Stylebook App Review

For all my teacher-readers, school is upon us.  I go back in one week and I haven't bought one thing for my back-to-school wardrobe.  Except, I came across this app, StyleBook, which is supposed to keep inventory of all your wardrobe items and enables you to create "looks" and add outfits to a calendar.  See the advertising video the company uses from their site to show how the app works.

The price of the app was $3.99.  Not too bad, but more than I would usually spend on an app.  I figured I could always use help organizing my outfits when it comes to the school year.  Here is what I have found out about the app:

The app will allow you to categorize your clothing in pre-made categories and sub-categories.  For the most part, they did a nice job with labeling the categories.  I would have preferred a cardigan category, but I just put all my cardigans in the sweater section.

You can add an item by taking a picture of an item against a white background.  The app then eliminates the background and saves just the clothing item... except for it doesn't work like this all the time.  

Sometimes, as you can see in my photo below, it starts to eliminate part of the item.  For example, some of the brown in the dress near the shoulders and along the left hand side started to disappear.  The background eliminator is awful for light colored items since it can't differentiate what is the background and what is the item.  But you can still save the light colored items with the white background; your "looks" just won't look as nice. (See Below).  I tried putting my white items against a dark background for contrast, but the app still won't cleanly save my white isolated items.  That is my biggest complaint with this app, otherwise, I think it's going to be a tool I use often this year.

Here is an example of a white top against a white background and a white colored shoe against a white background.  See how the look just looks sort of piecey and unprofessional?

Again, this shirt had white stripes and wouldn't have shown up without keeping the background.

Take a look at the shoe below. The app couldn't eliminate the white here either because of the shadow the shoe cast. 

Here is where you can organize your clothing line up for the week/month.

Overall, I do think this app is worth the purchase despite the issue with cutting out the background on some items.  For me, this $3.99 is a way to utilize under-used clothing in my wardrobe and to organize my mornings, days, and weeks a little easier. If I only spend $4 on back-to-school shopping, then I'm happy about it!  

In addition, if you are looking to spend a little on back-to-school shopping, this app will help you see what you might need to add to your collection.  For me, I noticed I was repeating a pair of nude strappy low wedges over and over again because they look dressy and are super easy to walk in all day long.  I don't like to wear the same thing all the time, so I will be keeping my eyes out for low black wedge sandals to give my nude ones a break.

If you use this app or one like it, comment below, especially if you have a trick for taking the best pictures!

Apartment Tour of Mostly Free Furniture

My brother's apartment is always inspiring.  I had to go there yesterday last minute to help him with something, so while I was there, I figured I'd snap some photos of where he calls home.  The inspiring part is that most of the items in his apartment were free.  He just has a distinct taste and knows what he likes, and his room mate is awesome at making a house (of mismatched junk) a home. 

Oh yeah, he lives in a funeral home turned apartment.  Although not everyone would be able to live in a home like this, I have to say the details of the home really make it home-y...even if spirits are roaming freely.

Also, I should forewarn, he didn't plan for me to be coming and photographing his home, so they way you see it here on the blog is the way anyone would see it if they were to go by his house. No styling done (ok we did fluff the pillows) and no cleaning.  This is real.  This is free. 

Garden/TV Room

-The table behind the futon is actually a dresser.  It doesn't seem like it could function well as a dresser, but if you stored seasonal items in those drawers, it's not a bad idea at all. I'm not sure if this was free or not, but I like this idea because they use what they have to work with.

-The old, distressed door was found in the basement of the funeral home their apartment.

-I don't have confirmation, but I strongly believe the futon and table were probably free from a friend, from the side of the road, or a really cheap find on craigslist.  

-Again, I don't have confirmation, but the rug looks like it could have been found at ikea, target, big lots, walmart, etc.  It's probably a 5x7.  It could have cost about $20. It anchors the room, but still displays the hard wood.

A better view of the room.

-In their second floor apartment, they have a garden.  It may be unconventional, but they sure have a garden.  They used a metal shelf rack and just put assorted plants on it.  Believe it or not, some of the plants are fake!  I would never want fake plants in my house, but I think it works because they are disguised among the living plants!  I thought that was a cool idea.  

-Also, I really like the dried out stump which they usually use for a surface for a plant. Again... the stump was free.  I like this idea because if you over water your plant, the stump will just absorb the water and you don't have to worry about clean up. If you live in West Haven, there are plenty on the sides of our roads right now.

This nook showcases a beautiful tall door and an ancient looking small/medium sized trunk.  My brother told me this trunk came from the side of the road on their street.  These trunks easily sell for $50-$150 on tag sale sites and craigslist.

Study/Library

This room does have a lot going on, but it is so inviting!  I think what makes this work is the consistent color scheme of rich earth tones of sage, orange, and burgundy.

-This ottoman was left by the former occupants of the apartment.  All that my brother and his room mate did was throw a coordinating colored blanket on top of it, tuck it a bit, and add a bunch of pillows to make a reading nook.

-The metal and glass side table was also a find from the side of the road.

Closer view of the reading nook.  Lighting was very hard to figure out at this time of day.

-Just a close up view of some of the details.  This book of spells was free from me to my brother.  It was left behind in my classroom when I inherited it.  The mustard colored pottery was made by our younger brother as a school project.

Another close up.  Lots of books.  Also, I think what makes a home a home is if it feels used... and by that I mean the candles.  They have actually been burnt down which creates ambient lighting while lit, but then leaves behind the feel you see here.

Yes, that is a handicap image on the table.  The table was free from a Starbucks dumpster!  I actually really like the handicap image because you know there has to be a story behind the table.

Just a close up of a decorative corner.  Books turned into shelves with some brackets.  Another HUGE trunk turned into a side table. The frame was free from Friendly's after a remodel.

Kitchen

My poor brother hates this image because he hates the floor and he hates that the floor is probably dirty and here I am trying to get a close up.  My point was that this eat-in kitchen bistro table was a basic bistro table, but to make it work for a kitchen, they used an old Starbucks wooden table top and just placed it on top of the circle base. It's not perfect, but it was free!

Big Take-Aways:

1. Don't be afraid of free (or second hand).  Accept the mantra, "Free is for me."

-Friends & Family

-Curbs

-Craigslist

-FB Tag Sale Sites

-Tag Sales

-Goodwill, Savers, etc.

2. Pick a style or color scheme for your home. This will help your rooms feel cohesive instead of looking like a mismatched junkyard.

Thrifting Finds

I've been totally into thrifting now that I have the space to store (and work on) furniture. Here are some items I've found. 

This french provincial desk and mirror was by a children's brand of expensive furniture. Goodwill was asking $50 I think for the desk and $20 for the mirror, which would have been a good price but the back of the desk had water damage and the drawers had a funny smell- which I took to be mold. So I passed on both items. 

The next item was a daybed trundle pop up on Craigslist for $50. This was well worth it as I was looking for one of these for a couple of months and anything I found new online cost up to $500.

As you can see, I'm really into the french items. I found this one at Goodwill for $35. The top is laminate, but the drawers are wood. I believe there are dovetail joints as well. It's a stark white, but I plan to paint it with chalkboard paint. It should adhere to the laminate finish.

This solid wood table with drawer was only $15 on a local Facebook tag sale site. The under side has a pencil written letter from a mother to daughter from the 1930's... So it says.

And finally, for $10 on the same tag sale site, I bought these 2 washboards. I am pretty sure they are both authentic pieces. 

Sunday Thrifting Jackpot

I just purchased a truck for thrifting/home projects, and I put it to work ASAP.  Goodwill was calling my name this morning- for a good reason.

I stumbled upon this french provincial (I think) long dresser which is exactly what I've been envisioning for a master bedroom project. I've been looking for months, and prices for other long dressers easily hit $70 and up. This beaut was $39.99. What's even better is every draw works perfectly! Nothing sticks or gets stuck! This was a must! 

It transported well just like this!  Below is my inspiration pic. (Follow me on Pinterest).

Then, I realized there was a matching tall dresser nearby for $29.99! I currently have 3 closets and 2 dressers and that's still not enough storage for my clothing, sheets, towels, etc. Even though I wasn't in the market for 2 dressers, I couldn't separate these pieces - not for those prices. Needless to say, baby girl #2 came home with me as well. 

Come to mama!

It gets even better! When we were loading the truck, the employee asked if we wanted a blanket for transportation and gave us a down comforter- in good condition!!! A freaking down comforter, people! I have been wanting one of these since 2006 when I had my first down comforter experience. And eww I know, it's a blanket from Goodwill. I never would have purchased it, but you know I washed it real well (oxi clean, tide, downy softener beads) and am def going to use it now that it was given to me.  Look what down comforters are going for: 

And to really top the cake, there was a stamp inside the dressers that said "Drexel." I googled it and saw that my pieces were likely built in the 1950's or 60's by a great quality furniture manufacturer. In fact, my pieces might actually be worth some dough! 

Pretty much $70 well spent. 

Side note: Yesterday I found 2 more chairs ($2.99 each) for my dining table that I'm going to re-paint. I'm thinking oil rubbed bronze... Like my hustle? 

I have 2 upholstered head chairs, now 2 wood chairs, all that's left is a bench for a table of 6.

This weekend= great success.

Kitchen Update #2 Counter Update

A little about my kitchen, and a lot of me complaining about my counter experience.

I've lived here 6 months.  I have had 3 different counter tops.

- Dark Granite (from when I bought the house)
- White Italian Marble (for the renovation, but was completed with shotty work)
- White Cashmere Granite (which a replacement for the marble, and my final counter)

This kitchen never had awful counters, but fixing them up for the kitchen remodel has been hell.  When I bought this house, the kitchen had dark granite counters that wouldn't fit the new kitchen configuration, so I needed to have them replaced.  I don't have much counter space, so my contractor recommended me to someone who may have had some excess product from larger slabs/projects in hopes I could get the best price on stone material.  

When I arrived at my scheduled time at the granite lot, the granite guy (gg) wasn't there yet.  His employee told me he would be back in about an hour and that I was welcome to wait.  I told him no thank you and left.  GG called me when I was about 5 minutes away from his shop and begged me to come back to him and that he would be there in about 5 minutes too.  I should not have turned my car back around.  But I did, and he was not there in 5 minutes.  More like 10-15 minutes.

While on the granite lot, I found one granite and one marble that I liked.  The gg told me that if I chose the granite, then I would have a seam down the middle near the sink.  I didn't want that because I don't have much counter space anyway, so I chose the marble.  The marble was installed in the middle of January.  

Wait a minute... why is there a seam down the center of the marble?  And what is that irregular black mark?  Oh that's just a fuck up that the counter guy made and tried to play off as my counter top.

I texted GG and reminded him that the way he presented the two stone options to me was that the marble would NOT have a seam... which is what I paid for.  But instead I received marble that did have a seam.  

And then, when my plumbing was hooked up, I found this. My sweater got snagged on this fragment of stone.  Also, what is that trajic brown stain along the edge?  This is what ultimately pissed me off. The dude tried to pass off a hack job as my marble counters.

He didn't immediately respond to me (via phone calls and texts) until I e-mailed him letting him know that I only wanted to have documented e-mail conversations with him.  Then he started calling me non-stop... which is not the communication I wanted.  He did however agree to come back out to take measurements again (why doesn't he have this stored somewhere?) to replace my counters with granite.  I either wanted my counters replaced or I wanted a reimbursement.  He didn't want to reimburse me, so he just prolonged giving me a new counter.

At one point, he told me to come check out the granite on his lot when the weather got warmer.  And I told him absolutely not.  It was February and I didn't want my kitchen to have unfinished business until the spring.  There were so many details in between such as him NEVER being on time that I will just leave out or else we will be here forever.  

Come MAY, (yes, MAY), when he was going to replace my counter, I took personal time off from work to meet him at my house from 1-3 after I confirmed with him our appointment that very morning.  He never arrived until 4:45.  And then when he was ripping the old counters off, he ripped the plumbing off the pipe too - and never acknowledged that he ruined the plumbing work underneath.  My brother was (is- because this is still current) so pissed that he ruined his plumbing work, that my brother is contacting him about it.  And because my brother never agreed to fix the entire plumbing job under the sink and hasn't had time for it, I have been without a sink again for about a week.  Depending on how the correspondence goes with my brother, we will see about adding his name here.   

OH - he also tried to con me into buying a new sink for $100.  I didn't realize this at the time, but while replacing the counters, he was going to have to replace the sink (because the sink was glued on to the counters).  But he made it sound like a nice bargain that he was adding on for me.  He was a snake, because he knew he had to replace it anyway and was trying to get me to pay more for his mistake!  Thankfully, I told him no every time he asked me if I wanted to buy a new sink.  

These were my overall impressions he left me with:

• I was someone who was buying his remnants of whole slab that were already paid for by richer people with bigger kitchens; I was last of his priorities.  
• Oh and I am a girl, so of course I am dumb and I don't understand the construction world.
• Why was I complaining?  He did so many favors for me.
• Why don't I know that traffic exists in the world which makes people late to every single one of their prior obligations by at least an hour?
• Did you know 5 minutes away means 30 minutes away?

If you are local to Milford, CT and are curious about which company I went through, please e-mail me. I don't intend to hurt peoples' livlihood, but my experience with this company has been awful! 

After all the non-sense, this is what my counters look like now.  I am glad to have granite, and I am glad the gg followed through and replaced my counters for me, but this has been a 4 month process that isn't still completely over.  They look great though.  I can't wait to fully enjoy them.

Do you like the marble or granite counters better?

Home Project Tip of the Day: Save Money on Electrical Plates

As part of my upgrade-my-home agenda, I am eliminating the gold electrical switch and outlet plates.  These metal plates can cost $4-$5 each and plastic ones can cost $1 a piece.  If I have 4 in every room of my house, that's 32 plates.  If I replaced them all with plastic plates, it would cost me about $32.  But if I replaced them with the metal plates, it could cost me nearly $130 or more.  I didn't like either option.  Nothing a little spray paint can't fix.

I laid the plates out on top of an old piece of laminate flooring that I am going to throw away anyway.  To prep, I scratched the surface of the plates with a painter's sanding block.

I chose to use Rust-oleum's Satin Spray Paint in "White."  I chose satin because I didn't want a gloss, and I didn't want a flat color that would scratch easily.

I ended up using two boards to lay the plates on to avoid a lot of over spray.

Closer Look.

All done - lighting is a little weird because of the covered porch.

Teaching Tip of the Day: Screencast-o-matic

Do you feel like you repeat directions for assignments too many times? Don't you wish you could just record your computer based instructions? Well now you can, and students can have access to your monotonous directions from the comfort of their home.  Aren't they lucky? What I am speaking about is a screen recording program called Screencast-o-matic.

With this program, you can record your computer activity and save your work as a video file that you can then upload to YouTube.  You can switch between recording your screen when you are demonstrating a how-to, but if you need to talk during the how-to and want to show your face, you can switch the camera mode to record you.  This program is free and very easy to use!

I made a video on "How to Create/Share documents using Google Drive."  Check it out!

Now my students have my step-by-step directions and I can hold them even more accountable.  With this video, I have covered all my bases and have done everything I can to be sure my students know exactly what I want from them.