Tackling Small Home DIY's and Pretending To Know What I'm Doing, pt.2

An old chair from a set that I had in college.

 As I mentioned in my previous post, I am a frugal diyer. I wanted to make little changes to the kid's rooms to help make studying easier this year. I gave my desk chair to my step-daughter and decided to use my yoga balance ball at my desk instead. My step-son never really used his desk, but when he saw her chair, he set up his desk and grabbed a spare chair that was stored away in our garage. I was surprised at this because I had previously offered my desk chair to him and he didn't want it. I suppose he decided to use his desk this year.

A layer of primer.

 Since he was going to begin using his desk to study at this year, I wanted to give him a more comfortable chair that matched his black desk. I went to my parent's attic and found a chair from a set of chairs that I had in college. The table is in our garage and I use it for a work surface, These chairs came with built-in cushions, that could be removed with screws. I removed the seat and sanded the surface of the chair to remove the gloss on the "wood." After wiping down the chair to remove any dust, I spray painted the chair in a highly ventilated area.

A layer or two of black spray paint.

 Once the primer had set, I painted several layers of black spray paint all over the chair, making certain that the layers were completely dry between coats. I used a can of spray paint that I already had on hand for the primer and I purchased the black spray paint for less than a dollar (I think it was 98 cents, but I'm not certain) at Walmart.

A fat quarter and hot glue to reupholster the seat cushion.

 While I waited for the paint to dry, I worked on the seat cushion. I spread my fat quarter, right side facing down, on my work surface and then centered the cushion, cushion side down, on the fabric. Using a hot glue gun, I wrapped the fabric around the cushion and glued it to the underside of the seat. I worked my way around the perimeter until the fabric was taught.

The final result.

Before I screwed the seat back onto the chair, I ironed the cushion to make the fabric nice and smooth. It really couldn't have been easier. I already had the chair and some of the materials that I used to make a chair for a study area. I only needed to invest in a can or spray paint and a fat quarter. This cost (roughly) $2.00 to complete. I think that is quite frugal and I like how it worked out. The chair matches the desk and the rest of the decor of my step-sons room and now he has a comfy chair to sit in when he's working on his computer. These are the kind of projects that I can handle. Some paint, a few screws, a glue gun, an iron and a sander are simply tools and supplies that I feel comfortable using and I feel happy making something old new again. Until next time~ Toodahloo!

Tackling Small Home DIY's and Pretending To Know What I'm Doing pt. 1

My laminate countertop after I sanded and cleaned the surface.

 I admit it, I am a bit of a home improvement diy wannabe. If I were a Spice Girl, I'd be "Crafty Spice," because I need to create. Growing up, I watched endless hours of  This Old House and Hometime on PBS. When the diy channel and HGTV became available on my cable channel package, I was a bit excited in a very dorky kind of way. To me, an idea of a good time is to cuddle up to my husband and watch Chip and Jo Jo and marvel at the before and after. When we were first able to get into our house last year, my husband spent a lot of time removing carpets and gutting the bathroom, while I scrubbed and painted walls. My kitchen needed love. When we are totally done with the kitchen, I will do an entire post on the before and after. Here I just want to show what I did to my countertops since I needed to re-paint a section last week. **I am not a professional. I am a novice, a housewife who experiments with inexpensive diy solutions. This is not recommended as a tutorial, it is simply a "show and tell" type of post. I am NOT an expert, I'm just showing you what I did..**

Adding a layer of primer.

 When we moved into our home it needed a lot of TLC. Most of it was on the surface. The old gal just needed a makeover with a little nip-tuck in one area. The rest of the makeover just involved some fresh paint, flooring, and curtains. With a bit of wall art, throw pillows and candles here and there. Since there was a lot of little things and an entirely new bathroom to install, keep on a tight budget was our only option. We didn't have the time nor the money to fuss about with installing new countertops. So, I did some research on Pinterest ( something I did A LOT during our home makeover) and I found a solution for updating our countertops for very little money. I bought a can of black chalkboard paint for $10.00 and a small foam roller for around $5 (we already had the roller handle, we just needed more sponge rolls). I already had a can of paint latex with a built-in primer, so I used that to prime the surface. The first time I did this last year, I skipped sanding the countertops. I shouldn't have done that, but I was in a rush. I recommend sanding the laminate surface and cleaning it so that the paint can really adhere to the laminate countertop. Since I skipped that step, it peeled off last week, which was why I had to do it again. This time I did it the right way.

My laminate countertop after the primer had dried.

 After sanding and cleaning the surface, I painted two layers of primer on the entire area. I made certain to really let these dry before adding another coat. This primer and the chalkboard paint took twice as long to dry because it was very humid outside.

My laminate countertop after I painted a few layers of chalkboard paint onto the surface.

 Once the primer was dry, I painted three coats of chalkboard paint, making sure the layers were dry before adding another. I really should have let each coat dry for a day to harden properly, but when you have pets trying to jump on the countertops and you need to use the countertop, that is hard to do. I should have waited a day to let things really dry and made sure to do it when it isn't humid. After all of my hard work, once hot dinner plate on the paint made the paint bubble and peel away. This didn't happen last year because we weren't living in the house yet, so it had plenty of time to harden, not to mention it was colder and not at all humid. I have covered the spots with electrical tape in order to conceal the spots and also to protect the paint from peeling even more.

The end result after two layers of wax.

Once the paint was dry, I smoothed on a layer of butcher's wax all over the top surface and I waited for it to dry. After the wax hardened I buffed the wax until shiny and smooth, then I added one more layer for extra measure. I really do love the look of this, it's a fantastic solution for revamping a laminate countertop when you are on a budget. Down the road, we will be replacing these, but for now, this works. The only thing that I didn't use to make this a total success was PATIENCE. If you don't let the paint harden for at least 8 hours after it has dried, it will not set correctly. It's a lot like painting your fingernails. If you add a base coat, you let it dry before adding your nail color. If you don't let you nail color harden between coats and then try to add a topcoat, the nails never dry completely and your nails smudge.
When the weather changes to more Fall-like weather and the humidity finally dissipates, I will touch up the spots to peeled. Until then, the tape covers it nicely, the color is an exact match, fortunately! This post proved to be longer than I had expected. So, I will post about my other diy project in the next post. This post isn't meant to be a tutorial by any measure. I am a novice who needed an inexpensive solution and this is how I solved my problem. There is paint made specifically for countertops, but those kits are so pricey, that you might as well buy a new countertop for the price. This is what I did for my home and it worked, but it still needs to be corrected in a few areas. At any rate, I hope you enjoyed my little experiment.
 Until next time~ Toodahloo!

Fall Has Arrived

Fresh apples from the local orchard.

 According to the Autumnal Equinox that just passed over the week, Fall is officially here. I have seen little signs of its arrival, with all the candy corns, pumpkin scented candles, pumpkin spice coffee on the shelves in stores. The new Fall line-up is coming this week on tv. Soon, I will be able to cozy up with a warm blanket and a hot cocoa and watch Poldark. I even found delicious Macintosh apples from the local orchard at our grocery store. When you grow up in a town that has an orchard, not mention the numerous apple orchards in surrounding towns, you get to enjoy the tradition of fresh apples in the Fall. It won't be long before we jump in the van with the kids and the dog and take a trip to a nearby orchard for apple picking and pumpkin harvesting. Not to mention a trip to a local corn maze.
 I have been preparing for fall by gathering my old decorations and finding new additions to my collection. I have also been working on home diys that will be harder to do once the chillier weather sets in. This week, I will be gathering materials to help winterize my home. Last year was our first fall and winter in our home. We didn't get to move in until October and by then, we were exhausted from home decorating and remodeling. We didn;t have any more energy to expel on the house. Instead, we wanted to focus on the home. That being said, we learned over the winter where all the drafts and cracks were. So, this week, I am being proactive and will be gathering supplies to help make the home warmer. Not that the house was too drafty, but I'd prefer to eliminate all, or at least reduce as many as I possible, drafts.It is much better for our wallets to keep the house snug in the winter. 
   

Late summer wildflowers in bloom.

 I'm itching to decorate the inside of my home with my Fall decor, but I'm waiting for the perfect day. Last week it was very summery weather and this week will be much the same. It's hard to get in the Autumnal mood when it is sunny and 80 degrees outside. I've had only one cashmere day so far. I just can't bring myself to decorate, yet. Traditionally, I don't do much decorating until October anyway. I certainly don't put out my Halloween decor until after Columbus Day. So for now, I think I will continue to gather my supplies and wait patiently until the right time arrives. This week, I am having a long overdue girls day out with my childhood friend, who is still my dearest friend. It will be a nice break from the preparations. Still, will we are on our adventure, I will certainly be gathering materials for my decorating, crafting, and winterizing. I'm just looking forward to chatting like little chipmunks and consuming far too much caffeine.

Murr the cat isn't ready for Fall either. He prefers the sunny spots of summer.

In my next post, I will tell you all about some of the recent diy projects that I've tackling. There will be more to come next week, too! Until then~ Toodahloo!

Preparing For Fall

I know that it seems early but I am already starting to crave pumpkin spice coffee. I know that it is early, but I'm already gathering my Fall decorations. I know, I know, but Fall is my favorite season and I can't wait for it to begin. This summer has been really uneventful. I thought that I would have a blast focusing energy on my garden and preserving food. Here's the thing, it was a huge bust. Yes, I do have a garden, but it was a disaster. Last year, we had a vegetable patch in the yard of the house that we were renting. The yard hadn't been tilled for a garden before then and after tilling the garden and planting the seeds things were going great. We enjoyed fresh tomatoes and greens and I was really looking forward to my squashes. Then, we discovered that we needed to focus our energy on finding a house and the garden went to pot. So, I really wanted to succeed with this year's garden. Sadly, even with a lot of tilling of the ground there still was too much grass to contend with. It's one thing to weed a garden daily, its an entirely different issue when you're trying to keep a lawn from growing. So, I do have tomatoes and zucchini coming, but my greens have been lost to the jungle. Oh well, there's always next year. So, now I am looking forward to Fall. Soon, the school year will be starting and that will make life easier, if not a bit busy I happen to like being busy because it at least follows a schedule. Soccer season will be in full swing and I will have a normal schedule again. 

Lately, I've been passing the down time with youtube. Normally, I like to watch makeup tutorials, but they are all starting to sound the same and I'm not learning much from them anymore. I have shifted to watching channels about organization, budgeting, and Dollar Tree crafts. I love crafting, especially on a budget. I do most things on a budget; so all of these channels have been inspiring. One type of post I like to watch is about Dollar Tree hauls and right now, ladies are buying a lot of Fall decor. I have started to notice more of it creeping into my Dollar Tree, so I decided to grab some items here and there before they sold out. By the time October is here, I don't know if all of this stuff will be available. I am also already planning Halloween and what I will be doing to celebrate the holiday. 

Poor Murr, it was a chilly day yesterday and he wanted nothing to do with life.

 I have a number of projects that I want to take on in the Fall. These projects will keep me busy during the daytime after I am done with everything else that I normally do in a day. I have also been preparing to have a yard sale. My husband and I organized our garage, so not only do we both have our own individual work spaces, but we also have a little lounge area to hide in when the teenagers have taken over the house. Now that it is cleaner I have room to store items for the yard sale. I have also been going to my parent's house and I am slowly cleaning out the attic, finding old treasures and items to sell at the yard sale. Everything seems to be happening so quickly, but I will be happy to see summer out and let Fall roll in.

So, in all the chaos and whirlwind of preparing for Fall and the school year,  I have not been in the writing head space. I've been wanting to write, in fact, I had a craft project that I wanted to share but I kept putting it off, maybe I'll post that later in the week. For some reason, I just didn't have the energy to write a tutorial. Also, lately I've really been wanting to start a youtube channel, but I want to have the right equipment to do it. I have a nice camera that I like to use for blogging, but the batteries died and I'm not certain that it can record for a long time. I still need to read more about the camera. I know that more YouTubers will tell you that you don't need super fancy equipment to post a video, but I still like things to look slightly professional. I will continue to look into the tools that I have available and once I have more of a handle of filming and editing and I have the finances to make a small investment, I will upgrade my camera. Until then, I am sticking to a budget of zero. If and when I decide to launch the channel, you will be the first to know. I think it could be a lot of fun and it would be a great creative outlet for me. I've been really inspired lately and I can't wait to start creating! Until then~ Toodahloo!

Why I Thrift and The Tricks I Use To Win The Thrifting Game

The entire contents of the bag cost less than $8.00.

If you admit to someone that you love to shop at thrift stores, you get a variety of reactions depending on the person. Some people think that it is a brilliant idea and they love the thought of saving money. Others wish they could shop at thrift stores, but they either don't know how or where to shop. While there are others out there that are entirely repulsed by the notion of wearing previously loved clothing. Thoughts of all kinds of unsavory things come to mind and they can't get past it. 

I began shopping at thrift stores way back in the 1990's when I was a teenager. At the time, I didn't go to the Salvation Army and I rarely went to Goodwill; but when I did go, I was with friends and we always had a lot of fun. Back then, grunge was the fashion, so I loved the idea of buying old flannels, cardigans, and jeans and refashioning them to make them look edgy. I also LOVED the vintage clothing that could be found. Over the years I've collected some amazing handbags and gloves. I think my favorite aspect of thrift store shopping is the surprise finds and I especially adore accessories. At first, the thought of wearing someone's old clothes made me a little nervous, but then I remembered that I grew up with hand-me-downs. While yes, I certainly wore new clothes, I also got a lot of hand-me-downs from my older sisters and cousins. This was not at all unusual for mothers to do. It was a way of saving money and helping each other out. Back when I was a little girl my aunts ( and for a while my mother) used patterns and built dresses by hand for their daughters. After putting in so much love and time into making those dresses, they weren't about to toss them in the garbage once the dress was outgrown. So, the dress was passed on to a niece. I wore many handmade dresses, something that happens less and less these days.
After considering that I basically grew up wearing a lot of previously worn clothing, it simply didn't bother me to dive right into thrifting.

One pair American Eagle shorts, one Gap denim skirt, and three pairs jeans- Ann Taylor Loft, Levi's, and Style & Co.

The world of thrifting has certainly evolved over the past twenty years and my approach has certainly changed as well. These days, there are so many different types of thrift stores or charity shops. Some are mass chains, like Goodwill and others, are privately owned. Every store has their own method of pricing and they also donate the proceeds to various causes. What I really like about thrift stores is that the clothing is not piling up in a landfill, it is a form a recycling where money can be raised to help others and you save some money too. Since my taste is far more expensive than what my budget allows, I indulge in thrift store shopping.

Five sweaters some wool blends, some cotton. American Eagle, Aeropostale, Ann Taylor Loft, St. Johns Bay, and a brand I've never heard of before.

 Some shopping trips are dedicated to finding items for craft projects, some I focus my energy on finding material to build costumes, sometimes I need to find a last minute outfit for an event and can't be bothered to go to a larger store and sometimes, I just want to update my wardrobe without going broke. That being said, I should add that while I do buy a significant portion of my clothes from thrift stores, I still get new items at places like TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory, and a local warehouse discount store. For special occasion items, I buy online using gift cards.

Four t-shirts and a blouse. Izod, Forever 21, Arizona, Lucky Brand and Fat Face.

 I'm in my late thirties and I have never been into super trendy styles. I prefer a more classic look, which is best for thrift shopping. When you stick to classic looks, you're going to get more bang for your buck. At the same time, I like to add flair with accessories and key items. For example, when I was in college, I purchased a 100% Wool Fairisle sweater from TJ Maxx for around $20.00. I paired it with a dark blue mini skirt that had built in shorts and I finished the outfit off with knee high chunky biker boots that I bought from Delia's catalog. The skirt and the boots are long gone, but nearly twenty years later, I still have that sweater and it still fits! Like I said before, I stick with the classics.
Which brings me to another essential topic, fabric care. This is a big deal when purchasing clothing. If you don't closely inspect the tags, carefully examine the item or are shopping in a poorly lit shop, you might find some surprises when you get home. A very pilly sweater is easy to spot, but a small hole or a tear, a nickel sized spot or the dreadful dry clean only tag can be a bummer. However, don't be too worried about these little hiccups. I've found that spot cleaning is an easy fix and light mending is easier than you think. If you don't know how to fix a tear or get out a stain there is a wealth of information online to help you out. Careful care of clothing makes all the difference!

One Gap knit dress for the Fall.

Here are some of my rules and tricks that I've developed over the years.
1) Just because it's inexpensive doesn't make it a steal. It could be more trouble than it's worth.
        -How often will you actually wear it?
        -Do you love it enough to overlook the dry clean only tag?
2) Certain items I won't ever buy at a thrift store...ever!
       - No lingerie.
       - No swimwear.
       - No leggings, tights or socks.
       - Usually, no shoes, unless they are barely worn leather boots (clean the inside with disinfectant and a rag) or boots with the tags still on.
3) Avoid any sweater with excessive pilling.
4) Don't bother with brands from local shops. I can buy it new for nearly the same price.
5) Invest in a decent sewing kit.
6) Have on hand: 1- a drying rack, 2- a sweater shaver, 3- Woolite* or Dreft* 4- Dryel* (**NOT SPONSORED)
7) Another good thing to have handy- some sort of leather cleaner or a saddle soap. These are useful for handbags, belts, and boots.
8) When purchasing handbags, I always examine the outside first. I look at the bottom for any wear and tear or dirt. I check out the threading and look for any loose threads. I look at the handle and see if it's still clean and sturdy, Then, I look inside and check out the liner. Is the fabric clean, free of damage, or soft? Old or poor quality fabric will be a bit stiff. I do look at the label, and look to see if it is real or a knock-off. To be honest, even if it's knock-off as long as the bag is in good shape and made with some decent material, it's likely nicer than a bag that you can get a local big box store. Since I'm paying a thrift store price and not being deceived and the money is going to a thrift store and not a dishonest vendor, I can overlook it. Generally speaking, I rarely encounter knock-offs.

My love of thrifting has not died, and I still have a tremendous time when I shop. I usually go to a store in my hometown, when I visit my parents. They are one of those small thrift stores that let you fill a bag for a few dollars. Some specially marked items cost more and accessories are priced individually. I've found a few cute leather handbags there, over the years. It allows me to have the thrill of shopping while keeping my wardrobe fresh, without spending a lot of money. I have a nice stack of cashmere sweaters that I've collected over time. I love cashmere, but could never afford it. Even if I could afford it, the sticker shock would be too much to justify the purchase. That's the great thing about thrift stores, there's no such thing as sticker shock.

My husband thinks my quarterly shopping trips are a hoot. He knows that I like to be frugal and he understands why I do it. In fact, when we were going to go on our first date, I ran to the thrift store to find a nice handbag and a cute blouse to wear with a skirt that I already had. I spent less than $5.00 and felt adorable!  The kids would likely think it was weird. They love the mall, which is totally normal. However, if I can update my wardrobe for less than $10.00, then I don't feel guilty about getting something for myself. My clothing certainly doesn't look raggedy. Unless I told the person standing next to me where I bought my shirt, they'd never know the difference, nor would they care. I think that is the key to thrifting, your attitude towards it all. If you look nice and put together and you feel great, why worry what others might think?

So, if you like to save money, have an open mind and are a creative thinker, I think you'd love thrift shopping. It's a lot of fun for crafting and finding holiday decor. If you have a sewing machine, a glue gun, and some paint you could find a craft project waiting for you at any thrift store for any weekend project. It's all about saving money and having fun. Until next time~ Toodahloo!

Hello Summer, Goodbye PLL

You know it is officially summer when you're able to finally get fresh strawberries and rhubarb. My father cut some rhubarb from one of his plants and he bought some strawberries from a local farm. I could wait to make a strawberry rhubarb pie, one of my favorite pies to make and eat! I discovered last summer, that the trick to a perfect rhubarb pie is the addition of an egg. I found this by accident when I was looking for a strawberry rhubarb pie recipe and the one I used happened to include an egg. What makes this so essential, compared to other recipes that omit the egg, is the way the fruit and sugars bake. The egg absorbs a lot of the juices and makes a thick sauce. I have had many strawberry rhubarb pies that tasted wonderful but were incredibly runny. By simply adding an egg along with the sugar to the fruit and mixing thoroughly, you get a nicer pie in the end. I had so much fruit, I ended up making two pies, one for my parents and one for myself. This is one of my favorite things about summer, all the pies that I get to make!

I repurposed pallets to make a compost bin.

Now that summer is in full swing, I have been putting a lot of energy into the house and the garden. It can get pretty exhausting, but it will be well worth it once winter arrives. The weather has been so gloomy lately. The week before was perfect weather, the week before that was nothing but humid and horrid. This past week, the weather has been partly cloudy with a chance of showers, almost every day. One day, I was trying to clean and organize my garage and that was tricky because the rain kept coming and going. in between rain showers it would be nearly sunny, then it would rain again. If I were just cleaning the garage, it would be fine, but I like to keep my dogs in our fenced in area of our yard. That way, they aren't left inside where they can get into all kinds of mischief. My goal for Monday is to get the garage cleaned.

I was very happy to finally get my compost bin built. It was very simple to do. I looked up a number or ways to do it on Pinterest and Youtube. I decided to take an easy way. I had my husband help me move the pallets to rest behind the garage. Then, I stood one next to another and tied the sides together using a thick yarn that is meant for macrame. I found that tying the upper and lower corners of each side was the easiest way. Then, I tacked a mesh material to the bottom and I used scrap wood slats to weave through the front and side of the bin and that created a brace for the mesh. The point of the mesh at the bottom was so that air could circulate all around the compost and allow it to break down properly.

Once the bin was built, I took all the leaf piles that we had throughout the yard and transferred them to the bin. I also added the extra apples that I had in the basement over the winter and the compost from the kitchen. While I'm tidying the garage, I hope to create a special area for the recycling and I'll be one step closer to getting the house organized. All of this is to help the household function better in the colder months.

What happens to abandoned dolls. It hardly seems dignified.

PLL SPOILERS! If you haven't watched the final episode, don't read this!

So, after seven years of faithfully watching Pretty Little Liars, the show came to and end. I have mixed feelings about this. It's bad enough that my beloved Orphan Black is heading towards the sunset, this was just too much. The only reason I started to watch PLL, was because House wasn't on one night. With nothing to watch, I found myself channel surfing and stumbled on Holly Marie Combs, so I assumed that a re-run of Charmed was on, so I settled on that. What I thought was one show, turned out to the pilot of the new show Pretty Little Liars. The show had a bit of intrigue and being the sucker for Agatha Christie that I am, I couldn't stop watching it. The show had its hooks in me. After that, I couldn't miss an episode. As an adult watching the show, I thought that many aspects of the story line were disturbing. "Ezria", for instance, was very creepy. I don't care about the fact that the teacher was fresh out of college, it was beyond inappropriate and also totally illegal. Yet, most fans wanted those two love birds to make it. Was it because he was charming and had a baby face? The relationship was a bit reminiscent of The Thorn Birds, but also a bit Lolita. It was very toxic and the relationship continued to grow more and more disturbing. Yet, in the end, fans gushed when they finally made it down the aisle. 

Poor Wren, that's ll I have to say about him.

The final episode was long and the first part of the episode seemed to drag a long bit. I honestly think the show would have been better if it had ended back when CeCe was revealed, but I don't think they ever should have made her A, in the first place. If the show was going to end, I think that it would have been okay to end the show on episode 19 with AD driving away. It would have really angered the fans, but if they had AD look into the rearview mirror, revealing their face, that would have been enough for me. However, the writers wanted to tie up loose ends and explain it all. The problem is, it seems like there were a lot of holes throughout the story, The never explained why their therapist had an existing file on Aria, or why AD favored Aria over the other girls. They tried to make three different A's, one picking up from the other. Also, when AD was revealed, it wasn't too shocking as many fans had picked up on clues from previous episodes of the final season. However, when it was revealed, they actual character, was annoying to me. As much as I like the actress, the character felt too much like a rip-off of the Sarah Manning character from Orphan Black. A London punk, grifter, with cockney accent takes over the life of a woman who looks exactly like her, taking her boyfriend and her friends. It wasn't direct theft, as this is a common story used in books and film, but the similarities were enough to irritate me. At the end of it all, I was glad it was finally over, not because I hate the show, but because I didn't like the way the story was going. I'm glad it had a happy ending, but I just wish it ended differently. I did love the last bit with Mona, she was a fantastic character. That part of the ending did have a bit of a Hitchcock flair.

With the show done, I will be a little bummed when winter comes and there won't be a new season. However, there is always Netflix and the books to read. So, if I ever need my fix, I can turn on the show while I bake cookies.  I will look forward to watching Lucy Hale in her new show, this Fall. It actually looks kind of cute and it would be nice to watch to balance out the emotions endured after watching Supernatural. 

That pretty much sums up what's been happening in my world. Gardening, cleaning, watching tv and trying to build a quilt. It may not be crazy exciting, but this is what happens when the weather isn't reliable. Also, the end of the school year was tremendously hectic, so I'll take the boring for a while. Things will be picking up again, soon, it is summer after all. Until next time~ Toodahloo!

When It Rains.......

I must admit, I am very happy to see that winter has finally come to a close, it was a very dreary winter. This spring has been a wild one. We had a long stretch of rain in early May. I know the saying about April showers and May flowers, but in APril, it was still snowing. Where I live, it is more traditional to expect our rain falling down in May. Still, after what seemed like an endless rain storm, we finally had some great days. Prior to the long stretch of soggy weather, we did have one really great day. The rest, however was pretty bleak. Over the weekend, I was able to enjoy the sun and do some yard clean-up. I have vegetable plants started and in a few weeks, I will mark out where I want my vegetable patch to be and I'll get that tilled for planting. So far, I've been cleaning the yard and getting flowering plants ( roses, lupines, peony) into the ground. I must admit, the yard work is very exhausting and it takes me twice as long as the average person to do and it runs me down much faster, too. My kitty, likes to watch me work outside. However, I think he prefers to have me inside.

When have a nice flowering bush by our back entrance. We needed to prune it and groom it a bit, but it really is lovely.

I haven't noticed any perfume wafting from this, like you would from a lilac or an apple tree, but it's pleasing to the eye.

The other morning, I was having my morning latte and I happened to look out my kitchen window and was delighted to see a hummingbird hovering around the blossoms. I was so excited, that later in the day, I set up my hummingbird feeder. I see and hear many birds in my yard, particularly the chickadee. It is nice to listen to all of the birds in the morning.

Lately, I've been trying to work on other projects during the gloomy days. I have a new quilt project that I am hoping to finish over the summer months. I like to sew patches while I watch shows on Netflix. Last week, I watched the new CBC series Anne With An E. If you can watch it without comparing it the the Kevin Sullivan production, you might be able to really like it. While it does deviate from the books, it still is a good adaptation. At the end of the week, last week, I accidentally closed my fingers in the garage door. It was very painful and it makes it difficult to type. I've broken fingers before, so the pain is something that you get used to. The fingers don't hurt so much now, as long as I pay attention to what I"m doing and I don't hit them on anything. Sometimes, tapping the keyboard stings a bit. So, I won't make this too long. I will post more when my hands feel better and I have better sensation in the tips of my fingers. I'm sure you're wondering how a person manages to close their fingers in a garage door, well it takes a clumsy and distracted person to accomplish something like that. I am that kind of person. I'll end this by saying that it was just that kind of week. More on that in another post. Until then~Toodahloo!

T-Shirt Refashion

 This week has been a doozy! Most of the week consisted of days that were grey, windy, sometimes rainy, while other days we had flurries. It was a good week for working on projects. Today, it is actually sunny and calm. This is a great day to inspire me and to give me the boost that I needed to sit down and compose a post. IN the spring and summer months, I stay as far away from pants as possible. I prefer skirts and dresses to shorts. I reserve shorts for nature walks and gardening. I made a group of listings on my amazon wishlist for summery dresses, all of which looked comfortable, were modest and inexpensive. The problem with the dresses was that most of them came from China, so getting the correct size was proving ot be tricky. The reviews that I read were also very inconsistent. I think that part of the confusion comes down to the fact that women have varying ideas of comfort and fit. What might be too short or too clingy for one woman, might be exactly what another woman looks for in her dresses. Ultimately, I decided to find similar styles at the thrift store. I found a nice pile of cute dresses and a skirt at Goodwill. However, there was one dress that I knew I'd never be able find a duplicate for, so I decided to make one myself.

I visited my local thrift store, where you can fill a bag full ( I mean FULL) with clothes for $3.00. It's fantastic for crafting. I think I'll post about my thrifting in another post. Otherwise, this post will be way too long.

I was able to find a collection of shirts that had similar color tones and tossed them in the bag, not knowing how I'd pull all together. I figured I would decide the design once I brought the shirts home. From the pile of shirts, I selected a black crop top, a purple long sleeve t-shirt and then a grey and purple polo shirt. 

At first glance, the two shirts with the purple were the exact purple. The lighting at the thrift store isn't spectacular. When I inspected the shirts at home, I was delighted by the subtle pattern in the purple long sleeve shirt. Ordinarily, I would pair a pattern with a strip, but in this instance they work.

I left the crop top as it was, and decided to base the rest of the dress off of that, keeping in mind the dress that inspired this dress. I cut the purple shirt one inch below the armpit. That shirt had thin strips, which made it easy to cut a straight line. Then, I cut the polo shirt to the length that I thought would be appropriate. Again, the polo shirt had a stripe, so it was super simple to cut in a straight line. I left the bottom of the polo shirt as it was, that way I'd have a clean hem line. For the sleeves, I cut the sleeves off of the purple shirt and added them to the 3/4 length sleeve of the crop top.

I matched the purple shirt to the crop top, right sides facing each other and pinned them in place. I used a zigzag stitch with a heavy duty needle and slate colored thread.

When I was finished with that, this is what the top of the dress looked like.

Next, I joined the polo shirt with the purple shirt, right sides facing, and I lined the polo shirt just under the finished hem of the purple shirt. This way the shirt would be bulky. I also, trim the excess fabric after the shirts were joined.

Finally, I added the sleeves to the drop top and cleaned up the cuffs.The shirt dress still needs to be washed and ironed before I wear, and that is okay. After all, it's still only in the 40's here. This will be a comfortable dress to wear on those days that are a little cooler, a bit less sunny. I really do like the end result, it is similar in style to the dress that I wanted and I know for certain that it will fit me. Best of all it was a lot cheaper to make than to buy.

My next sewing project will likely be a new quilt. I want to have a new, lighter in weight, quilt that will be perfect for the warmer months. Also, I want to make a quilt that will pull up more of the colors of our bedroom. I am going to get some fat quarters, today, and that will be my focus of the week. I have been wanting ot do a post on makeup palettes, but I'm still waiting on a palette that is shipping from China, so it could arrive any time this week. My fingers are crossed that it arrives soon! When it does, I'll play with it a bit and then do a post on that. Until then~ Toodahloo!

It's Nearly April and It's Snowing

I feel like hiding until the snow disappears, too!

The title of this post is, regrettably, not a metaphor. This spring time snow must be payback for having such a mild January. We were lucky to barely experience freezing temperatures in January. At the time, I thought it was great. However, usually St. Patrick's Day is my marker for finally being able to relax, to take a sigh of relief, knowing that the snow is melting and all is right with the world. I have been fooled, many times, in my lifetime, when it comes to spring. Spring time in Maine is never terribly predictable. Sometimes, we have an early thaw, but having late snow isn't at all unheard of. I do remember seeing snow covered tulips when I was a little girl. This too shall pass...

While I sit and wait for spring flowers, I can't help but lose myself in the splendour of Pinterest. An innocent search into purple perennials, turns into a full hour of flower pinning, soil and herb searches and plotting out the perfect summer garden. I already have my seeds and bulbs ready to go!
I'm also looking forward to tackling the garage. It hasn't been the same, since we moved into our new home. I still need to have my kitchen floor finished before I can move on to working on the dining room. Just when I think I'm close to having the floor put it, something happens to change the plans. I know that it will be done within the month, at least. In the meantime, I plan on doing some paint
touch-ups and some cleaning and organizing until then. Of course, I also have my list of craft projects that I wish to tackle. So, it is clear to me that I have plenty to keep me busy into the blooming season.

In other news, I got a new camera. So, the quality of my posts should see some improvement....I'm very excited. Finally, if you haven't noticed, I am slowly phasing out my original screen name. Originally, I presented myself as "Lady Toesocks." This was appropriate, because I had an extensive toe sock collection. However, I don't really wear toe socks anymore. Also, on my Facebook page, I began noticing some traffic from people who may have misunderstood exactly what kind of blog I write. So, I removed the images of my toe socks and I'm switching out the name. This is tricky to do all in one swoop, but will be permanent, soon. I figured the name "Caffeinated Housewife" was far more appropriate and it sums me up much better than my previous name. I hope you understand and I thank you for being so very patient. Hopefully, my next post will show you something crafty, but who knows what might inspire me between now and then? Until next time~ Toodahloo!

Early Spring Cleaning

After the holiday season had finally calmed down, we still had numerous birthdays, Valentines Day and the Superbowl to experience. It seemed as though I was spending a great deal of time either planning special dinners, baking desserts, planning parties or cleaning up after parties. When everything finally calmed to a slow crawl, I realized that I couldn't wait for Spring to finally get here. Even though Punxsutawney Phil declared that winter was still here, I was ready to see it go. Then, we had a blizzard... I mean, really?  In an effort to fool myself into thinking that Spring was here, I decided to get a jump start on my Spring cleaning. That way, once the season does actually change, I can focus my energy on other projects. I have been organizing my kitchen. When we moved into the house, we were focusing more on moving in and less on making things perfect. Now that we have everything here and (mostly) unpacked, I can move things into proper order.

 I really wanted to get my kitchen in order, since I spend so much of my time in that room. I wanted to make it more organized so that I would have an easier time when I am baking and cooking. In a cupboard next to the stove, I keep my spices, herbs and baking supplies. The contents of the cupboard were sort of organized, but not in a way that I felt was tidy enough. I went to the Dollar Tree and purchased small bins and I used those to hold loose items and to wrangle my herbs and spices. Now, the middle shelf it dedicated to cooking items, while the bottom shelf is reserved for baking articles. Everything it easily within reach and much easier to find.

Inspired by a Pinterest pin, I organized my measuring spoons. I always had a difficult time finding the size that I needed. I have several collections of measuring spoons and they were all thrown into a drawer. I attached mountable hooks that I found at Walmart onto the inside of the cupboard door and organized all my spoons by size. Now, when I need a 1/2 teaspoon, it is so much easier finding one. I also added a list of substitutions that I had printed, out long ago. This way, if I ever discover that I am missing an ingredient, I can quickly look up a substitute. It is very handy having everything within an arms reach. 

Now that my cupboards are tidy, and I've moved my measuring spoons, my kitchen drawers are far less of a mess. We will be putting the new flooring in the kitchen soon, too. This will make the kitchen renovation nearly complete. Hopefully, by the time Spring actually does get here, I will be able to share before and after pictures of my kitchen. It certainly has come a long way! I look forward to sharing it with you. Until next time~ Toodahloo!

Resting and Preparing

 I had high hopes that I would blog each day of December, leading up to Christmas. I managed to do this, quite successfully, a few years ago. However, this year has proven to be very busy and I am exhausted. I have been working around extreme temperatures and trying to insulate the "mud room" which is going to be converted into our dining room. I was hoping to get the room ready for the holiday so that we could eat our Christmas dinner in there. I had no hope of getting it painted, but I at least wanted to get it warm enough in there. Over the weekend, we had a substantial amount of snow come down and we had artic temperatures, reaching beyond -30 degrees. 

I was happy to get some more shopping done on Sunday. I still have some last minute shopping to do, plus getting all the groceries needed for the weekend. I still have a few packages coming my way, too. I do have a very decorated home and that makes me happy. We got our tree at the beginning of the month. I do love the lights and garland. I made homemade stockings for the family, using recycled clothing from the thrift store. I can't wait to fill those on Christmas morning. Last night, I made my first ever attempt at making marshmallows. I have yet to see how it worked out I did have a minor hiccup during the process, so I would be very surprised if they worked out.

Today, I am going to pace myself, as I have all week, I decided to get tasks accomplished but not go overboard. Since I've been so tired lately, I didn't want to risk getting sick around the holidays. I have been binge watching episodes of Victorian Farm Christmas and now I am watching Wartime Farm Christmas. I think I will watch Avonlea Christmas and Edwardian Farm Christmas, if that exists ( I think it does). I know that on Friday, I will be very busy baking and making homemade candies.

That is my December wrap up! I hope to share more on Friday! Until next time~ Toodahloo!