Prudent and Practical

Back Online?

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:06:52 +0000

I have had some issues with the blog lately and haven’t been able to figure them out… until now? This is a test post to see if I can get things going again!

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Creating Pillow Covers

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:12:32 +0000

Pillow covers are easy to make and can be completed in an evening. Plain covers can be customized with just a few additional supplies. The measurements I used for my pillows:

The pillows are 12.5″ x 12.5″, so the front panel of the pillowcase will be 13.5″ x 13.5″. You add one inch to your pillow size.
The two back panels will be 13.5″ x (12.5 / 2 + 2.5) = 8.75″ each. The back panels will be 13.5″ on two sides. On the other two edges, you take the size of your pillow (12.5″), divide by two and then add 2.5. This gives me 8.75″.
So the front panel is 13.5″x13.5″ and the two back panels are 13.5″x8.75″.

Gather all materials: thread, fabric, batting, and of course your pillow!

I marked a line 3/4″ from the edge on each of the back panels.

Fold over raw edge.

Then fold over again to hide the raw edge.

Stitch shut.

Here’s what the edge looks like when you’re done.

I rounded the corners a little bit for a better fit.

Overlap the two back panels and sew to the front panel.

Flip the cover inside out and voila! Pillow cover!

This is what the finished back looks like.

Stay tuned to see how I embellished the pillows!

Pillow Makeover!

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 02:55:16 +0000

We’ve been working on turning the basement into an entertainment spot. I’m working on the decorating details with D and he’s working on the wet bar by himself which is currently 90% done. We’ve been keeping track of the process so those posts will be coming soon!

My parents gave me a nice green plaid living room set when I moved into my second apartment. It’s still in excellent shape but it obviously doesn’t match our red-ivory-black contemporary theme. We’ve slipcovered the couch but the four green pillows needed their own makeover. After deciding on a pretty red suede-type fabric, I followed the instructions at Cottage Magpie. She has an excellent tutorial which is the same way I was taught to make a pillowcase in middle school!

The red color wasn’t enough for me so I had to embellish them. I put our first initial on two of the pillows, a different colored stripe of fabric on one, and a cute flower for the last one. The DIY Dish shows you a couple easy and chic ways to embellish your pillows. The pattern for the flower I used is on their site.

Before

After

The great thing about these pillow covers is that they were so easy and I got them done in one evening!

Happy (Belated) Halloween

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 03:39:59 +0000

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween. We had 50 trick-or-treaters on Thursday evening, which is when my town decided to have Halloween.

I don’t like to purchase pre-packaged costumes because I don’t like how they feel and then I feel like I’ll only wear it once. Of the five Halloween’s we’ve spent in this house, we’ve been around and dressed up for three. Year one I dressed up as a pirate, year two I dressed up as Slash from Guns ‘n’ Roses, and this year D and I dressed up as the Super Mario Brothers. All of these costumes can be mostly made from items around the house. For Slash and the Mario Brothers, I purchased inexpensive hats and embellished them myself. And aside from the hats, the entire costume can be reused! D looked so awesome as Mario that he plans on dressing up as him every Halloween now.

Costume:

Overalls. If you keep an eye out, you can find them at thrift stores for cheap if you already don’t have any. I found khaki colored ones and dyed them blue.

Long sleeved shirt. Red for Mario or green for Luigi.

White gloves.

Work boots/shoes.

Hat. Instead of buying the official hat for $20, I bought a newsboy hat for $5 and cut the letter emblem out of felt to glue on.

Optional:

Mustache. We had them but decided against wearing them. You can also draw on a mustache.

Power flower. Spray paint a $1 dollar tree stem/bunch so it’s red, yellow, and white. This took only a minute to do.

And now for the finished product…

Spiced Apple Quinoa

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 05:04:08 +0000

Quinoa is a seed that has the texture of a grain. It contains all eight essential amino acids, is high in protein, calcium, and iron, has a decent amount of fiber (3 grams per serving) and is gluten free. I waited so long to try quinoa because it was touted by the health foodies and I was thinking, “Something so good for you, can’t possibly taste that great. And I don’t want to waste money by trying something I may not like.” I finally gave in because it has been getting more popular where I live.

Before cooking quinoa, you need to remove the natural bitter coating (saponins) by soaking it in water. Run cold water over it and gently rub the seeds together. It is more beneficial to also soak the quinoa over night in water:

Author of Nourishing Traditions, Sally Fallon, explains that all grains contain phytic acid in their outer layer. The acid can combine with minerals in the intestinal tract and block their absorbtion, which can lead to mineral deficiencies and bone loss. Soaking for as little as seven hours allows enzymes to break down and neutralize phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors… Not technically a grain, but the fruit of the Chenopodium family, it [quinoa] has superior nutritional properties. All quinoa products should be soaked – Andean Indians recognize that the antinutrients in quinoa are neutralized this way.

Uses for Quinoa

Quinoa’s taste and texture are similar to rice. It feels lighter in the mouth and tastes a bit nuttier. Use two parts water to one part quinoa.
Eat it plain or with some butter, salt, and pepper.
For breakfast, add honey, maple syrup, a little milk, nuts, and/or dried fruit to cooked quinoa.
For lunch and dinner, use quinoa in place of rice. For a different flavor, use stock in place of water when cooking the quinoa.
Quinoa can be found at any health food store. If you’re skeptical about the price, get a small amount from the bulk bins to try before you buy a larger amount.

Hot Apple Quinoa

Ingredients:
½ cup quinoa
½ cup brown rice
1 apple, cored and chopped
1 tsp ground cinnamon, cardamom, or a mix of both
2 cups water
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons dried cranberries or additional raisins
2 tablespoons chia seeds (These little guys are filling, high in Omega-3s, and high in fiber. A little goes a long way!)
2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

Instructions:
1. In a pot, combine quinoa, rice, apple, cinnamon and water.

2. Cook until water is absorbed (like cooking rice).

3. Stir in dried fruit, seeds, and honey.

Thanks for visiting! If you’re interested in more recipes you can check out my food and recipes pages. If you want to know what I’ve been up to this week, visit my front page. To stay up to date, subscribe via RSS or subscribe via Email.

I’m also participating in the following link-ups today! You can find many more fantastic recipes here:

Tuna Treats

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 02:52:30 +0000

I’ve done quite a bit of experimental baking lately. The animals, all five of them, have really enjoyed it as well. Mrs. Klutzo (that’s me) frequently drops stuff on the floor. I guess I get a little too enthusiastic To reward them for taste testing all of my creations, I made them some new treats . Now that I’m done being sarcastic, here’s a recipe for the cats, and yes, the dogs enjoy them too!

Ingredients:

1 – 6 ounce can of tuna
1/4 cup water drained from tuna
3 tablespoons cooked egg white, chopped
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat flour

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
The original recipe says to add ingredients in steps, but I just dumped it all in a bowl at the same time and mixed it up
Knead into a ball and roll to 1/4 inch thick
Cut into cat-sized pieces
Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes

Note: The original recipe says that this will make 12, 1-inch cat cookies. Not only is 1/4 inch really big, especially for your cats mouth, how is he or she going to eat a 1″x1″ morsel? I rolled my dough thinner and made them 3/4″x3/4″ and no, they would not eat the treats because they were so big. Three cats, two of them will literally eat anything the dogs eat, none of them would eat them at this size. I ended up cutting the treats into quarters and that worked for them. These store well in an air-tight container in the fridge. Oh, and if you roll them out thinner and cut them smaller, this definitely makes a lot more than 12 treats!

Thanks for visiting! If you’re interested in more recipes you can check out my food and recipes pages. If you want to know what I’ve been up to this week, visit my front page or subscribe via RSS!

I’m also participating in the following link-ups today! You can find many more fantastic recipes here:

DIY Curb Appeal: 7 Simple Steps to Clean Up Your Exterior

Mon, 10 May 2010 13:52:24 +0000

DIY Curb Appeal: 7 Simple Steps to Clean Up Your Exterior

It doesn’t take a landscaper or designer to make your house look good on the outside. All it takes is a little organizing, arranging, cleaning and upkeep and you can achieve a gorgeous exterior. Here are a few simple and inexpensive tips for increasing your curb appeal this spring. Set aside a
Saturday for some shopping to pick up the items you need and execute your curb appeal plan on a Sunday.

Step 1: Sweep it Up
Get out your broom and start sweeping! Sweeping your porch can make it look much better. Whether your porch is brick or wood, sweeping removes dust, dirt and other fine particles from your porch. If you have the time, give it a quick rinse with a garden hose.

Step 2: Hang Flower Baskets
A flower basket or two can give your house a great boost. For under $20, you can add charm and life to the outside of your home. Select a flower color that will complement the color of your home. Avoid selecting flowers that are in full bloom. While they look great at the store, it’s a sign that
they’ve been there for a while. Instead, select a basket whose flowers are starting to bloom and bring them to life at home.

Step 3: Trim Shrubbery
Take a few hours to trim the bushes and shrubbery around your home. If you don’t have trimming equipment, ask a neighbor if you can borrow his. You don’t need to be skilled in shrubbery trimming to make your bushes look good. Simply even them out and it will make a huge difference. If minor landscaping is really not your thing, hire a landscaping maintenance service for a one-time spring cleanup. For about $100, you can get your shrubbery trimmed properly.

Step 4: Paint
A fresh coat of paint for your porch is one of the least expensive ways to increase your curb appeal. For a quick job, paint the posts and rails in an exciting new color to complement your brick or siding. Alternatively, paint the entire porch or siding. You’ll probably need to set aside an entire
weekend just for that.

Step 5: Clear Clutter
Homeowners often don’t realize how unsightly small items around the perimeter of the house can look. Remove garbage and recycling bins from the side of your home to the back. If you store bikes, tools, hoses or other items around your home, move them to the back. For under $50, you can
purchase a hose holder that can be affixed to the wall of your home. Your property will look more orderly and have a lot more appeal without a hose lying on the driveway or lawn. Don’t forget about porch clutter. Get a plastic container to store balls and other clutter you may have around your
porch.

Step 6: Lighting
Low-voltage outdoor lighting is a great way to add some light to the outside of your home, as curb appeal counts at night too. There are several different options, from a porch light to driveway lights or various landscape lighting. The least expensive option is a porch light. Visit a local home improvement or gardening store for a wide selection of different porch light styles.

Step 7: The Extras

. Mailbox – If yours is old and worn, replace it. There are some really great innovative and creative mailboxes on the market. See what you can find in your area to add some color and life to your porch or yard.
. Address sign – Make your own or get some fresh new numbers.
. Porch mat – Give yours a rinse or buy a new one on sale.

Marcy Tate is a blogger at Networx. She has been working with lawn care service providers for over a decade on ways to increase curb appeal.

More Pancakes!

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:00:18 +0000

I hate the word diet. There are multiple phrases that bother me. ”Are you on a diet?” What diet are you on?” “I need to go on a diet.” Someone asked me in January, “You look great! What diet are you on?” I froze because I wasn’t on a diet. I wasn’t trying to do anything special. So I said, “Um, just eating natural foods and fruits and veggies.” That’s not a diet, it’s a way of life. Since then, the coupon experiment has been in full swing and I’ve gained 10 pounds. I’ve been thumbing through Nourishing Traditions again and slowly putting changes back into my life. I’m ready to start eating well again!

With some things I go all out and jump right in, but food is a different story. I ease my way into any changes I make with what I eat. I also start with the fun stuff, aka dessert type foods and drinks. Ironic, right? I feel that if a more healthy or nutritious dessert or sweet recipe tastes good and makes me feel happy (and passes D’s approval), then I become brave enough to try the more interesting things. So I started with pancakes from Nourishing Traditions.

This recipe needs to be started the night before to allow for the soaking of flour.

Author of NT, Sally Fallon, explains that all grains contain phytic acid in their outer layer. The acid can combine with minerals in the intestinal tract and block their absorbtion, which can lead to mineral deficiencies and bone loss. Soaking for as little as seven hours allows enzymes to break down and neutralize phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors.

Pancakes

2 cups – ground spelt, kamut, or whole wheat flour. So far I’ve only tried this recipe with spelt.
2 cups – an acidic liquid like buttermilk, kefir, yogurt (or 2 cups filtered water plus 2 tablespoons whey, lemon juice, or vinegar)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons melted butter

Yield is 16-20. This recipe can successfully be halved.

Soak the flour in the acidic liquid in a warm place for 12-24 hours.

In the morning (or 12-24 hours later), stir in other ingredients and thin if needed with water

Cook on a hot, oiled pan

Easy and delicious! (My pretty pancakes ~ these turned out great, even though I have a tendency to burn things!)

The verdict:

These pancakes are fluffy and delicious. D and I prefer the taste and texture of these pancakes to the boxed powders. And although we both enjoy vegan pancakes, I think it’s safe to say we like these more! We both like strawberries on the side with them. D tops his with butter and maple syrup while I like mine with cashew butter and just a hint of syrup or honey. Yum! Even if the whole idea of soaking has you confused and it looks like a lot of work, it’s not. And it’s totally worth trying!

I’m also participating in the following link-ups today! You can find many more fantastic recipes here:

Ultimate Blog Party 2010!

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:13:58 +0000

I’m going to use this opportunity to say I’m back! For the past three months I’ve felt down in the dumps and unmotivated. One thing happened in January and it just kind of snowballed. I’m trying some amino acids from the health food store – I think it’s a combination of that and the beautiful weather that we’ve had lately here in southeast Iowa that’s helping. Things are looking up and I’m happy

If you’re a subscriber or frequent visitor, thank you for sticking around! I really appreciate it!

So to help with my “return,” I’m participating in 5 Minutes for Mom’s Ultimate Blog Party 2010! If you’re visiting from the UBP10, welcome! In short, I like to write about recipes, crafts, and home improvement and diy projects. Want to know more? Check out my about me page. If you’re interested in what I write about, subscribe via email or RSS feeder. Leave a comment and I’ll return the favor, I enjoy meeting new people and finding new blogs!

And to give some link love to the giveaway bloggers, these are the prizes I’m excited about!

It would be great to have a laptop that is quiet and that I can travel with, so I’d love 5 Minutes for Mom’s Toshiba laptop giveaway!
I enjoy essential oils and I’d like to try the Young Living Roll-On Stress Reliever from Oils for Wellness.
I buy a lot of books off of Amazon so, The Product Review Place’s $25 gift card would be helpful!
Other prizes I’m interested in include: US73, US74, US75, US87, US88, US112, USC8.

Anyway, go check out the blog party! Fun times!

Fun Party Punch

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 06:49:48 +0000

Spring party season is coming up and it’s time to start planning! This will make a tasty addition to all the baby showers, bridal showers, and graduations coming up. I got the following recipe for a fun party punch from my mom who got it from one of her coworkers. It’s super easy and tastes good.

This is one of those recipes that don’t have specific measurements – it’s pretty much up to the maker. There is a happy medium and you’ll find it!

The recipe calls for just three ingredients:

2 quarts prepared fruit drink (for example – KoolAid… I made mine raspberry flavored)
A container of sherbet/sorbet of coordinating flavor (I used raspberry sherbet)
2 liters 7-Up

Pour fruit drink so it fills about half of a punch bowl.

Next, little by little add in the 7-Up – this is where you taste test. The right amount will taste like fizzy KoolAid – not too little that it tastes like flat flavored pop and not too much that it tastes like 7-Up.

Add a few scoops of sherbet/sorbet…

(Sorry for the messy photo – this was New Year’s Eve and we had some friends over!)

It will melt….

And finally give a frothy look to the top of the punch while adding some more flavor! Fun, easy, delicious!

Thanks for visiting! If you’re interested in more recipes you can check out my food and recipes pages. If you want to know what I’ve been up to this week, visit my front page or subscribe via RSS!

I’m also participating in the following carnivals today! You can find many more fantastic recipes here: