Organize Simplify Create Design

It is perpetual, living life and keeping it simple. Peace of mind comes from having a place for things. As I watched "Horton Hears a Who", with my grandchildren I thought about no matter how "tiny" the thing, it deserves a home. So I live by the old adage, a place for everything and everything in its respective place...

About Me

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Houston, Texas, United States
Ten things I am or have been: 1 Wife, 2 Mother of five, 3 Grandmother of 16, 4 Hair Dresser, 5 Bookkeeper 6 Bank Teller, 7 Scrapbook Store Owner, 8 Reporter, 9 Gardener, 10 Photographer,

Friday, April 27, 2012

6 tips to enjoy your weekend

or....restating the obvious?
Sometimes we need reminding though huh? Me included. Lets "O" (organize) the weekend.


  1. Get the yard and other must do's out of the way first thing. Even better during the week. Remember eating the elephant one bite at a time, especially if you work outside your home like so many do.
  2. Shop ahead. Have food and drinks, ice in the house. If you have entertaining plans especially. 
  3. Check the weather, make a back-up plan for rain, or take that downtime and wallow in it.
  4. Check your calendar, make sure you haven't forgotten an event.
  5. Read up on local events, or put reminders on your calendar for things you don't want to miss.
  6. Plan so R & R. It's ok to turn your back on some of those have to's that can wait. Just put your feet up and be.
Have a no fret Friday! :) As we say in Louisiana, "Come sit"  


I saw this lovely shelf recently while out browsing. Such cute rustic style. I think it would look great over a bed or used as a mantle. What a great way to display some of your finds or special keepsakes. This is a pretty easy DIY project!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Scarve Storage

When in doubt Accessorize!!!
Whenever you dilemma-ize over what to wear turn to your belts, scarves and jewelry! You've heard me say it before right? For the past few years I have rolled my scarves and lined them in a drawer in my jewelry cabinet. But I found myself unrolling and re-rolling several as I decided on my outfit. Sometimes being in a rush they were waiting for me when I got home. As I was putting away winter things I happened onto my newest storage idea for my scarves. There they are in plain view, ready to be draped across my hanger holdup until decision time has arrived. As you can see this is a regular hanger with the clips to hang a skirt or pants. They have them for sale at The Container Store if you don't have any in your closet. I used the clips to hold square ones. They also sell them at Wayfair using this link, but you have to buy them by the dozen there. "Crystal Clear Skirt and Pant Hangers in Clear (12 Pack)" I must admit I don't have a dozen of these filled with scarves but I have a few and I'm working on it! :)
Wayfair
Wayfair (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Just halving them taking the folded end and sticking it through the hanger and pulling the loose ends through is keeping them all lined up and from slinking off onto the closet floor.
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, my first experience


Making old things new is such fun! I recently discovered Anne Sloan chalk paints and I'm addicted. I have a whole list of items to do. I love the look and want to share my first project with you. This little table might not look like much to you, but this one and a magazine table, (my next project) belonged to my dad.
I love how it turned out This is Old White with clear wax.

Organizing a closet with slanted ceiling

I was recently on Tip Junkie's blog and saw a comment from Joann asking about utilizing a closet with a slanted ceiling. I identify that it is not always easy to utilize the space.
This featured space was added when we were choosing paint colors for our gameroom/media room. While I'm cocking my head sideways at the sample colors on the wall my husband is knocking on a corner space saying he thinks he found some storage space behind the wall!
Then he gets a hammer and knocks a hole in the area. My eyes were like saucers!
But behold, there was definitely space there that could be used even though the roof slants in the area.
I wish I had photos of him with his hammer!
I group like things together. As you can see the shelves are graduated lengths to utilize all space available as the ceiling slants up. The puzzle stacker is awesome. I got mine at a garage sale, but I have seen them at teacher supply stores. I use bins for legos and other toys that need to be sorted. My grandkids love Geotrax. They seem to appeal to wide age range. 

 As you can see we also store our buckets of wheat here, otherwise there would be tons of space on this side of the closet for more storage. It works well to stack the large toy pieces on top there.
But here is the finished result.

Garden Glove Storage

Tis the Season...
For gardening that is!
I have sought the perfect garden glove for ages and I think I may have found the "one"!
My goatskin gloves are wonderful.
What I like about them is:
  1. They are soft and subtle. Best of all they stay that way when you get them wet.
  2. Available at Lowes
  3. Protect my hands
  4. Last longer than cloth or canvas gloves.
  5. Leather has a tendency to get stiff after they are wet.
I recently saw where someone posted on Pinterest showing magnets being sewn into the cuffs of the gloves to attach them to a metal bucket to keep track of them. One reader pointed out that the magnets would stick to the side of washer or dryer. Good point I thought. Someone else mentioned that she clips hers with a clothes pin to her plastic weed bucket! 
I love this idea!


As for drying out my gloves if they have gotten wet? I simply place them over the top of my lopers to allow air to circulate through and they wave at me when I'm looking for a pair. Tell me about your gloves or other gardening equipment. I will be posting my own tried and true methods too!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Window Boxes

Love those volunteers!

Window boxes from Ikea. Mirrors in old window frames add character to the side of our pool house. Snapdragons and Asparagus Fern do not require much care. Sometimes the plants that volunteer to come back are the best!
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