How to Maximize Small Spaces with Simple Storage Solutions
Small spaces have a bad reputation. Yet with the right approach, they can be functional, comfortable and attractive spaces. You don’t have to give up on your small spaces. Maximize them with simple storage solutions.
#1 Get It Off the Floor
One of the easiest ways to make the most of a room that is short on square footage is to go up. Use the walls to create storage, height, and visual appeal. You can embrace full shelving units like bookshelves. Or you can create your own system with independent wall shelves. The choice is yours. Use a unified color to create visual flow. Or use a contrasting color to add interest. For example, if you have white walls and you like a modern look, you might choose red or black shelves.
#2 Create Stations
Identify how you want to use the room and then create stations that represent your habits and needs. For example, if you generally sit in one corner of the room to read, you might organize the room to house books in that corner. If you use the room to study as well, you might create a small office space in one corner of the room.
#3 Hide It Away
If there are items that don’t need to be at the ready, you can hide them in plain sight. For example, a trunk can double as a coffee table. You can store linens, books, and other items in the trunk. There are many options. You can find end tables, coffee tables, and couches with hidden storage options.
#4 Put It on Wheels
Carts with wheels can make storage in a small space much easier. For example, a small entertainment center on wheels can be rolled into a different space if you need or want to entertain. In small bathrooms and kitchens, carts can be used to store basic items and be wheeled out when you need them.
#5 Functional Pieces
In addition to purchasing furniture that doubles as storage, you can find functional pieces that serve a multitude of purposes. For example, in a small space a shelving unit can function as an entertainment center and a room divider. A kitchen table can also be a kitchen prep center or island. Finding pieces that serve dual purposes helps you make the most of your small space.
The first step to maximizing your small space is to step back and assess the room. You may want to clear everything out of the room so you have a clean slate. Then decide how you want to use the room. Brainstorm the possibilities. Draw options on a piece of paper – it can really help you visualize your options. Then make smart purchases. Buy or find items that are functional, provide organization and have visual appeal.
How to Determine Your Mindset – And Change It
Have you heard about the connection between your mindset and positive life outcomes? If you want to change your mindset to a more positive one, it’s important to determine your mindset as it is currently. Here are some tips on how to do that, and how to change your mindset if you want.
It’s Not about Your Intelligence
First, it’s important to get over the idea that this is about intelligence. It isn’t. Determining your mindset is a matter of figuring out how you think and what your thought patterns are. It’s about figuring out what makes you tick mentally and taking the proper steps to make changes to a more positive mindset. This isn’t about how smart you are, or what kind of mindset is “right” or “wrong.” It’s about what works for you and helps you succeed in the long run.
Fixed Mindsets
Do you have a fixed mindset? People with a fixed mindset tend to go with the safer options, and worry about failing. If you have a fixed mindset, you may worry that others will think you’re not smart. This keeps you from asking for help if you need it, and you may find it hard to take constructive criticism.
Growth Mindsets
Those with growth mindsets tend to seek out challenges rather than staying where it’s safe. Rather than fearing failure, those with growth mindsets seek out opportunities to develop their minds, and respond well to feedback and criticism. In this mindset, there tends to be less of a tendency to fear what others think of you, so you feel more comfortable asking for help.
Do either of these mindsets describe you? These are just two main ones; there are certainly other types of mindsets that fall in or out of these main categories. But getting a handle on these two is a good first step toward determining your mindset.
How to Change It?
If you have evaluated your mindset and have found it’s not really helping you succeed (or hindering you from success), then you can take some steps to change it. One helpful tactic is to internalize positive affirmations, and to phrase your approach to challenges in the form of a question.
Studies show that asking yourself if you can do something tends to produce better results than telling yourself you can do something. And positive affirmations change negative thoughts like, “I was never good at___” or “I am just bad at ____” and turn them into positives (“I am working on___”).
Be forgiving with yourself! Many of those things you think you are not good at are simply ingrained negative beliefs. Determining your mindset can help you get a hold of these things and change them for the better.
How to Add Coupons to Your Store Loyalty Card
Do you love to save with coupons? Do you wish you could save more? If you’re not fully utilizing your store’s loyalty card you may be missing out on savings.
Most major grocery stores offer coupons. You can grab them in the store, in your weekly newspaper supplement, and often in the mail. What you may not know is that many grocers also offer coupons with their membership and loyalty programs. Here’s how it works.
Step #1 Get a Loyalty Card
If you don’t already have a loyalty card for the supermarkets you frequent, sign up for one. In addition to weekly in-store savings, you may also earn points that you can use on gasoline, tickets, and other promotions. In most cases you can obtain a loyalty card when you check out. You can also head to the information desk and sign up. You simply need to provide your name, email, and telephone number and you’re good to go.
Step #2 Visit the Store Website
Once you have your loyalty card(s), visit the website and see if they offer downloadable coupons. Most major supermarkets offer printable coupons, coupons you print from your home computer. However, many also offer downloadable coupons. This is where you can really start to save tons of money. On top of your loyalty discount, you’ll add coupon savings. It can really add up. You may have to register with the grocer’s website in order to access the downloadable coupons.
Step #3 Peruse the Offerings
In most cases, you’ll be able to scroll through pages of current coupons. Simply put a check next to the ones you want to add to your card. Once you’ve finished adding them, you can then click on a button that says, “Add to card.
Corn Chowder with Bacon & Potatoes
Ingredients
28 oz chicken broth
24 oz evaporated milk
2 cups instant potatoes
15 oz whole kernel corn
8 bacon slices, fried and crumbled
2 tbsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
Preparation
In a large saucepan, bring broth and evaporated milk to a boil. Reduce heat to low.
Add the remaining ingredients and stir to blend. Cook until desired consistency is reached, about 10 minutes.
Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions and bacon bits if desired. Add hot bread and a dessert to put a smile on everyone’s face!
Hosting a Halloween Party
When you think of latter year holidays, do you skip over Halloween? It
Fun Ways to Organize Your Coupons
Couponing can be a real hassle if you don’t have a system. And every good system begins with organization. Now, organization can be boring. It can be paperclips and Post-it notes. Or it can be fun. What’s more fun than saving lots of money with coupons? Saving that money in style!
#1 The Clutch
Ideally, you’ll take your coupons with you whenever you’re out running errands or shopping. Now, a recipe box method works quite well to organize coupons. However, it can be bulky to carry around. The clutch isn’t bulky at all. In fact, it can fit right inside your purse or bag. There are coupon clutches that you can buy. They come in fun colors and patterns.
But you can also make your own. A coupon clutch is merely a small fabric binder; you can choose the size you want to make it but 8×10 is a good rule of thumb. Inside, sew a small three-ring binder into place. Plastic sleeves help you organize your coupons by category, date, or store. Whenever you’re out shopping, all you need to do is pull your binder out of your bag and you have instant access to your coupon collection.
#2 Day Runner Coupon Organizer
Day Runner, a leader in planning and organization tools, also makes a coupon organizer. It’s a spiral bound binder small enough to fit in a bag. Inside it offers pockets to place your coupons. It also provides a calendar and list-making tools. The nice thing about this organizer is that it’s sturdy, wire bound, and colorful.
However, you may not like the pockets. Coupons can easily slide out of them. One solution is to clip the coupons to the pocket. The categories are predefined which makes finding your coupons quick and easy.
#3 Good Old Three-Ring Binder
Three-ring binders have infinite uses. They’re great for storing household information, take out menus, and of course for storing and organizing coupons. What’s truly fun about three-ring binders is that you can find great colors and patterns in your local store’s back to school section. And if fun colors aren’t for you, they make sophisticated leather bound binders too. Another benefit to the three-ring binder is the ability to customize your organization system to meet your needs and style.
For example, some people prefer to organize by expiration date and others by product or category. You get to decide. With a few simple tools like plastic sleeves and dividers, you can create a system that is simple and easy to use.
Find a system that works for you. It’ll mean the end of the old “coupons in the envelope
Frugal Christmas Party Ideas
Everyone wants to make merry during the holidays. But, you don
Beef and Salsa Casserole
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef (or ground chuck for less fat)
1 cup frozen corn, thawed and drained
2 cups tortilla chips
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
12 ounce chunky salsa
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1
Five Mannerisms Kids Should Know and Use
Everyone wants a well-mannered child. But, what do they need to know for this to happen? Below are five mannerisms that every child needs to cultivate in their life.
Parents have so many responsibilities. Two of them are to teach their child right from wrong and how to act. It
Choosing the Right Nail Salon
Just like everything else, finding the right nail salon for you requires a bit of research and observation. It could mean the difference between beautiful healthy feet and hands and infected ones. Here is some advice on choosing the right shop for you.
Before you choose a nail salon, educate yourself about how they are supposed to work. Also, know proper technique for handling nails so you come out with healthier nails and are not worse off.
Tips to Make Your Choice
* Look for licensure
3 Minute Breakfast Sandwich
Ingredients
1 egg or
Change Your Mind; Change Your Life
Did you know that your mind can have a powerful influence over your life? There is evidence showing that it goes beyond just enhancing your mood. It may be possible to influence your actual life events – things you thought were just luck or chance – for the better by using your mind. Here is some information on how you can change your mind and change your life.
The Mind and Life Connection
There is all kinds of evidence out there that your mind and body are connected, but you may not realize that your mind has a connection with your life’s happenings. Negative self-talk – “I was never any good at math” – can actually play out in reality. Maybe you were taught math too soon, or had a poor teacher. But you’ve internalized the belief that you are no good at it, so now you avoid it and, when you do have to work in math, you really don’t seem to be good at it.
See how the negative affirmation becomes reality? If you decide you aren’t good at something, you won’t be. But if you decide you are, then the reverse may well happen. You can even phrase things positively by changing your thought patterns from “I am not good at ____” to “I am learning ____” or “getting better at ____.”
The Little Engine That…Might?
Studies have shown something interesting about positive attitudes. It turns out that approaching challenges and goals with questions – “Can I?” rather than “I can!” – may produce more positive results. Why is this? According to a New York University study, if you are asking yourself if you can do something, your brain is more likely to tap into the positive information related to the project or challenge. Interestingly, an imagined future tends to bring about a more positive state of mind than an absolute idea about the future.
Positive Affirmations
The term “affirmation” was used above – what does that mean, exactly? A positive affirmation is a self-talk that is positive, and its intention is to change negative thought patterns that tend to be self-defeating. Sources say that phrasing these positive affirmations in the present is important to internalizing them. Here are some tips on incorporating these affirmations into your everyday thought processes.
* Find out where you are thinking negatively. Listen to yourself for a few weeks and pay attention to how many negative terms flow through your thoughts. Do you have a lot of thoughts with phrases like “I can’t” or “I used to be able to” or even, “I am so stupid/clumsy/etc.”? Identifying these is key to changing them.
* Change these negative beliefs to positive ones. As noted above, you can phrase them with words like “I am getting better at” or “I am working on” or “I am learning.”
* Use these affirmations each day, and gradually replace the negative ones.
The evidence is out there that you can expect positive life changes from these changes of mind.
Benefits of a Successful Mindset
Have you noticed that some people just seem to have it all together? What is their secret? Maybe they are reaping the benefits of a successful mindset. You can, too! Here are some of the benefits of having a mind set on success.
An Honest Look
When you really strive for a successful mindset, inevitably you have to do some self-evaluation. Welcome to benefit #1: you’ll get to know yourself better.
When you set out to cultivate your mind for success, you will need to tally up your strengths and weaknesses and take a good look at where you are. Are you making use of those strengths and working on your weaknesses? Just knowing what you are good at and what you aren’t can go a long way in determining whether you choose a job or lifestyle that is a struggle or that is a good fit.
Success in Business
A positive mindset focused on success can bring about some amazing benefits in your business or workplace. It’s interesting how your life tends to play out what your mind is focused on – you are what you think, in other words (to an extent, of course!). Various studies have shown this to be the case, and individuals find that setting their mind on success in the workplace helps it to become a realty.
Success in Relationships
This is a significant one for some people. It can seem like everyone else has successful relationships but you … but maybe that’s because you don’t have the right mindset! Visualizing yourself in a successful relationship and setting your mind on the behaviors of those with meaningful relationships can help this to play out in your life.
Better Self-Esteem
Another great benefit of a successful mindset is better self-esteem. You may find yourself no longer bothered by self-doubt and other hindrances. Instead, as your successful mindset reaps benefits, it can really boost your sense of self-worth. And the great thing is, it feeds on itself (so to speak). As you develop a successful mindset, more success may come your way, enhancing your own personal feelings of accomplishment.
A Sense of Peace
As your successful mindset becomes more and more ingrained, you may find that you develop a profound sense of peace. After all, you’re watching your life improve and you have a better understanding of what makes success and what doesn’t, so you’ll probably be a lot less likely to blame yourself!
Where to Look for Coupons
Interested in saving money with coupons but not sure where to look? There are many sources and when combined, they can save you hundreds of dollars each month. To help you get started, here’s a list of great places to find coupons.
#1 Store Circular
The first place to look for coupons is in your store’s circular. Sometimes these weekly publications are mailed to you. Sometimes they can be found in your weekly newspaper. They’re often made available online. And they can always be found in the store. Get in the regular habit of tracking down your store’s weekly publication. There will be a nice list of what’s on sale, as well as a few coupons.
#2 Newspaper Supplements and Magazines
Your weekly newspaper generally includes a large supplement on Wednesdays and Sundays. There may be a supplement on Saturdays too, depending on your paper. The supplement is usually packed with coupons from a variety of retailers and manufacturers. It’s a veritable coupon bonanza! Clip away and organize your coupons either by category or expiration date so you never miss a deal.
And don’t forget about magazines. Many family and household magazines have coupons inside. They’re usually part of an advertisement. For example, you may see an ad for air freshener and a coupon for the product in the lower right hand corner. Pay attention the next time you’re flipping through Good Housekeeping – you may be missing valuable coupons.
#3 Online
There are actually a number of consistently useful online coupon sources. First, start with your own store’s online coupons. Most of the major retailers have online coupons. You can clip them, which involves printing them in your home and then using them at the store. Or you can often load the coupons to your loyalty card. One swipe of your card and all applicable coupons are used. It saves sorting through all that paper.
Take note – some stores offer both print and online coupons. When you swipe your loyalty card, that coupon is automatically used. This often negates the printed coupon which may have saved you more money. The print coupons and the loyalty card coupons aren’t always the same.
You can also make use of many online coupon resources. Many of these sites – like Coupon Mom – are membership sites, so you may pay a monthly fee. However, they do aggregate coupons from a number of big chain stores and manufacturers. They can be a valuable and time-saving resource.
Finally, don’t forget to look in your mailbox. Every week you probably receive an envelope packed with coupons for local retailers. You may even receive supplements from your neighborhood grocery and big box stores. When these couponing resources are combined, it’s easy to see why saving hundreds of dollars a month is a realistic possibility.
Stuffed French Toast
Ingredients:
8 slices of Texas Toast
8 oz. of cream cheese, softened
12 tbsp. of strawberry preserves
1 1/3 cups of milk
4 eggs
2 tsp. of sugar
2 tsp. of vanilla
1 tsp. of ground cinnamon
4 tbsp. of powdered sugar
4 cups of sliced strawberries
Directions:
In a medium bowl, use a mixer to blend the cream cheese and preserves. In a shallow, wide bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar and cinnamon.
Cut each slice of bread in half and then cut a horizontal slice in each half to make a