Jigsaw Puzzle: Passo di Brogles, Dolomites, Italian Alps

Today's 250-piece puzzle is of a picture of Passo di Brogles in the Dolomites chain of the Italian Alps. At the bottom you'll find quick tips for using the puzzle app with a link to the full instructions below that. Feel free to post your time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Mum's Flowers

Today's 250-piece puzzle is of a picture titled Mum's Flowers. At the bottom you'll find quick tips for using the puzzle app with a link to the full instructions below that. Feel free to post your time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Liffey River, Dublin

Today's 400-piece puzzle is of a picture of Liffey River in Dublin, Ireland. At the bottom you'll find quick tips for using the puzzle app with a link to the full instructions below that. Feel free to post your time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Ulm Fishermen's Quarter, Germany

Today's 500-piece puzzle is of a picture of Ulm Fishermen's Quarter in Germany. At the bottom you'll find quick tips for using the puzzle app with a link to the full instructions below that. Feel free to post your time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Carmersburg Bridge, Bruges, Belgium

Today's 300-piece puzzle is of Carmersburg Bridge in Bruges, Belgium. Feel free to post your time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Glacier National Park

Today's 300-piece puzzle is of a picture of a beautiful view of Glacier National Park. Feel free to post your time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Full Instructions for Using the Jigsaw Puzzle App

Rather than repeat the same information over and over again with each daily jigsaw puzzle that's posted, I figured I'd provide the complete instructions for using the puzzle app in one place. It's extremely easy to use, but you may not be aware of all of the options available, so the following describes every feature available:

Menu || Located at the top-left of the screen. It includes the options to pull pieces apart, change background color, and mute sound, in that order. To access the menu, simply click on "Menu" and then click it again to close it.

Preview || Located at the top-right of the screen. To view a preview of the completed puzzle to help with solving, simply click the preview box. To close the preview box, just click it again.

Hint || The light bulb icon located at the bottom-left of the screen will provide a hint. I've never used it, so am not sure how it works, but just click on the light bulb to give it a try if you need to.

Edges Only || The icon to the right of the light bulb icon at the bottom-left of the screen. Clicking on this icon will remove all of the center pieces of the puzzle so only the edges will be visible. Once you've finished getting all of the edges in place, the rest of the pieces will automatically appear. I personally love this option because it's how I've always done puzzles -- starting with the edges first. I just don't have to go hunting through the box for them all. LOL

Fullscreen || The square icon with 4 arrows pointing toward each other at the bottom-right of the screen. This option makes the puzzle fill the full screen so you can see everything a lot easier -- another option I always use. To exit fullscreen mode, just hit the "Esc" key on your keyboard or click the icon again.

Pause || Located to the left of the time on the bottom-left of the screen. This option is for those who like to time themselves. Since I can now post more difficult puzzles (200-500 pieces), it will take longer to solve each one and you may not want to spend the time it takes to solve it all at once, so you can use the pause button to stop the timer.

If you're not concerned with timing yourself, then there's no need to pause it as the timer will just keep counting. Either way, you can have the puzzle to work on throughout the day when you take breaks from doing everything you need to do for the day. That's what I do -- and I do like to time myself, so this pause option comes in handy.

Zoom In/Zoom Out || Located to the right of the Menu option at the top-left of the screen. I've never had a use for this feature, but it will zoom in and out, making the pieces larger or smaller. The problem with this feature is that if they get too large for the screen, it will hide the pieces on the edges. So, I just use the Fullscreen mode mentioned above.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Castle Schwerin, Germany

Today's 400-piece puzzle is of a picture of Germany's Castle Schwerin. Feel free to post your time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones - Regional Maps

Since we're just getting started on our Regional Gardening by Month series, I thought it would be a good idea to provide color-coded regional maps for the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. Since Alaska and Hawaii have such drastically different weather patterns than the Lower 48, I will only be covering the Lower 48 in the series.

In each article of the series, I will link to this page so you can easily refer to it if you're unsure which zone you're in. If you would like to search for your zone by zip code, you can do so directly on the USDA's site by simply clicking the link and entering your zip code in the box provided at the top left of the page. Both pages will open in a new window so you can easily find your way back to the blog article you were on.

For a quick overview of the different zones, refer to the following chart which shows the zones by their Average Annual Minimum Temperature:

Northwest Region
Zones 3a to 9a

North Central Region
Zones 3a to 7b

Northeast Region
Zones 3a to 8a

Southwest Region
Zones 3b to 11a

South Central Region
Zones 6a to 10a

Southeast Region
Zones 5b to 11a

Jigsaw Puzzle: Holiday Room

Today's 200-piece puzzle is of a painting of a Holiday Room. Feel free to post your time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Regional Gardening by Month: January

While we're all stuck in the dead of winter, many are looking forward to seeing some green again -- Mother Nature's green, that is, but the other kind would be good, too. =) Some might be thinking there's nothing any of us can do now to help our lawns and gardens grow, but you'd be wrong! There are, in fact, a number of things you should be doing, no matter which region you live in -- even if just to prepare for the upcoming growing season.

So, as I look out my office window at the irises, roses, purple salvia and crape myrtles, I started wondering what it is that each of us could be doing at this time of year to help move things along and thought I'd do a little research. While there might be less for those in colder climates to worry about, there are still a number of things you could be doing right now. Then there are warmer regions that have specific needs according to what grows in the area and when.

Of course, there are those things that everyone could be doing, particularly planning ahead and preparing to carry out those plans. Beyond the section for what everyone could be doing, I've broken it down by regions with their specific zones. If you don't know which zone you're in, click here for the article I posted that shows maps and legends by region. I have also included several links within the article about specific topics in case you need more information. Whichever region you live in, be sure to read to the end where you'll find several related tips.

Things we should all be doing:

• Feed the birds! Make sure the birds and other small animals have food and unfrozen water as there's little to be found this time of year. Not only will you be doing a good thing for God's creatures, but it will also help to keep the varmints from feeding on your plants and destroying them before they've had a chance to bloom in the new year.
• Recycle your Christmas tree, which you can use as mulch for your garden perennials. You could even make a bird feeder out of it by stringing garlands of peanuts, popcorn, cranberries, fruits and suet (raw beef or mutton fat) through its boughs.
• Check for plants that have been lifted from the soil by frost heaving. Extreme temperature fluctuations cause repeated cycles of freezing and thawing, which makes the water in the soil expand and contract. This pushes plants up out of the soil, breaking some roots and exposing others to cold temperatures and drying winds that can seriously damage, stunt or kill them. They should be covered with some mulch until things warm up enough so that the roots aren't so brittle. When the time is right, you can then more gently work them back into the ground (doing so when the roots are brittle can also damage, stunt or kill them).
• Check your stored bulbs and veggies to be sure they are not drying out. Discard those with signs of rot.
• Sharpen and oil your garden tools so you'll be good and ready when the time comes. You might even check your wheelbarrow, weedeater and mower to be sure they're in good working order, making any necessary repairs and doing any required maintenance. You don't want to wait until you need them to find out that they need work before you can use them.
• Review last year's garden journal and start a new one by recording your seed/plant orders and then start ordering what you can from catalogs. If you haven't been keeping a journal, you should start doing so this year to keep a record of how your garden grows for future planning.
• Check mulch to be sure plant roots are well-protected and add more to paths to help suppress weeds.
• Check outdoor plants for animal damage and take measures to prevent further damage.
• Check indoor plants for pests and tackle any "debugging" that may be required.
• Plan or rework your garden design, making sure to consider the needs of the plants -- sun/shade, watering/moisture, soil type (PH balance), heat tolerance, etc. You should also research what types of plants work well together, what will attract the friendly bugs, what will keep the bad ones out, and, if you have a problem with varmints, what will keep them away. Plants can actually serve a purpose other than beautifying our yards.
  
  This is where keeping a garden journal can help, keeping track of each plant's location and past performance so you can make necessary changes in the future. You might even want to draw a map of your garden for planning and using it as a guide when ordering plants and seeds.
• You might even take a gardening class to help you develop a garden design as well as learn how to properly care for your plants and techniques for making sure the soil will promote growth for each of them.

To-Do's for those in Zones 6+:

• Prune limbs damaged by ice or snow to prevent bark from tearing. To reduce injury, allow ice to melt naturally from plants and trees.
• If the ground is workable (not frozen or too wet), now would be a good time to turn the soil. When you squeeze a handful of soil, it should form a ball that crumbles easily. If not, allow the soil to dry further before tilling or spading. This will expose insect eggs to hungry birds and any subsequent freezes, which will also help break apart heavy clods of dirt.
• If the soil isn't frozen, get a head start on some outdoor winter sowing for both vegetables and flowers that need stratification, meaning they require a bit of cold weather in order to bring them out of dormancy for the growing season. For example, in order to bloom best, larkspur, Shirley poppies, sweet peas and snapdragons should be sown outdoors where you wish to plant them as they must sprout and begin growth well before the warm weather arrives.
• Protect tender plants with some type of row cover when cold nights are forecasted.

For those in Zones 7+:

• Prune roses, grapes, bramble fruits, perennials and trees, including fruit trees. Start with apples and pears first as peaches and nectarines should be pruned just before they bloom. For trees and shrubs, try an organic dormant spray on a mild day when the temperature is above freezing.
• Now is the time to sow seeds indoors for slow-growing vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, greens, leeks, onions, peas, turnips, peppers and chiles. Sow carrots, greens and peas at the end of January.
• Start sowing seeds indoors for slow-growing plants like ageratum, coleus, geranium, impatiens, nicotiana, pansies, petunia, portulaca, salvia, snapdragons and verbena.
• Plant perennials, bareroot roses, trees (including fruit trees) and cool season vegetables, such as asparagus, artichokes, lettuce, peas, rhubarb and spinach.
• Set out transplants of cool season flowers like pansies, petunias, snapdragons, sweet peas and violas to get them acclimated to the outdoors prior to transplanting.
• Keep evergreens watered if the soil is dry and unfrozen.

For those in Zones 8b+ (Florida, California & South Texas):

• Prune raspberry canes to the ground once they finish fruiting.
• Take advantage of the cold spell with some quick growing peas, radishes and spinach.

Miscellaneous Tips:

• When pruning diseased branches, sterilize tools in between cuts with a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water. Dry your tools when done and wipe a light coating of oil on them to prevent rusting.
• When soils are wet and frozen, keep foot traffic to a minimum to avoid injury to lawns.
• When sowing seeds indoors, be sure to use sterile soil to prevent diseases. As soon as seeds sprout, provide ample lighting to encourage stocky growth.
• To extend the vase life of cut flowers: Recut stems under water with a sharp knife. Remove any stem foliage that would be under water. Use a commercial flower preservative and display flowers in a cool spot away from direct sunlight.
• Branches of pussy will, quince, crabapple, forsythia, pear and flowering cherry may be forced indoors. Place cut stems in a vase of water and change the water every four days.
• Now is the time for maple sugaring! Freezing nights and mild days get the sap to flowing, so don't miss out on this sweet deal!
• Save the prunings of grape vines for making attractive wreaths and other craft projects.
• Chinese Mantis, Carolina Mantis and Praying Mantis are all beneficial to your garden as they prey on the bad guys that could destroy it. So be sure not to damage or otherwise disturb their cocoons!

Chinese Mantis

Carolina Mantis

Praying Mantis

While this article is posted a bit late in January, the above still applies, especially since most of it needs to be taken care of later in the month, anyway. I'll be sure to have February's article and those for subsequent months ready by the first of each month. So keep your eyes peeled!

Jigsaw Puzzle: Niagara Falls

Today's 250-piece puzzle is of a picture of a stunning view of Niagara Falls. Feel free to post your time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Entering the Castle

Today's 300-piece puzzle is of a picture of a stunning view of a castle's entrance. Feel free to post your time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Diving in the Red Sea, Egypt

Today's 250-piece puzzle is of a diving adventure in the Red Sea near Egypt. Feel free to post your solving time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: The Poeke Castle, Aalter, Belgium

Today's 300-piece puzzle is of a picture of The Poeke Castle in Aalter, Belgium. Feel free to post your solving time in the comments section and remember you can always pause it and come back to it later if you need to. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: The Fragonard Room

Today's 250-piece puzzle is of a painting of The Fragonard Room. If you like, post your time in the comments section. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Lower Brockhampton's Manor House

Today's 400-piece puzzle is a picture of Lower Brockhampton's Manor House. If you like, post your time in the comments section. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: English Country Kitchen

Today's 500-piece puzzle is a picture of an English Country Kitchen that's so beautiful it makes you want to stay in it and cook all day. If you like, post your time in the comments section. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Still Life on a Terrace

Today's 250-piece puzzle is of a painting of Still Life on a Terrace. Feel free to post your solving time in the comments section. Remember, you can always pause the puzzle and come back to it later. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: The White Horse, Woolstone, England

Today's puzzle is of The White Horse in Woolstone, England. If you like, post your time in the comments section. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Munich, Bavaria

How fast can you solve this puzzle of rooftops in Munich, Bavaria? Post your time in the comments section. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Santa Elia, Sicily, Italy

For today's puzzle, we have Santa Elia in Sicily, Italy...gorgeous! Be sure to post your time in the comments section. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Start the New Year by Getting Organized!

I have always been an organizer and have this ability to just visualize a space and then make the most out of every inch of it. My family typically calls on me whenever they need something organized or well-packed in a box. I think this uncanny ability stems from not liking clutter. Not only does clutter look bad, but my brain tends to reflect its surroundings. If my environment is cluttered, then so are my thoughts, making it difficult to focus on anything.

Since a couple of days before the New Year, I have been on an organizing spree. My office has been in such disarray after moving stuff around, going through products to sell, and throwing things in there to make room for family visiting for the holidays. It was rather disorganized before all that, but became such a beastly sight afterwards that I (and my brain) just couldn't take it anymore! LOL

Even my files were horrendous and have been since we moved into this house a few years ago because I just threw everything haphazardly in boxes and said I would deal with it later. Actually, that's what I did for the last few moves that have occurred during the past seven years (sshhh...don't tell anyone). So I knew it would be a monumental task and was able to fool my brain for a time since everything was hidden in boxes, but no more!

Yep, my brain finally caught on to my little game of "out-of-sight-out-of-mind." It kept nagging me about how everything is so disorganized, saying, "And, YES, I know all about those papers and junk you've got thrown in boxes, so don't think you're fooling me!" So, naturally, I had to do something if I wanted my brain to shut up about it and get back to thinking more clearly for this new year's projects that lie ahead.

It has taken me the better part of a week to accomplish, but I'm finally down to the nitty gritty...the last bit of filing (the stuff I need new folders or binders for). I'm determined to keep going until it is COMPLETELY done! Just seeing how everything is looking so good as I go through the process of organizing, assigning a place for every little thing, and THROWING STUFF AWAY, is inspiring me to see it through to the end.

So, that's what I'm going to spend my Sunday doing -- on top of taking stuff to storage (because that's where it belongs...not in my office) and running a few other fairly quick errands. If I just sit down and do it, I think I should be able to get it done today, but it also depends on how much time I spend running errands. It would sure be nice to start the first work week of the new year with a completely organized office!

Anywho, with all of that in mind, I thought I'd share some organizing ideas. One in particular is my favorite...organizing drawers! No more "junk" drawer -- at least not one anyone would immediately recognize as a junk drawer -- and no more digging to find what you're looking for because everything is right there at your fingertips in plain view.

How is that possible, you ask? Well, it's simple, really, and they're appropriately called "drawer organizers." LOL Now before you start thinking that you're going to have to spend gobs of money on pre-fabbed drawer organizers, let me just say two words...dollar store! If you're not one to frequent the dollar store, you'd be surprised what all they have there at much better prices than even Wal-Mart.

Of course, a trip to the dollar store will only be required if you don't already have what you need lying around the house. That's right, you just might have at least most everything already within your reach; especially if you're one who likes to hold onto things "just in case" you need them later (like yours truly). Yes, those of us who think "just in case" frequently find ourselves dealing with clutter "just because" we don't throw things away.

Well, now is the time to make use of some of those things, converting them from clutter to drawer organizers! Got shoe boxes? Checkbook boxes? Small bowls (tin, glass, plastic, ceramic, etc.) or old square cake pans you never use for food anymore? Collect glass bowls to the point where you don't have enough room to display them all like me (yes, I have a weakness for collecting old dishes)? What about cookie tins or other decorative tins?

There are a lot of different things you could use and you could even decorate them yourself if they're just plain Jane or too ugly by themselves. If you don't feel like taking on a crafting project and don't have anything that you'd like to see on a regular basis in your drawers, then you can simply head to your local dollar store and buy some cheap bowls and trays to use -- along with some velcro.

The velcro would be for keeping the bowls and trays in place when opening and closing the drawers. That way things aren't getting thrown around and possibly being dumped over, totally defeating the purpose of having them in there. If you don't mind a simple crafting project, you could use things like fabric, wrapping paper, adhesive paper drawer liners, etc., to decorate the bowls and trays to suit your taste.

You can do all this without spending a lot of money, if any at all. To help you get started, I've provided some images and brief instructions below to give you some ideas about what you can do to organize your drawers. You could even take those ideas and translate them to work for organizing your closet, shelves, or cabinets. For example, I love using old decorative hat boxes to organize things in my closet. They're pretty and stackable and you can even slide them on the shelf under your top row of clothes.

The following images show you how to use metal mesh baskets and tin bowls with velcro. Of course, this will also work with plastic, glass, or ceramic containers, bowls, and the like, as long as the bottom rests flat on the surface so the velcro makes contact. Later in the week, I'll share some other nifty ideas for organizing your drawers, closets, cabinets and even your desk top/office, but this should be a good place to start.

What You'll Need:


Best Method:

Before you do anything, arrange the containers in the drawer until you've determined that you've made the most out of the space. It's a good idea to keep the larger containers towards the back and the smaller ones at front so you can easily grab what you need. Considering that you'll be using velcro, you'll also need to make sure you...

Attach the velcro to the bottom of the containers, keeping both sides of the velcro together, but don't remove the tape from the adhesive until you're ready to start placing them in the drawer:


Starting with the containers that go in the back, remove the tape from the adhesive and carefully place the containers in the spots you previously determined. Once a container is in place, press down firmly on the spots where the velcro is attached to make sure the adhesive has made full contact with the drawer:


When you're done, you'll be so proud of yourself and happy to finally have a neat and organized drawer!


Other Ideas:

Happy Organizing!!

Jigsaw Puzzles: Colorful Roses

Let's try some colorful roses for today's jigsaw puzzle. Don't forget to post your time in the comments section. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Machados Waterfall, Bueno Brandao, Brazil

Today's jigsaw puzzle is of Machados Waterfall in Bueno Brandao, Brazil...have fun and post your time in the comments section! =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Two Watermills and an Open Sluice

Here's our daily jigsaw puzzle of two watermills and an open sluice. Post your time in the comments section. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.

Jigsaw Puzzle: Sintra Town Council, Portugal

Today's Jigsaw Puzzle is of Sintra Town Council in Portugal. Feel free to post your time in the comments section. =)

Quick Tips for Using the Puzzle:

• If you like to start with the edges, you can use the button on the bottom left of the screen to display the edge pieces only. Once you get them all in place, the rest of the middle pieces will automatically appear.
  
• If you need to see the picture during the process of solving it, just click the button at the top right of the screen for a quick view. To close the picture view, just click the arrow at the bottom left of that window.
  
• To start over, just click the Menu button at the top left and select the "Pull Pieces Apart" option.