Quote of the Week: On Purposeful Living

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Happy New Year All!

Reflecting on 2011

I like to think that reflecting on the year past is the same as tying a nice ribbon around a package - finishing it all off nicely

It seems to me like I can't get on with the new year properly unless I reflect on what went well, what didn't go well and most importantly, what I want from my life for the next year.

Do you agree?

Well then, let's get to it.
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Tuesday Tip! New Use For Straws

Here's a great little Tuesday Tip for you - and it's a re-purposed item tip as well: Hull strawberries easily using a plastic straw.

Got any other uses for the good old plastic straw? Leave a comment!

Baby Steps to De-Cluttering Your Office

It happens to everybody: one day you look around your office and you wonder, "How did this get so disorganized?"

An untidy office and a messy desk can make you feel overwhelmed. It can even make you feel insecure about yourself because you'll wonder how you can get back on top of the clutter.

First of all, don't beat yourself up, and start taking small steps to get organized. Don't feel compelled to clean it all in one go, after all - your desk didn't get messy in one hour, so it will take time to get it de-cluttered and organized. Make a plan to get back on track, and start thinking about what office organization supplies you'll need.
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Quote of the Week: On Goals

We are kept from our goal not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal.
~Robert Brault

Holiday Planning Overlooked

When it’s time for holiday planning, we tend to think only about preparation. Planning menus, sending parting invitations, shopping for gifts, and digging out the decorations. I find myself so overworked getting ready for holiday gatherings, I forget about the aftermath. Particularly when it comes to my extra dishes. I’ve never had a proper way of storing them, so they tend to just get thrown in a box that gets stacked with other boxes in the garage.

Bad planning like this leads inevitably to the catastrophe I encountered last week.
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Paper Piles Driving you Nuts?

Don’t let those piles get you down! One of the most frequent requests we get are tips on mail organization. Rest assured, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce those piles of mail that seem to pop up everywhere around the house.

Mail organizers come in all styles these days, with every home decor theme taken into consideration. From door entry mail organizers to magnetic models that stick to the fridge, there is truly something for everyone.

Here are some different types of mail organizers to consider:
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Quote of the Week: On Goals

It is not enough to take steps which may some day lead to a goal; each step must be itself a goal and a step likewise.
~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Have a great weekend!!

Inexpensive Decor Ideas for Any Budget

If your home is in desperate need of a decor-update, but the wallet just won’t allow for that costly remodel right now, never fear. We’ve got tips for decorating on any budget (yes, even if the budget is zero.) With a little creativity and a little elbow-grease, you can improve the look of any space in your home to meet your needs and brighten up your outlook instantly!

Here are some tips and rules to guide you on your affordable decorating journey:
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Spice Up Your Holiday Table

Mixing up dinnerware is a great and easy way to create an interesting table top. Try using dinner plates from one set of china paired with salad bowls from another to create layers of pattern or color. Have a set of basic white dishes? Switch out a few pieces with dinnerware in a bold pattern and instantly create a one of a kind look!

From fine china that has been passed down through the family for years to a flea market find with a fun pattern to brand new plates with a modern shape, by pulling different elements onto your table top you can create a look that suits your style.
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Product Review: Hotel Style Luggage Rack – Foldaway Suitcase Stand

An inviting and comfortable guest room should bring relaxing hotel touches to your home.  Create a casual yet stylish space for your guests by adding things they probably wouldn't have packed, like a robe or slippers. Scented candles or a cozy throw blanket are a good way to create a warm feel. Pick up some fresh flower at the store or grab some plush throw pillows from around the house to give the bed a decadent feel. These little touches are a great way to welcome your guest.
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It All Makes Sense With Galvanized Utility Bins

I live in a house that has a lot of stairs, and it seems like I am constantly finding things that are supposed to be downstairs laying around upstairs, and things that should stay upstairs are always finding their way to the first floor - are you confused yet?

Imagine how confused I was when I discovered a set of measuring spoons, two weeks worth of mail, and seven and half pairs of shoes upstairs, and no less than four blankets and every Lego piece that's been manufactured since 1982 downstairs.
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Experience Your Dream Drawer!

I don’t know about you, but I like searching through my dresser for matching socks about as much as I like going to the dentist!  In this increasingly busy world, every minute counts, especially in the morning when I am shuffling kids, hairdryers and my own work clothes.  Have you ever dreamed of opening up your drawers and immediately seeing exactly what you need, right where you need it?  Sounds crazy, right?

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Lap Desk to the Rescue

At the end of a long day, all my wife and I want to do is relax and watch a couple of our favorite television shows.  However, my wife is an elementary school teacher and she has work to correct at the end of the day.  One of the most difficult things for her to do is correct schoolwork and homework when she is trying to watch the television.  She is left with one of two options: either she would have to sit at the kitchen table, way-away from the TV, or she could use the coffee table, slumped over her work and with a sore back.
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Product Review: Lapp Topper Vinyl & Plastic Lap Desk

Who among us haven’t been caught sitting on the couch, swamped by the day-to-day commonalities such as bill paying, assessing the month’s family food budget, or composing letters to love ones, while simultaneously attempting to enjoy not only a deliciously hot beverage, but also a favorite television program?

I know I have, and sometimes it is a real humdrum conundrum. There is just not enough space on my sofa for all of those activities, certainly not all at once. If only we as a species were gifted with more hands and arms! Alas, we were not.
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Product of the Week: Luggage Rack to the Rescue

When my mother-in-law gave us a Designer Solid Oak Luggage Rack for the guest room, I admit - I thought it was kind of a crazy gift. Even crazier than the ceramic chicken that she'd brought during her last visit.

I thought it was a strange thing to have, because last time I checked we didn't have plans to open up a hotel anytime soon, and I'd only seen luggage racks during business trips. The only time I'd seen a luggage rack ins somebody's house was during reruns of 'Mr. Belvedere'. To tell the truth, it spent it's first six months in our house buried inside the guest room closet.
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Quick Tip: Getting Ready For Christmas

When I wanted to write about Christmas this week, I wondered if it was too early.Then I saw two Christmas posts on a couple of my favorite "intentional living" blogs and I felt like I was in good company. So… onwards and upwards.

When you think about Christmas, what are the aspects that overwhelm you and stress you out?

For me, it's not knowing what's happening.

I'm a girl who loves a plan and I like to know who's hosting the lunch and what I have to bring.

I also like to have clear in my mind what we're doing about gifts and cards.
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Qhick Tip: Getting Ready For Christmas

When I wanted to write about Christmas this week, I wondered if it was too early.Then I saw two Christmas posts on a couple of my favorite "intentional living" blogs and I felt like I was in good company.  So… onwards and upwards.

When you think about Christmas, what are the aspects that overwhelm you and stress you out?

For me, it's not knowing what's happening.

I'm a girl who loves a plan and I like to know who's hosting the lunch and what I have to bring.

I also like to have clear in my mind what we're doing about gifts and cards.
Read the rest of this post »

Quote of the Week: On Purposeful Living

Worry pulls tomorrow's clouds over today's bright sunshine.

 ~unknown

Try to live each day in the moment and have a great weekend!