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LONG SLEEVE COLLARED SHIRT HACK FOR HOT FLASHES

I did not set out to help women with hot flashes with this collared shirt hack. But hot flashes sounded better than collared shirt hack for sweaters.

So when I witnessed a friend experience a hot flash (I thought she was signaling for me to turn on the A/C).

I decided maybe a few people would appreciate my attempt at a collared shirt hack for hot flashes or for people like me who sweat in an air-conditioned office. I refer to myself as a heavy sweater.

It is also a repurpose project because it works for shirts that may be a little too tight under a sweater.

Personally, I do not like the bulk of a long-sleeved collared shirt under a sweater. I have broad shoulders and it just feels snug. And with this frustration, I ended up with this hack.

Some of you may be screaming at the screen telling me to buy a Dicky, which is in the form of a detachable collar or false blouse front. I purchased these collars and decided I like the feel of an undershirt for the warmth-just not the bulky sleeves.

STEPS FOR COLLARED SHIRT HACK

Disclaimer: Before I share the steps just know I am not a seamstress and I rarely use a tape measure. I tend to just eyeball it. I am married to a guy who measures 13 times and uses graph paper.

So here we go! I used a TJMaxx blue gingham, long-sleeved collared shirt. I loved this shirt, so I knew I would love it under a spring sweater. If this hack was an epic fail well I had a good run with this gingham print.

If my mom is reading this her mouth just dropped.

Long sleeve collared shirt hack
  • Place long sleeve, collared shirt on a flat surface. I do love this shirt. Look at those starched collars! So there was a brief minute of hesitation. Never hesitate.

  • Using a pair of scissors I cut the long sleeves. It sounds a little bit like Dexter Morgan, but why throw a shirt away when the collar can still take center stage.

In more shocking news I did not hem the frayed, lopsided shorter sleaves.

Who would ever know? And the freedom to move my shoulders freely under layers of clothing during Colorado springs felt amazing.

Or, if you want to skip the hack here are a few of my sleeveless collared shirts in my closet!

Here is the false collar front option mentioned above.

CHECK OUT THESE FAVS HERE

SO all you hot flashers or sweaters let me know if this collared shirt hack works for you or pin for later!

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PATRIOTIC BUCKET CENTERPIECE

Hi there! Thank you for stopping by today! Welcome to this month’s Pinterest Challenge coordinated by our Texas-based blogger Cindy at County Road 407. Cindy shares her home decor here. If you are stopping by from Niky’s blog The House on Silverado welcome to Everyday Edits! My name is Laura and I live in Colorado! I loved the Americana theme and had so much fun creating a patriotic centerpiece with a bucket.

How to make a patriotic centerpiece with a bucket.

This month Cindy found Edith and Evelyn’s blog for patriotic decor ideas.

Check out this entry!

With this patriotic Pinterest Challenge, we decided to include the American flag in whatever we decided to create. If you are a frequent reader at Everyday Edits you know that one of my go-to decor staples is a bucket. So I knew I wanted to create a Patriotic bucket centerpiece.

How to make a patriotic centerpiece with tulips and a bucket.

PATRIOTIC BUCKET CENTERPIECE

I decided to use the bucket centerpiece was perfect for our dining room.

What I love about a bucket as the base is it is very forgiving with how you fill it. I previously painted this galvanized bucket with my favorite cream white. The white bucket is a showstopper against the navy walls and this dining room table.

STEPS TO FILL A BUCKET CENTERPIECE

  • DRIED BRANCHES I started with these dried branches.
  • RED AND WHITE TULIPS I found white tulips at Hobby Lobby and red tulips are beautiful. I order from this floral store. I love these Kentucky-based guys and you will too!
  • RIBBON
  • AMERICAN FLAGS
Patriotic centerpiece in a bucket

That’s all I did. I set the table with these plates I bought two years ago.

And added a couple of American flags to tuck between the stems, branches and tulips. Love it! Subtle, but with pops of color in the white paint bucket.

How to create a simple patriotic centerpiece in minutes.

This bucket will be my centerpiece for the entire summer. Red, white and blue decor works from Memorial Day to Labor Day (with pumpkins making an appearance just before Labor Day). Right!?

This was such a fun challenge. And this centerpiece will get to hang out for several weeks! The other night I hosted a few friends for a casual happy hour and they all noticed the centerpiece as they walked into the dining room.

Looking for a few new Americana or Patriotic decor?

Thank you for stopping by today! Please head over to Lynne’s blog, My Family Thyme for her patriotic decor for this month’s Pinterest Challenge!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


THE WEEKEND EDIT IS THAT SNOW?

Happy Saturday! Mother Nature played a belated fool’s joke on us yesterday. Snow! I posted it on my Stories. It is hard to complain because in Colorado we always need rain and snow. I hope this May snow helps our firefighters this summer. My dad sent me a dozen texts warning me of the snow and potential frost. So right now my tomato and zucchini plants are under makeshift tents.

Thankfully this tip keeps my patio cushion inserts dry.

WEEKEND THOUGHTS + FINDS

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED ON EVERYDAY EDITS THIS WEEK

THE TIERED TRAY IS THE CONDO OF TRAYS

CLIECK HERE FOR TIERED TRAY BASICS

CHEESY JALAPENO DIP

CLICK FOR EASY APPETIZER RECIPE

SHOP TIERED TRAYS + ETSY FAVORITES

I bought the white, but wished I had ordered the stain).

SHOP ETSY FAVORITES

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TIERED TRAY TIPS TO SAVE MONEY

A few years ago I did not know the concept of a tiered tray. I know right? Now, tiered trays are all all over Pinterest and Etsy. I jumped on the tray train when I purchased this tiered tray. Now this multi-story tray is a decor staple at my house. Tiered trays are perfect if you are short on counter, table or living space because they use the vertical space. This is also a great staple if you are renting. It is like a Christmas tree-the scene-stealer of a room

Think of a tiered tray as the condo of all tray designs. For comparison, a coffee table tray is more like a ranch style home. #realtorlife

4th of July tiered tray

Now that I joined the trend, my tiered tray is a kitchen table staple for the seasons and the holidays. I love it! The point of a tray is to corral stuff. It’s like celebrating the holidays in a contained space. It is an investment piece.

tips for tiered trays

TIERED TRAY TIPS

When this tray went on sale I snagged it in white. Honestly, I would love it in the stain too.

Over the last year, I have a few tray tips and how to save money on those cute little tray decor items.

TIERED TRAY TRAITS

In a slightly overdramatic voice; tiered trays changed my life. At least my kitchen table’s life. Tiered trays:

  • use vertical space saving valuable counter space for all holidays
  • can be used year-round
  • work great for holidays, food trays and even a hot cocoa station like this one.
  • can be used in any room from bathrooms to kitchens.

Our only limits are our imagination and budgets. Speaking of budgets.. here are a few tips or suggestions because tiered trays are a thing.

TWO OR THREE-TIERED TRAY

  • Two or three-tiered? I ordered a two-tiered tray because my galvanized tiered tray did not fit under my cabinets. Yes, I know this is my burden. Wink!
  • Two-tiered trays require fewer little seasonal pumpkins and 4th of July woodblocks.
  • Three-tiered trays work well on kitchen islands or tables as long as they don’t hit the lighting. Double-check the width and height if you buy a tray.
  • My galvanized tray is perfect for the patio (or a DIY bird feeder), but it is too clunky in the kitchen.

TIERED TRAY BUNDLE TIPS

If you are asking what is a bundle I got you! Tiered bundles are cute holiday or seasonal theme wood blocks specifically designed for a tiered tray.

A bundle is a genius way to sell (and buy) lots of cute finished woodblocks designed for these popular trays.

Tiered bundles are all over Etsy. They are very cute, but if you bought enough “bundles” to fill your two-tiered tray it would cost more than a pair of Jack Rogers sandals.

Here is a cute Americana tiered tray bundle for summer.

HOW TO SAVE A BUNDLE ON YOUR BUNDLES

  • Look for the seasonal sales on Etsy or just buy a two bundle pack (Etsy sellers give customers lots of options and price points).
  • Recently, I found small seasonal decor objects at Hobby Lobby and Marshalls.

I stack them on a storage shelf in the basement so I can see crossover holidays.

What’s that? A cross-over or multi-seasonal bundle is when this cute pink truck works for Valentine’s Day, Easter and and spring. The see-through plastic (stackable) bins make it easy to find and sort.

I save random 2×4 scraps. Don’t have scraps? Check out the scrap or cull wood bin in the back of the lumber section at Home Depot. It is scraps of wood. It is a great find if you do not have a friend or spouse with a tablesaw.

Recently, I painted the opposite side of an Etsy 4th of July block. I plan to add a cute sticker.

I shared how to save money and shop your house for petite objects.

Thank you for stopping by today. I feel a little like Annie Wilkes the character in the movie Misery. I am a tiered tray’s biggest fan! Would love if you pinned this image (the Pinterest pin pops up in the top right corner by the T). Or follow Everyday Edits on Pinterest!

thrifty tips for tiered trays!

If you would like to receive the Weekend Edit it includes projects, tips and seasonal ideas delivered to your inbox on Saturday mornings. You can sign up for the Everyday Edit’s weekend newsletter here.

SHOP HERE

HOW TO BUILD A BLOG COMMUNITY

My youngest son and I are sitting at the kitchen island listening to the Brooklyn Duo. Evan is working on an English paper. I am writing a blog post; my version of an English assignment. But instead of letter grades, I receive comments. What a difference three weeks makes.

Three weeks ago I checked my phone after grabbing a drink with a friend and talking about her spring break plans. When I returned to my car I had two missed calls from my son and husband. “Mom, they are sending us home and I have to be out of the dorm by tomorrow at 5 pm.” Wasn’t it yesterday that I said my goodbyes?

So this moment, at the kitchen island, is a gift. A moment in time where I get a little more time with him. I know I am the last person he wants to hang with on a Wednesday night.

I am sad he will miss one of the best seasons in the midwest; when the sun starts to shine through the clouds and the mornings offer a stillness that cannot be captured by the written word.

But at this moment … my son is explaining to me the forms of torture in the US criminal justice system.

And, I just asked him which of the two blog titles he preferred. I am using the title he chose. He thought my working title, ” How Not to Be One of Those Bloggers” did not set the right tone.

Life is complicated and filled with uncertainties. But this moment I feel a community of support in my friends, neighbors, work friends, family and my blog community.

As bloggers, we are a community spread across the country and continents. There are relationships and partnerships that bring us routine and structure to a day filled with run-on sentences and grainy photos.

Now feels like an opportunity to build our blog community. You know a community that is difficult for our spouses and children to understand.

HOW TO BUILD OUR BLOG COMMUNITY

The funny thing is these suggestions work for all of our communities. It is about building a connection. It takes practice- like following through on a forehand.

Leave Comments

How do you feel when you wake up to an inbox of comments? And, then how do you feel when you write the funniest post sentence, and there is not one comment.

Like this post, I wrote the other day. I cracked myself up over the Bic lighter comment.

My goal is to leave 10 comments a week on various blogs. When I read this post about how to handle bloggers who never reply to comments it was an a-ha moment for me. Why? Because I always reply to comments. Hugh’s advice? Stop commenting and move on to bloggers who routinely reply back to your questions and compliments.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE A BLOG FRIEND

And along this journey, I met a few wonderful women bloggers.

I connected immediately with Katie and her popular blog, She had me at preppy.

And, my blog friendship with Heather through her blog. Heather is one of my longest blog friends. We originally connected through a weekly Link Party ( I think). The party was full of technical glitches, but our friendship grew.

We discovered our love for Trader Joe’s. And, then we realized we were living parallel lives with our empty nests (just in different parts of the country).

This lady always leaves me a comment.

SUBSCRIBES TO NEW BLOGS WITH AN RSS FEED

I gave up on Bloglovin and recently transitioned to Feedly.

This is my go to destination to catch up on my favorite blogs.

Join Monthly Challenges: Recently I joined Cindy’s monthly challenge and it has been so much fun. I get double-digit comments and traffic! Not sure where to find a monthly challenge? Start to follow a few and then ask if they have an opening for a new “hostess” or participants. I don’t remember how I found Cindy, but I love her enthusiasm in her posts.

Include a blogger’s funny post or Instagram in one of your posts. And, take a minute to leave a comment or tag him/her on Insta and let them know they are being featured.

I suggest leaving comments on similar size blogs or followers. Except, you know who always emails me back? This wildly successful author, blogger, influencer and busy mom of four.

Join a Giveaway A few years ago I met Katherine and began to participate in her Season of Giveaways. It is a great way to grow your base and meet new bloggers. It turns out Katherine managed a large, national real estate office (I am a real estate agent). She managed alot of personalities! I know she has great stories!

On a side note, Katherine has become a dear friend and we are “state neighbors.”

How to Build a Blog Community

Do you have any ideas on how to build a blog community? What works? What does not work? How do you engage with other bloggers? How do you connect with local bloggers? I would love to hear your ideas.

And, if you have a monthly or quarterly challenge I would love to get on your waitlist. If you would consider joining my once a week newsletter, The Weekend Edit, you can add your email address below:

Join the Everyday Edits Community
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THE WEEKEND EDIT GRATITUDE OR GRUMPIES?

Happy Saturday. It has been windy all week here in the Denver area. The wind makes me cranky. As I type this week’s Weekend Edit I am listening to the wind and just getting annoyed. Good thing I started a gratitude journal ten days ago. Journaling reminds me when I encouraged my (always) cranky (frustrated) middle child, when he was a toddler, to throw his grumpies out the window. Journaling is my attempt to focus on the gratitude and not my attitude (grumpiesadult version of focusing on the gratitude and not the grumpies.

I ordered a cute gratitude journal. It came with 3 pages of stickers and looks perfect for …a 6th grader. I think I need just a spiral notebook. Does anyone journal?

Despite the wind, I made it our local Goodwill last weekend.

Do you remember when I found this Pottery Barn knockoff tray last summer at Goodwill?

I went in with a purpose and came out with two storage bins, a picnic basket and a greenery arrangement. The stems were worth the Goodwill price. Stay tuned for a future post of those before and finds. But first …

WEEKEND THOUGHTS + FINDS

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED ON EVERYDAY EDITS THIS WEEK

CHECK OUT THIS PACKING PAPER WREATH

CLIECK HERE FOR REPURPOSED WREATH

ONE MORE IDEA FOR MAGAZINE HOLDERS

HOW TO ORGANIZE FAUX FLORALS ETC

SHOP OUTDOOR FINDS THIS WEEK

SHOP AMERICANA FOR SUMMER DECOR

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HOW TO ORGANIZE FLORAL DECOR WITH MAGAZINE HOLDERS

Finding new uses for all those magazine holders when we used to make paper copies of everything.

Hello! Do we ever stop wanting to organize our lives, kitchen cabinets or our makeup drawer? There is always a utensil drawer, pantry, closet, garage and even a bathroom vanity that needs the essentials stacked.

NEW USE FOR MAGAZINE HOLDERS

A few years ago (more like ten) I discovered this phone app. It scans documents and saves them in a pdf. This app changed my life and it reduced my need for all the magazine holders I accumulated over the years for vaccination records and report cards.

A few months ago I shared this tip for file organizers. And today I want to share a second use (at some point I bought too many organizers).

HOW TO ORGANIZE FLORAL STEMS WITH MAGAZINE HOLDERS

HOW TO STORE FLORAL STEMS.

When I discovered this Kentucky-based faux flower shop it changed my tulip game. I bought the most beautiful faux tulips for the spring and summer.

But what happens in the fall and how will I keep the precious tulips from stem slouch syndrome over the winter months?

How to organize faux flowers with magazine files

HOW TO USE MAGAZINE HOLDERS FOR FAUX FLOWERS

  • Gather your seasonal short stem flowers, grapevine leftovers and greenery picks
  • Store them in an upright organizer.
  • I added brown paper to keep them in line.
  • I stored them on a shelf that was tall enough to fit the magazine folder and the protruding stems.

It calms me to organize tulips and greenery picks.

No more tangled messes in March when I sort thru the spring decor.

It is also a visual reminder that I have enough pink and soft white tulips.

How to store floral decor with magazine folders

These magazine or file holders are great to keep my grapevine garland obsession contained.

SHOPPING LIST FOR MAGAZINE HOLDERS

If you are short on magazine (file) holders here is a resource list.

I found my magazine organizers here.

And I now buy my greenery, florals and Christmas garland here. You will love these guys!

THANK YOU!

Thanks for stopping by today! I would love it if you pinned this image! If you like easy breezy projects please sign up for the Weekend Edit. It is a four-minute read on Saturday mornings with tips and seasonal decor. You can sign up here.

HOW TO MAKE A DIY PATRIOTIC TRAY

Can you believe we are headed towards the summer months with red, white and blue holidays? After two years of canceled events, masks and six feet of social distancing, it will be fun to celebrate with friends and family.

Do you have summer traditions for Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day?

To kick off the summer holidays I created a super cute, thrifty DIY red, white and blue tray.

cute patriotic tray, cute patriotic centerpiece

DIY RED, WHITE AND BLUE TRAY

For this centerpiece, I used what I had on hand. A few items were from previous upcycle projects. Oh, wait I did buy the small sign from the dollar section at Target.

My goal was to add pops of reds and blues against the green wreath. I pulled out my oversized galvanized serving piece as the base for this patriotic tray.

I used my stash of these boxes for shades of blue. The popular retail box supports the sign and makes the sign stand out.

DIY patriotic tray or centerpiece

The blue hue continued with a single cloth gingham napkin that I tucked inside a recycled glass jar.

I was stumped for red and white decor that was not covered in hearts.

I needed something that would fit within the tray. As luck would have it I found a Christmas strand of wood bead garlands I purchased from my friend Katherine’s shop. I bought it after the holidays and never stored it with the Christmas decorations.

It was just waiting for the summer of patriotic holidays.

patriotic-tray-decor

The beaded garland with red fabric ties was the perfect addition to the tray.

It looks perfect in this patriotic tray. What is that type of fabric called?

All I can think of are the bonnets in Little House on the Prairie.

I found a white, wood monogram with red polka dots. It was from my “monogram everything” phase.

The red and white scrolled letter added height and a bit of whimsy to the patriotic tray.

patriotic-tray-decor

Need a little help with your tray. Check out this tray bundle or this one.

LOOKING FOR REALLY SIMPLE AND I MEAN REALLY SIMPLE IDEAS? SIGN UP FOR THE WEEKEND EDIT FOR ONE-HOUR PROJECTS AND SIMPLE TIPS.

WEEKLY IDEAS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

HOW TO MAKE THE CUTEST WREATH WITH PACKING PAPER IN A CHEWY BOX

Oh, this is one of my favorite repurpose projects ever. If you have spent one minute here at Everyday Edits you know I love a repurposed project. I wish I could say my family shares my enthusiasm.

Whenever my husband hauls out these boxes or the monthly Chewy box I haul it right back into the house.

Spring Wreath made with packing material in a Chewy Box

REPURPOSE PROJECTS ARE IN MY DNA

I think I tap into my parents’ post-recession genes when I hoard random things like Bath & Body Works candles and cardboard packing material. I should state I am not a hoarder I just love the challenge to repurpose everyday objects.

CHECK OUT WHAT I MADE WITH THE PACKING PAPER IN A CHEWY BOX.

Recently when this Chewy box showed up I was more excited about the packaging material than the 24-pound bag of dog food for Chloe and Elliott.

How to Make the Cutest Wreath with packing material from a Chewy box!

This is what was in the corners of the cardboard shipping box.

I know right.

You can understand why my husband’s instincts were to toss it into the recycle bin.

He didn’t know.

What he was taking out to the recycle bin was craft gold.

Let’s take a look at how I took packing material from the inside of a Chewy box and made the cutest spring wreath.

HOW TO MAKE THE CUTEST PACKING PAPER WREATH FROM A CHEWY BOX

When I pulled the brown packing paper I instinctively started twisting the paper into the shape of a wreath.

I secured the ends with this wired jute from a dollar store. You could use chenille stems too.

This is where the magic of a repurpose project takes over. It just happened. Once the ends of my craft paper-shaped wreath were secured I knew this was going to be a great repurposed wreath.

Spring Wreath made with packing material in a Chewy Box

The packing paper was the base of the spring wreath. The packing paper adds depth and a bit more dimension to the boxwood wreath.

I added a small boxwood wreath to layer in front of the brown paper. I have a stash of these small boxwood wreaths from this site.

Spring Wreath made with packing material in a Chewy Box

The wreath was pulled together with blue gingham ribbon to create this adorable spring wreath.

I absolutely love this repurposed packing paper wreath! The gingham ribbon is perfect for my love of blue and green combinations.

How to make a wreath from packing paper from a Chewy box.

I hung this on our interior facing door leading to our front deck off the family room.

I hope this inspires you to take a second look at the everyday objects we toss into the recycle bin. If you enjoy repurposed projects please check out my two favorites here and here.

PLEASE SIGN UP FOR THE WEEKEND EDIT WITH REPURPOSE IDEAS AND ONE-HOUR PROJECTS! SIGN UP HERE FOR AN EASY-BREEZY 4-MINUTE READ ON SATURDAY MORNINGS WITH A CUP OF SOMETHING. 

THE WEEKEND EDIT – DANCE LIKE ELIZABETH

If you are thinking Elizabeth must be Laura’s daughter start here.

If you know Elizabeth, in the headlines, who(m) I am referring to, but you have not seen her dance moves start here. Turn up the volume.

DANCE LIKE ELIZABETH (HOLMES)

This week I turned off the noise.

I stopped scrolling on my phone.

Instead, I turned my phone into a mobile DJ.

Dancing is different than working out to music because I can throw in a ballet move with a hip hop sequence. This has the makings of a Progressive commercial.

And this week I danced to my Spotify playlists and rediscovered how fun it is to just dance.

Just like Lady Gaga told us. It will be okay.

And you know what happened? Dancing makes us feel good. It does amazing things for our minds.

Oh, and the reason I thought of Elizabeth? Her dance style, with the clenched jaw, was familiar.

I dance just like her. I think I play tennis with the same face.

If you are new to the Weekend Edit Welcome! In a sentence, I share endless content ideas for Progressive and a little bit of decor, tips, easy recipes and seasonal ideas. I have never met a sentence that could not use a few more words.

WEEKEND THOUGHTS + FINDS

WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED ON THE BLOG THIS WEEK

(SIDE NOTE: YOU CAN SEARCH THE ARCHIVES IN THE SEARCH BUTTON AT THE TOP OF MY BLOG).

THE MAGIC OF GRAPEVINE GARLAND

(If my boys had to find the grapevine garland they would open the fridge).

how to use grapevine garland
CLICK FOR THIS WEEK’S DECOR IDEA

NEED A LAST-MINUTE NO UTENSILS NEEDED DESSERT?

CLICK FOR 3 INGREDIENT RECIPE

A LITTLE AMERICANA FOR THE SUMMER

SHOP AMERICANA ETC.

Thank you for stopping by today! I have the best readers and I love it when you share this with your friends and family. We are a community and I save your comments for future ramblings. I I would love it if you subscribed to the Weekend Edit. You can sign up here for a Saturday morning easy-breezy newsletter . You will always find a relaxed vibe and a run-on sentence.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP! IT’S FREE

LIVING ROOM CHAISE WITH A VIEW

 

We knew we made the right furniture choice when the dog claimed the living room chaise mid-day before the family rolled in after work, school and tennis practice. My husband claims it after work- it is his recharging station. In our house, the living room chaise wins the popular vote. 

LIVING-ROOM-CHAISE-EVERYDAY-EDITS

The unwritten rule is whoever lands on the chaise first, gets the chaise! 

It reminds me of when my four siblings and I called shotgun as we ran down the stairs to fight for the front passenger seat in Mom’s Suburban.

 The fact that there is no television in our living room, speaks to the chaise’s popularity. With wide cushions and just-enough length, it is perfect for an end of day nap as the rains roll in over the mountains. 

favorite-piece-furniture-crate-and-barrel- not-a-trophy-wife

We found our chaise at Crate & Barrel. You can find the dimensions and details here. We passed right by this chaise when we did an initial loop around the showroom floor.

We wanted a couch or club chairs to fit the awkward, rounded wall and tiny nook in the living room. The living room is complicated. 

Living Room Chaise

Never underestimate the power of pillows

The secret to the chaise’s popularity is with the pillows. My husband and I did not see the vision. But, thank goodness the sales associate pointed out the power of bolster pillows. The pillows make the chaise’s role in our living room flexible. It can be shoved against a wall or “free float” in front of our living room window. 

versatile-piece-of-furniture-bolster-pillows-everyday-edits

 

And, the best part of this purchase was it took place during Crate & Barrel’s annual Labor Day sale. 

The chaise is comfortable, stylish, flexible and the perfect spot to catch a nap or sneak in a chapter in my latest pick from this site. 

The chaise was our Aussie’s favorite place to relax. I used to shoo Tanner off, but as his hips failed, I whispered in his ear, “You earned this Tanner.” We have visions of Tanner on security detail on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. 

most-versatile-piece-of-furniture-everyday-edits

The chaise was such a classy-casual addition to the living room I had to upgrade the rug. All of a sudden my indoor/outdoor rug felt like it belonged outside. I upgraded to this rug for a comfier feel our feet (or paws). 

 

living room chaise for the win

And, with these views, the chaise is the perfect spot to watch the weather roll in over the mountains.

living-room-chaise

10 SURPRISING SOURCES OF PET ODORS

The only thing worse than a house that smells like cats or dogs is a house that smells like a room full of Glade air fresheners. Why? Because a homeowner is trying to mask a smell that cannot be contained. And the key to eliminating pet odors is to go after the source. Here are a few surprising sources of pet odors.

surprising sources of pet odors
Surprising sources of pet odors
Photo by John Becker, WBIR

10 SURPRISING SOURCES OF PET ODORS

In full disclosure, I am not a fan of plugin room fresheners. They work but when I smell a plugin room freshener, that over the top cinnamon or floral smell, my first thought is what is the homeowner trying to hide. So the key is to tackle the source and work yourself to the front door where you usually get a whiff. I am also a licensed Realtor in Denver so I have smelled plenty of odors.

These same suggestions work for sellers who are preparing to list their home. #realtortip

1. FRESH AIR

Never underestimate the power of fresh air. An open window allows fresh air to circulate.

2. CEILING FANS

Have you looked at your ceiling fan when it is not running? I was stretching the other morning and I looked up, in the middle of a hamstring stretch, and there was a 1/2″ of dust on the top of each ceiling fan blade.

I run that ceiling fan every night. Guess who sleeps directly under the ceiling fan? This one:

10-easy-ideas-to-freshen-house-with-dogs

And, during the day she sleeps under one of my boy’s ceiling fans. I used this and a step stool to clean my ceiling fan blades.

10-easy-ideas-to-freshen-house-with-dogs

3. VINEGAR

I love this multi-purpose cleaner. I made a video to share my list of favorite Made in USA cleaning. You can check it out on my Youtube channel here. Please follow (shameless plug trying to get to 100 followers).

Yes, it smells like vinegar, but it is effective at getting to the source of the smell; not masking the odor. And it is inexpensive.

4. BAKING SODA

A close second to vinegar is baking soda. I regularly dust (dump) baking soda into my carpets/rugs. And, depending on how much dog DNA is embedded in the carpet fibers- I repeat this step 2-3 times over a few days. It works.

I found this article with more details.

10-easy-ideas-to-freshen-house-with-dogs

5. WASH ENTRY RUGS

Think about this; our dogs run in and out the doors dozens of times a day. Think about what those cute little paws track in after four minutes of squirrel tag.

And, those entry rugs are the first line of defense to stop those muddy paw prints. Eww.

6. LINT ROLLER

A lint roller is a great way to snag random dog and human hairs on the top of chairs, sofas and stairs. I buy these in bulk. . Just try it and see what clings to the adhesive sheet.

7. CLEAN UP THE BACKYARD

This one piggybacks on the entry rugs. If you can minimize the mess in the backyard you minimize the odors into the house.

When I skip a day (or four) and watch my dogs wrestling in the backyard I shudder at the thought of what they rolled in during recess. Ewww.

8. BRUSH DOGS REGULARLY

Elliott loves to be brushed. His older sister, Chloe, not so much. Chloe runs when she sees the hairbrush. But it makes a huge difference to brush our pets regularly. It reduces what travels into the house via tails and tummies.

9. WASH THE WALLS

This is a big issue at my house. Chloe and Elliott have their favorite spots to chill during the day.

And, when we repainted our walls to a lighter color I noticed the film of dirt on the walls. I bought these (made in USA) spray bottles, filled with vinegar, to stay on top of the grime.

10. FRESH GREENS OR FLOWERS

Fresh flowers, greenery or herbs are an organic way to freshen your home. I think that is why we don’t notice the stale air during the holidays. From October through December, we have an abundance of fresh garland, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, Christmas trees, cider, and baked goods to fill our homes.

And, then by January, we have cold temps, over-active thermostats and stale air.

Rosemary is a great option to freshen up a space. I tuck mine into my candles in January.

I thought about tucking a sprig of Rosemary into Chloe and Elliott’s collars! #wink

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