After 10 years in our first home together, we bought a new one... and the timing couldn’t have been worse. We closed 2 days before opening our MNTSTUDIO Burlingame location and 2 weeks before leaving to live in San Sebastián, Spain for 6 weeks. The original plan was to move as soon as we got back... but then we thought, why not just do it while we’re gone? Moving sucks. How could this be any worse?
Well… our “full-service” movers turned out to be anything but. We walked into a home with boxes piled to the ceiling, drawers dumped out, broken glasses, and more disarray. So calling the new house disorganized doesn’t even begin to cover it. Oh, and did I mention when we arrived home, we were also in the final stretch of launching MNTSTUDIO Mission Rock? (Yes, our another new location.)
I didn’t realize how much I relied on the “silent” organization systems in our old house until I was standing in the new one, completely overwhelmed, with no idea where anything should go. When your days are already split between kids and work, not knowing where the scissors are is the thing that tips you over.
That’s when, like fate, Lana from Organize with Lana sent me a DM. She spent a full day with me tackling our primary bathroom and the kitchen pantry cabinets. In my husband Jason’s exact words, “this is a real game changer.” (Bay Area moms, keep reading for 2 free hours with her.)
I know a professional organizer isn’t in everyone’s budget, so here are the three rules she taught me. I’ve since used them on my closet, the kids’ closets, and our entryway closet, all on my own.
Empty everything first. Pull out every single item in the space. Toss anything expired or unused, then group what’s left by category.
Everything needs a home. Nothing sits loose on a shelf without a container or basket.
Label it all. We use 3/4” tape because the larger the better when a child is yelling at you and you’re trying to get out the door quickly without leaving a disaster behind. It’s the step that keeps the system working for the long haul.
Today I’m sharing everything we used to get organized (and, more importantly, stay that way).
My home organization must-haves
Mounted Shelf System- the level of obsession I have with this hidden “drop station” in our entryway closet is embarrassing
Clear All Purpose Bin - for our closet & kitchen
Clear Drawer Organizers how I’m organizing my makeup in my bathroom drawers
Stackable Clear Bin with Drawer countertop bathroom storage
Clear All Purpose Bin with drawer - use these for under the bathroom sink storage of “backstock” items
Rotating Desk Organizer for the kids play room
Caraway Tupperware Set *technically not home storage, more food storage but threw these in because I upgraded my tupperware after the move and these are sooooo good
3-Tier Under Sink Organizer using under our kitchen sinks
Rectangular Wire Baskets for our pantry
Square Wire Baskets also for our pantry
Bluetooth Label Maker and Transparent Label Roll - a necessity for anyone undergoing a home organization project
Labels for wire baskets - easily attaches to anything without a flat surface
Expiration date labels - self-explanatory, don’t forget these for your pantry!
P.S. Bay Area moms: DM Lana on Instagram or fill out her contact form and mention my name for 2 free hours of home organizing. I can’t overstate the difference she made. Start with one room and see for yourself.
ICYMI The Podcast Is Back 🎧
Are you still feeling buried by school forms, inbox deluge, and overlapping schedules? On the latest episode of The New Modern Mom Podcast, I’m joined by Hitha Palepu and Shreya Gulati of Moms Build AI to talk about how to make AI take off the pressure during the school year. We skip the basic app lists and break down their real tech stacks, the simplest time-saving shortcuts, and how to build resilient systems that survive the everyday chaos.
Thanks for joining me on this journey,
Barbara
P.S: I’ve spent months researching European summer camps, and all of that research lives in the paid subscriber archive, along with my deeper thoughts on tools, systems & mindset for working moms. I’m also sharing all my San Sebastián recs, plus the real story of living abroad with my family for 6 weeks.
