Organizational Tips–Clean Mama

Establishing Back-to-School Routines

Hey guys…It’s Amy…still taking a little break and spending some time with my kids before school starts next week for us. Becky from Clean Mama is back to share some great tips for getting back into a routine when the kids head back to school! Thanks Becky!

Hi there Idea Room readers! I’m Becky from the Clean Mama blog and I’m back today to share a little checklist with some ideas for a smooth transition from summer fun to back to school routines. Even if your kids have already started back to school, the tips today are easy to implement any time.

I have five areas that I think will help organize your home, your child, and your school year.

1. Set up a snack and lunch making center or spot in the kitchen-

image via

*put lunch items in a container in the fridge and pantry

*make healthy snacks easily accessible to hungry kids – fruit, veggies, nuts, pretzels, cheese….

*put lunch making supplies (bags, lunch boxes, reusable containers) all in one place to alleviate searching

2. Create an art work and school work collection spot – decide how you’ll save special artwork and schoolwork (binder with sleeves, boxes, scan to computer)

I’m using these boxes from The Container Store.

3. Start or update a family binder or notebook-

*determine important sections: home-keeping, contacts, school info, contacts, bills, emergency info, etc.

(Shameless plug: my Etsy shop, Clean Mama Printables-is full of great documents to quickly create a Home-keeping binder – I even have a School Days Kit that’ll help get your year off to a great start)

4. Create and/or Stock a Homework Station-

*stock up on supplies (now that everything is on sale)

*designate a quiet spot for homework – this can be as simple as the kitchen table and a basket with school supplies

This is a cute little station from The Container Store.

5. Sort Through Clothes, Shoes, Outerwear-

*place outgrown clothing in boxes/bins

*donate clothing to friends, family, your favorite charity

*make a list of what your child/children need and watch for sales and coupons

Any ideas you’d like to share that help you get ready for the next school year? We’d love to hear them in the comments section!

You can go here to grab a little School Days Checklist to make your transition a little easier this year!

Hey, In other news, I would love for you to come and join me, Amy Anderson (Mod Podge Rocks) and Jen (Tatertots and Jell-O) for a live chat tonight over in the Blog Frog’s International Delight Coffee Talk Community. What are you favorite beauty secrets? How do you stay looking young? And what products or recipes that you love and want to share? We’re talking all about beauty and how to maintain it TONIGHT, Thursday, August 18th at 9pm EST. Come join us!!!

To join us simply follow this link!

August 18, 2011 · Filed under: Back To School, Clean Mama--Organizational Tip Series, Moms, Organization Tips, Organizational Tips--Clean Mama, Parenting Help Tagged with back to school, homework helps, homework station, organization tips for back to school, routines

Thanks Clean Mama!!

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It is hard to believe that the Clean Mama Organization Tips Series here on The Idea Room has come to an end. It has been so much fun for me to have Becky sharing her great ideas, cleaning and organizational tips with us. I just love her blog and her printables. She makes organizing fun and manageable. And her printables are fresh and fun and easy to use. I hope you have all enjoyed the time and effort she has put into each and every one of her posts. Be sure to head on over to Clean Mama and leave her some love and appreciation. And make sure you follow her on her blog so that you can continue to learn from the amazing things she has to share with us. You can also get her fun printables in Clean Mama’s ETSY Shop to help you stay more organized in your own homes. Clean Mama also has a lot of fun freebies that she shares with her readers as well. So head on over and show her some love!

And in case you missed any of Becky’s posts I have compiled them all here so you can access them quickly and easily.

Organizing Addresses and Phone Numbers

Grouping Items to Declutter Photo Albums

Ending Mud Room Mayhem

Organizing Kids Stuff

Stair Baskets

Keep A List

Quick Clean Ups

Holiday Menu Plan Printable

Fridge Pocket Storage Tutorial

Using Labels to Organize

Thanks so much Becky!

May 25, 2011 · Filed under: Clean Mama--Organizational Tip Series, Organizational Tips--Clean Mama Tagged with

Fridge Pocket for Small Storage Items

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Hi Idea Room readers – it’s Becky from the Clean Mama blog and Clean Mama Printables. Today’s Organizational Tip is to make a Fridge Pocket to hold pens, a small notepad, and anything else you need to keep handy in the kitchen. I needed a little something to store pens and such on the side of the fridge. I looked through my fabric stash and found some leftover oilcloth – perfect!

You could easily use regular fabric that was heavily starched or with some fusible webbing with similar results.

I simply started with two pieces of oilcloth – one cut to about 16 inches x 6 inches and one cut to 10 inches x 4 inches (these dimensions can be changed to accommodate your own pocket and how much or how little you want to store in them).

Then I folded the smaller piece of oilcloth in half (with the wrong side out) and stitched along the bottom of each piece of oilcloth – like this. Word to the wise – oilcloth is MUCH thicker than regular fabric, so tread slowly and carefully with your sewing machine.

Then I stitched all the way up one side and a little over half way up the other side – like a pillow.

Carefully turn it right side out and fold in the side that didn’t get stitched up – you should hand stitch this closed, but I opted for pinning and holding it together until I sewed it on the larger piece.

Position the pocket onto the larger piece of fabric and sew down the bottom and sides, leaving the the top open for your pens and such. (This picture is before I sewed it down.)