Cloth Diaper Organization

Good morning!! It's a sunny 75 here in the W I.

Just kidding.... Sigh.

But I have been starting my spring cleaning/reorganizing endeavors because we might as well be productive since we are so cooped up! Today I thought I would share with you how I organize my cloth diapers.

I primarily started using cloth diapers with my daughter. I wanted to save money because I had recently left employment at my job at the clinic and quite frankly, things were tight. Aren't they always? I loved the idea of being able to use them again and again, and with the price of paper diapers it seemed like a no=brainer. But that's another post! On to the storage!

Right now for my main organization I am using this unit from Target: Munchkin Nursery Essentials Organizer

It got pretty crappy reviews, but for the price, it's not that awful. One of the dowels did break in one of the legs, but a little wood glue fixed that right up. I really like the number of compartments and the depth and that they have that fabric lip in the front to keep everything from tumbling out.

I also got these seperate containers from Target as a shower gift and they are great as well. So many uses and they match the organizer perfectly: Munchkin Canvas Decorative Bin

After I wash my diapers I stuff them immediately so that they are ready to use when I need them. Then I stick them in the bin on top.

Below, I keep my diaper liners in another small tote I got at Shopko, a local department store. These cuties were only 5 bucks a piece.

I also have another bin for wet bags.

One section is set aside completely for prefolds. These I use as extra stuffing, burp cloths, changing pads, whatever. They are a newborn size so they are definitely not being used in the traditional sense anymore on my toddler!

Not pictured is another small bin where I keep powders, creams, Snappies and wipes.

I have really liked the whole process of cloth diapering my daughter. It can be a bit messy at times, but once you get into the routine of it, it's quite simple. They trick is to stay organized and on top of the chaos! Do you have any other tips for organizing your cloth diapers?

Xoxo,
Natasha

Other products mentioned in this post:

DIY Abstract Art (with the kids!) & My New Velvet Curtains

Hey, all! Just a little somethin' somethin' for this morning's blog post: Some examples of DIY abstract art that your kids can do that looks like you spent a ton on a great art piece! Also I thought I'd share a pic or two of the velvet panels we just hung the other night! Hope you all have a great day!!

There are so many Kelly Wearstler inspired/black&white abstract art pieces floating around out there right now, and while I love them all, I just can't shell out that chunk of change. Especially when I have a budding artist right here in my own home! My 3 year old son, Graham, painted this beauty for me:

Isn't it great? I can not wait to get it framed (another DIY project I will soon be sharing). I simply let him go to town with a little black paint on a primed canvas I bought from Hobby Lobby.

This one his sister got involved in and I let them get a little crazy with color, too:

I love how bold it is! I also let me son have some fun with gold leaf. They sell a kit at Michael's that includes the adhesive pen and several sheets of gold leaf.

Not only does this art look fabulous, but it has way more meaning to me than something  that happened to be a trend. It's a piece I will truly cherish forever and is definitely one of a kind!

And here's a little peek at the black velvet panels I whipped out this weekend:

That's Moose enjoying the first sliver of sun we have had all winter!

I love how it really pulls you in from the black entryway.

Thanks for looking!
Xoxo, Natasha

Linked up at: Makeovers and Motherhood A Bowl Full of Lemons
The Gunny Sack
NapTime Creations 

Ch-ch-ch-changes! Adjusting my focus.

Sorry for the switch-up, ladies and gents. Figured it was better to tweak early on as opposed to later.

I've pretty quickly come to realize what my central focus with this blog is going to be. As I have organized photos, future blog posts and ideas, it has become apparent that the central theme always returns to our home. And yes, I am still, obviously, mismanaged, but instead of focusing on the flaws of everything I do (which is quite a bit), I want to take this time early in my blogging life to simplify and adjust my brand. I have many passions, and this doesn't mean I won't represent them all here, it simply removes the pressure of having to do EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME. And I need a little less pressure.

It also lets me focus on the one recurring theme and the overall most important thing to our family: our home. And while I absolutely love decorating and all things beautiful, I would like to point out that I am not talking solely in a material sense, here.

This whole switch finally clicked with me when I was leaving with the two kiddos to run errands yesterday. My 3 year old shouted, "Bye house!" as we pulled out of the driveway. He blew it a big kiss and said, "Mom, I love our house." When I asked him what he loved about it so much he told mr it was because that is where we all play together. Tugged on my little heartstrings, he did. Isn't it funny how we as adults can glean something so profound from what is really a simple matter to a child?

So there you have it. Decision was made. Re-focus, re-brand. Home. In all of it's forms.

Fabric Love: Michael Miller

Hello, again!

Are any of you Fabric.Com trolls like me? If not, you should be. They are incredibly affordable and have a great selection. I have used them countless times.

After trolling again this morning I came across some picks from one of my favorite designers they feature, Michael Miller, and wanted to share!

His fabrics are cute, whimsical, colorful, and oh so fun! I have used them for curtains, pillows, bedding, you name it! I also think the designs are perfect for quilting, especially for children/baby minded crafters.

Some of my Michael Miller children's fabric picks:

1. Children at Play On Parade Double Border Multi - This sweet and airy scene would make an adorable bolster in a little girl's room!
2. Gnomeville Border Red - I love the vintage Hobbit feel.
3. Trailer Travel Camp Multi - In the vintage Airstream Trailer I own in my head, this would be used in a quilt for cozy nights camping with the kiddos.
4. Retro Rocket Rascals Multi - I love the retro Jetsons vibe.
5. Retro Candy Shop Cream - Someone please put this in a retro kitchen! Maybe a covered high chair or child's seat?
6. Flamingo Love Flamingo - Flamingos are very trendy right now, which is great because they are PINK!

Michael Miller decor fabric picks:

1. Bekko Home Decor Parquet Navy - Love the graphic blue and white!
2. Bekko Home Decor Pagoda Garden Blue - A very classic-feeling print.
3. Laminates Neon Pink - It's laminate pink fabric. I need it.
4. Rouge Et Noir Freckled White - Very on-trend spots - they're everywhere!
5. Sultana Deco Geo Black - Our home was built in 1937 so I am into all things deco.
6. Kiss Dot Clementine - Polka dots plus this hot color? Yes, please.

These fabrics are incredibly affordable to boot! So become a Fabric.Com addict and get DIY-ing!!

Home Tour Sneak Peek: Graham's Room

Onto my son's room!

When we purchased the home, this room was functioning as a bedroom already, but horribly outdated and so, so BLUE. Blue walls, blue carpet, blue.

The space seemed so small and cramped.

Now it feels cramped with toys! But much more suitable for a toddler (who loves toys).

I ripped out the carpet myself, painted walls and trim. My husband added a brass light fixture to the existing fan to at least make it functional for now. Hubby also made that amazing reclaimed wood bookshelf, full of thrifted treasures.

A closer shot of his shelving unit.

Oh, look! More toys! That rocking horse belonged to his great-grandfather when HE was just a child so it is priceless! And yet it's still sturdy enough that I have no fears about my wild man damaging it.

These built-ins came in handy when Graham's dresser literally snapped in half on the moving trailer.

Still lots of work to be done here. I have since started adding window treatments, cleared many of the toys, and switched up the bed for a toddler bed from Ikea. It gives him more room to run around and set up his Thomas Tracks. Because really, isn't that what kids' rooms are for?

The Mismanaged Mom's guide to catching up on laundry! When you're way behind!

Ahh, laundry.. my old nemesis. My mother loves to tell me how "it only takes five minutes to go downstairs and throw in a load of laundry!" Yeah, yeah, but it takes so much longer  to fold said laundry, and then to put it all away. Especially with a mischievous little year-and-a-half old who loves to "help."

And so I bring to you...

Now the first thing to understand about my process (besides that it is completely mismanaged) is that it might take a day or two. But I promise it is so much easier than folding load after load of laundry and running all over the house putting it away, only to go back for more loads (because you're way behind).

The first thing I do is to gather every laundry basket, hamper, wicker basket (whatever!) that I own. Get those next to your washer.dryer to get them all ready. This is a good time to make a huge mountain of clothes next to the washing machine. Just make sure you have all of your washables and baskets near your machine.

Now start washing!!!

The secret to my stress-free process is to keep washing/drying my loads of laundry, filling up my baskets and hampers with the clean clothes, and then NOT FOLDING THEM until I am completely done. Like I said, it may take all day to get all of the washing and drying done, but really this is the easy part because the machine does all the work!! Now let's get on with it.

When your folding area looks like this...

And this... (I have a total of six baskets/hampers full)

Then we can start folding it all all at once.

When my Mom taught me to do laundry, she always stacked the folded clothes by person. This works, but because my least favorite part is the putting away, it always bugged me to have to disassemble the pile once I got to my room to sort out the pajamas, pants, shirts, etc.

So while it might take up way more room on the dining table (or wherever you fold), I try to sort not just by person, but by the drawers they go in:

Here you see my piles starting to add up. Yes, there is underwear in this photo. Get over it.

By the time you're really getting under way you're space will look like this:

Phew! We're getting there!!

Now you can start sorting them out into those baskets!

I grab one basket for each person and start stacking my piles in there, making sure I keep those items orderly to make the putting-away process smooth.

My husband's basket:

His piles are separated by the way his dresser is organized. A drawer for workout clothing, underwear, muscle shirts, etc...

If your kids are old enough, you can get them to put their own baskets away! For me, with two toddlers, I am responsible for three out of the four baskets. But now all I have to do is take each basket to the child's room and I am already organized by drawer. Pop, pop, pop! Into the drawers my pre-arranged piles go!

I also set aside baskets for things like bathroom items (towels, washcloths, etc..) that I can carry around to each bathroom, and another basket for things that need to be hung.

Ahh, empty baskets!!

This process has worked really well for me when I get behind because once the washing/drying is done, I can wait until my youngest is sleeping, or until Daddy is home to tend to her, to power-fold.

What has worked well for you??

Linked up at: CornerstoneConfessions
A Bowl Full of Lemons