I'm so excited. I've been given the chance to review an item from CSN Stores. You've probably heard of them. They have over 200+ stores and a million items to choose from like a barstool for your counter, rugs, dishes, and sheets. I just love browsing their sites! I'm not sure what I'll review yet. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
CSN Review
I'm so excited. I've been given the chance to review an item from CSN Stores. You've probably heard of them. They have over 200+ stores and a million items to choose from like a barstool for your counter, rugs, dishes, and sheets. I just love browsing their sites! I'm not sure what I'll review yet. Stay tuned!Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Cheap Thrills Thursday 17
Welcome back to Cheap Thrills Thursday! This is the place to flaunt your crafting, decorating, sewing, baking, etc. skills. Basically anything you've made that cost $20 or less. I know you are creative and thrifty. Show off so we can all have some cheap thrills! Last week had some wonderful projects.
A big thank you to all who participated last week. Now lets have some fun!
The Rules:
Post about anything you have done that cost $20 or less to complete.
Post about your own, not someone else work.
Put a link to my site or grab my button and put it somewhere on your blog so that others can party with us. Please remember to do this! I've been noticing some postings that don't have a link back. The link back allows others to join in the fun!
Link directly to your post, not your blog.
Don't forget to visit other participants, spread the link love and leave a comment.
Please enter your project description in the "name" section of the link form.
![]()
A big thank you to all who participated last week. Now lets have some fun!
Post about anything you have done that cost $20 or less to complete.
Post about your own, not someone else work.
Put a link to my site or grab my button and put it somewhere on your blog so that others can party with us. Please remember to do this! I've been noticing some postings that don't have a link back. The link back allows others to join in the fun!
Link directly to your post, not your blog.
Don't forget to visit other participants, spread the link love and leave a comment.
Please enter your project description in the "name" section of the link form.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Cheap Thrills Thursday 16
Welcome back to Cheap Thrills Thursday! This is the place to flaunt your crafting, decorating, sewing, baking, etc. skills. Basically anything you've made that cost $20 or less. I know you are creative and thrifty. Show off so we can all have some cheap thrills! Last week had some wonderful projects.
Stay tuned for another CSN Stores Giveaway coming soon!
A big thank you to all who participated last week. Now lets have some fun!
The Rules:
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Stay tuned for another CSN Stores Giveaway coming soon!
A big thank you to all who participated last week. Now lets have some fun!
The Rules:
Post about anything you have done that cost $20 or less to complete.
Post about your own, not someone else work.
Put a link to my site or grab my button and put it somewhere on your blog so that others can party with us. Please remember to do this! I've been noticing some postings that don't have a link back. The link back allows others to join in the fun!
Link directly to your post, not your blog.
Don't forget to visit other participants, spread the link love and leave a comment.
Please enter your project description in the "name" section of the link form.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Bathroom Update and New White Towels
I have already replaced my fuchsia bathmat and multi-colored knobs on my medicine chest with white and silver respectively and cleared off the top of my chest of do-dads. (Nothing escapes my minimizing ways!) I still have a lot to do: replace the black and white zebra shower curtain with a thick white one, install a new towel bar on the door and get rid of a hanging thing attached to the door hinges, install a robe hook, install a new shower head, install a new faucet and tile the sink backsplash. I had two handymen in for quotes for the installation and tile work. Hopefully it will begin shortly. Then my mini bathroom update will be complete. I'm going for a spa look. So crisp and clean. Pictures to follow as the work progresses.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Still Decluttering
I'm still decluttering the condo. I'm on a roll and can't seem to stop. I've decided to streamline my wardrobe to the following colors that I look my best: black, gray, white, blue, green, pink, purple. Good bye warm colors: brown, yellow, red and orange! I've been going through my clothes and donating ones that don't fit this color scheme (assuming that I have enough clothes left so I don't have to purchase anything new). This has allowed me to get rid of the 8 purses that don't go with this new scheme. I still have shoes and jewelry to go through and streamline to coordinating items. I just started on my makeup, face wash and moisturizers. Why do I keep the products that I end up not liking?! It feels so good to declutter! I keep reading organizing, simplicity and living a minimal life blogs to keep me inspired and moving forward.
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Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Cheap Thrills Thursday 15
Welcome back to Cheap Thrills Thursday! This is the place to flaunt your crafting, decorating, sewing, baking, etc. skills. Basically anything you've made that cost $20 or less. I know you are creative and thrifty. Show off so we can all have some cheap thrills! Last week had some wonderful projects.
A big thank you to all who participated last week. Now lets have some fun!
The Rules:
Post about anything you have done that cost $20 or less to complete.
Post about your own, not someone else work.
Put a link to my site or grab my button and put it somewhere on your blog so that others can party with us. Please remember to do this! I've been noticing some postings that don't have a link back. The link back allows others to join in the fun!
Link directly to your post, not your blog.
Don't forget to visit other participants, spread the link love and leave a comment.
Please enter your project description in the "name" section of the link form.
![]()
A big thank you to all who participated last week. Now lets have some fun!
The Rules:
Post about anything you have done that cost $20 or less to complete.
Post about your own, not someone else work.
Put a link to my site or grab my button and put it somewhere on your blog so that others can party with us. Please remember to do this! I've been noticing some postings that don't have a link back. The link back allows others to join in the fun!
Link directly to your post, not your blog.
Don't forget to visit other participants, spread the link love and leave a comment.
Please enter your project description in the "name" section of the link form.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Its Craft Time - T-Shirt Tote
I have a quick and easy craft for you today. Oh and cheap, we can't forget cheap. I've been wanting to do this one for several weeks. It took me longer to get out my sewing machine and thread the needled than to make this project.
Anyway, take a t-shirt. Here I used my Team Hope NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health - look them up its a great organization) 2009 5k team walk t-shirt. Cut off the arms, but on the outside of the arm hole stitching - so you leave the seam in place. This just reinforces the hole. I used my pinking shears because I thought it looked cute. You can use regular scissors if you want.
Then you want to cut a larger circle hole through the front and back necklines. Use a mixing bowl and create a template, you want it longer/deeper rather than wider so the handles don't get too thin. The deeper the circle the longer the handles of the tote are. With mine, I did something a little different. I wanted to preserve the lettering so I cut a deeper circle on the front - down to just above the lettering. On the back I cut a shallower hole to keep that lettering intact. You can customize your cutting to fit your t-shirt.
Turn your shirt inside out and stitch a line about an inch from the bottom all the way across, back tacking at both ends. Turn right side in and now you have a fabulous tote!
I'm going to use mine going back and forth to the YMCA. This way I get to use a t-shirt that has a lot of meaning for me, but I'm too stylish (ha) to be wearing it around. I also have a pink t-shirt to make a tote to keep as an extra bag in my car for when I forget to bring along a shopping bag.
I think kids would love having their own tote made from one of their t-shirts! And if you wanted to jazz things up you could freezer paper stencil on it or cut a strip from the bottom of the t-shirt before you sew it and use it to make fabric flowers and decorate the tote.
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| Stylishly modeled by my son, "This isn't like going to be all over the Internet is it?" If only my readership were that great. |
Friday, November 5, 2010
Undecorating
I've been feeling weird lately. My stuff is suffocating me. I feel like I have too much. I want to declutter in an extreme way. (Yes, I have been watching too much Hoarders, but it's more than that). My place is small and my decorating style is already pretty minimal. I really want to go bare bones - think stark contemporary - with the focus on just a few beautiful items in the room. I also want to paint all the walls white, get a fluffy white rug in the living room and a white slipcover - but that is another story.
It's weird because I usually want to lighten up and minimize decor in the spring not fall. In the fall I usually want to make my house feel more cozy, I embrace my colorful decor and actually want to purchase and display more "things". I enjoy decorating for winter / Christmas. But right now the thought of adding things to my environment makes my stomach clench.
A dubious friend suggested that I gather all the items that I want to remove and put them on the dining room table until I can get them boxed up and stored in the basement storage locker. She thinks the desire for sparseness will rapidly pass. I'm not so sure. I removed 7 items from the kitchen, 18 from the dining room / china cabinet, 21 from the living room. I added 1 item to my bedroom and removed 3 pillows and a piece of art.
I'm shocked that I have this much stuff. Most of the items were decorative. Or if they were supposed to be functional, they weren't functioning. If the numbers seem high, look around your space and count your items. I think you'll be surprised at how many you have.
After my extreme undecorating my condo looks naked (I'm used to seeing more stuff but this morning it didn't look as weird as it did yesterday when I finished). It feels much better. In the living room I have only 4 decorative items, the clock and 3 framed artwork on the wall, 3 pillows, 1 candle and 7 live plants. In my bedroom I have 2 decorative items, 1 plant, 3 pictures, 1 piece of art on the wall and 1 decorative pillow. My bathroom 1 item. My kitchen 2 decorative items and 2 items on the wall. It still seems like a lot to me. I need to get several boxes to pack away my removed items. I need to live with them gone for awhile before I get rid of them for good - just in case I change my mind.
Have you ever undecorated your house or gone through a really minimal phase? Did it pass or was it something that stuck? The good news - dusting went much faster today!
It's weird because I usually want to lighten up and minimize decor in the spring not fall. In the fall I usually want to make my house feel more cozy, I embrace my colorful decor and actually want to purchase and display more "things". I enjoy decorating for winter / Christmas. But right now the thought of adding things to my environment makes my stomach clench.
A dubious friend suggested that I gather all the items that I want to remove and put them on the dining room table until I can get them boxed up and stored in the basement storage locker. She thinks the desire for sparseness will rapidly pass. I'm not so sure. I removed 7 items from the kitchen, 18 from the dining room / china cabinet, 21 from the living room. I added 1 item to my bedroom and removed 3 pillows and a piece of art.
I'm shocked that I have this much stuff. Most of the items were decorative. Or if they were supposed to be functional, they weren't functioning. If the numbers seem high, look around your space and count your items. I think you'll be surprised at how many you have.
After my extreme undecorating my condo looks naked (I'm used to seeing more stuff but this morning it didn't look as weird as it did yesterday when I finished). It feels much better. In the living room I have only 4 decorative items, the clock and 3 framed artwork on the wall, 3 pillows, 1 candle and 7 live plants. In my bedroom I have 2 decorative items, 1 plant, 3 pictures, 1 piece of art on the wall and 1 decorative pillow. My bathroom 1 item. My kitchen 2 decorative items and 2 items on the wall. It still seems like a lot to me. I need to get several boxes to pack away my removed items. I need to live with them gone for awhile before I get rid of them for good - just in case I change my mind.
Have you ever undecorated your house or gone through a really minimal phase? Did it pass or was it something that stuck? The good news - dusting went much faster today!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Cheap Thrills Thursday 14
Welcome back to Cheap Thrills Thursday! This is the place to flaunt your crafting, decorating, sewing, baking, etc. skills. Basically anything you've made that cost $20 or less. I know you are creative and thrifty. Show off so we can all have some cheap thrills! Last week had some wonderful projects.
A big thank you to all who participated last week. Now lets have some fun!
The Rules:
Post about anything you have done that cost $20 or less to complete.
Post about your own, not someone else work.
Put a link to my site or grab my button and put it somewhere on your blog so that others can party with us. Please remember to do this! I've been noticing some postings that don't have a link back. The link back allows others to join in the fun!
Link directly to your post, not your blog.
Don't forget to visit other participants, spread the link love and leave a comment.
Please enter your project description in the "name" section of the link form.
![]()
A big thank you to all who participated last week. Now lets have some fun!
The Rules:
Post about anything you have done that cost $20 or less to complete.
Post about your own, not someone else work.
Put a link to my site or grab my button and put it somewhere on your blog so that others can party with us. Please remember to do this! I've been noticing some postings that don't have a link back. The link back allows others to join in the fun!
Link directly to your post, not your blog.
Don't forget to visit other participants, spread the link love and leave a comment.
Please enter your project description in the "name" section of the link form.
