How to Create a Home Office Area within Another Room

At the end of last year, my husband and I created a home office space at one end of our living room that could house both our desks, while keeping them both almost completely out of sight.  It has worked out so well that I thought I would share about how easy and fairly inexpensive it was to do.  There was also a huge added bonus from making this easy change.  We added tons of storage to our living room for Blu-rays and DVDs, video games, books, the children's electronic games, their coloring books, and many other things we wanted to keep handy, but not in plain view.

The only things we needed to accomplish this change were 3 inexpensive bookcases.  I found these Ameriwood 3-Shelf Bookcases at Walmart for about $20 each.  They happened to be the exact width we needed when lined up side-by-side to make a wall in front of our desks.  If you can believe it, the bookcases were not the largest expense.  The Set of 6 Beige Winsome Capri Foldable Fabric Baskets sell for about $30 per set.  We bought 3 sets for slightly less because we had found them on sale on Wayfair.com.  They just happened to be the perfect size we needed, both in width and height, to fill each shelf with two across.  I also found them in Black on Amazon.com, but we ended up deciding that the Beige would help to brighten up the room.

Since it was impossible for me to take an aerial photo of our home office area, I created the diagram below for your reference instead . . .

As you can see, it was extremely easy to do and would be for anyone who has a long room, whether it is your living room, family room, or bedroom.  Our newly created office space takes up about 1/3 of our living room.

Of course you need to adapt this idea to your own space.  If you only have one desk to house, then you might not need 3 bookcases across the front.  The important thing is to measure exactly how long you need the wall to be and then find the bookcases that meet your needs both in height and width.  We also added a small bookcase that we already owned onto the side of my husband's desk to hide his desk from view for anyone walking in from the kitchen.  You can definitely keep the cost down by using what you have already to supplement the new bookcases and bins.

If you try this idea in your home, I would love to hear how it turns out.

What Do You Do When Your Basement and Attic are Full?

My family of five has spent the last several months trying to declutter our home.  We schedule donation pick-ups with a local charitable organization almost every week.  Amazingly, after about 4 months of doing this, it still does not seem like we have made much more than a small dent in our clutter.  We have both an attic and a basement, which are being used completely for storage.  No, we do not have a garage or a shed.  If we did, though, I have no doubt they would both be filled as well.  What we really need is to find inexpensive self storage.  There are so many furniture pieces, among other things, that I would love to use in our future (much larger) home and it would break my heart to part with them.

Over the next month or so, my husband and I will be making it a priority to clear out the basement.  It had once been a finished family room, but it flooded, so we turned it into storage space.  We very much need the extra living space again, since our three children are growing bigger and the five of us are tripping over each other in this tiny townhouse.  We are hoping to turn the basement into a finished play space for the children.  We could put mats down, buy a kick bag for them to practice their taekwondo, and maybe add an air hockey or a ping pong table.

Now we just need to keep that goal in mind and keep chipping away at all the boxes and boxes of stored items we have collected over the past 18 years.  Do you have any tips on how to make this process less painful?

Stylish Storage With Caboodles Train Cases

Back in the early 90’s, I received my very first Caboodles case. As a kid, this was just about the coolest thing I’d ever gotten and I actually still have that original Caboodle and it’s filled with nail polish and supplies. Recently, I started looking into buying another case for my makeup, but ended up deciding to hold off for a bit longer. Lo and behold, I got offered to review one of their new line of cases, so naturally, I said yes.

I received Caboodles "Primped and Polished" Train Case, and man do I love this case! First off, it is huge (14" x 9" x 9"), roomy enough to hold all my makeup, supplies, and even other toiletries like deodorant, toothbrush, etc. . . It has 6 cantilever trays that pull out making even more room, a big bottom storage area, 2 clasps that hold it shut, and keys to keep your possessions safe. This case is truly great, fashionable, well-made, and from a brand you can trust because their products have been around since 1987. I would highly recommend this or any other Caboodles case for anyone who wants to store their things in style.

You can checkout Caboodles full line of new products at www.caboodles.com. Their cases can be purchased at Target, Ulta, or Walmart, and this particular case retails for $70 at Ulta.


Thank you to Caboodles for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.


A NOTE TO 3G2S READERS: As an effort to give back a little, I will be adding an extra optional entry in some of my giveaways to "Like" the Facebook page of various small businesses that I have identified as needing a little love.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

How to Make Easy Interchangeable Labels for Canvas Bins

For the past few weeks, I have been slowly reclaiming the living room.  What does that mean?  I am attempting to remove all of the toys that had overrun the room, making it appear to be a playroom rather than a living room.  If you take a look at the type of toy storage we were previously using, then you will likely agree that this Guidecraft Espresso Bookshelf paired with the Set of 5 Canvas Storage Bins is a huge improvement.

These shelves blend much better with the rest of our dark wood living room furniture and will allow our children to keep some toys close at hand in the living room.  The only problem is that our children would throw anything and everything into these bins unless each bin has a designated purpose.  I had to come up with a way to label canvas bins without permanently altering the bins, like using fabric markers would.  The reason why this is important is that the bins' labels would need to change as our needs change.


Canvas Bin Labels Craft . . .

SUPPLIES NEEDED

1 Wooden Shape Per Bin (I chose oval, but you can choose almost any shape)

Thin Permanent Markers (Choose colors that will match your decor)

Mini Wooden Clothes Pins  (I bought a package in assorted colors at A.C. Moore)

NOTE:  These wooden shapes are unfinished, so the markers may bleed anywhere from a tiny bit to quite a lot.  You may want to test your markers out on the backside of one shape or on a scrap piece of unfinished wood before proceeding.  To avoid bleeding, you can finish or paint the wooden shapes.

Step 1.  Create a border for your shape.  The possibilities are endless.  I chose to draw lines around the edge alternating between two colors.  Then I added fine dots around the inside of the border to add a little whimsy.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Step 2.    Add the lettering for each label.  I chose to print uneven letters in all caps to make the labels more interesting, but still easy to read at the same time.

Step 3.  Clip the wooden labels onto the canvas bins.  Using one or two mini clothespin, secure the wooden shapes onto the outward-facing side of each bin.  Our bins have cutout handles, but you can also clip the shape to the top edges of your canvas bins.

If you make a mistake or change your mind about a label, the wooden shapes are double-sided, so you can just flip it over and start again.  As a precaution, I did purchase a few extra shapes, but I did not end up needing them.  These labels were quick and easy to make, but you can spend more time on yours by using paint, stencils, stamps, sponges, or any of your favorite wooden craft supplies.  These labels would also work on vinyl or leather bins as long as the walls of the bins are not too thick for the clothespins, which do come in a variety of sizes.


Thank you to Guidecraft for providing a complimentary product sample for this project.

Neat Containers Small Combo Kit for Toy Organization and More

Recently, I shared about how I used Neat Containers, a patented system of clear plastic storage pods, to organize toy trains and cars.  If you are dreading the influx of new toys that will be coming into your home during the holidays, then it may be time to donate unused toys and create an organized and ample storage space for existing and incoming toys.  This system was extremely easy to set up.  You can see for yourself how simple the concept is in the demonstration video below . . .





You should have seen the look on my children's faces when I was able to pull out one pod from the middle, the bottom, or the side without disturbing the rest of the pods.  They were truly in awe.

You can learn more about Neat Containers storage systems by visiting NeatContainers.com.

Thank you to Neat Containers for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base our review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a Neat Containers Small Combo Kit (ARV $47).

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Checkout my review about how I used Neat Containers for toy organization. Then leave a comment telling me where you might use this storage system and what you might store in them. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1)  For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2)  For 3 extra entries, follow me on StumbleUpon. Then come back here and leave THREE separate comments with the link to your StumbleUpon profile.

3)  For 1 extra entry, "Like" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here with the link to your Facebook profile.

4)  For 1 extra entry each, follow Neat Containers on Twitter and/or friend Neat Containers of Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook profile.


5)  Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

6)  Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

7)  Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

8)  Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, November 14th, 2011 at 10:00pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Why Don't They Make Bar or Counter Height Desks?

Sometimes my mind wanders while I am working at my desk.  (Big surprise there, right?)  My work area is as cramped as can be and I always am trying to think of a way to create a more organized and efficient space by increasing the amount of storage space I have.  Then it occurred to me that I would have quite a bit more storage space if my desk was higher.

I have never seen a writing desk or a computer desk that was a counter or bar height.  Just think of how many more drawers, file cabinets, and storage bins could fit under there!  There are dining room tables that would work for this purpose.  Most pub tables are round or square because they are meant to create a social area, but rectangular ones do exist.  How's that for creative dining table ideas?  Would you expect any less from me?  After all, my current desk chair is a dining room side chair and my printer stand is a living room end table.

Maximizing Storage Space in Small Bedrooms

Since we had to relinquish the very roomy master bedroom to our children, our tiny bedroom has been extremely crowded.  Basically we can fit our bed, a 5-drawer chest, a lingerie chest, and my desk.  There is no room for a dresser or night stands.

Our mattress set, which was once top-of-the-line, has turned ten and is in desperate need of replacing.  Before we replace it, we really need to make the decision about whether we would like to keep our contemporary powder-coated metal bed or consider looking at platform beds.

When we were looking for twin beds for our children, I had thought to myself how great it would be if they made captain's beds for adults.  I would love to have two rows of drawers under our bed and a bookcase headboard would eliminate our need for nightstands.  It turns out, there does exist such a product named simply "storage beds."  Since most storage beds are wooden, it will be tough to switch from our sleek modern looking bed to something that is more traditional and cumbersome.  Ultimately, that is a small price to pay to get rid of those plastic under-the-bed storage boxes that are always so difficult to slide in and out from under the bed.

Giveaway & Review: Bunk Bed Buddy & Bookcases from Tidy Books [CLOSED]

Our boys have had bunk beds for over a year now. When we first set them up, we immediately recognized the problem of our oldest not having a place to put anything on the top bunk, such as a bottle of water or a book. As a temporary fix, I put a plastic bin about the size of a shoe box at the foot of his bed so he would have a place to put such things. I was so happy (after a long time of waiting) to see Tidy Books, the company that offers the Bunk Bed Buddy and other styles of kid's bookcases, launch a new online store for U.S. customers. This handy wall-mounted bookcase shelf is exactly what my son needed.

The Tidy Books Bunk Bed Buddy comes fully assembled and is available in a white or a natural finish. I would have loved a darker wood finish, but I can always paint the natural Bunk Bed Buddy in the future. The unit has 3 pre-drilled holes for hanging. Since this bookcase will be hanging above your child, you should make sure that 2 of the 3 holes are screwed into wall studs.

At nearly 21" wide, when I first saw the Bunk Bed Buddy in person, I thought it looked rather small, but as you can see, my son has only filled half of the space with his things. Currently in his Bunk Bed Buddy, there are 2 books, nose drops, tissues, a small plush animal, and his tooth fairy pillow. Soon I will be adding a flashlight, a reusable water bottle, and an alarm clock to that list. Even with adding those three items, he will still have lots of room to spare. I also intend to look for a small clip-on light to attach it it, as well.

This product is not just for those who sleep in bunk beds. The Bunk Bed Buddy would be ideal for anyone who does not have room for a nightstand, needs to keep things handy, but out of reach of young children, or simply needs extra storage. I would love to hang one over my desk.

The Bunk Bed Buddy is made of lime wood and is finished with water-based lacquer. It retails for $79 for either finish. To learn more about the Bunk Bed Buddy and other book storage products available from Tiny Books, visit TidyBooksKidsBookcases.com . All items have Free Ground Shipping. All new customers can receive 15% off any order when they use Code: USL15 at checkout.

Thank you to Tidy Books for sending us a complimentary product sample to base this review upon and for providing a second product for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive one Tidy Books product of their choice (ARV up to $199).

Limitations:

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Browse the selection of bookcases and storage offered by Tidy Books. Then leave a comment telling me the name AND finish of the item you would choose to receive if you won this contest. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.
2)  For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) For 10 extra entries, sign up to receive the Tidy Books newsletter (left sidebar on homepage). Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments telling me you did.

4)  For 1 extra entry each, if you are a Friend of mine on Facebook and/or if you have "liked" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 1 extra entry each, follow Tidy Books on Twitter and/or "Like" Tidy Books on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook profile.

6)  Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7)  Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8)  Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9)  

Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10)  Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)




Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, January 3rd, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Review: Linon Crescent Short Back Storage Bench

As I have mentioned many times, our townhouse is the size of a shoe box, so I have continuously needed to come up with new storage solutions. Our most recent problem was that our shoe basket by the back door was no longer sufficient because, as the twins grew, so did the size of their shoes. So I had the idea to replace the shoe basket and the chair next to it with this wooden storage bench.

As you can see, this bench provides twice as much seating in addition to allowing us to store our family's shoes. For easier access, the seat is split in two, so that you do not have to lift the entire seat up. This way, a child can still sit on one side to put on his or her shoes even if the other side is open. I love that the shoes can be placed inside in an orderly fashion, helping to keep them nicer than being thrown in a jumble inside a basket. I also never hear either of the twins complain that they cannot find their other shoe anymore.

My husband assembled this bench and thought it was simple to put together for one person. He did say that it would be easier if you had an extra set of hands while attaching the hinges for the seats. I love that the bench comes with these cushions so that the children cannot slam the seats down. The hinges are also very strong and keep the seats open hands-free.

I have to say that I am extremely happy with this bench. The dark stained hardwood makes it blend with the rest of our furniture and the construction is sturdy enough to stand up to three extremely active children. It would be perfect for storing indoor or outdoor toys, backpacks, and anything else you like to keep handy, but do not necessarily like to have visible.

This Linon Crescent Short Back Storage Bench can be purchased on CSNStores.com for $145.05 with Free Ground Shipping. It is also available in oak and cherry finishes, though the price varies slightly between colors.

I purchased this bench partially with a gift certificate I received as a thank you for participating in a past CSN Stores campaign.

Giveaway & Review: Sassy Soft-Sided Toy Organizer [CLOSED]

Having three children who are not all the same gender has caused our house to be overrun with toys. For example, my daughter received five baby dolls for Christmas last year alone. So where do all those dolls go? Even though she would love it, they cannot all sleep on her bed with her. That's where the Sassy Modern Soft-Sided Toy Organizer comes into play.





What I thought about this Sassy Soft-Sided Toy Organizer:

1) I love that this toy box is not a danger. It has no sharp corners or hard surfaces for my children to accidentally fall against or close on their fingers.

2) This toy box unfolds extremely easily. Simply open it up and put the sides into place to maintain the prism's structure. Then it folds down again just as quickly.

3) The padded top is simply a flap that is easy to lift either from the front or the sides.

4) This toy box also comes with carrying handles on each side for parents to move it around the house or even to transport toys to a relative's house.

5) Pictured above are all my daughter's doll clothes and accessories, but only about 2/3 of her doll collection. Below you will see that all the clothing and accessories fits in this 24"w x 15"d x 15"h toy chest with enough room to house all her dolls and then some. This is a good thing because Christmas is right around the corner and you can bet that she will receive at least one new doll.



You can find this and other Sassy products on Amazon.com, Target.com, ToysRUs.com, eToys.com, and many other major toy retailers. Visit SassyBaby.com to see more great infant/toddler products.

Thank you to Sassy for providing us with both a review product and a contest prize free of charge.


What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive their choice of either a blue or a pink Sassy Soft-Sided Toy Organizer.

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.


How to Gain Entries:
Browse through the vast selection of Sassy infant/toddler toys. Then leave a comment telling me what other item would make a great gift for an infant or toddler in your life. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND SassyBaby.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

4) Friend me on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 2 extra entries, share the link to this contest post on Facebook. Then leave TWO separate comments with the link to your Facebook profile.

6) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!