We're hard at work with an Iron & Twine update, in the meantime, click here to see what we're sharing on The Handmade Home today!
A Summer DIY on The Handmade Home Today
Small Room Makeover | Part 1: Taking Down The Ceiling
You know those places that are left neglected in your house for years?
Well our bonus ~ tv room ~ small nook ~ is that place for us. Besides adding some blinds, a couch and tv, we've done nothing in there. Not even paint the rosey-beige colored walls?! So after our announcement of expecting twins, we've finally decided it's high time to get this room finished. Too small to become the nursery, we plan to use it for a tv ~ play room ~ very small guest room.
First thing on the to-do is to get rid of those horrid acoustic ceiling panels. It reminded us of our grade school classrooms and left this room with something to be desired. They also provided no insulation whatsoever leaving the room cold and drafty in the winter and sweltering hot in the summer. We're also pretty sure a large rodent had recently chosen the attic space above as his new home. So not wanting any new tenants, and hoping to add some character to the space, Brian took the ceiling panels down.
He also removed the molding, cleaned out the little insulation that resided in the attic and then cleaned the cross beams.
After further inspection, we decided to expose the cross beams. They'd add some interest to the room, while also allowing the ceiling to be higher. The plan is to add insulation to the attic space and install a tongue and groove ceiling.
We're super excited to finally get this project started! And we'd love to know what projects in your home you've been putting off?
Wishing you a happy day!
Mermaid Cottages | Blue Star Cottage
This charming, renovated 1960's cottage is the perfect place to relax and refresh. Located in quaint Tybee Island, the Blue Star Cottage is one of many great vacation rental options from Mermaid Cottages. It boasts a central location, just blocks to the beach and a short walk or bike ride to other parts of the island. It's the ideal cottage for a small family or a girls weekend getaway!
I stayed in the star room ~ I love that the owners brought the star theme throughout the cottage. There's also a room with two twin beds ~ perfect for the kids.
There's a third bedroom with a queen bed.
A cute dining room ~ with the essential blue hues & beach decor!
The full kitchen was the perfect size.
The sofa in the living room and the day bed in the sun room are the perfect spots for an afternoon nap.
After staying in this cottage earlier this year, there's clearly a standard that the Mermaid Cottages upholds with all of their properties. There's a 24-hour concierge phone line for goodness sakes! Where else does a vacation rental provide that?! Be sure to check out their site here, to find your perfect place to stay when visiting Tybee.
This post is partnership with the sun, the sand & Mermaid Cottages.
Tybee | Travel Guide
A few months ago, I had the privilege to visit beautiful Tybee here in Georgia for a bloggers weekend. It was my first trip to this charming beach town and ever since I've fallen in love. Sunny beaches, quiet streets and quaint cottages make this beach town an ideal destination. While there's quite a few places to stay on Tybee, hands down the best for vacation rentals is Mermaid Cottages. There's an abundance of options and I promise there's the perfect cottage or beach house to accommodate your party size and your ideal getaway. I had the pleasure of staying at Blue Star Cottage.
Its central location made it ideal for quick jaunts to the beach and it's closeness to the lighthouse made for an ideal bike ride. It's size is perfect for a small family or a girl's weekend getaway and tomorrow I'll share more about my wonderful stay in this cute cottage.
The beaches in Tybee are beautiful. It reminds me of my own lowcountry beaches with white khaki sand, sweeping dunes and swaying palmetto trees.
If traveling with children, or if you simply want to bring out your inner marine biologist, I highly recommend booking a beach trip with Dr. Joe. He'll walk you along the beaches while you learn about animals and habitats of Georgia's beaches and barrier islands.
Also, be sure to visit Tybee Island Light Station. My preferred method of visiting is by bike. On the way, be sure to bike by Officers Row. And if you're wanting to stay in one of these historic homes, check out White Caps, a breathtaking property built in 1897 as officers quarters during the Spanish American war! How awesome is that?! Not wanting to haul your own bike to the beach (I don't even have one), Tim's Bike & Beach Gear Rentals are affordable and easy ~ they deliver and pick up the bikes right from your vacation rental.
For lunch it's a picnic on the beach! Visit Tybee Market IGA for deli sandwiches and snacks.
In the afternoon, get your shopping fix by visiting Seaside Sisters. They carry the cutest souvenirs, home decor, gifts, books and more. For dinner I highly recommend Tybee Island Social Club. Not only is the food amazing, but the decor is a must see!
I fell in love with Tybee so much, that Brian and I are currently enjoying a quick getaway in this charming beach town. Be sure to follow along on Instagram to see our current travels and be sure to visit the blog for more of Tybee Beach Week!
This post is brought to you by the sun, sand and Mermaid Cottages!
Last Chance to Enter | Chairish $100 Giveaway
Say What?!
You haven't entered yet?!
Today's your last chance!
Click the link above, and be sure to visit the entire
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Wishing you a happy day!
Kenroy Home | Broadcast Light Pendant
The weather this weekend in Atlanta was beautiful! I love this time of year, with our newly bloomed azaleas and the warm Spring air! Hands down one of my favorite things in the world is dining al fresco, shared with great company, it makes for a wonderful evening. And after sharing our exciting news last week, quiet dinners with just the two of us will become far and few between. So, I've vowed to enjoy more outdoor dining and when Kenroy Home contacted us about their product line,
I fell in love with their Broadcast Light Pendant.
It's the perfect outdoor light, not too big or bulky and can easily transition from space to space. It would work great on a porch and would look amazing hung in multiples under a pergola.
After choosing a quiet nook in our yard, I decided to hang ours from a tree. Not only is it super cute, but my favorite feature is that you can turn it off without having to unplug it ~ how great is that!
With all the exciting to-dos ahead, I'm so happy to take some time for just the two of us, enjoying the outdoors and sharing a good meal!
What small moments are you looking forward to this Spring?
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This is a sponsored post by Kenroy Home. All opinions and photos are my own.
DIY Belt Strap Tote
You know I love finding practical uses for old items and currently I'm obsessed with thrifted belts! For just a couple bucks you can typically find quality leather or a fun color. After craving a new market tote, I shared this DIY at Sand & Sisal a few weeks back. And by using an already made tote, it's a simple way to customize and upgrade a boring bag.
Perfect for picnics, farmer's markets & flea markets, tote bags are a personal Springtime favorite!
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Materials Needed:
Canvas Tote
*I bought this 3 pack for $6.99*
Nylon or Leather Belt
*I found mine for $1-2 at local thrift stores*
Scissors
Starter Punch
*For $5 this one is the perfect size!
Scrap Wood
Rubber Mallet
Binding Post Screws
*I used 8 of these on each bag, but depending on the thickness of your bag and belt you may need to go bigger/smaller*
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To Make:
Take your tote and cut off any existing handles.
If your bag is as wrinkled as mine, now's a good time to iron it.
Take your belt and cut two handles of equal length.
*Helpful Tip: If cutting nylon be sure to burn the edges to prevent fraying.
From there, decide the placement of your handle, and mark with a pencil if needed.
After deciding where you want your holes, place your starter punch over both the belt and tote. Hold steady and use a mallet to hammer on the starter punch to make a hole:
*Be sure to do this on a hard surface and it's essential to have a piece of wood under your tote for the starter punch to compress into.
From there simply screw your binding posts together to attach your belt to your tote.
Continue to punch holes and attach your handle until your bag is finished:
For my leather strap tote, I did the same process, but opted to round the edges of my handles and placed them slightly lower:
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Want to upcycle more belts?
Check out this DIY turning old belts, fabric and cardboard boxes
into pretty storage bins.
Meet Chairish & Enter To Win $100 Credit
You know how much I love scouring for unique finds and eclectic statement pieces, well there's this amazing site that I'm smitten over...Chairish! If you have yet to check them out, I promise it's a must! You can buy (or sell!) antique, vintage or gently used items. This is a place to find those coveted pieces that are not only quality, but each item is vetted by the Chairish team, ensuring you're not endlessly searching though a bunch of junk!
Read on to see the items I personally love (and want) and be sure to check out the
entire Iron & Twine Collection!
Bohemian Beach House
I'm currently craving a beachy, slightly tropical vibe in our home. I love warm weather...bring on the sunshine, the warmth and color! I envision neutrals, with pops of color, surrounded by a collection of eclectic finds, like in the photo below:
To get this look, I'm loving these pieces from Chairish:
I always love bringing the outdoors in, but this time of year I relish in an outdoor living space. To create a cozy, yet stylish backyard oasis, I love the juxtaposition of rustic and worn paired with bright bold patterns, like in the photo below:
Speaking of selling items...they have this easy to use iphone App ~ and if you're like me, this is the perfect time of year to do some Spring cleaning! As if discovering the world of Chairish isn't enough, they're offering Iron & Twine readers a chance to win a $100 credit to their site! Be sure to stop by Chairish to see the entire Iron & Twine Collection and don't forget to enter the sweepstakes by Friday, April 18th!
Happy Shopping!
This is a partnered post with Chairish.com , and like always all opinions are my own!
What's Your Style Series | Our Bedroom & Giveaway
So glad you're joining us for the final installment of What's Your Style Series, hosted by Jenna from Rain on a Tin Roof and Jamie from So Much Better with Age. Like I shared in Part 1: Living Room Edition and Part 2: Kitchen Edition, our approach to style is more of a mantra:
Simple, Vintage, Antique, Design.
And like our Kitchen, our Bedroom has been a slow evolution over time.
What originally started as a dark khaki room with popcorn ceilings...
Turned into this...
A wood accent wall was added using damaged fencing boards from our local Lowes that we purchased for a total of $25! A grey wash was applied, but quickly realized the color palette wasn't quite what we wanted. So we painted it white, which worked out significantly better with the headboard and bedding we already owned:
To keep things
Simple
and cost effective, we up-cycled old retail displays that we bought for 50 cents each into side tables. Not what we had planned to use for the past two years, but they've done the job! An addition of navy ribbon trim helped add character:
Vintage & Antique
In looking for some unexpected art, we were thrilled when we came across this old Magnolia Gas Sign. Our wedding reception was at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens in Charleston, SC and we now have a HUGE magnolia tree in our front yard, so the name seemed fitting.
Design
Our home is always a work in progress and hopefully always evolving. The addition of a Mohawk Rug was a welcome change this past winter.
And right now I'm currently updating our bedding which I hope to finish soon!
In the meantime, be sure to check out all these other blogs for additional Bedroom Inspiration!
Tuesday, March 25th
Wednesday, March 26th
And don't forget to enter the giveaway below:
What's Your Style Series | Our Kitchen & Giveaway
So glad you're joining us for round two of What's Your Style Series, hosted by Jenna from Rain on a Tin Roof & Jamie from So Much Better With Age. If your coming over from Shabby Love, then welcome! Like I shared in part one: living room edition, our approach to style is more of a mantra:
Simple, Vintage, Antique, Design.
And when it comes to the kitchen it's no different.
SIMPLE
The addition of metro shelving has helped drastically with the overall function of our kitchen. By keeping things within reach, meals and entertaining are a cinch while also providing additional storage.
Organization is key. Drawer liners, organized cabinets & under sink storage are a couple ways we keep our kitchen in order.
VINTAGE
It wouldn't be our home without the use of vintage items and our kitchen is home to the hands-down most used item in our household ~ our silverware! This silver-plate flatware started as a small collection when I was a little girl, then graced the tables at our wedding and now is part of our daily life in our home.
ANTIQUE
Wicker Demijohns are one of my favorites! They add texture and warmth to a space and also make great statement pieces in the kitchen.
DESIGN
Our kitchen makeover is still a work in progress ~ please forgive some of the Christmas pics as our kitchen is currently a construction zone once again! When it came to the design of our space we wanted a farmhouse-bistro feel. Well to be completely honest, in the beginning we wanted it to feel bigger, brighter, and cleaner. After all this is what it looked like a few weeks after moving in:
What can I say?! We saw potential :)
After refinishing the cabinets...adding new counter top, sink, lighting and appliances...taking down the ceiling...adding a new ceiling...taking up the floors...adding wood floors...priming & painting our kitchen is almost finished.
Don't forget to visit the following for more kitchen style and inspiration:
Tuesday, February 25th
Wednesday, February 26th
And be sure to enter the Giveaway below!
Tybee Beach Picnic
What's better than a picnic on the beach?! While on a recent trip to Tybee Island, Georgia, my blogger bestie Heidi from Parties for Pennies and I decided to throw a picnic, each in our own style. Heidi's is BEAUTIFUL! Be sure to stop by to see how she dishes out a beautiful yet functional setup! For me, when it comes to the beach it's all about ease. Bring a colorful blanket that's big enough for two (or four) and also doubles as the perfect sunbathing spot.
A Seabag beach tote and a vintage picnic basket are my favorite beach go-tos. When it comes to picnic food, I'm a sucker for a local sandwich, chips, sparkling water and an apple.
Sandwiches are wrapped in parchment paper that doubles as a place-mat and chips are stored in a brown paper bag. Bring along some utensils, I prefer wooden ones. And for a napkin, choose cloth over paper. Not only do cloth napkins not fly away as easily, but they come in very handy for sandy hands!
Helpful tip ~ eat like the locals! I stopped by the Tybee Market IGA to pick up a fresh deli sandwich and asked for a local favorite ~ I was told the mini cheese pie was a must.
Another picnic staple of mine is salt & pepper! Who says you can't add seasoning at the beach? These mini salt & pepper shakers have come in quite handy and are the perfect size to include in a picnic basket. But above all else, be sure to watch for unwanted guests:
Here's a sneak peak at Heidi's beautiful layout:
Be sure to see more of hers here! And don't forget to enter her giveaway!
Happy Valentine's Day from Me to You
I can't express enough how grateful I am for this amazing readership! I'm continuously shocked and awed at your kind emails and thoughtful comments. I appreciate your encouragement as this tiny blog grows and I'm so thankful you let me share my stories & journeys with all of you! Some really exciting things have been happening over here at Iron & Twine and I can't help but feel it's all of your doing! Today you'll find us featured on 6th Street Design School (this blows my mind!):
Also, if you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed quite a few pics from beautiful Tybee. I can't wait to share more with you about that trip. So, next week is Beach Week, here at Iron & Twine.
Again, thank you...thank you...thank you!
My heart is full today with love for every.single.one of you!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
Last week I shared some recent living room updates that included this Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree. Yes, I jumped on the add a plant to your interiors bandwagon, and yes I'm loving it! After pursuing around the internet and getting some much needed advise from our local nursery, we decided on this 5 foot plant.
Maintenance on these is somewhat minimal and what I love most is that it doesn't need direct sunlight ~ meaning I didn't have to place him right in front of a window. Now don't get me wrong, this plant needs plenty of indirect light, which lucky for us we have a great big picture window in our living room. And watering isn't crazy either, in fact, the knowledgeable staff at Pike Nursery in Atlanta, told us to watch the leaves, when they begin to wilt you need to give it more water. But never drench or drown the plant in H2O. Another helpful hint: we were told if we found we'd water it, then it would wilt in just a couple days, etc, etc, then more than likely it's large root ball is unable to soak up the amount of water needed. Typically these trees roots overtake the pot they're in, not allowing for enough soil to soak up and hold the nutrients. They told us at that point either place it in a larger container with more soil, or simply place a saucer under the pot and fill with water, that way the plant can take in more water as needed. So far, so good! He's the colorful statement we needed in our living space.
Have you re-introduced house plants into your home?
Decorating with Pictures | #FoodieFrames
Hello! Today I'm so excited to be part of the Decorating with Pictures series over at Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke Photography!
For those of you coming over from Kristen's site, welcome! If you're just joining the party, be sure to check out Kristen's site every day of February for awesome picture ideas and twice a day giveaways!!!
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When it comes to decorating our home with pictures, I love showcasing snapshots of recent travels and small moments in time that bring back a memory ~ isn't that what we all are striving for?! Because our household has yet to have kids in it, sometimes it's hard to figure out what photos to display. One of my pleasures in life is good food & good company ~ so, what better place than my kitchen to display those snapshots in time and also add some daily inspiration to my cooking. Inspired by these matte postcards:
I decided to mimic the look by printing my photos from home on watercolor paper ~ yup, watercolor paper. It gave each photo a slightly vintage look and mimicked those found in vintage 90's catalogs.
From there I framed each pic in Ikea frames and used my label maker to label the restaurant, location and date:
To display our #foodieframes, I hung them above our metro shelving in the kitchen and plan to add to that wall as future foodie memories are made.
Now head back over to Kristen's site to enter this morning's generous giveaway from Brin & Bell!
It's worth $100 and not worth missing!!!
What's Your Style Series | Our Living Room Design & Giveaway
So glad you stopped by for day two of What's Your Style, Living Room Edition!
If you're coming over from DIY ShowOff, then Welcome!
Our style can best be described as Eclectic with notes of coastal, cottage and country design. Brian and I have lived in a very wide range of places and take a lot of cues from the lifestyles of those settings. Everywhere from the coast of Maine to the Carolina lowcountry, Nashville to Colorado, even Australia and the Philippines. Now that we live in Atlanta, it's hard for us not to bring some of those environments into our present home. My approach to design is more of a mantra of sorts:
Simple.Vintage.Antique.Design.
This is what I mean by that:
SIMPLE
We strive for simple design that maximizes our small space. We're always seeking creative storage ideas and most things in our home need to serve multiple purposes. We stay away from fussy things and although we've gone with a neutral color palette, slipcovers and washable fabrics help keep the maintenance manageable. We want our home to feel warm and comfortable and ultimately be our happy place. Another reason I LOVE neutrals?! It allows for easy transitions from seasons and holidays. Switch out a couple pillows and add a colorful throw for an entirely new look ~ who doesn't love that?!
VINTAGE
Thrifting is a favorite pastime and a lot of the items in our home have been scored for a couple bucks. For example, the map behind the Fiddle Leaf Tree was a 25 cents find and the Navy Gourmet Magazine Folders in the Hutch were $5 each.
ANTIQUE
Weekends are spent at Antique Markets and quaint rows of shops searching for that perfect statement piece. We love the look of mixing old with new and like to bring that into each room of our home. An antique wallpaper table for a computer desk? Why not!
Another design tip:
Most people know to layer textures, colors and fabrics, but we also challenge ourselves to layer varying price points. A HomeGoods lamp on an antique French Table? Go for it! Hunt for new or thrifted items that will best compliment your vintage and antique statement piece.
We always want our home to evolve with us and the experiences we have. We strongly believe your house should serve you and your household as well as represent who you are as a family. After all, this is your home.
So whether you're a new home owner, or already have an established home, know that everyone goes through design challenges. Ultimately, it's about investing in pieces you love and knowing the rest will fall into place!
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Be sure to check out all the bloggers on the tour:
Jenna from Rain on a Tin Roof
Lucy from Craftberry Bush
Melissa from Shabby Love
Lindsay from The White Buffalo Styling Co.
Laura from Finding Home
Jamie from So Much Better with Age
Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage
Kelly from Eclectically Vintage
Danika from Gorgeous Shiny Things
Roeshel from DIY Showoff
And don't forget...
There's a GIVEAWAY!
And if it looks familiar, I'm offering another Mohawk Home Rug Giveaway right now on this post. So be sure to enter our What's Your Style Giveaway below:
What's Your Style? | Introducing a 3 Month Series
Hello Happy People!
I'm super excited to be teaming up with 12 other bloggers to share insight into our own personal style. The series kicks off today, so be sure to visit the following bloggers for plenty of living room inspiration:
Jenna from Rain on a Tin Roof
Lucy from Craftberry Bush
Melissa from Shabby Love
Lindsay from The White Buffalo Styling Co.
Laura from Finding Home
And check back tomorrow to see my updated living room:
along with more living room inspiration from these bloggers:
Jamie from So Much Better with Age
Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage
Kelly from Eclectically Vintage
Danika from Gorgeous Shiny Things
Roeshel from DIY Showoff
Oh and one more super fun thing!
There's a GIVEAWAY!
And if it looks familiar, I'm offering another Mohawk Home Rug Giveaway right now on this post. So be sure to enter our What's Your Style Giveaway below:
Mohawk Home Rug Review & Giveaway
Baby it's COLD outside!
I don't know about you, but this winter is being unusually brutal! And for those of you with an older home you know that no matter how much insulating you do, they tend to be a bit drafty. In our home, our problem is the original hardwood floors allow for the cold air to flow straight up from our freezing crawl space. And there is NOTHING worse than waking up in the morning to cold hardwood floors.
So when the nice folks at Mohawk Home contacted us a couple months back asking if we'd do a rug review of course I jumped at the chance!
We decided to go with the 8x10 Frise Shag Rug in color Starch. When our rug arrived I was pleasantly surprised! The quality at this price point surpassed my expectations. It was plush and the neutral color was perfect for our bedroom decor!
Now for the question I know you're asking.
A WHITE, shag rug with Rawley?!
Yup, I was super skeptical and on day one, told Brian we should't let Rawley in our room. Brian's response: "Good luck with that". So of course, the first chance he got, Rawley ran in and plopped right down on my brand new rug. I mean look at this face:
We were asked to do a review and an honest one is what we want to give to you guys. Like all of you know, Rawley is a HUGE part of our life and me editing him out of this process would be unrealistic. So, for last eight weeks, we've lived with this rug. During that time, our bedroom had become holiday central ~ piles of clothes and gifts quickly amassed all over our bedroom floor. Old, worn suitcases were packed and stored there before going to Maine and of course Rawley made this his new hang out. Needless to say, this rug has already endured plenty of wear & tear.
So, I'm very happy to share that this rug passed all tests, warm cozy feet included! All photos in this post, with the exception of the two with Rawley, were taken this week, 2 months after installing the rug. Not only does the color compliment our decor, but the durability makes this rug a really practical addition to our bedroom for the winter months!
As if I couldn't love this rug anymore, there's one more point that makes me Oh So Happy!
Mohawk Home manufactures right here in the USofA!!!
Like most of you, I'm trying hard to seek out quality products made in the USA, so knowing that this rug was made in my own Georgia backyard was icing on the cake. And I'm pretty sure this Mohawk Home short made me even more Patriotic:
tradition, quality, craftsmanship
What more could we ask for?
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Now, enough about me and my rug ~ the kind team at Mohawk Home is offering one lucky reader any, yes ANY 5x8 rug valued at $150 or under.
Check out the area rug options at http://www.mohawkhome.com/
and enter the giveaway by following the instructions below:
and enter the giveaway by following the instructions below:
You can also find home inspiration and more from Mohawk Home by visiting their blog, Mohawk Homescapes and following them on Google+, Pinterest and Houzz.
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This post is sponsored by Mohawk Home, however all opinions are my own.
Do As I Say...Not As I Do
This month is all about organization and today I wanted to share a recent challenge of my own. I love the feeling of an organized space, one where everything has a purpose and a place. Brian and I have chosen to live in a small home and I never want to feel like we're busting at the seams. So of course every January we re-edit and re-organize our space, after all we want to allow plenty of room to grow. I would like to think I always practice what I preach, but there's always one area that I'm reluctant to edit. And like most of you know it's always easier to dish out the guidance rather than implement those same words of wisdom into your own life.
Here's the situation I found myself in:
In going through my closet I can't seem to part with anything! An old grungy t-shirt, a bathing suit I have no business wearing, a dress that was worn once & hasn't seen the light of day for a whopping 8 years and an entire stack of shorts that fit me a lifetime ago. Every article of clothing either has a story or a future purpose, "But that t-shirt is from college!" "I wore that bathing suit on our honeymoon" "That dress would be perfect for our little girl to play dress up in" and "Those shorts are in great condition and I'm planning to loose some weight."
Are you laughing as hard as I am right now?
I mean how ridiculous do I sound?! First off, why am I attached to a t-shirt that doesn't even make the cut as a dust rag? I will never again be caught dead wearing that bathing suit. Saving a dress I never liked for future off-spring to play in? Really?! And even if I DID loose enough weight to get myself back in those shorts, they're way too short!
If the person above was a client, a friend or reader, I'd know exactly what to say. But, when it's your home, your things, your life, it becomes personal. Things become sentimental and all too often it becomes easy to justify an item's need based on emotion rather than necessity. And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we should get rid of everything. There are those items that you keep solely based on the memory. For example my wedding dress, I will never wear my wedding dress again (I know I could cut it, or dye it, but I prefer to preserve it). And it's not a style any future daughter or daughter-in-law will wear, but for me it's a symbol of that day and I LOVE it! But a grungy t-shirt from my college days?! I'm sure there's a more meaningful, more practical and frankly a more beautiful object that can symbolize that time in my life.
So, if you find yourself having a hard time parting with items or are simply overwhelmed by the process, know that you're not alone. To start practicing what I preach, here's the way I plan to help myself edit the hard-to-part-with clutter in my life:
Do I LOVE it?
It's a simple question, but the answer can give a lot of insight?
On the fence? Try assigning a number, 1-10 (10 being the best) to an item. If it's an 8-10 then you're not ready to part with it. If it's a 7 put it in a 'maybe' pile and address it later. If' it's a 6 or below it's time to say goodbye!
I'm beginning to assign 10's to everything
(including grungy t-shirts)
Now What?
Admit out loud the excuses:
"I know I haven't worn this shirt in 3 years, but it would be perfect if we ever go on a cruise".
Key words: "three years" "if we ever"
Holding onto things for a future event that isn't already planned only contributes to the clutter. If you haven't used an item for over a year odds are you never will.
Could someone else benefit from this?
Me storing and hoarding an item, that I no longer love doesn't help me or anyone else. I may not love that dress anymore, but someone else might. Not wanting to just give it away? Then try selling it. Rather than holding onto a dress that you'll never wear, put the money you get for it towards a new dress you will wear.
Bring In Reinforcement
When all else fails, ask a friend or family member to hold you accountable. Having to look Brian in the eye and explain to him why an old grungy t-shirt was meaningful really made me re-think my thought process. We both were laughing hysterically at how incredibly irrational I was being. Again, is it the item I'm wanting to hold on to, or the meaning it symbolizes?
So, today I'm determined to edit my wardrobe and be successful in my attempts.
What organization project typically stalls you out?
How To Fold A Long Sleeve Shirt
How To Fold A Shirt Using A Magazine
We've all seen them ~ those perfectly folded stacks of shirts in stores. If you think the task is impossible for your own home, think again, it's as simple as using a magazine or catalog! Most retailers use a plastic folding board ~ for the same effect just grab a magazine and follow our fool proof steps below. Before you know it, you too will be folding like a pro!
Under Bed Storage | Linens
Under Bed Linen Storage
I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday weekend! Brian and I are in full organization mode ~ cleaning out the attic, making a yard sale pile, introducing new purpose into existing spaces and even redefining new spaces. And with any smaller house, the key is to maximize storage space. We don't have a closet in the guest bedroom and awhile back, we introduced these baskets under the day bed to increase storage space. They've been wonderful to store extra linens, however, we've run into one major problem...
When I go to pull linens out for guests or to quickly pull out a pillow cover they're covered in dog hair!!! As if Rawley had rolled all over them. In our house, dog hair is a never-ending battle. No matter how much we brush Rawley or vacuum the floors, there always seems to be a small poodle's worth of dog hair in the house.
And.it.grosses.me.out!
What was once a clean bed sheet is now a clean bed sheet covered in dog hair. I found myself constantly having to re-launder items in order to use them. So, to still maximize the under bed storage space and continue to store extra linens there, I invested in these Peva Storage Chests. And they have been life changing! I love that they're clear for easy viewing and the zipper allows for quick and easy storage. Clean linens guaranteed to avoid the dog hair? ~ I'll take it!
What organization projects are keeping you busy this January?