Organization Archives - Simply Kierste

{design your own business cards} an easy tutorial

May
15

Want to see my new business cards? I {LOVE} how they turned out, and they were so easy to make. I used PicMonkey--one of my favorite places to edit pictures and fancy them up a little for posts. If you don't have access to Photoshop or something similar, and want an easy option to make your own cards, you'll definitely want to try this. {1} Go to www.picmonkey.com, and select "edit a photo. You'll need to upload a high resolution white paper, and I've shared one HERE. {2} Re-size to a business card size, 1062 x 615 pixels. {3} Click the "overlays" icon (the group of three--with the heart) on the far left hand side of your page. It will open … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All Crafts, Crafts, Organization | 3 Comments

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{simple DIY numbered labels}

Apr
25

I number everything. It's true. I do number things just to make them cute, but I also use numbers quite a bit for organizational purposes. With six kids, numbers really come in handy, although I do feel a little like Captain Von Trapp. ☺ Each of my children have a number, and they have their own kitchen stool, coat hook, and more. We have a front entry bench with baskets underneath it, where each child has their own basket for shoes. We used to have the whole family's shoes there, and the kids shared baskets, but they were quickly running out of room. Now it's one child per basket, and it was time for numbered labels! These are highly used shoe baskets, and I needed durable, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decor, For the Home, Home & Family, Organization | 8 Comments

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{2013 summer schedule}

Apr
19

Yes, I know it's only April, but summer is soon upon us, and I've already started penciling in summer activities. Summer camps, swimming lessons, and vacations have made their way onto my calendar, and there is more to come. I'm constantly learning about other fun summer activities, and I love having a place to keep them all straight, and reduce overbooking or overlapping. I created this summer schedule several years ago, and loved it, so I update it each year and live by it the whole summer! It makes me happy! :) There are a couple of ways you can use this: 1. Download the PDF file, place in a frame, and use it as a dry erase board. (Use a fine point Sharpie--it won't rub off … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For the Home, Holiday Projects, Home & Family, Organization, Summer Fun | 12 Comments

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{chalkboard & fence post family home evening board}

Apr
17

Family Home Evening Board | simplykierste.com

Every Monday night is a special one at our house...it's Family Night, or Family Home Evening as we like to call it. We put everything on hold, and don't put anything else on the schedule. Everyone stays home, and we enjoy some really fun and quality time together as a family. We do have a structure, not only to stay organized, but to also give each member of the family an opportunity to contribute. We sing songs, have a simple gospel lesson from the scriptures, pray, eat treats, play games, have a talent show (you should see some of the crazy talents my kids have, lol!), and do some kind of activity--whether it's playing games, going on a walk, bike ride, or to the park, bowling, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All Crafts, Crafts, For the Home, Home & Family, Organization, Re-purpose & Refinish, Silhouette | 7 Comments

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{nursery in a small space}

Apr
10

Hello everyone! How I've missed you! I've spent the last three weeks snuggling this darling baby girl... Isn't she scrumptious? I seriously cannot stop kissing those chubby cheeks! I'm slowly adjusting a new "normal", and life as mom of six kids. SIX. Yikes. Doesn't that sound like a lot, lol? My parents left last week, and my husband is back to work this week, so I'm on my own! It's actually going pretty well, and I have A LOT of helpers at home to hold the baby and run to get things when I need them. My project list is literally a mile long, and I've kind of gone crazy over the last week. I really haven't been able to do much to our house since moving in 9 months ago, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Babies & Children, For the Home, Furniture, Organization | 32 Comments

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{spring cleaning!} printable checklist & tips

Mar
05

Spring Cleaning List & Printable | simply kierste.com

The words "spring cleaning" might strike fear deep into your heart, but I'm here to tell you that it is totally doable, and that you will love the difference it makes in your home. As soon as March hits, I start thinking about spring cleaning. I like to take a couple of months (March & April) to get it all done, rather than all it once--otherwise it just seems to overwhelming, or I kill myself (and my family, lol) in a week to finish. I've learned a lot about what works for me, and I'm going to share my tips with you. {THE PLAN} 1. Make a list! This probably comes as no surprise, since I love lists so much, but it's the number one thing you can do to get your spring cleaning … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cleaning, For the Home, Organization, Printables | 3 Comments

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{freezer meal labels} free printables!

Feb
25

There have been lots of new babies born around here, and just this past week I took a meal to a friend who had a beautiful baby boy. I decided to create a fun label for the freezer meal that I brought her cute little family--perfect for all the information she would need to thaw and bake. I loved it so much, I decided to make several different versions, and share them with you! Whether you are taking a freezer meal or someone else, or stocking your own freezer, these are a darling way to document the directions. They are blank labels, so you could use them for treat plates, or even a ready-to-go meal you might be delivering. They'll work on aluminum foil, large plastic bags, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Babies & Children, For the Home, Gift Ideas, Home & Family, Organization, Packaging, Printables | 4 Comments

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{mini kitchen command center}

Jan
23

The proverbial "the kitchen is the heart of the home" is definitely true at our house. It's basically one big open space connected to our family room and dining room, and it's where I spend the majority of my time...along with the rest of my family. Because of this, I like having a space set aside as a mini command center, where I can keep my calendar, papers, files, mail, coupons, and all those other things that come along with the busy-ness of life. It's where kids bring their school papers, my husband drops off receipts, where I open the mail, and make my lists. I do have an office, but it's far from the kitchen, and I like having it at my fingertips. All the openness is lovely, but with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For the Home, Home & Family, Organization | 18 Comments

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{simple decorated clothespins}

Jan
02

Decorated clothespins aren't anything new--I've been making them for a long time, and actually first posted about them several years ago. However, my obsession with them hasn't changed much at all, and I love how they can transform an ordinary clothespin into the perfect accessory for magnet boards, clipboards, and more. I've used several different methods to cover them, including fabric, paper, paint and stamps. I'm going to share a method I tried this week--the easiest yet! It literally takes less than 1 minute to cover a clothespin! LOVE that! I'm all about things that are simple, don't take a lot of time, but make a huge difference. What makes these so easy? I used … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All Crafts, Crafts, DIY Decor, For the Home, Gift Ideas, Organization, Re-purpose & Refinish, Teachers | 9 Comments

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{christmas cards on a ring}

Dec
17

I'm kind of in love with book rings. This holiday season it was the perfect answer to keeping my Christmas cards under control, and I'm excited to share with you this simple holiday organization tip! I love being able to see all the Christmas cards and letters we receive--it's one of my favorite things! I look at them all month, then put them in to my Christmas Memories binder after Christmas. I get a lot of letters and pictures along with cards, and sometimes those have been more difficult to hang or clip up. I've used several different methods, but this year I decided to try something a little different. I just punched a hole in the corner of each card and letter, slid … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas, Holiday Projects, Organization | 3 Comments

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