Organizing the Laundry Room

My laundry room is very compact and I love it! It is easy to keep clean because it is a smaller space. I have a cabinet, a shower curtain rod for hanging clothes, a sink, and I stacked my washer and dryer so everything is within reach. When we were planning the room, I knew I would not need a space to fold my clothes because I like to fold the clothes where I store them, which is mostly in the master bedroom or bathroom. So I opted for more living space rather than laundry room space. What I have learned over the past year on my organizing journey is that when you are dealing with a small space it is essential to keep them organized and don't let clutter accumulate.
This is how I organized my laundry room space. On the bottom shelf that is easy to reach, I keep my homemade laundry soap (recipe on an earlier post) and some of the ingredients to make it, homemade fabric softener (vinegar and water) in a spray bottle, stain remover (Fels-Naptha), Dr. Bronner's liquid castile and bar soap, and white vinegar. The second shelf is used for borax, washing soda, baking soda, a basket of containers for my homemade foaming soap (Dr. Bronner's, tea tree oil, and water), and a few extra rags. The top shelf is for those items I don't use on a consistent basis such as my iron (yuck), my ironing cloth, and my extra glass vases. Hope you get some ideas to make your laundry life more simple!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Repurposing Wooden Crates

My sister gave me some vintage Christmas ornaments that came in these cool wooden crates, so rather than store them in a closet somewhere until Christmas, I decided to use them for decorating.  I stacked them, along with my dad's cowboy boots that I stuck some dried wheat and grass into next to my fireplace.  They would also make a cute end table.  Look around and see what you could use in another way and share your re-purposing ideas with us!


~Simply Angie

Candle Bling from Vintage Jewelry

I was looking for a candle wreath or something to decorate my candle that sits on my newly painted candle holder. Since I have a shabby chic theme in my living room, I wanted something sparkly and old. Then I remembered I had an old bracelet stuffed in a box in my closet. I'm really trying to clean out and display my vintage items rather than having them packed away, so I used my bracelet as candle bling and I love it!

 

Love and peace,

~ Simply Tammi

Flavored Sugars

When I went to the grocery store the other day, I noticed in the spice area they were selling Cinnamon-Sugar Mix for about $4.00!  I was a little surprised to say the least.  Our family has been making this and using it for years (for less than $4!)
So just in case you haven't tried it, here it is:

• I use a glass spice jar and add about 2 tsp of ground cinnamon, then fill the rest of the jar with sugar. Give it a shake to mix.  

This makes a great topping for muffins or banana bread, just sprinkle it on top before baking.  You can make dinner bread sticks into "dessert" bread sticks, spread a little butter on them and sprinkle the top with the mixture before you bake them.  It also makes a yummy topping for toast with a little butter or peanut butter!
This also makes a nice gift idea.

For a bigger batch:

•  2 cups of granulated sugar
•  add 1 1/2 Tablespoons of ground cinnamon and a couple cinnamon sticks to a jar that seals tightly.  

To make Vanilla Sugar

• Cut a vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds from the bean into the sugar, then bury the bean in the sugar.  This works well in desserts and drinks.  It takes about a week to infuse the vanilla flavor into the sugar.  

These mixtures will last about a year in a jar with a tight fitting lid.
~Simply Angie