Tuesday Tip: Water Pressure

We love vinegar as a household cleaning product. So, here’s another use for you…

We’ve all seen commercials for those cleansers that clean and de-clog your showerhead, but a cup of vinegar will do just the same, naturally and without harsh chemicals. Pour into a ziplock bag that will fit over your showerhead, rubber band it to the top so the head is immersed in the vinegar and leave it for a couple hours. Now just rinse away, and voila… a clean and smooth-running shower head!

Tuesday Tips: Beautiful Bathroom Spruces, Part IX

Image via Desire to Inspire

How is your bathroom sprucing up? If you’ve been following our Tuesday Tips lately, hopefully you’re bathrooms are becoming an oasis of calm and beauty in this necessary room.

• How fun are these bathroom hooks for towels or robes? Just one more place to personalize your space.
• If you’re doing a bit more than just the cosmetic spruce in your bathroom, the ultimate dream in my bathroom world would be heated floors. Can you imagine that torturous moment of stepping off the bathmat turning into the pure heaven of a warm smooth surface? Well, I’m going to dream for a few more years, but it’s on my list!
• Up until now, we’ve practically ignored one whole sensory experience in the powder room – sound! Unless you count running water, our bathrooms have been surprisingly quiet. Until now, that is. Invest in a pretty battery-powered radio for the bathroom. I can just imagine waking the day to my favorite jams, or settling in for the evening with strains from the classical station. (A practical bonus, I don’t know about y’all, but somehow the interior placement of the bathroom has always been our “emergency plan” room for bad weather. Having a radio is essential for listening to the latest news when storms are heading your way, so now, it’s one less thing you have to grab when gathering up the family in the middle of the night. While you’re at it, tuck a few extra batteries in a drawer. You’ve already got towels and a first aid kit, right? You’re practically stocked for the season right there!)

Tuesday Tips: Beautiful Bathroom Spruces, Part VIII

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• While I’m a Southern girl in love with color, something about the bathroom has to be neutral and fresh to me. My secret when it comes to towels? Cream for me, sand-colored for “his,” and white for the guest bathroom. They can all mix-and-match beautifully. And, if they happen to discontinue one certain brand when you need to replenish your stock, you can always go with various hues in the same family – from off white to cream to sand, they’ll always look deliberate and chic.
• But when it comes to my washcloths, I’ll only use black. I learned this little tip from Garance. Between lipstick and mascara, a girl can never keep a light colored washcloth looking anything other than dingy. What Southern lady doesn’t put on some color? So, keep it chic and go with black.
• You can just really never have too many bath linens, can you? I love giving monogrammed robes, hand towels, bath mats, or other linen as gifts. Wanting to make a special homemade gift for a June bride — how about this pattern for a sweet bath wrap?
• Remember our little trick to show your loved ones how warmly you feel about them? What if you could have the luxury of a warm towel everyday? How about installing a towel warmer to indulge? These would do the job!

Tuesday Tips: Beautiful Bathroom Spruces, Part VII

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Today, we continue our desire for the perfect bathroom. We hope these, and our previous tips, help you achieve your beautiful bathroom.

• Let’s talk about towels, shall we? While I love a regular bath towel size for most days, when it comes time to step out of a relaxing soak in the tub, nothing matches a six-foot bath sheet, does it?
• Want to really show your loved ones how special they are? As soon as your honey or little ones hop into the bath, stick their towel in the dryer for 5 minutes and return it just as they are about to emerge. What better to come out of a relaxing shower to than a warm, fluffy towel? Maybe they’ll return the favor someday!
• Washclothes, loofahs, bath brushes – we all have our favorite cleaning agent. But for those of us that can’t get enough of the coast, what about keeping a basket of sea sponges near the bath for sloughing away the day. The feel unbelievably soft, and remind us of our favorite place to take a soak – the ocean!
• When it comes to storage, I am a fan of the old-fashioned medicine cabinet. Not only does it keep all those essentials such as sunscreen, deodorant, make-up brushes, and q-tips near-at-hand, but it also hides away behind a handy mirror in wall to keep your products dry, fresh, and out of sight. If you can find a three-sided mirror, not only does this allow maximum space, but you can also turn out both sides to get good hair views and full face light. Double duty function!
• Back to my favorite antique stores this weekend — if your bathroom space allows, seek out a small chair to stack extra towels on. Or if you’re tastes are more modern, this Louis Ghost Chair would hold up well to the moisture of the bath. Provide a sweet space to give yourself a pedicure and relax while the polish is drying. We’ve spent so much time making our bathrooms pretty, why rush out, dear readers?

Tuesday Tips: Beautiful Bathroom Spruces, Part V

Image via Southern Living

Continuing on our pursuit of a beautiful bathroom, this week we offer up these tips…

• I love a long, hot steamy shower. But I’ve been known to need to use the mirror from time to time directly after having a shower. And the gentlemen like to shave while the pores are open and freshly washed. So who knew there was spray to keep us from having to wipe down the mirror — did y’all know about this genius spray to keep up your mirrors from fogging?
• It’s time to tackle the linen closet. Don’t forget about your storage when sprucing your bathing space. Nothing defeats a relaxing hot shower or bath like then having to search for your favorite lotion or discover you’re altogether out of your hair gel! (I like to keep extra toothbrushes, deodorants, and disposable razors on hand for guests anyway. Aren’t these the items you’re apt to forget? I sure can!) But I sure don’t want everything to be stacked on top of one another or spilling out every time I open the cabinet door. One of my very favorite online stores to get lost in is the Container Store. Take stock, and then stock up on neat boxes and containers to store everything in. (I love these glamorous lacquered boxes.) I hear my DAD’S favorite motto echoing through my head: “A place for everything and everything in its place!” The Japanese have a tradition each new year that they clean off one shelf and leave it empty. While I can’t imagine such a luxury (hello, I have way too much stuff!), the sentiment behind it I do understand. When we only have room for what is currently in our lives, how can we welcome anything new in? Whether that’s people, gifts, experiences… the metaphor goes on and on.
• Come up with a system for your bathroom storage that makes sense for you? You’ve got loads of great containers coming your way, don’t you? Now take stock of what you love and use, versus what’s past its best and just taking up space. I like to store the commonly used items on a lower shelf, and those lesser used on the higher shelves. A natural fit if you also keep some of your cleaning supplies in your linen closet, as I do, is to also place a step ladder there for reaching.
• Now that we’ve cleaned out old products and organized the closets and cabinets. It’s time to replenish our stocks with great new things that refresh and make us happy. These VitaBath scents were recommended to me, and you’re bound to find one that suits you. Perhaps get all three to keep on hand as gifts!
• Some things are just too pretty to be tucked away in the linen closet. Invest in a great glass table to store those pretty crystal decanters you’ve stored your oils, gels, salts and soaps in. Glass, mirror, or metals are easy to wipe down and keep disinfected in the bathroom. I avoid wood (especially the ever popular wicker) in the bathroom like the black plague. Wood is next to impossible to keep clean with its natural nooks and crannies, and humidity is the enemy of soft wood furniture in the bathroom.

Tuesday Tip: Beautiful Bathroom Spruces, Part III

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I remember as a girl my parents had a deep sunken marble tub in their master bath that occasionally my mom would let me use. Along with gold-papered walls, her grown-up products, and the privacy all to myself, this luxury is a fond memory.

• In anticipation of the many relaxing baths you’re sure to enjoy in your spruced-up bathroom, why don’t we all have a few accessories to make the experience more enjoyable. I’m eyeing this bathtub caddy (with a reading rack!) to keep favorite supplies on hand and in reach, as well as a soft pillow to rest on while I enjoy a long soak.
• If your day promises to be a doozy, why not plan this afternoon to take an hour out of your day to soak in a fresh lemon bath? It’s the perfect antidote to a warm Southern night.
• Or better yet, set your alarm early to soak in a tub… and here’s the special part – with breakfast. I’ve never been a big one for reading in the tub (it always looks so glamorous, but my magazine always gets soggy or book pages water marked in the end). But who wants just to sit there with their thoughts? So bring a little dish of fruit to nibble and your prettiest glass of juice to sip as you enjoy a soak.
• I’ve always been extremely picky about shower heads, and one of the first things I make Mr. SIT install when we move into a new house are custom shower heads. These are relatively inexpensive and easy to install, so even if you’re renting, you can easily change out a regular shower head to one you can adjust the pressure on and stretch to suit your body style. I love rinsing my head all the way down to my tippy toes with a shower head that can be moved to wherever it suits. (Makes cleaning a breeze as well!)

And if you missed Part I and Part II of our bathroom spruce ideas, check them out!

Tuesday Tips: Beautiful Bathroom Spruces Part II

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• March out and buy a pretty glass container to store your favorite all purpose cleaning product – baking soda. Great for scouring or, if you are so brave, a gentle wash of your hair. This is a fresh supply to keep in the pantry.
• Ever seen the movie The Seven Year Itch? Those fluffy bubbles are no secret. They come from Cassey-Maswell almond oil bubble bath. This makes a great gift to keep on hand (or for yourself when the occasion calls for it)!
• Or here’s a good recipe for a simple homemade stash of bath salts to keep on hand.
• On the days I scour and clean my bathtub, I like to take advantage of knowing how sparkling it is to indulge in a great soak to relax that night.
• Upon graduation from high school, some dear friends gifted me with a set of gorgeous robes – a white waffle robe for the warmer seasons, and a sumptuous cream terrycloth robe for the chilly months to take off to college. Monogrammed, like any good Southern gift, of course! Will y’all believe that I still have both of those? And what’s more, they still look as new. A robe doesn’t have to be terribly expensive, but if you invest in quality, it will last you 10 years and counting. Head out and do the same for you and the mister — isn’t it high time you had a luxurious, grown-up robe or dressing gown of your own?
• Invest in some great art to hang in the bathroom. Well-framed art can last in a bathroom for years. The bathroom would be a beautiful private place to hang a tasteful nude. You know how crazy I am about Southern artist Adam Benet Shaw. He does some beautiful nudes. Check out Etsy to support up-and-coming artists, or browse a local gallery. If you’re nervous about fine art mixing with high humidity, try placing a cluster of inexpensive prints in black and white for visual interest. Why shouldn’t your eyes have something to rest on during the time you spend in the restroom? If you were lucky (or unlucky enough, depending on which angle you’re looking at it from) enough to get a tax refund, I have a friend who uses his as a yearly excuse to invest in some good art and support an artist he’s been eyeing all year – what a great tradition!

And if you missed it, check out our tips from last week.

Tuesday Tips: Beautiful Bathroom Spruces

In moving, we always have the opportunity to start some new rituals. I’ve been doing lots of reading on how to make a house a home, especially since we chose to move into a new home, which is lovely (storage space!), but also takes a little more effort to stamp with individuality.

Based on inspiration from one of my favorite authors, Alexandra Stoddard, I’ve decided to go room by room, starting with one the most used, and under-appreciated rooms in the house for my first project. We spend a good part of our lives in the bathroom, cleansing and preparing for the day. And hey, yesterday was tax day, so we probably all need a long soak in a nice tub for relaxation!

So why not make it beautiful? We’ll focus our Tuesday Tips for the next couple months on little spruces to the room we’re not supposed to talk about — your bathroom. I’ll be posting little tips or spruce to enhance or enjoy your bathroom that I’m planning on doing each day – won’t you come along and join me? Pick a little spruce each day or week or month to make your home your sanctuary.

• If you haven’t yet done a deep spring clean, take this chance to mix up a batch of lovely natural homemade cleaning products. Add a little orange oil and store (well-labeled) in good quality spray bottles.
• Let’s start with the basics: scent. Who doesn’t love candles? Elegant and soothing, a refreshing scent can add so much to your bathroom ritual. When guests are coming, make sure to light a candle in the guest bath to make the bathrooms feel extra paid attention to. I love a ginger scent (surprise!), citrus, honeysuckle, or cotton are also sweet and fresh to smell. My favorite is peach, but seek out a signature scent and fill your room with it! And, for an unexpected way to enjoy candles while soaking in your evening bath, bring your favorite tapers in from the dining room.
• Now, onto color… What about picking up a potted plant — a couple of bright primroses or a gardenia for the beautiful smell! Head to your local nursery and introduce moisture-friendly plants into the bathroom. Greenery always makes a space better. And color can make it so much brighter!
• Need a fun excuse to head to some local antique shops you’ve been meaning to tuck into? Search for a beautiful tray or shallow box to corral all perfumes in. Don’t all things look nicer deliberately stored on a vanity tray or mirror than all strewn about?

• A pretty clock is nice on the wall, as most of us are getting ready in the morning with a timeline. Tunes can also liven up your morning, so pick up a shower radio, then pick up a microphone, I mean, hairbrush, and start your morning off right.
• On a maintenance note, I just learned that the fan is especially important in the South. Turn it on when you’re in the shower, and leave on for 20 or 30 minutes afterward to make sure all the humidity has a chance to move freely.
• Like any Southern lady, I love my products – mouthwash, q-tips, lotions, witch hazel for toning, bubble bath for soaking, face washes, the list goes on and on. But what I don’t love are labels. Every once in a while we get lucky with a pretty product, but most of the time, who wants to see all those bright and mis-matched labels staring up at us each morning? So march right over to your nearest department store or bath specialty supplier and outfit yourself with beautiful bottles and jars with labels to display all those things that make pretty, pretty.

• If there’s one thing I believe in, it’s good products. I’m as cheapskate sometimes as your Southern grandmomma, but when it comes to gettin’ pretty, I use what I like. So check out my pinboard for some of my favorite beauty products. I stock up on these before I’m running low on to make sure I don’t run out some rushed morning anytime soon. Some of my favorite brands are L’Occitane for skin care, Estee Lauder or L’oreal for makeup, and J.R. Watkins for hand soap. I also love the Container Store for an assortment of lacquered boxes that look pretty, wipe clean, and hold all those odds and ends.

Tuesday Tip: Consignment Stores

How many of us are holding on to that great dress or coat because it just doesn’t fit properly, or we’re certain we’ll wear it “someday.”

Gain a little closet space by taking in your used clothing that’s still in good condition (don’t forget hubby’s and kids too).

Most of us have no problem borrowing a great outfit from a girlfriend from time to time. So why is it we shy away from consignment stores? Many times, prices are marked down 75% or more from the original prices. If you shop well and often, you’re bound to find great bargains! If you can find the areas of town where the folks who purchase upscale items live, you’re most likely to score great deals on high-quality items.

I recently saw a friend on my trip to Florida who always looks cute, and swears by the consignment world so she gets double the clothes for her budget. She took me to her favorite haunt and I found many items with the price tags still on. But beware! I saw one blouse I personally owned and recognized from a less-than-couture retailer (cough! Old Navy cough!). It was marked the same price as what I paid for it originally. Despite what my husband says, it pays to know your brand names!

Tuesday Tip: Car Operation Costs

Image from Old Car Pictures Blogspot

These days, it’s almost trendy to be frugal, rather than buy something new. But how do you know when it pays to hold onto that trusty old Betty, and when to buy a new one?

Figures I found stated a four-year old car (your average American family sedan) costs around $7,500 to operate over another 4 years. But given the same conditions and mileage, a new car would cost over $14,000 to operate for the next 4 years. That’s almost double!

Sometimes it is time just to throw in the towel if repair bills are costing you more than your budget allows, but it’s good to know what a car should cost to operate when you’re considering if it’s an important enough investment for you.