{Tub Makeover}

Alright ladies {and gents?}. I like to think that I am a very crafty lady. Realistically, I probably am not. At all. Well, at least I don't use my creativity very often. 

So when I get the itch to get artsy fartsy, I have to seize the opportunity. When a friend of ours was moving out of his apartment, I took advantage of the spare shower rod. I had some sheer curtains laying around, and though...well, why not? This particular tub doesn't have a shower, so it is usually neglected. Although I have now discovered Dr Teal's lavender Epsom salt. Epsom salt is really great for relieving stress, sore muscles, and helping to remove toxins. There's a little mason jar full beside the tub, as well as an amazing lavender candle. Just add warm water and a light the candle, and I have instant relaxation.

Anyway, I think this idea would look really nice with colored sheers, but alas I only had white. {Sorry for the lack of picture quality.}

Today my sweetie and I have been getting excited about having some friends over. He's excited because of some silly football draft {I know, it is serious...not silly}. So it'll be good to have friends over to barbeque, and just hang out. The weather here feels like there is a hint of Autumn, which usually means it's time to see more of family and friends.

{DIY Soap Dispenser}

diy soap dispenser

These are just the cutest!! I found the jars on sale at a local craft shop, and just had to make this. I love when my mountain man can use his power tools, and I can class and craft the project up. So, you'll need a ball jar and a foam pump. I say foam pump, because I know you can make your own liquid soap or buy large refills for liquid soap. I'll post my recipe once I've tried it. I think this would be even cuter if you can an old vintage ball jar. 

I 

Using a drill, puncture a hole. Using a pair of needle nose pliers, tear the metal off just

 until the pump can go in.If you have a more sturdy lid, you should be able to use the 

drill to really make a bigger hole.

II

Using super glue {or epoxy} to fasten that pump on there.One of the stems of my pumps were too long, but I didn't bother to cut it. We'll see if I regret that choice...but for now it's fine!

Insert your soap and enjoy! I love how it holds more soap than
what I usually buy in the store. Overall, pretty easy. Special thanks to my sweetheart!

Earlier today we started our weekend off with a loverly walk. It was perfectly sunny, still warm but a bit cool in the shade. I love taking walks together, since it gives us a chance to talk about any frustrations, or maybe even think about some future goals and dreams. This time, he was going to show me the 'telescope' that exists on our old school campus. I still don't believe him, because we never found it. We even got a little bit lost. About two or three miles in, we got really thirsty. I didn't grab water before we left, because someone was in a hurry to get going before it started to get super hot outside.

Well, we regretted that decision greatly at the two mile mark. At that point, my sweetheart started talking about selling my car key for some water. Almost sounded like a good idea at the time. Finally, we were finally only a mile away. Why does it seem like the closer you get to home, the more urgent your need becomes? Like when you're stuck in traffic less than a mile from you house, you have to use the loo that much more. Anyway, we gulped some water down and got onto our next weekend adventure! Except this time, we brought water.

{Apartment Jungle}

pre-pollinated

Gardening is one of my favorite stress relievers. & watching everything grow has been amazing.

I have a 6+ foot tomato plant I'm growing in a 48" or so pot. We've enjoyed 14 tomatoes so far, and should have another 13 in a few weeks! See, you can grow some of your own food on an apartment patio!

 

So I'm also trying to grow a watermelon plant. I read online you can train them to grow up a trellis. I think you're supposed to do that with 8-10 pound watermelons. Mine should grow to be 25. I can only hope!!

The trick to growing watermelons in an apartment/town house, is that you have to hand pollinate the flowers. Really? it's not difficult, as long as you can catch a female flower blossoming. I had two, and they blossomed on a perfect sunday morning. The very next day-there's a melon growing! 

One of the watermelons is still thriving. The other shriveled up. Maybe because of lack of water, I'm not sure. Either way, I would expect to be able to have my first summer watermelon by mid October. Hope it doesn't frost before then.

An {Apartment} Watermelon's Life

July 21

July 30-Hand pollinated the day before

August 3

August 7

The Other One August 7

August 18

Well, I'll have to find a new hobby for Autumn...

{diy...laundry soap!}

How is it only Tuesday? Seems like it should be Thursday.
Then again, school starts again Monday...so maybe I can wait.

So, it has never made sense to me why I use products that have ingredients that I can't even pronounce. What's so special about it, that I'm willing to pay that much? Seems like I don't have a choice...most of the time. 

 Well, I've had enough. Starting with laundry detergent, I want an earth friendly, cheap soap that I can make myself. Even better, I want to know what the ingredients are and it should be easy.

Now that I have had a chance to test out my soap, I really like it! My clothes are clean, and they don't have a funky smell, which is always a plus. I admit, I don't have a problem using a little bit of softner. Especially the downy UNSTOPABLES. They are incredible. I washed my sheets this past weekend, and they still smell like fabric softner! My darling hasn't complained yet, so I think that's a good sign too.

 ingredients.
1 c Arm & Hammer® Super Washing Soda
1 c 20 Mule Team® Borax {NOT boric acid}
1 shaved 4.5 oz bars of Soap {I used dove, because I have sensitive skin. You can use ZOTE, Ivory, Fels-naptha, or try whatever you want.}

 I

 Mix together the ingredients. 

Add 1 tbsp to each load. 2 for soiled laundry.

Enjoy!

This entire batch only cost me $4.10, for about 40 loads. That's only .10 per load! Tide with a Touch of Downy - 150 oz is .17 per load!

So I probably won't be taking a cruise with my savings, but definitely worth trying! It is also supposedly safe for HE washers and septic tanks. Why? Low suds for HE washers. No fillers and it's non toxic for septic tanks. More info, and credit here.


Washing soda helps to deodorize, but fighting grease and stains is the primary purpose.

Borax is a natural stain remover and an alternative to bleach, because it’s an anti-fungal/anti-mold and all-around disinfectant. It's also good for hard water. Coupled with regular soap, it greatly increases cleaning power.

Fels Naptha is a stain remover. {I think I'll try this next time}

Have you tried making your own? Is there another recipe I should try?

{I scream, you scream...}

we all scream for ice cream!!!

my mom reminded me the other day about how my sister and I made ice cream in coffee cans. lots of work, but so delicious. 

thankfully, this recipe is waaay easier!

my sweetheart and I have worked well over 45 hours this week, and he's actually at work right now. on top of taking a final exam, I'm so beat. I think I slept for nearly 12 hours today. tonight might just be pizza and movie night, because I'm so lazzzy.

I have tried to be productive though, and tried to make bread. the yeast wasn't doing much yeasting, so I gave up. but the recipe did call for applesauce, so I made that. really easy too.

I'm sure you all noticed the new link above to recipes. just another way to keep track of them. I'll be changing the layout a little bit as I get inspired.

this week I'm off school, so hopefully I'll be catching up even more at work. but hopefully I'll still get some time to hang with J, and some friend time too.

I hope you all enjoy the recipe below! I will admit it is not low calorie, low fat, low deliciousness. but I don't believe in that kind of food anyway, so put on your elastic pants.

  Credit

ingredients.

2 c heavy cream, very cold

1 (14 oz) sweet condensed milk

2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Any other mixin's

 I

In your stand mixer with whisk attachment on high speed beat your cream until it becomes stiff, approx 1 min 30 seconds.{If you don't have an electric mixer, like me, be sure to skip working out your arms at the gym. I took about 10 minutes or so of whisking to really see a change in the cream. It is a noticeable change.}

II

Fold in your sweetened condensed milk

If you are adding in extras, do that now.{The original author uses fluff, and chocolate covered graham crackers to make smores ice cream. I was in a vanilla thrilla kind of mood. And my sweetheart is really only a fan of vanilla...} 

III

Transfer to a container with a lid and freeze for 6 hours.{Don't be stubborn like me and try to cover it with plastic wrap.}

easy peasy! I've been enjoying the ice cream in coffee floats. my Dad always has coffee at 3:30, and says, "Happy 3:30." it can really bring some optimism into a bad day. give it a go sometime. 

cafe mocha, a la mode

{Stuffed French Toast}

I'm really excited for a few days off of work. Even if it's just to study. I need a break.

I've also been working on a lot of fun house stuff that I'll post as soon as I'm done. 

The home for the homeless is starting to look like a real apartment. & it's only taken a year.

Clearly, I should just retire. I'm looking forward to retirement, and I'm only 23. Seriously.

My little garden is growing quickly! This is the time of year to plant your fall plants, so hop on it! 

I'm attempting to grow cucumbers. My sweetheart really loves them, so fingers crossed. 

Btw, he still hasn't tried tomato pie. I should just give up. 

I made this recipe on Sunday. Über good! Credit!

egg mix.

4 eggs

1/3 c of heavy cream or 1/2 n 1/2 {I used 2%}

1 tsp of orange zest {I only had lemons, so that's what I used. I don't have a grater either, so I skinned just the yellow part and tried to chop finely.}

1/4 c of orange juice

1/2 tsp of vanilla

1/4 tsp of nutmeg

1/2 tsp of cinnamon

2 tbs of sugar

1/4 tbs of salt

stuffing.

4 oz of cream cheese {I actually used more, like 5 oz.}

1/4 c (or more!) of blueberries or your berry choice {I actually used more like 1/2 c}

8 slices of bread

2 tbs of butter

I

Lightly whisk the egg mixture together

II

In a seperate bowl, mix together cream cheese and berry of your choice

III

Make four sandwiches with your yummy mix.

IV

Dip each of the sandwiches in the egg mixture. Be sure to flip them & cover all sides completely. Let them set on a plate and soak in their yummy goodness while you prepare a skillet.

waiting for the skillet!

V

Heat your skillet over medium-low. This is where you're going to use your butter - or pam. I'd say use about 1/2 a tbs of butter per sandwich.

VI

Cook 3-5 minutes on each side, to warm the yummy cream cheese.

yum!!

Hope you all enjoy! It as fun, and filling. I even had some for lunch, woops!

{Homemade Poptarts}

Warm, sweet poptarts first thing on a saturday is the perfect way to start off the weekend.
The original directions were really vague to me, so this is what I did. But here's the original idea.

pastry.
Pie crust, refrigerated or homemade {I used frozen}
Jam or Preserves   {I used Jam}
Glaze or Egg wash (I used glaze, but there's a link to egg wash}
Sparkling sugar
glaze.
1 c powdered sugar
Milk to thin 

I

Defrost pie crust, or make it.  Preheat oven to 425 {The original recipe said 

450, according to the author. I followed my pie crust instructions and did 375.}

II

Unroll one of the pie crusts and spread it slightly thinner than a pie. Cut rectangles into the dough. I used the leftover dough pieces to make another poptart.

III
Fill with the rectangle with some jam, and then top with another rectangle.  

IV
Crimp all of the edges, or the jam will leak!

V
Bake for about 7-8 minutes or until they are slightly brown.{It took me close to 10.}

VI
Now let them cool. 
While they're cooling, make your glaze or egg wash. I chose glaze. To make it, take some powdered sugar and just barely add any milk. Keep mixing and add little amounts of milk until it looks like really thick syrup. I don't think I used a whole cup of powdered sugar.

VII
Now that they're cooled, pour some glaze on and top with sparkling sugar!

Enjoy with a side of chai!

That's a lot of steps for something that turned out to be pretty easy. 

The sparkling sugar is a great buy, I originally bought it for cake pops. 

Have a great Monday!