Linen Tales washed linen tablecloth

Linen is a bast fiber made from the flax plant. Crisper than cotton, linen is silky with high luster and becomes supple through handling. Quality linen can be passed on for generations... or so legend goes.

I've introduced more linen to my home since moving to my new apartment. From West Elm linen bedsheets (more on that later) to Pottery Barn linen shower curtains and hand towels, I slowly became more obsessed with linen. Most recently, I ordered a natural summer flowers washed linen tablecloth from Linen Tales, a Lithuanian linen shop. The superior softness and quality of the fabric is instantly obvious. I'm determined never to go back to West Elm and Pottery Barn for linen.



I originally only wanted to test Linen Tales  to gauge the quality of their craftsmanship. As the linen is handmade from Lithuania, I was not expecting it for weeks. I was surprised that in less than a week from the day I ordered it (about 5-6 days), the tablecloth appeared on my front door. It was soft, supple, beautiful, and nothing less of perfect.

I have nothing but good things to says about Linen Tales. My only regret was ordering only a tablecloth and not matching towels. Quality linen is pricey, but their prices are competitive and the quality is superb. Linen Tales has my full recommendation.

P.S. I will update with reviews on linen products from West Elm and Pottery Barn. The review won't be as glowing, but they're decent.

Repurpose and recycle your makeup brushes

Makeup brushes can be easy to clean and dry; but at some point they can no longer be used for their original purpose. Throwing out old dirty makeup brushes can feel like a waste, especially when the makeup brushes are made of gold. Repurposing and recycling makeup brushes is a wonderful alternative.

[caption id="attachment_3562" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Makeup brushes can be used as paint brushes (via thepostmansknock.com)[/caption]

I have an unnecessary amount of makeup brushes and an unnecessary amount of containers for them. I've recently recycled my old makeup brushes to become paint brushes. They're not great, but good enough for my amateur water color swatches.

[caption id="attachment_3567" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Use your fan brush to paint this clock (tutorial via makerssociety.com.au)[/caption]

What do you do with your old and worn makeup brushes?

Six Must-Haves to Plan & Organize for the New Year

If there is ever a time to organize your life and space, it is the beginning of a new year. Many of us like to start with a fresh planner, journal, or an inspirational read. Those books are great to have, but here we recommend six best must-have tools to help you plan and organize your space and life for the new year.

[caption id="attachment_3541" align="aligncenter" width="680"] The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing[/caption]

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up with the KonMari Method. With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house “spark joy” (and which don’t), this international bestseller featuring Tokyo’s newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home—and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.

[caption id="attachment_3543" align="aligncenter" width="680"] Your Best Year 2016: Productivity Workbook and Creative Business Planner[/caption]

Your Best Year 2016 by Lisa Jacobs isn't just an ordinary planner. Available to download online or as a hardcopy from Amazon and Etsy, this books gives insightful exercises for prioritizing your goals. The book also includes monthly planner pages and monthly, quarterly, and annual review pages to help you reflect on your steps.

[caption id="attachment_3544" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Cloud file sharing and storage system: OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Doc, Box[/caption]

File sharing and storage is a necessity in this day and age. Whether it is photos, writings, videos, or music - you must have your important files stored and backed up somewhere. Dropbox is user-friendly and lets you back up important files. You can also store and send photos, documents and videos to anyone with a Dropbox account. Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) allows easy sharing of your files with all your Google programs.

Happy new year and happy organizing and planning in 2016!

Brightening a home with window mirrors

Mirrors give the illusion of a larger space while reflecting light and opening up a room. Window mirrors mimic the look of natural windows, giving your home an airy and open look.

Here are some of our favorite window mirrors this season:

[caption id="attachment_3446" align="alignnone" width="700"] Window-like mirrors via Desire to Inspire[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3447" align="alignnone" width="700"] Primrose and Plum Cream Arched Window Mirror via notonthehighstreet.com (sold out)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3450" align="alignnone" width="668"] full length mirror to open up a spacious room[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3449" align="alignnone" width="570"] Outdoor mirror that mimics window via etsy[/caption]

These types of mirrors can be placed inside or outside as in the last picture!

Beauty Decor: Storage, Rooms, Inspirations

Decorating a makeup room or planning your makeup and beauty storage and be daunting. This is especially true if you have too much makeup and not enough time to use them all! But alas we all inspire to have a beautiful makeup storage, nail polish rack, or beauty room. Check out these amazing, creative inspirations!

[caption id="attachment_3243" align="aligncenter" width="680"] OPI nail polishes are lined on the side of the bookcase, optimizing space while giving the room a vibrant look! (image via maggiesmakeup on instagram)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3244" align="aligncenter" width="680"] An attic can be transformed into a beautiful living space or closet or even beauty pamper space.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3245" align="aligncenter" width="530"] Bright lights make for a beautiful vanity space.[/caption]

Makeup collectors and artists: Do you have storage for your makeup collection? See our review on the very expensive SherrieBlossom IceBox. Share your good alternatives or recommendations to our readers!