saturday style mix - graphic tee + collared shirt

Hey friends and welcome to my new Saturday Style Mix series! This isn't going to be a weekly series, just more of an every now and again deal. You all know I'm no fashionista. If I was lucky enough to find an extra $50 in my couch cushions (wishful thinking much?), I'd definitely spend it on something for my home to wear over something for me to wear - no question. That being said, I do wear clothes every day. My goal as a mom who blogs from home is to only wear yoga pants on days when I'm actually going to a yoga class, even though my work dress code is pretty lenient. ;) Because I'd rather put my money into house projects and home decor instead of my wardrobe I try to mix things up creating new looks with articles of clothing I already own. I believe in good basics and a good bargain. And I think if you're willing to play around a bit, maybe take a fashion risk or two, you can create countless different looks with just a few pieces.

These Saturday Style Mix posts aren't intended to make you feel like you need to go out and buy something new, but rather to hopefully inspire you to try something new with the clothes you already have. And if you're only visiting Our Fifth House for the home stuff, no worries, like I said this is not turning into a fashion blog. This is just a fun new every-now-and-again on a Saturday series. Sound good? Okay, let's dive in then shall we?

I love a good t-shirt, especially a good graphic tee. Casual, comfy go-with-everything t's are my jam. However, I also love a traditional buttoned down collared shirt. I dig classics. Since winter here in Kentucky won't allow me to wear a short sleeve tee alone, I layer pairing my two favs together. What do you think? Would you layer a graphic short sleeve tee over a classic collared shirt?

{sunglasses - persol - ebay find, bracelet - local shop Street Scene, graphic tee -Old Navy last fall, polka dot shirt, jeans - on sale!}

I think it's a fun combo that helps to keep my t-shirts in the rotation even during the colder months. It's especially fun when paired with a patterned shirt as the short sleeves really show off the pattern.

Do you like graphic tees? Here are a few favs.

*affiliate links used

Only 395 houses for sale in Dublin at key €220K threshold

Following the publication of new lending rules by the Central Bank earlier this week, leading property website MyHome.ie has called on the Government to address the lack of supply in Dublin. MyHome.ie lists every property for sale in Dublin and the latest figures from the website show that there are just 395 houses for sale…

The post Only 395 houses for sale in Dublin at key €220K threshold appeared first on MyHome.ie Advice & Blog.

high five it's friday

Hey hey friends and happy Friday! I'm looking forward to the weekend even though I'll be waking up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to get my son to his indoor soccer practice.........the things we do for our kids. Let's hope an early Saturday wake-up call will make for a productive day! It'll probably just mean an early bedtime. Ha!

Let's jump right into the Friday five!

1. I shared this photo on Instagram recently and a bunch of you all asked about the app I used to create the blur in the photo.

I used the Big Lens app. It's easy to use and great for blocking out the noise you don't want cluttering up your photo. It's worth every bit of $.99.

{Outfit deets: Little Girlfriend: vest - RL outlet, dress (on sale), leggings - Target, boots Me: coat (similar), dress -Jcrew couple years ago, necklace, travel mug}

2. I'm slightly obsessed with these initial crewneck sweatshirts from Kate Spade Saturday, but $95 for a sweatshirt seems a little ridic to me. I'm thinking this would be an easy diy............so stay tuned.

3. For my paleo peeps, if you don't already have this cookbook, Every Last Crumb, from Brittney Angell you need to get it like yesterday!

The recipes in this book are legit! I'm talking waffles, biscuits and cinnamon rolls! It's like paleo food heaven; but honestly, it's not all sweets. There are some good meal recipes in it too. I made the clam chowder recipe switching the clams for crabs and oysters, and oh my word was it delish!

I might make it again this weekend!

4.Speaking of cookbooks, this week's quick tip makes finding my favorite recipes a breeze. You can use a label maker to make your own tabs or just buy them at your local office supply store.

5. Last but not least, Valentine's Day is coming soon and this is what I'm planning to get my guy.

We don't do extravagant gifts for Valentine's Day; and we aren't the lovey-dovey type. We're more of the sarcastic shut-your-mouth-when-you're-talking-to-me type, so this is basically the perfect gift. ;) I might fill it with some chocolates.....you know a little sweet with a little sass. Ha! What are you all planning to give your Valentine?

Have a great weekend peeps! I'm starting a new series tomorrow, and I'd love for you to stop by to check it out!

*affiliate links used

MyHome’s Aideen Ennis discusses new rules on mortgage lending

The Central Bank’s new rules on mortgage lending have been very much in the news this week and yesterday MyHome.ie’s Sales Manager Aideen Ennis was on the 5.30 news on TV3 to discuss the matter. Aideen spoke about the possible impact the new rules would have on the rental market and how they could put…

The post MyHome’s Aideen Ennis discusses new rules on mortgage lending appeared first on MyHome.ie Advice & Blog.

Back on track

Thanks so much for sharing in our Annie happiness everyone!  I had such a good day reading all of your sweet  comments.  I had such a good week actually.  It felt wonderful being back in our routine.  I printed the girls’ chore charts to help get them back on track and scrubbed our house from […]

The post Back on track appeared first on The Sunny Side Up Blog.

UHeart Organizing: Organized Camera Gear

This week I am thrilled to introduce you to another set of contributor newbies.  And yep, you read that correctly.  I did type out set.  As in the perfect duo of DIY gal pals.  Say hello to Bridget and Casey, the fabulous blogging pair behind The DIY Playbook.

Bridget and Casey's projects have been spotted multiple times here on iHeart, so it was only natural for them to join the team!  I love their energy, style and passion for home blogging.  Which includes sharing organizational tips!  I especially appreciated their recent post on staying organized in a small home.

They are hear today to share their tips for organizing their photography equipment.  And I spy the cutest camera bag around... here they are now!

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We are definite photography rookies and are totally learning as we go, usually having little to no clue what we're actually doing, but we really do enjoy the photography part of blogging. Taking photos for the blog is a challenge (to say the least); it’s actually a lot of work (way more than we ever anticipated), but we really LOVE it and we love chasing that “perfect” shot. However, the one thing we do NOT love about our photo adventures is the disorganized MESS that our photography stuff usually is. We are here to help guide you in finally organizing all of those camera trinkets so you can stop worrying about finding that you need and start focusing on getting that perfect shot!

To begin, I dumped out the contents of my previous camera storage and was surprised at some of the stuff I found that I had no idea I still had! Look at this mess.... cords, USBs, lens caps, batteries, extra batteries, the charger, the camera's receipt, business cards, the camera manual, a warranty... why can't I ever seem to find these treasures when I need them?! Although I was glad I finally found some of these valuable items, I realized that I did not need to lug all of these camera accessories around with me as I traveled with my camera.

The first thing I did was sorted these accessories into two piles. One pile consisted of the items that I needed to store in my new camera bag because they were essentials in day-to-day photography. The next pile was all of the stuff that was important but was not necessary to carry around on an everyday basis (like the receipts, software, warranties, etc).

Sorting these items immediately cut down on the clutter and made organizing my camera accessories a lot more manageable. The extra "stuff" that I didn't need to carry around with me went in a a labeled box that I put in my desk. Now, all I had to do was organize the remaining photography essentials in a way that I could quickly grab 'em & go!

The items I found worth keeping organized and being stored within my camera bag are:

• Lens - Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens
• Battery Charger and spare battery
• External Hard-drive
• USB cord
• Business Cards

That's where an effective camera bag came into the picture. I received this camera bag for Christmas (I actually added it to my Christmas list after Jen recommended it here on iHeart Organizing!). This one has plenty of storage and stays organized because it offers such specific compartments and zippered pouches- but any bag with lots of compartments will do the trick!

Each item that was left in my pile was given a specific place in the camera bag to call "home". Giving each camera essential a specific place to live will help me keep the bag organized.... even when I'm in a rush!

Within the bag, I kept the USB cord in its own compartment so that it won't get tangled with other items in the bag. However, if you have more than one cord in any of the compartments or if you want to keep those cords from knotting and becoming a hot-mess, we highly recommend this easy, super affordable method. Cord + Clothes Pin = Cords will never tangle again... we promise!

Compartments are key when organizing your camera bag (or really any bag for that matter!). The thing we love about this specific bag is that the compartment size is up to you and can be easily changed as your camera needs change. With these velcro inserts, you are able to create the size/amount of compartments that fit your priorities. The bag came with three velcro inserts, I ended up only needing two, which created three equal parts in the bag. The neatly separated three-part space allowed me to store while also identifying exactly where everything should return to after being used. Now if we could figure out how to do this with our purses!

But my work was not done just yet. Usually when I take my camera bag out and about, I hate to have to lug around a purse too. ....Holy bag lady! Because I still had some unused compartments in my bag, I was able to consolidate a few of my purse must-haves into the camera bag's extra compartments. I add my wallet and a few snacks into the bag because hangry isn't a good look on anyone.

Now, my super organized camera also doubles as my purse and I only have to worry about one bag on my way out. #winwin

Since my camera accessories are now finally consolidated and organized, I can stop worrying about finding my equipment and start focusing on getting some beautiful shots.

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"Hey There! We're Bridget and Casey, the best friends, Chicago gals, and editors behind The DIY Playbook. Even though we consider ourselves busy girls with full-time jobs, husbands, and never ending to-do lists, we believe there is always time to add personality to our homes. On our blog, we strive to inspire our readers to inject their sparkling personalities into their own spaces with affordable and attainable solutions. We heart Instagram, can't turn down a cup of coffee, have no clue what we're doing in the kitchen, and are beyond excited to be part of the IHeart Organizing team!"

Fears over level of debt owed by young households

Fears are being expressed for the level of debt held by young households in Ireland. New figures have been published on the wealth of Irish households for the first time in about 20 years. 57% have some form of debt – with €1,000 euro the mid-point owed on overdrafts – and €1,400 on credit cards.…

The post Fears over level of debt owed by young households appeared first on MyHome.ie Advice & Blog.

Annie

Hello everyone! I’m back. Fell off the social media planet for a bit.  We have had quite a month!  I know most of you come here for organizing/home decor, etc. so I’m giving you a pre warning that today’s ramblings are more of a personal/family post.  I need this recorded in my blog books!  I […]

The post Annie appeared first on The Sunny Side Up Blog.

Reader Space: A Clean & Simple Coat Closet

Today's reader space is the story of how less is more!  Sweet and simple coat closet storage at its finest!

I have been checking in on Deme's blog, House for Five, for a few years now.  I love her style and approach to working on her home.  In fact, she has made quite a few appearances around here over the years as well.

What struck me about today's coat closet project, is that her before image looked just like a hundred other entryway closets I have seen.  Underutilized.

Right?

Another thing I loved is that with some very simple updates, she was able to make a HUGE difference in how her family utilized the closet.  Here she is now to talk about how a little rethinking got her a long way! 


Any superstar tips for keeping your entryway closet organized?

"Take the time to build new habits. The kids were used to tossing their stuff onto a pile and going along their merry way. It took awhile to teach everyone to use the new system, but after a few days and consistent reminders it was like second nature.

The other key for us has been to keep evaluating and tweaking. We had a pretty solid plan going into this project, but once it was all set up we found that all the smaller winter items like mittens, scarves and hats were still littered all over the closet floor. The simple addition of some wire baskets quickly solved the problem. We also have to give it a regular purge and return any rogue sweatshirts and ball caps to the bedroom closets."

What items did you find were essential when organizing this space and why?

"Hooks, hooks, and more hooks. The biggest issue with the closet's old layout was the single rod for hanging clothes that was beyond the reach of our little ones. Anyone who couldn't reach a hanger just chucked their gear onto the growing mountain of the closet floor. It's amazing how effective the addition of a second row of hooks at kid level has been for us. The kids have plenty of room to hang their coats and bags, and they don't need our help to take care of their belongings.

The lidded boxes on the top shelf were also a game changer. One holds off-season clothing items, another holds on-the-go items like sunscreen and various refills for the car (wipes, hand sanitizer, etc.), and the third holds some of our most frequently used tools (tape measure, level, hammer, etc.). Having these items contained but accessible has been fantastic." 

What did you do to go the extra mile and "make it pretty"?

"Originally I had grand visions of wallpaper or a bold wall treatment for this space, but I realized our gear had plenty of color and pattern on its own and didn't want anything too distracting. So, we carried the same wall color that's in the rest of our entry and living space (Irish Mist by Behr) onto the closet walls. We gave the trim a fresh coat of crisp white paint, and we left that lovely natural stained wood shelf for some warmth. I shopped the house for storage items and containers that were easy on the eyes and in the end we ended up with a great mix of open and concealed storage."


What items did you DIY to stay on budget?

"This was a pretty simple DIY project that's easily doable in a weekend. All it took was some minor demo, a little patching and painting, and few pieces of trim. All things my husband and I knocked out together."

How has this project impacted your life for the better?

"This small corner does a big job for our family. Before we could never find what we needed and there was a lot of frantic scrambling as we tried to get everyone out the door. Important things were lost in the abyss and there was a lot of junk taking up precious space. Clearing out this closet and a few minor changes to make this space actually work for our family's needs has made all the difference in (mostly) smooth goings and comings from our home."

How about a side by side view?

I have always been a lover of hooks.  In fact, I have rails of them all over our home.  They are especially fabulous when kiddos are involved.  It is so much easier for them to hang items on hooks.  Use them in the entryway, their bedrooms and even for their towels in the bathroom.  You will be glad you did.

And I am sure Deme is glad that she did!  Her closet looks so much bigger!  I guess a cleaned out space will do that.  But a few other items stuck out to me as well:
 

• Adding matching boxes creates a whole new visual impact to the closet.  Not only is the clutter concealed, but things will be much easier to find in the future.
• Deme painted out the closet so it would flow seamlessly with her home.  It is always a giant win to paint your closets.   I mean it, the odds are in your favor, you really can't lose.
• Deme added trays to protect those floors!  Smart move because winter is gross.
• By removing the closet doors, her entrance most likely feels much more grand!  Another reason why I love to do this?  Removing doors holds everyone so much more accountable to take care of the area.  Now if someone were to toss something on the floor, it will get seen much quicker!
• As much as I love a pretty wall treatment or fancy wallpaper, I think it is great that this project really came down to removing doors, painting, and installing hooks.  Visually, Deme was right that less is ultimately more!
• Those little hat and mitten baskets!  So, so cuuuute!  And practical, but did you see how cute they are?
• Her family can easily maintain the new space, and their days are now running smoother!  That is always my favorite part!

You can read the entire story behind the coat closet transformation over on Deme's blog here.  A huge iHeart thank you goes out to her for sharing a sweet and simple transformation that anyone can feel confident taking on!  It is posts like these that make me side eye my own closets!

*  All images courtesy of House For Five

 

ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life, big or small.  They can be anything from an organized drawer or cabinet to an entire room.  Please submit your story and photos to iheartreaderspace@gmail.com, and I would heart to feature them right here on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and unedited.  Please include a description of the project and how it has changed your life or routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!

Furniture Remix: Vanity to Nightstands

I’m a little embarrassed about how long I’ve been away from the blog lately. It’s not that I’ve fallen out of love with all things DIY, it’s just that I have a few too many irons in the fire (classic). I have a lot on my plate and projects sort of take a back seat […]

Mixed reaction to Central Bank rules on mortgage lending

There has been a mixed reaction to the new Central Bank rules on mortgage lending. Prospective home-buyers will have to save bigger deposits under the regulations. Banks will only be able to lend up to a maximum of 80% of a property’s value for most owner-occupiers. However, they will be able to lend up to 90% of…

The post Mixed reaction to Central Bank rules on mortgage lending appeared first on MyHome.ie Advice & Blog.

leo bedding for my little lady

Y'all know how much I love me some leopard.  Like seriously, love leopard.  Well......apparently.......leopard love is inherited because this past weekend my daughter flipped her lid when she saw this leo comforter at Kohls, and obviously I couldn't refuse! 

Kohl's isn't really in my regular rotation, but when I stopped in a few days ago I was pretty impressed with their home department.  If I'm being totally honest I really only decided to go there because I wanted to check out Lauren Conrad's clothing line.  Don't judge me people.  Sometimes it's really cute. Anyhow, I didn't come home with any new clothes, but my little lady did convince me that she needed this leo comforter.  Not that I needed too much convincing.  

I think she's been feeling a little left out since her brother is getting a full room makeover, so I figured a little bedding update would be a good idea.  This leo comforter is so much better in person.  It's really soft and satin-y, and little girlfriend said she thought it was "quite luxurious".  Didn't even know she knew that word!  

I'm not going to lie, I loved how excited she got when she saw this bedding on the shelf.  She literally gasped.  Cutest. thing. ever.  It may seem silly, but it's fun to share similar interests with your kids.   Maybe someday she'll be a designer, and I can be her assistant.  

Her room is such a happy place.  While I had no intentions of making any changes to her room.......this may end up being a little if you give a pig a pancake story........so stay tuned.  It's always something right?!

Have you been into Kohl's lately?  They also have these gorgeous leopard sheets, and right now they're buy one get one 50% off!

For deets on her gold polka dot ceiling click here. 

*affiliate links used

IHeart Organizing is on Joss & Main!

Well friends!  Today is a big, BIG day for this gal!  I was recently invited to partner up with one of my most favorite online retailers, to curate a collection of some of my most favorite items! 

Joss & Main is a daily flash sale site, which requires a free membership to check out their steals and deals, sometimes up to 70% off retail prices!  And once you are in, you are IN!  What I love most is that they bring new items each day, so the variety is always endless.  They provide instant access to home decor, jewelry, travel gear and household products that would be otherwise challenging to track down, allowing you to create a home that has a unique and collected over time feeling. 

I recently updated my home tour, and many of my favorite items were sourced from Joss & Main.  So of course when they asked me to partner with them on a collection that was built to represent my personal style, I was over the moon thrilled!

Working with them is always a dream!  I was able to select items from their site that I use in my home, or have on my current wish list, and they built the iHeart Organizing collection from there.  Storage, furnishings, accessories and more storage galore!  So good!

Because this is a flash sale, it will be over in a flash (ending next Tuesday morning)!  So if you are interested in seeing my collection, and maybe even doing a little shopping, you can sign up and check it out here.  You can also check out my guest post on their blog here.

Thank you to you all for your continuous support of iHeart Organizing and my partnerships!  Smooches pals!

Quick Tip Tuesday: Organized Bill Box!

Although it can be considered one of my least favorite times of the month, bill paying is a household chore we just can’t avoid. We all have bills of some sort; mortgages, utilities, medical, insurance… And missing those bills or paying them late translates to high fees and sad faces.

My husband and I share the bill paying process, and the last few years we have been using a budget binder to manage our incoming papers and track our finances. However, as much as I loved it, over time, my husband found it too much to maintain. He wasn’t a fan of hunting down a three-hole punch to manage our paperwork twice a month. We also found that we were always gathering items from around the house when we finally would sit down and get to work.  Therefore, we decided to revisit our system this year and I thought I would share our alternative solution to the binder, as I am guessing my husband is not the only one who is not a fan of that setup.

Update: We do pay majority of our re-occurring bills online with auto-withdrawal, this process is how we manage our twice a month check in, reconsile our accounts and be sure to pay in any random bills that come up.

I searched high and low for some sort of bill paying caddy that would also fit document sized folders, but came up short. In the end, I knew I needed something super simple for us to access. No punching, no digging… I landed on a lidded file box from the Container Store. We have used file boxes in the past, even to hold all of our files at one point in time, and have always loved their portability factor.

This file box is basically a temporary holding spot until papers can either be shredded or filed away more permanently in our filing cabinet (seen here).  I know this system is not for everyone; some may have a process for sorting, managing and filing right at their desk. However, based on our routine, this is what we have found works best for us.

We determined which categories we prefer to manage throughout the course of a month. They are:

• To Pay: All mail that comes in that requires review and payment.
• Paid: Where the statement is transferred to after the payment is made. These stay in the folder for a few months until payment is confirmed and they can be shredded or filed away for good.
• To Do: Where mail and papers live that require action (i.e. call insurance rep, schedule auto maintenance, activate check card, etc…)
• Receipts: Any receipts that require review while reconciling our checking account.
• Taxes: Important papers that we receive throughout the year we need to keep at hand until tax time.

I purchased the file folders at Office Max, and used my label maker paired with clear tape and gold lettering.

Inside of the To Pay folder, I clipped in our Finance Checklist, which allows us to track all bills paid throughout the month and track payments over the course of the entire year.

All of the folders were placed within hanging files inside of the file box, and are easy to find and sort as mail comes in throughout the month.

We pay our bills in advance; on the first and fifteenth of each month. With this update, I also wanted to ensure all of our essentials were also located within the file box.

Things we always find ourselves reaching for on bill day:
 

• Notepad
• Checkbook
• Clips
• Pens/Pencils
• Envelopes
• Stamps
• Letter Opener

There are many ways you could add these items to your bill box. You could use a pouch or a hanging file box. I opted to dig into my inner creative and purchased an acrylic shadow box from Michaels for around $4.

I was hoping that the frame would have an acrylic front and back, but unfortunately, it was just the front. The insert for the frame was a hollow cardboard box.

Using a box cutter, I sliced off the top of the box. I then used tape to reinforce the corners, and covered the entire box in leftover marble contact paper.

I tossed in my essential items, and added the lid. Boom! Pretty bill paying supply box, which tucks away nicely inside of our new file box.

The file box is stored on a shelf in my studio for now, however, I see it landing near our entryway in the future and taking over for one of our wall pockets. And we love that the system is portable because we tend to do our bill paying in different areas of our home.

Another organizing kit, another 15 minutes invested to save oodles of time down the road, and another easy peasy sanity saving solution to a mundane task.