Pinterst Project: More T-shirt Scarves!

Please forgive the colors in the picture. My camera phone isn't the greatest, but for now it'll suffice...next time i wear it, I'll try for a better shot.

There are some beautiful up-cycled t-shirt scarves floating around Pinterest and this is my third different attempt.  I found the Pin that lead me to the original blog here and I'll admit I was kinda scared when it told me to get creative...on my own. But, I'm glad it did because I had to think about what I wanted to make and how I wanted it to come out. I'm please with how mine finished. This is a red, gray, and blacked themed scarf/necklace/cowl/whatever in the world it is... and I made it for my husband's middle school soccer team's upcoming season. I grabbed a red, black, and gray blood bank t-shirt (because my Dad has a million...he's such a great donor!!) and I started following the directions for cutting in the blog. I began with the multicolor piece and just knotted, braided, and knotted. I then braided the red, which was a tad longer and I knew would be great for layering. The black was shorter and I took three and just twisted them. The lower black ring was just a 2 1/2 in section untwisted, just stretched. I was going for a multi-styled look and I think I got what I wanted. I gathered them in the back, wrapped the ends with spare cloth and stitched it up. The back is a bit chunky, so I can only really wear this when my hair is down, but I like how it turned out! :)

I also made a black replica of the aqua one on her blog, but because of my wonderful camera, it just looked like a black cord. I'll get a better shot of that as well...one day! :)

My Project: Organizing Thread

After a busy evening on Friday of crafting and project making, I spent an hour or so on Saturday giving my closet some love. I hadn't tidied her up in a while, except for the few times I quickly stored stuff away when I knew people were coming over and the potential for Kevin to share his accomplishment for his wifey would increase.  While this may not seem significant (and maybe it isn't), I had a revelation while organizing. I'm obsessed with Roy G. Biv, and I realize that I have since first grade. You know...ROY G BIV...the order of the color spectrum, the order of a rainbow, the order of my box of Crayola crayons?

Yeah, that last one. I realized that I've been organizing my crayons in color order since they were first in my desk as my own. I remember being very particular about it too...when one came out, the other had to go back in its place. I am still like this today. My blouse/shirt section of my closet is organized into to major sections: career / Friday wear...and each of those is organized into ROYGBIV. Our preschooler's clothes are as well. So, when I organized my thread, making sure the thread was in the slit on the spools and the loose threads facing down (yes, I had to be that specific), I realized I already had them in order. So why? The older I get, the more difficulty I have with staying focused on a task and I think I was the same when I was younger (Pinterest doesn't help, haha, and Life Got in the Way [a Sister Hazel song]). It never affected me academically so I must have compensated. It could also be generated from being constantly on the go as a young adult and instead of growing weary, my body adapted and took on the doing-amillion-things-at-once skill (curse?). Anyway, I realized that I HAD to have my colors this way (it bothers me when they aren't...) because this was how my mind worked. It was a way of helping me to focus. My mind knew what I needed. Man, that's a scary thought.

So, I will continue my obsession with Roy G. Biv...so long as my husband doesn't get jealous ;)

By the way, to hold the smaller bobbins in place I hot glued gold rope string to the first set of holders, keeping them in place. I had to learn the hard way on that one...

Pinterest Inspiration with an April Twist: Homemade Shower Cleaner

I try incredibly hard to be green and I was thrilled when I found a recipe for homemade shower cleaner here.  Her recipe calls for vinegar and Dawn, and I used a Green twist and used my 97% natural Clorox green works dish detergent.

I'm honestly not sure if you're to measure in cups or ounces, so I measured in ounces on my kitchen...but I don't think you can really mess this up.  Basically take equal ounces vinegar and soap. Heat the vinegar in the microwave until hot so it will help to mix the soap well. Pour vinegar into a spray bottle, followed by the dish soap. Swirl around to mix and you're done!  I used it yesterday when I was in the shower (yes, that's how I clean my shower...) and I was amazed at how well it did on the soap scum on the shower door. I took an old tooth brush and sprayed our white shower tile grout and it brightened up nicely....and very quickly too.  I just keep it on the towel rack that is in our shower and will use it as needed. No more need for full shower cleaning days!  I think FlyLady would be proud :)

All in all, I give this big thumbs up...one that I will use regularly from now on!  Now, go make some yourself and take pride in knowing what ingredients are in the products you use!

Outdoor Life: Oh, the Importance of Bike Maintenance

Today I learned a hard lesson: always check your bike's components before riding. My hubby and I went on a local mountain bike course today to get some fresh air and exercise. We haven't had much rain here in Florida, so the sand and leaves were a bit loose and I found myself having to break really hard to gain control (but it was so much fun!!).  I could tell my rear break was weak and resolved to fixing it before the next ride. i haven't been in the habit of checking my bike before a ride, a mistake, I know.

The trail exits right on to pavement and we'd gained some speed coming back in to the lot with our car. I had been leaning forward on my handle bars aerobars style and we began to approach our car. I pulled hard on the breaks and got no juice from the right (rear break) and complete juice from the left (front break) and if you learned anything from physics, that made for a perfect flip. All my momentum from the rear lifted me forward, face first on to the pavement and the bike rolled over me. Thankfully i was OK, banged and scraped up, but nothing broke. My helmet was my saving grace. Not only did it scuff the ground, my bike seat came flying over and knocked into it. I had to lay there for a while (in front of other riders and visitors at the neighboring dog park) but I am proud I didn't cry. God did i want to though!  I did let the tears fall when my husband helped clean me up at home with Hibiclens. Ouch. All in all, I scrapped my chin, shoulder, and elbow, as well as bruised my thigh. But, no stitches, broken bones, or concussions...just bruised pride and I can deal with that. It's my style...what I call Aprilisms.  Oh! But I didn't break my phone (that's another story...later).


Anyway, lesson here is check your equipment and always wear a helmet. It sure saved me today!!

Pinterest Inspiration: Ruffled T-Shirt Scarf and Rosettes

Today was the first day back at school for the new year, and I'd been obsessed with Pinterest while we were gone. I wanted to come back with something new, so I decided to go for a trifecta. I made a gentle green t-shirt scarf (instructions here!) and rosettes to match. The rosettes were used the instructions for coffee filter roses, but they turned out the same. Here's that blog.  The t-shirt was one that Kevin was donating, so free is awesome! 

The hair comes one awesome hair stylist, Kate. I found her via Pinterst and her blog of hair styles is wonderful. Even better for me is that she explains everything..even what's in her hair and how to curl it. I never knew how to properly curl my hair...well, now I do and I LOVE it! It has gotten so many compliments and my husband is nearly mush when I wear it this way. <3  Thanks a million, Kate!!!!

Pinterest Inspiration: Denim Rosette Necklace

I had my first experience with Mod Podge today! I've been meaning to pick some up, but didn't and luckily our art teacher was giving loads away. Thanks to a friend for picking some up for me, I now have a great supply! I saw denim rosette necklace and thought it was cute, but this time, i didn't have all the pearls with holes wide enough to fish ribbon through...just enough for the insides. I followed all the directions, found here, except my rolls were wider because I had to use a straw instead of a skewer. And, let me tell you, Mod Podge is awesome but some thick stuff! instead of doing six rolls per flower, I only did five, but I'm happy with it none-the-less. Also, because my flowers were bigger, I wanted the necklace to be smaller and with less detail, hence no side pearls. There was a point while making this that I thought, "This is going to look like crap," but it pulled out nicely. I had large ribbon, so I folded it, pressed it, and then put webbing in between and pressed again. It's a tie ribbon instead of a pull-over-the-head necklace as is in the blog. But, that's ok too :)

Pinterest Inspiration: Denim Bracelet

I happened across this bracelet after I saved a pair of jeans from the donation bag. I had another craft in mind (see Pinterest Inspiration: Denim Rosette Necklace) and figured there must be another craft out there up-cycling jeans. Lo-and-behold, the same blog I found the necklace also had a bracelet. Awesome!

You can find the original blog here, and I can't wait to do this again with different beads and different hued jeans. Everything you see here was found at home...the beads came from a gift bag I was given about a year ago that had the beading on the handle. I recycled the bag and kept the beads, knowing one day they'd have a perfect use. Yep, I was right! :)

My Project: Belt Bracelets

Martha Stewart ribbon bracelets

Pinterest has a way of making you change how you see things...especially that bag of clothes that I was going to donate!  I had it in my car a week and just hadn't dropped it off, so I figured I'd drag it in again, just to make sure there wasn't anything potentially useful there. When I saw our son's sliding belts, I immediately remembered a Martha Stewart bracelet made from D-rings and ribbon. So, I thought...why not!

These were probably the easiest makes ever. I just slid the belt on my wrist, estimated large, and then snipped. I then hot glued the edge under and did a stitch to secure it in place. That.was.it. I think they turned out awesome and my preteen son thinks his is so cool. Star one for Mom today! :)

Belt...before

Belts after!

Preteen son's 'wrist wrap'

My bracelet

Best Christmas Gift Ever!

My husband and I always have believed in having big Christmases and we are always on a hunt to find the perfect gift for each other. Normally it is Kevin who is able to pull an idea from nowhere and surprise me with the greatest gift. This year, the cards fell in my favor for once!

We always make a list but this year Kevin couldn't think of something he would love to have. That left me grabbing at straws until one morning while hunting for mountain bikes on Craigslist, it hit me. We had gone white water rafting on the Pigeon River in North Carolina two years ago. I rode in the big yellow raft with our toddler, while Kevin and our older son Taylor each rode in a "ducky", or single person kayak. They had a blast. I began to research kayaks and canoes, immediately realizing that we had no way to transport them or store them. I went ahead to Sports Authority's website just to check out other objects when I saw it. It was perfect: a tandem, inflatable kayak. Class 3 rapids durable, inflates in less than 10 minutes by way of included foot pump, and it all fits in a bag that easily fits into our trunk. It was perfect...until I went to order it. It wouldn't arrive until at least January 10. I couldn't do that...we wouldn't even be able to use it on our winter break! I decided to check the manufacturer with hopes that they at least sold them online. As luck would have it, they did. I could get one used for less than at Sports Authority, free shipping, and a three year warranty...and it would arrive by December 28th. Doable. It was a risk, but I just knew it would be ok.

Blessing #1: it arrived on Christmas Eve at 3:00 pm
Blessing #2: it was in like-new condition, as if it was only a floor model. Immaculate. Better than I could have ever have hoped for. Sea Eagle truly delivered on this product and I highly recommend it. It's funny how many times people stop what they're doing because they've never seen a really sturdy, inflatable, easy-to-use kayak!

We have taken it out four times now (in a private canal, public canal, across a lake, and down a river) and are sold. It is awesome. My husband calls it the best gift ever. I can't wait to take our 12 year old and small dog out in it. Our preschooler fell asleep in it it rode so gently.  It truly is a perfect gift <3

Food! Best S'mores EVER!!

 

For Christmas, my in-laws gave us a great gift: a fire pit. The weather has been beautiful so we picked up some wood and put my husband's high school Outdoor Ed fire building learning to use. The awesome thing about having a fire is that everyone wants s'mores. We had everything ready, until Kevin had a great idea. I put a bag of Ghirardelli peppermint and dark chocolate squares in his stocking. Instead of us grown-ups using yummy Hersheys, we snuck one of those babies on instead. Little did we know it would be instant heaven. It was just enough chocolate and just enough mint to be perfect. Because the squares are thicker, you have to make sure the marshmallows are good a hot, but regardless, there isn't an incorrect way to eat these things. The only problem is that we are down to three squares left...and it's a seasonal product. Hopefully the Ghirardelli at Downtown Disney will have some year-round!

My Project: Small Dog Scarf

Our family was blessed three years ago when we found Chester at our local animal control. He'd been there three weeks; they kept Him longer because of his sweet temperament and after a scare of the kennel contracting distemper, he was ours. I grew up with big dogs, so I never thought I'd be the girl with a chihuahua...in our case a chihuahua/Jack Russell mix, I believe. But, he is our sweet, calm, quiet little boy and I wouldn't trade him for the world. Because he is so small (and truly needs sweaters and such...) I knitted him a scarf with spare fringy yarn I had in the bottom of my knitting drawer. Using size 13 needles and casting on five or six loops, I knitted this little thing in just a bit. It may not really keep him warmer, but he sure is durn cute in it!!

It wasn't easy to take his picture. For whatever reason, when I put it on him, he must have felt humiliated (poor dude!) and I had to say, "Go bye bye!" for the big ears to perk up.  :)