A place for everything and everything in its place.

I love to organize.  Like when normal people are relaxing with a glass of wine and watching a beautiful sunset, I can be found cleaning out random drawers, cabinets or closets.  It soothes me.  I think I need a 12 step program.

There is something to be said though for the throwing out of the old.  It's freeing.  You're relieved of the burden of clutter of unneeded or unnecessary "stuff."  And, really, who needs "stuff" weighing them down.

One of my favorite organizational tools?

Ignore the dorm room white board on the wall.  Love the functionality but trying to figure out how to improve the aesthetics.  Suggestions??

That's right, an over-the-door shoe organizer.  I have three in my house right now and not a one is graced with a pair of shoes.  My most used is the one inside my pantry door.  I have pens, paper, flashlights, scissors and well pretty much everything that one shoves in a kitchen drawer.  Don't deny it, you have one.  Maybe it's hiding in your office but it's there.  I have a love affair with this organizer.  I can see everything at a glance and  at my fingertips when I need it but hidden away when I don't.

Note the lack of pretty labels.  Yes, I'm lazy but this time it's purposeful.  I like being able to move things as our needs change.  My 2 year old is currently being allowed access to the scissors whenever she desires.  Until she cuts her own hair.  It's inevitable really.  Then she'll force me to enact logical consequences and move them back up where her brother can get them but she can't.  She'll still be able to see them.  It's a discipline & organizational tool in one.  See, I said you would love it.

While I recommend the clear plastic kind for the pantry, it's not my favorite in the rest of the house.  I have the canvas/mesh kind inside our toy closet door where it holds things like matchbox cars and dress up accessories (Yes, they are organized by theme.  Can't have the pirate eyepatch sharing space with the feather boas can we?).  The top is currently empty because I want the kids to be able to access their play stuff whenever they want.  I'm considering another clear plastic version for some type of Lego storage.  Did I hear an, "Amen!" to trying to organize the legions of Legos that invade a house occupied by a boy child?

Our coat closet is the third door occupied by an organizer.  Right now the pockets are filled with sun hats & sunglasses.  Hmm, just occurred to me to add the sunscreen.  It's still almost 100 degrees but in a couple months the sunny outdoor gear will be replaced with hats and mittens.  Each pockets holds a matching set.  It works brilliantly.  No more digging for matches!  And everything within a kids' reach and just inside the entry door.  Self-sufficiency is a good thing.

Everything has a place.  Nothing simpler than that.