THE MODERN WIFE - OLD SCHOOL

I found a great way to turn your small bathroom into a polished, serene space.

To achieve this modern look, the owners used a color scheme of soft green, white and brown.

Total cost: $2,069

The serene, soft green paint visually expands the small room, and the white sink, towels, and robe are crisp counterpoints to the green walls. A rich brown vanity, framed mirror, and stainless steel accents add style.

A nightstand was repurposed as a vanity in this bathroom. It's a sophisticated alternative to a stock vanity and offers the look of a higher-end model for a fraction of the price. The nightstand drawer is still functional and can be used to store small items. A large above-counter sink minimizes splashing, and the nightstand was treated with a lacquer finish to make it water-resistant.

Removing bulky linen closet doors helped open up the small bathroom and keep items accessible. Towels, cosmetics, etc. can be stored in baskets to prevent the open storage from looking cluttered.

How to Tame Clutter

2012-01-27T14:59:00.000-06:00

Problem: There's just too much to do.

Solution: Come up with a plan and timeline for taking it one step at a time.

Examine the room you want to organize and visually break it into small areas that you can tackle in stages. Set achievable deadlines to give yourself a goal to work toward. Make a list of what stays and what could go to reduce clutter.

Turn Clutter into Storage

2011-12-07T10:48:00.000-06:00

ReUse Jelly Jars as Candleholders

You're not going to use all those empty jars for bacon grease, but sometimes they're just too pretty to throw out. Try placing white tea lights or votive candles in at least five small jars and grouping them together on a coffee table.

Repeat Beach Rocks as Windowsill Decor

A row of smooth stones on a shelf or a windowsill is a pleasant reminder of beach walks and creates a relaxing spot in a room.

ReUse Milk bottles as Vases

Maybe you're lucky enough to have milk delivered to your door each morning in these simple, old-fashioned bottles. Or maybe you're in love with "gourmet" beverages that come in attractively shaped bottles. Whatever the case, remove the labels and they look surprisingly antique. Group bottles of different heights on a kitchen table or a shelf for a light-catching display.

Add a Little Spice

2011-11-10T21:40:00.000-06:00

I found this picture when going through a decorating site and wanted to share it with you.

I loved the sophisticated look of this Asian inspired dining room, yet how simple it is.

As you can see, the furniture is very simple. A delicate tone-on-tone leaf motif on the walls, a pair of screen paintings, and fretwork-back chairs, reminiscent of detailing commonly found in Oriental architecture, lend this dining room a dramatic Asian flair.

The high color contrast between the orange walls and the black picture frames is reflected in the style contrast between the zebra-print rug and the room's Asian-inspired elements.

Remember: your furniture doesn't need to match for your room to work. In fact, using different furniture pieces, colors and styles that compliment each other, creates a much more dramatic and interesting room than one where everything matches.

It's all in the Accessories

2011-11-02T12:33:00.000-05:00

Wouldn't this colorful nook be a happy spot from which to launch your day? Looking closely, the space is really neutral, with white and beige furniture and walls that just whisper of yellow. This rooms' outgoing personality stems from the fresh blue, red, pink, and green accents strewn across the surfaces.

If your planning on redecorating any room in your house, perhaps you might want to consider using neutral tones on your walls and main furniture pieces. That way you can add your color and style with accessories that can easily be changed when you want to achieve a new look.

Create a Shabby Chic look in your home

2011-10-26T16:17:00.000-05:00

Do you have wood furniture you are tired of, but don't have the budget to replace?

Well, painting it might be the way to go. You can completely change your dining room by paining your table and chairs. Give your room a breath of fresh air by painting the bed and nightstand. There are no rules. You can paint your bed cream and have a pale blue nightstand. You decide.

Here is how you can make milk paint at home to achieve this look.

As one of the oldest forms of paint, milk paint is one of the most versatile and eco-friendly paints that you can use in a home. Used for centuries to paint furniture, this completely natural paint is extremely durable once dry.

ABOVE: Shabby Chic uses a specially formulated milk paint for all their vintage distressed furniture.

You can use milk paint on any wood furniture to create a whitewashed look that is perfect for cottage, country or Shabby Chic decor.

You will need:

4 litres Skim milk (or milk with no cream fat) - at room temperature
2 cups white vinegar
3/4 cup hydrated lime powder (112 g)
Cheese cloth or muslin

This mixture will make enough paint for 2 to 3 coats on a small piece of furniture.

Here's how:

1. Mix the milk and vinegar together in a saucepan and leave to stand in a warm spot for a couple of hours.

The vinegar causes the milk to curdle and separate, creating 'quark'.

Do not stir the mixture while it stands, as this will disturb the process.

2. Strain the mixture, letting it drain into a jug. Rinse the quark with tepid water to neutralise the vinegar. Repeat this process three times.

3. Strain the mixture again, letting it drain until there is no water dripping through the cloth. You now have a nice thick amount of quark [see below], which is the base of our milk paint.

4. Place your lime in a plastic or glass [not metal] container large enough to hold two to three cups.

Be careful not to inhale dust or allow dust to get on hands or in eyes.

Slowly pour 1½ cups of water into the lime and stir into a creamy paste making sure all the lime has been wetted

5. Pour the lime mixture over the quark and gently stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture in nice and creamy.

If some curds do not dissolve readily, the mixture can sit for 15 to 30 minutes to help break them down.

6. If you need to add color to your milk paint you can use natural powder pigments, powdered craft paint, or food colouring.

Mix the powered colorants into water to make a smooth paste and then add to the paint mixture. You can buy pigments at your local home improvement and art stores.

Avoid using pigments made from toxic compounds, otherwise you’ll defeat the purpose of making your own paint.

NOTE: Don't worry about any undissolved matter in the mix as you need to strain again before use.

ABOVE: Shabby Chic uses a specially formulated milk paint for all their vintage distressed furniture.

Finish off your project by applying Woodoc Antique Wax to protect and preserve the finish.

Organizing your bathroom

2011-10-19T00:56:00.000-05:00

Maximize your space

2011-10-12T01:53:00.000-05:00

Ikea stores have great space saving ideas at affordable prices.

How to Make a Hotel Bed

2011-09-30T14:57:00.000-05:00

A few people had doubts about the bed making tips I posted a couple of weeks ago, so here is a video that will help you see how to make your bed like the hotels do.

It's easy and definitely worth your time!

Ironing tips

2011-09-22T22:55:00.000-05:00

Hotel Bedrooms Continued

2011-08-30T20:46:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered why hotel beds feel so crisp and snug? Or how you wake up and the sheets and blankets are still in place?

This week one of the readers of my blog sent me this tip she learned whilst studying hospitality. I was taught to make my bed this way and I have been doing it ever since. This really works. Your feet will never be left uncovered again! Try it in 4 easy steps...

Step 1
After placing the fitted sheet on the bed, center the flat sheet and tuck the bottom end of the sheet underneath the mattress. Grab the trailing edge of the sheet, about 2 feet from the corner of the sheet, to make a 45-degree angle away from the mattress corner and pull towards you.

Step 2
Still holding on to the sheet, pull it up vertically to form a triangle (the sheet should fold at a 45-degree angle).

Step 3

Lay the triangle of sheet onto the bed, then tuck the bottom part of the sheet under the mattress. Building in this tucked fabric is the secret to a well-mitered, taut-fitting sheet.

Step 4

Drop the triangle of sheet down toward the floor, then tuck it under the mattress to form a mitered corner. Smooth the hanging sheet bottom underneath the mattress, all the way to head of the bed. Repeat on the other side of the bed.

Sleep tight!

A special thanks to Isabela Munhoz for this tip.

Something old, something new, something borrowed...

2011-08-26T14:46:00.000-05:00

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue...
This is a saying which dates back to the Victorian era which stated that brides should wear an item representing each of these categories to bring them good luck.

When I got married, I was told to follow this tradition, but I decided to live by faith and not by luck. Faith has gotten me this far and I'm sure it will keep me and my marriage going till death do us part.

So why am I talking about this on my blog? Well, perhaps some of you may be thinking of getting married or even planning your wedding in the next few months or may know someone who is. This article is for you.

Many brides keep their wedding dresses as a memory of their special day, as did my mother. I loved getting to see what my mother wore on her wedding day and to think that maybe 20 years from now I could look at my own and remember the day, but then again I have pictures for that.

When I found out that my church needed my help to complete it's newest project here in Houston, TX I decided to step up to the plate. All emotions aside, I'm selling my dress.

It's a big project with high standards which of course comes with a price tag. $7,000,000 to be exact for the project alone. Visit Universal.org to find out more.

For this reason, I decided to sell my dress and all the funds raised will go towards the project.

I purchased it brand new from a prestigious bridal store in London, UK last year and paid $1,468 (£900) for it. It's a size 8/10 (UK), 6/8 (US). It's a Pronovias gown in Ivory with details along the front and back of the dress. The straps were added to my specifications (the dress was originally strapless) and can be worn in different ways as shown below. You can also have them removed if you prefer a strapless gown.

I am willing to sell it for a starting price of $1,000, but it's open for bids of any amount higher towards the project. The dress will be shipped in a windowed display box, professionally cleaned and preserved. The dress is free from stains, tears or defects. It was only worn once for a few hours and has been carefully stored.

If you are interested and would like to find out more, please leave your comments below. The veil, shoes and tiara are also available upon inquiry.

Tips to Achieve a Hotel Chic Bedroom

2011-08-21T21:44:00.000-05:00

Super Wife

2011-08-03T11:52:00.000-05:00

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NLT)

Over the past 2 days, I have been thinking a lot about what the Holy Spirit does in someone's life. You have probably heard this before and even read the above verse several times just as I have, but stop and think about it for a minute. Isn't power what everyone wants to be ahead of the game?

Whether your aim is to be better at home or not, I am sure you want power. It's just in our nature to want it. I believe the bible so clearly specifies that we will receive power only when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, because God created that need to have power in us right from the beginning.

Though I focus on giving you tips and advice to improve your home in this blog, the truth is that all the tips and advice in the world are still not enough. There are hundreds of rich people who pay thousands of dollars to get their homes decorated and organized to the highest of standards. However, there houses are not homes. They are not happy. There money and good tastes don't get them this Power.

In these 21 days, focus on receiving this Power inside of you. Once you have It, everything else you have been fighting to achieve will fall into place.

The Making of: HOME

2011-07-19T19:20:00.000-05:00

'She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her.' Proverbs 31:27-28 (NLT)

The Virtuous Woman that God so clearly describes, has several qualities that set her apart from the rest. One being her care for her home and her family. She 'carefully' looks after them and in return she is praised.

Unfortunately, many women have despised the importance of taking care of their home. They think it's something that bored housewives do, and that people with busy schedules just can't possibly be expected to do such a thing. Besides all they do is sleep there, so why bother?!
These women might as well move into a hotel. At least they would have room service and their beds would be made every morning.

Now, if you are reading this post and you are this woman who treats your house as a hotel BUT are willing to change, then please read on. If not, then STOP right here because reading this won't help.

So as I was saying, we all have houses but not all of us have homes. Home is meant to be a haven, your corner of the world. It's the place you have power over and you can decided what goes and what doesn't. It's where you and your family can relax and regain strength for the next day.

No matter how busy I am, I always find time to invest in my home. It brings me joy to see my house in order and to know that everything has my touch. Just as God put his touch on everything he created, so we must be.

If you are on a tight budget as most women are, that is still not a reason to compromise your home.

Here is what I do to make my house a home without draining my bank account (so my husband will 'praise' me as promised):

Make a list of everything you want to get for your home. Include things that have worn out and need to be replaced, especially in your kitchen.
If you live with other families agree to a budget you can all stick to every month to get the items on the list. That will help you get things quicker.
Choose a color scheme for each room and work with that. Having the same color through out the house gets tiring quickly. Of course, choose colors that work well together so you don't end up with a rainbow.
Other than cleaning your house every couple of days (or as needed) and spring cleaning it once a week, invest in a fragrance that will set the mood for each room and give it a fresh feel. Wall Flowers from Bath and Body Works are my favorite, but you can also choose from plug-ins or scented candles available at your local supermarket. These usually last a couple of months.
Make it a point to get the whole family to sit at the table for meals when home. Avoid having dinner on the sofa or while watching TV. Dinner time is family time. If it's just you and your husband, then breakfast in bed is something you can do occasionally for a special treat; if you enjoy that of course.

THE DIRTY TRUTH

2011-07-09T18:44:00.000-05:00

I have come to realize that people tend to hide things in those "not so visible" places. You walk in to someone's house, everything LOOKS clean, but then you start looking behind the sofa, in the cabinets and drawers, in the closet, and what you find is the DIRTY TRUTH...

I want to focus on closets for today, so I found a picture that can illustrate my point a bit better. I mean, I'm sure there are worse situations than the one below, but I don't want to scandalize those of us who are sensitive to these images.

So here is a closet. It's a mess. I'm sure that it takes a lot longer for this person to find an outfit every morning since nothing has a place or an order. This also says a lot about the person; disorganized, clueless, doesn't care or love herself, and these just name a few.

If this is what your closet or any other area in your house/work/car represents, so it's time for you to have a reality check and start changing things. Here are a few tips:

Develop an organizing system. Each shelf or area should be designated to contain specific items.This means, that everything should have a place and whenever it's out of place, you put it back in place.
Thin out unused items. Many closets contain a lot of clothing or apparel items that simply are not used anymore. Sort through the contents of your closet regularly to remove unnecessary items.
Add shelving or clear storage containers. Just by adding the appropriate shelving, cluttered closets quickly become manageable again.
Use clear containers, labeled with its contents. This makes it easy to see what is inside each container and helps make the closet more usable.

You don't have to spend a fortune to do this. Most major supermarkets with a "HOME" department, should have shelving and rods to supply your needs. In countries that have the IKEA store, try them. They sell great organizing solutions at low prices. The picture below resembles a well organized closet. Notice that everything has a place and an order in which it is stored.

Give your closet a life. You won't regret it!

Getting More 4 Less

2011-06-07T09:57:00.000-05:00

Isn't that what everyone wants, to get more for less? Well, guess what? You can!

Today I realized how so many people do so much yet so little at the same time.
Q: Why?
A: Because they use the wrong tools.

I mean, this principle can apply to pretty much anything in our lives, but I want to focus on how this applies at home.

For some women this is old news. They are up to date with all the latest ways and ideas to get things done faster and get there homes organized with simple solutions. To others, when you talk about cleaning or organizing their home they remember how they spend hours and hours doing that and not much changes. Well, here's the deal - you need to use the right stuff to get things done effectively.

So, let's say that you decided to get your home cleaned and organized today. How do you start?

1. Wash your sheets and towels in warm or hot water (read label). Add enough detergent, stain remover (if necessary) and softener. While that gets done move onto step 2.

2. If you have accumulated alot of things over time, you should start by getting rid of what you don't need. Throw away unnecessary papers, magazines, expired products, etc and give away the things you don't use such as clothes, body care, dishes, decor, etc. Wipe the cabinets or areas where these things had been kept with a damp cloth and alcohol to get rid of any dust or dirt. Reorganize that space with the things you actually need, in a way that they are easy to reach. Buy storage boxes or drawer dividers if needed to organize things better.

3. Don't keep a lot of furniture or decor if you live in a small place. It takes a lot longer to clean and always looks cluttered. Try reorganizing everything with the things you like and need the most and get the rest out. Your space will feel much lighter and cleaner just by doing that.

4. When cleaning, check if the products you're using are the best for the job. Example: if you are cleaning the kitchen cabinets or surfaces, you know that a lot of grease accumulates there, so don't just wipe it with a damp cloth or a product that won't cut through the grease. You need to use hot water and a degreaser to cut your cleaning time in half and make it effective. In the US there is a product called "greased lightning", it gets rid of virtually any mess in your kitchen. I love it!

5. When cleaning your floors, make sure you use hot water for a cleaner floor and quicker drying time. Mops usually hold a lot of dirt and bacteria. Try using a disposable floor cleaning cloth or one that can easily be washed in the washer with hot water. I prefer using the "swifter" which can be found in the UK and US. They have dry cloths which attach onto the end to trap all the dust, hair and dirt. While the wet ones remove dirt and grease, leaving a fresh scent behind. If your floors are grimy, you may want to scrub them with a broom, hot water and degreaser. Then you can wipe it clean with the "swifter".

6. The bathroom must be cleaned with an anti-bacterial product. Ensure you clean all the surfaces that bacteria may get to and preferably use a disposable cloth to avoid transfer of bacteria.

7. Empty out your trash cans daily and open your curtains or blinds every morning to give your home a fresh clean feel. This really makes a big difference.

8. Leave all the bedroom doors open to allow light through to the whole house and for the air to circulate.

Obs: you can get your washing done between these steps, so at the end all you have left to do is iron.

I will post more ideas on how to clean and organize your homes and offices better in the blogs to come.

Out with the OLD - in with the NEW

2011-04-28T23:43:00.000-05:00

This week has been one of the best in my life. I've just moved to a new part of town, so I'm working with different people, living with different wives and certainly gaining experience. I am very happy and thank God for such opportunity.

I've also been paying closer attention to the influences women have in the world. How we can influence those around us for good or evil. Based on this thought, I would like to share with you a tip I've learned that will influence those around you positively and also be a blessing in your own life.

Tip of the week: starting at home, create a schedule for yourself involving those you live with. Perhaps you could arrange to sit down with them all and work out a schedule that will work for everyone. Make sure you include the following duties:

1. Cooking
2. Cleaning
3. Grocery shopping
4. Laundry (washing and ironing)

Agree to a menu for the week that everyone will enjoy. Create your shopping list according to your menu. Change menu's every week so you don't get tired of eating the same food. Be creative with this. Google has thousands of new recipes and dishes you can try. I have been doing this and my family really appreciates it.

You don't need to be a pro to do this well. All you need is the will to make it work and give it your best. I learned this when I started doing it everyday. Today, it's second nature to me, but in the beginning I found it hard to be creative at home and especially in the kitchen.

Soon I'll post some things I've tried that have helped me so you can try them too.

If you live alone follow this tip all the same, so when you become a wife you will have mastered this part and will only need to adapt to the rest. It really helps!

Introduction: My Life

2011-04-20T09:13:00.000-05:00

Hi, my name is Andreia. I am 21 years old and currently living in Houston, Texas. I grew up a pastor’s daughter moving from city to city and from country to country. Though my childhood was quite different from most people, I don't regret one bit of it. So much so that I decided to follow that same path myself and married my first boyfriend, who happens to be a pastor as well. Getting married was a dream come true for me but I knew being a wife wasn't going to be easy.

My mother was and is a great wife and I admire her to this day. I believe many of the things I practice today I learned from her, but a lot of things also came with time by learning from others who are good examples around me. I believe the secret to being a good wife in this modern world we live in, is to have a purpose, remain focused on achieving it and most importantly have a solid relationship with the One who created us in the first place. He is the One who will give you all the dos and don'ts from day to day to getting where you want to be.

I have decided to start this blog to help women of all ages who want to be better than what they have been at home. You don't need to be married to benefit from it. As a matter of fact, the sooner you begin practicing some of the tips I will share, the better it will be for you. I want to share with you through this blog a few things I practice which I have learned and they really help me, but at the same time I also want to learn new things from you, that I can then share with everyone else. Sometimes all we need is just a little advice, an idea or simply a bit of support, so that's what we'll do.

Feel free to leave comments with suggestions, or just to say what mostly helped you so I can keep improving. I am new at this so your comments will definitely be greatly appreciated. I plan to leave a message here once a week from now on. Perhaps in the future I'll leave one more often.