photo credit: Architecture & Food

Finding a system of organization for your closet may seem like an easy task, but once you start the project, you might find it a bit more difficult than you thought. If you require help, there are many sources for finding a professional closet organizer who can help you maximize the use of your space. You can also go online to find websites devoted solely to the subject of Closets and closet organization.

It’s a pleasure to display the inside of your closets once you have organized them beautifully. You don’t want to keep this transformation a secret. It’s also much better to keep folded garments on shelves rather than in drawers, since you are much more likely to make use of them if they are right there in full view.

Make use of drawer dividers. You can place small things like socks, under garments and jewels smartly arranged in separate and different drawers. You will get more space when dividers are used. Hooks are of great help while organizing your Closet. You can use them to hang robes and night gowns.

You can even store your coats and jackets on hangers. You can store your unused clothing in a different location. Your winter items may be stored on the uppermost shelves. Arranging your clothes based upon the seasons would assist you in determining what things you want to keep and what things you want to throw away.

A variety of closet organizers is available for purchase, and modular customizable closet organizing systems are highly advantageous. Their hanging rods and their shelves can be positioned so as not to waste any space. The poles should be placed a minimum of one foot from the rear wall to leave room for the hangers.

Also don’t leave hangers in the closet with nothing on them. This will take up the space you need. If you want to store extra hangers, put them in a basket in the bottom of the closet. If you choose the right hanger to use this means a lot. Wire hangers bend too quickly. Wood hangers or sturdy plastic hangers are more appropriate. They are more nice to look at, support your clothes and keep the shape of your clothes in order.

There are many sites dedicated to Custom Closets and you can browse them to get different ideas on how to organize. Organizing your closet according to the season is one way to maximize your space and minimize your effort. For example, sweaters and thermals can be kept on top shelves during warmer weather; likewise, shorts and t-shirts can be placed there during the winter. Changing your arrangement according to the season will also help you weed out articles you do not need. A variety of closet organizers is available for purchase, and modular customizable closet organizing systems are highly advantageous.

photo credit: Velo Steve

One of the most commonly encountered worries when cintemplating converting your garage for a new use is the warmth of the floor. Whether you are choosing to convert your garage into a spacious home office or into a gym room, you have to take into consideration some improvements for your floor.

Since the garage has a concrete and uninsulated floor you should focus on making it warmer and more resilient. Furring up the floor with wood and plywood can accomplish both tasks. As a warning, you should use pressure-treated wood or protect the wood which is in contact with the concrete by placing a layer of felt paper between the wood and the concrete.

First of all measure and determine how much you want to raise the floor. All garage floors have some amount of slope from the back wall to the wall with the garage door in it to allow the water runoff. To create a level floor you will have to adjust the joists, for this if you are placing the joists perpendicular to the slope in the floor each of them would have to be ripped down or shimmed up and if the joists are parallel to the slope, you can rip them on a taper or use shims to level them.

When you finished remodeling the floors, now it’s time to check out your walls. You might be surprised to find out that your walls are not even with the foundation they sit on. They may be set back from the foundation or maybe overhang it in other areas. Only one action will solve these problems: picking a lumber size that is deep enough to extend the framing past the concrete. By notching each end of the furring strip and attaching one strip to the face of each wall stud will result in an even wall that completely hides the foundation. And it will be deep enough for the R-21 wall insulation, this type of insulation being the most common code requirement.

When remodeling the walls and the floor some obstructions could appear. Obstructions like pipes, ducts, wires and other impediments to smooth walls may exist. For small obstructions such as wires or small pipes you could adjust the furring strips enough to accommodate them. The solution for larger obstructions is to box around them. If the obstruction is a water heater or something that you will need access to, you can frame it in and enclose it on three sides and then provide a removable access panel for the fourth side.

A building permit may be required for a garage make over. Of course all the methods presented here are purely theoretical and only for guidance. All garages are different and some adjustments to the used methods or materials may be necessary in order to accommodate to your garage.

Tiling is a great skill for anyone wanting to do some remodeling or home improvement.
How to grout tile
laying tile
laying tile
These articles are sure to help you add to your skills.

photo credit: tarale

Unless you prefer to visit the laundrette each few days then a washer is an important appliance for the house. Washing in the sink was once the manner most householders cleaned their clothes, but when the washer arrived, the lengthy task was eradicated.

These days, the washer has developed to become very advanced at what it does. It is competent to wash clothing at varying temperatures, various materials, and can as well work with innovative sensory engineering. The popularity of the washer has as well led to a wide number of makes incoming to the market place. These include Whirlpool, Maytag, AEG, Bosch and numerous more.

One of the most best-selling names is the Bosch washer. Their ranges of washing machines are efficient, well-priced, reliable, and include characteristics that numerous more expensive washers have. One of the original models of Bosch washing machines that won over a lot of customers is the Bosch Maxx IT (WFR 2860). This model represented the brand against worldwide brand names like LG, GE, and Whirlpool. One of the causes the Bosch make was (and remains) so well supported is because of the value-for-money price tag.

Nowadays, Bosch has a number of models that have great characteristics and are solid for the heavy duty user. Their line of washers are available in almost all top retail stores both online and offline. Though you might find the Bosch line of washing machines not nearly as expensive as some other makes, you need not worry about performance as they are definitely one of the most trusted calls in the industry.

Another top make is AEG. The range of AEG washing machine models are spectacular in terms of technology and features, and are inexpensive when compared with bigger brands. The Lavamat L76669 is one of AEG’s most popular models and attains ‘A’ ratings for both spin drying energy and wash energy rating. This model has a basic look that can fit in to virtually any home design. AEG washing machines have excellent performance and build-quality.

The washer industry is a huge one and caters to numerous leading brands. AEG and Bosch are just two names that you might want to consider if you need a new high-quality washer for the house. By looking online you can be certain that you are finding the best deal, as internet retailers can frequently out-price their offline rivals. In addition, numerous brands have consumer washing machine reviews online, so take a look before you purchase.

This holiday save a few bucks , and your aching back! Your tot will love a play table that unites the fun of sand and water.

Sand and water tables are merely that: a play table with storage space for a dirty area as well as a water lagoon. There are a few kinds and each are enjoyable . You can add up a few sand accessories and assemble sand castles any time of the year.

Kids , especially younger children adore these sand tables. They are a perfect idea for Christmas because the play is more lively than many of the indoor games kids undergo until the sun shines and the park dries out.

To be confident of the particular age ranges of the sand and water table you plan to purchase check the manufacturer’s recommendations. Many children from toddler ages beginning about 18 months right on up to 5 years of age adore playing with the kids table and chairs.

Toddlers like to stand; a table permits them to play on their feet. This is nearly enough of a novelty to keep them occupied all by itself. Toddlers also like to play in the water. A table gives a secure place for water play. You can let them splash to their hearts content without a lot of worry .

The sand is an additional element of play. They can use their hands to create castles, turrets, roads and bridges or any other thing those artful two-year-old brains conceive. Putting the sand and water together ensure a long lived game.

They can bathe the sand from their fingers in the water and use the water to moisten the sand so their building efforts will unite together. The main pro is that a table gives outdoor pleasure year round.

There is a bit of a muddle factor. If your tot gets too eager you can finish up with more sand and sea on the carpet than on the tabletop. To alleviate this possibility set the table on a hard surface, a tarp or a rug that you won’t mind getting wet and sandy.

To find a sand and sea play table you can inspect your neighboring toy store or the toy department of a large national department store. The trouble here is that unless you initiate your holiday shopping in June these tables might be out of stock. You should be able to find an unusual personalized childrens rocking chair that is sure to become a keepsake.

Check the net . Out of season things are abound year round online . It might even work to your favor . Internet pricing might be low-priced even after shipping costs, especially when toy sites are putting their best offers forward as they vie for business of holiday shoppers.

I would love some feedback from our readers with their thoughts on this product. So please leave your comments and help me decide whether I should spend my money on this little contraption or not.

Jessie Steelespecializes in vintage aprons for women, men and children. The company was founded by Helena and Claire Steele a mother/daughter team.

“Jessie Steele’s vintage-inspired, hostess and kitchen aprons prove true the old adage that beauty and style are timeless. Influenced by the romantic visions of a bygone era, and designed in vibrant colors, flirty patterns and figure flattering shapes, these fine quality, retro-chic cooking aprons make the perfect fashion accessory in or out of the kitchen. “

Jessie Steele offers a variety of prints including cupcakes, floral, camouflage and polka dots. You can even purchase matching tea towels and oven mitts! The aprons are reasonably priced at around $32.00. An elegant item that keeps those little sticky finger prints, spills and splashes off you! What could be better? Jessie Steele’s Website

]]> http://www.mommiesmagazine.com/vintage-aprons/1168/feed/ 1 http://www.mommiesmagazine.com/water-bottle-solar-lantern/1109/ http://www.mommiesmagazine.com/water-bottle-solar-lantern/1109/#comments Thu, 29 May 2008 12:16:23 +0000 reviews http://www.mommiesmagazine.com/?p=1109 The last thing this planet needs is any more plastic in the landfills. But what do you do with your old polycarbonate water bottle (Nalgene or similar) that you don’t want to use any more? Don’t throw it away! With the incredibly handy LightCap200 you can turn your old (or new) bottle into the coolest home, deck, boat or camping lantern anywhere!

Just pull off the old cap and replace it with a safe, bright, environmentally-friendly solar-powered LED LightCap200 and you’ll have light anywhere you want without wasteful batteries, dangerous, toxic fuel, or electric cords.

Put one on your picnic table, deck, out by the BBQ, kids playhouse, bedroom nightlight, car safety light, cockpit light on your boat, camper, tent or anywhere else. Simply fill your bottle with water (even colored water) for a safe lantern that won’t run out of fuel or be a fire hazard. No candles to burn out, and when your bottle is filled with water it won’t tip over if the wind comes up.

The built-in light sensor automatically turns the light on whenever it gets dark, and off when there’s enough light for charging. Or you can click the water-tight switch and turn it off manually. It weights only 2.6oz and you can even use it as a flashlight. The four super-bright, white LEDs provide lots of light without giving off any heat or danger of chemicals in your water.

By adding a LightCap200 cap to your bottle you’re not only creating a useful item, you’re helping the environment. You can even use your bottle to store things: trail snacks, dog treats, fire starting supplies, first aid kit-anything you want to keep safe, floating and dry. With the LightCap200 on top, you’ve always got a useful emergency light.

The LightCap200 is just $19.95 and will last for many years of continuous use. They make a great gift and are available at many fine outdoor stores as well as their website: www.sollight.com

This is one of the must-have innovations of the 21st century. The best product for housecleaning since the vacuum cleaner. When I first bought them I was a little skeptical since no one else I knew used them.

But after experiencing the amazing ease that the tough grime came off my stovetop with I was impressed. After the stove I thought, “What else could I use these on?” I went after the refrigerator door and my white walls. To be clear I used a new (white) one on these tasks so as not to get any of my stove grime on them. I was impressed with how it got in the invisible ridges everyone’s fridges have and how the walls were left very clean after I got done with them.

I had to give my sister-in-law and best friend one just to try because I was so impressed.

Magic Erasers have definitely helped my fridge door (always a problem area with the dirty hands of 2 kids getting in and out all day) and stovetop stay cleaner and I’ve been happy with the improvements in my house elsewhere too.

I would definitely recommend anyone who has never tried these or has them and hasn’t used them to give it a go and see what happens.

P.S. My front door has thanked me too!

Cons: They do tend to leave a little chalky feeling on the things I clean with them. Nothing I have a problem with though.

Where To Buy: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Cleaning Pads, 8-Count Boxes (Pack of 3)

Submitted by: Ticee Graham; Healy, AK

I have a baby who is a very light sleeper. I live in a neighborhood that is filled with dogs. Unfortunately dogs love to bark keeping my baby awake for hours on end. Not anymore. With this electronic dog repeller my baby gets a good nights sleep and so do I.

The repeller is not harmful to animals at all. This was important to me as I don’t want to punish any dogs or hurt them. It generates a high-pitched frequency that only dogs can hear. When you push the button it stops a dog from barking in a matter of seconds. There are no after effects and it is safe for all animals and humans alike.

Although it works up to 20 feet away it is best at 5 to 10 feet from the dog. Sometimes I have to push the button a couple of times if I’m more than about 10 feet from the dog, but it still has the same effect.

This is also a great training device for dogs. The dog hears the sound and stops to pay attention to what you are telling him. It has worked well for me in keeping my dog in the yard and away from the road, which is not easy since we live on a country road that doesn’t get traveled a lot. Because of this, when a car does come by our dog is naturally curious and excited and takes off after the car. I wanted something that would help me to keep him and the drivers on our road safe. I have heard about shock collars for dogs but felt they were just too harsh. After trying this electronic repeller I found no need for any other type of training device for my dog.

Using this device I feel comfortable knowing that I have the control necessary to keep my dog and other dogs in the neighborhood from causing problems they don’t even know they are causing. I feel good about knowing that I’m not endangering a dog’s life but still getting their attention. If you have a problem dog in your neighborhood or even one of your own, try this device it’s well worth it

Where to buy: http://www.wittymom.com/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=261

Pros: Mia Bella’s Gourmet Cleaner-Burning Candles are one of the best candles on the market.  The company promises all of the scent of your favorite candle without any of the black mess on the jar or your walls or ceiling and you get that and more!

The candles hold their scent all the way to the bottom of the jar so the candle smells as good the last time you light it as the first, which is something you rarely find.

The candles are made from a blend of natural waxes, which is why they burn clean and why you can clean the wax up with hot soapy water should you, your pet, or your child accidentally spill the wax. A big plus for moms and pet owners!  The wax also burns at a cooler temperature than paraffin candles so the wax won’t burn you if it gets on your skin.

I loved using melts but had stopped using them because I was tired of the chore of chipping away at the old wax every time I wanted to change the scent in my pot.  These melts make it convenient and easy to change the scent everyday or twice a day if you want!  These melts pop right out of the simmer pot once they are cooled and if they are a little stuck, hot soapy water does the trick.

The candles and melts are wonderful.  They are reasonably priced, offered in many scents (Sweet Orange and Chili Pepper is my favorite), and the delivery time from order until they reach my front door is only a couple of days!
Where to buy: Mia Bella Candles

Submitted by: Faith Martin; Howard, PA