diy home sweet home

Add More Storage to a Small Bathroom

2012-02-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

Looking for More the Merrier Monday? Please click on the More the Merrier Monday tab under the heading above

Our home has been blessed with a ton of bathroom storage. However, I know that many of you are struggling with bathroom storage. Having lived in a few houses that offered little to no bathroom storage, I know how hard it can be. I thought I would share a few tips to making the most of a small bathroom.

1. Shop for tall but slender furniture. A piece such as this billy cabinet found on IHeart Organizing, takes up little floor space while making the most of your vertical space.

2. Hanging a bucket or box from hooks on the wall, like these ones found at BHG.com, can add additional storage without using up any floor space.

3. Take down your towel bar and replace it with a few hooks. Hooks take up less wall space allowing you to hang up more towels or use the extra space for one of the ideas above.

4. Add storage to the inside of you cabinet doors. This will allow you to store items you use often in an easy to find place.

5. Take out a section of your wall and add storage between the the studs. This is a great way to add storage by using up unused space. Use the area to store your toilet cleaning supplies or your shampoos and beauty products.

6. Look up. Adding a shelf above the toilet, door, towels, or bath tub can add a lot of storage space. Be sure to install the storage high enough so that no one will be hitting their head on it.

I would love to hear your tips for adding storage to a small bathroom.
Include them in the comments below or share them at with the
DIY Home Sweet Home Community

More the Merrier Monday #51

2012-02-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!!

Please be sure to check out last weeks features.

Happy Linking!!

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5. Please visit as many links as you want and leave comments.

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FREE Printable - Get your Toddler/Preschooler to Clean their Room

2012-02-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

If you have young kids, I'm sure you have heard all of the excuses:

"I don't know how to"
"It is clean"
"I cleaned it yesterday"
"But my legs are breaking" (This is Jocelyn's personal favorite)

      One day, in a desperate attempt to get Jocelyn to clean her room, I came up with an idea. I took a piece of paper, divided it into 8 sections, then started drawing pictures of items that made up most of the mess. The first section I drew a shirt and pants to represent dirty clothes, in the second section I drew a teddy bear to represent stuffed animals, and so on, and so on. In the last section I wrote "everything else." I explained to her what each picture was (mainly because I'm terrible at drawing) then I explained that she had to pick up all of the stuff in the first section (dirty clothes) only and put them were they belong. Once she was done with the first section she would get a sticker to place over that section. Then she would move onto the second section.
      After I explained this to Jocelyn, something amazing happened. She cleaned her entire room without any help from me!!! I was actually quite shocked that something so simple was all it took. Dividing the job up onto smaller sections made things a lot easier than looking at the mess as a whole.
      We have since then, upgraded from ~~scribbles~~ drawings on paper to a pretty printable I made.
I know not all of you will be able to use this since your child may have different toys, but I hope it will help out some of you or at least give you an idea to make your own.

Click HERE to print your own copy

To save on paper I usually peel the stickers off (the ones I have peel off pretty easily) when she is done so we can reuse it the next day. She has never asked to see the paper after she hands it to me so this works for us. You could also place the paper in a plastic sleeve and let your child draw X's over each section with a dry erase marker.

Head on over to the DIY Home Sweet Home Community and share how you get your kids to pick up their toys.

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Changes

2012-02-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you have noticed that DIY Home Sweet Home has been under some major renovations.
I've been meaning to make some changes for a while now. However, being the DIY gal that I am, I just couldn't justify paying someone else to do it. After a lot of googling (and a little luck) I managed to come up with something I am pretty happy with. Some of these changes include;

A fancy customized header - Now you can search by category using the link at the top of the header. This will enable you to read the posts you enjoy and can bypass everything else. Want some good cleaning tips but could care less about kid or food related posts? Just click on the organizing and cleaning tab to view all organizing and cleaning related posts. ( I'm still working on updating this so a few of the older posts may not show up.)

A Favicon - That tiny, little image that pops up next to the page URL and next to the name in the tab. I replaced the ugly blogger favicon with a cute little 'DIY' one.

Welcome block and a photo of ME!! - Yay, now you all can see my pretty little face every time you visit. Also, be sure to check out my new 'About Me' page if you haven't done so already.

A search bar - Search for anything on this blog

DIY Home Sweet Home Shop - Just in case you missed it last week, the DIY Home Sweet Home Shop is now open

A TON of fun ways to stay connected - You can find all of these links in the left sidebar. Check out my favorite, the DIY Home Sweet Home 'Community', where you can all start your own conversations, ask questions, or share YOUR fantastic tips and tutorials. You can also post any questions you have on the DIY Home Sweet Home Facebook page. Go ahead and promote yourself on the community or facebook page, I don't mind (as long as it's family friendly and somewhat relevant to the this blog). My Pinterest Boards are FULL of DIY projects, organizing tips, and a ton of other inspiring ideas. I'm still trying to figure out Linked in and Linky Friends so please be patient with me.

New background - Still not sure if I like it. It seems a little to busy. What do you think?

New buttons - The old buttons didn't match the new theme so of course I had to change them too.

What do you think? I hope you all enjoy it.

Amazing Kitchen Transformations

2012-02-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Check out these absolutely amazing before and after kitchen transformations.

320 Sycamore was able to transform her entire kitchen for a grand total of $2397

Before Meets After changed up a boring island with some fun paint.

You can find the details of this kitchen makeover at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating where she changed some funky colored cabinets to a beautiful white with an antiqued finish.

Check out this beautiful kitchen remodel found at Apartment Therapy. I just love those wine jug lights.

Secret Garden Cottage transformed her very outdated kitchen into a gorgeous room.

You can find this beautifully remodeled kitchen at DIY Show Off.

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Reader Space - Bracelets from Bottles

2012-02-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Everyone!!!

Hope you are all having a fantastic day.
Today, I would like to introduce you to a wonderful blog.

Rebekah, from Accidentally Wonderful sent me an amazing tutorial on using plastic bottles to make bracelets. It was just too good not to share. Here is how she did it.

{The following is in Rebekah's own words}

Bracelets from Bottles

To start, I cut the middle out of a water bottle about an inch and a half wide. I got some fabric and a piece of felt to wrap it.

Cut the felt wider than the bracelet and hot glue it down.

Wrap the felt all the way around and glue it down.

Put hot glue on the inside of the bracelet and attatch the extra felt to the inside, wrapping it around the edges.

Get the fabric that you want to cover the bracelet with and wrap it the same way you did the felt.

After I wrapped the fabric, I attatched some fabric rosettes using the same technique as I did here.

I like how it turned out. I did another one wrapped in yarn.

Start by tying the yarn around the bracelet piece and keep wrapping.

When you get finished wrapping it, you can leave it plain or add a pattern. I added a criss-cross pattern.

I like this one more than the other one!

What did I tell you? Amazing, right?!!

Click HERE to view this post on the Accidently Wonderful Blog.

Click HERE to see more amazing tutorials made by Rebekah

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR AMAZING IDEA FEATURED ON

DIY HOME SWEET HOME?

Fill out the 'Get Featured' form and submit your wonderful tutorials.

I'm looking for anything crafty, organizing tutorials, or clever tips and tricks

I feature 1 or 2 projects throughout the week and I am currently working on a "Top Projects to do over the Weekend" were I will be featuring even more of YOUR amazing ideas.

8 Fun and Simple DIY Pillows to Change up your Home Decor.

2012-02-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Spring is right around the corner. It's time to take down the last of your winter decorations and freshen things up a bit. Pillows offer a simple, quick way to change up the decor for your bedroom or living room. Here are a few fun, colorful pillows that you can make yourself over the weekend.

More the Merrier Monday #50

2012-02-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

What a fun week. Tuesday we had our second snowfall of the season here in AZ. They are few and far between so when they do come we take full advantage. The kiddo's were bundled up and ready to go as soon as the sun came up. As soon as we got out the door Jocelyn immediately plopped her butt down in a large pile of snow and started making snow angels. Serenity and I soon followed. The snow had stopped falling sometime during the night so I thought it would be fun to have the girls stand under a tree while I shook it. They loved it. Maybe a little too much as they kept running from tree to tree saying "Make it snow again Mommy!!"
Then the girls helped me haul in some ~~twigs~~ logs to build a fire.
We finished the morning off with a hot cup of coco in front of the fireplace.
The snow had completely melted an hour or so later.
It was gone way too soon but I'm glad we had the chance to enjoy it while it was here.

What did you do last week? Any fun experiences? Please share in the comment section. I always love hearing what my readers are up to.
But first, check out last weeks features.

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5. Please visit as many links as you want and leave comments.

DIY Home Sweet Home is teaming up with some wonderful parties.
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New Search Engine - I Don't Feel Lost Anymore!!!

2012-02-18T19:55:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slikk.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm an internet search engine junkie. Any questions I have, problems I face, interests I want to read about, I just search for it. With today's technology, I can search anywhere. Find recipes while I'm shopping, Search for interesting places to visit in a new area, I can even find inspiration for my next blog post while waiting in line at the grocery store. Anyways, the point I'm trying to get across is that I use search engines A LOT!!!

However, sometimes it can get pretty annoying when you have to keep opening up new pages then hitting the "back" button when you realize it is not what you are looking for. I usually opt to open the pages in separate tabs just so that I don't loose my place on the main search page. Even then, I have to go through the tabs and close the ones I don't need. The whole process can be very time consuming.

Today I got the privilege of trying out a NEW search engine. Slikk completely eliminates the need to open up new tabs or windows. The page actually opens up right there on the search engine screen. And not just a preview of the page, it's the actual page. Other features include, customizing the window to the size you want, automatic searchbrowse, and you can also e-mail your search results to a friend. Slikk is definitely a must for anyone who uses search engines as much as I do. Don't take my word for it. Check it out yourself.

Come Join the DIYHSH Community

2012-02-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Have you checked out the new 'Community' Tab at the top of the page?
I've been getting a TON of e-mails from you {my wonderful readers} asking all sorts of amazing questions.

As much as I love receiving these great questions, I don't always have the answer.

Then I came up with a great idea.

Why not start a community!

This way, you can ask all sorts of questions (family friendly please) and if I can't answer a question, hopefully another community member may be able to.

I am so excited to have been able to put this community together with the help of blog frog.

I think this will be a huge step towards making DIY Home Sweet Home a great place to help each other out. Feel free to ask questions, share tips, or just start a fun conversation.

Don't be shy. No question is too dumb.

I can't wait to get to know you all on a more personal level.

Finally Open

2012-02-17T05:00:00.001-07:00

The DIY Home Sweet Home Shop is finally open for business.

I hope you all enjoy my little creations as much as I enjoy making them.

Top 5 Projects to do this Weekend

2012-02-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

What are you you doing this weekend? Need some crafty inspiration?

Check out these great projects to help get those crafty wheels turning.

Make It, Love It turned an old, torn up purse into some adorable baby shoes. Purse fabric is sturdy enough to protect baby's feet, yet still flexible for those little toes to wiggle around in. Oh, how I wish my kids were still this little. These are the cutest things ever.

Plan your weekly menu with Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom. She even included the link to her Cherry Cream Cheese Heart recipe for dessert. Yes, I know Valentines day is over with but these look scrumptious.

Need a bag? This one really is a cinch! Sweet Verbena shows you how to make this amazing "It's A Cinch" Bag.

I am loving this Freezer Paper Heart Top by Cottons and Curls. I'm sure it was intended for Valentines day but I would rock it all year long.

If your feeling super handy why not make this amazing, portable Cutting Table. Yes, that's right. I said portable. Tidbits shares all the plans and details for making this fold-up craft table.

What will you be working on this weekend?

Don't forget to pop by More the Merrier Monday and link up your crafty creations.

Party starts Sunday night at 6.

Stuff My Face - 8 Drool-Worthy Desserts

2012-02-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

I walked into the kitchen this morning and noticed that the banana's were on the verge of going bad. I immediately thought 'Banana Cream Pie' and made a mental note to look up a recipe later.
Well you could say I got a little distracted. Here is what I've been drooling over instead.

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie n' Oreo Fudge Brownie Bar - Oh my what a mouthful

Drop scones made with yogurt. - I have never tried scones with yogurt (that I know of). Sounds delicious.

Circus Snack Mix - This looks so much better that regular snack mix

Doughnut Cookies - These are actually cookies made to look like doughnuts. How clever!

Pie Fries - I love pie crust. I bet these taste AMAZING!

Cheesecake in a Jar - This would make far a perfect on-the-go snack

Chocolate Swirled Peanut Butter Blast Cupcake - It's like a Reeses (my favorite candy by the way) in cupcake form.

Chocolate Lover's Cheesecake - Yes Please!!!

Yep, I know! Not a single one of them is even slightly close to resembling banana cream pie. It's funny how easily we can get distracted.

8 Fun Easter Crafts

2012-02-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

Now that Valentines Day is over with, it's time to start thinking about Easter. I think Easter just may be my favorite holiday ever. Everything about Easter is so... SPRING!! And I LOVE Spring time.
I have gathered a few fun decorations to help you get into the spirit of Easter. Hope you enjoy!!

{click on any photo to view it's source}

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Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T05:08:00.001-07:00

Are you in need of a quick, easy Valentine gift?
Why not wrap some candy in some decorative paper?
Add a cute little heart and some ribbon and you got yourself a custom Valentines gift.
This is so simple, it could be done while you are in the car waiting to pick the kids up from school. And what kid doesn't like chocolate?

source

More the Merrier Monday #49

2012-02-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!!!

Hope you all had an amazing weekend.
With the upcoming holiday, I decided to do all Valentine related features this week.
I'm sure you wont mind ;)

{click on any image below to view the source}

If you have been featured

please be sure to grab my button.

Guidelines:

1. Please link directly to your post and NOT just to your blog.

2. PLEASE LINK BACK TO DIY HOME SWEET HOME OR GRAB THE MORE THE MERRIER BADGE.

3. Please Follow DIY Home Sweet Home.
4. Please follow me of Facebook (link on the left)

5. Please visit as many links as you want and leave comments.

DIY Home Sweet Home is teaming up with some wonderful parties.
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Shoplet Review

2012-02-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

I recently volunteered to become a product reviewer for Shoplet.com. I do not receive payment for these reviews. however, I am allowed to keep the product. Shoplet.com offers over 400,000 discounted office supplies including one of the largest selections of green office supplies

This week I was given the opportunity to review Avery EZD Heavy-Duty Reference View Binder, Avery Custom Binder Spine Inserts, and Avery Note Tabs.

The first thing I noticed about the ring binder is that it is PVC free and made from 100% recycled chipboard. The ring binder is a lot larger than other ring binders I have used so tabs do not stick out. I have always had a problem with tabs getting caught on stuff and ripping so this is a huge plus. The rings are flat on one side so that the pages fit better.

The ring binder also has a one-touch tab to open and close the rings and the great ring design makes for smooth page turning.
One concern I have about the binder is the thickness of the cover. This is suppose to be a heavy duty binder yet the cover seems a lot thinner than other binders that I have used. I can't really say that it will not last since only time will tell but I would have expected it to be a bit thicker.

The binder labels are amazing!! I have always made my own binder spine inserts by printing onto regular paper. However, I have to print them a couple times before I get the right size, I always cut them crooked, and they never last long. Avery binder labels are super thick and easy to tear apart. Included in the binder labels are a few links so that you can make your very own custom binder labels. They also have tons of pre-made templates for you to choose from as well.

My favorite of these three products were the binder tabs. As I stated before, I have a problem with my binder tabs getting ripped so I don't think you could ever have too many. These binder tabs remind my of a sticky notes except they are a lot stronger, a lot stickier and you can see through them. Just peel them off and slap them onto any page you wish. Since they are clear you don't have to worry about covering up any important info either.

I would highly refer all of the above products for anyone who loves to, wants to, or needs to get organized.Thank you so much Shoplet for sending me these wonderful products to review.

We have a WINNER - Simply Spray Fabric Paint

2012-02-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Simply Spray Fabric Paint giveaway is....

Hopes and Dreams Studio

Hopes And Dreams Studio Feb 1, 2012 09:55 AM

"Follow you on facebook now. Left a comment on this giveaway."

Congrats!!
{An e-mail has been sent out. If I do not hear back from the winner within 72 hours I will be choosing another winner}

Valentine's for HIM

2012-02-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hope you all are having an amazing Friday.

With Valentines right around the corner I thought I would share a few fun DIY projects that would be perfect for that special man in your life.

{Click on any of the photos above to visit the source}

A candy jar can look very manly covered in mustache's.
This scarf would look great on any guy (although I wouldn't mind making one for myself.)
If your man has a kindle, this simple and easy to make kindle case would be the perfect gift.
What man wouldn't want this amazing deer head hanging in his home or office. Although I think this one may be a little too girly even for my taste. However, there are so many great paper patterns out there to choose from to make it fit your style and home decor. Leaving it plain white would also make for a stunning piece.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to share all your wonderful craft projects at the next

More the Merrier Monday.

Happy Crafting!!

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Reader Space - Perfect Dressing Table

2012-02-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today, I would like to introduce you to an amazingly talented woman.

Barbara, over at 21 Rosemary Lane, contacted me recently contacted me about a vanity that she found at a garage sale for only $5. Spending a total of $42 Barbara was able to transform the vanity into a fabulous, yet useful, piece of furniture for her daughter's room.
Here is how she did it.

{The following is in Barbara's own words}

Yard Sale Find...The Perfect Dressing Table

My sister called me from a yard sale and asked me if I was interested in a old 1950's vanity she had found for only $5.00. I said of course, if it doesn't make it into Grace's room I can always sell it!

So here is the vanity in its original condition. It was painted light pink and the paint job itself was a poor one. The top center part of the piece flips up however the mirror was broken and no longer attached to the piece. But it has such a wonderful shape I fell in love with it and had to start stripping it down.

I began by sanding it down using an electric sander and a grade 60 sandpaper. Then I used a spray-on paint stripper by Klean Strip and used a small wire brushes to remove the paint in the grooves. (When using this product make sure you have on protective gloves, this stuff will burn you if it comes in contact with your skin.)

Once I started removing all the paint I found the whole piece felt cleaner and the ideas of what to do with it started to flow.

The Finished Product!!!

In keeping with the style of the piece which to me looks very French, I decided to make it a fun and funky statement for Grace's room. All her other furniture is done in a pale and distressed shabby chic finish, so I wanted this vanity to pop in the room. I painted the top and the drawer pulls with Krylon's Metallic Silver in a Brilliant finish. Then I chose to paint the body of the piece in Krylon's Watermelon in a gloss finish. I purchased silver leafing paint at a craft store along with a small angled pain brush and simply filled in the two groves on the face of the vanity with silver.

The whole project took me about two and a half days with one really good day of drying added on before moving it up to Grace's room. The cost for this project was the initial $5 paid for the piece plus approximately what I paid for 4 cans of spray paint. (One can of the silver paint and 3 cans of watermelon paint) The spray stripper was roughly $7, the metal brushes were $3, and $10 for the leafing paint and brush. So total cost was approximately $42 give or take a few cents.
Grace loves her new vanity which can also double as a desk for her room.

A huge thank you to Barbara for allowing me to feature her wonderful project to on DIY Home Sweet Home.

To view this post at 21 Rosemary Lane click HERE.

To go to 21 Rosemary Lane's main page click HERE.

ATTENTION!! Want to be featured on DIY Home Sweet Home? Do you have an amazing tutorial that you would like to share? I'm looking for crafty and unique projects made by YOU!! Please fill out the Get Featured form (also located in the tabs at the top of the page). I would love to feature your wonderful projects right here, on DIY Home Sweet Home.

Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

2012-02-08T14:00:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have shown my support for Walgreens on this blog before and I would like to take a moment to show my support again.

I honestly believe that Walgreens actually cares about their customers and doesn't just see them as money bags. I also believe that it is one of the best places to go for medical prescriptions. As stated in my previous post, my husband used to be military and through our medical plan we were able to get our prescriptions at Walgreens for a fraction of what they would cost elsewhere. My husband is now out of the military, and we have been looking at our options for prescription drugs. Walgreens seems to be the most convenient. However, since we wont be getting our discount anymore, I wanted to look at a few other options.

Then I discovered the Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens. Get this... for $35 a year, a family membership covers everyone in your immediate family, including a spouse, dependents 22 and younger and pets. Yes, pets too!!! Walgreens also offers a plan for singles at $20 a year. With this membership you, your family, and your pets will receive:

Savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications
Discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies
Bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services

All this for less than $3 a month!! If you already shop at Walgreens or use their photo services, then you should definitely be taking advantage of this opportunity.

If you would like to keep up to date about the Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens or other great opportunities provided by Walgreens you can follow Walgreens on Twitter or like Walgreens on Facebook.

Laundry/Mudroom in the Making

2012-02-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Our back door is our primary means of entry. Even when we have company over about 50% of the time we take them through the garage and to the back door. The first thing you see when you walk through the back door is this...

The top of the washer and dryer are a dumping ground for just about everything. I decided to do a little mini makeover. I took everything out that did not belong in the laundry room. I hid the rest of the 'junk' inside some wooden crates that I picked up at a yard sale. This only used up two crates, leaving me an empty one so I decided to take the cleaners out from under the kitchen sink and store here as well. I then used shower curtain rings to hang up the mop, broom, and duster and I stuck the dryer sheets in a petty glass vase. Here is what my laundry room looks like now.

I love that the crates hide a bunch of clutter, and hanging the mop and broom up is a lot more convenient. When I'm done mopping I can just hang it up and slide my mop bucket underneath it to catch any drips. I must admit, it does look a lot better but I'm not done. Here are a couple ideas I have for the future of this room.

The middle crate it full of our rags. With a new puppy who is finally starting to get the point of house training and two messy kids, including a two year old in potty training, I use those rags a lot. However I'm short and they are hard to reach. I usually end up sliding the crate forward then pulling it down. When I do this, the wire shelf scraps the bottom of the crate creating a shower of tiny wood pieces resulting in a huge mess. I plan on stacking the crates on their side, adding some wheels and sliding them in next to the dryer (I'll figure out another place for the trash can). Even though they look nice and hide a lot of clutter, the crates just are not working on the shelf.

I would also like a place to put our shoes when we come inside but since there really is no place for shoe storage on the floor I think something like this may be doable.

These lemonade carafes would be perfect for storing my homemade laundry detergent and fabric softener in.

I usually hang clothes that need to dry on the bottom shelf but there really isn't that much space between the bars for hanging shirts or wider clothes without folding them. If I use hangers to hang them up then they bunch up at the bottom. This fold up clothes drying rack would be perfect for hanging clothes as well as providing some extra storage.

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How to Organize for $0.00

2012-02-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Many people have the misconception that organizing has to cost a lot of money. However, I have done a few organizing projects that cost little-to-no money at all. Such as my kitchen drawer organizer that I made for under $2 and how I recycled baby food jars to organize my spices.
I've gathered a few other wonderful ideas to help get you organized using items that you would normally throw away.

{The source for all images below can be found by clicking on the image}

Boxes

Boxes are a great way to hide the clutter. Most people throw away several boxes every month. A few of my favorite boxes to re-porpose are diaper boxes and cereal boxes. You can dress them up with fabric, paper or paint. And if you can't find a box in the size you need, it is so easy to make your own.

Jars

I am always saving our glass jars. Glass is the perfect way to organize because you can see what you have at a glance. Set them on a shelf, lay them sideways or attach the lids to the underside of a shelf for hanging storage.

Cans

Cans are yet another easy-to-come-by item. They come in all different sizes. Cover them with pretty paper, add labels, or leave them just the way they are.

Other

There are so many items out there that are viewed as trash yet make wonderful organizing tools. Here are a few other ideas for using everyday items for storage.

What kind of trash do you organize with?
Click HERE for more posts on organizing, cleaning and recycling.

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Journal Love

2012-02-07T04:32:00.001-07:00

A little over a year ago I read a post (Sorry, I don't remember where I read the post at or who wrote it) about a lady whose mom had passed away. While going through her moms belongings she found a journal. The journal contained years worth of memories. Some happy and other that made her cry. The lady who wrote the post made a comment that the best thing about the journal was being able to read it in her mothers own handwriting.
After reading that post, I was inspired to start a project of my own. I called my hubby at work that day and asked him to stop by Barnes and Nobel on his way home and pick up two journals.
This is what he brought home.
I wanted two, that way I could keep a separate journal for each one of the girls. I plan on keeping these journals and continuing to update them until the girls are older. Then I will give them to the girls either as a wedding gift or before they have their first child. I think they would really enjoy reading through all of the memories of their childhood from their mother's point of view just as they are starting families of their own and making new memories.
However, as great as this plan seems, the sad truth is that I am very horrible at keeping the journals updated. Starring at the large, empty pages can be quite intimidating. I always feel like I have to write more just to fill up the page.
Then a few days ago I was contacted be the lovely people over at journal10.com asking me if I would be willing to receive one of their journals for a review. I went to the link included in the e-mail and immediately knew that I had to have one.

Journal 10+ has a section for every day form January 1st 2012 until December 31st 2022!!!! Each section is only a few lines. Just enough to write a funny quote, jot down a memory or write a brief description of the day's happenings.

I was so excited when I received the journal. My original plan was to use this in place of one of the girls' journals. However, I realized that if I did that, I would have to buy another one for my other daughter. Then there was the issue about what I would do with the journals I already had. I couldn't just leave the rest of the pages blank. So instead I decided to use if for myself. I've had the journal for a few days now and already, it has become a part of my bedtime routine. It sits on my nightstand so that I can grab it as soon as I get in bed, write down a quick recap of the day and then be done with it until tomorrow. I don't have a huge intimidating blank page starring back at me. However, if I do feel the need to write more there are carry-over pages included in the back of the book.

Also in the back of the book is a place for you to keep track of addresses and phone numbers, medical appointments, any work done on you vehicle, as well as special dates. In the front is a place to record your goals and accomplishments. This journal really does have it all. The cover is super durable and the pages are nice and heavy. There is no doubt that this journal will last through 10+ years of daily use.
There are so many uses for this journal. If you or your family member has a medical condition, you could use it to record how you feel each day, medications you took, food you ate. You could also use it for keeping track of daily earnings for your blog or sales through your etsy shop. Or as an appointment reminder for you and your family members.
How would you use your Journal 10?

{Note: I received no compensation for this post other than a free journal to review. All of the above is in my own words and is my honest opinion.}

More the Merrier Monday # 48

2012-02-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hubby had weekend duty so he was gone all day Saturday and Sunday.
As much as I miss him I can't help but notice that the house seams to stay much cleaner when he is at work. Not because he makes a big mess whenever he is home but because I just don't feel like cleaning when he is home. Not really sure why. It's not like I don't have time to clean. In fact I have more time to clean when he is home than I do when he is at work and the added bonus that he can take care of the kids while I do the housework should be enough to get me motivated to clean. Yet every weekend I choose to spend my spare time cuddling with hubby on the couch, watching completely pointless movies that I don't really like but suffer through them because hubby likes them.
Does anyone else shove the housework to the side when your hubby is home just so you can spend a few extra minutes together? (even if those minutes are spent watching mindless television shows)

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