esskayelle

the best step stool...

i will start a new series on what my opinion {as little as it may be} of what i perceive to be the best of something.  once others share their "best of's" to me, i greatly appreciate the advice...so please feel free to share your best of's as they come along!  

today...

the BEST step stool.

i discovered this wonderful stool at my SIL's place.  

introducing the e-z folds step stool and boy is it awesome

this is such a space saver, it collapses to about 2" thick and is SUPER easy to fold.  the newer version, as appeared above, has a handle that you pull up, and the thing folds in a second.  AND it's super easy to unfold.  all you do is set it on its feet and push the handle down.  my 3YO daughter can use it without any help.  it's awesome and saves so much precious space in the bathroom.  PLUS it has rubber grips on the top and bottom to keep it still, so that my preschooler can hop off onto the tile floor without fear of slipping.  

forget about the eyesore of tacky step stools.  just stick this in an inconspicuous spot, and pull-out whenever necessary.  

PLUS it's relatively inexpensive.  $15 at bed, bath, and beyond.  use a $5 off $15 or more coupon and it's only $10!  a steal.  i am in love with this step stool.

it is THE BEST!   

moving men

have you seen those commercials, the ones that tell you that you can move furniture with just push from your pinky using their amazing sliding discs? 

look at all that stuff on this woman's bookshelf, and she looks so happy pushing it along.

well, i was fooled and bought this amazing invention.  our first trial was on our bedroom furniture.  not as easy as it looks. 

then my husband had the brilliant idea to put armor-all on them. 

and would you know it?  they work just like the picture portrays!  it's amazing. 

i just moved a pretty large bookshelf, by myself, from one room of my house to another.  granted, i took everything out first.  but these moving men have redeemed themselves by saving me time and energy. 

i highly recommend this product in combo with a bottle of armor all.  now get moving!

napkin, please

in my quest for a flat lying napkin holder {i absolutely loath our current upright cheapo one}, i found this beauty at bed, bath, and beyond. let's see how well it meets up to my napkin holding standards. it's a simplehuman product, so it should be as functional as it looks, right?

a great place to find unique goods

a friend of mine owns an incredible store in manhattan called roam.  she has done a lot of work to make sure her goods are unique and fun to give or own.   her taste is exquisite. 

many of her accessories are handmade.

she's gone online, check it out.

happy shopping!

www.shoproam.com

smooth bed sheets

i have to ask,  how many of you actually iron your bed linens? 

today, i switched my duvet from the winter color to crisp white...and decided to iron it.  while i was at it, i ironed my shams, pillow cases, and the top portion (visible portion) of my flat sheet.  my bed looks phenomenal. 

i am the type of person who is incredibly neurotic about their bed being set before i sleep.  the flat sheet needs to be tucked under the mattress...and i refuse to feel any wrinkles, everything needs to be taut for me to feel completely comfortable.  i have tried to just go to bed with the blankets tousled about, but just ask my husband.  as tired as i was, i will get up out of bed, and straighten the sheets, and fall back to bed with contentment.

but i don't iron my sheets on a regular basis, frankly, on any basis but today. 

so, while i was ironing them, i was thinking to myself...i wonder who does this every time they change their sheets.  the only person i though that might was my sister-in-law, inhee.  super clean woman of the universe.  ;)

so, do you iron your sheets?

the esskayelle bulletin board

inspired by martha stewart, i made a bulletin board for my office area.  i have to say, it turned out great...

materials:

• homosote cut 3'x4' (homosote is sold in sheets, usually 4'x8', it's great for tacks...not heavy...can only be found in certain lumber yards...i bought mine at hines lumber in mount prospect.) 
• linen fabric cut about 3" longer than the board on each side (i used my joann fabrics 40% coupon...saved a chunk of change)
• elastic banding (joann's)
• upholstery tacks (home depot)
• hook and eye (home depot)

what do ya do?

1. iron the linen to remove wrinkles
2. lay out the board on top of the fabric, leaving 3" on each side
3. fasten the fabric to the board on each side, by pulling it taut and folding the hem for a neat edge.  use a tack or staple gun to fasten.
4. measure out your elastic criss-cross with a ruler and pencil, on the back of the board (i marked them at every 9" on the small side and 8" on the long)
5. weave the elastic on the front of the board and tack them in the intersecting points (use a hammer for more strength). 

result: it looks so great...i love it.  i was sick of filing my important documents away to be forgotten.  now they're up for me to remember! not to mention cards or inspirational designs and such...buying one this size and with this look is near impossible, so making your own is a great alternative!

downer:  my thumbs hurt from the tacking...good thing for hammers.

difficulty on an esskayelle scale: easy to medium