Tips for Organizing Your Mudroom & Laundry Room Without Spending any Money

Usually, when I see organization posts/articles I notice all of the stuff in the images that I would have to buy to reach that level of organization and beauty. The problem is that I have $0 in my budget to buy things to organize my laundry and mudrooms. So as much as I would like to buy all the bins and a tree hall and replace the wire rack above the washer/dryer, it is not happening anytime in the near future. So I set out to organize my laundry and mudroom with no budget.

Before:

Tips from my own experience:

1. See if there is anything you can get rid of (sell or give away) first.

So in my war against clutter this year, I had already started this in various rooms of my house. In my laundry room, we have a shelving unit set up that holds many kitchen items (because our kitchen is tiny) and there were several small appliances we never used. So I decided it was time to get rid of them. This created more space on our shelf and without a bunch of stuff being stacked on top of each other, it looks a lot less messy.

2. Look for items that have a home elsewhere.

In my house, things seemed to get put in the mudroom instead of being put away in their actual location. So just by putting those items away, it looked a lot cleaner.

3. Try to find any containers that are not being used or could be cleaned out throughout your house to use instead of buying some.

I found a couple of containers in the garage that were not being used. I cleaned the multi-purpose cleaner out and cleaned all of the dirt and spider webs off of them and I had some containers ready to go. I also cleaned out some things I am planning to get rid of to open up a couple of containers. They do not all match and they are not as cute, but they do work for containing our stuff.

If I couldn't find containers, my plan was to use cardboard boxes and cover them up in craft paper to make them look slightly better.

4. Basic cleaning helps these areas look way better.

So I am embarrassed to say that I do not know the last time we swept and dusted the laundry room. It has a door on it, so since it is out of the way it is not a top priority when we start cleaning. The top of our washer and dryer were covered in dust and lint and by wiping them down, it immediately looked so much better! The inside lid of the washing machine was gross (if I am being honest), and once I noticed I could not unsee it. Do you clean under the top of your washer where the machine and the lid hinge? I had to get a q-tip to get it under it but it was nasty - I couldn't believe how bad it was. So just some basic cleaning- wiping things down, sweeping, dusting - made a huge difference.

5. Rethink how some spaces are used or where you put things.

There is a closet in the mudroom and the previous owners had put a rack on the back of the door. This seems to just have accumulated junk since we moved in. I cleaned out the junk and was able to use that rack to store cleaning supplies instead of on the shelving unit in the laundry room.

6. Think about what will work and be functional for you and your family.

My goal in organizing my home this year is to make my home more functional. While it looking good is also important, the main priority is that it is functional and works well for us.

So I thought about putting all of the laundry detergents on the shelf above the machines, but I can't reach up there very well. So I left the detergents I use the most on the dryer, where I can reach them. I do not want to have to get on a step stool every time I need to use the laundry detergent.

After:

Long term I have grand plans to buy some cute containers, a tree hall, paint, and add more organizational pieces that would help me maximize the space on the shelving unit. But I am trying to make the best with what I have now until that time comes. Especially because I have some other spaces in my home that have a higher priority for organizational items. So I hope these tips might help inspire you to organize your spaces without waiting to have the budget to buy all the cute organizational things.

Remember Mama, you are doing a great job! You got this!

Looking for fun, free, indoor kids activities? Build a fort!

If you are looking for something fun for your kids to do this weekend, consider letting them build a fort! There are surprising benefits of fort building for kids.

It's a time of year that requires many of us to be inside with our kids more than we would generally prefer. Finding activities that are beneficial and engaging can be challenging. Fort building is a great option that is beneficial for children and will keep them busy and engaged for a while. The best part, the kids will love it!

Reasons to Build a Fort:

According to Tinkergarten, Your Morning Basket, and North Shore Pediatric Therapy, building a fort is beneficial because kids can:

1. Explore early STEM concepts

2. Practice problem solving

3. Practice planning and decision making

4. Practice Collaboration

5. Use Creativity

6. Persistence (when they have to re-build when it falls or gets disrupted from play)

7. Have a calming effect because the inside is generally less stimulating than the outside world

8. Facilitates imaginary play

9. Improve core and upper extremity strength as they play in the tent

10. A sense of accomplishment when they see what they build.

Ideas for Fort Building:

So maybe you are sold on the idea, but not sure where to start? Consider some of the following ideas to help you get started:

First, get your children in on the brainstorming - planning and using inventive ways to use materials you already have is good for them.

But, I have a few ideas for materials to help you guide them:

1. Table chairs

2. Bar stools

3. The dining room table

4. Couches

5. A playpen

6. An unplugged and sturdy lamp

7. Bed sheets

8. Blankets

9. Beach Towels

10. Clothespins or chip clips- so helpful in keeping the sheets/blankets in place

11. Bed pillow

12. Couch pillows

13. Cardboard boxes

Once they have created their fort, I recommend letting them decorate it and furnish it in whatever way makes them happy. Maybe you still have Christmas lights out they can use, they may want to put a sleeping bag or nap mat in there or all of their favorite stuffies. This is another activity in of itself and will keep them engaged and busy even longer.

The Fort is Built, Now What:

Now it's time for playtime in the fort! There are so many things that kids can do in their newly built fort and it will be extra fun because it's in a fort!

1. Read

2. Build an obstacle course

3. Pretend play

4. Play a board game

5. Listen to music

6. Design tunnels within the fort

7. Have a tea-party

8. Tell stories

9. Journaling

10. Crafts

11. Play a digital game or watch a movie (if you are allowing screen time)

Depending on the age of your children, they may need some help in building their fort. But hopefully, this will be a fun and beneficial activity that will keep them engaged and having a blast for quite some time.

My husband and I recently built a fort with my 1.5 year old and we all had a blast. We used the playpen and some bar stools to clothespin sheets to. Then we filled it with pillows and blankets. We had story time and listened to music in it. We left it up all weekend so he could come back to it. Parker was definitely a little young for the activity but he had fun because we were all spending time together doing something different. It was a good way to mix things up, especially because I get sick of being stuck inside. So I hope you and your kids can have so much fun building a fort!

Remember Mama, you are doing a great job! You got this!

47 Reasons You Should Read with Your Child Through Age 14

We all know that reading with our children is important, but do you know why?

As a former teacher, I genuinely believe that reading with our children is the best thing we can do for them - at all ages. In this blog post, I am covering why it is so important to read to our children. I will be sharing tips, tricks, ideas, resources and more information covering how to read to children, what to read to children, and when to read to children in future posts.

The Facts

I have written lists of why it is so important to read to children by age level below. It is beneficial to all ages of children and supports healthy development.

Baby

According to the NAEYC and KidsHealth.Org, babies get a number of benefits from having storytime with their adult:

1. Reading time is a time when babies are held and feel loved

2. An opportunity to bond

3. Learns new words and sounds

4. Learns listening, language, and communication skills

5. Imitate the languages and gestures the adult reading is using

6. Begins to learn that pictures and words have meaning

7. Builds vocabulary

8. Builds memory

9. Learns about the world

10. Introduced to concepts including numbers, letters, colors, and shapes

11. More likely to have more language quicker

12. More likely to have a larger vocabulary

13. Supports social and emotional development

14. Supports thinking skills

Toddler & Preschool

According to KidsHealth.org and PBS, you should read to toddlers and preschoolers because:

1. Sets the foundation for later independent reading

2. Less likely to develop reading problems

3. Increases vocabulary

4. Helps them understand that words are made up of smaller sounds

5. Helps them understand that marks on a page represent letters and words

6. Begin to learn the letter of the alphabet

7. Learn emotions and how to process them

8. They behave better because they have a better understanding of their feelings

9. Strengthens social, emotional, and character development

10. Linked to decreased levels of aggression, hyperactivity, and attention difficulties

Elementary Aged Children:

According to Reading Rockets and EmpoweredParents.co reading with elementary ages children provides a number of benefits including:

1. Increase vocabulary

2. Increase their understanding and motivate them to improve their skills by reading books above their reading level.

3. Sends an important message to your child that reading is a priority and is worthwhile

4. Helps with reading comprehension

5. Improved language patterns (grammar, tone, parts of speech, etc.)

6. Increases critical thinking and problem-solving skills

7. Encourages independent reading.

8. Improved reading skills also improve writing skills

9. Bonding time

10. Improved concentration and memory

11. Character Development

12. Improves listening, communication, and conversation skills

13. Increases empathy and imagination

14. Can be a stress reliever

Middle School-Aged Children:

According to Edutopia and Readtoachild.org middle sool aged children can get the following benefits from reading with their parents:

1. Improved comprehension

2. Reduced Stress

3. More exposure to a variety of reading materials

4. Help kids make connections between text and life or other books (or media)

5. Learn reading strategies used by adults

6. Learn that reading is a priority, worthwhile, and enjoyable

7. Expand their understanding by discussing unknown concepts

8. Increased motivation and interest

9. Bonding

There are so many benefits to reading with our children of all ages. I absolutely love to read and I hope to instill that love in my son as well. I have been reading to him since he was first born and in the NICU, but I know that the older he gets, the busier the schedule gets, and the more independent he is that it will likely become more difficult. I hope this list will encourage you to persist in the worthwhile endeavor of developing book lovers.

I will be sharing resources, tips, tricks, and more information about how to do this, books, to read, and more at the Persistent Mama Blog Reading Corner.

Remember Mama, you got this! You are doing a great job!