Creative Office

Most of us don't have a room dedicated solely to a home office. Or at least I should say "We Don't Anymore". You know--as the the little ones come along rooms and space get turned into "other" spaces. In spite of our limitations, we still want our homes to be attractive, personal and inspiring. So, if we are short on space and want to keep our expenses low, how do we manage to have a well-organized office and still have our homes look great? In doing some photo research, I came across a few photos of some clever home office organization ideas I thought I’d pass along for inspiration.

Desks can be expensive, but you can make your own to suit your needs. My own personal desk is actually two file cabinets with a desktop for a surface.

Like this one below 

(

(Picture from Potterybarn-Desk from Potterybarn)

I find that works well for me, and is definitely something you could make on a budget. Even old ugly file cabinets can be spray painted to give them a fresh look. Another suggestion is to buy or find table legs to attach to an old door. Or, use an old table fixed up with a new paint color. Instantly personalized desks!

 Like this one

(Better Homes and Garden)

Similarly, you can take several old file cabinets and give them new life with paint and new knobs. Instant credenza! Or, find an old dresser and give it a fun new paint job. Dressers are perfect for extra storage just about anywhere, including your home office! Frame a white board with wood to create your own custom message area.

With a little color coordination and creative storage containers, you can store office supplies right out in the open in just about any room of the house. You can cover storage boxes or even shoe boxes with paper to coordinate to your decor. Baskets also work well to corral papers and supplies.

Or, use tables with skirts or curtains that coordinate with your decor to help hide some of the clutter. Find wasted places under counters, shelves, or tables to claim some space for storage. Perfect “creative concealments!”

In small quarters, you can utilize any corner to hide some supplies! A skirted table in a dining room can hide file cabinets or shelving, and a coffee table can be topped with cushions to create both a charming seat and a place to stash supplies. You can also organize a closet to contain your home office needs.

Finally, I wanted to share an adorable space I found. This was the ladies personal and functional office in a little nook next to a laundry room. She infused the space with her own personality, including a pretty accent wall in spring green and storage boxes and baskets that complete her look. She packed a lot of punch and usefulness in what could’ve ended up as wasted corner.Very cute!

photos: Pottery Barn

Better Homes & Gardens

Visit here for more of my post on decor. Visit here for more of my post on organization.

{Tell All Tuesday}

"What Not To Wear"

My first reaction after reading this post was to delete it and start over but I decided to post it (obviously because you are reading it) but I hope to encourage some of you with this post.

We all have those pictures from the past that we look back at and wonder "What was I thinking";" What in the world was I doing with my hair"; " Why did I leave the house with that on"? 

Trends are fun at the time, but can later come back to haunt us. Think back a little bit (since most of us aren't that old) to a trend that we thought was cute but looking back wasn't so cute...

When I started thinking about the stuff I have that I am never going to wear again, I decided I was officially going to spring clean early. Well, my closets and drawers that is...

Join me this week and get rid of your old clothes. Don't keep your drawers/closets full of things you are not going to wear anymore.

Also, you can make some money by doing this!

Here's How:

Fi Fi's (which is a women's consignment store in Jacksonville) will except your lightly worn clothes, shoes, purses, etc and in return will pay you a percentage of the items they sell. 

Round Robin is another place that does the same thing but since I have never worked with (Round Robin) before I would recommend calling them to find out the details.

If you live somewhere other then Jacksonville check your local womens consignment stores to find out what season of clothes they are excepting and drop your items off with them.

 Let's get a jump start on that spring cleaning and start with our drawers and closets. It will make you feel pounds lighter, I promise!

~Tell All Tuesday~

How To Effectively Use Your Space

With budgets being tight these days for most people I thought this would be a great subject to write on. Aren't we always wanting to know how to better use the space we have?

So when I saw this picture it confirmed my thoughts.... I am going to share with you how to use your space effectively. 

When you look at your room and wonder how you will get anything else in the space then ask yourself this: "Do I have insufficient storage space or ineffective storage space?" 

Here is the difference:

Insufficient storage means you don't have enough space for your things. Ineffective space means you have enough space for your things, but you're not making the best use of that space. 

So before you begin reading the ideas below determine this first:

Do you have things you don't like, are outdated, etc., and need to get rid of or Are you storing things you enjoy, will use, and like.

Some Easy Ideas

1. ADD-A-ROD. Looking for extra storage space in your closet. If you have the type of closet with two+ walls for hanging clothes, on one wall, hang a rod at head height for long clothing (dresses, pants, etc.). On the other wall, hang two rods--one above the other--for shorter clothing (shirts, skirts, blazers, etc.)

In  my children's room I added a shelf for shoes and then to hang pants and shirts that can be reached.

2. INSTALL SHELVES. Most shelves can be moved up-a-notch or down-a-notch. If you have three inches of space above your linens, you may consider adjusting the shelf so the shelf below it has more space. Or, perhaps you can add another shelf in between. Plastic, multiple level shelves are wonderful for kitchen cabinets. 

3.USE STORAGE UNITS. Storage units, which can be picked up from housewares or hardware stores, and are great space savers. Your spices can be removed from drawers and placed on a spice rack. There are racks for canned goods. Some of these hold over 40 cans! There are coffee tables on the market with storage space hidden inside them as well. Under bed containers are perfect for storing quilts and linens. Be creative and make use of these great tools! 

4. DON'T FORGET ABOUT WALL SPACE. Look around and you're sure to find quite a bit of empty wall space. There are many uses for this new-found space.This is great for office items.Tools can be placed on pegboards. Shelves can be installed for picture frames and knick knacks. 

5. PUT FREQUENTLY USED ITEMS WITHIN ARMS REACH. Whenever possible, store regularly used items where you use them most. You shouldn't have to walk from one room to another to retrieve items you use every day.  

6. ADD-A-DRAWER OR SLIDING SHELF. Many hardware and housewares stores carry drawers that can be installed underneath a cabinet. These are great if you have a home with limited drawer space. In addition, you can also install shelves under cabinets that slide out when you need them, and slide back in when you're finished with them. 

7. KEEP YOUR DESK CLEAR. A clear desk is directly related to your productivity. You will get more done, if you're not constantly under a pile of papers and files. Make sure you have a filing cabinet for any home or office. Portable file boxes that hold hanging file folders also come in handy and can be stored easily in the closet. 

 8.REARRANGE. Everyone is different, and has different needs. Make your home or office work for you. 

If you have a space you love but aren't happy with the way you have your furniture then try rearranging to where it better fits your need. So think about your surroundings and make them work for you, even if they seem a little out of the ordinary. 

9. ROTATE. You may have many items you love in your home or office, but not enough space. Rotate them. Put some of the things you like the most out and storage the others, then switch after a few months.

So think outside the normal for you to create the best space possible.

I found this 1-9 chart idea here

A Perfect Stress Free- Thanksgiving

Are you hosting Thanksgiving at your house this year?

Here are some tips to help you out as you plan for Thanksgiving Day:

This year, for the first time ever, my husband and I are hosting Thanksgiving at our place. I am going to try to take the necessary steps in planning to make sure it all goes off without a hitch. (I will update you on how that goes when we all come back from Thanksgiving.)  Below are some tips on how you can host Thanksgiving Day with ease.

Shopping
At least a few weeks in advance, unlike me (deciding just last night) who is making what, what the menu will be, and what groceries you will need. Then compile a master shopping list that you can add to as new dishes pop up or you discover a great recipe that calls for specific ingredient.

Cooking
  Thanksgiving happens to bring out the cook in everyone so let your guest bring a dish if they insist! Let people sign up for sides and desserts to help take some of the weight off your shoulders. That said, be prepared to have enough food in case someone backs out at the last minute.Cook or prepare as much in advance. Then on Thanksgiving morning you can start placing your food in the oven to cook. It will be a lot less stressful if you do this!

Setting the Table
It seems simple enough, but if you plan on having a beautiful festive table, be sure to lay everything out the night before.Wednesday arrange all your seating, tablecloths, fold napkins, and make place cards. Be sure to have extra serving spoons for the dishes your guests are planning to bring. Even if you are keeping things simple, setting the table is one less thing you have to do the day of  if you set it the night before.

Getting Ready
The day before, double check that you have everything you may need. Be sure that there are enough hand towels and toilet paper in the bathroom, and ice in the freezer.  If you start with a glistening clean kitchen it will be easier to keep it that way as the cooking festivities ensue. Schedule in some time about an hour before guests arrive to get yourself ready. Waiting until that last fifteen minutes to tear off your apron and slap on some lipstick will only make you more frazzled.  The beauty of having a prep list is when someone asks to help you, can have them read the list and see what needs to be done.

Last but not least, just because you are the host doesn’t mean you cannot have a good time. Thanksgiving is a great Holiday in that the goal is simply to be together. No one will remember a dry turkey or a soggy pie crust. A host who is calm and happy will make everyone feel at home!

So enjoy the day and the time with family and friends!

{A Clean Refrigerator! }

A Clean Refrigerator!

Doesn't it feel great when you open the refrigerator door and it looks amazing inside? You realize that now you can find everything--or maybe not...--now that your frig is actually clean you don't know where anything is.

 Well a  good clean up on the inside of your frig never hurt any of us.

Personally, I love for my frig to be clean and organized. As I was cleaning mine out today I thought of you all. I was wondering how many of you-- love to clean-- your frig out?

Also, Do you-- ever-- clean your frig?

I try to keep mine clean from spills and stickiness daily but weekly I take everything out and toss the old stuff. I can't stand for old food or expired stuff to be laying around in my pantry or frig.

Is this just me or are you the same?

So ladies, my advice today is short and sweet...Get to cleaning and clean out your frig. Maybe even try to tackle the pantry. Get the old stuff out so you can realize what you actual have that can be eaten.

Even if--Yes... I am saying even if-- you do not like to clean...at least get the germs out of the frig.

Good Luck and Happy Cleaning!

Mommy Buzz

"Let's Get Organized"

So here is the first blog on organization...

 I love to feel organized.. Don't you? Well maybe some of us love it and others it doesn't bother at all. It makes me feel lighter and happier when I walk into a room vs. feeling overwelmed and almost like you don't even want to step foot in that room. You start to feel like a tornado hit it and you wished you had a magic genie. Well here are some tips to help solve those problems.
Don't forget, Start small.