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A Guide to Catering for Vegetarian Guests

We’ve all been there. Our vegetarian friend is coming to dinner, and we have no idea what to cook. Even if you haven’t faced this particular headache, with over 7 million Americans following a vegetarian diet, it’s bound to happen sooner or later. So, what do you cook for the main course when meat is “off the table,” so to speak? Instead of a roast or barbecue platter, you might have to get a little more creative when coming up with a meatless centerpiece of your meal. Here are some tips on how to Wow your vegetarian guests during your next dinner party.

Don’t Just Skip the Meat

One of the biggest mistakes that too many hosts make when cooking vegetarian is to eliminate the meat from their favorite dishes or to replace it with a safe alternative such as tofu. Unfortunately, this rarely ends well. Meat dishes are specifically designed to meld with the flavor of the main ingredient, whether that be beef, poultry, or seafood. You should stick to following recipes that are intended to be vegetarian.

Keep Things Simple

If you’re not used to cooking vegetarian dishes, it’s best to stick to simple recipes. Most veggies don’t need a lot of herbs or spices to bring out their natural flavors. A lot of times, simply adding olive oil, salt, and pepper to roasted vegetables is all you need to make a delicious side dish. Some veggies don’t even require cooking. A platter of dip and raw veggies makes a tasty appetizer for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.

Cook More Veggies Than Just Side Dishes

It can be tempting to forego the hassle of coming up with a vegetarian main dish and just offer up safe side dishes for your friend, but this is a big no-no. No matter how tasty your side dishes are, they aren’t likely to give your guest a full and balanced meal. You should include a hearty meat-free main dish that’s made of something such as tofu, lentils, beans, or other protein-rich sources. If you have other non-vegetarian guests, you can always cook a second entree to offer a meat option.

Cooking for vegetarian friends doesn’t necessarily have to be a hassle. With a little bit of planning and preparation, you can create the perfect menu to impress your guest. Just remember to keep it simple and be considerate of your guest’s needs.

April 17, 2018
How to Start a Hobby

Picking up hobbies always seems to be easier when you’re a child. When you’re in school there are so many different clubs and groups you can join to expand your interests and learn new things. However, once you’re an adult getting into a new hobby requires a bit more work.

Hobbies are a great way to make friends, expand your knowledge and take a little time for yourself. Even though it might take a bit more time and energy to get into a new hobby, it’s definitely worth it.

Start With Smaller Hobbies

If you’re looking into different hobbies, go with something smaller first. Take the focus away from watching TV or sitting in front of the computer for hours. For example, you can go for walks around your neighborhood or volunteer once a week at an animal shelter. Do something that gets you away from your usual habits and gets you into your hobbies.

Expand Your Knowledge

Just because you’re done with your formal education doesn’t mean you have to stop learning. Many fun and exciting hobbies stem from wanting to learn new things. If you’re interested in learning new things, educational apps can be a perfect way to get started — and at no cost. Looking into classes at your local community college can also be a good place to start.

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Try Something You Wouldn’t Normally

For many of us, venturing out of our comfort zone is a little too scary to try. However, exploring new options could lead to something you really enjoy — and you would never know you liked it if you hadn’t gone outside your comfort zone.

Remember Your Past

While it’s good to try new things, there’s nothing wrong with digging into your past and remembering the things you enjoyed as a child. There’s a good chance you will still enjoy the things you liked when you were younger. For example, if you were a fan of playing pretend when you were younger, joining a theater group could be good hobby for you to try.

Start Collections

Collecting can be an excellent and fulfilling hobby for most people. Whether you’re interested in stamps – which have become a classic pastime for a reason – action figures, comics or even antique teacups, there’s certainly something for you. Be sure to start with some research so you know what you’re getting into.

Get Creative

You are never too old to learn an instrument or start drawing. You can take some lessons to help learn the basics or simply try to teach yourself to the best of your abilities. Writing can also be a good way to express yourself and vent any negative emotions you may be feeling. The great thing about creative hobbies is you can express yourself in a healthy way.

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Work With Your Hands

If you’re interested in doing more physical work, many hobbies can be suited for that. Making models — airplanes, cars, whatever you’re interested in — can keep you busy for hours and leave you with wonderful designs.

Check Out the Community Center

Your local taxes go toward supporting your area’s community center, so you might as well take advantage of the options they provide. There are usually a wide variety of classes you can sign up for at low cost, such as yoga, knitting or swimming. Reach out to your community center to find out how you can get started.

Get Outside

There’s nothing quite like enjoying the great outdoors, and many hobbies take that into account. Running or marathoning are good options, but make sure you work your way to the intense races. Geocaching combines the thrill from exploring and the exercise from hiking for an exciting hobby that can literally keep you on your toes.

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Picking up new hobbies leads to some great experiences. You can meet people with similar interests and you’re keeping yourself busy and active.

Kate Wilson is an outdoor lifestyle blogger who loves helping others live greener and happier lives. For more, follow her on Twitter @kateowilson or check out her blog, This Wild Lifestyle.

January 19, 2015
Tips for a Stress Free Thanksgiving

Tips for a Stress Free Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is arguably the most underrated holiday of the year. Tables filled with delicious turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and pies entice families all over the country to gather together to eat, laugh, and share memories. It’s practically a get out of jail free card for noshing on all the yummy food you can eat!

If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year, the holiday may be losing a bit of its shimmer as you contemplate the gazillion things you have to get done before turkey day finally arrives. In order to save you and your family from a possible meltdown, burnt turkey, and another crazy family story to tell at family reunions for years to come, take a little time to prepare in advance. A few minutes of early prep will make your day a little less crazy and a lot more enjoyable.

Shop Ahead

Do not wait until the day before Thanksgiving to hit the stores for food. Not only will you be joining a throng of cranky procrastinators, you’ll be adding unneeded extra stress. Purchase your food as far in advance as possible; you may even already have some non-perishables lying around the house, as these can remain fresh for months at a time. You can even purchase your turkey in advance. If you do happen to forget an item, you’ll only have to run to the store to grab one or two things instead of a cart full.

Prepare Your Kitchen:

A week or so before the big day, take an inventory of your kitchen. Review the recipes you plan to use (and pull them out so you can access them when you need them) to make sure you have everything you need, either in your kitchen or on your shopping list. Make sure to calibrate meat thermometers, clean out the fridge, free up Tupperware dishes and dust off holiday décor.

Use Paper Plates:

I know this may sound terribly untraditional and unholy for some families, but if the idea of tackling a million dishes and pans is enough to make you swoon, consider opting for paper plates instead. You’ll save time on cleanup, which means you get to spend more time playing games and talking with your family.

Cook Ahead:

If you are hosting a big party, it’s likely you have a lot of cooking to do. It can be overwhelming and your kitchen may not be suited for cooking 15 different food items at once. Bake everything you can in advance. Pies, cakes, and other desserts can easily be made and stored at least 24 hours in advance (you can even freeze pies to store them longer), casseroles can be prepared in advance, and drinks and juices can be prepared. Get as much of the food that will hold over well cooked the day before and simply reheat when dinner rolls around. Your turkey, stuffing, rolls, and gravy should not be among those prepped early.

Image Source: personalcreations.com

Sort the Plates:

If you spend most of Thanksgiving morning cooking and plating entrees and sides, you don’t want to waste time digging through the cupboard looking for your favorite dish or the right sized platter for your veggie tray. Pull out the serving dishes the night before and label each dish with a sticky note telling you what dish will be used for which food item. While you are preparing food the next day, you can just grab and go!

Ask for Help:

The best way to reduce stress, save time, and bring the family closer together is to ask everyone to bring a salad, desert or other side dish. You can cook the turkey and another dish or two, but ask that your family members bring over other side dishes so you can spread the workload around.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for families to get together and talk over a comfortable meal. Preparing for the big day should be fun and as easy as possible. Keep yourself in the holiday spirit by taking a little extra time before Thanksgiving morning to prepare.

Author Bio: Preston Davis is a first time dad, blogger and DIY extraordinaire. Master of the grill and all things culinary, he currently lives in Southern California with his wife and their 2-year-old daughter. Follow him on Twitter to see what he’s up to: @withPreston.

November 24, 2014
Outdoor Living Spaces to Last the Whole Year Through

Summertime brings a greater desire to be outside and spend time in our yards. Saturdays mornings are spent at home improvement stores and the afternoons are spent working on our many projects to make our yards a place to show off. But depending on where you live, these days quickly end and we are forced back inside, unable to enjoy our hard work until the backyard season returns. Here are some ideas for summer projects that can help you take advantage of your outdoor living space all year round!

Fire Pit

Whether you are roasting marshmallows under the stars or keeping warm on a crisp fall night, a fire pit is a perfect addition that will make you the talk of the neighborhood. Build it with seating options around such as stone, wood, or plastic benches. There is the option for a good, old fashion fire or you can make it natural gas fueled. The latter will give you the benefits of a fire without making you and all your guests smell like smoke every time you want to do some roasting.

Grilling Caddy

If you are a master of the grill, you probably want to be able to continue to show off your skills even when the weather cools down. Consider building a grilling caddy to keep your favorite grilling necessities close to the cooking station but safe from the elements. It can be used to store your tools, favorite seasonings, and even platters. Put wheels on the bottom for added ease of transport should you take your grilling to another location.

Water Features

Garden fountains are great additions to any yard that can add a sense of serenity and calm. Even if you are not able to use them in winter months, they can still add to the beauty of your yard. In the warmer months, misters are great to hang around decks, patios and anywhere else seating is available for a refreshing cool down.

Outdoor Pizza Oven

What better way to expand the culinary opportunities in your yard than to build your own outdoor pizza oven. These can be made from brick or stone. During the summer months, you can bake a pizza without heating up the house and during the winter, the fire is still covered, so you can continue to enjoy wood fired pizza year round regardless of poor weather.

Waterproof TVs

Whether you want to host an outdoor movie night or watch the big game without the fear of spilling salsa on the couch, waterproof TVs can give you the edge to be the most popular backyard on the street. Mount the TV on the outside of the house or create a weather resistant entertainment center to help add another level of protection for your technology. You might even consider mounting the TV into a window opening and using a cover to keep the television protected when not in use. Waterproof TVs are made to withstand even the worst rain and snowstorms.

Glow in the Dark Planters

Potted plants can help you add variety to the foliage you may already have in your yard. One fun way to mix it up is to paint the planters with glow in the dark paint. This will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the plants in the daylight and as the sun goes down, your yard transforms with glowing night lights. You can even paint designs on the planters, creating patterns throughout your yard.

Rope Lighting

Especially once it starts to get darker earlier, you will want have lights set up to find your way safely through your yard. Use rope lighting to line paths in your yard or around your garden areas. These can be protected through waterproofing and can even be put on timers to keep your yard lit at the optimal times year round!

The summer is more than half way over, but there is still plenty of time to get these projects into place before the weather takes a turn for the cooler. In the end, you will spend more time admiring your creations and have plenty of opportunities to have friends and family over to show off your hard work. If you need more encouragement, as this article explains, these types of projects also increase the value of your home. So what are you waiting for? You have work to do!

About the Author: Alyssa Craig is a Salt Lake City native who loves hiking in the mountains, running, frozen yogurt, and quick wit. She is a professional writer and loves perusing the many posts in the blogosphere. In her free time, you can find her escaping the world on her hammock, or wathcing re-runs of “Friends”.

August 18, 2014
4 Reasons to Invest in Handcrafted Furniture
Do you want a property that looks the same as everyone else, or a home that stands out from the crowd and makes a statement? Furniture is an essential part of your home, but it’s not just about form and function, it should be beautiful as well. Your furniture should make a statement about who you are. When you invest in handcrafted furniture, that’s exactly what you’re doing.

If you buy your tables, chairs, wardrobes and cabinets from the high street, you’re purchasing items that were made on a furniture production line. There’s still a wide range to choose from, but somehow they all look very similar. You can walk into a friend’s house and identify that their furniture came from Habitat or Ikea. Is it time that you made a real change in your home? Here are just some of the reasons why handcrafted furniture is right for you:
- Turn your furniture into a talking point
- Enjoy exceptional quality of work
- Keep traditional crafts alive
- Cut down your carbon footprint
Let’s take a look at why handcrafted is so much better than mass produced.

Let Your Furniture Do the Talking

Do you like to entertain house guests?
Dinner parties are a great way to share beautiful food, fine wine, and of course, catch up on all the latest news about the community. What happens while you’re spending time in the kitchen? Your guests start to examine your house more closely. The topic of conversation changes from who’s going to marry whom, to how stylish, or not, your home is. When you invest in beautiful handcrafted furniture, you’re instantly getting one up on all your guests. In the nicest possible way, of course. Sit your guests down around a bespoke rosewood dining table, or invite them to take a decanter from your teak drinks cabinet. When the furniture is handcrafted, it stands above everything else.
Don’t worry about fitting topics to bring up during the evening, your furniture itself will become the talking point of choice. Handcrafted furniture is
saying something important about you. It’s saying, ‘I enjoy the finer things in life, and through hard work, I’ve reached the point where I can have them.’

It’s All In the Detail

Quality of workmanship is everything. Mass produced furniture may look okay, but it doesn’t have the wow factor that artisan
made furniture has. The fact is that modern furniture manufacturer isn’t about a craftsman who has spent decades honing his craft, it’s about a person
programming a computer to tell machinery what to do on a repetitive basis. When you buy handcrafted furniture, you’ll be getting a level of detail that you won’t find in retail chain outlets. The materials used will be more durable too. Large scale furniture suppliers are, understandably, looking to reduce costs and maximise their profits. One way they do this is by buying wood in bulk at bargain prices. Artisan furniture makers, however, place quality as the number one priority. They use high-quality natural wood, and this not only gives it a striking appearance, it makes it more durable and less susceptible to knocks and scuffs. Whether you’re buying vintage chairs, or modern hand made tables, you’ll still receive the same exceptional quality that’s stood out through the centuries. It can cost less than you think as well. Find handcrafted pieces at competitive prices on Wayfair ~affiliate link.

Preserving Skills for Future Generations

We live in a consumer-driven world, but it’s also becoming less patient. The average consumer wants something right now, and at as cheap a price as possible. It’s for these reasons that mass produced furniture is becoming increasingly predominant, to the detriment of hand made furniture.

Discerning consumers, however, realize that patience is a virtue and that it’s worth paying just a little more to have an item of true quality. The skills used in the production of handcrafted furniture have been passed down through the generations, for hundreds of years. Traditional methods of wood carving, furniture turning and carpentry can’t be learned purely on the Internet, they have to be absorbed from a master in the trade. If these skills die out, then they can never be learned again. By purchasing handcrafted furniture, you’re helping to preserve these techniques for your children and grandchildren’s generations.

Make Your Furniture Greener

The weather is becoming ever more predictable, and we’ve all seen the devastating results this can bring. Climate change is happening right here, right now, and we need to do all we can to slow it down and then reverse the effects. One of the ways we can help is by reducing our carbon footprint. A great way to achieve this is by buying local whenever possible. Another way is by buying handcrafted goods. Because they are made using traditional methods, handmade furniture consumes much less power during production and there is much less waste of natural resources such as wood. Even if you buy handcrafted furniture online, you’ll be doing your bit to create a more stable and sustainable environment.

About the Author: Paul Moore is a professional writer and blogger, who loves writing on a myriad of topics. He specialises in areas like disability, home improvement, etc.
August 2, 2014
Beating the Summer Blues

The days are filled with sunshine, everyone is outside playing
and mingling, scents of watermelon and funnel cake linger in the air—and yet
you’re sad. Summer is a happy time for most people, but it can be a difficult
time as well. Sadness and challenges can be with you no matter what season, and
summer has its particular set of difficulties. But, you can beat the summertime
sadness with the help of these suggestions.

Beating the Exhaustion

Your kids are on their summer break from school and you have to
find ways to entertain them all day. As much as you love to watch them run and
play, it may leave you feeling exhausted both physically and mentally. It’s
important especially in this season, as in all seasons, to make time for you.
Allow yourself opportunities to take part in your favorite activities that lend
to a peaceful atmosphere such as yoga, walking with friends, or even taking a
nice bubble bath. Rather than feeling guilty for setting aside this time for
yourself, recognize that recharging your own batteries will allow you to give
your best time and efforts to those tasks and people who are most important in
your life.

Sleeping the Sad Away

One of the great things about the summer months is that daytime
hours are longer, giving you more time each day to work and play.
Unfortunately, these longer days also mean shorter nights, which oftentimes
result in you getting less sleep during the summertime. Not getting enough
sleep can cause the body to release increased amounts of the stress hormone
cortisol. Keep your cortisol in check by striving to get a full 7-8 hours of
sleep each night, no matter how strongly the sun may be calling your name. If
necessary, invest in some heavy curtains or an eye mask to create a nighttime
atmosphere.

Overcoming Depression

There may come a point where you feel as though you are
constantly living in a mental fog, so to speak. You can’t think clearly and
your hobbies don’t interest you anymore. You withdraw from your friends and
family and feel hopeless and even angry. Depression is a real issue and can
affect you in any season. Depression can be due to a lot of different factors:
stress, a traumatic event, your genetics, or even unbalanced hormone levels.
More and more studies are showing that depression can be due to a hormone
deficiency. Check out this article to learn more. A doctor can test you
for hormone and chemical imbalances and get you on the right track with
treatment. With the right blend of diet, lifestyle choices, and medical
treatment, your depression will diminish and you will start feeling like
yourself again.

Making Fun Inexpensive

Summertime is vacation season for many people. Your friends
might be going on exotic expeditions through the jungle, on fancy cruises to
the Caribbean, or on a backpacking trip through Europe. You may feel left out
if you can’t afford to go anywhere this year. But, you can still get a big bang
for your buck doing simple things as a family. For example, you could go to the
movies to escape the heat or have a family game night in your backyard. You
could even take a day trip to a local place you’ve never been like hiking in
the mountains. All you have to pay for on a day trip like this is gas and snacks.
You can still have fun this summer without shelling out large amounts of money
on expensive plane tickets.

Dealing with Body Image

Summertime, also known as swimsuit season, can be hard for
those who struggle with body image. You may feel uncomfortable and
self-conscious at the beach and the pool and may want to avoid those places
altogether. In order to build yourself up and create a positive body image,
keep a list of the top 10 things you like about yourself and repeat them
anytime a negative thought comes to mind. Also surround yourself with positive
people like family and friends who love you unconditionally and make you feel
like a million bucks. In your moments of weakness, find gratitude for the
functions your body performs and appreciate all that your body does for you.
Using these helpful tips, you should find yourself feeling confident in your
own skin.

Some summertime difficulties may seem hard to overcome. You may
be overwhelmed physically, emotionally, and mentally. You may have depression,
even in the midst of a schedule full of pool parties and summer night
barbecues. It is possible to beat these summer blues by making time yourself,
getting enough sleep, understanding the physical causes, doing fun activities
with your family and loving your body. No matter how difficult things may seem
at times, you can triumph over summertime sadness.

About the Author: Victoria Candland is a traveler, runner, and professional writer. She enjoys finding creative fixes to life’s everyday problems and sharing them whenever she can. She especially loves creating fun ways for families and friends to spend time together.

July 21, 2014
Guest Posting at YourLDSblog

Hey everyone, for the last couple months I’ve been guest blogging over at yourLDSblog. You can find me there most first Thursdays of the month. Today I’ve shared both a free printable and chocolate chip cookie recipe with their readers. I would hate for you to miss out though, so go check it out – Have I Done Any Good in the World Today FHE

April 3, 2014
Tips for Kids Sharing a Bedroom

Not every home has the space for kids to have their own bedroom. If you’re one of those families, check out these tips for kids sharing a bedroom in this guest article from Nicole at Confident Foundation. This post contains affiliate links, and I will receive compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.

These days it might seem that having a room all to themselves is a right of passage for kids just as soon as they are born, or at least as soon as they get old enough to ask for one. There are many advantages to having children share a room, however, even when you have to tackle challenges like having a boy and girl together or fitting everything into a small space. Here are the best tips to make the most of a small, shared room to maximize the potential and minimize the bumps!

Store and Organize Vertically

In small rooms, floor space is especially tight, and if you’re needing to fit in two beds it becomes even more so. Of course, there’s always the old standby of the bunk bed that you can turn to, but often when children share a room they’re too young to be sleeping in a bunk.

One of the best ways to store and organize vertically is by utilizing bookshelves for far more than books. Bookshelves can be used to store toys, books, games, and with the purchase of a few baskets even essentials like diapers and clothes! You’ll be amazed at how much more clean and open the room feels if you add in a few large book cases. Far better than huge toy boxes, with shelves things are easy to see and access, making it much more likely that they will actually get used. Be sure to secure them to the wall with brackets, not just straps, in order to ensure the safety of your little monkeys! You might also consider having a small step stool in the room to help them reach high shelves, rather than climbing on the case itself. Another option is to secure many different shelves to the wall at different heights.

Take Full Advantage of Closets

When it comes to children’s clothing when you hang them up they are considerably shorter than adults and leave a lot of empty space underneath. Be sure you’re taking full advantage of this space by also thinking vertically in the closet! There are a couple of different ways you can do this–for example:

In my son’s closet, I again took advantage of shelving options by adding in a small case and storage bin. On the side of the storage bin are sacks with all their blocks. This is a great place to store things like games, puzzles, doodle pads, and more! Since in my daughter’s closet I don’t have as much empty vertical space I turned to boxes. Using two empty cardboard boxes we did a few different craft projects and created a dress up clothes and dress up accessories trunk. It keeps all the tutus out of the way most of the time, and gives me an easy way to haul them out into whatever room I want when it’s dress up time!

Maximize Your Space Options

When you’re considering how to tackle storage for clothing take stock of what you have available. If you have large closets and one dresser, hang all the clothes that you possibly can. If you have the opposite hang only clothes that would get wrinkled easily. Store all the rest in drawers or on shelves.For the clothes that you have in drawers and baskets, roll them — don’t fold them! You might have learned this trick for traveling but it works just as well for everyday life too! It’s amazing how many more size 4T pants you can fit into a drawer when they’re rolled rather than folded and piled on top of each other.

Store extra blankets, out of season clothes, and clothes that are too large for the moment underneath beds.

Less Really is More

When you have little space to work with embrace simplicity. It’s far too easy to allow the room to become overly cluttered and chaotic feeling. Box up any toys that aren’t currently being used and loved. Set a reminder in your calendar to swap them out in 6 months. Teach your children of keeping only things that they loved and enjoy. Each time you rotate toys help them pick out any they would like to donate or sell. This also applies for books–although it might be hard to think you could have too many books they can quickly overtake a room. You can always take advantage of your local library to continually have fresh books in your home without it eating up all your space.

Let Them Express Themselves

Let each child have at least one “wall” for themselves. On it you can hang decor they like or that fits their personality. Although gender-neutral colors work best when you have a boy and girl together, they can still use their favorite things without it clashing. For example, walls themed with flowers are a nice offset to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. The most important thing is to let them have a space they feel is all their own–and less about making it to the cover of Better Homes and Gardens.

About the author:

Nicole Elliott is the girl behind Confident Foundation (previously Wyoming Girl turned…) where she blogs about Organizing in Small Spaces, Parenting, Recipes, Travel, Beauty, and whatever else tickles her fancy that day! She has moved cross country 6 times in the past 8 years and her two children have successfully shared a variety of small rooms since her son was born in 2010.

February 27, 2014
Tips for Personalizing a Teens Room

Hi! I’m Lisa from Shine Your Light, where I blog about home improvements, food and family life. Thank you Adelina for having me over here today!

My kids are growing at the speed of light and I suddenly find myself the mother of two teenagers and a tween. They each have such distinct personalities and since we moved to our current home three years ago I’ve had fun creating spaces for them that are functional and also reflective of them. I am a huge believer in the power of paint to completely change the feel of a room, and to breathe new life into old things, and in decorating the kids’ rooms I am always looking for ways to repurpose what we already have.

My daughter Hannah is like her mother – she loves to create and make a big mess. When she’s working on a school project the glue, glitter, markers, scrapbook paper and every other art supply in the house are spread far and wide. Likewise with her clothes and shoes – she is very visual and likes to see how this pair of jeans would look with that shirt – some days it looks like a tornado made a quick entry and exit through her room before 7am. This girl needs all the help she can get to keep her space organized. When we pulled her room together I kept in mind how she works and gave her lots of open storage space for clothes and art supplies by taking the doors off her closet.

Our house needed a lot of cosmetic love but one huge bonus were these built in shelves the previous owners installed. Tons of potential to keep a messy marvin more organized!

We had already chosen the room color from our one splurge for the room – a throw pillow from PB Teen that I bought on sale a few years back. There are so many fun colors in it and Hannah decided she liked that turquoise blue for the walls.

When it came time to spruce up the closet, I showed Hannah a few paint colors for the inside and let her decide.

The hot pink was a little shocking at first, but seriously, how could a kid be in a bad mood in this room?

Once we filled it up the hot pink-ness wasn’t so dramatic! The open shelving provides tons of space for art and craft supplies. The boxes on the second shelf are just cardboard boxes that I covered with scrapbook paper, and threaded a ribbon through the side for a handle.

I spray painted white just about anything I could find to store all her “things” in. One of Hannah’s favorite parts of her room is a big chalkboard that I painted a border around, and then added a little shelf at the bottom to hold chalk and catch the dust. Her friends write on it every time they come over and it never gets old.

Hannah’s room doesn’t always look this tidy, but it’s easier to clean up a room and put things away when there is a place for everything right in front of you. Hannah and her friends spend a lot of time in this space, doing their homework together, braiding hair, doing nail art, having sleepovers. I love that they hang out here!

Hannah will be in high school next year (I can hardly believe it!) and we have been talking about ways to make her room a little more “mature”. I’m on the hunt at thrift stores and Craigslist to find a cheap office chair I can makeover into something like this – wouldn’t that be fun?

Over the course of my 15 years of motherhood, in 4 different houses along the way, I have learned a few tricks for creating a space that is both functional and fun for kids.

1// Let your child have a few choices. Give them a few paint colors to choose from that you can live with too.

2// Keep the curtains and comforter/bedspread neutral and you can get years out of them, even as your child grows and their tastes change. Hannah’s comforter is from Target and is still going strong after being bleached countless times! Her white curtains are also from Target. We added ribbon to them with a hot glue gun, which will be easy to remove in the future.

3// If your child wants some kind of theme for their room like Spiderman or Tinkerbelle and you are theme-resistant, buy sheets and a pillowcase with the theme on them. The room won’t scream “theme” but the child will be so happy!

4// Provide plenty of storage that is easily accessible. Even a 2 year old can learn to put their socks or toys in a basket, and a 15 year old boy is more inclined to put his football uniform on a shelf marked football. 🙂

Here are some other ideas for creating a cheerful and happy kids’ space:

1//Spice rack repurposed as nail polish storage at Sweet Caroline. 2//Make a colorful banner to cheer up a space/ image source unknown. 3//Use Christmas lights to make a fun light garland, from Rebecca’s DIY. 4// Change up plain curtain panels with ribbon. 5// What’s more fun than your mom letting you write all over the walls? /image found here. 6// Tissue paper pom poms are inexpensive and easy to make!

Thanks so much to Adelina for inviting me to talk about kids’ spaces with you today, it’s been so much fun!

February 26, 2014
Tips for an Inexpensive Kids Bedroom

Grab these quick actionable tips for an inexpensive kids bedroom. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you click through and make a purchase.

Hey everyone, I’m Steph from Crafting in the Rain, and I think it’s so fun that Adelina has asked me here to share my girls’ room with you!

I almost feel like I should give you a couple of disclosures before I jump in here. What I’m going to show you is not a high end, designer bedroom shopped from a catalog. It’s also not a knock-off, DIY, cheaper version of previously mentioned $$ bedroom. I have my fair share of complaints about the room even…(eventually we want to scrape ceilings, replace carpet and baseboards, paint everything, and I wish it was bigger)

BUT, I feel like this can be a very useful post because I’m going to show you how we are using the space the best we can, and with cheap or free storage solutions that anyone should be able to come up with. Additionally, these pics were all taken with my phone because by the time I thought about getting out my real camera, the girls had come home from school and it didn’t look quite as good anymore 😉

Ok, here we go.

Storage solution 1: Boxes, boxes, boxes

In the girls’ room we have boxes from Ikea, magazine file boxes, random cardboard boxes that have been decorated with colored Duck Tape, shoe boxes, and a few plastic boxes. When possible, use boxes with lids so they can be stacked.

What they hold: small toys, craft supplies, “treasures,” school papers, jewelry

Storage solution 2: Wall mounted bookshelves

Use as much vertical space as possible in a small room (I’d like larger shelves here soon) I made these bookshelves a few years ago when I first started blogging, so the pictures aren’t great, but here’s where I posted about them. The bunk was also against this wall, so the placement isn’t ideal now.

What they hold: Books that the girls are currently reading, journals.

Storage solution 3: Bookcase

There are two bookcases in the room…one at the end of the bed, and one turned on its side under the wall shelves. At the end of the bed, most of the before mentioned boxes hang out. The sideways one has 3 baskets in it that hold the majority of the girls’ books. The baskets keep the books more contained than just trying to line them up next to each other.

What they hold: Boxes, books

Storage solution 4: Use under bed space

Remember having to clean your room as a kid, and you’d get busted for just shoving stuff under your bed? I say set your kids up for success and use that space! There are several options too…you can build your own wood boxes with wheels, buy plastic under-bed tubs, or take cardboard boxes and cut them down shorter so they fit!

What they hold: Littlest Pet Shop, Barbies, houses and cars that go with them.

And in case you’re interested, here is the tutorial for the ruffle curtains.

So thanks for having me Adelina! I hope I’ve given you all some good suggestions for taming kids’ rooms. What are your tips for keeping kids’ rooms organized?

February 25, 2014