Life Uncluttered

my arch nemesis

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

So I believe I have talked about the "crazy eye bathroom" in our basement. It has earned this name because the wallpaper reminds me of those posters that you would look at and a picture would appear. Do you remember those? Anyway.. without further ado I present the "crazy eye bathroom".

Yeah it's bad. I seriously think that this attractive wallpaper has been up since the 80s. So as part of my 30 by 30 list I have decided to take it on.

So far it's VERY slow going. Here is my "progress" if you can even call it that...

Yeah.. I have a feeling this might take the remaining 6 months to complete...

Anyone have any wallpaper horror stories or words of encouragement?

P.S. My real life friend Lori has started a blog. She is a new home owner and talented baker. Make sure to check out her blog Lemons and Lovebirds!

minimalism?

2012-01-18T21:01:00.003-05:00

First of all thanks for the support with my 6 month spending fast! I really appreciate it.

After reading Jenny's comment about minimalism I stopped and did a double take. I thought "minimalist? me?"

I don't know if I would consider myself a minimalist. Maybe because when I think of that word I think of someone living in a one bedroom apartment with only a small amount of possessions and no car and clearly that is not me living in our three bedroom townhouse with two cars and a basement full of junk.

But then I thought about how my thinking about buying things and money has changed. I used to think that I should buy things because "I deserved it" or because "I needed it" and that has not helped in our transition from cutting my salary by more than half and going back to graduate school. I have been trying to live all aspects of my life with intention thanks from a little inspiration from Jess.

So am I becoming a minimalist? I don't think so but I do think and hope that I am becoming a more intentional person and creating a life with intention.

Interested in reading more? Check out this post: Minimalism for the masses

30 by 30: starting a 6 month spending fast: day 16

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today marks 16 days into my 6 month spending fast!!! So far, so good. I have not bought any new clothes or any impulse purchases from Target or Etsy.

What have we spent money on this month?
Mortgage, HOA payment, cable bills, cell phone bills, groceries, gas- basically what I had listed in our needs.

We did have a few unforeseen expenses. I spent $5.25 to send Deanna my Pottery barn keys and $7.99 to buy a proper car brush and scraper from Amazon- my old one has been MIA for awhile now. However I did use a reusable shopping bag to clean off my car after our first little snow. But overall, I think I have done pretty well and I am very proud of myself.

The hardest part has been not eating out. Sometimes you just want to get some Chipotle or Five Guys for lunch but we have really been trying to avoid it. We are planning a dinner out to celebrate Chris' birthday and truth be told we have gotten Chipotle for lunch this month.

I have been also reading a lot of minimalist books and other budgeting stories- I try to share some of my favorites on my Facebook page. It seems that I am not the only one that is thinking that their spending has been out of control. Thanks for the support and I look forward to keeping you guys updated as we continue on this journey.

enough

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Since starting my 6 month spending fast I have been reading minimalist books. I know what your thinking.. but bear with me for a minute. Although I have no plans to throw everything out and live with only 100 possessions or something crazy like that a lot of their ideas make a lot of sense.

Take the idea of "enough" for instance. How do you know when you have "enough"? When you have no more room to store all your stuff? When you can't afford to buy any more stuff? If you compare what we have to other people in other parts of the world it would seem we have more than enough. Yet we continue to go out the malls, shop online, etc.

A quote from my most recent read, The Joy of Less by Francine Jay really struck a chord with me.

"If we recognize the abundance in our lives, and appreciate what we have, we will not want for more. We simply need to focus on what we have, rather than what we don't have"

So how can we achieve the feeling of having enough? By practicing gratefulness and realizing how lucky we truly are? I think this might be part of it. But all I know is that I want that feeling of peace and calm. I don't want to feel like there is always something I am saving for or wanting. I just want to have enough.

Interested in reading more? Check out this post, this post, this post and this post

worth the splurge?

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

A few days ago I had a quick conversation on twitter with Anna about what I things I think are worth splurging on and what things aren't.

Anna: Working on a post... What things do YOU think areworth a splurge & which items are not? #worthitornot

Me: I think anythingthat promotes your happiness and well-being is worth the splurge. Whether it benice clothes, a trip, etc.

Anna: Is that a slippery slope though?

Me: it's true. Butyou just have to figure out what is most important to you and not go crazy.Which I am working on doing..

Anna: it's hard for me to not go overboard too... it's mynatural inclination. Building new habits help slowly but surely!

What do you think?? Do you agree with me that your splurgesshould be things that are important to you and that you will truly enjoy or doyou think there are certain things you should never splurge on?

best buds

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Our friends Renee and Josh came to visit us last weekend and they brought Blake with them. I was a little nervous because Banner hasn't had much experiences with small children, but he did great and by the end of the weekend they were best friends!

needs v. wants

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

source

I explained why I am starting a 6 month spending fast as part of my 30 by 30 goals in order to increase our savings and hopefully try to learn new spending habits. But obviously we are going to have to spend some money. In order to help, I created a needs and wants list. I also have this list on my phone as a constant reminder when I am out at Target (or another store) and find myself in a difficult situation.

Things I Need to Spend on:
* Mortgage payments
* HOA payments
* Cell phones
* Cable**
* Utilities (Electricity, water, etc.)
* Doctor co-pays
* Prescriptions
* Banner vet visits and medication
* Haircuts (from Hair Cuttery)
* Groceries
* Gas/ Car costs (inspections, oil changes, etc)
* Insurance (auto, home, life)

**I can totally see how cable is not considered a need.. but clearly you have no met my sports fanatic husband. If we got rid of ESPN.. it would not be good.

That means no more:
*Etsy purchases
*House decor purchases
*Amazon.com purchases
*Clothing purchases
*Kindle books
*Impulse "must have" purchases
*Late night ice cream runs
*Music from iTunes
*Expensive gifts for family and friends
*Going out to eat more than once or twice a month (we are currently averaging about 3-5 times a month)

Would your needs and wants list look similar to ours?

my top ten: december

2012-01-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

December was a busy month for us! I finished up another semester of graduate school and we spent almost all of our weekends running around like maniacs. I loved that Hanukkah and Christmas overlapped each other this year. It only happens every few years and I love when it happens since we celebrate both! So here are my top ten things that I enjoyed this month in no particular order.

1. Learning how to write the perfect wish list

2. Getting rid of 20 things from our house!

3. Seeing everyone's holiday decorations {check out some of my faves here, here, here, here and here}

4. Read The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks, reread The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, and I'm currently reading Bossy Pants by Tina Fey.

5. Celebrating Hanukkah with my family.

6. Kim's Dare to DIY Party {I especially loved all the DIY gift ideas}

7. Our December date nights. Our date night this month was dinner and a movie. We actually ended up splitting it into two different nights. We saw J.Edgar and enjoyed dinner at Sweetwater Tavern.

8. Emily's laundry room idea.

9. Hosting my third annual cookie party.

10. Spending time with good friends and family!

last years top ten

What would make your top ten this month?

happy new year!

2011-12-31T16:52:00.003-05:00

30 by 30: starting a 6 month spending fast

2011-12-30T06:00:00.001-05:00

Starting on January 1, 2012 I am starting a 6 month spending fast. I first heard about this idea when Anna appeared on the Nate Berkus show.

Basically I am not going to buy anything I don't need for 6 months. It will be sort of like my 30 day spending challenge but to a larger degree. Why in the world would I do such a crazy thing? Well basically to increase our savings. Life has gotten a little bit easier now that I am working part-time but I still have another semester left of school and we would like to build up our savings account back up to a comfortable place.

I think the hardest part for us has been learning how to limit our spending. The first few months back in school we continued to spend like we had been spending when we were a two income household. Dinners out whenever we felt like it, new clothes, random Etsy and/or Amazon purchases, etc. Unfortunately this put us in a tough situation. We were spending more than we were making. So we worked hard to create and stick to a budget which is still a challenge for us but we are trying to stick to it as much as we can. But do I really NEED that new Loft sweater? No. Do we NEED to pay our mortgage. Yes. It's all about priorities.

After my 30 day challenge I was doing really well but then I started to slip back into some of my old habits. So I am going to try to continue my challenge and make it more difficult by trying not to buy anything I don't NEED to 6 months. I think I might regret this decision....

2011: a year in review

2011-12-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

With 2011 coming to a close, I wanted to take time to reflect about some of the things that have happened during this past year. 2011 definitely had it's ups and downs and I am excited for the new things that await us in 2012. {Here is our review of 2010}

Top ten of 2011

1. We took our honeymoon in Kauai, Hawaii {january}

2. I got to meet Blake in person {january} and celebrate his first birthday! {august}

3. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary {october}

4. We had a rough summer but got through it together! {june-august}

5. We went to my friend's wedding in Ocean City and got to take a weekend away! {september}

6. I made it through two more semesters of graduate school!!! {spring '11 and fall '11}

7. I started painting again

8. We took a little vacation to Florida during my Spring Break {march}

9. I accomplished things from my 30 by 30 list!

10. I learned, grew as a person and became inspired by this, this, this, this, this and this.

Here are some of my intentions for 2012:

* Graduate from graduate school and find a full-time job!

* Continue to learn how to budget, save and limit my spending.

* Continue painting.

* Continue to remind myself of my "Rules to Live by" and continue doing so!

What were some of your favorite things about 2011? What goals/intentions do you have for 2012?

happy holidays!

2011-12-24T15:49:00.000-05:00

life lessons I have learned over these past one and a half years

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

I am one semester away from earning my Master's Degree!!! I am so proud of myself and all the work I have put in to get this far. I'm not quite in the clear yet, but the end is in sight. As I stop to reflect on where I was a year and a half ago and where I am now I have learned some life lessons along the way.

1. Money may not be able to buy you happiness, but it can buy you peace of mind.
Money has been tight for us. Really tight. I can not even tell you the nights that I stayed up worrying about money over this past year and a half. But we are learning and making the best of it.

2. Take time for yourself.

This is so so important. If you can't take care of yourself how can you take care of anyone/anything else?

3. Appreciate what you have.

4. I have learned what I want my long-term career goal to be.
I have learned that I have no interest in becoming an educational researcher and that my true love/interest is with History. I probably should have chosen the graduate program that would have allowed me to earn my certification in History. But.. this whole process has helped me realize this and for that I am thankful.

5. Sometimes the people you thought were your good friends turn out not to be.
This is always a tough pill to swallow. As I am getting older, I am realizing that I have less true close friends and more "sometimes friends". I guess that people change and your priorities change in your life. I'm not trying to say I don't have any friends-- I definitely do. I have just realized who my true friends are.

what I DON'T want for the holidays

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have showed you my holiday wish list for this year. But in the process of getting ready to have guests stay with us after the holidays we have started going through some of our stuff that has been piling up over the past year. Here are some things that I will be parting with this year.

1. Any more wall art

2. ~~An ill-fitting sweater that needs to be returned to Macys~~ {returned!}

3. Pillow Covers

4. ~~Cheap picture frames~~

5. ~~Random Coffee Table Books~~

6. Leather Couch {Currently for sale on Craigslist!}

7. ~~Old Dishes~~

8. ~~Clothing~~ {donated}

9. ~~Any more jewelry~~ {donated}

10. ~~Chris' old reclining love seat~~ {Sold on Craigslist!}

11. ~~Old towels and pillows~~

12. ~~4 margarita glasses~~

13. ~~Bags and Purses~~ {donated}

14. Bracelet and Necklace holders

15. ~~Empty binders~~

16. Better Homes and Gardens New Decorating Book

17. Teaching resource books that I have never used.

18. My sister's keeper by Jodi Picoult

19. ~~Pottery Barn set of decorative keys~~ {claimed by Deanna}

20. ~~3 black IKEA boxes~~ {claimed by Claire}

Interested in something that I am getting rid of? Email me at Lifeuncluttered (at) yahoo (dot) com

re-vamping my 30 by 30 list a little bit

2011-12-17T13:13:00.000-05:00

After realizing that I only have about 6 months left to complete everything on my 30 by 30 list I realized how many things are travel/money dependent. And let's be honest.. those aren't going to happen. So I am going to make a few changes.

~~See the Grand Canyon~~ Go on a 6 month spending fast
~~Visit Seattle, Washington~~ Start no-tech Thursdays
Run another 5K
Take a trip with Jenny and Eric {my brother and sister in law}
~~Drive across the country~~ Go on a hike
Get my Master's degree
Lose forty pounds
Be a foster home for a dog
Curb my Diet Coke addiction
Embrace my wavy hair
Tile a back splash for the kitchen
Tackle the "magic eye" bathroom
Read five self help books- Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar, Pursuit of Perfect by Tal Ben-Shahar, Lighten Up! by Peter Walsh, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.
Have date night with Chris once a month
Visit Chicago, Illinois
Volunteer
Paint the back of the built in bookcase a fun color
Take a trip with Julie {my best friend}
Exercise three to five days a week
Tackle the backyard
Add more color and pattern to my wardrobe
Start a gratitude journal
Go 30 days without buying anything I don't need {read more here, here and here}
Get rid of 100 things
Find a full-time job
Build something
Learn to paint with acrylics
Visit Monticello
Organize, declutter and simplify
Learn how to sew a pillow/take a basic sewing class

some changes

2011-12-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

So I have been doing some thinking about my blog and my lack of posting. I have gone back and forth about whether or not to just say goodbye to "Life Uncluttered" or to totally re-vamp it yet again. I have realized as I have changed and grown my blog needs to reflect these changes.

So here is what I have decided that Life Uncluttered is NOT:

* Life Uncluttered is NOT a decorating blog. {If you are looking for great decorating blogs may I recommend: Maggie Rose, Bryn Alexanda, Making it Lovely, Yellow Brick Home, Freckles Chick, Brooklyn Limestone, Centsational Girl, Chic Little House, 7th House on the Left}
* Life Uncluttered is NOT an organizing blog {If you are looking for a great organizing blog may I recommend: I heart organizing, Unclutterer}
* Life Uncluttered is NOT a renovating blog. {If you are looking for great renovating blogs may I recommend: Newly Woodwards, Young House Love, Russet Street Reno, Aubrey + Lindsay, Anything Pretty}

Here is what I would like for Life Uncluttered to be:

* Meaningful
* Thoughtful
* Honest
* Real
*With a tiny side of crafts and my paintings

Although I can't predict where Life Uncluttered is going from here I hope that you are along for the ride. If not, I completely understand.

decorate for a colorful holiday

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Do you love color? Here are some fun colorful finds to help you get in the holiday spirit.

1,2,3,4,5,6

holiday decorations 2011

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

This year we took a "less is more" approach to our holiday decorating. {Similar to what Bryn was talking about here}

We choose to change up our usual blue and silver color scheme on our tree for a more metallic look. We used silver and gold ornaments on the tree this year.

In the basement, I threw together some fake pine cones and leftover ornaments in this beautiful bowl we received as a wedding present.

Our newest addition is this little mini tree that is also down in the basement. We thought it was the perfect place to show off our more meaningful and sentimental ornaments. We have an ornament to mark our engagement, wedding, honeymoon in Hawaii, Banner, my teaching, and most recently my upcoming graduation for graduate school. {The snowman was a gift from my best friend}

And last but not least, here is our favorite Hanukkah decoration {we celebrate both holidays in our house!} It's a dog bone menorah which is fun for everyone, especially our beagle mix Banner.

Check out our holiday decorations from 2009 and 2010

decorate for a metallic holiday

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

This year Chris and I are retiring the blue and silver look for more metallic holiday decorations. Here are some of my favorite metallic finds.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

decorate for hanukkah

2011-12-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

Celebrating Hanukkah this year? Here are some of my favorite finds to help decorate for Hanukkah.

1,2,3,4,5,6

my favorite diy gift ideas

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

Although I am not DIYing any gifts this year here are a few of my favorites. All found on pinterest of course!

1. For your Girlfriends

2. For the Entertainer

3.For the Barbecue Master

4. For the Baker

5. For the New Home Owners

6. For the Little One

7. For the Spa Lover

8. For the New Mom

Make sure to stop by Kim's blog and check out other DIY gift ideas.

gift ideas under $50.00

2011-12-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

Still working on your holiday shopping? Here are some gifts that I love all under $50.00.

1. For your girlfriends: West Elm Jewelry Box $49.00

2. For the sentimental mom: Mom's One Line a Day Journal $12.00 or My Quotable Kid Journal $14.95

3. For your sister: Lands End Slippers $34.50

4. For the pet lover: Custom Pet Art $44.00

5. For the new mom: Personalized Nursery Artwork $24.00 or Big Deal Print $15.00

6. For the hubby: A Case for his Electronics $24.00 or A Subscription to his Favorite Magazine

7. For the fashionista: Kate Spade Bracelet $32.00

8. For the new home owner: Monogrammed Wreath $35.00

Want more gift ideas? Check out last years gift guides: little luxuries, gifts under $30, winter weather, for the guys, gifts under $20, gifts under $10

my top ten: november

2011-12-01T09:59:00.000-05:00

And the blogging funk continues... November was another busy month. Things are really getting busy with this semester coming to a close. Here are some things I enjoyed this month {in no particular order}

1. Chalkboard gift tags

2. Jenny's master bedroom

3. Emily's bathroom makeover

4. This post about how to shop Home Goods

5. Kim's baby quilts. Seriously. They just seem to be getting cuter!

6. Seeing The Muppets at the movie theater.

7. Being basically finished with my holiday shopping!!

8. Starting my gratitude journal

9. Gift guides

10. Celebrating Thanksgiving with my family

What would made your top ten for November?

Last years top ten

my holiday wish list 2011

2011-11-23T13:08:00.000-05:00

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching and the holiday shopping season right on it's tail I have made my holiday wish list for this year. Check out last years wish list here.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

What is on your holiday wish list this year??

dare to be thankful: diy leaf garland

2011-11-13T22:23:00.001-05:00

I am participating in Kim's Dare to Do it Yourself Blog party again this year! If you haven't joined her party you should go check it out here.

This week's challenge is: Dare to Be Thankful. Check out last year's paper pumpkins here.

I created a leaf garland and I love the little bit of color it adds to our fall mantel. {{Inspiration found here}}

It was super easy to make and cheap! I bought some felt at Michaels 4 sheets for $1.00. Then I cut out the felt into leave shapes and stitched them together using yarn. *Note: I had to use a thicker needle for this project since the yarn was too thick for my small needle. Luckily, I befriended an elementary school art teacher who gave me a needle. ;)

Make sure you head over to Kim's blog to see everyone else's great Thanksgiving/fall craft projects.

my top ten: october

2011-11-12T19:49:00.000-05:00

Well so much for getting out of my blogging funk. The funkness continues... October was a busy month. C. and I celebrated our first year anniversary, I started a long-term substitute position and lots of other busy life stuff. So here are my {belated} top ten things I have enjoyed most in October. {in no particular order}

1. This video

2. Giving Chris his anniversary present

3. Kim's chalkboard

4. Jess' house tour on Apartment Therapy

5. Starting my long-term substitute position

6. Our October date night- Seeing Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center

7. Getting my first smart phone and my Kate Spade case

8. See the progression of other blogger's homes

9. DIY push pins

10. Freckles Chick's Nursery Reveal

What made your top ten for October?

last years top ten

first anniversary gifts

2011-10-12T12:53:00.000-04:00

On Monday Chris and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary! I can't believe a year has already flown by. So I had to start thinking of a great gift to give C. for our first anniversary and I got the idea from my 30 by 30 list and of course pinterest. I decided to plan out date night ideas for Chris and I for a year.. it's like the never-ending gift that I can also enjoy. Score!

I went to Michaels and picked up some blank cards and envelopes. I wrote the name of the month on each envelope and then on the card inside I wrote a little note to Chris and told him what we would be doing that month. I also bought gift cards to go with the dates so that we would have one less excuse to actually go on the dates! The hardest part was actually coming up with all the ideas. I recruited all my graduate school classmates to help me with the task.

Here is what I came up with:

October- Tickets to a show at the Kennedy Center {thanks Dad!}
November- Watching the 49ers v. Redskins at a local Sports Bar
December- Dinner and a Movie {gift cards for our favorite movie theater and restaurant}
January- Dinner out for Chris' birthday
February- Dinner out at the Melting Pot
March- Bowling
April- Tickets to a Nationals Game
May- Hike in Shenandoah National Park
June- Miniature Golfing
July-Tickets to our Annual Giants v. Nationals game
August- Day at the National Harbor in Maryland
September- Home cooked dinner and movie night at home

I tried to think of things that C. would actually like to do. He is a huge baseball and football fan so those were definitely must haves. I also added a hike in there for him since he loves to go hiking and we never go! So feel free to steal this idea with reckless abandon!

So what did C. get for me? Well lucky for him I am a girl who knows what I want. I have been lusting over this Hawaii watercolor print for months now so it was sort of a no-brainier since that is where we went on our honeymoon!

source

He did also bring me some flowers which was sweet as well. Since I spent the entire weekend sick in bed with a cold we celebrated our anniversary with a trip to Home Depot {romantic no?} and then went out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.

So that is how we celebrated our first anniversary together!

one year later..

2011-10-10T21:29:00.002-04:00

Today marks our first wedding anniversary! Relive our wedding day and all the details here. Look for two wedding related posts this week!

easy art

2011-10-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

So the built-in bookcase in our living room was begging for some new artwork. However it had to be cheap and I wanted it to be personalized and meaningful to us. So here are three easy projects that I did to create art for our living room.

The first project that I did used a shadow box {mine is from Target} and some ticket stubs. Chris and I are both sports fans and we both especially enjoy going to baseball games together. Since we started dating in 2006, we have made it a tradition to go to a Nationals baseball game when they are playing Chris' hometown team the SF Giants. We try to go see the Nats. v. the Giants at least once a year. So I decided to take a few of the ticket stubs and place them into the shadow box as I fun little reminder of our love of baseball.

The second project was blatantly stolen from Young House Love but it's easy to do and cheap to boot! We started collecting postcards from our vacations starting with our honeymoon to Orlando and then our honeymoon in Kauai. On the back of the postcards I write a little synopsis of our trip {things we did, where we ate, etc.} I just stuck them into an old floral vase from our engagement party centerpiece and called it a day. We also have some of our photo strips from our trips to Ocean City in there as well. So it's cheap art and a fun and sentimental reminder of trips you and your sweetie/family take together!

The last project was inspire by two quotations that I found on Pinterest. I decided to write them out on card stock and then stick them into an IKEA frame we already had. It's cheap, easy and I can always change them out if I get sick of them!

So there are my three easy and basically free art projects that I have created. Feel free to steal or modify as you seen necessary!

Have you made any cheap or easy artwork recently???

my top ten: september

2011-10-01T12:54:00.001-04:00

Can you believe that it is already October? So my goal to blog three times a week in September obviously didn't work out so well. I'm not sure what is causing my blogging funk.. but I am trying to get out of it! I have at least 15 posts that I have drafted but haven't finished. But anyways.. here are the things I have enjoyed most in the month of September in no particular order.

1. Scarves

2. Kristen's Wedding Pictures

3. LearnVest. I love love love this site! I love their budget tool and their posts and bootcamps that you can sign up for!

4. Makeunder My Life's Fall Wardrobe Makeunder

5. Making some small updates around the house.We added an "office" in the living room, changed around our entryway, made some small basement changes, and we are working in the backyard. Updates to come soon!

6. Freckles Chick Nursery Progress.

7. Taking a weekend trip to Ocean City for my friends wedding.

8. A New {to me} blog: Arianna Belle Organized Interiors

9. Rocking out at a Journey concert with C. and our friends.

10. Working on C.'s first anniversary present. More details soon! :)

What would make your top ten list this month???

last years top ten

fyi

2011-09-20T13:05:00.002-04:00

Hi friends,

Just wanted to write a quick post to let you know that I cancelled my twitter account. But don't worry you can still follow me on my Facebook page. Hope to see you there!

30 by 30: trying to curb my caffeine addiction part 2

2011-09-14T17:00:00.001-04:00

So the last time I talked about trying to curb my addiction to Diet Coke was back in April, you can read that post here.

So here is where I am today, I decided to go cold turkey and give caffeine up altogether in April/May. Once I got through the week of horrible headaches it got much easier! Sprite became my drink of choice since it has no caffeine, unfortunately it has more calories then Diet Coke which became a problem once I started Weight Watchers in July. I did really well for awhile I was down to either 1 or 0 Diet Cokes a day! But then things got stressful. And all my hard work went out the window.

So here we are in September and I am back to square one! Now that things have calmed down again I think I will give it another go. Clearly, I need to find better ways to relieve my stress.

Curious about what else is on my 30 by 30 list? Check it out here!

my fall wish list

2011-09-12T12:16:00.000-04:00

1. Jess LC Astor Bib Necklace $56.00
2. LC Lauren Conrad Pink Boyfriend Blazer $52.50
3. JCrew Outlet Dress $98.00
4. Black Pumps $40.00

5. Lands End Canvas Dress $89.50

6. Lands End Canvas Skinny Belt $29.50

Let's pretend for a minute that I have a full time job and that I am not in graduate school and that I have an extra $400 laying around to update my fall wardrobe. If that were the case these are the 6 pieces I would buy. Until then I will continue to drool over them on my pinterest wish list and wait for sales or until I win the lottery! What is on your wish list for fall?

we will always remember

2011-09-11T23:58:00.000-04:00

source

Today and everyday we need to remember the tragedy of 9/11 and how our lives have changed forever.

Tell the people that you love how much you love and care for them and think of the people that do not have that luxury.

my top ten: august

2011-09-03T03:41:00.001-04:00

Well my friends, summer is finally coming to a close. I am ready for fall and ready to jump into fmy last year of graduate school and our celebrate our first wedding anniversary in October! August was a busy month and eventful with an earthquake and hurricane! So without further ado, here are my top ten things that I have enjoyed in August. As usual, they are not in any particular order.

1. Apartment Therapy's Color Cure

2. Makeunder My Life's Guest posts. Check them out here, here and here

3. Leigh's outdoor cart

4. Gabe's gnome themed birthday party!

5. Freckles Chick's office nook

6. Jill showing off cute new fall finds

7. Tips for blowdrying your hair.

8. Finishing up my summer job!

9. This art idea. Found on none other than pinterest!

10. Painting. I have been enjoying creating paintings for friends and family. I have been mostly creating paintings for nurseries but I have been enjoying getting back into being creative.

Are you sad that summer is ending? What did you enjoy this summer??

last years top ten

my favorite summer accessories

2011-08-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

Summer Clutch: Clutches are perfect for summer nights and weddings/showers alike.

Metallic sandals: Metallics go with everything!

Sunglasses: This is sort of a given to keep your eyes protected from the sun.

Lightweight Scarves: The trick here is finding a really lightweight one. Linen and cotton are both great choices.

Hair accessories: I don't know about you but my hair is up 99% of the time during Virginia's hot and humid summers. I really would like to try these two tools from Goody.

What are your go-to summer accessories?

life lessons I have learned this summer

2011-08-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately this summer has been challenging and trying for our family personally and financially. With summer coming to a close here are five life lessons I have learned/re-learned this summer.

1. Friends and Family are most important.
No explanation necessary. I couldn't have survived this summer without the support, talks, and love from my family and friends. When other things are going wrong you need to have a group of people that will always be there for you.

2. Don't sweat the small stuff.
I am still working on this. I often let a lot of smaller things bother me until they all add up and boil over and then I have a breakdown.

3. Take care of yourself.
This is a biggie. When you are under a lot of stress it is often hard to stop and take time for yourself. But it is so important!

4.

5. Some things are out of your control.
As a self-proclaimed control freak, I have a really hard time with this one also. I like to have a plan and to know what is going to happen next. However, life rarely happens this way. I am working on trying to "let things go" and not stress out over things I have no control over.

What are the life lessons that you have learned or need to remind yourself during difficult times?

my top ten: july

2011-08-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

I am so ashamed that this is my only post for this entire month! This month has been crazy/stressful/busy! Here are some things that have happened this month: my parked car was involved in a hit and run, I lost my credit card, Banner might have possible kidney problems, and our HVAC unit started leaking. Ugh! But you aren't reading this post to hear me complain.. so here are my top ten (positive things!) for July. As usual they are in no particular order.

1. Celebrating my 29th birthday by going to see Wicked at the Kennedy Center.

2. Spending my Fourth of July weekend in Florida.

3. Freckle Chic's finished bathroom.

4. Our new air conditioning unit for our bedroom.

5. Anything Pretty's nursery reveal and the birth of her baby boy!

6. This outfit.

7. This living room from 6th Street Design.

8. Losing 5 pounds!

9. Both of Gabe's nurseries.

10. Going to my friend Maria's bridal shower. I also love Emily's personalized bridal shower gift idea.

How was your month? What would make your top ten this month??

last year's top ten

my top ten: june

2011-07-01T06:00:00.004-04:00

Happy July! It's officially summer. Time to spend time at the pool, beach or maybe go on vacation. I am taking a long weekend away while Chris heads out West. I am super bummed that I can't go with him but I am trying to make the best of it. Anyways.. I started my job this month and Chris and I also completed some smaller projects around the house. Here is my top ten list for this month in no particular order.

1. Winning a giveaway! I never win anything.. but this month I won Jess' jewelry giveaway from golightly jewelry. So excited!!!

2. "Your top ten" guest blogger series. Thanks so much to Shannon, Kim, Kasey, Maggie, Kristen, Emily, Jenny, Kelly and The Cape on the Corner. Check out all the great posts here.

3. This outfit. I am seriously in love with that skirt and I also love Kendi and her blog.

4. Makeunder My Life's summer updates.

5. Thomas' first birthday. So adorable!

6. Nuestra Vida Dulces' flower table setting.

7. Starting my summer job and getting paid last week!

8. Yellow Brick Home's Q & A for their 2 year blogiversary. I love getting to "know" bloggers a little more personally.

9. Newly Woodward's renovation progress. Their new house is starting to come together and it looks amazing!

10. Making progress in curbing my caffeine addiction. I am so proud of myself! I hope things will continue to go semi-smoothly.

What would make it on your top ten list this month?

your top ten: maggie rose

2011-06-27T06:00:00.009-04:00

Hi there, I'm Maggie from the blog Maggie Rose. As an interior decorator, I love to pick out designer fabrics and gorgeous furniture for my clients - but at home I'm a gal on a budget. While I'll always advocate for investing in classic, quality pieces that you love, there are some easy ways that I like to bring the designer look to my home.

1. Ditch the overheads. Good lighting can make or break a room, and an easy to way to get better lighting in your home is to use several table and floor lamps with low wattage bulbs rather than high-wattage overhead lighting. I love a great chandelier, pendant, or sconce, but take it easy on the inset overhead lights and builder-basic "boob lights" - you know the ones I mean. Soft lighting is super flattering.

2. Don't be afraid of color. I think a lot of people are afraid that their room "won't match". A room should definitely have some sort of color scheme, but nothing screams amateur like a room that strictly adheres to "blue and brown ONLY." Try using blue and brown as your base (sofa, drapes, neutral cream carpet) but don't be afraid to mix in some fushia or heck, even a glossy black vase as an accent. Try a bright berry-colored silk pillow, a painting with some pink flowers in it, a little gold leafed side table, and some green and blue ginger jar lamps.

3. Mix and match your furniture. Gone are the days of buying a full matching set of furniture for ANY room. Have some fun picking out a sofa you like, a coffee table you like, a bed you like, a dresser you like.... all from different stores! AND in different wood finishes (even if your husband protests against painted wood). Do keep proportion in mind (does this huge honkin' dresser make my sleek modern bed look miniaturized?) but in general, I'm a strong believer that if you love it, you'll find a way to make it work with your other pieces. A good rule of thumb is to keep a balance of natural wood to painted wood and always throw in one metallic piece.

4. To skirt or not to skirt: your upholstered furniture, that is. Try to keep a mixture of both. All skirted (to the floor) keeps all the furniture looking heavy. All NOT skirted makes it feel like nothing is permanent and like your chairs are about to tiptoe out the door. Try a mix.

4. Accent walls: I've seen them work, but in general I'm not a huge fan. I read somewhere once that an accent wall means you're too scared to embrace the color with open arms. You want a beautiful navy blue accent wall? I say take a chance and paint the whole room navy (and then add some gold accents and ivory curtains to keep it light). The worst that will happen is you'll have to paint over it if you hate it.

5. Add a few luxe touches. You've probably heard before that if you are on a budget, use your dream designer curtain fabric and make pillows instead. You can get three or four nice sized pillows out of a yard of fabric, whereas you'll use at least 5-6 yards on curtains. For a $70 or $150 fabric, you can do the math. To make your yard stretch further, find an inexpensive (but not "cheap") cotton velvet or linen for the backs. Have a tailor or drycleaner stitch 'em up for you (an upholstery shop could too, and add trim or piping for an extra fee). For the rest of your throw pillows, find discounted treasures at stores like HomeGoods, Ross, and even Target. Take a swatch of your designer fabric to coordinate.

6. Regarding pillow size, choose 20 inch pillows over 18 inch pillows. They feel much more luxurious. And steer clear of those icky poly-fil pillows that bunch and flatten in 6 months. Spend a few dollars more for the down or down-alternative pillows that can be fluffed and refluffed and will last much longer.

7. Sourcing affordable furniture... if you're over 25, use Ikea sparingly. Sometimes they ARE the best option. But for $160 for a chair, you could find a beautiful vintage or antique chair on Craigslist or nearby antique mall. Likely, it would be better made. Invest in a steam cleaner to clean vintage furniture. Especially for case goods (shelves, dressers, china cabinets), antique is likely to last much longer than fiberboard junk. Check the inside to see if it's real wood (not laminate, which can be hard to tell). Look for dovetail joints in construction of the drawers - those will last a really long time (google the term for an image). And you can always refinish or paint over an ugly finish or a young artist's sharpie scribbles.

8. Create usable systems, especially if you have kids. Decorative baskets for toys, a designated "home" for each piece that children (and husbands) know to return items to, and even a 15-minute tidy-up before bed will help keep your decorated home looking fresh. Not having some sort of system means toys will be everywhere, your accent accessories disappear to Barbie's playhouse, and magazines and shoes pile up next to the sofa. An organized house is a beautiful house!

9. Don't chase trends. It's true in fashion AND home decor. You'll spend more money if you're always trying to have the latest trendy item. And for us bloggers and blog readers, it's so easy to know the trends as soon as they become popular that it's hard not to feel the pressure to "keep up" with the bloggers we read every day. Invest in items that you and your family need and really love. You can always pick up a trend later if you find you're still drawn to it. I'll splurge on a trendy item once in a while, and usually that one piece is enough to keep my room feeling "current" without blowing the bank redecorating the whole room.

10. Don't forget your bedroom. Lots of women have fun decorating their kids' rooms, feel pressure to have a beautiful living and dining room for guests, and completely skip the master bedroom. It should truly be your sanctuary, and relaxation zone. It should reflect you... but if you share it with a man, do keep in mind that it is HIS sanctuary too and decorate accordingly.

your top ten: imperfect

2011-06-24T06:00:00.003-04:00

My name is Emily and I’m a budgetaholic. I’m so excited to be guest posting at Life Uncluttered – a big thanks to Lauren for asking me to participate! I blog about embracing the imperfections in decorating, cooking and life over at imperfect. I spend my days working in Internet Marketing and being a wife, a mom, and a guidance counselor to our misguided Golden Retriever. And in my free time, I geek out about budgeting and Excel spreadsheets. My husband and I started budgeting following the Envelope System of budgeting in January 2009 and over the last two and a half years have managed to cut our spending by about $1000 a month. You can read the specifics of the envelope system here, but I thought I’d share with you today my top ten ways to put a budget into place painlessly – regardless of the system you choose to use.

1. Be realistic. What are your goals? Do you need to get out of debt? Do you want to start saving a little extra each month for a kid’s college fund? Are you looking to cut your spending so you can live on one income? Do you just need to reel in your discretionary spending? Are you scared about the teeter-tottering economy and want to spend a little less and save a little more? Your budget will be shaped by your goals – if you’re saving for a fun trip you might have a more lenient budget than if you’re saving for a down payment on a house. Lay it all out there so you know what you’re up against. I like to have one benchmarker goal so that you stay excited – let’s say it’s “Save $1000 for a rainy day”. You might be trying to get out of debt, but by breaking your goals into smaller achievements, your budget stays relevant.

My husband and I had two goals when we started budgeting – since I generally work for Internet Startups, we decided that my income was about as stable as Charlie Sheen. So we wanted to live so that we didn’t rely on my salary for the important things – namely our mortgage, our car payment, food, and chardonnay. Our second goal was to get rid of that car payment. I hate car payments. More on that later.

2. Scrutinize your spending. When we started our budget, I went through three months of credit card bills and categorized every single penny we’d spent so that I’d have a realistic picture of where we spent our money. I found that I was charge happy for things like chocolate chips, Target and Doggy Prozac.

3. Categorize. Now that you’ve figured out where you spend your precious pennies, it’s time to categorize. Let’s be honest, you’re probably going to need to eat. And pay your rent or mortgage. Maybe a car payment or two. You’ve probably got cell phone bills, cable bills, utility bills. Life’s expensive. Just make a category for everything you’ve spent money on – we’ll get to cutting back later. I recommend having a glass of wine by your side when you do this.

4. Do some math. What do you make each month? If you have a joint account as a member of a couple, put both of your incomes down. This is when I open up Excel – math was never my strong point. Just put your Net income down. That’s the number you make when taxes, insurance and all that stuff is deducted. Your Gross salary is great, but it doesn’t buy waffles. Focus on the Net.

5. Do some more math. Add up all your costs from step #2 to see how your spending compares to what you’re bringing in. Now take a good look at that number and decide how you feel about it – are you spending too much? Are you right on target? Deep breaths, it’s going to be ok.

6. Decide what you want to be spending each month. Now that you know what you bring in and what you spend, it’s time to think about what you want to be spending. Or rather, how much you want to be saving. Remind yourself of your goals here. Otherwise you’ll walk away from your budget faster than LiLo walks away from rehab. Trust me. I’ve been around the [budget] block a few times.

7. Assign a number to each category. Using #6, break your desired spending down by each category. Realistically, can you cut your grocery bill by $50 a month? Probably – give it a try. Do you need 479 cable channels? If you’re living in my house the answer is yes and your cable bill will remain astronomical. If you’re less TV addicted, you might be able to cut some spending there. Some of your categories – rent or mortgage, bills, insurance, etc – will be non-negotiable. I try to err on the side of estimating high for things like utilities so that I’m not shocked when I get the water bill every month. Just keep assigning budgets until you get through all your categories – then take a look and see where you need to cut a little more.

8. Look for less expensive alternatives. I call my cable company every 6 months and ask for a better deal. If they tell me “No”, I have my husband call back. He’s way more charming than I am. They always do something for us – whether it’s offering us an introductory rate or throwing in HBO so that we can watch even more television. You can also try out sites like http://www.billshrink.com/ and http://www.mint.com/ to find less expensive plans.

9. Start operating under the budget. Here’s where I plug the envelope system, but really as long as you’re diligent with your record keeping, you can put this into place however you want. If you allot $300 a month to spend on groceries and you get to June 27th and are out of grocery money, it’s time to eat what you have in the pantry. Or call up your parents and say “Do you want to see your grandson tonight? Great! What time’s dinner?” Understand that sometimes things come up, but don’t make it a general rule. If your car breaks down and your choice is lose your job because you can’t get to work or fix your car? It’s probably a good idea to get the car fixed.

10. Constantly Re-evaluate. For the first six months of our budget, we sat down for thirty minutes once a month and said to each other “How do you think this is working? Do we need to adjust any categories? Are we still enjoying life? Are we on our way to achieving our goals?” If you’ve hit a goal, set a new one. Trust me, the goals are a key to successful budgeting.

Thanks for having me, Lauren!

your top ten: newlywoodwards

2011-06-22T06:00:00.002-04:00

Hi! I'm Kim from NewlyWoodwards, and I'm super psyched about Lauren asking me to share my own top ten on Life Uncluttered. Since I'm list-obsessed, I had a horrible time narrowing it down to decide what to share. But, then my husband recommended gardening picks since we are midway through the growing season here in the Midwest. He's always so good at making a decision. One reason why I married him.
Ryan and I have learned a lot about gardening in the last few years. And if you are anything like me, you like to plant things that will come back bigger and better in the future. While we plant some annuals in pots and window boxes, we stick with perennial plants to fill out our garden beds. Have you heard how perennials grow? In the first year they sleep, the next year they creep, the third year they leap. That's totally true in our experience. The first two years are usually full of slow growth, but perennials take off during the third year and beyond.
And what could be better than your gardens making themselves better each year? With little help (or hinderance) from you.

So, here are my top picks for perennial gardens - those plants that I've had the most luck with. I've also included a few of my own garden photos to show how they look in our yard.

The NewlyWoodwards Top 10 Perennials

1. Iris

I'm beginning to believe that iris is impossible to kill. Seriously. It grows so fast that I can hardly keep up with it. I split my plants up this summer and it gave me enough iris to plant down the entire side of our new house. No fail. The blooms are really beautiful and I like the look of the leaves all summer.

2. Purple coneflower
This is probably my favorite garden plant. I love the color of the blooms and the height of the plants. And it's pretty enough to cut for blooms indoors.

3. Black-eyed Susans
Ryan's favorite perennial, we've had great luck with our Black-eyed Susan in the rain garden. It grows pretty fast and the blooms stick around for a long time, late into the summer.

4. Mums
I've heard that these are hit-or-miss in terms of garden success, but we've had wonderful luck with mums. I plant one or two every fall in full sun with well-drained soil. They always come back strong. I love having them for late-fall color in the garden.

5. Asiatic Lilies
I received several Asiatic Lilies from my aunt for my birthday a few years back, and they quickly became the stars of the front garden. They cluster and expand and the blooms are so pretty that they almost look unreal.

6. Salvia
I'm clearly drawn to purple perennials, but I love the unique look of salvia and the way it fills out a garden bed. A pretty plant on its own, it's really lovely with other plants in the garden.

7. Hosta
A no-fail shade garden perennial, I think many people underestimate the hosta. Why I love it? You can literally transplant it anytime you want without killing it. (That's probably an overstatement.) They are so darn hardy and there are so many varieties to choose from.

8. Day lilies
Forget the flowers on day lilies, I'm a huge fan of the foliage. When spring begins, day lilies are often the first green foliage I see in my area. I love the look of them as greenery, they are neat and clean. When the flowers bloom, it's just an added bonus to me.

9. Yarrow
We have yellow yarrow in our rain garden, and it's a really subtle beauty. It dries up really well and is lovely in arrangements.

10. Sedam
My mother-in-law calls this plant a live-forever. And the name fits, because it really is hardy. My father-in-law actually set fire to this plant and it came back the next year. I love the look of the leaves, which almost remind me of a succulent. It's lovely.

(Sedam on the far right, Black-eyed Susan in the center)

These are certainly not the only choices for perennial gardens, the great thing about plants is that there are literally endless choices. But for our Zone 5 Midwest gardens, we've had great luck with our Top 10.

Thanks to Lauren for inviting me over. Come visit us at NewlyWoodwards if you can stand any more of our musings. Until then, I really want to know about your top perennial plants!

What are your favorite perennials?

your top ten: little brick house

2011-06-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! My name is Kasey and from 'Little Brick House'. I was so excited when Lauren invited me to hop on over and share 'My Top 10' with all of you because right now I am currently obsessing over all things health and fitness.

Fitness and the health and the well being of my family has always been super important to me. I am also no stranger to weight loss. Growing up I was a bit on the chunky side [a bit?... okay, more like a LOT, ha!]. When I was 18yrs old I decided to join the Military and since than have never looked back. … Until I got pregnant with my little guy. I gained 80lbs during that pregnancy. However I didn't let it get me down. I stayed positive and once he was born I put my game face on and in little less than a year, I dropped the 80lbs... No diets, no pills, no special drinks... Just some good ol' healthy food, sweat and a little burn.

So for my top 10 I want to share with you some of my favorite resources and products that have helped me over the years with keeping myself motivated, positive and healthy :)

Cooking Light - I love to cook, however I don't always have the time to cook [between work and family] so when I started to search for new healthier cooking styles, I found the cooking light series. During my 'Pregnancy weight loss' journey, I went out and bought 2 of the CL books and have made so many delicious recipes out of these, and in less than 30mins!

Danskin – Before I was pregnant I liked to run... a lot. But going almost a year without running and an extra 80lbs on my body, it felt almost impossible to run. All that extra weight put a strain on my joints and I had to face the realization that I had to teach myself how to run all over again. First I started with some of the Danskin wrist and ankle weights. I strapped those babies on and started to do some serious power walking up and down the road. Ya... I might have gotten a few odd looks, but hey. I was getting it and I was pumped! These weights gave me that little extra 'umph' that I needed to drop some of the first 'few' lbs to start running again, and really build that heart rate up!

C9 by Champion – Of course we all know one of the most important things with working out is the workout clothing right? Comfortable clothing is key to a great workout. I fell in love with the C9 by Champion @ Target. I love the cropped, fitted pants because they are made with polyester and spandex and are super breathable and comfortable and they don't leave any noticeable sweat marks. The air flows right through them. Keeping you cool and focused!

Live Strong - useful information - Once I was ready take my workouts to the next level, a friend of mine started going to the local High School track with me to get some workouts in... I started with some HIIT [High Intensity Interval Training] around the track. Combining Plyometrics, power walking, running, sprints... etc. Than there were the Bleachers. Those lovely stadium sized bleachers. I went onto Livestrong and found some useful information, for not only my other workouts and fitness goals but also for running bleachers. Let me tell you, the first day I tried.. WOW... it was seriously hard but so invigorating!

P90X – Don't be intimidated by the name or the infomercials. My husband invested in P90X and with 45-50lbs already down from having the baby, I felt that I was ready to try it out. I won't lie to you... It was hard. Not the actual workouts themselves, but staying focused with a program that involved working out every single day for 90 days straight. In the end it was worth it. I didn't lose a large amount of weight [only about 5bs] but overall I lost about 27inches and gained new strengths I never knew I had!

Baby Trend Jogger - I did most of my working out @ night. Once my son was in bed. Being at work, I didn't want to waste any time with him once we were all home however I did invest in the Baby Trend Jogging stroller. For those beautiful weekends where I could go for a nice run and take my little Bubs' with me. Not only was I out getting some fresh air, but he was out with me and he especially loved going in the jogger.

Reebox Hand weights – I love my hand weights. I have a set of 3lbs and 8lbs. I used these weights when I did P90X and even there after, I would go onto Youtube and look up some simple exercises involving hand weights that would work my biceps, triceps, shoulders and chest. You would be surprised what a 3lb hand weight can do for your triceps :)

Success Stories – I have my days... I wake up and I am just totally not motivated, at all, to do any form of workout. Heck there have been times where I would go upwards of 3 weeks without working out because I was just bored. We all have those moments. But one thing that would get me back on track, or just to keep me inspired – Before and After photos and success stories. Seeing other people change their lives and go through the same struggles as me, gave me that extra push to keep going and to continue doing what I was doing.

Clean Eating - Lately I have been reading into 'Eat Clean'. Basically it's a form of a more 'natural' eating. Eating clean has really made me pay attention to not only the labels on products, but also the ingredients. My family has been sticking to more fruits and veggies, lean meats and using more 'good for you' items/ingredients. Not to worry... eating clean doesn't mean, eating boring... I made some deliciously awesome chocolate chip cookies where the calories were slashed in half and they even had protein!

Zumba! - Lastly... and my most current obsession. Zumba! We have the Xbox Kinect and so I bought the Zumba Fitness Game and let me tell you... It is seriously fun. It's super high energy, gets your heart going and a 45min. Workout is over with the blink of an eye, that's how fun it is! I don't even watch the clock or think about 'how much time do I have left'. I'm just so involved with the dancing that it's over before I know it.

So there you have my current top 10 for fitness and health. No matter what your goals are, whether to lose weight or to just get fit, the rewards of eating right and working out are so great. For the mind, body and the Soul!

your top ten: words on wendhurst

2011-06-17T06:00:00.004-04:00

Well hello there! My name is Jenny. :-) Lauren kindly invited me over to her blog today to talk to you about my favorite cleaning items. I blog over at Words on Wendhurst, usually about whatever strikes my fancy that day. My husband and I are renovating our 90 year old home that we've affectionately dubbed "Wendhurst Castle." A ninety year old home has had a lot of time to collect dirt and dust, plus we always have a new renovating project going, so needless to say I spend a lot of time cleaning! Here are some of my favorite things I use to clean:

1. Powerhouse Glass & Surface Cleaner I hate streaky windows. And my house has 23 windows and a plethora of mirrors! So I spend a lot of time on my glass. I love this stuff because it doesn't run down the window when I spray it on. It also shines up faucets super easily. The best part of this stuff? I buy it at the Dollar Store! One can lasts forever.

2. Microfiber Cloths If you still haven't jumped on the microfiber band wagon, what are you waiting for? I specifically like these for glass cleaning and dusting. No streaky windows and no dust floating around in the air to just settle down again when I'm done. Plus, they're washable so they last forever. I buy them in 8-packs in the automotive section of Walmart for about $5.00 but you can also find them at the dollar store for a little more moolah.

3. White Vinegar I love cleaning with vinegar. I've blogged about it before. I clean all my hardwood floors with hot water and vinegar. I clean all my counters with vinegar in a spray bottle. I pour some vinegar in my load of towels to get rid of mustiness. I set out a bowl of vinegar in a room I just finished painting, and the paint smell is gone in a few hours. This stuff is like magic, people!

4. Baking Soda Peanut butter and jelly were made to go together. So were vinegar and baking soda. Baking soda is abrasive, and a little on a sponge will scour away just about anything. I also dump some down our drains followed by a generous pour of vinegar to clean out the drains from time to time. And it's so cheap!

5. Pretty Broom I spend a lot of time sweeping our hardwood floors, so I bought myself a pretty broom. I found mine at Tuesday Morning, but I've also seen them at Marshalls, Homegoods and similar stores. Mine cost me $6 bucks and it makes me so happy.

6. Timer Something else I have blogged about before. When I am dreading a particular cleaning task, I set the timer for fifteen minutes and push myself to get as much done as possible. I typically manage to finish the whole task, and it was much more fun because I was racing the timer!

7. Oxiclean This stuff will get anything out of your clothes. Days old stains, makeup, food, blood... it works on any and everything. Do yourself a favor and pick up a box next time you are at the store.

8. Kurv I have a big old honking vacuum that I use from time to time, but this little handheld is so easy to use. And, it's so pretty! It hardly looks like a vacuum, so it's easy to leave out in plain sight. I use it on my stairs, to suck up the junk in my windowsills, to grab hairs in the bathroom, and even random bugs sometimes. :-) As long as you clean out the little dirt holder on a regular basis, you will never have trouble with its suction.

9. Magic Eraser The name says it all - it's magic! I keep a box of these on hand all the time. I particularly like how it gets scuffs and gunk off my oven and fridge, and on my stair risers. I've used it on my walls, in the bathroom tub, and to remove crayon from my coffee table. Just remember to rinse your surface off afterwards and you are golden!

10. Rice A weird one, I know. But this is my favorite way to clean long necked bottles, glasses and vases. You simply put a handful of rice in with some soapy water, cover the top with your hand and shake it for about thirty seconds. Voila! Sparkly clean glasses!

So those are all my little tips and tricks for making the best of cleaning. Thanks again Lauren for having me over here at Life Uncluttered!

All images taken from Google Images.

my top ten: beauty must haves

2011-06-16T06:00:00.002-04:00

1. Physicians Formula Tinted Moisturizer $10.00
I use this instead of foundation. It also has SPF in it which is a plus.

2. Giovanni Air Turbo Charged Mousse $8.00
I looked far and wide to find an organic mousse and this one fits the bill!

3. Physicians Formula Bronzer $13.95

4. Curling Iron $24.00
For when my waves need a little help.

5. Honeybee Gardens Mascara $10.99

6. Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream $14.95 for 8 fl oz.
Yes this shampoo is expensive but it's sulfate free and gently on my fine wavy hair. I keep coming back to it.

7. Velcro Rollers $6.00
When I blow dry my hair straight I use these to give my hair some much needed volume.

8. Honeybee Gardens Eye Liner Pencils $7.99

9. Mosturizing conditioner
My hair tends to be dry so a moisturizing conditioner is a must! I am not totally loyal to any conditioner right now.

10. Hair dryer $34.00
When I actually blow dry my hair {which is rare!} this is the hair dryer I use. I love that it came with the straightening and diffuser attachments.

What are your beauty must haves???

your top ten: shannanigans

2011-06-15T06:00:00.002-04:00

Well hello there. My name is Shannon and I write about conquering life, domesticity and baby boys over at my blog, Shannanigans. When I saw Lauren was doing top 10 lists, I knew I had a good one for her. If you’ve spent some time on the internet at all in the past few years, you know that cupcakes are the Fonzie of the baked goods world. Heyyyyyyy. Cupcakes are cool. And while things like cake pops, mini s’mores on a stick and tiny pies in jars might be trying to squeeze in on the action, cupcakes will always rule the school. And you can’t get away with plain ol’ chocolate or vanilla these days. If you’re planning on making some cupcakes (or cake muffins as I call them) then you better step up your flavor game. And I’m here to help. Here are my Top 10 Awesomest Cupcake Recipes. So get to baking and be sure to send some my way. Pleaseandthankyou.

10) The Shirley Temple
I‘ve loved a good Shirley Temple (Sprite with grenadine and maraschino cherries) since I was little and bartenders would make them for my cousins and I at weddings for a special treat. I guess we wanted to feel like we were drinking real cocktails? We felt very fancy so I’m pretty sure these cupcakes will have the same effect.

9) The Hi-Hat
If you like a high ratio of icing to actual cake then this one’s for you. Mountains of frosting piled high on the cupcake then encased in a hard chocolate shell? Sign.me.up. And this recipe is from Martha Stewart so you know they’re gonna be impressive.

8) The Salted Caramel
Another blog sensation this past year has been salted caramels. The addition of a good salt, like Fleur de Sel, to a gooey sweet caramel is pretty much to die for.

7) The Bomb Pop Go check these out. They are simply amazing to look at. It’s the red, white and blue bomb pop of your childhood ice cream truck and poolside memories. And just in time to get in a practice run before you make them for the 4th of July. I don’t care if I sit on my couch on the 4th, I’m totally making these.

6) The PB & J
Has it been awhile since you had a big glass of milk and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? If so, I’d suggest baking up some of these babies. And even if you eat PB & J for lunch everyday, like my husband, I’m pretty sure these would still be a welcome addition to your diet.

5) Margaritas
If you’ve read my blog once or a hundred times, you’d know that I pretty much declare my love for margaritas in every single post. They are the quintessential good time havin’ summer drink. So obviously these cupcakes will be the quintessential good time havin’ summer treat. Obviously.

4) The Churro
Once again, along with the margarita, I declare my love for all foods Mexican on a daily basis. But I usually stuff my face with chips and salsa so when it’s dessert time, I’m done for. And churros are definitely a once in awhile kind of dessert, usually found on the boardwalk or at a theme park. But tell me, who, I say who can resist deep fried cinnamon & sugar goodness? No one!

3) The Berry Lemonade
These not only sound refreshing but go look how cute they are. Seriously, go look. I’ll wait here. Oh, you’re back? I know, the tiny straws? Perfection.

2) The Shamrock Shake
You don’t have to wait til March for McDonald’s most perfect shake. Whip up these babies anytime of year to celebrate your Irishness. Or lackthereof.

1) The Nutella
There’s not much in this world that wouldn’t taste better with a glob of Nutella smeared on it. You could put Nutella on an old shoe and I’d at least give it a try. But combine it with cream cheese, almond butter and vanilla frosting? Well that may be the most perfect food on earth.

Now I’ll go find a doctor because I’m pretty sure I just induced a few sugar comas. Have a sweet day sweeties!

your top ten: cape on the corner

2011-06-13T06:00:00.004-04:00

A huge thank you to Lauren for inviting me to participate in the top 10 series. As a list lover, this is right up my alley. And as a ~~cheapskate~~ frugal minded person who wants to get the most for their money or their time, i thought the Top Ten Ways To Get More Bang For Your Buck would be a good fit. (Oh boy, i hope you see this the fancy way Lauren does it!)

the cape on the corner's top ten ways to get the most bang for your buck

I'm known amongst my friends, family, and coworkers for getting great deals on a multitude of things, from jewelry to events to clothes to food. When complimented on an outfit, the reply is usually "Kohl's clearance, with a coupon." I love helping others get more bang for their buck for doing what they're already doing, and these are the ways i go about it.

1. Have a love affair with Swagbucks, and work it, work it, work it. I work it simply. Install the swagbucks tool bar, and search through it. Told you, really simple. It is just one extra step-instead of going directly to a website, you are going to insert that website or search into your sb toolbar, press enter, and magically points will appear. You don't get points with every search, but you get points A LOT! And with those points you can redeem them for anything listed, but i have chosen Amazon gift codes. What can't you get from Amazon? I also do the swagbucks daily poll to earn points, and subscribe to blogs that tell you when a new code is available. But that's it, and i'm getting rewarded for doing something i do-surfing the internet- countless times a day!

2. Memolink is my baby. The boyfriend and I have been members for over 10 years (oh my gosh, how did that happen!) and i talk about this site to everyone. You buy things online, right? Get rewarded for it. Before i make a purchase online-every time-i see if Memolink has the store. If they do, i go to the store's website via ML, and earn points per dollar. You know groupon? ML has it. So it looks like this-search ml through swagbucks-buy groupon through ml-earn per dollar for something i was going to buy anyway. Oh, if only they would have etsy! If i send you a referral link via email, i get bonus points. You'd like me to have that right? I know you would...

3. Restaurant.com-of course, clicked through ML at 120 points per dollar, is the best place to score gift certificates for cheap to the listed restaurants. There are restrictions, like only good certain days of the week, but when they are 90% off and you're getting a $25 gift certificate for $1...i don't mind what the restrictions are. You can search most cities in the US, so a genius idea i can't take credit for is buying these for your vacation destination or your vacation home since you'll likely be going out to dinner there.

4. It's my birthday, and i'll get free if i want to. Friends, i make no bones about signing up for every email list i can get on, if it's going to result in free food for my birthday. Just went to a new place for dinner last weekend, and hopefully they'll throw something my way when October comes. My inlaws think this means cheap, i think if the places offer it, why the heck not take advantage?? I'm getting older anyway, why not get something for it?

5. Netflix is my friend. Instant netflix is best friend. I haven't been to the slums they call movie theaters in months. 10 bucks for an entire month of indies and foreigns, or see 1 new mediocre movie. Yeah, let me ruminate on that....Redbox and Instaflix are also good, and they provide free codes via text and email. Hey, for a dollar i'll pretty much see anything. And some are surprisingly good! Gnomeo and Juliet, anyone?

6. Credit cards that give back-at this very moment there is a $10 dollar reward card to Old Navy burning a hole in my wallet. Shop where i would anyway, and they give me money for doing so. Yes, thank you, more please.

7. Coupons-ok, i'm not talking couponing like a crazy person that stockpiles 62 mustards just because they can-but use coupons. In college my roommates would just buy the things they needed from anywhere, used absolutely no coupons, and never bought a spare to avoid this in the future. Do you know how much they charge at a gas station for basic necessities? Memolink and Swagbucks offer grocery coupons you print out, therefore only printing the ones you need, and you earn points when redeemed. It's like a thrifty savey cycle of goodness.

8. Online coupons-never buy anything online without searching for coupon codes. You don't always find them, but it's worth the free shipping or extra 30% off your order if it's out there in cyberland. Again, use that swagbucks toolbar!

9. Magazines-Websites like Tanga, Best Deal Magazines, and even Amazon have fantastic deals on popular mags or ones you haven't heard of. Super Chevy magazine for the boyfriend who restores old cars...yes. Natural Health magazine for your new age coworker....yes. Rolling Stone for your music lovin' self...yes. Got 'em all for around 3 bucks each for a whole year.

10. Coke points-yes, i partake in the occasional soda, and underneath that bottle cap or 12 pack is a code. That code translates into more cokes or other goodies, like a Better Homes and Garden subscription. For drinking coke, which we'd do anyway. My dad and best friend used to give us all their coke lids-now that they see us getting such great stuff, they have signed up for their own account. I may have asked the bartender at a recent wedding for the coke lids, i may have torn the codes from the 12 packs from a family barbecue, and we may have our friends collecting from neighbors. But i'm not saying.

So there you have it, the cape on the corner's guide to getting more bang for your buck. Yeesh, with it all piled together it sounds like a lot of work or i'm a lunatic, fanatically seeking out the best deal. I assure you that's not the case-i do a normal amount of fantatically seeking out the best deal.

I love discovering new blogs! If you thought these were great ideas, you have some of your own, or you wanna talk home remodel diy, please stop by.

your top ten: one day at a time

2011-06-12T06:00:00.002-04:00

Hey! I’m Kelly from One Day at a Time! I am a first time mom, wife, and kindergarten teacher. Lauren was super nice and asked me to guest blog over here at Life Uncluttered about my Top Ten Baby Product Must Haves.

If I have learned anything since bringing home my son Conner, almost eight weeks ago, it’s that there are simple, no frills baby products that you need. The problem is when you are a new mom you have no clue what you really need until the baby is home. While I am in no way an expert, I have found that there are some products that I can not live without and would highly recommend to others.

In no particular order, here they are:
1. Chicco Cortina Travel System. A bit pricey, but worth every penny. We spent an entire morning testing strollers while I was pregnant. This one is easy to open and close, the carrier snaps into the stroller and base without any issue and I can get it in and out of the trunk by myself. Being able to operate it easily and quickly is a must for mommies (and daddies too).

2. Playtex Diaper Genie II. If I’m being fully honest, I was SO anti-Diaper Genie from the get go. I registered for a simple, no frills diaper pail that worked until a family member(s) started to mention how stinky Conner’s room was. I did my research, bought into the hoopla and went out to purchase one. Two weeks later, I’m a believer. No stinky room and now the old diaper pail as being used as a trash can.

3. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. I thought it was a gimmick, but it’s totally not. Conner’s heiney is happier because of my choice in diaper rash protection. We use it every time he gets a diaper change.

4. Burp and Lap Pads. My mom recommended these when I was registering and I really had no clue what their purpose was until I was up at the wee hours of the morning changing crib sheets with a screaming baby in my arms. These are great for laying under baby to help prevent leaky diapers and spit up from getting everywhere. I pick the dirty pad up, throw it in the laundry, put another in it’s place and Conner’s crib sheet is still clean. They are also fabulous for putting under the baby’s head when he is playing on a blanket. Spit up happens!

5. Baby 411. This book is written by two female, mom, pediatricians. They are honest and offer useful, realistic advice (including when to call the doctor). It’s not a book that you sit down and read cover to cover. I would call it more of a “trouble shooting” guide for your newborn. Think he has colic? Check the book. What do you do about cradle cap? Check the book. Feel completely clueless at 2 a.m. when your baby is crying hysterically and you want to do the same? Check the book.

6. Gowns. Yes, I have a boy and yes, I put him gowns. Gowns are perfect for nap and bedtime because they have elastic at the bottom instead of buttons. They make diaper changes super quick and you don’t have to struggle with trying to snap up a sleeper while you’re half awake.

7. JJ Cole diaper caddy. I like this one because it has room for everything you need to change a diaper and it includes a washable pad.

8. Oxiclean Max Force Gel Stick. I have done more laundry in the past 8 weeks, than in my entire life. Rarely does a day go by when I don’t have a massive diaper explosion or spit up all over a perfectly clean onesie. After trial and error, I found out that just washing with normal detergent did not get the stains out. I randomly pick this up at Target and it works great!

9. Playtex Drop-Ins bottles. These are fabulous! First of all, clean up for these bottles is super easy. I usually soak them in warm soapy water and rinse them off or stick them in the dishwasher. The drop-in itself gets tossed in the trash. They are designed so that baby does not take in too much air, which can cause gas and a very unhappy baby. I also love their breast milk storage system. I can pump directly into the drop-ins and put them in the freezer or refrigerator for later use.

10. Boppy. This has a dual purpose; nursing and play. Because I had a c-section, I had a very tender scar across my stomach, which made it difficult to hold Conner while nursing. I would put the Boppy around me and lay him on top to nurse. We still use it for this purpose, but now that Conner is a little bigger, I am able to prop him up with the Boppy for stories or play. Purchasing multiple covers is a must because, like I said before, spit up happens!

Did I miss anything? Do you have any baby products that you absolutely love and can’t live without?

craziness

2011-06-08T06:00:00.003-04:00

Hi friends,

I am stopping by real quick to apologize in advance for my lack of posts this week. Things have been crazy since Saturday and have included having my summer job change twice, starting work today, and dealing with my second ever migrane among other things. Seeing that I haven't worked full time in oh.. about a year.. this week is going to be a major transition for me. Thanks for understanding!

Starting Friday {hopefully.. yay Kelly!} my guest post blogger series: Your Top Ten will be starting. Nine different bloggers are sharing their top ten lists of things ranging from budgeting tips, cleaning items to cupcake recipes. You won't want to miss it! Check here for more info.

In other news, our patio furniture arrived on Saturday and of course Banner took that opportunity to play in the box. So my friends I will leave you with a random picture {taken from my ipod} which is more proof that our dog is a weirdo.

eye candy: accent walls

2011-06-06T06:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend. This week's eye candy is accent walls. Accent walls could be a wall painted a different color or a wall that has a unique treatment on it. Are you a fan of accent walls?

Yellow Brick Home

Live Creating Yourself

???

Centsational Girl

???

Would you ever put an accent wall in your home?

welcome to the world of weeds

2011-06-03T06:00:00.001-04:00

The biggest pain in our butts has been our backyard. It was a disaster when we moved in and it's still a disaster but hopefully less of one.

The first thing we did was rip out that trellis thing. We have since built a raised flower bed and attempted to clean up the backyard a little. Here is what it looks like as of yesterday afternoon.

Not exactly a dream backyard.. but hey we are getting there. Chris and I built the raised flower bed using Kasey's directions and then we planted lily bulbs. {Note: I am aware that lilies can be dangerous for animals if eaten but Banner doesn't bother them and we always keep an eye on him when he goes out in the back}I only like to plant perrenials because I am lazy. Hey! It's the truth! We want to build another one in another part of the yard as well.

Our next steps are to plant some plants around the patio maybe with a little border and attempt to either grow some grass or sod the backyard. We also bought some patio furniture for the second patio in our backyard. Whoever planned this out must have been a weirdo. {Boozy Susie??} Why would anyone put in two small patios rather than one large one. No clue!

Here is the other patio, we have since moved the table to the larger of the two patios. Sadly the umbrella was broken during a severe thunderstorm last Spring.

So here is the plan:
* Put plants around the patio
* ~~Buy patio furniture~~
* Paint back door
* Sod or plant grass seed
* Build a second raised flower bed
* Buy a hose container

We had big plans this past weekend but the 100 degree weather put a damper on them. It was way to hot to be working in the backyard so hopefully we can get some stuff done this weekend.

Any tips or advice for backyards?? Should we sod or grow grass??

my top ten things to do to washington d.c.

2011-06-02T10:18:00.000-04:00

Having lived in the suburbs of Washington D.C. my whole life I am always amazed at how many visitors come into D.C. each year. So I thought I would share my top ten favorite things to do or see in Washington D.C. These are things that I usually take my friends and family to do when they come visit.

1. The Smithsonian Museums. They are all amazing and free! But if I had to pick my favorite it would be the recently renovated Museum of American History. Great runners up? The Air and Space Museum, the Museum of Natural History and the National Portrait Gallery.

2. See the monuments at night or by boat. The monuments are great to visit during the day to but many tour companies have night time tours which are a really neat way to check out the sites plus it's much cooler during the summer. Some of my favorite monuments? The Jefferson memorial, Lincoln memorial and FDR memorial.

3. The Spy Museum. I also recommend that people plan to take the interactive tour: operation spy. This does require some planning in advance because it often sells out.(check for coupons before you go) If you can's get into the interactive tour then don't bother going to the museum.

4. The Newseum. This is another really neat museum. You can see the unibombers cabin, part of the world trade center and even be a news anchor. It's kind of expensive $22 per person (adults) so make sure to check for coupons.

5. Arlington National Cemetery. Make sure to check out the tomb of the unknown solider.

6. Georgetown. Georgetown is such a neat place to walk around and has lots of shopping and restaurants.

7. The White House. If you plan ahead you might even be able to go inside!

8. Go to a sports game. If you are a baseball fan, be sure to check out the new Nationals Stadium!

9. The Kennedy Center. I love love going to the Kennedy Center. I try to go at least once a year to see a performance. (This year I am going to see Wicked for my birthday). They often have free concerts going on inside that are open to the public most days.

10. Mount Vernon. Okay so it's not exactly in the city but if you have time it's definitely a neat place to visit.

The best way to get around D.C.? The metro. It's pretty easy system but you can always ask a local for help if you are confused. I would also reccomend taking one of the trolley or duck tours of downtown D.C. especially in the summer. It gets hot here!

Have you ever been to D.C.?? What was your favorite thing to do? Did I miss one of your favorites?

my top ten: may

2011-06-01T06:00:00.007-04:00

Happy June! Hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend! This month has flown by for me! Here are the top ten things I enjoyed in May in no particular order.

1. Finishing my first year of graduate school!

2. Lands End Canvas shorts. I was pleasantly surprised by these shorts. I can't wait to get another pair.

3. Going to the movies. This month I saw Something Borrowed and The Hangover II in the theater.

4. Getting a summer job. I am going to be a program coordinator for the YMCA's summer camp.

5. Working on my 30 by 30 goals.

6. Jess LC's new handbags.

7. Jenna Sue's Wainscotting Project. Her dining room looks amazing and it cost less than $120!

8. Building a raised garden bed with Chris. We used this tutorial from Little Brick House to help us.

9. Killing Weeds in the backyard. We have been using vinegar and it's killing those suckers!

10. Kasey @ Thrify Little Blog's Summer Wardrobe finds.

What would make your top ten list this month?

light and bright in the bedroom

2011-05-27T06:00:00.004-04:00

We made a few changes in our master bedroom. Basically just the duvet actually.. it's amazing how new bedding can change the entire feel of a room. I am loving the simplicity of the white duvet right now and if I get bored I can always add some colorful pillows to liven things up. What do you think about the change?

how to organize your time

2011-05-25T06:00:00.005-04:00

So I am aware that no one but Kelly and I enjoy these posts.. but I'm doing another one! The alternate title to this post could be: how to actually get shit done when you don't have a regular routine.

The biggest challenge for me this past year was how to organize my time while I was in graduate school. Since I wasn't working full time I didn't truly have a "schedule". So here are my tips that I learned this year. I understand that my situation is unique but hopefully you can take some of these ideas and tweak them to fit into your life.

1. Have a morning routine. Even though I didn't need to get up at the same time everyday I tried my best to. My morning consisted of waking up, eating breakfast while catching up on reading blogs, maybe taking Banner on a walk (weather and time permitting) and then writing down my Big 3. Oh yeah and take a shower and get dressed everyday.. trust me it helps with your productivity.

2. Make yourself a list of your Big 3. These are the three most important things that need to be done. I would write these for myself in a little notebook or on my little monthly calendar that I keep in my purse. This helped me focus my day and time and also keep me from getting overwhelmed later in the semester.

3. Give yourself 10-15 minute breaks occasionally. Now I would spend hours and hours at a time reading or writing papers but I couldn't do it without occasional breaks. Give your body and your mind a break.

4. Reward yourself. When you accomplish your Big 3 for the day give yourself a little reward. I'm not saying go out and buy a new pair of shoes or something. But do something that you like as a little reward for yourself. Plus it helps with motivation!

5. Be wary of the computer. Since a lot of my time was spent writing papers it was all too tempting to click over to Facebook, Twitter or random sites rather than doing my work. Be careful! If you need to, turn off your internet connection.

So those are how I made it through my first year in graduate school getting all my work done and not losing my mind. What tips or tricks do you guys use to organize your time?

my battle with my body

2011-05-24T15:46:00.000-04:00

Today I had one of those days when you feel like you shouldn't have even gotten out of bed. The icing on the cake was when I pulled out my shorts from last summer and realized that they wouldn't button.

Then the tears came. This is not a new experience for me I have been forever battling my weight since I was in high school. Can I blame genetics: probably or myself: definitely. But it has taken me many years to realize that no matter how many diets I try, how many days I exercise.. I am never going to be a size 6. It's just not going to happen.

In my closet you can clothes from size 10 to size 14. Does this mean I am fat? Maybe. That is certainly what society would want me to think. Did you know that any model above a size 6 is considered a "plus size" model?? Seriously? But really I don't think it is style and clothing should be about a number although I know as well as the next woman that buying a bigger number hurts you right in the gut.

Will I ever be able to look at a picture of myself without criticizing my arms, stomach, legs, etc. Who knows. Do I want to lose weight? Yes. I would say that most people do. Will I try to exercise at least 3 days a week and make healthier choices? Yes. Will I beat myself up if I don't? No. But I don't want to lose weight only for vanity. I want to feel healthy, and have more energy. Because guess what society? I am never going to be a size 6 much less a 4. Get over it.

your opinion: five must haves for your home

2011-05-20T06:00:00.001-04:00

According to Nate Berkus, these are the top five things you must have in your home.

1. Books I agree! My favorite home decor books are here, here, here and here

2. Silver frames I do love silver frames but I also love white frames. My personal favorite silver frames are the Eliza frames from Crate and Barrel.

3. Original Artwork I agree! It's really neat when you have a one-of-a-kind piece that no one else has. Plus you could always make your own!

4. Natural Things Agreed Nate! Check out my finds here.

5. Mirrors I agree! I love having mirrors in the house. I have a serious love for sunburst mirrors and currently am drooling over this one from ZGallerie.

Do you agree with his picks? Did he miss something??

the top ten things I have learned about my style

2011-05-18T07:00:00.004-04:00

Here is what I have learned about my style from using pinterest:

1. I am obsessed with sunburst mirrors

2. I love graphic rugs

3. I love white kitchens and marble countertops

4. I prefer office nooks rather than a whole room dedicated as a home office

5. I am a little bit color phobic-- I like blues, greens, browns, tans with little punches of yellow and orange

6. Aqua and Orange may be my new favorite color combination

7. I love nailhead trim

8. I could look at pictures of perfectly styled bookcases all day

9. I enjoy colorful curtains

10. I need a white parsons desk ASAP!

Are you on Pinterest yet? How did you discover your style?

eye candy: dark and dramatic kitchens

2011-05-16T08:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend! Mine was filled with lots of relaxing activities now that I have one year of graduate school under my belt. This week's eye candy is kitchen's with lovely dark cabinets. Do you prefer dark kitchens or light kitchens? All these photos can be found on my pinterest album.

and now for something completely random

2011-05-14T00:51:00.001-04:00

I may or may not have cleaned my house thoroughly in the last four weeks.
I may or may not have spent an entire day in my pajamas huddled over my computer writing.

I may or may not be eating Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream at 1:30 in the morning.

I may or may not have done my hair in weeks.

I may or may not have drunk enough Diet Cokes to put myself to shame.

I may or may not have passed out in random places in the house from sheer exhaustion.

I may or may not have gone to sleep before midnight in weeks.

I may or may not have a stack of research studies that is taller than my back issues of Real Simple.

I may ~~or may not~~ have finished 3 thirty page papers, 2 presentations and 1 final exam!

As of tonight I am offically finished with my first year of graduate school! And to be honest, this semester kicked my butt! I have never spent so much time reading or writing papers before in my life. Phew! I am thankful for a few days off before I start my summer job.

eye candy: gallery walls

2011-05-09T09:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend! This week's eye candy is gallery walls. How do you feel about them? Would you put one in your house? Do you prefer the same frames or an eclectic mix?

???

Young House Love

got 20? scan something

2011-05-04T09:00:00.003-04:00

Got 20 minutes? Scan something!

Instead of keeping an inspirational binder seen here and here I have inspirational files on my computer. When I come across a great article or picture of something that I love I scan it onto my computer. Then I can pass along the magazine to a friend or recycle it!

You could also start an online "inspiration board" using Pinterest.

So how do you keep track of your favorite pictures or articles? Do you keep them? Toss them? Use a different organizational method?

my top ten: april

2011-05-02T08:00:00.003-04:00

It's now officially May which means that it is time to share my top ten things that I enjoyed in April. This month has flown by for me because I have been working on my three final projects due next week! Here are my top ten things that I enjoyed this month in no particular order.

1. Pinterest. I am officially obsessed.

2. Apartment Therapy's Living with Less series. Although they started back in February I just found the posts and enjoyed reading them all.

3. Kelly from One Day at a Time having Baby Conner!

4. Completing 3 things off of my 30 by 30 list! Yay me!

5. Banner turning 6 this month.

6. Almost having 50 followers! :)

7. The royal wedding. As nerdy as it sounds I did watch the Lifetime movie and read about the plans online! Although I did not get up super early to watch it live.

8. 10 Ways to Freshen Up your Decor by Maggie Rose

9. Yellow Brick Home's custom media wall unit

10. This makeover using Ikea Billy Bookcases

What would make your top ten this month??

30 by 30: trying to curb my caffeine addiction

2011-04-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

Okay guys, so I have tackled a few things on my 30 by 30 list:
I read 5 self help books, I painted the built-ins a great blue color and I went 30 days without buying anything I didn't need.

Next challenge: trying to curb my caffeine addiction.

Now I will be the first to admit that I am totally addicted to caffeine- ~~mostly~~ in the form of Diet Coke. I drink it in the morning in place of coffee and while I was teaching I could easily throw back 3-4+ a day. Now before you tell me how bad it is for me I already know. But like any addiction it is hard! I would get caffeine headaches and those suck.

So before I started this task I did a little baseline data to see how bad it really was. (I know.. there will always be a little teacher in me) So I tallied up how many Diet Coke's I drank a day. Honestly I was disgusted. For someone who is really making an effort to go green and use green products I was literally dumping chemicals into my body. Ugh!

So I am starting small.. I am trying just to elimate one Diet Coke a day.. and eventually I would like to get down to one Diet Coke a day or maybe even none!

So I am on a mission to treat my body better, maybe I will even lose some weight in the process and we will definitely save money!

I can't be the only one out there with this problem. So any advice or tips you have.. please let me know!

eye candy: stripes

2011-04-25T13:08:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a great weekend! It's time for another eye candy post. This time I rounded up some of my favorite pictures of a popular trend right now: stripes. You either love them or hate them. Either way, here are some of my favorite rooms with stripes.

Three Men and a Lady

Young House Love

Nuestra Vida Dulce

???

How do you feel about stripes? Would you ever paint a room in your house with stripes on the wall or ceiling?

P.S. I just joined pinterest. You can follow me here if you want!

10 ways to go green

2011-04-22T17:17:00.002-04:00

Happy Earth Day! In honor of Earth Day.. here are 10 ways that you can go green.

1. Stop using plastic water bottles.
It is really easy to use a water filter and resuable water bottle. We have a brita water filter that we have had forever.

2. Use resuable shopping bags
A lot of stores give you 5 cents back for every resuasable shopping bag you use!

3. Consider using green clearning products
Some of our favorite green brands include: Seventh Generation, Method and Mrs. Meyers.

4. Consider using green personal products
I have switched all my makeup to green products. My go to brands? Honeybee Gardens, Jessicurl, and Physicians Formula tinted mosturizer, bronzer and blush. Also check out Avalon Organics, Burts Bees and Toms of Maine. Check this site for ingredients.

5. Switch to CFL bulbs
Saves money and energy.

6. Install a programmable thermostat

7. Look for Energy Star products
When you are shopping for new applicances make sure to look for the Energy Star label.

8. Recycle
This is kind of a "no duh" one but you would be surprised how many people don't!

9. Buy used rather than new
Craigslist is probablly one of the best resources for this! Also check out Goodwill, thrift stores and freecycle.org

10. Consider using a compost bin
Check out some ideas here and here

Read more green ideas here, here, here, here, here, and here

How do you go green??

your opinion: nate berkus' three design trend picks

2011-04-20T14:14:00.002-04:00

Accoring to Nate Berkus there are three design trends that are here to stay:

1. Animal Print

West Elm

Overstock

2. Nail head trim and studs

3. Monograms

What do you think about his picks? Do you agree? Disagree?

eye candy: light and bright kitchens

2011-04-18T08:00:00.012-04:00

Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend. I spent the weekend reading research studies and working on graduate school work. Sound like fun? Anyways.. I am off to an interview this morning for a part-time job! Wish me luck!! This week's eye candy is some light and bright kitchens? Maybe if our kitchen looked like this I would actually cook.. or not.. Do you like the look of white cabinets or darker cabinets?

Lonny

???

Young House Love

Making It Lovely

???

Freckles Chic

got 20? floor and surface clean one room

2011-04-15T08:00:00.005-04:00

Got 20 minutes? Take that time to floor and surface clean one room in your house.

Start by vacuuming/mopping/sweeping the floor
Dust flat surfaces {for extra credit you can dust frames and shelves}
Declutter

Done! Set that timer and get cleaning!

Here are some of our favorite cleaning helpers:
(We do try to use eco-friendly cleaners but in some cases we haven't found a product that we love. If you have any reccomendations please share!)

Mrs. Meyers All Purpose Cleaner
We added some water and put this in a little spray bottle. Plus it smells great so that's an added bonus!

Shark vacuum
We love this little thing for sucking up Banner's hair on our hardwood floors. It doesn't pick up dog hair that well on carpet so we keep this one downstairs and our other vacuum upstairs with the carpet.

Microfiber cloths
We use these guys for dusting. I usually just use them by themselves.

Clorox Wipes
I love these guys for wiping down the bathroom daily.

Wet Swiffer
I know this isn't ideal but it is good for a quick little mop of the kitchen. We have to keep an eye on Banner and make sure he doesn't lick the floor.

Finish Dishwasher detergent
We have tried eco friendly dishwasher detergents.. but we keep coming back to this one because it works well for us.

Mrs. Meyer's dish soap
Love this stuff and the lavender smell!

Soft Scrub
For all the gross things that grow in the shower.

What are your favorite cleaning supplies???

deals and steals: pink

2011-04-13T08:00:00.002-04:00

This week I found 10 fun things in pink. Pink is not my favorite color but it's a fun color for Spring! Nothing is over $25. Happy Browsing!

1. Pink Ikat pillow $22.00

2. Crate and Barrel Pink Gerber Daisy Napkin Ring $2.95

3. Anthrologie Pink Rosy Knob $6.00

4. Old Navy Pink Smocked Top $24.94

5. Pink Love print $25.00

6.Crate and Barrel Pink Luggage Tag $4.95

7. Pink Chevron Stripes Personalized iPhone Wallpaper $3.99

8. Gap Skinny Leather Bow Belt $16.99

9. Honeybee Gardens Pink Nail polish $9.99

10. Etsy Pink Flower Photography Print $15.00

eye candy: bookshelves

2011-04-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

Ahh the bookshelf.. also known as the bane of my existence. I think it is really hard to decorate bookshelves and shelves. Any one with me? Anyways I am sharing some of my favorites from my inspiration file. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

bryn alexandra

little tin soilder

????

Made By Girl

Makeunder My Life

????

6th Street Design

Russet Street Reno

???

Any tips for decorating bookshelves???

spring cleaning

2011-04-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Have you started Spring Cleaning yet? Yeah.. neither have we! But here are some tips and checklists to help you get started!

Spring Cleaning Help:

Real Simple's Spring Cleaning Shortcuts
Martha Stewarts' Spring Cleaning Checklist
Woman's Day Spring Cleaning Checklists by Room
Casa Sugar's Spring Clearning Checklist

Spring Cleaning Tips:

Babble's 20 Things You Can Live Without
Goodhousekeeping 12 Easy Spring Cleaning Tips
Young House Love Easy Spring Updates
The Nest 8 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Spring
The Nest How to Toss Your Junk the Green Way

Any tips or tricks to help get through Spring Cleaning this year?

eye candy: living spaces with a graphic element

2011-04-04T08:00:00.003-04:00

I think that adding a graphic element can really step up a room. It could be as easy as adding a graphic rug, pillow or even chair. Check out some of these great rooms that use graphic elements in them.

Life Creating Yourself

bryn alexandria

6th Street Design School

DIY Diaries

Nate Berkus

Makeunder my Life

Would you ever consider adding a graphic element to a room in your house??

my top ten: march

2011-04-01T10:00:00.006-04:00

This month has been pretty busy for me. I was working on my no shopping challenge, painting our built-ins, midterms, subbing, taking a few days off to go to Florida and the never-ending work associated with graduate school. I don't know about you but I am ready for some Spring days with sunshine and warmer temperatures.

So without further ado.. here are my top ten things that I have enjoyed during March in no particular order.

1. Flavia's Home Decor Finds at Kohls

2. Girl Scout Cookies. No explanation needed.

3. Leigh's dresser makeover and den reveal

4. Iheartorganizing's household binder. What a great idea to keep your family organized!

5. Spring Break. I really enjoyed a week off and a few days down in Florida.

6. Little Brick House's dining room. I love the blue color she choose for the walls! I can't wait to see part 2!

7. Our new white duvet bought with store credit. Pictures coming soon!

8. Being finished with midterms!

9. Making it Lovely's basement redo

10. The beginning of Jenny's blue and orange nursery. I can't wait to see it all come together.

What would be on your top ten list this month?

P.S. Please take a minute to complete my little survey on the sidebar to let me know which types of posts you like to read here!

deals and steals: accessorize!

2011-03-30T10:00:00.003-04:00

It's time for another deals and steals post. This week I searched for fun spring accessories to update your wardrobe without spending a lot. Everything is under $20! Happy Browsing!

1. Old Navy Paisley Print Scarf $12.50

2. Target Gold Braided Sandals $15.00

3. Forever 21 Leopard Print Belt $3.50

4. Jess LC Earrings $18.00

5. Lands End Canvas Suede Skinny Belt $14.99

6. New York and Company Skinny Belt $19.95

7. Ann Taylor Loft Flower Pin $14.00

8. Target Merona Satchel $19.99

9. New York and Company Silver Watch $19.95

10. Kohls Bangle Bracelet $12.99

30 days of no shopping: tips

2011-03-28T15:46:00.003-04:00

Let me start by saying that I am not a shopping/saving expert. I am just a girl who quit her job, went back to graduate school full time and now I am relearning how to save and live with less. Here are some of my tips that helped me get through this month. These tips may or may not work for you but they were helpful to me!

1. Make an Amazon Wish List
I know this may sound counter-productive but bear with me. When I am browsing online which I am doing anyway I add things that catch my eye to my Amazon wish list. When I go back to look at it a few days or a week later I can usually talk myself out of half of the stuff I added. And the things that I keep I can work towards saving for. It's also a great place to direct friends and family for birthdays and holidays. Currently on my wish list: black flats, a floaty/comfy shirt, new sandals and a colored pencil skirt.

2. Ask yourself:

Do I love it??
Would I buy this at full price?
Does it go with what I already have?
Can I find this somewhere else cheaper?

Sometimes in a moment of shopping glory you just grab things because "it's such an amazing deal" or you just HAVE to have it because x, y, and z. But take a step back, take a deep breath and ask yourself the hard questions. Do you love it? Would you buy it at full price? Does it go with things I already have at home? Can I find this somewhere else cheaper? If you aren't sure than slowly walk away and walk out the door.

Home items: Nate Berkus and Peter Walsh both say that everything in your house should be a: beautiful or b: useful and bonus points if it's both!
Clothing items: Ask yourself: Is this flattering?? Be honest!! And no not for when you lose that 5-10 pounds, etc. Would you wear it tomorrow?

3. Unsubscribe from mailing lists/e-mail lists
Nothing is worse than having your favorite store e-mail you with the pieces that you MUST HAVE right now. Guess what? You don't need them. If you decide that you are looking for something then you can seek out the stores instead of them sucking you in. Seriously.. they have people that teach them how to do this!

4. Find other hobbies!
Find other things to do instead of shopping. Take a walk/run. Visit with friends. Watch a movie. And so on and so on...

5. Organize/Declutter something
Nothing kills your desire to go shopping like going through all the stuff that you already own! You might even find stuff that you forgot about.

Do you have any other tips that work for you?? Please share!

30 days of no shopping: update

2011-03-23T11:13:00.002-04:00

Thanks for your support in my shopping ban for 30 days. Unfortunately Spring Break really did me in. In a moment of weakness and a great sale I bought this cardigan in a really pretty corally red color. I know I know... My Dad also took me on a trip to the outlets while visiting him in Florida and I got some new pajamas, a skirt and tank top. But in my defense.. it is not very often that my Dad offers to take me shopping and picks up the bill!

So I am back on track now that I am home and I am adding ~~2 weeks~~ 1 week {Leigh convinced me!} to my shopping ban because I fell off the band wagon last week. Ugh!

I even organized my closet this past weekend to try to keep myself on track and make sure I could see what I had.

Things in graduate school are about to get really busy with midterms and then three huge final projects to work on that hopefully it will keep my occupied.

Phew.. glad I got that off my chest!

deals and steals: navy

2011-03-23T10:32:00.000-04:00

'
Hi friends! I am back this week with another Deals and Steals post. This week was inspired by the color of my built-ins! I rounded up 10 finds that are all below $30! Just because I am not shopping this month doesn't mean I can't browse! Happy Browsing!

1. Target Navy Tote Bag $25

2. Crate and Barrel Dinner Plate $8

3. Ann Taylor Loft Navy Cardigan $20

4. Navy Pillow $22

5. Anthropologie Latte Bowls $20 for a set of four

6. Old Navy Striped Tee $15

7. Target Navy Pillow $10

8. Anthropologie Navy and Yellow Bowl $14

9. Shop Mamie Navy and Gold Bangles $24

10. Lands End Canvas Navy Ballet Flats $30

Have an idea for deals and steals? Email me at lifeuncluttered@yahoo.com

living room revisited again

2011-03-14T15:05:00.001-04:00

We finally had a semi-sunny day so I could take some halfway decent pictures of the living room.

Here is a before to refresh your memory:

and more recently:

and the painted built-ins:

I'm not completely satisfied with the bookshelves yet but I love the color. I am so glad I went dark and bold.

Thoughts??

30 days of no shopping: day seven

2011-03-07T08:00:00.002-05:00

It's no secret that money is tight in our household right now. I think the only one who isn't feeling the pinch is Banner. We are basically living off one paycheck and my little bit of money I make substitute teaching. This month I have challenged myself to not buy anything I don't need for the entire month.

Honestly it has been tough for me. And it's only day seven. I don't know if I would go as far to say that I am a shopaholic but I definitely enjoy shopping and buying new things. Anyone with me?? Bueller??

Then I saw this little clip from the Nate Berkus show. Peter Walsh was on. Oprah's organizing guru guy. Honestly I like him a lot and I bought his new book Lighten Up for my Kindle {with an Amazon gift card!}

He asked "Do you shop to make yourself felf better?" Umm yup! And now we have piles of stuff in the basement and random closets and we need to go through and get rid of. I need to stop the madness!

Chris is not a shopper at all. Honestly he never buys himself anything. I have to "force" him to spend money/gift cards that he gets for birthdays and holidays, etc. So he is no help to me. He doesn't understand why this is so hard.

So no new cute Spring clothes for me this year. So stop sending me the must-haves for Spring Ann Taylor Loft. Thanks.

Any tips to help me survive this month??

deals and steals: colorful decor

2011-03-02T07:00:00.003-05:00

With the long and gloomy winter finally coming to an end {fingers crossed} I am craving some colorful accents for our house. Here are some fun decor finds I found and as usual everything is under $30! Happy Browsing!

1. Bright floral pillow $24 at Pier 1

2. Turquoise Napkins $13 for a set of 4 at Crate and Barrel

3. Blue Vases $15 for small $19 for tall at ZGallerie

4. Green Tray $30 at ZGallerie

5. Colorful Napkins $12 for a set of 8 at Target

6. Lumbar Pillow $24 at PB Teen

7. Orange Colander $18 at Target

8. Pinwale Alphabet $14 per letter at Anthropologie

9. Love Print $25 on Etsy

10. Inside Out Bowl $8 at Anthropologie

Psst! Have an ideas for deals and steals? Email me: lifeuncluttered@yahoo.com

my top ten: february

2011-03-01T14:46:00.001-05:00

This month has been a big adjustment period for me. Hence the lack of posting this month. I started substitute teaching and trying to balance all my graduate reading and school work with working a few days a week. I know how lame that sounds but I haven't been working since June!

Chris and I have also gotten serious about our budget and I am going on a no spending spree in March. I am going to try not to buy anything I/we don't need. The paint for the built in is an exception! :)

Anyway.. here are my top ten things that I have enjoyed in February in no particular order.

1. Kim's hexagonal tile in her new bathroom. Swoon! You have to check it out!

2. Russet Street Reno. Well it's new to me. I especially love their master bedroom.

3. Kelly @ One Day at a Time's nursery reveal! So sweet!

4. Modern Family. Seriously I love this show!

5. Erin sharing what her nursery looks like everyday. If I showed my our living room looked like on daily basis it wouldn't be pretty. Lots and Lots of books and research studies.

6. Sunshine. We actually saw the sun a few days this month!

7. Shannon's Chalkboard wall. So fun!

8. Style blog: Kramey Martin. Love her style and I wish I had her hair!

9. Highlighters. Lame I know but essential for all my reading.

10. Made By Girl's House Tour.

What would make your top ten this month??

your opinion: which color??

2011-02-23T23:46:00.002-05:00

Vote!! {please!}

color me happy

2011-02-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

Hi friends! Thanks for all the support with my 30 by 30 list. I am excited to get started and share my progress or lack thereof with you guys. It seems like a lot of our larger house projects have sort of been put on hold for right now due to:

a) lack of funding
b) lack of time

But we are trying to tackle a few smaller projects while we are saving our money for some bigger projects {i.e. the kitchen}

I am happy to report that Chris did accept my living room proposal and I will share pictures soon. I am waiting for the weather to cooperate and allow me to take some decent pictures.

I have also been craving a little more color in the living room. We have added a few touches of yellow and some blue in our throw pillows on the sofa but I wanted something a little more bold.

So I have decided to paint the back of our little built in bookcase a fun color.

So Chris and I swung by Home Depot so I could ~~steal~~ take some paint swatches home. I may or may not have stolen almost the whole wall of paint swatches and have them on a binder ring at home.

I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before but we are big Behr paint fans. We are loyal to them through and through. Every room in our house has been painted with Behr paint and for now we are happy with them.

I cut and taped up some diffferent colors onto the back of the built-in so I could see them in different light and decide which one I liked. So without further ado here is a cloudy day picture for you.

I am obviously leaning towards the one that the arrow is pointing to. This isn't that dark but it is pretty dark for us neutral paint lovers. It is called Waterscape by Behr.

So what do you think? Too dark? Should I choose a different color completely? Spill!

30 by 30

2011-02-21T06:00:00.002-05:00

I have decided that I am going to try to complete 30 things by the time I turn 30. January marked my half birthday so I now have a year and a half to complete the things on my list. Trust me I will need all that time to try to accomplish all of the things on my list!

Check out my list here.

It is still a work in progress!

Do you have a "life" to-do list?? What's on it?

eye candy: white bedding

2011-02-18T11:57:00.003-05:00

I am currently craving some crisp white bedding in our master bedroom...

{source}

As much as I love our blue bedroom I think it is time for a change in bedding.

P.S. The blog got a little makeover thanks to Penny Lane Designs. I love it!

happy hearts day

2011-02-14T06:00:00.014-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

It kind of stinks that it falls on a Monday but maybe that will make Monday more bearable! C. and I will be celebrating by having colds and I will be in class tonight! Sounds exciting right?

I think Valentines Day is not only about love and romance but also friendship so here is my challenge for you dear blog readers.

Call or send a note to your friends and family to let them know how much they mean to you. Extra points if you do this just because!

P.S. {no lipstick mark required}

How are you celebrating Valentine's Day?

easy bulletin board upgrade

2011-02-13T22:40:00.003-05:00

I saw a bulletin board here and here and decided that it was just what our little home office needed. The best part? It's a cheap and easy DIY project.

So I picked up a cheap bulletin board from Target. Bought some fabric and nailhead pins from Joann Fabrics and got to work.

It's not perfect but I love the look of it!

Have you tackled any craft projects recently??

deals and steals: natural decor

2011-02-09T07:00:00.003-05:00

In this deals and steals post I searched the web to find natural decor items for your home. Nate Berkus says you should have atleast one natural decor item in every room of your house! And nothing is over $30! Happy Browsing!

1. Z Gallerie shell sphere $13

2. Save on Crafts' manzanita branch $9

3. Pier 1 seagrass sphere on clearance for 98 cents!

4. Z Gallerie faux coral $25

5. Pier 1 capiz frame on clearance for $7.38

6. West Elm braided storage bin $19

7. Vintage Pickin's two white deer antlers $10

8. West Elm decorative pinecone $9

9. Crate and Barrel pinecone wreath $25

10. The Home Centric's mother of pearl pillow cover $28

your opinion: seasonal mantels

2011-02-07T07:00:00.010-05:00

I recently had a reader ask me if it was silly to decorate their mantel for every holiday and/or season.

My answer was no. But that does not mean you need to go buy holiday things for each and every holiday. There are easy ways to change things up like candles, mirrors, pictures, flowers, garlands etc. for each season. Here are some great mantels I rounded up.

Spring:

here, here

Summer:

here, here

Fall:

here, here, here

Winter:

here, here, here

You can read posts about changing up your mantel for the seasons here, here and here.

Do you decorate your mantel for each holiday/season? What are some of your must have mantel decorating items??

my top ten: january

2011-01-31T07:00:00.003-05:00

I honestly have no clue where January went. Between recovering from my cold, fighting insomnia and about 8 inches of snow...January was not very productive. I did not do so well on my resolution this month which was to have more energy. But I will continue to keep at it into February and I am now officially Mrs. Chris! Here are the top ten things I enjoyed this month in no particular order.

1. Kendi's Create a Working Closet Series. There are five parts and she inspired me to do a little closet makeover.

2 YHL's dark and dramatic built-ins.

3. Makeunder My Life's living room and bedroom tour.

4. Seeing the junk drawer overhauls over at a Brookstone Limestone.

5. A sneak peek of Kelly @ One Day At a Time's nursery!

6. Seeing that I am not the only one who has a room with crazy wallpaper in my house.

7. Freckles Chick's basement bathroom.

8. Seeing the progress of their home renovation over at Newly Woodwards.

9. Miss Prissy Paige's Unplugged Wednesdays.

10. 111 in 2011. Although I was super late and squeaked in at the last moment!

I hope you had a more productive month than I did! What would make your top ten this month??

111 things in 1/11

2011-01-28T21:39:00.003-05:00

I am a little tardy to join Jenny's 111 things in 1/11 party. But I am here and I have done a lot of purging this week. The biggest area that accumulates the most stuff is the basement.. specifically my craft area. I also look at my beautiful "after" picture and wish it looked like that.

But currently it looks a little more like this..

But I have been going through stuff that has somehow accumulated in our basement and have a lot of stuff that hasn't made the cut.

Here is the list of things that are saying goodbye:
4 pillows
1 quilt
1 computer monitor
2 duvet covers
6 sheet sets
3 hurricane vases
1 printer
1 old Christmas tree
4 lamps
2 fake pumpkins
8 placemats
1 Halloween sign
12 books
4 vases
2 pictures
1 woven vase
1 cookie jar
1 white board
1 mirror
1 memo board

Grand total: 57 things {if i counted correctly!}

Now off to Goodwill!

my top ten: december

2011-01-11T06:00:00.004-05:00

Better late than never! {right?? come on.. humor me!} Here are a list of the top ten things I enjoyed in December.. in no particular order!

1. Erin's nursery reveal. So freaking adorable!!

2. Kasey's Ikea deals or duds.

3. Kristen's felt wreath. And the fact that she got engaged! :)

4. Yellow Brick Home's pet shop. We bought a painting of my brother and sister in law's kitties for Christmas and it turned out great! They loved it!

5. Our new storm door. Which is now broken...

6. Working with Chris to make a budget. Not that exciting but very necessary!

7. Visiting family in California and going on our honeymoon in Kauai.

8. Hosting my second annual cookie party. Even though a bunch of people couldn't come at the last minute because they were sick! We still had fun and ate yummy treats!

9. Cityville on Facebook. Chris and I are officially obsessed with this game. Anyone else play? It's sort of like the old SimCity.

10. Seeing everyone's houses decorated for the holidays.

What would make your top ten??

2010: a year in review

2011-01-10T06:00:00.004-05:00

Happy {belated} Holidays and New Year! Chris and I just got back from the gorgeous island of Kauai and we have been sort of out of it thanks to a five hour time change and along with a lovely cold courtesy of flying on airplanes.

But I'm back!

So in the spirit of the New Year here is a look back at the top five things we accomplished in 2010.

Number 5. We made some changes to our home office, guest bathroom, living room and craft area in the basement.

Number 4. We organized.

Number 3. I completed lots of craft projects. Like my yarn wreath, felt wreath, monogramed totebags and tissue paper flowers.

Number 2. I shared my tips for accesorizing.

Number 1. We got married!

So now I need your help.. what do you guys enjoy reading most and least on Life Uncluttered? Organizing tips? Craft projects? Decorating? Shopping Ideas? Makeunder? Spill!

Honeymoon: Part I

2010-12-21T17:41:00.001-05:00

I just realized that I never recapped our mini honeymoon after our wedding My Dad surprised us with a quick trip to Orlando right after the wedding for a few days of much needed rest and recooperation. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando which was awesome.

We also made a trip over to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

In Islands of Adventure we made sure to stop by the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It was surprisingly busy considering it was October!

Here I am with the conductor of the Hogwarts Express!

Hogwarts!

We had a great time and are looking forward to continuing our honeymoon in Kauai next week!

my proposal

2010-12-19T21:21:00.002-05:00

My darling husband of three months has one major pet peeve about me.. the fact that I am always changing things around in our house. As you know if you have been reading my blog for awhile.. the one room I am always stuck on is our living room. It's sort of an awkward shape and I have tried numerous times to change the room to make it feel more like this one:

So I am creating this proposal to convince my wonderful husband that we should do this one last change. In return, I will not move around anymore furniture for two years or until we have a baby {these may happen about the same time.. who knows!}

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

So here we go:

Dear Chris,

As you already know I am not satisfied with our living room. I know I change my mind a lot but it is because it has taken me awhile to understand the problems and how to solve them.

Problem 1: Our living room feels small because of our oversized furniture.

Solution: We will move the couch down to the basement and give the leather one to charity. This will allow the couch and chair to match in the basement and create more of an airy feel in the living room.

Problem 2: Not enough seating. After we move the couch to the basement we will only have the loveseat in the living room which is not enough seating.

Solution: We will buy two chairs to place in the living room. By putting two chairs in the living room across from the couch we will have more seating when we have people over but by buying smaller and more streamlined chairs the living room will feel more spacious and not as cramped.

{{I also drew a little floorplan for Chris to show him how it would look.}}

Please take this into consideration and let me know what you decide.

Your loving wife.