Archive for idea
Holiday Cards – To Send or Not to Send
Posted by: | CommentsHoliday greeting cards – to send or not to send, that is the question. Many people have stopped sending the annual holiday card for some very noble reasons. I’m usually first on board to streamline and simplify, but admittedly not when it comes to the holiday cards. I really enjoy receiving them. I love receiving a card from family that I rarely see or just the excitement of getting a beautiful card in the mail around the holidays.
I save the cards for one year, packing them away with my decorations. I pull them out the following year when we put up the decorations and go through them once before tossing them aside. I sat with my girls today and we went through all of our cards from last year and it was really special. I also keep one of our family cards with the decorations so the girls can go through and see how they’ve changed from year to year.
I completely understand why some choose to no longer send the cards, I just want you to know that I miss receiving them. I miss your updates and seeing your beautiful families. I still love the idea and the sentiment behind them.
How do you feel about it?
http://sugarpaper.com
Polyvore and Pinterest for Holiday Shopping
Posted by: | CommentsTrust me, I haven’t started thinking about the holiday season yet. Yes, the stores are already lining shelves with holiday goodies, but I’m certainly not there yet. However, this is the time of year when I see things that might be a good idea for a gift and I want to keep them on my radar. I think Pinterest and Polyvore are perfect tools for tracking holiday gifts. Here are a couple of examples of how to utilize these great tools to make shopping easier anytime of the year.
Polyvore was created as a tool for shopping and putting together outfits and interior design ideas, but you can use it for so much more. I have an example below using the idea of a dollhouse.
1. I’ve clipped the same dollhouse from two different sites so that you can monitor price differences.
2. I’ve included accessories to go with the dollhouse.
3. I’ve included different dollhouse options.
$123 - meijer.com
$210 - wayfair.com
$108 - target.com
- image from http://abigailryan.bigcartel.com/
Perfectly Savvy Finds
Posted by: | CommentsI’m always looking for cute hostess gifts or holiday gifts that I can make or at least add a little of my own personality. I love this idea from Martha Stewart for a little tea and cookie box. It was actually done for a wedding favor but I could definitely see this as a hostess or holiday gift. If you have kids they could help design the sticker on top for an extra personal touch. The crush of holiday parties will soon be upon us so now is the time to test and perfect. Let me know if you have any ideas for a tea and cookie gift box.
Easy Solutions to Go Vertical
Posted by: | CommentsWe’ve all heard the advice to utilize vertical space. It can be a great solution for finding more storage space but some of the ideas can seem overwhelming. Mounting shelves or attempting an entire space redesign to include vertical shelving can seem out of reach. You can take the idea of utilizing the vertical space and break it down into a manageable solution. Let’s look at a few examples:
I absolutely love this idea of using a repurposed ladder to store fabric. It would also be a great solution for spare blankets, linens or even pants.
Source: melongings.blogspot.com via Kristin on Pinterest
There are some simple wall mounted shelving units that make it easy to use the vertical space Take a look at this example for the bathroom to hold towels
Here is an easy solution for keeping your keys and purse handy as you head out of the door
A vertical bookshelf is a great way to save on space and a simple project to tackle
Get the Lowdown – Clever storage ideas
Posted by: | CommentsThere are plenty of opportunities around the home to find simple and creative storage solutions. One idea to consider is UNDER…
- Under the bed
- Under a table
- Under chairs or other furniture
Here are some ideas for what to store and where;
- Store a spare set of sheets and towels for company under the guest bed.
- Store a blanket in a cute wicker bin under a living room table or chair.
- Store wrapping paper, bow and bags in a tote under a bed. Keep a roll of tape and some scissors in there as well and you’ll have a complete and contained wrapping station.
- Use a trunk or other box under a work table for storage. Keep spare office supplies or projects out of sight but handy.
- Store toys or out of season kids clothing under their beds.
- Out of season shoes – under a bed.
I’ll be back on Friday with some Savvy Finds for under bed storage. In the meantime, here are some inspiring photos from House Beautiful and Country Living with creative storage UNDER…
Under a table with a creative cover (House Beautiful)
Under a kitchen counter (House Beautiful)
Simple basket for storing blankets under a table or counter (House Beautiful)
Beautiful under bed storage. You can also use something a simple as a plastic or wicker tote (House Beautiful)
Under the sink (Country Living)
Under the bench (Country Living)
Perfectly Savvy Finds – Whole Living Recipe
Posted by: | CommentsI have a little different Savvy Find for you this week; a recipe. This delish idea comes courtesy of Whole Living Magazine by Martha Stewart. I tried to find it online to link directly to it, but it does not appear to be on her site. The recipe uses the Trader Joe’s Gyoza Potstickers and because I usually have a bag in my freezer, I was excited to stumble across it in the magazine.
Dumpling Soup
1. Saute 1 diced onion, 2 diced carrots, 1 sliced celery stalk and 4 oz. sliced mushrooms in 2 Tbsp. olive oil until tender. 2. Add 5 1/2 cups low sodium chicken stock, 2 cups water and 1 bay leaf; bring to a boil. 3. Add 1/2 bag Gyoza Potstickers; simmer 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley.
Simple and yummy. You gotta love Martha.
Your House is NOT a Photo in a Magazine
Posted by: | CommentsIt is my opinion that some people are intimidated by all the photos of perfectly organized homes in the magazines. From Better Homes and Gardens to Real Simple, the photos look beautiful yet intimidating. Keep in mind the spirit of the articles. Focus on taking away one or two ideas from an article you like and don’t feel like you have to replicate the entire project. Use the photo or article as a springboard to the next organizing adventure in your home.
This photo from Real Simple is a prime example of what I mean. First of all, organizing my pantry to this level is just not a priority for me. I don’t need to stock my pantry with all of these items and I certainly don’t need to spend the money on fancy matching containers and then take the time to label all of them. That said, I can take something from this photo and apply it to my pantry. I do like the container and so one or two might work nicely. I can also take the idea that putting things in sturdy containers that I might already own will work wonders. Do they really all have to match, or can they function efficiently and produce the same result?
Another example shown here also via Real Simple highlights an organizing system for digital images. I see this as a very time-consuming process that takes a ton of space. It is a beautiful solution, but is it right for you? What you can take from the article is the actual idea to gain motivation to organize the space. It is up to you to find something that will work for your family within your budget and time constraints. Don’t begin a large project such as this one if you do not have the time and energy to see it through. An alternative to taking up all of this drawer space would be DVD/CD binders that will hold more in a smaller space.
Don’t let the magazine photos and articles intimidate you. Let them inspire you to begin a project in your own home, under your own terms and within your budget.
I’d love to hear some examples of how you’ve been inspired by a photo and adapted it to your home.
Three, Four, Out the Door
Posted by: | CommentsHi all,
I promised some more examples of what can be done for quick organization as you head out the door. The top two photos are from Pottery Barn, the third from Home Decorators and the last is Martha Stewart. I must say the shutter idea from Martha is quite creative. Hook a basket on the shutter to hold lipsticks, keys and brushes. For the coat rack you can slip a couple of containers or baskets on top to hold essentials. The entryway table from Pottery Barn is beautiful and I love the bowls on the shelf. Utilize them for all your “out the door” essentials.
Clutter-Free Gift Giving – The Digital Frame
Posted by: | CommentsI’d love to share another idea with you for clutter-free and meaningful gift giving. A digital photo frame is a wonderful gift for a grandparent, a sibling, or even as a holiday tradition in your home. While a scrapbook makes a lovely gift, I’ve found that the digital frame is appreciated because it is easily viewed and shared. I’ve used ScanDigital (http://www.scandigital.com/) as a resource for scanning in my old photographs, but there are certainly some budget-friendly solutions such as using your home scanner.
Here are some suggestions on themes for your digital photo frame
• For a grandparent – the obvious choice would be photos of the grandkids. What about something unexpected? Create a storyline with your digital photo frame. Begin the story with photos of great or even great-great grandparents and work your way through the present. This would be a wonderful way for a grandparent to begin a history lesson with the grandkids.
• Do you have a cherished family recipe? What about a photo shoot of the family matriarch, patriarch or master chef preparing the food? You can send out the completed photo frame to family members along with written instructions.
• For a brother or sister who may live far away, you can create a photo gallery of special memories you’ve shared or past holidays together.
• For your own home, you can assemble a gallery of images from all your holiday moments. Include one or two photos from each year and you will have created a wonderful trip down memory lane for the entire family.
The possibilities are endless, creative, and inspiring. Whatever holiday you celebrate, it should be about family, tradition, and memories. A digital photo frame is a wonderful way to express the true meaning of the season.
