Home Decor

  • Spring Cleaning Checklist Printable

    Let’s start cleaning with this Spring Cleaning Checklist Printable!

    Okay, so I have a confession! I am utterly obsessed with TikTok ASMR cleaning and organizing videos. I watch them every day, and they’re so satisfying. I’ve been doing a lot of cleaning (even broke my dishwasher in the process), but I’m excited to go with the seasons’ transition with some spring cleaning. 

    I don’t know about you, but after spending so much time indoors for the last few months, I think we’re all looking for ways to freshen up our homes and do some spring cleaning. Living in New York, it’s felt like we’ve been hibernating since last November, and I’m excited to reinvigorate the energy of our home. Spring cleaning sometimes feels overwhelming, so to ensure you’re prepared and have a plan to keep things manageable, I created this spring cleaning checklist printable to use as a guide. 

    You can use this printable custom to your needs; select the rooms you’re going to be working on and then mark them off as you go. I have covered just about every room in the home with tasks that will help us get our house in its cleanest state. You can use this printable to clean your home yourself, or if you’re hiring help or designating, you can give it to them, so they know exactly what you need them to do.

    Click below to download your free spring cleaning checklist printable!

    Spring Cleaning Checklist Printable
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    Scroll Down For Spring Cleaning Tips!

    As promised before are a few spring cleaning tips that I hope will help you get the desired results! 

    Focus on one thing at a time. 

    Focus on one thing at a time, whether it’s one room or one task; make sure you’re spring cleaning intentionally and focusing on one thing at a time so you can do it effectively. For instance, yesterday, I focused on our linen closet, and I removed everything, wiped the shelves, swept and dusted, and then organized it. There have been times when I’ve started working on one thing and got sidetracked by doing laundry or simultaneously beginning to work on another space, and I ended up not doing it well or not finishing at all. You can’t multitask when spring cleaning unless you’re designating another area to someone else. 

    Get help

    That leads me to my second tip, get help especially if you’re tacking a large square footage. You can hire a house cleaner or ask your friends and family to help you out. Spring cleaning in our house requires work from everyone who lives here even my 4-year-old who loves using the Swiffer duster and helping us unload the dishwasher.

    Move furniture to bring life to your space

    When I was growing up my grandmother would rearrange her living room whenever she did spring cleaning. I loved when she did that because it felt like a different home, a different experience. Moving furniture can change the energy of a room, improve the aesthetics and more importantly you can clean spaces that we hidden.

    Spring is all about bright and airy vibes so make sure you’re brining the energy of life into your home with fresh flowers and/or citrus like lemons, limes and oranges. You can also make floral arrangements that combine the two. As a Caribbean girl, I also use lemons for a lot of our cleaning. I also use them clean our garbage disposal, chopping boards and microwave. There is just something about lemon that makes me feel good.

    Declutter

    This should be the first thing you do before you start cleaning. Declutter and determine what you want to keep, donate and throw away. If you have kids you will find that you need to do this more often in their closets as they grow out of clothes and accumulate new clothes very quickly.

    Focus on organization systems for easier maintenance

    If you have a lot of things that need to be cleaned in your home and you don’t have a lot of space, consider investing in some organization while you spring clean. Not only will this make your home feel better and more manageable. You will be better able to maintain a clean home. You can invest in under sink organizers, kitchen cabinets organization, closets, garage and more. See some of my recommendations below.

    I hope you found this post and the spring cleaning checklist printable useful and you enjoy your spring. Drop a content below letting me know which room you plan to tackle first.

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    5 Low Maintenance Indoor Plants You Wouldn’t Kill

  • 5 Low Maintenance Indoor Plants You Wouldn’t Kill

    Tired of killing all of your plants? Scroll down for 5 low maintenance indoor plants that even you wouldn’t kill.

    Those of you who’ve been following me for a while know that if it’s one thing I could do, it’s killing a plant. It’s not intentional, I genuinely love having plants in my space, but I just don’t have a green thumb.

    I’ve purchased a lot of gorgeous plants over the years that I was excited to see grow and flourish, including two palms and an anthurium that I really wished worked out. I still miss this pretty monstera that I got during the quarantine that sadly died after a few months (the small plant in that pic is still alive though).

    With that said, I’ve had to humble myself and stick to the plants that I can actually keep alive. Plants that make me feel like I have a green thumb don’t require me to join plant groups or take a course to take care of them. I’m writing this post for those of you out there who are just like me, love plants but can’t keep them alive. These are the foolproof plants that will survive no matter what. 

    Snake plant

    At this point, I am the snake plant queen. When I noticed that all of my plants were dying, but my snake plants continued to thrive, I knew I was on to something. Low light, no light, too much light, the snake plant doesn’t care. It’s a survivor, and it is the plant for me. I could easily fill my house with snake plants because they’re attractive and I don’t have to worry about them. 

    Bamboo

    Low Maintenance Indoor Plants

    I don’t own a bamboo plant, but my mom had one for years that she did little or nothing for and somehow survived. Bamboo plants are really low maintenance and require very little from you, plus they’re inexpensive and here in New York sold at bodegas and other neighborhood stores. 

    Spider plant

    I know you’ve seen the spider plant all over, and there is a reason for its popularity; they’re straightforward to care for, especially if you’re on the hunt for a low-maintenance hanging plant option. 

    Money Tree

    I like to joke that this is the office plant. Back in the day, when I was still working at an office, most of my co-workers had money tree plants, and they did well because they’re low maintenance indoor plants. I don’t remember any of their money tree plants dying, and they weren’t given the utmost care. I’m sure if you work in an office environment, you have at least one co-work with a money plant on their desk. 

    Aloe

    Growing up, we always had aloe plants in Grenada. They’re effortless to care for and require water infrequently. If you’re prone to forgetting to water your plants, you might want to get an aloe plant. They’re lovely, and aloe is excellent to have on hand as it can be used for many beauty and wellness purposes, including caring for open wounds and skin breakouts. 

    I hope this post is helpful and that you’re able to find low-maintenance plants that add life and beauty to your personal space that aren’t stressful to keep alive. There are many great benefits to having plants in your home, like they can be a natural air purifier and remove harmful toxins from the air, so don’t be scared to get these plants. You can shop for plants on Etsy if you don’t have time to shop in person or you want to support a farmer or Home Depot for pick-up. I’ve done both and purchased plants while shopping at the supermarket. 

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    For the Love of Rose Gold Home Decor Accents!

    Rose Gold Candle holder
  • Six Ways to Save Money During the Holidays

    This post is sponsored by BJ’s Wholesale Club. As always, all opinions are my own. 

    Believe it or not, you can save money during the holidays and have a fabulous time!  

    I love everything about the holiday season, especially making memories with my family and spoiling them with gifts. Gifting and entertaining can be expensive, though, and as a mom of three, I’m conscious of my holiday spending to make the most of our family’s budget. Here are a few ways I save money during the holidays and you can too.  

    Save Money During the Holidays

    Shop in bulk.

    I’m not sure why I didn’t think of doing this when I was in my 20’s, but I’m so happy to know better now. The holidays are the perfect time to start shopping in bulk if you don’t already do so. 

    When it comes to entertaining, I know that I can pull off a fabulous soiree with the help of my BJ’s Membership Card. I’m a long-time BJ’s Wholesale Club Member, and I head directly there when I’m entertaining because I know I will find everything I need, and I love that I can save 25% off grocery store prices. 

    But food isn’t the only thing I buy in bulk! I love that BJ’s has a fantastic selection of gift bags, wrapping paper, gift sets and greeting cards that I can buy in bulk. I’ve found everything from spa sets to assorted chocolate gifts.

    Save Money During the Holidays

    Host at home.

    Instead of going out to restaurants or ordering take-out, save by inviting friends and family over and entertaining them in your home. You can find party food, fresh baked goods from the bakery, and even Wellsley Farms Wines, exclusively at BJ’s! My go-to is the frozen section for all of the Wellsley Farm frozen appetizers

    Stick to your list. 

    Make a list, check it twice, and stick to it! It’s really tempting while shopping to buy one extra thing or a bigger or more expensive gift than the one we planned to get, but that type of impulsive behavior can destroy our holiday budget. Instead, think of ways to make the gift more attractive and create an experience that includes the gift. 

    Shop BJs.com for more convenience.

    This a great option if you’re very busy or you get tempted to spend more when you’re shopping during the holidays. It’s so convenient and easy that BJ’s offers a variety of digital services, so you can get everything you need from groceries and gifts to decorations without ever leaving the house. Plus, the holidays are so busy that you might not have the time to shop. You can even buy online to pick-up in-club, order with same-day delivery or get two-day delivery on BJ’s essentials at BJ’s Stocked

    Use coupons. 

    Every dollar counts if you’re on a very tight budget, so use coupons to save. I love BJ’s Wholesale Club because you can use both manufacturers and in-club add-to-Card coupons for even more savings. It’s effortless to clip coupons using the BJ’s mobile app, too. BJ’s seamlessly deducts the savings at the register, so no extra steps necessary.

    Look for discounted products. 

    As most of you know by now, my kids love reading and have a big collection of books. BJ’s carries the new children’s book releases at low prices, so I usually get them as gifts for my kids and the other children on my list. I love their matching pajama sets, holiday sweaters, and even leggings. I’m always blown away by the prices at BJ’s. 

    Anyway, I hope these tips help you to save money during the holidays and still have fun. 

    Are you on a tight budget this holiday season?

    Do you have a baby too? Check out 5 hacks for shopping for a baby on a budget here.

  • Kid-Friendly Decorating with Washable Rugs

    I partnered with Lorena Canals for this kid-friendly decorating post. All opinions are based on my experience.

    When I was growing up my mom had a rotating work schedule where she would work one week 9-5 and the following week at night. She was a single mom so for the weeks that she had to work at night, she hired a babysitter to take care of me. My babysitter’s name was Wendy and she was so awesome and impacted my life in so many ways, I might have to write another post just about her. The first day Wendy came to my house she brought a bunch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles VHS tapes that we watched while eating popcorn. When Home Alone was released, I remember Wendy taking me to see the movie and she wasn’t even “on the clock” at the time, she always had something fun planned. I became a little obsessed with this cool teenager and I got to know her family really well too. Her mom hustled really hard around the clock and her home was I guess her pride but it was the scariest place for me as a child. Wendy’s home was far from kid-friendly, there were huge glass decorations all over their home and whenever I went there her mom would remind me constantly that I shouldn’t walk near them (she had huge ones on the floor) or touch them. I was 8 and terrified that I would break something constantly. Even up to this day, I am terrified of high maintenance home decor. Anything breakable or stains easily it isn’t for my kids and I, we keep things very low maintenance with quality kid-friendly pieces like Lorena Canals washable rugs.

    I first learned about Lorena Canal washable rugs while I was pregnant last year and looking for solutions for all three
    kids to play in the same space. As most of us moms, I purchased so many playmats that the kids tore apart or we a complete eyesore. I was gifted the Lorena Canal Terrazzo Sapphire which works well for all three kids and this style is gender neutral but they have lots of gorgeous styles for both kids rooms or shared spaces. We received our rug shortly after I gave birth to the baby and we’ve been using it since.

    Kid-Friendly Decorating with Washable Rugs

    Our rug was individually handmade with cotton materials and natural dyes so as a parent I’m not worried about the kids safety when they’re playing on it. My favorite thing about it it’s washable which is necessary for us parents with small kids. Even though I tell my little ones to not to use food, paint or slime etc. on it doesn’t mean they always listen. Actually, we’ve had our rug for two months now and I’ve seen everything from playdoh to applesauce end up on it but with a quick simple toss in the washing machine, it’s like new again.

    My only issue with my Lorena Canal washable rug was pilling for about a week or two which is normal for most new rugs. All the pieces in the kids hair were driving me nuts so I tossed it in the washing machine and it went away immediately.

    What’s your favorite kid-friendly decor piece ?

     

  • For The Love of Rose Gold Home Decor Accents

    I’m really excited because we’re going to be moving in a few months to a new place and I can’t wait to decorate it. I’ve been going crazy over on Pinterest, pinning inspiring spaces discovering what my style is and what speaks to me. I’ve realized a few things like I really want to try a minimalist home approach where less is more. More space, less furniture, less clutter and just the things that really makes our family happy. I love white because it makes such a wonderful canvas and is very calming and peaceful. In the process, I’ve fallen in love with rose gold accessories. I would love for you ladies, to be part of the decorating process with me. I wanted to share some budget-friendly rose gold home decor accent pieces that I’ve been eyeing over on Amazon.

    Rose Gold and Marble Bathroom Accessories

     Rose Gold Home Decor Accents

    Faux Fur throw pillow 

    Rose Gold Faux Fur Throw Pillow

    Marble and Rose Gold Clock 

     

    Marble and Rose Gold Clock

    Rose Gold Geometric 3-D Photo FrameRose Gold Geometric Photo Frame

    Rose Gold Garden Stool 

    Rose Gold Garden Stool

    Rose Gold Storage Basket

    Rose Gold Storage Basket

    Rose Gold Candle 

    Rose Gold Candle holder

     

    Which of these red rose pieces is your favorite?