52 Week Challenge: Week 14 TroubleMaker's Toys (Part Two)

Last weekend, in part because of the new influx of toys from TroubleMaker's birthday and in part because of the We-Design-Day project getting closer to implementation, I decided to tackle the play area downstairs in the Family Room. Replacing the current IKEA bin toy storage has been in the works for a while. The IKEA storage unit I purchased some years ago for my sewing room was destined to be the new toy storage for the endless piles of toy cars, dump trucks, tractors and blocks. The problem has always been getting a path to and from the door of my sewing room to the unit... But that, my friends, is an entirely different post...

Instead of waiting any longer, I started piling my stuff up, clearing a roadway. TroubleMaker and I began moving the unit out of my office. TroubleMaker then climbed on top of the unit and yelled "PULL ME!"

I started my three usual piles - keep, garbage and give-away. It was tough. Really tough - my belongings are part of identity. I'm not sure when I would ever use four packages of mobillion elastic but hey, maybe I'll have a new career sewing underwear or bathing suits... It all went into the give away bin with a bunch of other stuff I'll never use. Including a polishing cloth I bought at a home show years ago. I don't polish - I have no idea why I bought it.

So the toys... I'm not sure how our son ended up with so many toys. We've always been very restrictive with the toys. Theming his parties and having serious talks with his grandparents about how much one kid needs... But TroubleMaker loves trucks and diggers and monster trucks and dinosaurs and cars and... It's like me with buttons and my husband with his magazines. I suppose he comes by it honestly.



Next we went through the toys. Of course, we must keep everything (his rule, not mine) and thankfully, it's mostly just vehicles so they all got a drawer bin on the new unit. I had hoped to be able to put his books on the tops of the units but he has a lot of vehicles so some of the cooler trucks (the eco trucks he has) went on top. His ever growing tractor collection has a special place too.



Over all, it's a good fit. His easel is accessible and he's got lots of room to play and importantly, his toys are contained and don't spread through the major traffic areas in the family room anymore!

For more great ideas and to find more organizing inspiration, check out everyone participating in the Organizing Junkie's 52 Week Organizing Challenge! Thank you for stopping by and sharing my journey.