What a heavy week. Â How are you all doing? Â I have been so emotional this week with everything going on. Â The murder of George Floyd was absolutely heartbreaking. Â So are the riots (not the peaceful protests) and the overall division of our country. Â I shared some of my thoughts in this IG post and then to be honest.. I had to take a break from social media. Â I always have to take regular breaks from my phone and social media to keep my sanity, but this week there was so much negativity during a time when we really all need to be coming together instead of tearing each other apart. Â I know that for me (and my family) the real learning and growth is going to come from educating ourselves about racism and having important conversations at home. Â I want to read books, listen to podcasts, watch documentaries and better educate myself. Â Then I can explain things to my kids and share anything that is helpful to me along the way. Â I grew up in a small town in southern Utah that honestly was like a bubble without a lot of diversity. Â I was taught about racism in school, but there weren’t any conversations about how it has become a part of our society today. Â Our diverse culture in San Diego is one of my favorite things about living and raising my kids here. Â My kids have grown up with friends from such a wide variety of backgrounds and the way they all treat each other gives me hope for a better tomorrow.
I’m also focusing on kindness during this difficult time. Â I think it’s what we all need more of right now. Â Less judgement. Â More love and empathy and kindness. Â Even towards people who might see things differently than we do. Â One of the clipboards in my office has a quote that says “throw kindness around like confetti.” Â My kids always tell me it’s cheesy and it is, but I love it anyway. :) Â You never know when a kind word is going to make all the difference in someone’s life. Â I know that the kind words many of you send (whether it’s on my blog, social media or in an e-mail) lift me up in so many ways. Â There have been countless times when I have been struggling with something or having a hard day and I get one of your thoughtful messages and my whole outlook changes. Â Kindness matters and makes a difference! Â It becomes a ripple effect and is what we need more of in this world.
I can hear Kenny singing “A Whole New World” (his immediate reaction whenever I start to get sappy) so it’s probably time to move on. :)  We’re heading into a weekend after what has been a hard week for so many and while we can’t control what is going on around us, we can control the spaces inside our home!  (For the most part.. unless you have kids.. ha.) ;) You all know that nothing makes me feel better than cleaning out a drawer or cupboard and this weekend I need a pick me up.  I’m planning on doing some organizing while I start listening to a new book on audible.  If you think a little organizing would be good for your soul too I’m sharing a round-up of organizing projects that can be easily done over the weekend!  Below each picture I’ll link the post it’s from if you want more details on a certain space.
{Organized Kitchen Series post 2}
Organize the space under one of your sinks! Â It’s a spot that can get messy quickly if you don’t have a place for things. Â Don’t worry about having the perfect dividers, bins or baskets.. those can come later if needed. Â Just toss things you don’t need, wipe your cupboard out and put back what you use. Â Such a lift!
Easy way to corral toothbrushes for busy mornings if you have a bathroom by the door! Â So funny.. we haven’t used these toothbrushes for months. Â I’ve missed a lot of things during our stay at home time, but our rushed mornings trying to get 3 kids to 3 different schools I do not miss!
Having your make-up organized makes such a huge difference! Â It’s the drawer you usually start your day with. Â Toss old make-up, wipe out your drawer and put the things you love and use the most back neatly. Â Easy weekend project that will have a huge impact on your daily life. Â (Along with organization I also shared my favorite make-up and hair products in my bathroom post.)
Most kids are out for the summer! Â It’s the perfect time to organize school supplies. Â Who knows what school will look like in the Fall. Â If you weren’t happy with your kids’ home ‘school zone’ now is the time to think through what might work better for next year. Â I’ve seen a lot of creativity in this area.. closets and other spaces turned into mini offices, etc. Â I’m really hoping kids are back at school (at least part time!) in the Fall, but I’m going to have things set up and ready for home school in case they aren’t.
One way to do this is to have a space set up for important papers (a home for your paperwork AND for your kids’!).
Organizing paper you don’t need daily but want to keep can take a little more time (especially if you haven’t done it before). Â If you have a lot of paper do this project over a weekend in baby steps! Â Friday – gather up ALL of the loose and miscellaneous papers throughout your home. Â Saturday – go through them all. Â Place everything you can recycle in a sack and organize the papers you need to keep in categorized piles. (I always use sticky notes for the piles when I do this.) Â Sunday – put the categorized piles of paper in folders and label them. Â Keep them in a filing cabinet, drawer or file box. Â Done!
{Organized Greeting Cards/Organized Office}
Organize all of your greeting cards and set up a drawer or cupboard to hold things you need for mail! Â I’ve loved having all of our cards, envelopes, stamps and packing tape in one spot. Â Kenny was looking for some envelopes the other day and asked me where they were. Â “In the mail drawer of course!” I told him. Â He shook his head. Â “Ahh.. you have a mail drawer. Â Why am I not surprised?…” Â Clearly he doesn’t read my blog or he’d know all about this beloved drawer. Â Does it make you happy to know that you can probably locate things better in my house than my husband can at this point? Â Ha.
If you’re trying to eat better this summer prep some healthy snacks over the weekend! Â I always eat better when I plan and prep things ahead of time. Â I’m horrible with meal planning (I truly DON’T enjoy it) but I usually try to at least wash and cut up fruits and vegetables and prep some healthy snacks.
Go through blankets and donate any that aren’t being used as often! Â Corral the rest in one spot in your home.
Then do the same thing with your bathroom towels!
Then you’ll be on a roll so go ahead and do the same thing with your kids’ bathroom towels. :)
{Organized Kitchen Series post 2}
Wipe out the crumbs in your silverware drawer. Â Buy a new silverware tray if yours is getting hammered!
{Organized Kitchen Series post 3}
Tackle the junk drawer. Â Always a feel good weekend project!
{Organized Kitchen Series post 3}
Create a spot for your cleaning supplies in a closet or cupboard. Â I also keep a few cleaning supplies in various bathrooms so that it’s easy to do a quick clean out in those spaces when I have time.
Come up with a way to corral your earrings and other jewelry.
Organize (or donate/toss) all of those DVD’s! Â Hands down one of my favorite organizing projects. Â I still love opening this drawer. Â It gives me all the feels. ;)
{Organized Outdoor Pool and Toy Storage}
Summer is here! Â Time to get your kids’ outdoor toys under control. Â I’m working on sports equipment in our garage and will share progress soon!
Adding hooks to this closet under our stairs created so much more storage! Â Another easy weekend project that can make a huge difference.
Now that my kids are out of school we are definitely going to sort through their closets! Â I always do this in January and then again in the summer. Â Kids grow so quickly and their closets can get out of control if I don’t make sure we go through them at least twice a year. Â This is an older pic.. Kole’s closet does NOT look this tidy right now. Â But it will soon. :)
{Kids School Work – What to Save and What to Toss}
I’m also hoping to organize my kids’ school work in a better file system this summer. Â I’ll share it when I’m done! Â My post on what school work I keep and what I toss might be helpful if you are doing the same this summer.
{Zone Cleaning Charts – an editable printable}
I’m also linking our Zone cleaning system and my Daily Expectation Charts for any moms who want some structure this summer!
I know.. slim chance of that right? Â In a way if feels like we’re going from one version of summer to another!
Hang in there everyone. Â 2020 has been quite a year so far. Â The good news is that it can only go up from here. ;) Â Thank you for the kindness you’ve always shown me. Â I’m so grateful for each one of you. Â I’m praying for you and your families and for our country right now. Â Take care of yourself. Â Take care of each other. Â Love always wins.
I can’t help it. Â Go ahead Kenny.. live it up..
“A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us, “No”
Or where to go
Or say we’re only dreaming…”
Well said and honest. Thank you for sharing. Hugs.
Love you Jeanne! xo
Hi Erin!
I love your decorating and organizing skills! I am getting ready to move my daughter, Sophie, to her “big girl room.” I absolutely love the color in your daughter’s room-aqua blue. I ordered a sample from Dunn Edwards paint in “windswept.” Did you use flat for her room? Also, I am not familiar with Dunn Edwards paint since we do not have a store where I live. I can only order online. Did you use the Everest or Supreme flat interior paint? Also, I have sang the song “you are my sunshine” to my little girl ever since she was born so I will be putting a sign like that as well. My dad always sang that to me and my sisters growing up. I found a sunshine quilt bedding theme on pottery barn to go along with this theme :) Thanks, Diana
Hi Diana! I’m so happy you like Addison’s room! She loves that blue.. it’s a beautiful color. I went with a satin sheen in bedrooms because I wanted to be able to wipe off the walls. You are my Sunshine will always be one of my favorite songs! Send me a picture when it’s finished! :)
Thank You! I am trying to place the order online for a quart sample from Dunn Edwards for “windswept.” The choices are: Flat, Velvet, Eggshell, Low Sheen, & Semi Gloss? I know nothing about paint.. lol.. I really appreciate your help :)
I would go with Eggshell! Unless you are worried about a lot of spots/marks on the wall and if you are go with Semi Gloss. Eggshell will have less of a “glossy” look so it looks better, but it’s not as easy to clean (better than Flat that you can’t wipe off at all, but not as easy to wipe clean as Semi Gloss). Semi Gloss is what I have in all of our bathrooms. It’s easy to wipe off but more of a shiny look. Really the difference is subtle so don’t worry about it too much, but Eggshell is what I usually put in bedrooms. I hope that helps. I know paint cant be tricky!
Thanks for the great idea for the luggage storage closet! I painted my closet, and added the same hooks. It looks so neat and clean now. Makes me so happy when I open that closet now. Take care!
YEA! I’m so happy to hear that Mona! Makes such a huge difference! Now I want to paint mine..hmmm.. ;)
Thank you for sharing some positive & pretty things. We need it so much right now and it seems like all the blogs have shut down and taken the beauty. Anyway, I love your ideas and always feel like organizing something right after you show us what you’ve done. Thank you!
Thank you Marixa! I have missed regular posts from people too.. we all need some happy things to take our minds off of the heavy things right now! I’m so happy you enjoyed this post and yea for weekend organizing! :)
You’re always so positive! Thank you for that!
So sweet of you Denice.. thank you! xo
I’m grateful for you too. Thank you for all your tips on organizing, especially kids school stuff. I have a pre schooler with tons of drawings. Also thank you for being an overall kind person. Your positive energy always shines. Blessings.
That means a lot to me Wanja. You have always been so kind and supportive. Thank you! Kids come home with so many drawings and work don’t they!? Especially in pre-school. I’ll be sharing how I’m organizing my kids’ school work and it might give you some ideas too. Hopefully coming this summer. (Fingers crossed) :)
I love, love, love your organizing and decorating ideas! My cozy condo is only 500 sq ft so I’m always looking for new ways to organize better. Also, I have arrows sprinkled around my home, encouraging me to go new directions, and adore the stand (for necklaces?) and clipboard pictures. I would love to add accents like that in my home! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Tere! I love that you love arrows too! My dad owned an archery shop when I was growing up and I would help him fletch arrows every summer. They bring back happy memories for me. :)
Erin, I stumbled upon your site a few months ago and thoroughly enjoy your posts on IG and here. You are such a ray of sunshine and for that I am thankful that I found you. I love your organizing ideas along with your decorating. Hope you guys have a great summer. Keep up with the motivating vibes you send to your readers. :)
So sweet of you Jody! Thank you! That means a lot to me and I’m thankful you found me too. It’s so nice to “meet” you! :)
Erin, you are genuine and honest and I appreciate your words today and always! Love all the quick organization ideas and inspo! You have so many fun projects and a heart to help others. Thanks for being you!!
Genelle you have a heart to lift others up as well and have done it for me with your thoughtful words MANY times. I’m so grateful for you! Thank you. Your kind comment means so much. Sending a huge hug your way! xo
Thanks for the positivity – there was so much going on last week, if felt emotionally draining. Your words are spot-on and helpful. And on a brighter note, I agree with Marixa’s comment that I always feel like organizing something after I read your blogs! I’ve already done several of the ideas you mentioned above over the past few weeks, so thank you for that! I do need to get rid of/organize all of our blankets, so that’s one I’ll tackle next.
I’m so happy my posts have been motivating for you MaryJo! YEA! Thank you for letting me know. :) Last week was emotionally draining for sure. Really a lot of 2020 has been! I’m honestly so grateful for things like organizing that help me take my mind off of the heavy. Small wins during the day.. it makes a difference. Plus it’s the cheapest therapy out there! ;) Thank you for your sweet comment! xo
Thanks for your post Erin. I too, need to take breaks from social media….it’s overwhelming seeing all the divisiveness. We ALL need to do a better job understanding what black people and other people of color go through on a daily basis. I’ve been reading and listening a lot this past week and have come across two REALLY good podcasts (if you haven’t heard about, or listened to them already)….Ibram X. Kendi on Brene Brown’s Unlocking Us and Heather McGhee on Armchair Expert (Dax Shepard’s podcast). Both give really good insight into the history of racism, how everything is skewed to favor us white people (and we grow up not even realizing it, sadly) and how we can rise above it. After hearing Ibram X. Kendhi, I was blown away and ordered his book, How to Be Anti-Racist. I can’t wait to read it. I’ve heard White Fragility is a great book too. Just thought I’d share since you said you wanted to read and listen more. Take care!
Leah I couldn’t agree with you more and am so grateful you shared those podcasts with me! I haven’t heard of either of those! I actually started White Fragility on audible last week and have already downloaded How to Be Anti-Racist. I’ve heard The New Jim Crow is also good and have that on my list. Lots of good info. out there and I’m grateful for a slower schedule this summer so that I have time to digest it all! Thank you again for sharing what you’re listening to with me! I so appreciate it. Stay healthy and safe! xo
Erin, thank you for your many wonderful ideas! One of my challenges is that after my mother died, (she was 91) my siblings and I inherited many many things from her that she had accumulated over the years from all of her relatives. ( We have inherited our family’s pack rat personality. ) There are pictures, mementos, historical documents, etc. that have overwhelmed me. I just look at the bins and think about trying to go through them, and then walk away. Any suggestions for tackling years and years of handed down memorabilia? I guess it’s like “How do you climb a mountain? One step at a time.” Thank you also for your positive attitude and thoughts on the importance of kindness.( I was also a teacher for many years. and know how important instilling those attitudes are. A favorite shirt of mine has the saying “Attitude is everything: Pick a good one.”) Stay safe.