Easter Ideas for the Kids

Here are some Easter Craft ideas I had to do with the kids.

1.  Easter Basket out of a paper plate

2.  Rice Krispies Hidden Surprise Easter Egg Treats

3.  Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies and Chicks

4.  Paper Plate Easter Bonnet

5. Paper Plate Bunny Mask

Easter Table ideas

As anyone who follows me knows, I love to do fun things for the holidays.  Here are some ideas I have found so far for my Easter table:

1.  Bunny Cake

2. Carrot Napkins

3. Easter Basket in a Jar

4.  Easter Peeps Centerpiece

5.  Easter Egg Vase

Creative Storage Ideas

Trick Out a Food-Storage Drawer:  Purge ruthlessly, keeping only containers you use all the time; toss anything missing a top or a bottom.  Leave tops on glass containers and stack pieces (don’t nest—glass might stick together and break).Nest plastics, storing sideways if upright is too high for the drawer.  Corral small items (like the soy-sauce holders here) in a cup.  Store plastic tops separately from their bases, since a seal can create a stale smell. “File” large tops in a desktop paper sorter.  Stash smaller tops in a little bin and they won’t rattle around or disappear.

Add a portable dishwasher.  If your rental didn’t come with a dishwasher, you can get a portable one! Portable dishwashers usually sit on casters so they can be rolled away when not in use. But if you have room to leave it in your kitchen permanently, just set it up near your sink and use the top as extra counter space! (You can use another 3M hook to hold up the connector hose so that it’s out of the way of the sink, but easily accessible.)

Utilize the back of cabinet doors.  Find a good organizer that hangs over a cabinet door to store cleaning supplies etc. These are great because in addition to the organizers inside the cabinet, there is also a rod on the outside that is perfect for hanging dish towels!

Hidden Storage:  Add a trunk-like ottoman (or two!) to store linens and extra blankets. Choose pieces with a durable fabric so you can get comfortable and put your feet up while reading a book or sipping on morning coffee.

Carve a corner out of the hall to create a study spot

Put dressers in the closet!

Create an end table with storage!

Reinvent an old window and turn it into a pot rack!

Small Space Storage Solutions

Now, I haven't seen my new home in person, but I have a feeling it is going to have quite a bit less storage than this place does.  So I want to think of cute, creative and convenient storage ideas.

Here are some small space storage solutions I have found:

Multipurpose furniture is a must.

Use clever hidden storage

Hide what you rarely use.  Any unused space is fair game for storage. Drawers on casters conceal seldom-used items under the bed. They also work well for storing toys in a cramped kid’s room. Use garment bags to keep dust out of stored linens.

Built-in benches and window seats with hidden storage are fantastic options to consider when space planning your family/living room.

Build in flexibility.  Cubbies are ideal for storage and display--and are easy to stack and rearrange

Make your ottoman work harder and smarter for you by finding those with removable tops.

Prioritize items.  Keep everyday-use items handy instead of tucked away in cabinets or drawers

Transform an armoire into a pantry, linen closet or craft storage. It’s a great way to increase storage in any room.

Go vertical.  Vertical dividers keep cake pans and casserole trays easy to see and retrieve--you avoid having to pull out the bottom one at risk of toppling all the others. Use any leftover slots for your go-to cookbooks or food magazines.

If there’s any bench seating in your kitchen, make the best use of it by adding drawers underneath.

Take advantage of ample closet space by investing in a storage system

Make use of under-bed storage

Dollar Store Classroom Organization Ideas!

I am back with more organization ideas!  I LOVE finding ways to organize our classroom. and with this move making it necessary to combine our classroom with our eat-in kitchen, I am looking for all the creative and inexpensive ideas I can find.  So here are some classroom organization from the dollar store!

Use popsicle trays to keep crayons sorted. 

Containers and labels can be bought at the dollar store to keep everything organized and looking pretty too!

A dish rack serves as a storage area for books, files and pencils or markers.

Plastic cups in a muffin tin act as an art supply tray.

Keep sharped and non-sharpened pencils in separate jars.

Here is an idea I love, DIY Dry Erase Boards using picture frames and paper from the dollar store!

I LOVE this idea and I am going to use it!!!  use a dollar store map with a bookcase you already have and look at this!

Tips and Ideas for Organizing your Fridge!

As you know, I love all things organization.  I am the one who gets lost in the containers and shelving section, lusting after ideas I can use in my own home.  So today, I am thinking about my fridge and ways I can improve it.

Here are some ideas I found for organizing my fridge!

Drinks Strategy: if you buy drinks in bulk, try transferring the gallons into easier-to-pour carafes that make use of vertical space.

For those bottles that are better stored upside down (either mustard or those that are getting low) try this cute technique!

Use labels on your fridge door!

Maximize shelf space:  Store shelf-stable bottles and cans in the pantry, and cool them down with ice when you need them.

Stash food in square, stackable plastic containers versus round ones — the square shape lets you store more food, and keeps things neater.

Instead of placing leftovers in huge, space-sucking containers, stow them as individual portions in smaller bins or resealable bags for grab-and-go meals.

Store things on the shelves in labelled containers

You can use containers in the freezer too!

Try using masking tape and a Sharpie marker (other fine-point permanent markers are available) to create cheap labels for things you stick in the fridge: 

You could even try using a color code with your bins!

Have a place in the fridge to store things that should be used first!

Use activated carbon to combat fridge odors

A great tip for keeping your refrigerator clean...line the clean shelves with Saran Wrap or Press'n Seal!

 Store food in the optimal place for it:

 Use a turntable to keep things from getting lost

Position a collapsible wine rack along a lower shelf to keep bottles on their sides. This one holds 10 and is modular, letting you configure it to fit inside your fridge. 

Use up-cycled Crystal Light containers to store veggie sticks. Free and fantastic.

Added shelves can take advantage of vertical space while keeping your more delicate items from being damaged: