Poppy's Money Tree House

Olive Oil Cinnamon Lip Plumping Scrub

2012-03-09T12:02:00.003-08:00

Spring must be in the air because beauty is on my mind this week! I wanted to share my favorite lip treatment for super soft full lips! It works wonders to smooth those poor winter chapped lips. Whip up this amazing lip scrub in a jiffy!

To make this all natural, effective lip polisher you will need the following ingredients from your pantry ~

For your comparison convenience, I've included links to the ingredients list.

Olive Oil
Salt

Cinnamon

1) Mix 1 tsp of ground cinnamon with 1 Tbsp of olive oil.
Add 1 Tbsp of salt.

2) Stir mixture well. This photo was taken prior to adding
salt. The mixture will look a bit thicker.

~Finished product~
To use, apply to lips and gently scrub in a circular motion.
For maximum plumping action, leave on lips for 5 to 10 minutes.
Rinse with lukewarm water, gently pat dry.
Applied your favorite lip balm and enjoy your
plumped up pout!

For a great gift, give the Sheer Cherry Lip Balm and
The Olive Oil Cinnamon Lip Plumping Scrub together!

Make Your Own Cafe' Mocha Face Mask! Brighten Your Complexion With This Easy to Make Scrub

2012-03-08T13:08:00.002-08:00

This would make wonderful
Mother's Day Gift!

I love great skin care! Nothing makes you feel better than a little pampering, especially when a spa quality treatment doesn't break your bank!

I've been experimenting with a new face mask and have created a combination that I think is amazing. I call it the "Cafe' Mocha Face Mask". It feels wonderful, brightens my complexion and smells good enough to eat!

The ingredients and their benefits in this special mask are as follows ~

For your convenience, I've included links within this text so you can view the items I'm describing.

Ground Coffee - Is a component in many commercial skin preparations. It is a vasodilator which works to firm and tighten your complexion. In fact, it works so well to temporarily smooth cellulite that it could be used effectively on areas other than the face. Coffee is an anti-inflammatory, helpful in reducing redness. Coffee is used in many under eye treatments as it is helpful in reducing the appearance of under eye circles. Coffee is great for maturing skin as it is shown to tighten fine lines and smooth puffy surfaces. (Who wouldn't benefit from that?!?)
Cocoa Powder - Is full of antioxidants (higher in fact than green tea or wine). It is rich in flavonoids which are thought to protect and maintain collagen levels in skin. Cocoa is also a vasodilator, increasing blood flow to the surface of the skin.
Ground Flax seed - Works as a moisturizing physical exfoliant to slough off dead skin cells.
Sugar - A natural source of glycolic acid (known to help increase cell renewal) and a great physical exfoliant.

This mask/scrub will brighten and renew a tired complexion making it a great choice for anyone who needs a little spa pampering! It makes a great gift for that friend that has everything.

See the following instructions to make your own Cafe' Mocha Face Mask ~

1) You will need 1/4 cup each of flax seed,
sugar (brown or white will do), cocoa powder and
ground coffee.

2) If you have not purchased ground flax seed, you will
want to use your coffee grinder to grind the seeds into a soft
powder. I also grind my coffee to a very fine ground, something
like the consistency of espresso

3) Blend your 4 ingredients together well with
a wire whisk or your hands.

4) Your mixture should look like this. You can store in a
pint sized canning jar or other sealable container.

5) To use, add a few teaspoons of milk, water,
buttermilk or yogurt to 1 to 2 Tbsp of mixture.
Mix well.

6) Prepared mask should look like this.

7) Apply to desired areas, being careful avoid eyes.
Should you get some of your mask in your eyes, flush
with lukewarm water until product is out.
I like to gently massage into my face with circular
motions, then leave on for 15 minutes.
Rinse well and gently pat dry.
Follow with your favorite moisturizer and enjoy
your glowing complexion!

Homemade Sheer Cherry Lip Balm ~ Easy to Make, Beautiful to Wear!

2012-03-07T18:24:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite lip balms is my own homemade recipe. It's really simple to make and can double as a sheer blush.

To make this lip balm you will need the following ingredients ~

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly (or generic brand)
Paste food coloring (I use Wilton brand) color "red-red"

a small jar with a lid to store your lip balm in (think sifter jar) I tried to find a sample to link to but couldn't. I just used an old eye cream jar

1) Ingredients ~ You could add essential oil for scent if
you wish.

1) Mix 1 Tbsp of Vaseline

2) With 1/8th to 1/4 teaspoon of paste food coloring

3) Mix thoroughly

4) Transfer to your storage container

5) Enjoy! This makes a great gift too!

For an extra special, lip pampering gift add the
Olive Oil Cinnamon Lip Plumping Scrub to this
beautiful lip balm!

Vinegar Orange Peel Homemade Cleaning Solution ~ Effective and All Natural

2012-03-07T13:20:00.000-08:00

I found an idea on Pinterest for an all natural homemade cleaning solution using just white vinegar and orange peels. I did change the method of preparation slightly.

This cleaner is non-toxic and powerful. It's safe enough to drink (my 12 year old daughter tasted it and said it tastes like slightly sweet pickled oranges).

It works equally well on windows and surfaces. I like the scent of it and the cost savings. Of course, it always feels good to know that I've found a product that is non-toxic for both my children and our environment.

The process is very simple ~

1) Boil 2-3 cups of white vinegar and
pour over orange peels packed into a
quart sized canning jar.

2) Let sit for several weeks OR
to speed up the extraction process,
water bath can the jar for 20 mins,
just as you would pickles.

3) Strain the infused vinegar well using a mesh strainer
Pour approximately 1 1/2 cups of the vinegar into an
empty, clean spray bottle.

4) Add water to fill the bottle.

5) Use cleaner just as you would use any
all purpose surface cleaner. Safe, effective and CHEAP!

Part 2 ~ Do It Yourself Custom Window Film - Beautiful, Easy and Inexpensive!

2012-03-07T08:10:00.001-08:00

I promised you I would share the results of my window film project in my girls room! Without further delay, here it is!

For the bathroom project and beginning instructions that apply to this project, see Part 1.

All you will need to purchase to complete this project is a white Elmer's Painters marker, clear Con-Tact brand adhesive liner (it says clear but it actually looks frosted), masking tape (if desired), and Windex glass cleaner (or other brand).

I do almost all my shopping locally but for your convenience and/or comparison, I've included links to the products listed so that you can see what I'm referring to. I know that a lot of folks shop online now so perhaps these links will be an added convenience for you, if you are one of those "on-line shoppers".

I freehanded most of the project and am very happy with the results, however, I think I may have gotten a bit carried away at the end. It was a good experience and my girls are happy with it!

Photo of window prior to covering with film.
The girls' room faces a heavily trafficked street
with a lot of foot traffic as well. We've been
concerned about privacy issues in the past so
covering this window with a frosted look just
seemed like a natural choice.

1) After cleaning the window, I applied the film
as instructed in Part 1

2) Film applied as shown in Part 1

3) Beginning stages of my freehand creation with the
Elmer's Painters marker.

4) Decorating in process. I love the way the paint looks
dark with the daylight shining through but at night,
it is very white. I think the change in appearance is cool!

Finished view from outside at night!
See, I did get a bit carried away.
Perhaps I should have just left the bottom sections plain.
Oh well! The girls like it!

Top section in the morning light. I left this uncovered except
for the cutouts so my girls can see if it's sunny, snowing or
raining from their bedroom.

Another view in the morning light

Yet another view in the morning light, right top two sections

Bottom sections in the morning light.

Part 1 ~ Do It Yourself Custom Window Film - Beautiful, Easy and Inexpensive!

2012-03-07T05:20:00.001-08:00

Several days ago, I covered my kitchen window with Con-Tact Brand clear adhesive liner cut into diamond shapes (see here) .

While I'm happy with the results, it took a long time for me to complete the project. With some great suggestions, from my husband and a project idea that I found on Pinterest , I gave the window film another try in both the bathroom and in my daughters' bedroom.

I'll show you how the bathroom went in this article. I'll cover the girls' room in my next posting.

I found this project to be incredibly easy and fun! It cost about $3.00 to complete each room. My total expense was less than $10.00 ($5.50 on the Con-Tact clear liner and $3.75 on the Elmer's Painters marker). I still have enough Con-Tact liner to do another window if I make smaller pieces as I did with my kitchen. There is probably enough paint marker left as well.

If I can do this, ANYONE can do this! All you need to give your windows a beautiful custom film look is some clear Con-Tact Brand adhesive liner and a paint marker!

Be sure to watch for Part 2 of this posting. I went a little crazy with the girls room freehanding! It was fun but I may have gone overboard just a bit.......

So here is my bathroom ~

1) Clean window well, taking care that all
dirt, grease, paint, etc. is removed.

2) Cut Con-Tact liner into correct size for area you are
covering. I used a dressmaker's measuring tape to
measure the areas I wanted to cover.

3) Spray section to be covered liberally with
Windex Glass Cleaner

4) Peel the paper back off the Con-Tact liner and
place into position. The Windex will allow you to
move the piece around easily until you are satisfied with
it's placement. This really worked well. Use a plastic
card to smooth the bubbles and Windex out.
If the film is too large, take a razor blade or an Exacto knife
and carefully cut the excess off.

5) Allow window film to sit for a few minutes
to adhere well.

6) Place your stencil (unless you are going to freehand
your designs) loosely with a bit of masking tape.
I stopped using the masking tape after the 2nd stencil
as I began to feel more confident in the process.

7) Using a white paint pen (I used Elmer's Painters) fill in
the desired areas of your stencil. Be careful to not
put too much paint on as it could bleed through below the
stencil. Once completed, remove stencil carefully and
allow paint to dry on the stencil so you don't make a mess
in the next position. It only takes a minute or so for the
paint to dry.

8) Step back and enjoy your new beautiful
customized window film!

View of the window with the curtains.

Do It Yourself Hair Color Weave or Highlights!

2012-03-05T10:57:00.002-08:00

It is easier than you might think to do a color weave or highlights yourself (or for a friend). Salons charge between $50 to $100 on average for this service alone. Add the cost of a haircut and tip to the bill and you can expect to spend about $150 every 6 to 8 weeks!

To do a color weave you will need the following products ~

Desired haircolor(s) and/or hair lightening (bleach) product (I purchased the bleach I will be using for this tutorial at Walmart for $7.00 but you can click on the links above to price products online)
Aluminum Foil - Any brand will do
A rat tail comb
A timer or watch
A paintbrush

Before beginning~

Read instructions on products you will be using. Most hair color or lightening products recommend that you do an allergy test (to make certain that you will not have an allergic reaction) and a time test (to see how long you should leave the product on your hair to get the desired results). Follow manufacturer's directions as indicated in the packaging
Be certain to take contact lenses out if you wear them.
Put on clothing that you won't mind getting ruined. Even if you wear a cape to protect your clothing accidents do happen.
Do not shampoo hair prior to weaving. If your hair has excess buildup, shampoo the night before.
Have an old rag handy to wipe up drips
To prevent temporary staining of your skin around your hairline, you can apply Vaseline to create a barrier.
If you are alternating color with lightener, you will want to create the lightener foils first as the bleach generally takes long to develop.

To help achieve the look you desire, consider the following ~

For a bold, dramatic color weave look choose several different colors. A color several shades darker than your natural haircolor alternated with a bleach lightener creates a very dramatic look.
For a very subtle look, choose a color that is just a shade lighter than your natural color.
If your hair is anything other than a fairly light blonde, you will need to use a lightener/bleach kit to create light blonde highlights!
Hair that is very dark will go through many stages of lightening when using bleach. It will be orange in appearance, then pale lemon yellow prior to reaching the "platinum blonde" stage. For hair that is naturally very dark or has a lot of red in it, hair may not easily reach the platinum blonde stage.
Weave larger chunks of hair for a bold look.
Weave smaller chunks of hair for a more natural look
For less highlights/color weave, only place foils in a row on top of the head from forehead to top of crown.
For more overall highlights/color, also place foils on the sides of the head and farther down the back of the head.
For additional tips check out this really great article @ eHow

1) Tear 15 to 30 strips of foil - approximately 6 inches wide
by 8 inches long.

2) Mix color or lightening product(s) according to manufacturer
directions. However, mix in plastic bowl(s) instead of
squeeze bottle. Use 1 bowl per each color used.

3) Section off strip of hair with rat-tail comb and use tail
to "weave" hair, as shown in this photo.

4) Crease an inch or so of the foil over the tail of the comb
and slide the foil firmly up under the weaved pieces
you want to color/highlight.

5) Brush product on hair that is lying on the foil section.
In this tutorial, I am using a bleach/lightening product.
If hair is long, simply pile up the ends over the other
hair and dab more product on.
Be care to NOT brush product all the way to the root.
It will have a blotchy bled through appearance at the root.
Also, the heat from your scalp will cause the product to develop
faster.

6) Once you have applied the product to the strands,
fold the foil up in half,
then fold the sides in,
then fold up in half again.
To prevent the foils from falling out, I crimp the foil to secure.

7) Finished foils ~ Her hand is on her forehead. I put
approximately 10 foils over the top of her head
and two on each side.
Leave product on hair according to package
directions and/or the time test.
For this bleach lightener, I left the product on her
hair for about 50 minutes. She is a dark blonde
naturally.
Once you've achieved the desired results, follow package
directions for removing product from hair.
We rinsed the product out until water ran clear, then
shampooed.

8) Side view of finished highlights.

Back view of finished highlights.

Different model, same process.

Contact Paper "Frosted Look" Window Covering

2012-03-03T23:33:00.002-08:00

I have a love/hate relationship with the window over my kitchen sink. While the view is great, there is very little privacy. I'm not big on curtains as I love letting the natural lighting in.

I love the view from my kitchen sink and didn't want to
cover the window with blinds or shades. Unfortunately
my front porch is also part of the view. This translates into
no privacy in my kitchen.

A few tips for this project~

Be sure your window is clean prior to applying Con-Tact liner.
If you are applying large panels at a time, I've heard that Windex can be sprayed on the glass first and it will help you move the liner around until it is in the position you want it in.
There may be a less time consuming way to complete this project. My husband suggested that I apply entire panels, then cut out the pieces I want removed. I'm going to try his method soon and post the results. Although this project was super easy, it did take a large part of my afternoon and my entire evening (minus interruptions) to complete.
Consider other shapes to decorate your window with. I chose the diamond pattern for the simple clean lines but I think it would be interesting to try some other designs.

Instead of spending a ton on window film, I decided to use
ordinary clear Con-Tact brand adhesive liner to "frost"
my window. It cost about $5.50 at my local grocery store.

We traced out tons of diamond shapes and cut them out.

I applied the diamonds to my window using a
debit card to smooth out bubbles.

The finished product - a window with semi-privacy that
still allows light into the room! I think I like it and I love
the cost savings over the window films that I priced!

Close up in the morning light

Full view in the morning light

Name Change!

2012-03-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

You might notice the name of my blog has changed to something better fitting of it's focus.

I believe frugal living isn't drudgery but a fun and creative way to live~
Finding ways to live well for less is a forgotten artform and can give you real returns on your investment!

I hope you will all join me in my journey to discover the true meaning of, as Grandma always said, "A penny saved is a penny earned".

Poppy

Easy Homemade Egg Noodles

2012-03-02T10:19:00.003-08:00

One of my favorite ways to make a meal special without spending much money is to make homemade egg noodles. It is easier than you might think to make your own noodles. Your family will be impressed and you can feel good knowing that you saved a little grocery money!

I use my Kitchen-Aid to make my noodles now, as it definitely saves time. I love my pasta roller attachments! But even if you don't have a pasta roller, you can make wonderful egg noodles with just a rolling pin, a knife and some good old fashioned elbow grease.

It really is this simple....

1) Mix 3 cups of flour, 4 eggs, 1 tsp salt and 1 Tbsp water

2) Mix ingredients until the texture of course cornmeal

3) Knead dough with hands until smooth and elastic.
Dough will be very stiff.

4) Cover dough with a bowl or plastic wrap and let
rest for 20 minutes. This will allow the gluten to
develop, making the dough even more elastic.

5) Cut dough into sections

6) Roll dough sections out to desired thickness.
I prefer a thickness of about 1/8th inch.

7) Fold dough into thirds

8) Cut dough into strips of desired thickness.

9) Hang noodles to dry. I use a clothes dryer as a pasta rack
but you can use whatever you have. If you have nothing to
hang your noodles on, you can lay them out on a floured cloth
to dry.

I generally dry my noodles prior to cooking but if you are in a big hurry you can cook them while they are still soft.

I cook my noodles in salted, boiling water for approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Or I cook them in my soup if that is how I am serving them.

See how easy making your own egg noodles really is? Now you can make any meal special!

Dress Transformation - From Dowdy to Decent!

2012-03-01T16:32:00.001-08:00

I have a respectable dress that my dear mother gave to me last year. It's a perfectly good dress but it's very.....matronly.....

Very respectable.....

Without the jacket...
Yawn......

I cut straps off and a little from the arm holes.

I stitched around the armholes to
prevent raveling and made a
1 inch seam at the top
to thread the neck tie through.

I made a tie for the neck
with some old fabric I had.
Then with the same fabric, I
sewed triangular pieces under
the edge of the shortened hem.
For a final touch, I gathered the
skirt slightly at the right knee.

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It's not high fashion but I think it's something that I will wear now!

I challenge you to find something in your closet that you don't like and make a few alterations. I am far from a great seamstress and if I can up cycle an outfit, then anyone can!

A Truly Amazing Acne Treatment

2012-02-29T15:23:00.003-08:00

Like many other people, I struggle with adult acne. I've tried many over the counter remedies, including Pro-Active, with limited success. The ironic thing is that I didn't suffer from acne as a teenager. My acne seemed to be triggered by pregnancy.

Feeling frustrated by lack of results and not wanting to resort to prescription medications, I went on a mad search last year for a natural cure.

In my research, I found that Turmeric is widely used in other parts of the world medicinally and as a beauty treatment. Turmeric is used for acne because of its antiseptic and antibacterial properties that fight pimples and breakouts. It removes redness from acne and other types of scarring, reduces inflammation and evens out skin discolorations.

Turmeric also appears to have cancer-fighting properties as well!

To read more about the benefits of Turmeric click here.

I decided to apply Turmeric topically to the affected areas and take it internally. You can purchase Turmeric for topical use in the spice section of your grocery store. Supplements are sold for internal use, however, I found it less expensive to purchase empty gelatin capsules at my local health food store and fill them with Turmeric from the spice jar.

1) I use turmeric found in the spice section of
my grocery store.

2) It only takes about 2 to 3 tsp each treatment

3) Add equal parts water to ground turmeric

4) Mix well until consistency of prepared mustard

5) Apply to the affected area and leave on
for at least 20 minutes. I prefer to leave
on overnight.

Using Turmeric is simple -

I would caution you that this will stain your skin and your bedsheets yellow. I use an old pillowcase that I can bleach on the nights I apply turmeric topically. In the morning, the staining on my skin is easy enough to remove with hydrogen peroxide.

For me, the turmeric worked an overnight miracle.  The deep cystic acne was brought to the surface, swelling virtually gone.  The hard center of the pimples were very easy to remove with little pressure. (Yes, I know you're not supposed to pick at acne, but the center literally jumped out for me with ever so slight pressure around the pimple).   After some time, I found I could stop using turmeric topically and just continue to take supplements orally.

I believe this treatment is probably not widely used simply because it's messy and stains whatever it comes into contact with. However, for those who are desperate to control or cure their acne, that messiness may seem a small price to pay.

I would encourage anyone who struggles with acne to give this natural remedy a try.

My Favorite Face Scrub

2012-02-28T12:40:00.003-08:00

1) Brown sugar (table sugar will do in a pinch)

While perusing Pinterest today, I was reminded of some effective homemade beauty remedies. My particular favorite is one that I use often, 4 to 5 times a week in fact. I love my brown sugar face scrub! I have several variations but my all time favorite is a simple mix of

2) Add 2 tsp of buttermilk to 2 tbsp of brown sugar
Mix well

And

Brown sugar is a natural source of glycolic acid, a chemical used in many beauty products. Buttermilk is a natural source of lactic acid, which is also used in many skin treatments. My mother tells me that her grandmother put buttermilk on her skin before bed each night, using it as an overnight treatment. She says that Great Grandma had beautiful skin!

3) Massage onto skin carefully with
circular motions and leave on as desired!
Rinse well with warm water. For an added treat,
soak a cotton ball with buttermilk and apply as
you would a toner. Let dry and rinse well!

Bell Bottomed Jeans

2012-02-27T09:44:00.001-08:00

I've been down with the flu for over a week now and was beginning to get a little stir crazy. I decided a little altering might make me feel better so this is what I did with my Saturday afternoon.

1) I took an old pair of jeans and replaced the pockets with
some from another old pair. I never liked the way the pockets
on this pair looked...too small.

2) I then made slits from the ankle to the knee on both sides
of the pant leg. For my leg this was about 15 inches.

3) From another old pair of jeans I took rectangular pieces
15 inches in height with a base of approximately 6 inches.
I pinned right sides together and stitched in place.

4) After stitching triangles into place, I turned right side out
and pressed with my iron. Impressive flare!

My husband said I need to iron these a
little better to get the right look but I'd say
my first stab at bell bottoms was a success!

Groovy Baby!

Another Upcycled T-Shirt!

2012-02-17T09:40:00.001-08:00

I had so much fun altering some of my clothing several days ago that I wanted to try it again!

This creation was made with an old t-shirt that belonged to my teenage son and a crocheted halter top that I never felt completely comfortable wearing.

Old T-Shirt

I cut these sections off of the shirt

I pinned approximately 1 inch seams on both the front
and back of the new neckline and stitched.
The sides were left open to allow
string to be threaded through.

I used the bottom strips cut from
the t-shirt to thread through
neckline.

Strips cut from the crocheted halter
top were pinned and sewn to the
bottom of the t-shirt.

Finished spaghetti strap tank!
It was so easy to make. I
think it would be a super
way to make sundresses for
little girls!

I can't take credit for this idea, only the details. I found this idea on Crafter Hours .
Check out their tutorial for better instructions than mine.

Thanks Crafter Hours!

Upcycled Clothing!

2012-02-16T13:03:00.001-08:00

I've been in a shopping mood lately. It doesn't happen often but once in a while I feel a strong urge to buy some new clothes. I normally talk myself out of the shopping trip to avoid spending a ton of money.

Because I've been blessed with hand-me-down clothing from friends and my mama through the years, I rarely "need" anything in the clothing department.
Sometimes I just want something different.

To satisfy the shopping urge, I decided to look through my own closet to see what pieces could be recycled into a "new" item. These are a few items I altered into new pieces

I love the fabric but hate the way the shirt fits. I feel
like I look like a clown in this shirt.

I unattached the sleeves, hemmed around the
arm holes and took in the sides by 1 inch
each to take some of the bulkiness out of this
blouse. Now I feel good wearing it!

I cut an ordinary t-shirt up the middle of the front.
I then cut the neck band off.

Then I pressed a 1 inch seam up the front both sides
and around the neck. I stitched, leaving both ends open to
allow me to thread a string.

Voila! After threading a ribbon through the seam and
cinching it up, I now have a really cute little jacket!
I'll probably change the ribbon color but other than that,
I'm thrilled with the idea!
Thanks, Cut Out and Keep for the great idea!

My next project involved another old t-shirt

And a white blouse that I love but have
stopped wearing due to a tear in the left shoulder

I turned the t-shirt into a strapless tube style top by
cutting off the t-shirt from the armpits and above.
To prevent the tube from falling down, I ran elastic
through the seam above the bust.
I then stitched the bottom part of the white blouse
under the waist hem of the t-shirt.

I took the salvaged ties from the white
blouse and strung old buttons that
were my grandmothers.
In this photo I have the belt up under my
bust.

In this photo I'm wearing the
belt at my waist.

This garment is long enough I
could probably wear it as a summer
dress!

I had so much fun tapping into my creative side yesterday! Now I have a whole stack of garments I'd like to put my own touch on!
If you've got basic sewing skills, you can have fun making your own clothing creations! I'm not a great seamstress and I found this very easy and fun.

Cast Iron Cook Ware

2012-02-10T14:00:00.001-08:00

I have always loved cast iron cookware. Just the sight of a beautifully seasoned cast iron skillet invokes warm memories of my grandmother's kitchen. My grandmother always had a pot of coffee brewing and something cooking on the stove. Her home was so welcoming. I remember that Grandma always seemed to be genuinely thrilled to have a drop-in visitor. My mother also made our home a haven with her excellent home cooking.

One of my favorite skillets
My grandmother fried chicken often in this skillet.

Cast iron was often the cookware of choice in both of these dear ladies' kitchens. One of my earliest memories in the kitchen was that of my mother explaining to me that one must always dry cast iron thoroughly to avoid rusting. Mom always put her cleaned cast iron skillets on the stove top over low heat to dry.   She rubbed oil on her cast iron pans periodically to help keep them "seasoned".

Since I've grown up, I've discovered that not only is cast iron durable and beautiful, it may offer health benefits as well.   Apparently cast iron adds a certain noticeable amount of iron to foods cooked in it! This makes sense but it's nice to have professionals in the health care field confirm it.

When seasoned properly, cast iron offers a fantastic non-stick surface which makes it a great choice for sauteing and frying.   Well cared for, cast iron will last virtually forever.   It's very simple to care for your cast iron.

My baby decided my largest skillet
made a great place to sit!

Remember these simple maintenance tips -

Use plastic or wooden utensils to avoid scratching the seasoned finish
Don't store food in the pan. This can cause your "seasoning" to break down.
Don't soak your cast iron in water. (I've let mine soak for a bit when food is really cooked on but I try not to let it sit in water any longer than necessary)
Don't wash your cast iron in the dishwasher
Don't put cold water in a very hot cast iron pan. It could cause cracking. This is something I've done many times and luckily didn't experience cracking but the potential exists. Now that I know this could cause breakage, I won't be doing THAT again!
It isn't a hard and fast rule but I try to never use soap on my cast iron. I just physically remove the food debris and rinse. Since I dry my cast iron on a burner, I feel any bacteria that I might be concerned with will be killed in the process.

My smallest skillet next to my largest skillet

Seasoning your cast iron is really very easy.   Whether you've purchased a new "unseasoned" pan or have an old pan that needs seasoned again the process is the same.
1) Coat the entire surface of your pan, inside and out, with vegetable shortening and place in a 275 degree oven for an hour or two. It will have a smell, so don't be alarmed. I don't find the odor offensive but I suppose I associate it with a good thing so it doesn't bother me.

2) Take out of oven and wipe off any excess shortening.   You may wish to line the bottom of your oven with foil or put a baking sheet under the cast iron in order to catch any drips of liquefied shortening.

One of the visual appeals of cast iron to me is that there are often markings from the manufacturer.   Most products of course have a manufacturer's marking but for some reason I can't explain, I find the markings on cast iron incredibly beautiful.

Chicken Fryer

The Leibster Award

2012-02-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

Today, I received the Liebster Award from Barb at Grandma Barb's This and That . Thank you Barb! You are a dear lady!

She is an amazing artist both with decorating and photography. There really is something for everyone on her blog! When you get a moment, please do stop in to say hello to her!

This award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers, in the hopes that it will bring many new friends/followers.

Leibster is German and means 'dearest' or 'beloved' but it can also mean 'favorite'. The idea of the Leibster award is to bring attention to blogs with less than 200 followers. So, in the spirit of good fun I am passing this award on to five other bloggers. Please stop by and visit them.

The Rules are:

1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

2. Reveal your five picks for the award and let them know.

3. Post the award on your blog.

4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogshare-other bloggers.

5. Finally, and the best rule of all - Have fun and spread the love!

My 5 picks in no particular order are:

1. Laurie at When the Bough Breaks
She is an an artist who is learning to adjust to vision loss from a brain injury. She is an amazing artist and a writer that will touch your soul. Her blog has many photographs of her beautiful work.

Warm wishes from Kansas!

2. Chicken Mama at The True Tales of a Lady Homesteader
Chicken Mama is one tough lady living off-grid on a 40 acre homestead just 700 yards from the Canadian border. Her nearest neighbor is 13 (driving) miles away. Chicken Mama shares her adventures with a sense of humor and I am in awe of her!

3. Julie at Mooberry Farm Homesteading Journal

She is mama to eight children and shares her large family's homesteading adventures. I've found many wonderful ideas and recipes on her blog!

4. Heather's Blog-o-rama

Heather is a real lady with a love for crafts and money saving ideas. She has some very helpful ideas on her beautiful friendly blog.

5. Ngo Family Farm
The Ngo family is living and sharing their dream on their small 2 acre farm in Colorado. They invite you to join in their journey as they work to live off their land, one step at a time. Ngo Family Farm has many great recipes and ideas for living.

So please take a few moments to visit these blogs, say hi, and follow them. We all like to have new followers and get acquainted! Thank you for your sense of community!

Thinning Tomato Seedlings

2012-02-08T12:30:00.000-08:00

I'm not thrilled when I must thin my seedlings. It feels like I'm harming my children somehow. I know, that's a bit dramatic of me but still, it feels wrong to determine which plants will be allowed to live and which ones must die.

My husband would likely argue (and he would be right) that if I were to plant LESS in each pot, I wouldn't have to remove them. After all of these years of gardening, I'm just still so afraid that my seeds might not germinate, so I tend to plant too many per pot.

In a previous posting, I shared with you how easy it is to start your own tomato plants.

Today, I'm going to show you how easy it is to thin your tomato seedlings.

As you can see,
some of my pots have up to 5 seedlings in them

Very simply, cut out the smaller or weaker seedlings,
keeping placement in mind. I reduce down to two seedlings
per pot. I attempt to allow ample space between the two
remaining seedlings in the pot. It isn't difficult to "cut" the dirt
in half once it's time to transplant to the garden, so long as the
seedlings aren't too close together.

The reason you will want to cut the seedlings instead of pulling them is to avoid disturbing the delicate roots of the neighboring seedling.

Thinned down tomato seedlings

Sourdough Bread

2012-02-07T14:45:00.000-08:00

1) Mix 1 cup of starter with 2 cups of water &
2 cups of flour.

2) Let rest in a warm place until bubbly.
This is referred to as your "sponge"

3) Reserve 1 cup of your sponge
as starter for your future bread batches.

4) Cap your starter loosely and refrigerate.

5) For each cup of sponge, add 2 cups of flour.

6) Add salt - approximate 2 tsp per 1 cup of starter

7) Add sugar if desired.
I use approximately 1 Tbsp per cup of starter

8) Mix and knead until smooth and elastic.
Let rise in warm location until doubled.

9) Shape into loaves.

10) Place in greased pan(s) to rise.
When doubled in size, bake in 375 degree oven
for approximately 30 minutes.

11) When done loaves should sound hollow
when tapped. Let cool for 10 minutes in pan
prior to moving to cooling rack.

12) Slice, butter if desired and watch bread
magically disappear!

For instructions on how to make your own sourdough starter see my posting here -

http://poppyjuice-poppy.blogspot.com/2012/02/genuine-sourdough-starter-tutorial-no.html

Some important things to note -

* Sourdough starter becomes more potent both in it's leavening abilities and in it's sour taste with frequent use.

* Patience is key with sourdough. It may take longer to rise than bread leavened with commercial yeast. On the flip side, I've had sourdough perform just as well or better than commercial yeast. So, watch it carefully and expect it to take a while.

*Remember to save starter out of your sponge each time for next use. Don't be afraid to experiment with the ingredients you add to your sourdough bread, just be certain to take your starter reserve out of your sponge PRIOR to adding other ingredients.

* If you make bread at least once a week you shouldn't need to feed your starter. If you don't make bread that often, you will want to feed your starter by stirring, pouring off about 1/2, adding equal parts lukewarm water and flour. Cover loosely and leave at room temperature until starter begins to bubble. Then return to refrigerator.

* A good rule of thumb when figuring how many loaves you will be making is to use one cup of starter with 2 cups of flour per loaf. You may need to add more flour. In fact, it is better to start with less and add a little flour at a time until smooth and elastic.

Happy bread making! Feel free to share your favorite bread recipe.

Genuine Sourdough Starter (Tutorial - No Commercial Yeast Added)

2012-02-07T13:58:00.000-08:00

Most recipes I have found contain commercial yeast to make a sourdough starter. I love to try to do things the old fashioned way if possible so I searched until I found this method in Carla Emery's "Encyclopedia of Country Living".

Sourdough is simply wild yeast that you've captured from the air around you.

1) Mix one cup of flour with one cup of water.
Set, loosely covered in a warm place.

2) Check your starter daily.
In one to three days it should begin to bubble.

3) It will begin to have a sour yeast smell.
It will also have a darker liquid separate.
Don't be alarmed - just stir it back in.

4) Mix starter with 2 cups of warm water and 2 cups flour.
Stir well.
This is your "sponge",
the beginning step to making your sourdough bread.

5) Loosely cover and
let sit in a warm place until bubbly.

6) Save one cup starter for your next batch of bread.

7) Cap starter loosely. I poke holes in a mason jar lid for ventilation. Store in a cool location.

See my next posting for instructions to make sourdough bread.

Hope this helps!

DIY Microwave Popcorn (Share from fellow blogger Nicki's Kitchen)

2012-02-04T12:39:00.001-08:00

Our family loves popcorn! It's a tasty, economical snack, especially when you make it yourself. You can control the amount of salt and butter that you put on it. You can also choose the type of oil that you pop it in.

Use olive oil to pop your corn for a healthier alternative

I've tried many different oils and discovered that olive oil works well for us. It tastes really great and we like knowing that we are choosing a heart healthy oil.

I don't add butter, just a little sprinkling of salt and the popcorn tastes great. I'm guessing the salt sticks to the traces of olive oil on the popped corn.

We have a popcorn popper that pops very well using only a tablespoon of oil to pop a nice sized batch.

Before our microwave bit the dust (we haven't had one for over a year now and surprisingly, don't miss it!), we would buy microwave popcorn.   Despite the expense, it was convenient. I always felt slightly guilty though when I would read the unhealthy ingredients added to the microwave bag.

Making Microwave Popcorn With A Lunch Sack -

This morning, I found instructions on a fellow blogger's site to make microwave popcorn with a brown paper sack.

Please click here to view her easy to follow instructions -

http://nickiskitchen.blogspot.com/2012/01/pop.html

It appears to be as simple as 1) putting a 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels into a brown paper lunch sack, 2)folding the bag up to secure end, 3) putting the bag into your microwave and 4) pushing a button!

You don't add butter or salt until after the popcorn has popped so you can completely control the amounts! Isn't that an awesome thing?

I do hope you'll visit Nicki's spot and view her instructions, as mine are not complete.

I hope this was helpful! And as always, I really appreciate your feedback.

Handmade Dish Scrubby! Great Way to Use Old Plastic Produce Bags

2012-02-02T21:53:00.000-08:00

I have been saving my old potato and orange bags for quite some time. They are the sturdy plastic or nylon style and I figured they would be good for something. I just hadn't figured out what that would be until I read a posting on Mooberry Farm Homesteading Journal blog.

http://www.mooberry-farm.com/2011/05/cute-dish-scrubbies-from-recycled-onion_28.html

Mooberry Farmwife has a great tutorial on how to use recycled onion bags to make dish scrubbies!

I decided to give it a try, but since I don't crochet, I used dental floss and a cross stitch needle to stitch around the edges. This is how I put my dish scrubby together -

You will need at least 2 large bags per scrubby

Insert bag(s) inside other bag(s)
Roll firmly as pictured above

Fold the scrubby in half length wise (not folded yet in photo above)
Using a cross stitch needle threaded with dental floss beginning stitching around the edges.

Stitch as desired around the edges
I used what is called a "blanket stitch". I think.....
If that isn't the correct term, feel free to let me know.

My 10 year old daughter, happily trying out the new scrubby!
The verdict is in and it works well!

We are happy with the results and think we could also use these materials to make awesome bath scrubbies! Perhaps we'll give that a try soon.

Thank you so much Mooberry Farm Wife for the great idea!

Truly Amazing Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

2012-02-01T20:09:00.005-08:00

Okay, here is the skinny of it - I've completely stopped using my dishwasher since the manufacturers took out that amazing chemical(s) called phosphates. I know, it's bad for streams or something like that but my dishes were horrible when I used the phosphate-free stuff!

So, much to my children's dismay, we've been hand washing our dishes for nearly a year now. It wouldn't be so bad but we have a big family PLUS we operate a daycare in our home. This translates into a LOT of dishes! I've been telling my kids that it's not so bad but secretly, I've been not liking the hand washing method so much either.

Lately, I've been on a search for less expensive, more natural homemade cleaning product recipes. I've found a laundry soap recipe I really like. I tweaked a homemade softener recipe until I felt satisfied with it. I found a scouring powder recipe that I changed ever so slightly and think it's nice. But nothing compares to my excitement over the homemade dishwasher detergent recipe I found on DIYNatural.com http://www.diynatural.com/simple-effective-jabs-homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse-agent/

As usual, I didn't have all the ingredients so I had to change it just a bit. The original recipe in the above referenced recipe called for Kosher salt and citric acid. Also the amounts were different.

I made my dishwasher detergent like this -

Mix equal parts salt, Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, and Borax
(I used 1/3 cup each just to make a small amount)

Mix well and store in airtight container

Use as you would any powdered commercially available dishwasher detergent. I also put vinegar in the "jet dry" compartment to help as a rinsing agent.

Two of my girls holding a still damp bowl from the dishwasher. The youngest is just happy but the older of the two is smiling because the bowl is clean and NOT greasy! To her, this means Mom will stop making them hand wash all of the dishes! This is great news to a 10 year old!!! This is great news to Mom too!

I must say, I've been pretty excited about my new discoveries lately but this tops all! I wanted to post this tonight so I didn't take the time to figure the cost but I suspect it will be much cheaper than store bought dishwasher detergent. I'll figure it out soon and post a follow up.

I do hope you'll let me know if you try this recipe and how it works for you!

P.S. I've had some folks say that they couldn't find Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. I did find mine at Walmart but you can find it at Soap.com (see link on my sidebar).

Homemade Orange Peel Scouring Powder

2012-01-30T23:26:00.000-08:00

My mom sent me a link to a homemade grapefruit peel scouring powder. I didn't have grapefruit but I do have a ton of oranges right now. So, I thought I'd put my own spin on it.

The link to the original is on Crunchy Betty's site which you can check out here - http://www.crunchybetty.com/the-great-grapefruit-scouring-scrub

Here is my stab at a scouring powder -

1) Cut up the peel of two oranges - let dry until brittle

2) It will take a day or two to let the peel dry. When done it will look something like this....

3) Grind peel in your coffee grinder or food processor until soft and powdery.

4) Mix 1/3 cup each of 1) orange peel, 2) borax, 3) baking soda and 4) washing soda

5) Poke holes in a canning jar lid to make a shaker top

6) I soaked my sink in coffee to get it really stained up

7) I scrubbed for a minute or two and rinsed clean

My opinion of this scrub - I liked the way it cleaned the stains up, even though it took a little more elbow grease than Comet or Ajax would have. I did notice that the grayish scratches from pans didn't completely come off.

I would definitely encourage you to try this recipe if you would like to save a little money and use simple household ingredients that you have handy.

I'm going to give Crunchy Betty's recipe a try as well. It differs in proportions and doesn't include washing soda. I'd love to hear from you if you've made her recipe!