MONEY SAVING TIP :: PLANTER SAUCER

Don't you hate it when you're watering your plants, forget that there are holes on the bottom of the pot, and realize there's now a giant pool of water trickling from underneath?  This not only dirties up the bottom of the planter, or chance ruining your hardwood floors with a pool of water, but it's also bad for the plant.  Having a plant sit in water will cause the roots to rot (aka your plants will die).

While replanting this snake plant, I had a small genius moment.

Instead of buying a new saucer, why not put to good use an existing household item that would've otherwise been collecting dust in your cabinets (i.e. a chipped plate, wide bowl or a large pie tin)?

I placed the snake plant in a plastic pot that came with holes on the bottom.  I added a plate to the bottom of the white planter.  Then, add the plant on top.  To finish off the look, I added some moss filler on top to cover the dirt.  This also helps hide the pot from peaking out of the planter.

This tip is especially helpful when your potted plants are nested in woven baskets where water will leak out of the bottom of the basket.

PLANT LOVE

Plants make me happy.  I have plants in almost every room in the house.  A little excessive?  Probably, but there's a good reason for that.

HOW TO END JUNK MAIL FOREVER

One of the easiest ways to stop clutter from entering your home is to refuse junk mail.  The weekly coupon mailers, sweepstakes scams, AARP membership sign-ups (when you're only 35), and countless credit card applications can really add up to a lot of unnecessary waste.  The average American household receives 848 pieces of junk mail per household, equal to 1.5 trees every year.  That's a lot of junk and not to mention, the number of trips to the dumpster.

While you can wait for the junk mail to pile up on the kitchen counter before deciding to throw it into the recycling bin, just say "no" by eliminating the clutter before it begins.

JANUARY DETOX

Happy 2018!  There's nothing like starting off the new year with a new perspective.  That means creating a cleaner, more organized and peaceful home.

Speaking of new perspectives,

CALLING ALL MINIMALISTS :: WHICH TYPE ARE YOU?

The minimalism movement has grown in the last few years, as Marie Kondo and the likes have sparked an international trend to only keep what you really love.  I'm a firm believer of decluttering and being mindful of the things we bring into the house. 

OUR ENTRYWAY

First impressions are so important.  And that's why I decided to finally put some attention on building a welcoming transition from the outside in.

BIG NEWS

First, I’d like to say thanks to all of you who have been following my blog since I started last year.  It’s been a humbling experience being able to share my thoughts on how to implement a minimalistic lifestyle through fashion, beauty, and home.  I wasn’t expecting much when I started this blog.  

HOW TO HOST A STRESS-FREE THANKSGIVING

Every year, I look forward to hosting the biggest event of year at our home -- Thanksgiving.  Growing up, my parents would host about 40-60 of our closest local relatives, newly immigrated family members, new additions to the family, and friends of family.  Nowadays, my parents are usually travelling during this time of year.  While some family members who choose to spend their Thanksgivings at other homes, we have new guests that join our festivities each year.

It's an honor to continue this longstanding tradition and I have a few tips to share on how to keep a large (or small) gathering simple & stress-free.

(ALMOST) ZERO WASTE HOME :: CLEANING

In the past, I used a variety of cleaning solutions (i.e. bleach, Windex, Scrubbles, Comet, Draino, Clorox wipes) that I thought kept my house clean.  I remember my eyes would tear up uncontrollably and my hands started itching every time I cleaned.  I thought "maybe I'm just allergic to cleaning...or dust."  

DIY AFFORDABLE ART :: HOW TO MAKE AN ENGINEER PRINT

Like many young families, we are on a tight budget.

25 THINGS TO GET RID OF RIGHT NOW :: A NO-BRAINER SPRING CLEANING GUIDE

Getting ready to spring clean, but don't know where to start?  Here are 25 things you can get rid of today without giving it a second thought.  I hope this list will make spring cleaning a little easier for you.  Happy cleansing!

DIY SOLAR LED LIGHTS

Happy Spring!  It's been a record year for California with the rain and we're finally seeing a break from it.  This means it's time to get back out there to spruce up the garden.

One project that I tackled soon after we moved into our home last year was replacing our grassy yard with a drought tolerant plantscape.

DECLUTTERING BABY ITEMS

The company that I work for recently hosted a donation drive through LovedTwice.org.  These clothes that my little babe Jace has outgrown will be going to a good home & not in the landfill.

Over 900,000 babies will be born into poverty in the U.S. this year. (Source: LovedTwice.org)  Baby clothes are expensive and they grow out of them quickly.  Rather than throwing clothes away, here are some resources I have discovered that fit my goal of decluttering while helping other families seeking less expensive baby essentials.

THE BEST MULTITASKING HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

Whether you live in a studio with minimal space or in a large home with plenty of room to spare, having less products makes it easy to store, keep track of, and restock.

5 EASY STEPS TO DECLUTTER YOUR BEAUTY PRODUCTS

As a girlie girl, I love beauty products.  They can help you unwind after a stressful day, make you feel fabulous for a special event, or cover up those dark circles from lack of sleep.  (I can definitely relate to that last one with a new baby!)  My beauty counter