A Word to My Readers

I apologize for not posting as often as I would like. My IPad is in need of repair. My xbox, phone, and library computers will not let me write in paragraphs or use a spacer bar adequately. You deserve professionalism! I will be back! Until then, stay crafty!  :-)

Decluttering

Admittedly I have a tendency to procrastinate. I think it's a psyche, morale, time management issue more than anything. Today I decided to tackle the things I've been meaning to put off. It's almost as rejuvenating as meditation which coincidentally is also very hit and miss with my mindset. Grr! Some of the things include: sorting through my husband's papers, my kids' socks, bagging up toys the kids are less than ecstatic about (at the moment), soaking bras+eye mask in a solution of peroxide+baking soda+soap, putting a pile of anything with holes aside to mend, updating specific goals in my planner, and making gift bows using ribbon and scissors. Not bad for being one p.m.! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I am most thankful for my immediate family and God. My husband has been a tremendous supporter. My children inspire me to push through and better myself everyday.

My Late Uncle's Artwork

My uncle passed on several months back, and although I miss him greatly, I feel fortunate to be able to share his work with all of you.

Life Hacks #Children Edition

You can use the metal from broken spiral notebooks and fine needle nose tweezers to string flash cards together. The metal wont be completely straight no matter how hard you pull, but a little organization can go a long way. Sterilizing baby bottles doesn't get any easier than using your coffee maker! Just make sure you wash it out again with different water if there's any risk of caffeine contamination, etc. No problems with the single use kind which I recently learned!

Easy Exfoliation and Anti-Cellulite Treatment

Add used coffee grounds to a bar of castile soap and scrub! Loving the simplicity!

Knotted Infinity Scarf

I inherited a granny-style red nylon crinkle top last night. Being somewhat of a fabric snob (synthetics feel uncomfortable), I didn't want to take the top in. This is my first attempt at an infinity aka circle scarf. You cut the fabric into consistently sized strips (according to how wide or narrow you prefer your scarves). Then you place them all into a row.
Knot the fabric until you have formed a circle formation. Trim excess fabric around the knot if applicable. Make a few stitches to secure knots. Voila! Enjoy!

Face Scrub

The recipe: 1 t. Organic sour cream, 1/2 t. Organic maple syrup, 1 t. Organic turbinado sugar, plus a pinch of coffee grounds. The result? Smooth, hydrated skin!

Monthly/Bimonthly Maintenance

To prevent buying overpriced, overpackaged convenience items, I make a habit of mixing in more ingredients. This month, I got a $.50 box of baking soda and a $1.00 bar of soap from the dollar store. I grated the bar with a cheese grater and added it to my existing powdered detergent container plus about half a box of baking soda (probably should've gotten two boxes as it's very multipurpose). Onto hair. Grocery Outlet had a coconut oil hair mask for $1.99. Took an empty baby food jar, dumped the hair mask inside and mixed with my normal conditioner. Now it'll last me 1-2 more uses! As for my moisturizer, I spooned two teaspoons solidified coconut oil into another empty jar plus a few drops of argan and olive oil. Not uber cheap, but cooking with even slightly less oil easily allows for this.

Simplified Living

We've all done it. $9 tea, $50 haircut, $30 shampoo. In this materialistic world in which we reside, it's easy to be an idealist, put a price tag on self-worth, or partake in retail therapy. Problem is, this kind of behavior only results in short-term happiness. What's more, even if you live comfortably now, these are uncertain times for even the best of us. If you are looking for a little inspiration, the book 'You Can Buy Happiness (and it's cheap)', might just be it. In it, many people share stories about downsizing, decluttering, prioritizing, and ultimately simplifying their lives. I don't know that I could ever feel comfortable in a one hundred square foot home, but I have great respect for people's that can. All too often, people assert that they won't give money to the homeless because they won't know how the money will be allocated. I recently saw some nifty little bags on pinterest filled with anything from granola bars to toilet paper to travel-sized toothbrushes. Making and dispersing these bags are definitely on my to-do list.

Brizzle's Fried Squash Flower Egg Sandwich

The farmers market was selling some delightful squash flowers that are hard to find. Brizzle was naturally amphed to let our family be guinea pigs! The pistols give off a nutty, cheesey, yeasty (in a good way) smell. I never thought I would say I had flowers for breakfast, but they were definitely worth trying. As is any food that's made with love!

Simple Cardigan Headband

The buttonhole strip of a cardigan can easily be turned into a peppy-looking headband. Place the cut strip around your head snugly and keep ends in place with one hand. Proceed to pull off of your head. Trim excess material if desired. If material is narrow enough you can possibly pull an end through a buttonhole. A few stitches (or a smidgen of fabric glue) later, you've got yourself a headband!  :-)

Salvage Stained Kids Clothing

Simply cut out the 'white' parts that have been stained by food, dirt, grass, etc. . Fortunately, this shirt has buttons to keep the little guy covered and warm.

Simple Chain Stitch Scarf

It's such a lovely post Halloween morning! Officially feels like Fall.  :-) I cut up part of a paisley print skirt my mother have me a couple weeks back not being a fan of bold prints on top or bottom. Remnants from my tote project were incorporated as well. The result? A free-falling, versatile, whatever you want it to be scarf! <3 For fellow crocheters, it's as simple as it gets...the chain stitch.  :-) Braiding, knotting, knitting, and macrame are other options. I wish I could tell you how many chains, but I made the scarf approximately seven feet long though it took no time at all (or maybe I was just eager to see the end result). Cut your fabric in thin, long strips. Tie ends together making fabric yarn i.e. one super long piece of skinny fabric. It helps to loosely ball it up as such. I used a mixture of linen and cotton. Enjoy!