How to Easily Meal Plan for the Week

Part of living a healthy lifestyle is cooking at home.  I love discovering new recipes and cooking them for me and my husband.  A huge part of cooking is planning ahead so you have everything you need when you're hungry.  Many people are very busy during the week, so planning your meals from the beginning will reduce stress and prevent you from making unhealthy choices when you just want a quick meal.  Today I'm going to share the steps I take every week to keep me and my husband satisfied and nourished!

Step 1: Designate a Planning/Grocery Shopping Day For Each Week

Getting into a grocery shopping routine on a day you have some free time is key.  Every Sunday, my husband and I go grocery shopping together.  We go to Native Sun for our food and Publix for toiletries and other miscellaneous items.  It's actually become a fun tradition.  Before we go, I have everything planned so I'm not wandering the stores trying to think about what I need.

Step 2: Write Down Your Meal Plan

This step is fun because you get to discover new recipes.  Sometimes it can be frustrating, especially if you're having to plan for a lot people, but I've found this technique very helpful.  Write down each meal category like this: Breakfast, Lunches, Dinners, Snacks, Desserts.  Then under each category, write each person's initial and what they want to eat for the week.  Brian and I usually have the same thing for breakfast, so that's easy.  I always have smoothies for my snack and we try to not have a lot of desserts unless it's a special occasion, so those categories can be checked off pretty quickly.  That just leaves lunches and dinners that require a little more effort.  I either go to my Beauty Detox Books or Pinterest for recipes.  Sometimes I'm in the mood for something specific and other times I want to try something new.  Either way, these tools are lifesavers for meal planning.  You can usually find quick and easy recipes for whatever you're craving on Pinterest.

Step 3: Write Down the Ingredients You Need

Once you have all your meals planned, it's time to figure out what you need for each meal.  Go down the list starting with breakfast until you get to desserts.  If I'm using a recipe book, I'll write down the page number next to the recipe so when I go to make it, I know exactly where to go.  If I'm using Pinterest, I screenshot the recipes on my phone for the same reason.  As you're looking at each recipe, check to see if you already have any of the ingredients.  Finally, try to think of any other miscellaneous items you may need.  I use the reverse side of my meal plan list to write down the ingredients because it saves paper and it makes it easy if I need to refer back to anything while in the store.

Step 4: Go Shopping!

Now that you've got everything planned and written down, you're ready to go shopping.  Try to stick to your list if you can to prevent impulse buys and save money.  If you have a budget you need to stick to, round up prices for each item and write them down on your list as you check things off.  Then you can total everything at the end.

That's it!  Making this a weekly routine is a great way to stay healthy because you know exactly what you're putting in your body.  Planning ahead is always better than waiting until the last minute when you're starving!

Products to Ditch Today (and Awesome Alternatives!)

As a minimalist, I'm always trying to discover new ways to save space and money.  We live in a world where someone is always trying to sell us something, but the truth is, we don't need all this stuff!  I used to buy into this mentality and try new products just for something different.  But many products are not necessary, take up precious space, are full of chemicals, and cost a lot of money.  I've done a lot of research on all these topics, and I'd encourage you to do your own.  Today, I'm sharing my list of products I no longer use.  I'll also give convenient alternatives if needed.

Shaving Cream/Gel

In one of my first blogs, I discussed How I Cured Itchy Irritation From Shaving My Legs.  I discovered my skin was reacting to the shaving cream I was using.  Shaving products are often full of toxins that cause skin irritations.  You don't need to waste money on them.  I now shave with Dr. Bonner's Castile Soap, which I also use as body wash.  It's gentle on skin and I no longer suffer from irritation.  Plus, now there is one less product in my shower, so I'm happy!

Antiperspirant

Please, Please, Please, DO NOT USE ANTIPERSPIRANT!  Our bodies are supposed to sweat!  By blocking sweat glands, you are keeping toxins your body needs to get rid of inside.  Please check out my blog, The Best Chemical Free Deodorant, where I share my story about how bad I used to stink.  I share the deodorant recipe I use, requiring only 4 simple, inexpensive ingredients.  My husband and I share the deodorant and it lasts for months.  Even if we're sweating, we don't have to stink!

Dryer Sheets/Fabric Softeners 

Last year, I started hearing how dryer sheets and fabric softeners are full of chemicals and should be avoided.  I heard about alternatives, such as wool dryer balls you can add your favorite essential oils to if you want a chemical free smell on your clothes.  I had about a half a box of dryer sheets left, which I used up and have never replaced.  I don't miss them at all.  Please check out this EWG article, Don't Get Slimed: Skip the Fabric Softener, for more information about the dangers of these products and other natural alternatives.

Loofahs

At one point, I had 3 different loofahs I used in the shower.  One day, I decided I didn't need them anymore.  This turned out to be a great decision because loofahs hold a lot of bacteria.  This is another product you can ditch and not replace, thus giving you more free space.  I just wash my body with my hands now.

Chewing Gum

If you haven't checked out my blog, My Aspartame Horror Story, please do.  I discuss how I discovered the artificial sweeteners in the gum and mints I was using were causing migraines and neurological issues.  Artificial sweeteners are poison, but thankfully, there are gum and mints with natural sweeteners such as xylitol, which are safe.  I love the mints from the Spry brand and use them regularly.  Recently, I decided to give up gum.  Gum is something we don't really need and it actually tricks our bodies into thinking we need to start digesting, thus causing imbalance.  Gum can also cause bad breath.  This is one habit I sometimes miss, but I can live without.

Air Freshener Sprays/ Plug-Ins

Once again, this is another product full of chemicals.  If you actually read the ingredients in these products, it's really scary.  People spray these into the air of their homes and breathe them in all the time.  This is not only an unnecessary product, it's also harmful.  If you want your home to really smell good, invest in a diffuser and let essential oils fill your space with healthy, natural scents and ditch the fake stuff!

Kitchen Sponges

This is similar to loofahs because kitchen sponges hold a lot of bacteria as well.  You're cleaning your dishes with something that can never really be clean.  I've never liked touching a kitchen sponge, so I use a dish scrubbing brush with a handle so I don't have to feel anything nasty while washing the dishes.  This brush is under $10 at Bed Bath and Beyond and it's very easy to clean.  I throw mine in the dishwasher every time I do a load and it dries quickly.  They only need to be replaced every year or so.  Easy!

I hope this inspired you to look into the products you use and really consider making a change.  You'll be saving space, time, and money when you reduce purchases, therefore making your life more simple.  Remember, less clutter means less you have to deal with, resulting in less stress and more time for what's really important!

Why You Should Switch to Soy Or Beeswax Candles

One of my favorite home decor items is candles.  I have them in almost every room of my home and love to burn them, especially now in the winter months.  As many of my readers know, I'm always discovering new ways to improve on my healthy lifestyle.  Sometimes it feels like nothing is safe anymore, because chemicals are in everything!  Unfortunately, candles are no exception.  

A few years ago, I had a candle from Wal-Mart burning in my apartment.  I rarely shop there so this was my first experience with a candle from this store.  Everything seemed fine at first, but after a few days, I noticed there was a black soot film throughout my apartment.  I realized it was from the candle!  When I cleaned that week, I found even more of the black film.  By then, the candle was almost burned out so I threw it away.

This inspired me to look into candles and what they are actually made of.  It turns out, they are full of chemicals.  Every time we burn commercial candles, those chemicals are being released into the air of our homes and we're breathing them in.  This is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.  

In my research, I found a helpful article called Toxins in Candles: Sad, But True.  I'd encourage you to read it for yourself.  The author, Stephanie Langford, explains that "Paraffin is the major ingredient in most conventional candles and is a sludge waste product from the petroleum industry."  She goes on to say that some of the ingredients may cause cancer and affect the nervous system.  For me personally, the convenience of buying cheap candles is not worth putting myself and my family at risk.

Thankfully, there are healthy alternatives.  Soy and beeswax candles are made with clean ingredients that will not pollute the air in your home.  Yes, they can be more expensive, but it's worth it to not have to clean up soot and breathe in toxins.

Every time I go to Urban Outfitters I check out the apartment section and look at their new candles.  They always have a great selection of soy wax candles that always smell amazing.  Here are a few I've personally used.

Buy it here.

Buy it here.

Soy and beeswax candles are easy to find, you just have to look at the labels.  You can also find them online.  Do yourself and your family a favor, and switch to soy or beeswax today!

My Easy Weekly Cleaning Routine

Something I feel is highly important and underrated is maintaining a clean home.  I've written several blogs about organization, but that is only half of the picture.  Once you have all your personal items organized, keeping your home clean is the other way to maintain a healthy and welcoming living space.

Having a bucket like this is helpful for storing all your cleaning supplies.

Today I'd like to share with you my easy cleaning routine.  I do this every Monday and I actually look forward to this day because it's when everything is fresh again.  You can use this as a loose guide and customize it to your own needs.  Maybe you can't dedicate an entire day to these tasks and that's okay.  You could do one every day until you finish.  Also, if you're someone who dreads cleaning, check out my blog, 5 Tips For Making Cleaning More Enjoyable.

Step One: Prepare the Spaces for Cleaning

The first thing we need to do is prepare each room for cleaning.  I usually remove all the towels hanging in the bathrooms and kitchen, move the rugs, and move anything else off the hard floors to prepare for vacuuming and mopping.  

Step Two: Start the Laundry

I do laundry about twice a week.  I do a dark load and a white load on Mondays and usually on Thursdays I'll have enough to do another dark load.  On Mondays I start with the dark load and make sure I wash all the dirty towels.  I'll also throw in blankets, pillow cases, and anything else I know needs a wash.  Laundry is an easy thing you can start early and work on other things while it's washing and drying.

Step Three: Tackle the Kitchen

At this point I will usually do any cooking I need to do for the week.  I'll make my breakfast smoothies, lunch, desserts, or snacks.  That way when I actually start cleaning, I can wipe up messes from the cooking I just did.  I use Young Living Thieves household cleaner to wipe down my kitchen counter tops.  It kills germs and smells amazing.  I wipe out the microwave, toaster, and anything else that looks like it needs to be cleaned.  All the crumbs land on the floor waiting to be vacuumed up later.  I also organize the pantry and refrigerator, throwing away any old food from the previous week.





Step Four:  Dust and Clean Glass Surfaces or Mirrors

I always dust each room with Endust next because once again, everything will fall to the floor and then it can be vacuumed up.  I also use Sprayway glass cleaner on any glass surfaces or mirrors, especially in the bathrooms where splashing may occur.

Step Five: Scrub the Bathrooms

I use rubber gloves for this step because I'm using products that contain bleach.  I scrub the bathroom sinks, toilets, and showers with an old white wash rag.  I use a toilet wand to scrub inside the toilets.  Make sure you move your toothbrushes and other items out of the way so they don't get sprayed with bleach.

Step Six: Check the Laundry

At this point I usually switch the dark load to the dryer and put the white load in with my bed sheets.  I think it's very important to wash your sheets every week because of all the sweat and dirt that accumulates.  I don't start the whites until I'm done with wiping down the kitchen counters, dusting, and scrubbing the bathrooms because I throw the cleaning rags in there as well.

Step Seven: Vacuum and Mop

For this step I vacuum all the hard floors first and then mop them.  That way, when I'm waiting for the floors to dry, I can vacuum the carpet and not worry about stepping on the wet floors.  The best mopping equipment in my opinion is a Libman mop and white vinegar.  Don't waste your money on expensive cleaning products because they really don't work as well as cheap white vinegar.  I got a gallon jug for less than $2 and you only need to pour a small amount into the kitchen sink with a little bit of warm water.  It disinfects your floors and dries super fast!  Just make sure to disinfect the sink with bleach when you're done, or just use a bucket.

Step Eight: Finish the Laundry and Put Everything Back in it's Place

I can usually fold and put away the darks at this time and switch the whites to the dryer.  I put all the rugs back and clean towels in the bathrooms.  Once the whites are dry, I fold them and make the bed with fresh sheets.  

Step Nine: Take Out the Trash

I make taking out the trash the last step because I usually have garbage from cooking, lint from the dryer, emptying the vacuum cleaner, and so on.  It feels good to put a fresh trash bag in at the end of the cleaning day.

If you make this a weekly habit your home will be easier to clean.  You'll maintain that level of cleanliness.  I thoroughly enjoy cleaning days so I tend to take my time and enjoy it.  But if I really needed to do it quickly, I could do this whole routine in about two hours.  That's not that much time per week to spend on making sure your home is spotless!

Why You Should Always Close the Lid Before Flushing the Toilet

My family is constantly making fun of me for being a germophobe.  I always have to wash my hands immediately after taking out the trash or handling money.  I freak out around raw meat and I'll admit I'm overly cautious about washing everything it has touched.  I would clean the air around raw meat if I could.  But today's tip is common sense and you don't have to be a germophobe to see the benefits. 

I was a teenager when I discovered the truth about toilet spray, and ever since then, I have always closed the lid before flushing.  When I still lived with my parent's, I'll never forget hearing the toilet in my bathroom flush, seeing my dad walk out, and noticing the was toilet lid still up.  I freaked out and said "You're getting pee particles all over my bathroom!"  They had fun mimicking me with that one for a while.  

But seriously, the toilet spray is pretty nasty.  Here is what webmd.com has to say about it: "According to Charles Gerba, PhD, a professor of microbiology at University of Arizona in Tucson, flushing the toilet with the lid up is not wise. "Polluted water vapor erupts out of the flushing toilet bowl and it can take several hours for these particles to finally settle -- not to mention where," he says. "If you have your toothbrush too close to the toilet, you are brushing your teeth with what's in your toilet.""

As for public restrooms, the air is probably full of toilet spray so that is unavoidable.  I usually wait until I'm leaving the stall before I flush and then I hold my breath.  We can only do our best.

This may be old news to some, but many people may not be conscious of this simple way to keep your home cleaner and healthier.  It doesn't take long to close the lid and when it becomes a habit, you won't even have to think about it.

Why I Don't Have Cable TV

       

  When my husband and I first got married, we lived in a one bedroom apartment and had a Comcast cable and internet package.  The company assured us it made sense to have a package because you’d save money.  We rarely watched TV and after about a year of paying for something we never used, we decided to cut this out of our budget.  The cable company tried to convince us to keep it, but we had made up our minds.  I understand many people will not be able to relate to this post because they love watching TV, but this is how I truly feel about cable.  Below are the main reasons I have no desire to ever have cable TV in my home.

1. Cable TV is Too Expensive for What You Get

Think about how much you pay a month to have cable.  Now think about how much time you actually watch TV and consider how much of that time is spent watching ads.  You’re paying to watch commercials.  This doesn’t make sense and I will not waste another second of my life paying to have my brain turned to mush.

2. There are Better Alternatives

I’m not completely knocking watching TV.  I love Amazon Prime and Netflix.  They are superior to cable because there are no annoying commercials and they allow you to watch what you want on your time.  Not to mention, you can binge watch shows, so there’s no waiting to see what happens week to week.  Plus, these forms of entertainment prevent channel surfing.  You can stick to the shows and movies you like, and really save time.

3. Cable is a Waste of Time

Speaking of time, watching cable TV is a waste of time.  You can spend hours channel surfing and sitting through commercials.  You could be spending that time with friends and family or being productive.  In my opinion, cable promotes laziness.

4. Commercials are Rotting Your Brain

Did I mention how much I loathe commercials?  I can’t stand them.  They get super loud, they’re mostly advertising things I would never buy, and they’re taxing on your mental health.  There is a ton of research on how too much of this kind of stimulation is psychologically unhealthy.  Our lives are chaotic enough.  When we’re home, we should enjoy peace and quiet while we can, not fill our minds with meaningless chatter.

                It may seem strange to some since I’m only 26, but I really am content to watch less and less TV.  I feel like there are more important things to do in life.  In my home, there is one TV in the living room.  We will never have a TV in any of the bedrooms.  I don’t think there is anything wrong with relaxing every once in a while in front of the TV.  But I don’t think we should be addicted to it.  Maybe you completely disagree with everything I’ve said, but at least consider what TV is doing to your mental health and your family.  I believe attempting to have the TV on less would improve the quality of life in many homes.

5 Reasons to Avoid Fad Traps

If you've been following me on this blog at all, you know I'm all about organizing, cleaning, and living a minimalist lifestyle.  Today I want to share with you the main reasons why you shouldn't give in to buying popular items you feel like you "just have to have".  Specifically, I'm talking about quilted purses, beanie babies, and anything that gets really popular and creates a need to collect.  

Remember when the Vera Bradley and other quilted purses were everywhere?  Now I only see them in second hand stores where they're sold for dirt cheap.  In the 90's I remember begging my parents to go to McDonald's (I shutter to think about what I ate back then!) so I could collect all the beanie babies because my sister and I thought we needed all of them.

The point is, just because something is super popular in the moment, doesn't mean you have to jump on the bandwagon.  Wait it out and you won't miss out on anything but hassle.  Below are the top 5 reasons you should avoid falling for the fad trap.

1. They Don't Last

This world is full of fleeting things that don't mean anything.  If you're trying to collect something just because everyone else is doing it, you've fallen for the fad trap.  Sure, it feels good in the moment, but in a few years the craze will disappear and you'll be stuck with a pile of junk.

2. They're a Waste of Money

Some of these items are extremely expensive.  Once the fad dies out, you've wasted a lot of hard earned money on something you don't even use anymore.

3. They Create Clutter

Once you've collected all these items, where are you going to store them?  They'll most likely end up in a closet collecting dust.  One of the best ways to make your life easier and simpler is to get rid of clutter you don't need and I'd bet those collector's items you got a few years ago would be a good place to start.

4. They're a Hassle to Get Rid of

Once you've decided to ditch the outdated items, what do you do with them?  There's no longer a demand for them so you're lucky to sell them at a garage sale for next to nothing.  At least you can feel good about donating them and maybe they'll go to someone in need.

5. They Distract You From the Important Things in Life

I'm not saying all material items are bad and you should get rid of all your possessions.  You can still enjoy hobbies and things you love.  But make sure it's something true to yourself.  Maybe instead of spending money on a fad item, buy a friend lunch.  

The very definition of  a fad is "an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived and without basis in the object's qualities; a craze".  Instead of giving in, spend your time and money on your loved ones and things that really matter.  You'll feel lighter and happier knowing you've made the best decision for you and your family.

The Easiest Way to Clean Your Phone

I don't know about most people, but I'm very conscious of washing my hands.  Touching money is the worst for me because I know it's something many different people have touched.  I immediately wash my hands after handling money.  

An object most people are always touching is obviously their cell phones.  We take them with us to the bathroom, in the car, when we're shopping, just about everywhere.  They're inevitably full of germs at any given time.  Have you ever stopped to think maybe you should clean it?

I'll admit I didn't come up with this idea on my own.  My mom works at an antique mall and handles money all day while also touching her phone.  She shared with me the fastest, easiest, and safest way to clean your phone.  It only takes about a minute and because of the simple cleaning ingredient used, it won't damage your phone.

All you need is some rubbing alcohol and a cotton pad.  Dab a the cotton pad with a little alcohol and rub it all over your phone.  That's it!  The alcohol kills germs and dries in seconds.  My mom does this every night after a long day at work.  I wash mine about once a week.  

Maybe this sounds like something only a germophobe would do, but it's worth the short minute.  This practice will make your life healthier, cleaner, and you could even prevent yourself from getting sick!

How to Save and Organize Pictures and Videos from Your Phone

We are now in a time when people use the camera on their phones and save pictures and videos on their computers.  Getting pictures printed is much more rare so most of your storage might be taken up by your photos.  But what happens if your phone is lost or stolen?  All those memories are gone.  Today I want to share with you an easy way to save and organize your pictures and videos.

Step 1: Download pictures and videos from your phone to your computer by plugging it in and selecting the items you want.  

Step 2:  Save them to a picture folder.  I've found the easiest way to organize things is by date.  Make a folder for the year.  Within that folder, make more for each month.  I name mine like this : 01 January 2016, 02 February 2016...  That way, they will all be in the correct order.  I also make a separate folder with years and dates for videos so they are in their own folder.

Year Folders.

Step 3: Once you've created all your folders, place the pictures into the month where they belong.  This can be tricky if you're organizing pictures from a while ago and can't remember the dates.  Sometimes if you hover over the picture, "date taken" will pop up.  You can also right click the picture and select "Properties" and the date might be displayed there, but sometimes, this isn't reliable.  You might have to guess on certain images.

Month Folders.

Step 4: If you want to get even more organized, you can make event folders within the month folders.  For example, if you attended a wedding in October, you would make a folder that says "Wedding" inside the October folder.

On the top left you can see a wedding event folder.

Step 5: Once you have all your pictures organized the way you like, you'll need to save them to an external hard drive.  You can price them here on Amazon, or visit Best Buy or other electronics stores.  This is definitely worth the investment because you'll be saving all your memories.  That way, if something happens to your computer, you have a back up.  I usually delete the previous year folders and only keep the current year on my computer to save space.  Then, when I want to look back on past years, I just plug in my external hard drive and can easily go to whatever time I want to see.  I have a Seagate Backup Plus Portable Drive for about $80.  It can store 1TB of information, which is a lot!

Step 6: Now that you've saved everything, it's time to delete the things you don't need off your phone.  You'll be making room for future pictures, videos, music, and apps.

This is a great way to ensure your precious memories are safe, make them convenient to access, and free up storage on your phone.  Once you get a system going, you can do this every few weeks and it won't take long at all.  Don't hesitate because you never know when something might happen to your devices!

5 Reasons to Clean Out Your Home

I strongly believe many people would be much happier and have a higher quality of life if they lived in a clean and organized home.  Obviously, life happens and it's not always easy to keep up with.  Since this is a passion of mine, I've written a few blogs about this topic.  6 Easy Tips For Organizing and Decluttering Your Home and 5 Easy Tips For Organizing Your Closet  are worth checking out to help get you started.

Today I wanted to share why it's important to keep your home organized.  Some of these benefits may surprise you.

1. Make Your Home More Visually Appealing & Welcoming

The less you have the better.  A minimalist look is way more visually appealing than seeing clutter everywhere.  Your home will be more welcoming for guests because they'll be able to admire your home rather than be overwhelmed with where to look first.

2. Create a Healthier Home Environment for You and Your Family

An overlooked perk of having an organized living space is it makes cleaning much easier.  The less you have to move around while cleaning, the easier and faster it will be.  You'll create a physically healthier environment for your family.  This also applies to your psychological health.  The less clutter there is to organize, the easier it will be to get things done because you have less distractions and a clearer focus for what you're working on.

3. Discover Old Memories

Even after years of decluttering my personal items, I still find new things that bring back good memories and feelings of nostalgia.  Old pictures, videos, voice recordings, and letters are just a few of the things you'll find when sorting through your home.  It's always exciting when you discover something you've completely forgotten about.  There are probably hidden treasures all over your home, you just have to look for them!

4. Become More Organized & Efficient

This one may seem pretty obvious, but it's definitely worth mentioning.  The more often you clean out your home, the less you have to keep up with, thus making your time at home more efficient.  You can spend more time with family and friends and focus on your goals and passions.

5. Donate Unused Items to Those in Need

When you realize certain items are no longer being used, it's time to get rid of them.  You can sell them, throw them away, or donate them.  It makes the most sense to give these items to someone who will use the item, rather than leave them sitting around collecting dust.

These are the reasons I've discovered over the years to consistently organize your home.  I do every room in my house at least every few months and I always find something to get rid of or donate.  I hope this inspires you to do the same so you can see the true value and sense of accomplishment that comes with living in a clean and minimal living space.

Urban Outfitters Apartment Merch Haul

I've always been very particular about most things in my life.  I know what I like and I know what I don't like.  This results in a struggle to find things that are my style.  Say what you want about Urban Outfitters, but they have high quality merchandise.  They're the one store where I can always find something, whether it's clothes, accessories, or apartment décor.  I'd rather spend a little more money on items I know are high quality and will last.  Today I wanted to share and review all my UO apartment purchases.  I'll link any items still on their website.

Crossley Vinyl Record Player

This has been great beginner player for me and my husband.  We got into collecting records over a year ago and decided to get something that wasn't super pricey.  We got just the player for about $100 and I wish we had gotten the speakers, but we didn't see them at the store.  The built in speakers are okay, but they're not very powerful for records.  On the other hand, the auxiliary mode allows you to plug in your phone and the volume gets significantly louder when using this feature.  It does have a radio option, but I hate the radio so I haven't used it.  This player is easy to use and is a great value for the price.

Records

The records I've purchased in the store are Homesick by A Day to Remember, Nirvana's Nevermind, and Death Cab for Cutie's Kintsugi.  They have a wide variety of music genres available in the store and online, so it's pretty easy to find records for your collection.

Kurt Rahn Mountains Through The Trees Art Print

Pictured in the center.

I loved this picture as soon as I saw it.  I love nature art, especially with trees, so this was an especially easy choice for me.  We have the smallest size (8x10) but it comes in a variety of larger sizes.

13x13 Mareike Bohmer Grass 2 Art Print

Pictured on the right.

Unfortunately, this wall art is discontinued.  We got it on sale right before they ran out and I think it fits nicely with our nature theme.

Kevin Russ Road Fox Art Print

I immediately fell in love with this artwork because I think foxes are beautiful and majestic and I love the background.  I had my eye on this for several months and just couldn't forget about it.  This is also in the 8x10 size and larger sizes are available.

4040 Locust Embroidered Arrow Pillows

These pillows are awesome and fit perfectly with our style.  I couldn't find them on the site anymore, so I'm guessing they're discontinued, but they still have the 4040 Locust Black + White Arrows Shower Curtain with the same unique design.

Kris Tate For DENY Forest Fleece Blanket

This is another discontinued item, but I love it so much.  I love Native American art so this blanket immediately grabbed my attention.  Not only is it gorgeous, but it's incredibly soft as well.

Dark Blue Rag Rug

I'm not even sure if this is the official name of the rug, but it's the rug I have in my kitchen.  My husband bought it in 2012 so it must be discontinued.  It's held up all these years, even after washing it a few times.  It's soft and comfortable to stand on and it's unique compared to the other boring options we often saw when looking for a kitchen rug.

Magical Thinking Rag Rugs

Speaking of unique rugs, we got these awesome and simple rugs for our bathroom.  They are the 2x3 size in grey.  There are other color and size options available on the website.

Pattern State For DENY Triangle Shower Curtain

I love this triangle design shower curtain.  The DENY brand always has unique designs and I was thrilled when I ordered this one.  The background color is a little more off white than I expected, but it looks amazing in my bathroom.  It definitely encompasses my style in that it's simple, unique, and modern.

4040 Locust Spacedye Jersey Comforter & 4040 Locust Spacedye Jersey Pillowcase Set

Last year I was searching for a new comforter since the duvet my husband and I had was becoming a pain in the butt.  I specifically searched for a comforter and found this gorgeous one on sale.  It is super soft and comfortable.  We have a queen sized bed, but ordered a king because we like the oversized look and feel.  I think it looks sophisticated in our room and the grey color is a nice contrast against the black pallet board bed frame.  The pillow cases are also soft and eventually I'd like to get some throw pillows to complete the look.

Firefly String Lights (Pictured above the bed)

I love these lights because they add a romantic vibe to the bedroom.  They are easily molded and were easy to hang with a few nails on the wall.  This type has a plug in.

Firefly Battery Powered String Lights

I also love these battery powered lights because there's a little more freedom to where you can place them.  They are made of the same flexible wire as the plug in kind, so you can wrap them around whatever you want.

Mini Geo Terrarium

Also pictured in the center of the dresser above.

I started seeing a lot of these terrariums pop up in the store and thought they looked cool.  I didn't know what I'd do with it, but I knew I wanted one.  I think they can be used for plants, but I like mine as a dresser decoration and it looks great with the string lights.

PF Candle Co. Amber Jar Soy Candles

After reading an article about the dangers of chemicals in commercial candles, I began to search for alternatives.  Apparently, soy candles are the healthier option.  As a candle lover, I was excited to try some soy options from UO.  I absolutely love these Amber jar ones.  Not only do they look awesome, they come in amazing scents.  I got the Spiced Pumpkin and Teakwood & Tobacco.  I like earthy scents so I was thankful for these choices.  I got the $20 medium sized ones.  I still haven't burned them yet, but since fall is approaching, they'll probably be burning soon.

Printed Tin Candle in Black Tea + Mint

I got this candle on sale and it is discontinued, but they have similar ones the website.  I like the small jar design and the scent.

Paddywax Café Jar Candles

I recently got these soy candles because of the amazing scents and classic jars.  I got the Tobacco + Patchouli and Black Coconut + Amber scents.  I'm excited to start burning these as well.

I hope this inspires you to check out your local Urban Outfitters and spruce up your home décor with some high quality pieces.  Let me know what your favorite décor items are!