There's nothing you can't do.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

An Easy Gift For Your Man

It's always hard to find a good gift for a man - all the men in my life buy something the minute they want it. My husband was in need of a small box to place the items from his pockets at the end of each day, though, and I was lucky enough to find this pretty wooden box at a local thrift store.



It was in great shape but had a couple of nicks and scratches in the wood. I wish I'd taken a before picture, so you could see how easy those were to fix using Restor-a-finish by Howard. 


I can't say enough good things about this stuff - it rocks. I use it for any real wood - on our bedroom furniture, dining room table, wooden trim on the stairs...it really just works great, with no sanding or refinishing. 
I cleaned up the inside of the box using a lint roller, and I added a photo of my daughter and me to the little indented spot in the lid, for a personal touch.


We gave it to my husband for his birthday, and it was a big hit!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

How to Give Yourself (and Your Family) a Haircut at Home

Going to the salon is a pricey endeavor in today's world. Even a quick trim of the bangs can set you back more than a little, and a full wash, cut and style can easily run into the triple digits (and that's before tip!). If you're like me, you're looking for ways to reduce household expenses every day, and the easiest way to save money is to not spend it in the first place.

That doesn't mean you have to let your hair completely go, get it trimmed twice a year, or constantly wear a ponytail or cap. It's easy to trim your hair (and your family's) at home with the right tools: the hardest part is getting past the fear to try it the first time. Once you try and and see the results, though, you'll be hooked!

My husband was easy: he doesn't like the thinner spot he is noticing on his crown, so he decided to go from his longer, wavy locks to a short, uniform cut. He initially went short at a barber shop, but once the cut was in place, it became very easy to maintain using this Wahl trimmer. We have been using it for almost two years now, and I have to say, it paid for itself after the first month. It's so easy to use, and it only takes a few minutes every couple of weeks.

My daughter and I were a little harder. Neither of us was particularly interested in the Sinead O'Connor look, so I had to look a bit harder for the right tool for the job. Both of us have thick, medium-length hair, so keep this in mind - what works for us may not work for other hair textures and/or lengths.

After a little bit of online research (I love online reviews - what did we ever do without them?), I found the Seki Edge. Its low price and great reviews convinced me to give it a try, and I have to say that I love it! I have used it on myself and my daughter, and it's so simple to use.

Here are a few pointers I have learned:
-Start with a salon cut you like, that way you can follow the same shape without having to experiment yourself.
-Start with longest setting, and when you get more comfortable, and if you want, work your way up. It's easier to cut more than to realize you've cut too much, then have to wait for it to grow back out.
-Never start at or near crown. Same as the above - you can always move up a little as you go, but if you start to trim near your crown, you'll have a bit of spike going on, whether you want it or not.
-Use a light touch - don't apply a lot of pressure.

And for any styling and cutting tool, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and maintenance. Cleaning and maintaining trimmers and tools will prolong their life and ensure that they remain clean, so take a few minutes after you use them each time to clean them up!

Once you get some confidence and want to try different styles, there are many awesome how-to videos now available online for practically any style. I'm really impressed by the wealth of information that is out there - have fun with it and feel free to experiment - you'll love the results and so will your wallet!


Monday, September 17, 2012

LIT (Little Irritating Things), First in a Series

We all have them...those little things that just irritate us. They aren't necessarily wrong, but they're irritating nonetheless. I'm sure I'll add to this list as I go forward, so consider this first in a series of posts about my Little Irritating Things, or LIT™.

1. When someone uses common words as a phrase, then turns them into an acronym, trying to be cute. It's even worse when he or she throws in a little ™ at the end. 


Okay, okay...seriously, though...


2. When an employee of an organization refers to other employees as "My staff". They aren't yours. You certainly don't own them. But you have told us all we need to know about how you think of them and want to control their every move. And that you're better than they are. You aren't, though.


That's it for today, kids! 

Friday, September 14, 2012

How to Decorate a Purse

I recently came across a fairly plain black messenger-type handbag, and I thought it had promise. I picked it up at a thrift store for $4 and it's in really good condition.


The weave in the front got my attention - I immediately thought it would be fairly easy to dress it up with several different colors of ribbons.


I picked up some pretty ribbon in autumn colors at the local craft store, and pulled out some Quick Grip Glue (this stuff really does work great on everything!).


I decided that I didn't want to weave ribbon into each spot of the purse - I wanted to leave some areas black. For the areas I wanted to fill, I cut the ribbon about an inch longer than I would need on each size (so 2 inches longer total). I then wove the ribbon into the front of the purse, following the pattern that was already there.


I placed a little dab of glue at the outer edges of each piece of ribbon to hold it in place, and that's it!

The best part is that when I get tired of these colors, I can replace the ribbon with new colors.


Obviously, this method won't work for many purses, but hopefully it will inspire you and give you a some new ideas!