Designer Furniture on a Budget

January 26, 2010 by

Question: What is the difference between these two pieces of furniture?

Armoire A:

  1. Is from Pottery Barn.
  2. 30% of the armoire is made of particle board.
  3. This armoire came in two colors: dark stain and red.
  4. It would have taken 8 weeks to be delivered to my house.
  5. The total cost is $2,500, including shipping.

Armoire B:

  1. Is in my living room and was custom made by El Paso Import Co.
  2. 100% of the armoire is made of solid pine.
  3. This armoire could have been made in any color. (I chose this particular stain because it complimented the rest of my living room furniture.)
  4. It took 4 weeks to be built and delivered to my house.
  5. The total cost was $1,200, including delivery.

Custom-built furniture is a great way to save a LOT of money on designer decor. My fellow tipsy girl AK introduced me to custom-built furniture and gave me a suggestion on where to go to have it done, but I have a great solution if you happen to live in a town that does not have an El Paso Import Co., and that is Craigslist.com.

With a simple search on Craigslist, I found two additional custom furniture builders located in the Houston area and both of their portfolios are impressive.

Here are some good resources and questions to ask before having your furniture made:

  • Have some measurements in mind for the size of your furniture.
  • Take some pictures to highlight the type of furniture you want made.
  • Ask for references.
  • Always get an exact price quote in writing before you commit.

So before you drop a lot of $$$ on your next furniture investment, do a little online research and see what you can find in your area. Having a piece of locally made, custom, furniture will not only leave a lot more cash in your pocket, but you’ll also be stimulating your local economy and that just feels good!

Filed Under: home, sk Tagged With: , ,

Organizing Essentials

January 21, 2010 by

I’m typically an organized person, but I feel like, here lately, I’ve been living in organized chaos. So, I’m officially on a mission to get every closet, drawer, and cabinet in tip-top-shape over the next few months. Here are some recent finds that are helping me with my mission.

  1. The Container Store, Feathergrain Bins: Bins, any bin, are great for those odds and ends that you really don’t have a place for. They can be stored under any table, or anything for that matter, to chicly disguise your clutter.
  2. OXO, POP Containers: These are really great for your pantry because they allow you to see just how much of each food item you have left, which, if you’re like me, it’s a necessity. Example: I always buy pasta at the store because I’m never sure how much I have; then, I get home and I have always have bazillion pounds of it stashed away!
  3. The Container Store, Storage Boxes: These pretty boxes are inexpensive, yet, they look so pretty holding all the clutter that I have in my closets…
  4. The Container Store, Portable File Boxes: I buy a new one of these every year to hold all my bills, essential paper work, tax info, etc, and when the year is over, I neatly put it away for easy access should I need any of that information in the future. It’s a lot easier than having bulky filing cabinets everywhere.
  5. The Container Store, Underbed Boxes: Why let all that space under your bed go unused?
  6. The Container Store, Cube Storage: Super-cute alternatives to shelves!
  7. Rubbermaid, Clever Store: I’m a sucker for a Rubbermaid product, and what I like about these is that they’re clear…aka, you don’t have to open the box to see what’s inside!
  8. The Container Store, 2-drawer Organizer: Great for under the sink in your bathroom where you can always use another drawer.

What are your organizing tricks or tips?

Filed Under: home, sk Tagged With: , ,

Decorating Faves

January 18, 2010 by

Here are some of my favorite things that either have or want to decorate my house with!

  1. Pottery Barn, Ella Canisters
  2. Barrio Antigua, Iron Wall Decor
  3. Pottyer Barn, Eleanor Frameless Mirrors
  4. Barrio Antigua, Sugar Mold Candle Holder and Mirrored Star
  5. Pottery Barn, Lacquer Wood Gallery Frame
  6. Barrio Antigua, Wrought Iron Yard Accessories: These may be classified as “yard art”, but I use them in my bathroom to hold towels…
    Filed Under: home, sk Tagged With: ,

    Hump Day Happy Hour: Rum Punch (you in the face!)

    January 13, 2010 by

    In keeping with the tradition of pining away for vacations and warmer weather, here’s a Hump Day Happy Hour dedicated to the memory of my vacation to Ambergris Caye, Belize…

    • 2 cups of Rum
    • 2 liters of Ginger Ale
    • 1 quart Fruit Punch
    • 1 quart Orange Juice
    • splash of Lemon Juice

    Mix together and enjoy over ice!

    WARNING:Too much of this punch and it will literally “punch” you in the face…

    Filed Under: hump day happy hour, sk

    I Wish it Was Spring…

    January 12, 2010 by

    So I wouldn’t feel guilty for investing in these super-cute new JCrew fashions!

    1. Belted Cardigan
    2. Crinkled Silk Shell
    3. Layered Ruffle Tank
    4. Soleil Nubuck Sandals
    5. Silk Twyla Tank
    6. Scalloped Petal Top
    Filed Under: cardigan, shoes, sk, tops Tagged With:

    Secret Stain Removal MAGIC

    January 8, 2010 by

    Ever had a tough stain that you just couldn’t get out? Fear no more because I have a process that will save your clothes from stain shame!

    Cast of characters:

    sk-stain removal2

    Step-by-Step Process:

    sk-stain removal1

    Step 1: Tough stain (soy sauce).

    Step 2: Sprinkle Oxi Clean all over the stained area.

    Step 3: Spray the Oxi Clean with Shout to make a paste. Now, fold up the piece of clothing and forget about it. You can let this paste sit on the stain for as long as you would like, but I would wait a minimum of 24 hours before washing the item of clothing.

    Step 4: Wash and view the MAGIC…BAM, stain gone and my favorite Texas Tech t-shirt is saved!

    Filed Under: home, sk Tagged With: ,

    So Fresh and So Clean, Clean

    January 6, 2010 by

    So, it’s no secret to those who know me that I’m a clean FREAK!!! (Seriously, I sometimes have anxiety about it.) Here are my top cleaning products of the moment.

    sk-cleaning supplies

    1. Clorox Toilet Wand, Amazon: No more icky toilet brushes sitting in your bathroom. Once you’re finished cleaning the bowl, simply flush it!
    2. Clorox Anywhere Hard Surface, Amazon: I use this for almost everything. Any little spill or splatter out comes the Clorox spray.
    3. Sprayway Glass Cleaner, Amazon: The BEST glass cleaner ever. I have seriously gone from store to store before looking for this stuff. Luckily, Wal-Mart usually has it.  This glass cleaner never leaves streaks!
    4. Goo Gone, Amazon: This is a recent love of mine and I’ll tell you why. I had the interior of my house re-painted in September and, much to my dismay, the painters accidentally got paint on my CARPET! So, after I discovered this I called my painters to, of course, complain and they told me not to do anything to it. The next morning they came over with Goo Gone and got it out in less than a minute: no stain, no wet spot, no smear, no nothing. So I went out and bought me some of this miracle product and have successfully used it over and over again to get hard-to-clean gunk or mud or smudge off of almost everything.
    5. Dirt Devil KURV Hand Vac, Target: Just a handy little gadget to have around so you don’t always have to lug out the big vac…
    6. Scrubbing Bubbles, Amazon: Standard bathroom cleaner, not too many miracles, other than it just melts the dirt away!
    7. Swifter Max, Amazon: I honestly believe that since the Swifter Max is double the size of the regular Swifter, I get finished mopping soooo much faster…this has not been proven, but I think it makes sense…
    8. Cascade 2 in 1 Action Packs, Amazon: Another time saver…no more putting Jet Dry or any other rinsing agent in your dishwasher!

    ***Any of these products can be purchased at  your ordinary grocery or cleaning store.

    Filed Under: home, sk Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

    New Years Survey: Sarah

    December 31, 2009 by

    1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

    Snorkeled with sharks (nurse sharks) and threw a surprise party (success)

    2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

    I didn’t make any new year’s resolutions last year and I will probably only make one for this year: EXERCISE regularly (at least 3 times/week)!!! 

    3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

    No babies this year, but we did celebrate a lot of 1 year birthdays!!!

    4. Did anyone close to you die?

    No, thankfully.

    5. What countries did you visit?

    Central America: Belize!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you didn’t have in 2009?

    More time to do things that I want to do, rather than have to do.

    7. What dates from 2009 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

    September 26, 2009: my beautiful little sister got married!

    8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

    I changed jobs and am actually working in the field that I spent MANY years studying in college. I love my job and the people I work with! 

    I’m also really proud of this Blog!

    9. What was your biggest failure?

    Not keeping everything in my life organized.

    10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

    Nothing catastrophic, but I have been sick more this year than I have ever been in past years.

    11. What was the best thing you bought?

    A front load washer/dryer.

    12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

    My husband’s! He turned 30 a few weeks ago and completely deserved the surprise party that was thrown for him.

    13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

    Nobody in particular, but it’s always disappointing when you see a long time friends true colors…

    14. Where did most your money go?

    Bills, bills, bills…other than that, vacation!

    15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

    My trip to Belize and my 2nd anniversary celebration in Chicago!

    16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

    “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. I don’t know why, but it automatically popped in my head when I read this question.

    17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

    Happier, yes.
    Thinner, no…I’m still the same.
    Richer, I don’t really like that word, but I would say “more comfortable financially.”

    18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

    Traveling

    19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

    Watching TV.

    20. How did you spend Christmas?

    Christmas Eve we traveled from my hometown, Gatesville, TX, to my husband’s hometown, Gordon, TX. After it took us nearly 3 hours to drive the normal 1.5 hour trip in blizzard-like conditions we finally made it and were able to open presents and get things set up for Christmas morning for our nephews. Christmas Day was beautiful and white….we had a low-key days with food and family. Then on Saturday we traveled back to Gatesville to celebrate Christmas with my parents and sister…it was a great holiday, but with a lot of driving!

    21. Did you fall in love with 2009?

    Yes, I keep falling in love with my hubby everyday…corny, but true…

    22. What was your favorite TV program?

    Private Practice

    23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

    Nope…I sure don’t!

    24. What was the best book you read?

    “A Million Little Pieces” by James Frey: I know I’m a few years late on reading this, but it truly was an awesome book.

    25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

    That George Strait is still the king!

    26. What did you want and get?

    A new entertainment center for our living room…hubby came through with flying colors for my birthday!

    27. What did you want and not get?

    New countertops for my kitchen…maybe in 2010…

    28. What was your favorite film of 2009?

    All I can think of are ones I recently saw: Julie and Julia, The Hangover, I Love You Man, Marley and Me.

    29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

    I turned 26 in 2009 and spent the day shopping with my Tipsy girls in Round Top, TX.!

    30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

    I’m not sure…probably more time at home and less time traveling (around the state for various functions, not vacation). When I think back over 2009, I’m completely exhausted at how many functions we had to attend this year!

    31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2009?

    My fashion concept consisted of one store: JCrew!

    32. What kept you sane?

    My friends. It was always a breath of fresh air when we could get together and just relax.

    33. What political issue stirred you the most?

    I like to stay out of posting on political issues. However, I will say that the recent firing of Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach has made me incredibly angry!!!

    34. Who did you miss?

    My PawPaw…he always kept us all sane..

    35. Who was the best new person you met?

    My new co-workers: Erica and Tara…is that sad that I think those are the only real “new” people I’ve met in 2009?

    36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

    I learned that life’s too short to worry or get caught up in petty issues. If you look at the positive side of things, you’re likely to have a happier, healthier, life.

    37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

    “It Happens” — Sugarland

    Filed Under: sk

    Very Merry White Christmas!

    December 30, 2009 by

    For those of you who live anywhere near Central Texas, you probably experienced near blizzard conditions on Christmas Eve and a perfectly white Christmas Day, as did we! It was my first white Christmas EVER, and one that I’ll never forget. Here are a few of the goodies my husband and I picked up along the way…

    sk-presents procured

    1. Lb Brewing Company Beer and T-Shirt: My mom got this for my husband and I thought it was a GREAT idea. She is from Kansas and stumbled upon this brewery on one of her excursions. His gift included this t-shirt and a gallon of their honey wheat beer…soooo good!
    2. TomTom Navigation System, Amazon: So, I guess my husband thinks I get lost a lot…?
    3. Restoration Hardware Gift Card: I LOVE this store!
    4. Vera Wang Perfume, Amazon: One smell and you’ll fall in love…
    5. Leupold Rifle Scope, Buy.com: This was my present to my husband, with help from my Dad, and he was excited/impressed!
    6. Chartreuse Fiestaware, MegaChina.com: I collect Fiestaware dishes and when I receive a hard to find, retired, color, it makes me smile.
    7. Old World Christmas Ornaments, oldworldchristmas.com: I also collect Old World Christmas ornaments and my Mom ALWAYS comes through with getting me new and interesting ornaments…I couldn’t believe she found an Old World sushi roll!!!
    8. LG Front-load Washer and Dryer, Sears: So, Santa may have come a couple weeks early with this one,  but that doesn’t mean my husband didn’t remind me a bagillion times what he got me for Christmas…

    I hope everyone had Happy Holidays and have a great New Year!

    Filed Under: gifts, home, sk Tagged With: , , , , , ,

    Christmas Wishlist: Sarah Edition

    December 17, 2009 by

    The Mission:create a list of fabulousness that I wouldn’t mind showing up under the tree on Christmas morning if  $$$ were NO object!

    The Result:

    sk-xmas list

    1. Tiffany & Co., 1837 Interlocking Circles Ring: I have been in LOVE with this ring since I first tried it on. Why am I trying on jewelry at Tiffany’s you ask? Because it’s fun…that’s why! Another thing that draws me to this ring is the rose gold, anyone else out there as obsessed with rose gold as me?
    2. Amy Butler, Carried-Away Everything: These bags are a tad pricey, but they are super-cute. I would also like several of her tote bags as well, but that’s for another post…
    3. Allens Boots, Old Gringo Cruzadas: Ok, this is the 2nd time I’ve mentioned these boots in this blog…don’t you think it’s time someone bought them for me?
    4. Anthropologie, Fire Within Posts: Simple, classic, and just plain cute.
    5. JCrew, Salon Bracelet: Truth be told, I wanted to put all of the JCrew jewelry line on this list…
    6. Williams-Sonoma, Le Creuset 6 and 3/4 Qt. Oval Dutch Oven: I just feel like I need this dutch oven because a) the Pioneer Woman uses one a lot when she cooks and b) who doesn’t like a lime green pot in their cabinets!?!
    7. Amazon, KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer: This needs to be on my counter in my kitchen…it will break up the absurd amount of red that I have!
    8. Crate & Barrel, OXO Pop Containers: My pantry has become disheveled…these should help…
    9. Williams-Sonoma, Le Creuset 12″ Fry Pan: Geez, you would think cooking was my hobby with all these kitchen items on my list!
    10. Pottery Barn, Tuscan Urns: These would look really neat in my house.
    11. Anthropologie: Shocking, but this jewelry box is no longer available, but I do like this alternative!
    12. Nordstrom, Michele ‘Deco’ Customizable Watch: I seriously have not had a new watch since I was in high school…
    Filed Under: gifts, holiday, sk Tagged With: , , , , , , ,