Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Do It Yourself Tutorial ----------Underbed Storage
Today we have a guest poster, Jaime from That's My Letter.
"S" is for Storage
They are 1/2" plywood boxes with wheels attached.
I measured, designed and constructed three boxes to fit the space.
They are long - 40" by 21" wide but not too deep - only 7" - which is good because kids do better with shallow drawers and bins. Too deep and the clothes only get piled and lost.
Be sure and visit Jaime on her blog, http://thatsmyletter.blogspot.com. where she has many other diy projects.
"S" is for Storage
I designed and built these long bins specifically to fit under the girls bunk beds.
Recently when the girls bunked their beds we were left with a vast open unused space below:
To make the best use of that space I decided rolling storage bins were the answer.
They are long - 40" by 21" wide but not too deep - only 7" - which is good because kids do better with shallow drawers and bins. Too deep and the clothes only get piled and lost.
I attached five wheels to the underside for easy rolling in and out and the middle wheel helps carry the weight:
Monday, April 4, 2011
Organizing - 5 Low-cost Ways to Organize Your Kitchen Now
Please welcome our guest blogger Carmen Coker of getorganizedtips.blogspot.com she'll be telling us how to organize our kitchens today....
As the saying goes, the kitchen is the heart of the home. But your kitchen can also be the heap of the home if you let clutter pile up!
Here are 5 easy, low-cost ways to organize your kitchen now:
(1) Edit your counter space.
It's so easy to put most of your appliances on the counter top. It's totally understandable - you get quick access whenever you need something.
The problem? Most of us are true conformists to the 80/20 rule; 80% of what we keep, we never use. And that includes 80% of what's on your counter!
As the saying goes, the kitchen is the heart of the home. But your kitchen can also be the heap of the home if you let clutter pile up!
Here are 5 easy, low-cost ways to organize your kitchen now:
(1) Edit your counter space.
It's so easy to put most of your appliances on the counter top. It's totally understandable - you get quick access whenever you need something.
The problem? Most of us are true conformists to the 80/20 rule; 80% of what we keep, we never use. And that includes 80% of what's on your counter!
So look at what's on top of your counters and ask yourself...does this really need to be in my kitchen? If not, then it probably doesn't really need to be in your house at all.
(2) Out with the old to make room for the new.
You wouldn't really eat stale crackers, would you? Then why are they in your kitchen? Get them - and all other expired or outdated foods - out of your cabinets, pantries, fridges, and freezers.
Of course, food isn't the only thing that might have worn out its welcome. Donate any cookbooks or kitchen gadgets that haven't been used in 1-2 years or more. Scrutinize any freebies you've nabbed recently, like sports squeeze bottles and koozies. Truth be told, you didn't really need them in the first place, and you likely don't really need them now.
(3) Divide and conquer.
Think about how you use your kitchen when you're making dinner. Separate your kitchen into distinct quadrants based on your kitchen habits (i.e. cooking, preparing, cleaning, storing) and then organize utensils accordingly.
(4) Think outside-the-box...or in this case, outside the kitchen.
The kitchen is a high-traffic area, and often times, stuff will find its way into the vicinity. Designate a bin or basket for items that should not be in the kitchen. At the end of each day, have an assigned family member fill the container with the non-kitchen items and carry them back to the room where they belong.
In addition, bulk foods purchases and items like china - which are used sparingly or only a few times a year - can be stored elsewhere in your home to free up more space in the kitchen.
(5) Turn your paper piling into paper filing.
I don't know about you, but mail and other paperwork seem to multiply and take over my counter if I don't take care of it immediately! One solution: hang large envelopes and label one per family member. Use these containers to distribute papers, mail, messages, etc. Another idea? Store take-out menus in a file folder and tuck the folder away in a drawer near the phone or inside the phone book.
(2) Out with the old to make room for the new.
You wouldn't really eat stale crackers, would you? Then why are they in your kitchen? Get them - and all other expired or outdated foods - out of your cabinets, pantries, fridges, and freezers.
Of course, food isn't the only thing that might have worn out its welcome. Donate any cookbooks or kitchen gadgets that haven't been used in 1-2 years or more. Scrutinize any freebies you've nabbed recently, like sports squeeze bottles and koozies. Truth be told, you didn't really need them in the first place, and you likely don't really need them now.
(3) Divide and conquer.
Think about how you use your kitchen when you're making dinner. Separate your kitchen into distinct quadrants based on your kitchen habits (i.e. cooking, preparing, cleaning, storing) and then organize utensils accordingly.
(4) Think outside-the-box...or in this case, outside the kitchen.
The kitchen is a high-traffic area, and often times, stuff will find its way into the vicinity. Designate a bin or basket for items that should not be in the kitchen. At the end of each day, have an assigned family member fill the container with the non-kitchen items and carry them back to the room where they belong.
In addition, bulk foods purchases and items like china - which are used sparingly or only a few times a year - can be stored elsewhere in your home to free up more space in the kitchen.
(5) Turn your paper piling into paper filing.
I don't know about you, but mail and other paperwork seem to multiply and take over my counter if I don't take care of it immediately! One solution: hang large envelopes and label one per family member. Use these containers to distribute papers, mail, messages, etc. Another idea? Store take-out menus in a file folder and tuck the folder away in a drawer near the phone or inside the phone book.
Carmen Coker is a professional organizer who helps individuals find the motivation and know-how to get organized and stay organized. To learn how to save money, create more space, and manage your time through organization, claim your "FREE Tip Kit: 10+ Pages of Tips and Tools to Help You Get Organized — Finally!" at www.OrganizeClutterbugs.com
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Blog Party Sunday --- Show Us Something You Made
It's that time again! Show us what you have been working on. Here is your chance to share your creativity with our readers.
The rules are simple:
1. Follow our blog
2. Handmade items only.
3. You may list up to 3 items.
4. Family friendly items only.
The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops, post about it on your blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.
Just click on the Add Your Link button at the end of this post and add your items.
And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.
The rules are simple:
1. Follow our blog
2. Handmade items only.
3. You may list up to 3 items.
4. Family friendly items only.
The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops, post about it on your blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.
Just click on the Add Your Link button at the end of this post and add your items.
And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Time Saver Recipes --- Easter Dessert
Here is an Easter dessert that is quick and easy and looks so pretty. The cake is decorated with yellow easter peeps and chocolate chips and was created by Bethany from Tennessee
- 12 Servings
- Prep: 15 min. Bake: 30 min. + cooling
- 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix
- 2 cans (16 ounces each) chocolate frosting
- 19 yellow chick Peeps candies
- 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
- Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two greased and waxed paper-lined 9-in. round baking pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely; carefully remove waxed paper.
- Level tops of cakes. Spread frosting between layers and over the top and sides of cake.
- Without separating Peeps and curving slightly to fit, arrange chicks around edge of cake for sunflower petals. For sunflower seeds, arrange chocolate chips in center of cake. Yield: 12 servings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
