Organizing Cords and Electronics

When Tim and I moved in together suddenly my electronics basket changed from just my few electronic cords to twice the amount in about five seconds. Everything was just tossed into the basket and the pig pile was more then I could take. 

I mentioned to Tim that I was planning on organizing our electronic cords and his response was, "I know what my cords look like. You don't need to do that."

Boys. *Sigh*

First step: Pull everything out of the basket and sort everything on the floor. AKA make a mess.

A big mess. But that's okay, because soon everything will be beautiful, labeled, and organized.

I took each cord and put it in an individual ziplock baggy. I placed a label on each one so it would be clear what the cord was for and who it belonged to. No cord stealers allowed here.

Here's a great example. Apple cords all look similar but my iPod and iPhone have different cords. Can be confusing if you grab one instead of the other by accident and very unfortunate if you actually need it to charge something. Now I know that if I grab this baggie I am getting my iPod charger and nothing else.

I love my label maker by the way. This is a new one I purchased from Dymo. I love the size of it compared to other label makers I have owned in the past.

Another one of my favorite parts of this project is this little container I filled with tools and batteries. Keeping things simple around here.

Not beautiful, but here is the final product!

I enjoyed how easy this project was and how simple I kept it. I don't need every organization project to look beautiful, it just has to work!

What have you organized lately?

Life Lately: March 2016 Edition

Hello loves! We are in lovely, lovely March. Well, this year it's quite lovely here in Rhode Island- usually we have a bit of a colder month around here but the last few weeks have been absolutely beautiful and I'm loving every minute of it. 

Last weekend Tim and I took a walk on a little local beach and it was the most beautiful day. I love getting the chance to walk around outside and spend time with my best friend!

Last week I also was able to spend some time with my favorite baby.  I got to cuddle sweet Emma for a couple hours after work one night.

She just curled right up on me and made her way down to rest on my stomach. Such a little sweetheart.

Unfortunately this past weekend my butt has been totally kicked by a bad cough.

But that didn't stop a 5th birthday celebration!

Callan (Tim's nephew) definitely enjoyed his cake and lunch with his whole family!

As for what's next? Tim and I are off to Florida next week! I can't wait to visit the Sunshine State and see my parents after such a long time! Until then...of course there will be work!

Have a great day everybody!

My Decor Style

Since I was young my decor style has always been simple. I don't like rooms that are overwhelming, filled with too many things, or follows a particular style. I have never been one to follow a style, although if I was forced to pick one that I follow the closest I would call it simple and beachy.

Recently at Kohls I picked up this pretty sign.

Isn't it gorgeous? I love the colors and distressed look of it.

I had the perfect place to display it too.

Doesn't that look amazing?! I was so excited with the difference in the look of this area. I think changing out the picture frame for this sign made a huge difference in the feel of my bedroom

I figured that while I was showing you one beachy area, I may as well show you all my beachy areas!

Yes I am a little obsessed with all things beach. No I would never call it "nautical" partially because I hate that term and also because there is nothing that involves boats in my decor. I simply love the vastness of the beach and ocean and feel that having it represented in my room brings me the calmness that I think is perfect for a bedroom!

What is your decor style?

How To Get Organized NOW!

Sometimes I'm hesitant to share organization and home cleaning tips since I'm not yet a wife or mom. I know that seems silly but I think that maybe people will look at me like She can't be that busy, my life is SO much busier then hers. One time I actually had someone at a Christmas party tell me that she couldn't wait to see how destroyed my car was once I had children. 

Now, I don't know what my life will be like someday when I get married and have kids but I do know that I currently live with two boys- my boyfriend and my brother both of whom aren't extremely interested in cleaning or organizing. I know in my heart that cleaning and organizing are an important part of who I am and my type-A personality and I don't see that changing as I transition into new roles throughout my life.

I'll step off my soapbox now and we can get to the whole point behind todays post- Getting Organized! Today I'm going to share FIVE little tips to getting organized right now. These are things you can start today to help you be better organized tomorrow! I'm also going to sprinkle in a few pictures of the beach because why not?! (Also because I am dreaming of vacation which I will be taking in less then two weeks!)

1. MAKE A TO DO LIST

I know, I know. You are probably rolling your eyes saying "Duh, that's obvious," but hear me out!

Everyone has a different way that a to-do list will work for them. Some people prefer an electronic to do list on their phone whether in the Notes section or with a great digital app like Wunderlist. 

Some people like myself prefer a list done with pen and paper. I love the feeling of crossing something off my list and feeling accomplished. 

Sometimes I make my to do list right in my Erin Condren planner, sometimes I write it on a separate piece of paper- it just depends but I always have a to do list going at all times. The items on my to do list can be as simple as Do Laundry, Pick Up Prescription, etc but I keep everything written down so I don't forget anything. 

I also am a fan of using action words in my to do list. If I just wrote the word Prescription it would be less effective then Pick Up Prescription at CVS. I am able to look at my list and know exactly what is required of me in order to complete it. I know that I need to drive to CVS and physically pick it up. It will also remind me that I should make a list of anything I might need at CVS so I can grab that while I'm in the area. 

2.  USE A PLANNER

I have used a planner ever since my middle school days when they provided us with a school focused planner. Writing down all my homework assignments was what it was meant for but I always used it to keep track of everything. I kept track of my friends birthdays, events going on at school, and everything that I was responsible for getting done.

Even when I finished being required to keep track of all my homework assignments in a planner I carried my own around with me. I did so all through high school, college, and continue to do so this day. I love my planner because it's almost like a little journal where I can look back and see exactly what I did each day but that's not why it's important to this post!

The reason I recommend using a planner is because you can keep track of what events are coming up and you will never be overbooked. There certain times of the year that are busier then others and I know everyone has been in a place where they felt overwhelmed and had too much going on in one particular day and week.

I like to have at least one night after work when I can head home and just veg out! Those are the nights where I don't have to do anything; no laundry, no dishes, no cleaning. I allow myself to just hang out. I make sure to schedule all of those things in my planner as well as writing in the hours I'm at work, when I need to write or edit blog posts, my youtube video filming times, etc. Everything gets scheduled. It makes life simpler and easier to navigate.

3.  CREATE AND USE AN INBOX

No, I'm not talking about your e-mail inbox. I'm talking about a physical inbox where you process paperwork the minute you bring it into your house. Mine is in my bedroom because right now that's where it makes the most sense to be but you might find that it makes sense to have yours in your kitchen, office, living room..who knows!

There are a lot of crazy inbox systems out there but I have found one that is super simple and makes the most sense to me. It's simple but extremely effective and I'm able to keep up with it which is my number one request in any system in my home.

I use the Martha Stewart wall organizer and have two simple categories: To File and To Do. I know, super simple right?! I find that having more then these two categories would be silly because every single paper I bring in can fall into one of the two. It's either a paper that I will be saving and need to file or a paper that I need to do something with. I might need to fill it out and mail it somewhere, it might be something that has information I need to do something with soon, or a paper I need to save for a short period of time and then toss.

If something doesn't fall into one of these two categories it generally is getting shredded or recycled. Actually it always is getting shredded or recycled if I don't need it because I don't hold onto paper I don't need, I just don't and neither should you!

4. CLEAN OUT YOUR BAG!

I am definitely guilty of letting my purse fill up with unnecessary items. I will tell you that right now about a half a dozen shells have taken residence in there from a recent walk on the beach and who knows what else is in there! I do take time at least once a week to empty everything out of my purse and make sure it's stocked with everything I need. Taking that time once a week saves me so much time in the long run. I know I have medicine if I get a headache, I know that I have lotions and elastics and bobby pins, etc..etc...

Whatever kind of bag you carry make sure that you clean it out often and restock it often. It will save you so much time in the long run. You won't have to spend all your time digging through a Mary Poppins bag.

5. SIMPLIFY YOUR TECHNOLOGY

No, I'm not talking about throwing away your iPad. I'm saying simplify everything about your technology. Look through your apps on the phone- any you don't use? Delete them. Don't worry they'll be saved in your iTunes account if you ever want them back (you won't)
Head over to your computer- recycle any documents you no longer need, delete pictures and songs that aren't something you treasure. By having less there will be less you have to sift through when you are looking for something you actually care about. Are you starting to see a pattern here?
I am a big believer in tossing anything that stands in the way of things you actually need to access whether it's a physical item or something electronic. Remove yourself from e-mail mailing lists that you no longer wish to be a part of and you will spend less time deleting unread e-mails every day which is a definite time saver. (A great service for that is: Unroll Me which shows you every mailing list you are signed up for and lets you pick and choose which ones you want to keep.

Those are my top five ways to get organized right now! Anything you'd like to add? Comment Below!

Straight Sexy Hair

The other day I was browsing the hair care aisles at Walmart when I stumbled across a product I knew I had to try. 

I saw Straight Sexy Hair and decided to buy it and give it a chance. This spray is used after you've finished styling your hair to keep the frizz away and it super straight.

So I tried it out and was very happy with the results!

My hair stayed straight and frizz free for hours! I only needed to touch up and restraighten my hair after sleeping on it which was okay by me!

Despite the slightly expensive price behind Straight Sexy Hair I found that it was completely worth it! It did everything an hair oil would do without the greasy feel behind it.

I picked it up at Walmart and know that this particular brand can be found many places including most major drugstores. I would highly recommend it especially if you are someone who suffers from frizzy hair and needs to get it under control on a daily basis. It definitely makes it easy!

What is your favorite hair product lately?

Winter Empties

Although the winter in Rhode Island has hardly passed, I am here with my winter empties! I got through a ton of products this winter and am excited to share my thoughts on all of them with you!

Candles

Diamond Candles Gingerbread Latte- I love Diamond Candles because they are so scented! I truly think it's the soy in them that makes them so great. This was a nice Christmasy scent that made my room smell super festive.

Diamond Candles Peachy Mango- Not a scent I would've picked out on my own- but my mom picked this for me as a Christmas present. I thought it was amazing, which surprised me because I'm not a fan of peach or mango. I think Diamond Candles makes some of the best candle on the market.

Bath and Body Works South Beach Sun- This was another nice candle. It smelt just like the sun and sand at the beach with a slight scent of sunscreen. It wasn't too strong but was a great addition to my candle collection.

7 Tealights- I just threw these in my empties bag to show how many candles I actually do burn. I always have taillights burning in addition to my scented candles because it makes everything homey.

2 Bath and Body Works Leaves- I love, love, love this candle. I stock up on these whenever I see a great deal at Bath and Body Works. The smell is so warm and comforting I can't get enough of it!

Yankee Candle Bahama Breeze- This was a candle I've never tried before, but I did enjoy it. I don't think that Yankee Candles tend to give off as much sent as other candles, but I do tend to buy them on clearance once in awhile. This candle was a beachy, fun scent that reminded me of summer time which was great.

Hand Soaps

Bath and Body Works Holly Berry Wreath- I had this stored away for quite some time and finally managed to use it up. This wasn't my favorite soap at all, but I wanted to finish it. I am not a huge fan of Christmas scents when it comes to hand soaps and prefer something a little more mild or fruity.

Bath and Body Works Pumpkin Cupcake- I never loved pumpkin scents, but this pumpkin cupcake scent was great. I definitely would purchase this again in the future, although I don't need any soaps in the near future.

Hair Products

Not Your Mother's Way To Grow Shampoo and Conditioner- I recently started using this shampoo and conditioner duo and it works great for me! I am trying to grow my hair out and have found that it works wonderfully. I have already repurchased it.

Parlor Shampoo and Conditioner- I liked these samples that came in my Birchbox. They aren't something that would purchase simply due to the price. I much prefer to purchase my shampoo and conditioner at the drug store!

Garnier Fructis Shampoo and Conditioner- Here is another sample set that I enjoyed, but don't think I need to purchase. I like changing up my hair care every once in awhile but I'm not huge fan of Garnier Fructis it tends to make my hair pretty tangled with extended use. This one wasn't that bad but wasn't my favorite of all time either.

Pantene Moisture Renewal Conditioner- I thought this conditioner was a great one that I used anytime I used up a conditioner from a matching shampoo-conditioner set. I know a lot of people aren't fans of Pantene but I think it's a fabulous conditioner.

Macademia Deep Repair Mask-  I know, I know. You see this in just about every empties post. I just can't help myself when it comes to this hair mask! In fact, when Tim moved in my one rule was that he could use anything in the shower but not this! He came out of his first shower here and said that he didn't use any but opened it up to see what it is.

Beautiful Nutrition Grapefruit Detox Shampoo and Conditioner- This was another set of samples from my Birchbox. I enjoyed the grapefruit scent but thought that they were very drying. I couldn't get enough product in my hair after using it because they just seemed to completely dried my hair out. Definitely not something I would ever purchase in the future

Cleaning Products

Method All Purpose Cleaner- I have found that this is the best natural cleaner I have used thus far. I have already repurchased it because it works so well.

Method Daily Shower Cleaner- Lately I've been spraying this shower cleaner after every shower and it has done a great job at cutting down on the time that I've had to scrub at the walls of the shower. I would highly recommend all of the Method products.

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes- It's not exactly original, but I love Clorox wipes!

Chapstick

Cake Batter Chapstick- 10 cake batter chapsticks?! Yes, I love them. They are amazing, delicious and keep my lips soft!

Eye and Dental Products

Crest Pro Health Mouthwash- Amazing. I love that it's not overly stinging and I feel that my mouth is clean after I use it.

BioTrue Contact Solution-  This contact solution was very nice and cleaned my contacts quite nicely.   I have switched to another contact solution because it was recommended to be used with contacts and I'm actually liking it a bit more.

Glide Floss- Oh just some floss, which I've been attempting to do every day. Keep those teeth clean!

Lotion

Bath and Body Works Coconut Lotion- I love Bath and Body Works lotion and this lotion was no exception. I love anything that is coconut scented and this worked great on my dry skin.

Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer Lotion- These lotions are used in the shower right after you've turned off the water. It worked pretty well, but I think traditional lotion works much better for my skin. I will not be purchasing it in full size.

Deodorant and Shaving Cream

Lavanilla Deodorant in Coconut Vanilla- My deodorant of choice, I love that it's healthy and natural and the scent is fantastic. It doesn't always last all day but I have no problem reapplying it.

Dove Cucumber Deodorant- This mini deodorant stayed in my purse for reapplications. I do like it although I'm not impressed with the aluminum that is inside it. I try not to use it that often but I do like having a slightly stronger deodorant for when I need it.

Whish Blueberry Shaving Cream- I love the smell of this shaving cream and it honestly works great but for the price, it isn't worth it. The product goes so quickly!

Random and Makeup Products

Summer Snow Gourmet Gum- This gum was in my PopSugar box and it was absolutely delicious. Anything that tastes like a snow cone is okay by me!

Bath and Body Works Island Margarita Hand Sanitizer- I'm not a fan of margaritas whether it be in scent or in actual margarita form. I just don't care for the scent at all so I was glad when I finished off this particular hand sanitizer.

Almay Lash Care Makeup Remover- I have a few of these to work through but I definitely like this makeup remover. It removes everything while making sure that my lashes aren't destroyed by mascara.

Maybelline Falsies Mascara- Not my favorite mascara, but this is a decent drugstore one. I don't are for how wet it is and would prefer other mascaras to this one but I would use it again if necessary.

NYX Le Chick Flick Mascara-  I really enjoy this mascara and keep repurchasing it because it has been so great! I love that it's pretty dry and keeps my lashes separated. One of my favorites for sure,

Face Products

Garnier Cleansing Oil- Not terrible, but not my favorite cleanser. Like I said above, I'm not a huge fan of Garnier products. I thought I would try this sample out and I was able to get a good sense of how it was.

Rosacea Gel- My mom let me try this gel for my rosacea and it seemed to work pretty well. I am going to need to take a trip to the dermatologist to get some of my own soon!

Hey Honey Take It Off Mask- Oh my goodness, this was from my Birchbox and it completely broke me out! I was not a fan at all. I thought it would be a great peel mask but I was very disappointed with the results. Not a finished product but definitely trashing it.

TempleSpa Peace Be Still- This was a nice face moisturizer but I will not be purchasing it in the future. The smell was a little much for me.

Supergoop Eye Cream- I liked this eye cream but I don't think I need to purchase it in the future. It is awful expensive for what it is.

What products have you been using lately? I love to hear new products to try! Leave them in the comments section below!