Organize Me...Pretty

Consumer Protection

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0000

Last week was National Consumer Protection Week. This site shows you how to avoid scams as well as more information on banking, credit, debt, health, investing, money and identity theft issues for consumers.

Hope it helps with any answers that you might be facing.

Have a happy St. Patrick's day!

Marlin

Last Minute Travel Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:36:00 +0000

Here are some ways to get great last minute travel deals:

Make sure that you search the various deals on the internet. I have listed many websites below that you can find deals from. You can also go to the actual airline's websites since they might have some deals there.
The best and maybe the hardest way to secure last minute deals is to actually be available at any moment to travel. If you are looking to get extremely cheap last minute flights you can't be too picky with the departure timings you want. You have to be flexible and ready to board the plane at any moment.
The last thing that you need to do to secure last minute travel deals is to be aware and vigilant in searching for them. You have to keep looking on these sites if you want to find the deal that is right for you.

Web sites with great travel deals...

Enjoy!

Marlin

Spring Time Watering

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:00:00 +0000

I know that it's hard to think about Spring time, especially in the MD-DC-VA area when all you see is snow and cold weather but I read about this new concept and thought it is better to share it early rather than getting it to you too late.

This concept is for a "smart" sprinkler system called Cyber Rain.

Instead of using a manual adjuster for your sprinkler system, Cyber Rain lets you do the programming on your computer. It gets weather reports off the Web, then transmits that information to the controller in your garage or basement plus it helps you to save 30-70% on your water bill...not bad, right?

Your water amount gets adjusted automatically, so you know for sure that you are watering only when your lawn and garden really need its.

I think it's something worth trying, plus the idea of saving money monthly sounds really good to me.

Enjoy your day everyone!

Marlin

Best Deals for February

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:36:00 +0000

Here are some items that can be found at great prices for the month of February.

Valentine's is over but check out what they have for next year
Christmas ornaments and decorations should be even cheaper now for next year
Bicycles
MP3 players
DVD players
Cameras
Perfumes and colognes
Outdoor grills
Luggage
Air Conditioning Units
Humidifiers

Have a great week!

Marlin

Help in the Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

With all this snow that we have received in the Maryland-DC-VA area, I hope that this blog will come in handy.

When going out in the snow, make sure to keep the following with you in your car (you never know when you might need it):

Sand or cat litter- to help create some resistance on your tires when you are stuck
Floor mats - these also help you get unstuck and give you traction (use the rubber side)
Shovel - to help dig you out of a snow ditch
Car Wax - put on your headlights so that snow and salt can't stick to it
Vinegar and water - 3 parts vinegar to one part water sprayed on your windows will help prevent your windows from freezing overnight
Cooking spray - spray it around your car doors so they don't feeze
Shaving cream - spraying it on your windows and wiping it off with a paper towel, helps it from fogging up your windows
Rubbing alcohol - use a cloth and wipe this on your windshiled wipers; this prevents them from squeaking and creating streaks on your windows
Hand sanitizer - this helps with de-icing your lock in seconds (make sure it contains at least 60% alcohol, otherwise it might not work)
Gloves - keep an extra pair in your car, you don't want to be stuck in the cold without them

Also, just for fun...for those of you that have kids but don't want them out in all the snow, grab some snow from outside and bring it indoors. Have the kids make snowmen on a plate inside your house and get creative with the face and clothes.

Have some hot chocolate and stay warm everyone!

Marlin

Limit Your Spending in the New Year (Get out of Debt)

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Every year, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling counsels close to two million American households nationwide. Whether they seek financial advice or choose to enroll in a debt-repayment plan, many of these families or individuals carry thousands of dollars in debt, often more than their annual income. Check with them first if you just don't know where to turn.

Credit Card Debt

Limit the amount of cards you use. If you are really scared to use them, cut most of them up and keep one stashed away and keep one in your wallet/purse. It's best to only keep your debit card with you, so when the urge arises, you know that you can only spend so much from your bank account.
It's best not to close all your cards, since you still need to keep your credit looking good, and in order to have it look good you do have to spend and use your cards; just pay them off in full when you get the chance.
Transfer your balance from a high rate card to a low rate card.
Try to negotiate a lower rate. This is certainly possibe if you have good credit.
Vist Credit Card Nation, this site estimates the time it will take to pay off your credit card debt.

Home Debt

Contact your bank or financial planner to discuss your situation and options. They maybe able to help you with money management issues.
Refinance. It seems harder right now to do, but if you have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), it doesn't hurt to find out if you can refinance it to a fixed-rate mortgage.
If you are in danger of foreclosure, research to see if you have any alternatives. You may be tempted to cut your losses and move on, but visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s site to research other options.

Handle Student Loans

Consolidate your student loans. Try to lock in a reduced interest rate to make your monthly payments more manageable.

Budget your finances. This might seem obvious but it's a tough thing to do. You may have to be strict for a while; but being strict for a short while might be all the difference in the world to improve your life for the better in the long term.

Do you have to go out to eat every day/week? Pack a lunch instead.
Limit shopping sprees to once every few months, except for your essentials (i.e. groceries, paper products, medicines, etc).
Instead of spending money on going out, stay in and rent a movie.
Instead of formal family pictures at a studio, set up your camera in your home and send it to picture developing site; it's a lot cheaper and more relaxing (trust me!).

There are many ways to eliminate unnecessary spending. Think of what is essential and what is extra and then eliminate/reduce the extra to 1-3 times a month/year.

Please also note that with all of the scams out there, be very careful with whom you deal with. Do your research before signing up and giving money to anyone. Go with your gut instinct and to be safe, go with a reputable (well known) bank or lender.

Here's to a wealthy 2010 for us all!

Marlin

Re-decorating Your Space for Free

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

You can make your rooms over without spending too much money or can even do it for free...here are some ideas to get you thinking...

For a small price:

Buy throw pillows to change your couch or bedding appearance
Paint can change a room dramatically, even if it's only on one wall
Buy an interesting lamp to add light to a room to bring out a new glow
Flowers - buy various kinds of grocery store flowers - and put in unique holders to add a changed look of beauty every week to your home
If you have interesting articles or pictures from magazines that you already recieve but don't want to toss them away, why not buy some inexpensive frames and change up a wall by displaying them as a piece of art work - makes for an interesting conversation piece as well
Change your dining table immediately by adding seat cushions or a new tablecloth and placemats
If you have blinds on your windows, why not add some curtains to soften up a room or two

For free:

Put a decorative shawl or blanket on your sofa or bed to make it look revived (I have a curtain panel on our piano that didn't go so well on the window and it simply looks like a runner rather than a curtain, so there are all kinds of ways to be creative with fabrics)
Make your own art work, if you are creative, create your own art piece and hang it up
Take items from other rooms (art work, chairs, etc.) and place them in a new room to make it look as if you bought new items (you just bought them from your other rooms)
Rearrange the current furniture in a room; if it seems impossible, just try to angle it differently to add instant dramatic flare
Take rugs from different areas and put it down at an angle to see how you can easily change the appearance of any room
Take fruit and place them in interesting canisters or vases to show them off; it's also a way to change up a drab kitchen every week
Use your current books or photo albums and stack them on top of each other in a corner to add interest to an otherwise dull area
Add your children's artwork to a blank wall space (just get some string and clothing pins or put them in frames that you already have)
Display items that you own that are too pretty to be put away. Place them in a bowl or other clear container and display them proudly and then change them up whenever you want (jewelry, beautiful cards, pretty soaps, etc.)

Look around your home, I'm sure that you have interesting items that can be placed elsewhere to add immediate sparkle to dull areas and/or rooms.

Have a good week everyone!

Marlin

So Many Vases...What Do I Do With Them?

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Over the years I had collected many vases, most from my darling husband who showered me with floral arrangements on a monthly basis, and I had collected so many that it was time to let them go.

If you have too many of your own collecting dust in your home, here are some ways to re-use or get rid of them safely and efficiently.

Send to a local thrift store for re-sale
Recycle them (although I have heard some say that it was not ok, but my recycling unit took them)
Buy or gather new flowers and put them in the vase to give to a friend for their birthday or if they are not feeling well
Try your hand and creativity at faux floral arrangments (you can always give them as gifts later or arrange them around your home)
Take them to the office, for others to use
Give them to a local nursing home
Give them to a local community center (for flower making workshops)
Give them to a local hospital
Give them to local event or wedding planners (this is especially handy if you have many of one style)
Give them to your school (art teachers could use them for crafts)
Use them as candy dishes
Use them to showcase pretty shells or stones
Use them at your child's next Lemonade stand to make Lemonade
Use wide shaped vases to hold household items, such as keys, wallets and other odds and ends
Use them in a craft room for buttons, paper clips, ribbon, scissors, etc.
Use them as centerpieces for your table (add lemons, pinecones, ornaments, anything eye-catching)
Use them as utensil holders, if they are tall enough
Buy a Beta fish and use the vase as an aquarium
Log on to Freecyle (this site allows you to give away items, in your area, for free), someone else might be in need of a vase(s) for a small wedding or other event

As you see the possibilities are endless.

Just remember not to get rid of all of them, keeping some vases in various sizes and textures can certainly come in handy.

Marlin

De-Cluttering Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

I found an article on WebMD that makes this year even more worth it for you to de-clutter your life.

I have added it below as well.

Clear the Clutter Out of Your Life - Organize and simplify your life for better emotional health.

By Jennifer Nelson
WebMD FeatureReviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD

Simi Nwogugu of Brooklyn, New York, felt that her life was filled with clutter. Her drawers were filled with old notes and books from business school and years of paid bills. Toys that her sons had outgrown still littered the house. In fact, she felt so mentally cluttered that she couldn’t do the one thing she wanted: write.

To get out from under the clutter, the founder of HOD Consulting rented an expensive New York City office. Problem was, the clutter followed her. Finally, she stopped trying to escape clutter and began to organize it.

“I know where everything is and it is so much more pleasing to work from home. Most of all, I am writing again,” she says. Even her aching back and shoulders feel better.

When you can’t find things, you can feel frustrated, angry, and unproductive, says Kelli Ellis, an Orange County, Calif., design psychologist who’s appeared on TLC’s Clean Sweep television show. “You see that person who has papers flying out of files, or you see their handbag, and you say, 'I know exactly what your car looks like or what your home office looks like.'” Clutter spills over into every aspect of life.

Clutter, both mental and physical, can do a number on our productivity and eat away at our time. Think of all the minutes we waste looking for items that aren’t where they should be. Plus the sheer stress of a cluttered life means we may miss deadlines, work longer hours, and lose important stuff. Clutter equals stress. Where to start simplifying?

The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Clutter

Between a zillion to-dos, work and family life, errant worries, and obligations, it’s no wonder you have a cluttered mind. Start by learning to let go.

“To be truly happy, sometimes you must eliminate unhealthy people and situations from your life,” says Alex Lluch, author of Secrets to Love Life and Be Happy. For instance, if you feel stuck in a dead-end job, resolve to make a change.

Or if there’s someone in your life who constantly brings you down with a negative attitude, find a way to disentangle yourself. “It may take some courage to eliminate this stuff from your life, but you will feel much more fulfilled once you are able to concentrate on the people and things that do make you happy.”

Lluch advocates clean sweeping your thoughts with a hot bath, a meditation practice, a long walk, a phone call to a friend -- whatever works for you. Spend at least 15 minutes a day in a pursuit that allows you to decompress, clear your mind, and rid your thoughts of the mental chitchat that clouds your creativity, passion, and productivity.

De-Clutter Your Desk and Work Space

Whether you work from a home office or a tiny cubicle, there’s no way you can be totally productive in a space that doesn’t function for you. “I have never actually met anybody who is extremely successful who works in absolute chaos,” says Ellis.

Sure, everyone has a junk drawer or a messy desk on occasion, but if your clutter is taking over, it’s time to scale back.

When Nwogugu tackled her home office with a very organized friend, they compiled three separate stashes: what to keep, what to shred (sensitive information), and what to just throw away.

Follow a similar routine working from desk to files to shelves. Clear everything off and sort into appropriate stacks. Use file folders, three-ring notebooks, or magazine sorters to hold important papers. And immediately pitch what you don't need. Get creative with containers. Coffee mugs and decorative boxes hold everything from paper clips and tacks to business cards and pens.

Look toward vertical wall space as a new storage solution. “We tend to make piles,” says Ellis. But piles are hard to address and papers within them become hidden. You can’t pay a bill or return an important message if it’s hidden at the bottom of a stack on your desk.

Instead, option wall space. Set bills in a hanging bin, keys on a hook, magazines in wall hangers. Now you can see and reach items easily.

Clean Out Clothing Skeletons in Your Cluttered Closet
If closets are your nemesis and yours could rival Vogue’s accessory closet, you’ll need to spend some time getting down and dirty. The first step to cleaning a closet is to take everything out. Then you can see what you have. Often you’ll need to purchase storage boxes or organizing bins, shoe holders, or shelving. Don’t forget plastic garbage bags for trash and donations. Have a few bins or boxes for items that don’t really belong in the closet but will be moved elsewhere. Be realistic. Do you really need or want each item?

Ellis’ mantra is, “If you haven’t seen it, needed it, or worn it in one year, get rid of it.”

Nwogugu’s friend had three questions when they came to every piece of clothing: Does it fit? Have you worn it in the last 12 months? Is there some sentimental value strong enough to keep it? If the answers are no, toss it in one of three options -- in a bag for charity, to sell at a garage sale or on eBay, or for the trash heap.

Nwogugu went through the same procedure for her husband’s clothes and shoes as well as her children’s. “By the time we were done with clothing, we had over 15 hefty trash bags of stuff for Salvation Army.”

Organization Tips for Your Clutter-Free Action Plan

Here are more steps to help you clear clutter from your life:

Organize in bite-size bits: If the thought of getting organized completely overwhelms you, set a timer for just 15 minutes a day. Knowing you won't spend hours working on an organizational project might make working in small nuggets easier to manage.

Mainstream email: Instead of checking email with each ding of the inbox, read your emails on a regular basis only twice a day. When you open an email, answer it immediately and don't save it for later.

Handle snail mail only once: Create a special time and place to read your snail mail regularly. During the appointed time, open the mail and immediately take action on it. File it with bills, shred it, toss it in the trash, etc. Commit to touching each piece of mail immediately and only once.

Avoid horizontal piles: When possible, avoid putting paper in horizontal stacks in your home or office. Save time and frustration by categorizing and finding a home for paper as soon as it comes through the door.

Purge regularly: This applies to every room in the house but don’t forget the kitchen and bathroom. Check expiration dates regularly on medicines, vitamins, supplements, and cosmetics. Stick to the “when in doubt, throw it out” rule. If you can’t remember when you purchased it, let it go.

The first day after Nwogugu de-cluttered she walked around her apartment, remembering why she loved it. She no longer felt the need to escape. She looked forward to writing. "All around, I feel much better,” she says.

I hope this article helped some of you to make some changes in this new year.
Here's to your emotional health!

Marlin

Storage for Holiday Decorations

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Now that the holidays are over, here are some ideas to store your items.

Clear plastic containers - I use curtain containers for bows, fabric napkins, tape, gift tags, small ornaments, things that are difficult to store elswhere, etc.

Gift bags - I use gift bags to hold other gift bags and rolls.

Clear box containers - we use these to hold similar items such as all mantle items (i.e. stockings, stocking holders, garland, etc.)
Apple or egg containers and cartons - you can easily store ornaments in here
Ziploc bags - you can place ornament holders (the metal ones) or other small items in here so that it doesn't get lost in a bigger container
Hanging organizer - these are the kind that have clear pockets and therefore could hold small ornaments and the like
Coffee or vegetable cans - you can string lighted garlands around these, so that they don't get tangled
Shoe boxes - line the boxes with tissue paper to hold delicate items
Large trash bags - these are great to hold wreaths if you don't have a specific container for them
Zippered garment bags - these also work nicely to hold wreaths
Plastic grocery bags - these come in handy when you need to protect items that could get scratched up, such as Santa Clauses or Nutcrackers. Once wrapped, simply put them in a bigger container
Cookie tins - are a great place to stash those items that are decorative but could make a mess if placed elsewhere, such as pinecones or items with glitter on them...

Another quick tip is to keep similar items together (i.e., keep the wreath with the wreath holder, keep the stockings with the stocking holders, table linens with napkin rings, etc.)

Happy New Year!

Marlin

Coupons

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:17:00 +0000

I have gathered below some links to sites that offer great coupons. In this economy, we can sure use them.

At some of the sites below you may have to spend a small amount in order to get a great deal whereas others offer free coupons.

Coupons for retail stores
Coupons for many popular stores
Coupons for the inserts that you see in newspapers
Coupons for groceries (make sure to check out the forum for the grocery store in your area to find information on how to save the most money)
Coupons for groceries, restaurants and drugstores
Coupons for restaurants
Website that helps you find a product that you are looking for, then searches for it along with coupons from many different stores
Here are some more ways to save here, here, here and here...

Hope the coupons help!

Marlin

Holiday Decor/Santa in Your Home & on the Phone

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:42:00 +0000

Here are some holiday decorating ideas that I found interesting and wanted to share. Just click on the links and enjoy!

Decorating with Napkins
Unique Tabletops
Table Settings
Elegant Arrangements
Candle Displays
Outdoor Decorating

Picture of Santa Claus in Your Home

Now on to the picture of Santa Claus in your home. I posted this before but wanted to post again for those that have children that still believe that there is a Santa Claus.

Go to Capture the Magic where you can upload a photo of a room in your home that is currently decorated for Christmas. You would then drag and drop a realistic image of Santa (there are various poses to choose from) into the picture of your room to make believe he was really there. You would then download it to share with your children on Christmas morning via your computer.

The cost is $9.95 for the first picture while the 2nd one is free, and any more after that costs only .99 cents. I did this last year and my children were very excited and said that the next year they wanted to sit up and wait to make sure that they did not miss Santa coming in to our home. I think your kids will be surprised and excited without a doubt to see Santa in their own home. It's a neat idea and we enjoyed doing it. You may have some questions later on once they realize that there is no Santa Claus, so enjoy it now while you can.

Phone Call from Santa Claus

For those that are on the borderline of believing if there really is a Santa, what a perfect way to make them believe by getting a phone call from Santa himself!

When you go to fill out your information, you can put down facts about your child/children. Your child will be shocked that Santa knows so much about him/her. Santa can also speak with them about things they need to improve on (i.e., – not getting along with siblings, etc.). Santa would also love to compliment them on what they are doing well with (i.e. good grades, etc.). This call is a "live" 3-5 minute call, so book it now and get your video camera out to capture the look on your child's face. I have yet to try this one out, but I think I will this year!

The price for this is $15 before Dec. 15th (as you see it's already passed this date)
Between Dec 15 - 23 it would be $20.00
On Dec 24, it would be $29.95
On Christmas day, it would be $39.95

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

Marlin

Decorating Holiday Presents

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Many times I go the easy route of not actually wrapping presents. I end up putting them in gift bags with some tissue paper and I am done. This year, I decided to mainly wrap the gifts but things got a little too busy so I didn't get as creative as I would have liked to with my wrapping.

Although I have not been as creative with my gift wrapping, I do enjoy seeing others gift wrapping ideas and am very impressed with what some people do with their presentations. There are times that I honestly prefer looking at the gift rather than wanting to know what is inside of it; it can be too pretty to unwrap.

So, hopefully you all get inspired to be a bit more creative than I was this year. If not, I hope you get a gift from someone else who was inspired to get creative with their gift decorating.

Either way, here are some ideas to get you started.

Wrap the box or gift in pretty ribbon.
Add raffia as a ribbon around the present.
Use felt cloth to create a fortune cookie and put paper or the "fortune" in it to say who the gift is going to. You can even wrap the gift in Chinese takeout menus.
Use ornaments as a secondary gift to put on top of the gift.
Flowers, pinecones or berries can also be added on top of the gift.
Create a snowman theme by using cotton balls. Use gift wrap in a solid color and then glue the cotton balls all over the present and then on the top create a snowman with a hat and scarf.
Continue with a cotton ball themed gift by creating a scene on the gift. You could use the cotton balls as clouds and attach felt patterns on plain gift wrap to make a house, a tree or whatever you want your picture to represent.
Make it a themed present, if the gift is a remote control airplane or car, you can wrap the gift using a road map.
Make a paper fan or snowflakes - just like the ones we created as children - and use it embellish the top of a gift.
Cut out a Christmas tree, gingerbread man or a star from a single color felt paper (use a cookie cutter to get the right shape) and then place on the gift wrap.
Use one holiday themed cookie cutter on top of a wrapped present; just attach it to the ribbon to keep sturdy.
For the grandparents, wrap gifts with their grandchild's artwork.
If you know a hobby that the person the gift is going to enjoys, you can make it unique just for them. For someone who enjoys creating art, attach a paint brush to the top of the present. For someone who enjoys reading, attach a bookmark as the label. For someone who enjoys to sew, add buttons all over the present.
If you want a flashy gift (just add a red ribbon) or you simply ran out of gift wrap, go to your kitchen and get some aluminum foil and use that as wrapping paper.
Another idea if you run out of wrapping paper, wrap your gift using newspaper and just add a colorful bow or ribbon and your problem has been solved. They will think you are so creative, when you simply ran out of gift wrap!
For kid gifts, attaching small gloves to the top of the gift would be a cute idea. You could even add a scarf to use as a big ribbon.
Use a jump rope as ribbon.
As you see the ideas are endless!

If you chose to get creative yourself, here are some items that you may want to keep on hand:

Glue (Elmers or fabric, depending on what you will be using)
Scissors
Tape
Ribbon
Bows
Labels
Pen or markers
Felt
String
Foil
Wrapping paper
Road maps
Embellishments (pinecones, cottonballs, cookie cutters, berries, etc.)

Enjoy your week ahead!

Marlin

Holiday Decorating

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

I wanted to get some holiday decoration ideas to you before it gets too late. In this post, I have posted as well as written ways to make your Poinsettias last through more than just the December holidays; how to make some unique wreaths; and other miscellaneous decorating tips.

Poinsettias

For those of you that love Poinsettias and would like them to last longer than just the holidays, check out these tips.

Wreaths

Beautiful and interesting wreaths, for all the "do it yourself" folks out there.

Miscellaneous Tips

Extra bulbs or decorations can be put together in interesting containers. You can place similar colors together (i.e., the containers I have pictured are old, brass cooking pots that my grandmother used long ago and I placed red beaded garland along with red ornaments in one, blue silver garland with silver and royal blue ornaments in another and gold ornaments in the smallest pot) and place them all together to make a unique statement to a drab area.

To make the area intimate, add candles with ornmanets or garlands around the table.
Add bows to chandeliers, bowls, glasses, and vases to bring out the color theme in your home.
Holiday greetings are getting overcrowded on your mantel? Put them on a trellis or cork board. Hang them on a ribbon that can be draped or hung from the ceiling and can be attached by decorative clips.
Add wreaths in front of every window or if you can only place one, make it interesting on your door. The picture below is the one we have used for our front door. Since our front door is black, we chose a red Poinsettia to make it stand out.

Wreaths can also be placed flat on a dinner table to be used as a centerpiece. You can place a bowl inside the center of the wreath and fill it with ornaments and greenery.
Items to use for decorations can be anything that you believe to be festive - pinceones, chestnuts, cinnamon sticks, peppermint candies, candy canes, candles, cards, your child's or your own art work, your ornaments, garlands, glasses, vases, flowers and plants, etc. The list is endless.

Please check out my older Christmas/December posts for further ideas as well.

Enjoy your week!

Marlin

Turkey Leftovers

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

A typical tradition of Thanksgiving is to have leftovers of Turkey; however, most people don't want the usual turkey and gravy day after day, so I have listed some ideas below and here to keep you from getting bored.

The possibilities are endless!

Continue to be thankful for all you have, I sure am!

Marlin

Black Friday Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. This day marks the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Many retailers open extremely early, with most of the retailers typically opening at 5AM or even earlier. Upon opening, retailers offer doorbuster deals and some even provide freebies for the first hundred or so shoppers. This draws people to their stores.

Although Black Friday has served as the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season at least since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924; the term "Black Friday" has been traced back only to the late 1960's. This term was also originally used on the East Coast, in Philadelphia, in reference to the heavy traffic on that day but more recently, merchants and the media have used it to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers go from being in the red (i.e., posting a loss on the books) to being in the black (i.e., turning a profit).

Now that everyone has had their history lesson on Black Friday, I wanted to send you all a few links to get prepared for your shopping experience. Here is a great link to get you started to see what deals are out there for your favorite stores. These sites show you what sales are going on for Friday and possibly even on Thursday. So, check these out before you head out.

If you want to get started even sooner, go to these websites and get their Black Friday or special Thanksgiving deals online.

Amazon (already begun)
Dell (already begun)
MacMall (already begun)
Newegg, sale starts at 6:00 pm EST tonight (Wednesday)
Sears starts at 9:00 pm EST (Wednesday)
Sam's Club starts at 11:00 pm EST (Wednesday)
Toys R Us Black Friday deals starts at 12:01 am EST (Thanksgiving)
Office Max Black Friday deals starts at 8:00 am EST (Thanksgiving)
Walmart Thanksgiving day specials starts at 3:00 am EST (Thanksgiving)
Walmart Black Friday starts at 3:00 am EST (Black Friday)
Target, Kohls, JC Penney and other Black Friday deals will begin on Thanksgiving morning (doesn't hurt to check out your favorite store's website to see if their sales have already begun)

Happy deal finding!

Marlin

Thanksgiving Centerpieces & Crafts

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is upon us once again and I wish you all a wonderful day and week ahead to spend with your family and friends. Enjoy those around you!

Here are some ideas for centerpieces and crafts to enjoy this Thanksgiving.

Centerpieces

Add a beautiful fall colored table runner to your table.
Have a bowl and a pad of paper on or near the table. Ask your guests to write down what they are thankful for and to fold it and put it in the bowl. Before it is time to eat, have random guests open and read them.
A cornucopia basket or vase dressed up with small pumpkins, apples, pears, gourds, squash and chestnuts will add a pretty appearance to your table.
Take the same fruits and vegetables listed above and arrange them around a row of candles that vary in height. Add different colored leaves from outside to the table for a pop of color (please make sure to wash them, so no bugs end up on your food and pick them from outside that same day, so they don't wilt).
If you want a floral centerpiece, Chrysanthemums (also known as Mums), yellow or orange Lilies, as well as other Fall colored flowers are great to add to your table. Put them in a nice vase or pot and place them in the center or all around your home to add some beauty and extra fragrance.

Crafts

Make sure to have things for the kids to do. If you don't want the younger crowd watching TV or playing video games, provide them with things to do together as a group, so they are involved and engaged.

This site, this site, and this site too can provide you with countless craft ideas. Also, keep some coloring books or plain white paper along with colored pencils, crayons or markers out for the kids so they can create their own drawings and maybe put on paper what they are thankful for this year.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Marlin

Keeping Area Rugs in Place

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Many of us have area rugs either on hardwood, tile or on top of carpeting. Rugs can give dimension and color to your room. The problem sometimes is keeping your rug from moving and bunching up. I have listed some items that can help keep your rugs in place.

On Hard Flooring:

Rug pads do the trick for rugs on top of ceramic and hardwood floors. If the pad is too big, make sure to cut it so that it is just slightly smaller than the actual rug itself.
Double sided sticky tape can be put on the back of rugs; once placed, make sure to put some weight on them when you have them where they should be placed so that they will keep from moving.
Some are labeled as carpet tape but the double sided tape works just as well on hard floors.
Duct tape can be used if you don't have a pad to place underneath.
I have also tried the rubber drawer liners that are usually used for kitchen cabinets underneath rugs and it has worked just as well with no bunching or moving.
I have also heard that velcro strips work but I have never seen that before.

On Soft Sufaces (i.e. Carpet)

Conventional rug pads do not work for rugs that are placed on top of carpets; the piles (the actual carpet "hair") will simply shift whenever someone walks on it and it will bunch up and never stay in place. There are not many solutions for this, but some ideas are listed below.

Try those hard plastic floor mats that are used under office chairs and then place a rug pad or any of the items that I have listed in the first section, on top of the mat and then place your rug on top of that. The mat will act as hard flooring. Vinyl mats also work.
Heavy rugs work better than lighter weight rugs and won't easily bunch and create rolls.
You can try to place heavy furniture (sofa, chairs, etc.) on the edges of the rug to anchor the rug down.
I contacted a carpet store to see if they know of any item that would work and I was told that any local store that sells area rugs should be able to help. So, if you are desparately in need of something that works and the above solutions didn't help, try this one out. These stores can sell you a special pad that has net on the back of it which stops the rug from moving on top of carpeting. Not sure how expensive it would be but it's certainly worth a shot.

I hope these solutions help!

Have a wonderful week.

Marlin

Getting Involved & Helping Others

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Have you ever thought of doing something nice for someone else - whether they are less fortunate or not - but you really just don't know where to begin?

Here are some ways that you can help, both big and small.

Have you ever seen someone when you are driving in the rain and they have no umbrella and are getting drenched? Well, I have and I have always wanted to just give my umbrella in the car to them, but I never have...next time, I will make a bigger effort to do so, you can do that as well (the same thing goes with gloves, scarves, etc).

Give someone that you know that has lost a loved one or is going through a hard time and give them a card, bake some cookies, provide some food, maybe get them a book to help them deal with their loss or struggle - anything to let them know that someone cares.

Running marathons for a favorite charity, is always helpful in raising funds for further research to eradicate certain diseases besides getting you in better shape. To those of you that have run a marathon...and I know many that have...I am in awe of your determination, stamina and desire to go through this.

Another way to do something nice for others is to recycle - you are doing something nice for more than one person by doing this. Even if you start by recycling one plastic container at a time, this could be better than what you did yesterday and that is still better than doing nothing at all.

Become involved in a Big Brother/Big Sister programs and mentor a child.

Join Best Buddies, where you can develop friendships (become a pen pal or an e-Buddy), or donate money to provide employment and leadership opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Habitat for Humanity is a great organization where they seek to "eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action." If you can't help in the building process, you can certainly help by donating funds to them.

You can help donate money to Miracle Flights for Kids, which is a nonprofit that flies seriously ill children and their parents to specialists across the country.

Another great organization for children is the Ronald McDonald House, in operation since 1974. Ronald McDonald Houses are located around the world and help families by providing them with a place to stay when their children are receiving treatment for a serious illness or injury. These homes are close in proximity to the hospital or treatment center and allows the family to be comfortable and cared for during their stay.

Just remember that no matter how big or small your deed is, just knowing that you have gone out of your way to do something nice for another human being is priceless!

Continue your random acts of kindness!

Marlin

Leftovers from Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

What do you do with leftover candy (that you don't want the kids to eat or that you don't like yourself) from Halloween or any other event? Here are some ideas of what to do with leftover candy and pumpkins.

Chop up the chocolate candy or candy corn that you did not hand out on Halloween and use them in your cookie recipes.

Use the leftover candy for the gingerbread house that you will make around the Christmas holidays.

Save the candy for Christmas treats for guests.

Save the candy for a child's goody bag that might be near the holidays.

Save the candy and put them in a pinata for the holidays, who says that pinatas are only for birthdays?

Take the candy in to work, so others can enjoy it.

Take the candy in to a homeless shelter, there are kids and adults there that would appreciate it.

Melt the chocolate bars for chocolate-covered strawberries.

Melt the chocolate bars and make chocolate fondue.

Use the pulp from the pumpkin and make pumpkin pies, soups and breads.

Clean out the pumpkin and use it as a vase to put flowers in.

Wash the pumpkin seeds and roast them for a nutritious snack.

Pumpkins can be used in the compost for use as a fertilizer.

If you have a garden, bury the pumpkin in it, it will enrich the soil.

I hope these tips were useful and I hope that everyone had a great Halloween!

Marlin

No More Container Stains

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0000

When you have a potted plant placed on a step or a stoop outside, it can look beautiful but as soon as you remove it you can see the ugly rings that it can leave beneath on your concrete patio or deck; so then you end up having no other choice but to keep a container or something there to hide it even when you no longer want to.

Here are some ways to make sure that your container doesn't leave any stains behind.

At our house, we use these cork mats under our pots (similar to coasters you would use for your cups and mugs to not leave water stains behind on your furniture) on the front entryway and although they are meant for indoors, they work just as well as outside.
Pot Risers are also great to lift your pot up from the ground. They are invisible feet that are made of recycled tire rubber and are 1 inch squares that stay put under your containers and/or anything else you want to lift off of the surface of your patio or deck. They don't slip or leave marks behind, and they also help provide cushioning on uneven surfaces. Pot Risers can also support up to 1600 pounds!
Flower pot pads are great for both protection as well as for absorbing excess water when it detects more moisture than required in your plant's soil. Also, since they absorb extra moisture, this helps with both mildew and mildew odors.
Tiles can also be a good buffer for your patios from stains.
If your flower container is small, you can use a larger decorative pot to place that container inside; this would create a unique look.

For some, unfortunately, you may have already created a stain on your patio or deck; listed below, I have listed some ways below to get those areas cleaned up. Please note, that depending on how long the stain has been there, it is very possible that some of those stains may never fade.

Power washing can help get rid of some of these stains.
Stain solver is a great tool to help remove many types of stains on your patio, deck or driveway.
Sanders or water based deck strippers can help remove the stain from your deck but will also remove the paint/stain that is already on your deck, so you may have to power wash it and then re-stain your entire deck.
Baking soda along with soap can remove stains from your concrete or other type of patio.
Pouring any household vinegar on concrete will help remove rust stains.
Lemon juice has the same effect on cement.
Usually keeping most of the above items on the stain for 15 - 20 minutes should help lift the stain and then scrubbing it with a stiff bristled brush will then help remove the extra debris out. You should always rinse it off with plain water so that it does not set in one spot and create another stain that you were not expecting and which might be even harder to fix.

Have a wonderful week!

Marlin

Bringing Plants Indoors - Just Got Easier

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0000

It's that time of the year that, depending on where you live, you may have to bring some of your plants indoors in order to save them from the effects of this cold and ever-changing weather.

One way to make this transition easier is to get these interesting planters called Lechuza. These planters allow you to do less work in taking care of your houseplants.

Lechuza planters allow you to not worry about how much moisture is in your soil. It has a reservoir in the base of its container so that it can hold enough water to keep your plants hydrated for up to 12 weeks. There is also a water-level indicator in the planter that tells you when it's time to refill the container so that you can be stress free again for another 12 weeks.

Then when summer comes around, you can just move these planters outdoors or transplant your plants out to where they were previously. Another neat feature about these is that they are shatterproof as well as UV resistant, so they won't fade or crack, even after months on a porch that gets full sun exposure.

Continue with maintaining your plant's health and enjoy your week!

Marlin

Bringing "Fall" Indoors

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:05:00 +0000

What exactly does Fall mean to you, how does it make you feel? Leaves changing colors, pine cones, different smells, colors that inspire the Fall season - yellow, brown, orange. Here are some ways to enjoy this season more by bringing the outdoors in.

Gather pine cones and put in decorative clear urns, vases or bowls.

Gather leaves of different shapes and colors and create a Fall wreath for your door.

Add items that have Fall colors or shapes (i.e., leaves) such as throws, tablecloths, cushions, etc. and put them in different areas of your home to add to that warm feeling you are looking for.

Plant pretty yellow or orange mums and keep in containers to your home's entryway.

Go for a walk and pick up items that you see that are unusual and earthy to put together to create a unique seasonal decoration. Depending on what you find, you can use it to create a garland; put the items at the base of your plants to add some interest to it; or get a rustic basket and put the items in there along with some items that add color to it.

Found a unique branch? Make it a Fall tree similar to a Christmas tree. Put it in a large vase or urn and add ornaments to it. Create your own Fall ornaments by adding string or ribbon to pine cones, huge colorful leaves (use a small hole punch), actual bulbs in Fall or seasonal colors or you can create your ornaments with fabric or paper or have your kids create them for you.

Add pumpkins or different colored squash and add them to baskets or put in a bowl as you would fruit.
Add a scent that makes you think of Fall by burning a candle, spraying a mist, using a diffuser, or scented oil plugins that make you think of this season favorably.

The ideas are endless as you can see.

Enjoy today!

Marlin

Corner Windows - What to Do?

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Corner windows can be a challenge so what are the best window treatments for this area or what can be done to make it more visually appealing?

When windows are separated at the corner but are too close to really separate them with two separate window treatments, you can make them appear "connected" by a single drape that goes from one window to the other without stopping. This can also make the room appear larger.

Corner windows can be spruced up by adding multi-layered window treatments which can help define each window.

Folding screens can be placed in front of the windows to add some visual art to the corner.

Sometimes the scale of the window to the room might be off, so you can camouflage this by extending the window treatment beyond the edge of the windows. This will make the window appear larger than it actually is.

Shutters are a nice way to dress up corner windows without drapery.

Angling a bed in the corner of those two windows makes a visual statement to the room and draws your eyes to it.

If you are still researching ideas for those corner windows, don't leave them bare so that everyone can have a peak in to your home; instead, buy some paper blinds until you can figure it out - this applies to other windows in your home as well.

Enjoy your week!

Marlin

Don't Trash It - Update It!

noreply@blogger.com (Organize Me...Pretty) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Do you find sometimes that you have items in your home that over time have either become outdated or don't match your style anymore? Why get rid of them, instead take those items and update them with these simple ideas.

Great frame but horrible art work in it - take the picture/painting out of the frame and either put in another art piece, blow up a picture you took (maybe from a cool vacation spot or a nice family picture), put in a gorgeous outfit that has some meaning to you or that is from your native country, or put in an interesting piece of fabric or wallpaper to update your look.
Horrible lamp shade but not such a bad base or vice-versa? Throw out your shade and buy a new one or add fabric to the old one (try small strips of fabric and hot glue it on vertically or horizontally or maybe into the shape of a bow). You love your shade but don't like the base, paint it or update the varnish.
Items such as chairs and benches that have cushions on them. Sometimes the cushions just need to be updated with new ones or the legs on the chairs or benches can get a new touch of paint to change the style completely.
Wood pieces that have nicks and scratches on them. These items can easily be fixed by getting the right furniture marker that can be "colored" over the nicks and scratches and can blend in with the rest of wood.
Walls or carpets that have been marked up by items that were placed against it or by paint or markers can easily be fixed by using an item that has done wonders for us - Goof Off. This item has gotten paint marks out of our carpets as well as blemishes off of our painted walls. You do need to be careful, especially on walls since rubbing too hard will wipe off the paint itself.
Old throw pillows or cushions can either be re-done with newer fabric or the stuffing inside can be taken out to be replaced and the fabric re-sewn.
Hemlines, curtains or those cushions discussed above coming apart at the seams -what do you do when you can't sew, don't like to sew or don't have a sewing machine? Try using this no sew item that can be sealed with just some steam.
A table that is functional but not attractive can either be refinished, painted or simply covered with an attractive tablecloth or fabric.

The main thing to remember when updating your items is to not be afraid of trying out unusual ideas. Use curtain fabric as a table cover (folded so you don't see the seams for the rods), use items that you collect or are usually hidden as showcase pieces - frame them, put them in bowls, etc. Use a comfortable sofa in a dining room instead of chairs, use that pretty dining room chair in your family room or at a desk, hang up that chandelier in your closet, use older or unused books as a table base, etc. There are all kinds of things that I'm sure you can come up with if you start to think creatively.

Have a fantastic week everyone!

Marlin