DIY {sorta} freezer/fridge organizer

So this DIY is not really that cute, but it was NEEDED at our house!

I HATE wasting food. It makes me sick throwing away food that went bad because of neglect or half used freezer burned bags of smoothie fruit.

So I devised a system to let us know what we have in the freezer and (immediately perishables) fridge so we would waste less and not buy things we already have only to find it shoved to the back of the freezer trapped beneath the 10 lb bag of ice!

Here is the freezer before. Yikes.

 Here is the freezer door before. Double yikes!

I had this old cork/white board mixed in with my craft supplies and I know since I bought it at Target it would be too hard to take it apart and repurpose it. 

I was right. (disregard dirty door...)

I love my new organizer! It will help us waste less and know what we have when planning meals!

Erasable Menu DIY

So I have begun to share my weekly menus with you all...

1. to keep myself accountable to do it and

2. to inspire you all to do the same!

It really does save so much work and stress!!

And if you have kids, let them pick a meal one night and write it in..it will be fun for them to be involved and have them help cook too or take a load off and them cook it all (if they are old enough).

So here is my version of the erasable weekly menu, inspired by the lovely Pinterest.

Supplies

1. A large frame, with glass

2. Scissors

3. Tape

4. Markers or pens

5. A large white poster board (not pictured)

6. fun stencils!

I tried tons of different things like putting mismatched craft paper, or cut up Trader Joe bags behind my glass in the frame, and just didn't end up liking any of it. So I went to Target and bought one of those like science fair poster board and cut it to the right size. A nice clean, white slate.

I measure the white poster board to the same length and width as the back panel of the frame, cut it out and taped it to the back. I then added some food themed stencils to my white paper 

Then out of craft paper I made day of the week circles, and taped them onto the white poster board (now attached to the inside panel of the frame)

I wrote 'MENU' in large letters on the white poster board, and then assembled the frame and secured the glass on top.

Crappy close-up. : )

I bought a dry erase pen from Target and can now write the menu next to the day of the week circles, and can record on top the week I am cooking for...then erase it all at the end of the week and start over!

It's super easy, and it has made my hectic school filled life soo much better! : )

DIY Shelf from a pallet

I have 5 pallets sitting in my backyard. Five.

I keep telling Greg my grand plans about using them to make shelves, and outdoor seating, and beds.

And I think he is beginning to lose hope that I will ever do anything with them, and I am afraid he won't bring them home anymore when he finds them on the side of the road.

So this lack of faith and fear of no more stray pallets coming home to me prompted me to get my booty in gear and actually accomplish one of my pallet goals!

Library book return shelf! : ) Never pay a late fee again...

I sawed straight across the pallet until I had a sort of shelf, and then I cut it down to the size I wanted it. Use power tools if you have them. Mine were super ghetto and now my muscles are sore.

My crude looking shelf...not done yet!

I thought I had taken a picture of it, but I guess I didn't...I also sawed off a straight, thin piece of the pallet to nail to the bottom of my shelf to hold everything in!

Greg and I have been using the library more often so I thought I would make a little library book return shelf, so we don't lose anything and we remember to take them back!

I didn't put the paint on super thick, I wanted to more rustic, worn look.

Right under "don't forget!" I added a small chalkboard sticker so we can write when the books are due back! Now I just need to buy some chalk...

Now I am just waiting for my handyhusband to hang it up! It is a bit heavy so I think I need him to bust out the stud finder! 

It's a bit ghetto and wonky...but I love it! And I showed my darling husband that he can still bring home any and all pallets he finds...ok dear?!

DIY magazine holder

So the other day I was emailed by a friend who said her husband loves to read in the bathroom, but she is tired of the magazine mess around the toilet! : ) So here is a simple and CHEAP solution. Just tuck these bad boys next to the toilet for all those On-The-John readers in your life! They can also be made for a home office, living room, or desk!

Supplies

1. Large cereal box 
2. Contact paper or craft/scrapbook paper
3. Mod Podge
4. Paint Brush (one you don't LOVE, mod podge is hard to get off paint brushes)
5. Scissors
6. Pen

 Draw a curved line in your box and cut box on both sides

Cut craft paper or contact paper to fit box. Mod Podge craft/scrapbook paper or stick contact paper to box

Cut a small strip for the back and small strip for the front and stick or mod podge those on as well

Enjoy your new handmade magazine holder. Make matching ones, or mix and match colors. Have fun with it!

Tell me about your favorite DIY project you have done!

DIY Clothespin Organizer

I absolutely love to organize things. Saying that, I am not the kind of person who can organize without specific tools to help me accomplish my organizational goals. For example I could not just on my own decide to organize my MESS of shoes in my closet, but if I had a shoe organizer those puppies would be straight and tidy.

So I was needing to organize my life, as it were, and I couldn't find an organizational tool that was going to help me reach my organizational goal. So I made one myself! It is a small step, but it helps a lot! Enjoy.

 Why yes, yes that is a Disneyland ticket that is blocking my view of my "cleaning assignments", how convenient.

Supplies

• Mini clothespins
• Fun colored paper
• Scissors
• Letter stickers or label maker
• Hot glue gun

First pick a spot in your house that is seen a lot by you but not so much by guests. Or at least a spot where a to do list doesn't look out of place to guests, like a chalkboard or whiteboard or family calendar spot. 

Mine just so happens to be hot glued to the back of my bedroom door, it is the perfect spot for me.

*** I rotate out my cleaning schedule based on the day of the week it is, I got my daily (and weekly and monthly) cleaning routine from Mrs. FlyLady***

I am not going to lie, I hot glue gunned my right to the back of my door, but you might not feel comfortable doing that. If that is the case maybe hang a small slat of wood on the wall with thumbtacks and string and hot glue the min clothes pins to that. You can also hot glue gun your clothespins to the bottom of a white or chalkboard or directly on them. Anyway first step...hot glue gun down the mini clothes pins

Next, make labels to hang above the clothespins. I used letter stickers stuck to fun colored strips of paper. If you have a label maker I am jealous of you you can make labels to stick above the clothes pins. I asked for a label maker for Valentine's Day (practical gift for a chocolate hating girl!) but instead I got an early V-Day gift of an engagement ring...good call honey.

Now, just pin the papers or notes, or memos in the appropriate pins to keep all the important stuff together and in one spot! I only keep current and upcoming bills and to-dos on there, anything that needs to get archived goes in my small safe (for really safe keeping for things like loan paperwork or car payment info) or in my "important papers folder"

I hope this helped you get organized in a cute and fun DIY kind of way!

Love, Sav