.:Tidy Tuesday:.Easy Organization Tips for the Busy Lady

Welp, school has started back in full force. I’m thankful that teaching interior design does give me an avenue for utilizing my organization bug (there are ALWAYS papers or something in the classroom to organize) and my creative heart (I really enjoy coming up with new projects to help teach my students design concepts!). However, with the school year, much to my dismay, comes much busy-ness. This has been a struggle for me as I learn what being a wife is all about AND 4th year teacher (yay!) AND girls’ small group leader AND daughter, sister, friend….SO I enjoy finding new ways to stay organized at home. I may have a touch of OCD, but I still think it’s fun and it really does keep me sane to be organized at all times, in all areas of my life. Here are some practical tips I’ve collaborated from 1) my first couple of years living with a man , 2) an old REAL LIFE magazine from readers on organization, 3) good advice from friends:


• When cleaning and/or organizing, listen to music! It’s fun and speeds me up actually!
My current fave: Ingrid!


• Have a small trash can in the house just for recycle. Read and sort through the mail near, or somedays even over that recycle bin. You know the majority of mail just adds up to clutter!


• If you don’t need it, GIVE IT AWAY! Don’t we all have a lot of “stuff” that we don’t use?


• Label, label, label! Solves the “Honey, where are the ________?” questions.


• Bulletin boards! Near stairwells, entryways, on the back of doors for those paper/events/business cards we can’t lose!  Ballard Designs has some really fun and functional magnet, bulletin boards:




• Store gift wrap in plastic storage containers with rollers on the bottom. Hide the under the bed for easy access.


• GIVE the gift of organization – exchange “help sessions” with a friend for a special occasion gift…(I’ll help put up your Christmas décor if you help organize my closet!)


• Pick up the daily “stuff” (shoes, jackets, couch blanket) and take it upstairs on your way to bed.


• Color code your closet. It will help those early mornings run a little bit smoother when you are looking for clothes for the day.


• Do it yourself. Why cause an argument when it will take you 2 seconds to pick up his wet towel from off your new carpet?


• Marry a “clean freak” – then he’ll do it himself :)

!Exciting News!

Jake and I have recently confirmed and are stepping out in faith to go with a small team in October to Hyberabad, India!!!  On this trip, we will have the opportunity to spend time with orphans in a small orphanage, visit with a leper colony, and worship with/serve alongside a local church there.  We are SO excited about using the talents God has given us to serve and grow on this trip!  The website http://www.globalhopeindia.org/ explains a little more about the ministry we'll be working with/through.

I will be donating all proceeds from organization/decor jobs now until December towards this trip!  What an awesome way for YOU to get involved indirectly in some cool things that are happening in India, (AND you get a little something for it!)  Please email me at btayloreddesigns@gmail.com if you'd like to schedule a "de-clutter session" or would like to update a room/space in your home!!!  All proceeds will be tax-deductible.

"Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong..."

2 whole years ago today I had the privilege of marrying my best friend and college sweetheart! What an adventure it has been, these two years, learning how to live together, communicate with each other in our differences, and start dreaming of our mission as a couple!


Here's to 2 times 25 years and then some!!! 

So right now my favorite thing to do is search for fun, old usable pieces of furniture and paint them, change knobs, and add them to a room for a shabby, chic look...check out the sea blue "kitchen island" above...who would've thought?

I love the celery green of this one!

post #1...patience please!

yep. This is my first attempt at blogging and sharing fun and usable ideas for the home and life.  Be patient with me as posts may not be as consistent and often as I'd like :)