Chores and children:  I have a lot to say on this subject.  In a nutshell, I think it is important for children to have chores around the house.  It helps them learn responsibility, fosters independence, and creates family  unity.  And, our children all need to learn how to do the tasks that keep a home …

A few years ago, the ups and downs of teenage daughters prompted me to start some new valentines traditions in our home.  I wanted my children to have a fun and happy day no matter what happened at school.  You can see previous posts here and here for some family-oriented February activities. We always begin our Valentines Day with …

Does winter have you feeling a little blue?  I am definitely ready to move into spring, but here in Utah we have many weeks of winter to push through.  One of my favorite things about spring is being woken up by a loud crowd of birds in the tree near our bedroom window.  Birds equal …

Here at Organized Mom we feel that storing food and other essentials for emergencies is an important priority.  We have previously talked about 72 hour kits (link here) and beginning basics of food storage (link here).  Today I would like to help you get started on water. Water has been a stumbling block for me in …

The newest ideas in organizing are not about clever containers or filing systems.  They are simply about having less stuff to organize and keep track of.  I loved the ideas in the popular book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.  In the book, Kondo teaches the reader that a permanently organized home is …

An at-home manicure is one thing I like to do when I need time for myself. I find that it helps me decompress. As a part of adjusting to my new apartment and the new storage challenges (more on this later) it has presented, I wanted to give my nail polish some attention. I realized that I had …

I have storage containers of one kind or another all over my house.  Some fit perfectly under a bed, some are clear to show the contents, some stack on top of each other.  Each fulfills a different need.  I love fun containers so I was excited to be given the opportunity to review this new …

A new book is trending in the organization world.  Have you heard of it?   A charming little book titled, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.  I decided to give it a read and was thoroughly inspired by it. The book is written by Japanese cleaning consultant, Marie …

Welcome to Organized Mom’s newest series! As women, we have a different bag for every occasion; whether it’s your every day purse, your carry on, or a gym bag. Keeping these bags organized makes them more functional and practical, and also ensures you always have what you need when you’re on the go. Our first …

Got a great idea for a DIY project?  It could win you some really awesome Acer Products! Note: This post was sponsored by Acer, as part of their Seize the Idea contest, which has since ended. DIY Hideaway Kid’s Desk Now I’m going to take you step by step on how I built this DIY …

I was recently pitched a product, and I assure you, that although I get hundreds of pitches, I check out every single one.  If I am intrigued, I will respond.  When I was pitched this device, I was definitely intrigued, and now that I have it, I can’t imagine how I lived my life without …

I used to sit in a pile of cookbooks every week searching through them and trying to decide what to make for dinner every night that week.  I don’t do that anymore.  Not only is it completely overwhelming to be surrounded by that MANY recipes… it was extremely time consuming.  I started looking for the …

How to Get Organized in 20 Days! We still have our eBook for sale!  Act now, and you can get it for only $5.99! Are you looking at your house, overwhelmed with the project laid out before you? Laundry hasn’t been done for days, the kids are a mess, the drawers and cabinets are overflowing …

I’ve tried to set up various closet organization systems in my closets, and they work, they look OK, but they definitely don’t look perfect. This is my daughter’s closet.  You can see the original bar that was built into the closet.  Then I added a standing dresser, and some shelves.  It was functional.  Obviously, there …

Creating a beautiful home is less about money and more about style. Applying good design principles to your home’s décor will see your house become the envy of your friends. Here are some tips to help you. It’s All about Colour Colour is incredibly important to your home’s appearance. Choose a colour scheme that you …

Since we spend a good portion of our day in the car, there are often times where it’s better to just wait somewhere than to go all the way home. I’ve finally figured this out with my daughter’s piano practice. It’s about 10 minutes away. The practice is 30 minutes long. I would spend 10 …

UPDATE: Giveaway is now closed. Thank you everyone who participated!   I recently went back to work full-time, and I am so excited to share with you my new favorite tech device that helps keep our kids safe and secure while I am away. Introducing… the Dropcam! The Dropcam is a high-definition WiFi video camera for …

When it comes to being organized, really there is no one better at showing you how it’s done in style than Martha Stewart.  Her name has been synonymous with class and style for years (even while in jail, she was still looked up to and admired!)  I was lucky enough to get an entire package …

I looooove Home Depot. So how did I not know about these Do-It-Herself workshops?! No idea how that one slipped, but never fear I am here to make sure you don’t go any longer without them! I went with my lovely friend Natalie. Between us, we have lots of building experience. If you do not, …

This is a sponsored post by Central Garden & Pet. See full disclosure statement below I live in Utah.  It is very dry here.  I don’t think I’ve seen a patch of moss in YEARS.  I am from Oregon though, and moss was EVERYWHERE.  You couldn’t walk down the green sidewalk without seeing moss in …

One of the best parts of spring is spring cleaning. Sure that might feel a little demented but it’s true. There is nothing quite as satisfying as getting your house cleaned all the way up and all of the way out. Looking around at a fresh and new feeling home is incredibly satisfying. So here’s …

Spring and Summer are just around the corner.  We did have a brief shiny minute of Spring weather yesterday until it turned bad again today, but I know it’s coming soon, and I can NOT wait.  I’m definitely not a Winter girl.  These boots were not made for snow, that’s for sure.  Alas, when the …

  Some people call it a dumping grounds, some call it a junk drawer, what ever you call it, it’s the place where everything goes as soon as you walk in the door from having been somewhere.  Lucky for us, there is a door to the garage right off of our kitchen.   In the …

Organizing can be done in different forms, and by just changing a few elements in your house you can accomplish this.  Not only will you be changing the entire looks of an area in your house, but you also get to improve the systems of organization surrounding it. One of the most popular rooms in …

So very often my desk has looked like this. and this My main issue was that I have a ton of desk space, and just about ZERO actual storage locations. So everything just ends up everywhere. Devices, CD’s, papers, bills, etc. All just sitting around with no where to go. Luckily there are some tools …

Utah friends! Listen up! The Salt Lake Home Show is this weekend. I know, I know, super last minute, but I promise you won’t be disappointed. Sadly, I have never ever been to one, but I am soooo excited to check it out. For all of you who think “I can’t go to a home …

I am moving. My family and I are packing up our house and heading further north so my husband can have a closer commute to work, and we get little more room to grow. It has been both emotionally and physically exhausting. And incredibly time consuming. Thankfully I have survived so far by keeping my …

guests will be here any minute! The holidays are approaching and FAST! Wasn’t it just Halloween last week or something? Whatever it is, it’s almost here! Family and friends will start pouring in any minute (provided you live in a place people would actually want to visit, or you are just so nice people don’t …

Hello! Have we met? I’m the Organized Mom. Which means, I kinda can’t stand clutter. What comes with kids when they are playing with all their toys? A whole lotta mess, that’s what. That’s why when I saw Hot Wheels Wall Tracks, I had to have it. Immediately. We purchased our first set from Target …

I spend so much time organizing my house that my car tends to be forgotten. No more! The sugarSNAP Car-Go is the perfect solution for keeping your car clutter free and organized. And check out how super cute it is! The cool thing about the Car-Go is that it comes with these amazing zipper pocket …

Getting started on a project is probably the hardest part of your projects.  So where can you find the motivation to start something?  Whether it’s cleaning a room, or starting a new business, the beginning can be difficult.  This is one thing that is so hard about running a business, or working from home.  You …

Here’s a quick tip to start your Monday off.  When you get a grease stain on your clothing, rub some dish soap into the stain and wash it out.  The dish soap is made to break grease down from dishes and pots and pans, and works amazingly well on clothing as well!

My son is obsessed with puzzles.  I mean OBSESSED.  He loves to play with puzzles for hours and hours.  By the time he’s done, I see a huge pile of puzzle pieces to help put away and organize.  Luckily we have a system in place to get that cleaned up in a snap.  Plus even …

I use my Android tablet (the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9) as my “dayplanner”. Gone are the days my Franklin planner was constantly by my side. I’m a digital girl, living in a digital world. So how do I use my tablet as my day planner? These 9 essential apps is how! Dropbox – I take …

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the Thirty-One giveaway! The winner of the Organizing Utility Tote is…. Heather H. Who said, “I like the happy dot pattern!” Congratulations Heather! Please contact me at natalie@organizedmom.net within the next 48 hours to claim your prize! If you would love a second chance to win you …

I am so excited to tell you about a fabulous company who caters to simple and affordable organization! It’s called Way Basics, and the folks over there have some fabulous ideas when it comes to style, affordability, and earth friendly products.  In fact, many of the Way Basics products are made from sustainable materials and are …

If you haven’t heard of Thirty-One, it’s bout time you did friends! It’s one of the most stylish and seriously cool companies making products that promote organization. Jessica, an adorable Thirty-One consultant, is sponsoring a fabulous summer giveaway here at Organized Mom. Wahoo! One of you has the chance to win this adorable Organizing Utility Tote in the pattern of …

I live in Utah. It is dry. It is EXTREMELY dry. Not a day goes by that I don’t need to put lotion on my hands. It’s crazy. So when I was asked to review the Dove® VisibleCare™ Renewing Crème Body Wash, I was pretty excited to try it. Since it has to do with …

Sometime around April my husband informed me we would be taking the summer off and not doing any big projects this year. Last summer we built a playhouse, chicken-coop, sandbox, flowerbed, and fire pit. And that’s just the big stuff! So I totally get why he wants a summer off this year. Problem is, I …

***Update: Giveaway has ended. Thank you everyone who participated!*** Kids out of school yet? Has summer break arrived at your house? Are you already pulling your hair wondering what on earth are you going to do all summer long? You’re going to steam clean of course! One of our lucky Organized Mom readers is going to …