home decor – Just a Maryland Girl

I wish I knew how to: Bloganuary Entry #4

Life is about constantly learning. I truly enjoy learning new things, and I seek knowledge, no matter how small. I love that there are so many ways to learn right at my fingertips, thanks to my friend the internet. Whether I’m learning a craft, a recipe, a computer trick, or a dance class, I feel like it’s good to be constantly open to learning.

I love finding random tutorials on pinterest, and I love taking advantage of online resources. I’m currently making my way through a Life Coaching course and hopefully I will finish that in the coming months *fingers crossed*, and I’ve done a few ecommerce courses over the past year that were really interesting.

But if I had to pick one thing that I wish I knew it would be that I wish I knew how to change a flat tire. Of course, there’s a million reasons why this is a good, practical, and important skill to have. I don’t like the idea of being stranded, vulnerable, or possibly in a dangerous situation over something that I could fix myself if I have to. Because tires rarely announce in advance that they plan to go flat, the sooner I know how to do this, the bigger relief this will be for me. So it’s on my 2022 learning list for sure.

But on a smaller scale, here three things I’ve learned to do recently by using online resources:

Fabric Stamping: I follow an artist on IG that uses random items to stamp fabric, and she then uses the fabrics to make bags. I have been mesmerized by her process and thought I could try something similar. So I looked around on pinterest for tutorials and tried my hand at it. Using some remnants from Joann’s, some fabric paint, a straw, and a plastic fork, I created these masterpieces. I thought this was fun, and it’s such an easy way to decorate a space. I also plan to try this on some tea towels. It could make a really cute gift idea, and there are so many different possibilities.

Ceramics: To stay sane during the pandemic, I definitely turned to crafts. One thing I found cute and interesting was clay. Trinket dishes, earrings, and wine charms…I tried them all. I tried both air dry clay as well as clay that you bake in the oven. Here’s one of the many tutorials that I played around with and here are a few of my results.

Beading: I love making my own accessories, so when I stumbled across some posts for making beaded jewelry, I became obsessed! And again, the pandemic caused lots and lots of time isolated in the house, so this was a wonderful creative outlet. Several hundred dollars later (oy!), and I have bags and bags and bags of beaded bracelets to show for it. Here’s one blogger that gives a good bracelet tutorial and below are a few of my results:

What do you like learning? What’s the last thing you learned or taught yourself to do?

January 5, 2022January 5, 2022

justamarylandgirl10 Comments

Easy DIY Winter Hat Holiday Garland

Anyone that knows me knows that I love a good DIY project. Something simple that I can make with dollar tree items or, even better, items that I already have in my home, is an absolute winner for me. When I stumbled across this DIY on pinterest, I HAD to make it.

I am still digital nomadding, so my boyfriend and I decided that spending a bunch on holiday decor just wasn’t on our list of priorities. We wanted to be festive, but didn’t want to throw money down the drain on disposable items that we wouldn’t keep, and definitely did not want more items to haul around. So this project really felt like something that fit the bill.

I already had everything in my home, and I thought this was a great way to do something easy while I’m zoned out in front of the telly. So let’s get into it.

Materials:

String/yarn
Cotton balls
Paper towel roll
Scissors
A board or book that you can wrap the string around

Steps:

Snip off small sections of the paper towel roll
Wrap your string around the board or book about 25 times
Cut the end, then cut the bottom section of your string, so that you have 25 independent sections of string
Loop and tie the string around one of your paper towel roll sections
Continue until the entire roll is covered
Push the yarn through the paper towel roll so that it dangles out the other side
Grab the string with one hand, and put two cotton balls into the space to form the hat
Wrap string around the part of the string that you grabbed and tie in a knot
Cut off excess string and form into a pom on the top of the hat

I used eight hats for my space. I hung a piece of string across my fireplace and then tied the hats to the string. I loved how it came out. It’s just entirely too cute!

Another cute project that I tried was this snowball garland. So cute, so simple, and I was able to use items right in my home. Just be sure to keep each string completely separated from each other until you have them hung. They can get quite tangled.

That project can be found here: (I didn’t use glue and found that the project held up fine.)

And ICYMI, of course I posted on IG about my holiday salt dough ornaments which were fun and easy to make!

The video for making this can be found on my IG page.

Have you done any easy diy projects this holiday? Let me know what else I need to try!

Let me know!

December 14, 2021December 14, 2021

justamarylandgirl2 Comments

Airbnb Journey: The Alexandria VA Duplex

After spending a month in North Carolina, my boyfriend and I needed to return to the DC area due to appointments and family events coming up. The search for a place in the DMV as we natives call it (DC/Maryland/Virginia area) that fit our requirements as well as our budget was quite difficult. The area can be pretty expensive, and we wanted to make sure we were within a good distance to our appointment locations.

After extensive searching, we booked a duplex in Alexandria, Virginia. Alexandria is a large city in Northern Virginia that borders the nation’s capital. Like most places, the neighborhoods can range from older and more established to new and recently developed.

As soon as we hit the reserve button, we immediately second guessed our decision. It was a new listing, but the owners had several reviews for other properties. So we weren’t concerned about them as hosts, but we realized we didn’t know much about the actual neighborhood, and we also realized we had not seen any pictures of the outside of the house. After our NC bungalow, the visual bar for our homes was set pretty high.

So of course, as soon as we received the address, we immediately did a google map search of the property. And that did not help our concerns. But what’s done is done, we had paid our money, and that would be our home for a month… unless we wanted to cancel and lose our money. Ummm no.

Unlike the first home, the check-in for the Alexandria duplex did not go smoothly. With it being a newly listed property, the owners were working on final touches in the home up until and beyond our check-in time. Our check-in time was delayed so we had to pass the time, which was hard to do when we were still in the midst of pandemic lock-down and stores are limiting entry. But fast forward a couple hours, and we checked into the home.

The home was located in a well-established aka older neighborhood as we suspected, and visually, the home was not as attractive as the NC bungalow. Once inside, the furniture was older, and there were some areas of the home that weren’t completely finished (ie., blue tape on the walls, a chandelier that the owner had to come back and finish hanging, dust that they probably would have swiffered if they had a little extra time, etc.). But…there was a homely charm about the home and I was determined to make the best of it.

THE NOT SO GREAT:

I really gave the owners the benefit of the doubt–sometimes first rentings just don’t go as planned. I know they wanted to have a guidebook prepared, and I’m sure they wanted the space to be Airbnb perfect. Unfortunately it didn’t happen that way, and by the time we arrived and were able to check in, we just wanted to get unpacked and settled. The moment for the cute arrival had passed, and it just wasn’t going to happen.

Some of the things that made the stay less than perfect included the home not having central heating, so with it being the middle of winter, it was quite drafty sometimes. There wasn’t a ton of space for our clothes, so it felt like we were always shuffling things around just to get things from our luggage. There was only one bathroom, and after having two, it was difficult to adjust to one…though we did it, and it was fine. There was only one television in the house and that wasn’t ideal.

THE GOOD:

There were a lot of great things about the home and the location. We were able to see family and friends since we were close to home, so that was really nice. We were able to both have cars so that helped with getting to our appointments and such with no coordination efforts. We took walks quite a bit even though it was snowing a lot of the time, so we were able to get out of the house and get fresh air. The home had a dedicated workspace and multiple rooms to spread out, which we cannot say about some of the other places we’ve stayed. The home had a lot of kitchen amenities so I cooked quite a bit, which was really nice. I also stocked up on my craft supplies and started teaching myself ceramics, and there was enough space to spread out and craft. The home had this really cute loft area, so we liked escaping to that space to think or just have some alone time. It was also perfect when we had meetings and needed personal space for those. The home had some really cool decorative elements and pictures that I thought made such a nice touch. The neighborhood was so quiet, so we slept like babies. And speaking of sleep, the bedding was so comfortable, I had to message the host to ask about the sheets and pillow cases, and I ordered my own!

AT THE END OF THE DAY we were looking for peace, safety, and a space to work, and this home provided just that. We have been out of that home for about six months and I still have moments that I flash back or miss something about it. It really was a unique and cozy vibe, and sometimes you don’t find that in “perfect” homes, or homes that are staged immaculately. Though it wasn’t the prettiest house on the prettiest street, the hosts were awesome, the space was quiet, the home was safe, and I would absolutely stay there again.

Here are some of the cute decorative touches that I really feel made the space unique and cute.

What if something makes a bad first impression for you? How good are you at finding the good in situations? I felt like a month was a long time to not love the space we chose, so I really focused on what I loved about the home. And it turns out, this home actually had a lot to love!

August 4, 2021January 20, 2022

justamarylandgirl2 Comments

12 Easy DIY Vase Upgrades In Time For Spring

Vases and planters seem to be at the center of home decor these days. Plants are great for creating a warm environment and for improving home air quality. Flowers are known mood-boosters. People are are inviting in more nature into their homes these days for overall mental and physical health reasons (especially during quarantine), and that means they need more pots and vases to put them in.

Yall know I love a good DIY. I love it even more if it’s free, cheap, or cost-friendly. There are SO MANY cute ideas around the innanets, so with plant and flower lovers in mind, I rounded up a few of my favorites! The best part of most of these projects is that you probably have a lot of the materials on hand. And if not, you can scoop them up with a quick trip to the thrift store or dollar store! West Elm and Anthropologie…whatever! Try these easy and less expensive DIY’s and create your own vibe for a fraction of the cost.

Plus…how fun is it to tell guests, “oh that vase? I made that.” (and then turn like it’s no big deal while they gawk in amazement at your super fab, oh-so-chic creation?? I can’t be the only one that loves that feeling.

So here we go!

1) Textured Clay Vase

2) Colorblock Vase

3) DIY Marble Vase

4) Nail Polish Marble Flower Pots

5) Textured pail vase

6) Pottery Barn Inspired Urn

7) Repurposed Thrift Store Vase

8) Gold Wrapped Vase

9) DIY Terracotta Vases

10) Twine Flower Vase

11) Faux Wood Vase DIY

12) DIY Hobnail Milk Glass Vase

With spring around the corner, it’s a great time to prep your vases for your lovely tablescapes and spring florals. Let me know if you give any of these a try!

March 11, 2021March 12, 2021

justamarylandgirl

Simple Amenities That Airbnb Guests Appreciate

[DISCLAIMER: Some links in this post contain affiliate links. This means I get a commission if you purchase the product through my link at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.]

When I embarked on the Airbnb life, there were so many things to consider. Trying to plan for multiple what-if scenarios and the wide array of weather possibilities, it is super easy to fill up suitcases before you even blink an eye.

But I only had one car, and I had no option but to fit everything I’d need into that one car. From clothing to medications, to electronics to home conveniences, the car filled up super quick! At some point I had to put my foot down. I had to realize that I may just have to do without some items, or I may have to buy them as I go. Or if I’m lucky, my host may actually have some of the things I’ve left behind.

I realize that a lot goes into making an Airbnb home aesthetically pleasing, and having numerous odds and ends may detract from a host’s efforts to keep things simple and clutter-free. I completely get that.

But if there are ways to add a few of these items to your space without sacrificing your look, please give it some thought. You may not realize how handy these items are to Airbnb guests, especially the long-term ones, but I promise you, the perfect small gesture makes such a big difference.

I also realize you don’t want to break the bank with random knick-knacks and unnecessary items. The good news is that some of these items can be picked up on trip to your local dollar store or Walmart. Or even easier, some can be purchased with a quick click on Amazon, and then tucked away in your home pretty easily.

Here’s my list of simple amenities that add value to my stay as a long-term Airbnb guest, and I’ll link to a few things as well:

KITCHEN

Oven mitts: Cute and clean, not dingy and old.
Dish towels: I’m all about reusing and reducing, so going through paper towel after paper towel is annoying to me.
Toaster: Basic is good, no need to get fancy. Just something that I can toast a bagel or waffle in.
Chip clips: This is such an overlooked necessity. I like sealing everything that I open.
Olive oil: I’ve been carrying my own but it’s nice if there’s some in the house in case I run out.
Paper towel holder: It’s perfectly fine to set the towels on the counter, but a holder is great to have.
Dish soap dispenser: Makes washing dishes so much more convenient.
Dish drying rack: Some people prefer to wash dishes in between dishwasher loads, so a rack helps.
Full set of silverware: Two sets are even better. It takes a while to fill up a dishwasher load, so going through four spoons happens pretty quickly.
Cooking utensils: Nothing fancy, just a spatula, large spoon, and wooden spoon. Long term visitors will likely cook a meal or two.
Pots and pans: Clean and usable (ie., non-crusty). I am begging you, please do not just leave your crustiest dishware that you know is well past its lifespan for your guests to use. Opt for an inexpensive set of a couple of pots and pans. I’d rather it be cheap than crusty.
Cookie sheets: These have been the unsung hero of my airbnb stays. You don’t realize how many things get reheated in the oven until you don’t have a cookie sheet.
Cutting boards: Otherwise people may opt to cut directly onto your counter…and you may not want that. Cutting boards will help. And if it’s a set that has a different board for meat, veggie, etc…even better!
Mat for the kitchen: Drips happen. It’s nice to have a floor mat by the sink.
Tea kettle: I boil water every day for some reason or another. Though pots do the trick, I love not having to watch the pot while I wait for my water to boil…the whistle gets my attention just perfectly.
Counter spray: I love Method which is good for pets and children, but whatever works best for you is perfect.

BATHROOM

Qtips and cotton balls: Always a good bathroom staple
Sewing kit: When I purchased pants and they had a hole in them, I was so happy to see a needle and thread in my host’s bathroom.
Hand lotion: Hotel samples or a small bottle next to each sink is wonderful!
Hair dryer: This is a pain to lug around, so it’s so convenient if there is one in the home
Disinfectant wipes/cleaning spray: It’s nice to have a few handy for guests.

BEDROOM/LIVING ROOM

Full length mirror: I like knowing how I look from head to toe. What if my shoes look stupid?? I need to know! This is definitely something you could get inexpensively from your local Walmart or Target.
Extension cords: Everything in our lives requires a plug, and wall sockets just aren’t enough.
Chargers/wall adapters: A little help with the effort of staying powered up is so appreciated.
Hangers: A walk-in closet means nothing without hangers and they are so bulky for travelers.
Lamps: There’s something nice about soft lighting. Sometmes overhead lights can be a bit harsh and it’s nice to have options.
Tissues/Kleenex: Just toss a box on the nightstand, perfect!
Ironing board: A small dorm sized one is fine.
Hamper/laundry basket: As a long-term guest, having a place to put dirty laundry is really nice to have.
Extra blankets/comforters: For the couch or to layer up onto the bed, definitely a thoughtful touch.
Rug: If you have hardwood, a landing pad for your feet is really nice when you hop out of bed.

BONUS ITEMS (Not necessary, but definitely nice to have)

A second tv: Definitely not a must, but certainly nice when multiple people are staying long-term.
Dressers: Long-term guests will want to unpack. Having designated spaces for clothes is really helpful.
Nightstands: You don’t appreciate them until you don’t have them, that’s for sure. A bedside space for your gadgets and medications is helpful.
Desk: Because I’m full-time teleworking on the road, it’s so nice to have a designated space for those times that I want to sit at a desk, particularly when I am on web meetings and such.
Blender: It is totally not necessary to have a vitamix or some kind of super expensive appliance, a blender of any sort would be nice to have on standby for long term guests. Not every guest will use it, but for the ones that will, they will appreciate that it’s there.

I do not expect every house to have EVERY item. I realize that a lot of these may not even be feasible due to space constraints. And trust me, your guests realize that as well. I also know that running an airbnb can be costly, exhausting, and sometimes less-important things have to go by the wayside. I know that every experience is unique in its own way, and whether you have a sewing kit or not will not sway a guest’s opinion one way or another. Please use these lists however you see fit.

March 10, 2021March 10, 2021

justamarylandgirl