Gorgeous Home Offices + Craft Spaces

Today I present you with a plethora of home office and craft spaces for your viewing pleasure. I intentionally posted several different types of spaces hoping that each of you could find one you could personally relate to. I don't know about you, but I would love (with a capital "L) to have a space like any of these to call my very own. It seems that all you really need is a little corner, a little nook of some sort, to make it all happen.
















































































































































































image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (unknown), 7

Displaying Books No.2

More fun and creative ways to display books in any type of space. I personally am grateful to have found pretty ways to display paperbacks. Somehow we end up with many more of those than hardbacks (probably because they are less expensive!).

If you missed Part I, click here.
























1. Stacking your books in a manner resembling the shape of the furniture.

2. Towers of paperbacks on a fireplace mantle, spines showing. That's one way of eliminating the "how-to-decorate-my-mantle-tastefully" dilemma!

























3. Mixing styles in one space + adding a tchotchke or two for visual interest.

4. Paperback books stacked with spines hidden, showing just the slight variation in page colors.































5. Neutral colored spines + attractive bookends = a surprisingly lovely display!


























6. Display children's books on open shelving, covers showing, so your child can see just what he/she is in the mood for. Also adds color and visual interest to an otherwise blank wall. I love this idea! It would fun to incorporate this look in a playroom too (if you are lucky enough to have such a space).

7. Discard the dustcovers (or just store carefully elsewhere in case you change your mind), and arrange books in color combinations that appeal to you and compliment your space. Such a fun look!





























8. Live in an apartment where you can't use the fireplace? Well, here's your solution via one of Design*Sponge's many fabulous "sneak peeks". Use it as storage for those larger, more difficult-to-store-in-a-small-space kind of books. Consider it the overflow area from your coffee table.

image 1 (unknown*), 2, 3, 4-5, 6, 7, 8

* the image is from Amy Cooper's southern home, and the page is labeled "Decorating Fall 2008) but it doesn't state the source of the magazine title and I do not recognize the font. If you know the source, please let me know!

How to Fold a Fitted Sheet

Eureka!




































How to:

1. With the sheet inside out, place one hand in each of two adjacent corners.

2. Bring your right hand to your left, and fold the corner in your right hand over the one in your left, so the corner on top is right side out. Next, reach down and pick up the corner that is adjacent to the one that was in your right hand (it will be hanging in front), and fold it over the other two; this third corner will be inside out.

3. Bring the last corner up, and fold it over the others so it is right side out.

4. Lay the sheet flat, and straighten it into the shape shown above.

5. Fold the two edges in, folding the edge with elastic in first, so all elastic is hidden.

6. Fold the strip into a smaller rectangle.

7. Continue folding until rectangle is the size you want.

note: directions made for a right-handed person; if you are a "leftie" then use the hand opposite the one suggested above

PS. if you're looking for a fabulous deal on 600 thread count italian sheets, look no further!(I highly reccommend sheets of 600 thread count or more.  Bonus points if the sheets sets boast the tag lines "Made in Italy" or "Egyptian Cotton".

image via Martha Stewart

Displaying + Storing Your Child's Art

This post has been a long time in the making. Ever since reading Downtown Chic, I've felt a renewed interest in displaying my children's art in a cool way. Although it's a project I could've tackled in one long night, I decided to spread it out over a few weeks. It feels good to finally be done...at least for child #1...now I need to do the same thing for child #2! These preschoolers bring home a heck of a lot of art, no?

Step 1: When my kids come home with art, I typically write the date, which child created it (we do have 3 kiddos running around and although you think you'll always remember these details, you don't), and what it is. Sometimes the subject is obvious, yes, but many times it isn't (think: "it's a picture of mommy? wow!") If there is a funny story or explanation from my child about the art, I write a quick phrase on that as well. Then, I throw them into a basket. I do this everyday until the pile becomes out-of-hand and I'm forced to deal with the issue :)

Step 2: I laid out my child's art across the floor and asked her to choose 10 of her favorite pieces. On top of that I added my own 10 favorites--things I know she'd enjoy looking at as an adult.

Step 3: I scanned and then saved the images in a folder on my computer.

Step 4: Next, I piled them nicely together and wrapped them in twine. I then placed the wrapped stack in my child's "special box"--a box of keepsakes and treasures for her to enjoy throughout her life.

Step 5: Open Photoshop (note: you do not have to be a Photoshop expert to do this). Open saved images and resize them to be the same width (I sized mine to 350 pixels wide). Play around with an arrangement on your computer until you are pleased with the composition.

Step 6: Open a new file, this will be your blank slate. Make the background white.

Step 7: Start dragging your images to the new canvas and watch your child's art come to life again!

Step 8: Print image and frame.

Here is what I came up with:

Displaying Books No.1

I miss the built-in bookcases of our old 1930's apartments and long for some of my own again...someday. It would be so nice to unpack all those boxes of books sitting in our basement. It's a cryin' shame to keep them all cooped up. In the meantime I will make do with what I have and look to these images for inspiration.

Next week I'll posts "no.2" and share more pretty pictures...






















Grouping books by color...and love the idea of hanging art on a bookcase.























Can't find an end table you love in your budget? Use a stack of books! Also love the idea of displaying a large book with particularly lovely pages on a console table or sideboard.


























ReadyMade suggests turning a vintage suitcase into a bookcase...but I really like the idea of tall bookshelves complete with a ladder. Maybe when the kids are older :)




















The perfect solution for not-so-pretty books (including paperbacks that have seen better days)--display them turned around, spine showing. If they were books you didn't care to reference, but couldn't bear parting with, it's a good solution! And this apartment featured in Living a handful of years ago has never left my mind. It's gorgeous in every way and I love the way the books are displayed on simple, white shelves and below the coffee tables as well.

images 1, 3, 4, 6 - Pottery Barn; image 2 - Elle Decor; image 5 - ReadyMade; image 7 - Apartment Therapy; image 8 - Martha Stewart

Attractive Storage Accessories

One thing I've learned about organization is that it's not enough to just set things up nicely on a shelf or in a cupboard. Unless those "things" have a permanent place to park, your efforts will be undone in the not-so-distant future. This I know from experience :) May I present some stylish storage pieces that not only reel in the clutter, but look awfully cute too.

wire basket

birch storage boxes

antique sack cozy bowl

Organizing a Kitchen Pantry

Forget it...I can't wait until the new year to start organizing! My messy pantry is too far gone to ignore for another few days. I'm sure most people only need to spend maybe an hour or two max, but oh no, it took me 4 hours to get my pantry in ship-shape. That being said, I can't tell you though how good it feels to have this completed. Cooking and baking will be even more fun now that I can actually access what I need!

This is what I did to organize my pantry:

* took everything out and then wiped down the walls and shelves
* threw expired food in the trash (as well as any other junk/papers/etc.)
* cleaned out bins and re-sorted contents
* assembled can racks, helper shelves, and under-the-shelf organizers before placing in pantry
* filled in the empty spaces with everything else
* rewarded myself with a box of San Pellegrino because the bottles are not only pretty all lined up, but nice to sip during a nice dinner :)

Now on to my junk drawer for the second time since returning from France. Clearly I need a new system :)

image 1, 2

Kitchen Drawer Revamp

When my sister tended my children for a week earlier this year, I not only came home to happy children, but to organized kitchen drawers. She took it upon herself to tidy up two of my messiest drawers and turn them into one of the most organized areas in my kitchen (or my home for that matter). What a gal she is!

After emptying the drawers she first lined the bottoms with a cork "shelf" liner. Then, she added a few interlocking dividers to reign in things like teaspoons, wooden spoons, spatulas, etc. The end result made me so happy. Call me crazy, but there is something to be said for opening up a drawer, cupboard, closet, etc. and experiencing total order. If only I could make it last...:)

Planning a Successful Family Portrait

Over the years I've observed many-a-mother (including myself!) stress out over family portraits; having the right outfits, the right hair, the right bow, the right shoes, the right location, etc. When it's all said and done everyone is stressed out and the wonderful memory-making hoped for just isn't happening. This year I made a concerted effort to not fall into this trap and to keep it fun and relaxed so we are able to look back on the experience with fondness. That's really what it's all about anyway...having fun with one another!

Here are a few tips that worked for our family. Feel free to share what works for yours:

1. Bring snacks that won't stain clothing like raisins, goldfish, cheerios, dried fruit, etc.

2. It certainly doesn't hurt to bring along audiovisual aids, i.e. an iPhone. You never know when a quick Casper the Ghost fix will come in handy while you and the hubby have some sweet shots taken of you two. Just make sure it's charged :)

3. Bring your powder, lip gloss and a comb. Chances are someone in your group will require a little last-minute sprucing up.

4. Make it fun by making a conscious effort to stay relaxed.

5. Wear neutrals, but not necessarily matchy-matchy outfits; don't feel like you have to buy all new outfits for the shoot. This last time I chose outfits we already had, but adhered to a navy/gray color scheme, which I ended up liking a lot. Keep the outfits simple, sweet, and comfortable. Avoid trendy clothing for a classic look.

6. Most photographers are not stylists, so if there is something you'd like to have in the portrait, communicate that to him/her. We brought along our own chairs this last time and I was grateful we did. Somehow it felt more personalized.

7. Bribe 'em with something fun like a family dinner at the local Mexican restaurant after the photo session. Yet another opportunity to share some good times together.

May your holiday portrait session be incident-free and full of success! :)

images via sponsor, Christine Olson Photography

Organization...Catch the Wave

It's been awhile since I posted organization tips, but you may be seeing more of those because the "nesting" bug is back. This is not to say I am an organized person (anyone who knew me before the age of 23 can attest to this!)...I simply enjoy the process. Here's why:

1. it's free
2. it's gratifying
3. it's calming
4. results are instantaneous
5. knowing what you have is half the battle

Like many things in life, the process of organization is gradual. I find that one 10-20 minute project per day is the perfect amount of time to allocate towards getting organized. Totally doable, right? Give yourself a week; participate in one small project a day and see how you feel at the end of the week. I'm guessing it's going to be good! Momentum...it's all about gathering momentum.

If you need an idea or two as to where to start, here is what my week is looking like:

Day 1: De-junk Car

Day 2: Organize linen closet

Day 3: Tidy kitchen miscellaneous/junk drawer

Day 4: Tackle the game closet

Day 5: Re-work area under kitchen sink

Day 6: Re-organize my recipe binder

Day 7: Rest :)

images via Organize Magazine

Closet Clean Up: Autumn Edition

It's that time of year...yes, the one when it's no longer possible to get away with Summer clothing any longer. Long gone are the days of shorts, capris, espadrilles and swimsuits. It's time to welcome in Autumn in all it's colorful glory and say hello to sweaters, jeans, boots and jackets. Although it's kind of a pain to switch everything out, the end result is totally worthwhile.

Yesterday, while my kids napped, I tackled my own closet. Boy, did it feel good! I set aside a pile for charity, the tailor, the dry cleaner, and for the shoe cobbler (repairing a boot is less expensive than buying a new pair). Given an increased desire to be more frugal, I saved a few things from Summer to layer under sweaters and cardigans as well. I found a little mixing and matching was in order and didn't look out-of-place at all. In the end I felt the 2-hour start-to-finish very worthwhile indeed. Now I have a better idea of what I need to fill in the blanks and what I have at my disposal each morning.

Here are a few tips from Real Simple regarding closet organization. I thought you might find them useful! They are super helpful.

image from Elfa via The Container Store

Playroom Still Lifes

Playroom organization was becoming a bit of a problem around here due to the young ages of my last two children. When it came time to play the "clean up game a la Barney" they wee ones didn't know what that meant exactly. So, they basically just shoved the toys in any available bin, basket, drawer, closet, corner, etc. The results? a larger mess than before we started :)

I decided to try something I'd read years ago in a magazine (forgive me...I have no recollection which title it was) about taking pictures of toys with a Polaroid and then adhering them to the storage tote (gone is my Polaroid sadly, but I do have a camera still). This was sheer brilliance to me and perfect for anyone who has a child that doesn't read quite yet. It seems to make my kids feel more confident when they are presented with a simple way to accomplish something.

Also, when you have visitors over for a playdate and it's time to pick up, this method also makes it easy on the kids and their moms. I know that when I've been to others' homes and want to help pick up, I sometimes feel at a loss because I'm not sure how things are organized. I'd love a little picture to give me some clues.

We bought and IKEA bookcase, bolted it to the wall, and then purchased some grass baskets at IKEA as well. These were our second choice as they didn't have the ones we originally selected at our local store. We haven't filled up all the bins yet (we are somewhat slow at aquiring toys around here) so we have a few empty ones just waiting for Christmas to arrive. Grandparents seem to be good for that sort of thing :) If I had more of a certain toy than could fit in one basket, I used two baskets with two of the same labels. For example, we have a lot of teddy bears and girly dress ups for some reason; so I have two bins labeled with a dress up tag and two with a teddy bear tag.

To take the images I placed groupings of toys on a white table I found in the IKEA "As-Is" section. It's already in the playroom/living room so that made it easy on me! I took pictures with a digital camera of the groupings and then fiddled with them a little in Photoshop. Then, I uploaded them to an online photo processing site (I used Costco's) and selected the "wallet size" option for printing. I picked up the wallet size prints, went to FedEx/Kindos, and ran them through the self-use laminating machine using the heaviest weight plastic available. When they cooled I trimmed them to size using a basic paper cutter from a craft store. After punching a hold in the top of the label and running a little ribbon through it, they were ready to hang. While there are more than a few steps here, it wasn't a difficult process per se. All of the places I visited and supplies I used are readily available to just about anyone.

Here are a few examples to get those wheels turning...


















1. my Little Ponies 2. tea sets 3. infant toys



















4. cars + trucks 5. accessories for their "town" set up 6. trains + tracks



















7. dress ups for girls 8. dress ups for dolls (many of which were mine as a child--thanks Mom for keeping those) 9. dress ups for boys (cowboy, pilot, fireman, etc.)



















10. plush animals that aren't teddy bears 11. farm animals + those that could in theory eat those very farm animals :) 12. teddy bears of all shapes and sizes

Bathroom Envy

I love the way these towels are organized. It's a simple storage solution, yet it's visually appealing as well. I decided to give my own version a try in my guest bathroom, as we intentionally created an open plumbing issue to deal with...I just love the openness and spareness of it all.

After viewing the seemingly obvious sources (West Elm, Crate & Barrel, Target, etc.), I actually spotted the perfect storage basket at Joann Fabrics. I bet Home Goods would've been a good choice too.

image via Cottage Living (r.i.p)

Organizing Tip #25

Designate a shelf in your living space as the "gift shelf". After building up your "stock", wrap the gifts all at once (labeling the contents discreetly) so you have a beautifully-wrapped present ready-to-go at a moment's notice.

Dedicating an amount of space (be it small or large) to just gifts, has been one of the best things I've done to make my life easier. I stock baby gifts, hostess gifts, children's gifts, and birthday gifts for my friends and associates. Sometimes I see the perfect something for a specific person 3 months before their birthday; and it's nice to know I have a place to put that "perfect gift" until their birthday arrives. I also find that I gift better, more thoughtful gifts, as a result of having this shelf set aside for this distinct purpose. No more last-minute-spend-too-much-on-something-they-won't-love gifts! What a relief...

But, I recently took this one step further to simplify my gift-giving even more. For project swap one night, Tiffany and I wrapped all the gifts on my gift shelf and labeled the contents with a little post-it-note. So instead of unloading all my wrapping and ribbon just to wrap one gift, I simply wrapped all of the gifts at the same time. Plus, wrapping and embellishing gifts for two hours was fun to do! In addition, knowing I have a bunch of gifts ready-to-go at any given moment is a source of relief to me and something I am grateful to have.

Don't be surprised if you see one of the pictured goodies on a doorstep near you...:)

More organizing tips here.

Freezing Food the Right Way

I'm not one to be in love with the idea of freezing food; perhaps because I've heard so many crazy stories about freezing foods, that in my opinion, should not be frozen ever! But, I'm slowly being swayed after reading this article in the NY Times this week and am on my way to feeling better equipped in my own freezer section. Three cheers for being less wasteful, more prepared, and not having to buy boxed chicken stock.

Spring Cleaning

If you're catching a bit o' Spring Fever and the whole "need-to-declutter" symptom that often comes along with it, check out this ditty. As an added bonus to having a cleaner, easier-to-organize living space, you'll also find your pockets a little heavier too (maybe a guilt-free date night is in order?) While I don't have enough stuff to justify my own sale, I would love to join forces with someone (hint, hint).

image from Good Housekeeping

How to Plan a Weekly Menu

About a year ago I wrote a post about planning meals and how it allows us to spend less, avoid the what-to-make-for-dinner-tonight-panic and enjoy more delicious meals. I find myself constantly thinking about how grateful I am to the person who taught this idea to me and decided to share it once again for those of you who missed it the first round, or simply need a gentle reminder :) It's hard to remember that I used to walk into the grocery store blindly, picking up things I thought we needed {but didn't} and still came home wondering what in the world I was going to make for dinner!

You can read more about it here.

In the meantime, this looks like an interesting book if you're in the food service industry. I like the pretty cover as well.

Organizing Tip #24

Trade in your mismatched kitchen towels and replace them with all-white versions.

I learned this tip 4 years ago from a neighbor of my mother-in-law. One look at her lovely kitchen drawers, full of white dish towels and white dish clothes, and I was smitten. There is something about the clean, fresh appearance of crisp, white towels. I decided to keep a couple of towels that were gifts from friends, but other than that I converted every single one of my old, tired versions into rags for heavier cleaning use.

I think you'll be amazed at the affect this will have on your mindset while in the kitchen (if it's something you choose to do) and even your outlook on cleaning in general--as silly as that may sound. I bought mine at Bed Bath & Beyond for a song; plus, it gave me a great excuse to use those coupons they frequently send in the mail.

For more organizing tips click here.

How to Become a {Somewhat} Organized Person

Grab a Buddy.

No, I'm serious. You can read about it here.

P.S. Forgive me for recycling a post...I've been thinking a lot about these swaps and how much they help me in my life. I would be a mess without them :)

P.P.S. In my dreams I have a pantry, or shall I say "room", like Ina does at her home/barn in the Hamptons. Pretty dreamy. It makes me want to cook/bake/anything...as long as I have access to this type of stash!

image via Apartment Therapy via House Beautiful

iPhone App for Moms

If you're an iPhone user and a mother, you may want to check out this app. I consider it the best $1 I've spent this month.

What other iPhone apps do you find useful as a parent? or are just in crazy love with? I like Shazam a lot and am anxious to use Jott with Evernote too. The idea of speaking into my phone and then having a text email sent to my inbox sounds positively fabulous.