4: Finish What You Start: Procrastination

Just joining in?  Read the entire series {HERE}.

Ahhh, the dreaded unfinished project.  I assume we all have them.  Why is it so hard to finish what we start sometimes?  I know that in order to have a less stressed nest, that little projects can no longer remain around my house unfinished because I don't feel like doing them.  They cause me stress, uneasiness, and guilt.   UGH.

  Let's see...here are my reasons why I procrastinate finishing projects.

1.  I get too ambitious on what I think I can accomplish in a certain amount of time.

2.  I start too many little projects because so many ideas are floating around in my little head at once I do a little here and a little there.  I fail to finish one before I start another.

3.  I finish something 90% of the way and then let the other 10% remain undone for weeks.  Or months.  (like a pillow I made on our bed...still needs the last side to be hand stitched a couple inches--huh?!?!)

I would not say that not finishing projects is a bad habit of mine. We've done lots of great projects, big and small, in our home in the past several months.   However, my hubby and I have enough unfinished right now that it is causing me unnecessary stress.  And guilt.   No project is worth such stress. Our homes and the things in it should make us feel peaceful and good about ourselves.

I decided that this weekend I am going to tackle some of these little projects that need finished.  Organize my craft supplies that have been on my bedroom floor for weeks waiting to be organized.  Sewing that pillow up (will take me all of 5 minutes!) .  Finishing the metal pails I started to decorate.

Sometimes these little unfinished projects or tasks really steal our joy.  Don't let them.  Go finish them.  Right now, I want you to think of one task that is almost done that you have put off so long you don't even think about it anymore and just do it.   I promise you will feel so much better.  Make sure you let me know what you are going to tackle and what cheer you do when you get it done!

Day 3: Have a Dreamy Slumber

Just joining in?  Read the entire series {HERE}.

Welcome to Day 3 of my 31 Days to a Less Stressed Nest!

Today I wanted to talk about how we all go to sleep at night.  I don't mean we all lay in our beds and on our pillows.  I mean how we go to sleep.  Do you fall asleep with the TV on?  Your laptop on your lap in bed working?  Reading a steamy romance novel?  Lying in your significant other's arms?

Part of how restful our sleep turns out to be is what we are doing before we go to bed.  What thoughts we are thinking.  What visions we saw or heard on TV.   What kind of day we had.

Here are some ideas for you (and me) to help us have a more restful sleep and let the stress and craziness of the day be released.  {Disclaimer:  I am no sleep expert.  I just know that these things would help me, thus maybe helping some of you.}

Source

Ideas for the big kids (you and me)
1.  Go to bed earlier.  Even 1/2 hour could make a big difference on our bodies and minds and how we wake up the next morning.

2.  Have a bedtime routine, beyond the usual brushing your teeth and putting your jammies on.  Read something uplifting, listen to music that makes you feel good, write in a journal.   You have to end your day in a positive way, no matter how it went.  If you go to bed feeling rushed, frazzled, or stressed, your sleep will reflect that.

3.   Close your eyes and be completely still and quiet for 2 whole minutes.  Doesn't sound like long, but it is because our minds and bodies never stop.  Click this link to try this.  Pretty cool.

4.  Try to let go of anything that is bothering you as much as you can.  Take some deep breaths, count your blessings, and think of all of the wonderful things and people in your life.

5.  Some might pray, meditate, or do some other form of relaxation.

We all know that kids benefit from a bedtime routine to help their minds and bodies settle down and relax so that they can drift off to a sweet slumber.  We wouldn't expect kids to run around outside playing and then immediately put them into bed, would we?

So what about you? What do you do at night before bed to help you relax and relieve stress?  What do you need to start doing?

If you missed Day 1 and Day 2 of my series, click here:
Day 1: Getting Ready to be Less Stressed
Day 2:  Evening Routines=Less Stressful Mornings