Magpie {oh so} Lovely

Do you love as much as I do? Magpie Lovely has me hooked!

Cummerbund Skirt

Classic Clutch

Shoulder Warmer

Rosette Trim Headband

Simplicity Life Tote

Missing in Action

Well, I'm missing because of action....lots and lots of action.  This week has been our church's missions conference.  I'm still trying to get a good schedule down for my new puppy. This week is preparations for next week's piano recitals, and today and tomorrow is the Liberty's Ladies Conference!!  I literally have had no time to sit down and blog.  

After this week, things should calm down.  I'm sorry that you are visiting and finding nothing new.  I promise that I will be on schedule again soon.  Thanks for being patient!!

Jane

The Secret of the Three Baskets

Baskets by Ziggi Ziggi

It's the age-old question: Should a laundry room be downstairs or upstairs? Well, maybe not an age-old old question, but didn't you think of it when you were looking for a home?  We sure did.  If it's upstairs, you take the risk of the washer leaking and soaking through your ceiling.  If it's downstairs, it's probably a long walk from the bedroom.  

When we built our home, my husband probably thought more about the hundreds of dollars it would cost us to fix our ceiling than the hundreds of trips I'd make up and down the stairs.  Totally fine, I need the exercise. So our laundry room is downstairs.  That means lugging laundry down and up the stairs is a several times a week routine.  

I had to figure out some kind of system so make this easier.  I'm constantly trying to figure out how to do the tasks around the house more efficiently. This is what I came up with:

We have three laundry baskets (not including our lights/darks hamper in the laundry room.  One basket stays in our master bedroom, one stays on top of the washer, and one "floats."  The bedroom basket is where we toss our clothes.  The washing machine basket houses clean clothes, and the floater basket carries clothes up and down (and any other items around the house that need transportation).

And here's the process: When the floater basket happens to be upstairs, any dirty clothes from the bedroom basket (whether it's full or not) goes into the floater.  When we are ready to go downstairs (no extra special trips allowed), the dirty clothes are emptied into the laundry room hamper.  When clothes are clean they are emptied into the washing machine basket, folded, and loaded into the floater.  Then, when we are ready to go upstairs (no special trips allowed), the clean clothes are put away.  Then the floater is already upstairs readily waiting for its next refill. 

We also use the floater for any items that need to go downstairs or upstairs.  We use the same process.  It helps me stay on top of things a little at a time.  This way, I'm not hauling loads worth of clothes up and down the stairs.  It works for me!

Here are some snazzy baskets I found online, just for your entertainment:

Apartment Therapy

Crate and Barrel

Anthropologie

Meet Henry...the Reason for my Missing Posts

As  you know, because of my schedule I usually post on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and sometimes Saturdays.  Those are the days when I'm not busy from morning to night! Days that I can actually sit down relax and blog.  Well, our family has welcomed a new member this week.  Meet Henry!

I brought him home on Tuesday and have definitely had my hands full ever since.  Henry is a Yorkie and Yorkies are very inquisitive and need a lot of attention. He is starting to get a feel for what's expected of him around the house.  We still have a lot of work to do, but he is a good doggie.  So incredibly cute that I just want to play with him all day (which is what has happened and the end result is getting nothing done that NEEDS to be done).  The picture above/left was taken while we were eating dinner Tuesday night.  He just curled up and took a nap : )  I was afraid he wouldn't like my husband, but it's quite the opposite.  He adores him.  

So if I'm missing in action in the next few weeks, you'll know it's probably because I'm taking care of our little son.  

Happy Thursday!!

From Simply Orange to Simply Functional

A few weeks ago, I started paying attention to empty containers that I usually wouldn't think twice about throwing away.  That's when I noticed these Simply Orange (and Lemonade) containers.  I thought they were lovely.  So I began with this....

and ended up with this...

functional and adorable book ends.

I first took off the labels with the help of Goo Gone.  Next, I literally sawed off the part that you screw the lid onto.  THAT was fun! If you try this, please be careful. 

My next step was spray painting them.  I used flat white spray paint.  You'll need several coats because the light just keeps shining through them if it's not on thick enough. 

Then I printed off my letters onto card stock using American Typewriter font.  I cut the letters out and Mod Podged them on.

They were still too light to use as book ends, so I filled them with stones.  Total cost: $3.78 for the spray paint. I love repurposing and have found myself keeping everything!! I'm so thankful my husband is understanding.  Thanks, Babe!!

Linking to these awesome blogs:

Embellishing Life

Craft-o-Maniac

Polka Dots on Parade

The Shabby Nest

Coastal Charm

Not Just a House Wife

In the Kitchen: Granola

I wanted to share this granola recipe with you.  Fresh, healthy, and easy to make.  We made this recipe in one of my cooking classes in college.  Yum!

Picture from Southern Living

• 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1 cup wheat germ
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 cup nuts (walnut, pecans, almonds)
• 1/2 cup sesame seeds (optional)
• 1 cup cooking oil
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 tsp vanilla

Combine oatmeal, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, coconut, sesame seeds, and nuts.  Combine and boil the cooking oil, brown sugar, water, and vanilla. Pour liquid mixture over dry ingredients and mix.  Bake at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes on baking sheet.  Stir two or three times to keep from burning.  

Recipe by Frieda Cowling

Fanciness: {Stationery}

In the days of emailing, texting, and instant messaging, it's a rarity that anyone sends a real-life letter through the actual POST OFFICE anymore.  But who saves instant messages?  Who sits down and re-reads all of those emails sent with love and care?  Who begins to feel nostalgic over a text message!!  My answer would be no one.

My mother LOVES beautiful things.  Among the beautiful things that she loves would be beautiful stationary.  However, my mom doesn't just collect lovely paper...she uses it!  I have a box filled with letters my mom has written me throughout the years.  I even have a journal that she kept for me when I was a baby. My mom doesn't think herself to be an exceptional writer, but I would have to disagree.  I pull out her letters often and re-read them, always amazed at her ability to transform emotion into the written word.  These letters are one of my most precious possessions.

I had a teacher in college who would always say that one of the best gifts you can give is the gift of words.  You can read about what it means to give a gift of words here.

If you are going to send a letter, special stationery is not a necessity, but it sure is fun. Here are a few ideas to start you out:

1. Gold Bee by Crane 2. Ecru by Vera Wang 3. Oyster White by Vera Wang 4. Engraved Thank You by Vera Wang  5. Magnolia by Vera Wang   6. Aquamarine Blue by Vera Wang 7. Rabbit Express by Checkerboard  8. Three Eggs by Crane  9. Peacock by Kate Spade 10. Bicycle by Crane