Category Archives: How to’s

6 Ways to Find More Free Time

February 11, 2016How to'sbusy life hack, hobbies, me time, passion, scheduling, time managementBeth Berger

A few months ago I conducted a reader survey to find out more about the folks dropping by. I asked a myriad of questions but the one which garnered answers I found the most illuminating was, “What challenges are you currently facing in your life?” There were certainly some trends. Overwhelmingly, answers discussed difficulties with carving out spaces for self-care, new interests/passions, and hobbies. This is a tough one. It’s tough to create time for yourself amidst a busy schedule.

A couple weeks ago I talked about how and why to invest in yourself, but how do we create those little pockets of time in our day to do so? How do we make time to do it all? While my answers to these difficult questions are certainly a matter of “practice what you preach,” I hope they’ll still prove helpful.

1. Track your time

Spend a few days with a pen and paper (or the Notes app on your phone) by your side and keep tabs on yourself. This is a great way to visualize your day from a new perspective and find moments that went unused, under-used, or used in a way that didn’t necessarily serve you. Pockets of time may rise to the surface once you actually have to write down “Scrolled through Instagram feed from 7:46pm-8:17pm” or when you notice you cooked really elaborate meals 5 days in a row instead of eating up the multitude of leftovers in your fridge (and you don’t even like cooking!)

2. Find things that fill you up

It’s a lot easier to make time for or prioritize your passions. If you’re having trouble identifying things you’re passionate about then definitely check out this post. Still at a loss? Pay attention to what others are passionate about and see if it sparks a little joy in you, too. When a friend beams when discussing a dance class, and you love to dance, see if you can tag along. Once you’ve identified a few loves, schedule them! Pencil them into your planner each week and stick to it.

3. Stop making comparisons

One of the quickest ways to guarantee a “full plate” is by looking to other’s lives and drawing comparisons. We see someone else doing x, y, and z and suddenly we feel the need to pile those things on our To Do list along with a, b, and c. I find this especially prevalent in the social media age. Friends who post about jet-setting to another country, keeping up a fabulously decorated house, and doing wonderfully creative things litter my newsfeed. And that’s fantastic! But as soon as my feelings go from “How awesome for them!” to “Shouldn’t I be doing these things too?!?” — I need to click that unfollow button. You can’t compare what someone else is doing if it’s their passion and not yours. Don’t pile a bunch of unnecessary crap onto your life for the sake of keeping up with the Jones’s.

6. Multi-task!

On average a person spends 45 to 62 minutes waiting every single day. Waiting in traffic, waiting in line at the grocery, waiting on hold, etc., etc. Add to that some of the more mindless activities we have to do to live our lives (Think: walking from Point A to Point B, blowdrying hair, chopping vegetables, folding laundry.) and you’ve just stumbled upon a whole bunch of untapped potential. Are there things you could be doing in these extra minutes that might bring you some joy? Could you multi-task in a more fruitful way than just pulling out your phone? How about bringing a podcast along for that morning commute or how about always having a book on hand in case you have to wait in line!

7. Say “No!”

I talked about saying “no” in this post but there are more than just financial reasons for doing so. Doing it all and saying “yes” to all sorts of invitations and obligations can cut into much needed free time, too. The same principles apply though. If you’re worried that saying no means you’ll never get asked to do anything EVER again!!! I think the best way to combat this is with honesty. Tell whomever extended the invite what circumstances are causing you to pass on this particular invitation. Giving them context lets them know that your answer is “No, not right now.” and not “No, NEVER!”

8. Ask for help from loved ones

Let those you hold near and dear know that you’re working toward a more balanced, joy-filled life. They can help hold you accountable by encouraging you to take time for the things you love once and awhile instead of just holing up with your work for hours on end. When someone else is asking you to go for a walk with them or encouraging you to spend some time scrapbooking instead of scraping dishes, these things will feel a lot more like a luxury than an item on a To Do list. An item that can easily get pushed to the bottom of the page or even eliminated completely.

Have any tips for carving out some free time in a full-to-bursting schedule? What’s your favorite way to spend your hard-earned, well-deserved time? Share below!

(Photo of Natalie Wood and her dog, circa 1950s)

Meal Planning for Beginners in 7 Easy Steps

February 4, 2016Food, How to'sbeat decision fatigue, breakfast ideas, dinner ideas, lunch ideas, make a plan, meal prep, organization, pack your lunch, snack ideasBeth Berger

Think you’re too broke, too lazy, or too culinary clueless for meal planning? Think again! Follow these 7 steps and you’ll be well on your way to an easy week of meals.

1. Choose 2 breakfasts.

Select two breakfast options. One will bear the brunt of your breakfasting so you’ll want to choose something that’s quick, filling, and economical. I don’t think anything fits that bill better than oatmeal but of course toast, smoothies, or cereal are great options as well. The other breakfast is more of a treat. When it comes to the broke, lazy, and clueless categories listed above; I fall into the lazy camp. So a treat for me would be greek yogurt with a few toppings (like granola and fruit). It takes even less time to prepare than my ol’ work-horse oatmeal but it’s also not as cheap. Therefore, I would choose it as my secondary option. You could of course get fancier with pancakes, omelettes, or whatever you like. But just stick to two for the week!

2. Pack your lunch.

Plan to bring your lunch along to work or school. This will keep you from dipping into your pocketbook for restaurant or cafeteria fare but will also make sure you have a healthy option on hand. You can control your food’s ingredients if YOU are the one who prepares it. Below is an example of a work-week’s worth of lunches. Think of your packed lunches as a puzzle with three parts:

An entree – like a salad or sandwich
A fruit or veggie side
Something extra to help keep you full – like a protein or healthy fat

3. Use leftovers whenever possible.

Incorporate leftovers from your dinners into your lunches whenever possible. Salads are great for this. Throw some leftover taco filling on top of some greens and veggies and you’ve got a taco salad! Or include a smaller portion of the protein or veggie you had for dinner as one of your side items.

Weekend lunches are more of a free-for-all without a set plan. Dedicate these meals to eating up the rest of your leftovers! Or if you’ve done a really great job on using them up throughout the week, take the opportunity to treat yourself. (More on that below!)

4. Plan a week of dinners and REPEAT.

Now I know this might seem crazy. But if you fall into one (or all) of the broke, lazy, and clueless categories then consider how helpful this may be. Choose 7 possible meals that you can cycle through week after week. Perhaps this sounds limiting but I really believe in decision fatigue. Especially where the daily 4 o’clock “Oh God, what am I gonna have for dinner?” question is concerned. Why not make it easy on yourself? Now I’m not saying you pick 7 recipes and make those recipes to the LETTER over and over for the rest of all time. Select meals that allow you to expand or simplify as needed. Meals that allow you to switch it up when you want to or stick to old, tried and true favorites when you’re exhausted and over it. Let’s go through the examples below…

Spaghetti – This is a dish I can make with my eyes closed so it’s perfect for Monday nights. If I feel like switching it up I can use my spiralizer to make zucchini noodles or I can switch out the ground beef/turkey for veggies. I could make meatballs or a traditional bolognese or even a lentil bolognese. I can have the spaghetti with a big salad or breadsticks or even a caprese.
Beans & Rice – I can alternate between a Cajun style and a Cuban style. I could do baked beans and switch the rice out for toast. I can serve any of these with a side of whatever veggie is on sale or in season.
Breakfast for Dinner – Scrambled eggs with fruit and toast or biscuits. Blueberry waffles or pancakes with bacon and yogurt. The possibilities are endless (and cheap) and everyone has their favorites when it comes to breakfast.
Tacos – You can do hard tacos or soft, tacos in a bowl (ie. haystacks), or everything served over chips instead of in a shell. Taco salads for a healthier spin. Keep them vegetarian or do them with pork, chicken, ground beef, or fish. There’s no paying extra for guac when you’re at home. Just whip some up!
Pizza – Topping choices galore so pick your poison! If you’re feeling especially not into it, pick up a frozen pizza or a pre-made but uncooked number from the deli at your grocery store. Or make it yourself. OR make it yourself on top of pita bread or bagels. Wanna up your veggie intake? Serve some crudites with ranch or hummus for dipping as a side.
Mac & Cheese – You might be feeling some comfort food on Saturdays. Mix butternut squash into the sauce or add peas. Make it super kid friendly with hot dogs or elevate it with bacon and caramelized onions.
Dinner on a board – Super easy and no cooking involved. A perfect way to ease into a new week. Think: Salami, cheeses, grapes, cornichons, crusty bread, etc. Yum!

You don’t have to use these meals/ideas. Create your own! And you can always switch them out or around as needed just in case you get bored or want to expand your horizons.

5. Find a few snacks that suit you.

Better to be prepared than suffer later! Just like with breakfast you’ll want to choose a few options for the week. I like to choose one that’s customizable and economical, like popcorn. Super cheap and you can make it sweet, savory, or spicy for whatever you’re feeling when the snacking urge hits. Then I like to choose another option that’s quick and filling. This is what you’ll pull out in case you’re HANGRY. My go-to for this is Lara bars but any sort of throw-it-in-your-bag snack would work. I also like to keep some bananas or baby carrots on hand for something healthy to munch on.

6. Commit to making one dessert item a week.

You can munch on whatever you make all week, serve it to unexpected guests or save it to bring with you to an event or for someone’s birthday at work. No need to get crazy… think: chocolate chip cookies, brownies, no bakes, simple cupcakes, fruit pies or crumbles. I share Michael Pollan’s belief that if you make it at home it’s probably not all that bad. Let’s not kid ourselves. You’re gonna want dessert. So, plan for it, make it at home, and then enjoy!

(recipe via Food Network.)

7. Treat yourself.

Finally, find ways to “go out to eat” that don’t involve the full-on dinner, drinks, and dessert rigamaroll. Complete restriction is a recipe for failure. Here are some ideas:

Treat yourself to a nice coffee on the weekend over a good book or the newspaper.
Treat yourself to an after-work happy hour drink for a catch-up chat with a co-worker or friend.
Treat yourself to a supermarket lunch on Saturday afternoon. Think: salad bar, sushi, or a deli sandwich. Maybe even grab a cookie from the bakery or a fresh piece of fruit. Wash it down with your favorite drink.
Treat yourself to an evening walk around your neighborhood that involves a quick stop-off at the ice cream parlor.

Choose one or two of these indulgences each week and you’ll find yourself much more capable of sticking to your plan.

Alright, over to you guys. Do you meal plan? Any tips you would add to this list?

Recipe: Easy Broccoli Soup

February 2, 2016Food, How to's5 ingredient recipe, dinner in a bowl, eat your veggies, soupBeth Berger

This soup is so easy to make it is insane and you’ll be kicking yourself for all those times you heated up a can of Campbell’s in the name of convenience. And because it’s mostly made up of produce it’s super easy on the wallet too. Pair the finished product with a crusty slice of bread for a simple, week-night meal. I love the way broccoli tastes with loads of black pepper but you could also top your bowl with a mountain of shaved parmesan cheese or a dollop of sour cream for a hint of creaminess. Enjoy!

What you’ll need:

– 32 oz of chicken broth

– 2-3 heads of broccoli, cut into pieces

– olive oil

– 1 large or 2 small russet potatoes, peeled and chopped

– 1 onion, chopped

+ water, salt and pepper, and anything extra you’d like to use for topping!

And how it all comes together:

Heat some olive oil in your soup pot. When it gets hot add your chopped onion and some salt and pepper and cook until the onions get soft and fragrant.

Then, add your potatoes…

broccoli…

and finally the chicken stock. Add a few cups of water so that your liquid line is a couple inches below the top of the broccoli. Let the liquid come to a boil.

Cover the pot and simmer on low for about 15 minutes. The broccoli should still be a vibrant green color but also soft. Now you can go to town with an immersion blender.

*Note* If you don’t have an immersion blender you can blend everything up in small batches in a blender or food processor. Just make sure there’s a way for steam to escape.

Blend to your desired consistency. I like to leave mine a little chunky for a heartier, more rustic soup. But you do you.

Top according to your tastes and enjoy piping hot! Sure, it doesn’t look like much but MAN is it delicious.

Easy, peasy lemon-squeezy, right? Let me know if you give this one a try! Got any 5 ingredient recipes to recommend? Leave ’em below.

Invest in Yourself!

January 29, 2016How to's, Personalhappiness, identifying your passions, making time for yourself, self care, self love, self reflectionBeth Berger

It can be difficult in the midst of all life’s many commitments to find meaningful ways to invest in yourself and the things you love. Life is busy. How can we utilize the little pockets of time – tucked-in between work, relationships, and keeping dirty dishes from piling up – to their greatest effect? How do we know what will truly make us happy? What sorts of things are worth it? Worth giving of our time and of ourselves? The answers to these questions are highly personal but with a bit of reflection you can start to identify some areas. Once you do, COMMIT. Invest in yourself!

We do all sorts of things over the course of 365 days. But what did you do last year that you look back on with fondness? Maybe you recall knitting a gorgeous scarf for your sister or throwing a really rocking party. Whatever it was, the fact that you can remember it a year later and it STILL brings you joy means it’s probably a pursuit worth repeating. When I look back on the past 52 weeks, a lot of my fond memories involve outdoor adventures. Not anything complex or super planned. Just afternoon trips to nearby hiking trails, laying on a blanket in a park, walking through city streets casually stopping to admire architecture, and splashing out into the ocean. To invest in myself I need to play outside.

Action – Start brainstorming some memories from last year and make a list of those things you remember doing that still bring you joy.

Sometimes your path leads you down unexpected detours you must traverse with extra caution and care. When this happens, and times get tough, what sort of magic do you cloak yourself with to see yourself through to the light at the end of the tunnel? Whether you’re the sort of person who needs cheering up or relaxing or full-out distractions…what are the things that make you feel like YOU, that give you the tiniest sense of stability on those rocky detours? My journey has certainly veered a time or two. I’ve found walking to be the greatest compass to lead me back. Just the right mix of motion, introspection, and endorphins. I also love throwing myself into projects that require a lot of research. Solving lots of little mysteries to put together a bigger picture makes me feel useful and makes me feel like ME. To invest in myself I need to move my feet and move my mind.

Action – Journal about a tough time in your life and what sorts of things you turned to see yourself through. How did you stay in your magic?

Everyone has most likely uttered something to the effect of, “You wouldn’t understand unless you were ….”. Something that feels like a “Secret Society” because it is so unique to those involved in it. Maybe it sounds like you’re speaking a second language when you talk about it. Random story: The other day Chet borrowed my camera to take pictures of his new computer keyboard with custom keycaps. When I scrolled through his images I noticed there was a shot of his keyboard next to a shoe. Puzzled, he explained to me that it was common in the “keyboard community” to post pictures of your most used keyboard next to your most used shoes. LOL WHUT? ….but I love it! Just the fact that he knows that…and then DID it means he’s in a secret society that’s worth it for him. Secret societies let you see the big picture. One of my favorite secret societies is competitive forensics. I competed in speech & debate for 11 years and coached full-time for 3. I still love so many aspects of this world because these are my people and they speak my language. To invest in myself I need to spend time with my secret societies.

Action – Chat with a fellow secret society member about all the ways other people just wouldn’t understand.

My mind wanders to the most random things. I’m sure yours does, too. We’re dreamers after-all. It’s when patterns start to emerge in these thoughts that you should start taking note! Are you constantly thinking about a certain comedian? Art supplies? Clever hashtags for your Instgram? Are your thoughts drifting to hiking trails, dance routines, your favorite store, your favorite band, your next meal? Maybe there’s a reason. Maybe these thoughts are your flowers! I have a few go-to’s when it comes to day-dreaming and random Googling: capsule wardrobes, historical medical practices, tiny homes, backpacking, and obscure subcultures. An over-whelming need to DO something with these thoughts was one of the main reasons I started this blog. To invest in myself I need to spend time in my garden and pick a few flowers to share with others along the way.

Action – Identify three ways you can get recurring thoughts out of your head-space and into REAL space and then FOLLOW THROUGH! How can you spend time in your garden and share it’s beauty with others?

One of my favorite pieces of advice about finding ways to BE HAPPY is to look to your childhood. Looking at yourself as a child through adult eyes can be truly inspiring when it comes to where you should invest. What made you happy when you were little? How did you love spending your time when responsibilities were at a minimum and time seemed to stretch out into infinity? I loved making things out of cast-offs (I even told my parents I wanted to be a recycling lady when I grew up because I thought that meant turning trash into art), traveling (I was fortunate to see a LOT of places before my 18th birthday), dancing ballet, and reading lots and lots and LOTS of books. So what does that mean for me now? I like doing little DIY projects(like Pocket Letters) and exploring new-to-me places. I don’t go en pointe any more but an almost daily yoga practice makes me feel stretched and strong in much the same ways as ballet. And I read as much as I possibly can. To invest in myself I need to pay tribute to my child-self.

Action – Make a plan. What childhood favorite can you do daily? Weekly? Monthly? Set up a schedule and stick to it. Make your child-self proud!

—

What are you doing to invest in yourself TODAY? Is making time for yourself something you’re striving for in 2016? Leave a comment and let me know!

Recipe: Chicken Pad Thai Salad

January 28, 2016Food, How to'seasy dinner, food processor, pad thai, peanut sauce, spicy foods, vegetti noodlesBeth Berger

I’m a sucker for takeout Pad Thai. Realizing I hadn’t found a source for such things in Miami (YET!) and remembering that I know how to make a really delish Thai peanut sauce, I decided to whip up a little something, something to curb the craving. This particular taste for Thai coincided perfectly with receiving a GORGEOUS food processor from my mom at our belated Christmas celebration in St. Pete. Yes, you read that correctly. Food processors can be gorgeous! Especially when they can seamlessly whip up such delicious sauces as the one listed below. I’m so excited to tinker around with it further and quit bypassing all those pesky recipes that list “Put everything in a food processor and pulse” as a step like it ain’t no thang. Well…now, for me, IT AIN’T! HALLELOOOO! (Meanwhile, Chet noted that this new food processor speaks to my need to dirty every single dish we own whenever I make something…but that’s a story for another time.)

This salad is a lighter version of traditional Pad Thai because it utilizes veggies as the base. Great for those (rare) times when you don’t want a heaping helping of carbs. Throw some additional protein on top (we went for chicken) or leave it off. Either way, you’re gonna love this salad! You MIGHT even prefer it to the greasy takeout version… *gasp*

What you’ll need:

For the “noodles”…

– 1 large or 3 small zucchini/s

– 1 carrot

– 1 1/2 cups of bean sprouts

– a few green onions

For the sauce…

– 4 Tbsps peanut butter

– 1 lime, juiced

– small knob of ginger

– clove of garlic

– 2 Tbsps soy sauce

– 1 tsp of oil, preferably sesame

– 1 tsp honey

– 1/2 Tbsp chili flakes

-water, as needed to reach desired consistency

For toppings…

– cooked chicken breast (Note: tofu would also be awesome!)

– avocado

– sesame seeds

-more chili flakes

and how it all comes together:

– In a food processor or blender, mix all the sauce ingredients lists above (except the water) until blended. Add water a tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired creaminess.

– Reserve some of the sauce to cook your chicken with and set all sauce aside.

– With a vegetable spiralizer create “noodles” from the zucchini/s and carrot. Toss these in a bowl along with the bean sprouts and some chopped green onions. Add peanut sauce and toss to coat.

– Cut some chicken breasts into strips and cook through on a pan or grill. Once cooked, add the reserved sauce and heat some more.

– Divvy up the saucy “noodles” and top each bowl with chicken strips, slices of avocado, sesame seeds, and chilli flakes/sriracha. (Note: I like salads with warm protein on top. If you prefer a consistent temperature for all ingredients you could chill everything in the fridge together before serving.)

– Enjoy!

DIY: Picture Frame Desk Organizer

January 26, 2016DIY, How to'scollege student care package, desk, Dollar Tree DIY, gift for co-workers, gift for teachers, lazy girl project, office, stationery addict, thrifty craftingBeth Berger

If you’ve been peeping around these parts for the last couple months then it is no secret that I’m having a bit of a love affair with Dollar Tree. I love making super simple DIY’s but I hate spending a ton of money. Add to that the fact that I discovered Pocket Letters and suddenly I’m jonesing to go to DT every other week for craft supplies and stationery finds.

In need of a new project, I decided to see if I could create an inexpensive gift to dress up a desk. I came up with a desk organizer made from a picture frame and some fabric. This would make a really cute gift for the teachers in your life. Or shipped off to a dorm dwelling college student. Or to welcome a new co-worker to the office! The best part? It allows you to tuck in a few stationery goodies you think the receiver might enjoy. Something that Dollar Tree is PERFECT for. So, check it out! Here’s how to make a Picture Frame Desk Organizer for six bucks…

What you’ll need:

Besides a couple materials I had on hand, scissors and glue, here’s what I picked up at Dollar Tree…

8″x10″ picture frame
metallic gel pens
post-it notes (how stinking cute are these???)
notebook
2 fabric place-mats (Note: You could just use any ol’ fabric. But if you do, you’ll need to create a sturdy edge for the pockets by folding the top down and sewing a border. I’m lazy and wanted to limit my materials to Dollar Tree items. If you’re like me, go for the place-mats or fabric napkins!)
envelopes

and how it all comes together:

Take the picture frame apart. You won’t need the glass or that lovely (fake) family portrait.

Cut a piece of the place-mat to fit the frame. This is the back piece so you won’t need to worry about borders. Just make sure it fits well.

Note my “Fabric Only” scissors. #classy

Now cut two additional pieces WITH BORDERS on the top edge to serve as pockets. Leave a little bit of room on either side so you can play with how much “give” your pockets will have. To do this, pop everything through the frame without securing it and run your finger through the pockets. Once you’ve loosened them to your liking, trim the edges.

Since you’re using a crappy Dollar Store frame you’re going to need some re-enforcement. I went in with my trusty E6000 glue all around the frame where the fabric will lay. I flipped the lined up fabric, cardboard, and frame backing over into the frame…

…then I removed the frame backing and put some glue on it as well. (Note: You’ll see above that there’s a piece of cardboard half the size of the frame. This frame didn’t come with the cardboard that a lot of frames do so I just cut my own out of an Amazon box. If your frame comes with cardboard I would recommend cutting it down so it only lays above the pockets. This will balance everything out while still letting you get the frame closed.)

Squeeze everything tight while the glue dries! Or, if you want to (again) follow my lazy lead, you can use giant binder clips. (I weirdly get a TON of use out of these clippy dudes.)

Once the glue is dry you can fill up your creation with all sorts of goodies! Feel free to embellish the fabric and pockets with sewing notions or cute pin-back buttons if you like.

I was having way too much fun thinking about other stuff you could tuck in your desk organizer so I put this “look” together too…

…highlighters, crayons…and who wouldn’t love a Starbucks gift card clipped on front? You could also include paper clips, pencils, tablets, paintbrushes, cards, stationery paper, letter opener, book-marks. The possibilities are endless!

What do you think? Who would you gift with this little DIY? What would you tuck inside? Do you have any other cheap and easy crafts you think make great gifts?

6 Clever Ways to Use Glass Jars in the Kitchen

January 14, 2016Every day life, How to'scut the plastic, kitchen hacks, mason jar addict, reduce reuse recycle, tiny kitchenBeth Berger

Do you use glass jars in your kitchen? I can’t help but to save every glass jar that comes through ours. There always seems to be a way to re-use every one! And I love stocking up on mason jars of all sizes. We use them to meal prep, store leftovers, make pretty decorations, and as drinking glasses. In case you need some inspiration, here are 6 more clever ways to use glass jars in your kitchen…

Create a soap dispenser and buy your liquid soap in bulk. It looks more adorable anyways and you can cut down on plastic packaging.

Store your spices. This is a great way to re-use baby food jars if you’ve got a little one.

Grow a counter-top herb garden. You’ll get to top your dishes with kitchen-grown parsley and basil. What could taste better?

Store your dry goods — like sugar, flour, beans, pastas, and coffee. If you shop the bulk bins you can bring your jars along to the store and take everything home in the same containers they’ll be stored in. (Just don’t forget to weigh them empty first so your cashier can subtract the tare!) Pretty enough to display proudly on open shelving and you’ll always know how much you have left!

Use larger jars to store your cooking utensils (whisks, spatulas, wooden spoons, etc). If you’re in a tiny apartment where kitchen drawer space is at a premium, you could even keep your eating utensils in jars right on your table. Setting the table will be a breeze!

Finally, my all time favorite way to use a jar in the kitchen… 1/2 gallon mason jar + immersion blender = a super inexpensive blender alternative that works just as well, is easier to clean, and takes up hardly any storage space.

What’s your favorite way to use glass jars? Do you have uses for them beyond the kitchen? Any other items you love to save and re-purpose? Share your ideas and tips below!

Making a beach kit!

January 12, 2016Every day life, How to's, Physicalbe prepared, beach life, Florida Winter, get outdoors, play outside, Vitamin DBeth Berger

One of the biggest perks to living in Miami is enjoying beautiful weather pretty much year round. Of course there’s all sorts of thunderstorms to contend with. But when it’s nice, it is niiiiice. Like throw on a pair of shorts and lounge by some water nice. Like never have to wear real shoes unless you really want to nice. Like pinch me is this vacation or is this real life….nice.

To take full and complete advantage, we’ve resolved to hit up our favorite beach on as many clear-sky Saturdays as possible. It’s an amazing way to re-charge the batteries and soak up some Vitamin D before heading back into the week.

We wake up on Saturday mornings, drink coffee, throw on clothes, load the car, pick up supplies along the way, and sit our butts in the sand as soon as humanly possible. BUT! Last week we decided we could expedite this process by creating a beach kit. We would simply keep a stock of needed items in the trunk of the car. Genius! This way, we can get out the door even faster and even make impromptu trips on non-planned beach days when the stars align and we find we have some time on our hands. Or when a beach pops out of nowhere just begging to be enjoyed (Hey, we’re in Florida. It happens!).

Our beach kit consists of…

A couple tote bags to hold our goodies
beach towels
water bottles to fill up at the water fountain and stay hydrated
sunglasses
beach reads (a juicy novel, magazine, or a fascinating autobiography)
mp3 player in case we don’t want to get phones sandy and wet but still want to jam
flip flops
bathing suits
fold-up camp chairs
mini rolling cooler so we can stop by a store for food and ice
fishing poles

Now, I know this post may seem a little out of the realm of your own possibility. Most of the country is experiencing a little thing called WINTER, you might be saying! I understand. But I still think a little preparation goes a long way in making sure you actually get outside as much as possible.

When I was further north I can remember, especially in Winter, wanting to capitalize on those rare and beautiful sunny days whenever they reared their lovely heads. I would sit at work in my nice clothes wanting nothing more than to be strolling in a park or hitting a hiking trail. But by the time my work day was through and I ran home to put sneakers and “play clothes” on…the sun would be setting, the temperature dropping. If only I had kept a spare pair of shoes and pants in my car!

Consider what outdoor activity you may like to do a little more of this winter and make doing it as easy as possible. Throw your hiking boots in the trunk! Keep a soccer ball in your office! Put your roller-blades by the front door!

Let’s all play outside more in 2016.

A Pocket Letter How-To

January 4, 2016DIY, How to'sbusy hands, dollar tree, happy mail, paper crafts, pocket letters, scrapbooking, stationery addict, stickers, washi tapeBeth Berger

Confession time. I’m a little bit addicted to going down weird rabbit holes on YouTube. I could watch people tell me about what’s in their handbags, how they prep meals for the week, and what a day in their life looks like FOR HOURS. But recently I followed a rabbit hole on a path that looked a little bit like this…

Christmas craft tutorial —> Dollar Tree Haul —> Pocket Letter “Unpocketing”

Hold the phone. Pocket Letters? Say what?!

Fast forward about an hour (in which I clicked video after video about these little mail goodies) and I was obsessed. Essentially, Pocket Letters are an adorable platform to send mail to your “pals” by way of a 3 x 3 playing card page protector. You decorate each pocket however you like and tuck little stationery goodies on the back. How. cute. is. that?!

Here’s the thing…I’ve always loved the idea of scrap-booking. Even the new trend of glam-planning looks like it would be a really fun crafting outlet. But my problem lies with the commitment. I can’t reconcile the fact that I would have to keep up with something consistently for an entire year in order to come away with an end product. Pocket Letters seemed like a cool alternative. A way to flex the same artistic muscles while also providing an excuse to send some beautiful mailbox love. I also LOVE patterned paper, stickers, washi tape, and all sorts of cute stationery supplies! (Read: I love having an excuse to buy them.)

I’ve made two Pocket Letters so far and can’t wait to make more! If you’re interested, here’s how I do it…

I purchased the page protectors on Amazon. To act as the background for each pocket, I got patterned paper from Target. Most of the videos I watched about PL’s recommended getting paper in a 6″x 6″ size because the patterns are more to scale for the size of your pockets. So I went with that advice. You can also find this sort of paper at Wal-mart, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc. I picked out the patterns I wanted and cut them to size for the pockets, 2 1/2″x 3 1/2″.

Next comes the fun part, decorating each pocket! I found the easiest (and quickest) way to affix all the decorative elements on to each page was to use an adhesive runner. Everything I used either came from Dollar Tree, the dollar section at Target or I already had it on hand.

Finally, a big part of PL’s is including samples of your stationery stash for your pal to enjoy. These little pieces get tucked in, along with the all-important letter, and then the Pocket Letter is ready to ship!

Wanna see more? Keep scrollin’!

Pocket #1. I used some plain paper with my patterned paper as an accent and included some fabric tape I had on hand and a puffy owl sticker from Dollar Tree. I also stamped the top with alphabet stamps from Target Dollar Spot. On the back is a little bookmark to write down books read in December.

Pocket #2. Samples of page flags act as the main decoration with a little bit of ribbon accent at the top. On the back is a sample of post-it notes.

Pocket #3. Adhesive label, pretty ribbon, puffy sticker from the same sheet as the owls. On the back is a sample of a couple of washi tapes. To make sure the recipient can use the washi, make sure to wrap it around something with a glossy finish or some plastic.

Pocket #4. I have a huge atlas in my craft box that I bought for this project. So I cut a little section out from that and added some paper hearts. On the back are more paper hearts and stars plus a tiny tin star ornament. The top of this pocket is washi taped down so these little pieces won’t fall out.

Pocket #5. The little square on this one is actually a cut out from a set of gorgeous sticker sheets from Dollar Tree. Topped off with another owl! A lot of PL’s include a tea in one pocket but the recipient of this one has enough tea to last a lifetime so I decided to include the sweetener instead. 😉

Pocket #6. I used plain purple paper as an accent and slapped a little magazine cut out of a New Orleans style building on top. The top corner is another square of sticker sheet topped off with a heart cut from the atlas. On the back I wound some ribbon around patterned paper and washi taped it in place. I was unsure about including this sample but I ended up loving how it looks.

Pocket #7. Another magazine cut out, a circle from the atlas, and an autumnal puffy sticker. At the top I folded washi tape through a paper clip and cut out a triangle. On the back are two bookplates (from my stash) and a few fox stickers (Dollar Tree).

Pocket #8. I cut some more sticker sheet into the shape of a gift tag to hint at what the goodie was for this one. I also cut out some of the shapes from the floral sticker sheet and made a little cluster for the top of the tag. The birch bark looking tags on the back are from the Target Dollar Spot.

Pocket #9. For my final pocket I included my letter which I folded up and tied with some ribbon. I also tucked in another owl sticker which I left on the backing so the recipient could use it.

Wanna see another one!? Of course you do…

Front:

Back:

Pocket #1. A cut out from the purple sticker sheet topped off with a greeting. I included several paper clip flags on this PL because I think they’re adorable. On the back are a couple book plates.

Pocket #2. I chose a magazine cut out of a compass as the focal point and accented it with fabric tape and a new travel-themed washi I recently procured from Dollar Tree. The orange binder clip holds a few stickers in place on the back and nestled at the bottom is a tiny card which I cut out from a larger card…more on that in a minute.

Pocket #3. More washi and more OWLS! These chip board babies are also from Dollar Tree just like their puffy counterparts. On the back are a few Christmas gift tags which I cut out from a box of cookies. I like that they’re bilingual.

Pocket #4. This is the letter pocket! I cut a greeting card in half to create a pocket sized card to write my letter inside. The other half of the card I cut down to make the tiny card in pocket 2. The card is from a set I got at Target Dollar Spot.

Pocket #5. I cut out some of the wood patterned paper to write a little positive affirmation and included some sticker tape and a chip board flower. On the back is a post-it note sample.

Pocket #6. This pocket is decorated with some burlap I had on hand and another paper clip flag. On the back are bobby pins because what gal couldn’t use more bobbies?

Pocket #7. Just a simple “to” and “from” pocket with some plain purple paper and sharpies. On the back is a fabric sticker that I thought matched this PL quite nicely.

Pocket #8. Look at those owls! (Maybe my next PL will branch away from owls but they’re so darn cute!) I also used sticker tape on the side and attached another paper clip flag. On the back I included a ribbon sample.

Pocket #9. Last but not least, an adhesive tag decorated with washi tape and a Christmas tree sticker. Since I was gifting this PL in lieu of a Christmas card I wrote “merry christmas” and included the year. On the back I included some band-aids as the last time I saw the recipient she needed one and didn’t have any in her apartment, lol.

To mail my Pocket Letters, I sent them flat in a standard, page size mailer but you could also fold them and send them in an envelope, like so…

Pocket Letters are super fun to make–calming handiwork that can be completed in one sitting–and they definitely brighten the receivers day! I’m so excited to continue making these in 2016!

Have you made any Pocket Letters? Or is this the first you’ve heard of the super cute mail goodies? Either way, if you’re interested in whipping one up and would like to swap with yours truly, do let me know in the comments below. Or if you would like to swap a PL from me for some other mail goodie from you, I’m totally open to that too! Let’s spread some postal positivity!!!

DIY: Peppermint Christmas Wreath (Under $25!)

December 15, 2015DIY, How to'sChristmas spirit, Dollar Tree DIY, door decoration, festive decorating, glue gun project, holiday craftBeth Berger

My friend Katie is a wreath making MVP! She once gifted me a gorgeous burlap and floral wreath she whipped up as a house-warming present and I’ve been a huge fan of her creations ever since! When she was in Miami visiting us recently, she mentioned she was planning to craft up a new Christmas door dec once she returned home. I asked if she’d be willing to show us all how she does it and she graciously agreed! Let’s have a look…

If you are like me and enjoy cheap (but maybe a little time/labor intensive) DIYs this wreath is the perfect way to spend a few hours on your next lazy weekend afternoon!

Materials Needed:

Hot glue gun and glue sticks – $5

Foam wreath in whatever size your heart desires -$10.00

As many peppermints as you want (you will need a lot) -$6.00

Red ribbon- $4.00

** I definitely recommend hitting up your local Dollar Tree for the peppermints and ribbon!

Step 1: Wrap red ribbon around the foam wreath. This isn’t mandatory but I think it looks better if the ribbon is what shows through the openings after the peppermints are glued on.

**I just used regular tape to secure the ribbon but hot glue works as well!

Step 2: Start gluing the peppermints in an outline around the wreath. I stuck to doing the front of the wreath but if you are feeling ambitious you can do a border on the top too!

Step 3: Keep on gluin’! You can continue gluing in a straight line pattern or you can do more of a bricked layout. Since not all of the peppermints are the exact same size it can get a little tricky but sometimes you just have to fake it till you make it.

Step 4: Wrap the ribbon around the wreath and peppermints however much/little you want. This part definitely isn’t a MUST but I think it makes the wreath look a little more polished.

Step 5: Tie a big-ass bow (or little-ass bow). You can find some great tutorials on tying different types of bows HERE.

Step 6: Hang the finished wreath on your door and bask in the envy of your neighbors.

Isn’t it adorable, you guys?! Thank you so much for showing us how it’s done, Katie! Everyone go grab a glue gun and let’s make our doors a little bling! What do ya say?