My Tiny Apartment: Part 1

My entry way/dinning area/kitchen (yes, seriously!) feels so overwhelmingly crowded.  I have to push my dinner table against the wall, which leaves me with one less seating option.  Plus, all the decorating articles I've been reading say that pushing furniture against wall can actually make rooms appear smaller.  This is what I'm working with:




Basically, all I did was get rid of the coat rack that was taking over the dining area.  I also took a picture off the wall.  That made a big difference and really opened up the room!  Then I pulled the table off the wall.  It looks really good, but I feel like I lost "storage" when I lost the coat rack.  I just need something that will fit better in my small space. For now, I just put up a couple of Command Strip hooks so I don't trip on a lunch box in the middle of the night! Grrr!

I found this video last night and this is exactly what I need to do!

Entery Area & Living Room (small spaces)

I will definitely down scale that project!  I don't need all the lights, chargers, and remote controls. That video really has  me brainstorming...

                                                                    Anyways, this is what the dining area looks like now.
                                                                                      I suppose that will do, but....

Let me know if you have any ideas for my tiny apartment or any tips you may have for organizing and decorating  small spaces!  I need it!

2013 Michigan State Spartans Football Schedule

                       It's almost here... Football Season! The most wonderful time of the year.
       Go Green! Check out the schedule below, I will be planning my Saturday's around it this fall!


2013 Michigan State Spartans Football Schedule

No Sew Locker Organizing Pocket

This No Sew Pocket is a must have for any student this school year. It is also great for moms to start getting organized around the house. The best part is, you probably have most of the materials laying around the house! Let's get started...

Supplies: 

- cardboard ( mine measures 4"x4.5")

- scrap material

- duct tape

-scissors

- magnet 

- hot glue gun ( this is optional if you have magnets with tape on one side)

Step 1:

Wrap the cardboard piece with duct tape to add a little strength. 

 

Step 2:

Wrap the duct taped cardboard piece in a little of the scrap material. ( you can omit this step if you have some of that pretty duct tape) 

 

 

Step 3:
Fold the bottom of extra material over the bottom of the cardboard.  Secure with more duct tape.




Step 4 View

Step 4:
Fold the top of the material over to create a "hem".  Secure with duct tape.  (See both pictures)

Another View of Step 4

 

Step 5:
Loosely fold over each side and secure them with duct tape.  I folded the sides at a slight angel to make sure the pocket will open wide enough.









                                              Your locker pocket should look like this!


Almost Done...

Step 6:
Glue or tape the magnet to the back of the pocket. Flip it over... and there it is!  Your very own, home-made, magnetic locker organizing pocket!  If using a glue gun, wait until gun dries before flipping it over.

 

 

 

 Since I don't have a locker, I've used mine to hold my dry erase markers next to my white board calendar.  Now I won't have to dig through my "junk" draw to find them!  Your turn! Let me know how your no-sew project turned out... and don't forget, have fun!



Finished product!
 

 

 

Becoming a Youth Soccer Coach... What was I thinking!?

I just finished my first practice coaching my daughters U9 soccer team.  Oh my!  I was not prepared for 10 screaming, chatty girls that thought practice was a social event, not for learning soccer skills.  I need to get it together before next week!  I've done a little research and these are some ideas I've come up with to help me prepare for next week (wish me luck!):

• Create an e-mail folder especially for soccer.  Team correspondences, league messages, practice & game schedules.  You will now know exactly where to look to verify information and have the teams e-mail addresses ready to go.
• On that same note, communication is key in becoming an organized coach.  Let parents and players know important information as soon as you do.  A well informed team is an organized team.
• Be familiar with the policies of the league you are coaching for.  They can vary from league to league, so review these before the first practice and save a copy to refer to through out the season, just in case any kind of issue arises.
• Arrive to practices at least 15 minutes early.  You can then plan the order of practice drills and have your soccer gear (cones, flags, ect.) unpacked and set up for the 1st drill before the children arrive.
• Have your drills written down and available to you through out practice.  This will allow you to easily refer to these notes through out practice.
• After practices, review the drills your team went over that day.  Decide if the drills where helpful, easy to set up, and easy to execute. You will now have an idea of what is not working for the team. You will also be able to review what was useful for building the skills your team needs to work on.  This will also give you time to find new drills before next weeks practice. You will save a lot of time at the next practice.
• The most import skill a coach should have is a positive attitude.  A positive attitude shows the children that we are all here to learn, but there is nothing wrong with having a little fun too!  When children, or anyone for that matter, hears feedback that is stated positively, they will be more receptive to what is being said.  This is also going to promote good team sportsmanship, which is a life-long skill!

There it is, the skills that are going to help me the most.  Have you coached an organized team before?  What organizational skills have worked for you and your team? 

Keepin' it Together

Running a household is not an easy task.  Factor single motherhood, work, school, extracurricular activities, ect.... I don't know how I keep it together sometimes!  One thing that I do every week is make a to-do list.  It helps me put things in prospective & organize in order of importance.  I use a small notebook-type journal & highlight my done items.  I have also found that some people have notebooks divided into different sections for every area of the home, including meal plans & kids to-do lists!  I find it easier to use my computer to keep things together on an Excel table.  Figure out what is best for you & your family to start getting it together!  Check out the link below on directions how to create a household notebook organizer.  There are also great organizational templates to print out, even if you don't make the whole notebook.  Let me know what ideas you have come up to keep your life together!


http://tipnut.com/make-a-household-organizer-notebook-buncha-links/

Oh NO! My phone....

It finally happen! I dropped my iPhone and the screen has shattered. I am due for a new phone but I don't want to renew my contract with my current carrier since I can't get my bill under $100 with them. It looks like it's cheaper to replace my phone rather than have the screen fixed.  I also found instructions on DIY screen repair (see link) but I don't think I'm that savvy.  Plus, if I mess up I'll have no phone at all!  How do I clean this mess up...?  I think I'm going to have to start phone shopping!  Any suggestions on some of the best phone and plan offers out there? 



http://www.ehow.com/how_8447525_repair-shattered-screen-iphone-4.html

Cleaning Check List

 

...And now you know! 

 

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers: Truly Magical!

I am dedicating my first post in this blog to the Magic Eraser, love it! If I had to choose just ONE items to clean with for the rest of my life it would be the Magic Eraser.  I recommended one to a client last week, she had never even hear of them.  I was flabbergasted!  I don't understand why there isn't a Magic Eraser in every home in America.  Even if it just for an emergency stain situation. They can clean anything, seriously! I use them on walls and it won't hurt the paint.  They remove grease with no effort and the worst soap scrum with no chemicals. It can even clean up permanent marker.  I use them at home and at every job, in almost every room. I have a couple quick tricks I want you know to make your Magic Easer experience more magical:

• Don't get the eraser super wet.  Just spray it so it's damp.  They will last longer and not "shread" so fast.
• Cut the erasers in half.  You don't need more than that at a time. Plus, savin' ,money!
• Wipe away the water left behind with a paper towel.  It keeps the eraser from leaving streaks behind.

 Check out the link below for even more ideas.


Mr. Clean Magic Erasers: Creative Uses For These Household Cleaning Blocks That Truly Work Magic!

A Little Self Promotion

My Cleaning Flier

 

                             Cristen Cleans!

Cleaning & Organizational Specialist

                                   Cris10k@yahoo.com
 
Basic Cleaning

At a regular cleaning, I will be vacuuming, dusting, scrubbing sinks & bathtubs, toilets, floors, countertops and range hoods.  My services may include, loading the dishwasher & changing of bed linens upon request.

Additional Services:

My cleaning service also offers help with “major tasks”, such as, window cleaning, mini-blind dusting, wall cleaning, cabinet/closet organization, and other organizational projects. Other smaller tasks like oven & refrigerator cleaning are also available.  No job to big or small, just ask!

Prices & Discounts:

I am offering a referral discount to help grow my business.  Refer a friend and get a discount on your next cleaning service! I also offer discounts for those who sign up for more frequent cleanings.  Prices on services vary so call for a quote today.  I look forward to meeting with you to discuss your cleaning needs and how I can make your life easier!