Older Home = Small Closets

Photo Credit: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/

I excited that I am moving out of an apartment to a house!  But the downfall of leaving a newer apartment to an older home...LACK OF CLOSET SPACE!

In my apartment, I used the linen closet in my master bedroom for my shoe closet.  After all, I had an extra bathroom that I could store all my towels and such in.  And the selling point for my apartment was that I had two walk-in closets.

But the new place has small (very small) closets.  So I'm giving up a small place with BIG closets, for a BIGGER place with small closets.

My project this week has been cleaning out my closet and donating most of the items that I no longer wear and do not intend on wearing to Goodwill.  I also have get everything organized since my close space is smaller, as well as my bathroom storage is smaller.
 

Master Bath Organization

I was in FULL packing mode this weekend.  And as usual, got side tracked onto another project...organizing my bathroom.  One of the things I loved the most about my apartment was the closet space and the roomy bathrooms.  My current master bath has a L shaped vanity with lots of counter space and cabinet storage to match.  The new house, being an older house (built in the 70's) has NO counter space and just as much cabinet space.

So I am going to have to get a little creative with my storage space.  I saw these plastic boxes at Target on yesterday and PROBLEM SOLVED!!!




http://www.target.com/


They are actually "shoe boxes" but they are just the right size to hold all my toiletries and what-nots.  The the purple handles match my bathroom decor perfectly.  I made fancy labels on the computer and put on the boxes that coordinates with rest of the decor.  Now everything is sorted out and organized. 

Time to get things MOVING!

My realtor pick up my leases, so now it's time to get packing!  You never really know how much STUFF you have until you have to pack it up!

Last time I moved (about 2 years ago) I color coded all my rooms so it would be easy to identify which boxes go to which room (quickly)

• Living Room - RED
• Kitchen - YELLOW
• Dining Room - YELLOW

I know you're thinking...that is the same color as the kitchen.  My reason for doing this is that I am putting all the kitchen and dining room stuff in the dining room so my kitchen is not cluttered with boxes.  That way I can take a box at a time in to the kitchen and empty it.  Also, the stuff that goes into my china cabinet is labled CHINA CABINET and I will personally move those boxes instead of having the movers move them.  I just don't want to risk my mother's china and my grandmother's crystal to the hands of MOVERS.  Also, that LAST boxes that I pack up in the kitchen, needs to be the FIRST boxes I unpack.  These boxes will be my dishes/glasses/silverware and my spices, flour, sugar coffee, coffee pot etc.

• Master Bedroom - PURPLE

I having all these boxes placed in one of the extra bedrooms so my bedroom will not be cluttered with boxes.  I will also make sure that the bathroom box is labled so I can find my toiletries and stuff.  Last time I moved I did not do this and after the movers were gone and I was dead tired, hot and sweaty I could not find my shower curtain and shower stuff.  So I ended up just making a quick run to Target.

• Office/Craft Room - GREEN

All my holiday decor (which is in totes) and any other boxes that are not labeled will go into the garage until I get a chance to sort them out.

I work part time at a retail store, so I had our stock person save me boxes as the shippment was checked.  Can't beat FREE sturdy boxes.  I purchased packing paper ($10 box/200 sheets) from U-haul and packing tape ($16 pkg 6 rolls) from Office Depot.

So let the PACKING begin!  So what are your tips for an orgainzed and painless move?

Out with the Old...In with the New

I have not blogged in like......FOREVER.  About 7-8 months or so.  I've been pretty busy with work and work and stuff.

I was listening to a commentary on the radio earlier this week and the speaker made the statement "in order to move on you have to let go of the things that are holding you back."  That statement is so true on so many levels.  Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.

I was thinking about deleting my blog, but when I logged on I realized that I really enjoyed and missed the "blog world"...I just need to do better a blogging.

Dining Room Decor: COMPLETED

One of the goals for this 100 day challenge is completing unfinished projects.  One of my uncompleted projects was my dining room decor...namely the centerpiece.

It all started with the orchid flower arrangement I saw a few years ago, which eventually evolved into the idea of doing the red orchids with the peacock feathers to tie my dining room colors (blue and tan) and living room colors (red and gold) together.  I've had the flowers and the peacock feathers for about a year, before I finally found a bowl that I liked.  Now this is what has been sitting on my dining room table for the last few months, patiently waiting to be completed.

And I have a blank wall that needs "something" but I could never quite figure out "what"...so in the meantime I re-purposed an iron wall hanging from out of my office to the dining room.

Linking this post to this weeks Tablescape Thursday with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

So what is this "Green Smoothie Detox" all about!

On my quest for implementing a healthier diet, I keep hearing the "buzz" about Green Smoothies.  There are sooooooo many posts, "diet" plans and recipes out in blogland about them, at one point I just got overwhelmed.  This clip from ABC News helped me understand how the ingredients in the Green Smoothies work.  And most importantly that this is not really a "diet" but more of a daily detox that should be implemented into your lifestyle.  So I tried this one to start with on my little journey to a healthier ME!

I also ran across a wealth of information about Green Smoothies at the LiveStrong website.

My 100 Day Challenge to an improved ME!

I joined the 100 Day CoCreating your Reality Challenge on FB.   My friend Jennifer (Rawbella), invited me to join this challenge ... and I must say it came along at JUST the right for me.  I am going through a transition in my life right now were things are not quite lining up how I want and need them to be.  The challenge runs from August 1st (tomorrow) through November 9th...but for me it's just the beginning of a NEW ME and a NEW LIFE!  I know as a procrastinator (me) this list seems kinda long, but for some reason the number 10 is speaking to me on the 100 day challenge. 

So here are my goals for the next 100 days!

1) GET ORGANIZED! Clear the clutter in my home office (aka the other bedroom which has turned into a storage room and dumping ground).  That room is starting to remind me of an episode of Hoarders.

2) FOCUS on getting my business going.  Lack of confidence has been my hindrance and holding me back.

2) Remove the excess weight (all 40 lbs of it) so that the BEAUTIFUL CURVACEOUS ME can evolve and LIVE again!  Eating healthier and exercising.

3) Establish and embrace an EXERCISE regimen to improve my health and livelihood.

4) Take my state prep exam class and take the State Exam to get my Real Estate Licence (something I have been putting off WAY tooooooo long!)

5) FINANCIAL FREEDOM!  Pay all some the remainder of small debts I have and take the final steps to clearing off my credit.

6) Lay the ground work toward purchasing a home and/or future rental property.

7) Build better RELATIONSHIPS (Family, friends, and business)

8) COMPLETION! Finish all of these little unfinished projects around my home, and really in my life for that matter.  There are so many things that I have started and not finished and I really need to just get them completed.

9) Learn to SWIM.  And as much as I love to be in water or around water, its really sad for me to admit that at 41 I can't swim, over even float for that matter.

10) Prepare myself for my SOUL MATE :-) I know he's out there and close to finding me.


Check out Jen's You Tube video => HERE <= expaining the co-creating concept and how/why she was inspired to start this challenge.  She created this FB group so everyone can network and support each other about a week ago and it has quickly grown to 500 people. 

Summer Fiesta by the Pond

Every summer my book club has a get together, just to get together!  No book discussion, just socializing, good food and wine!  One of the ladies has a home out in the country and volunteers to have it held at her place.  My mom and I are doing the food and the planning.  This year's theme is "Summer Fiesta by the Pond"

The Menu

Chips, Guacamole, and Salsa

Three Bean and Corn Salsa

Grilled Stuffed Jalapenos

Beef Fajitas

Chicken Fajitas

Fresh Flour Tortillas

Frijoles a la Charrao

Rice

Carmel Apple Empanadas

Dulce de Leche Almond Cupcakes

Polvorones (Mexican Wedding Cookies)

Sangria Tea

I love the elegance of this table set up, and this is pretty much the vibe I tyring to achieve with out little get together. 

Let's see how it comes out.  I already have bowls and platters similar to some of the ones in this picture. There is a Hispanic flea market and farmers market close by we are going to over the weekend to look for a authentic pinata, serape (to use as a table covering), sombrero and other decorations. 

Also as a "party favor" for the ladies I am doing big beautiful flower pins for their hair.  We asked everyone to come dressed in "Fiesta Attire"

Pretty Princess Party

This beautiful smile made all my hard work worth it.  She had a BLAST at her party and was sooooo happy!  And all of the little Princess' had so much fun also.

Each little girl was crowned with her tiara and given her princess sash as they arrived.  We had a few Knights in attendance as well (unfortunately they did not make it into any of the photos, they were too busy in the moon jump all day).  Each princess was made a custom name bracelet.



The Palace Party Planners laid out a beautiful feast fit for a princes.  The menu included Turkey Sandwiches cut out in crown shapes, Fresh Fruit, Dragon Tails (Chicken Strips) and Chips.

I love how the centerpeice came out.  This is what happens when you buy a "tub-o-rhinestones" and have free time on your hand while watching the basketball playoffs.

I recycled the flowers from the centerpeices I used at my best friends baby shower a few years ago.

I did not get a chance to take a full picture of the draping that I did not the tent, but it definately brought everything together.  Here you can see a glimsp of it.



Each little guest received a Princess Swag Bag with bubbles, fruit snaks, party blowers, Princess coloring book and crayons.  The bubbles were a HUGE hit with the kids.  Thankfully I had extras because there were a few that either used up all of their bubble or accidently spilled them.  I'm glad I did the full size version not the party size version of them.

The Princess backdrop came from Party City and made a great backdrop for the photos.

Everyone, all the way down to the littlest pricess had a lot of fun!

Princess SWAG Bags

I found these cute bags at Party City. The bag on the left with the pattern is for the girls...and the solid color (purpleishbule) bag on the right is for the the boys.




Each bag will have bubbles (6/$0.99 at the 99c store), colors (3/$1.00 at Dollar Tree), a mini coloring book, and Fruit snacks. Girls bags will have princess themed stuff and for the boys I'm doing a knight or pirate theme (have not gotten this stuff yet because I am still waiting on a final count of number of boys from Grandmother and my sister.


Last year around Christmas I found these tiaras and rings at Dollar Tree. There were 6 to a package of the tiaras, they were plain with not rhinestones. The rings had a pink or a lavender heart shaped stone in it. I purchased a big "tub-o-rhinestones" from Hobby lobby and binged them both out.

The first photos shows the rings before I added the "extra" to them.

So now I have sets of pink, purple, red, yellow and green Princess Tiaras and Royal Jewels for our visiting princesses. I also blinged out their wands (also found at Dollar Tree)

Each girl will also receive a sash that says "Princess" and a princess skirt. I found this super easy and inexpensive tutorial at http://www.momaroo.com/ for the skirts. I'm going to make a few alterations to the instructions, I want longer skirts and not as full.

Pink and Lavender Bling Princess Party

I'm planning my niece's 6th birthday party.  It's a princess theme party, I'm doing a twist on the Disney Princess theme.  I was so excited when Disney finally came out with an African American Princess. 




Photo: http://www.disneyconsumerproducts.com/

 But the thing is, Princess Tiana is not on all of the Disney Princess stuff, so I came up with my own twist of it.  The color scheme is Pink and Lavender... pretty much based off of these plates:

There are six different princess...Tiana, Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, and Ariel (a different one on each plate).  Since this is a party for "little people", I figured the dessert size plates were large enough to use for the food (7") and I am going with pink and lavendar napkins.

We are decorating a 10 x20 tent with pink fabric, tule, ribbon and balloons...this one of my inspriration photo's I found online:

Inspiration photo for the food and cake table:

Still working out the menu...most likely finger foods.  I ran across these great blogs that were a HUGE inpriration for the food!

For All Things Creative - I love the cute names for the food and the namecards she did.

Cupcakes Wishes & Birthday Dreams - This dessert buffet is a 5 year olds dream!

Backdrop for the photo's with the Princess

Purchased from http://www.partycity.com/

It was only $6, but it's made of plastic and in two parts.  So I'm brainstorming on how/where to put it up since this is an outside party.

I have to find the blog I got the idea to do this "blinged out number" for the main centerpeice.  Since I have that "bucket-o-rhinstone" I had to find another project to use them on and this was just perfect. 

I took a 8" MDF Curly Q Number - 6 that I purchased from Hobby Lobby

Painted it with a metallic purple acrylic paint and then hot glued various shades and sizes of pink rhinestones to it.  This project roughfly took one evening to do (while watching the basketball game on TV).  This is how it turned out.

I'm recycling silk flowers from some baby shower centerpeices that I did a few years ago to make the centerpeice.
 

Another White Dress

So as I mentioned before, I not a huge fan of white...unless it's a t-shirt or something I can throw in the washing machine.  I just always seem to get SOMETHING on me, I'm a magnet for dirt when I wear white.

Well, I'm strolling through Ross...side note:  I hate Ross, their stores just always seem to be un-organized and cluttered.  But for some reason I still pop in every now and then.  And will usually find a GREAT deal I just can pass up.

Anyway, I go in the other day and ran across the CUTE dress that fit me FABulously!  What color is it but WHITE!  But I just had to have it.  It's going to be the perfect dress to wear for our family photos next week.  I'm pairing them with a pair of black strappy sandals I have in my closet.

Easter Suit

Remember when you were little and how excited you would get when your mom would take you shopping for your Easter outfit?
Well, as an adult...not so much.  I guess its because I am not so big on clothe shopping (for myself). 

Anyway, I need a white suit for Easter.  Did I mention, the only time I wear white is if it is washable...i.e. t-shirt, tank top etc.  Last week I was looking for a new black suit and saw a white suit that...*surprise* I actually liked and thought was cute!  So once I found out we had to wear white on Easter...I "hopped" back over to the mall and luckily found it in my size.

Now I have to find shoes to wear with it....I don't have any white dress shoes.

2010 Susan G. Komen Houston Race for the Cure

Every year to kick off my birthday celebration weekend, I participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®. Every 68 seconds, somewhere in the world , a woman dies from breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer among women today.

The Komen Race for the Cure® raises money to fund education, screening and treatment programs in our community and supports nation cutting-edge research in hopes of finding the cures.
For all the wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends, please consider making a gift today. Together we are saving lives!Please support my fundraising efforts for this cause by making a donation to the Komen Race for the Cure® at http://rfch.convio.net/goto/zeva2010. Donations are being accepted through November 15, 2010.

This year I had the pleasure of waking with one of my tenants. They are an oil and gas company, which is why we are wearing the PINK hardhats. As usual this event was a lot of fun to participate. Words cannot begin to explain the excitement and inspiration on walk day as you see all the participants, both survivors and supporters. Here are a few pictures form the Houston Komen Race for the Cure®.

This event is very near and dear to me as I have many family and friends who have been effected by breast cancer. Know your risk by learning about your family health history and talking to your health care provider about your own personal risks. Remember, by making healthy lifestyle choices, you may reduce your risk of breast cancer.