HOW I KEEP MY BUILDER-GRADE CLOSET ORGANIZED...

I am a stickler for organization - especially when it comes to my closet. Especially! Having an organized closet allows me to sleep an extra 5-10 minutes in the morning (since I don't have to spend that time searching for an outfit or a piece of one) and being organized in general just keeps me sane. While I don't have a Pinterest-worthy closet, I do have a nice, but no-frills builder-grade master bedroom closet that comfortably stores all of my clothes and shoes with extra space left over! There are no plans in the near future to get the closet of my dreams, so I've had to figure out how to get the most use out of what I have. It was a challenge at first, but I've figured it out by following four simple rules that I'll share with you today! Here goes: 

1. Color coordinate everything!: The #1 thing I love about having an organized closet is that I ALWAYS know what I have. Knowing what I have prevents me from buying things that I don't need and it makes it easier to shop in my closet. Color-coordinating everything in the space is one of the best ways to always know what you have. It also makes shopping in your closet super easy. I love to wear black, so on days when I want to wear black, I just head to the black sections of my closet to shop for an outfit. That saves so much time!

2. Implement the One-In One-Out Rule: I have about the same about of empty space in my closet now as I did when I first moved into the closet - which was over 7 years ago. Other than my coat closet, all of my hung clothes are stored in my closet in my bedroom - all because of this one rule. The rule simply works like this: When something comes into the closet, something comes out of the closet a goes into the Goodwill bag. So when I buy something new, I go through my closet and search for items that haven't been worn in a year and/or those items that I just don't LOVE anymore. It's hard sometimes, but I keep looking until I find something - and I always find something. In addition to keeping my closet paired down to just those things I love and have worn in the past year, this rule helps me to always have an updated picture in my mind of what I have so I can make better decisions when I'm shopping. I apply this rule in my small kitchen as well and it works beautifully!

3. Use thicker hangers and only buy a certain amount of them: I know that thin hangers are the thing to have these days - especially when you have a really small closet or a larger one that you have to share with someone else. But hear me out... I used to use the thin hangers - even when I had a smaller closet - and it was really hard to keep up with what I had. The clothing was so scrunched up together that it was just so hard to see everything! So I went and bought a few boxes of the thicker wooden hangers. While I do have less space in my closet, I can really see what I have. The hangers make the aesthetic of the closet much nicer, too... Anything to make a builder-grade closet look better! 

And guess what else?? My goal is to never buy a box of hangers again. I have about 5-10 empty hangers at any given time. Once those hangers start dwindling down, that's my signal to find something to get rid of so that I can free up a hanger and keep my closet paired down. Trust me, there is always something to get rid of. You just have to enforce concepts that make you find those items on a regular basis!

Note that this concept still works even if you use thin hangers. Start by pairing down your closet to only the things that you love and have worn in the past year. Save a few of the extra hangers and donate the rest. This along with using the One-In One-Out rule should be helpful!

4. Ditch the shoeboxes: Shoeboxes irritate me. They tear up easily and you can't see what's in them. Plus a whole bunch of them together isn't visually appealing. Since I don't have the luxury of shoe shelves, I invested in these AMAZING clear, stackable shoe and boot boxes from The Container Store. I can see what I have, my good shoes are very well protected, and I save a little space. I treat these boxes just like I treat the hangers. I bought so many shoe boxes and boot boxes and I'm not planning to buy any more. So once the boxes start running low, I find a pair to get rid of. I love shoes, so the search for that one pair to get rid of is often SO hard, but I do always find a pair that I haven't worn in a while or a pair that I know someone would love to have. Note that I have a small basket in my closet that holds flip flops, slippers, sandals, etc., that don't need to be protected (see bottom of first pic). I only use the boxes for my good quality shoes that need protection. 

If you don't have space in your closet for clear boxes, invest in a hanging bag or something that fits in your closet that will allow you to see what shoes you have. You will be amazed at how much time, space, and money you save! 

What are your methods of keeping your closet organized?? I'd love to hear!

**Suede pumps in last pic are here... **

Images by me

HOW TO PLANT YOUR FIRST HERB GARDEN...

Hi there!! I hope you all had a great weekend - especially all of you mothers out there. I cut out early last week to spend a long weekend with my family. My brother and I crashed my parents 39th wedding anniversary dinner, we had a family movie night at home, and I made a big Sunday dinner for mom and the rest of the family. I'll share more about what I made in an upcoming post... So good!

So about today's post that I'm really excited about...  One thing that has been on my to-do list every spring for the last five years is to plant an herb garden. I use fresh herbs a lot, so planting my own herb garden always seemed like the more economical thing to do. Well planting one has not happened for the past five years. I have wavered about doing this because I never had a lot of extra time to learn about and care for a herb garden. And I just don't have good luck with plants. Never have. But I have more free time this year (thankfully), so one weekend a few weeks ago, I did some research and took myself to the nursery to get what I needed. I planted it and it is turning out BEAUTIFULLY!! I am so excited... 

So if you are thinking about planting your first herb garden, here are a few tips on how to get started - based on what I've learned thus far, and how I planted my herb garden.

1. Start Small! I've never planted an herb garden before and I don't have a big beautiful yard to house lots of different herbs that all require different care. And like I said, I've never been that good with plants. So I decided to just plant ONE herb this year, which is basil. I also added a little flower for color - but more on that in a minute... I use basil more than any other herb, so planting it just made sense. Each herb has different requirements for care, so dealing with one herb eliminates the need and stress of figuring out which ones can or can't be planted together, which ones need sun and which ones don't, which ones need more water and which ones don't. That's way too much for a beginner like me who has time - but not enough time or knowledge to adequately care for lots of different things. So I'm sticking to just one thing for now... 

2. Do your research! Luckily, there are thousands of websites out there that tell you how to grow everything, so don't just plant something and water it a few times and cross your fingers that it grows properly - like I may have done a time or two. Once I read several sites on how to grow basil and consulted my mom (who has the greenest of green thumbs), I made a list of the supplies I needed and the things I needed to remember once I got it planted. And speaking of supplies... 

3. Buy the best supplies for the particular herb you grow. Plants need love. Gosh I've learned that - the hard way. That means buy herbs that already look healthy at the store, buy the right planter if you aren't planting them in the ground, and buy good soil that is free of harsh fertilizers and chemicals. You do want to eat the herbs after all, so that makes sense...

Here is what I learned about basil and how I planted my little basil garden:

• It's best to plant it after the last It needs 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day and it likes to be watered about every other day (every day during the hot summer months)
• They grow well in tall planters that have drain the water and allows enough room for the roots. I bought an 18 in. planter similar to this one that was round enough and tall enough to accommodate the plants I bought. Basil needs to be in soil that is well-drained, so the planter has holes in the bottom of it that allow the excess water to drain out. I bought a plant stand similar to this one to sit the pot on so the water could drain out. I put it on the part of my patio where it gets ample sun throughout the day.
• I bought 3 organic basil plants (about $3/plant from Whole Foods), so I bought some good organic planting soil to plant it in. It was the nursery's own organic brand (similar here), which was about $10 for a very large bag. 
• I filled the planter about 3/4s of the way up with the soil and planted the herbs about 8 inches apart.
• For a little color, and the chance to get a little more experience with plants, I added two Verbena's to the pot. Per my consultation with a lovely lady at the nursery when I bought my soil, Verbena's require about the same about of care as basil. They love sun, need daily watering, and like well-drained soil. I "deadhead" them (just learned that term!), which means I pinch off any dead flowers. That allows for fresh blooms. 

So that's it! So far, so good! I can't wait to start pruning the basil (which I learned how to do from a YouTube video), in a few weeks to prevent early flowering. 

Hope this helps you if you are thinking about starting your own herb garden!

Images by me

HOW I'M UPDATING MY BUILDER-GRADE MASTER BATHROOM...

Pottery Barn Crystal Sconce | Restoration Hardware Mirror (18 x 36) | Gallery Wall $10 Art | Moen Sink Fixture | Williams Sonoma Towels | Moen Tub Fixture | Serena & Lily Stool | Restoration Hardware Round Glass Knobs

This really excites me people... I have been wanting to update my master bedroom and bathroom for years now and it is finally happening!! I'm starting with my builder-grade bathroom. While I would love to replace everything from floor to ceiling, I'm choosing to take the easier and cheaper route. I'm creating what I call a "mini-custom look" by customizing the space with things that are easy to switch out. Since I'm not doing a complete overhaul, I wanted to buy the nicest things I could afford or buy without hyperventilating. I will say that most of these things were purchased on sale, so I'm doing good!

So I'm keeping the big stuff like the floors, the double-sink vanity, the tub and the shower. But I am replacing the big builder sheet mirror over my current vanity with two individual mirrors and upgrading the lighting over each mirror. Lighting is such an easy way to zhush up a space, so I'm quite excited about those crystal sconces! I'm dressing up the vanity with a new set of sink fixtures and cabinet knobs. The knobs match the lighting and I love that...

The backdrop of all of that will be walls painted in "White Dove" by Benjamin Moore. I chose that color for my bedroom as well. I think that is the universal white color and I now see why. It's a creamy white that has no yellow or peach undertones and isn't too white. That is exactly what I wanted. I'm going to dress up the walls with two custom framed prints from Sarah's Etsy shop. Her art is so simple and chic, which is sort of the theme of this space... 

Oh and I'm also going to treat myself some real quality white towels - the kind that are so soft and fluffy that you just want to wrap yourself up in them and go to sleep. Perhaps I'm most excited about that... :)

AN EASY DIY: GOLD SCISSORS

Hi there!! I hope your weekend was wonderful. Well today my friends, I am certainly stepping out of the box. I'm presenting my first ever DIY here on the blog. You guys... I don't do DIYs. Ever. They intimidate me and I frankly don't have much patience for them. But lately I've been keeping up with Jenny Komenda's DIYs on her blog and gosh she has a way of motivating me! She recently purchased a new home and is doing one amazing DIY after another. She has inspired me. One of her DIYs was a pair of gold scissors for her new desk. I've wanted a pair of gold scissors since I saw these at Restoration Hardware. They were super expensive, so I stopped thinking about them. But they quickly came back to mind when Jenny explained how easy and inexpensive they can be to make them on your own. So I tried it. And I'm so glad I did. It was so easy to do and I LOVE the way they turned out!

Here is what you need and what to do:

Design Master Metallic Gold Spray Paint #231 (purchased for $8 at Michaels)
Scissors
Painters tape
Newspaper

You could always spray the entire pair of scissors, but I personally like the contrast of the gold and silver. If you prefer the same, then wrap the blades with the painters tape.

Place the scissors on the newspaper and spray the first side with a coat of the spray paint. By the way, this is some GOOD spray paint. It coats beautifully, dries fast and doesn't have a strong smell once it dries. Love it. 

After the first coat completely dries (about 10 min), flip the scissors over and spray the second side. Let it dry.

If you missed some spots on the first application, be sure the scissors are completely dry before applying a second coat.

Once they are dry, remove the painters tape. That's it!

Images by me

Gold sea urchin here, also here

Antique cup purchased from here

My Simple, Neutral Centerpiece

Like many rooms in my house, my dining room is currently a work in progress. I need window treatments, art for the walls and fabric counter height stools for the table. One day it will be finished! One day...  But I was recently able to check a chandelier (see here) and the table centerpiece off my list. 

The colors in my home are very neutral, so for my everyday table, I wanted to create a simple neutral centerpiece that would look great on it's own or on a fully decorated table. To get that look, I kept the elements below in mind. All of those elements add life to the piece as a whole and the splash of color acts as a place for the eye to stop, which is an important factor to consider in neutral environments. 

Oh and whenever I place a candle in a hurricane, I LOVE to use coffee beans. They add texture and hold the candle in place. I also love the way they smell!

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Pottery Barn Vintage Wood Pizza Paddle Board | Smith & Hawken Boxwood Topiary | Crate & Barrel Lanai Placemat | Tall Hurricane Candle Holder | Pier One Hurricane Candle Holder  | Pottery Barn Pilar Unscented Candles

The Holidays Around My House

Just a few glimpses of the holiday decor around my house... I kept things simple this year, just like I did last year. Simple just always makes me happy. My goal this year was to use what I had and not buy anything new. Of course I didn't meet my goal, but the items I did purchase were inexpensive, so that doesn't count right??

A few weeks ago, I went to TJMaxx to find a lamp for my guest bedroom. I walked out of the store with the garland for the wine glass chandelier and the sequin skirt for the tree. No lamp... TJMaxx gets me almost every time! Does it get you, too? Remember those Crate & Barrel candle holders that I mentioned here?? Well they were on sale on Black Friday, so I purchased them that day under the premise I could use them all year round. I love em', so I'm sure that will be the case! I found the quilted stockings and the little monogram pins at Target and I loved the way they turned out. They are for my mom (M), dad (D) and my brother Chad (C). I am going to fill them with little sentimental gifts instead of wrapping individual gifts for them this year. I hope they like them! 

I'll try to be better at meeting my goal next year...

I'm sharing my decor with Michelle at Ten June today! She is hosting a Holiday Mantle Party today, so be sure to check it out!

 

 

Weekend In Five Pics

My favorite place in my house at the moment | New Pottery Barn chandelier | My favorite ornament | Max's lack of enthusiasm while I was putting the Christmas decorations up | Fresh pomegranates

Hi there! I hope you had a great weekend! Even though it was perfectly beautiful outside, I spent most of my time inside. I enjoyed every second of it, too. I put most of my Christmas decorations up, got my new chandy installed and finished a book that only took me 100 years to finish. I also drank lots of water and ate lots of fruits and vegetables. Doing that somehow makes me feel better about the fact that I will be eating my weight in food in a few days...

Wait. I take that back. I cheated a little when I tasted the outcome of the dessert I made for tomorrow's post. I had to make sure it was good. And It. Was. Good. :) So be sure to stop by!

Weekend Around The House...

A pretty new bowl for my jewelry | My favorite new accessory on my leaning bookcases | Happy daisies | A new $15 throw pillow from TJMaxx that I LOVE | Max enjoying my his new Pottery Barn rug

Hi there friends... I hope you had a great weekend. Last week was plagued with lots of work and a few migraines. But after a few rainy nights of sleep and some serious lounging this weekend, I feel much better now. In between the sleep and lounging, I finally got some decorating done around the house - specifically in my living room.  Most of the big things are done, like the new rug that I love. Although Max is on it all the time looking like he paid for it... So I'm down to re-accessorizing, which to me is the hardest part of decorating! But, I think it's amazing how such little things bring so much life to a space. My living room tells a bit of new story now. I was so close to being done with my plans for the first floor of my house until I decided last night that I want to paint my kitchen cabinets white... Sigh...

Speaking of the kitchen, I baked something for the first time in it that turned out so, so good. I'll share it with you tomorrow!

Things I Love, Not Like

Lately, I have had the urge to buy everything in sight that I just "like," not love or need. Not good. Do you ever feel that way? 

Well, to curb my urges to splurge I have started taking trips around my house with my camera. I photograph little things that I already have- and love. It helps- well, most of the time... 

A stack of books and magazines that share the bed with me.

Reading and flipping through these at night calms me down after long days. They also give me inspiration for the things I share with you here...

Striped straws.

Accessorizing a cold glass of milk, sparkling water or my green drink with one of these seems to make the drink 10 times more appetizing. Love that...

A styled fruit board. 

I love fruit, too. And yes, I sometimes style my fruit board as if I were about to host a brunch for four people. I keep it on the kitchen table to snack on during the day. Styling them makes the fruit more appealing and keeps me from craving things like french fries and massive doses of chocolate chips.

A green plant in my foyer.

It was given to me by my mom- one reason I love it. It brings so much freshness and life to the space- two more reasons I love it. It's actually growing into the middle of the foyer and needs to be repotted. I don't have a green thumb- at all. I don't even know what kind of plant that is (told ya I don't have a green thumb). I just water it once a week and it seems to be satisfied- another reason I love it.

What do you do to control your urge to splurge?

Around My House {Holiday Decor}

Right now, I am writing this post at my kitchen table with a cup of hot tea. It's freezing outside. All of the lights are out with the exception of the tiny white lights on my mantle of my tree. They both happen to be in my direct view. Oh and a Sex & The City rerun is on TV. My point is that I'm in heaven! 

Here are some glimpses of what I'm looking at. Like I said here, I kept things nice and simple this year...  

The color scheme was green, gold and cream. I just wanted to keep things cozy, soft and calm and those colors did it for me. Max loves this West Elm throw that I used as the tree skirt, so he spends quite a bit of time under the tree. I've been spending quite a bit of time on the couch just enjoying the view. That is where I'm headed right now... If you want to know the source of any of my decor, just ask me in the comment section. I will be glad to reply to ya!

I heart the holidays...

Linked up to:

Nesting Place

Michaela Noelle Designs

The Inspired Room