How to Organize on a Dime

Let's be honest- organizing can be expensive! All those pretty organizers can add up, especially when you've got a lot of ground to cover. Fortunately, there are a lot of affordable solutions to help get your home organized without having to dip into your kids' tuition money. Best of all- it's simple!

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1. Check out the thrift store. I've stumbled across some awesome storage solutions at the thrift store. I bought this drawer organizer from the Thrift store for just a few dollars. Keep an open mind, and try to think of alternative uses for items.

2. Go dumpster diving. Sometimes I go to throw something away, but I almost feel guilty to do so. I have a clear zippered pouch from a sheet set I use for holding fabric that I rescued from the landfills.  I also collect small boxes from shipments that I use to organize my drawers, as well as shoe boxes.  You can turn a pasta jar into crafts storage and a cereal box into a magazine holder. The possibilities are endless!

3. Check out the sales. When you're at a store and see a great sale, this is the perfect time to grab a few containers for a rainy day. This can save you money, but it can also give you a head start when you randomly decide to start organizing one day and need a place to put things.

4. Visit the dollar store. The dollar store has lots of great stuff you can use for organizing. Very often, they'll have similar items to what you can find at another store but at a cheaper price. Don't worry if things are in a kooky color- you can spray paint anything these days!  Check out this tutorial for some advice.  And, check out this post for 100 dollar store organization finds!

5. Check Pinterest- but be specific.  A simple search can have all the answers you need, if you know what to look for.  Be specific- "how to organize fabric" will lead you to exactly what you need, whereas "Craft Storage" may lead to falling down the rabbit hole and spending the next 3 hours on Pinterest.  Whether it be a DIY project or a link to an affordable product on Amazon, Pinterest almost always has the answer.

6. Use what you have. The easiest way to save money is to not spend any at all.  Take a look around the house.  There's a good chance you're using two containers where you could be using one.  It's not organization if you're hoarding clutter, so always go through your things once a year to make sure you're not holding onto (and storing) junk.

Want more great tips? Be sure to follow my organization board on Pinterest!

What are your favorite ways to save money on organizing your home or office?

Fight Laziness Maximus... 10 Easy Ways to Get Motivated!

As a person who suffers from Laziness Maximus (that's a real thing, right?!), I've had to learn a few work-arounds to get myself to either start working on a project or to finally get it finished. It can be really difficult to find motivation when you've already got a bunch of things you're working on, or if all you want to do is relax and watch some tv. Alas, things have to get done! Here are my top tips to getting yourself pumped up and ready to tackle your tasks.

1. Start small- If you're having trouble getting started on a project, think about one step you can do right away. For example, if you need to clean the kitchen but really don't want to, start by just tossing out the mail on the counter. Just this one small step may end up getting you in the mood to clean.

2.  Get moving/play some inspiring music- Sometimes playing your favorite song and singing along can get you in a better mindset to get things done. You're much more likely to do something on your to-do list if you feel happy than if you're grumpy.

3. Write it down- For me, seeing tasks on a list and physically crossing them off when they're done feels really good! Try using a colored marker or a cute paper for the list. This (might) make it feel like less of a chore.

4. ...But don't write too many things down- I used to write really long To-Do lists because I was afraid of forgetting something. Now, I have 2 lists- the "do it now" list and the "do it later" list. This helps keep me focused and prevents me from getting overwhelmed.

5. Take a short break- this is a little bit counter-intuitive, but sometimes you just need a quick break before starting something big. Take a quick walk around the block, grab a coffee, or do some yoga to feel refreshed. Just make sure you don't end up getting even more distracted than you were before!

6. Read something inspiring- There are plenty of times that I look around my house and see clutter and think "ugh, I don't want to even think about cleaning this!" However, if I go on Pinterest and look at my organization board, I find that I start to get really excited about the idea of organizing things. Sometimes a jump-start of fresh ideas can help get those creative juices flowing.

7. Have a snack- I'm not sure about you guys, but I know that when I don't eat, I get really sluggish... and hangry! Sometimes, you lack the drive because your body lacks the fuel. Grab a quick and healthy snack, like a peanut butter and banana sandwich, a power bar, or a smoothie, and then get back to work!

8. Use your imagination- Take a second and imagine yourself having completed this project. How does it feel? Sometimes when I think about how good it'll feel when the task at hand is finally over with, I can get the quick jolt of energy to just get it done. I keep thinking of the relief I'll feel when I finally get to cross it off my to-do list!

9. Think and reflect- If there's a project I really can't get myself to do, I take a minute to think about why. Am I unsure where to start? Am I stressed out about the steps involved? Am I scared? Sometimes figuring out why you haven't done something is the best way to start.

10. Cut yourself some slack- Sometimes today is just not the day. If you find yourself struggling to begin something, it might be best to put it away for now and get something else done. Perhaps when you complete another task, you'll get the motivation to complete this task!

Looking for some more inspiration? Check out my Quotes board on Pinterest!

What do you do to get motivated? I'd love to know! 

Related: How to Organize... When you Weren't Planning To!

Easy DIY Dollar Store Candy Bar

Remember when you were a kid and you used to go in a candy store? The old-timey ones, with jars lined up along the walls of all different types of candies, sold by the pound. Your parents would hand you a bag and tell you "ok, get what you want. But not too much!" Or maybe your parents didn't trust you, so they'd ask you what you wanted and put tiny scoopfuls into the bag. Then for the next 10 hours, you were on a sugar high as you feasted on pretty much all the candy in one sitting. I loved this experience, so for my Sugar Sweet 27th birthday party, I had to have a candy bar! I wanted to do it on a budget so I could spend money elsewhere, especially since my party was all adults that don't have a big sweet tooth. I hit up my local dollar tree to find some supplies. P.S., there is some great glassware there for only a dollar!  Are you ready to make a candy bar for your next party?

*This post contains affiliate links.

You'll need:

Candy Jars with lids (similar)
Vases or Fishbowls (similar vase and fishbowl)
Candlesticks (similar)
E6000 Glue (here)
Timer/Clock
Candy (and lots of it!) (similar here and here)
*Note: I purchased all my glass items from the Dollar Tree for only $1, but the Amazon links are for similar items

How to:

1. First off, wash and thoroughly dry your supplies. I let mine dry overnight to be safe, but a good wipe and waiting a few minutes should work just as well.

2. Using the E6000 glue, rim the perimeter of the candlestick. E6000 tends to ooze (a lot) so stop squeezing near the end of your perimeter, and store it tip-up between uses.

3. Let the glue set for 2 minutes before attaching. This is so it gets tacky and sticks well.

4. Hover the candy bowl over the candlestick and try to find the center. Place the bowl down and hold it for a few seconds so it can adhere.

5. Wait 24-48 hours for the glue to fully cure. Then, pour in your candy and enjoy!

I found that the lids for the candy bowls fit well with the vase and fishbowls, even though they were not airtight. 

Candy Tips:

-If you can, use name brand candy or something you've tried before. You don't want to get bags and bags of something that ends up tasting terrible!

-Get a mix of smaller and larger candies to create a visually appealing display.

-Pick a color scheme and stick to it. If you want to get all types of candies, then "rainbow" can be your theme. Just try not to have one candy/color that sticks out like a sore thumb.

-You'll probably need a lot more candy than you think. For most of my candies I bought 3 bags/boxes and it only fully filled one container. This wasn't a big deal to me because I had adults and figured they wouldn't be eating much candy anyway.

-Dollar store bags may be smaller than the bags from other stores, so grab the circulars and see if the candy might be cheaper elsewhere. Sometimes holiday candies go on sale, which can be great for a holiday themed party!

Do you have any tips for a candy bar on a budget? What's your favorite type of candy to put in the jars? Which is the most bang for your buck? Let me know!

Add a Pop of Color- My Top Picks!

When I passed by HGTV Home's Pop of Color issue last month, I couldn't help but get it! I decided to go with neutral paint colors in my home. Since I'm not a fan of beige, I ended up choosing a lot of grays. This prompted my dad to nickname my house "50 shades of gray". HGTV Home Magazine really inspired me to add in some bright and colorful furniture items to get my house ready for summer. I decided to round up some of my favorite items to add pops of color to your home.  The best part- they're all under $250!

*This post contains affiliate links.

I just love this turquoise stool.  It would look super cute around your kitchen island or outside on your deck.  

If you're into a subtle pop of color, this table fits the bill perfectly!

I love this rug!  It's the perfect pop of color for my neutral home.

This stool will make a big impact without taking up a lot of space.

This red bookcase would brighten up any space.

Add this mirror for a burst of energy!

Though a bit pricey, this pillow is both fun and sassy.

I want this adorable headboard for my room! How dreamy is this?

I love this colorful table! It's a perfect little writing desk that can fit in a small area or corner.

Looking for more inspiration? Be sure to follow my home decor Pinterest board!

How do you add pops of color in your home? Let me know!

Why I chose Zola For My Wedding Registry

Today's Wedding Wednesday is all about registries. Picking out gifts for people to buy for you- what could be better! I'm using Zola for my registry, and I'm loving it! Zola is great because it has a clean interface, makes suggestions, and has a great phone app.  It even has a browser button you can download to add things to your registry with the click of a button! Check out more of their features below.

Clean Interface

Zola's organized, easy-to-use interface makes it simple to search for items by category, room, or brand. It's also really easy for your guests to see what's been purchased.

Browser Button

Zola has a super handy "add to Zola" button, so that you can add things to your registry right from the webpage! It works in a similar way the Pinterest button does.

Suggestions

Zola has loads of suggestions, and even has lists of the basic items you'll need with options in various price ranges.

Gift Tracker

The gift tracker shows how many items were purchased, who bought them, and their value.  You can even export the list to excel! This will make "thank you" notes super easy.

Group Contribution Option

For large ticket items, you have the option to allow guests to contribute towards the purchase. Even if you don't get enough funds to purchase the item, you get to keep all the credits to make a purchase on their site.  The credits never expire!

Phone App

On the mobile app, you can edit your registry on the go! You can browse their extensive database or use the barcode scanner in stores. You can also use their Blender setting to explore random items, and swipe left or right to add or skip!

Control Shipping

With Gift Tracker, you can decide whether you want an item shipped to you right away, or if you want them to hold it for a later time.

Online Gift Swap

Change your mind on an item you selected? No problem! You can convert the gifts into credit, or exchange them before you receive them. Easy peasy!

Gift Options

You can add experiences (like cheese of the month or cooking classes), funds (like a honeymoon or downpayment), or fun weekend items (like a tent or bike).

So what do you think? Are you ready to create an account? Let me know your email address and we'll each get $50!