No Passport? Visit 3 Awesome Places in Puerto Rico

So you want to go to an island, but you don't have a passport. If you are in the U.S, without a passport there are a few place you can go...and Puerto Rico is one of them.

I am one of those people without a passport, which is limiting, however it is not the end all. My sisters and I recently took a trip to Puerto Rico, that was pretty awesome. There was plenty to do there, here are 3 of the places we visited that you can put on your checklist for your next trip there!

Isla Verde Beach, Carolina PR

Isla Verde Beach was one of the first spots we visited. I loved how calm and relaxing the beach was. We went in December, which we heard was cold for the locals, but for us the 80 degree temperature was perfect.

The thing I love most about this beach were the little food and bar stands. I hit a couple of them up for a Daiquiri in a pineapple and chicken on a stick. Delish! The water was beautiful too. Not super clear and blue, but was really nice.

Behind the beach is a street filled with plenty of stores to hit up. There's also a tiki bar in close proximity. 

Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico

If you are looking to learn more about Puerto Rico culture you will really want to check out this museum. The art ranged from large pieces that spanned the whole wall to 3D life size murals.

I won't give away all the goodies with my pictures but I will say I was not disappointed. The museum is three stories high and even offers more pretty things to look at in its garden. The fish pond in the garden was beautiful!

Old San Juan

Old San Juan was amazing. When visiting this area, put on your walking shoes! There are literally so many streets to walk on that you probably won't see everything unless you dedicate a whole day to it. In the courtyard there was a live show. Ladies dressed in white showed a packed crowd dances that were native to Puerto Rico. Also apart of the show, was a female drum band. It was so interesting watching and learning more about the culture.

I loved the painted shops. Every building was a different color that blended together beautifully. We ran across an alley so pretty that we could not resist taking a picture.

We did quite a bit of shopping here for souvenirs. So if you are in need of some this would be the area to visit to find some great unique items.

So now you see, no passport, no worries! There are still options out there. Tell me, have you ever visited Puerto Rico? What were some of your favorite places?

DIY Labeled Bins

I recently discussed tips to get your bathroom organized. I got a lot of great feedback regarding the bin I used, so I figured I'd share more details behind those bins.

Here's what you'll need to make these bins:

Blue Painters Tape
Plastic Bins: I purchase clear ones for $4.99 and also used wastebaskets that were $2.99, both from Target
Mambi Sticker Letters: I purchase them from Hobby Lobby. The were 40% off of the original price of $7.99

This wasn't super hard to do. Start with you clear bin and make a straight line across with your painters tape. This will serve as the straight edge for placement of your letters.

Next, add the letter to the bins. Keep in mind the spacing of the letter and be sure to center your letter on your bin.

I used the hole are the top of the bin as my guide. For 4 letter words I made sure that the gap between the 2nd and 3rd letter was directly beneath the hole. For 5 letter words I made sure the middle letter was directly beneath the hole.

Once your letters are perfect you can remove your tape. The great thing about these stickers is that you can easily remove them if you need to re-position them.

I repeated the same steps on my blue wastebaskets. I thought the wastebaskets were a great color...so I went with it, and it worked! I absolutely love how they came out!

Will you be trying this project? If so, let me know and share a photo with me using hashtag: #BBGDTipsWork

How to Perfectly Organize a Bathroom

The bathroom, easily one of the most hectic places in the house. From making a morning mad dash getting ready for work to trying to keep all the kids bath toys off of the floor... the bathroom just becomes one of those places where things are all over the place.

This month, I'm partnering up with some awesome bloggers to bring you #10DaysofOrganizing. Check the links at the bottom of this post to read about how to get your home organized.

A couple weeks ago I showed you how to refresh your bathroom cosmetically. Today I'll be sharing how to get your bathroom organized. Follow these 4 easy tips for a perfectly organized bathroom.

1. Throw Away Old Products

In the bathroom many product tends to pile up. The ones that we don't use frequently ends up finding it's way under the sink. If you haven't used the product in the last 3-6 months it should be on it's way to the trash can. Once you purge everything you don't need or use you can begin to organize!

2. Organize Under the Sink

USE BINS & BASKETS

Under the sink can get really bad...at least at my house.  A great way to keep everything in its place is to put everything in designated areas. I picked up these clear bins from Target and updated them with the super cute Mambi stickers from Hobby Lobby. 

Another great thing about the bins is that they minimize the amount of clutter that can build up. If you don't have any more space in a particular bin, that will be a easy cue to know it's time to purge again.

ADD A SHELF

Adding a shelf under the sink allows for more organized storage. By adding a shelf I was able to place two smaller bins on one side of the sink where I could split my products into more categories.

3. Place Small Everyday Use Items in Jars 

Everyday use items such as cotton balls and Q-tips should be place in jars. Not only does it keep things organized, but it also looks more polished.

4. Add Additional Storage

There is only so much space under the sink for storage. When you need more space bring in small pieces such as an etagere or a rolling cart. The space behind your toilet usually goes unused so an etagere is perfect for that area.

A rolling cart is used in our bathroom to hold everyday items and also towels/washcloths.

Read: Medicine Cabinet Organization

Did these ideas help you? Is so, share a pic and tag #BBGDTipsWork
This post was in collaboration with some awesome bloggers. Check out the other bloggers below for more organizing tips!

Mon. Jan 9 – Andrea (Decorating Cents)
Tues. Jan 10 – Whitney (Whitney J Decor)
Wed. Jan 11 – Katrina (Chic Little House)
Thurs. Jan 12 – Nicole (She Does a Bunch)
Fri. Jan 13 – Crystal (Holliday Collective)
Sat. Jan 14 –  Carli (Fearfully and Wonderfully Made)
Sun. Jan 15 – Alaya (Behind the Big Green Door)
Mon. Jan 16 – Erin (Live Pretty on a Penny)
Tues. Jan 17 – Ashley (The Handy Homegirl)
Wed. Jan 18 – Saidah (Aprons and Stilletos)