It’s Spring! Time to Declutter that Closet!

April 24, 2013 By

Have you heard of the book “ I Have Nothing to Wear!: A Painless 12-Step Program to Declutter Your Life So You Never Have to Say This Again!” by Jill Martin? It’s a nice read and had some really insightful tips to making sure you always have something to wear.

Just recently I also happened to catch an interview where the author Jill spoke about clearing out your closet in just two steps and here’s some of my favorite tips I took from both her book and interview that I’d like to share with you.

First things first, you have to admit you have a problem. Realizing that you have too much in your closet is the first step to decluttering. Consider removing all the things that may be taking up precious room or that’s causing you to be overwhelmed.

Here are a few examples:

  • Clothing that you haven’t worn in years.
  • Clothing from high school that  or any clothing you are holding onto because of sentimental value.
  • Clothing and accessories you bought just to lift your mood.
  • Clothing with tags still attached that you may not have even purchased this day, month or dare I say, year.

All of the above are things that are taking up room and need to go to make way for the clothing you will actually wear. Here’s a perfect example: If you have twenty favorite t-shirts from over five years ago, I would suggest keeping only a few and putting the shirts you do decide to keep in a keep sake box to free them of your closet.

This also goes for the changing of the seasons. If you have your winter coats mixed in with  your tank tops, now’s the time to remove the winter coats from  your closet, at least for another 6 months or so and store them in a different place- whether it be a coat closet or in air-tight containers.

So step one — purge your closet. Get all of the above out of your closet and from there you can store it elsewhere, donate it, sell it on consignment; you can be the judge of that.

Step two of this process is to then organize what you do have remaining in your closet. Speaking from experience during my college years, having your socks mixed with underwear that are mixed with belts next to mis-matched shoes just doesn’t work well.

Having a place for everything is beneficial when it comes to putting laundry away or better yet, keeping your clothing off the floor. Also it can greatly reduce the time it takes you to get ready in the morning, because you’ll know exactly where everything is.

So there you have it.  Only two steps and you are on your way to a clutter-free and manageable closet!

I highly recommend checking out I Have Nothing To Wear!: A Painless 12-Step Program to Declutter Your Life So You Never Have to Say This Again! You can purchase it for around $10 on Amazon by clicking the title above or click here to reserve your copy at the Cincinnati Library.

1 Comment

Filed Under: CincySavers.com, Style Tagged With:

Now Trending: The Color Pistachio

February 22, 2013 By

As we head into spring over the next few months, the most popular colors for this season are hitting the racks and being seen in all the latest accessories. Without a doubt, it’s hard to go without spotting something in the color Pistachio. Perfect for the warmer months ahead, the color Pistachio is a light and pastel colored green. It’s been a popular color for bridesmaids dresses, home decor, wall colors and of course, clothing and accessories.

Below you can find nine “Pistachio” colored items to help you stay right on trend!

From Top moving Right:

I had to throw this print in there too. It’s handmade and super cute:

Pistachio Mustachio Print, Etsy, $3.00

What do you think? Do you think this is the perfect color for Spring 2013?

Leave a Comment

Filed Under: CincySavers.com, Style Tagged With:

Creative Ways to Wrap Your Presents

December 23, 2012 By

 

I feel as though wrapping presents can sometimes be just as intense as shopping for the presents. Does anyone else feel like this?  By the time I get home and stack all the presents on the table and get my wrapping paper out, I’m anything but enthusiastic.

So this year, I tried something new. I got creative with my gift wrapping and made it fun. Using bits and pieces of supplies from past DIY projects over the year, twine, craft paper and some paint, the task of wrapping became quite fun.

It’s been several years since I’ve traveled by plane around Christmas time, but I know several airlines ask that you don’t bring wrapped presents in your luggage. So to avoid buying last minute wrapping paper and bows, you could actually just pack a few of the things listed below in a zipped plastic bag accompanied by craft paper and you are set!

My favorite Christmas wrapping essential: Plain Brown Craft Paper

You can get a massive roll at craft stores for a fraction of the cost of Christmas wrap or as mentioned earlier, if you are traveling and need to wrap presents at your destination, craft paper comes in small suitcase -friendly rolls as well. It is just really versatile, which is what I love about it.

List of embellishments for your wrapped presents:

  • Felt cut outs
  • Twine (can be found at most dollar stores)
  • Christmas picks
  • Small pieces of Pine
  • Ribbon Scraps
  • Lace (I found mine at a thrift store)
  • Paint
  • Decorative Scrapbook paper
  • Old Magazines
  • Fabric Scraps
  • Coffee Filters

And here are just a few of the things I came up with:

Using a toilet paper roll, my mom dipped it in green acrylic paint to create the pattern on the craft paper. I then taped a leftover piece of glittery scrapbook paper off center and added ribbons and a little piece of a Christmas decoration to complete the look.

Using coffee filters, I folded the filter in four, then just started cutting shapes to create snowflakes. This would be a great project for the kids to do. I varied the sizes of the snowflakes then attached them to the craft paper and twine with a dab of hot glue, completed with a few little rhinestones I found in my craft room!

The above present is leftover ribbon I had from a previous DIY project and then pieces of a Christmas pick. Christmas picks can be found during the holidays at crafts stores and in with Christmas decorations. They are usually used to create your own wreaths and to put in trees, but are great for adding a little character to a present. The particular Christmas pick above was $.79.

This present was wrapped very similar to the one above it. I used lace from a thrift store in the center, followed by a few layers of twine and a little piece of a Christmas pick I had left over from another project. It’s simple. It’s fun and you can get reallycreative without spending a lot of money. Even better?  Everyone will be impressed with your awesome wrapping skills!

Lastly, if you’d like to complete your presents with beautiful gift tags, here are a few free printable tags available:

[Free Gift Tags courtesy of MommybyDayCrafterbyNight]

[Free Gift Tags courtesy of PenNPaperFlowersINC]

[Free Gift Tags courtesy of sharonrowanphotodesign.blogspot.com]

Enjoy!

1 Comment

Filed Under: CincySavers.com, DIY

My DIY Holiday Wreath for under $12 + Tutorial

November 30, 2012 By

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is decorate. Whether or not we choose to create our own decorations or purchase them ready to hang, your new holiday decor can add up rather quickly.

So I set out on a mission to Michael’s Arts & Crafts last week to see if I could purchase the supplies to make a wreath, ready to hang, for under $10.

Here’s what I purchased:

  • 18″ Evergreen Wreath $3.59 (on sale)
  • Bushel of small poinsettias $ 2.49 (on sale)
  • Pine cone Christmas Picks $.50 x 3 (on sale)
  • Glittery Ribbon $1.49 (on sale)
  • Berry Picks $.50 x 2 (on sale)
  • Brown glittery Foliage $.1.00  (on sale)

Total: $11.07

Other supplies you will need for this project – a hot glue gun, glue sticks and a small piece of ribbon, twine or wire to hang the wreath. As you can see, a lot of the supplies I purchased were on sale so it was a little easier for me to stay within my budget.

Luckily, stores like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby will continually have Christmas crafting supplies on sale throughout the season, so you should be able to get your supplies for around the same price. If there is something you want that is not on sale, both stores offer coupons for “40% of any one item” almost every week. You can find the printable coupons on their websites or by downloading the stores apps.

On to the wreath making –  It is a lot easier to do than you think, I promise! I’ve taught multiple wreath making classes over the years and everyone is always surprised how simple it is to create a beautiful wreath for any season.

First step, I laid out all my supplies to take inventory on what I was working with.

Next, fluff your wreath as you would a Christmas tree after it’s been boxed up for a year.

Next step, prepare the Christmas picks and flowers so they are ready to go on the wreath. I cut the fake poinsettias off of the stems and broke apart the pine cone bunches. I cut the fake berries off the vines and separated the glittery brown foliage into smaller pieces.

Once you have everything you want to put on your wreath ready to go, simply start placing the items on your wreath. Rather it be pine cones, flowers or ornaments, it’s a good idea to place everything on the wreath first, then glue it in place once you have everything the way you’d like it to look.

Above is what my wreath looked like with everything just placed on it. I was happy with the way it looked, so one piece at a time, I started gluing things down using a hot glue gun-applying glue generously to the bottom of the pine cones and flowers. This wreath is intended to hang outside and I want it to stay intact through wind, rain, and snow. This means the more glue, the better!

Lastly, I added the ribbon for a little extra sparkle. After unraveling the entire roll, I just wove it around the pine cones and flowers, with no particular placement in mind. Just add a dab of hot glue to the underside of the ribbon every 4 inches or so to make sure it stays in place. I used heavier ribbon that has wired edges because I feel like that would last longer and hold up better than sheer ribbon.

And here it is, the final festive wreath:

The last step is tie a small piece of ribbon, twine or wire to the back of the wreath and it will be ready to display for all to see!

 

And next week…more to come on how to decorate the front of your house..on the cheap of course! Sneak peek below:

2 Comments

Filed Under: CincySavers.com, DIY Tagged With: ,

DIY: Make your Own Disinfecting Wipes

September 4, 2012 By

You know how yesterday I mentioned I was pretty under the weather? Well I thought it would be nice to share this DIY project with you, because I used the heck out of these DIY disinfecting wipes over the past several weeks and just love them! 
When I came across the idea of making your own disinfecting wipes, I’ll admit, I was skeptical. Would the paper towels would tear? Would they dry up? I had a bunch of questions running through my mind– but the only way to find out if these worked were to give them a go! In the end, I couldn’t be happier with the outcome and love using them!
Here’s how to make your own disinfecting wipes. I also provided recipes so you can create your own glass cleaner or a more natural cleaner using vinegar. I used Pine Sol because I had it and enjoy the fresh smell. 
Supplies Needed:
  • Pine Sol or Vinegar (Recipes are at the bottom of this post for various types of cleaners you can create)
  • Sturdy paper towels (I choose Bounty)
  • Water
  • Glad or Ziplock Container that is large enough to fit part of a paper towel roll in ( I found the Glad Designer Bowl at Target–Two for $2.99)
  • Serrated Knife
  • Something to cut a 1/2″ hole through plastic (I used a 1/2 inch drill bit- that worked well)
  • Measuring cups
  • Bowl
1. Cut your paper towel role length wise so it will fit nicely in the plastic container you’ve selected. I used a large serrated knife and it cut through the paper towels just fine!
2. Next you will need to cut a hole in the top of the plastic lid so you can easily pull the paper towels or should I say, disinfecting wipes, out. I asked my husband for a 1/2″ drill bit and used that. But because the plastic you are cutting through is so thin, I think a knife or even sharp scissors will work just as well. Just be careful and use a cutting board.
3. Mix your desired solution.
Here are several recipes you can use:
Disinfectant Cleaning Recipe (this is the one I used):
  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup of pine cleaning solution such as Pine Sol
  • 2 1/2 – 2 3/4 cup of water
General Cleaning Surface Recipe:
  • 1 1/2 cups white vinegar
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • Optional: A few drops of favorite scented essential oil to cut the vinegar smell
Window Glass Cleaning Recipe:
  • 1/2 cup of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
4. Once you have your solution mixed and your paper towel roll set in the plastic container, pour the solution over the paper towels. Put the lid back on the plastic container and allow them to sit overnight.
5. Once the towels have sat overnight, then the cardboard tube in the center of the paper towel roll should easily come out (See the bottom right photo above).
6. Carefully pull the end of the paper towels from the inside, where the cardboard roll had been. Thread the end of the towels through the hole in the lid, and replace the lid.
TA DA! You know have your own household cleaning wipes. As I mentioned early, I was skeptical of this project and didn’t know if was worth the time it took to cut and drill but it really is simple to do and you can reuse the container over and over again.
What do you think? Are you up for making your own disinfecting wipes?

Leave a Comment

Filed Under: CincySavers.com, DIY

DIY: Quotes on Canvas

July 17, 2012 By

Remember when I did this project where I transferred photos onto canvas? Well… the more I thought about it, I was happy with the smaller picture transfer but the larger picture, I felt, had too many white lines running through it. So I thought I would recycle the canvas and turn it into something new.
With that said, let me take you through the tutorial on how to put your favorite quote on canvas. Keep in mind, you can use any color you wish, any size and any quote-assuming it will fit on your canvas. This project is so versatile. You could put your kid’s names on canvas, too.
Supplies Needed:
  • Old Magazines (that you don’t mind cutting up)
  • Scissors
  • Canvas (the size is completely up to you)
  • Modge Podge
  • Vinyl Sticker Letters ( I purchased 2″ sticker letters at Meijer while grocery shopping for $2)
  • Acrylic Paint (your choice in color)
  • Paint Brush
Step 1: Cut strips of paper out of the old magazine and adhere them to the canvas using Modge Podge.
Step 2: Once the magazine strips are completely covering the canvas, then you’ll want to put another coat of Modge Podge on to seal the magazine strips onto the canvas. Let dry for at least a few hours before applying the vinyl stickers.
Step 3: This is probably the trickiest part of the project–figuring out what quote to put on your canvas and making sure it fits. I wanted to put “The best is yet to come”, but after laying out the letters, realized it wasn’t going to fit no matter how I arranged the letters.
Step 4: Once you have the quote and letters arranged, then go ahead and stick the vinyl letters to the canvas. (See the top right photo below).
Step 5: Cover the entire canvas with your color choice of acrylic paint. I choose an off-white and added brown around the edges for a “vintage feel”.  Allow the paint to dry overnight.
Step 6: Peel the vinyl letters off to expose your quote. (See bottom left picture below). Make sure you do this step carefully, otherwise you might pull off some of the magazine strips beneath. Some paint bled underneath the letters, but I just scratched it off using a toothpick.
Below is the finished project! I painted the sides of the canvas dark brown to clean it up a little bit, but it is displayed prominently in our living room along with my other DIY canvas transfer project. I think it looks good there and my husband loves that I thought of him and used a quote from the Beetles. (Oh, and you can even see a peek of the DIY Woodland Frame I created back in September!)
[This post was originally written for cincysavers.com. Click here to find more of my writing on cincysavers.]
Questions? Comments? Please feel free to share! 

2 Comments

Filed Under: CincySavers.com, DIY

DIY: 16 Amazing Pallet Projects with Tutorials!

May 15, 2012 By

I have seen sooo many cool pallet DIY projects on Pinterest, but then can’t find the source..or it is spam..or the tutorial is no where to be found. That’s why I decided to go through and find some of my favorite pallet projects I have seen floating around the web, including the tutorials to create these fabulous projects.

Wooden pallets, which are used in the shipping industry are typically a low end commodity. Pallets will get reused a few times before either being scrapped as trash or used as firewood.
Most often made from inexpensive junk species of lumber (whatever is most widely available), wood pallets are the perfect candidate for up-cycling & recycling. Check out these creative projects made from up-cycled pallets and I think you’ll agree!
Pallets can typically be found at hardware stores and if you ask nicely, I think they would be able to spare one or two. I also saw a stack that said “free” at a landscape company down the road from my house. Another option would be to check out Craigslist under the “free” section.
What initially inspired me to create this post was when I saw my neighbors outside creating the table below:
Above is a picture of the table that initially inspired my two neighbors. You can find the full tutorial here. I told you craftiness runs in our neighborhood. (Remember when my other neighbor made me this cincysavers.com apron?)
Here is another version of book shelves:
You can find the tutorial on how to create these cute book shelves perfect for kid’s books here.
I never thought about using pallets edging! You can find the full tutorial here.
 If you are feeling crazy-ambitious, you can even build a shed using pallets. You can read about and view pictures of the process here.
This has to be one of the cutest little desks I have ever seen. I love how there is storage for books under the surface of the desk. Click here to find out how to create one for you!
Did you ever think of creating the perfect outdoor sitting area using pallets? I didn’t either, but after seeing this project and reading the tutorial, I am really tempted to try and create a couch like this.
This table is just lovely and I especially love the planters that are level with the table. If you are curious how this was created, you can find the tutorial here.
Here is a great planter made from, of course, pallets! Here is how you can create one for yourself.
This beautifully crafted porch swing would be a great place to relax in the summer.Click here to find the full tutorial.
Here’s another great way to enjoy the outdoors, in a pallet-turned-lounger. Here is the tutorial on how to make these outdoor chairs.
If you live in an apartment or just don’t have the room for a garden, this “vertical” garden might be the perfection option for you. It seems simple enough to create after reading the tutorial.
Click here to see how to create a beautiful piece of home decor, such as the one above, using of course, a pallet.
Genius! A pot rack made out of a pallet. Find the tutorial here.
This adorable little reading nook was made out of only two pallets and is a perfect place for your child to snuggle up with a book. Find the tutorial here.
Spruce up your home with a colorful coat rack.
This post was originally written for cincysavers.com, where you can find more  DIY projects, fashion tips and other useful information I post about daily.


2 Comments

Filed Under: CincySavers.com, DIY

DIY: Wearing your Favorite Quote

April 19, 2012 By
This is one of my favorite DIY projects I have done over the past year, so I had to share it here on my personal blog. For as long as I can remember, my favorite quote has been: “As we are creative beings, our life becomes a work of art”, which is why that is what I chose to put on my shirt. Anyway, I am really happy about how it turned out and can definitely see myself making more shirts like this.

Above photo courtesy of MyCuteLadyBug Photography

Supplies:
  • T-Shirt (I purchased mine at Love Culture for $5.90)
  • Clorox Bleach Pen (purchased this at Target for under $3)
  • Tulip Fabric Paint ( $.79 at Michael’s)
  • Small Paint Brush
  • Something to paint over (I used a plastic lid)
  • Rag (to test the bleach pen)
  • Chalk Pencil (optional and only if you wanted to draw out a design first on your shirt)
This project enables you to be as creative as you’d like! I decided to write my favorite quote on my shirt, but you could really draw or write anything.
If you wanted to draw something out first before making it permanent with bleach, I suggest using a chalk pencil. You can find them at most fabric and craft stores.
Before you start, you will also want to put something in between the front and back of the shirt so the bleach doesn’t bleed through. I used a lid off of a plastic tote, but craft stores do sell actual t-shirt boards. I just forgot to pick one up!
Next, test the bleach pen on a rag before starting, so you can see how it flows. The bleach will expand after about 10 minutes from making a mark, so just keep that in mind.
After writing out the quote, I let the bleach sit on the shirt for about 15 minutes. Then I rinsed the shirt in hot water in the kitchen sink and hung it to air dry.
The next day after the shirt was completely dry, I went back with a tube of Tulip paint to define the letters. Using a small paint brush, I smoothed out the paint.
And voila! You have a new one of a kind shirt for around $10!
Questions or Comments? I’d love to hear from you!

Leave a Comment

Filed Under: CincySavers.com, DIY

3 Fun Beauty Finds…

March 28, 2012 By
Looking to try something new? Here are three fun beauty finds that you probably haven’t heard of…
Beauty Labels
Did you know that it’s not required for cosmetics to have an expiration date? While some cosmetics manufacturers help you determine the shelf life of your makeup with a little symbol (a pot) and number (usually in months) to indicate when it’s time to go, the problem with that method is that you have to actually remember when you cracked it open.
Well not anymore thanks to the waterproof durable stickers Beauty Alert! put on the market. With 20 stickers in all, these colorful reminders are also broken into subcategories of expiration dates, so you can easily label a specific product by its particular shelf life.
You can pick these labels up on the Beauty Alert Website for $4.95 which contains 20 labels in four distinct categories: 3, 6, 12 and 18+ months.
Glam Ears
It’s happened to us all at one time or another. Your hot hair tool accidentally slips or you hold it too close to your ear and before you know it, you are the proud owner of and unsightly burn.
That is where Glam Ears comes into play! Glam Ears are heat resistant silicon ear protectors that help protect your ears while styling our hair. You can purchase Glam Ears on their website, www.clevergirlinnovations.com, for $11.95.
The Paper Shower
When you just need to freshen up and soap and water aren’t available, that’s when The Paper Shower comes in handy! How are these any different than baby wipes?
They say the standard “wet wipe” currently on the market contains a very high alcohol content and are primarily designed to wipe your hands. Paper Shower, on the other hand, contains very little alcohol and is made to be used as a body wipe with its large size of 9″ x 12″.
You can purchase yours on the Paper Shower website, where a pack of 6 goes for $7.50 shipped.
For more fashion tips and how to be a savvy fashionista, head on over to cincysavers.com where I blog daily.

2 Comments

Filed Under: CincySavers.com, Style

5 Things You can do Right Now to Simplify your Life

March 26, 2012 By
I have to admit, this post was inspired by my own chaos.  With having Myles running around, working full time plus running FENNOfashion on the side on top of owning an older house that has never ending problems, things can get a little out of hand. But the worst is when one of us gets sick. Or the absolute worst: when both myself and Myles are sick at the same time.
So while I play catch up for literally the next month after having bronchitis and my son having croupe, I thought it couldn’t hurt to share just a few ways in which I try and simplify my life. While I know these tips can’t work miracles, they can at least make the days seem a little more manageable.
1) Write everything down.
My favorite thing to do is make lists, daily. Putting all my thoughts on paper really helps clear my mind. Write down everything you want to do, need to do and would like to do. Next, prioritize that list.  What I do is write down everything I have running through my mind, even if it is something that doesn’t have to be done for another month or so. Then, after everything is on paper, I re-write my to-do list by priority. As silly as it may sound, it’s the method I use and it works for me majority of the time (until I misplace my list, then I am really frustrated!)
 2) Access your Schedule.
If you are feeling really overwhelmed, stop and take a few moments to figure out what you can drop from your schedule. If you are like me, you are probably trying to do too much at once and as a result, you run around in circles and your heart starts to pound because you aren’t really getting much of anything done. If you go back to you list and see what HAS to get done, obviously do that first and do one thing at a time. This way whatever you are doing gets your undivided attention and you’ll be surprised at how much more you can get done by doing one little chore or task at a time.
3) Ask for Help.
If you have older children, have them help you out. If you start to teach them at an early age to start cleaning and pitching in, you are setting a good habit. I mean really, you want them to be independent and able to do things by themselves, so teaching them to take responsibility for their messes can be a great place to start. I even have my 13 month old put his blocks away when he is done. Kids are capable of more than we give them credit for.
4) Learn to just say NO.
Its okay to decline offers to go out with friends or to make a few less commitments per week. It is sometimes best to realize what your limits are and not push them so far to where you regret making that decision. You will enjoy yourself a lot more if you go out with friends when you’re not feeling guilty about skipping something on your “priority to-do list”
5) Lower those Expectations!
I thought for the longest time my house needed to look like that our of an Ikea catalog, with all my stuff organized, pillows fluffed and everything in its place. But reality is the likely hood of our house staying like that is slim to none. Our house is lived in. We have dog fur everywhere in spring, spilled milk spots and I truly believe everything has a coating of baby drool. Such is life and instead of walking around with a bottle of cleaner and rag everywhere I go, I’ve learned to let it go, clean up every other day and instead spend my time outside enjoying this beautiful weather we’ve been having.
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Leave a Comment

Filed Under: CincySavers.com, Our Life...Our Home, Ramblings

« Older Posts