Favorite Things: Rowenta Iron

This isn't the most luxurious gift but I'm a practical person and I'm sharing with you things I've tried, don't break in a few months, and waste my money. While I hate to iron, this beauty is a valueable item. I've never know what the phrase "scorch" means when using a Rowenta. Never once have I ruined a pair of pants or a nice dress because of this iron...never. I don't know what it is with their technology but it's great. It's not that it doesn't get very hot, because it can, it's something more--beyond my explanation. The iron heats up in less than a minute, and irons beautifully without the drippy steam most make. Rowenta irons are the only irons I use and last forever.
This Would Be an Idea Gift For: Anyone but a college boy (they don't iron their clothes). Anyone and everyone who owns nice clothes, and would like to keep them looking nice.

Cost: $89.99 don't forget to look for your 20% off coupon in the mail and use it on this for a steal!

Vacuum Dilemma

I'm getting antsy to buy a new vacuum. Ours is still sucking but I'm not sure it's really keeping the house clean. Plus I have allergies and a dog, so I need something that works.

What vacuum do you have? Do you love it? Recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Adorable Baby Dress!!

Here is a little baby dress I made for my friend who is due in September. I bought the pattern from Leila and Ben on Etsy. Such a cute pattern, I couldn't resist! Sorry I took so many pics, it was too cute!I just love the colors....

I hung it from my chandelier...

If anyone knows of any other fun and easy patterns, sites for patterns that are unique or anything of the like--let me know. Have a good weekend!!

Blazing Cars and Pantries

So I've really been dragging my feet in posting a few other tid bits about my trip home to Phoenix a couple weeks ago. They are obviously not in chronological order...I'm a Journalism major--I lead with the good stuff!!

On the way to the airport, my mom and I drive past this vehicle bursting with flames! I don't think anyone was hurt since a few people were standing along the freeway 50 yards away... I'm guessing it was their vehicle. While I was home I did a little cleaning and organizing for my mom. Check out her post on my fabulous organizing skills.

I just love an organized pantry. Now if I only had the energy to do it to mine!

Cleaners and Love

My house may not always be spotless but I do love the house to be that way. I just sometimes don't have the time to do so. I was down and out when I went to the store a few months ago looking for my favorite cleaner and everywhere I went they were out! That was until I saw it sitting on the shelf at the grocery store the other day. I just about screamed in excitement. So in leu of the season "Spring Cleaning", I thought I'd start by suggesting some of my favorite cleaners:
I just love this kitchen soap. I couldn't find it online so I guess you'd have to go into the store and get it. The aroma is so clean and wonderful, I just love how the kitchen smells after doing dishes!

I absolutely hate cleaning the shower and this stuff works great. I usually just clean the shower once a month or so by hand to give it a little help.

Last but certainly not least. This is the cleaner I was so excited to find came back! If you have a chance to try this, please do. It really cleans without a lot of elbow grease and leaves the sinks and bathroom super nice. I use it to clean the shower and in the sinks to remove soap scum and makeup.

If you'd like, you could share your favorite cleaner too!

P.S. Did someone give me a blog award recently? I can't find the post anywhere and I feel really bad! :-(

Cleaning out the Purse

Ladies, it's that time to clean out your purses again. Time to get rid of all that scratch paper of Christmas lists and addresses of parties to attend. Plus it's a great time to get out a new style of purse for the New Year. I've been using my LV for too long (since my mom gave it to me in September). I'm going back to a long time favorite...my Kate Spade.

First things first:
1. Take everything out of your purse.
2. Start the sorting process (take out all 5 lip glosses, you know you only use two of them everyday anyway). Sort things into three piles: things to put in your new purse, things to throw away, and things to put back in their place somewhere in the home (i.e. unused lip glosses go in with the rest of your makeup).
3. Think of how you'd like to organize your purse. My mom got me this great purse organizer as a gift a few year back. It's a great help on prioritizing what's a keeper and what's not. Unfortunately it doesn't work in all purses because of it's size. I believe it's called Purse Brite. So I place everything I need in the organizer, place it in my new purse and put my big items like my wallet in the middle.

Bathroom Organization

This was everything in my top drawer before I cleaned it out the other day! I just couldn't stand it anymore, so I took matters into my own hands...

I unloaded EVERYTHING.

Then I cleaned the drawer and tadaaaaa! All done! Now lets see how long it stays like this.

Christmas Candle Centerpiece

**Thank you everyone for the "Get Well" comments, I'm 99% recovered!!


I like to build my Christmas decorations a little bit every year. While shopping at The Limited this weekend, I stumbled across this wonderful candle and thought it had so much potential, not to mention a decadent scent! The way it was displayed in the store was just so elegant, like something in a model home aimed at affluent home buyers. A simple candle floating on a bed of sand in a giant contemporary, straight-walled hurricane.

After purchasing the candle, the hunt for a very similar look for my own candle centerpiece was in full force! The search was called off only after losing my patience with other holiday shoppers impatient attitudes or laggard pace maneuvering through the parking lot...how do they always seem to be right in front of me.

I settled on this pedestal hurricane at Wal-Mart (**suggestion: avoid this place like the plague until January 15th if you are uncomfortable with putting a hot poker in your eye in public because it will be hard to resist). I originally had my stylish heart set on a round simple hurricane similar to this but without a pedestal like the one in The Limited. We'll see how long I keep this.

I thought I'd share some photos of the centerpiece. My ribbon is too small and that will be changed when I can locate my holiday ribbon (I'm thinking I have some argyle somewhere...)


Isn't my plaid Mac cute!! I bought a "skin" for it and also have a cover on it, FYI. It's sooo cute and it's new and I love it.

So Much to Do!

I just had to come down with some sort of cold didn't I? I ended up calling in to work on Black Friday! Even more of a bummer was I didn't get to go shopping at all. I still haven't left the house (well only to go through the drive-through for food tonight). I've been at home in my "jammies" (it's what my dad always refers to them as). I feel I'm starting to get over this cold thing but I've got to get cleaning my house! I have this constant obsession with cleaning. I feel like there's always something hanging over my head unless the house is immaculate. So with only one day of my weekend not totally consumed by my bad cold I've got quite the "To Do" list.

- clean up the kitchen
- dust and vacuum
- wash bed sheets
- iron
- clean bathrooms
- laundry
- order our Christmas cards and finalize our list (I'll post about that later)

**If I'm ambitious enough, I'll clean up my craft area downstairs in the basement, but I'm no Katie (God love that ambitious girl!!)