I don't know about you but I sure am happy that Friday is here. The week is always so hectic that I always look forward to downtime with my family on the weekends. Although this weekend I think I will be doing more organizing then relaxing.
I've been putting things off for awhile now but I think I'm finally ready to get serious and get organized. I've been working on small projects through out the house (and my van too) but I never seem to finish them. Hopefully this weekend will be different and I'll be able to get somethings completed.
I think my main focus for this weekend is going to be in what I call our "what's going on" hallway. It's our family command center with our calendar, menu for the week, kids chore charts along with my list of daily cleaning to do plus a few other things. I'm hoping to finish putting everything up as well as adding a few things too. In the end my goal is to have a spot for the kids backpacks, a place where they can put up their artwork or projects and overall just a place where we can easily see what's going on for the week without having to flip through a bunch of papers.
In the meantime I would like to share what I've organized in my van so far. It's still a work in progress but its coming along nicely. This is what I've done so far.
Behind the drivers seat I've used a seat organizer to hold some of the things that were always scattered across the floor. In the top pocket I put a few books so they always have something to read, in the middle row pockets there are a couple toys and a bottle of foaming kids hand sanitizer (I also keep a bottle in the last row of the van for my oldest) and in the last row pockets I have another book and sick bags so that they are easily accessible if we need them. I also keep a couple of frisbees tucked behind the organizer.
Frisbees?! I bet you're wondering why I keep frisbees in the van. Nope we're not hard core frisbee players. While I try not to eat out too often there are those occasions when we're running around and have to grab something on the go. That's when the frisbees come in handy, they make the perfect little tray for the kids (and adults too!)
I knew I needed a place for paper towels and trash along with a few other things that would be easy to access yet out of the way. This was my solution. I originally kept a roll of paper towels in the very back however I realized it was kind of a pain since I couldn't access them unless I parked and got out. Now they are within easy reach. I also keep a pack of wipes, diapers and disposable changing pads in this bin along with a few other odds and ends.
If your kids are like mine you're probably always finding trash in random nook and crannies in the back seat. I knew I needed a way to keep the trash in one spot. Originally I was using a cascade container with a bag inside (an idea from Pinterest) but since I like to use the diaper disposal or doggie litter pick up bags they didn't fit very well and would never stay up. I tried an empty Lysol wipes container and they fit perfectly (in both the small size and large size). Not only did the bags fit but the container also fit nicely in the bin without taking up too much space. And to my surprise it holds quite a bit of trash so I'm not having to empty it every time we're in the car (unless of course the kids put something smelly in it.)
Its always helpful and sometimes necessary to have a bottle of water on hand, especially during the summer months. I don't always remember to grab one when I'm walking out the door so I use to keep a pack in the van. The problem was they started getting in the way because bottles were falling out and rolling around since the kids were having to climb over them when they were getting in and out. I actually have to give credit to my husband for this one, he found the perfect spot to store them. The bottles are now neatly stored in the center console between the two front seats along with some snacks. It's a great spot because it doesn't get really warm so the snacks don't melt and we can fit full size water bottles with plenty of room to spare.
I'm still working on the cargo area but I wanted to share something I added that has come in handy, especially for days when I'm using a stroller. I don't know about you but I was always leaving my keys or phone in the back of the van or stroller. It wasn't necessarily a huge issue but a solution sure was nice. To solve the problem I just added a small hanging container on the hook with the cargo net. It's small enough to not get in the way but big enough to hold my phone and keys. Now I don't have to worry about digging through grocery bags or pulling the stroller back out to grab my phone or keys.
Well that's it for now but as soon as I'm finished I will post part two. Stay tuned! And as always I would love to hear your comments! :)
I can't believe it's already December! This year has gone by so quickly, especially these past few months. I was hoping to have already added the second part of my mini van organization post but unfortunately it looks like that won't be up until after the new year. Between school, doctors appointments, vacations and everything thing else life has been a little bit crazy around here. And now with the holiday season upon us I seem to be busier then ever. I must admit though despite how hectic things have been I really do love the holiday season. I always manage to find some downtime to spend with family and friends which is really important to me. I love baking holiday treats, doing crafts with the kids and putting up all of the decorations, just to name a few of my favorite things.
