Swoon Style and Home

Curtain Call

Good morning, all! I hope you are having a great Hump Day.

Do you ever have those projects on your list that are really not that bad, but for whatever reason, you cannot bring yourself to tackle them? Guilty here. I finally managed to get some long overdue projects crossed off my list. Call it laziness, call it avoidance, call it what you will ... I put off hemming the kitchen curtains and making Big's curtains for far too long.

It is an easy fix and a project that I have done countless times before (including here and here and here): just measure the curtains, get out the iron and seam tape and get to work. I made a little rule that I had to finish this project before the end of 2012. And ... I finally did it on New Years Eve. Nothing like a little false deadline to get me moving, even if it was literally at the eleventh hour. Here are the before and afters.

Kitchen

I have a lovely large window in my kitchen. I really wish I could leave the window bare to let in all that gorgeous light, but the window overlooks the parking lot, so privacy is imperative. If this were not a rental, I would splurge on chunky plantation shutters like some of my neighbors have, but the window is irregularly sized and the cost would be prohibitive. So curtains it is. I found these curtain panels at IKEA for a great price. I think they were $25 for two. They are a medium weight linen-looking fabric and let in a lot of light but also block the view. I hung them with tension rods.

When I moved in, I needed to get something in those windows ASAP, so I just quickly cut the sides and lengths and popped them in place. Here is what they have looked like since April:

Shameful. And now, here is the same window once I took care of the curtains:

Ahhhhh. Nice and neat and tailored. It took no time at all. The only problem: I can see the grey window trim now. I'll have to address that soon. You know it will drive me crazy.

Big's Room

When I hung the curtains in Little's room, which I bought ready-made at Target, I also hung a curtain rod in Big's room. I found the rods for next to nothing over a year ago at the Christmas Tree Shops. I have had the fabric on hand for Big's valence (since July ... again shameful) and just needed to measure and hem the sides. Here is the window before.

I bought baseball fabric at Fabric.com for the window treatment - the fabric coordinates with Big's headboard and bedding. Once I finally cut, measured and hemmed, I put it on the rod and voila:

I decided to add grosgrain ribbon to make it look more like a drape shade than just a valence, so I rummaged through my stash of ribbon and lo and behold, I found two extra-wide pieces of black grosgrain ribbon, the same length, with velcro at the edges. I think they were on a gift years ago.

They were perfect - the right size and width and look! And let this be a lesson: never, ever throw away ribbon! Here's the finished product.

I'm so happy with how it turned out. It is a great look for a boy's room - kind of a cross between a pelmet and a drape shade. Not too girly, but also nice and finished. And cheap - I think the yard of fabric was about $5 and everything else I had on hand.

Ahhhh ... another project I can cross of my list - a project that has sat on my ever present to do list for over 8 months. Nothing better.

See you swoon,

Resolutionary War: Running Must-Haves

So, it's January, and if you're like me, you made a few new years resolutions. I make them every year, both for home and for me personally. One of my resolutions this year is to run faster! I have posted a bunch on the blog about my love of running (here and here and here and here and here). I have had a few people ask me about running and what I recommend to get started. I am happy to share my tips, but remind you that I am not a professional and certainly not a doctor, so before you begin any running or other exercise program, please speak to a doctor first, listen to your body, know your limits. I am not an expert: this is just my compilation of tips for what works for me. Disclaimer complete. Disclaimer will be repeated at the end of this post.

Running, in my humble opinion, is one of the best and fastest ways to get in shape and lose weight. It is also inexpensive. You do not have to buy any equipment other than sneakers and running clothes - sure other things are helpful, but you do not really "need" them. Running is both individual and social: you can run solo and lose yourself in your thoughts or music. You can run with a friend and chat for miles. You can run with a running club/group and feel the energy of a crowd. Races, while competitive, are actually just races against yourself and your best time. You can never truly "master" running: you can always beat your fastest time. That is why I love it so - there is always a challenge.

So with that out of the way, here are my tips for running must-haves. You'll see they run the gamut (pun totally not intended but it's staying here)!

1. Call Yourself a Runner.

First and foremost, if you are doing anything faster than a walk, even if it is barely faster than a walk, you are running. You are not jogging. Joggers look like this:

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Unless you are wearing those clothes and running in the 1970s, you are not jogging; you are running. Calling yourself a "runner" is a big step, but an important one. "Runner" seems so serious, so legit and so powerful. It is. But a runner you are, so embrace it.

2. Get Fitted for Sneakers.

You will quickly learn that your feet are the most important element of running. If you wear sneakers that are too old, too tight, too loose, ill-fitting, too small or too big, you will pay the price in one way or another. Blisters, sore knees, sore legs, black toenails and injury: all of these can result from the wrong shoe. I recommend getting fitted at a running store, where employees are runners and know what they are doing. I did this when I first started and go back every couple of years to just check that my size and style are right for me. It's a good investment. And my favorite shoes are Saucony Pro Grid, which I buy a half size larger than my regular shoe size. They fit me and my super high arches like a dream. I will note that a running store employee helped me realize I needed inserts for added arch support in my sneakers as well. Talk about life changing! My arches and knees would kill after long runs, but once I added the inserts, no more pain. I never would have realized this on my own.

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3. Good Socks.

Socks, like shoes, are key to a happy runner. Trial and error is the way to go here ... you will find what weight sock works best for you. I am a huge fan of Balega socks and in particular their Hidden Comfort style. I like whisper thin socks (except when it's super cold out), because I tend to blister, and Balega are my absolute favorites.

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4. Check In.

Always make sure someone knows where you are going when you head out for a run. Tell, text or call a friend or family member and let them know when, where, etc. you're headed and then check back in after. Even if you bring your phone with you. This hit home for me a few months ago when I was running solo in the very early morning and saw a couple of animals off in the woods around the trail that I run. They just watched me (and I have no clue to this day what they were) but it scared me to think that no one knew where I was. So now, I text a fellow early-bird friend when I head out. It makes me feel better to know that someone knows where I am.

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5. Road ID.

Along the lines of checking in, get yourself a Road ID. These are little identifying devices that give your basic info in case something should happen on a run. I have one for my shoe, so I don't have to think about it. They're $20 - worth every penny for peace of mind.

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6. Be Accountable.

It is easy to talk yourself out of running. So, talk about it. Talk about it a lot. Tell people you are running now. And most importantly, sign up for a race and then talk about that race. I have been running for decades at this point, and I still slack off unless I have a race on the calendar. I talk about my races a lot, so I know people are aware I'm running and will ask about the races. I also think it's wise to have a friend on hand who you know will kick you in the butt if you need it. There are mornings when I just don't want to run but know I should. That's when I reach out to one of my friends who is usually awake who I can count on to push me out the door.

7. Wear the Right Clothes.

It is so easy to find the right kind of running clothes - Target, TJ Maxx, Marshalls all carry great, inexpensive options. You will want that tech/wicking material for your running gear - fabric that wicks the moisture (aka: sweat) away from your body to keep you warm or cool. Clothing styles are a preference thing. I run in shorts, capris, tanks, short sleeves, long sleeves and everything in between. It's all up to you and what you like. Keep in mind that you should add 20 degrees to whatever air temperature it is when you run. So if it is 50 outside, it will feel like 70 when you get into your run. I am a huge fan of Nike shorts, Hind shirts and tights, Nike bras and shirts and Under Armor shirts. If you are just starting out building your running wardrobe, I would head to a sports store or a running store and ask to try on a bunch of styles and brands. It is worth the investment.

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8. Treat Yourself: Watch.

When you first start out, you don't really need a fancy watch. I used a regular $15 stop watch style from Target for years. But I will tell you, as soon as I switched to my Garmin Forerunner 210, my running life changed for the better. I have close to the base model and I love it. It tracks speed, distance, elevation and time. And you can upload your runs to your computer and analyze them. It's a great tool. If you are going for a certain time or a PR (personal record/personal best), one of these watches is key because you will know your pace. They are not cheap - definitely a few hundred bucks. So it may be best to wait until you're sure running is for you. One added bonus: Garmin makes a mount for bikes, so you can mount your watch to your handlebars and track your speed and distance there too. It does not track cadence, but that does not really matter to me.

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9. Treat Yourself: Tunes.

I never used to run with music. I loved the silence. I still do sometimes, but just like with the addition of my watch, the addition of my iPod nano changed my running life forever. Long runs can be really long if you're alone. I love listening to my music (the good, the bad and the mortifying) on my runs. It makes the run super fun and I completely lose myself in the run and the music. My nano clips onto my shorts or pants and I love all of these fun colors. Mine is red.

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10. Headbands and Visors.

I need something on my head when I run. I either use a visor (as seen above in the first picture) that I got at a regular sporting goods store (I think mine is Nike and I have one in white and black; they were $20 each) or I use these Sweaty Bands headbands, which I have found only at running stores. These headbands are fabulous: they're super cute and with velvet on the underside, they stay in place and mop up sweat. I even wear them on the weekends from time to time with my hair in a bun and big hoop earrings.

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Whew! There you go. My tips and tricks for getting started with running. If you have any questions, I'm happy to try to answer. Running is as much a part of my life as working, eating, sleeping. It's who I am, and it makes me feel amazing and strong. I hope you have the same experience. Anyone care to talk about running today?

See you swoon,

Disclaimer: None of the above companies mentioned have paid or otherwise comped me for mentioning them here in this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Further, I am not a professional and certainly not a doctor, so before you begin any running or other exercise program, please speak to a doctor first, listen to your body, know your limits. I am not an expert: this is just my compilation of tips for what works for me.

Three Little Prints

Good morning!

Here is a project that I have had on my list for awhile, but finally just tackled. I am not sure why it took me so long to do it, as it was quick and easy. The project: add three little prints to my entryway hall. Here is the hallway before:

As you can see, it's long and pretty bare. I have the framed map print on the one side, but the other side needed a little something. I wanted to keep it simple, but pretty, and as inexpensive as possible. Enter prints from the old calendars designed by Susy Jack, of whom, as you know, I am a huge fan!

I always save the prints from her calendars, figuring I can find a use for them somewhere. I wanted three prints that I liked and whose colors coordinated. These were my choices:

I wanted to use colors from my living room so it all tied together. So, I was drawn to corals, pinks and yellows, just as are in my pillows:

As I framed the prints, I worried that three prints would be too much. So I decided to do only two. I ended up choosing yellow and coral. The white frames are from Target (I had one on hand, and just bought two more to match).

But as I hung the prints, I realized, no, three is better than two. I was not crazy about the look of the other prints with these two ... it was looking a little too Crayola crayon box for me. So I ran up to my room and grabbed a couple of grey prints, and this sweet grey number made the cut.

Here are the three little prints now!

While I was at it, I kept looking at the green wreath print. It was so pretty and looked perfect for framing. I thought it might look a little better in the large frame over my fireplace than the existing print, which is gorgeous, but maybe a smidge too small. So I changed them out. I love the new look!

Before ...

and After!

I love that feeling of crossing something off my list and tackling an impromptu update to boot! The more I look at and live with this wall color, though, the more I know I have to change it. I think I am leaning toward a soft cream, but welcome any suggestions. Keep in mind I'm renting and my landlord expects me to keep the colors light and neutral. Any colors you want me to try? Please share!

See you swoon,

Organizing Love: bathroom cabinets

Ahhh ... Friday. Funny how even after a super short work week, I'm always so ready for Friday to roll around.

On Wednesday, I shared how I organized and tidied up my entryway closet. Up today are the cabinets in my bathrooms. When I moved in, I pretty much just threw the bathroom "stuff" in the one large cabinet in the kids' bathroom. I did not organize it at all. I kept the medicines on a higher shelf but figured I would eventually get around to it. I don't even have a "before" picture of the mess.

But back to my bathroom. When I redid the space, I brought in a tall cabinet for over the toilet. It is a great little storage solution: it was inexpensive, easy to put together and gives me just enough additional storage. One thing that I have been meaning to do is bolt that sucker to the wall to stabilize it and make it less tippy. So that's the first thing I did:

Once the cabinet was more sturdy, I could roll up my sleeves and organize the heck out of it. Here is the blissfully bare cabinet.

I measured the shelves and kept the dimensions in my iPhone, so when I was out and about I could look for baskets and bins that fit in the space. I was at Target after Christmas (I mean ... talk about a completely redundant, unnecessary statement ... of course I was at Target) and found some great little baskets for this project.

I put my medicines in a long, narrow basket meant for CDs or DVDs. The basket on the very top shelf is one I picked up from Home Goods over the Summer, and it holds extra toilet paper.

Then I found these really cute white bins to hold my extra beauty supplies. Look how nice and neat!

And here's the money shot ... all organized and beautiful.

I have a few more tweaks to make down the line: I may put some wrapping paper on the little translucent windows to block out the view of the basket, just like I did in my first home on my armoires. I would also like to add some sort of pattern to the plain white space behind the tissue holder. Maybe I will wrap some fabric around foam board like I have done in the past or maybe do something with faux beadboard? It needs something because it is sort of a cardboard-y material, so I want to either paint it or make it more substantial. Stay tuned.

With my bathroom out of the way, it was time to turn to the kids' bath. The job was a lot easier because I had already emptied out a bunch of stuff and put it in my bathroom where it belonged. Plus, I was on a roll. I followed the same process as with my cabinet: I emptied out the kids' bathroom cabinet, organized the stuff by type, brought in some really cute turquoise bins from Target and ... voila!

Ahhhh! Tissues and toilet paper are on the top shelf; the turquoise bins hold bathroom supplies and meds/first aid stuff; and the towels are on the bottom.

I have a few more spaces to organize: my master bedroom walk-in closet (gulp) and the kids' closets. But I am well underway. Have a terrific weekend!

See you swoon,

A little entryway closet organization (part 2)

Happy New Year!

As part of my new years resolutions, I vowed to organize the closets in my place. I took some time over the holiday break to do just that. Up today is my beautifully organized entryway closet. It doesn't stop there, either -- on Friday, I will share my bathroom cabinets. Can you handle the excitement?

Full disclosure: if not already (and embarrassingly) obvious, the idea of organizing and tidying up spaces makes me geek out like there is no tomorrow. And there is something about the clean slate of a new year that always makes me jump into action this time of year. I just love to start a new year by taking chaos and disarray and turning it into neat, orderly and tidy spaces. And we're off!

I started organizing my entryway closet a few months ago and shared my efforts in this post here. I knew I had more work to do. Here was the state of my closet when I started up again recently:

I obviously had more work to do: I needed to clean up that top shelf with baskets, group things by type and really get a handle on the left side of the closet. The first thing I did, which is the first thing I always do when I take on an organizing project, was to empty the space entirely. Like so:

And then ...

I started with the top shelf. I lucked out and scored three nicely sized seagrass baskets at Target for only $6 each. Yay!

In those three baskets, I put napkins and my wallflowers refills ...

My winter hats ...

And random car and other stuff ...

Next up were the four little baskets for the shelves on the left side. I separated them by (1) Big's mittens and gloves; (2) Little's mittens and gloves; (3) my gloves; and (4) cleaning supplies. I have a great idea for how to label these, but that will wait a bit.

And voila! Here is the end result -- I added a plastic tub for the paper bags I keep for recycling and stacked up my paper towels on the far left side of the closet.