Clothes-ing In!

I feel like I have been working for forever on the projects around here, yet not completing anything. It's so frustrating to not be able to come here to update you all on my YAWYK challenge... but it's even worse when I have a few minutes and nothing to share!

A couple weeks ago, my husband quit his job. Don't worry! It's a good thing! He is now working from home, which creates it's own set of challenges... but there is a HUGE benefit: He is home and able to enjoy the boys the same way that I have been blessed to. He is helping to make sure the boys are up, ready and to daycare each morning, and that they get home safely in the afternoon.

In my efforts to make things easier around here, I purchased a couple of these:

Ok... well, maybe not those EXACTLY... mine are black and gray... but they are pretty much those. They were on clearance at Target. I got one for each boy.

Then I cleared out my hall closet.

When cleaning out your hall closets... remember these tips!

1. The more accessible the closet (or other storage) the more accessible the items inside! Your inside hall closets aren't for holiday items or long term storage items (wedding dresses, "memory boxes", etc).

2. Hall closets are like bottomless pits. If you want to store items there, store them so that it's easy to see what is actually there. Clear totes, hanging storage, and bins are great for this when properly used.

3. Think creatively. Just hanging stuff in a closet will only utilize the hanging space... and if you are like me, the little toddler jackets seem like such a waste of space, leaving sooo much room underneath! Put a set of drawers in places that are underutilized by little clothes!

4. Think vertically. Add shelves if you need them!

Alright... so like I was saying... I cleared out a front hall closet.

To sell:
401-410: a variety of stocking holders... Yeah... seasonal... and not used.
411: tube of 100 green ornaments.
412-425: assorted cables, knicknacks, and other hallway clutter that tried to find a home here.

To a better place:
269-300: hangers. Assortment of cheap wood (Dollar bins anyone??), wire and retail plastic. Likely would be appreciated by GoodWill more than by me.

To trash:
209-218: Another bag o' crap.

Then I hung those two organizers in the hall closet. We decided that was a good place because a) We live in AZ, where jackets are rarely needed or hung in a hall closet, b) I do laundry late at night and almost never get it into the boys rooms because they are sleeping, and c) we get the kids ready in the living room in the morning.

I gave each boy 1 set of hanging cubbies, and put their outfits in them.. one per day... Monday through Friday. I then put two collapsible bins in the bottom cubbies (there were 6 in each hanger) and put socks and underroos in there!

It has worked out perfectly! I can organize the kids outfits over the weekend, and then he can get them ready while I am running around like crazy putting on my make-up for work.

I am all for anything that makes life a little bit easier right now!

Sorry there aren't any outfits... it's Sunday and laundry day... ;o)

What do you do to keep the kids organized in the morning?