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Showing posts from August, 2015

5 Clothing Hacks: Simple Solutions to Common Clothing Problems

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Problem: White deodorant marks on clothes.  Solution: Foam from a clothes hanger. This is such a simple trick I wish I would have known years ago. Even though I saw this clothing hack demonstrated on TV, I still had my doubts about its effectiveness. But when I got "invisible solid" deodorant (does such a thing really exist??) on my Mr. T Experience tee, I remembered the hack and put it to the test. I used the foam from inside a dry cleaner's hanger. You can cut the foam off the hanger, but I really like this hanger, so I kept it on. To remove the deodorant marks, rub the hanger foam directly onto the deodorant marks. The foam acts as a magic eraser, and the deodorant marks really do just disappear. Problem: Pull tab of the zipper fly won't stay up. Solution: Ring from a keychain. Since most of my wardrobe is thrifted or from Ross, I occasionally run into problems with difficult zippers that refuse to stay up. Or maybe it's not the clothes...

DIY Craft: Cardboard EAT Sign for Your Kitchen

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After making fun word art and punny song graphics for my kitchen upgrade, I realized the space was still lacking something. There was a void above the top frame. I toyed with the idea of buying word decals, but then that would bust my zero dollar kitchen upgrade budget. Then it hit me, I could make an EAT sign with the cardboard I keep on hand for crafty projects and all the white shelf paper we have.

No Cost Kitchen Upgrade with Free Kitchen Printables

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Decorating my kitchen has been a challenge. Just about every inch of wall space under the cabinets is filled with small appliances and kitchen doohickeys, leaving no room for adornment. Opposite the cramped counters lies one big, uneven wall with outlets right in the middle. When this house was first built, that wall had cupboards and counters, so it made sense to have outlets there. But when everything was gutted from the wall to create a dining space, the outlets remained. And not only are the two outlets smack in the middle of this blank space, but they are not even level with each other. Staring at the wall is a bit of a trip because from the ceiling line to the outlets, everything is just a bit askew. Since those outlets are the only sources of power on that side of the kitchen, the outlets are actually used quite a lot, so covering them up is not an option. When I first decorated that wall, I pinned up three red Ikea mirrors my mom had given me. I was never really crazy abo...

An Ode to My New Teal Sofa

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Oh new Macys sofa, how I love thee. Let me count thy ways.  Comfort is your name with cushions so thick and full. You brighten up the room, adding contrast to the red, black, white and grey. Pet hair barely shows on your light Tiffany Blue shade. And when it's time to remove the hair, a quick vacuum or sticky roll does the trick. Your pillows stay in place with Velcro so strong the dog can never climb atop. Your smaller arms bring more nap space to sprawl across your smooth, micro-suede seats. And even though you arrived with spots and dirt, I didn't mind the scrubbing work. Best of all, you cost just $40 and I sold my old, worn, pet-hair covered sofa for the same.  Like this? You might also like: Craigslist Furniture: Family Room Update.  Mid-Century Craigslist Scores

Cragislist Furniture: Family Room Upgrade

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My obsessive need to match everything and have decor look just right is a blessing and a curse. I have a sharp eye for color and can detect slight variations in shades most people cannot. I excel at buying second-hand furniture and clothes because I can quickly spot imperfections in products, and I'm also able to easily diagnose how much work it would take to fix said flaws. For these reasons, I'm able to help others decorate, select furniture and clothes. But I also go a little nutso when things in my own home don't coordinate, are off balance or are otherwise just not right. A picture askew can cause me anxiety. I spend days rearranging ornaments on the Christmas tree. So imagine how I've felt having a cheap, brown cabinet in my red, black, white, tan and silver family room. When we moved in nearly two years ago, the cabinet was supposed to be a temporary solution to our smaller kitchen. We used the cabinet to hold the pantry food that didn't fit in the kitc...