#62 Oona B. of Backyard Mama who wrote:

“I would use these lovely monograms on dish and bath towels. I would also etch some drinking glasses!  Thanks for the amazing giveaway!” 

#403 Raechel S.  who wrote:

“Oh my gosh! I LOVE monograms & her’s are so beautiful! I can’t decide what I’d do: stationary, wall decal, apparel, put it on pillows; love it all! I also posted this on my FB. Thanks CG!”

Congrats to the winners who will receive their own custom monograms by Cathe at Just Something I Made. 

Another weekend giveaway coming your way later today !

So when the folks over at MirrorMate contacted me with the low down on their product and a coupon code, I was completely intrigued.  I emailed them back.  You mean there’s a solution for that plain wall mirror in my hall bath that doesn’t require me to purchase and install a brand new mirror?  That same hall bathroom I’ve been meaning to makeover but just was avoiding for the longest time because it’s ‘just the kids bathroom’  ?  Or so I kept telling myself. 

After a few email exchanges, those same kind folks over at MirrorMate offered to send me a complimentary custom mirror frame for my space.  Yeehaw !  Yes Ma’am !  Sign Me Up !  I filled out their user friendly form, faxed it to the company, and three business days later, I had my custom MirrorMate frame Fed Exed to my doorstep. 

What a difference it makes!  Here’s a peek at my hall bathroom before and after my custom MirrorMate was installed. 

What a difference ! 

Such a difference it puts the rest of my *ahem* outdated bathroom to shame.  This custom frame was just that kick in the pants I needed to get motivated on this bathroom remodel.  So I’ve got a plan to makeover the entire bathroom this summer (see below), but first, let me tell you how easy this MirrorMate product is to put together and install.

They send you the very clearly written instructions and the supplies you’ll need:

You start by gluing your frame together.  Since I did mine on my floor, I made sure to use cut up Ziplock plastic bags to prevent glue from getting on the wood flooring. 

Then you pound the perfectly sized plastic corner connectors into the slots with a hammer or mallet:

Then you carefully turn it over and wipe off any excess glue:

Then you wait one hour.  Waiting is the hardest part !

Then you install your frame in your bathroom with the placement corners and adhesive strips. 

So.

Incredibly.

Easy.  

It takes less than two hours, and that includes the hour you need to wait to let the glue dry.

Look how gorgeous ! 

What a budget friendly way to invest in upgrading the look of your bathroom ! 

The frame style I chose was the Cherokee in Brushed Chrome for its sleek modern look.  I really wanted to make this space feel more contemporary, so these clean lines were just the look I was going for.   

For another great review of this company’s product, head on over to visit my friend Lindsay, and check out her new custom mirror frame.  And for all the buzz on MirrorMate, including the features on DIY Network, This Old House and other home improvement publications, look right here. 

Before:

After:

I am not one to rave about any product unless I truly love it.  But let me tell you, I really do love this mirror frame, and they didn’t pay me to say this.  I love their friendly customer service, I love how quickly it shipped, I love how easy it was to put together, and I love the quality of the frame and the final look.   And, I’ll be completely frank, I love that all the frame materials are Made In The USA !

So here’s my plan to make a few more upgrades to this bathroom later this summer:

1) A new bathroom sconce like this Vaxcel Fairfield from Lighting Direct;  2) A new shower curtain like this Waffle Curtain from Overstocks  3) Oceanside Glass Mosaic Treviso backsplash, plus new countertops 4) New modern faucet like the Treviso from Price Phister; 5) Some heavenly scented candles  6) Fresh new towels like these from Pottery Barn or a cheaper knockoff; 7) Perhaps a new bath mat like this Jolie version from Ballard and 8   paint the cabinets in one of three Benjamin Moore shades a) Cliffside Gray b) Silver Marlin or c) Gray Cashmere. 

Now forget all about my little bathroom makeover plans, cause here’s the best part !  One of YOU gets to get your hands on a $100 gift certificate thanks to MirrorMate !  Awesome possum people.  That’s right, one Benjamin Franklin bill towards the purchase of any MIrrorMate product for your home ! 

Here are just a few samples from the dozens of frames available:

MirrorMate also has basic Pizzazz mirrors in 12” and 14” sizes for adding decor to your home – you can see those here. 

Eligibility for one winner to receive a $100 Gift Certificate to MirrorMate:

1)  Visit MirrorMate’s frame collection right here.  Come back and tell us in a comment which mirror frame you like to have the most.  

2)  For a second chance to win, mention this giveaway on Facebook, and come back and leave that link in a comment. 

3)  For a third chance to win, tweet this giveaway on Twitter with the link to the giveaway, then come back and leave your Twitter profile in comment, saying “I Tweeted”. 

That’s all folks.  Giveaway ends Easter Sunday April 4th at 8 p.m. PST.  One winner only.  Winner will be chosen by Random.org. 

___________________________________________

Now if you don’t happen to win, there is still great news.  If you enter the code CENTS at checkout, you will receive 15% off through the end of December 2010 on any MirrorMate custom frame. 

This is NOT a paid product review.  Centsational Girl does NOT participate in any paid product reviews.  For any questions this site’s position on product reviews, please refer to the blog policies.

********  THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED  *********

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Filing, fun ? Filing paperwork is about as fun as doing your taxes or getting a root canal.  Filing paperwork is zero fun as my daughter would say, especially if you’ve let it get way out of control, like I have.  Filing is the exactly the opposite of fun.  That is, until you come across some very pretty organizational tools. 

Hello my lovely. 

I saw this deliciously darling file tote at the local stationery store and had to have it.  Notice how it knows how chic it is by calling itself a “pretty file tote”.  Kind of like that 80’s Pantene commercial where Kelly LeBrock used to say “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.” 

I don’t hate you “pretty file tote”.  No darling, I adore you, especially after you saved me from such wicked despair. 

Self proclaimed “pretty file tote” inspired me to tackle what was tormenting me for months – a ghastly pile of paperwork to be sorted.  I’ll spare you the photo of what my haphazard box of disorganized papers looked like a few days ago.  Let’s just agree It was the definition of a filing nightmare.  Besides, if I showed you, self proclaimed “pretty file tote” would gasp audibly and refuse to be associated with such a mess.

Enter attractive office supplies, and my dearest darling love – the Brother label maker.  

I had a pretty good plan awhile back.  I was really good at discarding junk mail the moment it crossed the threshold.  I separated and recycled it the minute it came through the door. 

The leftovers were the true problem.  I had a mediocre system in place before, “Bills” here, “Catalogs” there.  I had all the birth certificates and legal documents kinda sorta pretty much organized.  But way too much miscellaneous paperwork was slipping through the cracks.  The “mail to be sorted” multiplied like rabbits overnight.  It became my nemesis.  I would pass by it late at night, fist in the air, and mutter through gritted teeth “Curse you, vile mail to be sorted box”.  Yes, I hated it that much. 

My previous system was like any invention.  Often it takes the first edition to reveal the kinks in the design in order to work them out.  I think I’ve finally worked them kinks out. 

I’ll agree to reveal my plan, but you’re all sworn to absolute secrecy.  Never mind that I’ve published this for the world to see.  Details.   

First, I highly recommend you arm yourself with a label maker.  As you can see, we have a mutual attraction to each other.

I love my Brother label maker.  He had me at hello.  

He helps me do this . . .

And this . . . 

Boooooo. Taxes.  Blech. 

One of my biggest organizational problems was saving, organizing, and then finding receipts.  Thanks to “pretty file tote”, my dilemma is solved.   Now, I get kind of giddy filing receipts. 

And I can’t be the only one who adores this up close and personal shot of pretty labeled file folders.  Totally Fiickr worthy. 

My next organizational stroke of luck was finding these portable letter size hanging files at Tar-jay.  Okay, they’re plastic, but that’s just fine with me, because they will be completely hidden from view.  Plus they’re cheap.  

I printed up some Avery labels . . .

Slapped them on the side of these portable holders . . .

See, they’re not completely hideous.  Apple green lids ?  Me likey. 

They store ever so perfectly inside a standard depth cabinet. 

And they stack too, just in case anyone wants to store them vertically. 

Simple pleasures. 

Don’t forget when sorting through paperwork to get yourself another muscular helper.  Mr. Shredder is short, compact, and destructive to any document in danger of revealing my true identity. 

But oh no, I didn’t stop there.  Important keepsakes and lesser used texts aka ‘foreign language’ *hangs head in shame* get their own personal bin. 

Coupons get their own basket, cause I’m a big collector.

I have a teensy addiction to fabric swatches, so I corral my collection in this bin I picked up last year at Michaels.  

Recipes go in a simple three ring binder.  I’m dreaming of laminating them all someday to keep them from getting sticky, oily, or smeared from, dare I say it, drool.  

All that loose change was driving me crazy so I repurposed this candle holder.

Note to self.  Must train husband to deposit spare change here. 

There’s just nothing better than these acid-free photo boxes for storing all those pictures !

Kid workbooks and art get stored in these fun magazine holders and art boxes from The Container Store.

We make a big production out of storing their drawings here.  Call me a mean mommy, but in the dark of night I sneak in and separate the sillier doodles from the truly charming creations.  They haven’t caught me yet.   Sssshhhh.

All of their toys and stuffed animals are kept in these colorful bins and baskets with homemade labels.  

My home office supplies are kept tidy in this highboy I refinished last year.

I whittled down the magazines to just my favorites, and store them in these baskets in my home office. 

Computer software, cords, and scrapbook supplies all are hidden in a series of these pretty and functional woven basket boxes purchased last year from The Container Store. 

I keep CDs and other small items in these fabric boxes.

I read once that organization simply requires a ‘home’ for everything.  It helps if that ‘home’ is somewhat attractive. At least for me.  

Sooooo, what’s left in my house after this mad organizational spree?  The linen closet.

   But for the sake of fantasy, let’s just pretend that my linen closet looks like this. . .

and my bathroom closet looks just like this . . . mkay ?

 Better Homes and Gardens (both images)

What’s your best kept secret for clever filing and storage ?  C’mon, spill the beans.  We all want to know. 

Mary, send me an email with your contact information, and we’ll get you your lovely La Coco necklace!

Many thanks to all of the participants in the Stella & Dot giveaway !  

KILZ Clean Start® primer is a zero VOC high performance, interior/exterior primer, sealer and stainblocker. According to the company, it is a low-odor formula that addresses concerns about VOCs and indoor air quality while providing the same great performance expected from KILZ® brand primers.

VOCs are ‘volatile organic compounds’ meaning gases or vapors emitted by various solids or liquids. For more information about VOCs visit: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html

To enter the giveaway, go to this link and fill in some basic information. 

Follow the prompt and leave a comment on four of the listed mommy blogs, and/or post the promotion to your twitter account.  The sweepstakes prize is a $500 Walmart giftcard. 

Low VOCs and $500 bucks.  Sounds good to me!  For all of the details, look here.

And the winner of the Alexandra Ferguson Monogrammed Pillow Giveaway is…

Lucky Number 22, Heather J., selected by Random.Org.

Heather, email me your address and phone number, and I’ll put you in contact with Alexandra Ferguson to make your color and monogram selection.

Congratulations Heather!

•  
  •  
    • Number 74:  Liz at It’s Great to Be Home
    • Number 195: Graceful Moments blog
    • Number 326: Lacey at Inspired Lately?

Winners, please email me with your full name, address, phone number, your email contact, and the single Tim Irving image you’ve chosen from his site. 

Announcement:

The Nail Head Trim Party, scheduled for July 31st is officially postponed until late September – new date will be announced.

Thanks to all participants who’ve given me an RSVP.  Hold on to those projects and we’ll do this in the fall. 

I’ve been very busy this week – stay tuned for some great posts coming up, including a feature of some of your great transformations, a tutorial on hanging grasscloth wallpaper, my hand painted desk revamp, and more !

Melissa and her husband Wade live in Baton Rouge.  She is a paralegal, and Wade is in law school.  I’ve been there Wade, and it’s tough !  Hopefully, some cheesy sandwiches will make life a bit easier. 

Congratulations to Melissa and Wade on winning the Panini Maker, courtesy of Cymax stores.  Stay tuned for more Giveaway Fridays, coming soon.