Creative living

Modernmakerpodcast: Home Organization, Seasonal Decor and Crafts Close

Creating an Organized Craft Closet in a Shared Space

In a perfect, dreamy world I would have a ginormous craft room with built-in shelving, a dedicated sewing table, another flat surface with built-in outlets for general crafting, drawers and cubbies and cupboards galore. As you may have noticed, this is not a dreamy perfect world, and therefore my crafting/sewing space must share a room…

Kitchen Re-organization Part 3: Setting Up a Functional Command Center

Creative living

In my dream house my kitchen will have a built-in desk, surrounded by shelves, drawers and cupboards to organize and conceal all the paper clutter – bills, schedules, phone lists, invitations, children’s art work…it will all have a home. However, since I am striving to be content in the house we have, to make it…

Homemade Owl Costume: A Successful Halloween Project

Creative living, DIY projects

Here she is, the cutest owl in the forest! My mom is a fantastic seamstress. I know I’ve mentioned that before, but I wanted to repeat it because as Halloween approaches I always find myself remembering the amazing costumes Mom created for us over the years. Winnie the Pooh, Minnie Mouse, a ballerina, a queen,…

Kitchen Organizing Part 2: Effective Pantry Management Strategies

Creative living, Home organization

I think pantry organizing is one of the most challenging parts of the kitchen. Even when you have a large pantry closet like we are blessed with, there's just so much in and out flow. If you don't have enough space and a defined home for everything, even the most organized food storage cabinet quickly…

Command Center DIY Projects with Framed Monogram and Chalkboard Tutorials

Creative living, DIY projects

As promised, here are a some super simple tutorials for a couple of projects I made for my command center. Project #1: the chalkboard Did you know they sell a 2ft by 4ft chalkboard at Home Depot? It’s not framed or anything, but it was exactly what I needed. I had fully intended to buy…

Kitchen Re-organization Part 3: Creating the Command Center

Creative living

In my dream house my kitchen will have a built-in desk, surrounded by shelves, drawers and cupboards to organize and conceal all the paper clutter - bills, schedules, phone lists, invitations, children's art work...it will all have a home. However, since I am striving to be content in the house we have, to…

Mommy Lesson 35: All Food Is Baby Food

Creative living

Even dog food. Ok, I have not been intentionally feeding my child dog food…put down the phone, DHS does not need to be notified. What I mean is, in Baby Girl’s mind, anything anyone eats is good for her to eat. Combine that fact with Charlotte’s fascination with all things Elphie, and this was bound…

What Charlotte Learned While Mommy Was Away

Creative living

Baby will learn all sorts of new skills. Last weekend the three of us traveled to Broken Arrow, OK, to continue my birthday celebration (my birthday was on Thursday, but I am a firm believer in the “birthday week” concept, first introduced to me by my dear friend Megan). We left Little Britches with my…

Creative Christmas Gift Making for My 19th Birthday

Creative living, DIY projects

I’ve been spending every spare minute I’ve had working on Christmas presents. A combination of factors has led to this burst of creativity: the flush of success after completing Charlotte’s owl costume, an excess of time spent scouring Pinterest for gift ideas, and listening to Dave Ramsey preach the evils of “plastic stuff” and marketing…

Mommy Lessons on Caring for a Baby with a Stomach Bug

Creative living

I know there are harder things to attempt than dealing with a small child with tummy troubles, like climbing Mount Everest without oxygen, or trying to balance this country’s budget, but I haven’t faced many. It started innocently enough…a restless night, followed by a fussy day. Around noon (while Charlotte was playing with my friend’s…