Tag Archives: how to

three quick and easy diys

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Happy Sunday!

Here’s a trio of pretty, easy, summer-y DIYs that have caught my eye lately…#1 & #3 use easily thrifted materials!

1. Crocheted planter cover (no crochet skills necessary!), c/o Lune Vintage

2. How to weave a flower wreath, c/o Refinery 29

3. Fabric art piece made from scraps, c/o Sunshine and Carousels

 Speaking of DIYs, have you tried out Craft Gawker’s app? I just downloaded it and am having fun browsing handmade projects when I’m away from my computer. Like when I was waiting for what felt like a lifetime for the printer lady at Office Max yesterday…it came in handy.

I hope you’re having wonderful weekends so far!

xo,

Meghan

pro tips for surviving super sale days

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Hitting up the super sale days at thrift stores comes at a price. The odds that the stores will be overrun with fellow bargain hunters are great, and without proper preparation, you might go a little bonkers. (Goodness knows I sometimes do, and I thrift all the freakin’ time.) So, if you’re planning on hitting up any of the 4th of July sales this weekend (here’s my round-up), here are some awesome tips from experienced friends of mine you might helpful.

RAE SAYS…

1. Bring beverages! I start my morning with plenty of coffee and bring along a water bottle. Hydration is important.

2. People get super aggressive on sale days—don’t let rude people bum you out! Be prepared with an arsenal of smiles and “excuse me’s.”

3. If you can avoid a cart, do it. Trying to maneuver your cart through crazy people, stray children and thrift-store employees can be a drag.

4. Focus! This may not be the best day to peruse every section… stick to what you are really looking for and bee line for that area of the store first.

HOLLY SAYS…

1. Know what you are getting yourself into. Think Black Friday openers for the newest toy fad plus people who are even more into deals than the average shopper. This makes for an intense bunch of rabid treasure hunters. As I see it, you have two choices—to embrace the crazy and become one yourself OR attempt to float above it all, untouched by the seething anger that tends to erupt when you find yourself fighting over a treasure with another, less enlightened shopper. If you take the latter route, do some meditation in your car before entering the store.

2. Watch out for small children. Despite store’s best intentions with their loudspeaker reminders that your children must be by you at all times, mega sales at thrift stores tend to be crawling with unattended children. You will feel really bad if you accidentally hit one with your cart, even if it is their fault.

3. Keep an eye out for potential competitors. Thrifting brings together people from all walks of life. Upon entering the store, and during your shopping time, look for people who look like they have similar tastes as you. Hit the sections they aren’t in, before they can get to them Note: this sort of action is fitting if you are taking the “embrace the crazy” mindset described in tip. No. 1.

4. Don’t allow yourself to be blinded by deals. Mega deals tend to warp the brain, causing thrifting judgment to go out the window—when deciding on your final items, resist the tendency to buy whatever you have gotten your paws on and ask yourself if you really, truly want/can’t live without the item in question.

5. Have patience. If you hit up a sale later in the day, chances are items will be rather picked over. The plus side to this is that you can shop in a less intense environment. No matter what, don’t give up—I once unknowningly stumbled upon a 50% off sale at Value Village to be sorely disappointed, that is, until I found one of the most amazing/strangest pieces I have found thrifting—a business casual drunk Mickey Mouse short-sleeved sweatshirt style t-shirt. Had I given up after the first twenty minutes, I would have never found this gem.

ROSE SAYS…

1. Be kind to your fellow thrifters. It can get pretty nutso in there and sometimes the worst of human nature comes out while wrestling for a deal. Just remember that you are all in it together, equally gripped by what I like to call the thrift “fever.” Don’t forget to smile, move your cart out of the way and congratulate someone else on their great find (even if it makes you green with envy).

2. Get there early…or get there late. As with most big sales, the early bird gets the worm. However, there is something to be said for taking it easy, enjoying a leisurely brunch and arriving later in the day once the frenzy has died down. You can browse more thoroughly and calmly. And remember, not everybody is looking for the same things you are and they have probably left some great treasures behind.

3. Hit the road, Jack. The thrift store right down the road is easy pickings for everybody in your hood. If you’ve got the time, pack the cooler and hit the way out-of-the way spots on the edge of town and beyond.

4. Hydrate. Thrifting is a competitive sport after all and summer is in full swing.

JILL SAYS…

1.  Don’t bother with a cart. Make a couple trips out to the car if need be, but a cart is just going to slow you down…and every other shopper too.

2.  Wear light layers (skirt + legging + t-shirt) for quick, easy, and perhaps public try-ons. Comfy shoes are a must. A hands-free purse is also a must.

3.  Relax and have fun. The environment can get a bit tense and over-stimulating. Mentally prepare for the crowds, the unintentional bumps and shoves, the waiting, the dodging, the body heat.

4.  Be polite.  Smile at your fellow-thrifter.  No need to be rude over saving a few bucks.

5.  Watch your stuff!  IF you do choose to take a cart, beware of those around you who might snag an item…or worse —your wallet!

WHAT I SAY…

1. Before I go, I think about the worst-case scenario—packed aisles, screaming children, pushy people, picked-over racks, no good finds. If I’m still psyched to thrift, I’ll go. If, after mulling it over and I’m not up for it, I don’t leave the house. I have gone to crazy sale days when I’m not feeling it and have never, ever, ever had a good time.

2. Unlike some of the gals above, I always grab a cart, because I know there’s a good chance I’m going to load it to the gills. There’s also been plenty of times I’ve almost had my arm fall off from trying to carry an insane amount of clothes without a cart. If you do choose to get a cart, mind that sucker! Don’t leave it in the middle of a crowded aisle to go find your friend, don’t block peoples’ way or hurry them along pushing the cart at their ankles—all of that sh*t is annoying. If you wind up in someone’s way (you will!), smile and politely move. Respect your elders and moms with kids.

3. Pull everything that catches your eye and put in your cart. Even if you don’t plan on buying it, there’s no harm in pushing it around and thinking it over. Sale days are not the time to leave something on the rack you’re on the fence about, unless of course you feel like having your heart broken. Before you check out, go through everything you’ve pulled and sort through it (in an out-of-the-way corner).

4. After I’ve hit up my must-shop sections (vintage, dresses, purses, shoes, housewares, art work) and feel like I’m almost ready to go, I make a round of the entire store, paying attention to the racks near the mirrors and dressing rooms. I can’t tell you how many gems I’ve found in odd places due to people having second thoughts or finding stuff doesn’t fit. Also keep an eye out for staff restocking the racks. In sum, keep your eyes open all the time!

5. My final word of advice: Pushiness is a highly unattractive trait; one that’s exhibited far too frequently on sale days. As someone who literally thrifts for a living, take it from me: There’s not a dress, purse or paint-by-number on earth that’s worth acting undignified over. When you see someone who’s scored big, smile, compliment their finds and go home knowing that your day will come.

A huge thank you to Rae, Lisa, Rose and Jill for sharing your hard-earned pearls of wisdom! I <3 you girls!

Have great holiday weekends all…

xo,

Meghan

how to: DIY frame collage wall

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Rae and I are up to our elbows in all kinds of crafty goodness this week, making pretty stuff for Mighty Swell’s storefront windows. Gathering ideas and inspiration for our displays and then seeing them to fruition (while sticking to a bare bones budget!) is one of our favorite things about owning our own shop. So, I figured I’d start sharing some of our favorite projects and DIYs with y’all here on the blog! Sound good? Cool. Without further ado, here’s Rae on how to make a collage wall with thrifted frames and wrapping paper.

This DIY project served as the background for Mighty Swell’s spring sneak peeks as well as pretty décor behind our checkout table. We got so many compliments and inquiries about them (and even a few offers to buy them off the walls), Meghan asked me to write up a little how-to. I’ve been collecting vintage wrapping papers since who knows when… YEARS. I’ve wrapped many a gift in them, but I still have a lot leftover. This project was the perfect way to use up some remnants and display some of my favorites patterns. Like most of the DIYs we undertake at the store, this project is multi-purpose, affordable, easy to accomplish in a short amount of time and when it’s all said and done, super cute!

-Rae

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

❤ Miscellaneous frames in different sizes. I like to gather as many different shapes, styles and textures of frames as I can. These were all thrifted for 50 cents to $3.00! Think about where your finished pieces will live after you’re done so you can choose frame sizes accordingly.

❤ Spray paint in your favorite color. Ours just happens to be YELLOW!

❤ A variety of vintage wrapping papers. (Vintage fabric would be cute too!)

❤ Hanging hardware, glazier points, needle nose pliers, hammer and nails.

❤ Spare cardboard (optional)

HOW TO MAKE

1. Prep your frames. Carefully remove all artwork, glass and paper backing, leaving just the naked frames. Hold onto glass, cardboard, mat boards and backing boards as you will use these in the assembly proccess. You may find it necessary to remove nails, staples and other things that are holding the glass in the frames…This is where the pliers comes into play.

2. Spray paint! Make sure to do this outside of possible or in a well-ventilated area. Lay down plenty of old newspaper or a drop cloth. Give your can of paint a good shaking, and be sure to get sides and inside of frames while you’re spraying. Pro tip: It’s always tempting to spray on one thick coat and call it a day—resist this urge! Several lighter coats of spray paint will yield a MUCH better final product with fewer unsightly drips and uneven patches. Let the paint dry completely before moving onto step three.


3. When your frames are totally dry, start playing with the layout and configuration of your frames. This will help you decide which paper goes into which frame and will result in a perfect collage wall. When you find a layout you like, snap a pic so you can remember what goes where before you start hammering nails into the wall.

4. Assemble! This is where those materials you saved in step one will come in handy. To cut your wrapping paper  down to size, trace the backing board that came out of the frames. This will ensure a perfect fit! If there is no backing board, you can trace the glass (very carefully) onto a piece of cardboard and use that. When you have your paper cut, use a glue stick or spray adhesive to mount the paper to the backing boards. This step is crucial in preventing bubbles and other unsightly blemishes in your artwork. Finally, place your new wrapping paper covered boards into the frames and secure. If you removed the securing parts of the frame, you can use glazier points to hold them in. Refer to your pic of the layout you liked and start hanging!

Ta-da! You’re done! Now you have a lovely wall collage to call your own!!

how to: make your own bubble bath

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Researching for yesterday’s Beauty Bets post re: making bubble bath at home, I tried out a couple different methods and recipes. This recipe for foaming vanilla-honey bath, found over at Real Simple, is so easy and delicious I just had to share it here. Spoiler alert: I’m totally giving jars of this stuff out come Christmas time!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

♥ 1 cup light oil (almond, canola or sunflower will do)

♥ 1/2 cup honey

♥ 1/2 cup mild liquid hand or body soap (I used Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Mild Baby Soap, available at Target, Whole Foods and co-ops.)

♥ 1 tablespoon vanilla (preferably organic)

HOW TO MAKE

1. In a clean clear container, mix together the liquid soap, oil, honey and vanilla.

To use, pour 1/4 cup or so under running water as you fill the tub. (This recipe makes enough for about eight baths.)

Enjoy!

xo,

Meghan

 

guest post: spring vegetable soup

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Hey dearies, happy Monday!

I’m so lucky to have a handful of fabulous guest bloggers popping in throughout the week while I’m getting ready for Mighty Swell. To kick things off, here’s Libby, from one of my favorite daily reads, pinkshirtsandcarwrecks. Her veggie soup recipe is just the thing to get us all back to healthy, seasonal eating after a weekend full of Cadbury eggs and jelly beans. Don’t tell me I’m the only one with a sugar hangover! 

xo, Meghan

Hello everybody! I’m Libby from pinkshirtsandcarwrecks and am honored to help Meghan out while she gears up for Mighty Swell! I thought since spring is teasing us I’d help coax it along by making a fresh spring vegetable soup. Creamy Celery Soup is delicious and delicious, not to mention healthy! My version is adapted from this recipe from Martha Stewart. Here’s how to make it.
1. Wash and chop these vegetables: 1 bag/bunch of celery, a few small red potatoes (peeled), one large red onion, three cloves of garlic and one bunch of white asparagus (chop off bottoms – these are too stringy, even when blended in the soup!).
2. Melt a knob of butter in a large pot/4-quart saucepan over medium heat and add vegetables. Season with salt and pepper and cook until soft. These veggies smell so wonderful cooking! I added asparagus in because it’s in season right now, but you don’t have to if you don’t want. You can add more potato, too, if you like.
3. Add six cups chicken or vegetable stock (or water, but stock makes it more flavorful) to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat back down to medium and simmer (uncovered) until veggies are very tender—fork test them in 20 minutes.
4. Now the fun part! Puree the soup until smooth using your immersion blender (I love this handy kitchen tool! It makes this into a one pot meal. You can pick a cheap immersion blender up at Target—or even Walgreens!—for under $20). Add juice from half a lemon, re-season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. You can also use a regular blender, but you’ll have to work in batches and do more dishes. Read Martha’s recipe for tips on this step if you’re using a stand alone blender.
6. If you still have a few celery leaves they look pretty for garnish. I highly recommend serving this soup with some toasted slices of fresh baked baguette (I broiled them on a cookie sheet in the oven). I like them plain with butter, but you could rub them with a little garlic and olive oil before toasting—they make the best accompaniment to this spring vegetable soup. The whole thing takes less than an hour and it’s a such a treat for lunch or a light dinner or first course. As Julia Child would say, bon appétit!
In addition to her awesome blog, Libby also runs not one, but two Etsy shops, one for her vintage finds and another featuring her handmade creations. Check ’em out!

how to: make a beermosa

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Seeing as it’s officially the weekend, I figured I’d share how to make my go-to drink of late: the beermosa. Fancy-pants it is not, but refreshing, unfussy and cheap it most certainly is.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

♥ Cheap beer (I like to dip into my honey’s PBR stash.)

♥ Orange juice

HOW TO MAKE

1. Fill your glass 1/3-1/2 full with orange juice.

2. Fill the rest up with beer.

3. Drink responsibly. But not that responsibly, because it is the freaking weekend. Whatever you do, don’t drink and drive. (Or drink and trim your bangs. That’s also a  bad idea.)

Well, I took a shower more than an hour ago, and yet here I sit, towel turban on my head. Which means…I better scoot. Happy weekend y’all!

xo,

Meghan

how to: store your vintage fur

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As the rule of thumb goes, when it’s too warm to wear your furs, it’s time to store them safely away until next season. Your options? Have them professionally stored at a furrier or stash ’em away at home. Before you decide which route to take, take a minute to evaluate the condition and age of the pieces you are considering storing. Furs older than 20 years are generally not worth storing professionally. (That said, some furs, like mink, age really well. Talk to a pro if you’re on the fence!) If your furs are all 20-30 years old, keep on loving them and skip right to “Tips For Home Storage.”

Option #1: Store your furs at a professional furrier.

Pros: A good furrier will have a storage facility that’s kept at a stable 40 degrees and around 55 percent humidity…conditions proven to extend the life of your fur. Your garments will also be safe from moths and other vermin. Another bonus? When a furrier stores your garments, they can also clean your fur, which boosts its life expectancy, or make any necessary repairs like fixing a ripped lining or replacing a missing button or hook.

Cons: It’s not cheap. At the L.A. Rockler Fur Company in Minneapolis, storage runs $40 per garment or $75 for professional cleaning and storage. (This cost does however, include home pick-up and drop-off. Win!)

Option #2: Store your furs at home.

Pros: It’s free and convenient.

Cons: Maintaining perfect conditions for storing fur at home is nearly impossible, and you run the risk of moth damage and premature aging.

Tips For Home Storage

-Store your furs away from direct sunlight, in a place that isn’t damp (like a basement). A spare bedroom closet is a good choice, as long as your rooms aren’t kept too hot.

-Hang your furs on quality hangers, making sure there’s plenty of space or breathing room in between them. You don’t want to crush or smush the fur!

-Cover them with clean cotton sheets or cotton garment bags. DO NOT use plastic garment bags to store fur—it needs to breathe!

One more tip!

-If you decide to store your furs with a professional, ask to see where they’ll be kept. (God forbid they charge you an arm and a leg to stuff them in a back room!)

What am I doing? Since most of my fur pieces are vintage and/or thrifted, the majority of them will stay at home with me this summer, in a closet, covered in sheets. I do have two inherited pieces that are sentimentally important, and those are going into professional storage. Any investment I can make to keep wearing them longer is well worth it to me!

***A big thank you goes to Rockler‘s General Manager Wally Hennessy for answering my many questions!***

xo,

Meghan

 

how to: clean your thrifted jewelry

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Hey lovelies!

I’ve had some great luck thrifting jewelry lately, so I thought I’d do a little how to post on cleaning it up so it’s sparkly and ready to wear. (Thank you to the lovely Hannah Kuhary, for sharing this DIY recipe with me!!)

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

♥ Liquid dish soap
♥ White vinegar
♥ A toothbrush (softer is better, but any kind will do)
♥ A lint-free rag or cloth
♥ A smallish bowl
♥ ♥ ♥ This method is safe for cleaning gold, silver, platinum, diamonds and hard stones. It is NOT SAFE for pearls, opals or jewelry with adhesives or loose stones. ♥ ♥ ♥

HOW TO

1. Place jewelry in a heat-proof bowl.
2. Heat 2 cups of water almost to the point of boiling.
3. Add a couple drops of dish soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar and mix to combine.
4. Pour the solution over jewelry, swirl it around a bit and let it soak until the water is cool.
5. Brush jewelry with a toothbrush under running water and leave to air dry on lint-free rag or cloth. And…voila! Your thrifted accessories are sparkly and clean!

Hannah wanted me to mention that this method is perfect for people with skin allergies or sensitive skin—many drugstore jewelry cleaners have ammonia in them which can be irritating and harsh.

I hope you all are having wonderful Wednesdays so far! It’s snowing like crazy here and I’ve got a long day of editing and interviews ahead. But tonight, I’m trekking to Dinkytown to see this band play, so I can’t complain too much not going to see Warpaint because they are snowed in. So excited sad!

xo,

Meghan

 

how to: make salted caramel shortbread

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I’m an awful baker. I’m trying to get better by baking a new recipe every Sunday. After two weeks of epic fails, finally…success in the form of salted caramel shortbread! This recipe alone was reason enough for me to plunk down $6 this week and subscribe to Ready Made magazine. The finished result is insanely yummy, but even more than that, if I can bake this without screwing it up, so can you. A few words of warning: You’ll need a good chunk of time to make this, as there is quite a bit of waiting in between some of the steps.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

For the shortbread:

♥ 1 c. all-purpose flour
♥ 1/2 c. cornstarch
♥ 1/2 c. confectioner’s sugar
♥ 1 stick unsalted butter, chilled and cubed

For the salted caramel:

♥ 1 1/4 c. packed light brown sugar
♥ 3/4 c. heavy cream
♥ 6 T.  unsalted butter, softened
♥ 1 t. crushed sea salt

For the chocolate topping:

♥ 7 ounces dark chocolate (60-70% cocoa solids)

HOW TO MAKE

1. If you’re lucky, mix the shortbread ingredients together in a food processor. Or, do it the traditional way by sifting the dry ingredients in a large bowl, adding the butter, and using clean fingertips to rub them together until a dough forms. Form dough into ball (it’ll be super crumb-like), cover with plastic wrap  and put in fridge to rest for an hour. Meanwhile, line a 9-inch square brownie pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper and preheat the oven to 325°. Flatten the rested dough into the pan.

2. Prick the top of the dough all over with a fork  and bake for about 40-45 minutes, until the top is light brown and starting to come away from the edges of the pan. Allow to cool in the pan for at least one hour before you make the caramel.

3. To make the caramel, put the sugar and cream in a heavy-bottom saucepan set over low heat. Heat gently, sitting with a wooden spoon as it comes to a boil. Bring the caramel back to a boil and let it bubble gently for 5 minutes, sitting occasionally. Take the caramel off the heat, add the salt and stir vigorously to ensure that it is thoroughly mixed in. Then, working quickly, pour the caramel on top of the cooled shortbread. Put the pan in fridge (or, if you live in Minnesota, your porch) and let set for at least 1 hour.

3. Once the caramel has set, melt the chocolate over a double boiler. (If you want to temper it properly, here are the directions for how to do that.) Pour the melted chocolate on top of the caramel and spread it evenly with a rubber spatula. Allow the chocolate to set before lifting the shortbread out of the pan and cutting into squares with a hot knife.

These babies will keep stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. But I’m guessing they won’t last you that long.

xo,

Meghan

 

 

how to: roast root veggies

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Happy Tuesday, lovelies!

Today’s how-to pertains to roasted root veggies. Also known as, vegetables that taste like candy and are addictive as crack. The directions below are adapted from Yellow Rose Recipes, an (unfortunately) out-of-print cookbook that gets a ton of use in my kitchen. Anyway, this is a comforting winter side that’s easy-to-make, all-around delicious and healthy.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

♥ 3 medium carrots

♥ 1 yam

♥ 2 medium yukon gold potatoes

♥ 1 parsnip

♥ 1 beet

[You can mix up what root veggies you want to include—try red potatoes, golden beets, rutabagas and turnips…]

♥ 1-2 T. olive oil

♥ 2 T. tamari or soy sauce

♥ 1-2 T. maple syrup

♥ 3-4 cloves of garlic, pressed or chopped

♥ 1 t. dried thyme

♥ 1/2 t. rosemary, crushed

♥ 1/2 t. dill

♥ 1/2 t. salt

♥ 1/2 t. pepper

HOW TO MAKE

♥ Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel yer veggies and chip-chop them into 3/4-1-inch pieces.

♥ In a large bowl, whisk together the rest of the ingredients.

♥ Add the roots and toss.

♥ Add veggies to a lightly sprayed 9-by-13 inch baking dish or roasting pan.

♥ Roast for 20 minutes, remove from  oven, toss around with a wooden spoon, and put back in oven for 20-30 more minutes. Your kitchen’s going to smell delicious!

♥ Remove and serve, adding more salt and pepper if necessary.

Roasted roots go well with pretty much anything, and I like to think they taste even better the next day. Try piling a scoop or two over some arugula and top with goat cheese for a super veggie-licious lunch. Yum!

xo,

Meghan