Day 119: Waxing poetic? (Or, how to get wax out of clothes)

Scented candles smell so nice,
but wax on clothes is ick.
To get it out, don't use ice;
a warm iron will do the trick!



So... my antsy, very tired toddler knocked over an entire Scentsy wax burner the other day. I was completely freaked out - FIRST, that he may have burned himself (...which he did not; the wax, thankfully, was not hot enough) and SECOND, that there was a pile of wax and bits ALL over the table, the hardwood floor... and my son's clothes. He looked like a melted candle. Of course, the blue wax was all over a brand new outfit. And, of course, company was coming over in just a few minutes. I was able to scrape the wax off the table and the floor with a little, plastic tool once the wax cooled. Then I cleaned off those surfaces, as usual. But what about those clothes?!?! I'd never had to deal with THAT mess before!

I looked online and found a few interesting solutions to wax removal (Note to self: be sure to clarify CANDLE wax in the search box!) but finally settled on a warm iron and paper bags. I tried to scrape some of the wax off first with a butter knife, but I didn't have too much luck. SO... I used some lunch bags that I tore open, and, believe it or not, after just setting the paper bag pieces directly on top of the wax and gently ironing it (yes - straight onto the bag) with a warm iron, the wax melted onto the paper... and the clothes were, relatively, clean!



You can see all the greasy looking splotches on the paper bags (it took about 4 bags total), but the wax came out, and I just washed his outfit as I normally would! SUPER easy! And I didn't set any paper bags on fire! ;)


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 118: Why didn't I think of that?

I'll tell you why I didn't think of that.... I don't like oatmeal.



Yep. It's a pretty well-known fact around my family that I do NOT like oatmeal. At all. Ever. No matter where it comes from or how it's prepared. (But that's another story for another day!) That's why I would have NEVER thought of re-purposing an oatmeal container to store ribbon! AWESOME idea!

Right now, my ribbon is kind of a haphazard mishmash of colorful insanity... tucked away in a pretty Stampin' Up bag on a nice, neat craft self! (Notice, I am not going to show you INSIDE the bag, as it would make most of us neat freaks cringe in horror!)


But a much better, neater and more efficient idea, of course, is to contain that ribbon madness, somehow. And all you need to do is grab an empty oatmeal container (in my case, I may have to just dump out the oatmeal to empty the container... just kidding! I DO use oatmeal to bake cookies!). Cut a fairly large hole in the side (large enough to see your ribbon spools!), and then Mod Podge on some pretty, patterned scrap paper to cover the container.



Then slip your ribbon spools inside so you can easily pull lengths out through the opening! Make as many as you need for optimum storage!



Now, THAT's neat!

Day 117: Shake up some freshness

If you've read this blog, you've probably noticed that I like things to LOOK neat and to SMELL neat! ;) Well... I recently received a free sample of Downy Unstopables, and I knew I HAD to get some for my wash... from now until eternity!

These in-wash scent boosters make everything smell absolutely AMAZING! I keep finding myself stopping to smell my toddlers PJs or breathing in a hand towel before walking out of the bathroom. This stuff really works... and I LOVE it! You just shake these things into the washing machine, and run your cycle as usual! I have been using the "fresh" scent (the blue beads), but there is a "lush" scent (purple) as well! Try them, and let me know what you think... or, uh... smell! :)

Now, THAT's neat!


NOTE: No one from Downy or any other company paid me to say any of the things in this post. These thoughts are all my honest opinions!

Day 116: If the Shoe Fits...

Ah, Real Simple magazine and your clever re-purposing ideas! I have a business trip coming up, and even if it's months away, I just can't stop my brain from listing items I need to bring and basically packing "in my mind." And one of the best and most clever "new uses for old things" is to snag a giveaway shower cap from a hotel. It becomes the perfect little plastic container for shoes when traveling, preventing them from dirtying clothes packed in your suitcase! Superb idea if you don't have a special shoe bag... or if you have some messy footwear! ;)




Now, THAT's neat!

Day 115: Frame me for this!

We have a great local consignment/thrift store called Encore Resales... every time I go in there, I find so many unique items and crafty ideas. But my favorite things to bring home - something that's not too tough on the piggy bank - are these funky, white, distressed frames. I have used a bunch of them for decor, all over the house. But here are a few of my FAVORITE neat ideas for these frames:

1. MESSAGE BOARD: Put burlap, fabric or pretty paper in your frame, and then write on the glass part with a dry-erase marker. Keep up with menus, to-do lists, shopping needs, important phone numbers... whatever you need!


You can also skip the glass and create a magnetic board or a pin board. The white frame works well, either way!


2. KEY HOLDER: As we've discussed before, those pesky keys can run off when you need them the most. Use a plain, empty frame and screw in some cup hooks for an instant - and lovely - key holder.


3. "UGLY HIDER": It's amazing what a simple, white frame can do to hide those perfectly functional (and usually poorly positioned) household items!




Now, THAT's neat!

Day 114: Forget-me-not

"Wallet? Keys? Phone?"

I find myself asking my husband these three little questions just about EVERY time we walk out the door. And most of the time, at least one of these three little items is "missing."

This not-knowing-where-VERY-important-items-are thing confuses the heck out of me. I am one of those "a place for everything, and everything in its place" kind of gals. I KNOW where my wallet, my keys and my phone are - at all times! (Of course, sometimes my 2-year old likes to try to manipulate that for me, but so far, so good. Mommy - 18. Baby boy - 1.)

I have tried to convince my husband to put his wallet, keys and phone in the same place, every time. With items in the same place every time, they tend to NOT get lost so often. (Am I right?!?!) But he just doesn't quite "get" it. I still find his wallet on the counter by the bread basket, his keys under the chair and his phone in my baby boy's toy bucket. ACK. So maybe it's time for one of THESE babies:



I love this idea. It's simple. It's easy. It's self-explanatory! I figure I can hang one of these clever doo-dads on the basement door, and we are GOOD TO GO... literally! Of course, that sneaky, mischievous son of mine can reach the door knobs, so, I may have to find a better location. For now. But I sure would love to leave the nagging "Wallet? Keys? Phone?" questions to a door hanger!


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 113: The Fridge File

It seems that I am always picking up random scraps and pieces of paper, even though I do my best to sort mail, bills and other important what-nots, not to mention all of the lovely little paperclips, toys, markers and other random items that wind up on the kitchen counters or in the centerpiece on the island. (Don't you LOVE these space-alien shrinky dinks? It's a new decor MUST!)

I guess I still have yet to find the perfect catch-all spot.... until today! So, if you feel a little crafty (just a teensy bit, I promise!), then get out some scissors, packing tape and pretty paper. This is an AMAZING idea from a fellow blogger (spotted on Pinterest). It really is amazing how you can turn something so plain, simple and everyday into something beautiful, fun and useful!

THE do-it-yourself, recycled-cereal-box FRIDGE FILE:
1. Select an empty cereal box of your choice. (Iain helped us "empty" this one by eating the rest of the cereal!)


2. Cut off the top, and shape the box so that the front is a little smaller than the back.

3. Secure all edges with sturdy packing tape. (You don't want all those odds n' ends escaping their holder and crashing to the floor!)


4. Wrap the box neatly like a package, using your choice of wrapping paper or scrapbook paper. I like scrapbook paper, since it's sturdier! (You can use a coordinating pattern or color on the inside, or do it all the same! I also decided to add some ribbon and a little "happiness always" stamp with a metal plaque on the front; I also distressed the paper to give it that cool, antique look!)


5. Hang your new "fridge file" with some coordinating, magnetic clips!
(I am showing the blogger's version, too, for some added inspiration! And... BTW, yes, I plan to go out and get some "coordinating" clip magnets ASAP... instead of using SpongeBob!)

6. ENJOY your handy, new storage - for mail, school papers, coupons, random tidbits or whatever your heart's desire!



Now, THAT's neat!