A Bag a Day: Action Items Bag

So today we are going to discuss what I call the "action items bag." Mine is burlap the color of a lime peel with my monogram in pink. It is primarily my love of this bag that encouraged me to incorporate it into everyday use. Due to the extreme cuteness, I keep it on my doorknob to be able to appreciate it on a regular basis.

Last night my church pastor talked about how we all have certain things that remind us of the power of God, and for me, this bag is one of those items. I was perusing a local thrift store looking for "fix-er up projects." It is my favorite place to get inspiration for art projects. Well I came across a stack of bags, and as I was looking through them, there it was: a bag I would have commissioned, already stitched with my monogram WITH THE TAGS STILL ON IT. As silly as it sounds, whenever I see that bag it reminds me to pray. We all know the saying "God knows every single hair on your head," but it is comforting to know that God had this bag awaiting for me just to remind me that he is in fact always involved.

But I digress, so the purpose of this bag is to keep things off of the dresser, but still corral the items that need to be taken care of: library books to return, dress that needs to be dry cleaned, gifts for friends that aren't due for a few more days, and a fishing lure that needs to be repainted. This is the place to keep them. I check the bag about once a day to see if anything can be taken care of on my current errand. If there are a lot of things needing to be transported at once, just take the whole bag with you!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's next bag discussion!

Placefully yours,

Allison

An Artist's Tale with Esther Neal

Every fabulous space requires a special touch be it a favorite piece of furniture, an heirloom quilt, or a unique work of art. About a year ago my sweet friend Esther showed me some of her paintings and I was in awe of how she captured so much emotion in each of them. I am so excited that today she is sharing with us how she has used her hobby to bless her friends and family. Here is her story:

The first time I realized people would pay money for my art was a great awakening moment for me.  Until that point in my life, I felt that my talents were all intangible ones that could not be showcased or easily shared with others or enjoyed by them.  My senior year of high school, my Art IV class participated in a senior art exhibit.  For 2-3 weeks, several of my assignments were on public display around town.  Call after call came through from interested buyers for several of my paintings. 

During my college years, my art became more than simply a creative outlet.  It was a way this broke-as-a-joke college kid could give nice, meaningful gifts to family and friends on a tight budget.  I would plan months in advance for special occasions and would then thoughtfully consider something meaningful to my intended recipient. 

For more than 10 years now, I have given my art to others.  The real gift is mine, however, when I have the privilege of seeing how people respond when they receive one of my original pieces.  The ear-to-ear grin, or perhaps the tears welling in their eyes, provide me with tremendous satisfaction and make the countless hours invested in creating it all worth it.

This past Christmas, I wanted to do something really special and unexpected for my fiancé.  For several months, I scoured the Internet for ideas and decided I would make the violin the subject of my painting for him since he learned to play on a violin that belonged to his grandparents.  Each night when I would sit down at my art table to work on my newest watercolor creation, the anticipation I had of the smile it would bring to his face made my work even more fun and exciting.  It is one of the gifts he treasures most!

 Violin – 2012 | Watercolor (9"x12") | Private Collection

Esther Neal is a Southern girl raised in Mississippi and transplanted in Northern Alabama.  She is a Mississippi State University alumnus with a BA in English and Spanish and an MBA.  Her hobbies include painting with watercolors and oils, traveling the world and then blogging about her experiences (http://snapshotsofmercy.wordpress.com/), and spending time with great friends. 

Thanks for joining us today, Esther!

Packing Away, The Preparation Phase (Part One)

Well we are closing in on that time of year, you know, the end of the school year, the beginning of summer, and moving (again). How many times have I done that now? 68? Probably an exaggeration, but I certainly feel well-seasoned in the process. So let's talk about favorite packing tips. This is the beginning of a three-part series, so be on the lookout for the coming posts!

• Keep it fresh:

1. Wash things before you put them in boxes, especially if they will be staying in the boxes for a while. In my case, apartment stuff has a special corner of the basement in which it will hang out for a few months before I start my big girl accounting job in the fall! When I open those boxes in my new apartment I want to be delighted by the scents that smell like "home." So in preparation for this, I like to wash the items that are continually used: favorite jackets that are constantly being rotated up to bat (what? it's baseball season), accessories (scarves, gloves, hats, etc.), and dishes. For example, the fruit bowl would prefer not smelling like 4 month old banana residue. A quick wash and you'll be good to go.
2. For things that don't need to be washed, consider making them aroma-tastic too! (Here at Arranging Magnolia, making up words is a necessity when currently existing words just don't suffice).  When you are packing away linens (sheets, blankets, pillows, towels), slip a  dryer sheet in the box, too. On unpacking day, your cozies will all be smelling delightful, making your new place feel even more welcoming! This little trick also works for clothing that is being stashed away.

• Eliminate before you move:

1. The weeks before moving are the perfect time to pare down the items you just don't need anymore, rather than move them to yet another place. Take a quick look in your closets, cabinets, shelves, drawers, and under the bed. If you haven't used it in a year, you may never use it. Think about it. I have begun consolidating bottles of hand soap, and making sure to finish off the partial bottle of shampoo!
2. Keep a box in an inconspicuous place in your home/apartment, and place items in there as you clean out and pack up. You will enjoy having everything consolidated, and ready to donate, or disperse to your friends

• Make a list of move-out tasks:

1. Clean out the fridge, preferably by eating the current contents
2. Clean the apartment
3. Turn-in keys
4. Sign necessary forms

This is the beginning of the moving process. Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3!

3 Tiers of Cozy

As the warm weather eases in, it is time to tuck away your winter warmies: scarves, gloves, and hats. If you're like me, you spend the cold months bundled in layers. In fact, this year I had a warm-themed Christmas: my sweet mother surprised me with long johns, pink gloves, tights, and cashmere socks. And, to top it all off, she found me a three-tiered dessert tray. As an expert hostess, Mom is known for her Nutty Cheesecake Bars and innovative casseroles. She is always a step ahead when it comes to preparing for a pot luck, and I wouldn't be her daughter if I didn't grow up longing to play hostess too! Fast-forward a few years to when I was getting ready to start my freshman year of college, and Mom and I were beyond convinced that I needed place settings for six, because no girl should be prevented from hosting brunch!

Now, you are probably wondering what dessert has to do with wool accessories, so allow me to bridge the gap. Instead of stowing away my adorable serving piece, I use it as a fun display: hats on the top tier, gloves in the middle, and scarves rolled up on the bottom. It makes things easy to grab on the way out the door. I'm looking forward to picking out some spring items to display this season!

What ways do you make things fun and functional?


Placefully yours,

Allison

Spring it up!

As some of you may know, I have a serious love affair with spring: the breezy light jacket weather (insert Miss Congeniality quote), the acceptability of sun dresses, painted toenails...the list goes on and on. In honor of the gorgeous weather, I think we should talk about decorating.

When I was little, we always decorated our "Easter Tree" with colorful eggs, and then put a wooden bunny in front of it. On Easter morning, I would put on my dress, and have my picture taken with the beloved tree. I assumed Jesus liked to be celebrated with festive trees. As it turns out not every family has that tradition, but it is one I remember fondly.

Seeing as I don't have a tree in my apartment, I needed to find a new way to welcome the season. Enter my sweet friend Randall. She surprised me this weekend with an adorable wreath for my front door! Coral, floral, and monogrammed: perfect!  I'm still giddy about it, and looking forward to taking Easter pictures in front of it! 

How do you decorate for spring? Share your ideas in a comment below!

The Little Things

In the South, every woman knows two things:

1. Humidity will always win the battle with our hair.
2. No matter how many bobby pins you have, it will never be enough. Don't even bother buying more, they will just plan an uprising, and run away while you are sleeping. What other explanation is there for the fact you can never find them? Of course, when you are moving out you find them wedged in the crack of every drawer (kitchen included)!

When you are ready to regain both your sanity, and control over your bangs, I have a solution: use a jewelry organizer to hold all of your little hair treasures. 

Notice that each row is a different category.

• Row 1: ponytail holders
• Row 2: the ever elusive bobby pins (separated by color)
• Rows 3-5: Cute barrettes, fancy clips, etc.
• Rows 6-10: nail polish (in color order, obviously)

No longer are you forced to dig through a drawer to find 2 matching clips. Keeping things visible and easy to locate has allowed me to use the same set of bobby pins for over 2 years (unbelievable right?). And even better, the whole organizer hangs in the closet with the dresses. Easy Peasy.

As for that humidity business, I have yet to master that monster. Please let me know if you know any secrets on the matter.

Placefully yours,

Allison

The Check is Here!

As a college student, going out to eat often involves eight separate checks. I am always appreciative of how accommodating restaurants are with this request. However, I also understand that credit cards and checks can be easily confused in the hustle and bustle of food and customers. This weekend I was discussing with my dad how I was charged for the wrong meal at lunch one day while out with a group of friends. And of course, Daddy had the perfect solution: write your name on the check when you hand the waitress your credit card. This eliminates the confusion of which order the cards and checks were handed to the server!

Leave a comment with your suggestions for making eating out easier!

Placefully yours,

Allison

The Travel Tote

I am a girl that adores road trips. I love planning in advance, thinking through the details of outfits, and packing. Thankfully, I am surrounded by amazing friends who love spontaneity and making memories. We have a tradition of making the 45 minute drive to Steak 'n Shake every semester, usually late at night when the cheeseburger desire cannot be quelled. And, on those summer days when the only thing that wakes me up before the glow of the sun through my blinds is my phone ringing with an invitation to the lake, I like to be prepared. Talk about the best way to wake up!

Enter the travel tote.

I like to keep it pre-packed with my favorite travel essentials so allow me to share them with you. 

• GPS (even when you know just where you are headed, it is awesome for finding local restaurants!)
• FM Transmitter
• Spare phone charger
• Ziploc baggy (The uses for this are endless: keeping the wet swimsuit from touching the rest, keeping the cell phone dry, picking up shells at the beach. Seriously, a must.)
• Reusable snack tupperware filled with something that will stay delightfully fresh: pretzels, nuts, cheez-its. 
• Pen, because you never know when you need to write, but alas, you will.
• Book. Perhaps something that has been on your "books to read" list?
• Band aids for the blistery shoes, paper cut, blood, etc. I don't go places without them. I also keep a stash in my wallet.
• Travel sized perfume (even after 4 hours in the car, a fresh entrance is possible!)
• Undibears (For a spur of the moment overnight trip, you will want these around) They use this title at Build-A-Bear for the undergarments, and I thought it was too cute!

Now comes the summer specific items

• Towel
• Swimsuit
• Spare sunglasses
• Big bottle of sunscreen to share
• 2 ponytail holders (you will ALWAYS need them)

So these are the regular items in my bag. If it is a chilly season, without doubt, pack a light jacket. Also, when you know things that you want to take with you, put them in the bag as the thought occurs! Promised to lend a book to a friend? Put it in the bag instead of worrying later. The salad dressing I promised to pick up for my Mom because it isn't available back home? That's right, it is in the bag ready for when I zip on home!

The big thing is just to have the already packed so commit a bag as your travel bag. I have a cute pink canvas tote that sits in my front seat whenever I am on the road. I always know what is in it.

What items would you add to the bag?

The Table

So on Tuesday after taking the 2nd part of the CPA exam (halfway there!), I saw a billboard for a local antique store, Front Porch of the South. What can I say, I was intrigued. A few turns later I found just what I was looking for: a world of well-loved treasures.

After a pleasant meander about, I came across the perfect coffee table: a carved wooden base with a pink marble top. The French influence beckoned!

So you wonder, is this the whole story? Did I just want to tell you about my new table? Well I admit, I did want to talk about it, but allow me to provide a bit of backstory. I live in a studio apartment, a partially furnished studio apartment. While this is a great thing when you need somewhere to sit and prop your feet, where should you hide the standard-issue coffee table when you find your dream one? 

Answer: use the old coffee table to elevate the laundry basket in the bedroom! For me, this was just the perfect solution! The basket is now easier to access, and not on the floor. And, the old coffee table is not taking away the spotlight off of the French dream table! Oh, and how do you carry a slab of rock 60lb table top to the second story? Well hopefully you have sweet friends like mine who offer to help (Thanks Kathryn and Adam)!

What ways have you repurposed furniture?

Placefully yours,

Allison

And So It Begins!

Welcome to Arranging Magnolia!

I am so excited to have you here at Arranging Magnolia. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Allison. I am in my last semester of graduate school, and creating a blog is part of my class homework. Talk about a fun assignment! Starting a blog has been on my ever growing to-do list, so this is just the push I needed to get started!

The goal here is to inspire you to live a more organized life. My belief is that once you establish a system for organization, your daily habits will follow. So please join me as I share tips and tricks to making your home and workspace tastefully tidy!