Home Helper

We moved into our house over two years ago, and once I got those last boxes unpacked I was over it. So, I never really got around to any formal decorating. Sure, we have a few pictures out and draperies hung…but overall, I’m just not feeling the “decoration motivation.” Except for one place – my son’s room. I had the best time transforming his tiny space into a cheerful, colorful little nest. Today’s project is one of many that I did for his room – wall art. ...read more

Every small child I know has a special blanket or a stuffed animal that they must NOT, under any circumstances, be sent to bed without. My own daughter can't sleep without "Bun-Bun," her stuffed bunny. She also has a special blanket that has been loved into little bits. Bun-Bun and her blankie are inseparable and a must-have item every evening at bedtime. The comfort they both provide for her is so priceless to me, I thought it would be sweet to find a way to honor both items and the special place they have in our lives. A visit to the local FedEx Office® provided me with the perfect inspiration. When I realized they offered custom canvas art prints, I knew immediately that it would be the perfect medium for creating heirloom-worthy art to decorate my little girl's room. No matter what your child's special companion is (my son's is a stuffed dinosaur), here is a list to get you started:

• A clear photo of your child's "Bun-Bun"

Here is a fun idea for storing small objects, and a great way to re-use coffee cans!   ...read more

I love simple, homemade gifts that are unique, serve a purpose and look like they took a lot longer to make than they actually do! To that end, I found a great idea on Keep It Simple for DIY bubble magnets. After I saw this project, I just had to recreate it for my desk. See below for my take and how to replicate it! ...read more

In 2012, I want to keep my home and family organized, so I went all out with calendars, to-do lists, and an amazing resource binder. I knew by starting the year off with all the right tools, I’d be setting myself up to keep what could otherwise be a pretty tough resolution! FedEx Office® was the ultimate one-stop shop for getting everything in order. I used them to make all the items that I hope will make 2012 my most productive and organized yet!

As a mom with two young children, I look forward to decorating for each holiday season, but a tight budget and limited free time calls for creative measures. This Thanksgiving I wanted to take an old mirror and dress it up for the holiday in a way that would create a personal touch for our home decor while also helping to teach my children the importance of the holiday. 

Sometimes it’s the small stuff that makes a big difference in your day. Shave a minute off a task here, another minute there and suddenly you have time to get to the things you really want – like spending time with your family or sitting down with that book you’ve been meaning to start. The “small stuff” time saver I’ve added to my routine lately really is small in size. It’s a rubber stamp I had personalized with my address so I could speed up the process of getting my mail out the door each week, and I think it will come in very handy in a few weeks when I start sending out dozens of holiday greeting cards!  

 

Video: 

custom-notepad.mp4

By now, most of you have probably realized that I really enjoy creating personalized things for myself and others (see my previous posts on personalized sticky notes, custom banners and branded pens). One reason for this is that it’s nice to know that no one will have the same thing that I do. An added bonus is that it’s fun to see my designs turn out just the way I envisioned. ...read more

One of my most-dreaded household tasks (besides cleaning bathrooms, of course) is the weekly trip to the grocery store. It feels like it takes forever to plan the meals and prepare the list. Then I inevitably forget at least one item that we needed and find myself headed back to the store in just a few short days. Sigh.