Organization philosophy and Easy peasy hats & mittens solution

I'm always looking for new solutions for organizational issues, to make the household run more efficently and with less fuss. I've actually had a bunch of people tell me I should be a professional organizer, which makes Robbie laugh, b/c no matter how clean or organized the house is, he just keeps harping on me b/c I don't put things back right after I use them, and I like to make bigger messes and then clean them up. Which is true, but I think it fits my lifestyle better! To me it IS efficient to let things be messy when the kids are needing me and then clean them up when I have the time while the little guys are playing happily or sleeping - as long as I clean things up in regular intervals, which I do, who cares?? he keeps telling me I'm making more work for myself, but I feel like it's the same amount of work, just redistributed to the time when i can get it done without neglecting more important needs. What do you think? I say, who the heck cares, since he comes home to a clean and orderly house after work?! I think that's pretty good for a small house with 4 kids in it! I guess it just bugs him when he's around me on the weekends and such.

Anyhow, here is my hats and mittens idea. Usually, I have a clear shoe pocket organizer on the inside of the dining room closet, and each family member has a row or so for their winter accessories. However, this year the clear pocket organizer is being used for Leo's outfits, as he is still rooming with us, most of the time. he does have his crib upstairs now, but we usually still end up keeping him in our room for now. Also, the dining room is far from the kitchen, where the kids hang their coats and backpacks and leave for school, so it's not very convenient, at least not for the hats and mittens that are used everyday. (We have several sets of course) So I got a medium sized little tote for each kid, and an iron-on initial for each of their names in yellow to match the kitchen. Ironed on the appliques and voila, I have a little tote to hang on their hook for keeping hats and mittens. They can grab them out in the morning and store them away afterwards. And if we are in a particular hurry some morning to get out the door, they can always grab the entire tote and put them on in the car! Also, I had an idea for drying wet items- I have a microwave bottle sanitizer/dryer that we used with Sam (my only baby who took bottles!) that has a removable instert that's like a little plastic drying tree stand that I can put on the floor in front of the heating vent with hats and mittens on the tines to dry.

Yes, as you may have guessed, I am already gearing up and bracing myself for winter!!