Posted on January 23 , 2012 dot 11 comments
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The worst thing about our studio apartment has been not having a couch. I know that may seem silly, but to us the couch is where we (dogs included) could all sit together and eat, watch a movie, relax, read, etc.  Without it, Josh and I resorted to the bar or our desks. It was also awkward when we had to have guests sit on the bar stools.

I didn’t think there was a way we could fit a couch into our space without it looking awkward and cramped.

I decided to try and see if anyone else had the same problem and found tons of inspiring pictures online of people who had made it work.

The key seemed to be finding one of the right size that structurally fit in with the rest of the room. I needed to give it a shot.

couch

So there is our loveseat! It’s not much to behold but it was the smallest couch that lined up perfectly with our bed, was the same angular structure, and still allowed for all of us to snuggle and lean back comfortably.

Pros

  • Fits structurally.
  • Perfect size.
  • Dog-proof, washable cover. (We put a blanket/throw on top just because… Well, our dogs are messy.)

Cons:

  • It didn’t come in brown or another neutral shade aside from black and white, so we were forced to go with a canvas cover.
  • It’s quite short and you can’t lay your head on anything.
  • We had the hardest time agreeing on pillows. Still hunting for the perfect ones, but these are fine for now. I actually love them, but I still can’t decide if they match our brown-black living room well enough.

I come home and finally feel like I’m…home. A couch is a must!

Do you think you can survive without a couch to bum out on? I certainly did, but I missed it terribly.


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Posted on January 17 , 2012 dot 2 comments
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First Aid Beauty Cleanser 1

First Aid Beauty Cleanser 2

Scent: This actually doesn’t smell very…intriguing. However, consider what it’s formulated without: parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, and a whole bunch of other things you should avoid putting onto your skin every day. Those important points considered, I can’t complain about them leaving the scent as it is!

Application: The application of this cleanser is what makes me a fan. This stuff works like magic and not only cleans dirt and oil off of your face, but takes off even the most stubborn makeup. I’ve been able to stop buying my makeup remover wipes and keep this in the shower, allowing me to wash my face in one step instead of two and saving my trash can from overflowing with makeup remover wipes. I’ve been looking for a product to help me do this for weeks! I’m a huge Origins fan, but not even their cleansers were removing my mascara. Sorry Origins, I’m sticking with this cleanser.

Price: It’s pricey… I had to take off a star for it. If it were slightly cheaper it would be perfect, but paying $18 for a little tube is kind of steep. On the positive side I only need a tiny amount to wash everything off of my face (see the second picture!) so this will last a while. One final recommendation, check eBay before picking this up at Sephora to save a few bucks!

Final Thoughts

Most of my skin care is from Origins because I have noticed a dramatic improvement in my skin since switching. However, their cleansers weren’t cutting it for my nighttime face wash routine.

I stumbled across the FAB cleanser after borrowing it from my sister this Christmas and was shocked at how perfectly it cleansed my face and that the ingredients were marked for sensitive skin. Figuring out it was only available from Sephora and for $18 was disappointing… But unless there is a cheaper alternative this is the new staple in my routine. I highly recommend it for those with sensitive skin, or anyone who wants to skin the makeup remover in their routine!


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Before

Bathroom cabinet

After

I’m finally done with the cabinets! It took me about three different setups to find something I like. I switched to blue towels, as I hated the brown and they were shredded anyhow. White baskets hold small towels and laundry supplies. Extra bed on top. My vanity on the bottom. Here’s a close-up:

vanity

I apologize again for the bad lighting in my bathroom. There’s no natural light…

Regardless, I’m finally completely pleased with my vanity shelf! Here’s what I did:

  • I trashed my clear organizer idea. It still looked too cluttered. I bought white drawers from Target and stored my makeup in there.
  • I added picture frames to personalize the space. I think they were $2 from IKEA. I printed two illustrations: owls and a blue dress. I’ll likely change this often just to change the space up.
  • I decided to put my nail polish on display, because it had more uniformity compared to my make up collection. The spice rack was $5 at Bed Bath and Beyond.
  • My brushes are still in a coffee cup with rice to hold them upwards. I just tossed my old brushes and purchased a new collection from ELF. (Review coming soon!) I bought a blue make up sponge from Sonia Kashuk for $10 and keep that in a tea light glass.
  • I moved my skin care to the another shelf.
  • I made sure I had enough of a U-shape to pull things out, set up my mirror, and create a masterpiece on my face. (Sarcasm) When I’m done, things go back in their spot.
  • Something I’d still like: lights. I may invest in a battery powered vanity mirror for better lighting when I put my make up on. But then…where will it go? Hmm, still to decide.

Before

Bathroom Redesign

After

Again, out with the brown towels and in with the blue. I also got rid of the brown (also broken) rugs and added blue and beige toned rugs. I’m not crazy about them… But they’ll do. I was pushing for white but the weird dude I live with said they’d get dirty too quickly. So that idea was thrown out. You may notice the huge contraption on the counter. I like to keep things simple and clear but I had no choice with this thing. It’s a towel warmer, and my mother-in-law-to-be gave it to me for Christmas. It’s been the best part of  the cold weather around here… I love it, even though it’s large and obnoxious!

Before

After

This is the bottom of the cabinet where I put skin care and miscellaneous things. Much better! You don’t even want to see that bottom shelf in the before picture…

It’s not perfect and I may change a few things here and there, but for the most part…Bathroom Project: Complete!

To take a look back in time, there’s also Part 1 and Part 2 for your amusement.


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