Friday, November 16, 2012

Friday Freebie: Printable Chalk Art

I've been experimenting with creating chalkboard art on my computer this week, since I love the style, but can't stand the thought of actual, real-for-real chalk. This is one of the neat little quotes that I've fancied up this week, and seeing as though Thanksgiving is on THURSDAY (can you believe it?) I thought I'd share.

To download (Instructions for PC Users):
- Right click on the image and select "Open in New Tab" from the menu.
- In the new tab, right click on the image again and click "Save Image As"
- Save and print!
I usually send mine to Walgreens or CVS and have it printed as an 8x10 for my subway art frame, but you could definitely print it at home or at the photo printer of your choice. :)

Enjoy!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Thanksgiving Printable {Round-Up}

November has arrived! Can you believe that the Holiday season is upon us? 

Since Prince Charming was at our church's men's retreat, sis and I spent the entire weekend lounged in my living room watching the Hallmark Channel's Christmas preview weekend. (In other words, we watched at least half a dozen super cheesy Christmas movies and stuffed ourselves silly with junk food while surfing Pinterest.)

ANYWAY. 

Thanksgiving is a mere 2 1/2 weeks away! I've been searching the internet for some sweet [free] swag to use for my Thanksgiving morning "brunch and parade viewing mini-party" with my family... and seeing as though this is the season of sharing, I thought you might like to enjoy some of the cuteness I've rounded up.

Below you'll find a dozen links to some of the best*Thanksgiving printables on the web.

Enjoy! :)





*I will admit that I'm a bit biased about these being the best, seeing as though I picked them all out!

Monday, October 22, 2012

31 Days: One Sentence a Day

So far, all of my posts for this 31 Days series have been on capturing memories photographically.

However, this week, I'm going to do something a little different, and I challenge you to join in:

I'm going to start keeping a one-sentence journal on Twitter!

The idea began when I read this article a few months ago.

I love the idea of recording my memories, without feeling like I'm dealing with some sort of cumbersome daily task... with this set-up, in the worst case scenario, I can simply update right before I go to sleep from my phone.

I will have a link to my Twitter feed up in the side-column tomorrow, but for tonight, it's time to get some rest!

If you decide to join me, please leave a link to your Twitter in the comments so that I can follow you! :)

Sunday, October 21, 2012

31 Days: I Fell Off the Bandwagon

Remember last Sunday when I said that I had been feeling crummy?

Well... maybe it wasn't so much a "had been feeling crummy" as it was a "currently feeling crummy."

Regardless, I've spent much of the last week vacillating between having tons of energy and feeling like death warmed over. As you can probably imagine, this hasn't left much time for blogging.

I do promise, however, to hop back on the bandwagon this week - two posts a day to make things up. :)

There are, after all, only 10 days left in this blogging challenge. It's time to finish strong!

Monday, October 15, 2012

31 Days: A Few Quick Reflections

Not much to post today, and to be honest, I can't say too much because I'm currently stuck posting from my phone. Apparently my computer is on a blogging strike.

Anyway.

I've spent the last 24 hours sorting on and off through a box of photos of my early years, and it's a rather interesting experience. There are so many photos that I couldn't possibly keep them all, but how do you determine the value of one photo over another?

I'm struggling with little decisions, like do I keep this photo of an unimportant event that I have actual memories of, or this cute photo of an equally unimportant event that I don't remember?

What pictures do I think my future children will be interested in? What will I wish I had copies of later in life?

Maybe I'm a photo hoarder, maybe I'm sentimental, or maybe I'm just normal... But this task is much more difficult than I thought it would be!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

31 Days: We Will Remember

For today's Sunday inspirational post, I thought I'd share a song. We've been singing this song at church and I absolutely love it!

Enjoy!

31 Days: Instagram Scrapbook Pages


Sorry for the lack of post yesterday - I was not feeling well at all - stress induced migraines are YUCKY! :)

Anyway, I thought I'd make it up by showing you some of these neat scrapbook pages that people have made with their Instagram photos. I SO want to try making one of these!




Thursday, October 11, 2012

31 Days: The One IG'er You MUST Follow

If you are into iPhone photography at all, there is one Instagramer (IG'er) that you absolutely must follow - AMPt.

AMPt stands for Advanced Mobile Photography Team, and they post some of the coolest Instagram photos each and every day. In addition to showing you the images, they also tell you the backstory and provide a detailed explanation of which apps and tools they used to create the effect so that you can duplicate it on your own.

If you are looking for some amazing photographic eye candy, a little bit of inspiration, or a tutorial on how to improve your iPhoneography, AMPt is definitely the place to look!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

31 Days: Instagram Fall Photo Challenge


What do you all think about having a little fall photo challenge? Over the next 21 days, I challenge you to see how many of these photos you can capture, then upload them to your Facebook and/or Instagram for all to enjoy. (P.S. if you're on Instagram use the tag #mtlfallchallenge so that we can see your work!)

1. Autumn decorations
2. At least one pumpkin
3. Dressed in fall colors
4. Your favorite fall scent
5. An artistic shot of an apple
6. Fall morning
7. Fall evening
8. Autumn leaves
9. A [fall] word
10. A good [fall] thing
11. The color orange
12. The color red
13. The color brown
14. Something you're thankful for
15. Cozy and warm
16. Comfort food
17. A special fall project
18. Something you're thankful for
19. Sweet treats
20. Somebody in a costume
21. The first day of November

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

31 Days: Print Those Instagrams!

As my Instagram shots have gotten more artistic, I've been thinking more and more about how I'd like to print them. The photos are, after all, a little tricky to get printed since they are square! A little bit of online scouting and Pinterest stalking has brought me to these three websites that offer really neat ways to get your Instagram pics printed. I can't vouch for the services (yet) but I'd love to hear in the comments if you have tried any of them out!

1. ImageSnap - I've seen several posts that link back to the website ImageSnap, where they create cute little "Teeny Tiles" that are magnets made with your Instagram photos. Each Teeny Tile costs about $4, and can also be created using Facebook photos.

2. PostalPix - This nifty little app allows you to order 4x4 prints of your favorite Instagram photos directly from your iPhone. A nice little bonus - PostalPix has a pretty high rating in the iTunes store!

3. Blurb - I can honestly say that I've heard nothing but good reviews of Blurb, and they now offer a sweet little Instagram book for $10.95. I may have to order one of these for myself!

Any other good recommendations out there?

Monday, October 8, 2012

31 Days: Instagram Week


It's no secret that Instagram is *THE* newest trend. While some naysayers might say that we'll regret not having as many sharp, vivid images one day... I say forget it and embrace the trend! We're going to regret our choices of fashion and art one day regardless.

Therefore, I've decided to dub this week Instagram week, at least over here! ;)

I don't have much for you tonight, but throughout this week you can look forward to:

- Neat projects to do with all of those Instagram photos
- Tips, tricks, and tutorials
- A fun fall photo-a-day challenge
- And more!

I can't wait, and I hope see you back tomorrow! :)

Sunday, October 7, 2012

31 Days: Photos of God's Faithfulness


My current post series recently started me thinking about Joshua 4, where the Lord tells the Israelites to gather 12 stones from the river and pile them to make a monument as a memory of all that he had done for them. He then commands them to tell their children that they represent the many things that He had done for them, whenever they ask what the stones mean.

I think sometimes when we capture photos we only grab them to celebrate the moment, or capture faces or places. Truthfully, though, a picture can mean so much more. The moments we capture on "film" can stand as lasting testimonies to future generations on all that God has done... just as one little acorn, like the one above, can grow into a mighty oak tree.

What kind of story of God's faithfulness do your photos tell?

In addition to my 31 Days series, this post is also part of:


Saturday, October 6, 2012

31 Days: Going Through the Archives

Recently, on a quest to find 50 pictures of my aunt to celebrate her 50th birthday, my Mom and sister dug up a BUNCH of old family photos. I've seen several of them, but can't wait to get my hands on the boxes and help sort through them!

Meanwhile, in the spirit of "capturing memories," here are a few of my favorite photos - photos that include...

The quintessential school photos...

My senior picture. Note the feather boa and attitude earrings. 

Ninth grade, Wal-Mart portrait studio, and the most painful earrings I've ever worn.

Memories of autumns past...

At the corn maze just outside of Indianapolis. 

 Same vacation, at the pumpkin patch. My little Florida tushy was FREEZING!

Family portraits throughout time...

1994

2008

2010

 2011

 2012

And awkward moments you never even knew existed on film.


WHY? 

I've been informed that we are singing, not screaming in this picture.

I encourage you to go dig out old family photos this week if you have access to them, because you never know what you may find, and what hilarious memories you might recall. :)

Friday, October 5, 2012

31 Days: Picaboo Review



Since there's currently a Living Social deal available nationwide for Picaboo, I thought I'd offer up a quick review.

I used Picaboo for both my wedding album and a photo canvas (see above) for the entryway of our apartment. Both were excellent quality, and I'd definitely order from the website again. In fact, I just bought the deal to use for our Christmas cards this year!

In order to create your photo projects, you'll need to download their software, which I found to be super user-friendly and intuitive. Basically, all you have to do is select the type of project that you'd like to make and drag and drop your photo(s) into place.

Shipping costs are reasonable and, in my experience, purchases arrive quickly.

The photo canvas I ordered looks amazing, and is comparable to the other photo canvases on the market. I wouldn't pay full price, as I've found better deals elsewhere, but they regularly go on sale at Picaboo, and there are social buying coupons (Living Social, Groupon, etc.) every few months.

The photo book isn't exactly "wedding album" quality (though I will admit that I purchased one of the lower-end books) but if you're looking for a nice photo book, Picaboo's books definitely fit the bill. The book is sturdy, the cover looks fantastic, and the pictures all came out crisp, bright and colorful.

In summary, the deal available on Living Social is totally worth the money. Picaboo is a great way to creatively save your memories. :)

Thursday, October 4, 2012

31 Days: Thursday Thought

Memories don't have to be big to be worth capturing.

Take, for example, this photo from today. Dustin and I got a good laugh out of it. We've declared this photo "Chairman of the Board." (First order of business: more food for Toby!)

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

31 Days: Saving Wedding Memories

Since today is Pin for the Win Wednesday, I thought I'd share a little craft that I did quite a while back. Okay, so maybe it was last Christmas - but it seems fitting for this post series and will help you get in the Christmas crafting mood. (We've gotta start now, or we never will, right?!)

Here is the idea I originally pinned:


(Originally posted at the blog "... From Glitter to Gumdrops")

Basically, the concept is to take a wedding invite, cut it into strips, curl it, and then stick it into a glass ball ornament. Easy peasy. The Mr and I didn't actually have wedding invites (yay for eloping!) so I used one of our bajillion leftover post-wedding announcements. Here is my result:


Not as classy as the original, but it's definitely not too shabby. I am looking forward to proudly displaying it on my tree this year. :)

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

31 Days: My Favorite Camera Apps


It's been said that the best camera to shoot with is the one that you have - so in that case, the best camera for me to shoot with is usually my iPhone! I've captured a lot of memories over the last year on my iPhone, so I thought I'd share five of my favorite apps for capturing and editing photos. :)

1. Camera+ - $0.99 - I don't usually shoot with this app, because it's slow to load and somewhat cumbersome, but I do use it to shoot still life photos, since it allows you to have multiple points of focus. I also love the editing tool, called Lightbox, that allows you to import and edit photos shot with the standard camera app.

2. Snapseed - $4.99 - This app is sometimes referred to as the Photoshop of the iPhone - and even though I'm just starting out with it, I can understand why. It does have a fairly steep learning curve, but I've heard a rumor that Molly Newman at ReneePearson.com is going to be offering a self-paced workshop on the app... Can't wait!

3. Phonto - FREE! -This app only does one thing, but it does it well! Using this app, you can add text (in a huge variety of fonts) to your photos. Love it!

4. iQuikDoF - FREE! - As the name would suggest, this app allows you to quickly and easily create TiltShift and focus effects in your photos. All you have to do is mask the area that you wish to keep focused and then adjust a slider to blur the background.

5. Instagram - FREE! - This one may be fairly obvious to iPhone fiends, but I couldn't possibly make a list of my favorite camera apps without sharing it! I never shoot with the apps camera, but instead import my previously edited photos. :) If you're already on Instagram, I highly recommend that you check out AMPt for some amazing tutorials on iPhotography and gorgeous eye candy!

So, there you go, my favorite apps! I'd love to hear yours, too. If you have any recommendations, please share them in the comments. :)

Monday, October 1, 2012

31 Days of Capturing Memories


I've hemmed and hawed about it for the last month, but today I decided to take the plunge!

I'm going to be joining a fabulous group of over 700 bloggers led by the blog Nesting Place for "31 Days 2012." Basically, what this means is that I'm committing to a blog post each day for the entire month of October on a specified theme, particularly "Capturing Memories on the Journey of Life."

I hope that you'll stop by each day and see what I have to offer. You never know what it might be - I'm planning some tutorials, DIY projects, reviews, a few inspiring thoughts, and maybe even some other goodies! :)

I'll see you tomorrow for the first real post of the series!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Simple Things Sunday



One of my new favorite blogs is Simple as That. I love the gorgeous photos the author takes, as well as her fabulous sense of style. :) I'm excited to participate in her weekly tradition of "Simple Things Sunday," where her readers come together "... to share our photos ... To enjoy the beauty that can be found in the ordinary and to be reminded of just how important the simple things are. " (Description copied directly from her blog.)

I hope that maybe some of you will join us in creating a weekly photo posting, either via blog or Instagram!


This is my Simple Thing #1:

I captured this photo during one of my daily afternoon walks with Toby. To be honest, most days I'm not thrilled about walking him in the midday heat, but a few days this last week were actually relatively nice weather-wise. I'm trying to take my time and be THANKFUL for the sun rather than hateful of it. After all, in a few months, my little Florida girl tush will be freezing on one of the few cold days of the year, and I'll be wishing for the fabulous sunshine and warmth!

What simple things are YOU thankful for this week?

Friday, September 14, 2012

6 Easy Steps for Decorating on a Budget

As we've decorated our new apartment over the last few months, I've really been thinking about how to make our home beautiful while making the best financial decisions possible. I thought I'd share my quick, easy, and painless plan for decorating on a budget, in case it can help any of you. :)

No pictures today (sorry!) but I'm currently working my way through the master bath, so I'll document the process and post some pictures soon!

1. Join Pinterest.

The key to any good decorating job is VISION. Pinterest is a great source for inspiration, and offers TONS of links to tutorials for DIY and knock-off home decor ideas. Take a look around and see what kind of rooms strike your fancy. Having an idea of what you want will keep you from selecting decor that doesn't coordinate.

2. Pick a color or general theme to center your room around.

After you've figured out what kind of feel you want your room to have, think about the elements. Is there a specific color or theme you want? (Or, better yet a specific color AND theme?)

3. Shop your house.

Look around your home and see if anything fits your vision. The things you've already chosen to bring into your home are a probably a great representation of your style and taste, so figure out which things you love and want to use. What matches your vision? Don't be afraid to rearrange your furniture and knick-knacks. Change is GOOD!

4. Browse the clearance sections of your favorite stores.

Make a point of strolling through the clearance sections of your favorite stores. Try to see things as they COULD be, and not necessarily as they are. A beautiful red bowl in the left over Christmas decor can be used year round to hold keys and spare change by your front door (if not covered in snowflakes or Christmas trees)! Or, perhaps a scuffed picture frame can be distressed a little more with some sandpaper to fit into your shabby chic living room.

5. Sign up for e-mail coupons.

Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and JoAnn Fabrics all have a fantastic selection of home decor and send out weekly coupons, often for 40% off any regular priced item. This is a great way to pick up some basic picture frames, seasonal decor, or even supplies for your Pinterest DIY adventures.

6. Have FUN!

Don't feel the need to make your house perfect immediately, you'll just end up frustrated. Take your time and enjoy finding things that you love. After all, the point of decorating is turning your house into a home that represents YOU and your family!

I hope that this plan for decorating on a budget helps! If you have any other tips, please feel free to share them in the comments! :)

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

I'm Sitting in a Coffee Shop...

... Posting from my phone!

This is mostly a test post to see how the Blogger app for my phone works, but since we are here, I thought I'd let you know that I'm planning a real post to be published tomorrow... Oh, and to share a cute Toby picture.

Also, an adorable old man told me that I look really focused and intent. I told him that it's hard to type on this keyboard. (Which is precisely the reason that I am going to end this post!)

Monday, September 3, 2012

Labor Day Shopping Finds!

First of all, I apologize for the horrific delay in posts. However, I can PROMISE that there are a whole slew of posts coming up over the next few days, and I'm preparing for a REALLY SUPER AWESOME series of posts that will take place during the entire month of October. It's going to be spectacular! (... Yes, I know I'm biased.)

ANYWAY.

I just thought that you might like to see my amazing finds from our Labor Day shopping expedition to IKEA and Whole Foods... and to be honest, regardless of your opinion, I really want to post them. So there. Feel free to skip this post if you so desire. ;)

For starters, here are my finds from IKEA:


The two jars on the left are for Toby's dog food and treats... much nicer looking than the bags the food comes in! In front of them are new bath scrubbies and beneath is a cushion for my computer desk in the living room - both on sale! Next is my new favorite inspiration source - a coffee table book called "Love for Textiles," followed by a new set of Ikea Pruta food storage containers and some super cute owl shaped chip clips. Then, in the front are three candle holders that were on clearance that I intend to repurpose - you are sure to see another post about them in the future. :)

Next, my Whole Foods finds:


I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Whole Foods' prices were comparable to Publix's prices. :) The shampoo and conditioner on the left are paraben and sodium lauryl sulfate free and the ingredients are naturally derived. I am excited to see how these work with my hair. On the right are my crackers from my new favorite organic snack brand - Back to Nature - they were on sale this week! In the middle are walnuts, rolled oats, and pumpkin spice granola... all, of course, organic. Dustin picked them out! We tried the pumpkin spice granola tonight and it was AMAZING! :)

One last find:


I picked up this sweet deal at Publix this afternoon thanks to a tip from the Nails and Sales blog. Unfortunately, my coupons didn't work out quite as well as predicted, but I managed to get them for $1.67 each. (Quite a deal considering that they are usually $3.97 each.) I'll be sticking these in my pantry for holiday cooking. :)

Did anybody else go shopping today? Find any great deals?

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

FALLing For You: Fall [Crafting] Fails

Time to be real. Not everything you pin on Pinterest is as easy as it seems.



Take for instance this VERY easy looking tutorial for an ombre candle holder.

I really hoped this one would turn out. Using some cream colored tissue paper I had on hand, I did a quick mock-up, and while I wouldn't say that it's a complete FAIL - it certainly doesn't look bad - it just doesn't have the same type of effect. It was also WAY more difficult than it looked (have you ever tried to cut tissue paper in a straight line?)

Here's my take:


See? Only a hint of ombre. I dressed it up with some twine and a few wooden acorns. Not bad, just not great. I'm going to give this project one more go with some brightly colored tissue paper before I officially declare it a dud, but in the meantime, here's the moral of the story...

Don't count your metaphorical Pinterest chickens before they hatch! ;)

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

FALLing For You: My Favorite Fall Recipe

I'm not going to lie, most of my favorite meals are made in my crockpot. (I'm pretty lazy!) My favorite fall food is chili, and it's given a new twist in this recipe, adapted from one I found on this blog: The Architect & The Artist.



The Perfect Pumpkin Chili
Ingredients:

1/2 Bag Bird's Eye frozen Pepper Stir-Fry (contains bell peppers and white onions)
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cups chicken broth
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can solid-pack pumpkin
1 can Italian-style diced tomatoes
2 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cumin

Directions:

Place all ingredients in your slow cooker. 

Stir, then cook on low for as little as 4 hours or as many as 8 hours. If you want to eat even more quickly, just put all ingredients into a stock pot and heat thoroughly (although I will add that the longer your chili simmers, the better it will be!)

I serve this chili over tortilla chips (my preference) or corn bread (Mr. Morley's preference) and top with shredded cheese and sour cream (though we'll be trying Greek yogurt this year!)


Sunday, August 12, 2012

FALLing For You: Subway Art


August has arrived (and at this point is nearly halfway gone!)

I don't know about YOU, but I'm about ready to start celebrating fall. Sure it's still 95 degrees outside, but in the mornings when the air conditioner is still cranked down low from overnight, and there is a hint of dampness in the air, I make myself a cup of hot coffee and I'm all about fall.

This week seems like a great time to beat the heat and start planning some fall decor, style, and food... so I'm starting off today with a post that's filled with fun (and FREE) fall subway art. Grab yourself some coffee and make sure that your printer has plenty of ink. :)


Clockwise from Upper Left: Hopscotch Studios, Betty Crocker Wannabe, eighteen25

If framed subway art isn't your thing, do a quick Google for subway art crafts. I've seen a couple of cute ideas online including using them to wrap candy bars, top goody bags, create cards, and even make a table runner! As for me, I'll be framing mine. Check back to see which art I chose to print! :)

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Meet Toby


Toby is...

       ... our rescue puppy.

       ... approximately one year old.

       ... full of energy and completely spastic.

       ... a bit of a star, having performed as "Bruiser" in Legally Blonde: The Musical.

Toby has...

       ... been officially nicknamed #Taco by online friends.

       ... stolen the hearts of many ladies with his GIANT ears.

Toby thinks...

       ... that he's actually a Great Dane.

       ... that we don't feed him enough (even though he definitely gets MORE than enough).

       ... his Daddy is one of his litter-mates.

Toby loves...

       ... car rides.

       ... Dentastix.

       ... the Chick-Fil-A drive thru.

       ... his tennis ball and his baby, "Hedgie," a blue stuffed hedgehog.

       ... playing chase, or as we like to call it, "Tasmanian Devil."


Monday, August 6, 2012

One Year!



Sorry for my lack of posts as of late!

We moved ... and then our one computer that moved with reasonable speed crashed.

I'm back now, though, and I'd like to wish a very happy first anniversary to Mr. Morley. :)

Love you, honey!

Monday, May 21, 2012

I Like to MOVE IT, Move it!

As of today, Prince Charming and I are exactly eleven weeks away from our first anniversary, which means that we are ten weeks away from finishing our lease on our apartment. For the last several weeks (who am I kidding?) several MONTHS we've been discussing what to do when our lease runs out. You see, we currently live in a town that PC has nicknamed "The Town That Goes to Bed Early," because even our Starbucks closes at EIGHT O'CLOCK.

So, we're doing what any sane person would do... Moving. To a land where Starbucks closes at 10 and Chick-Fil-A is abundant.

The unfortunate part of moving is packing - particularly since I finally managed to unpack the last of the boxes just a while back. Then, (Lord willing) we're only planning on living in the new apartment for 6 months before we attempt to buy a house.

Needless to say, I'm planning a massive organizational and packing attack since this may turn into TWO moves before the year is over. These are the things I've thought through so far:

1. Stock up on (and buy stock in) plastic bins and space-saver bags. Since there is a good possibility that many of our boxes won't be unpacked until the second move, I don't want to put everything in cardboard boxes (which are known to attract spiders, roaches, and silverfish). Additionally, the plastic bins will be easier to retrieve things from if I do end up needing things sooner rather than later.

2. Color code, color code, color code. I'm planning on adhering colored cards with a list of contents to each box, and sticking a matching colored sign to each door of the new place. That way, nobody will have to ask "which one is the office?" or "where's the linen closet?" a hundred times.

3. Mark the boxes to be unpacked first. It's no secret that my favorite color is red, so in addition to my color coding, I'll be packing all of my favorites (and all the urgent needs) in boxes with a red duct-tape stripe.

4. Prepare a first day kit. Before we even begin to get settled in, there are a few things that we're going to need: toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, bottled water, quick snacks, and a basic toolkit are all at the top of the list. These things will need to be carried in our car, and not packed onto the truck with all of our other boxes.

I'm already tired just thinking about all of the things I need to get done, but hopefully lots of advance planning will make the process easier...

And, hey, if  when I do get worn out, at least Starbucks will be open until 10!

P.S. If you have any brilliant packing/moving tips, please share them in the comments! :)



Friday, April 13, 2012

In Which I Nearly Go Off the Cleaning Deep End

As I've read blogs and scoured Pinterest over the last couple of months, I've noticed an increasing number of people making their own cleaning supplies. Laundry soap, dish soap, glass cleaner, sink cleaner, tile and grout scrub, toilet bowl rinses... You name it, there's a recipe (or five, or ten, or a hundred) online!

My first reaction was to laugh, because (let's face it) making your own soap fits the stereotype of homeschoolers perfectly. However, I couldn't figure out for the life of me why the concept was spreading so quickly. I quickly narrowed it down to two reasons - the first being that when you make your own cleaning supplies, you know what goes into them, and the second being that the economy is in pretty bad shape right now and making your own supplies is CHEAP.

So I sat on this revelation for a couple of weeks, and still silently laughed at people who made their own soap.

Then life happened.

I've always had pretty bad excema and recently it's gotten worse, so I started making more conscious decisions about what I eat, wear, allow to touch my skin, etc. this means that I'm happily going with less "toxic" choices as far as cleaning supplies.

Dustin and I also decided that we want to stop renting and buy our own house, which means that we're trying to be a bit more "frugal." When I first started researching the supplies I would need, I started with a window cleaner and realized that I could buy everything to make a DOZEN bottles of window cleaner for the price of ONE bottle of Windex.

I was sold.

Yesterday, as my sister looked on and laughed at me (I can't say I blame her... see above!) I tried making my own glass cleaner, which I also use on my laminate counters. It was super easy and quick, and I already had all of the "ingredients," so the only thing that I needed to buy was a 95 cent spray bottle from Wal-Mart.

Here's the recipe:

  • 20 oz Warm Tap Water
  • 4 oz Distilled White Vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 2 Squeezes of Dish Soap*
All you need to do is combine all of the above in spray bottle, screw on the top, and give a good shake to make sure everything mixes together. There's no fuss, no mess AND do you know what the best part is?

It works just as well as the name brand stuff if not better. Go figure!

Meanwhile, if you're looking for me, you'll probably find me looking up more cleaning ideas on Pinterest. :)

* I used Dawn, but eventually after I use up my stock I'd like to switch over to Method which is made from more natural ingredients

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Dollar Store Decorating

I have a bit of a problem.

I've developed a complex from surfing Pinterest for too long. Looking at too many beautiful houses with perfect, polished decorations has made me nearly obsessed with my own decor, and I've spent many hours "Ooohing and Aaahing" over Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel websites dreaming of the day that I can afford to purchase their gorgeous furnishing and accessories (which, to be truthful, will probably never come).



Anyway.

The brilliant thing about Pinterest is that it's also the home of the Do-it-Yourself and/or Make-it-For-Less queens. That basically means that in addition to wasting time "pinning" and gazing at Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel websites, I've also been wasting a lot more time at the craft store... and the dollar store.

Yes. You heard saw correctly. The dollar store.


Granted, the dollar store and it's cousins "$1 Fun Finds" at Michael's and "The $1 Spot" at Target aren't exactly Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel, but I've actually found some surprisingly cute stuff... or at least the supplies necessary to make some surprisingly cute stuff. Some of my recent favorite projects include:

Pottery Barn Inspired Mirror (On Dollar Store Crafts)

Glass Apothecary Jars (On Salt Tree)

Jute Covered Vase (On Teach. Craft. Love.)

Even though I feel like I'm wasting time on Pinterest some times, it's certainly saving me a bunch of cash on decor that I'll probably tire of within a few weeks. And that, my friends, is as Martha Stewart would say "a very good thing."

Are you the artsy DIY type, or would you rather spend the money at a home furnishing store? Do your home decor tastes change frequently, or are you set in your ways?

Friday, March 2, 2012

1, 2, 3, Cake!



I came across this recipe on Pinterest yesterday, and OH MY WORD, it might be the best thing since sliced bread. I've seen, heard, and read about a lot of different "One Minute Chocolate Cake" recipes, but the prep time for most of them is way longer than one minute and only makes one little cake. This recipe takes less than one minute to prep, and the mix will make dozens of little cakes. Intrigued? I was!

Start with two boxed cake mixes, one angel food cake and one of any flavor you desire. I used Duncan Hines Angel Food Cake and Betty Crocker Triple Chocolate Cake mix. Cut open the packages and mix them thoroughly in an airtight container or large zipper bag (you'll want to do this to store the leftover mix).

Grab a tablespoon measure and dump (highly technical term) three tablespoons of your mixed mixes and two tablespoons of water into a coffee mug or other small microwave-safe dish. Give it a quick stir and pop it in the microwave for one minute. Got it?

THREE tablespoons mix + TWO tablespoons of water + ONE minute in the microwave = CAKE!


Now, you can definitely eat it straight out of the mug, but I decided to fancy it up a little. I drizzled some chocolate syrup on a dessert plate, placed the cake on top, and added a dollop of lite whipped topping and a sliced strawberry. Heaven. It's a miracle I was able to snap a picture, because this little cake didn't even make it out of the kitchen!

Give it a try, then leave a comment here. I'd love to know if you try another flavor of cake... I've heard that lemon or strawberry cake is wonderful, too!