Tomorrow and the rest of the week will be filled with giveaways too! I know how you all love to win! We have some special giveaways lined up from Betty Crocker, the new cupcake book from What’s New Cupcake authors and of course you can win MY new book too…Cupcakes! 12 Months of Happiness!

A little while back, I shared our Home Goals List with you, and told you about how the office really needs to be finished. Specifically a new desk {currently I’m working on a folding table} and also an area to organize paperwork.

I have been looking for some inspiration and trying to figure out just how I wanted Doug to build a new Office Desk for me. I’ve been adding some ideas to my Pinterest DIY Board and came across a couple that inspired me.

This desk is part of an amazing Craft Room shared by Being Brook.  She used the instructions from another great blog that is new to me, Ana White Homemaker, she has amazing ideas with lots of instructions.

I love all the storage under this desk from Between Naps on the Porch.

So we headed to The Home Depot, looked around and got some prices and figured out what we wanted. Then Doug and Andrew headed over yesterday to pick up the wood.

Stay tuned for the DIY instructions, update and then the big reveal!

What has inspired you this week?

A little while back I told you about the DAP Seal Your Home Blogger Challenge. Funny how these little challenges force you to get things done. There were several things on our list, and we are still working on a couple, but wanted to share with you some tips so you can start weatherizing your home.

Don’t let this first project alarm you, I almost fell over when Doug showed me this hole on the outside of our home. And YES you could see all the way through to the basement..gasp!

Doug filled the hole with plastic bags (a great way to re-purpose all those shopping bags) and then filled it with DAP Multi-Purpose Foam Sealant. It was quick and easy, about a 5 minute job and it will definitely keep cold air out of our home!

The next project is also on the outside of our home, not quite so drastic though.

Doug used DAP Acrylic Latex Caulk Plus Silicone and a caulking gun to complete this job. It was very simple, just remove any loose debris and old caulk and apply a bead of caulk where the siding and pipe meet. Smooth out with your finger or you can use any number of tools available at your local hardware store for just such a job.

Next we headed inside to get some of the outlets filled with foam sealant.

I’m behind the camera today and Doug is sharing with you how easy it is to fill the holes around your outlets.

AND don’t forget to enter the DAP Seal Your Home and Win Contest, all you have to do is tell them how you saved energy in your home. Four lucky grand prize winners! Each winner will receive a check for $2,500 to use towards their annual energy costs!

Remember: Always read and follow the directions on the products for the best results.

Disclosure: DAP partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Seal Your Home” Blogger Challenge.  As part of that program, I received compensation.  They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used for the “Seal Your Home” Blogger Challenge. DAP believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. DAP’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Not only is it dark and hard to take photos in, it’s also very manly.

See…it says “A Man Has To Do What A Man Has To Do”…seriously?

And the walls…yes, an ugly burnt orange color!

So this is where you…my much loved readers come in…

What color should I paint?

Glidden has graciously offered me some paint to give my ugly office a makeover! AND check out this little button below {it’s also in my sidebar}…the one that says..”Click Here for a Valuable Coupon”…go ahead! Click! You will get a coupon for $3 off per gallon or try a couple of the Glidden testers for $3 off!

And here’s where you all come in…

• Tell me what color would be good…keep in mind I need to shoot photos of food in the office
• Do you have a DIY desk that Doug could make for me?
• What are some fun accessories?
• Remember the French Cottage Office I designed for the Apartment Guide Sweepstakes? Should I copy that?

I REALLY appreciate your feedback!! You all ROCK!!

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. As always, the opinions are my own.

What lies ahead? Schedules, sports practices and games, homework, lunches, events, meetings, we can go on and on.

It was my intention to just post some ideas for you once, but when I started looking around, there are simply too many great ideas to fit into one post. So, all this week and maybe next week, I will be tackling some of those issues for you like; Organizing Tips, Easy Make Ahead Recipes, First of School Photo Ideas and of course, more Back to School Cupcakes, just to name a few.

As I’ve mentioned a few times, my boys go back to school this week. And although they are older {one in college, one in high school and one in middle school} I still need to stay organized to keep up with everything I need to accomplish.

Today we are chatting about Organizing Tips. While I like to think of myself as an organized Mom, at least most of the time, there is always room for new ideas and improvement.

Create a Command Center

I love this area! I have seen the photo on several different blogs and couldn’t seem to trace it back to it’s original owner. One of the blogs I came across during my search was Beach and Barn, they share more great ideas for Command Centers too! I love how even though it’s a small space, it accomplishes a lot. We have an area near our back door that I have been wanting to re-do almost since we moved in nearly 3 years ago. Maybe it will happen soon.

This Command Center that was shared by Katherine Marie, is brilliant! I love the little clipboards to hold information for each day of the week. And the chalkboard…to die for!

Family Calendar

We currently have this simple system, with a large calendar that holds all the events and appointments, and I color code each family member. Doug thinks I’m crazy for doing it like that, but honestly, it has helped so much. The boys come into my office, look at the calendar and know exactly what item is theirs. The wipe-off board is for all my posts that are due.

Organize Papers

One of the organizing tools I used when my boys were younger was this box for papers. There are tons of artwork, school papers, certificates, awards and so on that you need to keep. Any file box will do, then just get some hanging folders to divide out the years and simply slip the papers into the appropriate folder.

This box is also another good place to keep medical and dental records.

Taming Homework Time

Creating a Homework Box to hold all the supplies that might be needed during Homework Time is easy and can save you tons of time when you are searching for the supplies.

Organize Dinner Time

I know you have heard me talk tons about Menu Planning, specifically Monthly Menu Planning. It’s absolutely one of the easiest ways to organize your time in the kitchen, especially now, when the kids come home from school and there is homework, sports practice, games, and meetings.

Share your organizing tips with us!!

Linking to…Works For Me Wednesday, Show and Tell Friday

Many years ago, when my boys were all young, I created a Homework Box. It’s important to have all of the supplies that they need at school, but what about when they come home from school and need supplies to complete their homework?

You can make your Homework Box as simple or complex as you need. I added some of the items that my teenagers will need, but just had to add the cute border too. The border comes in long strips, that teachers can also use in classroom decorating. I just used Modge Podge to apply it to the box.

I bought all the supplies at Walmart, here is what I got…

• Plastic Storage Box $2.47 {love how the handles lock to close}
• Markers, Colored Pencils and Red Ink Pens $.97 each
• Dixon Pencils $.94
• Ruler and Pencil Sharpener $.97 each
• Index Cards $.64
• Calculator and Erasers $1 each
• Correction Tape and Sharpie Highlighters $1.47 each
• Scotch Tape $.97
• Post it Notes $1.97
• Decor Border $.97

What can I say? I’m a little geeky when it comes to school supplies. I even filled a tote bag to donate to a local teacher, watch for that next week!

The ideas are endless for storage boxes…

• Pack snacks for after school or practice. Tiffany from Eat at Home has a awesome new series starting, Drive.Play.Feed.Sports Season Suppers
• Fill with “quiet” toys for toddlers
• Crafting? Fill it with each type of craft supply you need
• Bake cookies? Fill with cookie cutters like Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle does
• And of course, we can’t forget about cupcake decorating supplies, watch for a tutorial on this soon!

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation  for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.

Linking to…Weekend Wrapup Party, Saturday Night Special, Made By You Monday, Transformation Thursday, Get Your Craft On

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While during a recent trip to Walmart, Doug and I were looking around for something to hold some grilling supplies. Unfortunately, we didn’t find what we wanted, but we decided to make one ourselves. And I thought you all might enjoy it!

It’s super easy, let’s gather our supplies…

• Large rectangle basket {found near the crafts & floral supplies}
• 3 dowel rods {found in the craft aisle, 1/4 inch $.37 each}
• White Paint {found in the craft aisle $.97}
• Krylon Polyurethane Matte Finish {in the paint section $3.24}
• Foam brushes {in the craft aisle $.97}
• Sugar Jar {found near the kitchen accessories $.97 each}
• Salt & Pepper Shakers {found near the kitchen accessories $.47}
• Tablecloth {Better Homes & Gardens Plastic $3.00 on clearance}
• Plastic plates {left over from my Picnic basket}
• Napkins and silverware {in the party section $.97 each}
• Grilling Supplies that you have on hand or purchase them.

I bought everything at Walmart.

Instructions:

1. Paint all of the dowel rods and let dry.
2. Measure each to fit the basket, mark and cut to fit.
3. Spray basket with Krylon to protect it from the weather

Picnic Caddy…

• Plates, Napkins and Silverware
• Condiments
• Salt & Pepper

A simple swap out of the tablecloth, plates and napkins {found near the party section}…makes it perfect for a 4th of July Celebration.

Grilling Caddy…

• Fill the sugar jars with Seasoning Salt, Kosher Salt or other seasoning that you like to grill with
• Grilling Utensils
• Towel & Grilling Mit
• Barbecue Sauce and basting brush
• Meat thermometer
• Salt & Pepper

I think this would also make a great birthday gift or even a gift for a wedding or shower. You could change the size of the basket and make a baby shower gift.

Gratitude Journal: I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be a Walmart Mom. I appreciate all of the opportunities that they give me.

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation  for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.

I’m linking to…Show Me How, Show & Tell Friday, Frugal Friday

I knew that at some point I could give it new life and have the perfect spot for it. My office has become a bit overwhelming, to say the least, and I definitely work much better when everything is organized.

With just a few cans of spray paint and some scrapbooking supplies that I had on hand for the Cupcake Pinwheels, I created not only a spot to keep things organized, but it’s also really cute. Especially the Cupcake Pinwheel Garland!

First, the Baker’s Rack…

Doug helped with the painting, he used Krylon gray primer and then I found some paint on clearance at Walmart. Bahama Sea…I think spray paint is my new best friend!

While it was drying, I made the Cupcake Pinwheel Garland. Last year, when I made the Pinwheel Garland for the Summer Mantel, I knew there would be more Pinwheels to come. With some cute cupcake scrapbook in hand, I gathered up the supplies…

Cupcake Pinwheel Garland Supplies:

• Scrapbook Paper
• Brads
• Tiny Clothespins {I found these at Walmart in the office supplie area}
• Glue

Since I already shared the tutorial on how to make the pinwheels, I won’t bore you again. Head on over and check it out!

Aren’t they pretty? The thing I love about the Pinwheels is that they are so versatile. Put a stick on them for cute plant decoration, and be sure to watch soon for a fun Pinwheel Cupcake!

Add the pinwheels to a ribbon with the clothespins.

I just love being organized!!

I’m linking to…Spray Paint Party over at Thrifty Decor Chick, Get Your Craft On

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