Thrifty Thursday: Cleaning Craze

It seems as though the busier I get, the more I feel the need to begin side projects & any other little organizational tasks around the house. Whenever I have a lot of writing to get done, it all of a sudden sudden matters that my laundry is neatly folded into my dresser drawers prior to getting my work completed. And unfortunately for me, there are no magical woodland creatures to assist with my cleaning mayhem...

Courtesy of: Pinterest

 But lucky for you, I have actually tried out many DIY, cleaning tricks & tips and have found ones  that actually work! Below is a list of my 3 favorite, Thrifty Cleaning Tips:

Directions: Cut shoe boxes in half, along the length or width, and fill the resulting compartments with folded briefs, socks, or stacked bras.

About once a month, I end up dumping all of the clothes out of my dresser drawer and refolding all of them. Each month, I set out with the best intention to keep the drawers clean and the clothes folded and put away in their correct drawers. Yet, as the month unfolds so does my clothes. But, I have finally found a solution by cutting up shoe boxes into dresser dividers!

As I begin cleaning, I tend to find a TON of hair elastics lying around my house & car. One major solution that I have found is to carry a keychain around in my pocket. As I find the elastics, I quickly snap them onto the bungee clip  and I'm good to go. For me, I have found no other solution that has worked better. If I just pick up the elastics and put them in my pocket as I go, I tend to find those little suckers in the washer machine later. 

And speaking of washers, I have finally found an easy way to clean the washer machine that really works, thanks to  Dawn Monroe of the blog, Frugal Mom.

I hope that some of my cleaning tips have inspired you to create a clean space for you. Working from home, it's important to me that I set up in a clean work space. 

I can certainly say that things have been very busy for me lately and I find that cleaning is the way in which I prepare my space "to get to work". One reason for which I have been very busy is that I am in the midst of moving Creatively Lu over to the self-hosted site: CreativelyLu.com and look forward to launching that shortly! In addition to writing for Creatively Lu, I have also started a job with Kym Douglas. Kym is a Hollywood Beauty expert, best-selling author, and regular on the Ellen Degeneres show, The Doctors, Home & Family... and a past "Friday Favorite"  feature.  

I am now working with Kym as a Show-Segment Creator, Product Promotion Account Specialist, and am the official Blogger for the beauty blog "A Kiss of Bliss" at KymDouglas.com. (On the Bliss Blog,we are currently running a Bliss Beauty Basket Giveaway filled with $300 worth of beauty products if you want to check it out).


When I interviewed Kym regarding her book "Bliss Happens", we really hit it off. Right away she felt like a really cool aunt I've always been close with. She is all about spreading bliss & celebrating beauty and I just feel so lucky to get to work with her. Talk about a creative outlet!

On the very first day that I spoke with Kym she said; "Lu. be careful what you wish for because it will happen!" and I have to say it really has! So today, I dedicate this post to all of you. If you believe in yourself and create the life you want to live, you will make beautiful things happen! Maybe that first step simply involves, cutting up some shoe-boxes to create a clean-space...it did for me.

Create a Thrifty Thursday Everyone!

Below is your daily dose of inspiration...

Photo Courtesy of: Ashley Sofia

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Friday Favorites: Kym Douglas

Kym Douglas is the ever-popular, Hollywood beauty guru and "blissologist." She is the "go-to" beauty expert for the Ellen DeGeneres Show, a best-selling author, and appears regularly on Home & Family, the Doctors, and Fox Good Day LA.

The Ellen Degeneres show is my "go-to" show. I DVR each episode and watch the following morning while getting ready. Right before Thanksgiving I was watching Ellen and applying my mascara, when suddenly my ears perked up. Ellen had just announced that Kym Douglas would be appearing on that particular day's show to share her DIY beauty tips and tricks. I grew excited, as I, like many Ellen viewers, look forward to Kym's beauty & lifestyle segments the most. 

Like always, Kym delivered the laughs, while also sharing some very useful and affordable beauty tips.Within seconds of her segment, I was uncontrollably laughing along with Ellen as Kym dipped her feet into a pumpkin pie, in order to create a foot scrub "on the go." As Kym listed tip after tip of beauty advice, I frantically tried to make mental notes of all the recipes and I was so eager to learn more blissful tips that later that day I logged onto Amazon and purchased her book: "Bliss Happens." 

Bliss Happens: the six-week plan to a happier, prettier, thinner, and richer life by Kym Douglas
Available for purchase: here

Ever since  I purchased "Bliss Happens", I have embarked on a more blissful life. I have followed every one of Kym's easy to follow tips and have achieved numerous results. From healthier hair to softer skin, every beauty tip has worked wonders and is extremely affordable. In fact, I would estimate that 90% of the products used to make Kym's recipes can be found in your households already.

I believe that when you discover bliss it is something that you want to share with those around you. As a result, I have been sharing Kym's recipes with my friends and family. From preparing my mom a "Rise N'Shine Minty Lime" drink at morning-time to helping a friend combat a pimple just before a New Year's party to setting up a lavender steam for my bestie, I have strived to share Kym's blissful, beauty tips with others. 

"Blissful Baking"
While waiting for the cupcakes to bake with my "bestie" Jackie, I prepared her an ooh-la-la lavendar steam to enjoy.

 When Kym enthusiastically accepted my Friday Favorites' invitation, I was ecstatic to learn even more about this successful and blissful beauty maven and to share her tips with the entire Creatively Lu community. Below is my Q&A with Kym, and lucky for you, you don't have to take mental notes of this...

photo courtesy of the Kym Douglas FB page

• Lu: What is the meaning behind the title Bliss Happens?
• Kym: Some time ago there was a big trend that  people would go around saying well "Sh*T HAPPENS." It was a saying that was thrown about in a way to diffuse a situation in which life throws you a curve ball. People just started accepting and EXPECTING things to go wrong. Well, I wasn't having it…if you  want to look for something….. then for  Pete sake…... look for something positive not Negative. Jay and his team came up with the title and I loved it. It fit perfectly because if Sh*t Happens then so  does Bliss.      

                                  

• Lu: Do you have a favorite DIY beauty tip you would like to share with the Creatively Lu community?
• Kym: I love DIY beauty recipes. I feel we  put so much  chemicals,  additives and synthetic products "IN" and "ON" our bodies that I  always turn to the  DIY first but there is not always the time. Two easy time-saving tips are: #1- I use a coconut oil every  night on my nail beds to moisturize them and I help the nails grow and it makes your manicure last longer & #2- I  cut a lemon in half and  dip it in  sugar as a weekly scrub on my face or elbows and arms. 
• Lu: What is the number one tip you would give to others for finding their bliss?
• Kym: The number one tip I would give to  others about how to find their Bliss is the hardest question you have asked me. We all have our  own version of what BLISS is to us. We all have our  own paths to find it…but desiring BLISS is universal and we all want it in our lives. My advice…when difficulties strike find a loop hole…what could possible happen out of this that  could be working in your favor? Look for the light that could  come down the line. Maybe God DOES know better than you and he is moving something OUT of your life to replace with something bigger and better. Be grateful in ALL things... the good  days and the BAD days. Find something, anything  positive to focus on and focus on that. YOU bring into your life what you focus on…….. what are you thinking about? Lastly, have a goal and dream…... a purpose and pursue it with all your might. God put it in your heart and mind and its there for a reason…... you are the  only one who can get it for your self so go do it…find your Bliss!

Pretty exceptional woman, huh?!  I am also very excited to announce that Kym will be helping Ellen to get ready for the Oscars this March, in which Ellen will be hosting! So look out for another Friday Favorites post on Kym and her beauty adventures with Ellen during Oscars week! Below is your daily dose of inspiration.

Kym Douglas and Ellen Degeneres

 November 2013

*Check out the Kym Douglas website & follow Kym on Twitter, FB, Instagram, & Pinterest. 

Create a blissful Friday! 

*Now you can follow me on BlogLovin' for a daily email notifying you of that day's topic. 

*To follow the Creatively Lu posts daily,  "like" the FB page .

* Follow @Creatively Lu on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.