DVD storage.......

I come from a family of movie lovers.  If you started talking movies with anyone in my immediate family, we could actually amaze you with our vast knowledge of useless trivia.  We are name droppers of actors of old and current movies alike.  We would kick your booty if all the Jeopardy categories were on movies.  It's just a fact.

All of the movies take up a lot of space, and I am honestly not willing to part with a movie I love.  It was great when the size of movies decreased from VHS tapes to our current DVDs.  I tried a binder method of 4 movies per page, but that was too hard to go through and search, and definitely difficult to keep alphabetized.

I decided to buy slim CD covers and transfer the movies over to them.  They are now very easy to alphabetize and flip file through a media storage box, and best of all, they take up 2/3 less space!  The below picture shows 10 DVDs vs 30 DVDs.  

I no longer have guilt over how much space my movies take up.  They are all contained in one cabinet now.  I will confess that I keep the covers of some of the Disney classics, but otherwise, buy buy DVD cover, hello more movies and extra space.

Do you have a movie lover in your home?  Maybe this will work for you.

Have a wonderful week!

Nancy :)

Man Cave Picture Ledge Wall......

Happy New Year!  I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've posted, but I have had a crazy few months.  Please don't give up on me!

My dear husband had to give up a huge garage/shop when we moved to South Florida this past spring. I am such a wonderful wife, that I let him have the largest room in the house as his "man cave."  (Don't worry ladies, it can't be seen from the front door).  He has his home office, cable television, and now thanks to this new gallery wall, all of his treasures around him.  There is also a nice loveseat, a bar with a sink, the coffee maker and a huge sliding glass door going out to our pool.  I honestly have nothing in that room except for a shared wireless printer.....seriously.  I have never let go of that much control of an indoor space before!  He does graciously share the space with our dog Lexi (her kennel and treats are allowed there) and our grandson's toy box and DVD player for when he comes to visit.

We unearthed all of these pictures while on vacation during Christmas.  We both shuttered at the thought of a gazillion holes in the wall, so I looked online for picture ledges.  He wanted them to be eight feet long and we couldn't find any.  After a two minute search on the internet, I found these wonderful plans here.  Alas, the next morning he went to Lowe's, made them, painted them the same wall color and we've been admiring them ever since.

Yes, the hubby drag races (a dragster now, previously a drag bike).  

I love the idea of this wall, and the ability to have an always changing photo gallery if you want to.  This was a very cost effective project.  We already had the paint and nails.  We purchased wood that was already primed so the cost was about $15.00 per shelf.  Hubby said it would have been about 1/3 less if he had purchased wood not primed.  I had NOTHING to do with picture placement, but I am pretty proud of him and his decorating ability.....

Have a wonderful week!

Nancy :)

An inviting guest room, on a budget.......

I have always dreamed of having a room in my house done in black and white toile, and now that dream has come true.  This is my upstairs guest room in our new home in Fort Lauderdale.  The walls are a pretty french gray, which I love.  

Now, how is this room been done on a budget?  Fairly easy.  The furniture and lamps are from Ikea, the bedding is from Overstock.com and the pictures are from Kirkland's clearance.  I already had the the other accessories and sheets, so my only splurge in this entire room was the luggage rack from Bed, Bath & Beyond.

I love to have company and entertain, and I think this room is very welcoming.  I'm the one in our family and friends that is located closest to the beach and in the warmest year round climate of all, and now that we're pretty much settled in (we just moved here in May), I hope that they all start showing up, especially when they get cold up north.

My next addition will be small baskets with toiletries, etc., I just haven't got around to that yet, but I think it will be a nice touch.

I also have another guest room downstairs that just needs a bit more artwork before I post pictures, and it was truly done on a budget, because the cost of that furniture was free, thanks to my lovely daughter and son-in-law!  Can't wait to show you that one too!

So, you can decorate a guest room on a budget, that feels welcoming.  Good luck on all of your decorating journeys!

Nancy :)

Trying to keep the pantry organized......

is one of the hardest things for me to keep up with, and I don't even know why!  It's probably because I haven't been checking it that great before I head to the store, then I am in a hurry to put things away afterward, and slide it wherever it will fit.  That all ends today!  (hopefully......)

I moved my spices and baking items to the wall cabinet, therefore giving me much more space in the pantry.  I have a somewhat small kitchen to begin with.  My current kitchen is about 1/3 of the size of my previous home (yes, everything is bigger in Texas).  I only have a few drawers, limited counter space, and I miss my island, but I loved the rest of this house so much in Florida, that I am trying all kinds of tricks to love this kitchen.  Fortunately, although not as large as my previous pantry, this one is a good size.

My wonderful hubby said that when we go to paint the inside, he will add another shelf at the top for me, so I can hop up or use a stick to not hurt myself and store paper towels and napkins up there!

Top shelf:  3 lazy susans, one for sauces, condiments, oils & vinegars.

Second shelf:  rice, pasta bread crumbs, chicken stock/broth

Third shelf:  canned goods (mostly beans & tomatoes) I prefer fresh or frozen :)

Fourth shelf:  snacks, especially crackers, peanut butter, etc

Fifth shelf:  dried fruits, convenience packets, breakfast items, cereal.

Floor:  garbage bags: all sizes, saran wrap, baggies, etc., and napkins & paper towels

Not exactly a piece of art, but I think it will work for now.

I love these plastic bins from Target.  I believe they come in 3 different sizes, maybe more.  The labels are from the Better Homes and Garden website.

So until I can find a better system, this will work for now.  Happy organizing everyone!

Nancy :)

Home Warranties & Manuals......

I decided I needed to organize my home warranties, user manuals, etc. in an easy to get to format that would not take up even more space in my filing cabinet.  Along with being space fillers, they also come in different sizes and shapes, therefore falling out, getting stuck in the bottom of the file drawer never to be heard from again. Okay, I admit it, they were all in one pile bulging out of a single file folder!  As usual, I searched through all of the great ideas I have seen on Pinterest and my favorite organizing websites and just could not find what I thought was the right fit for me.  Then Alejandra Costello at Color-Coded.net posted this video of her new system for these items, and I love it!  This is my second project that I feel I have been coached through by a fabulous video by her and it definitely won't be my last. 

These Staples notebooks are fabulous.  I made the binder covers on my computer, and printed the labels with my label maker.  I would have loved to have found clear gussetted binder pockets, but could only find teal, blue, and purple, which I love anyway!  They have a nice velcro closure so you can put multiple books and items in one envelope. The post-it filing tabs can be stuck at the top and you can either use your label maker or write on them.  

I think my favorite part of this system is separating what stays with your home and what goes with you.  If you sell your current home, just leave the home warranty/manual binder for the new owners, they will surely appreciate it.  Keeping those receipts, warranties, especially for your big purchase items is so important.  You want to be able to grab them if you have a problem with your iphone, computer, camera, television, etc.

I hope this inspires you to get your appliances/purchases organized too.  My next project will be cleaning the actual filing cabinet now, and getting into the shred zone......

Have a wonderful week!

Nancy :)

Cookbook review.......

I have made enough recipes now from this cookbook to review it.  It is my current "go to" book to refer to when I am in a hurry.  Robin Takes 5  by Robin Miller - 500 recipes, 5 ingredients or less, 500 calories or less 5 nights a week at 5:00 pm......that's what it says on the cover, and in my house it delivers everything but the 5:00 pm part....

According to the introduction of the book, "The average American eats out an astonishing three to four times each week."  That is a lot of processed food which you have very little control of it's content or calories.  We eat out maybe 3 times a month, I just couldn't imagine eating out that often each week.

You already know how I love a recipe with 5 ingredients or less.  That total does not include salt, pepper, olive oil, cooking spray or water.  Those are things you have on hand already.

The book is divided into 8 chapters:

1. Soups, Stews & Chowders

2. Pizzas, Flatbreads, Calzones & Strudels

3. Pasta, Risotto & Rice

4. Chicken & Turkey

5. Beef & Pork

6. Seafood & Shellfish

7. Side Dishes

8. Desserts

Some of my favorite recipes so far have been:

Orange-Dijon Chicken

Chicken Arrabbiata

Tuscan Chicken wit White Beans, Tomatoes and Oregano

Chicken Oreganata

Roasted Chicken with Hearts of Palm and Parmesan

Baked Chicken with Cherry Barbecue Sauce

Flank Steak with Cucumber-Scallion Relish

Pork Chops with Strawberry Mustard Sauce

Cranberry Barbecued Pork Tenderloin

just to name a few, LOL!  As you can see, I love trying chicken recipes!

Give this cookbook a try.  I think it would make an awesome gift for a new single person living on their own, a new bride, that friend that says cooking takes up too many ingredients and time.  There are enough entree ideas alone to not repeat a recipe for a year, although once you see have easy some of these are, they'll become weeknight favorites that you will make over and over again.

Have a wonderful day!

Nancy :)

I like them, I really like them!........

Brussel sprouts.  Just to say it can take me back to childhood and fear.  You know, that fear of having to try something that you can't even stand to look at or smell?  The vegetable that maybe your Mom would eat, but no one else would let cross their lips?  I think it was second on my list, right after liver and onions, (which by the way, will remain on my fear list forever) but I can gladly say, I like brussel sprouts!

Here's why:  Bacon!  When they say every thing is better with bacon, just go for it.  Here's what I used, after combining several recipes together.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apple & Bacon

Print Recipe

1/2 - 1 lb. fresh brussel sprouts

4-5   slices cooked bacon/save the grease

1-2   granny smith apples

1-2   tablespoons red wine vinegar

1-2   tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Either fry bacon in a skillet or bake in oven until crisp.  Save bacon grease.  Crumble. Remove the dark green leaves from outside of brussel sprouts. Cut core off at bottom of brussel sprouts then cut in halves or quarters.  Cut apple (skin on) into small chunks.  Combine everything (including bacon grease) except cooked bacon in a bowl and spread out on baking sheet.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, maybe longer if sprouts are large.  Add bacon bits and serve.

How did it go over?  Let's just say the fear is gone, baby!  I will now eat brussel sprouts that are roasted for now, and I am willing to try them other ways too.  The hubby loved them, but lucky for me, he'll pretty much eat anything!

Have a wonderful week!

Nancy :)