IHeart Organizing: Fun Ways To Organize With Washi Tape

So I recently discovered Washi Tape! Yes, I know... what rock was I under. However, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all the possibilities that I have found so far. Not to mention one of my favorite blogs recently shared her ideas! Oh, I am soon going to be buried under mounds of Washi Tape, and I can't wait!



Check out her blog below!

IHeart Organizing: Fun Ways To Organize With Washi Tape: Calling all fellow Washi Tape addicts!  Today's post is for you!  A few weeks ago I posted a picture of my recent Washi Tape delive...

That One Idea You Just Can't Let Go!

So for almost a year now I have been working on a new belt. My girls love to wear skirts, and leggings, their love sparked a new frustration for me. They have such tiny little waist and such long legs, that nothing fit properly and I was altering everything. I began to think, what about my friends that can't sew, what do they do? I wish there was a belt for this. Despite my idea, I decided not to go forward with creating because, I didn't think the idea had enough gusto.

Then I too, had the same issue. dress pants with no loops. SERIOUSLY, who thought of decided dress pants should have no loops anyway!

So alas, I finally fleshed out my idea and designed the "Magic Belt."

Though it's a very simple concept, it takes the hassle and discomfort out of suspenders, and still allows your little one to remain independent. In literally three steps you can attach the Magic Belt and send your sweet little one on their way none the wiser. I LOVE IT!

Step 1 - Attach belt to left side of garment. Step 2 - Attach belt to right side of garment. Step 3 - Adjust slider. AND Voila! It's really that easy!

I have been testing these out for a while, and my darling little ones can pull their pants/skirts/shorts/leggings on and off no problem, and find them completely comfortable to utilize. 

Although this is my first design. These little belts will soon be stocked with various clips options, differing designs and of course an awry of adjustable sliders, for Boys, Girls, and Adults! Think of all the sweat pants options ladies! ;)

Look for these in our Etsy Shop soon, and be sure to like us on Facebook!

Calling All Models!

The Lovely Little Things Boutique is looking for Adult Models!

Since our Children's Velcro Belt line has become so popular, we have decided to expand our line to offer options for adults! To kick off this expansion we will are looking for fun-loving, awesome people of all shapes, sizes, and shades to model for us.

We will be selecting three different models to be featured on our website, our Etsy page, our Facebook Page, Amazon, our blog, newsletter, and so much more.

To 'Audition' you will need to submit three photos of your look/work to us via email. You will also need to  submit photos (or a website) of the photographer you will be working with so we can verify the quality of their work, and information so we can contact them to verify that they have agreed to work with you on this project. If you are the photographer please submit three different photos of your various styles of work, and detail how you will take the photo of yourself with a possible example.

The photos used can be watermarked, as long as that watermark does not interfere or distract from the image (this way the photographer will get credit and exposure). However, we will ask that you also send a non-watermarked version as Amazon as very strict watermarking rules.

Once we select the models we will send out detailed information on how they can pick their product, when the photos are due, and how to submit them.

Payment for modeling will be in product and exposure, at this time.

We are also thinking of selecting one team for a Adult/Child pictures with coordinating, or matching belts.

Good Luck To All!!

Email Submissions to: Johnetta@thelovelylittlethingsboutique.com

  

Redesigning with Pegboards

Along with my love for arts and crafts, I have a ridiculous passion for organizing. I create a form for many task, have charts, binders, and folders for many of my daily events, and don't get me started on the amount of stacked, color coded, and labeled bins in my basement right now. LOL.

After moving into our new home last year I reduced my work space from a craft room, to a craft closet, and became increasingly frustrated with my area. I needed better organization, needed more basic supplies at my finger tips, wanted to be able to work more effectively. So to help find a solution I took to... you guessed it PINTEREST! Within seconds I found exactly what I needed.

A Peg Board Organizer!!

Of course now that I knew what I wanted, I had to figure out how to make it, so I sought the help of my favorite, and the most amazing crafter in the entire world Martha Stewart, she of course had a great video, I mean why wouldn't she.

In order to create my pegboard organizer, I started my journey at Michael's so that I can find a frame suitable for my needs. I went in search of one that had little metal prongs attached to the actual frame, versus the cardboard insert. $20.00 later I had my 3'x4' white wooden frame. I then ventured Home Depot where the staff there was so awesome, and helped me find a pegboard, and even cut it to the size of my frame for me. After playing in the pegboard "hook" aisle for -according to the boredom of my children and husband- way too long, I had what I needed, for a total of $7.58.

Once I got home I pulled out some left over bright pink chalkboard paint that I had from another project, and went to town. *Word of advice: Pegboards have holes, so place something UNDER it in order to avoid polka dotting your work surface. ;)*

Just as in Martha's Video, I painted two coats of paint on the board. Let it dry and placed it in it's frame. I then hung the framed organizer, just as I would hang a picture on the wall, in my work space. 

Keep in mind when hanging your pegboard, that the frame and board will be heavy, and depending on what you will be using your organizer for, you will want to buy the appropriate anchors and hooks. I purchased a set of 50lb picture hangers from Target ($2.50), to ensure that my board and tools would be properly supported. During this project I discovered that my phone had a level in it so I could tell if the board was straight or not. Thank you Apple! What will you think of next! ;)

 

As a little bonus, I decided to paint the leftover piece of pegboard (the staff at Home Depot gave me the scarp piece after they cut my board to size), for an extra organizer. I originally wanted to frame this piece, but couldn't find a frame to match the larger board. So I ended up using 'Pegboard' hardware to hang it on the wall. This hardware allows it to hang on the wall with enough space for the hooks to inserts and move about.

And Tada! For less than $40.00 I created an organization system above my desk! The thing I love the most is that I can write on it with chalk! Hehehe! I'm such a kid at heart!

Thanks for reading! If you happen to create your own organizer, make sure you share it with us! We'd love to see it.

Who am I?

Who am I? What do I represent?

I am a believer in magic. I am a believer in the good in life, the positive in life, the wonderful things about life. I am a giver, a doer, I want the best for everyone and everything.

I love music, the way it transforms the soul, has the ability to see into ones pain, mystery, love, hate, happiness, and massage and nurture it.

I love the beauty in nature around us. The beauty in the amazing creatures that roam the earth along side us.

I love food, the wonder behind combining simple ingredients to create magnificent flavors that dance across the taste buds.

I love, love. The idea that you can selfishly give yourself to other human beings, and the romance of a true and passionate romantic relationship.

I love to create. I love the magic of imagining something amazing, then using your own hands to bring it to life.

I love dreams. I love seeing people imagine wonderful things for themselves, or closing my eyes and imagining the impossible, and know that if I can dream it, I can truly do it.


So what's The Lovely Little Things?

Just that. A combination of all the things I love about life, in one wonderful little place I created. Life is about taking the time to smell the roses, enjoy the simple things, and most importantly, relish the little things. It's always the little things that make us smile.

The Lovely Little Things Boutique is a collection of the little things I've created that make me smile, that excite me, that bring to life a little magic.

Like butterflies, the items in The Lovely Little Things Boutique start off small (an idea), and with love and nurturing they become the adorable things you see before you. So go one, enjoy the little things!

It has been a while my friends!

Being the creator of such cute things can make life very busy at times (not leaving much time for blogging, unfortunately), but I promise to work harder to bring you more awesome behind the scenes stuff.

We had a very busy spring as we created items for birthday parties, end of year parties, pictures and more. Two of the items I made this spring are my mental pride and joys at the moment.

This Hungry Caterpillar Inspired Dress created for one of my sweet models for her little brothers birthday party:

And this Belle Inspired Dress created for a princess birthday party:

I love them, and feel so proud of myself. LOL

After the spring rush I took a bit of a break because I was feeling overwhelmed and stretched very thin. During the break my girls and I had lots of pool and beach time, a few playdates, movie dates, lots of Popsicles and some pretty amazing chalk drawings. It has been a great little break. 

As I prepare to get back on the saddle for Lovely Little Things, I've been feeling a bit torn. A part of me wonders if maybe my time with the business is done, or if I just need to do something new and exciting. I lack the same fiery passion I had when I started. Though, I do get that little sense of pixie dust magic when I create a new dress, and ideas for new items continually flood my mind. It's still missing a bit of something for me. I believe I have a bit of searching and figuring out to do. Just as in life, as we try to decide what path is the path destined for us, I guess the same is for business. We have to decide the next move to keep us fresh, relevant, and a step ahead of the competition. 

Somewhere in the midst of all that planning, I will find my fire. :) In the meantime I will play and enjoy this beautiful summer up here in the Northeast! 

iHeart Organizing

Sorry for the delay in posting. Things get kind of hectic around here sometimes. Operating a business, being a mommy of 2 under 3, staying on top of daily activities, as well as all of children's activities can really become overwhelming at times. For me the best way to handle things is to stay ORGANIZED! To update my calendars and sync it with my husband, try to plan meals and snacks so I don't have to run to the store a million times a week, and wallpaper my walls with post it notes. LOL! :)

Recently, while hanging out on pinterest looking for ways to better organize my daughters ever growing toy collection I came across the blog iHeart Organizing. The blog was filled with wonderful organizing tips, but the thing that stuck out to me, was her household management binder. Talk about AMAZING! I mean why haven't I hear of these before? One should be passed out to each couple as a wedding gift! I'm telling you AMAZING! So after spending 2 days reading her various post about the binder, and researching other similar binders, I decided to create my own. If you know me personally you know how much I love creating forms and spreadsheets, so for the next 3 days I was in 'get organized heaven'.


I started with my cover sheet, creating something neutral toned that my husband wouldn't mind looking at, and with little stars, because well... we are all stars in my book. ;)

I then added a pocket to hold my coupon pouch, pencils, a calculator, a dry erase marker and at some point our check books.

After that I created my first section, Household. In this section I have a sheet 'Important Information' that list all the important numbers we call regularly. This saves us the time of looking things up online when we need to. (GENIUS! I KNOW!!!)

I also have a page of little pockets to put all those business cards that tend to clutter the fridge, my purse, and get scattered around the house. 

I then created an automobile log, so we can keep track of car maintenance without trying to shuffle through glove compartments for service receipts. 

Next, I added the important date sheet followed by a pocket folder so that I can keep track of family important dates, relative birthdays, and so on, I added a pocket after this sheet so I can keep cards that I find throughout the year for those occasions!

In this section I also have a password log for our various shared accounts password and user names, there is a family wish list, and a family outing ideas sheet; This way we can keep track of these thoughts and ideas. Lastly, this section has a household cleaning plan, and a household maintenance schedule, that way everyone knows what needs to be done, and when so they can possibly lend a helping hand if they have time.

The next section I created is our finance section. This section has a Finance Checklist that list the bills that need to be paid that month, and when they are due. No more hunting my hubby down, or calling companies for due dates. I also have our monthly budget sheet, and our savings plan. My husband and I sit down at the end of each month and determine what our budget for the next month should be and determine what we should do with any extra money.

The last section is Food. In this section I have a freezer inventory sheet so that I can plan meals according to what I currently have; a meal planner sheet so that I can try to shop more efficiently and ensure that I am cooking lots of healthy meals for the family instead of eating out when things get super busy in the week; and baseball card pockets for coupons! I also plan on hole-punching and placing a few favorite recipes in this section for easy access.

Lastly, the binder has a 'To-Do' pocket where I place things that need my attention, a tab for school newsletters and dance class related items, and of course any good organizational tool wouldn't be complete without that wonderful "Misc" section. ;)

I am so excited about this binder! What would you put in yours if you created one?