Thriifty Decor Chick

Organize It Party!

<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TWMnlkFB6JI/AAAAAAAAMRQ/oRTO_l8pgY0/s1600-h/OrganizeItBasket23.jpg"><img alt="Organize It Party" border="0" height="240" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TWMnmjV2lzI/AAAAAAAAMRU/7N4JZfpcKfA/OrganizeItBasket2_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="Organize It Party" width="240" /></a>Well howdy! Hope you had a fantastic weekend and President’s Day! Did you get any purging done? Organizing? Getting rid of STUFF?? :) If not, hopefully you’ll be inspired to do just that after this shindig! One of my favorite little tricks of late is a bit of a decluttering/organizing combo. I’ve discovered a new love when it comes to organizing, and it’s not rocket science. It’s the good old Ziploc bag: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyFGwDE4TJQewWRW2cjs-YBjOnO8Ya0tU1Xs1qpoqaN99XptqlB9zxeFxGvtoncs3JF1OTmF9lKpuDuVUjpt-enXAE_R10Chszwbvri9rO5rxa281TWiOuSKp9v36-gUUCKuaarBIkB4/s1600-h/IMG_31365.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFW2yYumArG2qt7HWnIovJ0traCYpQsoWcJZrKRUOY43sSY-d7Jbs-rpEtTLe8NDKakLoLqoWHKE0pVCQrJO2uL4w3DV52VvuQIIlqgUkOFVVJ-BorGhjCc4N2nkUj-QhtVmeW1nUH_I/?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> This certainly isn’t anything new – I’ve seen folks all over blogland use them often. But it was just recently that it clicked how AWESOME they are for the kid stuff. I have a love/hate relationship with the boxes that the Bub’s toys and puzzles come in. I love that they are so easily stacked and put away, but hate that they fall apart so easily and take up SO MUCH space: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrSbLyCPONGQG8V0C3xNrDzwQlsIyucz1y8Y_GBOxxEq93Tjaa2vg1zNQv5k7Qrs4z0-BJwz6mjm6GqRzjAbEvjtCDu54bnn-Bvr3gZQBthhj2tXIt5a6hS2N9F_uKxVN8qwPkTxmu0E/s1600-h/IMG_28353.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilzf60FX3UvkyxvwThzJEJ952LZGSIjw17xA6itm9zLupZJHdyL0wMPL669_BMf91HHTlbqU73nqrZ2wvo0B_FQDptcI2BvVeGOmxA4OxfI1CwWkBgYAdoPkYP9Waa-nSLwCf63ZDEXM/?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> Especially those memory games – the actual pieces take up so little space in that big box. So, I started using bags instead, and I LOVE IT: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9cT-vAkiWCa9JDTdDbzcjqgTvZI3gH0qGfanZFZUmLcia3ZfMs_NFAJANZ3zpbLfvwBwugW-IXF4f7Hwz3GbpePBj7GQekwcbn3iHjyoULeM0-E469ULzhEBYyyAInbfq2lkG1ofDfg/s1600-h/Picnikcollage11.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pXNpTZ1K2N7atUQN8uAINsRR0cSuke3bl_AFFOli3yK5F4eklqc-hoY8XgbKhPaZoeOsMAtGfLSGugDzsn_a5HK0ITHQVicN3y5QevL4DnqO-6TTh4cUa020qC6VR_3wflIn2DJwfHc/?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> It’s such a simple thing! They’ve made a difference though. It must be something about seeing the pieces, or just the ease of getting to them -- but the Bub seems to want to play with his games even more now, and is so helpful when it comes to putting everything away. Now, we just toss the baggies in big bin, which helps the clean up too: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6DGUAmY3-YcAKrSEO_1uoWyUGUWrI7lb7poYiAiB-GY7rHZarRaXkDrT468_R9hu9ZqL-LJbbT3ljINvj7CGXrMPHz6LxrKpYS7ySQas3wmwyTbU9iO5mQRqRyJ4jFPYqHqtBZC8eQg/s1600-h/IMG_31343.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4b95rLLDrzSJp8K0_z6gOfLU7iDCFflUqD6TOCW_lEH7xUR9K7Kw7Y6X28TMx_zlMpGrHMoW5TFfoPaIwBZYC1Vep36f08BzzKnLAd2DfHJePMfjnL_e7xBA51LuxaFquouRpsVAxfg/?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> I now have 14 different games in that one bin – there’s no way 14 boxes would have fit. This makes Momma HAPPY. And you know when Momma’s happy, everyone’s happy. :) Ha! But really…it’s the truth. For reals. YouknowwhatI’msayin’. I also used the baggies to organize the little addition I showed you in our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/02/color-in-living-room.html">living room</a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWNIEvQ3NleS2cgz_mMg_DsePcddJp8ad0YfC9eThcBE_ewE0WSy3ugwwjwKxHX5QlIVnKdU8rsCOUdXVZ3kL241vja6zYUpl-KX-YVSEsSy8r5nainK1v9AS5EQAvODjV6s7PB9DBJQ/s1600-h/image4.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GnFkH-gdkA1go2_GZbZSxx7AAVugImm6zK2Vz6hK4a75ij6oCdVRhJi8ZVGEIztrCULSu0cUjav451-enXweX7h0yMQZvX7zi8uSAp2hJXKjWD0SbeOvwP2RdEKGVGFIY-8RvlaJ-Xo/?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> I pulled the former changing table/former office storage dresser into the room last week and LOVE it. Like I mentioned, even though this is our “formal” living room, we use the space pretty much every day. I thought the dresser would be a great spot for all of our puzzles. Oh, the puzzles. And…puzzles. Big ones, little ones, so many puzzles: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtiMkF4YBEGDrT-6rPQ6hmrNGziIaKmki-uqOwhaOEdiTS81Zxx_PgZCN0n7lUm0Jwkp8pajuFAjn6BxOsJ4F-_z3p8rlGNvM-UrpSoyt9DUd7K2piSJDXrIblwoEP4r5SrDxtK883BM/s1600-h/IMG_31173.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbf7yKNzlxjyx7Tl3XpKHg8ohGyYAgwOdmOzjgwMalRXn2dtF3KIBvX2B83REA3PGpq-h6yvmyGeAYPrmrUYWIC3Ed76hHD6eVUbOAXvA9CrvYUXn19r9b7y9uoHDYrzIpxiIEObrbYO8/?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> :) But you can see that I could barely fit four large boxes in one drawer, and that wasn’t going to work at all. Baggies to the rescue again: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8ivTzLHB4wt4jJxb6cfBASUPclvf1agJqGpuMr-_vJV_PaEMKfANkOHbrycmGROutj0e3q8geUErRvs2ccDoLhyphenhyphenuElPSGqCxpsgNLD80aDb2TXmUujpDIQKmXSd7mt9ccu4bRRGJ8EI/s1600-h/IMG_31153.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm62k5EuiYMkRNalr4tMIRQBRtKLmIVu1TK84BenBkhil0PJ6hwzFD_uYG0eajyb6t2kSERm-GFTI0hHVNA9eZC3-C9g729DKwUt2kuuK1WyE52SKTdCKeMFEdqM7VMymSQ9aH53v0luM/?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> Four boxes took up almost the whole drawer, and now six big puzzles take up just over half of the space: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFniv1-GT_hwG3AxLa8OwdAiQbjbqOxdfFzlqYJrvOQqslxStzB_rpe7cOExW75TRebuQYR8eQPzv_IvC7hIAAsMJtDWH-coQlocB5f_5FHBUMbsV4inPh__-nU0JxN7tWMtMYX2xGMD0/s1600-h/IMG_31203.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3T5s2_hyphenhyphenXjJ0VJ5ec7GpBBPSx5yqQf8ztyysJHvtDAikTI2nwp0vmQkw6CeYMuuyTDSuSEh7ODaQ1P-fxphYo1VOcjhTmXK6vdjg4lA2LGv7au9jX-cB1P4f20t7gYOLtBq1eJbiSbI/?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> Do you hear the singing? I. love. it. It’s just such a satisfying mix of decluttering and organizing – getting rid of the bulky, torn up boxes, but still having everything separated and easy to get to. I’ve got the little puzzle pieces in bins, but am planning on putting them each in their own bags as well: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjAcLtzCQP-TE9oeIG22YyoXzbkJcqT_dyT0NfhYfjc8wfO-h9LWSYlfriqVzOwhSm4YA2orlb4WaVG0Vl0e46dpGss3vF0rw1UE2EwY39rU_eWI9hV_fHfONWVNqogsJS-bApSmlOvI/s1600-h/IMG_31223.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPfUBSau83EfR4SE_0zdTh41THZEjT5rKRSTg-BTHLoq4r-7p5Nh_KwY1e73SzJlcrjtcEKRYgVW_NsS8f4iHTbRGxlg_QqlftHDxlaNNvyK_zzJp-5-6xMoCjEvQ7_KS8v6tOo-4tYI/?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> For the floor puzzles, I cut out a picture off the box so we have something to refer to when putting it together. :) Someday when we’re done with these, I’ll just donate them in the bag – I doubt the box will matter that much to the next family. It’s working out GREAT for us! So…let’s see what you’ve got! Link up any organization ideas, decluttering tips, even cleaning suggestions. Anything that will help us get our lives under control is perfect for this party! Make sure to link up to your post – not your blog. The party will be open through next Monday evening. Have fun and enjoy! (I accidentally made the boxes a little small, sorry about that! Tried fixing it but can’t for some reason.) Do you love Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs? You’ll LOVE Knock Off Decor! <a href="http://knockoffdecor.com/"><img src="http://knockoffdecor.com/wp-content/themes/pixelhappy/images/KOD-button.gif" /></a> <script src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=36246"></script>

Organize It Party!

Well howdy! Hope you had a fantastic weekend and President’s Day! Did you get any purging done? Organizing? Getting rid of STUFF?? :) If n...

7:04 PM

One linen closet down

Hello all! How are ya?! If you were anywhere in…well…the country a couple of weeks ago…you were most likely getting some wicked crazy weather. We certainly did. The temps here have been in the 40’s and high 50’s this week, and we STILL have three inches of ice on our lawn. The first day or so, I was kinda digging being iced in…by the third day of not leaving (we couldn’t even get out to the mailbox), it was starting to make me twitch. Just a tad. So I put the twitching to good use. :) We are SO lucky to have a ton of closet space in our house. We have a fantastic linen closet it our downstairs <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/11/tour-of-pot-tay.html">powder room</a> that we use a TON. Although my before pics are horrendous cell phone pics (bad blogger!), they don’t look too horribly messy, right?: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTTeX6ct8N9YSRf7Pmx_Sf5FMX25NRv6Agop3tOPm05OIj9w8WsuIM4ygQWI8VVxoIRiZyLU2C5uBJ667gnnq3oKOFBWecYp5ktQ7VdZBrYuAquMwES6uBD_TnajSe4pyPWOwwSldIOc/s1600-h/photo(4)%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp-cfSIB7m5dZxJKifKATzN2rcWaSt-l_b9DmOiuzAz0lnMucIE5cX9GmMVy3sqSI_YN7qgJDncUEFCRIYywScTgwrTIZetgAZvnqjN5DkMu73SShcV4Lv13kcDujQA0KiiF_kWfDv7Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfUTwPliGXIaZABv6TM9XHy4Twr8nFMJKDcPWTKczVnqziKZcDZnAslBZakgVMOUHWKMk03C9vaOl7F67Um9vfdUoF50wG3HQZIsyDvISfKkBe-BCvK3UOLHcdE72QpczlQWJfVlBuY8/s1600-h/photo(3)%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDP9574AUzeeiETKt6rdZ0ZAAmg86trAp5_64Ymrt8XrI86EP3e4GnuVWXnzVdglYx8O9cRZGt6kP1x3WBTz4ph6kcBo8KBmlxDzL_OItjoc350xfmB7iah-wcc6iNBE6d9_3d-wjcGBo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a>  I didn’t think it was that bad either…till I actually started going through everything. I plopped my booty on the floor and went bin by bin…and I GOT RID OF CRAP. :) It’s quite amazing how much STUFF hides in those storage bins:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunyJswDXiJfiCa43DHFcgdkIAsY1RCEQihxXhVVzNEZGqERCrUXVc8aCmKjcqd6TE6XfIShSffah3pW9mspUuDUR3a1pA9oh8ZrKRXwt2j5cbgepQLsqI47saabgVUHh34tO27o-mrts/s1600-h/IMG_2942%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8wG7ycwLu7Dq_42RQj_TYsQmWaciFjcCAMywxxecv7cIZi4NKf044kSs1CG9YjMh9XcWN9yMW59L8jBwhnPyvHre9NVkrIopJqF9wtvx2Po6AczrmBpnKrlxXM9SjW83PROuRFTXSV0/?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="512" /></a> Seriously? This was the stuff I didn’t keep. Ummm…I really hope the toilet was clean for the picture. Huh. No really, seriously? That’s insane people! That’s all stuff we didn’t need or don’t use. Taking up lovely storage space. (In the closet and in my head.) Well, except the potty step…that just got caught up in the mess. :) You don’t even get the full effect with that picture since stuff is piled high. Here’s what I bagged up from the closet: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73ZzVGOXauVlxDHiZQqKy9K7jfB2S7ANC2j-Aq5av1pGXwDvII0ln0ekMGKFFT4CKd2lAWfNvDUNDkw7_EAnR6DFNKf9XoOmvwsDpbWnEkrOXjtGYgFSgAAwzQ6OCv5bNN6pFKbxbHKg/s1600-h/IMG_2946%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2SqvcNEtNM4alFdva1kMneqvHopE7agtt9AnrV4oQGIPWDUljP1XG4kvhhFcJXNU2z5Vkx0o3lf1eKuYkprbPakZBtFVVREyKPxkYULG0SOkw36iK4NLDequDFrHuaikjo27rZFYE24/?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="500" /></a> The little bag went to Goodwill. The donate bag was full of cleaning rags and supplies that we DON’T NEED FOR GOODNESS SAKES, and that went to a local shelter. The last bag was just trash. And some of that pile went down to the basement. Crayzay! After all of that, I actually got rid of one of the bins, and just reorganized the others. Here’s the after with a real camera: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjHMwoc4D000LxUapGdpy8EAL_1-uEAQPWd8nvUtmEdD7AKs7bi00Pnrw5zsA20tvHJj4A9aYuvl-UkwIEIrLWEoVvSb_YqIwDc9hRelDbtP1ZdWY_ILEvyfrUkAqmiUv9GRZ7wUdjK8/s1600-h/IMG_3048%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhycdSbycadhYiAbBGv8iagUVLAEexpT6DBDme6Zs8Sj4fKmgh0pcFbJuFa3PX5cBkCwuCobFXGGQP_CeDiYBWsgouqFR1rACyV2b9pV-_EnUVib12GHuKeplBdXOh8CqzHNLAVMqOoEI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xmowP03pifJrj88yLDSwKlKfAEVCA3Yw5a9eIwzxT-j2xBDa3mDCtZG_zOx1rRfj3bF7UEZ9ZHh1ZSHxoAgVm3JUKD5MJzFupZjgozwPMB_U0kxLe2E03jb6be0lo9B52uGhmtSqzEg/s1600-h/IMG_3051%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkL1Tkfd0FHQc69xa5nN3PM5XV79qVJpIi3jXvZgCgIhFBemPv902jlNJin7MzyZwj81Ik-w7LldX4zYJVAgPAG1DOQHnKBxFbfHhu4Oziz8E6vcrmogOz1XDsRPPgELGFcMKkpeVB1CM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> I know, the whole good camera thing helps the after pics a bit. :) This helps too: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoEwZqfLnPPDLJ0TWYLuys3_noWU02U7o-83Z6VixiP_E3LC2CtBQMDg0z_JLuwWEZO5pxrj5IOD2RXjLeQvIOwojvkFlSVFrCD5QrRtny6WdTo0a1TtXfPs8PaI-xIBnSyoXmgmgqbA/s1600-h/IMG_3046%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7n0TeVK-Mg-uE7hwQ84k2h6Ep6ZrCzb9m0Sz7qdlf0DFjEWB09XFHmQIorfEIRZAU9KDVcRbCGNAnT748l-y74o8f7RNTk1bFvS0OQoVjsqarriM9_4y3jLPsV42CwJq6HdMcYKSVITI/?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> Smartie me didn’t have lights installed in our closets, and this one is especially dark. I’ve had this little dodad for years and haven’t really used it till now. DUH. It works GREAT! I lost the back part that you attach to the wall, so I just nestled it into the wire shelves. See, wire shelves are good for something! :) Let’s take a little tour, shall we? The top shelf is just extras and our hand towels rolled up in a small bin: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0uC6EdeKcI-Vkv4IqVJuTqAYUcdIEPPesDgWRSnHHhxTn9KLo7LhjQdGuqrfQDbLnCUjWSWMRU8_L70Mywn81AHkyoa7GRl-Ngl0P03Zieov2PjdSTwDKZWjUBMNpk1YZWWv1Ywp1Xs/s1600-h/IMG_3066%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3066" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPT2qjeMtmhyphenhyphenndRhJrMzzRR0IG_yKGIn0yPoC7Q4-9sqwNZyTF56IgMeIIIInom-dvfpOG5oBkCvnUkRgp2ZoBHL5-YusjFrPd1DzR40D2K8ltPjEfeoD_B_SU7eEs1UTGHjeXTZ6AJM4/?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_3066" width="400" /></a> The next one holds a bin for batteries and random toy parts. (I put broken pieces in here so when I find the match, I know where to look.) There’s also a bin for light bulbs: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwougG1kAFDFccG2E-OKt63Rr0vi3tyErSdNYvD5YAE4A9x9tq-N1XVuDuyzKS4EaiQnGkYZll6FsYU6fm3pzHDqo3HLDazzawGLWDy_lCFzwRZnKhmD_oP7HVHeAAnM4wQ_o61Y7MTI/s1600-h/IMG_3065%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJYBdAwQOBnA0NFLVsrMItJZ6kTmEf1aH1cPOlwm6_lJ-e5jvJ4MkY7N1TUq2WnRo7W-Jrrfc9Agy6bWLv5dTTy1OH6v8O_bDGevuobMNzYuBlwE5jYvOcqUZuiB0KlxPZJIzUtEzec8/?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> LIGHT. BULB! Sorry, couldn’t resist the Despicable Me reference. :) Lurve. This is one of the shelves that gives me little bitty hives cause a bin doesn’t match: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jH1HQbkKjsy15Cl6KdBGvGLw_jQilt_v3gxNqR1eLFQ8HoFHj_Ox9laxHMT7AqaH5NWycsR1nwdfT5GNm2IOmEhhcGxyoPUXzUEKuq2yGTltxCobZDVmOnGloWyMEQFzaJ4svmN3tzw/s1600-h/IMG_3064%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg6zgZovCOFlUIi9BpH7HqBpsAqlyxa1uA_1meBBjf5XP7yH7PPhlQxFmzvBwiHkyXeud4wfv9fASei1IegcvuGJ9ipoDcggQBxsrqbF0y8A1aTLmADV5Sqbuk81_9eIZoZP6h7URrSY/?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> Just go with it Sarah. Breathe. Life will go on. You’ll survive this. Anyhoo, that odd one there holds all floor care stuff, and the other holds all other cleaning supplies. You can see I only kept the stuff we USE and got rid of or stored the extra stuff that we didn’t. On the next shelf, we have a bin for air fresheners (cause it is a bathroom) and my Bath and Body Works plug in jobbies that I’m obsessed with. I keep the supply for the house here: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUaqaVI57CSFzdTGCPzrC246Rj39DYDFtTxKW2SHX1l58LFWWqNDtSnos7YY7_gtWf5wkQgLaeMaGG36Y3WMMxH_3GWDsgJdWHuOm4E4_3c8E3fT2MTUFY10FgqBdu3u4VmDC4XGjplg/s1600-h/IMG_3060%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_3060" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms5JHs5egbWZXGT12YcmEvwLoG2vfxAf1PKl0vbyoL4SlEN-6r7Zv6PxFrai9c14dEvBdhH9bXkPm1UfIQJWANNvwvh1gH_WNdHMr1GHgB3lJYQ-pza0H481jdT5u84sAXVabvME2vwQ/?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_3060" width="400" /></a> The other bin is for dirty clothing and towels. I learned about two days after bringing the Bub home from the hospital that I needed a spot for dirty clothes downstairs. It works great for random socks and kitchen towels. Down one more shelf (isn’t this SO EXCITING???) is a bin for the vacuum parts and one for rags: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQXvAf9IJ478ujm6LURNHpX4gZEa4Cjb_PF8HkI_z4UztkzmTI-pxE5RzI-WtjYM53hn5s319D5nTwGTCSkYTqpHGredKWBNOnd9xSaGL7ybslveR-NvQXNgjvpx3SEIXjRWutQqaazI/s1600-h/IMG_3057%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpZuTAXIHiAdC_NeDyBVS6EzRUtSguSwbn5QzdyGh80v17z0CLx2MZBQUIF1dVyWidIIwnkskSi6Kg2yj4ppgCjhpVHARYXUOnyFYJ2qXUy64cUL0kyxp1qFKBwB2jOcVRvu1IXILUvo/?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> I had an obscene amount of rags. I mean, it was positively ridiculous. Got rid of half of them. I’ve always used the back of the door for storage, but I added a couple more hooks – one for covers for the floor broom (upper left), and one for the potty seat on the bottom: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkPQcvLkEhYbxi-Iu40rYJsF5OOHm1_CZH69lgbuERpiA-qrYuoPX1lQGFqPTxQ2GpujRK5loE_cstS_nwO1-JDZr9ndQZPD2YzBbaqRZZee-g7a8decTkmXBNTybKrkHao4azskkR8k/s1600-h/IMG_3070%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVf3_6WtG2r8ndzj1em0sSPObatUIRcz-9NM4mSFPLiaCcUepeVhik2iLW6-CtqxKvbA4Afl-UN1pU_leDq7TyJQL1735uOhgVOsmurqrA7NRgyXHs_5WCyx8sBC0a7MOERkv2Kkdtamo/?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> This space is ALL about function over form. :) But I am thrilled that we now have a spot for that seat. Now when friends drop by, they’re not greeted with a bright yellow potty seat. You know what I’m sayin’. The closet can now breathe again: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQyu4mSCbMw8HJTzkgfAU_cCgd4v2KQT-o8Jyxl1dxA8__yjt16K_wCoaMU4zTNW13rbfvzPfhM0tZOtDIQxHmCc8lFMVP7iK1SYYZPaz9eH3jWMmkINlN4AOeyuqa-ODOJnmPhQUc8Q/s1600-h/IMG_3045%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEeryjQpIJidd6XC5xDilf0FZxHU9p7de-r7hH6-89iCcHChonq7xrkA6W0pN2TvzsmiHQLXi3k7nfhLeS1SYHH10H5466rOPwa8Qevd_c3XUMABRU8wQO0Nk3U5vKVlap9vGdknMejg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a>  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2fQlCjEigqtaOKCfcMBjNblFXJ7_Z3hE8kkm3TUonLcHjiwkHLV5kF14vIQ1xVIkpaQ009CQT_iu88noeqPKBNHUShUAFiNPqDvvCR2dPh7t3rP7qmz06aXuEWd8QTZ6x_v2_XWxChk/s1600-h/IMG_3047%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7G_OEhKF2Fc4auGFDwRDhrrjH0jj8qWDDz-lQIHp1dovVAdmneaaQqBlSiTF54P-AuWk697yGgMmDzp4zZqIewvcj0jgVBfbG3Kyy1IpOJpw0dOlRfIQj0odYN6KpK2Y_hLY9cQxUdA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a>  And the very best part? I was so excited to have it organized again, I finally got rid of the brassy knob and hinges on the door: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOJ8JYAOl3l254yXY0gOPs4bdq60PDyRKvR7GZ82rxbXAY3-8O-7QwdgQXAgOADCYYTPmbHyFlynwcNmCy7jRhxJpMswOVV_XnUsFPyjW4SzjHQA3cx8DX_1ithzWZrMjHnDN60phD70/s1600-h/IMG_3072%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNc-tJ_oxpfLEiB2_LX75TW17U56Yw5nMafAtxPZd4o3lGhCWdJNkjd8rQQWgPmwNXYkPw5Plzr3Kwg9BtL0LlYD2Vzf97NPCdKlKzQQfVjNlp42tHWWwwb2rA9Ffq7Cr85_BKVqXyNE/?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> WHOO HOO! I’ve had them for a YEAR now…that’s how slow that process has gone. Almost done switching them all out – when I’m done I’ll tell you more about that DIY project. :) So…have you been decrapifying? Organizing? Loving it? :) I hope so! If you haven’t, maybe a little shindig will get you in the mood: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwl77fwM-W2IYcHwAZhc9v1louMUnzZBzoAem8rd9olo4pS2u4aaNeKA3Zxj-ZmOXDmLfLAi5pdkZu3MV75h10uduRQd6xRFU0K5Xf9smEmc_b881faiJF5d4xnLCoHIWPtyCzNQ5-jw/s1600-h/Organize%20It%20Basket2%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="Organize It Basket2" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOyiaOQONqgxt6keE0o8U1vWlI6IEU6gR4_SZIgEG6dJ-g_g29u8dg6rTSO5-QTlJD1gwN1EotrjXpeKl2FQNC4V0-ZJkebYeaEXRmSccSW5pF2RLDdZ3KzuVofnEFAhGyH6eH9ViKhw/?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="Organize It Basket2" width="240" /></a> This coming Monday, come one come all! :) Link up all of your decluttering or cleaning projects. Can’t wait to see your tips and tricks!   P.S. There is usually a child proof door handle on the knob to the closet. Because I had just changed it out it’s not on for the pictures. :)   Do you love Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs? You’ll LOVE Knock Off Decor! <a href="http://knockoffdecor.com/"><img src="http://knockoffdecor.com/wp-content/themes/pixelhappy/images/KOD-button.gif" /></a>

One linen closet down

Hello all! How are ya?! If you were anywhere in…well…the country a couple of weeks ago…you were most likely getting some wicked crazy wea...

8:59 PM

online consultations!

Well hello there! I am SO excited to announce a partnership that’s been in the works for awhile now. If you’ve read this blog for a while, you know I used to offer online consultations. I absolutely LOVED doing it, but it got so time intensive, I found it hard to keep up. Something had to give, and that was it. :) I’ve heard from many of you that you really want an affordable option for decor consultations, and I am thrilled to announce that my friends at <a href="http://www.mydesignguide.com/">My Design Guide</a> can now help you out!<img alt="image" border="0" height="108" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TVS1LNmrToI/AAAAAAAAMK4/Ifq3YdVU034/image_thumb%5B2%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="500" />They’ve offered online consults for a while now, but now there’s an even more affordable option, in addition to their other services. The My Design Guide professional designers can answer design questions about your space -- wondering about paint colors, furniture arrangement, window treatments, accessories, whatever? They can help with all of that and more. WHOO! I’m so excited (for you!). We’ve worked out an awesome deal for my readers – I hope you’ll check it out. I’m so thrilled to be able to offer you this option. To find out more, click <a href="http://shop.mydesignguide.com/Design-Consultation-tdcconsult.htm">here</a>! (You can also find it through the tab at the top of my blog.)**I appreciate all the responses to the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/02/searching-for-sofa.html">sofa post</a>! I’m going to try to break them down and do another post with the pros and cons of the brands mentioned. :)

online consultations!

Well hello there! I am SO excited to announce a partnership that’s been in the works for awhile now. If you’ve read this blog for a while, y...

8:03 PM

February Before & After: A pretty pitcher

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NKQZqPTGlT5It0pPboCI9Ea_pcvuPnD_pexHaCK9x1BLjtASnpDMEYESwQdgdUAFwM0ynfxvUnTAZgsn9nTRkCH99pPr_tvGC9L3VhYrnLnfM9semyjRHVuPJ0bWSGY95USBNodkzVs/s1600-h/header3.jpg"><img alt="header" border="0" height="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPurEv4YMxzHMgNnztVWnTM22nxMcrSSmZYMhbiPQZEZFmjbWYBZQNDvXbbO0hXIY-zx7s19unJ6T37BM4zV_XbQOo_c16bPb4hPC_FTzr6EbztOToWXXcijMxjSU_s_zjfN4Dy8ipcd4/?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="header" width="526" /></a> Hello all! I’m back this month with a very simple but beautiful (I think so anyway) before and after project! It started with a recent trip to Goodwill – I don’t go as often as I used to (see my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/09/stuff.html">STUFF</a> post), so I haven’t found nearly as much good stuff as I used to. (You have to go fairly often to get the good pickins.) But that day, the heavens shined down on this beauty on the top shelf: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKMgc9LLzVWJQp_RryBVoNiEJbnk3MwOCOi59uf4LureLmViYlsgU2AAU1KdQGNCuTNbrUquB1lXa6fCqQoSCWAApxx1Q6S-VvEd_l4GitEMSoQDBXT1yNw8MJr-wTmIwsGmcLCI4gqw/s1600-h/IMG_29443.jpg"><img alt="Goodwill pitcher" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYI1hKPUhPoh2Zz1O8u1Na14M6gqtQh2rHTnrgPdjE_3trLMUqh-HYx6dv6uLtUwVmN-PWT844HkoXUnYo9GAmu1JQ2ZAiz9tEQ4wacjQqZ182YCbsakvPW9DU52Tmet1Q0etITK5QbKM/?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="Goodwill pitcher" width="320" /></a> Ummm…OK, well the shape was beautiful. I guess the flowers weren’t that bad, they just weren’t what I was  going for. :) But the size, the lovely lines, the beautiful spout – they had me at Hello. I knew I could spruce her up with a few coats of spray paint. And a “few” coats turned into about eleventy billion. Or so. Maybe about seven. Whatever. It took five coats of spray primer to get those purdy flowers covered up. I did an additional two coats of a glossy white on top. After trip to Trader Joe’s for some (fairly) cheap tulips, I was able to bring my vision for this cutie to life: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXd4JEWtJLjEnS7NnEFTWnxychg57lTWOipP5RUneEKBJ2W8PpzWivB0P6YP_UwXD9UfEddDtbgk2-lA5dUzoocq9QgnY08r-vyw1D-KeGJTU1wq-OsWE799bm196RUMkBECaGGgqqykg/s1600-h/IMG_2963%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNSSjUQgEo3SSnSfUdHJfUwc754pVIZSflp9x5fmKekVD606N_KMoRFXOUiTre76HAS9R3WHSkx-b3AxUpMi-ETU-WlrlTNNHrI0NHljlu2HRxypUbPIY5JKtFNBJa5E5cI_wsNfq5v0/?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="500" /></a> Oh SWOON. Just…swoon. I am so ready for tulips people. I actually don’t mind the snow that much – but we’ve been hammered with it and ice over the past couple of months (way more than usual) and I’m really starting to miss green grass. Will I ever see it again? I don’t care what Punxsutawney Phil says, I think it’s gonna be awhile.  :) Even with the meeeellion coats of spray paint, this is one of my easiest and favorite spray paint transformations yet: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IFZ6dBgSRTo-PrKmnsHdIM3wkDgtxtQCxyZ9YkuHhZ_X5sTqY0mpYnjcTr4yAuhPqpZQ5VPnKSCsG3IR1pyQGGb2rYPoRyfNew0wrYsgIya4g2W2bpSZrNqLipQN_1vaDmNzAai_M0M/s1600-h/IMG_2959%5B14%5D.jpg"><img alt="pottery barn inspired pitcher" border="0" height="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJvu4QU0BPD0B_0UMGvNzz1S1oZJRYsPLpaGZMa7wQv-zgK0AIJ-F5vP_dZvru0DsKFH11MJu-kmhg7rsCvoQoN7Rkusn2LtoJQP9YzQefnY3cHk-rfog57SZS24VIbQzmEEAXYkLnMw/?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="pottery barn inspired pitcher" width="512" /></a> I wish I could have gotten some shots in the daylight, but we got home from dinner too late. I’m ready for more photo taking hours in the day too, while we’re talking about spring. :) I absolutely love the pretty shape – looks like it came out of a Pottery Barn catalog doesn’t it? <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/great-white-pitcher/?pkey=e|pitcher|12|best|0|1|24||8&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-"><img alt="" border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9IPpbSiaoXlcFNIBMqo1HmYAFj1FjExqg3SvA7nYr4plhh1Jt8OF0ZbNo2Dz3oHjqma8Y2rPncGsmgo6EvYh0VJO38EKFjbd1cyJg3d-jr0UxSpGHczE3Gt6rbqOSXUu8aEKaiR0KCY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="280" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2L6CClSNSBMKapmNlJz9xi9Nu9aKzCJ-8luEqZCWU_goUgKTODubpTWVcNYrZfvwWefkFK81ZtLRGHCMAfNeeKenfWA-NFS_9sKCAcgZEtVno_DWr8_CVtlzV9HEVurhbmRPpmZ3cIJk/s1600-h/IMG_2951%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-hgCatzZ92yGU5Fw9DbYbvzZGRut-xPveZud2QP_1RGKVegFNG-ReuwVIK2GVrdI4_h4aswO4VD2UZA5XrAUVQv5wiCq-WgC0ApfN26PJy_TS9g9gFSWZEBQuDwCWjth5jY_0fJBg0I/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="" width="280" /></a> Only their version -- $39. Mine? A whole five buckaroos. :) WHOO HOO! Now, I won’t be pouring any lemonade with mine – it’s just for holding beautiful flowers. And I’m totally OK with that. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQHdFeI5i3o7lGdDRLhaWyX2jN1xodDloQ8DHIhoGqv0y3C8CUIJXxhmjxUJ-CJOYXh1lkPGGfWJ6mju2RA-0Ff0zWk1_Z6pat3SOq_770h-DrjFqoaeSokv0mapYHAE9nCVkv6Nfhk0/s1600-h/IMG_296010.jpg"><img alt="Ikea butcher block" border="0" height="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0kcLg_tpEjRbNJoBlIsTi2-oVVDhHHkC4nHBWGCiY7PpL6sTfz6oIfsCOGlQITLg3bH0MRRE9_pmr8kVpeD_BJ3M4507t6uDVlZX8dSIDaVXVcs9wo_KQvy3HBbWXFrtYLRq2TlbfFk/?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="Ikea butcher block" width="506" /></a> I just LOVE IT. Soooo…my before and after for the month – a Goodwill find transformed with my beloved. My BFF. Spray paint: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dMIuOL4Aw4kiqcrF7pavfxcE2wQi5p79k2eVHFqLH8bj-laWJV2KV3Crvx5P_VRakBrzs1GyljKZ02hi5UrK03fadYunwofRwJxYsrWJtCM35CK7dgas1G_Y6inJsBt0HTY9Lt2lXO4/s1600-h/IMG_2944%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYAzS3Hka6cdM1lc0ny6EC_k7DcaRkZGAPabtiv_MpClhaeM8Grrs7cxi4ALbOclCQ_kjtBlqaT0s1dgUo2i3rojP9ZPKo_yLjfgcAS3w8k6ZEwb7mkBxrLA35i0yak19uxW77iLmpy4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="289" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9qWTKyT5gK2Rdjy4oB7Gig0baR77haCnre-SeJyUhtG5xq2L1BEPAmj1YCVV5EIfBzLcrcjzYQMJXR6ORQ8Woqr5WUgbhV4CV98mAkeqHK0RHsVEF_6yXD9UZksqZcCf7PjCeOjhhto/s1600-h/IMG_2959%5B10%5D.jpg"><img alt="pottery barn inspired pitcher" border="0" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2ySLkpbuUJSRf1Qk2MTHtbcfo7jjbQaMXmaA1Gt7otl8ZQksAViEiK0mc5B-c3V_z5I2F1DgqYhnygti4z0Lz6yZaDX9MT-Q4wpNGB2Tgk62COCYt3iFFVYs-lUA55WvVxRhVXe8ABg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="pottery barn inspired pitcher" width="285" /></a> Now it’s time to see what you’ve been up to! Be sure to link up to your post, not your blog. And I’d love it if you’d include this pretty little button and a link back to this post: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TVCwIlkv3eI/AAAAAAAAMH8/SBYPBEANvts/s1600-h/beforeAndAfterButton%5B2%5D.gif"><img alt="beforeAndAfterButton" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TVCwI_x3P_I/AAAAAAAAMIA/P3XaoZZzr2s/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb.gif?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="beforeAndAfterButton" width="146" /></a> I’m trying a new linky this time, so I hope this works! :) Have fun – I’ll leave this open for a week, so link. it. up!   <script src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=33534"></script>

February Before & After: A pretty pitcher

Hello all! I’m back this month with a very simple but beautiful (I think so anyway) before and after project! It started with a recent t...

6:53 PM

The party is tonight!

The party is tonight!

Hey all! Just wanted to let you all know the February Before and After Party will go up later this evening! Get those posts ready to go. :) ...

4:47 PM

Work what ya got

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwc2Ezcxh8uKb2ZKSfJOswbTKxCKuQsQXgiA6vIvDowYciNKOr7jeAVL3-GHyrorqqCbq57V27YVnRmQYA4bT-_AbG9k9Y-Nz7ldH98DXqbWNc9tsrDbUVOciafnMYIGyzKTjI244wlM/s1600-h/header%5B1%5D.png"><img alt="header" border="0" height="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy5LqLr-TR2xjC4UWTIocY6tzmsaUY_4V9fu6eHLhXT0S0EeS0eixzpCHGBNldBRgFbmFwls-uBKtCK35jf_OiK4-3RLpBqDtuvgGA2uVOXBYSCtZJ41_AIdVIcsIhvcSvovWP5W9l9A/?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="header" width="476" /></a>Well hello!! I got a fun little project accomplished yesterday that I absolutely LOVE. :) It started with some house envy, believe it or not. :) Yes, even I see beautiful homes in blogland and sometimes that little green monster starts rearing it’s head. You all know I LOVE our house, so it’s not a big monster, mind you -- just a little one. I just love little corners, niches, interesting spots in homes, and I adore how some people use awkward spots to their full potential. Like hallways – I just love a long hallway with hardwood floors, a beautiful runner and woodwork as far as the eye can see. Add a gallery of family photos and I’m swooning. I have a recurring dream about a house we buy and are fixing up, and in each dream I find a new little nook or a tiny room I didn’t know was there before. I LOVE that dream. :) But alas, we have no nooks, no niches. Not even a hallway. Not one hallway in our entire house. That’s the new open concept for ya – plenty of open spaces (which we love), but sometimes I do crave a little nook. About a month ago or so, I realized we a needed a storage solution for our son’s dress up stuff. Now, not dress up like princess dresses. Manly dress up like policemen, train conductors and firemen. (Insert Tim the Tool Man Taylor grunt here.) So I thunk and I thunk, and I thought of the closest thing to a hallway we have – the half wall in our playroom/loft: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6KvCDwQiuka5k3AGdbLD2GiHO7DHHEsSdWel7_b9HUX7idPEFRSBdb-wnU6c66rPm9xExgoiaJ_mFr3XRxR2d1wIJVXTVU8QscZ_5tAN0zYXs724W-zLTovdUy1ogtI9gAKQCC1rDTw/s1600-h/IMG_2920%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="half wall" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-DWqMSC9c6If7oQidSid1x30lb-rJDYlTaOIXszpb92Y4PpQcPrGPmED9PJaMSkpOqzZS3Y-Ewl1MA_S4q8UQz4YRTtmglnUED6lxKBBKW-Ll0DgpnZ9AY9SxEj9PvhC1NRexmrknNw/?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="half wall" width="320" /></a> And the idea hit me. I knew exactly what I wanted to do! First step was to paint the wall out in semi-gloss white: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_ubeNTnPTpk3UfhRjM9LrcUPm_QcYt9IFazSwNLFiT6kKTEtrbJr0-rDSU0f6k50ghYzWt8OTqfMF5rH3aRDC2u8PRYfbK0CdAXw52eEtQup8FtLh8uuEvJhZAbVFjpohI7RG3cyi1Q/s1600-h/IMG_2922%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHaeIU8dd2q_4tF0cW0L0WmYvEFscOwsXjbNVe7JnPwMGs1M9LTeq-E_vMShW1tSVw7xwzxTF20Hp1X1nnnCd7weZj_0dQzYYcjtr9JyzSVNOYQ9d_hzaUtkCiC9dREEZ1wT_Zrd7Cl0/?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> Didn’t he do a great job?: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx5fuo6nKCj5gin7pvq-bqidyLZwBiHjQUS6vgwPIfIGvw14U17B34PWtEBoxbY22R_bcBXCqdyzVd-H18Z04Lczqth2UDR07T0vK91vzU_sZIMpTsAa9uPoyCDKUOKNiBI7htw-Uf84/s1600-h/IMG_2925%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CNKX0TIA5kkkoK6vVk6T9-TL5KZ899hiAJPtMuEwXjkxWIQDSqkGWzTMmeBcwprTRP_KlF94cwA1CtE9mgpybRuF4g280jNNKRwC84iAlaxJpjgTEpslTdoaayarFS-jqXGSSPPgyak/?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> I kid! I kid! No child labor here folks. Mostly because he wasn’t doing it right. I kid! Not really. OK, onward! You’ll notice I didn’t even paint the edges of the wall. I didn’t need to because it was going to be covered up with my next step. I took primed mdf from Lowe’s and started installing my vision: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixI0RtGjwy6Til99evfgGgjofpoIggnqZFB24JiSvTiTgQng9J7H5IVBaTjptSyTDg9L2bMlcG7W_OwIFwf_JrwD6fxVbIEwBmqalOuSvMik9Qw3td56K58t0HLKcAfMx40Qzv2RvYUpk/s1600-h/IMG_2926%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2926" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpslR4bOQ0xUNvR9EBg-LK2z8pnO-Ixvxncm1RLi3-1hKK5jvAaygb66X6t8KhHiW5zJSUZgfTLYP7sbIFVz9JHCDq5CbT53fqzpHrAJnFj98KKa5uc4-rZR5TnsP0tuU6k2390hYO1vA/?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_2926" width="400" /></a> I took some video to give some more detail, but it’s so straightforward – boards across the top, bottom and sides. Then I did some measuring to figure out the spacing between the rest of the boards. The math went like this – the space between the two outside boards was almost exactly six feet. So I took: 6 feet x 12 (for inches) = 72 inches The boards were 3.5 inches wide, so I figured out how many sections I wanted (five) and knew that would take four additional pieces of mdf: 3.5 (mdf boards) x 4 = 14 inches Take the 72 inches minus 14 and you get 58 inches. Divide 58 inches by the five sections I wanted, and you get 11.6 sections between each vertical board. Does that make sense? Math and I are not friends, and I swear it’s easy. Once you do it one time, it’ll make more sense for the next time. :) I use that method for any spot where I’m adding molding to a specific amount of space (and I want it to look uniform.) I took a quick video to show you a couple of my other tricks: <iframe title="YouTube video player" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uLq9UQk8eIs" frameborder="0" width="480" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>  Sooo…anyhoo, after a couple more coats of paint on the mdf, some caulk (remember, it’s your BFF folks!), and hooks – I got this: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwiTh6FQqSk14iTe4YOAXsdhDF3odf5RC7hg91XVIcNgLt8faC2QXzx4BkGLVwDOQCgqBq839sWPMUboBSUQ9KdBQScIC6MLwvLfBuTrreKlfv2g7hS-Rtse9e4xOP3XEK6_kIaU9Xig/s1600-h/IMG_2937%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="board and batten" border="0" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKsm7txBY00GW7KbNvMAJ9egiJzzUNA5IZNyM4d6_XezAhwQcFoXukvTZAnOhqvbA5SeL2vnx-jL38J3zFDkdFZmQEqnIy6D7y_SEXGtRGsjI_TEo0jopEXbkzj95_246q0O0DYE2ZVA/?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" width="500" /></a> Isn’t it gorgeous? I mean, really. I want it all. over. my. house. ALL OVER. It’s just classic and pretty and yummy. I can’t believe how happy woodwork makes me. It’s just ridiculous. Now we have a spot for all of the make believe outfits: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1i6mvOrHEV5ruUByMTMtGpunDsPJwMWoS5NAQ4pqQTk1ZoQKioqvYVp7NrkZacH0QNvIldzYuX9IobVD4psbLuEKhOQIBTtYiBUTwqCuZz7HYGnREIWlw5l61YlEElbT_4lB4q1Mfll4/s1600-h/IMG_2928%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="board and batten storage" border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimF788hwUo3t-q83Mc15JvGBPNFl7Fz-LM2s9Ne8UJFQb_BSSoRlUksoG_c7j9wmoAdDUQvvEWSNQdJiwcA-I01WnhgXmBszwAmywHVg5GSHl6yOuUh1crn9HKEPTJaUPXEO9gZIRI7X0/?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 storage" width="500" /></a> I almost hated to cover it all up, but it’s for the sake of my sanity. Those hats have been laying around here and there for months because I haven’t found a good spot for them. I especially love how it ties into the mdf I <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/08/staircase-is-done-again.html">added to the staircase</a> last year: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEe4MPoTc_Ub4jzODLlFTACw934XN6Dau-_887r-U1YqgTP6sr_0eckn6Jc2XSEFtiidfjEhol4k0Zse5kmUewusUZbtd8E8M-_e3KVLKrXvbJ6nfPRyTNF3IWSNGBsIqYvHDNxLiwoc/s1600-h/IMG_2932%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQwnHdiz4PBan8k8iK4C1Z3EbOe8IIlAinLgZVYlYkk6vUhPJ-SXf8iUvGQEk5u4P-Tif_Gl-cSwKxP627xDNbitV7n2eVgKIg7cRE9bFJmfEYpRkWuj4zWGlBMG0Gt4U3PpKA894SHQ/?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="550" /></a> And you smarties will notice that NO, I have not painted that railing yet. Only the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/10/falling-up-stairs.html">bottom section</a> is done: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ6bWx4Ax2pJfGMzx9r959XOYLyPExfTUEbyA4Z6ca7mvmb9UvEN9C7qK9SUOzsNtQ6zCodrRwSxF_m5XK-s11ISyjbTBl8-Ouv_IDWWGGF6xej8-iRYFe5R9FDruGX12gtK8U506ReE/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YYykURzorBaENwHg8NX1dA6j1_oElPTnMNrW-JgsEofISy-JibdymvLJp80P9zbar1dPIWpLheBMLlNvBVf17T9iJdSPaDMkEYGkHHy9h1_xyx9jv-owE7017WHtltkR06dJoothHh0/?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="500" /></a> That is how I roll. :) I just love how it turned out! I took an empty wall that wasn’t doing anything: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6KvCDwQiuka5k3AGdbLD2GiHO7DHHEsSdWel7_b9HUX7idPEFRSBdb-wnU6c66rPm9xExgoiaJ_mFr3XRxR2d1wIJVXTVU8QscZ_5tAN0zYXs724W-zLTovdUy1ogtI9gAKQCC1rDTw/s1600-h/IMG_2920%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="half wall" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-DWqMSC9c6If7oQidSid1x30lb-rJDYlTaOIXszpb92Y4PpQcPrGPmED9PJaMSkpOqzZS3Y-Ewl1MA_S4q8UQz4YRTtmglnUED6lxKBBKW-Ll0DgpnZ9AY9SxEj9PvhC1NRexmrknNw/?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="half wall" width="320" /></a> And made it functional and pretty: <img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQwnHdiz4PBan8k8iK4C1Z3EbOe8IIlAinLgZVYlYkk6vUhPJ-SXf8iUvGQEk5u4P-Tif_Gl-cSwKxP627xDNbitV7n2eVgKIg7cRE9bFJmfEYpRkWuj4zWGlBMG0Gt4U3PpKA894SHQ/?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="550" /> Gotta love that! The wood was el cheapo – I think I spent $15 on the mdf. I got the ORB hooks at Lowe’s as well. Love, love, LOVE! Now I’m so pumped to get moving on the board and batten in the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/office">office</a>! My plan is to get started on that this weekend. Have a GREAT one!

Work what ya got

Well hello!! I got a fun little project accomplished yesterday that I absolutely LOVE. :) It started with some house envy, believe it or n...

2:44 PM

Well, it’s official. We’re WEIRD.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_ML1Nq6__wae6_S4W4Qb5LpyG0JdZ7OVQ55R77mf4Cv0PLGIx8RPz9U5-ehuWo988ZGu9J2UFI85R5ya6cLolnqY3flm6i5iUaVJItQUlFpIPkoJjy3YGrPZhFFBsT4jrmpwOMjwj4Q/s1600-h/IMG_2878_picnik%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2878_picnik" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmgdEoULaiGI1fnHlZYgg-1OSySdKKJXqDa6no7fNnbpCqXqXda-3bG_buvSxVaMNLGqkdorGxnvUH7am39KQdeiohDRg0RZjf3JPA54UCQMvM95M1GlupAEjPG49ipBl4c4IQqFjyuU/?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="IMG_2878_picnik" width="502" /></a> You know that guy <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/home/">Dave Ramsey</a> I keep talking about? You know how he says people who don’t have debt are WEIRD? Well, if you don’t know him…that’s what he says. “Debt is normal…be weird.” Well. As of this morning, we are officially, completely, gloriously, totally, happily WEIRD. WE’RE DEBT FREE!!! (Except the house.) Whoo, people!! WHOO!!!! It still hasn’t hit us. Surreal is an understatement. I haven’t cried yet. But I will. Buckets. :) It’s major. Like, $125,000 in just about three and a half years, MAJOR. (Yes, there were three zeros.) I told you about our debt story <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/08/live-like-no-one-else.html">here</a>, (I way underestimated how much we had already paid off at that point) and for the past three years or so, we’ve been fighting, scratching, clawing at it -- taking our finances BACK. And it’s truly been a fight. We had flooring debt, school debt, hot tub debt, medical debt, clothing debt, I-have-no-clue-what-we-bought debt – you name it, we had it. We were so tired of it. It was a monkey on our backs. A large, 125,000 pound monkey. And it was exhausting carrying him around. ;) Getting rid of that monkey – exhilarating. I thought it was impossible to live without a car payment. I thought I would be paying off my student loan till I was 45. I thought I couldn’t pay for a piece of furniture unless we charged it. I was wrong. We decided to live like no one else. So now we can live like no one else. And it is rockin’ our worlds. We can live without credit cards. We can save for something and pay for it when we have the money. We can save for our future and change our children’s lives. It makes me so emotional when I think about how we are completely changing their futures. We will leave them security, not a financial mess. That makes every minute of this process worth it. Yes, we could have done this without Dave Ramsey. It’s not rocket science. It’s making a budget every month and sticking to it – and telling our money where to go. That was a biggie for me. We were never telling it where to go, we were just floating along. La dee da, la dee da. But Dave Ramsey inspired us. His conviction and enthusiasm is absolutely contagious. You want to attack your debt like a raging BEAR after you listen to him for five minutes. And today, I clicked the button that sent the payment to my student loan – our very last debt. It’s all gone – forever and ever and EVER. It’s the first time in our adult lives we’ve been debt free. We’ve both had debt since we were 18 years old. I have never been an adult and NOT had debt. Till today. I feel like I could float away, it feels so good. We are SO WEIRD!!!! And if being weird is wrong, I don’t want to be right. I wanted to take a minute and thank you so much for sharing this journey with us! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your comments and emails about our story. It absolutely makes me smile every time. One thing I know for sure – if we can do it, YOU CAN DO IT. It may take you longer, it may take you less. I know you will be so proud of yourself. It made us more mature, it bonded us, it changed our marriage, in a really great way. It is one of the best things we have done in entire lives. And I’ll say it again – WHOOOOOO!!!!  :) **And yes…we will be calling in to the radio show to scream. But now we want to take a trip down to Nashville and scream it in his lobby. It’s a big deal, and we want to celebrate it.  :) ***I’m quite sure my Google ads will go crazy with credit companies after this post – I don’t personally endorse any of them. Just sayin’.

Well, it’s official. We’re WEIRD.

You know that guy Dave Ramsey I keep talking about? You know how he says people who don’t have debt are WEIRD ? Well, if you don’t kno...

8:55 PM