Maria - 3/7 - Graceful Order

Week 4- The Master Bedroom

Week 7 – Organizing the Laundry Room

Week 8 – Organizing Hall Closets

Week 9 – Organizing the Dining Room

Sweet Bliss and a Giveaway

March 25, 2015 · by Maria · 198 Comments

I partnered with Born Sweet™ Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener to bring to you some of my favorite stevia recipes and an awesome giveaway that Zing™ is sponsoring for YOU! I have been using stevia for many years to sweeten our drinks and snacks and I especially like Zing™ because it’s made with only real ingredients — nothing artificial, and has a perfect sweet taste. Stevia sweetener is derived from extract of the stevia plant, so it naturally sweetens drinks and food without adding calories or artificial ingredients. Below are some of my favorite ways to sweeten my day with Zing™.

Our mornings are made up of coffee, smoothies, and coffee. Did I just say that twice? Yeah, we like our cup ‘o joe. My favorite coffee drink to make with stevia is a Skinny Vanilla Latte. You can customize the ingredients to your taste but what makes it “skinny” is the skim milk and the no calorie stevia. I added an image with the recipe I use so that you can pin it for later. You know I drank that cup of goodness right after I shot this picture… yum!

Well, coffee is in first place but in at a close second are smoothies. I try to teach my kids to eat their veggies but truth is, I am still trying to learn myself. I sneak in some healthy kale into this strawberry smoothie and the kids (and me) love it! Of course, I add a few packets of stevia sweetener to cover-up any bitterness from the kale and we are left with sweet yumminess. Tip: When I buy strawberries in bulk, I freeze half of them for smoothies and I leave the rest in the fridge for snacking.

This one is for you so I dressed it up with a strawberry. Don’t say I never gave you anything.

This simple snack is my kid’s favorite! I simply mix some 2% Greek yogurt with 2 packets of Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener and I cut up some strawberries.

I then dip them into the yogurt/stevia mix and I place them on a tray lined with parchment.

Then they go into the freezer for a few hours. I don’t make too many at once because I will usually make it for an after-school snack and they all get gobbled up.

And they come out looking like this. Kids will want to eat them asap.

No, really. I was barely able to take the finished-product pictures before my little taste-tester attacked the plate!

Those are some of my favorite ways to use Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener. What are yours? Look for Zing™ in the Sweetener Aisle at mass merchandisers and grocery stores nationwide! You can also add ZING™ to your life by visiting www.zingstevia.com to request a Free Sample of Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener, plus a $1.50 Coupon.

And now the giveaway! To enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, leave a comment below answering this question: Which one of your favorite beverages are you most excited to mix Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener into first?

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 3/25/15 – 4/21/15.

Be sure to visit the Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

5 Essential Oils you should stock up on

March 23, 2015 · by Maria · Leave a Comment

Today I am guest posting over at A Bowl Full of Lemons, and sharing my top five essential oils that you should stock up on. Better yet, I am giving away an essential oil kit valued at almost $170.00!

So hop on over HERE and read all about it and dont forget to enter the giveaway!

It will only last another 2 days…don’t miss out.

Spring Bridal Shower

March 18, 2015 · by Maria · 9 Comments

Truth be said, I had not been to a bridal shower in over 10 years but when I offered to host one for my sweet cousin, I thought “how hard could this be?” I have done a bunch of kid parties. I will just do the same thing, minus eye patches and Spider-man.

I don’t share too many party planning ideas on the blog but the girls that attended the shower encouraged me to share my tips for creating a beautiful bridal shower on a budget.

Concentrate your decorations

If you don’t have too many decorations, it is better to choose a table to deck out than to spread out decorations throughout the room. In this case I decorated the main table where we would eat and the cake table in our kitchen. In the picture below, I used a long piece of fabric instead of a tablecloth. I don’t have a tablecloth that fits this table when it’s fully extended. Purchasing fabric by the yard is way less expensive than purchasing tablecloths to match the event.

Use small arrangements of flowers.

Flowers can be costly, especially if you are filling up large vases. Just a few small arrangements can really dress up a table. Some flowers (like roses) are prettier when they are a little open. In this case, consider purchasing them a day or two before the event so that they have time to open and fill up your vase.

Use pedestals and risers to create visual interest.

In order to create a pretty tablescape, use pedestals and boxes (under the tablecloth) to create different visual levels of interest. It makes a huge difference! In the picture below, the cake is on a pedestal and the pedestal is on a large plastic cube. The lace covers the cube and the small cake is highlighted.

Make a signature cocktail or limit the drink options.

Since this shower was more of a brunch, mimosas were perfect! I added a pretty straw to each cup as a finishing touch.

I also had a bottle of pink sangria. Anything pink made the cut!

I added a tray of cut fruit to add to the mimosas which also added a pop of color to the table.

Dress up a simple cake.

Cakes can be really beautiful and really expensive! I chose a simple white cake (purchased at The Fresh Market) and I dressed it up with a homemade banner with the bride’s name. It still looked a little plain for the fancy pedestal, so I added a couple of tulips to the pedestal. I love how it turned out!

Buy a few of confections that are fancy and display them on a tier.

I served pink lemonade alongside a small tier full of petit fours and chocolate covered strawberries. There aren’t that many of either but enough to fill the tier and make it look beautiful.

It is possible to put together a bridal shower that is beautiful and stay on a budget. You just have to choose wisely what items to invest in.

Here are some other ideas for bridal showers on a budget:

Send evites instead of mailing an invitation.

Make the food yourself and keep it simple.

If you put together a sweets table, add white or pink marshmallows to a pretty apothecary jar. Marshmallows are usually inexpensive and easily fill up a glass jar.

As far as favors for the ladies, a simple bar of soap wrapped in tulle with a bow and a label that says “Shower” is a cute and inexpensive gift.

Print out a pretty picture of the couple on your home printer in black and white and frame it. This is a great way to decorate and personalize the event.

Re-use decor items from the around the house to decorate. The silver candlesticks on the table are the same ones I used last Christmas.

These are just a few tips. What are your favorite shower ideas?

Organized Home Week 9 – The Dining Room

March 16, 2015 · by Maria · 3 Comments

This week we are organizing the dining room. In our home, we have a formal dining room and a small table in our kitchen which is where we usually eat. When we have guests over, we move into the formal dining room because otherwise we wouldn’t fit in the small table.

Like any other room in the house, the dining room needs a little love and order. When we purchased our dining room set 11 years ago I went back and forth as to whether to buy the matching china hutch or the matching buffet. At some point I wanted both but my husband gave me crazy eyes when I suggested it so I picked the china hutch. Of course, had I purchased both I would now hate the room being cluttered, so I am thankful that my husband opened his eyes as wide as he did when I said “I think I want both”.

We opted for this piece.

And I love it, I really do. There is a lot of storage in this piece but I did miss having drawers. So in the entrance of our home I added a buffet instead of a sofa table so that I could store some more dining items.

The top two drawers are dedicated to napkin rings and an extra set of silverware.

Here is the second drawer.

So why do I need so much storage? As much as I preach on pairing down and getting rid of excess, I love to be a prepared hostess. Over the past 17 years, I have collected pieces that I love and use for entertaining. I donate items as I bring in new ones so that everything still has it’s place.

A great idea if you don’t have a china hutch, a buffet or just need a little extra storage, is using an ottoman.

I keep this ottoman in my living room and it is full of napkins. Wanna see? Promise you won’t give me crazy eyes.

I love setting a pretty table and over the years, I have collected quite a few napkins. I only buy napkins when they go on sale, sometimes for $2 a piece. I won’t buy more than fit in this ottoman which I guess means, I won’t buy more. 🙂

I don’t buy as many placemats. I only have a few different designs and they are all pretty neutral. I would rather dress up the table with napkins which are less expensive and not as bulky to store.

So now that you had a mini tour through my dining storage, let’s get to work!

Create piles for Discarding, Giving away and Keeping

If the items that you currently have do not fit into the designated space, do your best to sort through everything and decide what can go. It is such a good feeling to open up an organized drawer and you can actually find things when you need them. When it comes to entertaining, that’s a big plus!

Clean the items that you are keeping

Since you have emptied your space, take advantage of the opportunity and clean up. Sometimes we don’t notice how cloudy cups can get stored away in a hutch. Also inside the furniture dust accumulates over time, even if it has doors. Dust is sneaky like that! Everything will look amazing when you put clean items back into a clean and organized space.

Also, take the time to clean your dining room table thoroughly, including the table legs that often get ignored. This is also a great time to clean the chairs in those little crevices that gather dust. I can’t say that anyone will notice that your chairs don’t have dust in that little hole where the arm meets the seat cushion, but you and I will know and that gives us comfort and hope and crazy eyes.

Organize the dining room

The fun part! Placing items back into the designated space. Be sure to make it pretty, not just functional. Last year, I shared how I organize my china hutch. You can certainly stack items but try your best to keep the visible storage from looking too busy. Inside the drawers, things don’t have to be perfect but be sure that items are accessible. When you are entertaining and need a large platter or server, you want to be able to access it.

Voila! All done.

Do you enjoy entertaining and collecting housewares? What are your favorite items that you keep in the dining room? A silver piece, fine china, something small with big meaning?

Also in this series:

Week 4- The Master Bedroom

Week 7 – Organizing the Laundry Room

Week 8 – Organizing Hall Closets

Organized Home Week 8 – The Hall Closet

March 6, 2015 · by Maria · 3 Comments

We are back at it! Today we focus on organizing hall closets. Hall closets tend to be narrow and sometimes double as linen closets. Today we will focus on a multi-purpose closet that doesn’t include linens, but you can tweak it to fit your home.

As always, the first step is to clear out the space and clean the shelves. The rest of the steps are detailed below.

Sort through items

Sort through items and create a KEEP, DONATE and THROW AWAY bin or section. Decide what you want in this space so that you don’t make space for something that doesn’t need to be in this closet.

Choose the right storage

I like using baskets that match but are not necessarily the same. In this closet I used the following two baskets depending on what I was storing.

These are both from Target.

Place items inside the containers.

Place items inside the containers sorted by type.

One basket can be for band aids.

Another can be for lightbulbs.

Another for batteries. We go through so many batteries with our kid’s toys!

Bins are great for small outdoor toys. I like these plastic bins for kids outdoor chalk so that the bin can be easily cleaned.

Maximize your space when placing bins back into the closet.

Place containers back into the closet. I try to play with the placement so that I can get the greatest amount of bins into the closet. Also, consider what bins you will use most or if some items need to be kept out of kids reach.

High shelves are great for infrequently used items like blankets or a bin with travel items.

Label the baskets or the shelf.

Avoid unnecessary shuffling of bins by labeling the shelf. This will help the space stay organized!

Another idea is to add a cleaning basket to the hall closet if it is near a bathroom.

Enjoy the results of your hard work!

If you missed any of the other Organized Home posts, click below:

Week 4- The Master Bedroom

Laundry Room Before and After

Week 7 – Organizing the Laundry Room

Sunshine, Breakfast and a Giveaway!

March 5, 2015 · by Maria · 197 Comments

Today we are talking sunshine, breakfast, a giveaway and camping! Doesn’t it all sound like a good combo? A few weeks ago we decided to go camping with the boys and take our kayak. The boys were ecstatic and my oldest started getting his gear ready since he often goes camping with his dad. In true form, I started making all sorts of checklists for our little adventure amongst the crickets and trees. I planned what we would eat and what we would wear and my husband took care of all the activities. Needless to say, the morning of was beyond hectic. I knew that it would be, so the night before I told the boys that we would rely on Jimmy for breakfast. You know Jimmy, right? Well Jimmy Dean had more breakfast options than Mom so the boys were excited to choose.

They chose the Croissant Sausage, Egg and Cheese breakfast sandwich. It was the first time we had these but I knew the boys would like them. I mean… a buttery croissant, sausage, egg and cheese… that’s a no-brainer for kids (and adults)!

I unpacked them and I love how they are already individually wrapped and you can break off the ones that you need and freeze the rest.

You can put them in the microwave for under a minute (if refrigerated) but I chose to put them in the oven for 20 minutes, so that we could load the car while they cooked.

And they looked so good when they were done! I thought I would snap a few pics…

But the boys had another idea…

Now that’s a bite!

The boys were getting their fuel for the long day ahead.

All the boys. There is my sandwich waiting for me. I am always the last to eat. Does that also happen to you?

Breakfast was done and the only thing left to do was clean the dishes. Well, kind of. There were about 5 crumbs left on each plate.

Really, it was nice to concentrate on the activities of the day and not have to worry about cleaning up pots and pans before leaving the house. Jimmy Dean made it super convenient to have a full breakfast and get out of the house in time to enjoy this…

Now for the giveaway!

Answer this question in the comment section for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card:

What’s your favorite way to start the day off right?

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 3/5/2015 – 3/29/2015

Be sure to visit Jimmy Dean’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

Space Saving Closet Transformations

February 27, 2015 · by Maria · 3 Comments

After sharing a post on my closet transformation, Hometalk contacted me and asked if I would curate a board that included other closet transformations from their online community. Um, so I get to look through beautiful pictures on Hometalk and clip these ideas to my board? It’s like I was being asked if I would be willing to eat a bowl of ice cream for someone. Yes, I am willing. 🙂

If you haven’t heard about Hometalk, check them out. It’s basically an online community of people that share ideas and advice about home improvement, gardening and DIY projects. What I love is the ability to clip (kind of like a pin) pictures onto boards so that you can later reference your favorite projects. That is exactly what I did with the board that I am sharing with you today. I chose 18 of my favorite closet transformations to share with you!

If you missed my post about organizing my closet, you can read about it here. Transforming my closet is the gift that keeps giving. I honestly still enjoy this organized and bright space, even after a year of installing the closet system.

Another project that I clipped to my board was this pantry transformation from thediyvillage.com. Don’t you love this pantry?

These are just two of the 18 projects that you will see on my board at Hometalk. If you want to see the rest of the board, click HERE. I hope you enjoy the projects and Hometalk as much as I do!

xo,

Maria

5 Tips for Organizing a Toddler Room

February 26, 2015 · by Maria · 4 Comments

Let’s commence with humor, because humor will make motherhood (and life) a lot more fun.

“When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.” ~Erma Bombeck 🙂

Earlier this week, I posted about organizing kids’ bedrooms and I had some moms ask for specific tips on organizing toddler rooms. While all the steps from the last post still apply to toddlers, I want to share with you my favorite tips about organizing toddler rooms.

1 – Use a mix of matching containers

While matching your containers will instantly make any room look tidy, they don’t all have to be the same exact container. Closed toy chests work well for large toys, medium bins are great for small toys and open containers work well for storing books. Containers can be stored inside bookshelves or inside kid’s closets. Use toy chests for stuffed animals, blankets or place 2 or 3 open containers inside to sort smaller items. Otherwise, small items will get lost in the bottom of the toy box.

2 – Label bins using text and/or picture labels

When labeling bins for little ones, it’s a good idea to use a picture of the content of the bin, instead of text.

3 – Make items accessible for toddlers

Toddlers will only put away toys if they can access them. And even then, we know it can be a challenge. Even if you have to do some or most of the work (especially if they are toddlers), it will be easier for you to put away their toys if there is a system set up.

Also, they will only play with items they can access so be picky with what you leave at arms length. I choose to keep my son’s DVD’s at a height that he cannot reach because I know that he would take them apart daily if he could.

4 – Create a Reading Station / Nook

My toddler’s room is small, the smallest room in the house. Although a sizable reading station was not possible, a little nook in a corner was. I did not have space for a bookshelf so I added a shelf that could hold a small amount of thin books. He has more books inside his closet but these are the ones he reaches for time and time again.

Consider bins for odd-shaped books. Some books fit nicely in a bookshelf, but toddler books come in all sizes and shapes and sometimes a bin is the best spot to store them.

5 – Have a spot to place clothing they have out-grown.

I keep an open bin at the bottom of my toddler’s closet where I can toss items that no longer fit. I prefer an open bin for this so that it is an easy system to follow. When the bin is full, I sort through it and donate the items.

Beneath the bin I keep boxes of hand-me-downs from my older son, with the following size he will wear. The next size or two he will use go at the bottom of the closet and the rest go on the last shelf of the closet, right up to the ceiling.

We started with humor so let’s wrap it up in the same fashion:

“The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable.” ~Lane Olinghouse

Isn’t that the truth?

Tips for Organizing Laundry Closets

February 23, 2015 · by Maria · 49 Comments

A few days ago we organized the laundry room and I wanted to share some of my favorite tips for organizing laundry closets for those of you (like me) that have a smaller area to work with.

Use vertical space for storage by adding shelves.

When we purchased our home, the laundry closet had one shelf above the washer and dryer. We added an additional two shelves to maximize the storage right up to the ceiling. This made a huge difference and using wire racks was an economical way to make the space more useful.

Use the side walls for extra storage.

I added a few small shelves and two-tiered baskets to hold more products and for little decorative touches. I added these metal adhesive labels just for decoration.

Add a clothesline to dry small items.

I added this retractable clothesline to dry tank tops and some other pieces that tend to shrink in the dryer.

In the corner, you can also see that I hang my cleaning gloves from a hook and a clip. They dry faster and they are out of the way.

Add a drying bar.

The clothesline that I added doesn’t hold larger pieces of clothing and I have literally used every corner of this little green closet. I added a shelf with hooks on the adjacent wall to hold shirts that are meant to hang-dry.

The hooks are from the Young House Love line. They have the cutest hooks and shelves.

Add a mini trash can.

I found this small trash can at Target and it is perfect to throw away dryer lint or little wrappers that I find in the boys pants before washing.

Add storage for loose change.

These little buckets from the Target dollar section, hang from a hook and they hold change, buttons and clothespins.

Keep extra hangers in closet.

Rid your master closet from all the extra hangers and bring them into your laundry room. I keep kid and adult hangers in the laundry closet to make putting away laundry easier and also for drying damp items in the drying hook as soon as I take them out of the dryer.

Decorate your laundry closet.

A small space like a closet, is a great space to try a wall color that you love but don’t want to commit to putting in a main living area. If you change your mind about the color, it is quick and inexpensive to change in the future. Add matching baskets that are functional to give your space a cohesive and bright feel. Although my baskets are not all the same, they are all white and they brighten up a space that is otherwise in a pretty dark corner.

For more tips on organizing the laundry room, check out these posts:

Organized Home Week 7 – The Laundry Room

February 21, 2015 · by Maria · 13 Comments

Whether you have a laundry room or closet, it’s usually a space that serves more than one purpose. In my case, my laundry closet also holds the cleaning supplies for the entire house. And as you will see, I have a lot of cleaning supplies. I am always trying new products and comparing them so that I can later share them with all of you. Although I do have my favorites, I like switching them up from time to time and I enjoy the different scents and packaging.

In a few days, I will share how I maximize the space in my laundry closet but for now, I want to share general tips for getting any laundry area in good shape.

So let’s get ready to PURGE, CONTAINERIZE and of course, DECORATE!

Clear out the laundry room and separate like-items.

The laundry room can easily become a catchall space for the whole family, similar to a mudroom. Start by clearing out the space and separating the items into sections. If you have a few empty laundry bins, they are perfect for containing the contents of the space while you decide what to keep and what needs to go into another room. Sometimes it’s best to start with a blank slate so that you can better imagine the best placement for the items that you are keeping.

Designate the space for your needs.

Keep the products that you use most at eye-level. I keep my detergents and oxy powder cleaners right on the washer, inside of a metal tray. Adding a tray will not only make the items look neater, it is also keeps the residue from the bottles from getting all over the washing machine.

Containerize your cleaning supplies.

If you keep your cleaning supplies in the laundry room, designate plastic bins to keep them contained. I like plastic bins because they keep items from toppling over if you have wire shelves, like mine and they are easy to clean from spills. I use these open-top bins from Target and they each hold products for different cleaning tasks. I added a stick-on label that you can find here and they are both functional and decorative.

Create an ironing station.

Since I have a laundry closet with bi-fold doors, I don’t have the space for an ironing station in the laundry area. I keep this over-the-door organizer in another bedroom which is where I iron. If you have the space, you can use this set-up behind a cabinet door or create a station right on the wall. I like the organizer below because it stores the products together with the iron and the board.

Decorate your space.

Keep the laundry room looking crisp and clean and it will make laundry ~~so much fun~~ bearable. Use a comfortable, pretty rug in front of your washer and dryer, hang some laundry related art on the wall and add a faux plant for some color.

I would love to hear from you some feedback about this organizing series. What rooms have you tackled? What’s next on your list?

Also in this series:

Week 4- The Master Bedroom

Shop: http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net/2014/12/complete-guide-natural-cleaning-download.html

Spring Cleaning Printable Bundle

February 20, 2015 · by Maria · 1 Comment

The ultimate Spring Cleaning Printable Bundle is here!!! For the next 8 days you will be able to purchase this bundle for 85% off it’s regular price! For only $20.00 you get plenty of tools to get your home sparkling for spring and the rest of the year. Read below for details of who and what is involved in this exciting offer!

Spring is arriving & it’s time to open up the curtains and freshen up our homes. With the help of a brand new wildly popular printable bundle, you’ll be able to accomplish all of these spring cleaning tasks right along with us! Clean Mama & A Bowl Full of Lemons have partnered again with several creative & fabulous bloggers, to bring you everything you need to spring clean this year. From tons of cleaning recipes, checklists and outdoor cleaning tasks, to chore charts, closet purging & natural cleaning guides, you’ll be all set and ready to conquer those dust bunnies and overflowing closets. It’s all included in this one of a kind cleaning bundle. From February 20th to the 28th, you will have a chance to purchase this exclusive bundle. You don’t want to miss out on this 85% off sale. For only $20, it’s definitely a good thing.

What’s included in our Spring Cleaning Printable Bundle?

You will receive 9 printable pdf kits (169 pages) including a 9 session video series in this unique bundle sale – all for only $20. The digital files can be printed out & used to get your home in tip top shape for spring time (or anytime of the year).

A Bowl Full of Lemons – 2015 Spring Cleaning Kit
Clean Mama – Spring Cleaning Kit
iHeart Organizing – Donation Printable Kit
Clean & Scentsible – Outdoor Cleaning Kit
Organizing Homelife – Chore Charts for Parents & Kids
Country Chic Cottage – A Guide to Natural Cleaning
i Dream of Clean – The Ultimate Guide to Simplify Your Closet (9 Session Video Series)
Simplify 101 – How to Organize your Closet
A Slob Comes Clean – 28 Days to Hope for your Home (E-Book)

How much does the bundle cost?

The 2015 Spring Cleaning Printable Bundle is only $20. That’s an amazing 85% off the retail cost of the kits!

How long is the bundle for sale?

The bundle will be available from 8am EST on 2/20/14 through 11:00 pm EST on 2/28/14. There are no exceptions.

Details about each kit:

Listed below are the pictures, details, and links to the 9 exclusive kits within the Spring Cleaning Bundle Bundle. If you have any specific questions about a kit, please email the blog associated with the kit. For general Bundle questions, you can contact us at springcleaningbundle at gmail.com. Please look at the FAQ page before emailing with questions. All kits are pdf files and will be sent to you in a zip file, once payment has been made (instant download). All files are 8.5 x 11 inches unless stated in the description.

A BOWL FULL OF LEMONS 2015 SPRING CLEANING KIT

SPRING CLEANING KIT (10 Pages)

A $10 Value

The Spring Cleaning Kit includes an organized set of checklists that take you room to room, so you can complete your spring cleaning one check at a time. You can also print out the cleaning caddy recipe cards & make your own cleaners, to save money!

A Bowl Full of Lemons Spring Cleaning Kit includes:

Cover Page
8 Cleaning Recipe Cards (Front & Back) 2 pages
Family Chores Checklist (Blank)
Cleaning Caddy Checklist
Detailed Bathroom Checklist
Detailed Kitchen Checklist
Detailed Living Room Checklist
Detailed Bedroom Checklist
Weekly Cleaning Checklist (Blank)

Blog: www.abowlfulloflemons.net

Shop: http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/printables-shop

CLEAN MAMA SPRING CLEANING KIT

SPRING CLEANING KIT (10 Pages)

A $10 Value

Clean Mama’s Spring Cleaning Kit is the perfect solution for your spring cleaning, but you’ll probably want to use it year-round! This printable kit includes pages for your homekeeping binder or notebook and functional mini cleaning checklists sure get your home tidied up in a hurry. You’ll also find 5 essential cleaning recipes that you can print and trim to create a mini recipe book or use the full page version. A simple kids’ checklist page (with 3 mini checklists) is perfect to get the little ones involved too! The colors are Clean Mama aqua and black to coordinate seamlessly with a variety of planners, binders, and decor. You’ll love the simple and straight forward format and chic cleaning icons! Simply print off the pages and get ready to tackle a little bit every day and move forward to a clean and organized home. Spring Cleaning shouldn’t be difficult….use this essential kit to make it simplify your routine.

Clean Mama’s Spring Cleaning Kit includes:

SPRING CLEANING KIT COVER (with cleaning icons).
GUIDE/INSTRUCTIONS – guide to fitting spring cleaning into an already busy schedule.
ONE MONTH OF SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST – want to tackle a little bit every day? This full page checklist is perfect and includes my proven process for getting the cleaning done in minutes/day over the course of a month.
MINI CLEANING CHECKLISTS (3 pages/ 9 checklists) – Supplies, Ingredients, Simple Checklist, Kitchen, Bathrooms, Bedrooms, Living Areas, Utility, and a Blank Checklist. Perfect for spring cleaning (or anytime!) Print and trim (print on cardstock and laminate for extra durability) or keep as a full page.
ESSENTIAL CLEANING RECIPES – My 5 favorite DIY formulas for spring cleaning – your house will smell lemon-y fresh!
MINI CLEANING RECIPE BOOK (2 Pages) – trim and assemble your own mini recipe book to keep on your cleaning caddy, print on cardstock and laminate for durability (as shown in images)
KIDS CLEANING CHECKLISTS (1 page/ 3 checklists) – want to get the kids involved? Print out the kids cleaning checklists and make a mini spring cleaning bucket and they’ll be cleaning right along with you!

Blog: http://www.cleanmama.net/

Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CleanMamaPrintables

I HEART ORGANIZING DONATION PRINTABLE KIT

DONATION PRINTABLE KIT (8 Pages)

A $10 Value

Decision making can be challenging during the sorting and purging process of any organization project. This kit will provide you with tools to ease the pain and help you sort quickly, and the colors may even keep a smile on your face while you work! The kit provides a a room-by-room checklist, sorting labels, donation tracker, donation resources and references along with a checklist of questions to ask yourself throughout the process. With these printables, you will be well on your way to a clutter free home!

The I Heart Organizing Donation Kit includes:

Room by Room Declutter Guide
Donation Guide (3 pages)
Donation Tracker
Cut the Clutter Questions
4 Sorting Signs

Blog: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/

Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/IHeartOrganizing

CLEAN & SCENTSIBLE OUTDOOR CLEANING KIT

OUTDOOR CLEANING KIT ( 6 Pages)

A $10 Value

The Outdoor Cleaning Kit has everything you need to get the outside of your home looking just as good as the inside! It comes with six colorful PDF printables including checklists to keep you on track and easy to follow DIY outdoor cleaning recipes. Up your curb appeal this season and transform your outdoor spaces into a beautiful retreat!

The Outdoor Cleaning Kit Includes:

2 outdoor spring cleaning checklists
1 outdoor spring maintenance checklist
6 DIY outdoor cleaning recipe cards

Blog – http://www.cleanandscentsible.com

ORGANIZING HOMELIFE CHORE CHARTS FOR PARENTS & KIDS

CHORE CHARTS (6 Pages)

A $15 Value

Organize your entire family with this chore chart kit. Designed for children, teens, and adults, you have several options to suit your needs. Parent/adult/teen charts have four columns for each day of the week. Organize chores, meals, calls, things to buy, school, sports, and much more. Print out a new schedule each week or laminate and use repeatedly. Use a wet erase marker and wipe clean each week. The kids’ chore charts include matching sheets of “sticker” designs. Print out on sticker paper and use a 1” circle punch to make your own stickers. Or, laminate the whole page, punch out the designs with your 1” circle punch and use sticky tack to use again and again. Alternatively, the charts can be laminated and checked daily with a wet erase marker.

The Organizing Homelife Chore Chart Kit Includes:

A weekly chore chart for moms/adults – 1 in black and white and 1 in color
A weekly “construction” theme chore chart for boys
Boys page of stickers
A weekly “butterfly” theme chore chart for girls
Girls page of stickers

Blog: http://www.organizinghomelife.com

Shop: http://www.organizinghomelife.com/printables-shop

COUNTRY CHIC COTTAGE GUIDE TO NATURAL CLEANING

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO NATURAL CLEANING (11 Pages)

A $1.99 Value

Get all of The Country Chic Cottages natural cleaning ideas in one BIG printable book. Print this complete guide to natural cleaning and keep it as a handy reference around your home.

The Natural Cleaning Guide Includes:

225 ideas for using vinegar, cream of tartar, lemons, hydrogen peroxide, steam, baking soda, corn starch, salt, and rubbing alcohol to clean.

Websites: http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net

i DREAM OF CLEAN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SIMPLIFY YOUR CLOSET

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SIMPLIFY YOUR CLOSET (9 Session Video Series)

A $39.99 Value

SIMPLIFY YOUR CLOSET is a 9 session video course (90 minutes) designed to help you PLAN your ideal wardrobe, STREAMLINE your current closet, and CREATE outfits that fit you and your lifestyle. Instructions for accessing the video course will be given in the PDF file included in the bundle. This file includes a direct link to sign up for the online course, which must take place by March 15th.

Blog: http://www.idreamofclean.net

Shop: http://idreamofclean.net/simplify-your-wardrobe

SIMPLIFY 101 HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR CLOSET

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR CLOSETS (67 Pages)

A $19 Value

At simplify 101 we believe life is more fulfilling (and fun!) when youíre organized in a way that’s just right for you. We offer online classes that make getting organized easy and affordable. They’re designed to help you create customized organizing systems that cut clutter and reduce stress, giving you more time for what matters most to you.

The How to Organize Your Closet printable pack includes:

Everything you need to transform your closet from chaotic and cluttered to functional and fabulous.
Includes all written lesson materials, questionnaires, organizing checklists & planning forms delivered as colorful, printable, & editable pdfs.
69 pages in total / 2 lessons of easy-to-implement content from simplify 101’s class “Organize Your Closet.”

Disclaimer: The printable bundle does not include online class features such as MP3 audio files, access to the simplify 101 community forum, access to online class videos, or access to class materials on the simplify 101 website.

Blog: http://www.simplify101.com/organizing-blog/

Shop: http://www.simplify101.com/shop/online-classes/how-to-organize-your-closet/

A SLOB COMES CLEAN 28 DAYS TO HOPE FOR YOUR HOME E-BOOK

28 DAYS TO HOPE FOR YOUR HOME E-BOOK (52 Pages)

A $5.00 Value

28 Days to Hope for Your Home, an e-book by Dana K White (“Nony” of A Slob Comes Clean) guides even the most overwhelmed homemaker through the development of four basic habits that will get (and keep) any home under control.

28 Days to Hope for Your Home includes:

28 days of specific instructions to help you develop four basic (but essential) home management habits.
Insights into why these concepts seem foreign to you.
Practical tips to keep you from giving up.
Bonus sections with realistic strategies for laundry management, meal prep, and decluttering.
More than 45 pages of all new, exclusive content!

Blog: http://www.aslobcomesclean.com

Shop: http://www.aslobcomesclean.com/28-days-to-hope-for-your-home/

Important Details:

If you have any questions or issues with your Spring Cleaning Bundle, please visit the FAQ page. Look over the questions and answers on the page BEFORE emailing. If you have not found your answer on the FAQ page, please email springcleaningbundle at gmail dot com. To ensure that your question is answered in a timely manner, please take care to email at the “Spring Cleaning Bundle” address (not our personal blog email address). Please note that due to high email volume, we will do our best to respond within 24 hours – thank you for your patience! When emailing, please include a copy of your Paypal receipt and highlight your issue in the “subject” line.
The Spring Cleaning Bundle is an exclusive sale & only available from 8 a.m. EST on February 20th to 11:00 p.m. EST on February 28th, 2015. There are no exceptions.
PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THE BUNDLE WITH ANYONE ELSE. It is intended solely for the person who purchased the bundle. Please be respectful of the authors’ copyrights.
After purchasing, you will automatically receive an email (to the email address you provide) containing the download link. Please check your spam or promotions folder, if you cannot find the email.
Please download and back up your Spring Cleaning Bundle AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE IT. You only have 5 download attempts to access your files. The download link expires on 3/15/15. After that date, we will not be able to provide new links to download. Please remember to back up your files. We are unable to send you copies of the printable bundle that have been deleted or lost. We will not respond to those emails.
Due to the digital nature of this sale, there will be no refunds & no exceptions.
If you have any questions or issues with a specific printable included in this bundle, please contact that author directly.
The bundle is provided as a zip file. Please read the download directions on the FAQ page, if you are unsure of how to download a zip file, BEFORE attempting.

Disclosure: This is an affiliate post. If you purchase a bundle from my link, I will receive a percentage of the sales. Thank you for your support!

Sneak Peek – Spring Cleaning Bundle!

February 17, 2015 · by Maria · Leave a Comment

Don’t miss the Spring Cleaning Bundle that is coming this FRIDAY!

If you have purchased these printable bundles in the past, you know how special this sale really is! This Printable Bundle Sale will only last one week. Nine of the most creative bloggers have designed these cleaning printables and now they will be offered to you at a huge discount! Check Graceful Order on FRIDAY, February 20th to download this kit. See you then!

Homemade Natural All Purpose Cleaner

February 12, 2015 · by Maria · 6 Comments

Homemade Natural All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

This year I am trying to share more cleaning tips, side-by-side with organizing. Cleaning, organizing and decorating – they go well together.

I don’t make all my cleaning products. As a matter a fact, I love brands like Shaklee, Method, the Honest Company, Mrs.Meyers and J.R. Watkins. But sometimes it’s fun (and inexpensive) to customize your own product and scent.

Here is a Homemade natural cleaning spray recipe that I use on any surface that is not marble or wood.

1/4 Cup of White Vinegar

2 Cups Water

30 Drops of essential oil*

1 Teaspoon of Borax

Add these ingredients to a spray bottle and shake.

Below is an image with the recipe, just in case you want to PIN it for later.

I like lavender and lemon essential oils for cleaning products. You can choose whichever scent you like best. The spray bottle in the picture is a glass spray bottle and you can find it on Amazon here.

* As always, test product on a spot before using any new cleaner on surfaces.

I hope you are enjoying these easy natural homemade cleaner recipes. I will share more next week!

Organized Home Week 6 – Kids Bedrooms

February 9, 2015 · by Maria · 14 Comments

Today we organize the kid’s bedrooms…yay! Ok, no yay. Kids are not usually known for their organizing skills, they are better known for their disorganizing skills. But there is hope, I promise. At the end of the trail of socks, there is hope.

I always notice that when my 11-year-old’s room is tidy, he loves to sit at his desk and work on homework or draw. However, when his room is messy, I see him working on the kitchen table. We all like to work in spaces that have “space” for us.

There is no way to organize a child’s bedroom in a manner that it will remain that way forever (or even a week) but there are certain steps to organizing kid’s rooms that will make them way easier to pick up.

1- Edit the amount of toys/stuff they have

This step is key! Kid’s get overwhelmed with clutter just like we do. Sometimes they don’t know where to start, just like us. If items don’t have a place, or the designated space is full to the brim, things won’t get picked up regularly. Sort through all of their toys and think KEEP, DONATE, TOSS. Only store what is being used.

2- Edit the amount of clothing that is in their closet and drawers

This is a two-part solution: get rid of the excess and don’t over-buy in the future. I have been guilty of both. Make it a habit to go through their closets often and have a bin nearby to place items that no longer fit. Only keep items that they still like and fit them properly. My boys grow out of their shoes often. The other day I noticed that my toddlers closet had 3 pairs of shoes that no longer fit him and the other shoes were crammed in the shoe shelves, which wasn’t necessary. I placed the shoes in the donate bin and now the rest fit nicely.

3- Organize books

I recently got rid of quite a few books that were in my toddlers room that were meant for babies. For some reason I kept making space for books that he was no longer interested in. I added them to the donate pile. My older son loves to read but does not like to part with his favorite series books, so I dedicated a large bookcase to house his books.

4- Use different sized bins to organize kid’s bedrooms

I use these matching bins from Target in different sizes to store all the small and large toys. Also, alternate between closed and open bins, depending on who will be accessing the items. Toddlers do well with open bins and easy to open bins. However, closed bins like the ones below, are great to hide massive amounts of little toys without looking messy.

5- Label bins

Labeling will help you organize your child’s room and it will help them as well. Labels with pictures are great for toddlers and regular text labels for older kids.

Happy Organizing!

Week 4- The Master Bedroom