tackling a hot spot!

Typically Tuesdays are my days to clean house, organize, do laundry, etc. I usually don't have much planned, so we pretty much spend Tuesdays at home...unless of course we're invited to go do something than forget housework!

So, how perfect is it that 5 Minutes for Mom hosts Tackle it Tuesday every week? I've been participating in Tackle it Tuesday pretty much from the beginning of starting my blog last May. I've said it before, but there is just something motivating about taking before and after shots of all of your hard work. Today isn't any different and I finally was able to tackle a little something I've been meaning to do for awhile.

Ever since we gave up our office when Austin was born, we downsized (in a major way) to one small computer armoire that currently resides in the living room. The intention was to have something we could close up when guests come over, but most often it just sits with the doors open. I was getting a little frustrated looking at the disorganization and stuff just shoved here and there. This is definitely a hot spot in our house where a lot of things start piling up. It was obvious that I needed to tweak a few things to make it look more presentable on a day to day basis. I was putting it off until today...I finally found the motivation! And I'm extremely happy with the changes I made! Nothing too drastic, but enough to make it work for us and still look clean and organized.

~ BEFORE ~
Ugh! what a mess...so many papers and junk!
Unfortunately, this is not at its worst!

~ AFTER ~
I moved things around a bit to make it look less cluttered.
Now I just have to keep away the piles of paper!

~ BEFORE ~
Just a hodge podge of stuff looking tacky.

~ AFTER ~
(aahhh! that's better)

We found these great storage boxes at IKEA.
I wanted something that would match and look nice.
I added labels to each of the boxes for that added touch.

~ BEFORE ~
On one of the shelves were these drawers.

I couldn't stand that people could see inside, so taking an idea I saw on Heather's blog at Party in Pink, I added some fun paper to the front of each of the drawers. However, instead of Mod Podge, I just used tape to attach it on the inside. I thought that maybe I would use these drawers for something else in the future, so I didn't want to do anything permanent.

~ AFTER ~

~ BEFORE ~
the full view
~ AFTER ~
the full view

Now the mission is to keep it looking sparkly and new...
or at least somewhat presentable.

And, in typical fashion, the kids left me another
little something else to tackle today...

I don't have an "after" to share of this,
but it is all cleaned up as I type.

Join in the fun and motivation to get some things tackled at 5 Minutes for Mom.