Easy RePurpose with Shelf Brackets

I have been looking at this wall for a long time:

Window Frame wall decor

You see this through the doorway of the kitchen to the hallway.

A little bleh, huh?

I have looked and looked at it and had no idea what to do about it.  

I knew it needed something, but I couldn't find the right addition to it.

(Yes, I know that the verse is from Christmas, but the chalk pen I used won't budge. Even with a wet towel. Advice anyone?)

I painted the window a nice shade of green and then sanded much of it thinking it would liven up the whole thing, but alas, no.

And, one day I was walking through my kitchen and I spied these in the floor of the breakfast nook:

distressed red shelf brackets

I have had them for several years and just never knew what to do with them. I have had ideas from time to time, but never followed through. 

So, I stuck them up on top of the window:

Re-purposed Shelf Brackets

So much better!

I can't believe I never thought of it before!

Sometimes a solution can be staring you in the face and it just takes some time for it to come together.  

All I had to do was put them up there. 

No paint involved, no nails, no nothing.

Easiest decor solution, ever. 

Have you ever had  a solution pop up that was so easy it was a little embarrassing? This solution was just that. Embarrassingly simple!

A Command Center and Dropzone: Organizing for the Organizationally Challenged

I can't believe I haven't shown you our command center!
It's used every. single. day.
Well, at least during the school year.  We kinda wing it during the summer. It's all good.

Really it's more of a mini command center, and it's mostly for me to keep track of all that's going on.

I used two ornate frames that I snagged from various other projects and painted them both.  I added a fabric scrap behind the glass of the large frame to create a huge dry erase board. Sometimes, it has a peek at the week coming up, and other times it has reminders of chores that need to be done (and by whom).

I was constantly leaving my keys in all sorts of weird places, so the key hooks were a must and I am proud to say that I haven't misplaced my keys since!

The cork board houses papers that have a to-do associated with them (other than bills). For instance, I put my notice to renew my driver's license up there so I would know where it was. Then, once I took it down, I promptly misplaced it.****Really?*****

I put the "Laundry" sign on the door to let everyone know that is a place that they do not wish to go. So far, so good.

This is at the back of the hallway, directly across from the bathroom that all the boys use, and right outside my bedroom door, so we all see it often. And, you go out the laundry room to get to the garage, so it is really in the perfect place.  The hall is narrow, so I couldn't incorporate a shelf, or a drop zone, but I solved that by creating one in the hall closet.

Mini DropZone

We use this space a lot for backpacks, computer bags, and of course my purse. I keep The Little's karate uniform in here, as well, that way I know where all the pieces are when we are making a mad dash to practice. The bench is a great place for him to sit and put on his shoes, but most of the time he would rather just on the floor.

I have a collection of Command Centers on Pinterest that is growing and growing. Check out the link below:

Tip Junkie has a great post on 10 Family Command Centers

Mine is definitely a "mini", but it works great for me.  I am working on The Littlest's homework zone next.  He definitely needs an organized space to help keep him focused and on task when it comes to getting his homework done. 

Do you have any great tips for organizing your family and keeping track of all the "stuff" of a family?

Brown Sugar & Cream Cheese Breakfast Rolls, a Recipe

I love to bake special treats from time to time.  Especially on days that we get to sleep in and be lazy.  Today was perfect because it's a day off from school and work, and it was storming out. I love a good storm!

When I got up, I went to the fridge and to see what I had on hand.  I had a package of crescent rolls, so I knew I would bake something with those.  

I started out by getting out the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cream cheese. Hmmmm....

I set to work.

Here is a the yummy goodness that I came up with, complete with ingredients!

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 pkg maple flavored oatmeal

I first creamed the above ingredients together in a bowl, then I put a small spoonful of the mixture in the bottom of muffin cups.

Then I, unrolled my rolls, and cut them in half.

I added a dollop of cream cheese and rolled them up.  

Then, I placed them with the pretty roll facing up in the muffin cups.

Bake until a lovely brown at 350 degrees and they're yummy!

Here is a step by step photo collage:

Brown Sugar & Cream Cheese Breakfast Rolls

These are delicious! The cream cheese filling really off sets the sweetness of the gooey topping, and the oatmeal gets nice and chewy.

Enjoy!

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