This was super easy. I saw this cute idea at Michael’s and it was rated a Level 1 for Easy. That’s right up my alley!
It really took me 20 minutes. My glue gun, some ribbon and scissors. That’s my kind of night.
The finished product. It set me back about $5.00 max 
It definitely isn’t perfect, but for the first time trying it I thought it was great and easy. I’m thinking about using it as a bag for gift giving.
I really shouldn’t do this without getting paid for it, but I so love to recommend things that I’m loving in the hopes that you’ll be inspired to love it with me
Bath and Body Works Kitchen Spice Home Fragrance Oil. On sale for $4 a bottle right now. My favorite scent for the home and I can burn that baby all day.
Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer with my home brewed coffee from Starbucks.
My Forever 21 ruffled flowered country girl shirt. I think my 8 inch long gold leaf earrings take that country away a bit.
This is embarrassing to say the least, but it smells UH-mazing. Britney Spears Hidden Fantasy. I got it half off at Target and couldn’t say no. So far only one person has asked me what perfume I was wearing. I was honest. And embarrassed.
Dove’s Dark Chocolate. No one should have ever told me that dark chocolate is really good for you.
Jake’s Exersaucer. He loves that thing and I love him in that thing. Thanks Annabelle for letting us borrow it!
The Ellen Degeneres show. I forgot how much I love laughing with her at 3 pm. I usually DVR it and watch it with Chad.
Clipping coupons. Don’t be jealous.
Target’s Clearance end caps. Oh, the joy people, Oh, the joy.
Michael Buble playing in my kitchen.
Drinking water from my fancy dancy wine goblet on the cheap from Crate and Barrel.
The Holiday Flavored Lip Gloss Tins from E.L.F. Cosmetics. Umm, 3 of them for $3.00. It’s going to be a Merry Christmas after all!!!!! They have great color and great shine and a deeeelicious taste. If you click on the link, it’s the last item on the list.
Target Up and Up brand diapers. I don’t know WHY they only have 3.5 stars. The best and most affordable diaper out there in my opinion. And they are cute with pale green and blue big polka dots. Highly recommend!
And last but not least…..
preparing my home for Christmas! I can’t wait for the big reveal
I found my old blog (or blog post) from 6 years ago. check it out.
Apparently, I’m still the same person.
I will forewarn you: I had visions of what my 5 year old Daughter’s and 6 year old Son’s bedroom would look like. And it didn’t resemble this. But it works and they seem happy I wanted matching cute polka dot comforters and all of that but nooooo. They wanted the tacky $30 theme-y Cars and Princess bed sets. Brought back memories of me begging my mother to buy me something that did not have a horse or an alligator on it. Either way, here they are able to have the same room with the same furniture and still express themselves.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I like to keep things simple.
This is the narrow view of their bedroom from their doorway. The only thing on the floor is their vaporizer.
The theme-y beds. I will admit that they are cute. Top bunks are impossible to make. You bet this was the third time it’s been properly made. Every time was for a picture. Ha. Notice I have a clip lamp on each bed for the kids. This way, they can read at night with the lights out and if one wants to turn in earlier, there’s no complaining. Plus, it makes for going to bed earlier a bit easier knowing that they can read for 3o minutes while Mommy gets a little peace
Also, notice the yellow walls. The only thing that they could agree on. It’s sunshiny and pretty though.
I also have said, “if he has it, she has it”. Again, making sure they both get something makes it easier and simple. I’m sure I’m setting some horrible expectation on myself and a precedence that will bite me in the buns soon, but that’s the way we do it. Each dresser is the same as well as the mirror on the wall, and a lamp and picture frame with a picture that they choose and their bookcase has: books, legos and a small tote filled with favorite toys. As well as a cute painting that different friends of mine painted for each child before they were born.
I will admit that this closet is an eye sore. We took off the doors once we combined the kids into one room and installed a lower shelf for clothes and storage. The doors just made it too cramped. The doors are just standing there behind their bedroom door. It’s a safety hazard I’m sure and you will not see a picture of that on this pretty blog of mine. Oh no! Eye sore or not, the closet works for us. Her side is on the left (the pinkness) and his to the right. On the very top on each side I have a clean set of sheets, their sleeping bags and an overnight bag. The top hanging shelf houses off season clothing. The bottom shelf has a flat storage area where I put clean and assembled school uniforms for the next day. The bottom hanging shelf has the current season of clothing. I keep both seasons out because, well, except for January, February and March, I can’t say what the weather will be like.
On the floor they each have a shoe bin. This is just a simple long and shallow tote with no lid. This keeps their shoes contained and they can always find their shoes and it does not matter if they are neatly placed inside or thrown in there. You can’t tell and that’s a beautiful thing.
And lastly, I have the same clear tote that is in their closet holding shoes also under their beds for a few more toys that they can slide out and easily throw back in and slide under their beds.
This is how I make it work people! I’d love it to look more pleasing to the eye, though. Thoughts on that?
Everyone who knows me and or reads this blog knows that I am always redecorating, decluttering and moving things around.
Only recently have I realized that I like things simple. I love purchasing decorations and crafting and all of that, but when I bring that item into the house and try and find a place for it, I never can. It always ends up being returned or pulled out of the room. I like things neat and simple. It also helps me to keep a cleaner house, too. If you think about your home right now and what needs to be done, I guarantee it’s the clutter that needs to be removed so that you can actually clean. If you can get a hold of the clutter problem you’ll find that it’s actually not that hard to keep a neat and tidy home.
Here are ways that I’m able to keep things relatively neat and tidy looking even if it’s not very “clean”. (I mean, a 5 and 6 year old, a 4 month old, 2 adults and a beast of a dog keep things pretty dir-tay around here and sometimes it’s just not always clean. But it’s picked up, I guarantee you that.)
1. I regularly toss and donate. I am always, ALWAYS making sure that I love something or else it goes. I keep totes around so that they can be filled with donations and or trash. Someone’s trash is always someone else’s treasure.
2. I stay out of stores like TJ Maxx and Marshalls. I could live in those home decor aisles. And I’d bring home crap and then have no place for it. The world is filled with pretty things and it makes me salivate. I’m still working on skipping the un-necessary aisles at Target.
3. I rearrange and that helps me curb my appetite for shopping. I have a cabinet in the house dedicated to my candles, nick nacks and such.
4. I have a container for everything and it’s pretty. Pretty containers are always expensive, but if you shop places like Michael’s with a 40-50% off coupon on top of their sale on baskets, you get quite a bargain.
5. I weekly look through my baskets and contained items while watching television or sitting next to my husband on the couch. That way, my “pretty” containers stay pretty.
6. I follow the Fly-Lady plan. (Not to a T, but I try) and that keeps my home generally organized and clean-ish.
7. I always have some greenery or flowers that I have cut or purchased in my home. It keeps things looking lovely even when there is a lot that is not always “lovely” around me.
8. I keep my kids involved. They help a lot. I keep it simple for them, too. They know when they come home where to put everything. I encourage them when they do it without asking.
9. There is a place for everything. Seriously. Here is my lengthy example:
The living room has NO toys except an Exer-Saucer for the baby. The dining room has arts and crafts in the drawer of my decorating cabinet. Beside the couch are more kids containers that house arts and crafts. Their books are up in their bedroom on their bookshelf. So are their Leapster’s. They also have a rubbermaid tote that goes under their bunk beds where they put a few of their favorite toys. I also have a small container of his and her legos that go on their shelves. I keep it simple and the same. If he has it, she has it. I keep things that are quiet up in their bedroom. It makes sense. The basement houses larger toys and noisy toys. I feel blessed that we have that space. The foyer closet has everything from games to coats, to the baby’s car seat and the vacuum. I realize that it’s ridiculous that I don’t like to look at toys and consider it clutter but I can’t help it. And I want my children to enjoy life, so I understand the importance of toys, books and fun
10. If we bring home new toys and or if they reaaally want something new, I put other toys on Craig’s List. That way they can buy it and we don’t add more clutter, I mean toys to the home.
11. Write it down. I write lists. I’ve tried a million different ways to manage my to-do’s, but my perfect way for me is to write it on an index card.
But if I can tell you one thing that will make your life simple it would be to regularly toss and organize. I keep nothing, I’m ruthless. I donate most of it. I’m working on the not buying it to begin with part and I’ve grown. Oh, how I’ve grown.
How do you live more simply?
I don’t have a before shot. That’s because when I get motivated I have to begin immediately or else.
I found inspiration from a Better Homes and Gardens Linen Closet Organization article. I can’t find it online, but I’m searching. (I threw away the mag and just kept the pages I wanted to save).
Here is my version that cost me $37.00. I purchased 2 baskets, ribbon, decorative tags, 2 picture storage boxes and 2 Mason Jars.
I told Chad that I was a Pimp. Proper usage of the word you think? I think.
Today we tried Organic Rice Cereal (he loved it) and tomorrow he has his 4 month check-up where I will most definitely be posting his height and weight (umm 22 lbs!!!!) as I am sure it is off the charts (Yes).
Outside My Window … a hundred trees or so all moving gently in the wind. It’s pretty, they are all starting to turn.
I am thinking…What beautiful weather we’ve had for a looong time now!
I am thankful for… my husband’s hard work.
From the kitchen… nothing right now, it’s 2:20 pm
I am wearing… a navy and white striped 3/4 sleeve length boatneck sweater (super thin) with jeans and gold flats. Oh, and huge gold dangly leaf earrings
I am creating…just finished my resume and am creating for myself a lot of busy work.
I am going… to be getting my son out of his crib soon.
I am reading…”Lies Women Believe And the Truth That Will Set Them Free”.
I am hoping… to take my Palm Tree off of my deck and place it inside for the colder nights. It’s starting to not look as good as it was looking! I’m also hoping to play with my kids this evening instead of cleaning/decorating/organizing or internetting.
I am hearing… the babie’s sound machine and cricket’s outside. Peaceful.
Around the house…The house is picked up for the most part. It could be cleaner, but I don’t wanna! Very peaceful with nice breeze blowing through. This Maryland Fall is gorgeous!
One of my favorite things….is nice weather. It keeps me happy and reminds me of God’s blessings. And I sure am blessed! Great weather or not.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…obnoxiously telling more people that they are crazy for getting the swine flu vaccine, deep cleaning my kitchen, playing with my kids, hanging with my husband, going to the bank; etc, etc.
Here is picture thought I am sharing…
*Read more from the Simple Woman’s Daybook blog here.
All in all, the month of September is going well for firs time on the budget. We have spent more money that I had assumed we would in the food/household category, but that’s ok. It’s been eye opening for sure. The good news is that we haven’t dined out like we used to. We did take the family including Chad’s parents out for Grandparents Day on Sunday, but other than that, we’ve been making meals at home. We have had more expenses in September for the first month of school – supplies, uniforms; etc.
It may sound shocking, but at mid-September I have spent $750. But I’m good with it considering we have had every meal at home and they’ve been good I’m hoping to not spend over $1,000 by October 1st. That may sound a lot, but that’s only $250 per week (including toiletries, household necessities, food; etc). I did include school supplies in that $750.
I haven’t been trying to be frugal, really. I mean, I’m not buying things I don’t need, but I’m not coupon cutting, shopping the circulars and seeking the best deals. Babysteps. I want to figure out what we are spending and go on from there. Plus, time is money baby.
Until next time…
