Tonya Staab

Trash Doesn't Have to be Ugly

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hefty® Ultra Strong™ trash bags.

Last year I shared the makeover I gave to one of my best thrift store finds, a wood tilt-out trash can cabinet. At the time I was using it for recycling, but since moving house last November it's become our trash can. And it's so pretty, I just love it. I know, I love my trash can, it's the little things though.

One thing that came along with moving house was the lack of space. We downsized quite considerably, so trying to squeeze all of our belongings into a smaller house has been proving quite a challenge. The garage still has a lot of boxes yet to be unpacked, and I'm constantly trying to come up with creative storage solutions and move things inside gradually. Our kitchen and laundry rooms are about 2/3 the size of what they were, and with about half as many cabinets. There's a point to all of this rambling, I promise.

Things have been piled on top of things inside cabinets and the pantry, which ends up leading to a mess when the kids are rifling around looking for something.

5 Minutes For Mom: Cleaning and Organizing Tips for Kids

This summer I implemented weekly chores for the twins'. For the past few years they've had to keep their bedrooms tidy, take care of their pets, and put their laundry away, but it was time for them to take on a new household chore. It needed to be something that they could earn a little weekly pocket money, learn some new responsibilities, and see what it takes to keep a house clean and tidy. Plus, it's one more thing to keep them off video games and doing something productive over the summer. So one of them is sweeping the wood and tile floors downstairs, and the other is cleaning up the mess in the yard from the dog.

Want some more tips for cleaning and organizing kids messes and spaces?

I'm sharing tips for keeping a kids bathroom clean and organized, and tips for easily cleaning up kids messes over at 5 Minutes For Mom.

 

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Mud, Fun, and Laundry

Disclosure: I’m sharing #purclean in my life as part of a Tide ® sponsored series for Socialstars™

Last summer, my friend Desiree shared photographs on social media of her kids have fun on wood rafts and playing in mud at the Adventure Playground in Huntington Beach. I made it my mission to take my kids there, but of course didn't realize at the time that it is only open for the summer. So this year it was on my list.

Today, my oldest son had to pick up parts for his car not too far from the Adventure Playground, and it was over 100 degrees at our house, (no, I'm not kidding), so we packed towels and a change of clothes and took off for the cooler coastal weather.

It doesn't rain a lot here in Southern California, so how many opportunities do the kids get to play in giant mud puddles? Next to none!

And as you can see there was a LOT of mud and water play. And it was fabulous.

Simple Laundry Room Organizing Ideas

Disclosure: I’m sharing #purclean in my life as part of a Tide ® sponsored series for Socialstars™

Where is the other sock, and why didn't you clean out your pockets? Two of the most asked questions when it comes to doing laundry in my house. Well, except for why can't you use a towel more than once?

I mean really, where does that other sock go? Two socks go in, one sock comes out. Every. Time.

Of course we do two loads of laundry nearly every day between clothes, pajamas, sports clothes, work clothes, stuffed toys, and linens so essential to keep our laundry room organized to keep things running as smoothly as possible and so it doesn't turn into a big mess of 'stuff' being strewn about.

 

Two of the items we now have are a lost sock basket, and a coin jar, both of which I spruced up a little with these very simple ideas.

5 Easy Ways to Keep Your Bathroom Clean & Organized

Happy Wednesday everyone.

I'm over at 5 Minutes for Mom today with some quick and easy tips for keeping your bathroom clean and organized, and they are giving away a $100 Amazon gift card and a year's supply of Steripod.

Swing by and see if my tips will work for you, and don't forget to enter the giveaway. xo

The 7-Day Switch Up Challenge

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Viva® Vantage®.

The Viva® brand knows that people get into routines and sometimes get stuck in a rut – especially when it comes to your brand of paper towel. That’s why they’re encouraging you to “switch up” your current paper towel to Viva® Vantage® for 7 days so you can see why see why more people prefer the stretchy-strength of Viva® Vantage®, recently named a 2015 Product of the Year, over their current paper towel brand.

Start your own “7-Day Switch Up” by visiting Viva® Vantage® and download a $1 off coupon to purchase and try the product yourself. After experiencing the stretchy-strength and great scrubbing power of Viva® Vantage®, return to the website to dish on your switch and enter for a chance to instantly win a $100 gift card.

Last week I attended an event with Viva® brand in beautiful Seal Beach where we were shown just how great this product is, the many uses for it and were provided with great tips to switch up our current routines.

And I've got lots of great ideas below for you to start your 7-day switch up.