Clean your closet for the New Year

Time is running out!  The new year will be soon upon us and a simple way to start our new year is to clean out our closets!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/115651452/vintage-wooden-glass-sand-timer

I always make it a goal before and after Christmas to clean out our closets.  Getting gifts that have no home or room in your house is overwhelming.  I start with clothing and move on to each room in the house. 

Pay attention to those shirts you just have not worn.  If you find yourself saying "well I might wear it"  then that is a red flag to get rid of it!  Any kids jeans that are floods or tight need to go as well, unless you are saving them for a younger child.  Also if you did not wear it last season the it may be a good idea to get rid of it as well!  A handy tip is at the start of each new season turn all your hangers backwards.  At the end of the season if it is still backwards then get rid of that item.


As you move on to each room of your house follow the same rules.  Remember there is no need to keep items that just have no use.  They often get in the way of the items you are searching for.  A cute tip for household items is if it is stashed in a dark scary corner gathering years of dust then get rid of it! 

Now what to do with all these items?  I like to offer them first to friends and family.  Just send out an email to those loved ones letting them know that first to respond can have the item.  But I also let everyone know in the email that a donation center will be piking these items up at a designated time.  This way you wont be stuck with an item for ages waiting for that individual to find the time to pick it up. 

Another option is to sell your items on EBay if you need money to replace items such as clothing for children.  This is a very easy and cost effective way to go towards a shopping trip for new clothing on a budget. 

Hope you enjoyed my simple encouragement to clean those closets!  Happy New Year!  desiredsimplicity.etsy.com

https://www.etsy.com/listing/118564111/vintage-emerald-green-keychain-coin

Turn an old outfit into a new outfit

Do you need a new outfit but you are low on cash or just sick and tired of shopping?  A simple way to go is to accessorize with a scarf or jewelry to create a new look.

For example you have that plain old white shirt.  Kinda boring but once you add a 80s style scarf you can see that you just created a new trendy look!

 

 

Also give jewelry a try for that everyday outfit.  It just breathes life into an old outfit.

Now that you have the idea where can you find inexpensive items?  Try looking in your closet, trade items with a friend, upcycle  your own or just go shopping! My online store desiredsimplicity.etsy.com has many unique accessories not found in local stores. So give it a simple try...accessorize!



https://www.etsy.com/listing/116245259/vintage-vera-acetate-scarf-free-shipping

https://www.etsy.com/listing/118603510/vintage-70s-black-suede-belt-with-large

 



https://www.etsy.com/listing/104505673/vintage-rhinestone-cluster-necklace





https://www.etsy.com/listing/116013684/vintage-80s-brown-lucite-hair-barrette

Curl your hair for the holidays!

The holidays are so full of stress for us Moms.  Not only do we have to shop for our families on tight budgets but we still have to work, clean the house, make breakfast, lunch, dinner, help out at the school, shop for groceries, wrap those presents, car pool, work a second job to pay for those presents and etc.  Often times with so much to do we tend to neglect one very important person.  That person would be us!  You know the girl that you look at every day in the mirror.

So when I realized I was over stressed and neglected I decided to curl my hair!  This is a luxury that I typically never make time to do for myself.  First I went out and bought myself a $19.99 flat iron from a discount store.  I made sure it was a pink iron because pink just makes me happy.  I also bought some heat protector so I did not fry my hair.  I then watched a girl on U-tube demonstrate how to curl your hair with a flat iron.  With all this info at hand I set to the task and curled my hair.  The result....I had so many compliments from everyone I ran into that day and when I happened to pass a mirror, I did not see that typical ragged girl I used to always see.  

So curl your hair for the holiday and I promise you it will give you some simple happiness to get through the holidays!

Now after you master curling your hair visit my store for some fun hair accessories!

desiredsimplicity.etsy.com

https://www.etsy.com/listing/116245370/sale-vintage-silk-chiffon-long-scarf

Winter break art project scrabble letter coasters

During the holidays my family is always looking for unique crafts to do together.  When I came across some scrabble letter coasters I knew this craft would be fun, educational, and great to give as a gift.

First you need to find some scrabble letters.  You can find them in lots of 100 or more on Etsy or ebay.  I spent about $24 for 196 tiles.

Next you need cork.  I bought mine at the craft store in a roll.  I used a 50% off coupon so it cost me $3.  I did buy my cork in a roll and if I were to do it over I would have bought it packaged flat.  But if you have to buy a roll don't worry it will still work.

Next is the fun part we all sat around the table as a family and choose letters for our own coasters.  We created our coasters just like you would in a scrabble game, making words off of other words.  Each coaster contained 16 tiles.  

I then measured out the coasters and cut the cork according to those measurements.  

The last step is to glue the coasters.  We used a hot glue gun.  Other sites use some major glue that I did not feel comfortable exposing my family to.  If you are looking for durability that may be the direction you want to go.  Our intent its for fun and if our method lasts a month we will be happy with that!  

Hot glue the cork for the first letter starting in the upper left hand corner.  Apply enough glue for one letter tile.  The next letter will require you to apply glue to the cork next to the first tile and then a small amount on the side of the first tile.  Then place the second tile firmly against that first tile.  You need to be precise in your placement because the tile will stick to that cork and tear the cork if you try to remove it...I speak from experience!  Continue gluing all the tiles in this manner till you are finished.  Remember to not only glue the tiles to the cork but also to each other.  

At this point I completed my project.  Other sites will put some type of clear coat on the coasters but that is just not my style.  Like I said before we did this project more for fun than durability.  And so far they are holding up just fine!

If you are not into making coaster but love the look then Etsy has some very crafty sellers who have listed beautiful, durable scrabble letter coasters.

desiredsimplicity.etsy.com

Reading with your teen not to your teen

If your child is to old to read to then try reading with them!  It all started when my teen raved about a book and insisted I read it.  I believe it was Hunger Games.  So I ordered the book from the library and started reading. The result was we had something to talk about!  Can you imagine that...real conversation with my teen!  He would ask, have you got to this point yet, what did you think when that happened, what page are you on.....etc.  We read the whole series like this and I have to say it was one of the many best moments in my life.  Give it a try and see how wonderful this simple idea is.

Below are some great gifts to make reading that much more special!

Vintage kangaroo clip for paper or reading

https://www.etsy.com/listing/103242487/vintage-kangaroo-gold-tone-paper-clip

Vintage Brighton heart bookmark

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111954808/vintage-brighton-heart-bookmark

desiredsimplicity.etsy.com

Puzzle time is family time

The holidays can be so overwhelming and crazy.  Not simple times at all.  I often find myself so focused on getting prepared for that big family day and in the process all the days leading up to that big day are wasted.  So lets slow down and focus on family time now in the present.  I myself  plan on finding one thing to do each day with my family that will help us all enjoy each other.  The following is my first idea to slow things down.

Puzzle time is family time!

Now if your family is like mine they will all say we don't like puzzles.  Don't let that stop you!  Just get out a folding table and set out the pieces.  I promise if you start building it they will come!  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/95012882/vintage-mini-jigsaw-puzzle
You can find this puzzle in my store desiredsimplicity.etsy.com


desiredsimplicity.etsy.com