The Junk Door

I saw this idea on the Today Show a few years back.

We all have the infamous junk drawer where you put all your odd n' ends to never be seen or heard from again. This idea is similar except you get to see all your junk which increases the odds of remembering that you have it and you may actually use it again.

It's such a simple idea...a clear over-the-door shoe rack.

I use it for EVERYTHING...and I mean EVERYTHING!

Art supplies

Random electrical stuff and hardware bits n' pieces

Sunscreen, flash lights and apparently gum...

Tools and our endless supply of "designer" glues

It really is amazing how much stuff these little things can hold! They are also great inside a pantry door for spices and the small envelopes of seasoning that often fall through the wire shelving. You could use the bottom packets for easily accessible snacks for the kids. And what about the playroom??? Imagine how many Barbies and accessories or Matchbox cars would fit in there if you put one on the back of the playroom door! They work anywhere in the house!

Happy organizing!!!

Spring Forward

We notice something amazing around here today...

We were outside and all of the sudden Lo started screaming, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Look!!!! Tulips!!!!"

Spring is near...

Custom Charging Station

I found this treasure at...you guessed it...GOODWILL!

It was $4.99 and I happened to be a the store when EVERYTHING was 50% off. Lucky day! I had been looking for one for our bedroom, but hadn't really found one that I liked.

This similar one sells for $49.99 at Target. Clearly I got the better deal!

The first step was to get it ready. I peeled off all the gross black felt.

The hardware needed to be removed prior to painting.

Using my adhesive remover, I took off all the sticky left-over residue.

The station isn't made of wood, but it needed a light sanding so the paint had something to adhere to.

I primed the piece w/ a light pink paint (I didn't have any white paint on hand). I didn't really care about the brush strokes because I wanted it to have a stained, distressed look.

My wonderful neighbor happened to have purple/gray paint that matched our comforter exactly. I wanted it to have a stained appearance so I used a damp cotton t-shirt to apply the paint.

This is what it looked like after the first coat. I used a small paintbrush to get in the corners and cover up the pink paint that was still showing.

I didn't want it to look too purple so I watered down black paint and rubbed it over the purple paint. I used another damp t-shirt to wipe of the excess black paint.

It toned down the color and gave it the distressed, aged look I was hoping for.

I then when the the crafty closet for my Heat n' Bond, felt and fabric.

I used the Heat n' Bond to attach the fabric to the felt.

Using my rotary cutter I cut out the rectangles for the top of the station.

I used  my (pink) hot glue gun to attach the fabric to the top of the box.

Love the finished product!

The fabric matches perfectly!

Plenty of room for all our electronics without the mess of cords!

Sugar-N-Dreams Apron

I love, love, LOVE custom orders!!!

It is so much more fun crafting with a specific person in mind...this is probably why all of the items for my Etsy shop are still cut-out but not sewn together...

I was thrilled when one of the teachers at school asked if I could make her an apron.

When she is not teaching she bakes and decorates cakes. She wanted an apron she could wear when delivering her creations. She thought I could make it and then she could take it somewhere to have her company name embroidered on it. Great idea I thought...then I thought some more...HEY! I have an embroidery machine!...I still have no idea how to use it, but I should probably finally get the onesie out of the hoop and figure the darn thing out!

I LOVE THE FINISHED APRON!

 There are two pockets

A cute ruffle on the bottom

Top stitching all the way around

The back is fully lined

...And...THE COMPANY NAME IS EMBROIDERED ON IT!!!

My new business card/tag is attached and it is ready for delivery!!!

YAY ME!

You Had Me At Curry

Curried Chicken Salad

I've been wanting to make this recipe for awhile. I'm not a huge fan of chicken salad but add curry in there and you've got me interested. The original recipe was posted on Tasty Kitchen. It was de-lish today, but I can't wait to try it tomorrow after the flavors have had some time to develop.

  


Ingredients:

• 1 whole Rotisserie Chicken
• 2 stalks Celery
• 3 whole Green Onions
• 1 whole Carrot
• ¼ cups Mango Chutney (or apricot jam)
• ½ cups Mayonnaise
• ½ cups Canned Mandarin Oranges
• 2 teaspoons Curry Powder

Take the meat off the bone of the chicken; chop or shred. Finely chop celery and green onion. Julienne the carrot. You could use a peeler, grater or mandolin slicer. The idea is to get small, thin pieces of carrot. (I grated mine with my microplane)

Combine chicken, veggies and the remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Chill and serve.

**I substituted chopped apples for the Mandarin Oranges and added cumin and more curry powder because I like things spicy** 

Mango Chutney is found in the "International" aisle in the grocery store, usually with the Indian food. My jar looked like this:

It was great on toasted wheat bread but would also be fab-u-lous on top of crackers.

So good!!!

Ode To My Garden Tub

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Today you gave me 90 minutes...yes, 90 minutes of my children confined to one space! 

My girls think you are a swimming pool (I have the flood on the bathroom floor to prove it!).

You are big enough for two small girls to share without touching each other...this is VERY important in a tub!

For some reason in your presence all fighting stops...thank you! I love you for that!

You allow me to do the following:

• Read a book
• Use my laptop
• Fold laundry
• Put folded laundry away
• Tidy up
• Play Bejeweled 2 on my phone
• Cut fabric
• Look at a magazine
• Return phone calls
• Plan my weekly meals

(Of course all in the vicinity of my bathroom!)

You encourage imagination. Today's tubby included the following:

• Mermaids
• Dogs and cats
• Bakers who were cooking Talula Soup (I have know clue what that is, but they made it for 20 minutes)
• Tubby toys on parade
• Made up songs with their own synchronized swimming moves
• Being hairdressers
• Playing  mommy and baby (that one ALWAYS confuses me...they keep saying "Mommy" and I think they mean me but they don't and then the "baby" cries and I think someone is hurt...)

My girls will stay in you until their lips are blue and their fingers and toes are wrinkled and pruney!

I don't even care that we took 4 potty runs during today's session. I was all worth it...90 minutes!

(Stay tuned for the "Anti-Ode To My Ridiculously Small Shower"...it's sure to win the Pulitzer in poetry...)

Quick Change Cornice

Remember the (awful)  window cornices in my bedroom?

So beige!

So boring!

So blah!

So time for them to go!!!

I finally had enough and took myself to Joann Fabrics (it's Coupon Commotion this week!!!!) and finally found some new fabric for the cornices I had made last summer. (For the tutorial on how to make them click here).

And now for the unveiling...

So, so, so much better don't you think?!?!?

I used the left over fabric to make tie-backs.

The best part?

It only took me 5 minutes! The great thing about the foam cornices (besides how easy they are to make) is that they are quick to change! I didn't have to take off the yucky beige fabric, I just put the beautiful green on top!

As my 5-year-old would say...EASY PEASY LEMON SQEEZY!