Hotel Goodies

Now that vacation season is upon us (summer officially arrived yesterday!) I'm sure some of you will be spending at least a night or two in the comforts of a hotel or better yet, resort. I just wanted to remind you of one important thing to do before you check out: Stock up on hotel goodies!

You know those mini shampoo and conditioner bottles, tiny soap bars, and boxed shower caps? You might never use them in the hotel because you packed your toiletries in a zip lock bag... but bring them home with you. Next time you have company, set them on the bathroom counter to make your guests feel like they're on vacation.

Last week I picked up a rectangular white tray for $4 at Home Goods. Now my guests know just where to look when they realize they forgot lotion. Simple to do and looks nice on the bathroom counter top.

Make a Donation

The other day I posted an article about spring cleaning... which is a great segue to my latest topic of conversation. More spring cleaning!

I for one am a huge fan of organizing and down sizing... it is the best kind of clean. And one of the best places to do both of those things is in the closet. While swapping out your winter wardrobe for spring/summer clothing, take some extra time to look for items you can donate. Everyone has clothes they keep and never wear so ask yourself this question: "if I saw this today in a store would I buy it?" If the answer is no, put it in the donate pile, chances are if you wouldn't buy it... you won't wear it either.

Once you've filled a few shopping bags decide on an organization to bring your donations. Or you can have them come to you. I regularly request pick ups from the Military Order of the Purple Heart. They are a congressionally chartered veteran's service organization and will accept donations of many kinds from clothing to electronics. They'll even schedule a pick up day with you and send a truck to collect your donation... how much easier could it be?

Last time I cleaned the closet Jared even joined in and between the two of us we must have donated eight large shopping bags of clothing. Most of it was really nice clothing that we just don't wear anymore (or in my case, all of my old shirts that were super short... exposed belly, not so much).

If scheduling a pickup isn't your thing, try looking for drop boxes in your area. Salvation Army has these set up in various parking lots and accepts shoes and clothing. It can simply be an extra stop on your way to the grocery store.

Another organization I have found success with is Habitat for Humanity. They will collect larger items like furniture. I discovered that some places do not accept furniture anymore but Habitat will gladly send a truck to pick up most pieces for their ReStores, which are retails stores that sell anything from furniture to appliances. Last week I had them pick up the "monster"/TV armoire that I have been itching to ditch for months. It's finally gone and we are on our way to redecorating our room off of the kitchen.

One last place I'll mention for taking donations (or recylcing old stuff) is Home Depot. Last time I was at HD I noticed a tall drop orange box near the entrance. These boxes are for two things; recycling old electronics like cell phones, and disposing of CFL bulbs (energy saving light bulbs should not be thrown out with household trash as they can release harmful toxins into landfills.) Technically this isn't really considered "donating" but it is helping the environment and if you're cleaning out closets you are bound to find stuff that needs to find a new home.

Don't forget to ask for a receipt after you make a donation. Save it in a folder for tax purposes next year. You'd be surprised how much you get back for donations. Helping yourself and helping others... it's a wonderful thing.

Furniture Upholstery

I have a set of armchairs that are in serious need of an update:

They were a donation from my parents when we bought our house and while the pink and blue plaid was trendy in the 90's, it sure is killin' me now! I'd love to replace them but they are so comfy and were hardly used until we inherited them two years ago. Other than the upholstery and then skirted bottoms, I actually do love them!

My sweet little mom had matching pillows made for each chair; one of the pillows even matched their old bedspread (oh la la):

When it comes to the update, I think I have two options:

1.) Something New! - I would love to buy two new upholstered chairs with more modern lines than my current plaid chairs. I've had my eye on the Arlington Armchair from Pottery Barn, the tapered wood legs will give the illusion of more space in the room. It seems that the typical price for this type of chair (whether from PB or another furniture retailer) is between $600 and $1,000 per chair. I love the "Chunky Herringbone" fabric:

2.) Something Old! - Since these two chairs are practically new, I feel really wasteful replacing them with something new. Another option would be to reupholster them with a neutral fabric and pairing them with a set of throw pillows for a punch of color. So, I've done some research and here's what I uncovered:

• Option A: The first option is to have the chairs reupholstered by an upholsterer. I did some shopping around and found that prices for these types of chairs range from $600 to $1,100 per chair. That price includes fabric, labor, and in most cases adding new cotton batting over the existing cushions. This option would allow me to choose the exact type of fabric for my furniture and save the time it takes to wait for new pieces to be delivered.
  

• Option B: The second option is to have the upholsterer create custom slipcovers for each of the chairs. I was able to see an example of this at one of the fabric stores I visited and I could hardly tell it was a slipcover. The fit was nearly perfect. And the benefit of a slipcover is the ability to remove and clean it in the case of a mess. Ideal for a home with pets or small children. The prices for slipcovers ranged from $400 to $500 per chair plus the cost of fabric.
  

While both of the upholstery options would improve the look of my room, I just can't justify spending nearly the same amount on old chairs as I would for a new set. So I find myself back at square one. What is a girl to do?

Shh..."Secret" Sale...

Any J. Crew fans out there? I just received an e-mail from my favorite [clothing] retailer about a "private" sale now through Friday.

To get 20% off your order of $175 or more, enter the code "SECRET" at checkout.

Now if I were to participate in this sale, this is what I would want to bring home:

Posie Patent Peep Toe:


Carmen Satin Peep Toe:


Cotton Sateen Gateau Skirt:


Cotton Cashmere Ruffle Cardigan:


Stone Bead Ribbon Necklace:


What would you pick? Do tell!

This Just In...Ballard Designs

At long last I found a Spring 2009 Ballard Designs catalog in my mailbox last weekend and immediately browsed through to check out the new offerings. Ballard hit it out of the park this time; I found several things that I'd like to bring home.



Queen Bee pillow: What else is there to say? It's just a great little accent pillow.



Hampton Braided Jute Rug: I've been waiting for Ballard to come out with a natural jute braided rug. Natural fiber rugs are a favorite in our homes because they are inexpensive and so versatile. (check out some new additions to our dining spaces)


Celia Outdoor Rug: Absolutely love it in Black or Natural.


Dog Bed Cover with Insert: I like it in Sand, and especially like that the cover is machine washable -- a must for any dog owner.


Capiz Mirror: Check out the measurements -- it's 36" x 42"! What a great size.


Elise Linen Panel: Could be to die for in Ebony. I would use smaller scale hardware than shown here, and let the contrast of the panel shine through.

Set of four Channel Stitched Placemats: Cream's my favorite, can be used in most color schemes.

These were my top picks -- did anything else jump out at you guys?

FYI: Z Gallerie Store Closings

Maybe this isn't news to you, but I just discovered that Z Gallerie announced last weekend that they are closing 25 stores. For those of you who live in the Northern Virginia area, head on over to the Tyson's Corner location to get your Z-fix one last time, or just to take advantage of major discounts.

Yesterday I stopped in to check out some window treatments and overheard the store manager talking about a sale. When I asked him for details he clued me into the store closing and said as of now, all regular priced merchandise is 40% off. They haven't been told when exactly the doors will be closing so you still have time to shop.

When will the bad news start getting better? I will continue to support the economy in anyway that I can, but there is only so much shopping one woman can do. And to be honest, I only buy quality items that I absolutely love... maybe businesses should start producing them! And if they smack an honest "Made in America" sticker on the back, they will already have one customer lined up!