Who isn’t sick right now?
Good heavens, there is something going around and it’s brutal. It’s taking us all down one-by-one.
I have a friend who was fine one day and then didn’t move from her bed for three days. It’s coughing, fever, stuffy nose, cloudy head, the whole shebang.
This situation called for a care package.
I went to good ol’ Target and loaded up on all the things that are essential when you are sick:
- Chicken noodle soup
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
- Coconut water
- Tea
- Cozy mug
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues
Of course, you can go all out and add in a blanket, cough drops, ibuprofen, chapstick, a good book, a movie, fuzzy socks, magazines or anything else you love to have nearby when you’re feeling under the weather. No matter what you choose, it’s the sentiment that matters.
Stay well, friends!
Tips on supplies:
The little bin, the filler, Airborne and the hand sanitizer was found in the deal bins right when you walk inside Target. The travel section is perfect for additional items like tissues. I made a stop at Michael’s and happened upon the chalkboard stakes in the dollar bins. God bless dollar bins. It worked like a charm.
If you are thinking about sending Christmas cards this year, well, bless you. You are in the minority and are single-handedly keeping the act of personal connection alive. Yay 1950’s!
Aside from getting cards, writing in them, sealing the envelopes and driving the giant pile to the *gasp* post office; what’s the most tedious part of sending cards? GATHERING THOSE FREAKING ADDRESSES!
Think about this for a second: When was the last time you sent snail mail to your second cousin or that aunt who lives in…wait…where did she move to? Do they winter in Florida or was that just last year?
See? It’s a pain.
Postable, friends. Go with Postable.
Almost since their launch, we have been using Postable and it’s insanely easy. Seeing the growth and how much the site helps our fellow busy people makes us a teensy bit proud.
No, we aren’t being paid to write any of this.
You create a free account where you can act as a person, a couple or a business.
Once you’re in, you may import any addresses you have, enter them manually or just send your account link and everyone can enter their OWN mailing address. This means NO. WORK. FOR. YOU.
Your friends and family will receive your link, click and then enter their address. All of your addresses will go into one place – in your account.
Check it out.
This is what your friends and family will see when you send them your link (this is ours)
www.postable.com/organizedchaosonline
When it comes time to send those holiday cards, you’ll have everything in one place. Did someone forget to enter their address? This means no card for them. See? It’s not your fault. Lezzzzbehonest… you haven’t talked to them in years anyway.
Oh, but wait. What if you don’t have your cards already?
Turns out, Postable has cards you can fill out online and have sent to the homes of your friends and family. What’s more? You can fill out just one message and have them sent to everyone.
It’s looking like my family just MAY get a card from ours this holiday season.
This is too easy. Too freaking easy.
We’re in love.
Christmas card photo credit: Lauren Manning via photopin cc
As with the way I do everything, I don’t take action until it’s crunch time. We’re hosting Thanksgiving, and for two weeks I’ve been thinking of ways I’d like to decorate. I’ve been laz-ing through Pinterest getting ideas, and even made a collage of ideas so I could print it and look it over when I was done working for the day and kicked back relaxing. Therein lies the problem. I work from home, and the past two weeks we’ve been slammed. There IS no “done working” nor was there any “kick-back” time or relaxing.
So here it is, two days before Thanksgiving and I just finished making my decorations…which means my decorations are done, but my house is trashed. When I’m crafting, I apparently like to involve every room in my house. Downstairs for supplies, office floor for assembly, haul it all to the living room to see how it looks, lay my project on the kitchen table to rummage through the house looking for more supplies, stack unused supplies at the top of the stairs to go down, well…you get the picture.
Here I sit with my grocery list still to be made, the house to clean, hours of work still to do, and this blog to finish that I wanted to share with those of you who have just realized you’re running out of time and need to make your house somewhat Thanksgiving-y before your guests show up. Use this quick tutorial for ideas. What I’ve done doesn’t have to be what you do. I used what I had in my craft room. All these projects should cost you is the time you decide you want to put into them. Improvise with what you have. Substitute, burlap for fabric, duct tape for a Sharpie, and come up with your own version of this last-minute DIY Thanksgiving decor.
Table Runner
Supplies:
- Burlap
- Black duct tape
- Black Sharpie
- Ruler
- Foamboard (2 pieces)
- Pins
[spacer]Measure how long and wide you want your table runner. Roll out your burlap. I needed mine to be 60″ long. Burlap slips and slides around a bit, so to be able to work on mine, I butted two foam boards end to end, and pinned my burlap to them. It kept it from shifting and I was able to work on the whole runner instead of a section at a time.
Measure and mark where you want to put your tape. For my design, I found the center of the tape, then ripped it the length of my measured amount. For my middle stripe, I ripped one of the halves down the middle, then I ripped one of those in half for the thinnest stripe.
[spacer]Start sticking your tape on your runner using the lines you marked as a guide. NOTE: After this picture was taken, I replaced the thin bottom stripe with the widest one, then worked my way toward the center, adding the medium sized one, then the thinnest.
[spacer]In the corners I knocked the dust off a stencil I’ve had like forever, and colored the design in with a Sharpie. I saw a similar table runner on Pinterest and they had stenciled words along the side.I loved the look! This time I used duct tape just for the sake of saving time, but If I make another one, I’ll Sharpie some words along the side in cursive, and also color the lines in with Sharpie. To Finish: Pull strings away from the sides to ‘fray’ the edges.
Mantle Banner
Supplies:
- Burlap (cut in rectangles)
- Patterned scrapbook paper
- Solid color scrapbook paper
- Glue gun
- Pins
- Ruler
- Black extra wide bias tape
- Twine
- Buttons
- Stick-on letters
- Black acrylic craft paint
- Stiff bristled paintbrush
[spacer]
Decide what size you want your banner and how many letters you’ll require for the words you’ll use. Cut enough burlap pieces for your letters, allowing another inch to the square heights to allowing for turning over. Decide the size of your patterned square and cut that amount. Finally, measure and cut your solid paper squares that you’ll stick your letters on. My measurements were: Burlap squares: 5’x6-1/2″ Patterned: 3-1/2″x4-1/2″ Solid: 2-3/4″x3″.I ended up cutting down the width of my squares after I eyeballed them on my mantle and realized the banner would be way too wide. Our mantle is fairly small, and I would have had to attach one end in the dining room! Okay, I’m embellishing a bit, but be sure to pin everything and give it a dry run before you start wielding your glue gun.[spacer]
To get the edges of your solid paper to have a vintage look, lay your square on some scratch paper. Dip the end of your brush in a very little amount of paint. Brush your brush back and forth over the scratch paper until most of the paint is off your brush. Holding your brush at an angle, press down as you brush against the edge of your square. (You’ll get a feel for how hard to brush and how much paint to use as you go to get the amount of shading you want). You might want to do a practice square until you get the look you’re after. [spacer]
Stick your letters onto your solid colored squares. Glue your solid squares onto your patterned squares. Glue your patterned square onto your burlap rectangle, leaving room at the top to fold the top edge down. Glue underneath the top edge of your burlap and fold it down, pressing and creasing the flap until it dries.[spacer]
To Finish: Center your squares on the black bias tape. When you have them where you want them, open the tape and glue the back of the squares onto the bottom half of the tape. Glue the top of the squares and fold the tape over them. Embellish with buttons, twine, etc.
Candle Jar Wraps
Supplies:
- Rubberized shelf liner
- Buttons
- Twine
- Glue gun
- Burlap pieces
- Coffee beans
- Scrapbook paper
- Black paper
- Epsom salt
- Glass containers + two glass votives
- Tealights
- Branches
[spacer]
Wrap shelf liner around candle jar to get the measurement for cutting. Allow for the liner to have an overlap on the front. Cut the liner, then cut a small piece of burlap the same width as your liner (this will be glued to the end of the overlap). [spacer]
Glue burlap piece to underside of liner end. Glue buttons to top of liner. Scotch tape one end of the liner to your container (to keep it from slipping), then wrap the liner around the glass. Glue the underside of the overhang and push it against the liner. Fill container with coffee beans, push the glass votive into beans, and add a tealight. [spacer]
For Center Container:
Cut thin piece of shelf liner long enough to wrap around your glass container and glue it on itself. Wrap twine twice around the liner then tie in a knot leaving ends long. Cut a piece of scrapbook paper the side you want. Cut a piece of the black paper slightly larger. Cut a small strip of burlap that will extend past both edges. Glue the burlap onto the black paper. Glue the scrapbook paper over the burlap onto the black paper. Punch a hole through the corner of the paper and thread one of the strings from one side and one from the other side through the hole. Now thread one of the strings through one of the button holes, and one string from the other side through the other button-hole. Pull the strings to snug them up against the paper, then tie a bow. Trim the string where you want them. Fill the container with Epsom salts, then push branches into the salt.
Another couple quick ideas…
Glue strips of lace around a candle. I love the patterns it makes on the walls. Easy peasy![spacer]
Open a Word document. Type a few words that say what Thanksgiving means to you. Randomly change the font color. Copy and paste the words to the end of the page, then choose full justify. Print on colored cardstock, then frame. There you go. I hope these ideas will help get your creative juices flowing.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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photo credit: grongar on flickr
Friends, meet Lauren. She’s our featured guest blogger who has some really great ideas about decor in your home that comes from outside. I mean, seriously, how easy is that? Dear high end home decor stores: Thank you for your beautiful displays but I can actually get what you’re selling by walking about 5 steps from my front porch. You with me, here?
Fall is the time of year when nature is abundant outdoors. But as the weather gets cooler, you may decide to bring some of the outside in by incorporating nature into your décor in the form of centerpieces and earthy artwork. Here are four ways to bring a little bit of nature into your home this fall and winter.
1. A Centerpiece
Photo credit: Eden Pictures
A centerpiece display is a great way to add a focal point to a room, whether you decide to place it on the fireplace or the dining table.
Fall is full of color and beauty, so your centerpiece should contain a mixture of the season’s most beautiful elements.
Choose a bowl where you can add your favorite pieces of fall. Rustic, earthy colored bowls work well at this time of year, but a see-through bowl is equally as appealing as you will be able to view the contents easily. Then, all you need to do is head out into the great outdoors and start foraging. Look for interesting shaped leaves in stunning colors, earthy twigs, pine cones, conkers and wind fallen fruit such as apples and pears. Arrange your findings into an eye-catching display in the bowl, and then display it proudly for all to see.
You could even scatter jewel-colored leaves down the centre of your table like a runner, and place tealight candles (in holders) in the gaps in between the leaves* for a casual, romantic look.
2. A Wreath
Photo credit: theogeo on Flickr
An attractive, handmade wreath to attach to your door is a fantastic way to make the most of bounty of fall. There’s no reason why wreaths should be reserved just for Christmas.
Making a wreath is incredibly easy. Once you have the basic framework you can make your final design as elaborate or subtle as you like!
Head out toward a woodsy area and gather a good amount of twigs. Choose ones that bend easily without snapping. Avoid any with sharp spikes or thorns. Start with one twig and intertwine it around another. Repeat with each twig, until you create a circular shape. Keep going until your wreath has some bulk and depth to it, and when it feels secure. The hedgerows and trees in autumn are brimming with berries, so add a few berries to the wreath to give it a warming color. Pine cones look amazing nestled within a wreath and don’t forget that ribbons and bows can all be added too!
3. Artwork
Photo credit: Tomoaki INABA on flickr
One of Mother Nature’s most splendid treasures has to be fall leaves; the colors are just beautiful. Enjoy autumn leaves inside the home by making your own artwork.
Go hunting for your favorite leaves seeking out maple reds, vibrant yellows and dazzling golds. Press the leaves in the page of a book until they are flat. Next, take a picture frame and carefully glue the leaves onto a white backing, to be mounted inside the frame (similar to THIS). You can hang the leaf pictures in any room of the home, to remind you of this beautiful time of year. As well as using leaves, seek out unusual flowers and seed heads to add to your picture.
4. Fall Bunting
Photo credit: Forest Wander flickr
Fall is a time of celebration. It’s the time of year we are grateful for the gains of the harvest, as well as a time to reflect on the joys of nature that come with the changing seasons.
Celebrate this time of year by creating your own bunting, which you can drape across the ceiling or hang down from a lamp or door (like THIS). Get a long piece of string and carefully attach leaves to the string at intervals, by either threading the leaves through or stapling them to the string. If you’re using bunting bought from a store, then attach leaves to the triangular shapes on either side, by using glue or staples. Hang up, and enjoy!
Lauren is the in-house blogger for www.ashbrookroofing.co.uk. Her favourite season is autumn and she starts preparing for bonfire night in the UK well in advance of the actual day (her Guy Fawkes parties are notorious in her home town!) When she’s not busy imparting roofing knowledge she enjoys running, cooking and reading a good book.
How do I get wine out of my shirt?
I just dripped candle wax on the carpet? Do I have to replace it?
I tried to dye my hair and ended up getting it on my clothes – will it come out?
My son spilled nail polish on the floor and I have no idea how to remove it.
In the last week, all of these things have been said to us which was followed up with, “Do you know how?”
Our answer is always yes. It’s not because we’re super brill and can remember every way to get a stain out. We know the answer because we go to the Stain Dictionary every single time.
Life is a freaking mess a lot of the time. Perfect pictures and perfect lives are unattainable (don’t believe everything you see in those carefully styled photos). We’re about taking a situation that is less than perfect and finding a solution to make it better.
Let’s do it in the least amount of time, keep it simple and move on with life.
We present to you, one of the most amazing resources we know of.
Click the image to get to the site. Once you’re there, either search for your stain or enter it in the search bar and you will find the best way to get it out.
University of Illinois Extension – Click for Interactive Dictionary
