Necklace Organizer

This is a project that was in the works for quite some time.  I had the idea in my head and the tiny antique knobs but needed the time to work it out.  Since Miss H and I started making jewelry last summer, we were suddenly and completely overflowing with necklaces, bracelets and earrings.  Well, the bracelets and earrings were easy to organize in jewelry boxes, but necklaces get tangled so easily that I felt like they should be hanging.

So I needed a board to mount the knobs and machine screws to hold the knobs to the board.  I found an board left over from the ceiling of my living room which was already stained and prepared.  I just had to cut it shorter.  I found some screws at the local store.  I had 6 antique knobs so I measured and marked with even spacing for drilling the holes.  I chose a drill bit which would allow the screws to fit snugly through the holes.  Last was just screwing them on the board.

I mounted the board on the wall next to my dressing table and hung 3 necklaces on each knob.  I have been very happy with the results because I can quickly see my choices of my handmade necklaces, and they're never tangled.

Scarf Organizer

Since school is fast approaching, I thought I would and organize my scarves to make them easily accessible for when I have to start wearing some respectable clothes for the next 9 months.  Yes, I've been living in shorts, t-shirts and tank tops {not to mention flip flops} for the past couple months, and it's going to be excruciatingly difficult to shove my feet into some dress shoes and pants. {BTW I have a flip flop project also which could be considered respectable.}

Saw this $1 investment as worthwhile for allowing me to conveniently store my scarves which are either folded up in a drawer or hanging with my belts getting weird wrinkles permanently embedded in them.  I'm hoping this method will help with that wrinkle problem as well.

I bought a set of plastic shower hooks from the dollar store and already possessed the wooden hanger.  {I think it would be sturdier than a plastic one because I hung 12 scarves and still had more in the drawer.}  Most of these came from my grandmothers from back in the day when ladies wore scarves over their beauty shop curls.  I've held onto these blasts from the past as mementos but now scarves are really back in style.

As you can see, I had to do some ironing before I did some hanging!  After letting them cool completely, I gently folded them in the direction I would wear them {squares got folded diagonally, for instance}so the less chance of getting wrinkles going the wrong way.

Here is the final result:

Was this an idea from Pinterest you ask?  Well of course it was.  Here is the link to the original page:
Scarf Organizer

Homemade Fabric Softener

Whenever I see something easy and useful on Pinterest, I pin it for later...for a day when I'm feeling like doing something...but nothing too creative or involved.  So last week I made fabric softener.  Why make it at home when it's so easy to use those sheets you pop in the dryer???  Well, maybe you want to make a different scent than what's available on the laundry shelf.  Possibly you ran out and you're desperate.  If you're like me, you're just curious, bored, or like mixing things together that have a purpose.

The hardest thing about this project is just gathering the supplies.  I had to buy some Suave hair conditioner because I wanted to use something cheap and that's also what the original recipe suggested.  Also, have a container on hand.  I just happened to be in possession of a bleach bottle but you can use whatever you want.

First, gather the supplies:

White Vinegar
Hair Conditioner {I used Suave--it's cheap and comes in many different smells}
Bleach container {recycled}
Measuring cups
Large mixing bowl
Funnel
Water

First of all, I measured 2 cups of hair conditioner and poured into a large mixing bowl {I used one with a lip on the side for pouring}.  Then slowing add the vinegar {3 cups}using a whisk to combine.  Last, add the water {6 cups}and whisk gently.  DO NOT POUR ALL THIS INTO THE BLEACH CONTAINER AND SHAKE. YOU WILL GET LOTS OF BUBBLES--that's what it said on the website so I didn't try and find out.  You are ready to use your funnel to pour into the rinsed out bleach container.  Be sure to label your container so other people who do laundry won't use it to brighten their whites!

P.S.  I think I would add more conditioner next time. Or soak a rag or dish cloth in the stuff and throw it in the dryer.  It didn't work well on synthetics--they were still clingy. 

Original Pinterest Recipe

Pita Pizzas

It's summer and I'll eat about anything for lunch as long as it's not a sandwich!  I eat A LOT of sandwiches during the school year.  I saw these whole wheat pitas on sale at the grocery store and thought they'd be an interesting ingredient for something.  I bought pizza sauce planning on using it for a zucchini recipe but never used it.  I got the pitas out today and had a look at them and, well, they just look like pizza crusts. 

I spread the pizza sauce on the pitas and added HOMEMADE {yum}ricotta cheese chunks, pepperoni, black olives, thinly sliced green peppers, and grated Romano.  I baked them on a baking stone at 400 F for about 10 minutes.  The pita crisped up and it was scrumptious!

Super Easy Homemade Ricotta Cheese

A Place I Love to Be

Even when everything else is dry, crackling and turning brown, the spring is ever green.

Country Club Chicken

This was a recipe I couldn't pass up!  It's chicken breasts in a cream sauce with mushrooms, served over pasta.  I found the recipe on Pinterest {of course} because Aldi had chicken breasts on sale last week.  I wanted to make something more inventive than chicken tenders.

I had to alter the recipe because I didn't have cream of mushroom soup on hand--I had used it the night before to make tuna casserole--so I made a cream sauce instead with half-n-half, flour, and butter.  I think it turned out delicious, served over linguine with green beans on the side.


Here's the recipe link:  Country Club Chicken Recipe

Bath Salts

Several years ago I made bath salts for a couple of those hard to buy for Christmas gifts.  I don't know how it turned out because I didn't try it out before I gave it away.  I came across a recipe recently so I thought I'd make some again.  I researched some other recipes on the Internet but ended up with this one.  The essential oil is pretty expensive.  I found a small 1/4 ounce bottle at Meadowbrook Natural Foods for about $5.  I went to the drug store for the glycerin.  It came in a larger bottle for about $4, but I only used a small amount.  The rest of the ingredients came from the dollar store or my pantry.  I thought it turned out wonderful and would definitely make it again.

2 c. Epsom salt
2 c. table, mineral or sea salt ( I used regular table salt)
1/2 c. baking soda
1 T. glycerine
1/2 T. olive, grapeseed or almond oil (I used olive because that's what I had on hand)
several drops of the essential oil of your choice (I used rose)

Stir the dry ingredients together in your largest bowl. Add glycerine and olive oil to the dry mix.  I used a whisk to get it as even distributed as possible.  Try to get rid of any lumps.  Then add essential oil a few drops a a time.  Mix thoroughly until you get the desired potency. Don't add too much at once. Store in plastic or glass airtight containers {I ended up with about 4 pint jars--some to keep, some to give away}.  Use a handful in your bath.  You are in store for  wonderful aroma!

You can see the complete guide and more information at the following link:
Basic Bath Salts

T-Shirt Scarf

On Tuesday I was thinking I needed a project--something I could do without much investment of time and money.  So I went to my Pinterest boards and found the T-shirt scarf.  I've never seen one before but apparently they are available for purchase but are incredibly easy to make.

Since I had just gone through Mr.'s closet a week or so ago and hadn't yet taken those bags to the thrift store, I found 3 shirts which didn't have any designs on them.  Two had stains so I threw those aside.  The other one was perfect:  a navy blue heather Champion shirt.

First I used my sewing/cutting board and smoothed the shirt out over it.  Then I began cutting 1-inch strips from the bottom hem (discarding the hem), continuing all the way up to the armpits.  I got 15 strips (rings).  Now, the t-shirt I used had no side seams which I think would probably be easiest, but the original instructions say you can use shirts with seams.

Original Instructions for T-Shirt Scarf

Next I stretched the rings somewhat until they began to curl around the cut edges.  Last, I used a strip from the arm of the shirt and wrapped and tied it in one place to hold it together.  Can't wait to wear it when the weather cools down!

Egg English Muffins

 If you want a fast breakfast or lunch, try this version of a McDonald's standard (adapted from a recipe from One Min. Microwave McMuffin).

http://photos-ak.sparkpeople.com/nw/7/1/l718235641.jpg

1.  Halve English muffin and start toasting.
2.  Crack an egg in a small bowl (about the size of the muffin); sprinkle with salt/pepper.*
3.  Microwave egg for 20 sec. on high.
4.  While microwaving shred some cheese and get some bacon bits.
5.  After 20 sec. add shredded cheese and bacon bits.**
6.  Cover with paper towel or something; microwave 20 sec. more.***
7.  Butter your muffins.
8.  Use a fork to slide egg out of the bowl onto the muffin; enjoy!

Mr. Picky (my boy) loved this for lunch!

*You might spray the bowl with cooking spray or rub with butter but not necessary.
**You could use ham instead of bacon bits.
***Your microwave might work differently than mine.  I had to shorten the 2nd cooking time from 30 sec. (original recipe) to 20 sec. because it exploded in the last 10 sec.

Felt Lip Balm Pouch Key Ring

Okay, so this one's a little odd.  But I am one of those people who needs lip stuff, and I need it NOW!  If it's attached to my keys, there is a greater chance I will find it faster {especially if its hanging from the ignition}.  No hems are needed because you use a fabric that doesn't fray--like felt.  I just so happened to have lots of felt scraps that I had kept for covering the backs of cross stitch ornaments and such.  I have a lot of buttons from my mom's collection and my scrapbooking supplies.  Lots ribbon from the scrapbooking supplies, too.

So I cut a template and made like 6 of them at one time.  I've given one away to my best teacher friend.  On the light blue and yellow one, I stitched with embroidery thread around the petals because I couldn't get it to cover up the stitching from the Velcro.  That was very challenging.  On the rest of them, I just used the embroidery thread (2 strands) on the button, so the flowers are a little floppy.

My friend and I think it would probably work better with a Carabiner key ring (see below) so it could be clipped on the purse strap, also. 



The instructions are from FaveCrafts.  Here is the link:

Lip Balm Pouch

Tomato Basil Parmesan Tortellini Soup

We love soup around our house--at least I do.  There are always leftovers, and it's something to look forward to the next day. I found a promising recipe on Pinterest last night and pinned it.  I altered it a little from the original, and it turned out delicious. Even Mr. Picky, my boy, ate the every bit of it, including the chunks of tomatoes.

Miss H was helping me with it, and she didn't like the idea of carrots. I didn't have any celery, so we used zucchini from the garden (added at the beginning) and some cheese-filled tortellini (boiled separately and added at the end).  We also cooked it all on the stove instead of the slow cooker, and it didn't take more than 30-40 min.  We served it with homemade bread toasted with butter, Romano cheese, and garlic powder.

Soup Recipe


Photo by Clair Buys/BYU Magazine

Blackberries are in Season

My girl {Miss H} loves blackberries.  We go hiking together at least once a month so we've had our eyes on a few patches.  They are difficult to access and require a 4-wheel drive to get near to them.  So last Saturday morning we decided to head to the woods.  We went in her Jeep, armed with altered milk jugs that had t-shirt material straps (so we could be hands-free), gallon freezer bags, and a cooler.  We made our way from one patch to the next finding some really large, juicy berries.  Four gallons in about 1 1/2 hours.

On the menu...blackberry jam and cobbler.  I've never made jam before, so after looking at a cookbook and a couple websites, we headed to Dollar General for some jars and a strainer and G&W for pectin.  To make the jam seedless, we pushed the berries and juice through the strainer with wooden spoons.  Since I don't have a canner, I used an extra large pasta pot with a broken vegetable steamer in the bottom to seal the jars.  It was quite reassuring listening to those lids "pop" as they sealed.  One took a lot longer than the rest.

Well, the jam didn't turn out very "jammy" according to Miss H, but it sure tasted delicious on an English muffin the next morning.  In other words it would probably be better as syrup on pancakes than jam on bread.

We also enjoyed a blackberry spritzer drink:  a couple ounces of the blackberry "jam" with 7-up and crushed ice.

Miss H and her dad have a special love for cobbler.  I found a recipe on Food Network that I will share.  It's like a cake batter with the blackberries poured on top and then baked.   You can find the recipe here:

Blackberry Cobbler

Happy Picking!

P.S.  I have chiggers and Miss H has poison ivy or oak, and we both have a lot of scratches on our arms!

Lunch Meat Quesadillas {AKA the quick, yummy lunch}

I have 2 hungry boys and it's lunchtime.  Same old boring sandwiches?  NO!  Besides...there's no bread.  I was looking at recipes last night on Pinterest and saw one for pizza quesadillas.  Well, I decided to go check the fridge, and the only things I had for the recipe were mozarella cheese and flour tortillas.  I started digging around some more and discovered thinly sliced mesquite turkey and some ham.  I had also gotten a strange cheese craving the last time I was in Aldi, so I have several types of cheese:  Asiago, Monterrey Jack, Colby, Romano, New York Aged Cheddar.

 

The Monterrey Jack won, so I grated it, tore the lunch meats in the bite-sized pieces, and spread ranch dressing on the flour tortillas.  I fried them on both sides in corn oil, moved to a cutting board, and used my Mezzaluna {Italian half-moon knife (see picture below)} to cut into 4ths.

The boys loved them and so did I.

Mezzaluna (mine is single-bladed)

http://static.yuppiechef.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/mezzaluna.jpg

Coffee Table Refinishing Project

I decided to make some fun, useful things this summer, since I'm a teacher and have lots of time on my hands.  I'm not sure where I got the idea {probably the Internet} but my first project was to be refinishing an old pine coffee table.

It was very scarred and had been antiqued, so it was dark and awful.  It was a hand-me-down from my in-laws {which I appreciate very much} and it has 2 matching end tables.

It was a learning experience.  I had refinished 3 oak floors in my house using chemicals, lots of scraping, and hand sanders.  So that's what I did.  First, on the patio I laid out some black plastic cut from a roll I had bought to line my flower beds a few years ago.  Then I put the coffee table on it and took a "before" picture.  I painted Citistrip stripping gel, waited the respective amount of time and scraped.  I quickly found out it was hard to scrape when complete dry.  So I started experimenting and found it was more effective and easier if i just waited about 5 min.

It was really hard getting into the tight spaces on the legs.  I was also using a metal putty knife and gouged the top of the table.  When I was sanding, which you're really not supposed to do, I changed the shape of the legs a little.

Anyway it was a learning experience and it was a huge improvement over the "before" picture.

This is the finished product!

I have also refinished one of the end tables and used some of the things I learned from the first table:

1.  Use a plastic putty knife to eliminate gouging
2.  Use Scotch-Brite pads to get into the nooks and crannies
3.  Don't worry about the nooks and crannies so much when sanding because the stain soaks in there and makes it darker anyway.
4.  Be careful when sanding around curves or you'll end up with flat spots.