The extra storage and functionality that built-ins bring to our home really do make my life better on a daily basis.

While the main parts of our house are usually pretty tidy and presentable, we had a dark, dark secret.Well, a couple of them actually.

Whenever we had a piece of furniture that we didn’t need, or a toy that wasn’t being played with anymore, we would just put it in the basement.Or the garage attic.Seriously, it was bad.. And I knew it was bad, but I didn’t really realize how bad it was.

I was so confused at why I would “declutter” every week by filling an extra garbage bag or two with stuff from the basement or random closets and yet I never really seemed to make a big dent in it at all.. You know all of those amazing built-in projects that Chris puts together?This is what happens afterwards in the garage if you don’t have any kind of system for storing all of that extra stuff..

I was so tired of all of this.

I just wanted it out.Apples, rulers, bright yellow pencils, chalkboards, books, a globe.

We’ve got them all covered.. One day when I grow up, I hope to be one of those moms who have the whole back to school celebration planned out to a T for months in advance.Cute lunch pail printables, back to school outdoor decor, special back to school dinnerware, you know the type!.

For now, this is a fun little baby step to try to make this time special for Kennedy..The little chalkboards were 33 cents at Michael’s!