Lets talk about Pretty and Practical Decor...

We have a fairly small house..

Well maybe small is the wrong term, its more about the layout not being ideal.
 

Upstairs we have the bedrooms, bath, kitchen and living room,

downstairs there is a family room, laundry, bath and storage.
 

We spend 95% of our time on the main level i.e: its close to the kitchen

so it can get pretty crowded up here and I am constantly looking for ways to

maximise space and storage.

(I honestly have more baskets in my house than I have items to fill them at this point)

 

So I thought I would do a Part one: Things in my house blog

to showcase how I organize my junk.

Let us begin.

 

I may be a hoarder but I know the EXACT location of any given item in my house at all times.

I'm more of a collector, I like keeping my things organized.

This is why Nick and I DO NOT share a closet.

Sometime I will post a photo of his closet (in Elliott's room) VS my closet, its scary.

(we also don't share a closet because I have too many clothes and they take up all the room in the bigger closet. #addiction)

 

The inspiration for this post was actually a item in my hallway but we're going to start in the bathroom because..

just because.

 

We are not going to be living in this house forever (maybe another 2 years max) so we're not going to drop money on any major renos but something that has always always bothered me about this house is that the previous owner reno'd almost the entire thing but left the bathroom as is.

Everyone knows baths and kitchens are the #1 reno rooms! UGh

 

So here is a before shot of our bathroom:

 ^ Previous owners stuff

^ here is it now

 

We painted over the tile board walls, we didn't have any problems with the paint sticking, its been 3.5 years and we have no issues with peeling (just make sure you get a good quality paint, I like ones that are paint + primer)

Other than that its all about the accessories,

we have this huge vanity just waiting to be junked up.

This is the main storage space in the bathroom and

its a blank canvas but can get cluttered very easily so I've got everything working double duty.

See photos!

 

I think its ok to have some of your clutter exposed!

The trick is to only expose what you use pretty much everyday.

Everything on display is easily assessable and I use on the daily so it just makes sense to have within hands reach.

I picked up the large white tray and the little canisters at the dollar store!

It keeps all my stuff organised and looks good!

 

What do you do with all the bulk merch you purchase at Costco..

Put it in glassware!

^ Extra cotton balls anyone?

Everything easily usable yet looks tidy - BOOM!

 

On the opposite side of the bathroom there is a pedestal sink..

I despise the pedestal sink.

Unless you are putting it in a teeny tiny powder room there is absolutely no excuse to use a

pedestal sink.

 

^^^^ Something like this

 takes up the exact same amount of space and at least gives you a tiny spot for storage. Even if its just enough space for my toothbrush I will take it!

 

So speaking of the other side of my bathroom..

I thought I would show off my lovely fake window.

^ Don't ask me why its there,

don't ask me what it does.

Maybe its the portal to Narnia or something..

 

^ this is what we did about it..

 

^ Ta Da! fake window meet fake curtain!

If I had to look at those gold digger tiles everyday they would drive me nutty

but with the curtain there we forget that its not a real window!

And it took zero talent to slap a curtain rod up there, so if you ever need to conceal some weird wall

defect - Fake window all the way!

 

One last thing since were on the topic of my house.

Last week I took a minute and organized our storage room, actually I was suppose to be cleaning the rec room but I took one thing into the storage area and that lead me to overhaul the entire room whilst the rec room in still in shambles.

^Before

 

^ After

I feel sooo much better knowing that's one room down!

And seriously that rolling clothing rack $14.99 at Target,

I have 2 already and I'm going to pick up a 3rd.

You can never have too many of those!

I use them at yard sales, for swapping out our summer/winter clothes.

I even brought it to girl guides, put a pair of curtains on it and a red carpet in front of it.

The girls strutted through the curtains and down the red carpet for a fashion show,

it was awesome!

 

And these things! ^^ that closet organizer if I ever see them on a cheap sale I pick them up!

You can use those suckers anywhere, I have them all over my storage room, this ones housing all my scarves. I picked it up at target last week for $2.... $2 people! It said $4.99 on the package down from $9.99 and when he rang in it is was on for $2.00 so always double check prices at target, it can go in your favour or in theirs, you really have to have a hawk eye on the cash register haha. (the drawers were extra, on sale for $3 each, so $8.00 for that total storage system).

 

Ok Signing off!

Part one Holly's House Junk - check!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Lets talk about Beauty Box and the Books...

I have been on SUCH a book binge lately.

Omg.

 I've purchased approximately 13 books in the last month...

That's more books than I've bought in the last three years.

 

Well it is if you don't count the great audio book obsession of 2012..

 

 I actually started reading one of the books already which is shocking because I have no time and its going to take me 45 years to get through all 13.. however..

I started with Not that kind of girl by Lena Dunham,

I thought it would be a easy hilarious read and I was right.

 I'm only 40 pages in but its pretty much exactly what I think we all expected..

 its like reading a episode of girls but even more hilarious because its her real life story.

If you enjoy her type of quirky, crude, straight to the point humour on girls you will love this book.

One thing that seriously surprised me about it was the beautiful art on the inside covers. Its just so stunning, I want to get copies to hang in my house, I just keep opening and closing the book to stare at the art work..

Soooo Pretty.

I just can't stop looking..

 

Anywho to the next topic,

Novembers Beauty Box 5 arrived!

And I'm not sure how I feel about it..

Everything in this months box is completely practical and usable..

but that's kind of why I'm disappointed.

I already own some version of all these things.

The nail polish is probably what got me the most excited because it is a really pretty shade.

However not ANYWHERE on the bottle does it say the shade colours name, which kind of really annoys me.

The hair treatment

I did use the above ^ today and it was good

but its the same as my Moroccan Oil that I use on the daily.

The Dove Body wash I used this morning and it is a luscious body wash,

it was smooth and bubbly and moisturising.

I may look for it if I'm going splurge crazy at the drug store in the future

but I have sooo many body washes and shower gels as is, I really didn't need another.

The Floss Picks, yes I use floss picks on the daily and yeah the case is kind of cute.

But I've got a surplus of floss picks in the medicine cabinet.

(I guess I could throw these in my purse for those on the go floss needs.. )

And the Body Butter..

It absorbs quickly, smells a little overpowering but not unbearable.

 

I don't know I guess I'm just being a Debbie Downer..

Every item in this months box is completely sensible and probably things I will actually use

but I feel like I subscribe to these monthly boxes to be surprised with things that I might not pick up for myself.

 

I don't know the more I look at the items while writing this blog the more I feel like I should be thrilled that they picked items that are so "me"

but then again I was kind of hoping to see a glittery eye shadow or a sparkly hair clip or something..

 

C'est la vie.

There's always next month! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Lets talk about throwing a fit..

Crafts are my thang.

That's why I love Pinterest so dang much.

You can follow my Pinterest Boards here

(I haven't figured out how to link Pinterest to my blog yet, the struggle..)

 

Anywho earlier this year I got in contact with some Girl Guide troops around Canada and we decided to do a Trader Swap.

What are Swaps you ask??

 

"Swaps are small crafts that girls (and leaders) wear on their camp hats. Most SWAPS will have the person’s name, unit name and/or date when and where the SWAP was made. Some swaps have a theme, Christmas, Valentines, camping, rallies…or are just general items that can be attached by a pin toyour hat. Sometimes, Swaps can be badges or crests."

 

Learn more about Girl Guide Swaps here

 

So we have been very busy at Girl Guides recently and hadn't got around to making any Swaps for these other troops but we had already received a parcel in the mail from a Brownie troop in Nova Scotia. Wanting them to receive a parcel back ASAP and not having much crafting materials available here in town (Ughhh the stuggle of small town living, you better be on the ball weeks in advance if you need something) I put my Pinterest boards to work and pulled a super easy craft the girls could make with very little materials needed.

 

 

^^^^ Meet our Little Fit

It was such a simple project (although you'd think I had asked the girls to solve the quadratic formula the way they whined when I told them to cut 25 pieces of yarn)

 

 

All you need to do is print these poems out prior to

(We "laminated" them with packing tape)

Cut 25 pieces of yarn, all relatively similar sizes

Line yarn up all together, then fold in half to create

Little Fits 'head'

Tie off at the neck

Hot glue eyes

Pin the poem

and Voila!

 

You have a Little Fit!

(Instructions probably were not needed for this craft,

 the pictures are pretty self explanatory but just in case!)

 

A whole lotta Fits to be thrown!

 

The girls loved the finished product, they wanted to keep them for themselves!

Do you have any Girl guide ideas for me?

Are you interested in Swapping with our troop

Send me a message! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lets talk about MAC, Moonmist and a Ipsy bag..

I had been on the hunt for a mild cheek highlighter,

I just wanted to add a tiny glow to my face not a full on sparkle cheek ya know.

So I was in MAC and asked the sales clerk to show me their highlighters..

Link to MAC highlighters

(*After seeing them online Soft and Gentle Gilded peach bronze also looks really pretty! I may have to check that out in December)

As soon as she whipped them out I knew this was the one for me

It was the only one that wasn't on the bronze side, I wanted a soft high light not a bronzer.

So this is the perfect shade, a soft pastel that reminds me of moonmist ice cream.

If you know Nova Scotia you know Moonmist ice cream.

Its only the best ice cream on the face of the planet!

*Oh god its just so good!!

Banana, grape and bubblegum

O.M.G I am drooling right now...

 

Farmers Dairy the makers of this heavenly creature

 

So I am obsessed with this highlighter, its the perfect addition to the every day face and can be layered for a more glittery night out. Its also great for brow bone/inner eye shimmer!

 

So onto the next topic..

Novembers Ipsy bag arrived!!

OOooooh the goodies..

The bag - cute, I don't know exactly what I'm going to do with all these bags come the end of the year when I have a dozen of them but for the time being they're great for tossing in my purse, car etc.

The Hairspray - I haven't tested this out yet but its always good to have a travel size to throw in your purse, and Marc Anthony is a alright brand so time will tell..

The Eyeliner - Um well you see I'm not sure how keen I am about a glittery purple eyeliner,

its got actual chunks of glitter in it. So this may make a appearance during the holidays but I'm thinking it will probably be a dust collector or donate item.

The Highlighter - As you just read I'm pretty pleased with my MAC highlight for day to day wear but this little liquid highlight is intriguing me, its got that pretty purple/pink shimmer. I've already tested it and its very pretty, I think it will make more appearances over the holidays/special occasions.

The eye shadow base - This one item made this months bag worth it for me. I've worn this eye shadow base every day since I opened it, its such a nice base colour its not too dark it can be worn alone or multi layered with other eye shadows. Its called submissive by be a bombshell cosmetics.

The Lip Paint - The look and sound of this "lip paint" turns me off because it reminds me of cheap Halloween make up. I tested it a couple of times and its alright, the colour is pretty like a raspberry purple-y shade I just cant help but wish they had made it a solid lipstick and I would be all on board!

*The lip paint can be a little tricky to apply since its a liquid gel, less is more or it will run/smear all over your face. ^^^^^ wearing the lip paint and eye shadow base.

*^^^ Lip paint, highlighter, eyeliner pencil

 

All and all another good month for Ipsy!

Just the excitement alone waiting for that bag every month will probably keep me subscribed for a while, plus you really get the odd gem here and there!

The rest can be stashed away for when you're feeling make up adventurous or if you feel like starting a blog and need some bloggin' material!

 

What did you get in this months Ipsy?

Are you going to stay subscribed?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Lets talk about Kate Spade-tionery.....

Like what I did there with the clever title name..

 

 

I LOVE stationery.

Legitimately I think 96.5% of the human population would say they love stationery.

Who didn't live for back to school shopping??

 Picking out new binders, notebooks, highlighters, pens..

I still go into staples and buy a ton of office crap every September.

 When I see those sharpies and post its on sale..

I gotta have em.

 

So any excuse for a stationery haul,

is a good enough excuse for me.

One of the major reasons I became a Girl Guide leader (besides you know it being a rewarding volunteer experience..) was because I couldn't wait to

start a little collection of file folders, notes, photocopies.

I have my Girl Guide program book full of post its, to-do notes, highlighted paragraphs..

Its like I'm living out that childhood dream of being a teacher.

Without actually being a teacher and dealing with annoying kids all day.

 

Any who..

I decided I needed a new notebook for blog notes obviously..

And all the notebooks I already own just would not suffice because they had like 2-3 pages used up with random notes wrote on them and this had to be a strictly BLOG notebook.

 

So where do you go when you're on the hunt for stationery.

WINNERS!!

Normally they have a excellent selection of beautiful notebooks and calendars at extremely reasonable prices.

Unfortunately they can also be unpredictable, and I totally struck out at this Winners location (Cough MIC MAC MALL WINNERS)

So in a time crunch and not able to drive across the city for another Winners,

I went to the next best stationery provider.

Chapters Indigo

 

Oh the beautiful beautiful things you can find in Chapters, seriously they have nice stuff (on the pricey side but sooo nice).

 

Of course my eye IMMEDIATELY went to the Kate Spade collection.

There is just something about Kate Spade..

Its shiny and glamorous but simplistic..

Its ridiculously overpriced but you just want it..

You want to place it on your desk and feel like you're somebody powerful..

 

 

The problem is you cant stop at just the Calendar planner,

you need the notebook..

and the pens..

pencils..

well now you need the pencil case..

erasers..

Ooh look at those gorgeous glasses!..

and appetiser plates..

OMG GLITTER COASTERS..

Then you have to take a step back.

Those glitter coasters are $35..

$35 for a piece of cardboard with some glitter stuck to it..

and these pencils are.. $20!???????!

Awe hell naw Kate.

I love you girl but I draw the line at $20 for something that will turn into shavings (well at least until Christmas is over, I'm suppose to be shopping for others) ...

So Alas I made myself put back a basket full of Kate Spade fabulousness.

 

And what does one do when their Kate spade dreams have been crushed..

Why go to Target of course.

I went to Target and picked up this little notebook for 3.99..

 

$3.99! And it has 3 divided sections within.

Which I eagerly titled Beauty, Baby and Lifestyle.

I also love the coil binding so I can flip the pages straight around to the back,

which makes for easy writing (especially when my work desk is the arm of the couch).

Its slightly smaller than your standard notebook but not too small,

it slips perfectly into my birthday purse for on the go noting.

 

If you're in the market for new stationery..

Kate spade has got my heart but Target has my wallet.

Target also has Alex from Target..

 

Target for the win!