DIY Wreath and Flowers

My SIL recently made a wreath that was made of burlap and some clip on flowers.  SUPER CUTE!!!  I decided I wanted to make a fun wreath as well...so, off to the store we went!  This post is going to be a LOT of photos.

I purchased all my supplies at Walmart and Michaels:

-1 wire wreath ($3.99 - Michaels but I had a 50% off coupon - $1.99)
-3 rolls 10 ft. long burlap ($3.47/roll - $10.41)
-Glue gun and glue sticks
-Felt sheets x 6 ($.29/sheet - $1.74)

Of course I forgot to take photos before I dove in.  I was excited!!!  All you do is push the burlap through the wires and poof it out a bit.  I went for a small poof to conserve my burlap (I only had 2 rolls but my SIL graciously gave me a third one).  There is no hot glue needed for this part.  And there is no right or wrong way to do this.  Just thread it and poof it.

It should look like this when finished.  You can manipulate the burlap to cover up all the wire.  I wanted to add some flowers to the wreath.  Michaels had some adorable flowers for sale, but they ranged from $1.99-$3.99 - I wasn't too thrilled with that idea because I either wanted 5 or 6 medium flowers or 1 XL flower.  SO, I decided to try my hand at making them myself.  Thanks to Pinterest (again), I was able to do that with just a few sheets of felt - for a fraction of the price.

Here's my array of felt flowers.  Took me about 1 hour and some 3rd degree burns, but I dig the final product!!!  Next task was to figure out how to attach them to my wreath...

I just glued the strip on the edges, leaving the middle open for a clip.  In the end, I used bobby pins rather than clips.  The flowers were too heavy to just clip onto the burlap.  Instead, I bobby pinned them to the wire frame of the wreath.  Here's the final product.  I think it's just the thing to welcome spring and summer...yeah, still waiting for spring!

It turned out pretty nice - not sure Hubs is too wild about it, but he is so nice and smiles and says "looks good babe".  Total cost for this wreath was:  $14.14.  Michaels had burlap to purchase as well for less expensive because they had 50% off their ribbon, but I really wanted a chevron print on mine.  So, you could easily do this for less.

*Side Note:  You'll notice the sign on my door that says 'Please Remove Your Shoes' - that is yet another thing I am OCD about.  We spend a lot of time playing on the floor, having picnics and I fold laundry on the floor sometimes, so, I am the crazy woman that asks you to take your shoes off at the door.*

**I am not proof reading this post...so mock me if you will!**

Episode 1: The Spending Stops Now!

Paying bills.  Balancing the checkbook.  Yuck.  It's not a fun process, but I must say, it can be very eye opening.  Today, at this very second, I am vowing to do better.  What I mean is, I see our money going out-out-out, but I'm not doing a very good job of keeping it in.  While we do have a budget in place, lately, I've been using it more as a guideline.  I implemented our current system (which I love) to do better - that was over 1.5 years ago, and I've slipped lately.  I'm ashamed BUT, I know I can do better.  So, starting now, I'm taking a pledge to do better!!!  I'm not talking about just my DIY's or organizing projects, I'm talking about spending in general:  groceries, staying home instead of going out and about...everything!

NOW, I am not saying that every once in a while I won't splurge, but I'm also not going to go all crazy and shut the power off in the house at 9pm every night so we save a few bucks (yes, I've seen this on some TLC show...insane [I'm shaking my head while typing that last sentence]).  I will splurge but ONLY if I've saved the money ahead of time.  You've seen in my past posts that I've said that I "splurged" or "saved my pennies" for certain items.  I am being 100% honest about all of that.  But, I want to do better.  I know I can do better about saving more AND be more frugal.  CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!!

A couple weeks ago, I decided to try a new method of saving.  It's an all cash system rather than putting money in my savings account.  I've heard of a money guru Dave Ramsey that swears by the cash envelope system.  We do not use that system and I'll get into what system we use in a later post...all that budgeting jive will probably end up being a multi-series post.  Here's what I did:

• I purchased this accordion file from Target in the dollar bins.  Love me some CHEVRON!!! 
• The accordion file came with some handy labels, but in true Megan Style, I had to put a little fun into it!
• 
  
  
  
• The labels were rounded but...we all know I don't roll like that, so out came the Washi Tape!!!  Pretty feather blue print.  I made them rectangular labels instead of the rounded.  I didn't feel like taking the scissors to round it out.  And with the help of my trusty label maker I came up with the photo below! 
  

• I thought about the different things I wanted to save for, so here are my categories:
• Vacation-we don't really vacation, but Hawaii IS in my future - maybe not now, or 5 years from now, but it IS going to happen
• Organizing Money -I'm fortunate enough that I have a large store of organizing supplies in my utility room (from YEARS of OCD), but sometimes, there's just a few items that I MUST have.
• Fun Money-this is money reserved for my shopping trips with my sister (sometimes my Mom and cousin get involved) and/or friends - usually consists of clothing, shoes and purses.
• Bedroom-I have a dream to re-do our bedroom.  Nothing big; paint, curtains, bedding - but it's not free.  :(  I'm always brainstorming ideas to cut costs and do DIY's (Hubby is usually a must have in this department - he won't teach me to use the saw or nail gun - rightly so).
• Laundry Room - I want to paint, add new shelves and sew a shower curtain and window curtain...again, not free.
• Fives - I very RARELY have cash, but when I get my hands on a five dollar bill, I don't spend it.  It goes directly into the 'Fives' category.  No idea what I'm going to do with it, but I don't think about that money and someday, it will add up! 

• Lastly, I thought having a type of ledger in a couple of the categories would be helpful.  I estimated how much I thought it'd cost to do what I wanted to do in both the laundry room and bedroom.  I wrote it all out and on the bottom half I put how much money is in the file and I'll keep adding to it as I save (just an FYI, this is a dummy ledger - I just implemented this new system so it's a work {I should say 'saving'} in progress).  I simply used a piece of scrap paper that I had on hand and wrote out my estimates.  While I REALLY wanted to use Washi tape, I refrained since this paper was cute and colorful on its own!

Every time I get my hands on cash, some will go into this little slice of savings.  While I'm fully aware that it's going to take a LOT of time for it to add up, it'll also keep me (and my spending) in check.   You've got to start somewhere - baby steps!!!  This is just one of my ideas to save some moolah - there's plenty more ideas where that came from!!!  So, consider this Episode 1 of 'Budgeting & Money-Saving Ideas'.

*Side note:  There's yet another rogue bullet within my post...seriously, tricky little suckers!*

**Side note 2:  Starting the week of April 28th, I will be posting every Tuesday and FRIDAY - rather than Thursdays**

Until Thursday...

Frozen Skirt

Sweet Pickle is a HUGE fan of the Disney movie 'Frozen'.  She's that 2.5 year old that recites the words to the movie and sings the songs - we've watched it a couple times.  A couple months ago, I was rummaging through the remnants at the local fabric store - Hancock Fabrics - and found a little less than a yard of 'Frozen' print knit fabric.  I had NO idea what I was going to do with it, but I thought I'd find something!

We all know that I'm in the learning stages of sewing.  BUT, I found a great blog with a tutorial on how to make a little girls skirt.  Here's the link:  http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-a-simple-skirt.html

I washed and dried the fabric before setting to work.  It frayed something fierce, and I'm sure there's some super special way to wash/dry these kinds of fabrics, and I'm sure I'll find out after posting this.  :)

I trimmed off all the frayed stuff to get a nice rectangular piece of fabric.  I followed the tutorial (sorry, I didn't take pix of every step...I was kind of in the zone.  I had purchased some 1" elastic for the waistband as well when I was at Hancock Fabrics (I've been there many times).  After about an hour - this shouldn't take this long, but, I read and re-read the instructions about 7 times.  Here's what the final product is:

It turned out pretty darn cute!!!  It works with leggings under or just as is.  Where I'm from, she's had to wear snow pants underneath.  This will be a nice, simple skirt for the spring/summer.  AND, if I come across cute fabric in the remnants bin, I'll know what to do with it.  The total cost of this skirt was about $2.  Fabric was $1.27 and then a portion of a HUGE roll of elastic and the thread.  Not bad for 2 bucks!!!

Moral of the story:  Check out the remnants bin!!! You can find some treasures in there for super cheap!!!  And, with a little time and determination you could whip something fun up too!!!

Q & A

Here are just a few questions I've received since January 14th...that's the start date of this sweet blog...and my birthday (I'll never have a hard time remembering when I started this).  I'm going to answer the best I can!

Q:  Is your house always so clean?
A:  Yes.  Always.  GOTCHA!!!  No, it's not.  There's a HUGE difference between clean and picked up.  Our home is usually picked up with the exception of when the Littles are playing - we clean up POST toy tornado.  And they help.

Q:  What is Washi Tape?
A:  This question saddens me...you know who you are.  ;)  Washi tape is this wonderful paper crafting tape that I'm still finding all sorts of uses for.  It's more to just beautify and to serve the purpose of being FUN!!!  Here's the link to my post about Washi Tape: http://www.arethesemygoodsweatpants.blogspot.com/2014/01/washi-wonder.html    To sum it up:  It's just wonderful!!!

Q:  How do you get your kids involved in organizing and cleaning?
A:  We are just like any other parents that "encourages" their kids to help pick up and to put things back where they found them OR where they're supposed to go.  There's a place for everything in this house...even if it's the junk drawers (hope to post about that sometime) or the dreaded utility room.  They don't always do it willingly, but they do eventually.  I guess keeping up with it and simply by them seeing us do it.

Q:  Are you always so organized?
A:  No.  But, I sure try.  For example; my weekly meal planning calendar isn't filled out for this week.

I still know what's on the meal plan from our grocery list/meal planning sheet, but I haven't filled this one out yet.  I slip just like anyone else.  My planner really helps me - I mean REALLY helps me.  I'm much more of a hands on organizer that's why the actual paper planner comes in handy rather than electronic.  No, I don't write in my planner "clean toilets" or "4pm:  start dinner" - I can remember those things - it's more for appointments, games, practices, phone calls that need to be made, blogging ideas, meal planning, weddings, birthdays...you get the idea.  The house is pretty organized except for those areas which we do not speak of until I can address them.  :)

Q:  How did you start your blog and why?
A:  Actually my sister set up my blog for me in exchange for me sewing her something.  I'd been toying with the blog idea for over a year, and when I thought of the blog name - it all came together.  I needed an outlet from daily life - LOVE LOVE LOVE my life (kids, husband, home, work...), but everyone needs that something that they look forward to and I truly adore doing this blog.  I also wanted to share my organizing ideas, DIY's and just some of the things we do to make life easier.  I am VERY passionate about organizing.  My sister set up the blog through a blogspot which is through gmail.  She's WAY better at computer stuff than I am!

Q:  Do you have a lot of followers/readers?
A:  For the longest time I had no idea how to see if people were reading my blog (don't worry, it doesn't say WHO has been reading if you're a closet reader - it just gives a numerical amount)!  I stumbled across this about a month into it.  I am really not interested in my reader numbers, as long as just one person reads it and can get a few good ideas - I'm absolutely tickled!!!  I do really enjoy the feedback that I get from people.

Q:  Have you ever thought about organizing for other people?
A:  Absolutely!!!  I have two dreams (one realistic, one not so much):  1.  To become a professional organizer and open my own business.  2.  Become an actress (yes, I'm way serious...just waiting to be discovered in my small town).  I'd love to be welcomed into people's homes and help them get things in order and make them feel the way I do after organizing a huge project!  My only fear is that it will become an episode of 'Hoarders' and I will get lost never to be found again.

Q:  Do you blog every Tuesday and Thursday?
A:  95% of the time I write these blogs ahead of time.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays I will proof read them, add in a little of this and that if needed, and post them.  Most of the time I do not blog in real time.  Rarely I will if I find a deal on something that just MUST be shared with you all, right now.  If there's a good clearance or sale item at a store, I want everyone to partake in it!!!  I'm hoping to continue blogging for a while - as long as the fun ideas, projects, recipes keep-a-comin' I'll keep-a-bloggin'!  I'm always up for good ideas, so if you have a special organizing project that you MUST share, I'm open to having a guest blogger!!!

Q:  Where is The Container Store?
A:  The one that I've been to is in Minneapolis, MN.  I know they're all over the U.S. of A.  Just not close to where I live.  I HAVE been emailing TCS and volunteering to start a store around here.  I've even said that I'd buy into it - like a franchise...I'm still waiting for a reply.  This is not a joke, I've really been doing this.

That's all I've got for now!!!  Hope you enjoyed my little Q&A!!!  Sorry if I didn't blog all the questions...I haven't been writing them down, I just tried to remember a few off the top of my head.

Until Thursday...

A Little Sewing Fun

We all know that I have a very deep relationship with Washi Tape (this is no secret).  As well as my label maker...combined they are a Dynamic Duo in my books.  Well, I found, yet another, use for my beloved Washi Tape (this has nothing to do with the label maker, just wanted to stress my love for it as well).  As you all know, I've been attempting to start a hobby of sewing.  I'm a bit rough, and I am now on a first name basis with a sweet woman named Terri at Hobby Lobby - she's my sewing therapist.  Now, there may be some super secret to bobbins, but I haven't figured it out yet.  BUT, I was getting irritated with the end of the thread just floating about and coming undone.  So...

I Washi Taped the thread end to the top.  It works like a charm and it's just simply adorable!!!  Easy fix with flare!!!  I have a big sewing project(s) in the works right now, so here's the teaser - the wonderful fabric that was purchased for said project!!!  Please, I'm in need of well wishes on this project...I'm freaking out a little bit!!!

Next week I'm going to post a few questions and answers that some of the 'Sweatpants' followers have had over the past couple months. Do you have any questions that you'd like me to answer? I'd love to hear them and try to answer the best I can!

Sorry for such a short post...today has been a little crazy!!!  Things will pick up next week...I'm thinking of starting a budgeting/money saving ideas series. We shall see...

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Linen Closet

Everyone, including me, has those areas in their homes.  Those, areas that are...an embarrassing hot mess.  For me, I have a few of those (shhhhh.), but today we're going to focus on just one (the others will come in due time), my linen closet.  Thank goodness this is a closet that has a door so I can keep it nice and hidden...so hidden that I didn't deal with it.  Well!  The time to ignore it is over.  Let me show you this hot mess I speak of:

Ew.  I absolutely hated searching for anything in there...I also hated putting towels and sheets away...it was more cramming them into an open spot rather than putting it away nicely.  What I really wanted was to paint the entire closet white - more to freshen up than to change color, and I really REALLY wanted two additional shelves.  Thanks to my AMAZING Hubby, my wish was granted!!!

THE BEFORE

THE AFTER!!!

Isn't it beautiful!?!?!  From 3 to 5 shelves PLUS room on the floor...it's my dream come true.  I was beyond giddy to get to work on this...but, I had to wait a day or so for the paint to dry.  Of course, things will get messier before it starts to look better...

This is my mess of going through the drawers, throwing items away, putting like things together, creating categories, and busting out my organizing bins!  And after only about 2 hours (keep in mind that I was doing this with two Littles "helping" me so it probably would've taken less time if they weren't so helpful - love them though!), this is what the final product is:

Aaaah, it's like a breath of fresh air!!!  Allow me to give you the tour:

• Top shelf is dedicated to the kids' hooded towels, beach towels and old towels (we mostly use these when the kids have the stomach bug.  We cover their bed in them, that way if they throw up on the bed, all we have to do is remove the layer of towels and put them in the washer).
• Next shelf is towels and hand towels.
• And the third shelf down is bedding as well as an extra set of bathroom floor mats.  We insist on having an extra set so that when one is being washed and air dried (because that takes over night) then we pull out the spare so the kids don't slip after bath.
  
  
  
  

• My FAVORITE part is the handled baskets that I filled with all sorts of stuff!!!  There are two shelves of items.  Some categories are:  mouth hygiene (toothpaste, brushes, floss, little kid flossers), bar soaps, children's meds (we try to have extra Tylenol and Motrin on hand, Vicks vapor rub and strips that go into a vaporizer), adult meds (an array of cold meds, Tylenol, Ibuprofen), travel stuff, pitty nay-ohs (pretty nails aka nail polish - Sweet Pickles way of saying nail polish), deodorant/perfume/cologne.
• On the bottom is where we keep a couple extra comforters and an extra pillow.
• I just left the kids baby soap on the shelf since it was so large.
• 
  
  
  
  
  And what kind of organizer would I be if I didn't label each handle!?!?!  Although I must admit that after the first 4 baskets I ran out of black on clear label tape.  I grabbed my spare only to find out it was black on WHITE tape!!!  Yes, this pretty much ruined my day, but thank goodness for Amazon!  I'm expecting my tape refills to arrive tomorrow (whew!).

Now, while I love LOVE lurv to use bins, baskets, buckets, etc for my organizing purposes, I will be the first to admit that it's not always practical.  What I mean is, these type of organizing items take up more room on a shelf than just placing the actual item on the shelf.  That being said, I opted to not put the towels in a basket for that exact reason.  I tried this before with laundry baskets but I never felt like I was getting my space worth by using these.  Looks cleaner but the baskets were busting at the seams.  I DID opt to use the handled baskets for the toiletries.  Those are smaller items and putting all the items on the shelf would have been more of a mess than organized.  Long story short, there is a time and a place for organizational items.

We already had white paint that we used for the shelves and interior of the closet.  We also already had the wood to make the shelves that were installed.  The cost was the handled baskets that I purchased at The Container Store (Walmart has ones very similar to these, they run $2.97 each).  I have two different sizes in here:  8 small (they were $3.99 each =  $31.92) and  large ($4.99 each = $14.97) bringing us to a grand total of $46.89  While I'm not proud of that price, it's the price I paid to have my sanity restored in my linen closet.  A price that I was willing to pay (she says in a hushed voice and with conviction).

Hope you all enjoyed my linen closet make-over!  Thanks to Hubby, and my Littles, it was a HUGE success!!!!

*Side note...there's a rogue bullet - did you find it!?!?!*