Office Redo/Oganization - Part One

I have taken a couple online courses on organizing recently with Aby at Simplify 101. 
Which is totally against my nature but I need some things simplified in my life so I have more time to do the things that are important in life, like shopping and getting great creative ideas in blogland.  It seems that every day I find a new creative soul mate out there in blogland.  Its so awesome to see what creative minds are out there.  Anyhow back to the organizing thing.  One of the projects I conquered after finishing my second course was figuring out some sort of system for my office area.  This area is a desk just off my kitchen, which should technically be a breakfast nook but it just wasn't big enough for our entire family to sit there so the table just ended up being a catch all when we came in the door.  This office area also serves many purposes, its the home to our only computer, home bill paying, my husband's business paperwork and invoicing as well as all the other home/ business/school related activities.  So I needed a system that would stream lined since there are many things going on.  Here are a couple things that I did to stream line things a bit.  First thing on my list was the top drawer to the desk, it was impossible to find anything I needed, everything was just thrown in there and piled on top of each other.  I looked all around in stores for something that would help me organize all my things and being that I am cheap  I mean frugal I thought to myself I have got to have something around my house that I could repurpose and would work to hold the items that I needed on hand.  I went home and started scouring my house for unused containers that I hadn't thrown out yet in one of my decluttering sessions.  That's when my creative juices started to kick in and it started to get fun.  I find almost everything in my house but did purchase two boxes from the $1 isle in Michaels. 

1. bottom of a recipe box bought at Michaels - holds staples, and stamps for paperwork
2. cup that was sitting on my desk, all signed by my MOPS friends at convention - holds rubberbands and bandaids (I have to mention this is now empty... see post on minor set backs)
3. bottom to a facial cream container - holds paperclips
4.top to the facial cream container - holds thumb tacks
5. cardboard box that held stationary - now holds scissors, staples, tape, etc
6. was a wooden  box bought from Michaels - holds pens, pencils
stashed in the back is the box of checks and checkbook

All but a couple of things that have come up missing,  it still looks just like this today.  I am so proud of myself, I don't think I have ever kept anything this organized this long.  Each of the boxes I covered with scrapbook paper to give a clean uniform look. 

I also needed some place to keep the cord to my camera and ipod cords for our family.  Before there were about 20 unused misc. cords and we would have to untangle all of them to find the ones we wanted.  So I have a desk organizer on top of my desk that holds incoming and outgoing paperwork for our businesses.  I guess originally this little drawer was supposed to hold things like paperclips and what not but I thought it would work perfect for the cords if I wrapped them up. 

I am still training myself to clear the top of my desk every day.  Some days apparently I need extra training but for the most part the system seems to be working.  Everything in a place and everything in its place.  :) 

Now for the rest of the house... the journey continues. 

Praise God for YOU!!!

Read more: http://www.mylivesignature.com/wizard3_2.php##ixzz0miIcUbIS

Double Trouble Baby Shower

This past Saturday was my niece Lindsay's baby shower.  We are so excited because she is having twin girls!! With all the boys around here some little girls make me very excited.  I only wish I lived closer, she lives in my hometown in upstate NY, :(.  Her sister Jenn was putting on the shower for her and after both of us scouring the internet and  looking around at local party supply stores, we found that there wasn't much out there in line of twin decorations.  So I made her a few things and shipped it up to her. 

A Double Trouble banner

A diaper cake -

notice the dolls on top, one with blonde hair like Daddy and one with brown like Mommy

cupcake centerpieces (my Niece Jenn stamped footprints in the middle of the circles)

and a skirt for my niece Nykesha (Jenn's daughter)

I have to fess up, I acutally made this as an outfit to wear for Easter but it didn't get shipped out in time so it became a shower outfit instead.   I bought a brown cardigan to go with it and added the same fabric roses.  Waiting for pictures of her in it from my sister, just know this could take awhile.  When I get more actual pictures and any other ideas they did I will post them. 

Praise God for YOU!!!

Read more: http://www.mylivesignature.com/wizard3_2.php##ixzz0miIcUbIS

Minor set backs

So I'm having some minor set backs...

While trying to finish up some notebook clutches I was making for a promo I thought I was going to do for Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother's Day.  I sliced my finger pretty bad with my scissors. 

Who said sewing was for sissies. lol 

Look for the pictures of the clutches early next week.  I should have at least 6 available on Monday.  They are great for moms as organizers or for teachers as well to hold note card, note pad, coupons, grocery list, you name it and small enough to fit into most purses.  Have a great weekend, I'll be nursing my finger.  ☺

Praise God for YOU!!!

Read more: http://www.mylivesignature.com/wizard3_2.php##ixzz0miIcUbIS

Dishwasher Lemonade

No its not a new way to make lemonade in your dishwasher. Its actually one of the most amazing new things that I have discovered recently. Over at My Frugal Lifestyle was a post about putting Kool Aid Lemonde in your dishwasher to clean it out. I will preface with I was very skeptical, I mean really Kool Aid is going to clean out all the deposits in my dishwasher and my dishes are going to sparkle again? But I thought is was worth the 20 cents for the package of lemonade. I could not believe the difference it made, I was completely blown away with the results. I tried to take a picture of how my glasses came out but I am not the best photographer but you get the idea.

You can sort of see the spots on the before glass on the left and the sparkle on the right. I was becoming so frustrated because my dishes were coming out dirtier than when I put them in. I just added one packet of the Kool Aid Lemonade (it was said that a store brand works also) and about two teaspoons of baking soda to the soap dispenser and ran it through a cycle without any dishes. The article said to use baking soda if you have not cleaned out your dishwasher in awhile or ever. Which was my case, I had used Jet Dry in other dishwashers but just not in this one. I had read about using those dishwasher cleaners but frankly it was just never in the budget, or better yet it never I was too cheap to buy them. I just had to share this wonderful new discovery with you. Thank you My Frugal Lifestyle. Planning on making some laundry soap next, as soon as I find all the products to make it, having some problems finding them.

Spring Fling today at Tip Junkie

Awesome prizes are beign given away at Tip Junkie today. Head on over and enter to win. I'll let you know if I did, :)

The Next Step, sewing class

This class is designed to take you to the next level. This is a base course on clothing construction. During the class you will either make a women's basic skirt or girls dress. You will learn to decode a store bought pattern, laying out and cutting your fabric, putting in a zipper and darts. Below is a list of a few patterns that you could use for this project. There are several that are available. The basic things you will be looking for are if it has a zipper and has some sort of pleats or darts.

Cost $50 per person, class size will be limited to available space. 4hr session.


Girls Dress Women's Skirt
Simplicity 9497 Simplicity2410
Simplicity 2683 NewLook 6448
Simplicity 4721
Simplicity 2430
Simplicity 2675
McCalls M5792
McCalls M5033
McCalls M6020
NewLook 6959
NewLook6884

When looking for sizing of a pattern turn the pattern over to the back side and find the chart that has body measurments. You will of course have already measured yourself or the person you are making this for. You will buy the pattern in the size of the biggest measurement. For example if you have a 24" waist but your hips are 34". You will need to buy the size pattern that corresponds with your hips measurement. You will find the amount of fabric in yards that you will need to buy on that chart as well. There is a list of suggested fabrics for your garment and any notions you may need to complete the project.

Supplies Needed
Fabric for your garment, its best to use a light weight cotton for your first project since it is the easiest to work with. The fabric will need to be washed before coming to class
All notions for your garment, buttons, zipper, hook and eye
Pattern
Thread in corresponding color to match fabric
Basic sewing supplies.
You will also need a place big enough to lay out pattern onto fabric and cut it out. A dining room table usually works quite well for this.

Sewing machine review - part two

For the intermediate sewer these machines are great for someone with some experience or for a beginner that wants a machine to grow with. They are all electronic and offer special features for ease of operation if you are going to be using it often.


Brother - CS6000i online only$199.99Target, JoAnn,Best Buy
$184.76 Walmart
Automatic buttonhole feature,automatic needle threader, automatic bobin winder, reverse, auto needle postion up/down ( this is great for projects with lots of corners, it allows you to set the machine to stay in a up or down position when you stop) Rated top machine for intermediate machines by consumersearch.com.

Brother - CE 5000PRW $139.97 Walmart
5styles of 1 step buttonholer, good on thick fabric, auto needle threader, fast bobbin winding, quick set bobbin, auto needle postion up/down. This is part of the Project Runway series.

Singer Precision 7444 $199.99 JoAnn
$179.99Target
50 stitch choices, 2fully automatic 1step buttonholer, free arm, auto tension. As I was reading through the consumer reviews most were good but there were a few that said the same thing that they had problems with the tension and had to have the bobbin case replaced because the needle kept hitting it, which was due to a timing problem.

Singer - EsteemII 2273 $129.99Target
Reverse, dial a stitch, built in thread cutter, instructional DVD, free arm, automatic buttonholer.


Like I said before I have not personally used any of these machine. I do know that both companies have been around forever and produce quality products. Both have fairly comparable products. You can also try going into your local quilt supply store, sewing machine store etc. They have very knowledgeable sales people, will let you try out the machines, as well may offer some intoductory classes to show you how to use the machine. Remember however they are paid by commision and they always going to say their product is the best. There are pros and cons to buying both places. Have fun and don't let it overwhelm you, you will most likely know right away if you like the machine you bought. If you don't you can always return, your not married to it.