sandra_m's Profile

I was lucky enough to get a Smith & Hawken Heirloom Ornament Tree just before they went out of business. (http://rosenotes.typepad.com/.a/6a010535bf3807970c01287655179b970c-pi)

Since the tree is made of metal, I am making soft and colorful felt owl ornaments for it this year.

My mom has a Douglas fir, and it's very pretty and smells great, but it takes a lot of time and attention to decorate, water, remove decorations and clean up the needles.

I need to get my shoe organization under control, so thank you for this post. None of the ideas really appeal to me, but I'm hoping someone will share something brilliant in the comments section :) Here are some of the ideas that have worked for me when I had less shoes, or have been considering trying:

Ikea Complement: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20107972

Boot boxes: http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10009590&N=&Ns=p_sales_quantity|1&Ntt=shoe

Cotton overdoor shoe bag: I put a pair in each pocket, not one shoe per pocket: http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10012681&N=&Nao=64&Ns

Underbed shoe chest: the one I have is mesh, and I use it for shoes that are not in season: http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10005402&N=&Nao=64&Ns

It's been a while PaminBoston, but I found this and I thought it might be helpful to others as well:

http://www.shelterrific.com/2010/05/03/an-exorcism-for-the-possessed-ikea-kulla-lamp/

My friend said she feels she needs to buy a greenhouse in order to keep out the garden pests (squirrels, possums, raccoons) and her dog.

Is that true, or what are some of your suggestions for a diy solution?

Thanks!

...it is also know for...missing the 'n' at the end of known
I wasn't going to point it out until I saw sally305 point out the its/it's thing.

Now, on to my real comment:
At the Ace Hotel Palm Springs they have these gorgeous macrame drapes instead of curtains in their lobby. They look so beautiful hanging in the windows.

http://www.examiner.com/x-40377-Palm-Springs-Art-Examiner~y2010m3d3-Modern-Macrame-at-the-Ace-Hotel (if the site is still down for maintenance, you can view the cached version on google)

Oh, and I once received a Diptyque candle, the fig scent, and it was so delicious. I would never have splurged like that, and it was delightful.

I'm planning to switch apartments with someone from SF for a weekend that I have not met in person. As far as I can tell from the pictures of their apartment, they have as nice a place as we do and seem trustworthy. I will be putting my most beloved jewelry and my laptop at my mom's, but there's nothing else that I'm afraid to lose/have ruined.

How about a combo ironing board and full length mirror (function and function):
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/07/14/ironing-board-double.html

I don't own it, but I did think it was an ingenious idea when I first saw it.

I think I've ironed less than a dozen pieces of clothing in the last twelve years - and right now I don't even own an iron!

If pants need a crease, or shirts need pressing, they go to the cleaners.

I recently purchased a steamer, and that's perfect for me to use on silk and other delicate items.

Attract lots of customers by organizing a neighborhood yard sale. I made detailed flyers and distributed to all houses on my street, about two blocks in either direction of my place. I got about 5 neighbors to participate in the yard sale and to split the cost of advertising in the Recycler and Penny Saver, plus the materials to make signs. I offered to do all of the leg work and to get the yard sale permits from the city.

One of the neighbors had a nail gun, so I had him help me with making the directional signs with poster board and on wood stakes, written on with jumbo permanent markers and paint. I made the signs generic (no date) with arrows so they would be re-usable, and one of the neighbors kept them after the sale. I added a smaller piece of paper below the poster board with the date on it.

I advertised the sale as a neighborhood yard sale in all the publications, and posted a few pictures of some of the valuable stuff, plus on craigslist I described a large number of the bigger items, in case people were doing searches by item.

When we set up i the morning, there were early-birds waiting in their cars all up and down the block! Some came in asking for the items I had posted pictures of on craigslist.

The antique settee that didn't sell, I took to a consignment shop and got more than I was asking for it at the yard sale, once it sold.

The more valuable stuff that was left, I packed in bankers boxes to give to a friend for her yard sale and the rest I set out on the curb and posted them on the free section of craigslist. What was left on Sunday morning, I took to an Out of the Closet thrift store nearby.

I feel very comfortable at home, and actually I love playing hostess when people come to my place and also having them spend the night. I chose my couch partly because when the back cushions come off it's as big as a twin bed and it's so comfy to sleep on. I also make killer huevos rancheros and french pressed coffee for my guests :)

I love to stay over at some my friend's houses, too, because they will dote on me and that's a nice experience every once in a while. I don't feel anxious staying at others' houses, and it makes me wonder if people who do feel anxious grew up in homes where they did not spend the night at other people's houses. When I lived at my grandmother's in Mexico, she would never let me spend the night outside of our home, thank goodness my mom didn't enforce the same rules!