Virtual Reality Vacation Organizing

Virtual Vacationing?

The Holidays are approaching and travel is eminent whether your going next door, across town, to Grandma's house, or exploring an exotic country.  Multigenerational Vacationing, one of AAA travel trends for 2016, forecasted that family members of different generations would take excursions together in one big group.  However, if this type of travel is not in your realm of possibilities why not take the family on a virtual trip, a simulated experience that does not sacrifice safety or expense.

Virtual Reality.  VR for short, is a computer simulated world or scenario, real or imaginary in which a user may interact with objects or living things in real time. Binocular goggles are sometimes used to simulate the appearance of objects in three dimensions with the use of a smart phone.  Experience skydiving in the mountains, surf the Hawaiian waves, ride an amusement park roller coaster, visit exotic travel destinations, or play Where's Waldo in Santa Monica Pier.  Organizing vacations with VR gives viewers a realistic preview of vacation destinations which can weed out options that may not prove as interesting as presented in travel brochures or websites.  Everyone can participate in VR and it doesn't take a lot of energy especially after that big Thanksgiving meal. 

There are many free VR apps on Google Play or videos on You Tube that can be downloaded for hours of fun.  Headsets range from $15 to $350 complete with bells and whistles found in TJ Maxx,

Virtual Reality Googles

Smartphone Compartment

Walmart, or your local Big Box store.  Some are even made with cardboard for the environmentally conscious.  
There is something for all ages and interest levels. 

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary. Retrieved October 31, 2016 from Dictionary.com website

21st Birthday Memory Album $1 Scrapbook Project

What happened to the days of taking a picture with a camera, putting it in a photo album and placing it on display?   Modern Scrapbooking, a method which took shape in the 1980s preserves photos, personal and family history in an embellished album format.  The sale and manufacturing of scrapbook supplies has currently made it a multi-billion dollar business with the advent of Digital Scrapbooking sites like Pinterest 

Years ago while shopping I found a cute mini 4x6 album in the dollar bin at a discount store.  It was sea green with a silver inset plastic window.   Inside of it was a champagne bottle with the number 21 centered in silver scalloped background paper embellished with the repeated words Happy Birthday.  My daughter was 14 at the time so I put the project on my scrapbook list, it was a little early but I figured where would I find this again when my daughter turns 21?  Well the cute little album sat in my keepsake box for nearly 10 years.  I had forgotten all about it.  My daughter's 21st birthday came and went.  One day in August while looking through the box I saw the album.  Still encased in shrink wrap, untouched just like new.  Determined to finish this endeavor I eagerly reached for my scrapbooking supplies only to discover I had no photos to put in it.  Mani was away at college at the time, one of the few birthdays we spent apart.  Luckily for me four weeks later after several nagging phone calls to my daughter, (All children just love that don't they?) she supplied me with the photos she sent up in 'The Cloud', 2 cell phones and 4 years earlier.  I couldn't believe they were still there, scary but true.  Here is the finished product, late but it turned out great.

 

 

On Friday, September 25, 2015 Mani turned 25 her 'Golden Birthday'.  I decided to do something much simpler.......we went to Mortons.

2 Step Low Cost Apartment Decorating Ideas

1.  Wake Up a White Wall with Scrap-booking Paper. 

I wanted to create a dynamic entryway without spending a bundle of money.  Wallpaper is hard to find, really expensive, and generally has to be ordered with a long wait time of at least a week.  I found an inexpensive fast way to create a mock wallpaper display.  Michaels and JoAnn Craft Stores have an assortment of gorgeous scrapbook paper to delight anyone's artistic fancy that can be used for many purposes.  I chose the 48 Sheet  Far East 12x12 Acid Free Printed Cardstack and mixed it with a Neutral Metallics Cardstock stack of the same size.  Luckily they were on sale and I got the two for $19.99.  (I would advise cleaning and or painting the wall waiting a few hours until the wall is dry).  Creating a checkerboard pattern I laid the squares on the floor and taped them together on the backsides.  Starting at the bottom of the wall I affixed the paper, 3 squares at a time.  To form a border at the top I cut up 1 square of metallic paper in 2" strips.  I used a glue gun at the top and bottom corner to affix it to the wall.

 I used about 36 squares for the finished wall.

2.  Create a Cozy Table For Two

Make dining a delight in your own home by setting up a restaurant style atmosphere.  The table is a glass fold up, 60" round top.  I had an existing cream textured tablecloth, purchased a chocolate brown round table cloth at Roses for under $5 to cover the table/.  To make it interesting I tied knots in 4 places on the sides of the table attaching them with clear miniature hair elastics.  The table is topped with silk flowers, gold platters, Studio Nova Rose Chinz China, Grace's Teaware found at T.J. Maxx, and Pottery Barn Wine Glasses.  The refurbished chairs were $12 each at the Habitat ReStore.  I spray painted them with white Krylon Gloss, added chair cushions, and fashioned 2 pillows by cutting down 1 large silk faux rose wine colored pillow from Pier 1 Imports.

Organizing For Guys and Gals Summer Series - Tidying Your Toolbox

On occasion my clients have consulted with me about organizing their husbands and mates.   Organizing can be considered a chore unless the individual has adopted ownership of the items in question.  Seems simple but the reality is that people take care of things they appreciate.  Starting with items that are of value can assist in promoting interest, productivity, and organization.  

Tools once thought of as strictly for men is one of those valued commodities.  Locating tools to begin a project can be a deterrent costing time and money especially when they are not within easy reach.  This is not a problem isolated to men now that women are developing increasing interest in them since the insurgence of the home improvement movement.  Slate Magazine discusses why women are suddenly really into power tools, saving money, and making furniture.  So with that in mind, here is a suggestion on how to tidy up a tool box in minutes.

Messy Toolbox basket

Inside Messy Toolbox

Advance Prep: Purchase Containers found at Marshalls, TJ Maxx or other retailer.  Also obtain peg board, hooks, and screws at your local Home Depot.
Tool boxes can also be found in various sizes, colors, and styles.

 Madesmart 3x3, 3x6, 3x9

Step 1. Purge, Empty, and wipe out inside of toolbox.

Step 2.  Arrange Bottom Layer of toolbox.

Step 3.  Arrange Middle Layer of toolbox, placing trays on top of the 1st.

4.  Place tray on Top Layer.

Step 5.  Close toolbox and label screws, nuts, bolts compartments.

 

 

 

 

Larger tools can be hung on a peg board for quick and easy access.  Peg boards can be found inexpensively in all sizes at your local home improvement store.

Peg basket - not recommended for heavy items

 
References:   Slate Magazine, Drill Baby Drill

January is Go Month

Get Organized Month ends with a blast.

Historic Blizzard 2016  had the North East cleaning up more than snow.  We heard and dealt with roof collapses, flooding, and other misnomers that make me grateful that it's finally over.  My prayers and condolences to those who lost loved ones and are dealing with strife left behind by the storm. A special thanks goes out to the gentleman who helped me dig my car out, chivalry is not dead ladies.

Cases of Cabin Fever ran rampant as we were trapped in our neighborhoods waiting for side streets to be plowed keeping us from the fast paced routine called life.  After hours of sitting around binge watching our favorite TV shows, we tackled those crammed up spaces that screamed for organization from the list of things to do written last storm, tucked away on a bulletin board overflowing with souvenirs and business cards.  After the big dig we all head back to life as usual and just in case you weren't so productive here is a Blizzard List Freebie to help you prepare until the next time.