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Simple Tips and Tricks for a Clean and Organized Kitchen

September 20, 2016 by

For most people, the kitchen is one of the most popular rooms in the home, as you use it as both a gathering space and a place to create healthy meals throughout the day. While your kitchen withstands quite a bit of activity, these simple tips will show you how to keep it organized without much extra effort.

  1. Add wall-hanging storage systems. Hanging shelves and rods with hooks on the walls creates extra storage while freeing up precious floor and counter space.
  2. Add hooks under shelves. If you run out of room on shelves and in drawers, add hooks under the cabinets to hold things like mugs and utensils.
  3. Purchase wire refrigerator shelves. You can even get the inside of your fridge organized by adding store-bought shelves that simply sit right on top of the current shelves.
  4. Create dividers. To organize pans and cutting boards that frequently fall over, add vertical tension rods between shelves in your cabinets.
  5. Organize the spice cabinet. Corral spices by placing them into glass jars of equal height, then labeling them with what’s inside. You can even add a lazy Susan for easy access to each jar.

5 Essential (and Renter-Friendly) Storage Products for Small Kitchens [The Kitchn]
26 Kitchen Organizing Tips from Real Cooks – Twitter Style [Simple Bites]

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Let the Sunshine In: DIY Spring Home Decor Projects

April 5, 2016 by

After your spring cleaning is complete, you may start to feel like your home could use a bit of a decorating revamp, as well. No matter your budget, you can easily give your home a springtime makeover with DIY home decor projects. Here are just a few of the best spring-themed decorating projects for every room in your home.

Colorful Egg Window Dressing [familycircle.com]
Set to work crafting colorful paper eggs that will dress up those newly cleaned windows. This simple tutorial only requires multicolored construction paper and some scissors to complete, and it’s easy enough that even the kids can help out.

Heart-Shaped Sachets [countryliving.com]
Freshen up your drawers and closets with these adorable DIY sachets. Simply take some scrap fabric in a pattern that you like, cut out two heart shapes, and sew them together around the edges. Fill them with potpourri just before you sew them closed, then seal them shut and enjoy the scent.

Daffodil Flower Care [marthastewart.com]
One of the best ways to spruce up your home for the springtime is by adding fresh flowers wherever you can. Freshly cut daffodils are the picture of spring, but they can often be difficult to care for. This tutorial will show you how to properly cut daffodils and arrange them in a vase in a way that even a florist would admire.

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How to Design Your Own Floral Arrangement

March 1, 2016 by

Think that you have to visit a professional florist to find a magazine-worthy arrangement? Think again! With these simple tips for designing your own floral arrangements at home, you can fill your space at Marquis at the Woodlands with gorgeous flowers or even give them as affordable gifts to friends.

  1. Choose the perfect vase. Choose a vase that will fit the flowers that you have on hand, or if you don’t have a designated vase, use something like a mason jar, pitcher, or other household vessel.
  2. Using florist’s tape, create a grid across the top opening of the vase. Leave approximately one-inch squares in between the tape to keep the flowers separated and evenly spaced.
  3. Mix up textures by using a wide variety of different types of flowers. Contrast delicate baby’s breath with big, leafy blooms and eucalyptus branches.
  4. If you’re feeling a bit intimidated by the idea of mixing and matching, make a statement by using a large quantity of just one type of flower. Whether it’s classic red roses or purple hydrangeas, all flowers look beautiful when trimmed into layered lengths that eventually create a rounded arrangement in a short vase.

Flower Arranging 101 [Martha Stewart]
Elegant, Exquisite, Easy Flower Arrangements [Real Simple]
How to create perfect floral arrangements [Sunset]

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Budget-Friendly Ways to Decorate Your Home at Marquis at the Woodlands

February 2, 2016 by

While you can’t make permanent renovations in a rental, there are a number of ways to add your own personality to the space in a truly budget-friendly way. Here are just a few ideas for decorating your home at Marquis at the Woodlands — even if you’re on a budget!

  • Spraypaint large, wall-sized canvases (or a series of two or three) from the local art supply store in bright, bold shades. This is an easy way to add a pop of color to your walls that mimics the effects of a new paint job, and it makes it affordable to create your own simple artwork.
  • Mix and match furniture from the local resale store to create a kitschy, cool effect that looks straight out of a design magazine. This is also a great way to save a good bit of money on big ticket items, such as sofas and lounge chairs.
  • Bring in elements of the outdoors to create a warm, natural look throughout the home. Fill vases with stark branches, add seashells to small bowls, or fill a large jar with pinecones for seasonal dwcor.
  • Create your own headboard by simply covering a flat, wooden board the size of your bed with a high quality fabric. Leave the top open and stuff it with pillow filling, and then add tufted details or nailheads along the outer edges.

32 Budget-Friendly Home Decorating Ideas [Country Living]
Budget Decorating [HGTV]
20 Low-Cost Decorating Ideas [Real Simple]
20 Thrifty, Frugal & Inexpensive Decorating Ideas [Apartment Therapy]

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Make These DIY Holiday Gifts

December 2, 2015 by

If you’re strapped for cash this holiday season or a bit burned out from all of the crowded malls, you may want to make gifts by hand for your loved ones instead of purchasing them. Here are three great ideas for handmade holiday gifts that are much more special than something store-bought.

Mason Jar Soup Mixes
If you’re searching for the perfect gift for a foodie friend, try making homemade soup mixes in adorable mason jars. This tutorial offers more than 30 different types of soups to choose from, and the various ingredients will look decorative and colorful when layered inside of the jar.

Snuggly Shawl
This stylish shawl is easy to make as a gift no matter your level of knitting expertise. It’s so simple that you can work on it bit by bit while you relax at home, and the end result is so fashionable and functional that your loved one will wear it all winter long.

Peppermint Candy Sugar Scrub
For the beauty product enthusiast, this DIY sugar scrub is a luxurious and deliciously scented holiday gift. All of the ingredients are entirely natural and safe to use, and the lovely pink and white colors look adorable when poured into the glass jar. Best of all, the peppermint scent is perfect for the winter season.

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Update Basic Magnets and Pushpins WIth These Fun Tutorials

June 2, 2015 by

Who says office supplies have to be boring? Here are a few crafty ways to transform your basic pushpins and magnets into something eye-catching, playful, and perhaps a bit chic.

Bottle Cap Magnets and Thumbtacks [marthastewart.com]
Start saving up those used bottle caps, because you’re certainly going to want to try this adorable DIY project from Martha Stewart. Simply glue a small photo inside of each bottlecap, then use contact cement to attach them to the magnets and pushpins and create a tiny photo gallery.

DIY Gold Magnetic Letters [inspiredbycharm.com]
If you loved making silly words and phrases from those colorful magnetic letters as a kid, you’ll enjoy this chic, updated version just as much. Just cover those childish magnets with luxe gold spray paint for a modern, updated look.

Washi Tape Clothespins [designertrapped.com]
By covering affordable wooden clothespins with different types of colorful washi tape, you can create this fun project in less than an hour. Add adhesive magnets to the backs of each clothespin to use them on the refrigerator, or line them up on a wire to hang photos from a wall.

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How to Remove Stubborn Grass, Oil and Sweat Stains

February 3, 2015 by

You're elated that your child's slide into homebase cinched the game; you're not so happy about the grass stain that you need to remove when you get home. Keep these stain-fighting tips handy so you can meet common household stains with a plan of attack.

To remove grass stains:
This tip should help save Junior's uniform: As soon as possible, pretreat the grass stain with liquid detergent, then rinse thoroughly. If the garment can be bleached (check the label), then soak the garment in a diluted solution of bleach and water for no longer than fifteen minutes. If you'd prefer to steer clear of bleach, you can try rubbing a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda into the grass stain, letting it sit, then rinsing.

To remove oil-based stains:
Oil-based stains include mayonnaise, salad dressings, cooking oils, butter, face creams, and grease. First, apply talcum powder or cornstarch directly to the stain; this will help absorb the oil but may require several applications. Scrape or brush off the powder between applications, then toss the garment into the wash on a regular cycle.

To remove sweat stains:
Sweat stains are equally embarrassing and stubborn, but can be conquered if you follow the correct steps. Attack the stain with a cocktail of equal parts water and lemon juice, then hang the garment outside in the sunshine. (You'll need nice weather for this one.) The sunlight will help bleach the stain.

17 Easy Stain Removal Tips [Lifescript]
The Entertainer’s Guide to Stain Removal [Real Simple]
Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal [Ohio State University]

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Three Awesome Craft Ideas for Washi Tape

October 7, 2014 by

Washi tape is beloved by craft enthusiasts because it’s easy to use, comes in a number of adorable patterns, and is completely temporary. If you want to incorporate washi tape into your crafting, here are three fun DIY projects to get you started.

Washi Tape Shelf Edging [Aunt Peaches]
This is possibly the simplest craft project that you’ll ever do. In just minutes, you can make a plain old bookshelf look chic, feminine, or even a bit edgy by simply applying washi tape to the front of each shelf. Just choose the pattern that best suits your design scheme and start sticking.

Washi Tape Switchplates [Crab and Fish]
Improving your home with washi tape is easy, especially if you seek out forgotten decorating possibilities such as updating your lighting switchplates. The hardest part about this project is lining up the pattern so that everything looks uniform, but the process is still incredibly easy—even the most novice crafter!

Giant Geometric Washi Tape Jewels [Curbly]
These giant geometric washi tape jewels aren’t for the faint of heart, but they are a whole lot of fun for fans of home decor with a bit more personality. Make a few jewels in different colors, or use neutral washi tape to create a more subtle effect that still has a whole lot of bling.

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4 Shoe Organization Tips to Reclaim Your Closets

April 1, 2014 by

From high heels to running sneakers, shoes have a habit of overtaking closets. They tumble off of shelves, get lost under the bed, and fill the entryway with unmanageable clutter. Here are four simple tips to help you tackle your shoe collection for good.

  1. Turn them into a display. If you have a too-big shoe collection and a too-small closet, make the most of your addiction. Treat your shoes like invaluable art by displaying them somewhere unexpected, like along a windowsill or in a credenza.
  2. Maximize space with flat shoes. While boots or heels can be clunky and hard to store, things even out with flats and sandals. These shoes can help you save a bit of precious storage space, so invest in a hanging shoe rack with flat pockets, or tuck them into an unused drawer.
  3. Stow fancy shoes away from the others. If you have a pair of expensive heels or leather tuxedo shoes that you only wear on special occasions, keep them in clear shoeboxes on a high shelf to make room for everyday pairs.
  4. Create DIY storage. Shoe storage units can be expensive, so why not get crafty and create your own? Bend some wire hangers to hang flats and sandals from sturdy cords.

25 Ways to Store Shoes in Your Closet [HGTV]
Shoe Storage Tips [The Container Store]

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