SPRAY PAINT QUEEN

The Pre Shave Routine

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:41:00 +0000

Image Credit: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos

My husband has an unpredictable shaving routine. In fact, after I just clean and shine the bathroom sink is when he seems to shave! I totally need to revamp my cleaning schedule, don’t you think? I on the underhand have a pretty straight forward shaving routine. I simply lather on the shaving cream, shave, and then lotion up my dry skin afterward.

I recently heard of the pre shave routine. This consists of much more than lathering up the skin with shave cream. What I found is that it’s actually various oils most commonly used by men (but made for women too) that help protect your skin for a silkier feel where the skin may otherwise become irritated and dry. It’s used prior to shaving. After all who wants yucky razor nicks, red bumps or any of those other irritations?

Hubs has Italian skin so he is fortunate to have a good amount of natural oils in his skin already (which make it extra soft) but I on the other hand am prone to dry skin. I could use some extra oils especially after the damage I’ve caused from the sun. Are you blessed with natural oils in your skin or are you more prone to dry skin? What are your tips for healthy skin after shaving?

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

15% Off Entire Lot 26 Studio Store

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:38:00 +0000

Need a unique gift for Mother's Day? Shop Lot 26 Studio and find creative and fun wall decals that your mom can display all year long. Lot 26 is offering 15% off the entire store with promo code THXMOM15 valid through 5/13/12.

I can't tell you enough how much I adore the selection of wall art at Lot 26 Studio. They even sell baseball, football (Father Day!!), and loads more of chic and snazzy wall art. Since we've been doing some repainting around the house I'm trying to narrow down my choices! I'm a huge fan of neutrals and the one above (modern flowers) is one of my favorites! Love it!

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Tea Collection Awarded "Stylish Tots" 2012 Cribsie Award

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:23:00 +0000

One of my favorite stores, Tea Collection has been awarded with the 2012 "Stylish Tot" Cribsie Award!

Tea Collection is committed to designing distinctive fashion collections for children inspired by different cultures around the world. I am overjoyed that Tea Collection has been awarded one of the most coveted awards in the Baby Industry!

Tea Collection was one of 6 nominees up for the award with popular brands such as Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney Kids, J. Crew, Splendid Littles, and Appaman. If you haven't yet, be sure to visit the Tea Collection today and check out their adorable new summer collection! Perfect for those upcoming family vacations!

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Antique Cast Iron Vent Grates

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:38:00 +0000

Living in an old home (that needs work) is a toss up between the good the bad and the ugly. But it does have it's many perks. One thing that I constantly find interesting is old remnants of good quality items such as the 1888 skeleton key lock I showed you awhile back.

Another item we came across but had no idea of age until we started stripping them was old antique cast iron vent covers. We have quite a few different ones - for the floor, wall, and a couple that even have the initial S on them.

While all of them need work and not all the rooms they go in are "finished" I'm going to show you the most recent one we've gave a new look too.

Hubs sprayed it with a stripper.

Then sanded it.

While doing so he came across some numbers. 2 and 8x10 but these were clearly done by hand and not a machine or so it looks.

And then there was another marking that we couldn't make out.

After all that we took it out back and spray painted it with quite a few coats of white.

After drying, we screwed it in to it's new location in a bathroom. This vent is also missing a piece which serves like a door so you are able to close the vent when needed. And yes the vent hole is smaller than the vent - Not everything is perfect but we like the character!

Now just for fun I weighed myself....then weighed myself with this vent and there's about a 14 lb difference. I've browsed the net and it seems they can be anywhere from $50 on up and now business's are making replicas to resemble the era for older homes. Interesting!

This one is no where near as fancy as some of our other ones. I'll have to show those when they are done as well!

Filling Up Spring Planters

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:52:00 +0000

If the weather has started warming up a notch where you are, it may be time to fix up those planters. I couldn't wait! I was getting tired of looking at these guys.

Here's the before:

And After

Here's what I put in them: Tulips, Pansies, Dianthus, and Snow White iberis.

Have you done any planting yet?

ONE KINGS LANE

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:08:00 +0000

The Author of this post is Cheryl Martinez

I ordered the cutest Juliska pitcher today using my clear 4g independence connection. I signed up for this cool house wares discount website and get a daily e-mail about the specials that they have. The website is called onekingslane.com and they are based out of New York City. They really have some great things that you can buy! Everyday, they have at least three new discount retailers and they are all high-end things. The Juliska pitcher that I ordered is usually two hundred and twenty dollars. I only paid ninety-nine for it! Of course, I had to pay for shipping, but the price was just too good to ignore! I also ordered our bedspread and shams from the site. They had an Amnity Homes sale ( a high end brand) and I got our bedspread and shams for less than two hundred and fifty dollars! It was a steal! It is great quality and we always get complimented on it! You should check out the website if you get a chance- it is awesome!

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Four Weeks to a more organized home day 3 and 4

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:56:00 +0000

Day 3 of the Four weeks to a more organized home with Money Saving Mom is clean out your freezer which I already accomplished (you can see that here) so I will combine day 3 and 4 together. Day 4 consists of cleaning under the beds (oh boy!).

I keep an electric heating pad under my bed and that's about it. I did do a clean sweep to make sure there wasn't a random sock lingering around. No socks this time but I did find a random shirt. I went ahead and vacummed/swept under them.

Next is 7 items to get rid of to either sell, donate, give to a friend or throw away- since I'm combining week 3 and 4, I'll do 14 items. During the four weeks I will be donating all items unless it's an item that's not in good shape.

So here's what's out - That random shirt that was hiding under the bed along with 3 others, a pitcher, 2 books, a paper jamz guitar, lava lamp, set of oven mitts, a belt, an old coke bottle, and a wicker trash can that is tearing up. Oh, and one of hub's favorite hats that has definitely seen better days.

I'm actually amazed at what I find. At first, I think it'll be a little challenge to find 7 things but really there's so much that actually doesn't get used, doesn't fit, is worn out, just sits and collects dust or is useless to us anymore.

4 Weeks to a more organized home day 2

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:54:00 +0000

Okay so day 2 of Four weeks to a more organized home with Money Saving Mom consists of cleaning out the refrigerator. I actually had just cleaned out our freezer (pictured above) last night to make room for some Breyers ice cream that was on sale and some pies. We normally do not have this much sweet stuff in our freezer not to mention it takes up a lot of space. The refrigerator on the other hand is another story. I'd like to open it and just close it and walk away, it's that bad. But here goes.

Refrigerator before

Um, excuse me. Eggs on top of milk? Who does that?! Apparantly I do...geesh!

And after

Nice. Ready to go for Easter cooking and leftovers. I condensed leftovers we had already, and got rid of some older items and realized what all exactly was in there.

Now for the 7 things to get rid of.

A purse, an empty tape dispenser (that got put away no doubt after it was empty), 3 hair color kits that are so old I'd be afraid to use them, and two empty paint cans (from a current project).

Nice.

Four weeks to a more organized home day1

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:06:00 +0000

Okay, so I started a lil organizing process at the beginning of the New Year and quite frankly bombed it. I think the idea of 52 weeks over whelmed me, honestly. So I love Money Saving Mom and thought I'd link up with her in her very simplistic 4 week organizing challenge.

This seems much more doable to me and she even has some great suggestions for those who also work outside the home such as myself! It will still be a challenge to post every single day especially on days when I may not get home until after 7:30 pm but I will try.

Week one was basically clean out your purse and find 7 things in your home to get rid of. I always have purse issues. That thing gets junked up so easily! I think I'm going to be on the look out for a new purse that's a bit more functional ... any idea of a great purse?

Anyway....here it is before:

I can't believe all the ~~crap~~ stuff that can come out of here...really.

And the after..whew feels much better.

And the 7 things to get rid of....

A mens shirt, two pairs of jeans, two books, a pair of shoes and an audio book. Whew, that felt great. I've had those jeans in my closet so long and have never really liked them at all!

Glad someone will be able to use them.

Tell me your purse gets just as junky too, please.

Create a (free) Wedding Website!!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:43:00 +0000

Spring is in the air and so are weddings! If you have an upcoming wedding this year and would like a a wedding website that matches your Save the Date cards, invitations, etc. then look no further. How about even getting one for free?

Wedding Paper Divas has what you need! A free wedding website to go along with over 40 of their most popular wedding invitations. This means that you can now easily create an ad-free personal wedding website complete with online RSVP capabilities and more—and keep it FREE for one year!

Some of the features of the free wedding website include:

• Match your site to over 40 of Wedding Paper Divas bestselling invitation designs.
• Easy to design. You don’t need to be a programmer to do this! Just point and click at anything on the site to customize.
• Custom Domains. You can truly customize your site with a domain that is just for you like ourwedding.com
• Unlimited Photos.
• Guest comments
• Music and Video
• Online RSVP, Blog, Password protection, guest list manager, and much more

Get started now to ensure that everything will be beautifully designed and perfectly coordinated as you prep for your big day.

*This post may contain affiliate links*

A little paint doesn't hurt

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:42:00 +0000

I actually painted this windmill last year with an outdoor paint that was originally purchased for the house but no one really liked it. So, I decided to make use of it some how. This windmill is nothing fancy but has just sat idly on the porch for some time.

It was really a pain in the but to paint. It would have been much easier to spray it. But here's the after!

It turned out quite pretty. Me likey! You likey?

Upstairs Loft - Texture to Smooth Ceiling/ Paint and Trim

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:50:00 +0000

I posted previously about this loft area after we laid the laminate down. The laminate was a freebie that prompted this entire re-do. Now that we've added trim, smoothed the ceiling and fixed some drywall and painted she's ready to be shown again! In case you missed the previous post (which you can read about here if you desire) check out some of these before and after shots...

First, we wanted to get rid of the textured ceiling........and touched up the walls while we were at it.

This took about 3 light layers of drywall compound...

Most of this work was done on a bucket......

some good ole dirty sanding and then some paint

And After - Smooth Ceiling

Next, I spent a lot of my time trying to paint over these ugly attic space doors. They have to be there for the access but they stand out like a sore thumb. I even thought about painting them the same color as the wall but we decided not too. I went with white for the regular door, attic door and trim. Painting these took about 3 coats! I've always just covered them with a piece of furniture...;O

After the doors were coming along well, we trimmed and checked out our new paint color....

After second coat of paint, final coat on trim lots of little touch ups ;O .....we totally love the little loft space.

The paint color we went with was Benjamin Moore - Bennington Gray. In the can it looks puke green but goes on such a pretty shade. It looks like a earthy green/brown color as seen above with brightish light. We love it. For our trim and doors we used Behr Swiss Coffee which we have used in about every room in our house.

Me likey! You likey?

Finally adding some elements in my home that show off my personality!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:32:00 +0000

Guest post written by Emilee Patterson

When I bought my current house, one of the big draws of it was that all the furniture was included with it. I know that it sounds strange that I wanted to buy a house full of someone else's furniture but I was also moving across the country and that was so much easier to do. But now that I'm all settled in, I'm ready to trade out all of the former owner's furniture for some that are a little more like my own tastes.

I've been doing a whole lot of research online to see what kind of stuff I'd like in my home and one day when I was doing that research, I saw information on Sears California and all the services they do for home remodeling. So I'm going to use them to improve the home I already have before I make it into the home that I want.

I'm going to get the kitchen remodeled to better suit all of my cooking wants and needs. I'm a big cook and the kitchen was kind of old-fashioned and not really suited for meal preparation. That will be my first part of making it my own!

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Best Friends?

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:51:00 +0000

You sure don't see this everyday. She didn't mind sharing her water but food....No Way even if she is a sweet lab!

Squirrel Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:33:00 +0000

Over the years, this house has had a small isolated squirrel problem. Their "entry" way into the home had been blocked off for some time now except when the roof was redone in the Fall. The wood that we had used to block them had been taken out for some part of the roofing work and was never placed back.

A few nights ago, the little one was hearing things in the ceiling above our living room. Upon investigation, hubs had realized that indeed they had started getting into our attic again. New walnuts, poop, and other tidbits on top of the insulation gave way to clues.

Hubs was...well pissed. He had been trying to combat these guys for some time now and we were doing really well. Only we didn't know that before we moved in or after, the squirrels had chewed through some wires exposing the copper in the attic. Hubs was even more pissed at this. His day off was supposed to be relaxing, not on squirrel patrol.

We followed the chewed wire into our living room wall, opened up a small hole (squirrels nest) and had to do what we were hoping not to...tear down the wall - gasp!

We just finished up some work in this room last summer so this was totally not in the books but had to be done. We can not sleep well at night knowing that these suckers posed a potential fire hazard for us.

So, down it came. We ended up finding and disposing of a squirrel nest in our wall bay above our entry door, opened the wall to expose all the wires so we could see the extent of the damage to fix it and replaced the insulation. We did not have time to finish (after insulation) and I'm not sure how fast we can get this space back to normal but for now at least we feel better. After the living room, hubs spent the remainder of the evening fixing the wires in the attic and disposing and replacing of the insulation that had been ruined.

While we had the extra access, we put more wood on the inside as an extra barricade to keep them out. Would you believe they even gnawed on the studs? As hubs was reaching down trying to pull out chewed insulation, he "felt" ~~found~~ and disposed of six dead squirrel bodies that were....old. We have layers of insulation so he had to pull up the layers to get to the chewed insulation and to where they had hid/died. They liked the spot closest to the eaves of the house where it's incredibly hard to get to.

I've been in the attic myself and never noticed a thing so it's amazing how they could have been there and no one know. I think it was more of a motel for them because of this mild winter. They probably came in as needed and left on good days. As far as the dead one's, I hate to say it but they could have been up there since before we moved in. Who on earth wouldn't have smelt that? Craziness.

Have you had squirrel issues before? I swear I need to steer clear of that show Infested on Animal Planet. It gives me the creeps and really ups my phobia of all things rodents.

Here's a good article on squirrels and how they can get into your home that I came across. This one on removal of dead animals in attic is informative too.

Has Spring, Sprung?

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:43:00 +0000

So, I've been seeing some new things popping up in the yard despite what the groundhog says. Amazing. I planted this primrose last summer just because it had died out in the pot and well whether it came back or not, it was better to plant it than just toss it. So I did, in some random spot by bricks. Had I known it would actually come back, I'd of found a better spot but Wow. It's February in NE Ohio and this sucker is in bloom.

I also found some bulbs peeking through too. I think these are daffodils. At any rate, either they are being teased and are confused or this may be the worst it gets this winter. As I type this, snow is melting and from the weather this morning may not see snow for another 8 days...maybe.

Do you think Spring will knock on your door early this year?

Upstairs Loft - Laminate Over Hardwood

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:20:00 +0000

We started a project today that we had not initially dreamed of doing especially in the middle of winter but we figured we could get it done relatively fast so we jumped on it. Did I mention free? I'm sure you heard that one mans trash is another mans treasure right? Well that was the case today.

A homeowner was getting ~~rid~~ replacing some tongue and groove laminate flooring that was previously in his home. It was still in very decent shape so they asked hubs if he would want it. Otherwise they were just going to pitch it. Needless to say that it ended up coming home that day.

It wasn't enough to do a large room so we thought we'd put it in the upstairs loft. We had been wanting to replace/refinish the flooring upstairs for some time but after the kitchen, laundry/guest room, computer room, and living room we were whipped for a season.

Before - Not the greatest lighting, sorry!

While we still plan to refinish the floors one day we thought this would be a great way to rid ourselves of the horrid/old/dirty carpet - today. At least in one area. To give you a heads up, we followed our own directions and most certainly didn't do this by the book. Being that this is a somewhat non-permanent fix, we chose to do it our way; which for many may be the wrong way.

Here's the before:

and brace yourself. I was in shock too after we pulled up the carpet/padding and I saw what color they had painted the floor up here!!! I thought the other rooms were bad...sheesh.

Best I can guess is it's an aqua-teal sort of green. Wowza. There's some beautiful antique hard wood floors under there begging to be refinished...one day.

What you see below is sand that had went through the carpet and padding over the years. Can you imagine? This is why I don't like carpet.

We also ened up taking up the trim around the room as well as on the doors for the laminate. It was junk and most peices we could pull off by hand. Craziness.

At any rate, we layed the laminate directly over the antique floors. This is what I mean by not paying attention to how we did this as I'm sure many would go "wah?" There are no moisture issues in the loft and the antique hardwood floors are very sturdy and quite level so we felt just in our efforts. I guess it helps that it had been "coverd up" for many many years too.

I know a lot of people frown at laminate because it doesn't have the greatest longevity, but it sure is a lot easier to put down than any other DIY floor jobs I've participated on and is a lot cleaner of a job too.

After

We still have to trim, do some drywall work and repaint but that'll be another weekend project. For now, we are diggin the one day fix!

Kids Party Fish Bowls

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:42:00 +0000

photo credit

I was googling my way through some clever ideas for fish bowls and came acoss the fun party ones pictured above! Aren't they cute? The bowls pictured above have crayons and goldfish crackers perfect for a little one's birthday party! Just use some tissue paper like you would for stuffing in gift bags to form into flower like toppers.

Creating an awesome metallic vanity

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:56:00 +0000

Guest post written by Mel Carter

I'm always impressed by shiny things. I'm not really sure why my tastes have always been drawn to lots of metallic things. But, that's always been the things that I pick out first when I'm decorating the house. For my husband's and sons' sake, I tend not to go towards that kind of stuff so much when I'm decorating common areas. But right now I'm changing an extra walk-in closet that we have into a little dressing area with a vanity. I really can't wait until I'm finished with it!

Of course, I'm going to use as much as my style in it as possible because it is my own personal space. While I was online looking for the perfect shiny vanity for it, I ran across some info on tile floors and thought it would be great for our kitchen. We have some old laminate floor in there that just doesn't look so great anymore. So I think that we're going to retile the room.

But I also found this amazing metallic vanity that is the next best thing to an outright mirrored vanity. (I've looked into those and they're too expensive.) It's going to be perfect for my space!

See Disclosure

Let him know he’s “Da Man” with Printable Candy Bar Wrappers!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:44:00 +0000

I was browsing the internet trying to get some unique ideas for Valentine's Day this year and came across a gift idea over at Jeanne Winters that I thought was truly unique!

It's called "Udaman" candy bar wrapper that you can print in a jiffy from her blog and wrap around your husbands favorite candy bar! If your health conscious you could probably get away with using a health bar too!

One of my husbands favorite is Twix but instead I used the Twix with PB since they were in a nice festive looking red wrapper.

I tapped two together since I liked the look of the big bar but you can adjust down the size of the free printable that Jeanne Winters offers to fit smaller bars.

The ingredients are:
Love, Marriage, Joy, Patience, Laughter, God, Trust, Fun, Peace, Faith, Romance, Hope, Rest, Adventure, Family

The Nutrition Facts are:
Serving Size - U Decide 'Cause U Da Man. Best when enjoyed with your Valentine

I likey! How about you?

Small Space Organizing by Kathryn Bechen

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:34:00 +0000

Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space

By Kathryn Bechen

Baker Publishing Group

While we may admire the spacious rooms in large homes we see in magazines or on TV, let’s face it: most of us don’t live in rambling estates. Instead, we live in homes, apartments, or condos with small rooms and even smaller closets. But you can enjoy an organizes, beauty-filled life no matter what the size of your space.

In this practical book, you could learn how to

• Perform a room-by-room audit of your space to see if it’s functioning at its best

• Make the most of existing storage space and find clever ways to add more

• Find creative ways to arrange furnishings and accessories that maximize space and bring harmony and style to the home

• Live graciously in a small space with others (especially those who aren’t organized!)

Whether you’re an empty nester who’s downsizing, a newlywed setting up your first nest, or someone who just needs some creative new ideas, you’ll love these strategies, tips, and solutions to maximize space and enhance your quality of life.

When I first heard of this book, I thought this is exactly what I need! Organizing is on my to-do list for this New Year and what better way to achieve that than someone who knows firsthand about small spaces and creating a stylish, organized space that’s budget friendly.

I particularly liked that the author personalized the book with her own experiences and I found it very down to earth and practical. She even speaks of Pepto-Bismol pink walls and I’m sure a lot of us have seen that a time or two, more so if you are truly from the 70s or before. The last place I lived still had that color tile in the bathroom and it was utterly hard to find anything to go with it! Yuck. We lived with it since we were renters but despised it none the less. This book gives great suggestions as to how you can recreate those kinds of spaces and also how to keep them tidy so that they seem bigger than what they really are.

I really enjoyed this read and I am sure if you’ve ever had orange shag carpet or wondered where your guests will sit or an arms reach sized bathroom or a shoe box of a closet -- then I’m certain that you’ll appreciate this fun read and be inspired to re-create your space! I'm looking forward to putting some of these idea into play!

Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Spacecan be found at your favorite bookseller!

About the Author: Kathryn Bechen is an award-winning journalist in the San Diego area and has published several organizing and decorating ebooks. She is also a blogger at www.KathrynBechenInk.com!

I received a copy of the book for review purposes and all opinions expressed are my own.

Get Organized with Animal Print Organizers!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Want to have a little fun with organizing? momAgenda has super hot and stylish items that can make it very motivating to get organized this year. Right now it's 35% Off Spirals + FREE Shipping on orders $40+ at momAgenda.com! I'm leaning towards the animal print, how about you?

What I like about these is that they have a 17 month calendar, can be personalized, include weekly and monthly formating along with ribbons to divide the pages and of course come in fun colors.

Do you use an organizer to keep up with doctors appts, soccer games, birthdays, blog schedule or other area in your life?

Show your support for Walgreens

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:01:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

While I normally don’t post about in detail on SPQ about pharmaceuticals or the like, maintaining our health is an important aspect of our lives and dealing with medication can be a part of that. Some of you may already know if you already follow or are a fan of Walgreens on Twitter or Walgreens on Facebook but there are some changes that have been made at Walgreens regarding prescriptions that any of you currently relying on the Express Plan should know especially if you rely on daily prescriptions that need refilled soon!

Express Scripts and Walgreens no longer work together after unsuccessful negotiations and so the contract expired at the end of 2011 (see associated press release regarding Walgreens and Express Scripts here). Walgreens wants to continue smoothly without an increase in costs to its customers even if that means they would receive lower reimbursement rates at below the industry average. This goes for all Walgreens pharmacies nationwide including Duane Reade pharmacies in the New York City area.

So if you were on the Express Scripts plan with Walgreens you may want to know the changes that will take place at Walgreens. To minimize disruption and inconvenience, Walgreens has put forth a comprehensive national effort to make the transition as smooth as they can even if that means taking care of you should you be forced to leave Walgreens in order to use Express Scripts in-network coverage.

While this only affects patients with certain prescription plans managed by Express Scripts, I would still suggest either contacting your local Walgreens or checking the back of your prescription card to see if your plans deals with Express Scripts.

**Through January personal/family memberships (includes pets) with savings on more than $8,000 brand name and generic medications for $5.00 for an individual and $10.00 for a family as well as annual membership for its Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens. This includes discounts on flu shots, diabetic supplies, bonus’s from buying Walgreens brand products for photo services and more

Q&A - Kathryn Bechen, Author of Small Space Organizing

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:35:00 +0000

Question and Answer by Kathryn Bechen, Author of

Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space

Q: Do you consider small space living a "quality of life" choice and if so, why?

A: Indeed, I do. Whatever housing lifestyle choice you make for your family I think is okay, but I think that you should make sure you're consciously choosing, and not just going with a McMansion in the 'burbs or an acreage in the country with a big house because you feel outside pressure from anyone else to do so. I believe housing size is a lifestyle choice too in that housing size and the number of possessions in it take up time in your life, and time IS your life, so you want to be sure you're spending your time in a way that feels right for you because you can never get time back! If living in a large home with a large yard full of flowers makes you happy because you like having big family and friend gatherings there, and you are comfortable with all the time, maintenance, and expense that all involves, then I think a larger home is right for you. If, like me and my husband, you would rather live in a (high-quality) small space that does not require hours of cleaning and large outlays of money for home maintenance, lawn care, and furnishings, plus gives you more time to spend doing enjoyable things together, having small dinners with a few friends, and traveling, then I think small space living is for you. And always, no matter what the size of your home space, personalize the furnishings and decor to your taste so it feels beautiful to you. That doesn't mean you have to spend tons of money; it means choosing furnishings and accessories within your budget that you feel are attractive.

Q: What does "rightsized" living mean?

A: I think "rightsized" is a relative term, personalized to you and your family. A home that seems small to one family might seem big to another. A home that seems small to you at one phase of your life might seem large at another time in your life. When I personally think of small space living, I think of about 400-1200 SF, but some people might think my 1200 SF apartment is big. I've heard people say they're downsizing to a "small 2700 SF house." To me, 2700 SF is big! Again, I'd like to inspire people to make very conscious choices as to the size of home space they live in, so they're happy, because I believe when you're happy at home, it radiates out in a positive way to others in the world. Kind of like when you find the perfect jeans that fit just right! And likewise, I'll be bold enough to declare here that when your home space doesn't feel appropriate and supportive to you, you sadly radiate that crankiness out into the world too!

Q: What's the first step to downsizing?

A: Buy a 3 inch three-ring notebook and clear sheet protectors and a pencil case that you can put on the binder rings so you can take notes, keep biz cards etc. in the sheet protector, and put pens and your keys in the pencil case. Begin by walking through every room in your home and list out every large item and furnishing that you want to donate or sell so you will be able to see what you're going to have to move. Do this with any outside storage sheds and the garage as well. Don't forget the attic or other out-of-the-way spaces. It's not carved in stone; you may have to walk through your home numerous times, and you may have to negotiate the items with your mate and family as well.

Q: Can someone really be happy, and stay organized, living in just one room?

A: Absolutely! Some people actually prefer it, especially if they live in a studio apartment in someplace like New York City where the excitement and culture of the city is their "backyard," or in San Diego, where parks and beaches are the same. In one room, everything has to have its place, and I believe every home should have only the things in it that really bring you joy, but when living in one room, that's even more important. Make your home beautiful to you, even if it's one small room!

Q: What's your best tip for creating a foyer if you don't have a "real" foyer?

A: If you enter right into your living room, create a "foyer" near the front door using an attractive small bedroom nightstand. Hang a mirror over it, and place a basket under the legs of the nightstand. Put your keys in the nightstand, put your shoes in the basket, and check your "do" every day in the mirror before you leave the house.

Q: What are your two best small space organizing tips?

A: 1. Keep your gadgets and appliances simple by buying only what you'll truly use.

2. Use all-white dishes and clear glassware to cut down on how many dish sets you buy. If a dish breaks, you can easily find a new similar white piece and not have to get a whole new set.

Q: How in the world can you create a "spa-like" experience in a teeny-tiny bathroom, especially if the kids' rubber duckies have taken up residence?

A: In a small home, especially if there is only one bathroom, the bathroom should ideally be totally free of clutter and toys. You can achieve that by giving each family member a plastic basket or tote to hold their toiletries and toys. Instead of being stored in the bathroom, each family member keeps their basket in their bedroom and carries it to and from the bathroom. They also keep their own towel and washcloth in their bedroom--hang it on a hook in the closet. Many of us used this M.O. in college. Assign time slots for each family member to bathe for 30=45 minutes daily each so there is no squabbling about sis taking too long in the bathroom. Set a timer if need be. Make it a family rule that each member will respect others' time in the bathroom and not interrupt so each family member feels they can have their private bathroom "spa time." And last but not least, each family member cleans up after themselves immediately after their bathroom time so it's clean for the next person. No whiskers in the sink and no pantyhose dripping on the bathroom rod!

Q: What's your best tip if a couple has to share a small home office?

A: (Laughs.) Pray! Seriously, unless you work on projects together often and need to collaborate, each person should have their own side, corner, or at least a desk that's uniquely theirs, and the other person should not invade their turf without permission. Do your best to keep order on both sides; don't let it get totally out of control with clutter as that's disrespectful to your mate if you are sharing a space. That being said, Nancy Neatfreak is going to have to lighten up a bit if she's married to Max Messy. My husband and I share a home office, and he has one side of the room and I have the other. I systematically put everything away at the end of the day, and he's a little bit looser with his paperwork, but not a messy. He uses a big black chair and office armoire that closes up so I can't see his paperwork, and I have an Old World feminine style desk that I love, and a pretty slipcovered chair. Put your personal decorative stamp on your side of the room, and don't worry about your styles matching. When people walk into our home office they laugh and immediately comment on whose side is whose because it's very obvious!

Q: What's your best organizing tip for kids sharing a bedroom?

A: Just like a home office shared by mates, kids should each have their own side that's personalized to them. Or at least their own bed if using bunk beds, for instance. I think each child should have their own desk for school studies as well, and their own dresser and side of the closet.

Q: How is it possible to create an organized "library" in a small home?

A: Buy tall white bookshelves and line your longest living room wall as a focal point. Arrange the books on the shelf in an artful way, mixing in collected knickknacks for an interesting look. Or, today your e-reader, in lieu of bookshelves, can be your library in a small space if you don't want to dust bookshelves. Also, if you have a dining nook, you can put floor to ceiling bookcases to create a charming little library.

Q: In your book you talk about the binder notebook method. What is that exactly?

A: It's the three-ring binder notebook I mentioned in the downsizing question above. It helps you have a portable place to jot down your thoughts, plus store biz cards and fliers from housing developments you're touring etc.

Q: What free download do you have today for our readers/listeners so they can get started right away in organizing their small space home?

A: Go to www.SmallSpaceOrganizing.com and sign up to get the free article I wrote, Small Space Savvy in a Big Stuff World. There's also another free home organizing and decorating article there as a bonus.

Bio for Author Kathryn Bechen

Kathryn Bechen is an award-winning professional writer whose articles have appeared in popular national and regional magazines and newspapers. She specializes in lifestyle feature articles and has also published several organizing and decorating e-books. The lifestyle companies she founded, Organized with Ease and Kathryn Bechen Designs, have served clients worldwide. Kathryn has organized and decorated 13 personal small space residences together with her husband Steve, and they currently live in their favorite small space ever: a 1,200-square-foot high-rise apartment in beautiful San Diego, California. She blogs about timely lifestyle topics at www.KathrynBechenINK.com.

Disclosure - There was no compensation for this post however affiliate links may be contained there in. I am simply apart of a blog tour for Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space and found this information to be of use to myself and my readers!

52 Weeks To An Organized Home - Closet Organization + Linky!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:12:00 +0000

I mentioned last week that I would be joining in on the 52 Weeks to an Organized Home. Last week's theme was actually kitchen counter-tops and sink. For the sake of organization I had to divert from the weeks theme which I will make up later and tackle a much needed project - a closet. This closet is actually in one of our newer rooms (computer/spare room - see before and after photos here) that we did last year so it hasn't been that long and this closet has hit the last straw. I must say that closets have always been an organizing weakness for me. It's too easy to hide and cover up crap and not have to deal with it.

Hubs was looking for his stud finder and well I insisted it wasn't in this closet! That it must be somewhere else like his truck, basement or in his tool bag, anywhere but being in here, I insisted. I had to swallow up that this was my fault. I had allowed this closet to be a throw all/cover up in quickie clean ups and well...things happen. Some of the things you may see are a copper rack for hanging pots which never got hung, a pot for which no other reason is in here except to have stuff in it, paint, rugs, thank you cards, a printer and basically the whole nine.

Here is a good look at the before of the closet.

This is what it looks like after I tackled, donated, threw out, and put things in their proper place as well as labeled.

I'm content with the outcome and the more I think about it, I could really use another shelf or two, maybe. The spacing between them I think is what causes me to stack so much.

I didn't buy anything for this project and used what I already had like baskets and big Tupperware/plastic food containers for labeling etc (which help de-clutter my kitchen cabinets too).

The pot rack has not been hung yet but it is out in full view waiting to have a home, the printer is still in there (we will be giving it to my mother-in-law) and a lot of things found either a new home or was thrown out. The two window air units are in there because it's a pain to take them either to the attic or basement each season so we keep them near the rooms for easy access since these are pretty heavy.

Oh but I did find the stud finder...imagine that.

Have some closet organization before and after? Share it here!