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A Mom's Year

Creating a comfortable life one moment at a time

August 17, 2011

Storage Ideas and Free Printable Labels

I’m remembering now how this back-to-school thing works. Every year at the beginning of August the thought of school starting up again with its accompanying busy-ness completely depresses me. I love the long days of summer when there’s time to read and daydream and create and hang around with friends. I toy with the idea of just not sending my kids back to school.

But ever so slowly I’m lured in by the promise of fresh starts and new opportunities. Notebooks are stacked on the dining room table, waiting for stories to be written on their blank pages. Crisp-looking crayons are ready to create artistic masterpieces. And e-mails suddenly start appearing from helpful organizations with lots of ideas to share about Getting Organized for the School Year. I start thinking about all the things we love about autumn—pumpkins and birthdays and apple picking and cozy sweaters and fires—and instead of dreading the school year, I begin to feel a tiny glimmer of excitement.

With every new season, I feel the urge to get rid of extra stuff and attempt to be more organized. So I was happy to get an e-mail today from Better Homes and Gardens filled with organizing ideas. Fresh starts. I’ve included a few, but they have dozens more here.

I think these art-supply holders, made from empty Pringles containers, would be a great solution for storing our paintbrushes, pens, and pencils. And my kids would be thrilled to be told they have to eat Pringles.

What an adorable way to store tiny toys. You can find the printable here. The folks at BH&G printed the square label on heavy card stock, laminated it, and placed it inside a metal-rimmed tag. Finally, they punched a hole in the label and hung it from the tub with ribbon. And then they placed the whole thing on a cute little green chair.

I love this idea for storing beauty supplies. Ours have been tossed in a plastic bin in a drawer in the bathroom. This is much cuter. And what is it about labels? They have such authority. “Put that there,” they say. “Listen to us and everything will be under control.”

Are you excited for school to start? I know lots of people who can’t wait to send their kids off. I think they prefer the structure of the school year. If you don’t have kids or they’re grown, how do you feel about summer coming to an end?

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Filed Under: Decorating, Organizing Shannon 3 Comments

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Comments

  1. Diane (aka. mom, grammy) says

    August 17, 2011 at 8:21 pm

    I could swear you just posted the boredom is not allowed blog! It’s true that time flies faster with each year of life.

    Reply
  2. Marilyn says

    August 18, 2011 at 4:54 am

    Well said. You really captured the competing excitement and dread that surrounds the beginning of school. But not having kids myself, my summer isn’t quite over. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Heather says

    September 4, 2012 at 11:55 am

    Hi I’m Heather! Please email me when you get a chance, I have a question about your blog! LifesABanquet1(at)gmail.com

    Reply

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Hello! My name is Shannon Taylor. I'm a long-time writer and editor from Minnesota surprised to find myself on an island in the Pacific Northwest. I'm sharing this adventure with my husband, four kids, and two dogs. I “published” my first newsletter when I was nine, and I’ve loved sharing ideas, stories, and information ever since. I hope you find something here to inspire you and help you create a comfortable, cozy life.
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