One Day Project: Give Your Kitchen A Boost Over Labor Day.

Thinking about how you can give your kitchen a little boost? We understand what it’s like to have a busy schedule and not a lot of time to redecorate your entire kitchen. Let’s chalkboard the refrigerator! This project is easy and great if you have a spare refrigerator in your garage or basement. Usually a spare fridge has dings and dents, covering it with chalkboard paint and your child’s artwork work will give the boost your fridge needs.

Materials:

Sand paper

Chalkboard paint

Paint brush/roll

Chalk

Directions:

1. Use the sand paper to sand the fridge down a little.

2. Buy the chalkboard paint! This can be found at most stores that sell paint, may even have a variety of colors.

3. Once you have sanded that fridge, you can start painting. I would recommend using both a brush and a roller that what you don’t have lot of streaks in the paint

Chalk boarding your fridge will make for some creativity in your home!

It's Hot Outside! Think Fall With Three Cool Trends We Are Tracking.

Let’s take a break from this summer heat and focus on something a bit cooler, like these fall trends! Fall is by far my favorite season so I am so excited to share a few sneak peaks with you!

1.     Mixing Patterns

The mixing of multiple patterns into one space may be a little overwhelming, but don’t be scared, it’s easier than you think. The trick is to use patterns of different scales that have one or two similar colors in them, which keeps the effect cohesive. Don’t be afraid to be bold!

2.     Mixing Textures

Layers, layers, layers. Mixing different textures together gives your space a more “lived in” feeling. Adding a lightweight throw to your couch or dropping a few burlap pillows onto your plush duvet may just do the trick. Mixing wood, metal, and glass elements really pull a room together.

3.     Color Distortion

Colors are distorted by cutting, breaking, and interfering with the surface of the textiles, creating geometric shapes. Mesh techniques are put into play to emulate architectural structures. Even and smooth surfaces mask the tactility of the textile. The fabrics are generally lightweight, crisp, and cool to the hand. A fabric like this would give any space a nice punch of color and liveliness. 

Three Ideas on Creating a Great Space for Learning in Your Child's Room

Parents are always wondering how they can help their child learn at home. We’ve come up with three ideas on how you can create a learning space in your child’s room.

Bring Everything to Child’s Level.

It is important that whatever the learning tool is, that is easy to access for the child. Here is a great example of learning tools that can easily be accessed by the child. A world map rug, large calendar, and a dry erase board are all great learning tools. They can help a child learn countries and continents, days and months of the year, and practice writing, all at their finger tips.

ABC Wall

This is a great way for a child to learn their ABC’s. If you are having trouble filling wall space this also is a great wall décor. Using different fonts, sizes, and color will help make learning their ABC’s more fun!

Reading Nook!

Reading in essential to any child’s learning. Adding a reading nook/space to their room can help improve their reading and allow them to have their own mini library.

How to Organize YOur HOme For Back-to-School

With summer coming to a close it is time to start preparing for the school year. Soon you’ll be going to parent-teacher meetings, class concerts, and field trips, so let’s take a step in the right direction and start organizing!

Placing hooks at your front or back door allows your children to have a designated place for their backpacks and coats. It’s a great alternative to throwing them on the floor. This will be a helpful visual reminder to grab them in the morning on your way out the door. Place your children’s names above their hook for a personalized touch. You could even place a corkboard above the hooks for more organization!

Now I don’t know about you, but I would be completely lost without my calendar, there is just something about physically writing something down that allows me to retain the information. Have a calendar in the kitchen or another busy place in your home that your family passes by frequently. Jot down important events like practices, meetings, trips, ect. Assign each person in your family a color and write down their events in that color.

Make a daily or weekly check list for each family member and keep in near the calendar. List things like chores and homework. Once a task is accomplished cross it off. Being able to actually check something off a list gives you an even bigger sense of accomplishment.

Lastly, put together an organized homework station where your kids can sit and get their work done. Gather the essentials such as extra pencils, scissors, rulers, and erasers, place these supplies in a basket that you can keep out or store away during the day. Designate a place for your children to do their homework, away from the TV or other distractions to create the most optimal learning environment.

By implementing these few tips your busy school year will become a breeze!