You Shouldn't Have!

Everyone loves getting flowers, but not everyone knows what to do with that vase of blooms once it’s on your dining table.  Some of these arrangements may look pretty “as is”, but some may need a little makeover! 

For example: the grocery store bouquet.  The best way to handle this bunch is to get rid of the fillers and put like flowers together.  This will give your flowers a more high-end feel, and it will also help spread the love…and fragrance!

Roses look great in short vases with a little greenery.

Stargazer Lilies are leggy, so a little bit of filler won't hurt, just be selective.

I love daisies alone or in groups of three.

Be creative with your vases, it doesn't have to be a "vase", you know.

Fluff like baby’s breath can really dilute and cheapen an otherwise beautiful bouquet.  If your flowers come with some green leaves, you may want to save those for adding to the arrangements to create more texture and dimension.  Separating all the blooms will really extend the life of your flowers, and this way you can throw each stem out as it dies without having to destroy an entire vase full of flowers.  Recently, I had a vase of gerbera daisies that lasted almost a month!

I got a bouquet of roses similar to this last December.....red vase and all.

So, I chopped the roses and arranged them into several short glass vases, and I took them to a Christmas party where they were a big hit!

I added some leaves around the edges of the vases that I cut off the tree outside my window.

So, make the most of your bouquets!  Nothing makes me happier than walking into every room and seeing fresh flowers.  You’ll see, it will make you happy too!

Ikea is a great place to pick up inexpensive vases for all your little arrangements.  These are $2.50 each.

I don’t care what anyone says, carnations are the most underrated and fabulous flowers out there.  They are like adorable little pom poms.  So charming, delicate, and feminine.  Bonus- they are super cheap!  Peonies are considered one of the most desirable flowers for weddings, yet they aren’t available year-round, they are fragile (meaning they fall apart), and they are expensive!  My wedding arrangements were composed of carnations and roses in full-bloom, and they were so beautiful.  Peonies schmeonies!

Carnations...so pretty.

Carnation bouquet!

The centerpieces from my wedding

Peonies

Peony bouquet...pretty, but not worth it.

A few tips for extending the life of your flowers... 

Cut the stems at an angle before putting into vases; this allows them to better absorb the water.  Replace the water every couple of days, and throw away any dead blooms.  Adding a drop of bleach to your vase will keep the algae away, keeping your flowers fresher longer.  Make sure no leaves are submerged; this will also prevent the growth of bacteria. 

Have fun, and enjoy your flowers anyway that makes you happy!

Calendar Girl

My very first job was in an office, so I’m super organized about filing and paying bills.  I have a fool-proof system to help get your clerical life in order once and for all.  Being disorganized can keep you from paying your bills on time, and there is absolutely no excuse for late fees.  They are a huge waste of money and do nothing for your credit. 

Here is a summary of what I do to keep my bills managed and under control. 

The second that a bill arrives, I open it, put the return portion in the envelope, and set the statement aside to be filed.  I have a mail caddy inside my pantry door where I keep bills that are to-be-paid as well as statements to-be-filed.  I write the due date in the stamp section of the bill (so it will be hidden later, and so I don’t have to open the envelope to double check). Next, I write the due date on the calendar, which is hanging on the opposite pantry door.

You can pick up caddies like this at places like Ross & Marshall's or even thrift stores.

The most important tip here is not to just write down the date when the bill is due, but to make a note of when to mail it.  So if American Express is due October 15^th, then I write “mail AMEX” on October 7^th.  Give the payment at least a week to arrive at its destination on time.  Also, when you are calculating the timing….exclude weekends, this will ensure that you aren’t late or that a business isn’t closed.  If you pay bills online, throw away (recycle!) the actual bill afterwards so that you don’t get confused about whether it is taken care of.  Note: If AMEX was due on a Saturday or Sunday, I would make it due on the Friday before.  Weekends and holidays are your enemies!!!

I keep the bills organized by their due dates and pull them out as necessary.  Don’t leave your mail lying around….it’s an eyesore and it can make you feel frustrated and overwhelmed just looking at it.  Throw away any junk mail right away, as well as all the extras that come in a bill.  The calendar system allows the bills to be out of site but not out of mind.

Go to http://www.ecocycle.org/ to find out how to opt out of junk mail.

In my mail caddy there is a section where I keep the statements to-be-filed…and I just file these when the caddy gets too full.  I use fabric storage boxes filled with file folders for filing the statements.  Alphabetize all your bills….adding in folders for other helpful items such as receipts, tax info, and menus. 

Set of 3 Storage Bins/$20/Walmart 

This calendar system is also great for remembering birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, and parties.  Just use the same method of writing down the date of the birthday, then going backwards a week to remind yourself to mail a card.  Another tip with birthdays…make sure to write these on your calendar at least a month in advance so that you aren’t late for the people who have their special days the first through the fifth.

I look at my calendar every morning to see what needs to be mailed.  This may seem slightly OCD, but I haven’t had a late bill in like a hundred years.  Once you try this system, you won’t believe you ever lived without it!

The Art of Elvgren Pin Up 2011 Wall Calendar/$19.95/Amazon.com 

When You Gotta Go...

Go for fast food.  Confused?  Don’t be.  Fast food restaurants are your best bet for clean, reliable rest stops.  If you’re on a road trip, or if you’re just around town and have a bladder that’s a little uncooperative, then you will be very relieved to hear this advice. 

I have been in two separate situations where I was traveling with others….and we found ourselves in desperate need of a pit stop. Against my wishes, they chose gas stations over the fast food places I suggested.  One bathroom was out of order, and the other gas station didn’t even have one.  So now, we have to get back into the car, go to another gas station and hope for the best.  Why won’t they just go to a restaurant, they are completely ignoring my requests!  Buy something at the restaurant if you want, but don’t feel obligated because they don’t really care. 

Gas stations are terrible excuses for rest stops because as I mentioned above, some of them do not even have restrooms, they can be out of order, they are notorious for being disgusting, you have to ask where they are, you sometimes have to get a key, and there can be lines.  How many more reasons do you need???  On the other hand, you always know where the restrooms are located in a fast food restaurant, stalls=no waiting, and generally I find they are pretty clean.  I usually choose Wendy’s because they seem to have the highest standards.

 

So, if you find yourself in need of a tinkle, skip the gas station and go for the burger joint!

The first Dairy Queen/Joliet, Illinois 1940 

The first McDonald's/San Bernadino, CA 1940



Ps, DO NOT use rest areas if you are alone, they're super creepy!