Cabinet Powwow!

Hoo-ray for Cabinet Powwow Day! Have you organized a cabinet? Decorated a cabinet? Blogged about a cabinet? Link up below with Mr. Linky!

I didn't get as many cabinets done as I had hoped to, but the Closet Powwow runs until Friday, so I'm going to work my tail off between now and then to link up as many posts as I can ;-)

As a superhero, I have a moral obligation to protect bystanders from harm. Therefore, I can't stand by while my children are covered in an avalanche of DVDs each time the TV cabinet is opened...

I'm fighting crime on a budget here, but I did spring for some new shelf paper. Now if I could only find the time to install it in the rest of my kitchen cabinets! You just wouldn't believe the number of calls I get this time of year about kittens up in trees. You'd think the fire department had run out of ladders or something! Oh, well. At least I have one done!

For someone who can stop a runaway train, you'd think I could keep better tabs on my desk organization. Sheesh!

All in a day's work my friends. The clutter creature has been driven from his original home, but now he's living in the debts of my kitchen cabinets. Until we meet again, Clutter Creature. Until we meet again...

Now it's your turn- lets see those cabinet links! Exterminate those eyesores like there's no tomorrow! We're all wonder women, now lets prove it! Confused? Read more about what to do here.



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Closet Powwow!!!

Lets Powwow with our closet posts!!! Check out my closet progress, then link up with yours!

My expectations for myself were a little high given how crazy my month was. I didn't get all my closets done yet, but I did get the linen closet done. It really is about progress, and boy am I ever making progress!

So here's what I started with. That's a big mess.
So I pulled everything out and started from scratch!

I think labels are really important in a linen closet. Mostly because when you need some sheets, you don't want to have to unfold them to see if they're double or single. Also because you don't want to put something away in the wrong place to begin with. It's nice to have labels in the kitchen, but lets face it, I know where my plates go. But are those crib sheets or bed skirts??? The answer is labels.

Of course, I have no label maker, but I was equipped with plenty of file labels.
When I do get a label maker, it's going right on my utility belt...

Top 2 Shelves

Middle 2 Shelves

Bottom 2 Shelves

Go Go Gadget Closet!
(Yes, I have trained my closet to self-organize
now in order to save time in the future...)

I got rid of all the stuff in the closet that we never used and replaced it with all useful stuff from the "linens" bag (see this post about my recent laundry sorting). It feels so good to look in the closet and see how organized I am capable of being!

And the world will never know... ;-)

Anyone curious about our theme for March? Cabinets! So come back April 1st to link up your cabinet posts! And thank you to all of my awesome sidekicks out there (you!) who keep me going! Without you, my linen closet would most certainly still be a total disaster! Thank you for helping me return peace and order to our home one step at a time ;-)

What have you amazing women out there been accomplishing? I want to see it! Link as many closet posts as you like. Old or new, I don't care. Just inspire me :-) More info about linking here. Thanks! ;-)

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Laundry Powwow!

The Laundry Powwow has started! Post your laundry links at will!

The Laundry has surrendered! Thanks to all of you, my motivational sidekicks! Check out what my superpowers accomplished this month... The Loch Ness Laundry has been conquered!!!

No more laundry lurking behind the bassinet!

Mount St. Laundry... No more!
Laundry creeping from the closet?... Nope!

Laundry falling out of my laundry closet? No more!

How did I do it? Well... I'm glad you asked!

First, everything had to come downstairs. Everything...

Sorting. Nothing was left unsorted. This was the most labor intensive part, which is why I called for reinforcements. After sorting, it was bagged. White bags for clean, black for dirty.

Bags were labeled and dealt with accordingly.

All of these bags on the left received a very special one way ticket to Goodwill. And I took them the next day! No letting them clutter up my house!

I didn't hide the laundry back behind my bassinet again. I left it all in the hallway right beside the washer/dryer closet. This way it was really easy to keep going. Plus, I couldn't ignore it. It had to be dealt with.

My new Laundry system? Laundry baskets are always dirty clothes. I have several mesh laundry bags that I keep in a basket on the dryer. The clean clothes go right from the dryer into the laundry bags. This way, there's never a question as to what is clean. Also, my dirty baskets are never missing from their spots. Plus, we no longer have a reason to pile clean clothes on top of the dryer :-)

I can't believe I actually did it!!! Clean clothes are a novelty at this house! Haha! Thank you to all of you for your motivation! I could not have done this without all of you! I needed a deadline. A real goal, and something to look forward to at the end. Now lets see what you've done!

Post your accomplishments! Old and new posts welcome. See more details about posting here. Also, posting a link enters you for this adorable giveaway!

January's Progress Powwow

I hereby proclaim January Laundry month!

Laundry is beyond a shadow of a doubt my biggest domestic downfall. It overflows our house. It's everywhere. It fills every basket. It's piled up in the closets. We have enough clothes to dress a small country, yet I can't find anything that I want to wear! I'm so disorganized that finding two matching socks in our house is nothing short of a miracle. Seriously. And ironically, none of our laundry makes it into drawers or onto hangers. I don't fold anything. This is not an exaggeration. The only clothes I have folded in the last 2 years was so I could fit them into a suitcase. Sad, I know. I promise, you're not picturing it as bad as it is. 

So, throughout the month, I will talk about my progress. Maybe I'll show you some snip its of what's going on. Then at the end of the month, I will post before and after pictures of my

 laundry progress, and have a place for you to do the same! This can include anything having to do with laundry. Your closets, laundry room, drawers, whatever! Lets lick our laundry! 

Lets powwow with our completed before and after pictures on February 1st :-) Good luck everyone!

Introduction to Monthly Powwow!

~I'm taking a Summer break from Monthly Powwows, but they'll continue in the fall! :-)

Thanks for Participating in my Progress Powwow! Here's what to do:

1. Write a post about the month's organizing theme. (The themes are listed below)
2. Include pictures, and explain what works for you!
3. Visit my blog on the 1st of the next month and link up with Mr. Linky.
4. Link your site back to The Masked Mommy or grab a button with the code below.
5. Enjoy visiting everyone's posts!

Remember, it doesn't have to be a new post. Feel free to dig into those archives! And multiple posts are welcome :-)

Snag a button!

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January~ Laundry Powwow (this includes laundry rooms, wardrobe purging, your laundry system... anything laundry or clothes related!)

Laundry Powwow Scheduled Feb 1-3

February~ Closet Powwow Scheduled March 1-3 Delayed to March 5-8

March~ Cabinet Powwow April 1-3 (this includes any cabinets you've organized, decorated, cleaned out... whatever!)

April~ Beautify your home month (decorate, hang some pictures, or anything you think makes your home more beautiful. Come here to link up with your beautiful post on May 1st!)

Lets get going for 2009! Don't forget to take some before pictures!