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