Spring Clean Your Closet #Organized

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Rising temperatures, blossoming blooms, and sunny skies are sure signs that Spring has sprung. With the arrival of warmer weather comes the anticipated debut of shorter hemlines, frilly tanks and sexy sandals and for many of us that means a complete closet overhaul.

I am a minimalist at heart, my downtown Boston studio apartment thanks me daily for that. Any chance I have to sort through and organize my belongings is a tiny dream come true.I find myself repeating the phrase "out with the old, in with the new" far too often. Spring is my perfect excuse to clean out my closets and dressers and donate any unnecessary items that I have accumulated over the winter months. I challenge you to do the same.

With the right mindset and storage solutions you will be on your way to a less cluttered, frustration free lifestyle. Give yourself a full day to sort, launder, trash, and donate the contents of every nook and cranny of your closet and dresser drawers. No belt is looked over, and no broken heeled shoe left behind. I stick with the "Season" rule; If I am on the fence for instance about a sweater and realize I didn't wear it once through the fall and  winter months it's headed straight for the donation box. This simple rule will amaze you and give you a clear understanding of just how many items you are holding onto for absolutely no reason. 

After you have sifted through each piece it is time to hop in your car for a well deserved shopping trip. The assistance of four key items will have your closet looking like a page out of Home & Garden magazine.

WIth your shopping trip complete, you can guarantee to feel re-energized and ready to go. Take the remainder of the night off, a fresh start will do both you and your closet good. Begin the next day by unwrapping your newly purchased organizational products and let the put back process begin. You will begin to se results immediately, and the finished product will take your breath away.

Is this something you will be doing this spring?

Lindsey is the face behind Trendbetter.  She uses Trendbetter as an outlet celebrating style and giving every woman the know how and the confidence to look and feel her best. 

She spent two years being surrounded by the highest of fashion at the Los Angeles headquarters of BCBG MAXAZRIA GROUP.  She currently resides in Boston with the lover of her life a 5 pound rescue chihuahua Vivienne.

Fashion is her thing, it always has been and it always will be. To keep up with Lindsey head on over to Trendbetter.  You can also follow Lindsey on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

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Summer Prep: Up In Your Grill

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Did you know that it's May is National BBQ Month?  That's right whole month of May is devoted to lazy Saturday afternoons grilling and relaxing with friends.  Since May is right around the corner I thought it might be time to give your grill a little clean up.  Even if you were smart a thoroughly cleaned your grill before tucking it away for the winter, you still want to prep it before use.  You can't have a great BBQ with a dirty grill.  More than likely your grill came with cleaning instructions, so consult those before doing anything.  For those of you with second hand grills this is the checklist that I follow.  You can also check out Home Depot and Mighty Flame for hints and tips on summer grill maintenance.

Shut It Down

Turn all the dials to the off position.  Disconnect the Propane tank.  Wait till grill is completely cooled.

Take It Off

Remove the grates, and metal plates beneath them.  Place in buckets of hot water mixed with dish soap.  Rubbermaid tubs work best for larger grills.

Trash

For charcoal grills dispose of any charcoal. All grills have removable drip pans, dump into trash.  Place all pans into your soaking tubs.

Protect It

Clean heating elements with grill brush gently. Once cleaned cover the heating elements with foil to protect them.

Scrub

Take a grill brush and scrub the hood of the grill, and inside walls. Periodically wipe the walls and hood down with a damp paper towel.  

Scrub & Rinse

Remove plates and grates from the bucket and begin to scrub them with a grill brush.  Once sufficiently scrubbed rise off with hose. Dry with dish cloth.

Put It Together

Replace the plates, grates, and drip pans. Wipe down grill exterior with stainless steel wipes.

Tank Wipe

Inspect the propane tank. Wipe dirt and foreign material from the top of the tank around the gas valve and from the gas valve itself with a rag.

Fuel System Check

Always inspect the gas line, connections, and propane cylinder for damage, rust, and corrosion before restarting the grill. Reconnect your propane tank to the grill and test the connections for leaks by brushing them with a solution of mild hand soap and water. Avoid using dish soap or window cleaner containing ammonia as it will corrode brass fittings. After checking for leaks, rinse thoroughly with clean water. Turn on the gas. If bubbles appear or the distinctive “rotten egg” smell of gas is present, turn off the gas and tighten the connections. Wait three minutes, then do the test again. If the bubbles or smell continues, shut off the gas and call your local propane supplier. If the Fuel check goes ok it’s time to start grilling.  

Happy Grilling Season!

Kitchen Counter Beauty: Avocado Face Treatment

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I'm one of those lucky people who gets dry skin all year round.  Drinking plenty of water and using a good moisturizer is just one of the many ways I combat my notoriously dry skin.  Once a week I also pamper myself with a moisturizing mask.  I use the mask on more than just my face, I put it on key dry spots like my elbows, upper arms and feet.  As will all kitchen counter beauty, the fresher the products the better, I also opt for organic when I can.  Note that organic often leads to a much shorter shelf life.  As always test a small amount of the product before rubbing it all over your skin.  

The Long & The Short Of It: White Shorts

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As a Minnesota girl living in the south, it feels a lot more like Summer than it does Spring. I know for a lot of you Summer is all about the short shorts, for others summer means busting out the Bermudas, but for me summer is all about the Capri Pants and Skimmers.  I don’t really have thighs that were made for shorts, of any kind. 

Like clockwork White Denim becomes a trend from May right up till Labor Day when tuck away our whites and bring out the creams. Glossy magazines always make it seem like they’ve stumbled upon the trend for the first time. But you and I know the truth, white denim and/or chino is always hot for summer.  Since white denim and/or chinos might not be part of your everyday look, I wanted to find options that weren’t too expensive, but that will hold up after a few washes.  I’ve broken them down by inseam, so no matter how much leg you want to show, you’ve got options.  For my plus size readers, don’t think I forgot about you, I’ve included plenty of great plus size options. 

The Long & The Short Of It - White Shorts