Mini Message in a Bottle

I'm a big fan of freebies, especially sample sizes of cosmetics and perfume. I think items like these should be tested before a purchase is made -- you'll never know how it will react to your skin or natural scent. 

Tiny bottles like these are also very handy when all you have is an evening clutch but still want to be sweet-smelling all night. When the vial's contents have been consumed, here's how I transform it from blah to TADA!:

I turn it into a positive pendant, strung

on a silver chain.

I've discovered that at the start of the year, some people choose a "power word" instead of making a long list of resolutions. It's a word that they want to hang on to or to be more of in the new year. These are some of those words. 

 Insert the word in the dry and empty perfume vial.

It's now a message in a bottle.

It's a message to yourself.

Seal with a small cork and super glue, followed by jewelry findings and a chain. Wear it daily and by the end of the year, you've hopefully become one with your power word.

Perfume Strips

One of the fun areas of a department store is the perfume section. Sure, the selection can be overwhelming, but what a treat to check out the beautiful packaging and determine which celebrity has a new fragrance. I also like how we can test the scents and leave the store smelling fresh and fine without having to purchase anything!

Most stores have these plain white strips to aid in testing perfume. Simply spray on the paper and take this home with you to help you choose a favorite.   

When I stepped into Hendri Bendel, they had these perfume test strips for selected scents. How fabulous! I would love to paint like that. Also, each girl represented the essence of each cologne.  I think I want to be as chic as Gardenia and Vanilla girl!

Just a sample of how something simple as test strips can go from blah to TADA!

Scent Memory

Hi everyone! I hope you had a restful weekend. This week, let's talk about scents, or more specifically, perfume. Maybe like me, you associate fragrance with different stages in your life?  

As a little girl, I remember Mom putting this on me after a bath. It was refreshing and it invited whiffs and kisses from my parents, aunts and uncles. Everyone can't seem to resist the smell of a baby, right? I associate this scent with being looked after, as well as sunny, carefree afternoons filled with playtime and imagination. 

As a teenager, I was quite observant of people I admired like my Auntie A and Auntie E. They were the epitome of style. I would watch them put on make-up, get dressed for parties, and spray on expensive cologne before leaving the house. "One day I want to be like them," I said to myself.  

When I went to parties myself, I would borrow some of their clothes and feel so grown-up. As a finishing touch, I needed a scent. No, the Johnson's cologne of my childhood would not do. I dared not ask my style icon aunties if I could pilfer their perfume stash. And I couldn't afford real perfume so I settled for this, an impostor scent. Inexpensive as it was, it captured the scent of a glamorous woman. Whenever I wore it, I had some swagger, like the spirit of my aunties giving me the license to have a wonderful time.

When I saw a bottle of this at the store, I bought one without hesitation. I was in disbelief that they were still manufactured, plus it was only 99 cents! I immediately uncapped it, sprayed it on my wrists and a flood of memories came back -- high school mixers, milestone birthdays, the confusion between infatuation and falling in love.        

Here's another cologne that I truly loved. They don't make it anymore {what a blah}, but it was my signature scent for some time. I thought it was calm, approachable and optimistic. 

The cologne Romance is pretty special. It's what I wore on my wedding day. I still wear it on important occasions and it continues to make me giddy. It evokes promises kept, emotion that is expressed freely and the thought that the best is yet to be.

Fascinating how fragrance can turn your day from blah to TADA! 

How about you, what scents bring back good memories?

My First Aid Kit

I must admit, I'm a bit of a control freak and a nerdy girl scout. Yesterday, I made a list to create the ideal first aid kit. You see, it bums me out to discover that I've run out of allergy medication in the middle of the night and the nearest drugstore is closed. Or to get a cut and the only band-aid I have isn't the right one.

Not too long ago, our first aid needs could be found in the medicine cupboard in the bathroom. But I decided to change that. I simplified and put everything in a plastic box:

It's easy to rummage through, can be taken anywhere {even on a road trip}, and can be kept on a tall shelf, away from children.

It has the essentials, expiration dates have been checked, and I can easily tell when I'm running low on tablets or ointments.

I removed the packaged pills from their boxes and put them in these zipper bags {I do love a well-sealed container}. It's easier to see the contents and saves me some space.

I made sure to save the labels. I cut these out {as well as the drug facts/dosage tips} from the box and put these inside the plastic bag together with the medicine.

I'm mighty proud of my kit, but it's looking a little blah, no?

 With a little help from some printed tape...

I added a crafty spin to make my kit a bit more legit.

TADA!

First Aid Kit Essentails

Here's another item that every home should have: a first aid kit.

This visual peg shows you the essentials, but for a more extensive list, check it out here, here and here. With a first aid kit on hand, you're ready to turn blah to TADA! 

Let there be Light

Hi there! Still on the subject of emergency kits, here's another visual list of lighting options when the power goes down:

I love a lantern that's bright enough for the dining room or family room. This one's made up of smaller lanterns that can be removed from the base; each member of the family can take one to the bathroom or bedroom. A headlamp proved very useful when we lost power at the height of Hurricane Sandy. It made cooking, washing dishes, brushing teeth and reading in bed so much easier! Also the trusty flashlight must be present in everyone's home, car or office...just in case. Of course, how would these gadgets work without batteries? Have a good amount of fresh ones at the ready. 

Candles aren't really encouraged because they can cause a fire. But if you need to, it's a good idea to put them in a jar or vase for protection. Matches, or even better, a torch lighter makes lighting a breeze. This was also a life saver during Hurricane Sandy. We have a gas stove which we were able to use for cooking and boiling water, but it didn't turn on automatically because we had no power. The torch lighter provided the flame. TADA! 

Now, if you're in a crafty mood, how about making your own candles:

via Martha Stewart

Turn old teacups from blah to TADA!

via Pottery Barn

Or those one-off vintage glasses picked up from the 

thrift store? They'll work well, too. 

Doomsday Prepper

Yesterday, I made a visual list of what I might put in an emergency bag -- hey, these days of global warming, you'll never know. 

Well, I'm not all plans and lists. I really assembled one!

Just a few things peeking out: a radio, flashlights and batteries, a 5-in-1 survival aid {includes a whistle, matches and compass}, non-perishable food, water, a can opener and utensils.

I packed these and a bunch of other emergency essentials in a carry-on suitcase. It's in the coat closet by our main door, ready to be wheeled out when necessary. To make it stand-out from our other bags and luggage, I made a bag tag, in true blah to TADA! fashion:

 

I used expired hotel keys and empty gift cards. Instead of throwing them away, I turned these blahs into:

TADA! -- instant bag tags! I covered the front and back surfaces with adhesive shelf liner {Washi tape would be a good substitute}, punched a hole and inserted a strip of elastic cord. Then I labelled accordingly {"Emergency Bag"}. Instantly, we know the contents of the bag and are ready when, knock on wood, emergency strikes.

Alternatively, these can be used as identification tags for school or travel bags.