Spring Cleaning: Bathroom Counter

Make use of your bathroom counter! New use for classic kitchen storage. I used mason jars and a glass sugar bowl to harness my daily toiletries. It makes doing my hair and makeup that much easier (and quicker!) by having everything right on hand. On tip: most people forget to wash their make-up brushes on a regular basis...I'm guilty myself...but before you move them out to breathe on the counter top, WASH THEM! It'll be better for you skin! Having hair accessories (sugar bowl) accessible makes running out the door in a ponytail makes "running out the door" possible. No more frantic digging in drawers and bags for just one bobby pin! I'd suggest any jars, sugar bowls, colorful plates, cups, or vases. So tidy up!

A Very Functional Chandelier

Vino Chandelier! I discovered this gem at NEACO in Blowing Rock and wanted to buy it right then and there! How much fun would this be at a dinner party? And a great conversational piece! And did I mention you can just take the glasses directly off the chandelier? This will definitely be the first purchase I make in decorating my first tiny apartment post-grad. Here's the product on Amazon:

Wine Glass Chandelier

Weekend Catchup: Throwing Out Old Magazines and Books

Saturday my mom was in Athens so I was a little busy but after she left I knew I needed to take a small step towards my spring cleaning regardless. This is a project you can do in 5 minutes or less.

Go through your stack of old magazines from beach trips and impulse buys at the checkout counter. But if you feel that you could never part with your Elle because Anne Hathaway, your favorite actress, looks so Ah-May-Zing on the cover, remind yourself of these guidelines. There are only 3 reasons to keep that magazine:

1. It has at least 40 pages of items/advice/workout regimens that you TRULY will use in the future. If you don't use it in the next month though, toss it.

2. It is a featured edition, one remembering Audrey Hepburn or some other truly iconic person (RIP Farrah.)

3. It looks trendy/chic/artsy/smart/becoming on your coffee table, and therefore makes you look trendy/chic/artsy/smart/becoming.

But seriously, TOSS THEM. You will feel liberated I promise.

Before

After!

Spring Cleaning: Room #1 Bathroom

Although my bathroom is mostly clean already one thing that needed a good cleaning was my fabric shower curtain liner. MAKE SURE TO READ THE LABEL for instructions. They were surprisingly complex so I'm glad I read before just tossing them in! I also have about 20 products in my shower, many of which are almost empty. Declutter your shower by using those almost empties next time you wash up (even though your brand new one smells the best!) Tomorrow, we tackle the sink (and underneath! eek!)

SPRING CLEANING FRENZY

My room is a mess and since I am heading back home for the summer, it seems like the perfect time to clean and cleanse. I'll be giving you a step-by-step progress report with some of my own cleaning tips. So keep up on my updates!

New Uses: Make Traveling with Electronics Easy

Hanging toiletry case. I recently traveled up to the NC mountains for a relaxing weekend. However, one thing that always bothers me is how messy and bothersome all the cords are for my various electronics. Between my phone, nook, computer, and ipod...it gets pretty ugly. So I came up with this trick: stash the cords in your hanging toiletry kit. It keeps them tamed and accessible, without getting tangled. Happy traveling!

Design Idea: A Chic (and Functional) Ladder Against the Wall

This is a great way to lay out your clothes for the next day. Hang up your outfit on a ladder leaned against the wall. You can also lay jeans over it, or hang your necklace around it. Another idea? Drill small holes into a hollow ladder to put in backless earrings for the full vision!