Happy Let’s Look for 2022!
We are so excited to kick off another year of “looking” at different things with you. If you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). It’s often a random little assortment of topics. As an example, here is what we “looked at” last year..
In January, we looked at our coffee bar areas.
In February, we looked at our love languages.
In March, we looked at a perfect night in.
In April, we looked at our fridge and pantry.
In May, we looked at our outdoor organization.
In June, we looked at our summer bucket list.
In July, we looked at our bathroom organization.
In August, we looked at our phone, apps & such.
In September, we looked at meal planning.
In October, we looked at holiday decor storage.
In November, we looked at our Thanksgiving menu.
In December, we looked at our Christmas traditions.
We’re kicking off 2022 looking at something very “January”…HOW WE ORGANIZE FOR THE NEW YEAR!
I mean, this is me.
I keep lists in the note section of my phone and came home from our trip with a very long one to kick off 2022. So, here are the few easy ways that I’ve already organized my life to kick off this year. None of them are super unique or life-changing, they’re just what I’ve done thus far to help me get on track for the new year.
1: I PUT AWAY ALL OF THE SEASONAL CLOTHES:
I started doing this last year and it helped so much! I have two baskets in the girls’ closets for seasonal clothes (fall and Christmas). As soon as Christmas break begins, as we do the laundry and put away clean clothes, we do not hang or fold the seasonal items any longer but instead, put them in the bin (all nice and clean!). By the time Christmas day actually rolls around, most of it is already put away. This way, next year, I can easily grab the bin, sort through it, put out items that still fit both of them or move some of Ashby’s items to Mades and then donate or give away Mades’ items to someone else. Bam. So easy. This helps tremendously when we’re putting away new Christmas gifts too because the Christmas clothes are not taking up valuable closet space for the new items. They’re already put away.
This year, I didn’t just do it for the girls…
…I did it for me too! I put all of my seasonal pajamas, tees and sweatshirts in a bin for next year! Now, they’re out of my closet since I don’t need them again until next fall/Christmas!
2: WE WASH, DRY AND PUT AWAY ALL OF THE SKI GEAR RIGHT AWAY.
And by we, I mean Andrew 😉 . As soon as we came home from our trip, we not only washed and dried everyone’s ski stuff (the under layers, socks, gators, etc), we put them in packing cubes for each person to use the next time they ski. So, next year, Andrew can grab one packing cube and in it will be all of Ashby’s layers, two pairs of ski socks, her gator and anything else that she needs for skiing. It’s all clean, it’s all organized and it’s ready to be placed in a suitcase. I would like to take credit for this…but this is 100% Andrew!
3: WE CLEANED OUT KENSINGTON’S ROOM, CLOSET AND BATHROOM.
By the end of the year, our resident teen had her room upside down. I get it…her days are long (she leaves at 6:30 AM and many nights, isn’t home until close to 8:00 PM). Add in homework (she makes great grades!), church and just ‘chill’ time, she has very little time for cleaning, organizing and purging. Andrew and I went in there with her armed with garbage bags and two bins for donation items and well…we.cleaned.it.up. I mean to tell you, we crawled under the bed, completely emptied her dresser, went through the cabinets and totally tidied it all up. It was a crazy big mess that we got under control. Now, let’s see how long it lasts…
4: I GOT MY COZI ALL UP TO DATE!
Andrew and I have been trying really hard to keep our lives organized in our family’s shared Cozi calendar. We both have to work at this as I prefer a paper calendar and he prefers to only worry about his own calendar…but together, we’re working on our Cozi. Before we went back to school, I double checked all of the sports schedules, doctor appointments, and made sure everything was up to date. Each morning, we receive the Cozi email which lays out our day so we know what to expect. It’s hard teaching these old dogs new tricks, but we’re trying!
5: I ADDED EMOJIS TO ALL OF MY ‘LISTS’:
Andrew and I have a lot of shared lists (like this grocery shopping list above) so that we can easily add/delete items and both see it. I also keep a million other “lists” on my phone to keep my life in order. Well, I was listening to Emily Ley’s podcast and she said to add emojis to every list title that way it’s easy to scan your list of lists and find what you’re looking for. I wasn’t sure at first, but she was right! It does make it super simple to find my list if I have emojis! Try it! Also, if you don’t use shared lists in the notes section of your iPhone, try that too! This makes it so simple to keep up with info between you and someone (or multiple people!).
That’s what I’m doing to organize my new year. WHAT ABOUT YOU?! I would love to hear what you’re doing too!!! Please comment and share!
Coming ups this year on Let’s Look…
Next month, a little look at what I eat in a week 🙂 !
I’m off to speak this morning at a women’s group! If you blogged with us today, make sure you link up below! I’ll see you guys back here tomorrow! xx
Erika Slaughter says
My new plan is that whole emojis in my notes in 2022! It’s gonna be a great year!!
Elspeth says
Nothing better than starting the new year off with organizing things! I love Emily Ley and her podcast! So glad you listen to it!!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Christina says
I love the my paper planner, but this year I am trying to adjust to using a shared calandra on my phone. It’s definitely a work in progress. Do you use a paper planner at all anymore? It’s nice to only need my phone with me when I am out and not have to drag my paper planner on my purse everywhere I go.
Dustie Day says
Do you upgrade to the Cozi gold? Was wondering if it’s worth it?
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! I did and think it’s easier to manipulate!
Nicole says
Yay! Love all your tips and excited for next month!! Can you share an updated week if workouts too?!
Sarina says
Not sure if you have an Amazon echo – but you can say “alexa, add ground beef to my shopping list” and then it’s all there… linked on your amazon account under “lists”. That way when you notice you’re missing something in the kitchen or bathroom you can have alexa get it on your list before you forget!
Shaunna Kennedy says
Please explain how to share lists?
Mix and Match Mama says
When you open the notes section on your iPhone, create a note under the iCloud. After you create it, click the three little dots in the upper right corner and you can share it with someone. They receive a text message asking them if they want to open it and if they do, you’re both seeing/editing the same note from then on.
Clare says
I switched jobs and I get a lot of texts from clients that my messages were CROWDED. I added emojis to some important personal people (family, roommate, friends, boyfriend) I wanted to find easy in that list and it has saved me!
Kelly Marie Sites says
I’ve been using emojis in my notes app forever, and it really really is a fantastic thing. My eye knows exactly what to look for in my many lists on my phone. It’s a great one. I LOVE this post.
Lisa D says
It’s all such an individual process! Small steps… I have created a master list of projects to do this year. Each month I’ve got an area of the house to go through and organize. For instance, January is my kitchen month where I’m going through ALL the cupboards, clearing out the cans and spices and pots and glasses and everything! Next month will be a different room/area. I’m not good at doing a huge whole-house clean out in one big burst, so being consistent with one area at a time works for me.
jennibell says
The shared notes/lists idea is a great one!! I, too, prefer paper (and this last week when I was with my Mom in the hospital I kept a running list of ALL that was happening and then when I had to leave, I took a picture of it, tore it out of my notebook to give to her for reference and left — that works when the other person isn’t techy ;)). We still keep a running paper grocery list on the fridge and are constantly asking the person at home to take a picture and send it – maybe this is the solution :). Great post — thank you!
Anne says
When do you take down Christmas?
Mix and Match Mama says
December 26th!
Lindsay says
Shared notes! I recently started using these with my fam. I have one for the weekly dinner menu, so I don’t have to get annoyed with teen daughters and husband asking me what’s for dinner 9,000 times!
SC says
Thanks for the seasonal bin idea! Love your blog!
Elizabeth says
It’s so great that you all went in there together to help with her room. Kids don’t naturally know how to organize, purge, etc. but we all want our kids to clean their rooms and never teach them “how” to do it. I think my kids were older than Kensington before I caught on that they weren’t doing it “right” (my way) because I never bothered to teach them…”picking up” isn’t the same as really organizing, etc. Anyway…just my two cents. And thanks for the shared lists tip!!
Kelly says
I love organizational posts. There is always something new to learn from them. I bet you could do one each month:).
Laci Murray says
I love emojis….and I also deep cleaned my teenagers room and BOY WAS THAT A CHORE.
Vivian G says
Did you buy an Erin Condren planner this year Shay?
Mix and Match Mama says
I did! I bought one in June (I like the academic calendar) and it’s sitting right here next to me right now. I’m having a hard time adjusting to just using an online calendar, so for now, I’m using both.
Jess Wade says
I downloaded the Cozi app and that’s as far as I got. I also have an Erin Condren and prefer the paper calendar, but really need a place for my husband and I both to see our schedules and what is going on. Just need to start with Cozi and get it all set up.
Liz says
I clean out my dryer vent in January and I go through my spice cabinet. Those are both annual things that need to be done and the first of the year always reminds me to do them!
Sue in Oz says
Kensington’s bedroom looks beautiful.
Heather says
How do you share notes on your iPhone? I cannot figure it out and I love the idea of sharing my grocery list with my husband.
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s so easy! Open the notes app on your iPhone and create a note in the iCloud section. From there, tap the three little dots in the upper right-hand corner and you can share it with someone. They’ll receive a text message notifying them and asking them if they want to share it with you. After that, you both can see and edit the same note!
Heather says
Thank you! I was trying to figure out how to share a current note in the “on my iPhone” section, no wonder it didn’t work!
Lauren Wolters says
I use emojis on our share calendar to quickly tell which sports or activity it is ?
Hope says
I share the grocery list in notes with my son who works in a grocery store? I also add emojis to my contact names that I use the most to help find their texts faster.
Sheaffer says
We soooooooooooooo need to do that with Carter’s room!!!!! Her room looks great!
Courtney Ventresco says
I put emojis on my most frequent contacts in my phone. Super helpful. Even my toddlers know which emoji goes with who haha.
Lovely says
Adding emojis to the list is a cool idea. Also, I will check out Cozi. It sounds great!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Elizabeth Feldpausch says
I love the idea of adding emojis to the titles of notes! That’s what I will be doing in carpool line this morning! ?
Angie says
How do you keep tracks of the books you want to read and the books you have read?
Mix and Match Mama says
I keep an Amazon wish list of the books I want to read in the future and a list of the books I’ve read on my iPhone in a note!
Sarah says
I was wondering what the benefit of Cozi app vs. Apple/Google calendar? I use the latter with my husband. How is the Cozi app different? Better?
Mix and Match Mama says
Good question! I picked Cozi because when I asked my readers, that was the #1 suggestion plus, Erika loves it too. I don’t know that it’s necessarily better, it just works well if you actually do it. Our problem in the past has been actually doing it…right now, we’re doing pretty good!