Getting Organized...

...in more ways than one. I have lots to show you guys but it's all the finishing touches that are keeping me from photographing "After" pictures!!  In the mean time, enjoy these photos of people who have gotten their shit together and organized (Sorry, for not providing attribution links. I am not that organized).

~XOXO~

Organizing Kid's Clothes - Making Mornings Easy

I heart this Site.

She makes my life easier. Easy is good.

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I always lay out Max's clothes for school the night before. This serves to make mornings easier and to give Max a visual clue on what is expected of him. You can read about making mornings easy with your kids here.

So in order to make my life easier. I have started to pick out all his clothes for the week. This causes me to do two things every weekend 1) Laundry 2) Check out the Weather Channel.  I love this system from Living Lucurto and so far it has been working for 2 weeks now.

1. Go to Living Lucurto and Print these cards.

2. Print them on heavy stock. I used two pieces, spray glued together and cut them out.

3. Pick out outfits and hang in closet. 

4. Easier mornings for you. Priceless!

~XOXO~

Real-Life Decor

Real-Life Decor - 100 Easy DIY Projects to Brighten Your Home on a Budget
by Jean Nayar
Filipacchi Publishing
Robyn Liverant Public Relations
ISBN: 978-1-933231-70-9

128 pages
8 3/4" x 11"
100 color photographs

My Review: Exactly like the title says, "Real-Life decor."  This book has over 100 thrifty projects & ideas. All the projects have clearly written instructions, materials list and a color photo. The book is divided into 7 chapters that cover the following:

Furniture Fix-ups

Soft Touches

Surface treatments

Stylish Storage

Artful Collections

Easy Accents

Nature Arts

Here are some of my favorite projects:

photo credit Aimee Herring

photo credit Joe Schmelzer

photo credit Deborah Ory

photo credit Aimee herring

photo credit Lucas Allen

photo credit Kate Sears

photo credit Deborah Ory

photo credit Aimee Herring

This is a great book for all skill levels & budgets. These projects will help decorate any space!  Since I love this book so much, I am giving away 2 copies. Yes, I said TWO!

Resourceful Links:
Amazon
Filipacchi Publishing
YouTube

~Giveaway~

Now for the GIVEAWAY!! Filipacchi Publishing & Robyn Liverant PR have graciously offered TWO lucky commenters a copy of Real-Life Decor. How to enter (any of these entries will work):

1. Leave me a comment with your email address.
2. Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway. Leave me a comment that you did (I want this book: Real Life Decor http://bit.ly/aL6cki #giveaway #bookreview @beachbrights).
3. Open to US/Canada Only, No PO Boxes.
4. Contest ends Wed. April 14th.

~XOXO~

**Thank you Robyn for the opportunity to review & give!**

Pantry Hoarders UNITE!

Before         After

A couple of weeks ago, my son's school was collecting food for the local food pantry and I was about to miss the collection deadline. So instead of heading out to the store to buy food for donation, I shopped my own pantry. You see, I am a food hoarder.  Not to make light of the disease, but what is with all the food? I am always fearful of running out or not having an ingredient for a recipe.  You would think that I did not live within 7 miles of a grocery store!

This is what my before picture is all about:

This is my after:

Not a big change, I know. I ended up filling TWO 13gal. trash bags: one for trash, one for donation.

Here are some truly amazing pantries. ENJOY!

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Now go check out this post (it will be up around 10am) from The Best Mom on the Block (another pantry hoarder):

~XOXO~

DIY Organization: Magazine Holders

Again, my peeps. I am not that smart. I don't sit around and miraculously craft things into existence. However, I do spend a lot of time on the computer, just ask my butt. This blogger is smarter.

Here is a great way to organize your magazines and books.

Supplies Needed:
Ruler
Straight Edge
Fabric or Thick Paper (don’t use wrapping paper like I did - FAIL)
Mailing Box
Glue

This is a super easy way to organize books and magazines. I used a USPS priority mailing box. I highly recommend using a thick paper or even better would be fabric for this project. You need something durable that can withstand being moved on and off shelves and a material that will not wrinkle when glued. You could also use Capri-Sun boxes or any other thick box.

Step 1:
Take your box and measure 6” on one side and 12” on the opposite side. Make sure your measurement will fit on your shelf. Draw a straight line from the 6” measurement to the 12” measurement and cut out.

Step 2:
Measure your covering source (paper or fabric) and wrap like a present, gluing at all critical areas. I am going to try to spray paint some this weekend and maybe paint little chalk-board squares for labels. I'll update my blog if they work.

Ta-Da! Recycled organization for all your notebooks, magazines and books! If you attempt this project, I’d love to see your creativity. Please go to Beachbrights Fan Page on Facebook and upload your finished product images. I can’t wait to see what some of you talented peeps come up with...Inspire Me!!

XOXO-

copyright 2009
HomeSpun-Threads

for
Thrifty Decor Chick

Team DIY Storage Challenge 2010

Are you up for the CHALLENGE? I am! In fact, I am submitting three of my trouble spots: my craft closet, under the stairs storage closet and master closet!  What will you organize this month?

Taken from Team DIY Blog:
Post by Order in the House (Pamela Porter)

January is Get Organized month for all of us at DIYideas.com, and we’re on assignment to tidy up at least one space at home or work that’s cluttered, unsightly, or otherwise not acceptable. Editor Beth Eslinger will tackle her basement, associate editor Bethany Kohoutek has her eye on her work space at the office, and designer Katie Laporte plans to create a storage-packed craft/studio haven (go Katie!).

What about you? What will you organize this month? DIY challenges you to join the Get Organized party by sharing with us your best organizational endeavor. We’ll chose one reader’s space to feature on Team DIY Blog, and DIYIdeas.com!

Here’s the skinny:

1. By January 15 (that’s next Friday!) identify your trouble spot (a room, a drawer, a closet, piles of paperwork), snap a digital photo, and upload it here.

2. Whip that space into shape. Use baskets, bins, labels, shelves, or other storage-savvy tricks to gain control of the mess. In the meantime, visit the gallery to view and comment on other readers’ storage headaches.

3. By January 31, upload a photo of your now picture-perfect space.

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Here are my challenge BEFORE pictures:

Craft Closet

Under Stairs Storage Closet

Master Closet

Be sure to get your photos uploaded by FRIDAY (1-15). Your organizational challenge could be spotlighted on Team DIY's Blog and DIYIdeas.com.

Man, talk about exposing yourself! I guess you could say I am just keep'n it real here at Beachbrights...

XOXO-

Linked to ASPTL

Store It! Where to Put all the Things you Need to Keep

Photo Credit: Eric Roth, James Yochum, David Duncan Livingston, John Gould Bessler, Courtesy of Filipacchi Publishing.

Author: Mervyn Kaufmann
and the experts at www.pointclickhome.com
Filipacchi Publishing
September 2009
Specs: 144 pages, 250 color photos
ISBN 13: 978-1-933231-59-4

**All Photos Courtesy of Filipacchi Publishing and Are Granted For One Time Use**


My Review: This is a great book for getting organized in the new year. Store It! is full of useful information from top designers. Most of the ideas can be adapted to fit any space, big or small and are practical for every budget.

Photo Credit: Matthew Millman Courtesy of Filipacchi Publishing.

I love how the corner fireplace was used in this space. What great storage in the window seat and the books around the TV help to balance the space. 

Store It! is divided into 8 main chapters: Entrance, Welcoming Spaces, Kitchens, Kitchen Extras, Work-Spaces, Bedrooms, Bathrooms and a section called Out-Of-The-Way Places. There is also a resources section to help with shopping and product research.

Photo Credit Jamie Hadley Courtesy of Filipacchi Publishing.

I love the use of a closet to house a child's bed. This is such a cute idea. What a lucky kid!

I enjoyed several of the rooms and found myself marking 5-6 different photos for reference.  Several of the photos looked staged and not practical (closets and garage) but overall I walked away with some practical organization ideas. Be sure to read this book. The book offers very smart tips and advice for saving time & space when it comes to organizing everyday items. What I did not get from this book was anything new. I felt like most of the organizational applications had been done before- a real been there, done that moment.  I wish there had been more instructional How-To and Do It Yourself tutorials.  Most of the shelving and organizational tools looked custom but might be a good starting point for Do It Yourselfers to copy.

Photo Credit Alex  Hayden Courtesy of Filipacchi Publishing.

This home office is set-up in a kitchen. I love the chalk board backsplash and galvanized bins used for storage. I also believe that small home offices in the kitchen are a great idea. Where else would you find a better space to conduct home business but in the heart of the home - the kitchen!

Photo Credit Eric Striffler Courtesy of Filippachi Publishing.

I thought that this was a very practical storage for a closet laundry room. So many of us have our laundry rooms behind louver bulky doors. Removing the doors and installing a curtain really helps with this space. Also, the adjustable shelves come in handy for the different sizes of detergent bottles.

If you are trying to get a handle on your current clutter, are downsizing or building a new home, then this book could provide some simple storage ideas and inspiration.

3.5 out of 5 stars

From the Publisher: The comprehensive guide to making, finding and organizing space in your home from the entryway to the attic.


After pulling everything you own off of shelves, and out of closets and cabinets - and disposing of what you don't need and won't ever use - your next task is figuring out how to store what you've kept. Mervyn Kaufman, author of Store It!, leads you through every corner of the house, from entry to attic, exploring ways to expand storage and eliminate clutter.


You will see how consoles with drawers and benches with bins can help you hide essentials. Kaufman will show you how a wall of shelving can let you store all your books or collectibles and how discreetly positioned cabinets will keep platters, big bowls and table linens where you need them but out of sight.


Kitchen storage can be amplified, even in tiny rooms, and that goes for bathrooms too. Kids' rooms, like home offices, seem to invite clutter. This book will show you how to contain it so it won't overflow elsewhere. Last but not least, bedrooms and closets get a thorough examination.


Store It! offers space-stretching ideas from gifted designers. What you see, and are invited to adapt, will vary in scope and complexity. But all of it is focused on one goal: to make your home comfortable and uncluttered, so everything has its own accessible place.


Visit pointclickhome for more ideas.

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I am giving away my review copy of Store It! All followers are automatically entered in my book giveaways. If you would like an additional entry, leave me a comment with your biggest organizational challenge. Winner will be announced Wednesday, Jan 6th.

XOXO-

**Thank you Robyn from Filipacchi Publishing for the opportunity to review**

**Contest open to US & Canada Only. **