Tag Archives: apartment

Feb22

Dollar Tree Haul

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Dollar Tree Haul

Hello! If you’re anything like me, then I know you love some discount shopping! The Dollar Tree is my happy place and I always seem to be able to find a little treat or some food for chez moi at a fraction of the price of a normal grocery store. Speaking of going grocery shopping, I only go once every two to three months. Since I live alone, I stock up on everything I need to avoid weekly or even biweekly trips to the grocery.

However, I am in the phase of my extended time not grocery shopping where my cupboards are running a little bare. And by a little, I mean I’ve literally ate spaghetti every day for the past week, lol. Luckily, the Dollar Tree has my back and I was able to pick up all of these goodies for a whole thirteen bucks. Check it out:

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Lol, so I know that looks like an excessive amount of the Arizona nachos n’ cheese dip, reminiscent of an adult Lunchable, but it’s actually not enough. These nacho trays are my absolute favorite snack on the planet. The small, circular chips are crisp, the cheese is spicy, and it really is a perfect and highly convenient snack for when I’m at work. And, of course, you need some Sour Skittles to wash it all down. 😉

I am also very partial to the Shells & Cheese kit because you don’t need milk to make it, which is great, because I haven’t had milk in my apartment for months! One of these tiny boxes makes a staggering amount of mac n’ cheese and it ends up feeding me for at least three days. And for a whole dollar, you just can’t beat that.

Finally, I was so pleased with the last sets of fake eyelashes that I purchased from the Dollar Tree that I decided to restock my supply. The last fake lashes I got were long and in funky colors because it was around Halloween when I bought them. They applied like a dream and lasted all night so I’m looking forward to testing out my simple pairs of black lashes on a day where I don’t feel like doing my makeup. Keep tuning in to see how it works out! 😀

What is your favorite discount store to shop at? How often do you go grocery shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb19

Cost Effective Home Styling In New Jersey

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Cost Effective Home Styling In New Jersey

Drooling over some gorgeous Insta home photos but wondering whether you can afford the cost? Are you curious about cost-effective home styling? Well, no problem! You don’t have to max out your credit cards to recreate some of these beautiful and inviting spaces. You can still create a lovely and inviting home without compromising on the style factor, even on a shoestring budget.

This post will share with you some top hacks of how you can stretch your decorative dollar and turn your home into a designer space:

Achieve a minimal look:

With a limited budget, you have to be specific about what is necessary and what you don’t need in your space.

Rather than jamming your space with shelves full of books, ornaments, and portraits, think of investing in small quality pieces that are both stylish and timeless in design. Create a minimal look with a few classic items that will give your space a unique personality rather than a cluttered mess.

Take a look at this painting – simple enough to bring a unique quirky look to a minimal space:

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Minimal effort, maximum style!

Create a little scene in each room:

If your rooms are very neutral with whites and greys, it’s a good opportunity to spice things up. Add one dramatic and bold feature which can capture all attention in the room. It can be a painting, a pillow, or a carving.

You can also focus on creating vignettes and shelves to avoid styling the entire room. Create a little vignette scene by having a sideboard and a mirror in your room, a reading nook, or even a small display shelf.

Focusing on a small space is quite cheaper than thinking of revamping the entire house. You also have the freedom of making changes easily when you need to re-style in the future.

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So cool!

Bring in some leafy friends:

For a beautiful and lively look, clear your rooms of the unnecessary clutter and fill the space up with flowers and indoor plants. Bringing in flowers to every room is a simple way to breathe life and color into your house. Flowers and plants are also good at lifting up your mood and cleaning your air of pollutants.

Don’t have a green thumb? Then look for the hardy green plants such as peace lily or devils ivy. And, if indoor plants aren’t really your thing, there are some beautiful lifelike faux plants you can get from the stores.

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Pixabay Image

DIY your own art wall:

Who said you have to pay thousands of dollars to have art on your walls? You can create your own cheap and unique art wall – no talent needed. All you need is to get a few brushes, paint, and a canvas frame. If you have no idea of what to paint, you can start with simple items such as trees, flowers, mountains, and geometric paint art. You can also do word art that has an uplifting message.

Still doubting your artistic skills? Then wrap a beautiful fabric around a piece of rectangular Styrofoam and staple at the top. Or even make a DIY photo frame and create a collage.

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Creative cloth art

Brighten up your room in style:

Light up your home by buying good quality bulbs with low wattage and think of hanging a few pendant lights. Pendant lights, hung over a sculpture, art, or at the dining table draws the eye and adds on the visual effect of the items around. Choose lighting bulbs that are covered with porcelain ceramic or concrete for a more earthy look. These combined with a bright metallic finish at the bottom will bring a warm bright glow to your rooms.

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Redesign your air conditioner:

Heating and air conditioning in New Jersey and many other parts of the country is almost a must-have necessity. However, these air conditioners and heating equipment are not one of the most attractive pieces of equipment to have in your home. They can easily become an eyesore, especially when they get old.

An easy way around them is choosing the right spot for them. Think of placing the equipment above your doorway or your windows. You can also camouflage them by painting them the color of your wall. This way you will prevent them from sticking out and cramping your style.

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Pixabay Image

Achieving a great look in your home doesn’t have to cost you thousands. Follow these simple ideas to keep your home décor stylish and on trend without causing a dent in your bank account.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb15

Ready, Set, Spring Clean!

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Ready, Set, Spring Clean!

Hi! Although the winter season in Ohio hasn’t been awful this year, things took a drastic turn into freezing rain and snow and it has me eagerly awaiting the warmer weather. Spring is (somewhat) just around the corner, which means that sunshine, flowers, and oh yeah – spring cleaning is near!

Is cleaning house the best part of the transition from winter to spring? Not by a long shot. But, it sure feels good once you’re all done! So, let’s go over some pro tips to get the process started:

Take Inventory:

Before you start your cleaning, take a look around your cupboards to see what you have and what you need to finish your task. You will totally lose all of the motivation you had to sweep the floors once you realize you would need to run to the store to grab more liquid for your Swiffer. Complete the chores you can do with the cleaning products you have and then set aside some time to restock your supplies as needed.

Take Your Time:

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean a whole day dedicated to scrubbing, dusting, and reorganizing. That’s just too much for anyone. Rather, go from one room or area at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Set aside an hour or two for each project until your whole home is spick and span and don’t forget to play some great tunes to get you grooving. I promise, it will make your deep clean go by so much quicker!

Decluttering Is Key:

In my apartment, there really isn’t much space where I can place all of my crap that I collected throughout the day. So, my kitchen table ends up being covered in paperwork, jewelry, and whatever else I didn’t feel like returning to its proper home. If this sounds familiar to you, then really try and focus on tidying up these spaces and keeping them as such. I know it’s hard but nothing feels better than not having to hunt for something you placed down weeks ago and a kitchen table to actually eat on doesn’t hurt, either. 😉

Decluttering Is STILL Key:

I find that it’s much easier to do chores once all of the unnecessary stuff has been removed. Take a look around your home and evaluate everything there. Is your Christmas decor still up? Maybe it’s time to clear that away to make room for the Easter Bunny. Is your mantle and the knick knacks on it coated in dust? Take the time to remove and clean them individually and see if there are any you could do without or replace with different decor to freshen things up.

Decluttering is essential whether it is with clearing up little odds and ends or bigger pieces of furniture, a closet clear out, or going through old storage. If you are clearing out larger items, make sure you schedule for rubbish removal cheltenham or your local area to haul everything away.

Keep Your Cool:

Cleaning sucks but it doesn’t need to be stressful. If you create a game plan and stick to it, your home will be spotless in no time. Delegate tasks if you have any helpers around and don’t take any breaks until the chore is complete. Because, believe me, once you watch just “one episode” of your favorite show, you’ll be posted up on the couch binge watching instantly!

Ready, Set, Spring Clean with the pro tips above!

When do you start your spring cleaning? Which part of your home needs some extra love during your cleaning sesh? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan20

Paranormal Activity Pt. 3

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Paranormal Activity Pt. 3

Hi! So as all of you know, I have experienced some paranormal activity in my apartment. The major occurrences happened when I first moved in and the last activity before the most recent one took place about a month ago. This spooky situation came about on Friday the tenth around two in the afternoon and it had me SHOOK. So, let’s discuss:

I always have the afternoons off on Friday and some of the days are spent running around doing errands while others involve curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee. This Friday afternoon happened to be one of those days, so I lit my candles, got myself comfortable, and cracked open one of my comic books.

All was going well and I was enjoying my time relaxing when a piece of paper I had on my coffee table FLOATED ON TOP OF ONE OF THE CANDLES. This paper was sitting on top of a board game that was about a foot and a half away from my candles and when I adjusted my head I saw the paper in the air.

Luckily for me, the piece of paper landed on a candle that was burnt down enough that the flame wasn’t going to touch it. But, the candle that it did fall on was about six inches away from a brand new Yankee Candle that I got for Christmas whose two wicks were burning close to the top. Yikes!

Needless to say, I freaked out and phoned my parents who know about the haunting situation in my apartment and they freaked out too. Lol, it was such a crazy thing to have witnessed and I still get goosebumps when I think about it. There was just no way that that paper floating could have happened on its own. It had also been sitting there for months and a situation even remotely similar has never happened.

I have come to associate my “friend” in my apartment with being a man. When I first moved in, I always seemed to hear heavy footsteps at night coming from the office in my top floor apartment. In fact, I used to have to go downstairs to make sure there was no one there.

There is also a mirror in my loft bedroom with a skylight shining directly on it. And, at night when the light from the outdoors is coming in, the shadowy shape that forms behind the mirror looks like a poor silhouette of a man to me. Believe you me, nothing makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up like when I see that at bedtime.

The paranormal activity I had in my apartment in December seemed to be a friendly one but this last occurrence was anything but. I think it will be a good long while before I light my candles again!

What did you do to deal with paranormal activity if you’ve ever experienced any? Does anyone have any advice for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec27

Paranormal Activity Update

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Paranormal Activity Update

Hello!! So as you guys might remember, I experienced a few instances of paranormal activity in my apartment when I first moved in. It definitely gave me the creeps but, luckily, after those initial encounters, I haven’t had any cases of unexplained occurrences happen at chez moi. That is, until about one week ago.

I had an unexpected day off on Monday because a client was sick, so I went back to bed for a while and then got up and began to get some writing done. That’s when I heard the catchphrase of little Agnes from Despicable Me, “IT’S SO FLUFFY” coming from my office.

In my office, I have a closet. In this closet, there is my hair dye hoard on one of the top shelves on the left wall, some boxes from when I moved in, and plastic bags from grocery shopping. And, tucked into the corner of the right wall is a bag of stuffed animals, one of which is the stuffed unicorn from Despicable Me, whose paw you can squeeze (Quite hard, I might add.) to hear phrases from the movie.

Because you have to physically squeeze the paw with some extra oomph because of it’s awkward shape, there’s just no way this could have happened on its own. When I checked my closet, nothing fell on the stuffed animals or was out of place in any way. It just happened.

I’d be a liar if I said that I haven’t been freaked out since this paranormal activity occurred, especially because it has been such a long time since I moved in. I don’t think my ghostly friend is trying to be mean, though. Maybe it was just his or her little way of saying “hello” and that they’re still here.

Am I thrilled about it? Not particularly. But, who’s to say that people and spirits can’t live in harmony?!

Have you ever experienced paranormal activity? What did you do about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec18

Affordable Home Improvements To Refresh Your Interiors

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Affordable Home Improvements To Refresh Your Interiors

Making home improvements is something that we do all the time. Whether it is purchasing a brand new rug, re-painting your living room, or doing a deep clean, you are improving your home. You’re making it better than what it was previously, and this is a natural instinct for many people. However, affordable home improvements that refresh the interior of your home is not always easy. Finding what you can do that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg but makes the inside of your property look fantastic is pretty challenging, so let’s take a look at a few options here:

Repaint your room:

Instead of focusing on repainting the entirety of your house, you should focus on repainting one room at a time. You only need about one bucket of paint to do this and a spare afternoon. It will make such a difference when you walk into a room and it looks brand-new, clean, and pristine. It can be a fun way to bond with somebody as well, because you’re working together to accomplish a goal, and you’ll find that a sense of banter and camaraderie naturally flows.

Replace the flooring:

The average floor is subjected to a lot of punishment. It’s stepped on, has bits of food dropped on it, has mud tracked through it, and there is no denying that your floor will need a refurbishment from time to time. Doing this can often give a new lease of life to what otherwise was a plain room.

Carpet is often a good idea for this particular exercise, offering both warmth and comfort, and at the same time looking neat and modern. If you purchase from a trusted provider like https://carpettogo.com/, then you will have absolutely no issues in redecorating your floor.

Get some decorations:

One of the best things that you can do is get some decorations for your home. There are a lot of things which aren’t that expensive and it’s important to remember that decorations don’t need to be big and ostentatious, so much as just small and decorative. They complement a room, but they don’t make it.

Something like a plant or a painting will be a good idea, and they aren’t usually too pricey. They will help to brighten up a room and offer something different in the way of texture and color. Pick a great statement piece and watch your room transform.

All things considered, these are just a few different options that you have available to you when it comes to making affordable home improvements. It’s not always easy to do so, but there are moments when you have to look after your rooms and change up some of the elements in your house to make sure that everything stays fresh and vibrant.

It’s worthwhile to experiment with different options, textures, colors, and designs because this will help you to get the best possible interior. Your property is often a point of pride, so it is important to look after!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Dec11

Where Can You Cut Costs When Working On Your Kitchen?

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Where Can You Cut Costs When Working On Your Kitchen?

DIY has long been a popular way to make your home look better without spending a small fortune on it. A lot of people are choosing to go down this route with their homes, working hard to make changes by themselves. Of course, even when you do all of the hard work yourself, it will always be difficult to avoid spending money on a room like a kitchen. There are simply too many expensive items which go into this space.

When planning to renovate a kitchen, you need to get prices for everything and compare those prices to see which is best. You will need to get prices for a skip, flooring, cupboard doors, and possibly even screws and hinges among other necessities. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the best ways to save in the kitchen, covering each of the elements you’ll need to buy:

Cabinets & Surfaces:

This is usually the priciest part of most kitchens. The cabinets and surfaces you have can cost a lot, but you need them to be able to use the room effectively. Thankfully, people often sell this part of their home when they renovate. You can find loads of kitchens cabinets on sites like eBay, and many of them will come in excellent condition. While you have to collect them yourself, this option will be far cheaper than buying something new, while also giving you the opportunity to get features which you may not have been able to afford brand new.

Appliances:

Appliances are another area which can be expensive when you’re renovating your kitchen, leaving a lot of people to keep their old machines for this job. Like the cabinets, though, you can often find appliances in great condition on the used market. This is always a lot cheaper than buying the items new.’

Flooring:

While it may seem like something which should be nice and cheap, flooring can often be one of the priciest parts of a new kitchen. With tiles being so expensive, a lot of people opt for plastic flooring, though this rarely looks perfect. There are a lot of discount tile retailers around the web, giving you access to this resource for far less than you’d pay full price. It’s well worth hunting for deals on items like this, as this can drastically reduce the price of your kitchen, while also keeping it looking good.

Sinks, Taps, & Other Accessories:

Finally, as the last area to think about, it’s time to consider sinks, taps, and other accessories which finish your kitchen. These will always be the most noticeable objects in your kitchen, and this makes it worth spending more on them than the other areas in this post. You can usually find good second hand deals for them, but buying them from regular stores shouldn’t be too hard, as long as you’ve saved enough money on the other parts of the room.

Building a new kitchen will be a challenge. Not only will you have to find everything you need at the lowest prices, but you will also need to put the room together. You’re going to need to do some learning to achieve the best results, but these skills will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Dec10

4 Simple Ways To Make Your Home Greener

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4 Simple Ways To Make Your Home Greener

From the brands that we buy to our home cleaning routines; most of us value the idea of making green choices. When it comes to shopping for your home ware and utilities, there are plenty of ways to go eco-friendly. For those looking for a few pointers, these four simple solutions could help you on your way (and maybe you’ll save a few dollars too)!

Research your materials:

When shopping for home ware, whether cushions, rugs, or teacups; we often choose based on aesthetics and color scheme. Of course, these factors are important, yet it’s also important to prioritize the right materials. Items made of hemp, for example, are considered an excellent sustainable choice. Hemp does not require pesticides to grow and only needs a small amount of water. What’s more, hemp can absorb C02 during the growth process. Bamboo is another great choice to look out for when shopping for home ware items. Bamboo also requires no fertilizer; it grows quickly and can easily self-regenerate. Materials like jute or seagrass are also excellent sustainable materials to look out for when you are decorating your home.

Save water:

Using less water around the home can make a huge amount of difference to both your green practices and your bill. For example, water-saving shower heads allow you to use less water when showering. There are two types of water-saving shower heads; aerating and non-aerating. Aerating shower heads push the water through smaller holes and provide increased pressure. Non-aerating shower heads combine a restricted water flow with air.

To save money, it’s worth checking out a few different water providers to see if you can make any savings. While you’re at it, ensure that you know what Action to Take Before and After Discovering a Water Leak or Flooding. Staying clued up when it comes to water can help you to go green, save cash, and keep your home safe.

Start composting:

Compost refers to various organic substances, from fruit and vegetables to grass clippings or twigs. When you mix these things together, you’ll have an excellent natural fertilizer to enrich the soil in your garden. Great composting is essential if you want to grow nice fruits and vegetables without using any chemical-based fertilizers. You’ll be going greener by reducing your food waste and creating a space to grow natural foods from the earth. At the same time, you’ll be reducing food waste which goes to the landfill. When organic food waste goes there, the conditions are not right for it to break down properly. Due to this, a buildup of methane gas occurs which pollutes our air.

Zero waste:

When it comes to the home, there are plenty of ways to use less and waste less. First, when you need to make purchases, try second-hand stores before you opt for buying new. As well as this, try planning your meals out in advance to minimize the chance of food waste. There are plenty of zero-waste grocery stores out there which have entirely removed the need for packaging. Getting into a green routine is an ongoing project; so don’t worry if you can’t make every change overnight.

Follow the tips above and do your share in helping to protect our environment by going green!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dec6

Where To Splurge And Where To Save When Decorating Your Home

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Where To Splurge And Where To Save When Decorating Your Home

Decorating a home from scratch can be really expensive, so it’s worth knowing the best places to save money and where it pays to spend a little more. Maybe you’ve just moved into a new place or perhaps you want to do up your existing home, either way, here are some places to save and where to splurge:

Splurge: Mattress

As humans, we spend a huge portion of our lives in bed. We might not all be lucky enough to get a full eight hours, but even if you’re only getting six that’s still a quarter of your day. A good mattress is essential for good health, it supports your back, hips, and neck. It keeps you comfortable and allows you to get the highest quality of sleep.

However, mattresses are expensive, and it might be tempting to look for a good quality second hand one – but it’s best not to do that if you can. Not only will a used mattress show signs of wear but it could also be hiding bed bugs which you’ll then bring into your home. Exterminators like Bed Bug Inspector recommend that you don’t purchase second hand items that could harbor these pests, as it’s a common way that they get into peoples homes and spread.

Save: Dining table

A solid wooden dining table will last you for a lifetime if you look after it well, and if you look around chances are you’ll find people selling old and antique tables simply because they do stand the test of time. Don’t be put off by old fashioned looks, as long as it’s in good condition you can always upcycle it. Sand down the top, add some new legs, and you could stain it or paint it and really bring it up to date.

Splurge: Dining chairs

Saving on a dining table gives you more money to spend on the chairs, and it’s often worth buying some more luxurious, comfortable dining chairs. Once you’ve upcycled the table you can go about choosing some nice new chairs that suit the overall look. It could be some modern fabric chairs, some cool perspex ghost chairs, an industrial style – whatever it is you’re going for.

Save: Accessories

Accessories make a house a home, but you don’t need to spend a fortune here. Some plants from Ikea, some vases from TJMaxx, some frames from the Dollar Store, and other little accessories from charity stores and boot fares can all come together really nicely.

Splurge: Sofa

A good quality sofa will cost you a fair bit of cash, but it will look great and last you for many years. If you don’t have the funds up front, lots of companies offer finance options allowing you to spread the cost. The best sofas will be made from good quality fabrics and materials so they won’t go saggy and uncomfortable after a couple of years.

When decorating your home, shop smart with the saving tips above so you can have more moolah towards your splurge worthy purchases!

Dec2

Making The Most Of The Space In Your Home

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Making The Most Of The Space In Your Home

One thing that most people tend to think when they look at their homes is that they wish they could have more space. Unless you happen to live in some kind of palatial mansion, pretty much all of us have thought about what we’d do if we could just make a little extra space here and there in our homes. Of course, for many of us, that’s simply not possible.  However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t things that you can do to make the most of the space that you already have in your home. Check out these ideas:

Keep things tidy:

One of the most common reasons that a lot of people feel as though they don’t have enough space in their home is that they simply have too much junk cluttering up the place. By keeping things tidy and getting rid of stuff that you really don’t need, even a small room can feel far more open and comfortable. If you’re constantly tripping over stuff and every surface is covered in clutter, it won’t matter how big a room is, it’s always going to feel cramped and tiny.

Use light carefully:

Light is one of the most powerful, and most underrated, tools in your arsenal when it comes to not only making your home feel bigger but also making it feel like a brighter, more vibrant place. The best place to start is with natural light. Try to see if there are any places in your home where natural light is being blocked and work to fix that problem. It’s a small thing but it can make all of the difference in the world to how a room feels.

Find storage solutions:

If you’re not in a position to get rid of a lot of the stuff in your home, then the best thing to do is to make sure that you have the right storage solutions. Being able to store things in a more convenient way can make a huge difference and free up a whole lot of space. Closet & Cabinet Experts can help you turn these areas in your home into a space that houses all of those odds and ends in an organized fashion. This can help fully rid your home of clutter and not being able to find the things you need most will be a problem of the past.

Your storage solutions can also be a great way to furnishing your home. A custom closet allows you to not only create the perfect storage solution but also create one that really improves your home’s style. Check out this post: How Much Does a Custom Closet System Cost? That way you can get an idea of if it’s something that’s right for you.

There are always things that you can do to bring your home more closely in line with what you want it to be. You’ve just got to be willing to put the work in. Sure, this can be a little difficult and stressful at times, though there are always things you can do to make it at least a little easier. However, the benefits that come from making your home a more enjoyable place to be in far outweigh the time and effort it takes to make that happen.

Featured Image By: Pexels