Ya Better Catch Up!

Sometimes you need to take a weekend for yourself. Not make any plans and just spend some time around the house catching up on anything and everything. That is exactly what I decided to do with this weekend!

Now that I'm working regular human being hours in my new job it makes it hard to stay caught up with regular organizing and cleaning along with the thousands of other tasks that I'm trying to keep up with on any given day. Weekends always seem to be jam-packed with events to attend and things to do so I decided that I wouldn't make any plans for this past weekend- at all.

Instead, I made a list. It wasn't a long list but one that included quite a few tasks that needed to be completed.

The first thing I did was clean out my purse. I always end up with tons of receipts to enter into my spending log, random bits of paper, and of course change. I took my dollar bills and started a new $1 fund and dropped the change into my counting change jar. I also pulled out my sunglasses because they were beginning to feel broken from being tossed in and out of my purse daily. I traded them out for a new pair (I never spend much on them- $5 or less- so I don't feel guilty about just throwing them in my bag!)

I sorted everything out on my bed. A box of Christmas presents, a paycheck stub, coupons, things to be recycled, things to be shredded, couponing items to be put away, more coupons, samples, etc...

Then I went through and put everything away and recycled what needed to be recycled.

I had a ton of coupons to clip thanks to my friend Melinda who gave me a huge bag of coupons that she had been collecting for me! I had a ton of work ahead of me and it took me the better half of Saturday to get them all clipped and sorted into my binder.

I also had a ton of laundry to do (including sheets and towels). While I waited for my sheets to finish I laid all my clothes out in categories on my mattress pad so it made putting them away easier and more organized.

I also cleaned out my frog tank, cleaned the bathroom, vacuumed, dusted, paid a few bills, organized my shutterfly prints, and took out the trash and recycling. It was an extremely productive weekend!

I even managed to get working on my scrapbooks for a little bit on Saturday. I am going to jump on the bandwagon that Samantha at Simply Organized is on called "One Day I'm Going To Get More Organized" and my scrapbooks are definitely part of that project which I will be talking about more in  the coming weeks!

How was your weekend?

Organizing My File Cabinet Part 2

Today, I am sharing part 2 of my file cabinet organization!

I spent most of the morning yesterday out and about running errands. I had a pretty extensive shopping list when I left my house, however I managed to get everything on my list! 

A few of these items were used for projects- one that I will be sharing on Friday =)

I purchased 25 letter size hanging file folders and five small rolls of washi tape. I wanted to find white hanging files, but I wasn't able to find any white ones anywhere. I ended up with these, which are a brownish/tan color. It was either this or murky green, so I chose the brown. Although, I wasn't thrilled with the color choices, I am an incredibly impatient person and couldn't go from place to place searching for white hanging files, plus it was snowing and I wanted to get home…so brown it was.

Initially I planned on creating my own labels when I got back home and just using boring construction paper, or possibly making them on the computer. When I saw the washi tape stand, I did a double take. After spending a few minutes rummaging through the display, I decided that at $2 a roll I would buy 5 for my five categories.

Don't they look nice? I simply took the white label they supplied, wrapped the washi tape around it, and then created a label with my label maker. I think they look great, and I'm really excited about the way my file drawer looks now.

After organizing everything into five categories, I made sure to sort through each folder, getting rid of any papers I wouldn't need anymore.

Look at all that recycling!

Now, here's what my file drawer looks like now...

Nice huh?!

My first category is financial. I have my paycheck stubs, credit card files, tax files, budgeting files, and anything else that has to do finances.

My second category has to do with my car. I have a folder for general information, one for maintenance, and one for car insurance.

The third category is anything that has to do with work. I keep my current background checks, information for my job, and information for DMA in these files.

My green category is special events. I have files for both weddings I am participating in this year (any hotel information, registry information, etc goes in these files), and I also have files for vacations that I took last year.

My last section is my "everything else" category. I keep warranties, my writing, and medical information in this section.

Behind the hanging file folders is extra printer paper and extra notepads.

Goodbye recycling and stuff I can donate!

By the way, I *think* that I can include this bag of donations, and a bag of recycling into my Less Stuff Less Stress total! It feels so good to get rid of things I don't need, and to simplify. I don't feel overwhelmed when I open this drawer anymore- everything is simple and neat, just the way I like it!

Here's a final before and after for you:

 SOOOO much better!

Did you organize your files along with me? Share your links in the comment section, I would love to see what you've done!

Organizing My File Cabinet

Since spring is coming in only 29 days, I've decided to start a little spring cleaning series here on the blog. I will be sharing different sections of the house as I clean and organize them for my annual spring cleaning, and you are welcome to play along with me! I've also FINALLY discovered how to edit my photos to include text, so get ready for the future Balancing On My Toes readers!

Today I'm sharing my file cabinet before pictures. I decided after watching Alejandra's YouTube video that I wanted to update my file cabinet and create a more uniform look. Here's a before look at my bottom desk drawer (aka my file cabinet).

I keep a ton of paper in this file cabinet. I keep some extra printer paper, all my finical documents, work papers, and other important papers in this cabinet. I will get into more specific categories in my after tour once I have everything sorted.

The first step of completing a successful organizing project? Come on guys you should know this by now- Empty it out!

Now, that drawer needs a good scrubbing before everything goes back inside! Look at all this gross paper crumbs in the bottom of the drawer!

Meanwhile, everything was piled on my bed...

…and sorted into categories.

I ended up having to move my piles off my bed and onto the floor, so I could actually get to sleep last night.

So this is where I stand currently. My plan for today (if the snow isn't too crazy- I'm a little over this snowstorm business), is to head out and buy some new hanging folders all in white. Then I will create colored labels that coincide with different categories (financial, medical, etc…)

 I should be sharing an update tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Happy Organizing!