(Not) Doing it all

<p>Every once and awhile I like to pause and show you the “real” around here. Sometimes I show you in <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-real-life.html">pictures</a>, but today I also want to <em>tell </em>you how very much I don’t have it all together. :)</p> <p>I’ve mentioned a few times that our house rarely looks perfect. OK, let’s make that never. Well, OK, maybe about five minutes before a party, but that’s it. So that would amount to about 15 minutes a year. </p> <p>Fifteen minutes a year, it looks pretty darn fantastic. ;) </p> <p>But the other 525,585 thousand minutes it’s just…normal. I’ve shown you our normal:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZVNml6OTXI/AAAAAAAAMxo/R-jMUZtI5Qw/s1600-h/image%5B1%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZVNnTnQQnI/AAAAAAAAMxs/pGm4kLqEGdg/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="360" /></a> </p> <p>Uhhh…you don’t have a toilet seat sitting in your bedroom? </p> <p>I was sitting in the office working on bills today, and this was my view:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZVNn9Y8iAI/AAAAAAAAMxw/_EkwKlaNths/s1600-h/IMG_3736%5B1%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="IMG_3736" border="0" height="743" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZVNoXOechI/AAAAAAAAMx0/43kS5EmPyms/IMG_3736_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_3736" width="504" /></a></p> <p>Not awful, cause there’s a cute Bub smiling at me. ;) Just normal. This is actually pretty clean, really. The floor is cleared enough for us to walk through the family room. </p> <p>What you can’t really see are the cluttered countertops, the island covered in shopping bags I haven’t emptied, two in-between projects on the windowsill (where else would I keep them?), the coffee table covered with toys and a pizza box. You can’t see the damaged spot on the floor, the messed up drywall on the ceiling from a leak in an upstairs bathroom. </p> <p>I wanted to write this today because I neverevereverNEVER want anyone who visits this blog to leave feeling inadequate – that breaks my heart. But I certainly understand it -- even I read blogs and feel that green monster raising it’s ugly head. I wonder if the house is always that clean, the toys are always put away. How she does it all, with more kids, a bigger house, a full time job. And I’m lucky to keep one room completely clean for a day.</p> <p><em>I’m here to inspire.</em> I want to show you how you can transform your home and make it your haven. But I want to be real about it at the same time. Of course, I chuck the stuff out of pictures – and that’s just because I figure <em>most</em> of the time, you want to see pretty, not cluttery. </p> <p>But beyond the not-always-perfect-house, I wanted to let you all know that there are so, so, SO many days where I feel like I am barely keeping my head above water – trying to do it all. Keeping the house picked up, let alone clean. Dealing with five animals – a fish, three cats and a puppy. Being a good Mom, an attentive wife, a supportive friend. And trying to post as much as possible here on my beloved blog, which has become my business. (Best. job. ever.)</p> <p>At least once a week, I feel like an bad friend because I haven’t returned an email or a text or a phone call fast enough. There are days I walk into our house and just feel completely overwhelmed with all that needs to be done. Some days I wonder how it’s possible, as a stay-at-home Mom, I can’t keep our home and lives perfectly perfect all the time.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZVNom3_TiI/AAAAAAAAMx4/6suFxL6J7Ws/s1600-h/IMG_37422%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_37422" border="0" height="412" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZVNpASadmI/AAAAAAAAMx8/u4RPntA_wng/IMG_37422_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_37422" width="450" /></a></p> <p>And then I’ll realize, yet again…<em>dear LORD</em>, it’s normal. As much as I want to do more projects and post more than I do, I choose not to. I don’t do it all – I don’t <em>want</em> to do it all. I crave a better balance in my life, but I’m guessing, hoping, praying this is normal? All mom’s feel that way at times, right? </p> <p>But when I say I wouldn’t have it any other way, I truly mean it. Our <strike>sometimes </strike>messy home means I have a sweet four-year-old running around. It means I take time away from cleaning to work on a DIY project – my passion. It means I get to blog and share and write and (hopefully) inspire…as I am doing right now, with my feet propped up next to the pizza box on the coffee table. ;)</p> <p>So I guess I just wanted to take a minute to say, I don’t do it all,  and sometimes I feel like I really stink at what I <em>do</em> do. :) But I love my life, all of it’s imperfections and messes. I’m just <em>so completely happy</em> to be doing what I’m doing. With the people I’m doing it with – including you all. </p> <p>I wanted to let you know that. I never want you to think I’m capable of doing any more than <strong>you</strong> can do. I just show you the pretty more often than not, because for the most part, I like to see pretty on blogs and magazines and TV. I’ve got enough of the real at home. ;) </p> <p>But I will keep showing you the messes here and there, cause it’s the truth. We’ve got the pretty and not-so-pretty around here, just like every home. :)</p> <p>And I <em>luuuurve</em> it!! </p>

(Not) Doing it all

Every once and awhile I like to pause and show you the “real” around here. Sometimes I show you in pictures , but today I also want to tell ...

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A mossy vignette

<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKhyqQAqGI/AAAAAAAAMvc/dEP7pJK3Gnc/s1600-h/header%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="675" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKhzApTYrI/AAAAAAAAMvg/up9BnrRNKT8/header_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Well, if spring isn’t going to show up, I’m going to WILL it here. I’m planting my herbs tomorrow (inside), I’ve refused to wear my coat for the past few days and gosh DARN IT, I am decorating for it. </p> <p>And if you decorate for it, it will come. That’s my hope anyway. :)</p> <p>I wanted to spring bling out our foyer and the first project was an easy one. The inspiration came from Pottery Barn:</p> <p><a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/live-moss-letters-magnolia/?pkey=e|live%2Bmoss%2Bletters|12|best|0|1|24||1&cm_src=NLASEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-"><img alt="image" border="0" height="315" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKhzkLzF1I/AAAAAAAAMvk/8sycfgVZ5JM/image%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="image" width="350" /></a></p> <p>Are you <em>surprised</em>??</p> <p>Their mossy letters are about 20 inches tall and run about $80 each. </p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="4">SHUT. UP. </font></strong></p> <p>Yowza. </p> <p>Mine is 23 inches tall and cost me $7. <em>Awww to the YEAH. </em></p> <p>I already had one big part of this one project, so that helped the cost a bit. I made a fluffy green <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/11/holy-canoly.html">Christmas monogram</a> a few years ago:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh0JwsLcI/AAAAAAAAMvo/nkTdt9PuWFc/s1600-h/image%5B12%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh0hRAZxI/AAAAAAAAMvs/vK1oPZ0tnYs/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="image" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I unraveled the garland and used the honkin’ letter to create my new spring masterpiece:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh0yUVW8I/AAAAAAAAMvw/crN3NqPFumI/s1600-h/IMG_3680%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh1YV1okI/AAAAAAAAMv0/XTZr229frMI/IMG_3680_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>You can get these cardboard letters in various sizes at Joann’s – I got mine years ago with a coupon so it was only $5. </p> <p>For this project, I got a huge sheet of mossy stuff:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh1u6Ca6I/AAAAAAAAMv4/ti0qrsQlq9g/s1600-h/IMG_3682%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh2D4Kc1I/AAAAAAAAMv8/yVqGtybgYNg/IMG_3682_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I got this at Joann’s as well – it was $15 but I had a 40 percent off coupon, and then another 25 percent off my whole purchase. Saawheet. </p> <p>I used hot glue to adhere the moss to the letter, and kind of cut out the moss as I went. On the curves I cut it so it would fit against the sides flush:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh2R_dN-I/AAAAAAAAMwA/VqJzt3QCvcA/s1600-h/Picnik%20collage%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh24bTweI/AAAAAAAAMwE/7x_vpZqPfa0/Picnik%20collage_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="480" /></a></p> <p>I cut out little triangle shapes to make it lay flat, so I used those to fill it all in later. (You can’t even tell where I glued them on.) Then I trimmed it up and it was done!</p> <p>Two things if you try this – the hot glue will bleed through the moss sheet, so watch your fingers! For reals. Yikes. And wow – just. WOW. This project is messy:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh3VZf4-I/AAAAAAAAMwI/ZO3D7trSTNs/s1600-h/IMG_3691%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh3gyCUSI/AAAAAAAAMwM/bq1IthjfJIo/IMG_3691_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="319" /></a></p> <p>Thank you Mr. Dyson.</p> <p>The mess was worth it though -- it turned out just as I had hoped!:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh4EGcNGI/AAAAAAAAMwQ/DiWDw6foym4/s1600-h/IMG_3697%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="diy mossy letter" border="0" height="600" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKh4p8mnEI/AAAAAAAAMwU/Y-fNnMQ-1bY/IMG_3697_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="diy mossy letter" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I hung it over the mirror, (with hot glue again) but it would also look fantastic on a front door! Because I <strike>was too lazy</strike> didn’t want to do the back, you could see it was unfinished when I hung it. I used some of that sticky gummy stuff (that you use to hang posters) to hold it to the mirror:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiEpz_I_I/AAAAAAAAMwY/llLLBXhiutI/s1600-h/6b7f19%5B8%5D.jpg"><img alt="6b7f19" border="0" height="227" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiFLP21hI/AAAAAAAAMwc/VGhvHNJ2TtY/6b7f19_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="6b7f19" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Ahh yes, much better.</p> <p>I finished off the buffet by working (mostly) with items I already had. My friend <a href="http://mycottagecharm.blogspot.com/">Missy</a> was so sweet and sent me some mossy rocks from the Dollar Tree:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiFgb264I/AAAAAAAAMwg/6Y3fJNtqIYg/s1600-h/IMG_3693%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="mossy rocks" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiF_Toa6I/AAAAAAAAMwk/OTOpqDhCJ3I/IMG_3693_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="mossy rocks" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I couldn’t find them at our stores and was thrilled when she found some for me! </p> <p>I added a few to my iron candleholder from a recent <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/02/thrifty-lady-date.html">thrifting trip</a>:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiGNjBrUI/AAAAAAAAMwo/OtW7uE7y3Lc/s1600-h/IMG_3704%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiSgTkJ7I/AAAAAAAAMws/U-sT6etdp80/IMG_3704_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I put a nest where the candle should go and perched a little bird inside. </p> <p>Pretty bird. Yeah, <em>pretty bird</em>. (Name that movie!) :) </p> <p>I put another nest (you’ll see this is a trend) under a small cloche and called it done for that side:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiTPHydzI/AAAAAAAAMww/yBBYv867tUM/s1600-h/IMG_37113.jpg"><img alt="pottery barn mossy letter" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiTohyfQI/AAAAAAAAMw0/dDda7_NxJ8o/IMG_3711_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="pottery barn mossy letter" width="320" /></a></p> <p>For the other side of the buffet, I used some Spanish moss under a cloche and nestled a small basket with eggs inside: </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiTzs2OXI/AAAAAAAAMw4/3ozVKhG3eLo/s1600-h/IMG_37144.jpg"><img alt="spanish moss" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiUc3ZJgI/AAAAAAAAMw8/NiSFWJJAAxo/IMG_3714_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="spanish moss" width="275" /></a></p> <p>I am LOVING that Spanish moss! I’ve never used it before and it’s just beautiful. The little basket was a Pottery Barn splurge a couple of months ago – for $6. :)</p> <p>I put some craft paper through our shredder to create another nest of sorts in an apothecary jar:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiUrY_QhI/AAAAAAAAMxA/UC-6-Je0Q1g/s1600-h/IMG_37133.jpg"><img alt="craft paper nest" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiVBqgBiI/AAAAAAAAMxE/pdMbWd5_9qQ/IMG_3713_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="craft paper nest" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Hello?? Ca<em>uute</em> and free! </p> <p>The largest apothecary jar is filled with more Spanish moss, a small nest and more eggs:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiVgzLqjI/AAAAAAAAMxI/bMEmewAXB9U/s1600-h/IMG_37023.jpg"><img alt="spring apothecary jars" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiWBUhIOI/AAAAAAAAMxM/wy3w4ZACPCY/IMG_3702_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="spring apothecary jars" width="338" /></a></p> <p>ALL of these eggs were $4 at Joann’s last weekend!</p> <p>My only purchases for this little vignette were the sheet of moss and the eggs:<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKiaiGSZII/AAAAAAAAMxQ/0rJELPLkS5g/s1600-h/IMG_37273.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="675" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKi0RQIWmI/AAAAAAAAMxU/_0wYuAplbjg/IMG_3727_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I tried placing the three glass pieces on the left on a tray at first, but found I liked the simpler look of the glass on the black buffet:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKi01yfSQI/AAAAAAAAMxY/dTQfeeL3JkE/s1600-h/IMG_37336.jpg"><img alt="spring vignette" border="0" height="675" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKi1BEdavI/AAAAAAAAMxc/3Gy7xNmC5Js/IMG_3733_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="spring vignette" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I love it! Good thing too, cause knowing me, the eggs will still be out in July. :) </p> <p>I was going for a springy moss look mixed with some glass sophistication:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKi1QqkC7I/AAAAAAAAMxg/2qe0FxKW8tY/s1600-h/mossy5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="657" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZKi1zsBzfI/AAAAAAAAMxk/V-fdvfstCU8/mossy_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>All done in about an hour and with $10 of (new) supplies. Me likey. </p> <p>Have you pulled out any spring decor yet? I don’t do much, but you really can’t go wrong with nests, eggs, some green stuff and a bird or two thrown in. ;)</p> <p>I’m linking this up to my friend Kate’s <a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/03/fwf-spring-projects-link-party/#more-16388">spring party</a>! (Late to the party as always.)</p> <p>Thanks for all the great comments on my solution for our paper clutter! You can still enter to win the Sentry Safe <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/03/paper-organized.html">here</a> till Friday!</p>

A mossy vignette

Well, if spring isn’t going to show up, I’m going to WILL it here. I’m planting my herbs tomorrow (inside), I’ve refused to wear my coat f...

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The PAPER, organized

<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAGwuFR5qI/AAAAAAAAMts/2qyx645ITRc/s1600-h/IMG_3651%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="600" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAGw9_2lVI/AAAAAAAAMtw/h7rpxuxg1JY/IMG_3651_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Hello all! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! It was absolutely FREEZING here. Ugh – spring is such a tease. :) I guess the planting will have to wait till next weekend. (Crossing fingers.)</p> <p>If you remember a couple of months ago, I showed you how I was starting to get <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/01/paper.html">control over the paper</a> in our house – once and for all. I had let it get waaay out of control, and it was time tame the paper monster around here.</p> <p>It involved a lot of shredding – make that an INSANE amount of shredding:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAGxihJLgI/AAAAAAAAMt0/naa5gcTHWn0/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAGySX6kuI/AAAAAAAAMt4/MrDqLhyuDRw/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="342" /></a></p> <p>But I prevailed people, I prevailed!! I have ridden (ridded?) our home of all the old paper that was creating clutter, found a home for the rest of it, and (pretty much) kept up with what has come into the house since then. </p> <p>I think I’ve finally figured out a process that works for our house, so I wanted to share it with you. :)</p> <p>The first couple of steps are total DUH moments, but they’re the ones that were the biggest issues for me in the past. Most days, I get our mail in the car – cause I’m lazy like that. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAGy0RdXrI/AAAAAAAAMt8/qDQ12gtoKe4/s1600-h/photo%282%29%5B4%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="402" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAGzKPeJ4I/AAAAAAAAMuA/Zu76d12FMf4/photo%282%29_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a></p> <p>And that caused my first problem – the mail was piling up in my car daily. <em>Cause I’m lazy.</em> :) I littered my car with it and created a pile I had to catch up with when I <em>did</em> take it inside. </p> <p>So my first tip for you – get control of how much mail you’re getting. Over the years we’ve changed many of our bills to paperless, so we get emails instead of mail. </p> <p>I luuurve catalogs like you wouldn’t believe, but sometimes we start getting one we don’t care for and those add to the paper clutter quite a bit. About three years ago, I found a site called <a href="https://www.catalogchoice.org/">Catalog Choice</a>, and so far we’ve unsubscribed from about six catalogs. <strong>Love. it</strong>. (Cause it works.)</p> <p>One of my readers mentioned a site a couple of months ago that’s already made a huge difference – <a href="https://www.optoutprescreen.com/opt_form.cgi">Opt Out Prescreen</a>. It allows you to opt out from credit or insurance mail offers (that you have not initiated). It has <em>really</em> cut down on our junk mail, and it only took a couple of weeks for it to kick in. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAGzRJ8HQI/AAAAAAAAMuE/PUPJNl4Ilpw/s1600-h/photo%287%29%5B6%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="402" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAGzwLYihI/AAAAAAAAMuI/W-lRpy6UjxY/photo%287%29_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a></p> <p>My next step was to figure out a way to corral all that mail in the car, for the lazy days when I didn’t want to address it immediately. I grabbed an old laptop bag and now it sits next to me every day. </p> <p>It’s not super large, so once it starts to get full, I know it’s time to address it and take it inside. It’s SO much better than having the paper strewn all over the front seat. My friends and hubby appreciate not having to move a pile of paper when they take a ride. ;)</p> <p>The next step is to address as much as possible before I get in the house. I’ve had trash bins out in the garage for the mail for over a year now, but I wasn’t <em>using </em>them. </p> <p>So I put our monster shredder out, next to the the bins: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG0PByFnI/AAAAAAAAMuM/z6_yxxhgToA/s1600-h/IMG_3664%5B4%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="358" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG0iMN3GI/AAAAAAAAMuQ/PvF1U1NicaU/IMG_3664_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a></p> <p>Part of my paper issues were because I’m a bit of a freak about what we shred -- basically everything. :) I tear our address off of catalogs, prescriptions, junk mail with our address – everything. </p> <p>So the shred pile was always HUGE. Now, I deal with it before I even walk in the door. It’s SO awesome to walk in with one piece of mail instead of five. ;) </p> <p>Every Monday I empty the shredder and put the shredded paper and other to-be-recycled items and take them to our local recycling center. </p> <p>I’m doing it!! I’m actually keeping up with the paper! WHOO HEW! </p> <p>Next up is getting it taken care of <em>inside</em>. Anything that needs to be addressed but-I’m-not-going-to-address-right-now is put <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG0yopb3I/AAAAAAAAMuU/bs6fsQGfGm8/s1600-h/IMG_3656%5B4%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG1eyAV7I/AAAAAAAAMuY/Nj0Rg9M42GM/IMG_3656_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a>into a decorative box on top of the dresser in my office. </p> <p>(Cutie little box was from HomeGoods!)</p> <p>Right now it’s full cause I’m going through magazines and have a ton of inspiration pics to file. Normally, once it gets about half way full, I know it’s time to address it. </p> <p>Anything left (invoices, utility bills, etc.) that I need to file goes into a bin in the top drawer to be filed in the basement:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG1nOxmVI/AAAAAAAAMuc/HDcyQTVaFvA/s1600-h/IMG_3666%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG19bkRTI/AAAAAAAAMug/CK4TVv3BxcY/IMG_3666_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>But there’s always items I want to keep upstairs, easily accessible. I had tried wall mounted organization before, and they never worked for me. It all seemed to be just another “pile” of papers. </p> <p>There were three different subjects I needed to keep organized – my inspiration pictures from magazines, stuff for the Bub (notices from school, game instructions, toy assembly) and general household stuff I didn’t want to keep downstairs (instruction manuals, phone numbers, receipts). </p> <p>And when I saw the cover of Better Homes and Gardens a few months ago, it hit me. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG2Osq11I/AAAAAAAAMuk/i4frqjQXLd4/s1600-h/IMG_3652%5B7%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="paint chip tags" border="0" height="450" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG2YnyyTI/AAAAAAAAMuo/0KMUxv_2wts/IMG_3652_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="paint chip tags" width="300" /></a>They had the prettiest, simplest binders and they were <em>exactly</em> what I had been looking for all my life. </p> <p>Or at least what I had been looking for all of a few weeks. :) </p> <p>I found them at <a href="http://www.nakedbinder.com/">Naked Binder</a> and I LOVE. But they needed a little somethin’. Some honeysuckle blingity blang. I’ve been adding little touches of that beautiful pink color through the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/office">office</a> here and there. Just a smidge. A skosh. </p> <p>I wanted to label the binders without <em>labeling the binders</em>, you know what I mean? So I busted out my Silhouette and and made some cutie new tags. </p> <p>I picked out some paint chips in the pretty pink color and used my Silhouette to make images of a house (for the house binder), an idea “cloud” for the inspiration binder (couldn’t decide between the cloud and a lightbulb, but thought the cloud was cuter), and an “E” for the Bub’s binder. </p> <p>I just cut my tags out of the paint chips like I showed you <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/02/free-i-tell-you.html">here</a>, and then glued two back to back, and put my little images (on vinyl) on top: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG2gqkVII/AAAAAAAAMus/7UiHI_KBB8I/s1600-h/IMG_3654%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG26uA2ZI/AAAAAAAAMuw/Gi2l7uzOpyA/IMG_3654_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>And they are just the cauuutest (free!) tags I ever did see!:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG3HTNYnI/AAAAAAAAMu0/GuK7jVCF4vQ/s1600-h/organizing%20paper%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="organizing paper" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG3qfRzvI/AAAAAAAAMu4/s4ONsDCSF0A/organizing%20paper_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="organizing paper" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Precious! :) </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG303LSaI/AAAAAAAAMu8/OJ0C4IvwhjE/s1600-h/IMG_3678%5B4%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="450" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG4UaVLeI/AAAAAAAAMvA/HCNnDI2L5e4/IMG_3678_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a>The last step of my paper process is to take the to-be-filed box from the drawer downstairs every few weeks or so. I completely reorganized all of our hanging files after I went through all of the paper. Everything is filed by the most basic titles (credit – old credit <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/02/well-its-official-were-weird.html">thankyouverymuch</a>), house, medical, etc. </p> <p>I wanted to make sure the filing was as simple as possible – no standing there for five minutes trying to figure out where to put each piece of paper. </p> <p>The hanging folders are organized alphabetically, the taxes by year. </p> <p>I also have a couple magazine file holders on hubby’s desk down there, near the scanner. I keep the Bub’s artwork in those that I want to scan…eventually.</p> <p>And finally…I’m DONE. Whew!! :)</p> <p>Yes, it’s lots of steps. But it’s what works for me. I finally learned that I am NOT a get the mail, take it in, sort, shred, deal with, file it immediately kind of girl. I’m just not. When I was trying to force myself to be that, it didn’t work. I ended up with piles everywhere. </p> <p>Now I still have piles everywhere, but they’re organized and they have a <em>purpose</em>. Solutions for taming the paper monster are different for everyone – so this may not work for you. But if you’re a procrastinator like me, it may work great. ;)</p> <p>When I posted about my paper dilemma a couple of months ago, some fine folks from Sentry Safe contacted me about their <a href="http://www.sentrysafe.com/Products/8/1170_Fire_File">Fire File</a>:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG4oyZc3I/AAAAAAAAMvE/qiPxhHNNets/s1600-h/IMG_3675%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="420" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG5CR6iEI/AAAAAAAAMvI/clO10Fqfim4/IMG_3675_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="280" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG5XW6r4I/AAAAAAAAMvM/Wq551R5e5SE/s1600-h/IMG_3677%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="420" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG52_2w7I/AAAAAAAAMvQ/Qccq_qDYoLg/IMG_3677_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="280" /></a>   </p> <p>Which was <em>freaky weird</em>, because while I was in the process of getting our paper under control, I was planning on purchasing this exact product. </p> <p>We wanted a heavy duty safe for important files that would be fire safe and had a lock, and they read my mind!</p> <p>They graciously sent me one to use, and I love it. It’s so heavy and sturdy, it’s fire safe up to half an hour, and it comes with a key for security:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG6O2f8CI/AAAAAAAAMvU/AOT7VSykjA4/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="363" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TZAG6fmyeyI/AAAAAAAAMvY/KezpaCfucF4/image_thumb%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>If you keep your important documents like insurance info, birth certificates and social security cards at home, this is an ideal place to keep them. </p> <p>The great news is the fine folks at Sentry Safe want one of <strong>you </strong>to have one as well! </p> <p>All you have to do to enter for your own free Sentry Safe is leave a comment here – I’ll leave this open for the week, till Friday the 1st at noon. Remember, if you comment anonymously, please leave your email (write it out using “dot” and “com".)</p> <p>Hope my crazy getting the paper under control process, or at least a part of it, helps some of you organize the paper insanity in your lives! If you’ve figured out what works for you, are you the git er done kind, or a break it into a million steps kind of chick like me? </p> <p>I love hearing what works for you! (And it may help someone else!) </p>

The PAPER, organized

Hello all! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! It was absolutely FREEZING here. Ugh – spring is such a tease. :) I guess the planting will ha...

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Stuff I like

<p>Hey all! Thanks so much for the all the sweet comments on the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/03/progress-board-batten-in-office.html">board and batten</a> in the office! I haven’t touched it since I finished – my shoulders still cry out for mercy every time I step in the room. :)</p> <p>Every once in a while, I’ll find a new little doodad or product, and if I like it, I’ll think – “This (insert cool thing here) is so nifty, I need to tell my Squeezies about it!”</p> <p>I think about you often, I do. ;)</p> <p>But one little cool doodad does not make a post, so I thought I would show you a few of them all at once. Some of these we’ve been using for years, some just a few weeks. </p> <p>First up, some super saahhhweet organization from my pal, your pal, everybody’s pal -- <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/03/ikea-makes-me-happy.html">IKEA</a>. I picked up these on a recent trip and love LOVE them:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN0vaYdTI/AAAAAAAAMss/kMfUEkaFP94/s1600-h/IMG_3625%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="iron storage" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN03Fl5YI/AAAAAAAAMsw/CVteLR4HLws/IMG_3625_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="iron storage" width="375" /></a></p> <p>They hold your iron on the wall, all tucked away nice and organized. I know, it’s the little things. It doesn’t take much. I’m easy to please. I told you, IKEA makes me happy. :)</p> <p>I think they were $3.99 each. The mini ironing board (for shirt sleeves) I hung with a Command hook (love those too).</p> <p>I got two holders for our two irons – one is for hubby’s work clothes, and one for my drapery projects. I use hemming tape and there were some unfortunate hemming-tape-residue-on-the-work-pants incidents. So now we have his and hers irons. His is the manly dark one, mine is the dainty light one. So cute. </p> <p>And did you notice the little cord holders? Um, that put me <em>over the edge</em> happy, cause you know cords give me the heebs.</p> <p>Next up, a knock your head against the wall cause I WHY didn’t I think of this, the Zip-It:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN1A116MI/AAAAAAAAMs0/Txxfyf-8tV0/s1600-h/IMG_3629%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="zip it" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN16biraI/AAAAAAAAMs4/DHazma6KGV0/IMG_3629_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="zip it" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Oh my glorious, this thing ROCKS. I love this little $2 jobbie – you just put it down your drain and pull up. All the <strong>nasty</strong> comes up with it. You’ll thank me for not showing you – I’ll let you experience that for yourself. </p> <p>I found it forever ago, and I’m never going back to the nasty chemicals to unclog our drains. I have this thing about Drano. It freaks me OUT. Every time I’d use it, I’d turn on all the fans, open every window, close the doors behind me, and leave the house for three days. </p> <p>A little bit of an exaggeration, but not much. :) I don’t remember where I got our Zip It, but I’ve seen them at Target, and you can find out more at their website <a href="http://zipitclean.com/">here</a>. (If you have a weak stomach, do not watch the video on their site. For reals.) </p> <p>A couple of years ago, we found the BEST, fluffiest, softest, more absorbent towels EVER. And we found them at <em>Meijer</em> of all places. </p> <p>I am <strong>gaga</strong> over these towels:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN2PSSbDI/AAAAAAAAMs8/ZTKFfuEUGWw/s1600-h/IMG_3635%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN2gjgs1I/AAAAAAAAMtA/SvSoVZlauL8/IMG_3635_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I kid you not, <em>I adore them</em>. They are hands down the best towels we’ve ever owned. We’ve spent good money on much more expensive brands and these beat them in price, quality and comfort any day of the week and twice on Sunday. </p> <p>They’re called New Heritage, and I believe the large towel is $9.99:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN28_YfJI/AAAAAAAAMtE/7M9cUj0fpT0/s1600-h/IMG_3637%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="new heritage towels" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN3cSKMAI/AAAAAAAAMtI/me7oF8bGRvM/IMG_3637_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="new heritage towels" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I’m not kidding you – they are luscious. I’ve washed them meeellions of times and they hold up amazingly well. They’re softer than the day we bought them, they don’t snag, and they get you <em>dry</em>. </p> <p>We love them so much, we got rid of all of our older towels and only use these now. They come in about seven colors I think, but no white, which is kind of a bummer. </p> <p>The last of my cool stuff is for the kitchen. I found these oven mitts at Crate and Barrel last year:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN3kUVnYI/AAAAAAAAMtM/O-PsOOT-7js/s1600-h/IMG_3641%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="crate and barrel silicone mitt" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN3_iIwJI/AAAAAAAAMtQ/JgVh3Q1YXjU/IMG_3641_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="crate and barrel silicone mitt" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I got my first one with a gift card (they are $9.99), and loved it so much I went back for another. Eventually I got rid of all of my other oven mitts, they are that great. They’re grippy enough that they hold on tight to pans, they wash <em>so</em> easily (I rinse them or put them in the dishwasher) and they take up so little storage space.</p> <p>Speaking of silicone (this stuff is amazing, eh?) I found this little strainer ($5.99 I think?) at TJMaxx last summer:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN4QHU1kI/AAAAAAAAMtU/RfdTA8TeIoA/s1600-h/IMG_3644%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN4mmlmvI/AAAAAAAAMtY/YMJXy2dcirc/IMG_3644_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Doesn’t look like a strainer huh? </p> <p>BOOM:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN5Lb3A6I/AAAAAAAAMtc/hdkrazCntZY/s1600-h/IMG_3645%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN5XhqyfI/AAAAAAAAMtg/rTSveVxc2F0/IMG_3645_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>It pops out. I don’t know why, but this thing gets me all giddy. Ingenious. </p> <p>This one is pretty small, and it still hold a good amount:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN5rOjYII/AAAAAAAAMtk/RxqCyiIO6Ro/s1600-h/IMG_3646%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="pop out strainer" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYwN51lnBhI/AAAAAAAAMto/DJu5lxFhQjs/IMG_3646_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="pop out strainer" width="400" /></a></p> <p>It washes so easily, and takes up a sliver of storage space in the drawer. I’m on the lookout for slightly larger versions as well. </p> <p>I guess they make storage containers like this too now. The brilliance out there astounds me. Again, WHY doesn’t my brain think of this stuff? Don’t you love how you see something like this and you’re all DUH…but you would never think of it? </p> <p>At least <em>my</em> head doesn’t. :) </p> <p>So there. you. go. My favorites doodads of late. Nuggets of awesome. Good stuff. Stuff I like. Anything you’ve found lately that you love? Trinkets, tools, stuff that <strong>works</strong>? I love hearing about things that work and hold up for moms and families. </p> <p>P.S. I’m not getting paid by any of these companies, I just like their stuff. So I share. Cause they rock. </p> <p>P.P.S. If you can find the bag of Cool Ranch Doritos in a picture above, you get a gold star. </p>

Stuff I like

Hey all! Thanks so much for the all the sweet comments on the board and batten in the office! I haven’t touched it since I finished – my sh...

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PROGRESS (board & batten) in the office!

<p><font size="3"> Can I just start out with a <strong>WHOO</strong>?!</font></p> <p><font size="3">And a <em>WHEW</em>!! Cause I’m exhausted. </font></p> <p><font size="3">:) </font></p> <p><font size="3">It’s been two months since I’ve addressed my office redo, and I’ve had the mdf for the board and batten treatment on the walls for about that long. It’s been piled in the garage all that time…and every time I’ve stubbed my toe, tripped over them or watched them gathering dust since January, I have thought… <em>I MUST get that project done.</em> </font></p> <p><font size="3">And I just kept thinking. No doing. :)</font></p> <p><font size="3">I was hesitating because for this space, I really, <em>really</em> wanted to pull out the baseboards in the office before I installed the B and B treatment. I wanted to install fat, thick ones like in the inspiration picture I showed you a while ago:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmlluHdFI/AAAAAAAAMps/bqM16TcPSBM/s1600-h/image%5B9%5D.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="443" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmmcu2mzI/AAAAAAAAMpw/zvc-DHuQyCI/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">So I hesitated. And worked on </font><a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-biggest-purge-yet.html"><font size="3">purging</font></a><font size="3">. Did a little change in the </font><a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/02/color-in-living-room.html"><font size="3">living room</font></a><font size="3">. And took a couple trips to </font><a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/03/ikea-makes-me-happy.html"><font size="3">IKEA</font></a><font size="3">. :)</font></p> <p><font size="3">I hesitated because as I’ve mentioned before, our baseboards are SUCH a pain in the booty to remove. I’ve done it in a bathroom and our laundry room, and oh. my. good. NESS. – they are so hard to get off the wall. It’s just crazy. I’m talking two inch, thick nails holding those puppies in. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Every time I’ve done it, I end up damaging the drywall, which has been OK because I’ve installed beadboard. But in the office, I was sceered. I knew some damage would be covered by the boards, but not all. But I was also afraid to <em>not</em> take them out – would it look wonky? Unfinished? Wrong? </font></p> <p><font size="3">Well, I was looking at the blank walls of the office yesterday morning and just decided to take a risk and just <em>install the stuff</em> already. I wasn’t going to rip out the baseboards -- I would just install the mdf boards right over them. I knew it wasn’t going to be perfect, but none of my projects are. They all have little imperfections and quirks – that’s how I roll. Why stop now? :)</font></p> <p><font size="3">I just wanted to get it done and said to heck with perfect. I was going to get my vision up on the walls! </font></p> <p><font size="3">And once I started, it was hard to stop. I got everything done yesterday and today. I started with my primed boards from Lowe’s: <br /></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmmnnbEOI/AAAAAAAAMp0/mWJXAqSzDok/s1600-h/photo%285%29%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmnAawBiI/AAAAAAAAMp4/Y6Ov9Zv5W54/photo%285%29_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="410" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">They’re 3 1/2 inches wide, 3/4 inch thick and came in 12 foot lengths. I had them cut in half so they were easier to work with. I would have had them cut from a sheet of mdf like I did on the </font><a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/08/staircase-is-done-again.html"><font size="3">staircase</font></a><font size="3">, but I really wanted <em>primed</em> mdf for this project. </font></p> <p><font size="3">There’s a LOT of wall space to cover this time. And to paint. :)</font></p> <p><font size="3">I started by nailing the boards along the bottom over the baseboards:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmna5YewI/AAAAAAAAMp8/duuYtnhPSz8/s1600-h/IMG_3614%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="283" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmnpT-tKI/AAAAAAAAMqA/yMLB0cTdhk0/IMG_3614_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">And I wasn’t horrified. :)</font></p> <p><font size="3">I used my nail gun and two inch nails to install all of the mdf. I wanted something thick enough to get through the boards, the drywall, and into the studs (where I could get them). </font></p> <p><font size="3">Then I figured out how tall I wanted the treatment, and started putting up the vertical boards. I cut a 13 inch board and used it as my spacer between each vertical piece, then put the boards along the top:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmoHR4ZaI/AAAAAAAAMqE/OuW4sobaYBU/s1600-h/IMG_3583%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmoZfSRpI/AAAAAAAAMqI/_Oa5ucuOpSY/IMG_3583_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I was loving how it was coming along, but I wanted a little more character, so I added a some detail by adding another line of boards:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmosHK8wI/AAAAAAAAMqM/p10gySecAEU/s1600-h/IMG_3585%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmoxld_vI/AAAAAAAAMqQ/HF1EhQ776qM/IMG_3585_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I went ten inches down from the top boards. I waffled between ten and 12 inches, and wish I would have thought about the light switch before I decided on the ten:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmpPkbZZI/AAAAAAAAMqU/ae89lGUuvyA/s1600-h/IMG_3593%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmphHkWeI/AAAAAAAAMqY/CfJenu3pCUw/IMG_3593_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">:) Again, SO not perfect. But with some caulk, spackle, and some paint, you won’t even notice it in the end. Pinky swear. The lamp in front of it will help too. ;)</font></p> <p><font size="3">I was so in love with how it turned out! But I still wanted to add a little somethin’ -- it was the detail I had seen in my head all these months, and I knew I had to do it. </font></p> <p><font size="3">So, it was back to Lowe’s we went to grab some more primed mdf, but this time it was the 1 1/2 inch width: </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmp62Sa1I/AAAAAAAAMqc/-DFDBq4IMCQ/s1600-h/photo%282%29%5B4%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmqFL4wbI/AAAAAAAAMqg/bE28nRPBYFc/photo%282%29_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="397" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I took the smaller mdf and created a shelf around the top of the board and batten:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmqfy-BrI/AAAAAAAAMqk/FfnMscWf2ho/s1600-h/IMG_3591%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmq_9GMTI/AAAAAAAAMqo/XtYYrsSXyF0/IMG_3591_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I just nailed it down into the 3 1/2 inch boards that went around the top. It’s super sturdy – I didn’t even use glue.  </font></p> <p><font size="3">I found that small trim (looks like mini-crown molding) to put along the bottom, under the “shelf.” </font></p> <p><font size="3">The hardest part in the room was this area by the doors – the corners took 22.5 degree cuts instead of 45’s;</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmrKvSIYI/AAAAAAAAMqs/Ks_I-rrlw0w/s1600-h/IMG_3592%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmrSglC3I/AAAAAAAAMqw/P-P44r3EfPw/IMG_3592_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">They just took a few extra practice cuts. ;) </font></p> <p><font size="3">You can see how they came together where it hits the window:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmrlqAmZI/AAAAAAAAMq0/TsG0bDr3D38/s1600-h/IMG_3604%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmsHACeAI/AAAAAAAAMq4/ig-_y55T-dw/IMG_3604_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">It’s gonna look fantastic once it’s all painted! </font></p> <p><font size="3">The imperfections are everywhere – I spaced the boards around the room based on light switches and plugs, but I completely forgot under the windows. So when I went to add the boards under the sills, I realized the measurements were way off. </font></p> <p><font size="3">I figured since I’ll <em>always</em> have drapes up, I decided to wing it and just put one single board right in the middle of the window:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmsQ1RG9I/AAAAAAAAMq8/5BMv8V3tsYc/s1600-h/IMG_3596%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmsuf9KHI/AAAAAAAAMrA/JEwKDV3yKcg/IMG_3596_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">You won’t see the empty space where there should have been other boards, because it’ll be covered by drapes. <em>*ThankyouLordforfabric.*</em> </font></p> <p><font size="3">Because I was working around a plug, I ended up not having enough room for a whole board in one corner. I went ahead and put it up, so one section is about half an inch smaller than the others:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmtDkmp-I/AAAAAAAAMrE/D2X7NU4SuWU/s1600-h/IMG_3597%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmtmUyFwI/AAAAAAAAMrI/EokdEtPJ3YE/IMG_3597_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">Can you tell which one it is? </font></p> <p><font size="3">Wait, don’t answer that! Just say you can’t tell. ;)</font></p> <p><font size="3">I had to do that in a couple spots, but I’m about 150 percent sure I’m the only one who will notice when it’s all painted. And even if they do notice, I’m quite sure I’ll be the only one who <em>cares</em>. </font></p> <p><font size="3">I finished it all off by putting up the trim around the windows:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmt_a-WUI/AAAAAAAAMrM/Oy9kQRJL6wE/s1600-h/IMG_3606%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="framed out windows" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmuAzUevI/AAAAAAAAMrQ/fJ6dw6atVmo/IMG_3606_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="framed out windows" width="320" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">Most of that will be covered by the drapes too, but I just love the look! </font></p> <p><font size="3">And now, the room is <em>finally</em> coming together!:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmuQU04LI/AAAAAAAAMsc/n0cPVm60Z1E/s1600-h/IMG_3610%5B7%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="675" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmuyNp7rI/AAAAAAAAMsg/nJm8ScDRD0A/IMG_3610_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">It only took 43 foot boards, which ended up being about 118 cuts, 150 trips in and out of the garage, and climbing up and down something like 624 steps. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Or so. :)</font></p> <p><font size="3">Needless to say, I haven’t needed to work out this week. </font></p> <p><font size="3">It’s far from complete, but I can finally see my vision coming to life:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmvB0Jq9I/AAAAAAAAMrc/wNYqs_cLiSE/s1600-h/IMG_3609%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="600" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmvrtBdUI/AAAAAAAAMrg/7Pi9KZkmgtg/IMG_3609_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">That’s my </font><a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/01/diy-memo-board.html"><font size="3">DIY memo board</font></a><font size="3"> leaning there – I need to figure out how I’m going to hang it with the addition of the ledge. I think I’ve figured it out. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Next up – caulking, spackling and sanding. If that’s not enough to make you cry a few tears, after that it will need a couple coats of paint. </font><font size="2">Whimper. </font></p> <p><font size="3">(Yet again, I have <em>not</em> followed my own advice of painting before installing.)</font></p> <p><font size="3">But I’ve gotten this far, I know I can DO THIS people! </font></p> <p><font size="3">Then I can get moving on the drapes, accessories and art:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmvzJpjQI/AAAAAAAAMrk/YSogcqbJHVM/s1600-h/IMG_3612%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="600" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmwLljabI/AAAAAAAAMro/BOl7BpwA7CI/IMG_3612_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">I didn’t want the ledge to stick out too much, but I wanted it to be just wide enough to hold frames. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Here’s one of my favorites, waiting on the perfect spot:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmwsaw6sI/AAAAAAAAMrs/vIj-CUC6qPY/s1600-h/IMG_3601%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmxynHVaI/AAAAAAAAMrw/78movhE1W9Q/IMG_3601_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">It’s soooo dreamy. :)</font></p> <p><font size="3">But for now, our garage looks like a sawdust bomb went off:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmyM1QwtI/AAAAAAAAMr0/m6q3YxrA238/s1600-h/IMG_3623%5B3%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmyn2souI/AAAAAAAAMr4/Cu7GM8FsHQk/IMG_3623_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">And my shoulders are practically screaming at me. :) </font></p> <p><font size="3">I showed you some of the board and batten installation details in a video in </font><a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/02/work-what-ya-got.html"><font size="3">this</font></a><font size="3"> post. It isn’t hard – I swear to you. It’s time consuming, but not hard. I use a nail gun and compound miter saw for this project. You can do it by hand, it will just take you a lot longer and you’ll need a few more shoulder massages. ;)</font></p> <p><font size="3">I used 19 primed 3 1/2 boards, 12 feet each, and the total cost for those and everything needed for the ledge ended up right at $200. </font></p> <p><font size="3">I can’t believe how far this room has come – the before:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmy_JhnqI/AAAAAAAAMr8/s_OUjaywGUE/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="office before" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmzjpa-EI/AAAAAAAAMsA/l9_kovDwDYI/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="office before" width="360" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">And now:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmuQU04LI/AAAAAAAAMsk/NGuK9cfme7E/s1600-h/IMG_3610%5B11%5D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="board and batten treatment" border="0" height="757" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TYlmuyNp7rI/AAAAAAAAMso/_bs70rpQNik/IMG_3610_thumb%5B12%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="board and batten treatment" width="500" /></a></p> <p><font size="3">Can you believe it’s the same room? I can’t, and I live here. ;) </font></p> <p><font size="3">And you know what – I don’t even notice my whack baseboard/mdf board combo. It really doesn’t bother me. I took a risk at having it less than perfect and I’m <em>so glad</em> I did. </font></p> <p><font size="3">I’m linking this up to my friend Nester’s </font><a href="http://www.thenester.com/2011/03/national-not-really-take-a-risk-day.html"><font size="3">Take a Risk Day</font></a><font size="3"> party! Have you taken a decorating risk lately?  </font></p>

PROGRESS (board & batten) in the office!

Can I just start out with a WHOO ?! And a WHEW !! Cause I’m exhausted. :) It’s been two months since I’ve addressed my office redo, a...

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