Organizing the Chaos: The Hall Closet

Our house always seems to look and feel like a tornado destruction path lately. I seriously spent an entire day last weekend cleaning the kitchen and the bathroom and it looks like I didn't do anything at all. *sigh* I've decided part of the reason for this is a lack of organization. Stuff just gets shoved wherever.

In an effort to curb this before Maddy's birthday party (less than a month away) I'm going to try organizing the chaos as much as possible. I decided to start with the hall closet. Every time I open it, something falls out. It drives me crazy. This closet is next to the bathroom. In it was linens, games, towels, and extra stuff that gets shoved in the bottom like future gifts for people, wrapping paper, gift bags, etc.

Here's shot from the middle of the project. I had already taken the games from the top shelf and moved them into the guest room as well as moved all the extra bedding to the top shelf.

Notice the bottom of the closet with stuff falling out? Yeah, that's every time I open this sucker.

I put all the small stuff like washrags and cleaning rags into two baskets.

I was got these from the Dollar Tree. I was going to use them in my craft room, but decided I needed help here first.

I decided to roll the towels for a couple of reasons. First, they take up less room that way. Second, It's easier to pull out a specific towel without making a huge mess of the rest of the pile.

I took out all the gift wrap, gift bags, and other extraneous stuff to take downstairs. I put a few things such as the future gifts I'm hanging on to into this wire basket I had.

Extra blankets and tablecloths are on the shelf above that. I've also got a bucket I use for cleaning purposes in there and a few extra tote bags next to that.

Tada! An organized hall closet! It's not magazine pretty, but it's functional and organized. I feel so much better already! Now I have to do this around the rest of the house. I really need to tackle the closet in the bathroom (toiletries, hair stuff, bath toys and medicine everywhere!) Have you done any organizing lately?

Don't settle for dull, live a refinished life!

Blast from the Past: Maddy's Minnie Mouse Birthday

In starting preparations for Maddy's birthday (only a month or so away!), I realized I never posted her party goodies from last year. I am featuring last year's party today as one of my Blast from the Past Posts.

Maddy was (and still is) obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. So, I decided to throw her a Minnie Mouse birthday party. I  also decided to go with the traditional Minnie color scheme of red, yellow and white, rather than the pink.

Here's the invitation:

I made it using some old Creative Memories software. I used a free font from somewhere (not sure, but it might have been on Da Font) that was a Disney look alike. Had too much fun with that!

I made Maddy a dress by sewing some cute jersey polka dot fabric I had to the top half of a t-shirt:

My mom bought Maddy some super cute red shoes with Minnie on them that I can't seem to find a picture of right now.

I also made Maddy's bows:

Here's one with her wearing it:

I made a wreath for the front door by wrapping a grapevine wreath I had on hand with black crepe paper. The ears are wrapped embroidery hoops:

I also made a sign for Maddy that now hangs in her room. I cut out all the parts for it with my Cricut.

I used that same free font I downloaded and my Sure Cuts a Lot software to make the whole thing. I found a mouse silhouette online as well. I spray painted the plastic frame (it was brown before) using Sunshine Yellow by Krylon.

I also made a banner using black paper plates and vinyl letters for Maddy's name:

Cheap and cute! I had goodie bags for the kids:

I again used the Cricut here for the mouse head shapes. 

I, of course, did not manage to get a picture of the food spread. *sigh* But I did snap one of the coordinating plates, napkins and silverware: 

And last but not least, the cake. I did not make the cake. I leave the cake making to my mother in law, who is practically an expert at fun shaped cakes. 

I certainly could not have done better that this. 

I am starting to plan a pink and turquoise cowgirl themed party for this year. It's over a month away, but I really want to get a jump start on it. Plus it involves things like making a pink and turquoise tutu and finding matching cowboy boots! I'll probably share some of those projects as I get them done. 

Don't settle for dull, live a refinished life!

*Planning to share at: Metamorphosis Monday; Give Me the Goods Monday; Time To Sparkle Tuesday Linky Party;  Wildly Original Linky Party; Clever Chicks Blog Hop; Serenity Now Weekend Blog Hop; CSI Project