Master Bed & Bath {Before & After} You HAVE to see the before...

I apologize for being MIA but, lot's goin' on ova heah.

1. We have a pending offer on the house!!! Happy, sad, nervous and excited! 
2. AdvoCare is in massive action. The hubs has recently caught the vision. We're now helping change people's lives TOGETHER. A long-time prayer answered. 
3. Oh, yeah. And having our third little angel literally ANY day now! So excited to meet the little guy! 

I was really hesitant to post this because the before's are so insanely horrendous. Like, I can't...seriously but, I was super happy with the after's that I've gotten over it. Kind of.

Things didn't go exactly like my original design board but, I got close and am super happy with the finished room. So, come back with me, if you will, to this hot mess...

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Pantry // Mudroom {Before & After}

Excited for the group that's getting ready to start their 24 Day Challenge. Email me if you haven't received your stuff!

Now, on to some more before and after's. The pantry was one of the only things that I actually liked about this house when we first looked at it. Coming from a tiny little closet and seeing the rest of the house, this is all I had to hold on to...

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Home Office {Before & After}

It takes everyone a year to finish a simple project, right? Please say yes...

No? Well, in any case wanted to share some pretty amazing before and afters of our current house. This is the first house my husband and I have purchased together so, you'll see a lot of his/her things. It's been an interesting transition but, this baby has come a lonnnnnng way from it's day-we-purchased-it state. I'm going room by room as I get them finished so, I'll probably be skipping around a bit, but ah...so is life these days :)

Here is the basement office, semi-before. Before-before was an even hotter mess, if you can imagine that. Blueish indoor/outdoor carpet and I'm pretty sure the previous owners had a bird in there (?!?!) Little known fact about me, I HATE birds. They just freak me out. #ihaveissues but, moving on.

Here it is after we moved in, painted, ripped up the carpet and did stained concrete. Which by the way, was a great idea, in theory but, I'd do tile if I had it to do all over again. It's gorgeous when it's buffed, but the minute you even look at it, it looks muddy and sad. But, it's concrete and we got a CRAZY good deal on it, so I'm not too mad about it.

So, back to the office. Here are some before's:

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Paperwork Organization

Most people have all of their important paperwork where they can easily access it if/when the time comes. Well not me. When my husband and I got married and moved in together (not necessarily in that order) we just kind of threw all the 'paperwork' in a box and tossed it in the office. I am not genetically predisposed to being organized. It takes a lot of practice, persistence and discipline for me. Time after time, he'd need something for one reason or another and I knew I had seen it somewhere at some point in time, but couldn't recall it when I needed to. This resulted in a lot of frustration (in our house, it's the wife's job to be the organized one) and often times, money not well spent in late fees, etc.  I am trying to be more proactive, instead of it taking something getting to the point of making me snap that I only then do something about it. I'm a work in progress, what can I say.

Ok, back to this life changing little system here.

From this...

{via *I didn't take a before pic so, I borrowed this one. Mine was MUCH worse...}

To this!

I mentioned above that I'm not inherently organized. For me, it's a learned behavior. Well, who better to learn from than a professional? It's kind of my M.O. If I don't know something, I just do what someone that I want to emulate does. It's pretty simple, actually.

I've spent years trying to do it on my own and it just wasn't working. Time to call in reinforcements. So, I hired a professional organizer to teach me how to get it together. Best $150 I've spent. She gave me a framework in which to work from. You know the saying "teach a man to fish...", well, she 'taught me to fish'.

Items I used:

• File Folders (I went with the standard ones because I used so many. You could use pretty ones, though)
• Hanging File Folders
• File Folder Labels
• File Storage Box(es)
• Sharpies or Label Maker

So here's how this went down.

1. Gather up ALL random paperwork
2. Start digging in and making piles (trash was a BIG one for us. It helped having someone who owns her own business as well, go through the tax paperwork with me. She helped me decide what to keep and what to toss)
3. Label your piles with a sticky note so you don't get confused with what is what 
4. Grab your file folders and label accordingly
5. Make 'category' folders with your hanging file folders
6. Stick your file folders in your hanging file folders
7. Stick hanging file folders in your file box and you're done!

Here's some close ups of my categories.

It took us about 3 hours to go through 5 years of paperwork. If your counters or offices look like the 'before' picture, schedule yourself 3 hours and knock this out!

Anyone have any of their systems or tips to share?

I'll also be sharing about how I handle incoming paperwork and keep that sorted and filed. It used to accumulate on the kitchen counter and it drove me crazy(ier)!

PS.
Erin over at Sunny Side Up gives a great tutorial on how she organizes her household paper. Check it out here.

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How to Clean Hardwood Floors

I love my dark hardwoods. I wouldn't trade them for anything. Here's the absolute best way I've found to keep them looking clean and gorgeous. Dirty floors are my pet peeve. They completely wig me out. #sahmproblems

I first came across this method right after we finished remodeling our kitchen. I was 9 months pregnant, working at a paid job at the time and had no time or desire to clean up all the dust, etc. I hired the most amazing cleaning lady to ever grace the earth. I came home from work that day and it seriously looked like a brand new house.  I don't know how she did it in 6 hours, but it was nothing short of a miracle.

When I asked her how she got the floors so clean she said, "oh, I just hand-washed them". Um, excuse me, you did what. Are you out of your damn mind? You hand-washed them?! Well, little did I know, I'd soon be eating my words when I found how much easier it actually is.

This is the key to the method: use several microfiber cloths and to keep your water clean, you use a cloth until it's completely soiled then use a new one. Don't put the dirty cloth back in your water. 

Here's how it's done.

Cleaner:
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 gallon hot water
10 drops (or so) essential oil of your choice. I like lemon. Don't use too much essential oil or it will leave a grime on your floors. Just use enough to cover the vinegar smell.

1. Vacuum and/or Swiffer your floors. I use the Swiffer vacuum unless I'm doing the rugs too, then I'll use my Dyson.

2. Mix up your cleaner

3. Make sure you wring out your cloth really well. You don't want it dripping water.

4. Get down and dirty and start washin'! I wash in sections so I don't miss any spots and wash with the grain.


To get the most out of each cloth, I fold mine in half, then half again, then half again. Then just keep  finding clean spots on it until it's completely dirty, then grab a new one.

I usually try and do this every couple weeks during naptime. I make it a point to do it after we have people over. We don't wear shoes in the house, but I certainly don't ask guests to take their shoes off. Not to say that there hasn't been a time in my life where I didn't. I once threw a girl out of our NYE party about 5 years ago for refusing to take her shoes off - Tamara style. Not one of my finer moments, but hey, you live you learn.

If I don't have time to do the whole thing (usually take me 30-45 min from start to finish) I use this Bona wet mop. I  just refill it with my vinegar/water/EO mixture after I run out of Bona cleaner.

Also, when you wash your cloths, do a separate load with hot water. And DO NOT use fabric softner - it will render them useless. I use vinegar instead of softner. That helps get all the grime out and disinfect them too.

How do you clean your floors? Love to hear any other methods!

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{Before & After} Kitchen

I really wish I had taken before pictures, but imagine with me if you will, a house built in the 90's with 'updates' that included Pergo flooring, particle board oak cabinets with the fronts falling in and duct tape holding them in on the back sides, River Rock paint on EVERY wall, 5 dogs, and this gem hanging over the stove in the kitchen. Yes, over the stove...

{source, if you're feeling woodsy...}

Oh, and faux beams in the 9ft kitchen. Because that's what you want. To make a room feel and look smaller. 

It kind of looked like this. Only worse. But for the sake of this post, use this as a benchmark. Oh, and did I mention that this was the house Tom Hanks lived in when he filmed A League of Their Own? Man had no taste.

{source}

Oh, and brick wallpaper backsplash. yeah.

And after a few weeks without a sink, microwave or stove*...

And my favorite part

We went with traditional shaker style cabinets and white subway tile backsplash. We wanted something that was classic and easily update-able in the future. The countertops are Delicatus White granite and we got them on a killer deal :) The pulls came from TopKnobs.com. I wish I could tell you who built our cabinets but they're Amish and we literally had to draw out plans and mail them. Like USPS mail. I should've gotten a better shot of my sink but it's the best. I can fit so many dishes in it, it's unbelievable.

Oh, and the rugs are my absolute favorite. So much so that I don't even put them down because I'm afraid to ruin them - is that weird? Probably. 

Anyways, that's my kitchen! :)

*mind you, I was 8 months pregnant durning this time. Washing all our dishes in the bathroom sink and cooking with nothing other than a Crock Pot.

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Gym Class Hero

Lockers are pretty much all the rage these days and there are some seriously swoon-worthy ones out there. Unfortunately, most of them pack a hefty price tag.


Like this beauty at $699 from Restoration Hardware. I mean, it's gorgeous but $699 for a child's desk?! Please, RH, be serious.

{source}

Or this one, on Etsy. It'll set you back $675 + $150 shipping. Yes, that's in American dollars.

{source}

Well, if you're lucky enough to have husband that hoards collects as a hobby, you may just be able to be graced with one of these bad boys for $100 (actually free. He got two for $100 and sold the other one for $100). He's the William Shatner of our household. 

The Hubs, ever so crafty and creative as he is (if he dressed better and I wasn't married to him, I'd really question his sexuality...) found some letters at our local home improvement store, painted them and 'roughed them up' a little bit. Then glued each one on. Not sure if you can tell down the right hand side, but it's got my little guy's name down the side.

He did this project a little over three years ago, so I'm pretty impressed with his ahead-of-the-curve taste. Now, if we can just do something about his wardrobe, we'll be in business :)

I really wish I had a photo editor to make this prettier and add a fun little graphic, but alas, I'm still searching. Any advice would be much appreciated!

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Blog Binder

I think I have just as much a problem with binders as I do with challenges (I'll be posting my fitness binder soon).

So, staying in line with my love of binders, the blog planner was next. I found the printables for this little gem at IHeart Orgainzing's Etsy shop. I printed off the insides and then took them to Staples and had the front and back laminated, the tabs inserted and spiral bound. It cost me a grand total of $6. There are a few sections in there that aren't really applicable to me (brand & client wish list, website enhancements, and shop ideas and wishlist) but, I may find a use for them someday. I do love the majority of it, however. The calendar is my favorite.

I actually use it for more than just blog stuff. I just started using it so, I haven't had a chance to see if it needs tweaking just yet, but if you're looking for a great little planner, this one is compact, simple and pretty :) Head on over to Jen's shop and check it out!

via

*All these are separate sections if you order them. They're just shown all together here to show you all the sections

Oh and if you mozy on into Staples, here is a 50% off Martha Stewart coupon for you to print off and use as many times as you'd like! You'd probably have to do separate transactions, but who cares if you're 'that lady/guy holding up the line'. For 50% off Martha Stewart, it's totally worth it.

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Home Management Binder

It's taken me awhile to figure out a system that works for me. I've tried several and I've finally found one that works for me and the fam.

Enter The Home Management Binder.........

The majority of 'the guts' of it have come from one of my favorite bloggers Becky, over at Clean Mama. She has a wonderful assortment of super handy printables in her Etsy shop that have really helped me get things in order and keep it that way. The cover and my finance checklist came from another favorite blogger, Jen Jones over at IHeart Organizing and her Etsy shop.

I went with the Starter Kit from Clean Mama and subbed out the Budget and Bill Pay Kit for the Home Maintenance Kit. Mostly to keep up with all the paint colors in our house. I think we have successfully used every color in the gray spectrum from Sherwin Williams.

I write down each day's 'to-do's' the night prior to and transfer over anything I thought of that day to do the next. It's been super helpful in keeping me on track and making sure I get done what I really need to get done. I have could spend HOURS on Pinterest and blogs so, I need a guidepost to help keep me on track. I love the daily planner for this. 

I have a ton of other sheets in my binder that I refer to weekly, monthly, etc. but this is the one I use every day. The Busy Mama Kit is great too. Mostly for the shopping list. I'm sure you could make something like this yourself, but this one was so pretty :)

I also use the plastic dividers with pockets to stash stuff and a zippy 3-ring bag in the front to hold pens, stamps, etc. I also keep extra pages (to-do, calendar, shopping list, etc.) in a plastic envelope in the back for quick refills. 

Overall, I love, love, love this system. It puts everything at my fingertips and helps keep me, the bills, and the whole family on track. If you don't have a system in place, I highly recommend trying something like this out!

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