Tuesday, July 31, 2012

893 IHeart The Land of Nod & a GIVEAWAY!

I am over the moon excited to announce that one of my favorite places to find swoon worthy storage, is sponsoring this week's giveaway!


The Land of Nod is part of the Crate & Barrel and CB2 family, and although they specialize in selling the most fantastic and adorable decor, furniture and storage for kiddos, much of it is versatile enough to be used in any space for any age!

Take their amazing storage bins for example...


Colorful?  Check!  Great quality?  Check!  Stylish?  Check!  Versatile?  Check!  So many reasons to love!

The Land of Nod is here today to giveaway a couple of the super fabulous felt bins to one lucky IHeart Organizing reader!


{enter using the giveaway management tool below, just follow the simple steps}



Did you know The Land of Nod also has a really fun blog?  You can check it out here!

Thanks everyone and good luck!

27 Guest Post: Fresh Tips for Organizing your Family’s Photos

I am honored and excited to welcome Kate Hare today, who is stopping by to share some great tips for getting all of those family photos organized!



Here she is now!



Gone are the days of needing to be stingy with pictures; no longer are we limited by the cost of film or the time it takes to get a roll developed at the drugstore. But thanks to the explosion in photography-related technologies, our generation is now faced with a new problem – trying to keep all those digital photo files from getting out of hand.
  
Whether you’ve got memory sticks stuffed into shoe boxes, files clogging up your hard drive – or even shots strewn across social networks to share with friends and family – it’s time to get your collection in order once and for all. After all, there's no organizing project that will give you a greater sense of satisfaction or a more wonderful way to show and share your family’s story for years to come. 


Here are a few of my fresh tips for getting a grip on the situation if you’re in digital photo overload:  

  1. Have an objective. Most of us get knee-deep into organizing and then lose momentum without a clear focus. Decide beforehand what your goals are, and then make a plan (or plans) of attack. Say, for example, you want to get better about sharing recent shots of your new baby as she’s growing. You’ll want to focus on finding an automated method for uploading and sharing, versus a longer-term project, such as organizing and creating an heirloom of family vacation photos.
  2. Break-ups are good. I’m not talking about the romantic kind, but the need for a large project like this to be broken into bite-sized pieces. Don’t try to attack it all in one afternoon; you’ll run out of time {and motivation} and before you know it, another year will go by, along with several thousand more images to be added to your stockpile. Instead, try dividing photos by type {print, digital, etc.}, theme {college, baby, etc.} or passage of time {one year, five years, etc.} and tackle a section at a time.
  3.  When in doubt, go digital. Not everyone is on board with uploading the entire family archive to the web, but it’s actually easier and more secure than you think – plus, working with one format streamlines the process. Keep prints on hand if you like hard copies for frames and albums, but consider scanning and housing your collection online for easy access and safekeeping in the event of an unforeseen disaster {house fire, flood, etc.}.
  4. Edit with abandon. Repeat after me: The best tool for organizing photos is the delete button! OK, if even the thought of tossing out one shot of your family’s smiling faces sends you into a guilt-induced panic, consider this: Would you rather look at 25 gorgeous shots of an event, or slog through hundreds of so-so ones? {And as a bonus, use this time to fix up borderline shots with free editing software where you can remove red-eye, crop and brighten to give new life to old photos}
  5. Don’t just sit there...do something! Finally, remember that your photos are special, so treat them as such. Invest in organizing, and then think about what you can do to showcase those memories. Create photo books, rotate your favorites in frames, get creative with collages, share in an online scrapbook and much, much more. Alone, they are captured moments, but together, they are an important narrative of your family’s time together.

Have other tips for organizing your most prized memories? We would love to hear them in the comments below.


Many thanks again to Kate for stopping by with some great tips and ideas to get us motivated to preserve and organize our most cherished photos!


Friday, July 27, 2012

78 Mirror Mirror On The Wall

It's been a few months now since we updated our master bedroom with some pretty molding to give it a more chic and finished feeling...


And although the moulding is fabulous, the mirror was a crucial piece in pulling it all together.  The unfortunate part is that it was a placeholder mirror that I stole from our living room:


Because the mirror looked so good in both locations, and because it was only $25 bucks from Target, I really, really considered multiple times just going and snagging another.  But that is lazy and cheating and I kept asking myself, "Do I really want two of the same mirror in my house?"  Yawn...

So, for a few months now, our bedroom has been mirror-less...


I was looking for something about 24" wide and in an orb finish to really tie in with the chandelier and pop against the wall.  And of course I can never seem to find what I am looking for when I want it....so a few months had come and gone.  Then, one day I was perusing around my local HomeGoods and one of the first places I head to is the mirror department {after drooling over their storage items along the way}.  That is where I spotted it.  The solution for our blank bedroom wall!  It wasn't the right color but it was the right size, and it was on clearance for $20 so into the cart it went!


I really liked the gold edges, but it just wasn't right in the room, and I knew that I wanted a darker, more dramatic finish.  So as you can see, I whipped out the handy painters tape {and an exacto knife to create clean edges}...


I found the ORB metallic paint at Home Depot, it had primer built in, so it was a winner for this gal!


Two quick coats, a day to dry and I was ready to slap that lovely lady up on the wall!


Smitten doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about the new mirror!



The black really looks nice and dramatic against the walls and was the key to pulling everything together.  In fact, I adore this one more than the original from the living room, so I am glad I held out until I found just the right one.



Is there a piece of furniture or accessory that you are holding out on, until you find just the right one?  Who else has been having fun with spray paint lately?

2 Jumping for July Sponsors

I adore days like to day because it's my itty bitty way of being able to give back to those that make my world and this blog go round.  I am so fortunate to do what I do so today I am giving out a GIANT appreciation hug {and smooches} to my super fabulous sponsors!



They are each amazing for endless reasons any many are offering up special promos and discounts to you lovely friends as well, so enjoy!





A Personal Organizer lives in sunny San Diego with her husband and 3 sweet boys! She offers hands-on and virtual professional organizing services with an eye for beauty and a heart for coaching. Her goal is to offer excellent services and teach her clients to get and stay organized!

She offers some amazing services:
  • Organizer Coaching 1:1 - A great way to have professional organizing results to get your life in order and the coaching skills to support you to achieve your organizing goals.
  • Organizing for Back-to-School time - focusing on all you need to never get flooded with papers again or to never forget a meeting or practice, this special organizing service will have you ready for the first day of school in style!
And just check out this gorgeous before & after project that she recently helped a client complete.
  



Want to connect with Helena and receive daily free home organizing tips?
  • Come on over to Facebook and sign up to our newsletter! 
  • Find a wealth of resources for your organizing projects here and tweet all about it to @HelenaAlkhas !
If you'd like to email her: helena@apersonalorganizer.com

Helena is offering an exclusive discount for IHeart Organizing fans to get you and your home organized! A huge discount just for you! E-mail her for all the details!  helena@apersonalorganizer.com


 

I am so excited to welcome the Stylebook App to my sponsor line up!

Stylebook is a virtual closet for your real-life wardrobe. The app provides a number of tools to help you get the most out of their wardrobe—including a closet to catalog pictures of your clothes, customizable categories, a calendar to plan what to wear, a worn history log to track how often clothes are worn, a style inspiration library and an outfit creator to let users build outfits and mood boards. The app is designed to help you carefully curate your wardrobe so you can look effortlessly chic everyday.


They want you to get the most out of what you already have in your closet and to choose new pieces that will integrate well into your wardrobe as a whole. Stylebook currently runs on the iPhone and iPod Touch; an iPad version is in the works.


  • Shopping - Use advanced search to shop the catalogs of over 7,000 retailers for items in your budget - then add the item's image directly to your virtual closet to try with your own clothes.
  • Packing List - Plan the outfits and individual items you want to bring on your next vacation using the packing list feature
  • Style Expert - Read weekly wardrobe, shopping, and clothing care advice from fashion insiders like Kareen Mallet of Neiman Marcus in Style Q&A

Connect with Stylebook App Website, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter





Mouse Tales® Travel is staffed by a unique group of true “Disney Fans” who specialize in making your Disney vacation plans come true. There is never a fee for their services – yes, it’s FREE! – and they will make your resort reservations, arrange dining and special events, and keep constant watch on promotions and special offers even after you’ve paid for your vacation.

Whether your plans involve Walt Disney World, Disneyland, the Disney Cruise Line, or the exciting destinations of Adventures by Disney, their specialized knowledge of Disney destinations allows their Mouse Tales team to tailor a custom experience that is just right for you and your family. Their travel planners are all experienced in the various Disney properties, and are graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge; an industry designation that they have earned and are very proud of!

At Mouse Tales® Travel, they will treat your vacation plans as if they were our very own, and will work hard to ensure you get the best value available. So contact Mouse Tales® Travel before you book your next Disney trip and let them make your vacation dreams come true!

2013 vacation pricing is now available for Walt Disney World and Disneyland! Contact Kimberly for more information!

 

My pal Holly Bohn is the Founder and Creative Director of See Jane Work.
 

Yes we are busy, but we can still have fun. And we can still express our individuality. That is why See Jane Work was born. They know you don't have time to search every website that comes up on Google looking for a notebook that says a little more about you than, "I got a coupon in the mail from Office Mart." You want something that says, "I am unique. I have style. I will not wear sweatpants to a meeting with a client ever again, no matter how late I am running." 

They feel inspiration comes a little easier to those writing their thoughts in a pink leather journal rather than on the back of an envelope.


See Jane Work appreciates your business, so much so that they have created Jane's Rewards; a way for you to earn points doing what you love... shopping at seejanework.com.



See Jane Work has a new line available exclusively at Office Depot!




You can connect with See Jane Work by checking out their website here, their Facebook page here and following them on Twitter here.
 

 
Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Oreck Corporation is a leading manufacturer in the homecare industry, offering a variety of vacuum, air purification and other cleaning products. Oreck sells its products in hundreds of Oreck Clean Home Centers, direct to consumers and through other leading retailers. The company distributes products in the U.S., Canada and parts of Europe. For more information, please visit www.oreck.com.


Connect with Oreck on TwitterPinterestFacebookYouTube and Google+.



Cynthia Murray, Professional Home Organizer and Coach, shows how to rid of the clutter, stress and frustration and bring back relaxation and comfort to your home.

In her free video presentation, she reveals secrets to get rid of clutter with style... while keeping your family on board!

Cynthia has helped many people one-on-one and knows what it takes to rid of the clutter and stress and get control back.





Fridge Coasters are beautifully designed, super absorbent "liners" that fit inside every refrigerator no matter the manufacturer or refrigerator model you own. All coasters are designed with perforation lines to ensure a snug fit.

Fridge Coasters should be placed in high traffic areas inside your refrigerator; under produce in the crisper bins and under milk and salad dressing in the doors. Fridge Coasters are the ultimate multi-tasker. In addition to providing functional fashion for your fridge, try them on the wire racks in your pantry, underneath the kitchen sink or in your laundry room under the detergent. The possibilities are endless. They come in 3 useful sizes: door coaster, original shelf and bin coaster: place in shallow deli/drawer bins and large bin coaster: place in veggie bins or directly on the shelf surface.

More fun facts about Fridge Coaster: 
  • They are EcoFriendly: made from 30% post consumer product and are 100% recyclable 
  • FREE shipping on our website when you spend $30 or more 
  • They are the PERFECT housewarming or hostess gift 
  • Fridge Coasters come in 4 great colors and 3 fun prints, sure to add fashion and function to every fridge! 






Receive FREE shipping on the Fridge Coaster website when you spend $30 or more! They also ship to Canada!

 



Michelle runs a time and money saving blog that is sure to make all of your lives easier!  Michelle's title says it all.  It's quite amazing really and absolutely worth looking at.  YOU can cook 5 dinners in just ONE hour too!!

Here's how:
Michelle has created a plan to cook all 5 dinners for the week in just ONE hour. All the menu plans have family friendly meals that feed 4-6 people and no, they are not all casseroles.

The meals are fresh, not frozen. They keep in your refrigerator until ready to heat and eat!

You could spend one hour on a Saturday or Sunday preparing 5 meals for your busy week!!  Yep, it only costs you the cost of the groceries and the one hour time investment, and you have meals for the whole week!  Done!




Not only does the fact that you can make 5 dinners in one hour sound incredible, but nothing is better than coming home from work and having your dinner already prepared before you run off to that kiddo's sporting event or music lesson.  It saves money on eating out and causes so much less stress in trying to find time to feed your family on a busy work/school night!  This is such music to this mom's ears I tell you!!!


Michelle is so kind to share a special promotion, just for you IHeart Organizing readers!  Subscribe here and use the coupon code "NEW12" to get 20% off subscriptions.
 
You can find all the rest of the details right here on Michelle's blog.



 


Janery is an online home accessories boutique offering handmade pillows & coordinating pet beds, fabulous sunglasses case, and reusable shopping & produce bags.


Sign up for the Janery newsletter to be notified when the shop celebrates the Post-Wedding Grand Re-Opening!

Amidst the wedding-planning-madness, you can find Jane blogging about decorating a rental home over at The Borrowed Abode.

You can follow Janery and The Borrowed Abode on Twitter or Facebook .


 


Buttoned Up, Inc. was founded in 2004 by four women, three sisters and a best friend...

They realized the necessity for a tool like Life.doc after experiencing significant life changes − from moving across the country to setting up house after 9/11 to getting divorced after 38 years of marriage to having kids and grand-kids. Each of them felt the need to get their lives organized but were unable to find products that could help them control their chaos. They wanted to be liberated from the rigid organizational systems that they bought annually and stopped using after just a few weeks.

After several years of trial, error, effort and research, they started Buttoned Up whose mission is to give women the tools they need to live an organized life not a life of organization.

They currently offer all sorts of great document kits to keep you organized in every aspect of your life!

{Life.doc, Moving.kit, File.starter, Medical.doc}


You can also find all sorts of organizing tips and topics they share on their blog and incredible freebie organizing printables here:


 

 


Uppercase Living embellishments and expressions are the ideal decor item because they are an unforgettable way to express your unique style and personality.  Expressions are made of a very thin, flexible, vinyl and they are backed with a light adhesive for easy application.  They can be applied to just about any clean, smooth, and weather-resistant surface and remove easily with no trace that it was ever there!


They have endless customization options, to help you with any organizing project!






Contact Chrissy with any questions, through her Uppercase Living website here.

 
If you regularly read organizing books, newsletters and blogs but still struggle to create the organization you are after, simplify 101 is the perfect solution for you. In addition to organizing tips and ideas, Simplify 101 offers one-on-one coaching and online workshops. The beauty of their online workshops is that they are:

guided by experts. Our workshops are taught by subject matter experts who are available to answer your questions. We’re committed to keeping you motivated and on track to achieve your organization goals. (Try that with a book or blog post!)

friendly and supportive. You’ll gain exclusive access to the supportive and friendly simplify 101 online community. You’ll be motivated and inspired by people with similar goals.

adaptable. We don't prescribe a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, our workshops make it simple for you to incorporate your own personal style and ideas into your organizing solutions!

IHeart Organizing readers can get 15% off their current workshops by entering coupon code IHEARTAUG during checkout through August 2, 2012. This coupon excludes instant downloads and may not be combined with any other coupon codes.


Do you feel like your days are out of control as you bounce from one task to another? Do you feel like your to-do list is never ending with little room for guilt-free fun? If you're dissatisfied with your current approach to managing your time and your to-do list, It's About Time is for you! In this online workshop, you'll learn how to make the most of your time—so you can have more fun and get more done!

It's About Time doesn't prescribe a one-size-fits-all approach to time or task management. Instead, you'll pinpoint the ways you'd like to change how you spend your time and manage your to-dos, and with the ideas and techniques presented in the lessons, you'll create a customized approach to time and task management—one that works for you. View the entire class syllabus here. The workshop begins Thursday, August 16, 2012.


Do you find yourself fighting the same clutter hotspots throughout your home again and again? In simplify 101's online workshop Quick + Simple Clutter Control, you'll learn professional organizer Aby Garvey's clutter control secrets. Using simple, straightforward (and fun!) methods, you'll learn how to eliminate your clutter hot-spots and begin creating habits that will allow you to keep clutter at bay. In this three-week, two-lesson workshop you will take action, clear clutter, and stay motivated with the encouragement and support of Aby and the simplify 101 online community. Class begins Thursday, August 16, 2012.

My readers can get 15% off enrollment in either of these workshops. To take advantage of this offer, enter HEART15AUG during checkout. This coupon is good through August 2, 2012 and may not be combined with any other offers.

Simplify 101’s mission is to make getting organized fun! Get a taste of simplify 101—and the organized life—with their FREE, simple-to-follow guide How to Create a Command Central Binder   You’ll put together a home reference binder that will help you get organized, save time, and minimize paper clutter and the stress that comes along with it!


Visit simplify101.com for more, and follow them on the blog, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter!




Our Humble A{Bowe}d is a blog dedicated to all things home improvement ranging from small decorating projects to room makeovers to complete remodels. Ben and Amanda finished a complete kitchen remodel before selling their first house.


Follow along as they tackle projects on their new fixer upper.


Projects on the new house range from gutting a whole bathroom and putting it back together to smaller tasks like painted stripe curtains.


And, Our Humble A{Bowe}d can help you spruce up your home with items from their Etsy shop. Show some love with a new Love Heart print in any color you would like!
Or celebrate your family with The Whole Family Tree Cut Out:


You can follow Our Humble A{Bowe}d Blog here and "Like" them on Facebook here.

 

Thirty-One offers stylish, affordable products that are exclusive to Thirty-One.  From their signature purses and totes to storage solutions that help organize your life, you'll find something to fit every personality and situation!  Each season, they develop new products built on the idea that their products must be functional, fashionable and affordable {and of course make great gifts}!  One fun feature of Thirty-One is that a good majority of their products can be personalized!
Send Erica your email address if you would like to be added to her monthly mailing list and stay up to date with all the specials and exciting new things coming from Thirty-One. Ask to be added and receive 10% off your FIRST order!
Erica has also recently created a Facebook Group specifically for her VIP Customers.  Feel free to join as there will be monthly giveaways and other fun to participate in!!  
Contact Erica McKinley with any additional questions or for assistance placing an order and find her website here!




Many thanks again to all those who support this happy place!  My appreciation is endless!