Archive for February, 2011
DIY: Drawer Liners
As promised, I’ve got a fun DIY to share. I spent quite some time searching the web for unique drawer liners when I finally decided to make them myself.
I found this fun fabric on sale and just had to buy it. I didn’t know what I would do with it, but after seeing how funky and fresh it was inside the dresser, I just knew a purpose had been found.
It’s not like many people will ever see the inside of my drawers, not to mention, I plan to have clothes and other odds and ends in the there, but details matter. It’s little hidden surprises like funky, scented drawer liners that puts a smile on my face.
What You Will Need:
Fabric (enough to cover drawer bottoms)
Liquid Fabric Stiffener
Mrs. Meyer’s Ironing Spray
Double Sided Tape or Spray Adhesive
Begin by diluting the Liquid Fabric Stiffener with water in a large bowl.
Submerge fabric in the stiffener mixture until completely coated.
Ring all excess liquid from the fabric and then lay completely flat to dry. Once dry, the diluted fabric stiffener will make the fabric feel heavily starched, with the flexibility similar to cardstock paper.
Before the fabric was completely dry, I sprayed it with Mrs. Meyer’s Lavender Ironing Spray and gave it a quick press with the iron to smooth out all of the wrinkles.
At this point, the fabric will be dry and stiff, making it very easy to cut. Measure your drawer bottoms and cut fabric accordingly.
To secure fabric in the bottom of the drawers, you can either use double sided tape around the edges or a light application of spray adhesive. I chose to use the double sided tape so I can easily change the fabric later with no sticky residue.
Easy peezy lemon squeezy. Now I have darling drawer liners with the wonderful aroma of lavender.
While searching for drawer liners, scented sachets and such, I stumbled upon many wonderful and clever ways to freshen up dresser drawers. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Place a new bar of scented soap in your drawer. Not only will it fill your drawer with a delightful smell, it will also give the soap time to dry out making it last much longer in the shower.
- Give drawers a fresh air fragrance by tucking a new dryer sheet under drawer liner or tape one to the back of each drawer.
- Have empty perfume bottles? Remove the cap and leave the empty bottle open in your drawer, your clothes will thank you.
- Save perfume samples from magazines. It’s and easy and free way to freshen up a drawer.
Do you have any tips or tricks you would like to add? What’s your secret to great smelling drawers?
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| Photos by KHJ + CMJ |
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Smooth
There’s so many things I love about the weekends. Like waking up after the sun for a change. I love the way it peeks through the blinds and gives you that gentle, “hello.” On days like this I actually have the time to go downstairs in my pj’s, concoct a delicious morning smoothie, sit at the breakfast table and give a proper welcome to the day. Nothing says good morning like a cool glass of blended goodness.
I don’t know about you, but pop a striped straw in almost anything and the yumminess goes through the roof!
Rise and Shine Smoothie
1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries
1 peach or a handful of frozen peach slices
1/2 ripe banana
2 heaping spoonfuls organic plain yogurt
2 cups organic soy milk (plain)
1 tbsp ground flax seed
1 tbsp organic honey
Combine the first six ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add the honey and blend one final time. Add a peach slice and a fun striped straw and sip, sip, sip away!
All of the quantities are estimated and can be adjusted to suit your taste. I’ve learned if you want a sweeter smoothie hold back a little on the yogurt and add more milk. Also, the fruits can be substituted for just about any other fruits: raspberries, strawberries, you name it.
So play around with the quantities and don’t be afraid to have a little taste test mid-blend. You can always adjust the quantities to make it your perfect morning “hello”.
Back Door Guests Are Best
Psst… wanna hear a little secret?
I haven’t been able to walk out of my back door for 3 years. No, I didn’t say 3 months… years people. It’s kind of a long story, but I can sum it up like this:
Roof replacement = broken gutter = waterfall on our door = water damage = caulking the door shut = no door for 3 years.
I know you are wondering, why in the world did we wait three years to replace the door? Well, it goes kind of like this… I can have a husband that helps me on all my projects, builds little kitchens, cooks dinner with me, and smothers me with love or I can have a back door.
Ha, it’s not exactly like that, but needless to say, we get busy and just find other things we would rather do. Then, you kind of get used to not having a back door and voila… three years.
We finally got the motivation to order the new door (of course it was a funky size so we had to special order, nothing’s ever simple around my house). Mr. Blue Eyed Yonder also called in a little help for the project.
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| “Whatcha doing Uncle Chris?” |
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| “What? Why are you laughing? I’m helping him.” |
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| “Man, all this work is making me tired. I need a break.” |
I have never been so excited in all my life to walk out of a back door. I feel so privileged.
Ahh… the simple things.
Live the Language
EF – Live The Language – Paris from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.
RAOK: My Sister’s House
Day 4. Fourth Act.
Do you ever take the luxuries of your morning routine for granted? You wake up and take a nice hot shower. Lather up with yummy smelling soap. Scrub your locks with bubbly shampoo. If you’re really feeling spiffy, you bust out the razor and shaving cream and tackle those legs.
Once you are out of the shower, you put on some good smelling deodorant and silky lotion. Just add a dab of toothpaste to your toothbrush and scrub, scrub away.
We are all probably guilty of taking these simple acts for granted. While most of us have piles of toiletries, beauty products and other little pretties, sadly, there are others that don’t. There are women that wake up each morning without a hot shower to look forward to, no bubbly shampoo or cozy bath robe. Some of these women do not even have a house or a bed of their own.
For the fourth act, I wanted to give the beautiful ladies at My Sister’s House something that would bring a smile to their face. Because every woman deserves to feel beautiful and simple everyday necessities aren’t things they should have to worry about.
Many of the brave women at My Sister’s House are battling fears that most of us wouldn’t dare think about. Many of these women have children. I know how much I always loved my “toothpaste that didn’t burn” and strawberry scented shampoos. I hope these kids know how much they are loved… by people that haven’t even met them.
It’s not too late, surprise someone with a Random Act of Kindness.
