Comments on Sunny Side Up: Getting and Staying Organized

Katrina, I was shouting the same laments this afte...

2012-01-27T18:48:09.651-08:00

Katrina, I was shouting the same laments this afternoon. I have only 4 kids and they make me nuts with coming behind and undoing what I did. I think you have some great ideas. With that many kids, you have your own cleaning crew!
I have found it's almost more frustrating to have teenagers than little ones because they should "know better". I started when they were little to teach them and I pray that they will some day be able to take care of their own homes.
Meanwhile, I am making big changes and becoming much more organized. I really enjoy your blog. The hardest part is you can't ever stop. I rest for a day and the whole place goes to pot

How fun Sheila!! I'm doing the same thing nex...

2012-01-12T13:59:49.184-08:00

How fun Sheila!! I'm doing the same thing next week! :)

Hi Erin! I taught a class in Relief Society tonig...

2012-01-12T00:19:32.649-08:00

Hi Erin!

I taught a class in Relief Society tonight about decluttering & organizing and I put a link to your blog on my hand-out. Hope It's okay! The class was fun but I didn't have enough time. I could have talked about it forever! :)

Today I start working on the pantry. I took befor...

2012-01-11T10:25:21.746-08:00

Today I start working on the pantry. I took before pictures and I'll take after pictures. I'm sure it won't look as great as yours, but it still has to look better than it does! :)

I have a question for you though. My daughter has a TON of hair items. Like, more than any one person should have. Any ideas on how to organize those? I bought some cheap containers with lids and thought about using those, but I'm not sure how well they'll work. But they were only 98 cents, so I knew for that price, I could use them for SOMETHING! :) Any ideas on how to store these and not make them look like a big mess would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Mich

I've been reading your blog for a long time, b...

2012-01-10T19:29:00.915-08:00

I've been reading your blog for a long time, but haven't left a comment before. Thank you for all of the tips. I love to see how other people make their home and family life successful. I'm excited to get working on my house. Happy New Year!

Thanks for the motivation and inspiration. I finis...

2012-01-10T10:25:58.894-08:00

Thanks for the motivation and inspiration. I finished one room yesterday, made a list this morning and I'm headed off to tackle my oldest son's room while he's at school. (I thought it would go quicker without him around.) My biggest problem is storing the larger sized cars and trucks that take up so much space. I'm working though toys this week and dressers next.

Have a great day!

I love this post, I was already getting overwhelme...

2012-01-10T08:14:05.800-08:00

I love this post, I was already getting overwhelmed with just the thought of organizing my home. But with this post I have realized that it is possible if I take it one step at a time and one room at a time. Even when I have the urge to organize everything at once :). I have started with the office and getting rid of old files and shredding like crazy.

Hi Sara! My favorite lens is my fixed 28mm (Canon...

2012-01-09T22:28:27.834-08:00

Hi Sara!

My favorite lens is my fixed 28mm (Canon). It seems to be the one I always reach for.

Your term "ERINizing" cracks me up. :)

totally unrelated to ERINizing, I mean organizing,...

2012-01-09T21:35:51.130-08:00

totally unrelated to ERINizing, I mean organizing, but nevertheless, what camera lenses to you favor?

Thanks!

:) :)

2012-01-09T20:54:18.589-08:00

:) :)

This is what drew me to your blog! Not because I ...

2012-01-09T19:06:49.990-08:00

This is what drew me to your blog! Not because I need help in this department, but because you are my soul organization sister!! I could organize all day long.

Your organization posts make me so excited!! I lo...

2012-01-09T19:04:47.672-08:00

Your organization posts make me so excited!! I love all the great tips that you gave and have been putting a lot of them to use! My husband keeps asking how our garbage cans are getting so full so quick, little does he know I am throwing EVERYTHING away that we don't need or use. Our motto in my classroom is A place for everything and everything in it's place. I spend a lot of time at the beginning of the year going over routines and being responsible with our classroom materials so that they get back to where they came from. I am quite sure as Kendall gets older I will do the same with her. But, right now Princess Destructo walks around and empties every single container with all of her toys and then goes to find more things to dump out on the floor. Sigh. Someday she will LOVE to clean/organize like her momma I just know it:)

Erin, I love you fashion friday scarves! And your...

2012-01-09T14:56:43.456-08:00

Erin, I love you fashion friday scarves! And your ugg boots! Was great to see you today, and my phone got soaked with water...so I won't be getting texts for a bit I guess..:(. need soo much organization!!!

Okay...the maid suggestion: I only WISH! My husb...

2012-01-09T09:45:26.185-08:00

Okay...the maid suggestion: I only WISH! My husband would never hire "help" because when he was growing up, his family WAS the "help" and now that he's grown, he just can't go there. Seems strange to me (who grew up in a house with "help") but it's one thing he is just not willing to change. I swear, we could be millionaires and we'd still be out there mowing our own lawns. (we are the only family on our block who does not have a house cleaning service or a gardener.)

The chore chart suggestion: it's not the kids chores that are the problem; they do their chores around the house just fine. It's things like scattering the tupperware when they are looking for a certain one, putting away a blanket by shoving it in the cabinet instead of neatly folding it, getting into the pantry and just making a mess of it. There are so many examples I just can't list them all. Those are the kinds of things where I can't say, "Hey...fix that back to the way it was" because chances are, I'm not there when whoever it was gets into it, then I have no idea who did it (being that there's nine of them) and no one will claim it (sometimes they will be it's rare) and if you times this by the amount of kids and the size of my house and the number of cabinets, drawers, pantries, etc in each hall, bathroom, bedroom -- it just gets too overwhelming to keep up with.

(taking a breath now)

Okay, so I'm considering giving each kid an "area" that he or she is responsible for solely for organization. So if one kids' area is the kitchen then he is responsible for checking that that pantry stays organized and the Tuperware, the drawers, etc. Another kid will be responsible for the hallway, so the linen closets will be her domain. Another kid the entry way/coat closet, etc. With 7 of my 9 being of the age to do this, I should have all areas of the house covered. Then I'll keep one BIG drum (trashcan) in the garage where each kid can put toys, socks, etc that is left behind in his/her area ... that way it will semi-teach the others not to leave there stuff all over the place, because if they do....they have to search the trashcan for it. (no "trash" will be put in this trashcan, just so you know - it will be sanitary!) I will make an "area check" type of chore chart for that and see how it goes.

Anyway...that's all I got. I hope this works because I'm tired in living in an unorganized home!

Great post! Like you I love to organize too, but b...

2012-01-09T09:11:14.294-08:00

Great post! Like you I love to organize too, but between the holday parties, decor and illnesses our house seems to be in need of a major overhaul. I started small this weekend, when I didn't have kids underfoot, but plan on using your system as my inspiration. Thank you!

Julia

I'm not a parent but I think I have a more tro...

2012-01-09T08:01:15.709-08:00

I'm not a parent but I think I have a more troublesome problem - called a husband!! We have lived in our house for 15 years and for all those 15 years all coats went into our hall cupboard. That was until about the past month when I keep seeing my husbands (new )jacket lying across the back of the settee in the living room. No mater how many times I put it away it always appears back. Finally I just had to ask why and the response "I like seeing it there, knowing its there waiting for me when I need it". There is just no answer to that one...

Erin, I love your organizing posts! One of my goa...

2012-01-09T07:45:40.421-08:00

Erin,
I love your organizing posts! One of my goals is to get our house organized this year and your oraganizational posts and beautiful pictures are so inspirational!

What an awesome post! You inspire me so much in th...

2012-01-09T07:28:20.261-08:00

What an awesome post! You inspire me so much in this department and it is so weird, it is like you knew this was one of my resolutions! Loving all of the tips and plan to use many. Thanks again!

I love that you are so passionate about sharing yo...

2012-01-09T07:14:15.847-08:00

I love that you are so passionate about sharing your JOY of organizing! You've got some fabulous & functional spaces, sista!!

I'd love to feature a few on my Professional Organizing FB wall sometime.

Well done! :)

Life is good! The sun is shining, it's Monday...

2012-01-09T07:06:24.712-08:00

Life is good! The sun is shining, it's Monday morning, I have my coffee and Erin's blogging a whole post on organization!

I also am very organized and aspire to be better so love all the tips. I have a hard time with my 4 y.o. as he just pretty much refuses to pick up and tries to distract me with his cuteness and/or get his big sister to do it for him. He is a constant challenge in this area, sometimes I feel like giving up that he will ever help but I know I need to keep working with him so he will eventually be able to do it himself.

Chore charts/money work fantastic for my 7 y.o, but 4 y.o. loses steam with that right away.

This is for Katrina if she happens back through he...

2012-01-09T07:04:18.454-08:00

This is for Katrina if she happens back through here - I do a chore chart for my kids.. The way Dave Ramsey suggests. I only have 3 but it could help at least... it's worth a shot.

Love this!!! And it took me probably a good year ...

2012-01-09T06:59:37.509-08:00

Love this!!! And it took me probably a good year to make it a habit to put things away. I take about 15 minutes at the end of the day to put everything back where it belongs. I know if I don't do it daily, it will become a monster with a life of its own. Some days I still groan about it, but I do it anyway! :)

Great post Erin!! I have been working on some are...

2012-01-09T06:40:51.220-08:00

Great post Erin!! I have been working on some areas in our house too. I have to get that list going though of specific areas. I like your suggestions.

BTW, I bought that same nail polish container at the container store. Love it!!!! best thing ever (well next to my ornament organizer!)

What a great pep talk! I think the most significan...

2012-01-09T06:18:33.141-08:00

What a great pep talk! I think the most significant thing you said is that you must get your family involved if you have any prayer of keeping things clean. In our small house I am working on getting rid of stuff and creating a place for everything. We started new chore charts for the new year and the girls have been really motivated by money (they now have to buy all their own treats and toys. Lily's saving for a DS.) Mack, not so much. So with him I just have to take away privileges when he won't do his chores. It's a trial of my patience, for sure, but I have to keep reminding myself that he's only 3.

All great ideas Erin! I need to print this and pu...

2012-01-09T05:45:20.545-08:00

All great ideas Erin! I need to print this and put it on the fridge. I especially like the organize for your family part. I see so many lovely pictures but they would never work for us.