Tip of the Week: Travel Check List

As the holidays approach, so does holiday travel.  Use this check list and you will be ready to go without forgetting a thing!

Organized Travel Check- List

 

Preparation

·         Hold mail/newspaper

·         Arrange for pet care

Clothing (# of outfits needed :___)

·         Each outfit- top, bottom, & undergarments

·         PJs

·         Shoes (pack sneakers for any trip!)

·         Hats & sunglasses

·         Swimsuits & cover-ups

·         Outerwear according to weather (rain jacket, heavy coat, ect.)

Medicines

·         Prescriptions medications- For each family member

·         Pain reliever- Adults & kids

·         First aid kit (band-aid, Neosporin)

·         Contacts, contact solution

·         Glasses

Toiletries

·         Shampoo, conditioner, body soap

·         Make-up, blow dryer, curling iron, ect.

·         Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss

·         Lotion

·         Sunscreen

·         Nail clippers, nail files

·         Feminine hygiene products

For the Ride

·         Prepackaged snacks

·         Drinks (unless flying)

·         Crossword puzzles, word searches, coloring books

·         Pencils, pens, crayons

·         Books, magazines, other reading material

·         Bags for garbage

Miscellaneous Items

·         Sports gear, soccer ball, baseballs/mitts, beach toys (for camping, beach, & outdoor trips)

·         Laptop, cell phone, iPods, other electronics

·         Power cords, chargers, batteries

·         Camera

·         Pillows, blankets, sleeping bags

·         Passports, IDs (if needed)

Before You Head Out

·         Turn off all lights, electronics

·         Turn up/down thermostat

·         Empty trash

·         Water indoor/outdoor plants

·         Lock all doors, windows

 

Cleaning With Back Pain

Back pain... OUCH!  Everyone, at one time or another, has or will experience back pain in their life.  regular  back pain usually last for about a week or so.  It is always best to check with your doctor first!!!

 About a year ago, I had severe sciatica.  This caused severe, SEVERE shooting pains that radiated from my lower back down the back of my leg.  This also cause numbness in my lower leg and foot.  I could not move for almost a month!  As my pain started to diminish, I realized my house needed a major cleaning!  I was terrified it do anything because I never wanted to feel pain like that again.  This is when I began asking my doctor and researching at-home ways to prevent the pain from EVER happening again. Although I haven't had another sciatic nerve flare up since, my back hasn't been the same since.  But a girls gotta work!

Here are some of the ways that I prevent future back pain and help relieve some of the regular back pain I sometimes experience.  (always ask your doctor first)

Ergonomics
Everyone has heard the phase "lift with your legs, not your back".  But what does that mean?  Let me break it down for you.  Plus, other ways to move properly while you get those chores done.

-In my opinion, this is the best way to prevent back pain.  I know it sounds cliché, but so true!  This is so simple, but easily forgotten.  Do this every time and it will become habit. Do not bend your back or neck when working in low areas.  Lower your body with the knees, like your squatting. Keeping your back straight and neck high.
 -If the chore your preforming required extend time in a lower area of on the floor, try kneeling. You can use support if needed.  Remember to keep that back tall and straight.
-Do NOT twist from your waist.  If you are reaching for something, move your feet so your whole body turns. 
-Keep frequently used supplies close by.  By eliminating the number of times your reach for an item, you eliminate your chance of a strain.
-Practice good posture everyday.  Sit up, stand tall, and suck it in!

Tools of the Trade
There are a number of items you can use to make chores easier when your back is sore.  These same items may also help prevent further injuries.

-Get a back support belt.  In my experience, these belts do very little once your back is hurting.  But it is a great way to get a little extra support.  My favorite part, back support belts help to prevent  bending at the waist, which will help moving correctly a habit.
-Use the extension hoses on you vacuum.  This will help reduce the amount of bending and reaching preformed during vacuuming.
-Use the end of the broom.  This trick is very versatile.  Simply  wrap a damp rag around the end of your broom stick to wipe up low areas, such as behind the toilet or the floor boards.  No bending over!
 http://www.housekeepingchannel.com/a_576-Housework_and_Back_Pain

Thanks to my super stretcher, super model!

Stretching and Strengthening
-Stretching every day will help prevent future back injury.  There are a number of different stretches that focus on the back.  Every morning before I even step out of bed, I pull each of my legs to my chest, one at a time and hold the stretch for about 15 seconds.(refer to the cute little girl on the right)  It loosens up my tight back every time. Below is a site to help you find more stretching techniques that focus on the back.
http://gentlestretching.com/back_stretches.htm
-Try some yoga.  Yoga has worked miracles for me. Practicing yoga will improve flexibility and strengthen muscles gently. Plus, those yoga  poses are just so darn fun!
http://yogainternational.com/article/view/yoga-for-lower-back-pain/

Just in Case
No matter how careful I am, I still experience lower back pain regularly.  Here are some ideas to ease the pain

-Pre-treat.  Start long days with an anti-inflammatory such Advil. (Check with your doctor first)  Preventing pain from starting is the key to treating back pain.
-Move around a little.  In my experience, when I experience regular back pain it only gets worse when I lay around not doing anything.  Move around a little.  Take a short walk or do a little stretching.  Only do what your body tells you is right because over working will make things worse.
-Heat.  Use a heating pad twice a day for about 15 minutes.  Be sure to place a barrier between the heat and your skin so you don't get burned.
-Always check with your doctor if your back pain does not get better in a few days or your experience any other symptoms along with the back pain.

As I leave you to ponder these wonderful ideas, remember, take your time!  Overdoing it and pushing through the pain will only make a aggravated back even angrier.









 

Tip of the week: 30 Seconds to a Cleaner Home

If your like me, you save all your major household chores for the weekend.  There's so much going on through the week, cleaning MY house is the last priority.  But, I have a few tricks I use that make the major chores just a little easier.  The best part... they only take about 30 seconds!  Now there is no excuse (but I'm sure I can find one) not to do a little clean-up in every room, every day!

Kitchen
Wipe down the appliances
Sprinkle baking soda in the trash can to absorb odors

Living Room
Dust the TV Screen
Empty the vacuum cleaner dirt bin or change the vacuum bag

Bathroom
Empty the bathroom trash can
Clean the mirrors

Bedrooms
Dust the air vents
Wipe down the blinds
Make your bed!!!


Have fun!

No Point Crying Over Spilled Wax

Wipe those tears away, I have a wonderful tip for those of you who have spilled wax on your carpet.  I know we've all done it at one time or another. You blew a candle out just a little to hard or moved a candle before the wax has set up. Whatever the situation, this trick will get the wax OUT!

Supplies

- Iron
- Brown Paper Bag
- Goo Gone (optional)
- White Cotton Cloth (optional)

How- To

This is so easy.  It is basically a one step clean-up. 

After the iron is warmed up,  place your brown paper bag over the wax spill.  Then, run the hot iron over the paper bag until you see the residue from the wax on the bag.  Move the a clean part of the bag over the spill and continue running the iron over the bag.  Repeat this process until no more waxy residue seeps through the paper bag.

If there is any remaining wax, spray a small amount of Goo Gone on the area. Always test a hidden area before spraying onto large area, but the Goo Gone did not affect my brown carpet.  Let the Goo Gone sit for 30 seconds then gently rub clean with a white cotton rag.

This works beautifully, both with or without the Goo Gone.  Try this trick and let me know how it worked for you!
 

 

Tip of the Week: 5 Random Cleaning Tricks

                                               

 

1. Make dusting between small spaces and cracks a breeze by using an old make-up brush.

2. Remove blood from fabric with hydrogen peroxide. Pour a small amount of peroxide onto a cleaning rag and gently rub until the stain is gone. (Always test a small area first)

3. Remove chewing gum from most surfaces with ice.  Rub an ice cube over the gum until it hardens.  Then scrape it off with a dull butter knife.

4. Remove permanent marker from almost any surface by spraying with hair spray.

5. Clean window screens with ease by covering a sponge with nylon stockings.

Keeping Your Mani Looking Fresh... Even Through Cleaning the House

 

When you put in the time, effort, and money to keep your nails looking good, you want them to last for more than a day! But it seems like the minute you wash that first dish your mani is done for. *sigh!* In a perfect world, I could get my nails done and then sit on the couch with my feet up for the next week looking at my nails, eating Bon Bons, and watching soaps. But I don't live in a perfect world, and I'm willing to be you don't either! So I've gathered up a few tips to keep that mani looking fresh while still living life in this imperfect world.

Moisturize

My first, and probably most important, tip is to keep those digits slathered in lotion. This is especially important now that the dry winter months are upon us.  This will keep your cuticles in shape, help prevent hang nails, and keep your nails growing strong and healthy.

Buff 'em

Buff your nails before polishing them. This will provide for a smooth, even surface for the polish. Polish is less likely to chip off smooth nails

              
Clean 'em

Wipe your nails down with nail polish remover, even if you don't have any old nail polish on. The nail polish remover will clean away any oils and dirt.  This will create a clean canvas for your nail polish. When nails are clean, polish can adhere to them more strongly.
             
Top Coat

Apply a protective top coat to your nails. Choose a clear top coat that purports its strengthening and protective qualities. Reapply the top coat every few days to keep the polish protected.

Sit Still             

This is the hardest step for me to follow! Let the polish fully dry before participating  in any activities. If you disturb the polish before it is fully set, it won't have time to bond with your nails, which will make it more likely to chip later.
             
Protect Your Investment

Whether you did a DIY manicure, or paid for a pro manicure, protect the time and/or money you put into making those nails pretty. Wear rubber gloves whenever you clean and wash dishes. The chemicals in most cleaning products eat away at polish, causing them to chips. Just keeping your hands in water, like when you wash dishes, can destroy your manicure. Rubber gloves will protect your nails from damage.

Check out this site for even more nail care tips
http://www.hairsprayandhighheels.net/2013/07/nail-care-routine/
 

Tip of the Week: A Clean Refidgerator, Always & Forever

All you need to keep your refrigerator clean  for the rest of you life (seriously!) is a roll of Glade Press N Seal and the two simple steps listed below.  You will love me forever for making your life just a little easier! 

The first thing you need to do is an initial cleaning of your refrigerator.  I know, I know! This doesn't sound like fun but, I promise, this will be the last time you will have to deep clean your fridge, so enjoy it!

Now that you've cleaned  your fridge, line all the shelves, including the shelves on the door, with Glade Press N Seal. 

That's it!  If you spill something on the shelves or they start to get sticky simply peel off the dirty Press N Seal sheet and replace it with a fresh sheet.  You should probably change out all the sheets every 6-12 months just to keep your refrigerator fresh and clean!

I don't pretend to take credit for this ingenious idea. Nor do I remember where I read it, so no, I can not cite my work. But, I've been doing this myself for a few years now and I haven't had to deep clean my fridge ever since!

The Dreaded Junk Draw

My Junk Draw

Junk Draw, Catch All, Fibber Magee, whatever you call it... We all (with the exception of my dad❤️) have one!  About once a year I TRY to clean and organize my junk draw but it never lasts for more than a couple weeks. Mine is overwhelmingly messy right now (refer to picture) so it's time to clean it, but this time I've picked up some new tricks to help me get organized and stay organized (hopefully). And to help you do the same!

So, to start with, I took out as much of the "junk" that ended up in the draw due to my laziness and relocated these items to their proper home. Then, I threw out the larger pieces of trash. Now that I think about it, it may have been easier to pick out the trash first, but I still achieved the same end result. 

After picking through SOME of the junk I dumped the whole draw out on to a table. I then wiped all the crumbs and dust from the empty draw, paying special attention to the corners. 

Now for the fun part, organizing!! The inspiration for this project was some draw organizers I found at, you guessed it, the Dollar Tree. There were a few colors I could choose from, but the color wasn't a big concern for me.  They also had metal wire basket type draw organizer, but I decided on the plastic organizers so that none of the smaller items would fall through the bottom. 

The next step was deciding on what REALLY belongs in that draw. I decided on only trying to keep items in there that I need easy access to or don't fit in other organizational categories. There was a lot of stuff in my draw that did not belong or was trash, so that made organizing what did belong very easy!  From there I just started grouping like items together in like piles. This gave me a better idea of what I was really going to keep in this jungle of a draw.


On a totally unrelated note, I think I have a chapstick problem! I had 9 tubes of Burt's Beeswax in my junk draw. I guess I need to do inventory before I buy anymore chapstick!

Holy Chapstick, Batman!

After that, I simply placed draw organizers in the draw.  Then I began putting the items that I have decided belong in and around the draw organizers.  As I said before, my junk draw caught a lot of stuff that didn't really belong there, so this was the easiest part of the process for me. 
 

My draw looks amazing! Now, I just need to keep it that way.  Do you have any tips to help me keep an organized Junk Draw?  I just KNOW this will not last...Help!

Finished Product

Tangle-free Jewlery Packing Techniques for Travel

You have reached your final destination.  Vacation time!  Dinner out? Drinks? Time to get "did up" for your night out. Only problem is, your jewelry has more knots in it than that blanket your grandma crocheted you!  Grrr!  Now you will spend more untangling your jewelry than you will enjoying your vacation.  We've all been there!

Here are some fool-proof tricks that will put an end to your battle with tangled jewelry the next time you travel.  Trust me!  I just returned from Memphis and used some these ideas with my jewelry.  I was amazed, and you will be too!

The Straw

In my opinion, this is the coolest tangle-free trick! It's so simple I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner. Basically, you string the chain from the necklace place you are packing through a straw and fasten the clasp. That's it! I liked the way the bendy straws worked the best because they fit in my travel bag better, but it's all a matter of preference and what you have laying around. By the way, you can also use toilet paper rolls in the same manner for chunkier jewelry. You can also try this technique to create a tangle-free jewelry box.

The Index Card

By poking small holes in an index card then sticking your earrings through those holes, you can keep track of all the earrings you travel with. This is a great way not to lose small stud earrings, but it also keeps dangly earring from becoming tangled. After I put my earrings in the index cards I  placed the index cards in a plastic sandwich bag.  If are concerned about your hooked-back earrings falling out of the card simply place a small piece of tape over the backs.  Perfect! 

Roll it Up

I found rolling my chunkier necklace took up less of my precious suitcase space than using toilet paper rolls. You can also use this technique for necklaces with thinner chains instead of the straws. I have found that the rolling technique is the best option for bracelets. All you need is a soft cloth (I recycled an old undershirt that no longer fit my daughter).

To preform this technique, place your first piece of jewelry towards the end of you cloth. Start to Roll the cloth over the jewelry about 2 time, making sure the piece is completely covered. 

 Then place the next piece of jewelry on the cloth next to the end of your last fold. Since both of the pieces that I was packing in this picture had bigger pendents on them, I placed the next piece with the pendent laying on the opposite side of the cloth as the previous necklace.  Begin to roll the cloth again, making sure the piece is covered.  Repeat this until the cloth is filled up.  Fold the full cloth in half and then place it in a sandwich bag or securely tuck it in your suitcase.

 



These jewelry packing ideas saved me a lot of time and frustration on my last vacation.  I was also thinking, these techniques would be helpful when packing up for a  move. Do you have any tips to share that you use when packing your jewelry?  How did my tips work for you?  I love your feedback!

Tip of the Week: Gift Tote

In my opinion, There is nothing better than clearance shopping the week after Christmas for some of next years gifts. Since I am so frugal (boarding down right cheap) there is a certain rush I get from buying a $10 item for $2.50! But now, what do you do with these awesome bargains for the next 364 days? Start a gift tote! This is a great way to keep inventory of the gifts you already have and gifts you still need. You can also dig into the tote through out the year for birthdays and other occasions that require a last minute gift. (Thanks to my dad for this wonderful idea!)

Tip of the Week: The Craft Box

Any mom knows that crafts are a great rainy/snowy day idea. Crafts will keep the kids busy while keeping mom sane! But, how do you keep the crafty stuff organized? If your like me, there is a TON of it. I've "tackled" my crafty mess with a tackle box! It's perfect! There are plenty of nook and slots to keep everything accessable and within hands reach. Plus, the tackle box stacks wonderfully in any closet or storage area. So go organize those craft supplies! Let me know what other messes you've tackled with your tackle boxes! Skies the limit....

Polishing Silver... A Thing of the Past?!

When my daughter received her Holy First Communion earlier in this year, I found the cross I received from my parents when I celebrated my First Communion. Because I'm such a crafty chick, I decided to do something a little different. A hand-made rosary, using the cross from my Communion. But... The cross looked nasty!  The silver was totally black when I took it out. I tried to polish it with  a white cloth but nothing came off. I don't have any experience with polishing silver, I was stumped!

I called my grandma later that week just to say "hi". Some where in that conversation I mentioned the tarnish issue I was having. Then, she gave me very cool advice on how to clean any silver. I'm not a chemist, so I'm not really sure how it works, but it does and it so easy!!  These are the directions she gave me:

Here's what you need

Glass bowl

Aluminum foil

Baking soda

Boiling water

Toothbrush ( for cleaning the tight spots)

White cotton rag 

What to do

Line the glass bowl with aluminum foil. Then put your silver in the bowl lined with foil. Bring about a cup of water to a boil. While the water is heating up, sprinkle baking soda over the silver. Make sure the silver is covered with the baking soda. Now, pour the boiling water into the bowl. Let it set until the water is cooled, moving & flipping the silver every so often. After the water is cooled off, you can use the toothbrush to remove any debris from tight corners. Then, just buff it spotless with the white cotton rag. 

Some sort of chemical reaction takes place. You will see small bubbles appear on the silver. The reaction also gives  off a sulfur odor. I have only used this on my jewelry, but I imagine it would make polishing a set of silver utensils a breeze! 

Clean up, naturally!

 

Although I love the "bleachy" smell of a clean house, I am realizing that the "natural way" is becoming the popular way clean up around the house.  Especially for people with small children, allergies, and sensitivity to strong odors.  So... I've done a little investigating and discovered that you basically only need three household items, which you probably already have hanging around the house, and you can create some simple AND cheap ways to clean up and kill bacteria.

White Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the most effective and natural way to clean.  Its high acidity makes is perfect for cutting through kitchen grease. The acid in vinegar also kills bacteria and mold.  Although you may not be able to realize it because of vinegars strong odor, it is a natural deodorizer.  Wipe down surfaces with 100% vinegar and a clean white cloth.  After it dries, the surfaces will be odor free.  This even works on walls and will not harm or stain the surfaces (always test a small area, just incase).  Mix 1/2 water to 1/2 vinegar in a Dollar Tree spray bottle to clean windows, bathroom fixtures, wood, laminate floors, and counter tops.  Check out this sweet website site for 1001 uses for vinegar (literally)!
http://www.vinegartips.com/

Baking Soda
Baking soda is also a natural deodorizer.  Sprinkle a little baking soda on the carpet instead of that expensive carpet refresher.  It's also mildly abrasive, which makes it perfect for scrubbing pots and pans without scratching. Or you can use it to clean tile, grout, or fiberglass fixtures in your bathroom.
For tough stains on countertops or in the bathroom, make a paste of baking soda and water and let sit on the stain for 20 minutes or so. Then scrub the stain away.  You can clean your drains by pouring in half a cup of backing soda. Add just enough water to wash it down. Let this solution sit overnight. The next morning, flush with hot water for a clean and odor-free drain.

Lemons
The smell of lemons are the smell of clean (in my opinion)!! Lemons are acidic and have some antibacterial and antiseptic properties for cleaning.  Lemon rinds can be ground in the garbage disposal to freshen the drain (my favorite lemon trick). Hot water with a little lemon poured down a drain will also freshen the drain.  I just learned that you can clean copper-bottomed pots and pans with lemon juice by cutting a lemon in half,  dipping it in some salt, and clean spots from your copper  One more thing, adding lemon juice to vinegar when cleaning can help neutralize the vinegar smell!

If you decide to start making you our cleaning products, make sure you have plenty of plastic spray bottles.  Never reuse plastic bottles that have held other cleaning chemicals, and always label your bottles accordingly.
 

Hallie's Candy Shop aka Planning a Kids Party, CHEAP!

Although my daughters 9th birthday was almost a month ago, I have finally decided to throw her a birthday party. 

I wasn't really planning on throwing a big party this year, but I saw some great ideas on the net.  I got to thinking that I could throw her a great themed party without having to pay a party planner an arm and a leg.  It has been a time consuming project because I did ALL the planning, cooking, set-up, and hand made EVERY decoration!  I am pretty proud of myself, so I had to do some showing off!

 

My Center Pieces





 I just threw the center piece on the left together with some of the party supplies I pick up at, you guessed it, the Dollar Tree.  I just moved, adjusted, and added items until I liked the way it looked.  The center piece on the right is the one I'm most proud of.  Just look at that thing!  101 Dum Dums.  I saw something similar on Pintrest that sparked my interest.  I figured a vase, Styrofoam ball, filling material, and suckers.  I put it all together and volia!

 Decorations

The decorations where simple and cheap, but a little time consuming.  I just used "trash", like old news paper, toilet paper rolls, and some left over Styrofoam.  All I did after that was wrap them up to look like candy!  I strung them up around the house.  It looked great!  I also made a small poster using pictures of my daughter for the last eight years to show how much she has grown.  The poster was a hit and got a lot of complements. But, I thought it looked a little cluttered.  Oh well!  Most of my inspiration came from pictures and party blogs on the internet.  I have attached some links below for you to browse.

The Set-Up

 

 

 







I set all the candies and center pieces out on a long party table and covered it with a plastic table cloth.  The idea of the party was for the kids for decorate there own pudding pies with all the candy their little hearts desired.  Even though the idea of candy in my pudding grosses me out, they all loved it!

My plan was for them to bring the pies home as a treat, but they where eaten right away!  All and all, I think I planned a great party, and it didn't cost an arm and a leg.









 





http://www.karaspartyideas.com/2012/07/candy-shoppe-sweet-crush-party.html

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/find-projects/parties/



My Tiny Apartment: Part 2

Mirror, Mirror on the wall...

If you've been following my blog then you know how frustrated I've been with my tiny apartment lately.  I feel like I'm living in a hamster cage!  After I realized that I can't make my apartment grow, I started researching different ways to open up space, get rid of clutter, and make it look bigger.  There are a couple techniques that have come up in most of the articles I have read and they are mirrors and more light. I really liked the idea of a mirror in my living room.  So... since I'm working on a budget I had to get creative.  This is what I came up with, a DIY tiled mirror .  The best part, because I already had some of the materials, it only cost $5 (thank you Dollar Tree) !!!!  Here's how I did it:

Materials
4-6 Dollar Tree mirrors (I used 4- 10.5"x14")
Lots of duct tape
Black foam core board
Crafting Glue

Step 1


Start working with all the mirrors facing down. Attach all the mirrors together and secure with duct tape.  It is very import to make sure they are PERFECTLY lined up or your going to end up with a goofy looking project.  This was the hardest part for me so I pushed the mirrors against the wall to help me line them up.




Step 2

Once the mirrors are lined up and secure, duct tape the heck out of them!  The duct tape is what is securing the mirrors together so don't be shy with the duct tape.  The more the merrier!

Step 3

Now, using the craft glue, attach the core board to the back.  This will stabilize the mirrors. Let the glue dry completely. I trimmed the board around the edges so nothing would stick out.  I also trimmed the board so that the hanging hooks on the top where exposed. If you choose not to do that, you can just use some picture hanging wire.








That's it!  I hung mine in the living room.  It has definitely brightened up the room by reflecting the light from the window, but as far as making the room feel bigger... I don't know.  But I like it!  Give it a try and tell me how yours turned out. Have fun!

My finished mirror, hung on the wall.

                                                           Check this out for more ideas
http://www.bhg.com/decorating/small-spaces/strategies/space-solution-every-room/#page=1

My Ode to the $Dollar Tree$

                                                   http://www.dollartree.com/home.jsp

When your on a budget, but still need to maintain a household and run a business, you have GOT to find the best bang for you buck.  I do this at the Dollar Tree (or whatever dollar store is in your area)!  My dollar store recently started taking manufactures coupons too! Yay!  I just got a bottle of Palmolive dish soap for .50 cents with a coupon (still coming off that coupon high).  There are so many ways to clean, organize, run the house, and still have a little fun on a budget at the Dollar Tree!  Here are a few ideas I have come up with on my MANY trips to the dollar store:

General Cleaning
If you know me, you know how much I love my magic erasers!  I'm a walking advertisement for those things.  I always buy my magic erasers at the dollar store.  $1 for a 2pk.  You can't bet the price, and they work just as well as the name brand.  When cleaning, I save a ton of money by mixing my own cleaning supplies.  The Dollar Tree has empty spray bottles and bleach or vinegar (whatever you prefer).  I mix 1/8 bleach with water and I have my own multi-purpose cleaner (be careful if you are wearing dark clothes, the solution will leave bleach stains. Trust me!).  Amazing, I know! Don't forget to keep an eye out for a great deal.  My Dollar Tree occasionally has Lysol toilet bowl cleaner.  $1 for Lysol toilet cleaner is a great deal itself, but when they started taking coupons ($1 off two Lysol products) it got even better.  Two bottle for $1.00.  Holy DEAL, Batman!

                                                                                            Organization

"Shoe Box" Storage

I love the Dollar Tree's plastic carry-all totes with handles.  I have one for work and one for home to organize my cleaning supplies.  It makes it so easy to take everything from room to room. It also saves time not having to back track because you for got something.  I have also stocked up on plastic storage "shoe" boxes (see pic).  They stack nicely on my shelf.  Plus, I label them all so I won't  need to dig for what I'm looking for.  The Dollar Tree has all kinds of hanging wire racks, over the door hooks, draw organizers, and plastic food storage options and SO much more. I also found some L-shaped brackets for hanging shelves once.  My favorite new find are these off-brand vacuum storage bags.  Saves to much precious space in my tiny apartment! 



Home & Office
From envelopes to erasers, Dollar Tree has it all! I don't buy office supplies any where else. They have 80 ct legal envolpes for only, you guessed it, $1.00!  I love the shipping envelopes for those packages to Grandpa in Memphis. The envelope size determines how many come in a package. I get my receipts with the carbon copy to track my income. Paper clips, pens, rubber bands, highlighters, poster boards (2/$1), crayons, ect...  Most of it is cheaper than the supermarkets, but watch the ads during back to school time. Many stores have better deals that time of year.

Home Decor, Crafts, Party Supplies, ect...

You never know what you will at the dollar store. I always walk every aisle looking for that "treasure". I am planning a birthday party for my daughter and have purchased almost everything at the Dollar Tree. Plates, decorations, gift bags, serving trays... You name it! The crafting stuff is amazing.  There are different items almost every time I go, and I go to the Dollar Tree a LOT  I can always keep my crafting tackle box full now.  Right now I'm working on a DIY home decor project, but more on that in my next post....

So, grab a $20 and go fill up your cart. You never know what you may find!

My Tiny Apartment: Part 1

My entry way/dinning area/kitchen (yes, seriously!) feels so overwhelmingly crowded.  I have to push my dinner table against the wall, which leaves me with one less seating option.  Plus, all the decorating articles I've been reading say that pushing furniture against wall can actually make rooms appear smaller.  This is what I'm working with:




Basically, all I did was get rid of the coat rack that was taking over the dining area.  I also took a picture off the wall.  That made a big difference and really opened up the room!  Then I pulled the table off the wall.  It looks really good, but I feel like I lost "storage" when I lost the coat rack.  I just need something that will fit better in my small space. For now, I just put up a couple of Command Strip hooks so I don't trip on a lunch box in the middle of the night! Grrr!

I found this video last night and this is exactly what I need to do!

Entery Area & Living Room (small spaces)

I will definitely down scale that project!  I don't need all the lights, chargers, and remote controls. That video really has  me brainstorming...

                                                                    Anyways, this is what the dining area looks like now.
                                                                                      I suppose that will do, but....

Let me know if you have any ideas for my tiny apartment or any tips you may have for organizing and decorating  small spaces!  I need it!

2013 Michigan State Spartans Football Schedule

                       It's almost here... Football Season! The most wonderful time of the year.
       Go Green! Check out the schedule below, I will be planning my Saturday's around it this fall!


2013 Michigan State Spartans Football Schedule