I have been looking forward to this week all month long! It’s Organizing the Kids Bedroom week! I’ve been struggling myself to get the kids room organized to a point where the kids and I both can easily pick up and put away everything without taking a full 24 hours to do it. The kids are overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed – and that leads to just mess on top of mess.
So I decided to reach out to some of my favorite bloggers when it comes to home decor, organization, and just some good tips. I hope you enjoy all the posts this week, and find something that will work for you! I’ll update this list all week with links to the new posts.
We kicked the week off today with a guest post from my friend Rachael. She is sharing today on how Thirty-One products have helped organize her life. Rachael wants to help you get organized and relaxed, so she is kindly offering up this awesome Keep It Caddy in black floral stuffed with bath lotions, shower gels, and a $15 gift card to Mary Kay redeemable through her.
Enter to win on the Rafflecopter!
Open to US residents only 18+
Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.
WOW! What an honor to be doing a guest post for Home Maid Simple! Adelina asked me to do a post about home organization, using Thirty-one products.
A little about me, My name is Rachael. I am a Thirty-one Independent Senior Consultant. I have been with the company for over a year and it was one of the best choices I made. I am married and have 4 boys here on earth. I am an advocate for pregnancy and infant loss awareness since I lost a baby boy and my only daughter in 2009. They were both born still in consecutive pregnancies. Through their loss I have become a stronger woman and I strive to break the silence among the PAIL community to let other women know they aren’t alone.
One of the things I love to do is help women pick up their lives after a loss, and one of the best ways to do that is bringing organization into their homes. Giving them something they can control when they feel like they have lost it control over everything. Of course it is not just the bereaved who need organization in their lives! We all do! Organization is such a beautiful thing! It makes life easier, makes the chaos at home a little less crazy in the busy lives we live today.
Who doesn’t love a well organized home? How many times have you looked at that play room or the kid’s closet or under their beds and thought to yourself “I sure wish I had a way to make that look pretty. It’s such an eyesore!” Trust me in a house full of boys I have uttered that same thought more times than I can count! I mean I love my children dearly, but organization is NOT their strong point! So I set out to get my home together. One room at a time.
One of my favorite Thirty-one products for home organization is the Your Way Cube. And now you can even get a lid for it! That makes it even more awesome! It comes in several patterns and you can personalize them too. They fit perfectly inside the Ikea cube shelves. We also have a slightly smaller version of the Your Way Cube called the Your Way Cube Jr. It also has an available lid. This is great for smaller spaces, smaller toys that you always seem to step on in the middle of the night on your way to the bathroom in the dark…..
There is also the Your Way Rectangle. I organized my entire DVD/BluRay collection using these. And they too have lids available now! Having the lids on them is so great because I don’t have to dust them! Score! Less housework for me, which means more time for my kids! 🙂 Adelina here…isn’t that brilliant! I wish we had done that before packing them into cd sleeves.
There are SO many great products in super cute prints that Thirty-one has to offer! Whether you want to organize your pantry, your home office, your play room, laundry room etc. I can help you find a solution and bring beautiful organization into your life! I promise once you tame the chaos that disorganization brings into your home, you will see a difference in your day to day. I have kids who are on the Autism spectrum and while they do not do well at organizing, they do thrive when they are in an organized environment. And you will LOVE the power that you feel when you take that room back! If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me through my Thirty-one website.
———————————————————————————————————–
Isn’t Rachael amazing? I honestly look up to her so much. With all the trials and heartache she has had to endure, Rachael focuses on helping others. We held a Thirty-one party on facebook that was a ton of fun! You can go check it out and read through the different posts for more ideas. We learned all about home and car organization. Follow this link if you’d like to help me earn some free products!!
As part of this series on Children’s Rooms and Organizing, Rachael is sponsoring our giveaway this week! Thank you so much Rachael.
Many of us are always looking for a way to spruce up our homes with innovative decorating ideas and unique interior design elements. But sometimes it is tricky to tell if a trend is classic or just a passing fad that will soon make the interior seem outdated. Today’s trends range from hipster to bohemian chic to vintage styles.
A good way to incorporate current trends in a sustainable way is to look for materials that prove timeless and can be used in a variety of decor styles. One popular but classic element is wrought iron. The clean and decorative look of iron can be added to your interior in numerous ways. As blacksmithing rapidly expands as a valued craft, handmade iron pieces are highly sought after to use in both exterior and interior decorating. If you are looking for a long term, lasting design feature, here are some ways to implement wrought iron into your home.
Make Iron Your Focal Piece
When it comes to design, adding whimsical touches that reflect your personality and taste is important since you are the one who ultimately sees your decor everyday. Allow your creativity to come out and play with design features that are unique but beautiful. Consider different spiral staircases to showcase your wrought iron design or choose a wrought iron focal piece by the front door that doubles as a coat rack.
Changing out your light features for new wrought iron pieces is a great way to class up your home. Have fun finding a wrought iron chandelier that utilizes faux candles for light, or hang lanterns and sconces on the wall. Decorate with wrought iron candlesticks for a spin on a traditional classic. With lighting fixtures and candle holders, you can range from a serious statement piece to a simple touch of this classic element.
In the Dining Room
Wrought iron furniture can bring a subtly industrial look to your room’s design. Coffee tables that are wrought iron with a glass table top surface or an iron table with a granite slab attached can both be unique ways to incorporate the look of black iron which matches almost any style. Different from traditional wood, wrought iron can be used in conjunction with wood for an alternative spin in your dining room.
Wrought Iron Accents
Accent pieces like wrought iron clocks, door handles, fireplace details or ornate wall pieces such as mirrors add eye catching detail to high-visibility areas. Simple iron pulls on cabinet doors can beautiful a kitchen, bath or bedroom. Doorknobs add a distinct style against wood. Using wrought iron for cabinetry hardware or as door hinges and locks enhances the appearance of natural wood without dominating the room’s over all design.
When it comes to decorating your home, think outside of the box using different materials to improve your home’s style. You might even fall so in love with wrought iron that you’ll start using it everywhere.
Jessica Socheski is a freelance writer who loves researching home remodeling projects and finding new ways to decorate. You can connect with her on Google+
Try this Impossible Cheeseburger Pie the next time you need a simple family-pleasing meal. With flavors kids love made at home, you’ll love this too.
By the time you read this, I’ll be settling into a large cabin by a lake in the mountains of Utah. Perhaps I’m sitting on the porch with a lemonade visiting with aunts, uncles and cousins, watching the kids run free. Every 4 years my mom’s side of the family holds a reunion. The location changes depending on who is in charge that year. Lots of fun things are planned, from paintball to swimming. It should be a wonderful weekend.
Since I’m headed out I asked Tammy from Creative K Kids if she would guest post for you today. I just haven’t had time to create any new recipes, or perfect some in the works recipes. She kindly accepted my request, and is sharing what looks like a yummy and kid friendly meal!
Hi! My name is Tammy Doiel, and I am the mom of the Creative K Kids. They are not always creative, but they do like to pretend, color, craft, and cook. All of my four girls names begin with K, so thus our blog name was born! You can find our blog at Creative K Kids
The following recipe for Impossible Cheeseburger Pie is super-duper easy. My mom used to make it in my growing up years, and now I make it for our family. All of the ingredients go in a pie dish, bake it, and voilà! It’s done! Even though it takes 25 minutes to bake, after you brown the ground beef, the rest of it can be thrown together very quickly.
Orange upside Down French Toast
from Lean and Luscious Corner Baking instead of frying makes this French toast “puffier and fluffier”. Sounds good to me!
Chocolate Drizzled Cheesecake Cream Puffs
from The Home Heart I love cheesecake. I don’t care for Cream Puffs. Combined, I want to eat them all!
S’mores Fudge
from Long Wait for Isabella I’m all about s’mores this summer. This non-messy treat is sure to delight just as much.
It’s fairly common for houses to have smaller bathroom as many homeowners allot more space to other parts of the house such as the living area, kitchens and bedrooms as these are what guests usually see. Decorating these areas is also much easier as compared to the bathroom which usually requires simple tiling and some DIY tools.
However, the bathroom should also be treated as essential parts of the house as this is one of the places in the home where we spend time the most. If you’re frustrated over the relatively small size of your bathroom don’t worry! There are redecorating tricks you can use to give the illusion of a bigger space.
One of the easiest ways of making bathrooms look more spacious is using neutral, bright and light colors. Using straight line designs and put up mirrors to make the rook appear larger. It would also be helpful to install ample light fixtures and add an extra window to allow more light to come in. Having a large mirror is also an effective way to create the illusion of a larger bathroom. But aside from these basic techniques, you can also use tile designs to make your bathroom appear bigger.
Tile Designs for Bigger-Looking Bathrooms
Generally, about 75% of a bathroom’s surface is covered with tiles. That is why it is important to choose the right type of tiles and design that works for your bathroom style and size. This way you can maximize both the functional and aesthetic elements of your bathroom tile design.
Laying square tiles on the bathroom floor in a diagonal pattern can certainly make the room seem larger. You should also consider going with lighter tile colors which easily reflect light. White is commonly used for bathrooms as it provides a clean and pristine effect especially if the tiles are well-maintained.
However, white tiles can also make a bathroom look dull or even clinical-looking. That is why it would be better to stick to shades of gray or beige to at least give a bit more texture to the area. You may stick to white tiles but it would be best to mix in another set of tiles with a different color. Popular tile colors for bathrooms include palettes of blue, green, orange, and red. You may use these colored tiles for borders or as accents to make the design look more interesting.
As always, make sure the tiles you install in your bathroom are water-resistant to minimize slippage risks and dirt buildup which can damage the tiles. The most commonly chosen material used for bathrooms are glazed ceramic tiles but you may also go for metal tiles for a more contemporary look. If you do decide to use metal tiles, be careful not to overdo it as the room may resemble a metal chamber instead of a stylish bathroom. Add a couple of potted plants and floral designs to add a punch of color to the general space of the bathroom.
Another material you can use is glass tiles. They come in a wide array of sizes, colors, and shapes so you can find one which will best match the décor of your bathroom. When it comes to ceramic tiles, you can apply this to any part of the bathroom. However, when it comes to glass and metal tiles, most interior designers only use them for backsplashes.
As for the countertops, ceramic or glass tiles work best. They are easier to clean which means they require minimum maintenance. You can go for a unique look by using custom shaped tiles. By following these tips, you can make your small bathroom look bigger and give it a beautiful design at the same time.
Roberta Madison hopes to have her own family someday. For now, she is happy to be the marketing manager of GlasTileStore which offers stone tiles, subway tiles, metal tiles and exotic tiles. Follow Roberta Madison on G+.
When people think of residential pest control, they often think of exterminators and their toxins. What some don’t realize is that many natural pest control options are available that are safer and more effective than the point-and-spray methods that promise quick fixes (but no long-term results). As you work through your spring and summer cleaning list, incorporate the organic pest control tips that you learn.
What is Organic Pest Control?
Residential pest control that’s considered organic or green uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. Instead of using dangerous chemicals to repel pests or a generic pesticide to kill them, natural pest control experts:
Learn about the behaviors of the pests.
Locate nests, remove them and/or block a pest’s access to them.
Change the habitat in which the pests live to make them more unfriendly.
Use preventive techniques to prevent an infestation or re-infestation.
Educate others about pests and prevention.
In lieu of harsh chemicals, IPM is all about using the most-effective techniques that pose the least risks to humans, animals and the environment. If an expert ever does need to use a chemical application, it’s only as a last resort. He chooses the chemical based on the type of pest and makes sure that
it’s the least toxic option available.
The Benefits of Natural Pest Control
Chemical control: Natural pest control doesn’t need dangerous chemicals to be effective.
Environmentally friendly: The use of fewer chemicals prevents toxic runoff that can affect your property, the groundwater and the local watershed.
Safer for the family: When you use organic pest control, it’s safer for the kids to play outside. Pesticides with toxins can pose numerous health hazards to children, like developmental delays or conditions like attention deficit disorder.
Safer for pets: Every year, thousands of pets die from accidental poisonings (like after eating slug bait, for example). Because natural pest control calls for the use of chemicals as a last resort, it’s safer for your pets to be outside.
Effective prevention: One of the big goals of IPM is prevention. It’s simpler and less expensive to prevent an infestation than it is to control one. When there is an infestation, implementing preventive techniques will prevent a re-infestation.
Natural Residential Pest Control Tips
During the summer, fleas, ticks, mites, mosquitoes, ants and flies tend to make an appearance. The good news is that you don’t have to be an expert to practice pest control at your house. Keep following your spring cleaning and regular cleaning checklist, and add the following tips:
Tame Clutter
Messes look like heaven to pests because they offer food, materials for a nest or a place to call home. Tackle the piles that you’ve put off for months. Recycle the stacks of paper that you don’t need. Store your seasonal clothes inside plastic boxes with lids instead of cardboard boxes.
Clean
Regularly dust, vacuum and clean non-carpeted floors. Pests, like cockroaches, can live off dust particles and crumbs, so this basic cleaning task eliminates a source of food.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to wash your pets. Bathing and/or brushing your pet can help knock off pests that have hitched a ride in its fur.
Eliminate Sources of Food
Homes offer pests a variety of food sources and knowing what they are can help you restrict a pest’s access to them. The following is a list of food sources and solutions:
Tables and counter tops: Don’t leave food out in the open.
Kitchen sink: Avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
Floors, tables and counter tops: Immediately clean crumbs and spills.
Garbage cans: Dispose of food waste in outdoor garbage cans instead of under the kitchen sink. Always use the lid on the outdoor trash cans.
Pantry and cupboards: Store food that comes with wrappers made of paper or thin plastic, like chips, in hard plastic or glass containers with lids. The same goes for food items in thin cardboard boxes, like cereal.
The garden: Don’t let produce over-ripen or rot.
Pet food: Put away pet food after your animal companion eats.
Landscape Care
Normal landscape care goes a long way toward preventing pests, so weed, mow the lawn and clean debris regularly. Trim back bushes around your home and cut back tree limbs that overhang the roof. Keep your gutters clean and eliminate all sources of standing water. If you have a pool or spa, keep it covered when it’s not in use. Keep the water in a birdbath fresh.
Home Maintenance
Immediately fix leaky pipes. Regularly inspect the exterior of your home for cracks and holes so you can fill them with caulk or putty. If you like to have the windows or doors open during the summer, replace or repair any torn or broken window and door screens.
Residential pest control is a task that’s simple to incorporate into your regular cleaning routine. If you have a pest infestation in your home, or think that you do, don’t hesitate to call a pest control expert that uses natural techniques.
Looking to prevent pests during the winter? Watch this.
Author Bio: This post was contributed by Jen McCauley, the marketing director of Western Exterminator. Western Exterminator is a leading integrated pest management company in Western Washington and Oregon that offers green pest control solutions and advice for both residential and commercial customers.
I am thrilled today to have Kelli guest posting today. I told you awhile back about The Closet Project, and how I plan to participate. I still need to go through my closet of clothes, but today I wanted to take a moment to let Kelli tell you about herself and this project she’s been inspired to organize.
Hi friends! My name is Kelli and I blog at Eat Pray {read} Love. It is so nice to “meet” you! I am so appreciative of Adelina letting me take over her lovely blog for a moment! I asked her to let me share with you a project that God has laid on my heart – but let me share a little about myself first!
This is me with my hubby. We’ve been married 11 years and have four sweet kiddos- ages 7, 6, 2, and 3 months. My husband is a church planter and we live in the South. I love to read, cook, go to the beach (obviously!) and watch movies with my family.
And…. this is my closet! Glad we’re getting to know one another so well, so quickly!
How about another one?
embarrassed for me yet?
Please tell me I’m not the only one whose closet looks like this! With parenting four kids, being a preacher’s wife, co-leading a Bible study, homeschooling, blogging, and life, my closet probably gets the least attention in the whole house. It somehow always seems overflowing. With clothes I never wear.
About two months ago, I felt God tell me to get RID of the excess and GIVE to those who need. I wasn’t sure just yet where he would have me give, but human trafficking has been on my mind so much lately. Enter Redeemed Ministries. Their focus is to help women in the Houston area that are enslaved in sex trafficking. If you’re like I was until last year, you may think that human trafficking is an international problem- which it is.
But it is also a US problem. In fact, one that hits very close to my home. And maybe yours too.
Thus, The Closet Project was born. Women uniting forces- paring down to step up.
Here’s the lowdown:
1.) Pare down your wardrobe to what you actually wear.
2.) Sell what you don’t. Take them to resale shops, sell them on eBay, have a garage sell, sell them to your friends!
4.) Go to this form to let me know how much you were able to donate. ANYTHING helps! Seriously! Only have $5 to spare? Great, that is wonderful. Got a cool million burning a hole in your pocket? I’m sure Redeemed would be SO happy to receive that, too! 🙂
Ladies, I really appreciate your time today. If you’d like to read a little more detail of the project, goals, etc. please click here. I’ll leave you with these words from the book of Matthew:
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (25:40). Let’s help “the least of these,” shall we?
PS I’d be very grateful if you’d help spread the word by sharing this tweet —>
My mom’s side of the family has a reunion every 4 years. I always loved getting together with my extended family and more so now that I’m older with kids. With my brother living across the country, we are hoping to start planning our own reunions with my siblings and parents soon. I was excited when Melissa asked me if she could guest post on Planning Family Reunions.
With that intro, here’s Melisa
Six Steps to Take When Planning a Perfect Family Reunion This Year
Family reunions are an exciting and excellent way to keep in touch with your extended family. Family members can enjoy each other’s company, meet the newest members of the family, and catch up on each other’s lives. Planning a family reunion involves careful preparation to make sure everyone enjoys themselves to the fullest and to avoid any family drama. Here are six steps that you can take to make planning your reunion stress and problem free.
Confirm Who Will be Attending
The most important step is to confirm who is interested and will be attending the reunion. It is important to have a number of family members attending for all of the next steps. This might be difficult since most people won’t know if they’re free until there’s a set date, but at least get a lose number for how many are coming.
Set the Time, Date, and Location
This is a fun step to take, finding a location is number one. Local parks will most likely allow you to host for free, just call up your city and make sure that permits are taken care of, if needed. After the location is set, the time, and date are next, and everyone can have a say in these. You want everyone to be able to come, so everyone needs to be flexible and considerate. Ask everyone to vote through an email or choose the mode that fits most family members. Once you have this set, you can make the invitations, and you can purchase them online, print, and mail invitations or send evites if you have a tech-savvy family.
Choose a Theme
You want to give your party a theme so you can decorate, dress-up, or purchase items accordingly. Some popular themes for family reunions include, Hawaiian luau, black & white, vintage, 80’s style, and bright colors. Just take weather when choosing a theme, you don’t want everyone to be miserable if the temperature dips down, and everyone’s in shorts.
Delegate Work
It is impossible to do all the planning and work yourself, so once you have the basics set, start delegating responsibilities to other family members that are willing to help. You can assign the food, decorations, party favors, and confirmation calls to different volunteers.
Place Your Orders
Make sure everything that you will need is ordered and purchased, you can go online and look for party favors to give away at the reunion. Some popular favors are personalized rubber band bracelets, or a small bag of cookies, or customized t-shirts. If you want everyone to contribute to the cost of the reunion, you should start crunching numbers and sending everyone an email on what amount they will have to pay to attend.
Confirm and Make Checklists
You want to confirm attendance with everyone at least one week prior to the event to make sure there are no last minute changes. Make checklists of things that you need to take with you the day of the reunion to ensure that you have everything you need on that day.
Author Bio This article was written by Melisa on behalf of Reminderband.com. Please visit their website for the contact info for Reminderband, for more information on placing orders.
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but there are several tasks to take care of before bringing your little bundle of joy home. So here are some of the most important things you will want to handle ahead of time. When you are ready before the birth of your child, you will enjoy the final weeks of pregnancy more and be more relaxes when it’s time to deliver your sweet baby.
Baby Clothes and Bedding
You know how important it is to have the crib and changing table for your baby, but you also need a collection of clothing and bedding. Multiple sets of sheets and changing pad covers should be on hand because they will be changed often, and so take the time and wash all bedding and clothing in a safe, gentle detergent like Dreft to protect your baby’s skin.
Hygiene and Diapers
Babies go through an incredible amount of diapers, so if you are going to use disposable diapers, you can start stocking up on a range of sizes before the baby arrives, but if you choose cloth diapers, you can make arrangements with the cleaning agency before the big day. Other items you should have on hand include tear-free shampoo, body soap, the baby bathtub, hairbrush, baby nail clippers and some soothing baby body lotion with lavender to help fussy babies relax.
The Full Nursery
You want your little one to have a beautiful, welcoming nursery, and that includes having the nursery painted, but paint fumes can be harmful to your little one, so the room should be painted a few weeks ahead of time. The fumes can also be harmful to pregnant women, you should also avoid the fumes (and stress) by hiring a professional, like a Boulder painting contractor, to paint the nursery.
Set up the Kitchen
With the nursery painted and decorated, clothing in the dressers and hygiene supplies in the bathroom, it’s time to turn your thoughts to the kitchen. Even if you are breastfeeding your child, you may still require special equipment for pumping and storing the milk, but if you are not breastfeeding, you will have bottles to sterilize, as well as liners and nipples. Organize the baby feeding supplies in your kitchen by finding space in the cabinets and setting out any special washing or drying racks.
Once the baby is born, you won’t have much extra time for setting up the nursery, washing all the clothes and finding space for bottles in the kitchen, so take care of these chores now to ensure that your baby’s room is ready for your little arrival. You will be able to relax during the final days of your pregnancy and the first few days that you are home with your baby.
Author Bio Melisa Cammack is the mother of three, soon to be four, is an interior design enthusiast, and hopes to soon be a published book author.
Hosting Your First Christmas Dinner? Your No Panic Guide
Perhaps you were just married this past year, or maybe it’s your first year in your very own home, but whatever the case may be, Christmas will be held at your home this year, and excitement is echoing from wall to wall, but you’re also a little bit nervous. How can you prepare for this big event?
Organized Lists
Have a list of everything, so you aren’t in a frenzy on Christmas day, take note the exact location of all dishes (pantry, fridge or freezer), and write down the time that you want to prep them and/or put them in the oven to heat. Keep this little list in your pocket throughout the day, and you’ll always feel in control.
Decorations
Going overboard with decorations isn’t a must for holiday parties, but it’s nice to have at least some reminders of the holiday. Be sure to include a nativity in the decor setup to act as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. Set up your Christmas tree in a spot where all of your guests will be able to see it beautifully decorated with a few gifts beneath its branches, have your favorite Christmas music playing softly in the background and warm scented candles (or to be on the safe side, plug-in room fresheners) to complete the cheerful holiday environment.
The Final Preparations
Make as much of the food in advance as you possibly can, but some items, such as gravy, generally need to be made on the spot. However, Christmas stroganoff, with exception of the noodles, generally freeze very well, so make items such as that a day or two before the Christmas party. Even the smallest of homes can be suited to accommodate a large number of people, so take some time to arrange the dining room, and this might involve moving tables around to different angles or setting up a children’s table in the kitchen. If enough seating isn’t available, consider having a buffet style meal, but don’t panic if it seems that space will be limited, because on Christmas, most people are bouncing from house to house, so people will be in and out.
The Greeting
When people come into your home, you want them to feel warm and welcome, so offer to take their coats, and hang them the attire up where they can see to avoid confusion when they’re preparing to leave. Laying them on a bed is an option; however, if you have pets that sit there, it’s best not to do so for allergy purposes. Once they have said hello to everyone, offer them a drink, tell them to make themselves at home and let them know where the food and the plates are, and don’t be shy about taking that first scoop of dip if you think it will get other people eating. Above all else, enjoy this very first Christmas in your home, and don’t stress, just do your best. Employ the help of your nieces and nephews who are always eager to help out, and give them a special treat at the end of the evening for helping, like a traditional chocolate orange or an iTunes gift card.
Author Bio Melisa Cammack has been freelance writing for a number of years, married for 13 years, mother for seven years, and is the biggest Christmas enthusiast on this side of the equator. Melisa is currently promoting Five Star Holiday Décor and Christmas Lighting in Dallas, and would like to wish everyone a beautiful and happy holiday season!
Enter your name and email and get the weekly newsletter... it's FREE!
Wait don't leave yet! Loved what you read? Subscribe to Home Maid Simple and never miss a post!
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
