Frock Me Friday > Messy Purse, Messy Life

I know that this is Frock Me Friday, but I'm in need of a confession.

Here it goes,*gulp* :

 I have a messy purse of EPIC proportions.

I get annoyed stares from cashiers who watch as I rifle through 500 receipts for 5 minutes, trying to find my debit card. There have been times that I've pulled my cell phone out of my purse to answer a call, only to realize that there is a wrapped piece of gum, that has now accessorized itself to the back of my phone. Sorta like an IPhone gum barnacle...I've went days thinking that I've misplaced my keys only to realize that they are wedged in the tiniest pocket of my huge purse, wrapped in a tangle of silly bandz, hidden by a layer of hotwheels cars (My purse also doubles as a time out/holding pen for all items banned from school or that are currently annoying me or others).

My purse is a tragic mix of crumpled paper and pointless items. Ask me if I can shine a laser light pen to flash an SOS signal. I got you covered. Need a shark tooth necklace to accessorize your outfit? I got it. Ask me If I have $2....um....Give me 5 minutes to scrounge around the dark pit of my purse and I'll get back to you on that.

Well yesterday, I hit my rock bottom. I was at the store and doing my usual debit card search party, when a waterfall of crumpled receipts fell out onto the check stand and onto the cashier. She, with noted disdain and using two fingers, picked up my mangled receipts like they were snotty used Kleenexes, and then handed them back to a mortified, me. I gave her an embarrassed laugh and ran out of there like I had left a kid in the car.

Well today is the day my messy purse shame comes to an end!
Here are some accessories that will whip any down-and-out purse, into shape. It's a Frock Me Friday for your purse!

First up is this great purse organizer insert from etsy seller Divide and Conquer

Hah! Divide and conquer?! Just what my purse needs! Here's one that I love in a Burberry print, from O Buy Me:

 Or how about one in a hot pattern trend. I do love me some yellow and black. This one is from Etsy seller, Purse to Go:


What about those naughty, out of control, receipts? I'd love to corral them in this lovely holder from Emms Pocket Shop:

 

Kate Spade envelopes:

Pocketed organizer from Barnes and Nobles:




Here's a DIY idea from IHeart Organizing:


Now for the keys:


ATFrey


Etsy


Peng Studios

Or how about this adorable personalized one? There's even a DIY tutorial!






And of course I couldn't end a Frock Me Friday post about purses without...purses!

Clutches at ModCloth
Satchels by Rebecca Minkoff


Remember to look for purses that have lots of pockets to stash lots of contraband, and a shoulder strap to leave your kid wrangling hands free...

Have a great Weekend!


~Angela

Dress This Mess > Mud Room Explosion

Today's post was supposed to be about my organized mudroom, but instead it looks like this (sorry about the terrible pic):

I swear these coats in here are some how multiplying.  As soon as I hang up all the coats off the floor, I'll turn around, and there's another one laying there. It's actually a little creepy. It's like they are mocking me, or maybe I just have a bad case of cabin fever.

Here is my blank wall where I've envisioned a great message center with all of my family's events and papers neatly organized...

Don't even get me started on the 100 pairs of my husband's work sunglasses that ARE EVERYWHERE. I ask him why he brings home a new pair every week and he explains to me that the 300 other pairs at home are scratched from being stashed in every available drawer, pocket, and basket; at which point I do some deep breathing exercises. Hmmm...

So instead of thinking about my mudroom's mess and wanting to cry; I found some great pics of some efficiently organized mudrooms that I can pretend are mine, or at least steal some of their ideas. 

I love the idea of the "in" and "out" bins in a message center.  All those loose papers floating around drive me crazy.

Right now in my garage, I have a large frame that I've wanted to turn into a chalkboard for about 8 months, Or maybe I don't anymore since my hubby keeps trying to throw it away. Look what a great chalkboard it would make though!

On Pretty Handy Girl, she made a message center with mirror out of an old window she found in the trash. Check out her great tutorial.  Love the idea of having a little shelf.

Delightful Order makes these great individual message boards for each family member. They go in a picture frame so you can use dry erase markers on them.  Genius!

This one uses bins and organizers from everyone's favorite store, IKEA. What a great idea to use the cork board on the bottom.

We've talked before about making sure to use that valuable vertical space. I think this shelving would work great over my coat rack...

This one uses crown molding and shelf brackets to make the space free standing. This also allows for more floor space.

Cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling are a must in small spaces. I love that green color (and the fancy dog bowl holder)!

Lastly, I thought I'd throw in an inspiration room to get me and anyone else, who is wading around in an ocean of winter coats and mismatched gloves, started organizing. Even if you don't have a large space like I do, any corner or closet can be turned into a functional mudroom, with just a little help; which is exactly what A Thoughtful Place did with her stair closet:

The After!

That "window" in the back is actually a metal message center.  How cool is that?!  Don't you just love how the stripes make that little closet look huge. Check out A Thoughtful Place for her "How to Own Her Mini Mudroom."

Well I'm off to pick up some coats. If you don't hear from me, come looking.  I think those coats are against me...

~Angela

I Need Minions > Kitchen Pantry

Fresh start, clean slate, beginning of the year.  


It's January, yup that's right - the slate is clean.  Maybe it's that resolution thing that people do (not me, but other people) for New Year's.  For me there is something about taking down the Christmas decorations and starting the New Year fresh.  I have to admit that I've been known to still have my Christmas decorations up in mid-January.  Not this year though.  Don't start congratulating me on my promptness, the only reason I have them down and put away is because I knocked my tree over Christmas morning and broke the stand.  When your Christmas tree is leaning against the wall like a drunken sailor there is some motivation to put everything away.  


January seems to be the month for organization, cleaning and fresh starts.  All the January magazines have articles about it and all the stores have an awful lot of organization/storage paraphernalia on sale.  The January Good Housekeeping magazine has an article titled "Hey, y'all, I need some help!"  Paula Deen's kitchen is a disorganized mess and she needs some help.  Don't feel too sorry for her because her kitchen is huge.  Everyone knows that if you have too much stuff for your space that's where you get into trouble and I have the smallest kitchen known to man.  I've seen bigger kitchens in hotels with kitchenettes.  You think I'm joking but the Future Mrs. 2Wicked's brother was over the other day and when he walked into my kitchen he said, "Wow, your kitchen is really small!"  You know it's small when a non-gay guy comments on the size of your kitchen.  

My kitchen is about the size of Angela Glossy Flossy's pantry - 

actually I think her pantry might be bigger.  You know that saying, "You can't have everything - where would you put it?", well I don't have everything but I still need somewhere to put all that extra Costco size stuff, and the supplies that I'm getting close to running out of.  If you don't have a pantry like the one below, I have some ideas for you.

The only real "free" space I had was in a small corner of my laundry room. So we got creative and took an Ikea closet unit that happened to fit perfectly and used that as my pantry.

I chose the shallow shelf version vs deep for two reasons:  I was only storing grocery type items in it and if the shelves are too deep the items seem to get lost and I would not have been able to open the doors all the way with the deep one because of space.  Why the clear doors? I personally don't like to see everything on my shelves and I like the way the closet doors give the room more of a finished look.

Some tips before purchasing a pantry:  

Measure your available space.

Decide how you want to use space.  Are you using it for food or are you using it for storing appliances?  If you are storing appliances (mixers, crockpots, chafing dishes, etc., I would definitely get a deeper closet or storage unit. 

Don't forget to use your vertical space, especially in small spaces. 

Needing some extra storage space of your own but don't have a whole lot of space like me? There are tons of ideas out there for unconventional pantries, here are a few to get you started:

Armoires:

Wire shelves:

Bookcase:

And the last idea - and I'm not making this up - there is a site selling these.


The Convertible Pine Box Book Shelf "Casket".  This is a direct quote from their site:  "For the customer who wants to help their loved ones by planning ahead, the Conversion Caskets are the answer.  The casket can be available until the time it is needed, but be used in the meantime as a living room bookshelf, a kitchen pantry. . . "  Now that is a conversation piece.  I can hear it now, "I like to keep my Bisquick in my casket, doesn't everyone?"  I'm pretty sure if I saw that in someone's living room I would be beating feet out of there.

www.longarmwranch.com

Just hoping no one wants to help me plan ahead!


Happy New Year! or Happy Fresh Start!


-Laurie