Earning His Keep {DIY Tire Rack}

A day last week Robert disappeared all of a sudden. Poof. Just like that. Gone. Of course I assumed, like most women would, that he had gone to the john. Am I right ladies? But after nearly an hour I got worried and went looking. Thankfully he was safe and sound in the garage working away to my utter surprise and delight. Typically, when home, he only works after persistent request. Not that day!
Our garage lacks serious organization solutions - well you've seen it {here}. I'll give that it has come a long way in the past months as far as cleanliness and a bit of added function but it still has a long road ahead. Since moving in I have insisted that we need to make use of the high ceilings in there for additional storage - oh there is the nagging - but we have never made any official plans. Until now apparently.
Upon my discovery of Common-Law he was more than half way through creating a tire rack to be mounted just below the ceiling and above the electric panel for seasonal storage. Now that is what I am talking about! He went with a straightforward L-shaped plan of attack with leftover wood from previous projects - which essentially makes this DIY as good as free in my books. Win. Win.

It was wasted space, so why not?

An L-shaped bracket style. Simple yet Effective.

It isn't finished - to my standards anyhow. Robert insists that it is just in the garage and more than serves its purpose but I will be tackling it with some hole filler and paint one of these days {leftovers of course so it stays on the free track}. 

The best part is that those tires are gone from beneath the work bench. Which clears up the perfect space to house the summer gear. For now anyhow.

It's not too bad, eh? Fits right in. And it clears up floor space! Can I just say that I love handy men and clever, simple storage solutions!
What do you think? Is the Common-Law earning his keep? 

Organized Palooza

Hey-Oh!
You have reached the Gaudett/MacDonalds residence. We are currently away from our extra organized home enjoying a few days of family time at the cottage.
But have no fear, there is material to be read and ideas to be found after the past 10 Days of Organization Palooza! 
So come on in. Kick off your shoes. And take a tour of our revamped and totally functional home. And when you are done, make sure you leave a message after the beep!
Day 1: Refrigerator  Day 2: Main Living Area Day 3: Laundry Room Day 4: Spice Cabinet Day 5: Garage {Part 1} Day 6: Garage {Part 2} Day 7: Recipe Box Day 8: Spare Room Closet Day 9: Supplies Closet Day 10: Master Closet
BEEP! I linked up at A Bowl Full of Lemons Organize it! Party

Organization Palooza Day 6: Garage

Success!

It was touch and go there for a while but with Sarah's help, better known as 'self staining', we were able to pull the garage back together after our late night, overly ambitious, organization undertaking. *If you missed that adventure do read all about it here.

Take a look at the transformation.

It is as if a weight has been lifted. I actually feel lighter just looking at the change.

Isn't it amazing how a little bit of organization goes along way?

I didn't do anything drastic - yet. 

Due to the fact that the garage is technically Common-laws 'man cave' I wanted to include him in any major organization and aesthetic commitments. But lets be honest, anything is better than the disaster zone that it was before. So in the mean time, as I plot my next plan of attack, cleaning and sorting will have to suffice.

Grouping like items was my approach here. That way once Robert and I do make official plans for implementing storage and organization systems everything will be easily accessible.  

Seasonal yard tools are grouped together by the door to the back yard. Camping/fire gear is collected beneath the electrical panel. *Do note the basket filled with blankets, s'more supplies, and roasting sticks that I came up with here. The bike belongs to Sarah and will return home with her come Summers end which will solve the safety hazard of blocking the electrical panel. Golf gear is together. Tires together. Tools and smalls grouped on the work bench.

Id like to have a rack built above the back door for spare tires, but until then they are out of the way beneath the work bench.

Tools are stashed away in the red tool boxes. The smalls {screws, nails, nuts, bolts, and the like} are somewhat organized in mason jars, boxes, and store bought divided bins. Robert will need to go through and do a more thorough job before I set out to label everything.

This drawer system is something that came along with us from Common-Laws apartment pre us and has proven itself highly functional to store everyday items. 

Close to the door that accesses the house, the drawers hold power cords, sand papers, tapes, safety glasses, putty, scrapers, measuring tapes, etc. Essentially things we use on a regular basis. Again, no labels until the ok comes down from the boss.

This wall has an abundance of potential. But currently it is home to a single free standing shelf, heavier duty lawn gear, and leftover wood. Basic, and not so pretty, but functional none the less.

We brought the paint up from the cubby beneath the stairs {mentioned here}. Best decision EVER! 

It is oh.so nice to have it neat and out of the way yet easily accessible. *Already I have had a paint inspiration come to me on a whim and saved myself valuable baby-free time by not having to truck down the stairs to root.

The gardening supplies dons the two bottom shelves. Soils, fertilizers, and plant food are stored in plastic buckets to cut back on mess. Mowing shoes tucked away beneath the shelf.

*Finley's stroller is parked near by. With the ongoing goal of walking Moe twice daily {Goals?} it is efficient always having the stroller readily stocked with poop bags, the leash, and toys. Otherwise it is collapsed and stowed away in the trunk of the car.

The shelving on this wall is a new addition for me. Robert put it up just before he left for work this last time. Therefore, it is my first time putting it to use and I am lov.ing.it!

Once again like items are grouped together. Paint trays and gear top left. Tiling supplies top centre. Plastic bins with work and baseball gloves top right. Small paint cans and spray bottom left. Car cleaning and miscellaneous 'Rob Stuff' bottom centre. And a power tool bottom right.

Clearly we need to find a better solution than the recycling bins to store wood and paper for fire building. But for now it is a fine solution because anything is better than it being piled in the middle of the floor.

Now there is room for play! 

The twins love the 'mow-mower'! And Finley {back there in his bright green bug} has mastered climbing in and out. Next is parallel parking!

How goes the organization on your end? Having a Palooza of a time? 

What have you tackled? Success? Injury? Do tell.

Chat soon.

Organization Palooza Day 5: Garage

Let's jump right in!

Day 5 of Organization Palooza here we come!

How goes the battle?

My most recent organization adventure has been the most trying thus far. But, fingers crossed, it will be the most rewarding in the end.

Last evening, after a lovely relaxing afternoon at the beach, I got it in my head that I had enough energy to tackle the daunting garage. Boy was I wrong!

It was a disaster to begin with. See for yourself.

Front View {Large Door Open}

Back View {Large Door Closed}

Work Bench {Somewhere there}

I know... It was bad. Terrible actually. I hang my head in shame. As someone who thrives in clean and tidy, this place was bringing me down. But one can only do so much. When a family lives in a space together it is difficult to maintain a tidy space. 

But certainly not impossible!

From my experience, the key to keeping things tidy and functional is practical organization. Everything having a home in a logical place. For instance, paint and all its associated supplies. After we moved into the house I stored all of it in the basement in a cubby beneath the stairs thinking we wouldn't be needing it on a regular basis. But then I got going with Projects-R-Us it ended up collecting on and around the work bench in the garage. The opposite of functional. But the solution is simple: move it all up to the garage where it seems to gather naturally.

Which is the plan. 

But first, before the fun part of tidying began, everything needed a thorough cleaning and sorting. 

So everything out! 

At this point, once 96% of the garage contents were out, I felt optimistic. And dirty. 

A thorough sweep turned up three dustpans full of dirt and sawdust - yet another culprit for the floors inside always being filthy {the other being Moe}.

All the windows were cleaned inside and out. They were beyond. But Sarah was a good sport and gave them a good scrubbing. 

Then came the floors. I can't tell you the last time that floor was scrubbed.

But by that time we were beginning to fade. We were both exhausted. So we took the easy road by squirting some dish soap and spraying the whole thing down with the hose - careful not to get any splatter on the walls. I highly recommend it as a fast and effective method.

While the floor was drying we got to work sorting through the piles of 'stuff' in the driveway. *I opted not to say junk because that may hurt Common-Laws feelings, but by that time of night it certainly felt that way.

Winter items were relocated to the basement storage closet with the rest of the festive season decor. Items waiting to receive DIY treatment were allocated to another basement closet with their mates. *Both in a tidy manner I might add. Piles were made for giveaways, recyclables, and garbage. Like items were gathered to help assess organizational needs.

Then we hit a snag in the road.

A shelf was brought back in and I politely asked Sarah to fill it with paint cans as well as the gardening gear. She got straight to work in spite of an onset of sleep haze {thats a real thing}. It wasn't long before she came at me with these hands...

A can of stain had spilled in a paint tray. Oops. And as she tried to create order she {not so} gracefully stuck her hands in it. Bigger Oops. 

Have no fear, after several rounds of gas as soap and water rinse she was able to clean herself up. *From here on out she shall be known only as Grace {just kidding}. However, the poor thing then entered overtired mode {or was high from the gas fumes} and productivity was questionable. But somewhat accomplished none the less.

Which sadly will have to wait for another day because I have run out of time. The babe is awake. Ill pick this up Thursday. *Tomorrow is Get Inspired and let me tell ya, I selfishly need it!

Until then, do keep in mind the lessons we have learned today: 1)Don't begin a major project that requires completion all at once at late evening hours. That is just silly. 2) Cleaning is essential to achieve function and organization. Just be careful not to make a mess along the way. 3) Choose your help wisely. Enough said? {hehe} 4) Press on. No matter how much work the task takes up front, it will be worth it in the long run.

Well...that fourth lesson will be learned next time. At least I hope!

Do keep me updated on your cleaning/organization/adventure progress!

Chat soon.