Systemized Spaces

Organizing: Solutions for Kids Clutter

2014-02-24T20:18:00.001-08:00

Organizing Old Clothes

Categorize

Sort your items whichever way works best for your needs: boy, girl, age, season. I sorted my daughter's clothes by age (0-6, 6-12 & 12-24 months).

Use containers

If you are sorting in order to donate or sell, choose an inexpensive option, like plastic bags or cardboard boxes. If you are choosing to store long-term, I suggest something more durable, such as a plastic container.

Use space saving bags

We had a ton of clothes to store, but not a lot of room in which to do it. In order to make the most of our space, I chose to use vacuum seal bags for each age group.

Label

LABEL! It makes it sooo much easier to find what you need months or years down the road!

Before

After

Travel Bag

I now carry a backpack for my daughter, rather than haul a diaper bag around. It is filled with snacks, activities, diapers and a first aid kit. We are on the go so much and it was a disaster!
I found a really great solution on BHG's website. I created my own labels, but found the idea to be perfect for our needs.
I purchased 3 plastic toiletry travel bags from The Container Store to hold our essentials.

Burlaped Boudoir DIY

2013-09-25T14:37:00.001-07:00

It was FINALLY time to fill the empty, depressing space above my bed. I have had so much trouble figuring out what to put up that would look appropriate over a king sized bed and two attached side tables...well it DOES take up an entire wall of my (not so big) master bedroom!!

Inspiration came to me today while on a trip to Hobby Lobby with their sale on canvas boards.

What you will need:

- wood letters

- 1 yard of burlap

- black spray paint

- canvas (2)

- staple gun

- glue gun

Spray paint the letters (make sure you are in a well ventilated area).

Place the burlap on the floor with the canvas on top, wrong side facing up.
Cut the burlap to fit each canvas, leaving approximately 2 inches around each side (excess can be trimmed later) and staple around the back.

Place painted letters on canvas, and glue.

It's Fall Y'all!

2013-09-23T22:16:00.001-07:00

I just love fall! Even though I can't see the leaves changing here in Texas, I can still get in the spirit with this cute, cozy fall mantle display!

What you need:

- sharpie marker
- burlap banner
- tape
- scissors
- printer/ paper

I found this great burlap pennant banner at Hobby Lobby for $5.99! It came with 12 pennants attached, so I simply cut it down to the size I needed for my project. If you can't find a banner premade, they are pretty simple to make. Check out the tutorial over at My Love of Style.

Next, I printed the letters on my computer using Century Schoolbook font (size 330).

I then taped my print outs to the window, and one by one traced each letter onto the burlap with a sharpie.

I really loved how this turned out! Paired with a Pumpkin Spice candle, it really makes it feel like fall, even in the Texas heat!

Potty Time

2013-09-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

Wow! I can't believe it has been a year since I have posted!! Last time I shared, my daughter was only a few months old and now she is 15 months! Where has the time gone??!!

My big little girl has showed a lot of interest in the potty lately, so we have decided to go ahead and start potty training her. We purchased two potties for her; one for upstairs, and one for down. I have put together little "potty boxes" for each bathroom to keep us organized and keep all of our supplies at hand.

Inside each basket we have:
-diapers
-flushable wipes
-potty books (good reading materials are very important!)
-reward stickers

Potty training can be crazy. It's nice to be able to add a touch of control to all the chaos!

Nursery DIY

2012-08-21T15:18:00.001-07:00

This wall of embroidery hoops was one of my Pinterest inspirations. Since I wanted the nursery to feel a bit vintage, this project allowed me to achieve that while keeping the tone girly, but not too juvenile. Once I chose Kate's bedding (Dwell's Studio Paper Dolls), I chose some fabrics that complimented it. I then purchased embroidery hoops in a variety of sizes ($ 0.89 - $1.30 each) from Micheals and glued the fabric to the hoops. Kate's name was the finishing touch. Each letter was primed and painted in Ballet Slipper pink and hung with 3M picture hanging strips (which are surprisingly strong & sturdy).

I had either purchased or made about 50 headbands to adorn Kate's gorgeous head of hair, and lacked a place to keep them. This accessory frame was easy to make (I already had all the materials) and allows me to display a few of the pieces she wears on a regular basis (while the rest are stored away). First I had my husband paint this once red frame, white to match the other white elements in the room. I then used a staple gun to attach the vintage ribbon that once belonged to my great aunt for her hat making projects to the back of the frame to hold the barrettes. I then screwed cup hooks into the bottom of the frame to hang the headbands from.

The map hearts were a last minute addition above Kate's change table. The first heart is the where her Mommy and Daddy got married, the second, where she was born. I hung them both from Umbra's Orchid wire picture frame from Target (beside a picture of Me and my Mama).

It's in the Bag

2012-08-21T13:47:00.002-07:00

Now that I'm a Mommy, my purse has been substituted for a diaper bag (a pretty cute one at that)! Here are some of the essentials that I can't leave home without.

Bag - Kidsline Cascade Bow Diaper Bag

LOVE this bag. Not only is it practicle and pretty, but it is also very functional with its pockets and change pad. This bag also comes in pink and silver, however I purchased the black to minimize the appearance of (the inevitable) stains and wear.

1) Aden & Anais - For the Birds Swaddle Blankets

At first these blankets were used for swaddling Kate, but have quickly become used for keeping warm in cool places, as shade from the sun, burpies and something to cuddle when Mommy is driving.

2) JJ Cole - Lemon Posey Diaper & Wipes Pod

This diaper and wipes pod keeps our essentials organized and dry for those emergency changes while away from the house.

3) Sophie the Giraffe

Everyone's favorite Giraffe, Sophie, is a great little distraction for Kate while in the car.

4) Philips Avent Pacifier

Used for those melt-down moments. Enough said.

5) Google Nexus 7 Tablet

This is my new favorite tool to keep Kate happy and distracted. We just log into our Just for Kids Netflix app and the bright colours and cheerful tunes of shows like Veggie Tales keep minds busy and growing.

6) Dwell Studio Onesie

I always keep an extra change of clothes on hand for those times when spit up or a baby poo get a little out of hand. We have all been there.

Texas Breakfast Tacos

2012-08-18T17:14:00.002-07:00

Ingredients:
4 eggs (or 1 cup egg substitute)

2 cups frozen potatoes with onions and peppers

1/2 cup chopped ham or pancetta

Cooking Spray

4 corn tortillas

1/2 cup cheddar cheese (2% if you can find it)

Salsa of your choice

Directions:

In a non-stick skillet sprayed with cooking spray heat potatoes over medium high heat for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, grate your cheese, cut up your ham, and crack your eggs into a bowl.
Add your ham to your potatoes after 10 minutes. When your potatoes taste tender turn down to low and cover (stirring occasionally).
Heat up a skillet to heat up your corn tortillas–the fresher they are the easier the more pliable they are. Cook eggs in another skillet. To assemble: place corn tortillas on a plate, top with eggs, pile on potatoes, a touch of cheese, and kiss it with salsa. Enjoy!

A New Spin on the Classics

2012-07-25T19:34:00.002-07:00

As a child, I loved to get lost in a good book. Now that I am a Mom to a little girl of my own, I hope she finds the same enjoyment in classic literature that I did.

I plan to build a library for my daughter, Kate, and Penguin Books has made a series of hardcover classics that double as eye candy for your bookshelf. Here are just a few of their bold & beautiful covers.

Cane Chair Makeover

2012-04-03T08:17:00.005-07:00

Love at first sight...really!

Goodbye ugly 70's green velvet!

Several layers of wood filler, sanding and many cans of spraypaint later....

Reupholstered cushions! Voila!

Silhouette Art

2012-03-22T21:26:00.001-07:00

Wake up your walls with this inexpensive and easy project!

1) Find pictures or your family pet, your children, or any other object that suits your taste
2) Trace the picture onto a piece of black construction paper
3) Mount the silhouette onto a piece of card stock
4) Place into a frame
5) Hang
6) Admire!

Unchronicled 2011 DIY Projects

2012-03-05T22:24:00.003-08:00

Here are a few of my 2011 (beginner) DIY projects around our first home that I didn't blog about. In my excitment, I didn't photograph many, and the ones I did are mostly taken with my Blackberry (my apologies). Despite the lack of photographic quality, I thought I would share for all you DIY aholics out there like me.

Key Organizer

Lampshade

Nightstand

Throw Pillows

Wreath & Black Door

Sunburst Mirror

Where, What and How Much?

2012-02-11T23:02:00.000-08:00

As a first time Mommy-to-be, I found myself drowing in all the various websites, recommendations and advice out there on where to what you need, where to shop and what to buy for your baby.

Here is my own take on it (after much weeding out!):

Where to Shop:

It's hard to find baby gear that suits not only baby, but mommy's discerning taste. Here are a few sites that I have found to have great, unique options:

Albeebaby.com - Your online 'mall' for all things baby
Amazon.com - An online marketplace that carries just about EVERYTHING. This site was my choice for our baby registry
Etsy.com - This is your place for all things vintage and handmade.

Brands:

Looking for products that don't scream "Disney"? Here a few of my favorite baby brands that are not only modern, but functional also:

Dwell Studio
Dwell Studio is a unique designer baby boutique that also carries modern home decor items. The cute Paper Doll themed baby bedding and accessories was my pick for our little girl.
Price: $$

Balboa Baby
Baolboa Baby is a doctor recommended line of baby gear that includes slings, nursing pillows, shopping cart covers and more.
Price: $

Petunia Pickle Bottom
Best known for their diaper bags, this brand also has a line of slings, carriers, baby accessories and more.
Price: $$-$$$

aden + anais
aden + anais carries a full line of baby products made of soft, breathable, natural muslin. They have been recommended several times to me for their swaddling blankets.
Price: $

Preparing for Baby - The Nursery

2011-11-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

With a baby on the way, it's time to start thinking about how we are going to make our current, uninspiring nursery space fit for our newest addition.

Modern & Sophisticated

A room to grow into

Rustic & Refined

Perfect for a little Texan

Old Meets New

Love the DIY touches over at Young House Love

Pretty in Pink

Simplicity with a pop of whimsical

Go Ahead … Make My Grey

2011-10-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

The citrine Kelly Wearstler trellis pillows add contrast to the blue on white Java Java upholstered fabric chairs, while the grey damask wallpaper anchors the room.

Christine Hanlon
Virginia MacDonald Photography
Style at Home

I love the juxtaposition of classic features and modern elements in this pink and grey living room.

Shut the front door! This robin’s egg blue door with it’s chrome hardware really looks fabulous against the grey brick of this home.

Grey is made elegant and chic with touches of gold and black

Austin Adventures: Chapter One

2011-10-20T21:04:00.000-07:00

Well, the past 5 days have certainly been an adventure for the Powers/McKenna clan, and appropriately, it has been a tremendous one as “everything is bigger in Texas”... apparently even problems.
We drove our first 11 hours on Monday and made it to Nashville by 9:30pm, where we settled in to the Best Western Music Row for the night (note the suede guitar on the pillow and the gold satin sheets). In the morning we continued our journey to Austin, Texas, passing through Memphis, Little Rock and Dallas on our way.

We set up camp at the La Quinta in Cedar Park, Texas on Tuesday night, finding comfort knowing that we would be settling into our new home on Thursday (even if our furniture wouldn’t be delivered until Sunday). As they say…”Even the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” No exception in our case.

As some of you may know, the owners of the home we were purchasing were “pills,” to say the least. Seems their new home in sunny Florida didn’t change their dispositions.

Because of delays, we were unable to close on Thursday, and our agent was working on setting up a lease for us to be in the house even for a week until the home formally closed. Well, no dice. The owners, who had originally agreed to the lease, changed their minds and headed back to Florida without a cell phone.
Long story short (and $2000 of earnest money later) we have walked away from the home and are starting over.
There is truth in the saying that “everything happens for a reason” because we have realized that Leander was not the right place for us. We are now searching closer to Austin, and Chris’s work. We will be getting much less for the money, but don’t fret fam jam, you will all have a place to stay when you come…our number 1 criteria is plenty of bedrooms.

On a happier note, Austin is treating us well, although we brought the cold with us on Tuesday. There was even an older lady in Target ‘stocking up’ for the ‘big freeze'!.

Chris has been working away and I am starting volunteer work on Monday evening. I will be working at Manos de Cristo with low income, mostly immigrant adults, for 3 hours every Monday night until December, teaching them computer skills. Finding the place was an adventure in itself as I walked into a building with a no firearms and weapons sign on the door next to a tattooed girl. My feeling that I was in the wrong place was confirmed when a man asked me if I was here on probation…good thing I had my guard dog Gracie with me!

The actual facility is very nice (not like the probation office!) and the people are very friendly. *Bonus: I can even listen in on the Citizen classes and get a few pointers!

I have bought a Kindle (courtesy of my Birthday) and am attending my first book club on November 5. I am working on my listening skills so EVERYONE has a chance to speak too.
We miss home desperately, but we are starting to adapt. It will be easier once we have a home to call our own…for now we call Extended Stay America ‘home.’
Love and miss you all.

Meg, Gracie, Sadie…and oh ya, Chris too!
xoxoxo

Label Lust

2011-10-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

Armed with my label maker, I feel as though I can conquer the world; or at least household clutter anyways. From identifying the contents of your pantry shelves to keeping your personal documents organized, labels will help simplify your life.

These labels are not only practical, they are pretty too!

Great for the Kitchen – use & reuse for food identification & organization – keep up with your changing pantry with the help of Michael Yates.

Help save Mother Earth in style with these recycling bin labels from Poppytalk.

Keep your boxes organized and your sanity in tact with these printable moving labels from Martha Stewart.

These monogrammed wrap-around address labels from Paper Patch Ink add a fun touch to sending and receiving ‘snail mail.’

Inspirational Living

2011-10-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

Fabulous, inspiring post over at Flipflops & Pearls

Health:

Drink plenty of water.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
Live with the 3 E’s - Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
Play more games.
Read more books than you did in 2010.
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Sleep for 7 hours.
Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
Dream more while you are awake.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
Smile and laugh more.
You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

Call your family often.
Each day give something good to others.
Forgive everyone for everything.
Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

Do the right thing!
Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
The best is yet to come.
Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Coveting Quatrefoil

2011-10-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

With it's classic sensibility and geometric symmetry, Quatrefoil has me captivated me with it's endless design possibilities:

Gorgeous kitchen backsplash over at Nestegg

DIY Decals you can purchase at the House of Smiths

Quatrefoil Midnight Duvet Set by Echelon Home (at Bobby Berk Home)

Loving Lowes inexpensive Quatrefoil Mirror

Fabulous blue 6 pc towel set from Amazon

Movers & Shakers

2011-09-29T20:21:00.001-07:00

There just isn't enough information out there on moving and packing. Not organized moving and packing anyways. So it's a good thing I started organizing our move to Austin back in January before we even knew it was confirmed...hey, you can never be TOO organized!

For those of you who, like me, love to plan, prepare and perfect just about everything you do, I am going to share what I have learned (through trial and error) about how to keep it together while organizing a long distance move.

Boxes & Paper & Labels, Oh My!

So when my moving company quoted me $38.49 to pack a box (yes that’s $38.49 per packed box) I said what I say anytime I need/love something …”I can do that.” …and so I did…

Here’s what you need for a successful packing kit (quantities will vary by household):

Labels

I, personally, am partial to the Chateau brand labels (available at Solutions). This kit includes labels that are colour-coded by room and include labels for the STUDY, MASTER BED RM, KITCHEN, FAMILY ROOM, LIVING ROOM, among others.

There are a variety of brands out there, so research the ones that work best for you.In my case buying, rather than making, my labels was the most cost-efficient method (once you factor time, convenience, ink and labels). These labels will help to keep you and your movers organized on moving day.

Paper & Bubble Wrap

Here’s where you have an opportunity to save. Start saving those old newspapers and flyers!! I save the newsprint for padding so that the ink doesn’t transfer onto my hands, or my belongings. When you run out of newspapers, stores carry large packing paper in rolls or sheets. For me, the loose sheets are more efficient because you don’t have to whip out the scissors every time you need a piece. For your more delicate items, use bubble wrap. BUY BULK! Trust me, you will always need more than you think. I am using U Haul’s small bubble wrap (you get an extra 10 feet of wrap with the small bubble’s versus the large) and love the perforated detail. Instead of cutting, you just choose your size and tear. VOILA!

Boxes

They make a box for pretty much everything, but they often don’t come cheap. U Haul has a buy back program where they will buy back any unused boxes, but they are still pricey. Check your local Kijiji or Craigslist for anyone selling used boxes, or alternatively, sell yours once you unpack and recoup some of your costs. You can get anything from sport boxes for your golf clubs to wardrobe boxes for your clothes. These wardrobe boxes are great when you don’t have the time to take your clothes off their hangers, fold, pack, then repeat (in reverse) once you get to your new home.
If you have musical instruments, such as guitars, call your local music store and ask for some boxes, they are usually happy they don't have to break them down and will give them to you for free.
Buy boxes to suit you size and dimensions of the items you are packing. That way you are ensuring that your belongings will arrive in one piece.

Don't Forget....

-Tape
-Permanent Marker
-Wine (that's the part that will keep you sane)
-Utility Knife

Now you are set to Pack the Perfect Box!

Moving Announcements

2011-09-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

My First Shot a Graphic Design...

With our move to Austin just weeks away I wanted to make sure that we shared our new address with our friends and family in a unique (and inexpensive) way. I found my inspiration on Etsy, where there are dozens of custom & stock designs to choose from.

Here are a few of my favourites:

I love the simplicity of this one from Four Harp Designs:

And check out this carborard box-inspired design from Viavacious Designs:

This modern postcard design from West Willow also caught my eye:

It is really gratifying to create something personal to get the 'moving' message out...in style!

Leather Bow Cuff Bracelet

2011-09-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

While perusing Pinterest (my newest and most consuming addiction) I came across this fabulous DIY tutorial from oh the lovely things. Check out my attempt at this lovely little wristlet

Materials :

- A piece of leather

- Scissors

- Super glue

- Ruler

- Thread

- A snap button

1. Cut an oval piece of leather, approx. 22cm x 10cm - you may need to adjust the length to accommodate the size of your wrist.

2. Form a bow by making three folds in the the center of the leather and secure with a piece of thread or transparent cord.

4. Cut a small rectangle of leather, approximately 4cm x 1cm and glue around the thread.

6. Sew the snap button, one part of the button at one end of the leather, and the other at the other side, or use a snap fastener tool (can be purchase for approximately $11.00 at your local fabric store).

Bedroom Inspiration

2011-08-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

I'm not sorry to say that I will NOT miss our teeny tiny bedroom in our current place (below). Not when our new place has a master bedroom that lives up to its name!

Current Bedroom

New Bedroom

Now to just picture the room without the current owners cabinets and possessions...and sans the ceiling fan.

Since we are leaving all our furniture behind with new owners I really have the freedom to create a sanctuary for us - of course a beautiful one at that.

Here's what I am thinking:

Bright & Fresh

West Elm Tufted Headboard

Pendant Light

Pier 1 Lamps

White Tufted Arm Chair

Rental Unit Rehab

2011-08-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

Entrance to the Rental Unit

Before

After

Rental Bathroom

Before

After

Rental Kitchen

Before

After

Bedroom No. 2

Before

After

Upstairs Hallway

Before

After

Custom Doormats

2011-08-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

Martha has done it again (as if there was ever any doubt). She inspired me with this fabulous Custom Doormat project, and just in time because my front porch was looking a little sad and needed a face lift for our open house.

If I am going to DIY something, I don't mess around. Go big or go home right?

I made my own stencils using sheets of plastic and an Xacto knife, bought 2 cornhusk doormats (I have a duplex and needed two mats for our two addresses) at Wal-Mart for $6 a piece and went to work with the black spray paint.

In order to prevent the spray paint from bleeding, I used carpet tape to secure the stencils to the mat. I'm so glad we just finished renovating and had some on hand because regular masking tape just wasn't doing the job and I would have ended up with a total mess!

Here are the the finished products drying on the front porch...

Minimal bleeding of the spraypaint, aesthetically pleasing, and functional (prespective buyers will know they are at the right address!), I consider this to be a success.

Sew Organized

2011-08-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

When my Nana (yes, at my Grandmothers's request I still refer to her as 'Nana' at 27) was moved into a Nursing home last year, I was the one to inherit her VERY unorganized sewing supplies.

Despite the daunting task of sorting through the seemingly endless box of tangled oddments and thread, I felt that it was important to preserve the medley of sewing materials left to me...afterall, it was the one hobby we both have in common.

I am a visual person and chose to use clear glass spice jars (hooray for the Dollar Store) to sort the thread by color family: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, and so on...

Here is the result: