Tackle it Tuesday: Get ORGANIZED

Now that the hype of new years dieting and career resolutions has died down some, it's time to focus on our overflowing closets and disorganized cabinets. I know, I know there's never a good time to conquer the clutter but think about it this way -- Your mess is inefficient. It's causing you stress and anxiety. And this dysfunction signals to your your brain that your work is never done causing you to feel overwhelmed and unorganized not just at home but in all aspects of your life. Can this stress be prevented? Absolutely!! But you have to be willing to change some old habits and work at it. Just like anything in life. If you're needing some simple tips on how to conquer the chaos, keep reading...

|| 10 Commandments of Organizing || 

1. Keep like with like. To keep things sensical and logical, you should always put away items with like or similar things. If they’ve put something away in a random place, you're more likely to not remember where you put them which results in overbuying. The end result: you have several of the same things resulting in more clutter and more time needed to organize. Once you've figured out a logical home for them, be consistent in always putting them away where they belong.

2. Think before you buy. Impulse purchases are the death of any organizational system. Buy something? It needs a home. Go through the exercise of planning out every desired item. Where will this live? Do I have room? If the answers are "I don't know" and "No," give it a pass (plus, you'll save money).

3. Everything has a place. Keep it there. And save yourself the frustration by putting it back right after you use it. Save yourself the time moving it from here to there. Do it the first time.

4. Honor your memories - then throw them out. No, I'm not suggesting you toss your wedding dress. Some memories are too sacred, and deserve a place in your home forever. But movie stubs? Old train tickets? If you're amassing a stack of "memorable" paper, it might be time to rethink your saving strategy.

5. Put things away. Just do it. Hang, fold or launder your clothing at the end of each day. Sweep through the playroom and clean up all toys off the ground. This should actually be something you train your children to do every night. That is not your job. Clean the kitchen; don't leave a dish in the sink, clear off your counters. Heaping piles of clothes, toys and dishes is the downfall of many a clean home. I know you're tired at the end of the day but spending a few minutes every evening before sitting down to relax will make your life so much easier in the long run. And allow for a more productive start to the next day.

6. Reuse and repurpose. Being organized doesn't have to be expensive or pretty. You need to get over all the pretty Pinterest pictures that everything has to match. Instead of buying a whole new set of containers or bins, start reusing what you already have, like shoe boxes and toy bins.

7. Command everything. A command center has room for your keys, wallet, bag, and any other day-to-day necessities - and it's the secret behind a super-organized home. You'll never have to search if you get in the habit of leaving them in their resting place.

8. Set a daily routine. And stick to it. Routines are the backbones of organization. If you're taking time every day to put things back where they belong, file your papers, and make your bed, your home will thank you. Ending the day with an organized home is a truly wonderful feeling.

9. Start small. If you're not already an organization master, start with the little things - sorting through papers, setting up a command station - before moving onto the big tasks, like revamping your entire closet organizational system. Enjoy the immediate sense of accomplishment, which will spur you on to bigger and greater future projects.

10. Don't get overwhelmed. Remember that you are in control of you, your stuff and your life. If you set your mind to staying organized, it will no longer feel like a chore. Feeling stressed? It's okay. You're allowed to take a nice, long break.

Food: How to Store Your Groceries

Christine Bryne via Buzz Feed 

New Uses For Old Things: Mug Rack

14" tall stainless steel mug tree; $25 Crate and Barrel. 

I love re-purposing old things in new ways! Thanks to HGTV, here are three clever ways to use a mug rack or "tree" to organize some loose ends around the house. Their "branches" are perfect to hang objects. 

Jewelry: No more tangles when you hang your everyday jewelry. 

Original source: HGTV

Scissors: All kinds of cutters can fit neatly on the pegs. 

Original source: HGTV

Ribbon: Slide on the spools and you can cut off pieces as you need them. 

Original source: HGTV

Other items you can hang; washi tape, rubber bands, keys. If you don't want to spend a lot, hit up your local Dollar Store. They usually have wooden ones there that you could paint to match any room in the house.

Design 101: Everything You Need to Decorate Your House

We are currently in the early phases of building a home and it's become all consuming. I don't know how anyone ever did this without the inspiration of Pinterest or the Internet. I came across this fun, informative decorating article in Architecture and Design that I thought was worth passing along. Some of the diagrams you could do without but some are fantastic. 

One of my favorites - How to Decorate a Mantel. But I also liked the one on how to style a bed, the rug size and placement diagram, and picking the right paint. I mean, c'mon how many times have you stood at the paint counter with glazed eyes when they ask if you want eggshell or semi-gloss? Thanks to this handy diagram, you'll look like a pro! 

Honey and Fitz

The simple “formula” to creating the perfect mantel vignette lies in creating a visual triangle. Steven and Chris show us the way with 5 easy steps.

#1:  Center a large piece (art or a mirror) on your mantel
#2:  Add something with movement to the left.  I struggle with understanding what “movement” means exactly but I think it means a pairing of items in varying height that cause your eye to bounce between them (hence movement).
#3:  Add something with visual weight on the right (to counterbalance the movement element on the left). See…a triangle is forming.
#4:  Layer in a couple of additional framed pieces in a cluster.
#5:  Balance that on the opposite side with a couple of accessories (books or decorative boxes) in a cluster of varying heights. 

How to Style a Bed

Matouk

Rug Size and Placement

Burlap and Lace

Choosing the Right Paint

Kirsten and Danielle

For the entire list, click HERE.

Meals on the Go: 25 Three Ingredient Smoothie Options

Fire up your blenders, folks! While smoothies aren't anything new, they are a quick and convenient way to get a blast of nutrients, including protein, carbs and vitamins A, B, C and more. Thanks to the Daily Burn, here are 25 three ingredient smoothies that are nutritious, energizing and sure to satisfy every type of craving.

Sweet Sunday: Festive Valentine's Day Desserts

Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without sweets for your sweeties. This year shower your little ones with love by making them an extra special homemade dessert. Whether you’ve got ten minutes or two hours to spare, we’ve got an option that your Valentines will love. Here are a few of my favorites from Susie Foresman's list over at Red Tricycle. These will make you want to eat your heart out!

Chocolate & Pink Vanilla M&Ms Bark

Get your mini chefs involved in whipping up this simple but impressive treat from Food Family & Finds—just melt some chocolate and candy melts, swirl them together, then let the littles go to town topping with sprinkles and candies and breaking it into bite-sized pieces. Click here to get the full recipe.

Deep Dish Red Velvet Cookies

Red velvet is the perfect pick for Valentine’s Day, and this recipe from Show Me the Yummy is an easy way to make your loved ones smile. It’s the perfect size for sharing, and it gets even tastier with the addition of vanilla ice cream and some chocolate syrup. To grab the recipe, click here.

Glazed Strawberry Muffins

For a lighter dessert, whip up these pretty muffins from Garnish & Glaze. With strawberries dotted throughout and a lightly sweetened glaze on top, this one is sure to be a hit with your whole crew. Click here to snag the recipe.

Raspberry Bites

If you don’t have time to break out the apron and make a dessert from scratch, no worries. Keep it simple and stress-free with this cute idea from Saucy’s Sprinkles. Just pop high-quality chocolate chips into raspberries and let your tots gobble them up. Click here for all the details.

Valentine Puppy Chow

If your kiddos are fans of classic puppy chow (AKA muddy buddies), chances are they’ll love this Valentine-themed twist on that classic snack from Whimsy & Hope. It’ll come together in ten minutes flat with red velvet cake mix, M&Ms, and chocolate. Click here for the full recipe.

White Chocolate Raspberry Mousse

Keep things a little lighter but just as festive with this delish mousse recipe from Something Swanky. It may look complicated, but it’s actually super easy to pull off using an instant pudding mix, cool whip, and some raspberries. To get the recipe, click here.

Didn't see any you liked, find more HERE. 

Deal Alert: Dyson Vacuums

If you and your significant exchange Valentine's gifts, now might be the time to hint at this dynamite Dyson deal at Target. In my previous life before kids, I owned a cleaning company so I get asked all the time about cleaning products and equipment. My take on vacuums - you can't go wrong with a Dyson.

Dyson DC65 Animal Complete Vacuum is a very popular vacuum that gets rave reviews is on sale for $487.49. Originally $649.99. It is not available in stores but you do get free shipping since it's over $50.

Another popular, more affordable, smaller animal vac option is the Dyson DC44 Animal Digital Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. Orginally $399.99, on sale for $299.99. This one is also available only online but you'll still get the free shipping. 

For everyday use for carpets and hardwood/tile, a great option is the Dyson DC65 MultiFloor Upright Vacuum. Originally $499.99, on sale for $374.99. This particular vacuum is available for store pick-up. 

To see all Dyson's on sale at Target - click HERE.  The Target website doesn't give specific sale dates - just that they are "temporary price cuts." If you've been wanting one of these beasts, don't delay! Happy cleaning!!

Valentine's Day Nails: Seashell Soft

These creamy neutrals are perfectly understated and flatter everyone. A flirty combo for Valentine's Day that is subtle enough for winter yet beachy enough to carry you into the summer.

/// FINGERS ///

Essie nail polish in ROMPER ROOM, $8.50

 /// TOES ///

Maybelline New York Color Show nail lacquer in NEUTRAL STATEMENT, $3.99

Valentine's Day Printables

With so many anti-sugar mom's out there, I thought a post with creative kid's Valentine's was appropriate. There are a gazillion ideas on Pinterest but I thought I'd give a friend of mine in Southern California a shout out. Morgann Perry with Modern Chic Tots, is uber talented and she has come out with some super cute Valentine's Day printables (and ideas) for your kiddos. Check them out HERE.

If you browse the aisles of the $1 store, you'll be able to find so many of the items for less; sunglasses, paint, jump ropes, nail polish. 

My personal favorites:

The build a snowman one. I'm all about it being interactive and anything that keeps them quiet and entertained is a bonus.

And for the older girl wanting to get her friends something cute and simple; the toenail polish.

 

If you have a little girl, you're going to want to spend some time on her site checking out all the fun dress up aprons and tutu dresses. Fun to see my little Rio modeling on her site in the Tutu Sets section. 

 

Morgann also knows how to throw a fabulous themed party so you'll want to check out her party section too!

Gift Guide: 20 Unique Valentine Gifts For Your Man

It’s almost that time of year again when you get to express your love on Valentine’s Day with these unique gifts for him. Here’s a knock-out list of gifts for every budget that are sure to show him just how much you love him.

MR. FIX IT: HAND LIGHT

Put a handy light right where he needs it most: on his hand. This is perfect for those tight jobs where holding a flashlight and doing the job might be hard to do at the same time. It frees up his hands so he can get work done and see what he’s doing.

MR. HANDY: HAMMER/AX MULTI-TOOL

With this multi-tool he’ll be able to do all sorts of things, and unlike most other multi-tools this one includes a mini-ax, so it’s just a little more awesome than the others. It’s not like he can chop a tree down with it, but it could definitely come in handy.

MR. PARTY: BARWARE SET

If he likes to make drinks let him do it with more ease when you get him this barware set. It has everything a bartender uses to concoct delicious beverages, and will let him get the same sort of results at home that you’d get from a bar.

MR. BREWSKI: CHILL MAINTAINING GLASSES

These pilsner glasses reinvent the idea of a chilled beer glass. They don’t get all warm so soon after you pour the beer in, and they maintain their chill much longer than a regular glass. He can savor his beer a little longer with glasses like these.

MR. GOLFER: HIS OWN DRIVING RANGE

Set it up so that he can go to the driving range whenever he wants with this gift. He can blast golf balls as hard as he wants and the net will make sure that they don’t go soaring off to the neighbor’s windows.

MR. BEAUTY: BLACK JACK FACE MOISTURIZER

This moisturizer has nothing to do with the actor Jack Black. It’s just a high quality moisturizer that will make the skin on his face soft and supple. Guys forget sometimes that they need to use some product on their face, and this is a great reminder.

MR. PREPARED: LYNX HOOKS

He’ll be able to keep all of his gear secure with this strap and hook system. It’s very versatile and can be maneuvered in many different ways to accommodate stuff of all sizes. If he struggles with conventional straps and pulleys, this is the answer.

MR. SNUGGLEBUG: QUEEN SLEEPING BAG

Camping is a lot more fun when you have a sleeping bag big enough to fit the both of you. Snuggle up with your Valentine in this queen size sleeping bag and you’ll never go back to individual sleeping bags again.

MR. EXPERIENCE: RACE A FERRARI IN VEGAS

Give him the thrill of racing around the track in a real Ferrari, in Vegas of all places. He’ll get training on how to drive the car at higher speeds, and then he gets to take it for a spin. Beats the price tag of buying him a Ferrari.

MR. SPORTS NUT: NFL FLASK

Combine his love of football and love of booze with this NFL flask. There’s a wide selection of teams so you don’t have to go with the Seahawks (pictured) you can pick his favorite. If you don’t know his favorite team, he’s probably not a big football fan.

MR. BBQ: SILICONE BBQ GLOVES

These BBQ gloves won’t be winning any awards for style, but as far as functionality goes they’re top-notch. They’re made from silicone so they bend to his hands so he can get a good grip without the need of bulky oven mitts.

MR. FISHERMAN: SMARTPHONE FISH FINDER

For the fisherman in your life, give him the biggest edge possible with this fish finder that syncs up to his smartphone. Fishing is a lot more fun when you catch something, so make it a probability with this fish finding system.

MR. HOT & SPICY: SRIRACHA COOKBOOK

Does he love the spicy hot sauce known as sriracha? Find a bunch of recipes designed to put that sauce to use in a variety of different ways. He’ll love that you are catering to his tastes, and he’ll get introduced to plenty of spicy new dishes.

MR. MEAT: STEAK COOKING STONE

Place this stone in a very hot oven and you’ll have one amazing cooking tool at your disposal. Slap a steak on the stone and it starts sizzling right away and cooks to perfection before your eyes. It gives you the thrill of cooking right at your table without going out to eat.

MR. FITNESS: FITBIT CHARGE

The FitBit Charge is the latest fitness tracker from FitBit and not only helps him keep track of what he does throughout the day, but how well he’s sleeping at night. With this one tiny tool he’ll have an objective look at his fitness.

MR. WHISKEY: TANDEM WHISKEY SET

This is a great set if he likes to sip his whiskey slowly, and especially if you like to join him. It includes two glasses, as well as special stones that keep the whiskey at the right temperature without watering it down.

MR. TECHNOLOGY: CHROMECAST

With the Chromecast you can broadcast whatever is on your smartphone onto your HDTV, including a live feed of whatever the camera is pointed at. Guys are sure to get a kick out of seeing themselves in real time on the silver screen.

MR. SENSE OF HUMOR: FUNNY T-SHIRT

Guys love t-shirts and when you get him one that is in line with his sense of humor he’s really going to appreciate it. Busted Tees is the place to go to find funny and oddball tees and there’s such an assortment you can find one he’ll like in no time.

MR. EXECUTIVE: VALET STAND

He doesn’t need to be a CEO to feel like a million bucks, just get him this executive valet stand. It makes laying out your clothes the night before cool instead of nerdy, and will have all of his needed items ready when he wakes up in the morning.

MR. MAINTAINED: NOSE HAIR TRIMMER

This is a godsend for any guy that has too many nose hairs or has his ear hair coming in. It trims away any excess hair and leaves nostrils and ears hair free. He’ll appreciate it because he won’t have to pluck the hairs or use scissors which can be dangerous.