I don’t think I’m alone in how much I love looking at before and after pictures. Really, isn’t that the most inspirational thing of all. In recognition of that, as well as wanting to acknowledge my many readers who are working so hard to get organized, I introduce you to:
It will be similar to the 30 Day Organizational Challenge but with an ongoing monthly theme instead. For instance, February will be designated kitchen month. Organize something in your kitchen during the month, big OR small, then blog your before and after pictures and email me the link. At the end of each month I will put up a Mr. Linky in order to round-up all the blog posts. Not only will this be a great opportunity to get your home organized but also get a little link love as well. Prizes will be awarded randomly to participants.
Here is how I’ve allocated each month. Feel free to organize the whole room or part of it (drawers, cupboards, closets, whatever!):
February ~ Kitchen
March ~ Dining Room
Prize for Feb/Mar ~ How to Get Organized Without Resorting to Arson
April ~ Master Bedroom
May ~ Kid’s bedrooms
Prize for April/May ~ Basket of cable/wire management goodies
June ~ Playroom (or anything to do with toys!)
July ~ Bathroom
Prize for June/July ~ Compilation of past Organize Magazines from the Founder and Editor-in-Chief herself, Joyce Dorny
August ~ Mudroom/Entranceway
September ~ Office
Prize for August/Sept ~ $60.00 prize package of your choice from The Organize It Mom!
Check out my review of her awesome products here.
October ~ Craft/Sewing Room
Prize for October ~ One year membership to List Plan It! Check out my review here.
November ~ Laundry Room
December ~ Living Room
Prize for Nov/Dec ~ Organizing 101 online workshop from Aby at Creative Organizing. More info here.
I’m now thinking I should have named this little feature of mine “enablers in action” because that’s what you are! Thanks for feeding my habit, I don’t know how I’d get through each day without you!
Proverbs31 says
I love it! You go girl!
And I SO totally need to work on this one AWFUL little spot in my kitchen. I’m glad that one’s first.
Consider this a little teaser.. it involves lot of miscellaneous bottles, office supplies, small toys, little broken things, you name it, in a little catch all space with two overflowing little baskets just screaming for attention. 😉
How’s that for feeding a habit? 😉
Laura says
Oh what a tease you are but it does sounds exciting!
Dextress says
wow
this sounds fun!
Bonnie says
I LOOOOOOOOOVE this !! I’ve already done a post on my blog telling everyone about it. Hopefully this link works ….
Mrs. Wilson says
I LOVE this idea!! Count me in!!
Jenny says
I think I need April, May and June for my Master bedroom!!LOL
Great idea. I know there are many areas of my kitchen that I can organize. Sounds fun!!
Sonja says
This is great, i might not submit pictures but I will get involved, oooo this will be FUN!!! mmmm i feel a need to fill trash bags and buy some containers to put things neatly into.. office will be good fun! thanks
🙂
Debi says
This is a phenomenal idea, Laura! I love, love, love it! Such fun.
tasha says
i love this idea
Jeni says
Sounds great! I definitely need to organize my kitchen, and taking picture before & after me should inspire me to tackle other spaces, too!
Sandra says
Great idea Laura 🙂 I’ll try to jump in and do it too!
Liss says
I love this idea! I’m definitely going to participate. My kitchen thanks you!
Tickled Pink says
Yeehaw! Sounds like a great plan!
Valerie says
This sounds perfect! Off to make lists of what needs done in the kitchen:)
Chelsea says
Awesome!! What a great idea. I am sooo in. I’m usually an outsider watching you all. I follow along and to them in my own world. I’m gonna participate with you all. WoohoO!
Thea @ I'm a Drama M says
Yeah, I think I can do this. Great idea!!
Jessica says
Perfect timing!!
I’m actually in the process of redoing my parents kitchen! I’m all in….its being repainted, reorganized, restocked…everything!
Unfortunately, the real “before” pictures were never taken. Right now it’s about 1/5 of the way done, so I’ll have to snap some pics of that as the before pics.
Yestheyareallmine says
I love this idea!! I hope you don’t mind if I blog about it. 🙂
ter says
perfect timing as I was just pondering the fact that I need to rearrange how I have things on my kitchen counter because the way it’s laid out now is not working!
Rebecca says
Oh I am SO excited about this. After getting back home from vacation I wrote up a list with each room on it & wrote out what I wanted to do in each room. The first room I picked was the kitchen so the timing is wonderful. I’ve started on things but not quite done. I’ll be preparing my before & after pictures for what’s left to finish – quite enough I think. 😉
Jennifer says
I don’t even know how I first heard about your blog, but it was months ago. I rediscovered it under my favorites file and took another look. I’m sooo excited to have found it again because I’m committed to getting more organized — especially when it comes to meal planning, structuring my day. Time management is a weakness of mine and I have to ask you, “Why did you tell me about Capessa!!!???” There goes even more of my time, right out the window! Ha! I was inspired by Mary who finally got organized though. And I’m sure I’ll be inspired by the gazillion other videos I see. I think I’m just going to pull an all nighter.
Jennifer 🙂
Lazy Organizer says
Wow, it sounds fun!
Scratchin the Surfac says
Great idea – I’m tearing through the entire house anyway, so a schedule of what to do when is just great. Thanks Laura!
angie says
I am new to this site and I’m soooo thankful I found it! I am in need of your mind LOL….I’ve lost mine! Seriously, I have five children in a three bedroom home (waiting until I have everything organized before putting it on the market!) and the kitchen is one place I need help the most! I can’t wait to email pictures 🙂
Barbara says
I just did my pantry and “junk drawer” in my kitchen 3 weeks ago, on the plus side I am keeping it neat, but I didn’t take any pics. My spice cabinets need some attention, maybe I’ll tackle those.
The Thrifty Blogger says
Wow, that would require lots of work and organization and time…I need help! I bought a book like a year ago to declutter my house and I misplaced the book. My daughter found it the last time she was over here and said, “uhhh Mom?” LOL
Anyway, someone tagged me and so I had to pick some people to tag, and you are so organized that I thought you might have time to do it. HAH! 🙂
kris says
Oh this is SUCH a fabulous idea!!! I’ve been wanting to do my kitchen for weeks, I just need the proper kick in the hiney to get me started!
Jennifer says
Oh I really hope you are happy. It’s after midnight and I am trying to pry myself away from that Capessa website. I just registered and am awaiting my verification e-mail. What is happening to me???
I did just watch a great clip of Eliza talking about longevity. Maybe if I eat enough legumes and get exercise like she suggested, I won’t die from lack of sleep!
Jennifer 🙂
Megan@Disorder2Order says
Okay so now you have got me. I see so many of these type of “challenges” and I really like this one. I just might have to share… Hopefully I will have my new craft space by October! 🙂
Great thinking girlfriend!
fullheartandhands says
I’m making a blog entry about this right now. I really like plan to organize, but I don’t always follow through on my plan. This should be great motivation. I’m linking to your Round-up post. I hope you don’t mind.
Tiffany says
Mine is definitely going to be my pantry! It needs organized in a major way! I am scared of the expiration dates I will find when I get in there.
tabby says
great way to organize your pantry.
I am doing a online tupperware party for my aunt. she really wanted the hostess gift and had a party planed but ended up in the hospital. if anyone is intrested please send me you e-mail address to [email protected]. and i will e-mail over the online invite. i really want to earn it for her as a suprise for when she gets home from the hospital. thank you everyone
JoAnn says
I can’t wait! I’ve already started on the bedrooms but they won’t be completely done until summer because I need to paint in them. I’m definitely going to be participating each month and, hopefully, by the end of the year my house will be done and ready to list so we can move when we want to.
lylah ledner says
i love the way you’ve broken this down…such a “do-able”…i’d done some organizing in my kitchen (linens), and look forward to doing more when i come home from spain.
love, love, love your blog! you go girl!
lylah
tabby says
i fell in love with tupperware for my kitchen.
I am doing a online tupperware party for my aunt. she really wanted the hostess gift and had a party planed but ended up in the hospital. if anyone is intrested please send me you e-mail address to [email protected]. and i will e-mail over the online invite. i really want to earn it for her as a suprise for when she gets home from the hospital. thank you everyone
jamie says
Hi Laura! I’m excited to find your site-I’m new at all this- please tell me how to blog so I can hope to win your giveaway-I’ve never been organized and I’m desperate!!!!! I deal with depression and heard clutter doesn’t help any. God bless you, Jamie
Mikki says
I just finished moving around and organizing some of my kitchen cabinets. Thanks for the inspiration.
tabby says
great way to organize your kitchen. They have tupperware in every shape and size, and lifetime warranty
I am doing a online tupperware party for my aunt. she really wanted the hostess gift and had a party planed but ended up in the hospital. if anyone is intrested please send me you e-mail address to [email protected]. and i will e-mail over the online invite. i really want to earn it for her as a suprise for when she gets home from the hospital. thank you everyone
Autumn says
I am new to your blog and I can’t wait to join in on tihs! It is just what I need. 🙂 I plan on taking the before pictures tomorrow and get started. 🙂
Forgetfulone says
I’ve got some before and after pictures (as well as your logo) on my tackle-it-Tuesday post for today! Should I email them to you. I cleaned and reorganized two of my kitchen cabinets so far. Where’s your email link button? Thanks!!!!!
GiBee says
Is it too late to join this month’s challenge???
kim says
So, is there a way to know who is working on organizing for the month… I’d love to see what other people are doing….
You can see my small job that I did this weekend at: http://jeromeandkim.blogspot.com/2008/02/kitchen-organization-drawers-before.html
Of course, there is more to come… perhaps next weekend.
sea says
Doh, I just re-organized my whole kitchen and turned a small, non-functional dining room into an extension of the kitchen just by purchasing a few IKEA pieces… I’m so proud, but I didn’t take a before picture so I guess I’m not eligible, even if I posted. sniff… We were eating dinner every night at the coffee table and now are eating dinner at the table (in the living room) so I am just thrilled with the changes. Wish I could participate- although I would have been far too embarrassed to post before pics!
-Sea
Sandy says
I love this idea, I am in. I am always struggling with clothes. Too many little kids clothes, my clothes, my husband clothes.
Cathy | Mommy Motiva says
ooooooh, ooooo, ahhhhh. I’m in organizing heaven! 🙂 I’m DEFINITELY taking up these monthly challenges. I got here via ummmm, gosh – I forgot already. I’ve gotta “back button” and subscribe! lol Anyways, I’ve gotcha subscribed. I’ll check back often!
PS – i have a weekly segment called Tidy Tuesday on my blog – just my ideas… would ya guest blog for me sometime?
Kim says
I’m a little late but just in time for the dreaded toy room. Ugh! Boy,does it need tidying. I’ll be working on it and post pictures when done.
Blessings,
Kim
Jennifer says
This is an awesome idea!! I can’t wait to start cleaning my bathrooms! I am trying to ad the image link to my blog, but for some reason the coding in your text box isn’t working properly. =(
Mommee23 says
Wish I would have found you in February. lol I could’ve been getting organzied all this time. I will definately join the rest of the challenges. Can’t wait to see everyones after pics! Thanks Laura
Carla says
This sounds like SO much fun! I’m an organizing freak too. We are in the process of moving though, so could my before pics be from my current house and my after pics be of my new house? If not, that’s fine..just thought I’d check!
Can’t wait to join in!
Sarah S. Chicken says
I’ve finished my office and am posting the link here.
http://princessbride42.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-i-organized-my-office.html
I am so proud of how it turned out! I’ll be looking for Mr. Linky.
Shannon says
I wished I would of found this site earlier in the year but I am glad I have found it now. I need a little organization in my life!! 🙂 How do we enter the monthly drawings??
Rodna James says
Hi! I stumbled upon your site from Cindy Rushtons blog list!!!
I see your organizational ideas! I have been working on my house. You should have seen my bedroom, bathroom and closet! It is clean now pretty much. But it usually doesn’t stay that way. I have been reading Cindys deal and just organized my entryway closet today! Anyhow, my laundery room is NOT done! LOL
so what exactly do I need to do to participate? Just take before and after pics and send them to you and blog them? Thanks for any info on this!
Rodna
Lacy says
I have been doing your monthly roundups for several months now, and I LOVE it! It’s so great to be working with everyone else and seeing their solutions as well! You have to do this next year, too! I need to start posting my pictures as well 🙂
BJ says
Thank you so much for posting this. I just found your blog. I need all the help I can get organizing. I also took the code and put it in my sidebar. Have a great night.
Adry @ Mod Mami says
I grabbed your button! You are JUST what I needed! Where have you been all of my life? 🙂
Shawn says
Good post. I love the idea of breaking the house into bite size bits for organizing.