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I cannot take credit for this awesome Organizational Tip.? My mom was the one who shared this with me a couple years ago.? She is my mentor and also an organizational genius!

I have always dreaded Winter with small children.? It is so difficult having to bundle them up with coats, hats, scarves, and mittens.? And then once you get to your destination the kids take them off and they get thrown somewhere and many times lost – never to be found again (especially the gloves). I kinda wish they made them on strings like how they do for babies.

Anyway, once we get home after an outing, the hats, gloves and scarves get thrown all over the place.?? I used to have a big basket that I would put everything in.? But eventually when it was time to go out again, there would always be a glove missing.? I would go crazy trying to find it and then finally give up and let the kids go out without any gloves at all.? (I know…bad mommy I am…)

So, when my mom shared this idea with me, I was thrilled!

Has anyone ever seen these plastic chains with clips on them that you can get from the Dollar Store?

Well this was my answer to keeping our winter gloves organized in their matching pairs!? Here is a picture of our gloves hanging in our entryway.? I have three separate chains hanging on hooks that are attached to a mirror I have hanging on my wall.

As you can see each pair of gloves has its own clip.? When we come in the house I get the gloves hung up right away so they are always neat and organized.

What do you think of this idea?? I love it!!

photo credit: Winstonavich

I was inspired today by a post that I read on www.pinklikethecolor.org written by Laura (@MomPink).? She was asking for organizing tips for her home, one being how to organize all the toys after Christmas.

I can definitely relate with this issue.? I WISH we had a separate playroom for all the kid’s toys, but unfortunately we have to use part of our living room as a playroom.? So, I have had to get pretty creative when it comes to keeping things organized.? And with three small children the abundance of toys is endless.

In response to Laura’s request for ideas, I would like to answer her by sharing how I have used plastic bins as a means to keep everything in order within my home.

I bought around 20 plastic storage bins from the Dollar Store and I use them to keep each toy category in one place.? The trucks go in the truck bin.? The trains go in the train bin.?? The small stuffed animals go in one bin – and so on.? And at Christmas, I go through the toys and get rid of the ones the kids don’t use to make room for the new ones.

TIP – Sometimes, I just put the toys away in a closet and pull them out several weeks later after the kids forget about them.? When I pull them out, the kids get excited all over again as if they were new.

Here are a few pictures of my “playroom corner” in the living room. (Don’t mind the UGLY mauve carpet)? LOL

It may look a bit busy to you, but it functions beautifully.? I only allow my children to take one thing out at a time (sometimes 2 or 3 depending on what it is) and when they are done with whatever they are playing with – I have them put it away and then they can take something else out.? Everything has a place.? My kids know exactly where each thing goes and when I ask them to clean up – they (usually) put the toys back in the right spots.

The bins are very helpful with this.? I use both the stackable storage bins, which I had gotten from a local pharmacy store called CVS.? That was a couple years ago and I have not been able to find them since.? So if anyone happens to see these anywhere, please let me know!

I also use the dollar store bins to keep the smaller items in.? This way the kids can take the bin and bring it onto the floor to play with whatever is in it.? It also makes it easier to clean up.

I would love to hear your tips and ideas as well.? Be sure to comment!

Organizing Your Home: Decluttering Solutions and Storage Idea