DIY Fabric Refresher

I have quite a lot of clothes I love, but don't hold up to washing vigorously too well. Specifically, I have about 4, thick, warm, knitted sweaters that, as I learned the hard way with the first one, will shrink and be totally awful if I wash them too often. 

Thankfully, for my favorite sweaters, I nabbed 4 more online to replace the one I washed to death, (on sale, at that!) before they were discontinued, and I came up with a solution to keep them fresh and crisp with minimal damage. Some at home dry cleaning, if you will.

The same concept applies for fabrics that don't wash so well. Curtains, the armchair in my bedroom, even some throw blankets for the couches that aren't dirty, per-se, but I want to have that freshly laundered smell.

It's simple:

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Washer Whiffs

1 Cup Hot Water

You can  use any washer whiffs. Because I'm addicted, as I'm sure you can tell, to my Scentsy Whiffs in Black Raspberry Vanilla, I use those, but in the past I've used Downey Unstoppables, Bounce in wash scent boosters, any brand you prefer, any scent you prefer!

I brewed 1 Cup of hot water in my Keurig, and dumped the Whiffs in. Stir often  until dissolved, and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. The mixture doesn't really dissolve totally, it usually separates, so before using give the bottle a good shake to combine.

The use is easy, mist over any fabric you can't wash. For around the house, I use it the same way as Febreeze, as that's essentially what it is, only a fraction of the cost.

To save my sweaters, I'm pretty gentile with them. Of course if there's any spills or I have a sweaty day, obviously they get washed (on hand wash setting). But, for average days, I'll take them off and run a lint brush over them. If there is any small spots, I'll spot treat them with a damp cloth. For the "dry cleaning" I'll mist them with the fabric refresher, inside and out, paying special attention to sleeves and armpits. 

Once they're damp, I'll put them in the dryer. I have a "sanitize" setting on my dryer, and I let the sweaters tumble on sanitize for 15 minutes. Then I'll dial back the heat and let them tumble dry for the rest of the cycle.

If they do need to be machine washed, they go on the hand wash setting and I hang them to dry. Only once they're dry and past the danger of shrinking, I'll toss them in the dryer to soften up the stiff fabric.

And that's it! That's how I keep my sweaters fresh and looking new, and keep hard to wash household items smelling fresh.

Give it a try!

xoxo - Court

'Tis the Season! Preparing For the Holidays Coffee Date

Hey everyone!

It's nearing about a month to Christmas, and I have un-officially decided that I'm kick starting the season  in my house. Christmas is my favorite, thanks to my Mom and late-Grandmother who are Christmas nuts! I like to have a solid month, if not more, of soaking up the splendor that is a fully decorated home. I come by it honestly, what can I say.

I started earnestly by just placing a few "wintry" decorations around, a few snowmen, a cute bear in a sled, but this past weekend I threw caution to the wind and dug out my boxes from storage (aka. my in law's basement, mini home probs)

Let's sit down and have a coffee date, and discuss Holiday decor!

Christmas decorating is always a family affair! Usually just after Remembrance Day, we gather at my Mom and Dad's to put up their lights. My parents' house is a big two story with a covered porch, and lighting it all up like my Mom likes usually takes some fancy footwork on the roof, which is the method behind our madness for putting them up so early... nobody wants to run around on a slippery roof! Roof crew used to consist of me and Dad, but since Eric's joined our family Dad's passed the torch on to him.. lucky Eric! It's always a fun day with hot chocolates, lots of laughs, and Mom usually cooks up a yummy dinner. Can't go wrong!

Eric and I since decided to piggyback off that idea and usually put our lights up the weekend after. It's not as big a family affair.. but within our little family we always have a good time. Our kitties, Oliver and Beatrice, were ready for the occasion and excited to lend a hand. 

I captured this sweet moment between the two of them while they were playing around in the yard, while we were getting everything set up. I swear they are best friends deep down!

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Beatrice was so excited she scurried up the ladder to help Eric with the hard part! Unraveling the lights and clipping them to the gutters! Just kidding, she just batted around wiggling light bulbs as Eric clipped them in place. But it was really cute, and made for some cute pictures!

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Our lights are so easy they usually only take us an hour or two, we were lucky enough to find a big long set that is 84 feet long! Our house is only 74 feet, so the lights fit perfectly, with only a few left over! They came on a spool too, so we just unwind, clip, and plug, and done! It makes for no headache, and lots of time to enjoy the afternoon. With all our spare time, we decided to take it a step further and set up our tree!

Our tree is artificial and pre-lit. We bought it with the gift cards we had gotten from our wedding. It's been through 3 Christmases so far with us and its still going strong!

I'd like to get a taller one, since this one was bought to fit the lower ceilings of our apartment, but it's just so nice and such a breeze to put together, that until it gets smelly (like some trees do once they are too old) or lights start going out, I'm going to keep it. I propped it up with some cute wooden crates, and covered those with my burlap tree skirt. It really goes with the rustic, country chic look I go for in my house, and gives more room for presents. Once it's packed in with gifts, you really can't tell anyways!

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I then spent the evenings this weekend tidying up my house for the guest-filled Christmas season. I put up the rest of my Holiday decor, and added a few fun new touches. One of which was this adorable birch branch window decoration. I found a beautiful, weathered looking branch from our birch tree out front, and hung it on the window with some ribbon and tape, and hung some ornaments off it! It looks so rustic and cute.

I'm going to tidy it up with some bows where the ribbons hang, and getting clear tape instead of my fancy masking tape to secure it to the panes, but it was too cute not to share right away!

A beautifully decorated home does not have to be expensive!

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Lastly, it was project guest-room this weekend at my home! I finally got the two rooms cleaned out and ready for Holiday guests. This room is my pride and joy. We painted the walls a sunny, pale yellow a few weeks back, and I finally got Eric's old bed situated inside. We outfitted it with quilt Eric's Nanny made for us, and I finally got some decor situated. I added Holly berries for a bit of Holiday cheer, because as you can see from the bed, this room has become Christmas HQ! Look for a room tour of this pretty room coming soon!

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Well that's it everyone! I was busy busy getting my home Holiday and winter season ready this weekend! Finally everything is pretty and cozy, and we're just waiting for a fresh blanket of snow... and of course... Santa!

Until next time,

xoxo - Court

About Me - Courtney Martin Blog

It had occurred to me that I had not really done a proper introduction of myself into the blogging world, as well as given a little summary of what you can find and expect on my little blog. So let me make this right:

Little old me.

Hello! My name is Courtney Martin, and I am a young woman (born in 1991 for those of you who like to know the specifics) navigating my way through life with a husband, some cats, a new home, and most importantly myself.

Life seemed to start for me all at once in my 20's. I had finally escaped an abusive relationship at 20, and the world was suddenly at my feet. All at once, I could make my own decisions, and decide who I wanted to be, not who I was told to be. Quickly, I enrolled in my local community college's Office Administration Program, to finally realize my dream of working in the business world.

During the summer's wait for my course to begin, and blazing through trying to cram 3 years I had missed of self discovery into one summer, I stumbled upon the man of my dreams, even though I wasn't really searching for him then. His name was Eric, and he was kind, and smart, and hard working, and gentile... and most importantly my one.

Eric with our first kitty, Oliver!

We might of taken it slow, or tried to stumble through our twenties slow and steady, like we had planned, but something happened.

I was diagnosed with Cancer at 21 years old, 3 months into our relationship. Before we knew it, we were two kids who had barely said "I love yous" to a sick girlfriend and a supportive boyfriend. He got me snacks, helped me up when I was weak, dried my tears, took me to appointments, and helped me change bandages, and never once did he leave, or get the sense it wasn't what he should be doing.

Going through something like that kind of puts your life on fast forward even more. From my point of view, it makes you older, much older than your years. You realize life is short, you learn what's worth it and what isn't, and just generally changes your whole outlook on life. As for a relationship, you kind of get the whole "for better or worse, sickness and in health" right off the hop, so really, what else was left to do?

At 22 we were married, and at 23, we built our first home.

My little baby house, fresh off the trailer!

We've crammed a lot of life into 4 short years. I landed my dream job, doing administrative assistant work with a local insurance firm in my city, and Eric drives a truck for my Dad now, in a little family business. We're true country people, and old souls.

As to what my blog is all about, its really, simply put, the lifestyle I love, and want to live.

I'm an old soul, and often think I was born in the wrong era. My late Grandmother is my hero, and she was a true country woman, and I aspire, as well as am genetically inclined, to be just like her. I do most of my own cooking, you never find much store bought in my pantry or fridge. I have an affinity for cast iron, painting, and DIY. Shabby-Chic with a twist of modern is my favorite style of decor, and my fashion sense is easy breezy, and if my hair can be done myself, you bet it will be.

It's just who I am.

So, I hope we can be great friends. I hope we can share our lives, tips and tricks, and everything in between together. I hope my blog becomes a safe haven for you, a place to unwind, have a laugh, learn something new, and get inspired.

Thank you, and welcome to my life.

Xoxo - Courtney