Posts from — June 2008

Here’s a fun, whimsical idea along the same lines of yesterday’s post. Now please don’t do this to your grandmother’s beautiful heirloom china, but how many of us have hit up the garage and estate sales and purchased those retro 50s and 60s tea cups. I HAVE, and I still drink tea and coffee out of my big Crate & Barrel mugs. Saw these today on Apartment Therapy and wanted to share it because I just thought they were so darn cute!

I am more of a clean and contemporary decor style person, but I don’t like my place to feel cold or austere. I like to throw in ethnic and natural elements to soften a modern look. I could see these used in a modern kitchen as pendant lights over an island or bar to throw a little personality into the design yet they are simple enough to blend well with modern design.

Tea light pendants created by domestic-construction.com.

Before you buy that new decorative vase on impulse at Target, dig through your cabinets and see if you can maybe turn some servingware you never use into useful organizational and decorative objects.

I have two pieces of glass servingware from Crate & Barrel, featured in my lovely pictures. (Sidenote: I need to learn how to take better pictures of glassware with a flash - not much natural light in my place.) I worked there years ago and accumulated a ton of C&B stuff. I’ve since sold much of it in my move across country. It’s not that I don’t love my Crate & Barrel goods, cuz I do, I think they’re way better than Pottery Barn and better prices. I just needed to lighten my belongings.

I didn’t want to part with these two pieces, one, because I like them, and two, cuz I used them quite frequently when I used to entertain. I figured they would become useful again. So for the time being, since I’m not doing much entertaining I decided to pull them out and make other use out of them in my living room. The divided dish (top photo) I am currently using as a valet for random items. And the chip and dip (above) is displaying my collection of rocks from beaches around the world. I’m happy to finally have them out on display. (Another sidenote: natural materials are great for decorative accessories and free!)

My pics don’t really do them justice, but they look great and I’m quite happy I didn’t spend any money!

I recently posted (Part 1 and Part 2) on the DIY approach to scanning your old family 35mm slides. If you don’t mind spending the money and are not worried about shipping your slides, you might be interested in a few companies that will do all the hard work for you. Not only do these companies scan slides but they will also transfer Super 8mm films, old casettes, LPs, you name it. They are a one stop shop for converting your old analog treasures to the digital realm. You can also have them make extra copies for backup (highly recommend) and for gifts.

These two online companies were recommended here on Unclutterer.com.

Family Memories to DVD

The Photo Archival Company

If you’re a Costco member, check them out too. According to the Unclutterer article, Costco offers some transfer services as well.

With all the coffee I drink and how often I drink coffee in my car, you’d think I would have thought of this fabulous little gizmo. A very nice co-worker brought me a Starbucks the other day at the end of an almost 13 hour day and when he set it on my desk I was amazed by the little gadget that was plugged into the opening on the cup’s lid. It will keep the inevitable little spills in your car from running down the side of your console and staining your carpet, keep your coffee a bit warmer, and you can use it kind of like a stir rod depending on the size of your Starbucks. Someone was seriously thinking and is probably a millionaire right now. What a simple and great idea! I remember a few years back my local Starbucks had stickers to cover the opening, but this little gizmo works ten times better and it’s reusable.

I LOVE Izze drinks! My favorites are Lemon, Clementine, and Pomegranate. Izze’s are the perfect combination of tartness and carbonation, satisfies my sweet tooth and as far as drinks go, they are way better than other fruit or soft drink on the market. As an added bonus, they seem to be a very forward thinking company.

So, why am I mentioning Izze drinks on my blog. Well, being a healthier, eco-conscious drink they are a bit on the pricier side. A four pack of Izze’s go for $4.99. Now with all the flavors I love, that can add an extra $20 bucks to my groceries and they go so fast! Recently when picking up some organic lemonade at Trader Joe’s I decided to mix a little with club soda and you know what, it tastes exactly like the Lemon Izze. I haven’t been able to replace all the flavors yet with a just as healthy, low cost alternative, but I’m working on it.

My recommendation is to fill your glass with half lemonade and half club soda, mineral water, etc. It’s the perfect combination and replacement for Izze or Limonata Pelligrino, which I love too! Perfect summer thirst-quenching drink! and you’ll make your grocery drink purchases last a bit longer.

BTW, Cranberry juice and club soda, with a bit of lemon is really tasty too. My mom used to make that combo for my sis and I as kids all the time. She always used Perriere but I’m sure club soda will taste just as good.