Blog - Graceful Order

Organizing Sunglasses

September 10, 2015 · by Maria · 10 Comments

I shared details about my closet here and how I display my jewelry, but there were still a few accessories that needed attention…my sunglasses. Organizing sunglasses may sound a little silly but since many of my sunglasses don’t even come with a case. Long gone are the days that I would spend beaucoup bucks on sunglasses! After having kids I find that getting them in and out of the car, in and out of the supermarket cart can often result in my sunglasses taking a dive! This past Christmas my husband gave me a beautiful pair of Ray Bans (with a case, of course) and I love them and take care of them as best I can, but I often grab for a cheaper pair when I head out. And the cheaper pairs were…everywhere! They didn’t have a spot and if I bought cases for them, I knew I wouldn’t even remember what they looked like – meaning I wouldn’t wear them.

When I finished my closet, I wanted to keep it simple and functional so I hesitated to use that free little wall space beside the mirror – but function won over simplicity as if often the case with me.

I moved the watch and bracelet display so that I could work more comfortably.

I had this idea a while back to place a pair of my sunglasses on a hook that I had in the bathroom to see if they would hold in place and they did! So I purchased these Command hooks which were small and clear and perfect for that narrow space. I purchased them on Amazon but Walmart and Target also carry them.

I didn’t really measure because I’m bad like that…bad as in good.

Anyway, their placement wasn’t perfect but the sunglasses would cover them anyway. Maybe I’m not that “bad” after all.

I chose to hang my sunglasses facing forward.

But you can also hang them this way. Just choose the way that they feel more secure.

What do you think?

Yes, they made the area a little busier but it solved an annoying problem in 2 minutes flat. Also, since the command hooks are removable, I am not committed to this solution forever. Maybe I am a little bad. Just a tiny bit.

Do you have a similar organizing issue with sunglasses or do you limit yourself to one or two pair?

Other related Graceful Order posts:

Master Closet Transformation

Laundry Closet Organization

This posts contains some Amazon affiliate links. Buying through the links does not affect your price of the item. As always, thank you for your support of Graceful Order!

Decorating the Table for Fall

September 5, 2015 · by Maria · 27 Comments

The hot pink and bright blues are gone and it’s fall y’all! I can hardly believe that I am already bringing down the bins from the garage labeled “FALL”. I love the warm colors of fall and like I have mentioned before, I live in Florida and it always looks like summer over here. But inside the house, we can create a fall atmosphere with a little yellow and a dash of orange.

My fall table last year was really simple and I used some faux florals to decorate. While the faux florals will last all season, these pretty roses went on sale at Whole Foods and well…how much will power am I supposed to have?! I had already said no to buying the organic chocolate that they were sampling. I did say yes to the sample, by the way. I’m not ~~that~~ crazy.

I didn’t have a tablecloth that would work with this color scheme, so I purchased fabric from Walmart and folded it lengthwise and created a runner. No sewing = win!

These orange goblets are from Crate and Barrel , I purchased them online on clearance! They were less than half of their original price. I don’t know about you but I always go straight to the sale/clearance items in a store or online. Sometimes the items on sale are not that nice (and that’s why they are on clearance) but there are times when you can find items that went out of season but not style, like these.

Tip: I always purchase an extra plate or goblet just in case one breaks, I still have a set intact.

In the picture below, I added a pretty white pumpkin which would make this setting perfect for Thanksgiving. I only have one pumpkin like this (which I picked up at Target) but last year I showed you some inexpensive ones that I have a full set of. Either way, pumpkin or no pumpkin – this would work for Thanksgiving.

I used a maize color napkin that I have had for years and they launder beautifully. I purchased these at World Market , they usually have a great selection of color for their napkins. Remember to take advantage of online reviews because they will tell you things like “these napkins shrink when washed” or “they lose their color”. I have avoided lots of dud purchases by reading reviews. Plus, I am horrible at returning items so I would rather read than return.

And how beautiful are these flowers? In a few days I will show you how easily I put together the arrangement. If I could, I would have fresh flower arrangements in every room, even the bathroom! I know that they are an added unnecessary expense but they certainly complete the table. I used roses and hydrangeas this time, but I usually buy whatever bundle is on sale.

I had leftover roses so I made 2 tiny arrangements for either side of the table. It would also be pretty to have these little arrangements down the length of the table instead of a large centerpiece.

I have these gold and white fruit that I purchased last year at Target and I scattered them down the center of the table.

I know that in less than a week I will have to change out the centerpiece when the flowers wilt but I will enjoy their fragrance and beauty in the meantime. As soon as I change out the centerpiece, I will let you know what I come up with. Don’t you love decorating for fall?

This year I am happy to be part of Stringtown Home’s annual “Harvest Tour of Homes” where some amazing bloggers share their harvest home ideas. There are recipes, decor, crafts…you name it! I am planning to stop by all of them and I hope you will too. Let them know that you are visiting from Graceful Order.

Have a blessed season everyone!

If you are already in the Thanksgiving mood, you may also like :

Must Have Kitchen Tools

5 Kitchen Gadgets that Work

How to set a Proper Table Setting

Cleaning Makeup Brushes

September 1, 2015 · by Maria · 5 Comments

I don’t use a whole lot of makeup but I do like to have the right tools for the job. Makeup brushes over time get dirty and need cleaning and I wanted to share my easy method of cleaning makeup brushes.

We all know that you can buy brush cleaners and if your brushes are really dirty then maybe that’s the way to go. However, when my brushes are just lightly dirty, I use a simple method to clean them with an item that you may already have at home – baby shampoo.

Here is how I clean my brushes.

I wet the brush head under the running faucet with warm water. Be careful to wet them pointing down so that water doesn’t go into the handle. If water goes into the handle, it can later cause the bristles to come loose and that will ruin your brush.
I place a dot of baby shampoo on my hand and I slowly swish the brush in my hand to loosen the makeup.
I place the brush back under the running water and carefully press on the bristles which will spread them slightly. It is important to do this carefully so that your brush does not lose it’s shape after drying. You may have to repeat step 2 and 3 in order to really clean the brush from makeup buildup.
I gently dry the brush with a towel, also being careful to keep the shape of the brush.
I lay the brushes flat on the sink counter, allowing the brush head to hang over into the sink. Do not stand them up before they are dry because water will travel into the handle which will ruin your brush over time.

Once dry, I place them in an acrylic cup full of beads, just like the fancy makeup store.

One last tip: I find great makeup brushes at Marshalls (the ones in the picture are from there) or TJMaxx so check those stores out before shelling out the big bucks at the makeup stores.

Hope you have a great week, friends!

This posts contains an Amazon affiliate link. Buying through the link does not affect your price of the item. As always, thank you for your support of Graceful Order!

Teen / Tween Bedroom Organization

August 28, 2015 · by Maria · 9 Comments

I recently shared my toddler’s new “big boy” room but we also changed the furniture in our oldest’s room. It’s been busy around here! I haven’t done a complete post on my 11 year-old son’s room in the past but you can see what his room looked like here and here. We had been wanting to update his room for a while because it just wasn’t working for him. So we recently went furniture shopping and decided it was a great idea to bring him along for his input – not the first time that one of my bright ideas was less than bright. Of course, he wanted a bunk bed and was attracted to anything “cool” and disregarded all practicality in the process.

I really wanted for him to be excited about his new room but I know that what he likes at 11 may not be what he likes at 13 or 14 so his dad and I had to take charge. I want to show you the bedroom set that we chose and why we love it, and ultimately why our son loves it too! At least now he does.

There are a lot of reasons why I love this bed but the first is that he finally has a full size bed (he previously had a twin bed) so we can comfortably get in his bed at night and chat with him before he sleeps. It’s not something I do all the time, but I cherish those moments when he asks me 102 questions before falling asleep. The second reason is that this bed included a trundle as an add-on option. The trundle was an added expense and we briefly considered not getting it, but now I am so glad that we did.

It is a trundle within a trundle. It’s not easy to distinguish in the picture but the trundle has a sliding shelf that allows almost double the storage.

Since all his books didn’t fit inside the bookshelf, I placed some of them under the bed. On the sliding drawer, I placed felt-lined bins (from Target) to store smaller toys that end up not having a home. And that means they end up on the floor.

Ok, and how cool is this? The bedpost hides a reading light – I was kinda jealous! My son loves to read and this was a huge plus!

We were only able to fit one nightstand in his room because the other side of his bed is next to his closet which needs to open towards the bed. This nightstand also had a great little feature…look on…

There is a lid towards the back of the nightstand that conceals all the cords! Seriously, how perfect is this bedroom set for kids?!

Inside that small compartment is a plug that allows all his electronics to be plugged in next to his bed.

We also purchased the desk that came with the set and the bookshelf. There were some other pieces available (a dresser and desk topper) that were great but the room was filling up and the wallet emptying by the time we tallied up the items!

The other side of his room has a t.v. and an ottoman that he places all his bed pillows on before going to bed. Well, that was the idea anyway…

One of my favorite organizing solutions in his room is being able to hang up all his skateboards and pogo stick. These were items that used to be in the garage but out-of-sight was out-of-mind and he stopped using them. We want to encourage him to be active so we brought them into his room and it has worked because he now uses them often. Since I didn’t want those skateboards all over the house, I found these hooks that are probably meant for garages, but they are heavy-duty and perfect for holding bulky items. Also, I think it decorates the room a bit and adds character to the wall.

After some convincing that the bright blue bunk bed wasn’t the best choice for long term, our son now loves his new room! It has been easier to keep organized now that he has so many systems in place!

Is your teen naturally organized or does their room make you sigh just thinking about it? I would love to hear from you…

xo,

Maria

Must Have Kitchen Tools

August 25, 2015 · by Maria · 3 Comments

Buying the right kitchen tools can really make a difference in the food that you serve and how easily and quickly you can make a meal for the family. When I married my husband (eons ago) we had a wedding gift registry like everyone else that included a set of pots, china, champagne flutes and that fondue set that we never used. All of the decisions about the items that I wanted for my new home were done in a rush and some of those products ended up being great and others not so much.

As time went on and items started showing too much wear, I made more educated decisions about each item and I researched everything…even a simple vegetable peeler. That’s actually what I love about online reviews- I can avoid making someone else’s mistake. Below are 5 of my favorite kitchen tools. I added a link to almost every item but I encourage you to do your own research so that you can find the best price and brand for your kitchen!

1. Good Knives

Buy the best knives that you can afford. They will last for years and this is something that you will use daily. Don’t buy knives without first holding them and making sure that they feel comfortable in your hand. I have had these knives for 10 years and they still work like day one. You don’t need to purchase a knife set or fill up all the slots of your knife block. Just purchase the individual knives that you will use most. My favorites are a medium sized santoku, a pairing knife and a serrated knife. My husband usually goes for the chefs knife but I find it a bit large for my hand.

Tip: Hand wash your knives. The dishwasher is convenient but the high heat of the drying cycle can damage the rivets of the knife and the blades can also get damaged with the high pressure of the jets, causing items to vibrate and clash against each other. Protect your investment by hand washing them which is so easy to do.

2. High quality Dutch Oven

Here is another workhorse in my kitchen! Le Creuset dutch ovens carry a hefty price tag but it is so worth it in my opinion. If you are only purchasing one dutch oven, choose one that is on the larger side so that you can really get your money’s worth as far as the versatility of the pan. To me dutch ovens equate slow comfort food and consistent results.

Tip: Le Creuset has outlets throughout the U.S. and although all the colors are not always available, the prices are lower.

3. Quality Skillets

I am not a fan of purchasing big sets of pots. You will end up using 3 of them all the time and the rest just take up space in your cabinet. My favorite skillets are All-Clad brand and I have purchased them one-by-one over the years. They are pricey but I have never had to replace them, they cook evenly and clean up beautifully.

Tip: Stores like Homegoods and Marshalls sometimes carry great quality pans at a discounted price.

I prefer stainless steel pans but I do have a few nonstick skillets for omelets and pancakes.

My other favorite tool which is not expensive at all are cast iron skillets. If treated properly you can hand these down from one generation to another. The downside is the weight but the upside is how durable and versatile they are.

4. Baking Sheet Pans

You can find a good baking sheet pan for less than $20.00. My favorite Half-Size Sheet Pan is from Vollrath because it’s the best I have found for the money. I use baking sheets all the time to roast vegetables, which I cook at a temperature between 400 and 425 degrees. Most baking sheets would buckle and then warp in that kind of heat. These brown food nicely and when I am done I soak the pans in a little water and they clean up beautifully.

As an accompaniment to the sheet pan, this cooling rack is my favorite and although it’s main use is to cool cookies, I use it to cook bacon in the oven. This cooling rack fits perfectly into the half sheet pan and I lay a whole pack of bacon on it, cook it in the oven, and avoid all the splatter that occurs when cooked on the stovetop.

5. Cutting Board

Find a cutting board with good online reviews. Wooden cutting boards are also the most gentle on knives and therefor preserve the edge of the knife more than other cutting board options. If you clean and oil your board regularly you won’t have to deal with a board that easily cracks which you would then have to dispose of. Tip: I have also found a lot of good cutting boards at Marshalls stores.

If you cook all the time (like I do) treat yourself to good tools. Think of how much one good restaurant meal is…usually the price of a good pan that will last for many years. Choose your tools wisely and let them help you in the kitchen!

Related posts:

How to Clean a Cutting Board

How to Clean a Microwave

Cleaning with Lemons

This posts contains some Amazon affiliate links. Buying through the links does not affect your price of the item. As always, thank you for your support of Graceful Order!