Thriifty Decor Chick

My favorite new gadget

Hello all! How is your week going? It’s been a slow one for me…it feels like molasses or something. I’m continuing on Decrapification 2013 (yeah, I named it) and it’s going really well. Our whole front room is a pile of stuff and I’ve decided I may leave it all till I’m totally done, just to get the full effect of how much I’m purging. It feels goooood. Today I’m sharing a gadget that I LOVE. Let me introduce you to my little friend(s) – these things have changed my life!: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Lg1jUzvayN4/US-JU2XmNMI/AAAAAAAAbQo/q0x5b5xKe0s/s1600-h/IMG_5001%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="315" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g3rh4dgPntE/US-JVJhYO0I/AAAAAAAAbQw/Wpnodp500Wk/IMG_5001_thumb%25255B6%25255D.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="how to caulk" width="400" /></a> OK, maybe that’s a bit of a strong statement, but they sure have made my life a lot easier. Throughout the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/basement">basement finishing</a> process I took on a bunch of the projects myself in order to save some money (like all the painting and installing baseboards), but I’m not always so good on the finishing touches, like caulking the trim. I have baseboards and crown in this house that I installed years ago that are still not caulked. I don’t know what my deal is, I just get that trim up and call it done. But the thing is, the caulk makes a much bigger difference than you think. It hides all the imperfections and gaps and stuff and makes it look pretty, clean and finished. I used a TON of it on the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/10/library-bookcases-done-boom.html">DIY built ins</a>: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1ynzAzm6Kcc/US-JVqut9HI/AAAAAAAAbQ4/wEcTQlePFVQ/s1600-h/IMG_3445_thumb%25255B5%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY built ins kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="676" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n6xKExWM0e8/US-JWHb8fuI/AAAAAAAAbRA/rqgWV2msGRU/IMG_3445_thumb%25255B5%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="DIY built ins kitchen cabinets" width="450" /></a> I found those little caulking tools above last year and tried them out on all the little gaps near and on the built ins. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised – that rubber wedge makes it SO much easier and less messy. I used it everywhere: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-959200sS9Fg/US-JWn7YEUI/AAAAAAAAbRI/Sv3n9PyJF7g/s1600-h/IMG_3414%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="436" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ROO2OFKNyQ4/US-JW1SK0fI/AAAAAAAAbRQ/EV25wBQitdk/IMG_3414_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="290" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6iVv0Q5XKck/US-JXf1pifI/AAAAAAAAbRY/TabMdrNEd7w/s1600-h/IMG_3415%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="436" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8jqWFG8pW6g/US-JXt-_z-I/AAAAAAAAbRg/97z9YKHodQo/IMG_3415_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="290" /></a> I’ve shown you <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/06/caulk-and-spackle-my-bffs.html">how I caulk</a> before and how much I rely on caulk and spackle to finish up projects. They hide a multitude of sins, let me tell you. That little corner had gaps everywhere (every house will have not perfect walls, angles, etc.) and after the caulk you wouldn’t even know: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oFL9qjleBjY/US-JYPiW-2I/AAAAAAAAbRo/HJHKGWWw2Sk/s1600-h/IMG_3472_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="601" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rNSqz3JiCC4/US-JYq_1ZxI/AAAAAAAAbRw/I7SuGj2h12M/IMG_3472_thumb%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="how to caulk" width="400" /></a> I was doing some laundry last night and noticed the awful gaps behind the baseboards down there. I grabbed my caulk and little blue tool (no idea what the call it) and it was done in no time flat. See how the base is snug on one part of the wall and has a bit of a gap (mind the gap!) at another part?: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-S3OlAboEKHQ/US-JY4wqltI/AAAAAAAAbR4/RFEoVJ47CjA/s1600-h/IMG_4989%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4989" border="0" height="299" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BzHu4JX-f84/US-JZcMC1PI/AAAAAAAAbSA/115qpaPVGKg/IMG_4989_thumb%25255B2%25255D.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_4989" width="450" /></a> Well, it’s annoying. I happens with crown occasionally too. And yes, I went from laundry to sitting on the floor caulking, that is how I roll. Oh look, a butterfly! Anyhoo, here’s the thing, always use paintable caulk. ALWAYS. Did I mention always? Always. You may think you won’t need to ever paint over it and then the day will come you want to and you’ll be screwed. I speak from experience (it’s not fun): <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J5NQiugfzPY/US-JZqtyrXI/AAAAAAAAbSI/a5CDRryn8_A/s1600-h/IMG_4991%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="436" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QbATsZFrFdE/US-JaHIwoCI/AAAAAAAAbSQ/iqzCwVO3-DE/IMG_4991_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="290" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QW2QnT4_fgE/US-JaQKMwJI/AAAAAAAAbSU/VtXExnNseyM/s1600-h/IMG_4992%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="caulking tool" border="0" height="436" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ym4rT8dBgaY/US-Ja_eXQiI/AAAAAAAAbSg/_Mye-ldNpUI/IMG_4992_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="caulking tool" width="290" /></a> I just use regular tape to close up my caulk between uses, it works just fine. Just make sure it’s air tight. It’s hard to get a picture of using this tool (I guess I did above) but you just put a bead (or line) of caulk down the trim, then instead of your finger, you run the corner of this tool right down after it: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y1u8wfvTiN8/US-JbPnPnbI/AAAAAAAAbSo/AbHcbduFXuc/s1600-h/IMG_4995%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="caulking tool" border="0" height="299" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WATb6bGD8mM/US-Jbe_JAOI/AAAAAAAAbSw/nfjyEUlfh9c/IMG_4995_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="caulking tool" width="450" /></a> It’s BRILLIANT!! I can’t tell you how much easier it makes this process. And cleaner, so much cleaner. I take a wet paper towel and do a quick swipe afterwards to pick up any leftover caulk, but that’s it. It takes half the time and look Ma, no gaps!: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d2DEacWAq7E/US-Jb5ZBSyI/AAAAAAAAbS4/s-l7i25cIRg/s1600-h/IMG_4997%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="299" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SD0rIc3IL38/US-JcMU_fdI/AAAAAAAAbTA/JuMZ9VH3Sao/IMG_4997_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="how to caulk" width="450" /></a> Here’s a good before and after shot for you: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-t9VxlVrVIdo/US-Jc7xnScI/AAAAAAAAbTI/KPc51VlPPTo/s1600-h/IMG_4990%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="436" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2l-AYi0v24o/US-JdFz5DFI/AAAAAAAAbTQ/n-t_P25XMTI/IMG_4990_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="290" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3KmnuT9ldV4/US-Jdrl93NI/AAAAAAAAbTY/_DskRQoFZXs/s1600-h/IMG_4998%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="436" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-49VmoWLgAhg/US-JeSkIxzI/AAAAAAAAbTg/i7Xw52qep-w/IMG_4998_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="290" /></a> See what I mean about making it look so much more finished? It’s such a little thing but I think it makes a big difference. I still need to paint these, but one thing at a time… It’s a little easier and quicker on projects where the white caulk is going down on white trim. When we built the bookcases in the dining/library I was a little concerned about the caulk showing on the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/06/butcher-block-love.html">butcher block</a>, so I tried out this little trick I saw on a DIY show awhile back: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XJoQhtFg_9k/US-Je8drTXI/AAAAAAAAbTo/KHPHvNynVzI/s1600-h/IMG_3417%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="299" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eNMlCNcxkIg/US-JfT4TbLI/AAAAAAAAbTs/pxenhFZyrKg/IMG_3417_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="how to caulk" width="450" /></a> You just lay down some painters tape – I used my green FrogTape obviously. Then you put the bead of caulk down, then swipe it (I used my blue goodness): <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DHYBQWD9MvA/US-JfpN4ihI/AAAAAAAAbT4/gN8_fHIdJKU/s1600-h/IMG_3421%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="541" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NruTgAPLtYE/US-JgIO1BzI/AAAAAAAAbUA/T_JpdNSRUkk/IMG_3421_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="how to caulk" width="360" /></a> And when you’re done (I pulled it up when the caulk was still wet), you have a loverly clean, perfect line of caulk: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wQgmFjPsQGQ/US-JgvCUcSI/AAAAAAAAbUI/9FwQU6GmnEI/s1600-h/IMG_3427%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="299" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xaHo7OwEukk/US-JhKLib3I/AAAAAAAAbUQ/bQWFO_z1vUE/IMG_3427_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="how to caulk" width="450" /></a> Ahhh, so nice! I used this method on every support on the bookcases and it worked great. It would be a bit of a mess to caulk on a darker surface like this without that tape laid down first. So much better! I love sharing new tools that actually work (I guess you could call this a tool?) – I got this from a hardware store and it came with four (or five?) of the blue jobbies. It was only a few bucks if I remember right. SO worth it in my opinion. Have you found a tool or gadget that makes life easier for you? Honestly, now that I have this one caulking isn’t that bad – dare I say almost enjoyable? It’s kind of a relaxing, therapeutic thing for me. And it’s instant gratification, which I love. :)

My favorite new gadget

Hello all! How is your week going? It’s been a slow one for me…it feels like molasses or something. I’m continuing on Decrapification 2013 (...

8:44 AM

Spring DIY

<a id="irc_mil" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=5yKngUbHpNWjsM&tbnid=5qkbtPvkL8IoOM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecenglish.com%2Fblogs%2FCambridge%2F%3Fp%3D159&ei=zWcvUe2NAePO0QHK-4DYDA&bvm=bv.43148975,d.dmQ&psig=AFQjCNHM0Ro6NrBoT1-jmeR5t5f2U1kSdA&ust=1362147647823231" data-ved="0CAUQjRw"><img alt="" height="479" id="irc_mi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHew8USDZE2O55LdjutGqVuEatxUKEVvY5JW6O3oBPJJFQec_o" width="359" /></a> With snow on the ground but the distinct feel of Spring in the air (or maybe that's wishful thinking), I went around the house, making notes on some little niggly things that need to be done before the weather changes. (Honestly, this is a my list of b.o.r.i.n.g. Spring things to get done before moving on to the F U N Spring things.) Get the doors in full swing. Our front door is squeaking. Not so annoying when it's the dead of winter and no one is using the door much, but soon to be used all day, everyday, and likely to be really annoying! Spray a little WD-40 onto the hinges, moving the door back and forth to work in. The lock sticks a little on the back door - Squeeze in graphite powder. (Don't use oil, which can attract dirt, and make matters worse.) The light fixtures need dusting. Dust the ceiling fans, chandelier, and pendant lights. (Turn them off first, and allow them to cool.) Here's a trick I read: wear a pair of white cotton gloves - I got a bunch of thin winter gloves from Target in the after-winter sale for about $1 a pair. Put them on, one dry, one sprayed liberally with glass cleaner. Clean the fixtures and glass shades with the gloves. I'm sure this will be a helpful tip, especially if you have an elaborate chandelier, with lots of little pieces. The bathrooms need a good, well, bath. Dawn dish and vinegar for the baths and showers. Mix 1 cup warm vinegar with 1 cup regular dawn dish liquid and shake well. Spray on liberally and let sit for 2 hours. Use a scrub brush or sponge, and then rinse VERY well. (If you don't rinse very well the surface will be VERY slippery.)  Use this cleaner and you won't believe how clean your shower or bath will be. While in the bathroom, dissolve mineral deposits plugging up the shower heads. Just remove the shower head, soak it overnight in a 50-50 vinegar-and-water solution, rinse it, and reinstall it to improve water flow. If the shower head is too hard to remove, fill a plastic bag with solution and secure it around the head with a rubber-band overnight. Check the gutters and downspouts.  Spring = rain. And the gutters need to be working properly. There might be leaves and pine needles that need to be removed. Even birds nests! Once the gutters are clutter free, you need to get all of that water away from your foundation so make sure you have extra long kick-outs at the bottom of down-spouts. Kitchen floor. We have a squeaky floor board easily silenced by sprinkling on talcum powder. Use a paintbrush to work the powder into the joints between boards and then sweep away the excess. Lights. Got a room everyone leaves the light on? We do too. Alright, it's me! I leave the basement light on all the time...  Screw a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QKS4Z4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003QKS4Z4&linkCode=as2&tag=fymoho-20">First Alert PIR725 Motion Sensing Light Socket</a> into the fixture and leave the wall switch in the on position. The light will illuminate as soon as anyone walks in the room, then automatically turn itself off when you leave the room. Perfect for the basement, attic or closets. You can order these at Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QKS4Z4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003QKS4Z4&linkCode=as2&tag=fymoho-20"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B003QKS4Z4&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=fymoho-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fymoho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003QKS4Z4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> They have great reviews and are $17.99! Let in the sun! Our master bathroom and bedroom need a lot of privacy because they face the driveway. Rather than leave the blinds closed at all times, apply window film. It'll create privacy without blocking natural light. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001L7Y1MY/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001L7Y1MY&linkCode=as2&tag=fymoho-20"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B001L7Y1MY&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=fymoho-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fymoho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001L7Y1MY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001L7Y1MY/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001L7Y1MY&linkCode=as2&tag=fymoho-20">Etched Leaf Window Film 24-by-36-Inch</a> has great reviews.  Actually all of the patterned and non-patterned window films have great reviews, are easy to use.  The patterned products are made so that you can cut and/or place them together for the repeating pattern easily. So that's my Spring fixer-up list. Shouldn't take long, and then we can move on to

Spring DIY

With snow on the ground but the distinct feel of Spring in the air (or maybe that's wishful thinking), I went around the house, making n...

2:27 AM

My kind of plant

Hey all! How are ya? I feel like poo today, and the weather matches – cold, rainy, icy. Poo. Remember when I blogged about that fun <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/01/thrifting-heaven.html">vintage mart</a> here near Indy? Well, while there I found something I had been looking for forever – air plants. I’ve seen these cool little plants for a year or so now and they’ve always intrigued me. I’m a little plant crazy overall lately – since Christmas I think I’ve added quite a few new plants to our house, which I’ll share with you soon. They are all doing great, shockingly. Who knew I could keep them alive all the sudden? Not me. Anyhoo, I found a booth at that mart that had hundreds of these little air plants and I was SO stinkin’ exited. I grabbed up a couple of them to try out. A few weeks ago I shared them on <a href="http://instagram.com/thriftydecorchick">Instagram</a>: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dxMZ9jLUtyY/USztl0UiQoI/AAAAAAAAbMo/DT7slCnUmXc/s1600-h/photo6.png"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="521" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2G4T-E0AJpo/USztmkAYZTI/AAAAAAAAbMw/lmLa-dkFXxo/photo_thumb8.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="air plants" width="360" /></a> The guys at the booth told me to soak them in water a couple times a week and that’s all the care they really needed. Right up my alley baby! Although when I posted this on Instagram <a href="http://www.mykindaperfect.com">Andrea</a> mentioned that she only soaks hers every few weeks so I decided to try that out myself. Actually I just totally forgot to soak them again for a while, but at least her advice made me feel better about it. ;) Turns out she’s right – they are THRIVING and I’ve only soaked them a couple times in four weeks. These little plants are the coolest!! You can’t really tell how much they’ve grown from the photos, but it’s just crazy. The light wispy one started developing a little surprise a couple weeks ago: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--67iNBsNWmc/USztnJMUe0I/AAAAAAAAbM4/GvSDSBFS3Z0/s1600-h/IMG_49513.jpg"><img alt="flowering air plants" border="0" height="481" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cizZ4wRTyg4/USztnSQEhlI/AAAAAAAAbNA/dIjAEIyQGL0/IMG_4951_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="flowering air plants" width="320" /></a> Just beautiful! Isn’t that amazing? No soil, hardly any watering. It really boggles my mind. I’ve had them sitting on the window sill by the sink and they seem to love all the light. This one has grown a ton too, they sprout new plants at the base: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gvgtTc1cn9Y/USztnvG6QVI/AAAAAAAAbNI/bduahu6qSXw/s1600-h/IMG_49545.jpg"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="481" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_IZ4MN5ETts/USztoDEMifI/AAAAAAAAbNQ/MviTC4apsVo/IMG_4954_thumb3.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="air plants" width="320" /></a> So I was at lunch near the fancy mall in town the other day and decided to stop in West Elm, and I walked out with these precious little bowls: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x-OhKPTO7wU/USztoRtJZOI/AAAAAAAAbNY/YR3Qqcbsn6A/s1600-h/IMG_49603.jpg"><img alt="west elm bowls" border="0" height="541" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D6d4R_SXa9U/USztozQN8KI/AAAAAAAAbNg/FFWlSdAlHSI/IMG_4960_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="west elm bowls" width="360" /></a> If you follow me on Facebook you may remember these. ;) I saw them a couple months ago and passed them up because I didn’t have a plan for them -- but now I did. So darn cute! I found air plants there too, so if you are looking for some check out West Elm. This one was cheaper than what I paid at the vintage mart: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w94zyCzZAJw/USztpV10m-I/AAAAAAAAbNo/MkUzyxs7JOY/s1600-h/IMG_49564.jpg"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="481" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uAXCGKGwG80/USztpjO8vfI/AAAAAAAAbNw/fwP_V6h_xCs/IMG_4956_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="air plants" width="320" /></a> I pulled out some filler, which is actually shell stuff from the pet store I picked up a while back just because I thought it was pretty: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yZo7B60g_fY/USztpzNxsoI/AAAAAAAAbN4/6zFXUi_ASvw/s1600-h/IMG_49613.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="481" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ius8TZVNKWg/USztqWX6MfI/AAAAAAAAbOA/bUl2Gv-9_Ws/IMG_4961_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> I poured a little in each bowl, just enough to give the plants something to settle into, and then lined them up on the window sill above the kitchen sink: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BsV82mtNvKA/USztq1__wcI/AAAAAAAAbOI/NrM66ebTAFc/s1600-h/IMG_49654.jpg"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="332" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UkxHtpN03pc/USztrWRrIDI/AAAAAAAAbOQ/2_roTA25iUM/IMG_4965_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="air plants" width="500" /></a> I just love them all! The flowering one is my favorite though – so delicate and pretty. I call this one my tiny dancer: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-S3Z7-jIMEmM/USztrpcNEqI/AAAAAAAAbOY/4210ctwMJcI/s1600-h/IMG_49703.jpg"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="541" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--5ctAkvN4DU/USztsI2OTiI/AAAAAAAAbOg/kUOqeCzOUm8/IMG_4970_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="air plants" width="360" /></a> I didn’t realize till I got the bowls home how well they work with the drapes on that window – the blue, green and yellow tie in perfectly!: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WAuoduMbgic/USztsj7_bdI/AAAAAAAAbOo/41rB7QW8P0U/s1600-h/IMG_49795.jpg"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="676" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BfqTJwEXYOg/USzts5lRU4I/AAAAAAAAbOw/ysVVgx8ej0c/IMG_4979_thumb3.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="air plants" width="450" /></a> They’ve done great in this spot so far, hopefully they’ll continue to flourish. They join the little fern that could by the sink and I love the life they bring to this spot: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BVuWjsW0B4I/USzttQdcB3I/AAAAAAAAbO4/Ee8zX9CBjug/s1600-h/IMG_49764.jpg"><img alt="beadboard backsplash" border="0" height="609" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_jkp1KZiUmA/USztt7sLw7I/AAAAAAAAbPA/JOVo6QCo9Hk/IMG_4976_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="beadboard backsplash" width="400" /></a> Have you tried these little plants? Succeeded or no? The cool thing is you can place them just about anywhere – mine were just sitting out on the windowsill for weeks and did great. Like I said, they seem to love sun, but I think they’d do OK in less light as well. So fun! P.S. The technical term for air plants is Tillandsia – you may be able to find them under that name too. I’ve seen them sold on Etsy!

My kind of plant

Hey all! How are ya? I feel like poo today, and the weather matches – cold, rainy, icy. Poo. Remember when I blogged about that fun vintag...

9:15 AM

The Lint Lizard

Coffee in hand, I'm ambitiously planning my day ahead. Maybe ambitious is too strong of a word... Here's my TO DO list so far: 1.  Make banana muffins 2.  Clean dryer vent 3.  Eat banana muffins after strenuous job of cleaning dryer vent Because I had recently written about changing the furnace filter, my Mom mentioned that my post made her think of cleaning out the dryer filter.  And who can resist the thought of blogging about that? Not me! Seriously! It's almost Spring. Why not get some Spring cleaning done? I personally don't "do" a big Spring clean - but I do think of it as a time to clean the things I normally would ignore or put off.  That includes checking out the dryer vent.  (Tomorrow - washing windows! Only joking, I'll just wait for it to rain.) If you clean out the vent system on your dryer, not only will it last longer, it will dry your clothes more efficiently, and save you money.  I have no idea how that equates to cold hard cash, but it's probably an ice cream cone or two worth of savings a year. And it's wrong to turn up your nose at ice cream. Furthermore, dryer fires do happen, and they normally start from the build up of lint (and socks!) trapped in the vent system. Should you over-worry about a fire? Probably not. But just to be on the safe side, take an hour and clean the vent. [caption id="attachment_804" align="aligncenter" width="225"]<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/dryer-022.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-804" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/dryer-022-225x300.jpg" title="dryer 022" width="225" /></a> Cleaning the dryer vent[/caption] In general, you should be mindful of keeping the drying in good working order on a daily basis: <ul> 	<li>Clean the lint trap every time you use the dryer. This is a no-brainer, and anyway, it's weirdly satisfying pulling the lint off in a big sheet of linty softness.</li> 	<li>Don’t pile clothes on top of the dryer, because they will fall down behind the dryer and that's a pain, plus a fire hazard.</li> 	<li>Clean out behind and underneath your clothes dryer periodically. It's just gross not to.</li> 	<li>Use the metal type of vent for your dryer, or consider changing it to metal. The plastic kind can melt.</li> 	<li>Inspect and clean your dryer vent once a year. (Exciting information below!!!)</li> 	<li>Just a mention, be careful when drying clothes that might have had flammable liquids on them. If you, get gas on your clothes, wash them a couple of times before you dry them.</li> </ul> So, now comes the fun part - cleaning out the vent. You first have to figure out how to pull the dryer out from the wall. Especially if your washer and dryer are stack-able, and you are only 5' 3", it's advisable to get someone taller to help. You don't wanna end up the cheese in that sandwich. Pull the dryer out and unplug it. If it's a gas dryer, turn off the gas. Use your vacuum hose attachment, or a shop vac to clean out the vent hose and the vent itself. (The hose is easily unattached with a screwdriver and then you can just stick the vacuum hose in and clean out all the lint.) <a title="Clean a Clothes Dryer Vent Step 4.jpg" href="/Image:Clean-a-Clothes-Dryer-Vent-Step-4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="413" src="http://pad1.whstatic.com/images/thumb/5/5a/Clean-a-Clothes-Dryer-Vent-Step-4.jpg/550px-Clean-a-Clothes-Dryer-Vent-Step-4.jpg" width="550" /></a> Some of the vent hoses are loooong. So you might have to use a dowel or something to really "snake out" the tubing. Next, go outside, and look into the vent. This is a little nerve wracking for me.  What's in there? What if there's a bird or something in there? Nothing ever is in there, but I get freaked out just the same...  Anyway, once you're over your fear of birds hiding in the dryer vent that they couldn't possibly get in, get the shop vac and clean from the outside too. Here's what the outside vent looks like: [caption id="attachment_805" align="aligncenter" width="225"]<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/vent-outside-001.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-805" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/vent-outside-001-225x300.jpg" title="vent outside 001" width="225" /></a> Outside dryer vent[/caption] Vacuum out that lint, and you're done! Put it all back together, and plug it back in. But wait! There's another option! Courtesy of Informercials, and The Today Show - the Lint Lizzard dryer cleaning kits, (as seen on TV!) and they say they're worth the investment. (Don't worry, by "investment", they mean about 30 bucks!)  So, because I easily fall prey to infomercials, and don't really trust The Today Show, I decided to take some time to research these gizmos. The "lint lizard" brand was poorly reviewed, BUT the Gardus LintEater kit, which is also under $30, had 440 high reviews! And based solely on the following review, I've decided to buy one! Read on: "So, this is what life comes down to when you are 50 years old: reviewing dryer vent cleaners while sitting at your kitchen table waiting for American Idol. This is not what I envisioned when I was 12, I can tell you that much. You kids who think it won't happen to you? It will. Sorry to burst your bubble. That said, the product works great. Our dryer pretty much stopped working and we were thinking we needed a new one, which was seriously going to eat into my plastic surgery budget. One last shot before a trip to the appliance store was this Gardus LintEater. My husband, who is not the handy one of the family, had to do the work as I have a torn labrum. (Which sounds dirtier than it is - that's part of your shoulder.) He, the clumsiest man in the world, had absolutely no problem using this. I warned him to read the directions first, and he actually listened and followed. He hooked it up to the drill, and away he went. He got a bunch of musty, wet lint that had probably been up inside the wall since 1977 - probably consisting of bell bottom material and macramé. Now our dryer actually dries clothes again, and I can continue to save for my facelift. Thank you Gardus." <iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0014CN8Y8&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe> That person should write a blog, no? And now don't you need a LintEater?

The Lint Lizard

Coffee in hand, I'm ambitiously planning my day ahead. Maybe ambitious is too strong of a word... Here's my TO DO list so far: 1. M...

2:38 AM

Replace your Furnace Filter

Hello there! Today I woke up and realized the heat has been on almost non-stop for 3 months. The windows have been opened only <del>when I burned the bacon last week</del> occasionally, and the dog and cat have been indoors more than usual. And that means, dust, and dog hair, and general nastiness in the air. Which means the furnace filter probably needs to be replaced. They work better when they're clean, and that means cleaner air and heat, which means better heat bills. Before I get to how to replace the filter, you need to buy replacements. They come in different sizes and are usually sold in 6-packs, so you can store them until you need them. If anyone in your family has allergies, consider a HEPA filter. If you click the link below, you can find the size you need. <iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B002CJN0H2&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe> Four steps to furnace filter freshness: 1. Assuming you have the correct filters it's time to find your furnace. We have two. One in the basement, and one on the second floor. This may sound like an easy task but for me it was an adventure. Especially finding the furnace in the basement. My journey to the center of the basement included a hike through what one might call no-mans land.  I had to journey through the motorcycle grave yard, over paint can mountain, and through power tool valley - narrowly escaping cat litter abyss. (Lucky I remembered bottled water and protein bars.) 2. Assuming you have located your furnace, find the filter.  It is a framed mesh rectangle, and you will know it needs changing when it's brown and you can't see through it. Usually after ONE month (not 3 like me!). <img alt="Change a Furnace Filter - Comparison" height="279" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/wordpress_production/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/OldVsNewFilter-spaco.jpg" title="change-a-furnace-filter-comparison" width="495" /> (photo from Bobvilla.com) Weird furnace fact from my house - I sleep on a feather pillow, and the feathers get everywhere, including, apparently, all the way to the basement. The filter actually had feathers in it! 3. So you've located the filter. Throw away the old filter and put the new filter in it's place, which is a fairly easy task. Just turn off the furnace. Pull out the existing filter (located near the intake/outtake blower fan). Slide in a new filter and don't forget to turn the furnace back on. 4. Find your way back <del>home</del> upstairs. YAY! I can almost see see the clean air! Okay, so I guess I shouldn't be so proud that I changed the furnace filter, but I get excited about little things. Champagne anyone?

Replace your Furnace Filter

Hello there! Today I woke up and realized the heat has been on almost non-stop for 3 months. The windows have been opened only when I burne...

2:35 AM

Do-It-Herself Workshop (and giveaway!)

Hey all! I am so glad it’s Friday!! We had some ice accumulation here last night and I was hoping for a snow day for the kiddo, but we made due with a delay (and sleeping in). ;) I cannot wait for a weekend of relaxing and puttering around! Last night I was honored to co-lead the <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=HT_WS_DIHWorkshops&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053">Do-It-Herself workshop</a> at a local Home Depot and let me tell you, I was SO impressed with how they put it together! The set up was just adorable – since this month’s project was Pinterest-inspired, they pulled ideas from there to create some fun vignettes. This was a DIY workshop, and I will get to that more in a minute, but just loved how cute the set up was so I have to brag on them for that first. They pulled out their stock of outdoor furniture for the audience so it was comfy and colorful: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OQDZKQM2Ai4/USemIf3RmeI/AAAAAAAAbDE/vZzx4p4GE7s/s1600-h/IMG_0085%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself workshop" border="0" height="337" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TcPGi3mEh-Y/USemIywkv0I/AAAAAAAAbDM/v6pu_JkkkAs/IMG_0085_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="home depot do it herself workshop" width="450" /></a> Brilliant idea! The sign-in booth was just so cute – everything was made from pallets and wood they had at the store (hellooo Pinterest!!): <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ozTayvFFrn0/USemJdh15zI/AAAAAAAAbDU/w2qMIK45gdw/s1600-h/IMG_0096%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself workshop" border="0" height="337" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rj9jz4W-GeQ/USemKAFI1zI/AAAAAAAAbDc/lpkmoHUgsRg/IMG_0096_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="home depot do it herself workshop" width="450" /></a> Don’t you love the pennants they made from scrapbook paper? They had super cute bags with goodies for each attendee too: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3fpxV4ke0-c/USemKtMBz_I/AAAAAAAAbDk/mwRpwUs7-Ik/s1600-h/IMG_0099%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself worksho" border="0" height="337" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qwTGytuxJBg/USemLGOjJ7I/AAAAAAAAbDs/0Z8s0aJojl4/IMG_0099_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="home depot do it herself worksho" width="450" /></a> I don’t know if you can see my apron there, but one of the staff members painted mine just for me and it is SO CUTE. She used colors from my blog and it is precious – I love it. OK, I know I should be talking about the DIY, but the food table was amazing too: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-m-Ow_O2lbCg/USemL_6UsmI/AAAAAAAAbD0/yC8mfe3TqH4/s1600-h/large_upload3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pallet table " border="0" height="479" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-h1gp8UyKRmk/USemMTX7TcI/AAAAAAAAbD8/BmvtcxgyjI8/large_upload3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="pallet table " width="360" /></a> More pennants, more pallet tables, and I LOVED the idea of lining the barrels with lawn bags and using them for the beverages. Seriously? So fun! The workshop leader Janice did a great job of sharing the process of tiling a frame around a mirror. They had smaller ones there for people to try out, but this is a great idea for those basic builder mirrors so many of us have hanging in our bathrooms too. These were my favorites of the night: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yn_tHANzCdE/USemMxIYBfI/AAAAAAAAbEE/JWjyirjprQE/s1600-h/large_upload%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tiling around a mirror" border="0" height="479" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-obPjcS-ejlc/USemNVeayKI/AAAAAAAAbEM/6wiz8wyWEUo/large_upload_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="tiling around a mirror" width="360" /></a> I was obsessed with that smaller one with the small tiles – it had such a pretty beachy vibe. Janice shared a tip she uses for smaller projects like this that I would never have thought to do. She just puts on gloves and then smooshes the grout in between the tiles with her hands. Loved that – it’s messy no matter how you do it but that makes it even easier! I think my favorite “tool” of the whole project was the tile setting mat – it’s just sticky stuff you put down instead of mortar. Way less mess and so much easier! (I’m Vanna Whiting it here): <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Vh-7B6ngENE/USemNqqWcJI/AAAAAAAAbEU/uwmgu3gLcAY/s1600-h/IMG_0105%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself workshop" border="0" height="345" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CbcKMcNw7Bo/USemOSgGQKI/AAAAAAAAbEc/pGwXN6oD0Tk/IMG_0105_thumb%25255B2%25255D.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="home depot do it herself workshop" width="450" /></a> I’m planning on using it in the laundry room so I’ll let you know how it works. The ladies (and some gentleman) got to shop for their own materials as well – they had some beautiful mosaic tiles to pick from: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Q1-74ty0eRk/USemO3ylL2I/AAAAAAAAbEk/qzafLBq_84A/s1600-h/large_upload2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself workshop" border="0" height="450" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Mlj9I3nsZw4/USemPNeTg_I/AAAAAAAAbEs/ohDEPiZQupk/large_upload2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.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="home depot do it herself workshop" width="450" /></a> I found a perfect one for the basement bathroom, now I just need to decide where to put it. :) It was a fun night and we had a great turn out, especially with the weather we had coming in. Hope everyone got home safe and sound! Thanks to Janice for leading the workshop and Celeste for her help along the way and beautiful ideas for the set up: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0ZzVFeUwgeA/USemPrBEorI/AAAAAAAAbE0/0HTkjDQTyho/s1600-h/IMG_0137%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself worksho" border="0" height="481" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MrdubGma4uw/USemQR-Uw6I/AAAAAAAAbE8/ey0grmBxr0w/IMG_0137_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="home depot do it herself worksho" width="360" /></a> Don’t forget – the workshops are offered every month on the third Thursday and are free to attend. Next month is how to install dimmers – one of my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-install-dimmer-switch.html">very favorite</a> things to do in our house. It would be great to see how to do it first hand if you haven’t done one yourself. (Go <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=HT_WS_DIHWorkshops&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053">here</a> to find out more.) It was an honor to work with everyone from Home Depot this month! To celebrate, they are giving me a $100 HD gift card to give away to one of you! <img height="268" src="http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/home-depot-card.jpg" width="400" /> Here’s how to enter to win $100 to the Home Depot!: 1. Leave a comment here. That was easy. :) What home project would you tackle with the help of this gift card? I can think of a few. Or ten.  2. If you attended the workshop and tried out this project on your own, pin a picture of yours with the hash tag #DIHWorkshop and then comment here with a link to that. (This giveaway will be open till the 28th so you’ve got time!) * You can enter one or two times – it’s up to you! All options are not mandatory to win – they’re just extra chances. :) * Remember if you comment anonymously or you have a private blog, please include your email address in each entry, and spell it out with “at” and “dot” to avoid any spammy emails coming your way. This giveaway is open to the contiguous US only. It will be close Thursday, February 28, at 9 a.m. EST.

Do-It-Herself Workshop (and giveaway!)

Hey all! I am so glad it’s Friday!! We had some ice accumulation here last night and I was hoping for a snow day for the kiddo, but we made...

9:09 AM

Start small

Well THANK YOU for all the comments on my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-mouse-story.html">mouse post</a>. :) I’m serious, it helps that I’m not the only one who has dealt with it. I mean, I knew we weren’t the only ones, but it helps to hear that I’m not the only person who was completely overwhelmed with the situation and the messes they left behind. I’m about a third of the way through the storage room clean up so far but I’m at least through the worst of it (I think), so that’s encouraging. So speaking of conquering messes, you know how you look around some days and all the sudden it feels like NOTHING is organized, everything is out of it’s place, things are overflowing everywhere? OK, maybe it’s just my house. ;) Well it feels like that around here lately, and without fail it happens when life is crazy – we’ve had so much going on over the past few weeks that I feel like I’m playing catch up in the house. I mentioned last month I’m determined to get the house better organized this year, one little project at a time. The thing is, I feel like we’re thisclose to truly having a place for everything (OK, well that’s just crazy – most everything) in this house. The new <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/basement-built-in-cubbies.html">basement cubbies</a> are a HUGE step in that direction. But I have storage projects to finish up in the basement bathroom, the laundry room, the dining/library – and of course the storage room. It’s like I can’t get one spot just right until I get another one just right, you know? So it gets overwhelming – I’m only one person and can only tackle so many projects and decrapify so much in one day. :) The other day I walked by a spot in our family room for the 50th time that week and decided I just needed to start somewhere. It was just a little mess but at least it was something! I told you about my slight magazine/catalog obsession <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-think-i-have-problem.html">here</a> – and I’ve been much better about them since! MUCH. Well, you may not think so after this photo, but really, I have: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xw4lux149SU/USZHmdOw81I/AAAAAAAAbAs/77ELMtg5NfM/s1600-h/IMG_4774%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="ugh" border="0" height="511" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WEp5MSyvRnE/USZHnNw4PBI/AAAAAAAAbA0/qoUy16yTWhs/IMG_4774_thumb%25255B2%25255D.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="ugh" width="340" /></a> We have a little Target basket on the subwoofer in the family room (an effort to hide it a bit) for magazines. Well, we started adding more than magazines – like school papers, books, random mail and of course, a treasure box. Why not? So I went after it. I tackle big messes the same way every time. Sit on the floor and make piles. <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/06/are-you-piler-too.html">I’m a piler</a>, but sometimes that’s a good thing. ;) I started sorting them out – there was a TON of stuff in there (and spilling out the sides), but keep in mind it had built up for the past six months or so: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Wr5ZrtnkgzM/USZHnqwZJxI/AAAAAAAAbA8/FWO7ojxJ85U/s1600-h/IMG_4775%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="organizing the clutter" border="0" height="299" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xs2zbCQjti8/USZHoOmkyeI/AAAAAAAAbBE/76-TiDnC2Q0/IMG_4775_thumb%25255B2%25255D.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 the clutter" width="450" /></a> Lego books went to the basement, the Bub’s books and workbooks went upstairs, the trash went to recycling, shred stuff to the shredder, and my small “keep” pile too. Believe it or not, I hadn’t read some of the magazines in there. ;) And of course, there’s that I-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-you pile. I hate that pile. But I always make one just so I can get through it all quick. I address that one after the rest is put away. What’s funny is it took no time at all – maybe 30 minutes or so? Now the only things in the magazine basket are -- get ready for this…magazines!: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-t8Ncq_8fBgU/USZHpBbVosI/AAAAAAAAbBM/xB_McVgNalE/s1600-h/IMG_4882%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="magazine basket " border="0" height="476" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Et7Fv8A9cA4/USZHphkvRMI/AAAAAAAAbBU/L7iNJPzeiVE/IMG_4882_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="magazine basket " width="360" /></a> OK, and catalogs. I can’t quit them. Isn’t that a beautiful sight? So clean and decluttered and you can almost see the bottom! It was just a little spot, but getting it in order cleared up my mind a LOT: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XE22ZOXpX7A/USZHqAR-ASI/AAAAAAAAbBc/Q-tHxxfPBco/s1600-h/IMG_4881%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="magazine basket " border="0" height="529" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xRtZgpmHwSo/USZHqieHy2I/AAAAAAAAbBk/sTk7eQ30ql0/IMG_4881_thumb%25255B1%25255D.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="magazine basket " width="360" /></a> Paper and magazines and mail and booklets and manuals continue to be my biggest clutter issue. I’m making progress, slow but sure. What’s your’s? Now, you’ll find me in the basement for the next few hours. I power on!!

Start small

Well THANK YOU for all the comments on my mouse post . :) I’m serious, it helps that I’m not the only one who has dealt with it. I mean, I k...

8:13 AM

The mouse story

Hello all! Well things are starting to calm down around here a little bit, I’m done with the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/taking-care-of-business.html">TV segments</a> I told you about next week and the house is quiet for the first time in almost two weeks – no one working here but me today. Ahhh…so nice. :) Awhile ago I promised a follow up on our issues with some tiny little <strike>friends</strike> foes…the mice problem we had last fall. Honestly? It’s taken me this long to be up to the task of writing about the whole fiasco. So here’s the thing – we got some clues as to what was going on in our ceilings (ewwww) but I ignored them, just not realizing. We had never had mice before, so this was new to me. Well, we had one little guy who used to live in our garage, and I swear it was just him. We only saw him a couple times and knew where he was living in there (because he destroyed ALL of my garden gloves making a bed). We removed the storage container he was living in and never saw him again. That was years ago – fast forward to late summer of last year. I’m getting my oil changed and the guys come in with my air filter and I am all ready to say, sure, yeah, I know, I don’t want a new one….you know how that goes. ;) But this guy has a funny look on his face and he tells me that a mouse has been living in my air filter. In my CAR. He showed me the filter, with a perfect little imprint for the mouse’s bed, and the little fluffs of stuff he had brought in there to make it even more comfy. (I would think the filter was comfy enough, but this is a mouse…I now realize how resourceful they are.) He also showed me all the bird food in the container he had stored up to eat. IN MY CAR. Under my hood. I couldn’t believe it. I went home and it was then that I realized a HUGE bag of bird seed we had in the garage has been busted open and was spilling out everywhere – courtesy of the mouse (mice): <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HMm-i3M_t94/USTrMJiypAI/AAAAAAAAa-M/nDXJWPGEaKk/s1600-h/bird%252520food%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="what attracks mice" border="0" height="360" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gcfgixnrsSs/USTrMYge1HI/AAAAAAAAa-U/PEw42ry4SKE/bird%252520food_thumb%25255B5%25255D.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="what attracks mice" width="360" /></a> Even after that, I still didn’t think much of it. I figured the mouse’s bed was replaced, so he would take off to a new house. Car? Fast forward a month or so, and late one night I’m laying in bed and I hear this tiny little sound up in the ceiling. It went on for a few seconds, and I thought it was odd for sure. I wondered if we had a squirrel or something and made a mental note to investigate more. Well, it was fall (busiest time of year around here) and my sis was getting married, so it just slipped my mind because I didn’t hear it again. A few weeks later, I’m in the bathroom and I hear it again, this time louder and longer. And then I was starting to freak. Something LIVE was in our ceiling. I still wasn’t thinking mice though. And then one day just after that sound, while I was in the storage room in our basement, a mouse ran right past my face on one of the shelves. I did what any self respecting woman would do – I screamed, jumped up and down wringing my hands and ran to my husband. He was all…uhhh, it’s just a mouse. JUST A MOUSE. He said that. The next day we picked up some traps (the kind that keep them alive) and put them in the room, and the bugger (I’m still thinking it’s ONE mouse – stop laughing at me) tripped two of them and finally got caught in one. We took him outside and let him go and kind of laughed about it -- oh, wasn’t that funny how you freaked out Sarah, we had a little mouse. So funny. I was a mouse virgin people – those of you who have had them are laughing at me right now cause you know. Next night…kid you NOT, I walk in the room again, and a mouse runs right by my face AGAIN. This time, the freak out was a little more dramatic because I’m thinking we have a super sonic smart mouse who refuses to leave our house. I was so naive. Turns out we had TONS OF THEM. And yes, they are super sonic smart. We found out a day or two later when the professionals came out how bad it was. I’m not sure how many we had, but they had been living in our attic for who knows how long. They had burrowed tunnels in insulation and pooed everywhere and traveled through walls and between floors. I was starting to get smart now (it only took a few months) and realized how I had been practically inviting them into our home. First with the bird seed spilling out in the garage, and then I took a closer look at the storage room to try to determine why they liked it so much. I found the culprit: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cdjKmU18gnU/USTrM5WBmZI/AAAAAAAAa-c/EoiQUD3VDII/s1600-h/decorative%252520sticks%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="decorative sticks" border="0" height="479" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pB6EO4NUG5g/USTrNl2A7eI/AAAAAAAAa-k/dZt7n6Oaa_U/decorative%252520sticks_thumb%25255B5%25255D.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="decorative sticks" width="360" /></a> Decorative sticks. They had practically worn a path on one of the shelves to get to them. You can see in that picture that the little pods were missing on most of the sticks. I had been feeding the mice in more ways than one. I found other decorative items they had been nibbling on too. Then one day I went to grab something from the junk drawer in our island and realized they had been helping themselves to candy, gum and random plastic objects in there. Talk about freaking out. They were coming up through the floor, through a small electrical hole in the bottom of the island, and eating absolutely everything in their path. It was disgusting. This whole experience was probably the most disgusting I’ve ever dealt with. Mice are highly destructive and will eat anything. They ate half of a plastic iPod case we had in that junk drawer. By now the pest control had set out the stuff to get rid of them (yes, we had to resort to that, no I didn’t want to, yes, it was the only option) but it was going to take two weeks. In that two weeks I tried starting to clean up the storage room but gave up – I could tell they were still coming back, even though I had removed the food. The mess they left behind was…well, let’s just say overwhelming. And expensive. I threw away so much stuff it made me sick. Baskets, decorative items, paper goods…and it wasn’t that I was upset about losing the stuff, it was “money” I was putting into those trash bags. Finally I gave up and had to just stop trying to get the storage room back in order. I honestly couldn’t handle it anymore. Just this week I’ve started to tackle it again – three months later. It’s overwhelming because they must have been everywhere in there – I have to take each item off the shelves and clean/sanitize or toss each one. And I have a LOT of stuff in there. This is when the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-new-favorite-room.html">storage room</a> was nice and organized and clean…when the mice hit it wasn’t, which makes clean up even harder: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v2Tzb28riuU/USTrOO0oypI/AAAAAAAAa-s/PHaR6T3Y8zA/s1600-h/IMG_0184_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_0184_thumb[2]" border="0" height="541" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UbvPBo5xooc/USTrOtJhocI/AAAAAAAAa-0/9iFGIwNx0nQ/IMG_0184_thumb%25255B2%25255D_thumb%25255B2%25255D.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_0184_thumb[2]" width="360" /></a> The stuff in bins or baskets is the hardest. I wiped down a basket full of light bulbs last night – it’s at that point that you wonder if you should really clean each item or just toss it all? I’ll spare you the details, but I find all kinds of surprises as I’m going through it all. Like I said, it is overwhelming and not something I would wish on anyone. I know in the scheme of life it’s just a blip and it’s not that big of a deal, but I’ll be cleaning up the messes they left for at least another few weeks. So here’s what I’ve learned – first of all, if you see one, there’s usually more. Most of the time there’s more. You just won’t hear or see them until there are so many they start coming into your living areas (a few weeks after this happened a friend texted me needing the number of the guy we used because they just found a mouse climbing their drapes!!). They are stealth little creatures – they can climb almost anything, right up the side of your house on brick or vinyl. They fit into the tiniest of holes – every house will have holes they can get into. It just depends on if you invite them in like I did. (Doh.) The guy we used said at one time he tried to start up a business where he promised to make houses “mouse proof” – he gave up on the business a few months in because he said it’s nearly impossible. Perfectly well built houses have tiny spots they can get in – in both the roof area and at the foundation. Mice can swim, climb, jump – we heard a story how someone caught a mouse, took it past a creek on their property and let it go. The man watched the mouse hop into the creek, swim across and head right back for their house. Who knows if it’s true but after experiencing them I don’t have a doubt in my mind! So we’ve learned a lot through the whole deal – I’m buying a large plastic (OK, I guess metal – good point!) container for all the bird seed. We had the ceiling of the storage room drywalled and anything decorative that could be edible at all (think the decorative balls/sticks so many of us use) is sealed up in bags or containers. And no, the fact that I put <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/10/theyre-baaaack.html">mice on my stairs</a> every year at Halloween is not lost on me: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Kq6QRrPJREw/USTrO-g5oiI/AAAAAAAAbAk/GhExcpOShxQ/s1600-h/mice%252520on%252520stairs%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cut out mice on stairs" border="0" height="601" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rN8jaUqdpOw/USTrPU5EWfI/AAAAAAAAbAo/cYkxRu-RVgc/mice%252520on%252520stairs_thumb%25255B3%25255D.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="cut out mice on stairs" width="400" /></a> We did put them up last fall, before all this hit. I had to take them down – but they will be back next year…I think. ;)

The mouse story

Hello all! Well things are starting to calm down around here a little bit, I’m done with the TV segments I told you about next week and the...

7:26 AM