a closet re-born.

My mother may be a hoarder. Not TV show nomination worthy, but given a few years, eh, she could be there. Just kidding, mom. kinda :)

So, what better to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Houston than organize their under-the-stairwell closet? Let me tell you, not much. Post one terrifying cock roach experience, a trip to Ikea, and a few margaritas with family, we got started with project closet clean-out. 

I forgot to take a "before" picture, but let me tell you... literally, you would open the door and you couldn't see past the opening. We took everything out in loads and made piles. Piles of seasonal decor, gift wrapping accessories, and Spode (it had it's own pile there is so dang much of it).

Then loaded it back in, and here's what we got.

 2 tensions rods (walmart) for the ribbon hung above the shelf. Helpful hint - tape the edges of each loose end or else you'll have rolls upon rolls of unraveling ribbon - straight chaos. We hung the iron on the wall with an iron board holder (walmart) to the right. 

Here we have 3 hanging baskets (ikea) that just slip right onto the built in shelf, how convenient. Inside, there are boxes (ikea) full of bows, yep, just bows. On the left side of the closet wall we screwed in a magazine rack (ikea) that seems like it was made to hold my mom's collection of gift bags.  

 Ikea sponsored this whole bottom section. And, by sponsored I mean we bought it all. You can barely see it, but in the background are two white baskets. They are perfect for holding wrapping paper! thank. you. ikea. 

That long bar holds scissors, tape, more ribbon, balloons, banners, and table clothes. You know, the usual.

So, there it is. Coat closet makeover. Gee, I wish I had an entire closet that could be dedicated to crafts. A girl can dream. 

Kitchen Organization: DIY "command center"

 We'll start with the window pane. I think it came from my friend Hope, as she was trying to slim down her Canton window collection. I was more than willing to take this off of her hands. It's come in so handy around the new house. 

It had it's first go-around above the mantle with pumpkins 'n such for fall. 

and, then it was ready for Christmas with red ribbon and pine cones. 

Now, it's been given a new life. 

Enter my Kitchen Command Center! dun dun dunnnn.. I feel like I belong in Star Wars.

Here's the view coming around the corner from our dining room. 

Blake built that stand all by himself, so proud! Then, we stained it "driftwood" which is really fun to say. And, there you see my best attempt at kitchen organization/command center.

Yea, I put some plywood we had laying around from our Custom Headboard Making Business on the back. Yea, I spray painted it with a bottle of CHALKBOARD PAINT from Home Depot. Yea, I also cleaned that sucker off and spray painted the entire thing a nice coat of glossy white. 

Lauren:1 Kitchen clutter: ZERO.

that basket holds BBB coupons (how do we get so many of those? all the time??) extra keys, and random other coupons. 

Just a shot of my $4 picnic basket from the Thrift Store. Not to rub it in or anything, but we picked it up on a day the store was having a 50% off sale. Four bucks. We're taking a picnic to the concert in the park deal at the Dallas Arboretum later this week, and I couldn't be more excited to use my PICNIC basket. I'm having flashbacks of Yogi Bear.  

Hanging from the twine that stretches across the open panes are the cutest little clothespins. They hold onto recipes I want to try soon, one staple of a recipe from my grandma - for Sweet Rice, two tickets to the Fort Worth zoo that Blake won for us... that we need to remember to use soon, and a packing list for camping. We're headed to New Braunfels for Memorial Day weekend, and I cannot wait! I just can't!

on the bottom rung, a homemade post card from katelovephoto that was gifted to us when we arrived in Hawaii for her wedding, one of my most favorite people on earth - little baby Kyler, and a polaroid from said Hawaii wedding. oh the memories..

and, the reason for the season... the Johnson household weekly menu, on my DIY chalkboard!! I have a slightly boastful grin on my face right now. It was just so fun to make, and will be so fun to use!

The chalk. FIY plain white teacher's chalk is extinct. I went to 5 different places Sunday evening and ended up going with your classic sidewalk chalk. Who knew. 

So, there it is. I feel so in control of my kitchen now, and dinners, and schedules, and expiring tickets/coupons. I'm mostly excited about planning out weekly meals and posting them up there so Blake can get excited about the week too! He's already voiced his anticipation and joy, seriously though.. he has.