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Sherrie Le Masurier - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
Sherrie Le Masurier is a lifestyle columnist, organizing consultant, and co-founder of three organizing and decorating websites. She also offers up smart solutions for busy families via Family Sanity Savers and School Lunch Ideas.
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- How to Properly Store Kitchen Utensils
[Home-Improvement:Kitchen-Improvements] When it comes to storing kitchen utensils there are many options. Your best option however is one that works with the flow of your kitchen. What types of cooking related tasks take place in your kitchen? Aside from flipping pancakes, stirring sauces, and serving soup do you also spend a lot of time chopping vegetables? After considering the many tasks performed in your kitchen, turn your thoughts to where and how the related utensils should be stored. If you simply toss random utensils in a drawer or container you'll have to sort though the entire collection, just to find the one you want.
- How to Organize a Kitchen
[Home-Improvement:Kitchen-Improvements] There's no doubt about it, a well-organized kitchen is an efficient one. Learning how to organize your kitchen is easy if you keep a few key factors in mind. This article features the importance of purging yourself of kitchen items you don't need, discusses the importance of replacing (or in some cases repairing) things that don't work properly, as well as the importance of storing items close to where they'll be used. You'll also learn why keeping your counters clutter-free is important and why taking the time to clean as you go saves you time in the long run.
- 5 Tips For Creating a Kitchen That Flows
[Home-Improvement:Kitchen-Improvements] When it comes to organizing your kitchen you need to consider how best to make it flow so it works with your lifestyle. In other words, consider what works and what doesn't in the current set up of your kitchen and come up with some better alternatives. Sometimes it's simply a matter of trying a new system to see if it works. Remember no organizational system is carved in stone. Try different kitchen set-ups and make note of how each has improved or hampered the flow.
- 5 Steps to Creating an Efficient Kitchen
[Home-Improvement:Kitchen-Improvements] An efficient kitchen is essentially one that reflects your lifestyle. It involves organizing systems that meet your daily needs and help streamline your activities. An organized and efficient kitchen is also a neat and tidy one because everything has both a purpose and a place.
- How To Select The Right Color For Your Kid's Room
[Home-Improvement:Painting] Selecting the right color for your kid's room is easy if you gather up a little inspiration first. Consider useful resources like paint chips, fabric swatches and photos of decorated kid rooms you like. You and your child may even want to put together an idea book which also includes photos of furnishings and accessories you can envision in your kid's room.
- How To Decorate A Kid Room With Decorative Letters, Words And Sayings
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] If you're looking for a trendy yet inexpensive way to decorate the walls of a kid room consider adding quotes, words or sayings. Vinyl wall lettering is a great option for parents seeking a hand stenciled look at a fraction of the cost. It's a fun way to achieve a custom, personalized look in a kid room that's already painted.
- Kid Lunch Recipe Ideas - Looking For a New Twist on Tuna Salad?
[Food-and-Drink:Recipes] Does your child love tuna? If so, and you're tired of making yet another ordinary tuna salad sandwich what about making up some fun tuna swirls, muffins, pasta salad and 'Sunflower' twist on your standard tuna salad recipe?
- How to Plan and Design a Bedroom Fit for a Teen
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] It's time to turn your kid room into one fit for a teen. But where do you start? First of all you need to evaluate the space you have in terms of size and shape. The best way to do this is to empty your room completely. By emptying your bedroom of its contents you can also evaluate the condition of the walls, floor, windows, doors and trim.
- How To Prep Your Teen Room For Painting
[Home-Improvement:Painting] Call in the troops - gather as many friends together as can reasonably fit in your teen room and be productive; and turn the event into a fun painting party. As an incentive promise your friends you'll order pizza afterwards and return the favor when it comes time to makeover their own bedrooms (which chances are good they'll be doing sooner than later once they see how awesome your teen room turned out).
- What Color Should I Paint My Teen Room?
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] Never underestimate the power of a good color. When it comes to deciding on a color to paint your teen room give some thought to your favorite colors and the feelings you attach to them.
- How to Make Over a Teenage Boy's Bedroom
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] When it comes to a teenage boy bedroom makeover it's important to consider the kind of bedroom decor which appeals to you most. Give some thought to not only paint colors, wall treatments, wall art and bedding but things like furniture and shelving as well. Any teenage boy bedroom makeover should be a reflection of you and your unique personality.
- How to Decorate a Teenage Girl's Bedroom
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] When it comes to decorating a teenage girl bedroom the Internet is your shopping mall. First off, do some online window shopping for a little inspiration and see what's available to coordinate the look and feel you want your girl room to have. There are all sorts of things you can use to decorate a teenage girl bedroom. For instance, a pretty duvet with coordinating pillows can really bring a teenage girl's room together.
- How to Properly Pop a Pimple So You Don't Make it Worse
[Health-and-Fitness:Acne] Okay, so you've got to pop that pimple. I understand how you feel, I can't help not popping my pimples either but there's a right and a wrong way to do it. What follows is the step-by-step process I follow each time I get the urge to pop a traditional red pimple or what is known as a whitehead.
- How to Pop a Pimple - What you Need and What you Should be Aware Of
[Health-and-Fitness:Acne] To safely pop a pimple it's important to arm yourself with the right tools and understand the risks associated with popping certain types of acne blemishes. Not all acne is the same. While some pimples can be effectively healed by popping others can be made worse.
- To Pop or Not to Pop Your Pimples
[Health-and-Fitness:Acne] When it comes to popping your pimples - how do you know if it's a wise thing to do or not? My experience has taught me that it's not worth it to try and force a pimple to pop. Sometimes your pimple isn't ready to be popped yet.
- 7 Healthy Child Lunch Box Tips & Ideas
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Packing a healthy child lunch your children will enjoy day in and day out certainly isn't an easy task. It's hard to keep coming up with fresh ideas for packed lunches for the 20 or so school days there are in a month. No wonder we often rely on the same old lunch recipe favorites. Here are a few of my favorite kid lunch box ideas. I'm sure you've heard some of them before but I'm hoping you’ll find a few new ideas to inspire you.
- Back To School Means Getting Your Kids Organized And Back On Track
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] There's no time like the present to start thinking about getting your kids organized for the school year. It's just like back to school shopping why fight the crowds the last week of August when you can get a jump start on things right now? I've spoken with several friends recently who have agreed one of their biggest hurdles each fall is getting their kids up and out each morning. Over coffee we discussed what works and what doesn't within their respective families.
- 10 Creative Ideas For Decorating And Organizing Your Dorm Room
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] The best way to start any dorm room decorating project is to select a quality comforter that not only reflects your personal style but can be used as the color or pattern foundation for your dorm room. Following are 10 creative ideas for decorating and organizing your dorm room for little money.
- Thinking Outside the Summer Camp Lunch Box
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] School may be out for the summer but if you've got kids in day camp chances are good you're still packing lunches. After ten months of school lunches most kids are tired of sandwiches and even once enjoyed lunch favorites hold little appeal. In my mind, the key to good camp lunches is to think outside the traditional 'lunch' box.
- Organizing - Is It Worth The Effort?
[Self-Improvement:Organizing] Is your home full of a multitude of things you don't love or even use? If so, think about how much energy this excessive clutter really takes up. I'm sure you've heard all about good energy and bad energy. Good energy comes from an organized home. Bad energy comes from cluttered surroundings and a home and lifestyle which leave you feeling nothing but drained.
- How to Save Money With a 'Green' Lunch Box
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Kid's lunches - they sure have come a long way from the days when I was a kid and when a meat sandwich, some cut-up carrots, a couple of homemade cookies, milk and piece of fruit were my lunch box staples.
A typical kid's lunch today contains pre-packaged foods like cheese and crackers, fruit cups and other individually portioned snacks that are not only not environmentally wise but also considerably more expensive.
- Super Salads - A Great Child Lunch Recipe Idea
[Food-and-Drink:Recipes] Some kids may not like salads but many do. If your child is anything like my 11 year old son, there is little else he likes more than taking a hearty salad to school. Among his favorite recipes are a pasta and bean salad I refer to as a Tex Mex Salad - our cold version of Pasta Primavera - a bean and bacon salad made with green beans - a broccoli and cauliflower salad with cheese and bacon - and a carrot, raisin and pineapple salad to ensure that he gets his daily quota of fruits and veggies.
- How To Find The Right Lamp Or Ceiling Light Fixture For Your Child's Bedroom
[Home-Improvement:Lighting] Before hitting the closest lighting retail outlet in search of the perfect child lamp or ceiling light fixture for your child's bedroom you need to first become familiar with the basic concepts of effective lighting. In any kid room you need to consider ambient, task and accent lighting.
- 5 Fun Lunch Ideas to Put a Smile on Your Child's Face
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] All it takes is one good lunch idea to put a smile on your child's face. What child won't love having a lunch that's the envy of her classmates?
- 10 Tips for Finding the Right Summer Camp for Your Kid
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] It's that time of year again when the thoughts of many busy parents turn to summer and the advance planning of it all. With our hectic work schedules sometimes the best option is to send our kids off to camp.
- How To Conquer Kids' Clutter In Five Easy Steps
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Tired of a constant mess? If you find yourself overwhelmed by your child's clutter get everyone involved in doing something about it. With these creative ideas you will make it easier for your child to maintain some reasonable form of organization.
- 10 Kid-Friendly Valentine Gift Ideas from the Heart
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] With February 14th just around the corner there's no better time than now to start thinking about creative ways to express your affection.
This Valentines Day take a few minutes out of your busy schedule and surprise your children with something that speaks volumes about how much they're loved.
All you need is a few supplies, a couple of different sized "heart" cookie cutters and lots of imagination.
- Creative Ways to Say "I Love You" Using Heart-shaped Cookie Cutters
[Food-and-Drink:Recipes] Whether it’s Valentines Day or any other day of the year, a heart-shaped gift speaks volumes about how much you care. So dig out those heart cookie cutters and get creative.
If you’re looking for a little inspiration here’s some of my favorite ‘cookie cutter’ ways to say I love you 365 days a year:
- Kid Room Storage Made Easy
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] One of the most genuine excuses kids have for not hanging up their clothes is they can't reach the rods. This is where an efficient closet organizer comes in. A child can't be independent if she can’t access her own clothing. A good kid room storage tip would be to incorporate a lower closet rod.
For taller kids or teens don't dismiss the idea of installing a second rod beneath the first to create double hang-up space.
- Is Your Child's Lunch Box Safe?
[Food-and-Drink] Did you know that your child can get food poisoning from food that has come in contact with the interior of her lunch box? To avoid food borne odors and possible food poisoning it’s important that lunch bags or boxes are routinely cleaned.
- What Goes Into A Healthy Kid Lunch?
[Food-and-Drink] A healthy and varied kid lunch box starts with having the essentials on hand. This includes a quality unbreakable thermos (for keeping foods either hot or cold), a thermal lunch bag (to preserve freshness), a freezer pack (to maintain a cool temperature), some plastic cutlery, a reusable drink box and an assortment of storage containers with tight-fitting lids. Once you have the basics of your kid lunch box assembled you can switch your focus to the kinds of nutritious foods you'll be packing.
- Organizing Kid Rooms Made Easy With Teamwork
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Whether you're decorating an empty kid’s room from scratch, freshening up their room with a little paint, creating a functional storage system or simply trying to clear the clutter - it's important that you work as a team. Decorating and organizing kid rooms takes teamwork. Of course, with babies and toddlers you need to take full control but as your children grow so should their responsibility in caring for their room.
- Creative Solutions For Priority Management At Home
[Self-Improvement:Time-Management] Identify the most harried moments in your day and devise a creative solution to get you thorough. Sometimes it comes down to a little priority management. For instance, the at home hours between returning home and eating dinner can be the most hectic, especially when you have ‘hungry’ little ones underfoot.
- An Organized Workspace Helps Keep Kids On Track
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Homework is a fact of life for most school kids and their parents. For me keeping my kids on track starts with creating a positive and well organized workspace. As a founder of a local neighborhood after school program, I have come up with a list of ideas I believe go along way to encouraging and enhancing homework completion. First and foremost, develop an organized homework routine.
- An Organized School Year In 10 Easy Steps
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Organizing your kids and keeping them organized throughout the school year can be a real challenge. But it doesn't have to be. With an effective organizational system, your family can experience a life without chaos and clutter. It all starts with establishing a system that works. As parents we're in the driver's seat when it comes to teaching our children how to be responsible individuals.
- How To Create A Fun & Functional Child Playroom
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] Play is what being a kid is all about. By creating a fun and functional child playroom we give our kids the best foundation there is.
Having a room where imagination fuels the play is where it’s at. Child playrooms are all about giving your children the space and the equipment needed to inspire play. All children need is imagination and a child playroom to be creative in.
- How To Use Color And Creativity To Store Kid Stuff
[Home-and-Family:Crafts-Hobbies] Are you overwhelmed by clothes, books and toys everywhere? If you answered yes, just imagine how your child feels. With so much kid stuff everywhere room cleaning is anything but fun.
That’s where a little color and creativity comes in. Conquering clutter doesn’t have to be a chore. With a solid plan and a little patience you can turn a messy child’s room into an organized environment in a matter of hours.
- Shared Bedrooms - How To Make It Work
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] If you have more children than you have space, it’s time for some creative solutions.
Sharing a bedroom means having two of everything – duplicate beds, dressers, storage units etc. To avoid conflict over who has the better desk or dresser consider the same furnishings for both children.
Their individuality is expressed in your creative approach to decorating each child’s own space.
- Decorating Tips For Teen Rooms
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] Teen rooms can be a real challenge but they don’t have to be. The most important thing to remember when decorating or redecorating a teen room is to keep an open mind and listen to your teen’s thoughts regarding her own space.
You see, teens have their own style and in most cases desire a room the reflects their individuality. For parents sometimes it’s hard to accept that our teens decorating ideas may not match our own.
- How To Plan Your Child's Bedroom Makeover
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] So your child wants a bedroom makeover. But where’s a parent to begin?
The best place to start is with your child. Talk to her about her current likes and dislikes. Knowing ahead of time what she favors and what she doesn’t will save a lot of time and unnecessary purchases later on.
- How To Raise Organized Children
[Home-and-Family:Parenting] Teaching kids to be organized is like shoveling while it’s snowing. It’s frustrating and at times you feel like you’re not getting anywhere. The good news is that it’s possible to raise organized children, the bad news is it isn’t a one shot deal.
First you have to realize that organizing is a process. It’s very much like helping them with their homework, it takes guidance and three crucial ‘P’s’ – planning, patience and perseverance.
- How To Create The Perfect Infant Nursery
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] Decorating and furnishing a nursery for your newborn is one of the most enjoyable do-it-yourself projects you can do.
That said, any decorating scheme should be carefully thought out and personal. Your infant’s nursery should be a place that comforts both you and your child during the bonding process.
Selecting the overall room color is your first step to creating just the right feel. For instance, a calm color scheme in aqua or sky blue gives a sense of space in an otherwise small room.
- Smart Time Management Tips
[Self-Improvement:Time-Management] From time to time most of us struggle with time management, how to find enough time in our day and how to make that time work for us.
Good time management skills are developed over time. It all starts with learning just what is slowing us down and what types of things keep getting in the way of our productivity.
- How To Get Organized In 30 Minutes A Day
[Self-Improvement:Organizing] Are you unhappy with the disorganized state of your home?
Do you find yourself too busy to conquer your clutter and clean your home too?
Does the thought of getting your home under control overwhelm you?
If you answered yes to all the above then you’re in good company. Many working parents find keeping a handle on their work and home lives a daily challenge.
Things are further complicated by the fact that not all of us can justify the cost of hiring out our household chores.
- How To Organize Your Home For Summer Living
[Home-Improvement] Summer is the season of exterior pleasures - soaking up the sun, enjoying a refreshing beverage on your deck and cooling off with a swim. So with summer just around the corner now is the time to turn our organizing thoughts to outdoor pleasures.
Spring is the perfect time to gather all the necessary supplies you’ll need for summer. (I’m assuming you’ve already cleaned your outdoor furniture and have set up your porch swing or hammock. If not, get to it. No sense, putting it off. After all, you’ll need a place to relax once you get everything done.)
- How To Spring Clean Your Life
[Self-Improvement:Organizing] Outside the buds are experiencing a rebirth and the tulips are welcoming spring with their annual sense of renewal but inside your home it may be a totally different story.
Has winter left you with a cluttered living space?
Is your disorganized home depleting your energy and depressing your spirit?
If so, it’s time for a little spring cleaning of your home, body and soul.
Do yourself a favor and make spring cleaning and conquering clutter part of your annual routine.
- Practical Furnishing Ideas For Kid Rooms
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] Kids and quality go hand and hand. Kids will be kids. They are often rough and tuff on furniture. So when it comes to kid room furnishing ideas it’s wise to make quality purchases that will not only last but will grow right along with them.
Take for instance, double and triple function furnishings. This kind of furniture is a real blessing as it can take your toddler right through to his teen years.
One of my favorite bedroom furnishing ideas are 3-in-1 one units which feature a sleeping area, storage space and a place to study.
- Jazz Up Your Child's Bedroom With Borders And Stencils
[Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating] One of the easiest and most fun ways to jazz up your child’s bedroom is to use wallpaper borders and stencils.
Get your child in on the fun by taking her with you to a local paint and paper store. Surprising your child with a finished room is not a good idea unless you know exactly what her likes are. Remember since it’s your child’s room you’re ‘jazzing’ up, it’s important that her preferences carry more weight than your personal tastes.
The upside to a wallpaper border is that it’s less expensive than overall wall coverings and it's an effective way to ‘trim’ your child’s room and pull together a particular look.
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