Super Cleaning Powers

Yes. That is correct. I have recently developed SUPER cleaning powers. And it's thanks to this amazing thing called baking soda and Ceara from DIYConfessions. I will most likely be eternally grateful to both! 

Story time:I moved into my first apartment ever a few months ago. This wasn't a brand new apartment, so it had of course housed a few other people. Mostly though, it's really clean. But I'm a tad OCD and there was one area that was not clean enough for me: The Kitchen Sink. 

Yes, it was a little grimy and filled with black scratch marks and waters stains all over. It was driving me nutty.. I didn't get a before picture, sadly, but I'm sure you can imagine, especially if you've ever rented an apartment or house. 

I went on a hunt for a cleaning solution, and I found a recipe from DIYConfessions for a natural water stain remover. Now, I didn't have a great big spray bottle to mix the ingredients in like she did, so I justput in varying amounts of the three ingredients in a little dollar spray bottle: 

1. White Vinegar
2. Lemon Juice
3. Dish Soap

This mix works pretty well alone, but if you want to see some real magic (which, who doesn't want to see cleaning related magic?) Follow these steps:

1. Mix spray
2. Sprinkle baking soda over trouble zones
3. Spray with the stain remover mix
4. Let bubble up in cleaning goodness
5. Scrub away the grime!

And you're done! For less troubling areas that just need a little bit of TLC, you can just let the baking soda sprayed with the mix sit for a few minutes and then rinse away.

Enjoy your new super cleaning powers! You'll feel the need to wear a cape while cleaning now, trust me.

My New Home (Sneak Peak!)

Hello m'dears! As of this past Monday I began moving into my first apartment! Awfully exciting, I know. I have been storing up ideas for this moment in my life for YEARS now, both in magazine cutouts with my "idea book" and the new and epic Pinterest (my 'ideas for my space board' for example) which has made it so much easier, as I used to just have to store pictures and links on my computer.

So anyway...I was excited! I mean tripping over myself with anticipation excited. And now I am here! It's not finished up yet, or really read to share as I still have piles of shoes and clothes on the ground, boxes to be emptied, and things to organize. BUT I wanted to share a few little sneak peaks at my new digs for your viewing pleasure. Take a gander! And if you want some even bigger peaks into my place, follow Hello Lovely on Facebook; I will be putting up a few extras there like my fantastic couch! But otherwise enjoy the preview:

 

 

Stay Lovely,
Katelin

Adventures in Thrifting

One of my New Year's goals* was to work on thrifting. I know people in real life and on the blogisphere that are awesome at it and had the most fantastic and unique things, from clothing to furniture, because they were great at thrift shopping. I love the idea of having unique stuff AND it is (usually) cheaper.

So I've dabbled here and there, not finding much worth sharing honestly. But this weekend I went to visit a friend in Cedar Rapids (Iowa) and we went to a store I had found online called 1st Class Finds and wanted to check out. It is by far the absolute best second-hand/thrift/vintage store I have found yet. The owner had everything it seemed like! Really great stuff. I wanted like fifty different things, but tried to stay financially concious and just bought one item. One amazing item!

This Italian made, unique, triangular table that doubles as a music box when opened for just $25 (hopefully I'll add more pictures later or on the Hello Lovely Facebook page)

 

Some other great finds at 1st Class Finds (sorry for no prices**):

Vintage radio. Would look great on a bookshelf or table!

Traveling bar briefcase!

Couldn't decide if this was a blanket or a rug but it was gorgeous

 

My friend and I also went to another thrift shop in the Czech Village that had some interesting stuff but was a tad overpriced. These awesome blocks were $3 per block.

But they also had some fantastic military wear that is worth keeping an eye on. Including jackets from Vietnam for just $10 and tons of authentic patches and medals.

*I don't make resolutions but call them goals. "Resolution" makes me feel like a failed if I don't do it, since it means I resolved to do something.
**I'll try do do better at pictures and pricing next time I go on a thrift adventure.

Craft Day (part 2)

Megan had a bunch of ideas for what she wanted to do on craft day. She ended up choosing two, a set of burlap place mats and an "I Love You Because" frame. Her inspiration for the place mats came from Cottage and Vine and the board came from A Content Housewife. Take a look at how she did!

Megan's Projects
Burlap Placemats
These weren't the easiest project of the day for sure, mostly because burlap, as it turns out, is a frustrating thing to work with. But they turned out great!

 

She put some clear craft glue along the edges to prevent the burlap from continuing to fall apart. What's really nice is that you can still see the words when you put a plate on them.

I Love You Frame

Megan got married a bit over a year ago, and she loved the idea of doing this I Love You Because frame for her and her husband to write on now and again. I was apparently working on my project the entire time she made hers, so I didn't get any in-the-process photos. But it's just a matter of a printer, a pretty piece of paper, a frame, and some fabric and glue. The fabric flowers were the most difficult part, for sure. Here's the end result, looks great:

 

Stay Lovely,

Katelin

Craft Day (part 1)

This post is late in coming, but in February my sisters, mom, and I had a craft day together! My sisters, Megan and Courtney, have been inspired by Pinterest to start doing some DIY decor and other crafts. Megan started a few projects on her own, including this chalkboard, before suggesting we have a craft day. I had been wanting to have one for ages, so I was all on board.

Courtney's Project
Courtney found this project on Two Girls Being Crafty Blog. Lovely right? She has been slowly adding some things here and there to her home decor and thought this would be a great addition to her dining room/kitchen area. She did awesome! It looks fantastic. All it takes is a canvas, spray paint, a marker, paint, and round sponge paint brushes. Then, get to work!

Stay Lovely,
Katelin

Apartment Wish List: Cloth Napkins/Tea Towels

I will be getting an apartment soon, so I have been looking around for some things that I would really like to have to use once I do. One thing on my list is cloth napkins/tea towels. I've been looking around to see if I can find anything great. Here are a few I've found so far:

Little Birds Boutique

Hampton Jewels

JAQS Studio

Atelier LZC Guirlande and Oiseaux Tea Towels