Jul 22, 2013
Although I *wish* I had a green thumb like my mother, I must admit that I’ve got a lot to learn… and one trick that my mom taught me early this summer is how to jumpstart seeds before I plant them in the garden.
For this “trick”, you’ll need a few Ziploc plastic bags, a Sharpie, packets of seeds you want to plant, and paper towels.
1. First, label the plastic bags with the names of the seeds you’ll be planting.
2. Slightly wet a paper towel and lay flat. Open the seeds from one seed packet and sprinkle them on the moistened paper towel. Fold up the paper towel and place it in the labeled plastic bag.
3. Repeat this step for each of the items you intend to plant.
4. After a few days, tear the paper towel into 
pieces and then “plant” the torn pieces (with the seeds) in your garden. This is a heck of a lot easier than trying to plant ONE teeny-tiny seed in the ground, and in the end, they won’t all grow anyway.
See how the seeds will have already started to sprout, after just a few days in the plastic bag?
Jul 21, 2013
I’ve been on a bit of a cleaning kick lately, so when I decided to tackle the medicine cabinet, I had to seek assistance for the “appropriate way” of disposing of medication was these days. When I was kid, mom used to flush them down the toilet, but I think that’s frowned upon now (preserving the world’s water and keeping fish from drug additions and whatnot). My pharmacist friend filled me in on the Drug Disposal (v. 2013).
1. Remove old prescription drugs, expired over the counter meds and vitamins.
2. Place them in a Ziploc plastic bag with a enough warm water to cover the pills inside.
3. Let the medication dissolve, then dispose in the trash.
4. Optional: Pray that you don’t have a druggie neighbor that digs through your trash looking for a monster drug overdose? (kidding)
I didn’t take a before photo of my medicine cabinet (it was SUCH disaster), but doesn’t it look nice and organized AFTER? Take my word for it, it’s a lot better. Cleaned? Done!
Jul 17, 2013
Well, as usual, Atlanta Market this past weekend was a whirlwind! To start my day off right, American Airlines randomly canceled my flight (at 5:45 am for a 9:30 departure), so I was forced to snag another flight and scramble to the airport in less than an hour… (Seriously, American? Try not to suck so much next time!)
After a few more hours of traveling, I FINALLY made it to Atlanta… Three days later, after walking approximately 10 hrs a day, it was time to head back home. Although it was a short (but thankfully productive) trip, I think it was a success! I also had the pleasure of eating at Two Urban Licks and The Spence, so that made it even more fun.
Soon I’ll be posting some of my favorite finds from shopping Market… But for now,
I think I’ll just… REST ( cause Lord knows I need it)!
Jul 14, 2013
A few years after college, my grandmother gave me a small clothing wardrobe (that she actually found it on the side of the road) . I’ve always loved the cabinet’s little frame, adorable skeleton key lock (but of course the key is missing), and its built-in shelving (on the right side). For me, it wasn’t much use as a wardrobe… so eventually I decided it would be the perfect bar cabinet! It’s beautiful, sentimental AND functional.
Originally, the cabinet was for clothes, hence the shelving. To create even more storage, I purchased an inexpensive wooden wine rack from World Market, screwed it into the back of the cabinet to make it secure, and then stained it to match. Then, I installed wine glass “runners” in the top of the cabinet. I use those to hold champagne glasses, with wine and martini glass storage on the built-in side shelves. The top of the wine rack also creates an instant shelf, so it’s perfect for more oddly-shaped bottles. I love how much storage this little cabinet has- with everything tucked away so neatly, it’s just perfect!
Do you have a “hidden” bar? Share your creative ideas, I’d love to hear!
Jul 10, 2013
As I prepare to head to Atlanta Market this weekend, I thought it might be fun to share a few “buyer secrets”. I’m certainly no pro, but in the past few years I’ve been able to establish a little system that works well for me. Since I’m usually short on time {hey, someone has to be at the store to set up those orders!}, I usually try to pack a LOT of shopping into very little time. I’m all about being as efficient as possible, and that means… being as ORGANIZED as possible!
When I mention that I’m headed off to Market, most people reply with, “Oh, how fun!” and “Man, I wish I could go!”… The truth is, it’s not as fun as you might think. Market is HARD WORK. It’s a “walk-til-you-just-can’t-move-anymore” kind of thing. For several days in a row. Some aspects of it ARE fun – finding a great new product or seeing other store owners/sales reps that you enjoy hanging out with – but buy and large (har har, no pun intended), it’s also a beating {on your body, mind and pocketbook}. The real fun is when we actually get the products in the store and get to hear how much you love them too! 🙂
I’ve created a list of “Off to Market Must-Haves” for anyone who is a new buyer (or if you’re just curious):
So here is my list of “Market Must-Haves”:
A “Hit List” – a list of vendors that you want to make sure you see at Market. I usually get this list by combing through the Market catalog 
and mailings I receive before the show. I use it as a starting point and can be added to as you go of course. I start with a Hit List on paper but then transfer it to an excel file {column 1: location/building/floor/suite, column 2: vendor name, column 3: notes about the type of product I’m interested in}. Once it’s in excel, I email it myself and open it up in the Numbers app on my iPad. This just keeps everything nice and neat (and it’s easy to add to/delete from/re-sort by location or vendor)
Accordion file with month tabs – Mine is a 6-tab file, so it’s perfect for each month. For January Market, I have the tabs read for Jan – June. For Summer Market, I turn the tabs around to read Jul – Dec.
Pre-printed labels – with your store info {name, address, phone, fax and email}. This makes ordering much faster if the vendor is filling out a carbon copy order form by hand. They’ll LOVE you for this time-saver!
A copy of your Sales Tax Permit – for opening lines with new vendors who need a copy of file.
Shipping calendar – I use the iPhone app Calendars+ to schedule shipping orders. It syncs with my google calendars so I can check it anytime on my iPhone, iPad, laptop or desktop computer. By putting the ship dates on a calendar, I can easily see what items are coming soon, etc.
Copies of your credit sheet – if you want to apply for net 30 terms with vendors, this will be a time-saver as well.
Comfy shoes – Like really comfy. I opt for Toms with a thin Dr.Scholl’s insert for maximum support. I’d really like to wear tennis shoes, but I try to look at least semi-professional (ha)
Band Aids – for any blisters brought on by the serious walking I mentioned.
Phone charger – you’d be surprised how terrible reception is in most Market buildings, so your phone’s battery will just get sucked down to nothing trying to find a signal all day.
Protein bars/snacks – Because shopping on an empty stomach just kills your buying power. No food = cranky = no product looks appealing
A good pen – my fave is the uni-ball vision elite
A legal pad – for good old-fashioned note taking. I like the pink ones. I know it doesn’t matter, but I go out of my way to stock up on the pink ones before Market.
So there you have it! A few of my buyer’s secrets REVEALED! Are you a seasoned shopper at Market? I’d love to know your tips and tricks for plowing through the sea of available products!
Although I *wish* I had a green thumb like my mother, I must admit that I’ve got a lot to learn… and one trick that my mom taught me early this summer is how to jumpstart seeds before I plant them in the garden.
pieces and then “plant” the torn pieces (with the seeds) in your garden. This is a heck of a lot easier than trying to plant ONE teeny-tiny seed in the ground, and in the end, they won’t all grow anyway.
