Morning Make up Made Easy

How much time do you spend putting on makeup each day?  In the morning when your rushing around there's little time to hunt for your makeup.  The client's problem:  Too much makeup jumbled together and too hard to find.  The solution:  Organizing the make up so what is needed can be seen at a quick glance. This helps in two ways, it reduces the make up time and saves money making it less likely to purchase items already there.  I used 4 acrylic cases, 2 with 4 adjustable compartments, 1 with multi compartments and 1 with a large space.  For the brushes, mascara, lip and eye pencils I used large clear acrylic cups found at Target.  The acrylic cases can be found at The Container Store, Home Goods, and the Christmas Tree Shops.  First, we purged unwanted items.  Next the case compartments were filled with like items giving allowances for larger collections.  Last, I labeled the compartments by item and shape.  Here is the finished result.  See my Pinterest page for makeup storage ideas.

organized makeup station

Summer Cell Phone Use for Kids

Organizing Kids and Cell phones for Summer

School is out and summer is in full swing with activities to keep your child engaged and active.   While packing for camp don't forget the cell phone and charger. While some camps restrict the use of cell phones others are embracing the concept.  Kids are getting cell phones at younger ages and have learned to email, tweet, and share photos.  What a terrific way to share your child's experience on a nature walk or hike. Technology has also changed letter writing days of the past and made communication instant for the busy parent.  Keeping this in mind if you have decided to send your child away with his/her cell phone here are a few tips that may help you to save time, money, and worry.

• Keep the battery charged, activate the low battery alert signal in the phone settings
• Put a name tag on the cell with contact number
• Turn on the phone's GPS, this will help if your child or cell is lost provided the battery is charged
• Download an app locator service, you can lock the phone to prevent thieves from using it
• Insure the phone to obtain a replacement if it is damaged or stolen
• Get a water resistant shockproof case with a clip or strap, this prevents damage to the phone itself and makes it easier to carry.
• Analyze your child's cell phone use by activating the minute use report, it may be beneficial to get an unlimited use option plan
• Use a Prepaid phone
• Activate wireless locator, Major cell phone providers have free Wi-fi spots
• Go over acceptable use policies with your child to ensure they follow proper cell phone use guidelines.
• Use pre-typed message apps on your cell phone to send positive mini greetings to your child

See my Pinterest page for photos and products mentioned.

Spring Wardrobe Spruce Up

Busy career women have so little time in the morning to get the kids off to school, eat breakfast, and put on makeup.  Here are some tips on how to put together a finished look for a busy day to put your best foot forward.

• Look over your wardrobe
• Purge clothing that doesn't fit or has been unworn.
• Place tops, bottoms, belts, earring, and jewelry together on a hanger ready to pull out of the closet ready to wear.
• Put shoes and handbags together that match the outfit.

You will save time in the morning, look energized, and maybe have more time to make up your face.

Contemporary Whiteboard Organizer

My latest spring cleanup organizing dilemma was figuring out a way to dress up a dry erase white board for the laundry closet.  We needed a quick and visual way to be reminded of household chores appointments, tasks, and events at a glance.  Here is the finished product using a plain white dry erase board, decorative duck tape, scissors, magnets, and a P touch Labeler.

1. First clean the white board with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. 
2. Measure sections with a ruler and draw lines with a pencil.  High school math time, (Length of board divided by desired number of spaces).  Tip; tape off the top and bottom border prior to measuring.
3. Next tape off sections on the board cutting off excess tape with scissors.  On the left of the board I put the days of the week.  This is where I record our weekly chores.   Download the paper version at TPT.  The right side has a large section for shopping and two smaller sections for appointments/meetings/messages.  
4. To finish it up, label the sections.  I used a P Touch Labeler, found at Office Depot on sale for $10!  
5. Use magnets to attach notes and business cards.  The magnets came with the board, some are plain, others have email icons, clocks, envelopes and people.
6. Tape a piece of stick on Velcro and attach the dry erase marker.
7. Hang and enjoy.

Whiteboard Organizer