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Saturday, January 14, 2012

Great Ideas For A Saturday!



Saturdays seem to be the best day to be inspired! It is a good day to re-group and make plans on upcoming,
“To-Do’s.” and Honey-Do list.

If I see a good idea I pin it, or save it in my files so I can share it with YOU, my readers. This post is going to be a somewhat random post, but the common thread running throughout will be some Handy Dandy Ideas that you might like as much as I did.

Since Valentines Day is our next Holiday let’s start with something we can all do for our family to make the day feel a bit more special. You won’t believe how easy this one is….



I told you!! Easy peasy-Lemon squeezy!! A square pan and a round pan cut in half will make a heart. Who knew?



Here is another heart shaped product that has absolutely nothing to do with Valentines day………





I told you so!! I actually saw a make-up artist use a business card on top and bottom lashes. The premise is to have something that you can apply pressure too in order to get more mascara on your lashes, and keep them from clumping. I am actually thinking about getting this little $5.99 item!




How about drawer dividers with cup hooks to hang your necklaces!? I love this idea!


Now let’s talk about a family picnic! I told you this would be a random post, but this is another really good idea……






Did you know that if you put a bunch of corn on the cob in a cooler and pour bowling water to cover it and then shut the lid you will have perfect corn on the cob in a very large amount in about 30 minutes. Now don’t doubt me, this was on Bon appetit website!



Speaking of picnics or a backyard barbecue do you all have bugs that fly into your drinks? Here is a really cute idea to eliminate that problem all together……….







I told you it was cute! I just love the  black and white polka dots! Speaking of black and white, check out this next idea……..






Talk about being green and re-purposing. This clever person made a chalkboard desk out of their child’s outgrown crib!



If you have a small space available to do a coffee bar I think this design is so practical and decorative at the same time.


A dish drainer to hold all the plastic container lids, so simple and yet it is perfect. This is one of those, “Why didn’t I think of this,” ideas.



Pretty clever, no more messy cords hanging around.
 
I love cheese and I always have a cheese board when I have dinner guest here. This next idea is so doable and it would be so versatile as well…….






Never swear at a roll of tape again for loosing its edge, just place a bread tie on the end, and Voila no more swearing!






I kid you not!! This really works I tried it!!!

Since this is the time of year that we all seem to be reorganizing our homes I thought I would leave you with a few ideas that might help you enjoy the process a little bit more.


This is command central for the family. Each child's initial marks their board. They have a pocket for papers that need to be looked at or returned to the teacher.Lunches are ready and waiting. 

This does not take much space, and yet it covers all the bases for a family. Great idea, indeed!

For more great ideas like these on organization visit my friend Wendi from, "Classic Chic Home blog," she is doing a wonderful series on organizing your home.

Trust me she knows what she is writing about, she is the organizing Queen, you should see what she calls her junk drawer! She also did a post on organization  over at Carolyn's blog, "Sweet Chaos Home."


If your children are more of the adult variety this is another type of command center that takes up very little space.



This last idea is one that I really would like to incorporate into my garage when I attempt to clean it out. Boy, that is a whole other show. I am always in need of all of these boxes. You could title yours what ever you need. I think I would have dry cleaning instead of Library for my life. How about you all, what would you put on your box fronts?
 


I told you this would be a random post, didn’t I?
You just never know what will show up on my blog!

Hopefully you can use at least one or two of these in your future. If not, I still had fun rounding them up for you.

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Taking time on a Saturday to dream about things you would like to do!!!

Closet update: I am still purging away!! I have purged one full bag of clothes and 19 pairs of shoes and 10 purses. I still have a bit more to do and then I will be done. Hopefully I will have an after picture to show you all. Thanks for following along with me. 

I just visited Mary Ann's blog Classic•Casual•Home and she is showing her beautifully organized closet. I got a few more great ideas that I might try in my own closet!

Friday, January 13, 2012

What Are Your Design Resolutions For 2012?


I did a guest post for Marilyn on her blog MS  Design Maven for the upcoming New Year. She did a series called Silver and Gold Resolutions. There were many designers that participated, in fact enough for a series of four post.

Here is the line-up of designers that participated:

  • Alisa Tarver Berry
  • Gloria De Lourdes Blalock
  • Beth Collier
  • Barbara Jordan Dettweiler
  • Barry Dixon
  • Mary Douglas Drysdale
  • Kathryn Greeley
  • Greet Lefevre
  • John Lyle
  • Mary Helen McCoy
  • Kevin McLaughlin
  • Patricia Hart McMillan
  • Slim Paley
  • Lissy Parker
  • KathySue Perdue
  • Nancy Price
  • Raji Radhakrishnam
  • Joe Ruggiero
  • Gaye Tapp
  • Mona Thompson 
  • Irene Turner
I was very, very honored to be on the same page as any of the above designers. If you have a chance to go over and read the series I think you will be just as inspired  as I was, and even surprised at times, what others would like to do in the New Year as far as their own personal design methods, and those for their clients.
 
Here is what I wrote:


A brand new year is here, and  it brings promise of new and exciting things in our lives.

I am not one that will usually make the traditional New Years resolutions, but Marilyn has asked me to make a Design resolution, and that seems to be easier for me to make. Plus it is  so much more fun!!

I have told myself that I need to venture out a bit with color. I love cheerful colors that make me smile so I plan on trying to add a bit more of Spring-like cheerful colors to my home.

I also love a traditional style with a twist so I want to  venture into maybe a bit more daring, and whimsical look. I am not quite sure how I am going to do this, but it will be a fun journey, and a new adventure.





As far as my 2012 color choice, it is definitely going to be Kelly or Emerald green. I use a lot of black and white as a base so this wonderful bright and cheerful green will be a wonderful mix.




Too toast in the New Year, and my new braver desire to be more free with my design and my use of Emerald/Kelly green I would have a gorgeous flute with a cranberry pomegranate spritzer.

I make mine a non- alcoholic drink with sparkling water.  For those of you that like to add champagne or Prosecco you can go here for the recipe. It always looks so festive in a pretty Champagne flute.


Of course I would have to be wearing my color for 2012 when I make a new toast to my Design Resolutions for 2012……





It was so fun to write this post for Marilyn's Silver and Gold series. These type of resolutions are much more fun than the type that will cause you work.

Speaking of working resolutions, I am still purging away in my closet, getting close to being done!!  Would you believe I purged 19 pairs of shoes and they are ready to be donated? So far I must admit it is feeling much more functional to me! Send me good purging thoughts, I can use all the help I can get!!



"Enjoy the Process!" Of:

Making design resolutions for 2012

Kathysue

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Shoes and Purses OH MY!!


I know I am not alone in my love of shoes and purses. I would venture to say there are those with more and those with less shoes and purses than I have. 

Point being I have too many, and it is becoming a storage issue. I have mine neatly in labeled boxes, but labels or not, there are just too many. Remember I am an organized hoarder!!

I have found some clever ways to store shoes and purses that might be help to me and you if you are like me, a lover of shoes and purses.

I think  before I even start thinking about storing my shoes, I need to get really serious about what is the criteria for keeping them will be.....

1. If they have a high heel they must go, I no longer can wear high heels. Yes, sad but true. Only lower heels now!!

2. Do they still fit. (This is one are that I do not fluctuate when my weight goes up and down. I have very thin feet, in fact my feet and hands are the only really thin part on my body at this stage in the game. Much to my chagrin!!)

3. Will I ever wear them again. (This is the one area that I slip up on, I don’t think I am realistic here. I can talk myself into a resounding YES very easily!)

4. Are they still in style and in good shape? (This is the easiest criteria to follow for me.)

With this criteria I am ready to start my intentional purging process!!!!

Let me show you some of the ideas I came up with for storing shoes…….



I know you all remember this under the bedskirt idea. This particular image was the most popular image copied from my blog!!

This next idea is another fun and functional idea……..


I was thinking if you took an Ikea storage ottoman, and purchased an inexpensive shoe bag that could be cut into strips you could make your own ottoman more cheaply. Since this ottoman by Lilly Pullitzer is $999.00. I am sure we can do it for less with the following……..


This ottoman is $129.00 now all we need is some fun material to line the bottom and add this………


By cutting this Target shoe bag ($8.99)into strips we can attach it around the edge and Voila!! Our very own stylized shoe storage ottoman.

If you like your shoes hidden, and undercover this is a great storage item from Ikea that only takes up 6”depth so it would fit on any open wall area in your closet.


This nice little cabinet is $139 and holds 12 pairs of shoes.
They also have another piece that would be great in an entry hall that was narrow, or a mud room……


This item will hold 8 pairs of shoes and will take up very little floor space.


This next idea is something I would like to incorporate in my very own closet……..


I saw this when visiting Laura Casey’s blog. I had actually thought of this before, but I had forgotten about it. 

Thank you Laura for the reminder. I have a whole wall I can add some shelves for my purses or whatever I decide I need extras storage for.

Well, I think I need to get off the computer and get going on my purse and shoe purging day!!! Wish me luck and send me good thoughts, I need all the help I can get.

If you have any other great ideas on purging shoes and purses or storage ideas, please leave a comment. We all love help from experienced organizers and purging peers!!


“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

♪♪♫Purging Merrily Along ♪♫♪

Kathysue