BUDGET ORGANIZING | Small Girls’ Room & Closet

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Money Saving, Organization

I helped my dear friend organize her daughters’ shared bedroom.  She didn’t have a lot of space to work with, so we maximized what she did have in the closet.  She has some beautiful decor and some great ideas she came up with, too.  I knew I had to share.  Hope you enjoy!

If you are struggling with decorating and organizing small spaces, here are some tips that will really help you!

  1. Re-purpose old items.  You can create beautiful decor this way!  Check out the video to see a beautiful window DIY.
  2. Stencils make a big impact and give a custom look to a room on a dime.  We use them in our home, too and get so many compliments.
  3. Paint Light Fixtures that you don’t like.  Hello, pink!  This is a great way to save money and create a custom look in the room.
  4. Find furniture that has room for storage underneath, especially in small spaces this is key.
  5. Re-think storage spaces.  Who says you have to keep something where it is just because it has always been there.  Re-thinking systems can help you find space you didn’t know you had.
  6. Use cube shelves in the closet.  I can’t say enough good things about this!  It maximizes floor space in standard double-door closets.
  7. Use dollar bins and labels (from Dollar Tree and Target respectively!).  You know I love these, and they are just as good as the expensive guys.
  8. Have a no-fold system using bins.  Dollar Tree plastic bins are a great way to achieve this.  Throw in blankets, burp cloths, socks, etc.  They are contained, easy to find, and it saves you a lot of time when doing laundry.
  9. Make your own baskets using old boxes and jute twine.  You can see more on that here.
  10. Use Dollar Tree plastic shoe bins in drawers for dividers.  These make excellent dividers and they are so inexpensive.
  11. Use Dollar Tree trash cans to store hair bows.  I loved this idea Meredith had!  Girls’ stuff can get everywhere!

I hope you enjoyed these tips and I would love to hear yours below!

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.*

3 Easy Bathroom Refreshes!

by Filed Under: Cleaning, DIY Projects

Here are three easy ways to refresh your bathroom on a budget and combat annoying things like stinky toilets, musty towels, and matted down rugs. You’ll be glad you gave these a try!

  1. Toilet Fizzies! For this recipe you will need:

Mix together the dry ingredients. Slowly pour the wet ingredients over top (for as little fizz as possible). Form into balls and let dry overnight. Or just place powder directly into container and use a scoop to get it out. Toss into your toilet mid-week for a mini-refresh

2. Combat musty towels! For this recipe you will need:

  • 1 cup vinegar
  • 1/2 cup baking soda

Add vinegar to your detergent well. Run a cycle of JUST hot water. Sprinkle baking soda onto clothes immediately after cycle and run another of JUST hot water. Presto. Your towels will be SO fresh and clean. We don’t use laundry detergent, you can find out more about Crystal Wash here if you are interested.

3. Refresh your rugs! Wash your rugs and let dry. Spray with a 50/50 vinegar water solution and use a wire brush to bring back to life. Your feet will thank you. Alternatively, you could have a look at some high quality designer rugs and find yourself a new decor item for you bathroom.

Hope you give these a try!

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*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links contain affiliates.*

Dollar Tree Fall Haul and DIYs

by Filed Under: Decor & Furniture, DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Holiday

This year was the first that I was truly disappointed in the fall section at Dollar Tree (if I’m being totally honest). It was underwhelming and stocked with droves of chitzy stuff that seemed a waste of a dollar. FEAR NOT! That makes for a great opportunity to create your own gorgeous fall decor. While standing alone these items are nothing to write home about, together with a bit of glam-factor, they can be a beautiful addition to your home (or kitchen! or hair-styling routine!)

In this video I share with you some easy fall projects… plus some tried and true staples that are definitely worth a purchase. I’m so excited for this season and some cooler weather!

Looking for Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint? Yes, it’s expensive everywhere, but a little bit goes a long, long way!

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*This is not sponsored post. All opinions are genuinely my own. Links contain affiliates.*

Toddler Room Tour | Organized and Budget-Friendly!

by Filed Under: Decor & Furniture, DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Money Saving, Organization, Teaching

We recently updated Carson’s room to be toddler friendly!  But we had to do it on a tiny budget.  Here are some creative solutions we used to stay organized…and it requires minimal work from me.  No folding?  Yes, please!

SOURCE LIST:

  Screen Shot 2015-09-12 at 10.00.37 AM

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are genuinely my own.*

KITCHEN CUPBOARD ORGANIZATION | Cheap and Free

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Money Saving, Organization

Organizing the kitchen can seem like a daunting and expensive task.  Here’s how, using less than $10, I organized our baking cabinet above the stove.

My biggest secrets when organizing are to…

  1. Re-purpose old containers.  I love the pretzel pillows from my grocery store, and when they go on sale, I buy a few, and I know I can re-use the container after we eat them.  TIP: To remove labels, use rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or vinegar.  Let soak using a paper towel.
  2. Stick with one color scheme.  When working with a tiny budget, things have a tendency to get a little Hodge-podgy.  In this project I suck with black and white, so it really created a dramatic effect for little money
  3. Shop the Dollar Tree!  The chalkboard labels, chalk pen, and containers we from the Dollar Store
  4. Use double-duty organizers.  My “risers” in the cabinets are also helpful storage.
  5. Shop Garage Sales (now’s the season!).  Storage containers can always be found at these.  I see them at so many sales!

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*This is not a sponsored video.  All opinions are my own.*

DIY Baby Wipes | How to make your own baby wipes

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Money Saving, Recipes

Baby wipes are expensive. And loaded with tons of ingredients you can’t pronounce. Carson gets diaper rash very, very easily (it’s insane), and even though he is potty trained, he still wears diapers for naps and bed-time, and we still used wipes after going potty!

I wish I would have found a recipe I loved sooner. There are lots of options out there (many use baby shampoo and oil), but the proportions are all wrong and they leave a residue on your skin.

After some research and experimenting, we found wipes we LOVE and won’t be switching to store-bought any time soon. Besides, you won’t believe the money you save. Just one container of these wipes uses around $1 of ingredients, and considering you pay $4 at the store for the same amount, I’d say that’s a pretty killer savings.

P R O D U C T S U S E D:

Storage Containers (also BPA free)
Fiora Paper Towels
Burt’s Bees Shampoo (natural ingredients, tear free and safe for babies)
Burt’s Bees Body Oil (all natural and safe for babies)
Coconut Oil
Distilled Water

M E A S U R E M E N T S:
1/2 paper towel roll in a 64oz container
1 Tbs. coconut oil
1 squirt baby shampoo
1 squirt baby oil
2 cups distilled water

Combine coconut oil and liquid ingredients (make sure water is warm). Pour over 1/2 a paper towel roll (cut with a non-serrated knife). Remove center roll and pull out wipes from the center. Squish roll down using the lid. Keep sealed for up to 2 weeks.

Let me know if you give this easy recipe a try!

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*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are genuinely my own.*

How to make Almond Butter!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Money Saving, Recipes

Can you believe this jar is $11 from Vitacost? Crazy!

For the price the grocery store charges for almond butter, you should be cracking open a can of liquid gold. Or at the very least prime rib. The cost is outrageous. Almond butter can run you $8-$9 PER SMALL JAR. I can’t think of another explanation other than it’s the health-food industry capitalizing on a “trendy” food with a lot of added health benefits. And considering how fast we go through it in our house, I was really excited to discover how easy it was to make your own.

Almond butter is loaded with vitamins and minerals and is great for your health. Peanutbutter is good for you, too (has lots of protein), but isn’t good to be consumed in mass quantities…especially if you have the 24-7-PB&J-requesting-kid. It’s so easy to switch it up with some almond butter with ZERO preservatives and keep your family eating healthful, varied foods on a budget!

You’ll need a food processor and a large bag of raw almonds. The cheapest place to purchases them is Costco where you can get a large bag for about $17. That makes the cost per jar right around $3…about 1/3 of the price in the store!

Process the almonds for 10-15 minutes (stirring occasionally with a spatula) until smooth and creamy like peanut-butter. Store in mason jars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. We love to label ours with dissolveable labels.

I hope you give this easy recipe a try. Carson and I will show you how simple it really is!

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*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are genuinely my own. Links contain affiliates.*