Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Closet Organizational Solutions

Organizing your closet is something no one wants to take on.  This is why closets usually are the last things to get cleaned and organized.  However, we have some easy tips on how to organize your closet and save space.

Hanging jewelry organizers

 If you rush to find the outfit-completing bracelet or necklace every morning, consider a new jewelry organization system. A hanging organizer will keep you from digging through a cluttered box in the last fleeting morning moments. Choose a product that has a soft vinyl lining to protect your accessories from getting scratched.

Purse rack

An over-the-door hanging rack is a good way to keep track of your handbag inventory and clear some space on sought-after shelves. The simple design is complete with adjustable hooks so you can organize your purses however you like -- by color, brand or season.

Vinyl storage bags

If you have items in your closet that you don't use on a daily basis, store them together in a vinyl bag. Fold towels, sweaters and extra linens neatly into multiple bags and then stack them on top of one another, freeing space for the items you use more often.

Revolving shoe stand

This takes up less space than your typical shoe rack, and the spinning motion makes sorting through your heels, sneakers and flip flops easier when you're rushing to get out the door.

Decorative crates

Get creative with your organization project by picking boxes in bright hues, fun patterns or chic designs. For a stylish and eco-friendly approach, try stackable crates made from bamboo.

Cascading hangers

If you just can't part with seldom-worn clothes but still need extra space, buy a set of cascading hangers. They're perfect for hanging multiple shirts, sweaters, blouses or slacks in a tight spot and are made with a non-slip grip so you won't have to dust your clothes off of the floor.

Island organizer

A storage island is a good option for more spacious closets. It's similar to the kitchen island but a little smaller and with more nooks and crannies for storing your belongings. It also can serve as a fabulous decorative piece!

Stacking shelves

They're relatively cheap and add extra storage space. Stack several pieces for an easy-to-reach shoe rack, or put a single row on an existing shelf to double up available areas.

Drawer organizers

Perfect for keeping lingerie, undergarments and hosiery in order, drawer organizers can be stacked on top of each other on a closet shelf to save space. Each organizer is conveniently broken down into smaller sections so you can organize smaller garments easily.

For more information see She Knows.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Sand Sculpting Challenge Comes to San Diego

Giant animals, 3d creations, and working mechanics are just some of the aspects that can be found at this years Sand Sculpture competition.  This sand sculpting challenge and festival will be in San Diego next weekend with premiere artists from around the country competing for the prize. There will be activities and entertainment for families, and proceeds go to arts programs in the San Diego area.


Hundreds of thousands have come each year to see master-class sculptors build beautiful 3-dimensional works of art. Now many of the world's finest artists will come to create the most amazing sculptures ever. And they'll do it on a unique site with our beautiful bay on the West and downtown's sandcastles in the sky on the East. Just 2 blocks North lie the world's tall ships in all their majesty, and out on the bay, the ships sail with full regalia and recreate cannon battles of yore.

It's a 4-day extravaganza for the whole family.
 
Astonishing Sand Sculptures
  • Competition between 10 professional world masters carving sculptures like San Diegans have never seen
  • Head-to-head battle between the sandcastle teams who have won 9 of the last 10 U.S. Open crowns in the former Imperial Beach event - Archisand vs. I.B. Posse
  • CA masters team competition
  • Student competitions - art and architecture - middle, high school and college levels
3-dimensional Art for the Home
  • Leading California metal, stone and wood sculptors
  • Designer clothing and jewelry
  • 3D wall art
  • Art for kids, handmade educational toys and much more
Entertainment All Weekend Long
  • Musicians
  • Singers
  • Dancers
  • Storytellers
  • Pirates
  • Magicians
  • The best of the buskers
Kids activities
  • Sand sculpture classes
  • Sandbox
  • Box-in-Box
  • Hat-making and more
Plus, a significant portion of the proceeds go toward arts education programs that help kids learn to learn.
  • Young Audiences of San Diego /Arts for Learning, serving tens of thousands of kids throughout the area
  • Maritime Museum of San Diego Education Programs
For more information see SanDiego.org

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Five New Events to go to in San Diego this Weekend

It is looking to be a beautiful weekend in San Diego.  It is the perfect time to try something new and out of the ordinary, for your weekend activities.  From body surfing to a beer festival, there is something for everyone in San Diego this weekend.

1. 36th Annual World Bodysurfing Championships

bodysurfing

Are You the Next Body Surfing Champion?

Approximately 350-400 bodysurfers, equipped with swim fins only will ride and compete on ocean waves this weekend at Oceanside Pier. The contest starts Saturday and Sunday morning at 6:30 AM. Winners announced Sunday afternoon.

2. 16th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival


Stone’s 16th Anniversary Celebration and Invitational Beer Festival

Stone Brewing Company will be celebrating its Sweet 16 at its 16th Anniversary Celebration and International Beer Festival, August 17 and 18 on the campus of California State University San Marcos. One hundred percent of the profits from the festival will be donated to local charities. The Festival will feature more than 40 breweries and 100 beers, as well as the infamous Arrogant Bastard Ale onion rings, complimentary homebrewed sodas, and samples of Mike’s Beer cheese.

3. Tiki Oasis 2012




From August 16-19, the 2012 Tiki Oasis will be occupied by a den of spies, secret agents, and villains, all out to reach the same goal: to have fun for four continuous days while enjoying tropical music, shopping for the newest in Tiki fashion and imbibing the world’s greatest cocktails!

4. TwainFest in Old Town


TwainFest Old Town

TwainFest is a free and family-friendly festival celebrating the writing of Mark Twain and his contemporaries. TwainFest bursts into action on Saturday, Aug. 18, in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. This will be TwainFest’s third annual celebration of mid-19th century American arts and culture. The fun starts 11:00 AM and runs until 5:00 PM. Admission is free and open to all.

5. Beer Fest at the Del Mar Racetrack

Opening Day at the Del Mar Racetrack

Great Craft Beer and Exciting Races Await in Del Mar

As if you need another reason to head to Del Mar for race season…but here is one anyway. On Saturday, August 18, check out the Beer Fest and sample over 70 different flavors of cold brews during the Del Mar Beer Fest. After 1:00 PM, visitors can sample some San Diego favorites such as Ballast Point, Green Flash, Stone and much more.

For more information please see SanDiego.org

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Americans Compete Against Each Other in the Olympics


Americans winning gold in any event is a big deal.  However, when two American teams go up against each other for an Olympic Gold that is something that has never happened.  However, in the sport of beach volleyball that is exactly what is happening today at 4pm.

Wednesday’s gold medal, women’s beach volleyball match is historic before it even starts.

The 4 p.m. ET showdown between the teams of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings and Jennifer Kessy and April Ross marks the first time that an Olympic final has pitted one American duo against another.



If May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings triumph, they’ll become the sport’s first team to win gold medals in three consecutive Olympics and secure their status as the greatest of all time.

If underdogs Kessy and Ross upset the legends, they’ll become America’s -- and perhaps the world’s – new top team.

No matter the result, the match will illustrate America’s continued dominance in the sport, which was born on the sands of Southern California and became an Olympic sport in 1996. Since then, U.S. teams have won five of eight gold medals in the men’s and women’s divisions.

Expect an inordinate amount of “USA!” chants on the makeshift beach at London’s Horse Guards Parade.
Heading into the Olympics, Mary-Treanor/Walsh Jennings were ranked third in the world, and beat the number-two team, Zhang Xi/Xue Chen of China in straight sets to reach the gold-medal match. Kessy/Ross were ranked fourth, and beat the top-seeded team, Larissa Franca and Juliana Fellberta Silva of Brazil, in a comeback thriller.

The Brazilians won the bronze medal match in three sets over the Chinese early Wednesday.
When the gold-medal match concludes, it will mark the end of an era. May-Treanor plans to retire afterward, breaking up an 11-year partnership and leaving Walsh Jennings, a mother of two, looking for another teammate.

Perhaps she has more history-making in her.

For more information please go to  All-American Battle on the Beach | NBC 7 San Diego.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Make Your Back to School Transition Easier

The kids will be going back to school soon, and the transition from summer time to school can be hard on parents and kids.  Setting up a routine and making your child excited for school can make the transition a bit easier.  Here are some great tips on how to start getting ready for school, so it can be a great experience for the whole family.

 Say farewell to summer

Plan something special for your family just before school starts as a way to celebrate the end of summer. Commemorate the season with one last hurrah before you turn the page and enter the new school year.

Out with the old, in with the new

Clear the clutter off your child's workspace, dust off the backpack and buy whatever school supplies your child needs. Make sure that annual checkups and immunizations are in order, and that school forms are filled out and ready to hand in.

Pop Quiz!

Time to grease the brain gears. Making Italian for dinner? Ask your child to calculate the nutritional value of the meal, spell words such as "gnocchi" or "penne," talk about the Roman Empire or chat about capital cities in Italy. Incorporate "pop quizzes" into your child's day with math facts, spelling questions, history facts or geography questions to warm up for the upcoming school year. Online brain games such as crossword puzzles, word scrambles and Sudoku are also fun ways to exercise the brain.

Routine, routine, routine

Begin a gradual transition from the carefree days of summer to the rigors of the academic schedule. Send the kids to bed 15 minutes earlier each night, and wake them up a little closer to the usual school start time. This transition should also find its way into the kitchen. Get back into the habit of starting the morning with a healthy breakfast, serve lunch at a regular time and get into the routine of a hearty, early dinner. Regulating your family's internal clocks will help ease the transition for both your children and you!

Summer in retrospect

Every year starts with some iteration of the same time-honored question: "What did you do this summer?" You know your children will be asked, so why not prepare them now? Have your children collect their thoughts, pore over photographs, jot down some notes or write journal entries so that they're ready when the teacher pops the question.

Let's do lunch

Beat the sandwich blues by brainstorming new lunch ideas with your children. Come up with an exciting lunch menu for the first week of school and stock the fridge with all the ingredients you'll need. Planning will help avoid the early-morning scramble.

What to wear

The first day of school is an important event on the fashion front. Collaborate with your children to find that perfect back-to-school outfit and set it out the night before. This helps build anticipation for the big day and saves precious time in the morning.

Party time

Celebrate the start of school with a get-together -- maybe a classmate pizza party the first weekend of the school year. Planning a party will give your child something to look forward to, and it's a great way to reconnect with peers and set the foundation for friendships that will stay with your child throughout the year. 

For more back to school tips visit SheKnows.

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