Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Homemade Floor Cleaner
I am a sucker for all things homemade lately... meaning cleaning supplies. I make my own laundry detergent, tried to do dishwasher detergent {not a fan of that one} and now I have found the BEST floor cleaner! I have to share...
p.s. I do this to save money but also because I'm not in love with the chemical smells that products are starting to put off. I have never really noticed it and, honestly, didn't really care until I made laundry detergent. I don't think I can use the Tide that I used to love so much again. And did I mention the money?? I spent around $27 to make a batch {with scent included... although I've changed my mind on how I did that. We'll talk later :)} and so far it has lasted me 11 months. I still have enough to go for at least 2 more! That is some serious moolah for ice cream... just saying.
Anyway... the floor cleaner.
1 gallon of water
1/2 cup of vinegar
1/3 cup of rubbing alcohol
some drops of dish soap
Ta-da! I stirred it all in a bucket and went to town mopping my kitchen floor. My tile has not looked this good since it was installed. I'm not just blowing wind up your skirt either... I love it! It did smell a bit strong with the alcohol but I've read that essential oils can take care of that problem if it really bothers you. However, I noticed as soon as the floor started to dry then I didn't smell anything at all. Super easy. Super cheap. And super clean!
p.s. I do this to save money but also because I'm not in love with the chemical smells that products are starting to put off. I have never really noticed it and, honestly, didn't really care until I made laundry detergent. I don't think I can use the Tide that I used to love so much again. And did I mention the money?? I spent around $27 to make a batch {with scent included... although I've changed my mind on how I did that. We'll talk later :)} and so far it has lasted me 11 months. I still have enough to go for at least 2 more! That is some serious moolah for ice cream... just saying.
Anyway... the floor cleaner.
1 gallon of water
1/2 cup of vinegar
1/3 cup of rubbing alcohol
some drops of dish soap
Ta-da! I stirred it all in a bucket and went to town mopping my kitchen floor. My tile has not looked this good since it was installed. I'm not just blowing wind up your skirt either... I love it! It did smell a bit strong with the alcohol but I've read that essential oils can take care of that problem if it really bothers you. However, I noticed as soon as the floor started to dry then I didn't smell anything at all. Super easy. Super cheap. And super clean!
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Clearance at Crazy Adorable!
In my very first post on this blog I put that I started with Etsy selling baby pajamas in a shop called Crazy Adorable. I absolutely loved doing this. Especially at Christmas time... I made sooo many pairs of pj's for kids to wear Christmas morning! It was seriously an honor and a great feeling to get thank you emails from all the happy moms. I decided that I wanted to head a different way so Crazy Adorable is coming to a close and Lemon Polka Dots is filling in the blanks from now on. Lemon Polka Dots is more of a children's boutique... as of now I offer receiving blankets, bowties and a few pairs of shoes. I have a boxful of headbands that need to be listed, not to mention the ever so popular head wraps. I keep selling them on Instagram {@shoplemonpolkadots or @hethlarsen} and can't get any onto Etsy. However... they're being made now :) I also have a million baby shoes that need to be put on there. Anyway, it's a children's boutique. That's what I'm getting at in a very long way.
So Crazy Adorable... it's my first love and was my passion. It helped me through a rough time in life and helped me find a new love. Sewing. It's still open with all of the pajama stock that I have on hand at very low clearance pricing. Check it out! As soon as the final pair sells then the shop will be closed.
Here's a sneak peak at some of my favorites:
www.crazyadorable.etsy.com
So Crazy Adorable... it's my first love and was my passion. It helped me through a rough time in life and helped me find a new love. Sewing. It's still open with all of the pajama stock that I have on hand at very low clearance pricing. Check it out! As soon as the final pair sells then the shop will be closed.
Here's a sneak peak at some of my favorites:
www.crazyadorable.etsy.com
Monday, June 16, 2014
My Favorite Etsy Shop - Artsy Anthropology
Artsy Anthropology {owned, created, and ran by Paige} is on my mind and in my heart today! So she's getting my Favorite Etsy Shop of the week.
I have been following Paige on Instagram {@artsyanthropology} and it has been well worth it! I love the pictures she shares of her new products and also just life. Period. She recently adopted a sweet little 3 legged dog from her local Humane Society. Turns out Wall-E had an injury that had gone unnoticed by the vet when his back leg was amputated and now he needs a hip replacement for the other side. Paige went right to Instagram for help! She put up an auction within 24 hours and took bids all day yesterday. I was really excited to donate a sweet little baby girl package with some shoes and two headbands, as well as a baby boy package with two bowties. She was able to raise quite a bit of money to help out the Humane Society with the cost of Wall-E's surgery.
So this is why they are on my mind today... first of all I LOVE her stuff! She has fabrics and colors and patterns that are right up my alley. I am amazed at the things that she comes up with. Secondly, she has totally inspired me to keep going on my shop and just be myself when it comes to creating. I have found a whole new level of love for the projects I dream up. And third... oh geez... I can not even begin to describe the gratitude and inspiration that I have felt from this circle of Instagram girls. It started with Artsy Anthropology and has grown from there. They are there for each other whenever it's needed. From helping to fund an adoption for a family or helping a dog with surgery... they come out and help and support at any cost. I have loved finding these women! I look forward to checking Instagram because I know that I'll find a smile in me or some inspiration and sometimes even a tear. I'm not a huge fan of Facebook or Twitter... Instagram has completely stolen my heart.
Check out Artsy Anthropology on Etsy {www.artsyanthropology.etsy.com} or on Instagram. I love Paige's sales and products and I'm sure you will too! She also offers a monthly subscription to Artsy Crushes. She sends you a gift every month and included is soooo much swag from so many wonderfully creative women... it's a big box of awesome-sauce!
I have been following Paige on Instagram {@artsyanthropology} and it has been well worth it! I love the pictures she shares of her new products and also just life. Period. She recently adopted a sweet little 3 legged dog from her local Humane Society. Turns out Wall-E had an injury that had gone unnoticed by the vet when his back leg was amputated and now he needs a hip replacement for the other side. Paige went right to Instagram for help! She put up an auction within 24 hours and took bids all day yesterday. I was really excited to donate a sweet little baby girl package with some shoes and two headbands, as well as a baby boy package with two bowties. She was able to raise quite a bit of money to help out the Humane Society with the cost of Wall-E's surgery.
So this is why they are on my mind today... first of all I LOVE her stuff! She has fabrics and colors and patterns that are right up my alley. I am amazed at the things that she comes up with. Secondly, she has totally inspired me to keep going on my shop and just be myself when it comes to creating. I have found a whole new level of love for the projects I dream up. And third... oh geez... I can not even begin to describe the gratitude and inspiration that I have felt from this circle of Instagram girls. It started with Artsy Anthropology and has grown from there. They are there for each other whenever it's needed. From helping to fund an adoption for a family or helping a dog with surgery... they come out and help and support at any cost. I have loved finding these women! I look forward to checking Instagram because I know that I'll find a smile in me or some inspiration and sometimes even a tear. I'm not a huge fan of Facebook or Twitter... Instagram has completely stolen my heart.
Check out Artsy Anthropology on Etsy {www.artsyanthropology.etsy.com} or on Instagram. I love Paige's sales and products and I'm sure you will too! She also offers a monthly subscription to Artsy Crushes. She sends you a gift every month and included is soooo much swag from so many wonderfully creative women... it's a big box of awesome-sauce!
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Friday, June 13, 2014
Here's some of my recipe tips...
1. I don't really measure. I've figured out what tastes my family likes and I season according to that. What does your family like? Saves a lot of time not getting out measuring spoons... not to mention adding to the dish load.
2. I swear by packaged shredded cheese. Don't get me wrong... I'm a fan of the block stuff too. When you have kids to chase after, the shredded cheese makes it so much easier and quicker to get the job done. I use shredded cheese in just about everything I make for dinner that needs cheese. I love to use the Italian flavors for any pastas, lasagnas or alfredo sauces.
3. I may over do it on the amount of veggies that I make. We love our veggies! I never put a quantity of how many to cook because I know that I make more than another family may. Cook the way your family likes!
*Rosemary Steaks
Your favorite kind of steak {does this deserve a duh?}
Rosemary {either fresh or dried... we've done both}
Black Pepper
Kosher Salt
Season steaks with all 3 seasonings. Sometimes we like to add a bit of chopped garlic or garlic salt. Your call.
Grill steaks to desired doneness. The rosemary is a super great compliment to the meat!
*Garlic Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
Russet Potatoes {however many it takes for you to feed your family with mashed potatoes. We usually do about 8-10 potatoes... we like our taters.}
Garlic Salt
Parsley
Milk
Butter
Italian Shredded Cheese
Boil potatoes until tender enough to mash. Drain water and place back onto warm stove top. Add a bit of milk... not too much or they'll be runny. Add a scoop of butter. Sprinkle with garlic salt to your liking. Add some parsley and a couple of handfuls of shredded cheese. Mash with masher and mix ingredients with potatoes all at the same time. Ta-da! Yummy taters.
*Ranch Flavored Corn on the Cob
Corn on the Cob {however many your family will eat}
Packet of Ranch Dip Mix
Husk corn to get all of the hairy stuff off. Leave enough of the husks to cover the corn. Not completely but give it a good blanket. Wash corn off with water. Using your hand, sprinkle some Ranch onto each cob. Spread it around. We like a little seasoning for flavor, but not a ton. Put Ranch on to your family's liking. Pull husks back up over the corn and get ready to cook! We have tried it on a frying pan on the stove. We turn it every few minutes to get the sides evenly cooked. Turned out fabulous! But it's also really yummy to put on a warm grill and cook that way... lots easier when you have more than 3 cobs to cook too :)
Hope it's super yummy!!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Sick kiddo's... :(
We've been hit with sickness at our house. Pretty sad about it... because we're really bored. Our little guy started with a fever on Saturday that would not go away. Finally {after the help of my dad giving him a blessing :)} it broke and the fever was gone. We thought it was just teething and kept nursing him with Ibuprofen. Well... Monday he woke up with a giant blister bug bite looking thing on his toe. I went nuts and called an exterminator AND had my husband pick up some spray for the house and spider traps. Baby waking up with a bite is NOT okay in my book. Gross.
Monday afternoon our little chick-a-dee suddenly got really sick. Same as Cohen... high fever, really sleepy and achy. When it started reaching 102 after I had given her Tylenol, we decided to drive to Instacare. Just in case. She had a strep test done and that wasn't the cause of her sore throat. The doctor was going to write it off as just being sick... until he saw Cohen's toe. Turns out Miley and Cohen have picked up Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. Eek!
So what I'm getting at is that I have been sitting with grouch-o sick kids since Monday night and haven't gotten much done in the blog or sewing world. Dang it! But my kids need me and I am happy to be there for them. Plus we have watched some really great movies :)
The other thing I'm getting at is this... why is it that when someone gets sick with a virus like this everyone seems to think they have some gross disease or illness that is going to kill you if they touch you? I have gotten just a couple of comments that... let's face it... have hurt just a bit. I have clean kids. I have a clean home. We wash our hands. In fact, I get mad at my husband because I think he washes them too much. It was just a case of bad luck and our turn to catch it. We've been lucky in the ways that Cohen has the one blister and both him and Miley just have sores in their throats. With the fevers for a day. I have also been one to jump to conclusions when I hear someone is sick with something like this. I now know that this kind of judgment is just as hurtful as all the other kinds... judgment is judgment. Anywho... hug somebody today and show them love. Even if they're sick. He/She could probably really use it.
And I've got a great recipe to share...
Monday afternoon our little chick-a-dee suddenly got really sick. Same as Cohen... high fever, really sleepy and achy. When it started reaching 102 after I had given her Tylenol, we decided to drive to Instacare. Just in case. She had a strep test done and that wasn't the cause of her sore throat. The doctor was going to write it off as just being sick... until he saw Cohen's toe. Turns out Miley and Cohen have picked up Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. Eek!
So what I'm getting at is that I have been sitting with grouch-o sick kids since Monday night and haven't gotten much done in the blog or sewing world. Dang it! But my kids need me and I am happy to be there for them. Plus we have watched some really great movies :)
The other thing I'm getting at is this... why is it that when someone gets sick with a virus like this everyone seems to think they have some gross disease or illness that is going to kill you if they touch you? I have gotten just a couple of comments that... let's face it... have hurt just a bit. I have clean kids. I have a clean home. We wash our hands. In fact, I get mad at my husband because I think he washes them too much. It was just a case of bad luck and our turn to catch it. We've been lucky in the ways that Cohen has the one blister and both him and Miley just have sores in their throats. With the fevers for a day. I have also been one to jump to conclusions when I hear someone is sick with something like this. I now know that this kind of judgment is just as hurtful as all the other kinds... judgment is judgment. Anywho... hug somebody today and show them love. Even if they're sick. He/She could probably really use it.
And I've got a great recipe to share...
Thursday, June 5, 2014
My Favorite Etsy Shop - Little Batch
I'm back from a few days away dealing with allergies {the little guy has them... wha?? 9 months old and already starting.. baffled his doctor} and making head wraps {I have literally sold out of Ladies size and almost Babies... whew.. but more fabric is on it's way!} and just trying to keep up on my house work. It's been a challenge! Plus school is out so now I have a little 6 year old to entertain. Not too hard... she does a good job of it herself with her own imagination. Anyway... I haven't meant to take such a break from the blogging world.
With everything going on around here, you can imagine my excitement when I got some happy mail! I had placed an order with an Etsy shop called Little Batch and I am head over heels in love with her lip balm... mmmm... love it to pieces. So for this week's "My Favorite Etsy Shop" {yeah... this is going to become a thing because I am an Etsy addict} I'm going to give my little review on Little Batch and her amazingly awesome lip balm.
Little Batch {www.littlebatch.etsy.com} is owned by Jen and she lives in NJ. She makes her own lip balms {and they are peanut oil free for those that have a peanut allergy}, soaps, perfume oils, scrubs, candles, etc. It's the greatest little apothecary shop I have ordered from to date! I ordered the Lemon Cheesecake and Vanilla Cupcake lip balms. Just like I hoped they would be... they are delish. I almost want to eat them instead of rubbing them on my lips. Miley stole my Vanilla Cupcake almost as soon as I had taken it out of the packaging. Being the lip balm addict that I am, I know that Jen will see more purchases from me. I can't say no to tasty lip stuff!! Check her shop out!
With everything going on around here, you can imagine my excitement when I got some happy mail! I had placed an order with an Etsy shop called Little Batch and I am head over heels in love with her lip balm... mmmm... love it to pieces. So for this week's "My Favorite Etsy Shop" {yeah... this is going to become a thing because I am an Etsy addict} I'm going to give my little review on Little Batch and her amazingly awesome lip balm.
Little Batch {www.littlebatch.etsy.com} is owned by Jen and she lives in NJ. She makes her own lip balms {and they are peanut oil free for those that have a peanut allergy}, soaps, perfume oils, scrubs, candles, etc. It's the greatest little apothecary shop I have ordered from to date! I ordered the Lemon Cheesecake and Vanilla Cupcake lip balms. Just like I hoped they would be... they are delish. I almost want to eat them instead of rubbing them on my lips. Miley stole my Vanilla Cupcake almost as soon as I had taken it out of the packaging. Being the lip balm addict that I am, I know that Jen will see more purchases from me. I can't say no to tasty lip stuff!! Check her shop out!
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