I knew in the upcoming months I would have a variety of people coming and going from my home (details later).
My closet needed some attention. I need to create organization that was transparent, streamlined and accessible. I wanted to make it effortless if someone was looking for something… so here’s what I did.
As you know I love to find a good road kill sitting on the side of the road. This one was a must! I have been looking for just this thing for about 7 months. I knew I would run across one because it was only a matter of time.
For those of you who don’t know me too well, I have 3 Boxer dogs, 1 cat, a tree frog, an African dwarf frog, 1 fish and counting… My cat packs some major attitude in our household but we don’t fault her… she does deal with 3 Boxers all day. Her 9 pounds to their average of 90 each can be a little daunting.
Recently I changed all my animals to raw food and with that change my dogs are now obsessed with her food. I can’t blame them! It’s just too tempting when her food bowl is staring right back at them and let’s be honest, 1 lick is not that much of the yummiest food–you keep checking for more!
It was time for a new strategy. I needed something high yet open. I needed a place to put her litter box away from view and away from my dog’s accessibility. (Love that special cat caviar!)
The piece had to offer a lot and this one was perfect.
A place for storage √
A concealed litter box √
A place for her food high enough to keep dog’s away √
A unit that looks decent and part of our décor √
And we are off!
Check out my new cat central transformation.
It’s about that time again…wow summer flew by!
The following are some tips to help you get back into the BTS transition. If you have school age children, it’s important to help them transition out of summer and into school. It’s also important for Parents to gear up for BTS too! Team effort here all the way!
Organizing your family is important if you want to maintain some Peace of Mind. Of course organizing takes some effort and a little strategic planning. Here are 3 tips to keep in mind as you begin to focus on the new school year. Less stress and more time to do what you really want… plus a sense of pride knowing that little investment of time has really paid off.
Create Routines
The best way to clarify your needs, and get things done in an efficient time is having a routine. Routines remove the stress of decision-making because everyone knows their contribution and when they are expected to contribute. Routines can easily become habits, allowing you to complete your daily tasks easily and quickly. The essential times for routines are morning and evening–they put in place the expectation for things such as homework, snacks, chores and more…
Create a Command Center
Critical for any busy family is a Command Center–the area does not have to be complicated, just useful. The essential elements would be: a calendar, file system for homework, message board and a place for backpacks. The Command Center allows parents and children know where to check for information, at-a-glance communication, and where to follow up on homework assignments. A busy family may not always be together! The Command Center assists in keeping everyone in touch with each other without each person being in the same place at the same time. It’s a simple space, yet so effective.
Create Homework Zones
Find a space in your home that is an approved Homework Zone. The zone should be clutter free, clear of busy traffic ways, and generally a quiet area. Children should understand what goes in the Homework Zone stays in homework zone! There is nothing more frustrating than making a mad dash around the house trying to find that lost sheet of homework.
Hope these tips help you and your family transition smoothly into Back To School Season. Remember, if you need some help organizing a Homework Zone, creating Command Center and/or purging last year’s school stuff, you can always contact me here.
Planting Peace!
Shelley
10 Reasons To Use Vinegar
1. Cleans as an all purpose cleaner
Combine 50/50 ratio of water and vinegar in a spray bottle–an inexpensive way to do general cleaning and kills germs.
2. Utilize as a rinse aid in the dishwasher
Jet Dry rinse aid is rather expensive…you can get the same results by using undiluted vinegar.
3. Use as fabric softener in the washing machine
Instead of the conventional liquid fabric softener, pour the vinegar in the same dispenser you would for softener. Perfect way to prevent that funky wet smell towels sometimes get.
4. Utilize as fly repellent
I use a ratio of 50/50 water and vinegar with a combination of essential oils. Place in an empty spray bottle and spray over your yard. I find it keeps flies away and also deters weeds.
5. Use as a drain cleaner
Pour baking soda into a slow moving drain and follow with vinegar. Let it foam up and set for a while, and then flush with hot water.
6. Clean and sanitize the garbage disposal
Make ice cubes out of vinegar and run them through the garbage disposal to clean and sanitize it.
7. Clean the dishwasher
Pour a cup of vinegar into an empty dishwasher and run it through a full cycle to clean and sanitize the dishwasher.
8. Clean the washing machine
Fill your empty washing machine with hot water (or follow your manufacturer’s instructions), add a cup of vinegar and run through a full cycle.
9. Clean the coffee maker and tea kettle
Use the 50/50 ratio and run it through your coffeemaker. Make sure you rinse before you use. To clean a teakettle, just boil the vinegar and water combo in the kettle to clean it and remove water deposits. Be sure to rinse thoroughly before using it again.
10. Remove mineral deposits
Remove that icky white stuff from your showerhead by filling a plastic baggie with vinegar and wrapping it around your shower head by securing it with a rubber band. Let it soak overnight.
Side notes
You should not use vinegar on porous surfaces like granite or marble because it can damage the surface. A lot of people complain about vinegar odor but I find it dissipates quickly; try adding essential oils to help with the smell (but be aware… oils leave residue). I purchase my vinegar at Costco and find that size will last me a good month. I originally purchased smaller bottles at Target so that way I can have a handy bottle in special spots in my house. I use my main bottle to replenish the smaller bottles. Vinegar is such a multi purpose item to use in your household–the cost is so inexpensive and definitely worth trying out. The money you save can be applied to a special indulgence this month.
Planting Peace!
Shelley
You have just stumbled upon a podcast dedicated to “Peace”. Let’s face it: we all Deserve Peace within our lives! In our crazy and hectic world, it’s hard to find a moment of Clarity.
Each episode, Shelley from Piece of Time Peace of Mind will engage in conversations with successful people on an endeavor to find peace within their lives. Listen to what happens as the conversation flows from personal stories to lessons learned and some secrets revealed somewhere in between.
The format is loose and conversations range as each episode revolves around the subject of peace and what it looks like for each person. Join us as we do our best to cut the clutter in our lives, discover our passions, dig into our struggles in leading a simplified life and ultimately finding the peace within our lives.
Hosted by Shelley Rubalcava www.ideservepeace.com
Welcome to Episode 3 of I Deserve Peace Podcast
Joining me today is Greg Richardson from Strategic Monk. Check his website out here.
Everyone has a story and sometimes those stories are given to us by our family, friends and/or spouse. These stories can help guide us along but sometimes those stories stop us dead in our tracks, frozen with fear.
Peace and Direction will come to you when you make an effort to hear the better side of your story. Remember, your future holds more potential then you can imagine.
Listen in to our conversation as we discuss stories and a whole bunch more…listen in here
Planting Peace,
Shelley
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Last week I posted my new transformed closet, which is such a difference -I absolutely love it! Funny enough, I find I am wearing clothing that I have not worn in a long time, not because I did not like it, I just couldn’t see it! I am happy because: 1. I can see what I own 2. I have a home for everything 3. It’s accessible. Nothing but smiles from me!
We finished my closet and my hubby decided it was time for a re do on his closet, budget was tight so we put our heads together and came up with some plans. Some of his needs were: he loves his clothes folded, he likes to have his everyday shoes in his man cave, he wanted more space and he wanted things to be neater. His closet used to be 2 cross bars but with some minor changes we were able to come up with this:
Since he loved his clothing folded-shelving was key!
We cut the cross bars and created a double cross bars= utilized space.
Pants hanging on cross bar gives us more space for shelving.
Large piece of wood from a left over project, slapped some paint on it = shelving.
Organizing by length makes it easier to find item.
Folded T-shirts can be messy it’s better to organize by sleeve length and color.
Yea! Closet Completed- Smile on Hubby’s Face!
Planting Peace!
Shelley
My Hallway needed a little something…
It was this little space but it had potential to be something.
I just needed to figure out what!
Each day I would walk by and think “it’s so plain and BORING!”
The pictures are from our wedding in Costa Rica
It’s tiny space but still notable!
If anyone ever tells you decals are not worth it, they probably have never tried them. I have had these decals for 3 years! They have been on every wall in my home and they still stick!
My $14 investment has proven itself well!
It’s coming together…
Using the decals with the frame added some fun!
Do you think these pics will remind my husband our anniversary is approaching?
Planting Peace!
Shelley
Piece of Time Peace of Mind™ offers you another Free Resource
Do you see a party in your horizon? Planning a party a can be half the fun! Use my Entertaining Checklist to help map out your next gathering.
This handy guide helps organize your time and quickly keeps you on track to a successful party.
Once you have completed this checklist, you will be on your way to having as much fun as your guests.
Enjoy!
Planting Peace,
Shelley
I love my hubby! But sometimes he can be… well let’s say sometimes my love is stretched thin. My husband is a huge creature of habit and most of the time its completely fine with me. Each day he likes to retrieve the mail and each day the mail is deposited on the kitchen counter. Did you notice I wrote retrieve the mail? So he doesn’t sort, organize or take the mail anywhere. He just leaves it on my counter and by the end of the week I have a huge pile of mail sitting on the counter.
So off I went to find some Fresh Road Kill! Did I find something? Of course I did!
Someone was throwing this away because it was chipped at the bottom.
Nothing a little glue and paint wouldn’t fix.
Viola!
Now we are both happy!
He has a spot for mail which I sort for him (you’re welcome honey!)
and
I don’t have to see mail on the kitchen counter.
It’s a win win!
What do you think?
Planting Peace!
Shelley
Back when my husband and I were dating we made the joint decision to live with each other before we took our relationship to the next level of commitment: Marriage.
The Master Bedroom only had 1 closet and growing up himself with 3 women, he knew that 1 closet was just not enough space for him and I. So he built an additional closet in the room for me! How sweet, huh? The closet was basic: it had upper and lower hang bars, room for bulky stuff above and some hooks inside for belts.
It was such a kind gesture! I never had the heart to tell him it did not work for my clothes. The hang bars were too close together so my tops ran into my skirts/pants/dresses and they crinkled at the bottom, which made them become wrinkled and dusty all the time. My purses were so high I could never see all of them and would forget about them. I had no space for my belts, scarves and jewelry.
Fast Forward 8 years and I cannot take it anymore! That closet and I are at war. My strategy is to win this battle and it began with some major RESEARCH. I spent my time looking at different closet systems and mapping out what I needed in my new closet.
When attempting to organize ask yourself:
•Do you like to fold or hang?
•Is the current you own current?
• Do you have the clothing worn often accessible?
Having such a small space, I needed to maximize and keep things streamlined. I found this system at Home Depot and it was perfect for me:
1. Fit my budget 2. Fit my needs.
My needs were:
I needed a place for everything and I wanted all my items streamlined into one space. Guess what? I was able to do that! I used to have my items spread out in different cubbies and also in another room, but with careful planning I was able to house all my categories in one closet!
Yea! My skirts have NO crinkle, wrinkle or dust!
I have not put doors up yet because I’m still trying to decide if doors or curtains are for me. I’d rather wait for the perfect item than put up something that does not work for me.
Update you once I decide…
Planting Peace!
~Shelley
