tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27683487120558382512024-03-13T00:20:23.818-07:00HomeaholicUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768348712055838251.post-5413811500352294552010-03-29T14:21:00.000-07:002010-03-29T14:29:51.671-07:00Preserving flowersToday in a complete impulse-buy I picked up some tulips while in the checkout line at Trader Joes. (Better than buying a bar of chocolate, right?)<br />
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<div> </div>I'd like them to last a long time, so I looked up a receipe for a flower perservative <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- 1 tsp bleach</div>- 1 tsp sugar<br />
- 2 tsp lemon or lime juice<br />
- Water<br />
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<div> </div><div>I hope it works! For now I'll just have to enjoy waiting for them to open.</div><div></div><div></div><br />
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<a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/diy-built-ins.html">DYI Built-ins</a> at Thrifty Decor Chick.<br />
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<a href="http://www.organizingyourway.net/spring-cleaning/spring-cleaning-party-revisited">Spring Cleaning</a> with Organizing your Way.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768348712055838251.post-78748035013157278322010-03-15T21:33:00.000-07:002010-03-16T09:04:12.769-07:00Knock it off!Recently a new blogger has taken the world of home bloggers by storm. <a href="http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/">Knock Off Wood</a> is chock full of plans and designs to build your own Pottery Barn style furniture, right at home, and without paying the Pottery Barn prices. (I'm on board with that!)<br />
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Some of the plans are very elaborate, some look really easy, but the magic of this blog is you look at the plans (of any difficulty level) and think "Yeah! I could do that!" And then you probably don't, but it sure is fun thinking you could.<br />
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Until last week this "Alaskan housewife" as she calls herself, was using PB images and furniture names to illustrate her blog, but then things got mean and nasty when PB's parent company Williams-Sonoma <a href="http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/2010/03/we-have-arrived.html">sent a cease-and-desist letter. </a><br />
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While I understand the reasons that WS has to defend their copyright, they certainly didn't win any fans by this maneuver, and definitely got the blog lots of extra attention and fans. Everyone loves a good David and Goliath story. <br />
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Anyway head on over there to see the <a href="http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/p/bragging-board.html">amazing furniture building</a> that is going on, thanks to Knock Off Wood.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768348712055838251.post-76018821495825647502010-03-12T08:30:00.000-08:002010-03-12T08:30:01.137-08:00Somebody wants what you haveIt seems to me that while there is a lot of talk about "gratitude" it can be hard to remember what it means exactly to be grateful for our blessings in life. But Amy over at Amy's Finer Things really put her finger on it. <a href="http://amysfinerthings.com/somebody-wants-what-you-have">Go read it </a>- you'll feel about 150% better about the things in your life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768348712055838251.post-71707560285530825352010-03-11T18:17:00.000-08:002010-03-11T20:17:34.881-08:00It all makes scentsI have this need to have my house smell good. I don't want it to smell like cooking, or like our 3 cats, or like feet (now, thanks to the boy) or diapers (back in the day). <br />
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I don't want my kids to invite friends over, and all that their friends remember is the house smelled funny. (I admit it, I remember thinking this about a friend's house in 4th grade. Robin, I'm sorry.)<br />
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Bargain Hunters is talking about this topic today, in a discussion titled <a href="http://community.babycenter.com/post/a21955953">"How do you make your house smell yummy?"</a> and I gleaned a few ideas. I already do the simmer-cinnamon-sticks-in-apple-juice bit, but I love the idea of filling my sink and dumping in a cleaning product to make the house smell like I've just mopped the floors. Since I never actually mop this is even more clever!<br />
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Like me though, most people use candles or plug-ins, and a few mentioned <a href="http://www.scentsy.net/">Scentsy</a>, the first time I ever heard of it. (Really. If they paid me right here is where the disclaimer would go.) A few people said they just bake a lot, but of course that has it's own hazards.....<br />
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About a year ago the amazing folks over at Young House Love had an easy <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/01/stick-em-up/">DYI Reed Diffuser</a> that I've been meaning to try out. Maybe this will inspire me!<br />
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Mostly though I'm glad to know I'm not the only one obsessed with having a good-smelling house for guests to come in to.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768348712055838251.post-7885662391377511472010-03-09T16:15:00.000-08:002010-03-09T17:35:00.244-08:00Living room mood boardInspired by the mood boards over at Young House Love (<a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/category/mood-board-making/">Have you seen them? So amazing</a>.) I tried my hand at doing a mood board for our living room. My mood board looks like a sick dog compared to slick and polished ones YHL does (did I mention I have love for them? Love.) but it was fun to give it a whirl.<br />
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Our walls are Sherwin Williams 50% Blonde already, and the trim is all pure white. We have new wall-to-wall and I think won't put a rug over it. The fabrics in the mood board are by Waverly, the rest of the stuff it just to get the feel, not necessarily the specific items. <br />
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Next up I think I'll try some more World/Ethnic looks.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768348712055838251.post-25347302192287773432009-12-15T20:08:00.000-08:002010-03-11T20:15:48.922-08:00Christmas CraftsTwo easy and adorable crafts, via <a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2009/12/an-ornament-party/">CentsationalGirl</a>.<br />
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Love this one: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcZOYmc_qXXiozVWZUQma9fLByeK0BW8MnJDFDEY9WQVOj5WyC13_xeZReoA6H30K5ZIPSjm1jQyQKs0A4ghspHZEEdzrqJTQteLcCiZTHLADQNwo2u0jJt0DNohLlbceaF7tEfXC36U/s1600-h/peppermintletterornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcZOYmc_qXXiozVWZUQma9fLByeK0BW8MnJDFDEY9WQVOj5WyC13_xeZReoA6H30K5ZIPSjm1jQyQKs0A4ghspHZEEdzrqJTQteLcCiZTHLADQNwo2u0jJt0DNohLlbceaF7tEfXC36U/s1600-h/peppermintletterornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcZOYmc_qXXiozVWZUQma9fLByeK0BW8MnJDFDEY9WQVOj5WyC13_xeZReoA6H30K5ZIPSjm1jQyQKs0A4ghspHZEEdzrqJTQteLcCiZTHLADQNwo2u0jJt0DNohLlbceaF7tEfXC36U/s1600-h/peppermintletterornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcZOYmc_qXXiozVWZUQma9fLByeK0BW8MnJDFDEY9WQVOj5WyC13_xeZReoA6H30K5ZIPSjm1jQyQKs0A4ghspHZEEdzrqJTQteLcCiZTHLADQNwo2u0jJt0DNohLlbceaF7tEfXC36U/s200/peppermintletterornament.jpg" width="171" /></a></div><br />
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You can create these with some $1 dollar craft store letters, craft glue and soft peppermints. To create, simply cut peppermints in half, shave with fine grater to make perfectly flat on rear, then secure with craft glue for a whimsical monogram.<br />
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Also like this one:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT1crw09BzV45_1BxOzb_yqqaBuMj8_7IeGO3VWyhyphenhyphenAXZEdkogGa_vXiwaaSkA7X1J8I_PKTW02P05Hd-GR5MjwqcyegHdjMmCXl5xwlIHay07tPye_K37ApV_fpNwCa5tlB9q9UvBhk/s1600-h/whiteglitterstar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT1crw09BzV45_1BxOzb_yqqaBuMj8_7IeGO3VWyhyphenhyphenAXZEdkogGa_vXiwaaSkA7X1J8I_PKTW02P05Hd-GR5MjwqcyegHdjMmCXl5xwlIHay07tPye_K37ApV_fpNwCa5tlB9q9UvBhk/s200/whiteglitterstar.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><br />
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To create, paint craft glue onto inexpensive set of cookie cutters then shake inside a plastic bag filled with colored glitter.<br />
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If these turn out even half as adorable as they look in her photos they'll be amazing!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768348712055838251.post-11426450173686241192009-09-09T16:21:00.000-07:002010-03-09T17:34:30.705-08:00Laundry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQM2rrRo8hOkNcn0SqiynZlKo_hzm8dMDyb4OQ6DllhE4rOaA37uSBA5u_QtCjA7WM3XkbVTxkIQ4zFm4a4wv2puSaMnhgNtkQW2NowYKrqJAVKU8mLCULe5rT_ByKszqZgaMmt2svQY/s1600-h/laundry3" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQM2rrRo8hOkNcn0SqiynZlKo_hzm8dMDyb4OQ6DllhE4rOaA37uSBA5u_QtCjA7WM3XkbVTxkIQ4zFm4a4wv2puSaMnhgNtkQW2NowYKrqJAVKU8mLCULe5rT_ByKszqZgaMmt2svQY/s320/laundry3" vt="true" /></a><br />
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Is there anything more homey than the sight of laundry drying on the line? I don't think so. Ever since I <a href="http://community.babycenter.com/groups/a16235/cloth_diapering">cloth diapered</a> my youngest, and laundered the diapers myself I've been in love with line-drying. <br />
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Seeing what had been dirty and wrinkled become so clean and sweet-smelling and new again, with nothing but the power of the sun is so deeply satisfying. It makes this least-favorite and never-ending household job almost enjoyable.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0V4NUxOTwBqtKEG0Pfl88CtJCIndaQ1PsUGqezx2vt_tWEyZZf7UhsiZVzE4t43xcl7UwYZYoz8MlGKhYXlbHNeHMPDrPdYvd5ZCl3OV66dpvlbGIHICe_8oCdfvp5pD7MlSE87LoNA/s1600-h/laundry2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0V4NUxOTwBqtKEG0Pfl88CtJCIndaQ1PsUGqezx2vt_tWEyZZf7UhsiZVzE4t43xcl7UwYZYoz8MlGKhYXlbHNeHMPDrPdYvd5ZCl3OV66dpvlbGIHICe_8oCdfvp5pD7MlSE87LoNA/s320/laundry2" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
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Oh, I forgot there is one thing more homey than seeing your sheets drying: Gathering the whole family together and snuggling into your fresh, clean sheets at the end of a long summer day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768348712055838251.post-35044739155490823512009-06-09T16:25:00.000-07:002010-03-09T17:32:35.793-08:00Garden Center JunkieI should know better than to head to any garden center or nursery because I get so excited and full of ideas for the garden I can't stop tossing new plants into the cart.<br />
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Today went to Home Depot (shame shame, we should shop local every time, but it is so near us) just to get a bag of dirt (potting mix) because we needed to transplant our zucchini plants which were looking unhappy and didn't seem about to pop out any actual zucchini. Went in for dirt (potting mix), came out with a sunflower.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BZq6wE8NeGne65WnB_N3Ld7tb2RKbEOwpMBdNyYNcRsiIbLZWE_S-XnQjmRveRRhC9RPtIqeJvGCDEG8mTjipmrdjZ6rBhiTluTJM3FjO-DqtFkza0_hVOm4RmIIHU5-pniRWuQA7dA/s1600-h/sunflower" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BZq6wE8NeGne65WnB_N3Ld7tb2RKbEOwpMBdNyYNcRsiIbLZWE_S-XnQjmRveRRhC9RPtIqeJvGCDEG8mTjipmrdjZ6rBhiTluTJM3FjO-DqtFkza0_hVOm4RmIIHU5-pniRWuQA7dA/s320/sunflower" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
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Honestly, I have a problem. And I have a new sunflower to love.<br />
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In other news, our tomatoes are coming along nicely. Here is a shot of our one orange tomato right now (it is supposed to be orange, that is the kind of tomato it is...); in a few weeks it looks like we'll have a ton of them plus a lot of Romas (which are supposed to be red).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCwtDcQDq1gE44VPjz4p-w_YBciyTQNOxOYwITU2N1IFdfBOIqox6ATy0RMs8ZdCp45MRcZUPLavtD37DNFeEeqCf6TthK9kpXRNQL3zXb2mgJ3QTT-1-crOWHrSkwsR0vEi5SM0vNlg/s1600-h/tomato" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCwtDcQDq1gE44VPjz4p-w_YBciyTQNOxOYwITU2N1IFdfBOIqox6ATy0RMs8ZdCp45MRcZUPLavtD37DNFeEeqCf6TthK9kpXRNQL3zXb2mgJ3QTT-1-crOWHrSkwsR0vEi5SM0vNlg/s320/tomato" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
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P.S. Turns out there are male zucchini flowers and female zucchini flowers and if you don't have the females ones you don't get any actual zucchini. We......wait for it....have all males. (You'd think I would have researched this before we bought the zucchini plants, but no. Remember my garden-center-impulse-buying-habit from above? Yeah.)<br />
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I'm not sure how to solve this zucchini gender-orientation problem, but with any luck it'll call for a trip to a garden center. And naturally I'll come home with a new magnolia tree or something.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2768348712055838251.post-42521680145343675532009-05-28T20:44:00.000-07:002010-03-11T20:54:19.995-08:00Our TableOur table set for dinner is simple and homey but fills me with pleasure whenever I look at it. It has a comfortable, well-lived-in feel that can't be faked but is certainly the marker of a happy home. No one at this table has to keep her elbows off of the table (though I do draw the line at talking with your mouth full!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1-PRoCSkM-YZ63Dx_F_UyysO11qGO8cISTvw0Rm5oE9wNGl1qyq8hZV4bS79uYxeIlRBxqQLd7wlERcAsjM-9lUSzHffgW-nYh_FohHHQXo4nx0DDQ_HD7Jmb3zxCMOYkoxkb2ObvIM/s1600-h/table.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1-PRoCSkM-YZ63Dx_F_UyysO11qGO8cISTvw0Rm5oE9wNGl1qyq8hZV4bS79uYxeIlRBxqQLd7wlERcAsjM-9lUSzHffgW-nYh_FohHHQXo4nx0DDQ_HD7Jmb3zxCMOYkoxkb2ObvIM/s320/table.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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While it can't compare to <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2009/05/welcome-to-40th-tablescape-thursday.html">some of the gorgeous tablescapes out there</a>, I particularly love some of the elements on this table. First, the flowers. I try to keep some kind of fresh flower or small plant on the table, even for a casual weekday meal like this. It adds a sense of occasion, and grounds the whole table. It also give us something prettier to look at than my cooking!<br />
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I also set the table with silverware, cloth napkins and gen-u-ine Correlle every night. (I'll have to write about my Corelle someday because I luuuurve it) No character plates or plastic knives here. I even avoid, as much as possible, paper towels or paper napkins for environmental (and budgetary) reasons.<br />
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And yep, those are plastic cups. Hey, little kids knock cups over. A lot. (Never mind that we broke 6 of 8 glasses in our wedding set before the kids came along. )<br />
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We use placemats every meal as well, these plaid ones are tired-looking but they are well-loved and now that they have been on my table for such a long time they make me think of all the other meals we've had on them, everything from our holiday meals, to birthdays, the first cookout of summer and our first meal in this crappy rental house. Lots of my cooking has passed over those placemats - and they show it!<br />
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Thanks for joinging me for a tour of my table - I may someday have another gorgeous, organized, matching table, but it'll never look as much like home and love to me as this one does.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0