Closet Organization

I recently followed Mrs. Limestone's Conquered Closet series and so many of the pictures inspired me to get creative and organize my own closet!  So, over the weekend I painted my coat closet.... it has been transformed from a space we hang coats, aimlessly toss hats and scarves on a shelf and throw shoes on the floor to an organized closet..... an organized black closet!  The new paint color, Benjamin Moore's Black Beauty, is perfect for the closet walls... it completely hides all those shoe scuff marks and brings a little style to the small space!

I started with a double-door closet that is tucked in a hallway toward the back of our house by two bedrooms and a laundry room.

Over time came the closet came to look like this.... no good!

It needed organization.... so I took everything out, cleaned the shelves, baseboards etc...

 

.... and then began the hard work.... squeezing myself inside the closet for a few hours, especially up on the top shelf to paint all the walls black.

Once the paint was dry, I brought most of our coats, shoes, hats, etc back inside the closet (the rest is being donated), plus a few extra goodies.

I bought matching gray suede hangers from Home Goods...

... and two galvanized bins to store our scarves, gloves and hats on the top shelf.  I printed labels and attached them to the bins, just like in our playroom (free printable here).

In an open area, I hung a gold frame with one of my new prints (free printable here).

I put my husbands shoes back in the closet (mine are now in the master bedroom closet- another area that needs to be cleaned and organized!).  The husband's shoes are stored on a make-shift bench of plastic bed risers and an old piece of wood.

And finally, what I love most, a good before and after photo....

 

Now that this closet is organized, it's given me the motivation to organize the rest of the closets in our house (and some drawers).  My mind feels more organized when my closets and drawers are organized.... think spring cleaning over here!

Bookshelf Styling Tips

In between painting and organizing my hall closet (a work in progress), I decided to restyle the bookshelf in my living room.  Over the past few months, I've accumulated a few more books and magazines and the bookshelf seemed to be a little overcrowded.  So, a small update was needed.... I love it now!

I moved some books, rotated a few more and then added other interesting objects from around the house.  These are a few tricks I use when styling a bookshelf:

• alternate between stacking books horizontal and vertical 
• add framed photos and art throughout the arrangement
• lean smaller frames in front of books and larger ones against the back shelf wall
• overlap frames to provide an intriguing look
• position treasures on top, in front or beside the piles of books (ie. antlers, handmade wooden vehicles, game pieces, plates, etc)
• display objects that give reminders of special memories (ie. seashells, stones, wine corks etc all stored in glass jars)
• incorporate a variety of shaped objects (ie. rectangular books, round bowls, circular globes, unique sculptures, etc)

Styling a bookshelf is always a fun and quick project!  Here's one last distance photo of the newly styled bookshelf in the living room....

I hope you have an enjoyable weekend.... I'll be back next week to (hopefully) show you a finished painted and organized hall closet!

Black Walls

I've been admiring black walls for a while (just check my Pinterest boards).  Whether it's one wall, an entire room, a wall lined with black bookcases or even a simple display area, I love it!  The deep, bold color makes a room feel so cozy and intimate...

Windsor Smith via House Beautiful

Lonny

House Beautiful

Apologies, Source Unknown

 
High Gloss

Apologies, Source Unknown

 

Apologies, Source Unknown

 
House and Home

 
House and Home

 
Style at Home

While I don't think I'm daring enough (yet) to paint an entire room black, I am beginning a small project that includes a gallon (or more) of black paint...... Benjamin Moore's Black Beauty.

I've used this same paint color here on my back door, but this time I'll be painting the inside of my hall closet....

The hall closet is actually our coat closet which is a bit odd since it isn't anywhere near the front (or back) door.  The closet is tucked between my son's bedroom, the master bedroom and the laundry room.... you might remember the hallway from here with the pink chevron chair (the chair has been moved, but the painting is still on the wall).

I open this closet a few times a day and I think it's about time to make a change, a bold change..... wouldn't you say?

So, this week I'll be making a few updates to the closet, beginning with painting the walls black and ending with some organization.  My hope is to finish painting this weekend (in between going to the local rodeo where I'll be wearing my old boots!) and show you the after pictures next week!

What are your big weekend plans?  Any fun painting projects?

Free Printable: Beautiful

I've posted a few free printables lately (here, here, here and lots more here).... since I'm on a roll, I figured I'd pass along another because it's beautiful :)

A friend sent me a quote, "if you want to be beautiful, put a smile on your face", that she wanted me to design for a frame in her girl's bedroom.  Her only request was that I use the colors dark pink and golden yellow (well, I'm a HUGE fan of those colors- so this was easy!).

I chose a simple font for the text because I think (most of the time) simple is so much more beautiful.  So after laying out the text, I printed the design, trimmed the edges....

...sent my sweet friend a copy, then of course framed a copy for myself...

.... and now it's available for you, for FREE!  This beautiful wall art is available for your personal use.... so, go ahead.... download, print or just pass along the link... enjoy!

Beautiful Print - Horizontal
Beautiful Print - Vertical

Click the arrow above to download the pdf file.  Print on 8.5x11 paper (preferably white colored cardstock), then trim the edges and frame (or simply tack it or tape it to the wall).  The design is sized for an 8x10" frame.  Beautiful!

Update:  I recently transformed my coat closet into a space that is finally organized and a bit stylish.  I added this print inside the closet, but for it to fit best it needed to be hung this one vertical.

Free Printable: A Card for Husbands

This is the last Valentine's Day post, I promise (at least until next year!).  I've spent most of the month blogging about Valentine crafts, heart artwork, gifts and parties, but this next free printable could be used for more than just Valentine's Day, so go ahead.... read on.

I gave the husband this card (and cherry chocolate) yesterday to let him know how much I love him.... and let him know that he's my absolute favorite (boyfriend).  You see, the husband is constantly adding names to an imaginary list of boyfriends who he thinks I'd want to date (if we weren't married).... guys like Brad Pitt, Tom Brady, Denzel Washington, Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Reynolds, Peyton Manning, Ryan Gosling... the list goes on!  Sure, some are definitely nice to look at, but I know that I have the best "boyfriend" of all and I definitely wouldn't trade him in (not even for Matthew McConaughey), so I thought I'd let him know on Valentine's Day.... "you're my favorite boyfriend".

So if you play these silly little games with your man, download this free printable and pass along the love.  The card is available for your personal use for FREE.... download, print or just pass along the link...

You're My Favorite Boyfriend Card

Click the link above to download the pdf file.  Print on 8.5x11 paper (preferably white/cream colored cardstock), then cut along the black lines and write a sweet note on the back to your husband (or boyfriend).   Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Surprise

I promised I'd give my favorite Valentine's Day surprise..... so here it is....

8 YEARS AGO TODAY, THE HUSBAND ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM

Of course I said yes.... could you tell from the picture?  I look drunk and happy, but I was just really, really excited!  I was also in complete shock that he proposed, I didn't have any idea he had been planning such a special night.

It all started when he picked me up for our Valentine's date... he told me the evening was a surprise and wouldn't tell me where we were going.  I thought we were going out to a nice dinner, but he drove in circles all around Lynchburg Virginia (where we lived at the time) and kept driving right by the great restaurants.... I was so confused.  After a long drive, we ended up at the front door to his house.  When I walked inside, the lights were off and the living room was lit up with what seemed to be about a million candles.   It was beautiful.  He made a delicious dinner (ceasar salad and chicken parmesan), we ate and talked (and I had no idea he was about to propose).

Then he brought out dessert and because I like sweets so much he said he made me two desserts.  The first was a chocolate brownie sundae and then he brought out the second dessert....

... a box loaded with chocolates and a diamond ring resting in the middle.  I think I screamed.  Screamed again.  Then said YES!  Then took a lot of pictures (on my one-time use camera- sorry for the awful pictures).  Then called everyone we knew.

I think after all the excitement the husband wanted a ring?

It was an awesome night!

And the next day we were still celebrating (and busy eating all the leftover chocolate).

Eight years later, here we are (btw, it's much more challenging to take a picture of ourselves with three kids running around.... especially, a goofy boy who likes to constantly stick his face in front of the camera.  So this is take #582!).

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day celebrating with people you love (and maybe even enjoy a special surprise!).

Valentine's Day Party

We threw a Valentine's Day party today.... the kids (and moms!) enjoyed a morning devoted to card making, bingo playing, heart hunting and of course chocolate eating.....

Since we're homeschooling this year, I think I've made a point to go the extra mile and celebrate special events (like Valentine's Day) with lots of activity.  The kids invited a few homeschooling friends over and we created Valentine heart cards using everything from stickers and glitter to stencils and stamps to crayons and markers.  They had the freedom to use their creativity....

Of course after fueling creativity, we all need a break..... and sweet goodies are a must for Valentine's Day!  Our Valentine party menu included:

• shortbread heart cookies
• chocolate covered strawberries
• cherry almond bars
• chocolate cake pops
• grapes
• red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
• popcorn
• pretzels
• pineapple and strawberries with strawberry yogurt
• caramelized onion and apple tarts (I also made these here, delicious!)

All the food was placed below the heart wreath on the dining room buffet and on the table....

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After all the eating, the kids played bingo (free printable here) and hunted for hearts (I hid cut-out hearts all around the house and they searched high and low to add hearts to their goodie bag).

Before our friends said good-bye, the kids handed them a gift... a heart crayon wrapped up with a gift tag "you color my world" (free printable here).

 

Great morning, great food, great friends!  And now I'm stuffed, maybe mopping the sprinkles off my floor will burn a few chocolate calories!  Oh, and if you're looking for a last minute Valentine's Day card, here's a few freebies that I made last year!