Disney's in the Desert

Mom Hack: Label Making

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.

It’s pretty well known now that I am kind of obsessed with being organized, but something that always elevates any project I do is my label maker. I’ve owned a few over the years, and while they’ve all been helpful and served a great purpose, this pink one that I’ve been using since last summer is definitely my favorite.

I found it by accident, searching Amazon for another organizing tool, and I’m so glad I did. I LOVE that it has an app that I can connect to my phone. It comes with some pretty additions (like adding a border, different fonts + sizes for your text, and even little graphics! The kids especially love this feature when it comes to their labels). I’ve bought an extra pack of rolls for it too, because with as much as I use it, it’s nice having a back up supply.

I thought it would be helpful to share a few of my fave ways I use my label maker in my home and with my kiddos too.

  • Bag tags: the kids have a bunch of the Ryan + Rose cutie tags on their overnight bags and duffle bags for sports, and they come with a blank circle to add a name/info. I print out a little sticker label and add it to that, pop it back in and their bags are individually labeled (which is really helpful to tell whose is whose, since both boys and both girls have the same bags).
  • Kitchen labeling: I use these bamboo organizers in our zipper bag drawer, and I’ve added a label to each organizer so I know which bag is which when I’m packing snacks, lunches, or putting away extra/left over food. They’d also be great for labeling clear spice or food containers, too!
  • Storage bins: earlier this month I shared how I’ve decluttered space for the new year with these bins, but labeling each bin has been crucial when I’m packing them away to see what is in each. Even though they’re clear and see through, things are squished in and it’s nice to know what I’m grabbing for or forgot about later as months go on just by looking at the label.
  • Bathroom + closet organization: In our master bath we have a linen closet where we keep extra first aid supplies, (of course) towels, and other bathroom products. I’ve used labels to help the kids (the boys can read and Honey is right behind them) where these things we don’t often reach for, but sometimes need, are located. I’ve also labeled some stacking drawers in my closet for extra clothing items I don’t have room for in my closet or dresser drawers. I love not having to open each drawer to know what goes where.
  • Desk drawers: We have organizers inside our bedside tables and the kids’ school desk drawers. Labeling where colored pencils go (and similar items), helps keep them stay tidy because everything has a place and ‘home’! It truly has prevented them from just throwing things in wherever.
  • Back to school: I had this label maker when the kids went back to school in August and it was amazing to have when it came to labeling all of their supplies!!! I saved so much time printing out their individual names all in 1 batch for what they needed to bring in that first week. As school has continued, I still find myself making labels with their names for projects, field trips, more supplies, etc!

I hope this helps and gives you some ideas of how to get labeling! Usually the biggest challenge is just starting, so hopefully this can inspire you and give you a little push if needed!!

10 Tips for Decluttering (and cleaning!) in the New Year

Happy New Year friends!! Can you believe it’s here already? I’m definitely welcoming in this new year and setting some reasonable, attainable goals. What about you?! #bye2021

You know organization and keeping my home and family spaces tidy, but there are certain areas that have kind of just left sitting. Things would pile and it just seemed easier to close the door and look away, lol. We’ve all been there, right?

I wanted to give a few ideas in this post more focused on areas that can be easily neglected. This won’t be a ‘wash behind your washing machine!’ post, but more of things we touch daily that we can do things with each week/month in order to maintain and NOT let the build up happen. Some of these are just things I know I have left sitting and I know I’m not using, so donating or disposing of it will help clear some space for the new year.

  • 1. Stock up on Folex. I swear by this stuff! I’ve been using for the last 2 years on our carpeted spaces and our laundry (yes, I use it on our laundry! I have not had any issues at all!) For deep/stubborn stains, I will spray a little on, let it set, then scrub. I will spray on a little more and then throw it in the wash as normal.
  • 2. I have purchased a handful of these inexpensive bins from Target. Not only do I love that they come in a few styles (and are pretty to look at!) but they helped me declutter our holiday decor this year as well as some things in our downstairs linen closet. I chose what I wanted to put in them and only kept the things that I know we will use in 2022.
  • 3. Clean out your kids backpacks or better yet, have them help you do this. It’s a great time to do this since it’s still holiday break. Cole keeps his backpack pretty tidy, but Conner is my kid I have to keep an eye on with this. The smaller zipper pouch tends to be where they store a lot of things over the school semester along with the occasional dirt, etc. I make them clear out whatever is trash/unimportant and then throw them in the gentle wash cycle. I also bought the boys each these wallets where they can store their school IDs, money they take for sno cone days, etc. and it helps declutter this pouch as well.
  • 4. Time to clean your linen closets going into 2022. Donate/dispose of any linen (beach towels, shower towels, blankets, sheets etc) that may have seen their last day or that no one has touched in over 6-12 months. I know sometimes some of these things can hold sentimental value, and if that’s the case maybe store it away elsewhere or in another bin that you’re going to keep in storage. I now only keep blankets/towels that we regularly use as a family and it is so much less overwhelming. I can also see what we have and therefore it gets used so much more!
  • 5. Another thing I took care of going into this new year is something you might not really think about, but if you have school aged kids like I do, it’s probably something they’re often touching. In my kids’ school/homework desk we have a bunch of used pencils with erasers broken off, pencils sharpened down past the point of barely being able to even hold it, and lots of mechanical pencils with no lead. I tossed all of them and replaced them with every teacher’s favorite pencils and best part: no lead to refill!
  • 6. In my kitchen, I went thru all of our large utensils (spatulas, serving spoons, tongs, wooden stirrers, etc) that we haven’t used and donated them. It truly was not necessary to have as many as we had and I kept the ones we use weekly for meals.
  • 7. This is something I started doing in 2021, but I get my car washed the first of every month (If I can’t go on the 1st, then sometime before the 5th). I make it a priority to do this, because as a mom of 4, my car can become pretty overrun with kids crumbs, shoe tracking, and other fun things 😉 I found an inexpensive way to do this is by going to the semi-self service car washes (usually around $7 for exterior) and then I use their free vacuums and the kids help me suck up all of the stuff on the floors and seats. I plan to continue doing this into 2022 – it’s a game changer and my car has benefited from it so much. I know by the end of the month (when it’s starting to show gross-ness again ;)) that the car wash is right around the corner and it helps me not feel overwhelmed.
  • 8. There are several different bins, baskets, and containers I love for our closets, and I’ve linked a few of them on this post. The wooden ones are really sturdy and actually pretty deep – I picked up a few more of them plus the plastic kind with the drawers for our master closet clean out I’m determined to finish working on before January is over!
  • 9. I plan to do a blog on my pantry sometime this year (I know, long overdue!!) but if you’re needing some help on where to start, I have all of my favorite products I use to organize my pantry linked in this post, BUT one way I keep things that aren’t in containers still staying fresh and looking uniform are with these cute chip clips. I just bought another pack because the ones I’ve had over the years were dwindling down and some had cracked (they’ve gotten so much use over the last 4 years though!). Highly recommend them!
  • 10. This is another thing I do all year long but I thought it would be helpful to close out my tips with it. Every Monday, I wipe down and disinfect all of our electronics. It’s a really good habit to get into and bring along with you in the new year! Definitely one of those ‘it’s a new week!!!’ things for me.

I hope this helps motivate and inspire you while you’re doing some NY decluttering!! I’ve already implemented a few of these before today and my house feels so much better and the kids have more room too. I know it can sometimes be hard to start these things with life going at such a fast paced all the time, but I promise you once you start, you’ll find a good groove and you won’t want to start! Progress is always so motivating for me. Happy cleaning!

Holiday Gift Guides

Well friends, I’ll be honest — I totally intended to post this so much sooner! I started working on it well before Thanksgiving but time has been flying! My hope now is that you’ll be able to get some ideas for any last minute shopping or if you’ve been stumped on what to get for someone special/a friend/family member, this sparks an idea!

I’m going to share my “Mama” gift guide because there are some of my favorite things on here. We work so hard and some of these things help me unwind after a long day, and I’d love for another awesome mama to be able to enjoy one of them too!

GIFT GUIDE: MAMA

Candle // Clip // Mug // Toothbrush // Slippers // Candle // Cordless Vacuum // Camera

*MAMA RECAP* The Burst toothbrush is something I’ve been using for a full year now. C got me one for Christmas two years ago and I have to admit, I was less than thrilled – but not for the reason you may think (“yay, toothbrush…”) It was really just because I was like, “I’m so pressed for time, I don’t have any spare to learn another tool”. BUT! Let me tell you, that couldn’t have been further from the truth. You basically just open the box and it’s ready to use. SO EASY, and it’s done wonders on my poor gums. This toothbrush is the best one I’ve ever owned, hands down. I have been eyeing this mug for a while, I love that it keeps your mug hot, leaving you making 0 trips to the microwave to reheat your cold coffee after chasing kids all morning. It’s no secret these candles are my fave. This scent specifically is one I burn all fall and winter here. Last but def not least, I have to tell you about these slippers. I got them on sale a few months ago and they would make an amazing gift for any mama (or BFF!) I am obsessed. I love putting them on during Sunday mornings when we’re having a slow morning at home (making breakfast, watching the kids play outside) and at the very end of the night before bed!

GIFT GUIDE: HER

Tweezer Set // Scrunchies // Fanny Pack // Sunglasses // Scarf // Nail Polish // Jewelry Holder // Tumbler // Dryer Brush

*HER RECAP* I’ve never owned a hair brush/dryer in one, mostly because it wouldn’t make sense for my hair type, but I know SO MANY who own this one and rave about it constantly. It’s currently on a really good deal for the holidays! This jewelry holder is stunning in person (I’ve owned it for the last 3 years!) and it would make a sweet gift for someone you care about. I love the concrete look and it actually holds quite a bit. I keep it out on my dresser because it also doubles as a home decor piece IMO! Olive and June make my fave nail polishes. The colors are 10/10 and I would say they are very comparable as far as durability/lastability (is that a word? I don’t think so! haha) to Essie polish. I know everyone is loving the Stanley tumblers lately, but they’re super hard to come by due to stock/supply, so I found this tumbler as an alternative and think it’s just as cute!

GIFT GUIDE: GRANDMA

Doormat // Slippers // Canvas Bag // Keychain // Blanket // Mug // Always Pan // Frame // AirPod Holder // Echo Show

*GMA RECAP* The Always Pan makes an excellent gift for ANYONE but I recently just gifted my mom one for her birthday and it makes a great gift for someone who spends a little or a lot of time in the kitchen, trust me. Even if you’re only making bacon and eggs once a week, the Always Pan heats everything proportionally in your pan (not just the middle!) and clean up is a breeze. It truly does replace all of your other sautee/frying/sauce pans! I added my fave Target frames on this list because for under $19 you can get the largest size (18×20) and print a photo of your kids or your kids and Gma and place it in this beauty. I love the natural wood look, which makes it super easy to add to any home. This doormat I thought was super cute and probably any Gma would enjoy 😉 This is the same shop we got our ‘lots of kids’ doormat from too!!

GIFT GUIDE: HIM

Portable Charger // Slippers // Electric Razor // Wyze Camera // Brumate // Yeti // Always Pan

*HIM RECAP* The last time I checked, these Yeti coolers were on sale in select colors: score!! Again, the Always Pan is making the list in the color Char. I gifted C one of these a couple months ago and it’s his go to on the weekends. These slippers we don’t own, but they look luxurious 😉 The portable charger is a must for really anyone, but for someone like my husband who works from his phone all day long, it’s super useful and practical. I added our Wyze camera to this list too, because it’s probably C’s fave purchase from 2021. We sleep so much better at night with our Wyze watching our home!

GIFT GUIDE: THE COOK

Mixer // Nespresso Machine // Baking Sheet // Utensils // Knife Set // Air Fryer // Cake Stand // Cookbook // Perfect Pot

*COOK RECAP* Ok so it’s not a secret, I really love being in my kitchen!! Fun gadgets and pretty cookware make it that much more enjoyable for me. If you know someone who likes baking and cooking, I highly recommend all of these things!! How pretty is that air fryer, too!? My go to cookbook for easy weeknight meals is the Half Baked Harvest cookbook and I recently discovered these pink baking sheets from Anthro! LOVE LOVE!! The knife set is one I’ve owned for a couple years now as well and they’re still just as sharp as the day I got them and they wash really well too.

GIFT GUIDE: HOMEBODY

Popcorn Maker // Firestick // Diffuser // Monopoly // Beanie // Lounge Pants // Blanket // Bath Bomb

*HOMEBODY RECAP* Another thing that is near and dear to my heart…being HOME!! I knew I wanted to do a homebody gift guide this year and added a couple of my cozy faves. These lounge pants I bought for myself while I was pregnant with Colly last year, and while they’re not maternity, they worked so well and stretched and grew with me. I also loved them post partum and even post post partum now!! I wear them out and about too when I’m running errands and am comfortable the entire time. Some styles have pockets and some don’t, but I now own them in all my fave colors, so I hiiiiighly recommend these! Love the Casaluna brand and this gorg throw blanket from the line. I recently upgraded the diffuser in our room to this one and it is really quiet and sleek. The monopoly game was a little bit of a splurge but I figured when we’re not playing it, it can also look pretty on a bookshelf or our coffee table! 🙂

So, there you have it! I didn’t get around to kids gift guides this year with it being such a busy year and juggling work and the kiddos. We are keeping it pretty simple this year: the boys are getting a gaming console they’ve wanted and Honey is getting a new scooter. We’re also giving them a handful of books which I plan to post about pretty soon as well, so stay tuned! Happy Holidays!!

FOLLOW

@disneysinthedesert