monday {three things: binders}

for my "three things" today i want to talk about three specific ways i use binders and plastic sheet protectors as organizational tools:

car binder / my dad is really knowledgeable about cars but since he lives over a thousand miles away i can't rely on him to tell me when to get my oil changed or when i last got my tires rotated and balanced.  this binder helps me to take more initiative in keeping my car in good repair.  included in it is the bill of sale, insurance policy, receipts for supplies that i've bought with the date {ex: the cabin air filter model and when it was replaced}, or maintenance/service that has been done.  my dad gave me a list of recommended maintenance schedules, and i have that right in the front with business cards of my go-to shops and any coupons i've come across that are good to hang on to.  speaking of coupons...

coupon binder / this is my favorite.  you guys know i am a big couponer, right?  there are many ways to coupon and keep your coupons organized and this is what works best for me. each type of food is in its own compartment in the plastic sheet.  in the front i have all of my target coupons and any match-ups.  i usually go through it with the advertisements when i am planning a shopping trip and pull out any coupons i want to use or think i'll use, but sometimes i bring the entire binder with me to the store in case i see something that is a good deal that i might also have a coupon for.  i also have a small accordion-style coupon organizer from the $1 section at target that i carry with me at all times where i keep coupons to joann's, restaurants, target apparel coupons, or other random coupons i come across that i may end up using before they expire.

recipe binder / i had been comparing prices for sheet protectors on amazon for a while so i could make a recipe binder for recipes we tear out of magazines we subscribe to or that i print from online.  sheet protectors are expensive so i was thrilled when i found this entire binder full for just $1.99 at the goodwill.  it is a great system.  i have it organized by meal/entree and the recipe stays nice & clean in the sheet protector when cooking - i actually like to take the plastic page out of the binder and tape it on the front of a cabinet so both my sister and i can easily glance at it when we're cooking.  this is the best way so far that i've come up with to keep printed recipes and recipes from magazines organized and for me it's fun to flip through when i'm trying to dream up ideas for dinner!


do you have similar binders or could you see yourself using any of these binders in your own life to keep organized?  if you have any questions about how i use any of these binders or have ideas of your own i'd love to hear!

monday {three things: three c's}

for my "three things" post today i want to talk about three things that keep me feeling comfortable, confident, and clean.  they may seem like no-brainers, but i use each of these things nearly every day!

1) baby powder: i like to sprinkle baby powder inside my shoes and on my feet in the morning--maybe it's just me {or maybe it's not just me but this is something we fashion bloggers don't like to talk about!} but my feet tend to get sweaty & sticky in the summer.  baby powder coats my feet and allows them to slide into my heels or flats easier so my feet don't stick and helps to absorb sweat during the day and keep my feet a little fresher.  do you ever use baby powder for this purpose?

2) slips: i wear a slip every time i wear a dress or skirt unless one is already built in.  for me, they provide an added layer of protection against static cling, gusts of wind, or slightly see-through fabrics and help me to feel more confident when i wear skirts and dresses.  i definitely swear by them, especially in the winter when i wear tights so the inside of my skirts don't cling against the material of the tights.  do you wear slips?

3) baby wipes:  i know, another item from the baby aisle?  hear me out:  i think baby wipes are quite the inventive product as they have so many different purposes, even if you're not a mom.  i use them to wipe down the inside and outsides of my shoes to remove any dirt {or baby powder remains!} to keep them in good condition.  they're also pretty handy for lazy ladies like me to remove make-up at night.  do you have any other uses for baby wipes--that is, aside from cleaning a baby's bottom?

wipes   ·   baby powder   ·   slip 

{these products can be purchased virtually anywhere, 

but these virtual images were lifted from target.com so i'm simply linking back!}

monday {three things}

i liked the outfit i wore today but i just don't really feel like posting about it or talking about it.  do you have days like that?  but i love this lil' blog of mine and interacting with you guys so i thought it might be fun to post a couple random things that came into my head today.  the theme seems to be music & work!

>> the most interesting item on my desk at work is a foul ball from a twins baseball game that i caught with one hand {i was holding a ginormous drink in my other hand} after it was thrown in my direction from the twins third baseman who was waiting for his turn to bat.  we were sitting in the first row behind the twins dugout {amazing tickets from my sister's job... we might be at another game in those seats tomorrow night!} and i still amaze myself at my spontaneous, successful hand-eye coordination.  what's the most interesting item on your desk at work?

>> i listen to of monsters & men's "my head is an animal" on repeat nearly all day long when i'm alone in my office.  i've found it to be the perfect background music. i think i played it through 5 times today.  i also like listening to my coworker's classical cds if i am making a lot of phones calls and random top 40 pop radio stations on itunes during that mid-afternoon slump when i need to try to be productive before quitting time.  do you listen to music during the workday?

>> speaking of music, in the 6 disc cd changer in my car i currently have fun.'s "some nights" and "aim & ignite," the rocket summer's "life will write the words" and "do you feel" and foster the people's "torches."  the sixth slot is still open.  i am nothing if not loyal to certain bands and i literally listen to the same album over & over & over... and over & over for months until a new album comes out from one of my favorite bands that might take its place for a while.  my commute is so monotonous but for some reason i don't mind that my musical choices day after day is as well.  what cd is currently in your car's cd player?