My Newly Organized Gift and Craft Closet

I have this little closet under the stairs in my basement.  It's plain and awkwardly shaped but it's one of my favorite places in the house.  The moment we moved in I declared it my gift and craft closet but for months it's been filled with boxes and random items.  Until now.  I finally had enough with the mess and took a couple hours to organize the closet.  It only took a little time and less than $20.

Whether it be a closet, a drawer in a dresser or a box in the attack having an organized space for tissue paper and craft items will save a lot of time, money and frustration over time.

Storage Items:

• Over-the-door Shoe Organizer for bows and ribbon
• Rolling Laundry Cart for wrapping paper, gift bags and boxes
• Old Wicker Shelves for tissue paper
• Rolling Plastic Cart for craft supplies

A shoe organizer works great for storing ribbons and bows.  It's an inexpensive solution (less than $5) and uses door space that would otherwise sit empty. 

This old wicker shelf sat on a dresser in my childhood bedroom ages ago and I've never found a good use for it.  I'm so glad I kept it because it's perfect for this closet.  A large roll of craft paper that I use for everything sits on top.  Tissue paper organized by color lines the shelves.

An inexpensive ($12) three-bin laundry cart organizes the rest of the gift wrap.  Wrapping paper is in one bin, gift bags in another, and boxes in a the third. The cart is on wheels so I can easily take it to a large table in the living room when I have lots of wrapping to do, like at Christmas.

A rolling plastic storage unit I've had for years houses all my nic-nac craft supplies from glue to stencils.  The clear drawers let me see what's inside and labels make sure I put everything back where it belongs.

Favorite New Essentials for Summer Entertaining

My husband and I went to a wine tasting last night--one of our outings to learn our new town.  I discovered a few great things during that date night...

1. When you live in a small-ish town everyone at one event (wine tasting) will ultimately show up at the next event (dinner).
2.  Every town has great shopping gems.
3.  I've been missing out on some great summer entertaining essentials.

I may have window shopped more than I tasted wines. Here are some of my new favorite entertaining goods.

Govino Shatterproof and Plastic Stemless Wine Glasses
These glasses look like real glass and feel great, not like cheap plastic cups. And they have a groove for your finger to comfortably rest in.  I've searched for decent plastic ware when entertaining outside and this is finally it.  Govino Wine Glass Flexible Recyclable Shatterproof (Set of 4)

Le Cadeaux Melamine Dinnerware

Much lighter than my usual stoneware and china, these plates are perfect for summer entertaining. Bright colors. Unbreakable. Perfect for carrying a plate from the kitchen to the patio.  4 Salad Plates Le Cadeaux Melamine Breakproof Verdura Pattern

Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking

This book is gorgeous. Recipes that scream yummy and beautiful photos.  Even if you don't cook just put this book out to make it look like you do, and enjoy pictures.  Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking

Cutesy Kitchen Gear: Measuring Cups

I have a slight obsession with cute kitchen gadgets.  I particularly find myself having a hard time resisting the urge to buy every set of measuring cups I run across that is different from your standard all-clad stainless steel variety (which I also  have of course).  Measuring cups make great gifts and they're inexpensive.  Tie a set of measuring cups or spoons to a box of muffin mix and you've got a great hostess gift any gal would love.  I thought I'd share a few of my favorite finds with you...well, maybe a bit more than a few.  I told you, it's an obsession!

I absolutely love these and lucky me, I got them for Christmas. Thanks Mom!
White Porcelain from World Market

I cant' decide if I actually like this, or if I just find it intriguing.
Regardless, in the right kitchen it could really add to the decor.
Enchanted Buck Cups from Anthropologie

Vintage Longaberger Pottery Measuring Bowl
Measures up to 3 cups and includes ounce marks
Baahurrah Farm Shop on Etsy

Flowering cups.  Cute enough to use as dipping bowls too.
Available at Pier One Imports and other places,
but "other places" are more expensive

Real cups as measuring cups.  Genius.
Also available at Pier One Imports 

These ceramic blue cups include the cup measurement, the ml measurement
and the fl oz measurements.
They're by Nigella Lawson. I swear everything that woman does is beautiful!
Available at CentralChef.com

Absolutely gorgeous! Stunning! Classy! Love! It!
Pewter Measuring Cups with Stand at Cooking.com

Looks like something your grandma may have used.
Vintage Kitchen Copper Measuring Cups
by Cherished Heats on Etsy



If you want to display your measuring cups and have them within reach, like this idea a lot.  Except I'd recommend using small hooks rather than chains so you can just grab and go, and not have to unhook anything.

This print of measurement conversions as awesome! Framed, it would look great in a kitchen AND be super resourceful.  It comes in a variety of colors at Sweet Fine Day on Etsy. 

Cheap Find: Silver Looking Plasticware

If you're hosting any parties this holiday season and don't plan to use real china and silver, these are a great alternative.  Ditch the red and green paper plates and use silver looking platters, plates and cutlery.  You can find them in bulk at Costco for super cheap.  They're made of heavyweight plastic that can be reused or disposed of, but they look a lot nicer than your standard plasticware.

Here's to entertaining with a little more style.

http://mozaikbysabert.com/ 

Pier One Imports -- Surprised and Impressed

Have you shopped in a Pier 1 Imports recently?  I hadn't.  In fact, it had been years since I'd been inside one of the stores until recently.  I was driving passed a Pier 1 Imports the other day and on a whim decided to stop by and see what they had, fully expecting to be unimpressed.  Shame on me!  Turns out I  was inspired.

Pier 1 has redone their store concept and now have huge displays of gifting and entertaining products.  The furniture is still there but it's behind tables filled with barware, kitchen gadgets, holiday decorations, jewelry and handbags. Yes, I said jewelry and handbags.  Yes, at Pier 1. And yep, it's pretty cute stuff.

This is a new go-to place for hostess gifts and party supplies.

There is one thing I found at Pier 1 I especially had to share with y'all -- the Tasting Party Collection.  Pier 1 has designed sets of serving and dish ware specifically for small bites and tasting servings.  From mini martini glasses on a tray to mini trifle bowls, they have everything you need to put together a tasting party or serve individual bite-sized dishes.

Holiday Party season is approaching.  When you're expected to bring a dish to a holiday party take something in one of the tasting collections.  It will surely impress the hostess and her guests.

Hostess Essentials: Quick Clean for Wood Floors

I have a big, black, shedding Labrador (part dog, part teenage boy).  I have a crawling, playing infant. I have guests almost daily.  And I wouldn't have it any other way...except, I also have hardwood floors that attract and hold every hair, crumb and dust particle that enters the atmosphere.   So I also have a quick clean strategy I do daily (sometimes twice daily) to keep the floors, and my sweet baby girl, clean. 

This takes me less than 10 minutes in the main areas of my house,yet saves my sanity every morning:  vacuum, spray, mop. Done!

The essentials:

Hoover Platinum Linx Stick Vac  A good cordless vacuum.  Splurge.  This vacuum will become your new best friend.

Trewax Hardwood Floor Spray Cleaner 32oz Non-Toxic NEW!  An all-natural hardwood floor cleaner.  There are a million out there. This is my latest favorite. 

Bonakemi Hardwood Floor Mop  A hardwood floor mop.

Hoover Platinum Linx Stick Vacuum

It's great on hardwood floors, rugs, carpet...even dog beds. I haven't tried it on the dog, though I've been tempted.

Etiquette: Thank You Notes

Thank You Notes -- oh the dreaded task after you've been celebrated.  You're swimming in tissue paper and ribbon, day dreaming of where you'll put all your new goods. And then it hits you -- the list! You know the one.  On the left it says "4 piece place setting" and on the right it says "from aunt suzy."  It's the gift list and you're expected to send thank you notes to each person on it. Well, you best get going girly.  Thank you notes should be sent as soon as possible, though the saying "better late than never" very much applies.

Do I have to?...Yes, you do!  Unless you opened the gift in front of the giver and were able to personally thank them in person. Then you get a pass and a formal thank you note isn't required.  Just make sure you really, truly did thank them and they know you're grateful.  If your response sounded something like, "oh, thanks, um, friend" in front of 20 other friends and you quickly moved on to the next gift, then you should write a note.

When to send...the sooner the better.  Ideally you should write the note on the day you received the gift, but there are a few exceptions to the rule.  If you've just had a baby no one expects a prompt note of gratitude.  Get the notes in the mail within two months.  If you just got married send a note within three months of receiving the gift.  For showers and other parties with a lot of guests, get the notes in the mail within two weeks after the event.

What should I write?  Always mention the gift specifically (the tea set from William-Sonoma).  What you like about it (the color matches my dishes perfectly) and how you plan to use it (I've already invited my neighbors over for afternoon tea). 

Be prepared...you never know when you'll need to send a thank you note.  Keep a drawer or box filled with stationary and stamps.  I keep fill-in-the-blank cards for notes from my daughter, personalized elegant notecards for my husband, and cute, decorative cards for me.  I find flat cards are the best for quick thank you notes and a hostess essential, but there are great folded cards too.

Stock Up on Inexpensive, Personalized Notecards

www.vistaprint.com

 

Or buy favorites at your local stationer or online retailer, like Expressionary.com or Crane.com.