Simple Style

• Sometimes the easiest way to deal with items you wear or use everyday such as coats, backpacks or hats is to simply hang them casually on pegs.
• Put pegs up in a hallway, on the back of a door or in a mud room for easy access.
• Don't overload the area with too much stuff...just keep what is needed on-hand.
• It can still look great and serve a purpose for the whole family.

Instant Storage and Display

• Here's a quick idea that you can do in your own kitchen, bathroom or office area...if you need extra storage areas.
• Buy some unfinished wooden shelf brackets and some wood for shelving from your local hardware store and create some instant storage shelves.
• You can buy the shelves already cut to certain sizes to make it easier for yourself.
• Mount them to the wall to give yourself instant open storage and a chance to display things nicely...such as storage baskets, everyday dishware or office supplies in an orderly, stylish way.
• You can also buy some wood trim to finish off the shelf edges.
• Prime and paint the whole thing.
• A quick do-it-yourself project that serves a purpose in any room of your home.

Farm Time

Last summer I decided to try my hand at raising chickens - not for the meat but for the eggs. I thought it would be fun to try to raise them organically. All I can say is that it has given me a major respect to the farmers in our country. Though I only have just about two dozen hens that I take care of - it makes me realize how hardworking the family farms across America truly are. Add to that the organic farms out there that are truly making a difference.

Now that my hens are full grown, I can get anywhere from fifteen to twenty eggs per day in the barn. So it has given me a new-found focus of cooking with eggs as much as I can.

This has been a fun undertaking for me because I enjoy cooking. To me, it's a great way to relax. Preparing a meal is a great way to unwind...end of the day...music playing, kids doing homework or playing games and just creating food. When I was writing my book, I needed to get my mind off of the writing at times and just focus on a task that had a beginning, middle and end. A task that was attainable - from start to finish - in a short amount of time. Knowing that the end result is something I could enjoy with my family and friends.

My new favorite book that is all about cooking with eggs is called: EGGS by Michel Roux. Worth checking out. At least now I know how to make a poached egg myself and, at least, I know where the eggs are coming from.

Check out the book for yourself on Amazon

Weekend Makeover Idea

• I have learned that seeing is believing.

• When I talk about how design can transform your life - I know that illustrating it to you visually goes a long way. So I gathered some photos that I just came across that further drive home that way of thinking.

• Hopefully you can be inspired to take on a weekend makeover project in your own home.

• Above, is a shot of a living room that I made over for some friends. That is what the room looked like after it was re-worked - but below you can see what it looked like before I started...Here is how you can do it too:

The Creative Process of The Weekend Makeover:

1. Pick the room to re-work
2. Get rid of the clutter
3. Re-arrange the room and placement of the main furniture pieces (the fun part)
4. Pull pieces from other rooms to finish off areas
5. Paint the walls if you want to give it even more of a transformation
6. Buy some simple accessories (drapes, lamps, throw pillows, rug...)

• I always like to document a project with my camera - from the starting point through each part of the creative process. I urge you to do the same.

• In the "after" room below - I'm showing it to you without color on purpose. As you start to refine your design eye, you can begin to see the structure of a room first and then the color. The layering of details is key.

• Have fun and enjoy the process.

Inspire Creativity

• I am a firm believer in kids having a place to use their imaginations.

• Kids need time to just be kids and play...I talk about this in my book a great deal.

• I wouldn't be the designer I am today if I hadn't had teachers that inspired my creativity.

• As a parent now, I see the value in just giving your kids their own time to be creative.

• I say - turn off the television and video games for awhile and see what their imaginations bring to life...

Here's how you can help:

• Give them a chalkboard wall in their bedroom or playroom (You can buy the paint and paint it on your wall yourself. Add a molding ledge for a chalk holder or just hang a basket nearby).
• Bring in the old kitchen table into their playroom or give them some sort of surface to paint, do craft projects on or build things.
• Don't have a large space - just gather some crayons, colored pencils and sketchbooks on your breakfast table in fun mugs kept on a tray. Let them draw in the morning or while having a snack after school.
• Play music. Try out different kinds of music on different days...see how they get inspired by what they are hearing....classical one day, big band jazz on another...etc.

More to come on the subject of inspiring creativity (for kids and grown ups!)