Meal Planning to Simplify Your Life

Fact: I'm way more likely to be organized if there is a cute and stylish way to do it. For instance.....this notepad from Anthropologie. (Which happens to be on sale for $4.95!!!)

If we are being really honest, most weeks I do not meal plan. In fact, the first time I ever tried was about a year ago. I'm getting better at it and the benefits seem to keep coming.

1. I only have to go to the grocery store 1-2 times a week rather than everyday before I cook.

2. I'm saving money.

3. I'm not wasting as much food.

The catch is setting aside the time it takes to sit down and look at my schedule, figure out which nights I need to cook, who I'm cooking for,  how much prep time I have, and what to make. In the long run I know it saves time because I'm not running back and forth to the grocery store multiple times a week.

I try and cook 3 times during the week. Most nights I'll make enough to have leftovers as a meal for the next night. If you are like me you have a never ending board on my  Pinterest  page of really yummy looking dishes to choose from. I usually start there, on Pinterest and narrow down my selection by the time it takes and the overall health benefits of the dish. I have started editing the captions on my pins to include the date that I make something for the first time, thoughts, recipe alterations and whether I would make it again. If it turns out horribly I delete the pin.

I'm really curious. Do you meal plan? Have you ever tried it? What did you think?

Beaumont Magnet Academy Welcomes You

It's Back to School Time in Tennessee!

And what does that mean to Help You Dwell??  Well, for one it means that one-half of the HYD outfit has free childcare again.  But more exciting than that, it meant that HYD got to be part of the preparation process for Beaumont Magnet Academy on Beaumont Ave. here in Knoxville.  This summer Beaumont underwent an administration transformation to breathe life, order & hope into the teachers and students of this amazing Knox County Magnet School.  The three women leading this campaign, Dr. Daphne Odom, Ms. Missy Beltrand, & Ms. Tracy Marsh have a vision for success for Beaumont that is contagious as you spend any amount of time with them.

Before

Ms. Tracy Marsh, Asst. Principal, Dr. Daphne Odom, Co-Principal, Missy Beltran, Co-Principal

Along with the exciting change in administration came the challenge of fitting three administrators into the spaces where only two had previously been.  After much consideration & a whole lotta furniture removal, HYD had these amazing ladies ready to roll.  And many thanks to the KCS painting staff for a stellar job on the walls.

The Beaumont administration also invited HYD to revive the front office space with color, organization & a welcoming atmosphere.  Since Beaumont Magnet Academy has a Fine Arts focus, HYD decided to bring life to the front office by showcasing the students' art right as you enter the school.  Our favorite find was the 30-foot long tapestry made by students several years ago that had been hanging out of sight.  It now hangs in the front office along with several other art pieces & a new lettering making staff, students, parents & guests feel welcomed as they enter.

This job was our longest yet.  We learned so much & enjoyed the process immensely.  It brought us such great pleasure to see the eyes of teachers & staff light up as they enter the front office.  HYD thanks all the Beaumont front office staff for your patience as we moved all your stuff, the encouragement you gave along the way & mostly your dedication to care for students.  You are all doing the work that matters.  Thank you!

5 Easy Ways to Spruce Up Your Living Room

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I have found that sometimes it's the little things that transform a room. Because many of us have a budget that doesn't allow for frequent redecorating, knowing a few tricks of the trade can be a great way to change up a room without breaking the bank. If you find yourself feeling like your living space is a bit drab maybe these tips will help. 

1. One of the best pieces of decorating advice I've ever received is to "shop your own house". Take a walk in and out of every room. Notice what your favorite things in each room are and mentally note whether or not your would be willing to rearrange.  Because a living room is a common area, a place where many entertain, and usually the most trafficked room in a house, I encourage people to display their favorite things in this room.

2. Often we have a hard time really seeing our own home because we live in it. Invite a friend over and ask them to take a look at your space. Sometimes friends can help you see if a room feels too cluttered, too minimal, too matchy-matchy, or is clashing. This can leave you feeling a bit vulnerable but I've had great results when I've had an extra set of eyes viewing my space and offering suggestions.

3. One way to add dimension to your living room is to layer neutrals or colors in varying tones. Using creams and grays and browns with a little minimal pattern thrown in can make a room feel so much more interesting. Often times stores sell sets of matching items like throw pillows, blankets etc. Try mixing a few different patterns and shades of colors to your existing pillows or throws for a more eye catching effect.

4. If you have collections of things, try displaying them all together rather than placing them in multiple rooms throughout your home. If you love vintage camera's try staging them all on a shelf or two. If you love glass bottles, group them together  etc. Collections offer a focal point and will spark conversation.

5. If you have a mantel in your living room think about painting it. Rather than repainting the entire room, painting your mantel can change the ambiance of the room without having to embark on a major paint job. You may want to add a pop of color if your living room is mostly neutrals or maybe you want to bring depth into your room and paint it black. If painting is out of the question, try a new mantel arrangement. A collage of different sized framed photos will soften a formal mantel. You could add an arrangement of potted plants or framed art in varying sizes. Change things around and sit with it for a few days. If you don't like it then keep playing until you find something that works for you.

We would love to see  before and afters of your own spaces!

Top 10 Ways to Create a Comfortable and Chic Guest Room

I don't know about you but one thing I can really appreciate is a well thought out guest room. It's amazing how the little things can make such a huge difference in whether a stay is memorable in a good way or a bad one. We have come up with a list of our top tips in creating the ideal space for guests and we would love to share them with you.

1. Whether your guest room has it's own bathroom or whether guests share a bathroom with others in your home, towels can sometimes be a little vague. To make things clear, set out a full set of towels in the guest room so that it's obvious. While it isn't necessary to break the bank on towels for guests, a good set of plush and nicely folded towels does the trick.

2. A folding luggage rack is a simple way to help guests stay organized and makes the room look as if you have prepared for guests to come.

3. Sometimes falling asleep in a bed that's not your own is hard. We suggest stocking guest rooms with a few magazines and a book of short stories. Good bedside lighting is also important.

4. The ideal guestroom is furnished with extra toiletries just in case your guest forgot to pack something. Having a few extra toothbrushes, travel sized toothpastes, shampoos etc on hand is always appreciated.

5. Depending on your relationship with a guest, some people feel free to grab a snack or a drink from the kitchen if they want one and others don't. Just in case, setting out a few bottles of water and some fresh fruit or snack bars is a thoughtful gesture.

6. If your guestroom has closet space, leave a few wooden hangers in case guests have hanging clothes that they don't want to get wrinkled.

7. Let's talk about the bedside table. I always appreciate having an alarm clock. It's nice to not have to fish around for my phone to figure out what time it is. Additionally, a box of tissue is always a good idea.

8. In today's world where most of us have smart phones which means most of us have the notepad feature, a pen and paper are not necessities but I still think it's nice to keep some in a drawer in the guestroom just in case.

9. A scented candle (don't forget matches) is a great way make a room feel more inviting. I love walking into a room that smells nice. A lavender scent is good for a guest room as it has calming effects.

10. Finally, fresh flowers add a nice touch to a guest room and make guests feel celebrated when they arrive.

How about you? Any tips to add or any "what not to do" stories to share?

Our Road Trip to Asheville

HYD got to hit the road in May to head to one of the East's coolest towns, Asheville, NC.  We had quite a job ahead of us but the process and results were more amazing than we ever could've predicted.

www.kathleenblanchette.com/images/AshevilleScene

Meet Jen.  Wife of a wonderful pastor, Mama of four incredible kids, inspiring musician, laugh out louder, lover of art, and keeper of lots and lots of things because, "Someday, someone might need that." 

She was gifted some organizing sessions from an aunt who loves her and knows her well and she chose HYD to help her get down and dirty to clear out and clean up.  Add to that a great hope of visiting a family in Colorado this summer but her family needs money for the trip. 

HYD Organizing session + $ need for trip = YARD SALE !

HYD spent about 16 hours over two days hauling, encouraging, bagging, listening, laughing, rearranging, sifting, laughing some more, saving and organizing the last 30 years of Jen and family's life.  It was awesome to say the least.  And I mean awesome in the true sense of the word, as Webster says "causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing."  She had no idea how much she'd acquired.  She also had no idea how much money she could make and the freedom she would experience in giving others the opportunity to buy it!  We just carried items from her basement and home straight to the front yard.  And after two days of selling items, the family made almost $1000!!

Jen and her family have experienced a monumental shift in how they will relate to the items they now have and items they will bring into their home in the future.  She just gave her own children the gift of seeing how our stuff can weigh us down and keep us feeling behind because we cannot organize it all.  Less is more.  Her keepsakes are now safely stored in designated containers but the "someday" items are someone else's "today" items that Jen no longer has to feel burdened by.

What a gift this job was to HYD.  We will forever be blessed and thankful for this first road trip.  Thanks Jen and Mark for letting us Help You Dwell.

How to Pack for a Trip : The Help You Dwell Packing Guide

I would like to think I'm naturally pretty good at packing for a vacation or trip but if we are being honest I occasionally forget something and I almost always over pack. Lately though, I've been using a few new tips that have proven to be really helpful. I began researching packing techniques and ideas in order to prepare for a trip that my husband and I along with 4 friends are taking this fall. Now that it's mid summer, I thought it would be the perfect time to share these tips.

1. If possible, I always try and pack in a bag that is small enough to stow as a carry on in order to avoid extra fee's but mostly because I have a huge fear of my bag being lost. I typically pack all of my favorite pieces of clothing when I go on vacation and like the fact that if I lose my bag it's my fault and no one elses.

2. The most obvious place to start in my mind is to think through the length of time I'll be gone. Will I have access to laundry facilities? What does the weather forecast look like? What is on my agenda while I'm gone? These practical pieces of information help me frame the amount of items and the type of clothing I take.

3. The most handy tip I have found thus far is to pack a neutral palate or a one color palate so that I can mix and match to create multiple outfits out of only a few garments. I try and add color with accessories since they often take up less room.

4. To avoid over packing the best tip I've found is to lay out each days outfit or to lay out everything I want to take and then eliminate one third of it. (Seriously guys, I over pack A LOT) If I can make myself think through what I actually need versus all of the things that I might want to wear, I end up packing pretty accurately.

5. There is much debate about how to pack clothing and the consensus seems to be that by rolling clothing items you can fit more in. In general I try not to pack my bag to the point that it's bulging and about to pop open but if we are talking efficiency-- rolling seems to be the way to go. I like to leave a little bit of room when I pack in case I purchase something on vacation that I want to bring home.

6. If you are like me, you have a million of those little grocery bags in a drawer in your kitchen. I always pack one so that I can keep my dirty clothing separate from my clean clothing.

7. My final tip is about carry on's. To me, one of the most important parts of traveling is packing for the actual journey. I always make sure to take a few books, phone/electronic chargers, medications, a few healthy snacks, an umbrella, pen and paper, cash, ear plugs, and some light face/or hand lotion (especially if I'm flying).

So we're curious-- do you have any fun trips coming up? Any other packing tips you suggest?

How to Organize a Great Party

Photo by Adam Brimer

So... round one of the HYD blog should start off with a little celebration, don't cha think??  We do!

We've put together a little list of ideas to help you host a great get together.  You can celebrate along with us!  Make it big, make it small, planning ahead & having a few things in place will help you enjoy your guests throughout the shindig.

• The warm weather is in your favor. You can now use indoor & outdoor space so be creative, move indoor stuff out to jazz up your outdoor space for the party. Bring some fun lamps out, maybe an extra table, candle sticks, a rug.

• Once you've picked your space, time to get organized....

When?  Pick a time when you know you'll have time to prepare.  For example: If you're off on Saturdays, you'll have much of the day to get ready.  Consider your guests as well, when is a good time to get as many of them there as possible.

How many guests?  Consider your space, your budget, your purpose for having the party - do you want good conversation with just a few or a fun night of music & mingling with lots?

What kind of food and drink?  Are you interested in preparing all the food or would you like to invite others into that by hosting a potuck?  HYD is a big fan of the potuck because the host can spend more time creating a great space for the gathering while the guests help with the food & drinks. If cooking is your thing, start early!

Decorations? Get creative and use props. Go to a local thrift store and grab a few candle sticks, a new table cloth or place mats. We love using hanging lights and plants to create a festive and picturesque space. Don't be afraid to ask friends to borrow things for your table scape. We love mix and matching plates and glasses and creating a boho feel.

While all of these things help to create a great party, the guests are the most important part. As your prepare, remember that being present and being able to enjoy the party matter most.

Do you have any parties coming up? We would love to hear your ideas for creating a memorable party.