Cus I'm Not the Tax Man, But he's expecting YOU!

LA Peeps!

Time to get your TAX receipts in order???!!! I can do it FOR YOU! Add them up, categorize and tie them up in ribbons for your accountant! Give me a ring or an e-ing or a t-ing!

Mish-Mash, Pish-Posh, Gobbldy-Goop ReWorked

Before: True Confessions

I find it so interesting how we (humans) just go along, day-in and day-out with the same systems set up in our houses. From the tangled up, dust covered TV & computer cords to the 57 vitamin bottles on the kitchen counter to the closet where, "Just Toss It In!" is printed on the inside of the door. 

Then there is MY issue, my daily beauty regimen/s.

Before: So disappointed in myself. 

Things tossed here and there 2-3 times a day. Somewhat sadly contained in old vanity sets, made for holding all the lady-crap we ladies love to have. And these "sets" are not sets at all. I have some Asian inspired things, 4 odd woven rattan boxes and random little finger bowls used for sushi. This mash-up holds all my lotions, potions, tonics and as much hope in a tube/bottle/jar as I can fit on these tiny shelves. Let alone hair bobbles, bandaids, q-tips, and all the things I seem to think make me look better. And if they don't, at least they make me feel better! 
That said, they deserve better organization, that's for sure!

I have a small collection of wine/booze boxes used for shipping bottles. I would collect them in my restaurant days, I like their look. I've always used them to store stuff, so these two I just repurposed from a bookshelf.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

After: Still many Lady-Crap things, but in much better order! 

After

I reused the 3 black Asian style boxes, bottoms only, turned them on their sides and slid them into the wine box vertically to make little compartments.  

In the finger-bowls are bobby pins, makeup sponges and safety pins. 

Next to the box is an old bottle I had for flowers, works perfect for bracelets and cuffs. 

After: In front this box, other smaller finger bowls
 hold hair clips and small earrings. 

In this old whiskey box, I used those old ratty rattan boxes, again to make compartments:
1=hairbands 2=bandaids 3=ointments/remedies 4=clippers/thermometer

After

Perfume in the center, behind it, a small mirror on the wall. And my favorite Christmas gift this past year, a stone carved Elephant ring holder. I like him a lot. Let's call him Henry. Also, I got some shelving grip cover to make everything more stationary AND keep me from having to paint. 

After

All in all, much cleaner and, yes, organized. My earrings have hung from that chain for years, if you had not seen that trick before, I still recommend it!
_______________________________________________

Before

NEXT: Yes, I like to keep well stocked.That's not the point here. I've been just stacking it on the back of the toilet . . . UNCONTAINED! How dare I!

After

After

One more wine box that I had misc. office supplies in, completely under utilized, under my bed. 
The cigar box on 
top holds some of our secret unmentionables, as did the other cigar box in the "before" photo. I like cigar boxes for these and many things - they're beautiful and cheap storage. 

As alway, Thanks for reading!  

I have joined the masses. Finally. I'm now Pinning It!

Pin Pin Pin

http://www.pinterest.com/rubyshooe/ideas-for-the-house/

THE MOST incredible time suck that was ever created. 

But it really is damn cool~

I organized my brain . . . and wrote a book!

Introducing: 

Find it on Amazon, download & paperback :

http://www.amazon.com/Are-There-Nuts-Pecan-Pie/dp/1494371561/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389153846&sr=8-1&keywords=are+there+nuts+in+the+pecan+pie

Very funny short stories for a very cheap price!
WARNING: Salty language, indeed.

Stories from a ridiculous life. 

Shorts about the funny, petty, absurd stuff in life; Hollywood, San Francisco, the Obama election, Rock Stars on the hunt, Men on the hunt, Employers on the hunt, Single Girls who don't like the hunt but will adapt in order to survive . . . and some thought provoking, sappy, sentimental stuff too.  

I hope you find a connection, a kinship, a giggle for what we all go through, life. Or maybe some understanding for the sister, daughter, brother, son, parent, niece, nephew, cousin or best friend who seems to have gone off the deep end to pursue a ridiculous life. My family did, and still do. Thank God. Thanks Family! I can speak for most dreamers when I say that we love living it because we cannot seem to live anything else (blunders, battles, broken hearts and all). I really hope you enjoy reading about it. If not, please be kind. 

DIY: Old Stove, New Finish, $10!

Do you have an old stove top that looks like one of these??

 

  

I must say, there is NOTHIN' in the kitchen that feels better than a CLEAN STOVE!! (Aside from the obvious homemade Snickerdoodle) But for $10 and elbow grease, that up there ^^ can look easily like this:

Simply lift the top of the stove off. It shouldn't be attached, 

as to get to the pilot lights easily. 

NOTE OF SAFETY: Do No Use Spray Paint INSIDE the house or ANYWHERE near stove, Gas OR Electric! I'm taking no chances!

Get all "removable" dirt and food off of it - if you have access, a hose and scouring pad works great. Even a putty knife can really help with that piece of rigatoni from 1964.... If there is a lot of uneven surface, sand it down with a fine "metal" sandpaper. 
Found at any hardware store, $2 - $4. 

Then I simply spray painted it. I found a High Heat (photo below) BBQ Paint from Rustoleum - withstands 1200 degrees F ~ That's Hot! At the moment, it only comes in white & black, and flat finish - so you will not get that high gloss look. I thought that might bug me, but it hasn't - not one bit. In fact, when it was completely dry, I rubbed it down with a very small bit of olive oil - really worked into the surface - gave it a very nice subtle sheen. 

 

     

$6, Lowes 

So, lay everything flat while spraying, so you do not get paint dripping down the surfaces. Include your drip pans and burner grates - the whole stovetop can look like new! Allow to dry at least a whole day, depending what climate you're in. Being in LA, I have an advantage, but I still let them dry about 12 hours. If you're not in a dry climate, spray paint them outside and carefully bring

 them into a garage or basement to dry over night.

UPDATE: 2 months later, it still looks great :) 

 As Always, Thanks for reading!  xo ruby