RadiCool Life

Make Your Own Labels Using Ephemera

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:16:00 +0000

I have this obsession with ephemera. It's old. It's cool. Somebody made it without a computer. The Graphics Fairy has some great stuff. I have to get a look at her beautiful finds almost every day.

Lately, I've been getting things together for Christmas. I know it's early. Since I am a teacher, I try to get my shopping done over the summer. This summer, Donna was out of town, and had me harvest her mango crop. 130 HUGE mangos. We had a mango factory going at my house! I was calling my girls, to come over with kids in tow, and help! We made Mango Jam, Mango Chutney, Mango Rum Sauce, Mango Glaze, and Preserved Mangos in apple juice. Plus, last winter I had made a bunch of Cranberry Relish.

For all my hard work, I wanted some personalized labels. I found this label over at the Graphics Fairy.

Oh, yea. I like. Now, I am no computer whiz. In fact, I don't like using Photo Shop. So I put this label into Power Point. Did come cutting and pasting and came up with this:

How I did it: I changed the image to black and white and then cut and pasted pieces of the original label (resizing as necessary) to make the top and bottom portions of my label to allow for some personalization.

One note, once you get everything where you like it select all (Ctrl + A) and then right click to "Group" it. Now you don't have to worry about messing it up!

I tried to choose a font that was close to the original. Then I added text boxes. Once I made the label, I saved it in JPEG format. I saved the original in Power Point so that I can go back change it for future use!

Finally, I printed it on sticker paper, dipped it in strong tea to give it an aged look, let it dry, cut and affixed my labels. I was pretty happy with the end result. I also wrote up some recipes on how to use each item to include.

Christmas for the extended family...done!

Our Atelier (or Learning Studio)

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:00:00 +0000

We have finally (almost) finished the Atelier. We plan on starting home school next school year with THE Princess. So, this summer our major project was the Atelier. My budget for the entire room was very limited. In fact, the most expensive part was the new ceiling fan/light fixture.

If you have been to our home, this was a downstairs back bedroom with a 1/2 bath attached. We called it the Blue Room and I had it full of toys. RM, his brother and cousin painted it for me during the first week of summer while the kids and I were at VBS. We had to buy 1 gallon of KILZ Premium Primer, but all the other paint, we had on hand.

Below is the north wall. I made a freezer paper stencil on burlap ($3 on sale at Hancock Fabrics) and hung it on a frame I already had. The two small pictures I picked up at a yard sale for $1 and painted the frames red to match the room. Everything else I already had. The table is made from a door that we found under our house and my husband refinished. It sits on sawhorses. I had some old curtains that I trimmed and hemmed (not really, I duct taped them) and hung with Velcro to cover several big red bins of dress up clothes that are housed underneath.

This is my high up table. It's a place for artwork to dry and for me to do some prep work. I have many of my resource books and some crafts on top...I made the cups that hold the pens and markers from old glass bottles that I cut and smoothed with my bottle cutter.

Beside the high up table is an old school desk bought at a church sale that I painted to match. THE Princess likes to sit there and do her "work." Behind it, is a large red frame (I am looking for a mirror for this spot actually, but for now the frame works) I got at a flea market for $1 and painted. Finally, I found the sign that reads, "I believe in make believe" from Old Time Pottery, $5.

This room has 2 doors coming in and out. So I have a clear plastic shoe organizer hanging on each one. This one has all kinds of school supplies. Next, I made a calendar with a map I found in an National Geographic magazine hanging on a old tack board that I, again painted the frame on. I use post-it notes to make the calendar each month. I found the red pocket chart at the Dollar Spot at Target. Next to that is an old mailbox that used to hang next to our back door, I painted that red, too. The red art work was just plastic and I bought it for $1 at the same sale that I got the school desk from. Yes, I spray painted them red, too.

I really wanted to order the Montgomery Shelf from Pottery Barn Kids, but when I showed it to my hubby, he insisted on making it for much less. In fact, he added an extra shelf and made it larger for me. Total cost, about $60. I already had the paint for it on hand.

Most of the baskets and items on the shelf were found at yard sales or thrift stores. I pay no more than $1 for them. I also cover large cans or oatmeal containers (top left shelf) in decorative paper and Mode Podge to hold supplies. And, now that THE Princess is into board games, I've been picking them up at yard sales for $1, too.

In the corner, is the Science Center. I bought an UGLY Sponge Bob TV for $5 at a sale and the stand it is sitting on for $2. Painted both. I still need to put a new pull on the stand. The TV is for a kid friendly microscope that hooks to it. THE Princess will be getting that for Christmas this year. I had the picture of Jesus and a child that just seemed to need to be in this room. I also have two bags hanging on the wall. They are for the kids to put their library books in.

I had the small red art table that is in front of the window. It's a good height to have our science things on. I made the window treatments with no sewing...just fabric glue and an old shower curtain. I used cheap blinds from Big Lots to make these Roman Shades. (You can find some good directions for them on Lifehacker.com).

I've had the chest for many years. It's old and crappy. I painted it a few years back. I added some graphics with a paint pen to spruce it up a bit. All the stuff on top, I already had on hand.

We made an art corner, with the easel and some supplies. The heart on the wall is made from silk roses. The bookshelf was passed down to me and I pained it. It is our resource library of field guides and reference books. It also holds a flower press my dad made for me years ago. Above it hangs a "boondoggle" made from a dried palm leaf. It is supposed to keep your house from being struck by lightning...or so says the little old cracker lady that wove it.

Finally, the big craft table in the middle, was formerly on my screened in porch. I painted all the oak (I really don't like oak) red and did the same to the chairs. I already had the pillows but did splurge and buy new chair cushions. I love this table because it's big and has great toy storage underneath.

It's not all the way done. I still have some curtains I may hang and hardware to put up, but it's done for the most part. The kids and I have had a ball playing and working in it already. I tallied it up the other day, and my guess is that I have less than $350 in the whole room, including the new fan/light that was $100.

Summer Projects....still not done

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:52:00 +0000

This summer, I decided to redo my 70's style dining room set. I've looked all over the place and haven't found something that a) I like better, b) is large enough for the room, and c) is sturdy and durable. Actually, my parents bought the set I have when they got married in the 70's. It's a Stanley set and I have always liked it. Last year, when we painted the dining room red, I added red trim (to cover the previous orange). This summer, I got froggy and decided that it was time for a total makeover.

I haven't done the hutch yet. It is in the original condition. Although, my sweet hubby measured the glass for me and we have some old bubbled glass cut to replace the yellow. All I have to do is paint it. [Right?]

I am thrilled with how the chairs turned out! They've been painted (not perfectly) and recovered. I love to recover chairs...it's instant gratification for very little money! I think I paid about $12 for the fabric and $10 for the batting (of which I have much left). I had the staple gun and Scotch Guard.

So, I think I can get the hutch done in a weekend....I just need a babysitter.... ...Mom, are you reading this???

No, I didn't think so.

Getting Ready for the School Year

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:18:00 +0000

THE Princess and I sat down yesterday to talk about getting ready for school. Every year, I've been trying to make school year goal(s) for us as a family and also individually. THE Princess and I talked mostly about what chores she can do this year. Here is what we came up with:

Feed and water the dog and cat.
Setting the table for dinner (plates, silverware, napkin & cups).
Practicing her Triple Play (bible memorization) during dinner.
Clearing her own place and 2 more items from the dinner table.
Sorting the laundry by color and putting it into the washer.
Helping fold laundry.
Putting her own clean clothes away.
Picking up the Atlier before bed.

KOTJ (15 months) has some goals, too:

Helping to put wet clothes into the dryer.
Helping mom pick up the family room before bed.
Dishwasher helper. (The kids loves putting stuff in and out of it.)

What do you think? Too much or not enough?

Summer Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:50:00 +0000

One more week of school for us! Lately, I've been thinking about our plans for summer.

We are starting with VBS during the first week of summer.

We'll be swimming every week, we plan on using our Cypress Gardens passes on Mondays or Thursdays.

Free movies are Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10 am. So, we'll probably see a couple of those.

We like to picnic (for breakfast) at Bok Tower Gardens, so we'll probably go on an adventure there about every other week. Early mornings (they open at 8am) work for us, it's still pretty cool at that time.

We'll head to Savannah at the end of June for Uncle Matt's wedding! THE Princess is the flower girl! We'll be stopping in St. Augustine on the way back.

Other adventures we are planning are to MOSI, Explorations V, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sweetfield Farms, and a trip to DeLand to see my sister graduate from Nursing School. While there, we'll probably visit Blue Springs State Park.

Any exciting plans for summer?

Ketchup Centrifuge

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:55:00 +0000

You know that last little bit of ketchup (or BBQ sauce) left in the bottle?

How much money would you save if you could use it up before you pitched it? My husband has come up with his next million dollar idea.....the ketchup centrifuge!

Yes, he left the clean clothes in the washer...this kind of killed me....what if the lid came off??

If you know my hubby, then you know that he also plans on weighing the amount of sauce and figuring the cost value for it. This gives me yet another reason to put off going for groceries!

I love these fun facts! Although, I am not sure I believe them all...

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:42:00 +0000

Stewardesses' is the longest word typed with only the left handand 'lollipop' is the longest word typed with your right hand.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

Dreamt is the only English word that ends in the letters mt.

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

The sentence: 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' uses every letter of the alphabet.

There are only four words in the English language which end in 'dous': tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: 'abstemious' and 'facetious.'

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds .

A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

A snail can sleep for three years.

Almonds are a member of the peach family.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.

Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!

Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.

The cruise liner, QE 2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid .

There are more chickens than people in the world.

Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.

Mother's Day Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:24:00 +0000

This year, all the mother's in our life (great grandmothers, grandmothers, etc) will be getting a jewelery charm with my kid's silhouettes in them. I figured out how to make them using my digital camera and photo editing tools.

I also made some for framing in my own home! Fun!

Easter and a 1st Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:04:00 +0000

KOTJ is 1. Officially. My baby is a little boy now. We had a great day. Easter, birthdays (Cousin J is 2!), family, food and fun. It is what it's about. Not work. Not money. Not stuff. Time together.

It was a great day! Thank you, Jesus, for providing for us once again. Our God is an awesome God.

The Birthday Girl!!

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:15:00 +0000

Here's a quick picture I snapped this morning of the birthday girl in her birthday outfit (I made the top with 2 bandanas and some ribbon). 4 years old today!

What do you want to teach your children?

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:00:00 +0000

I'm blogging over on Motley Moms today about a running list that I have....a list of things I don't want to forget to pass on to my children. See what you thing...and let me know what I should add!

A Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:53:00 +0000

Anyone up for a challenge?

I would like to propose one....who can use the LEAST energy in a month? We take a picture of our electric meter on day 1 and then again weekly for a month (or it could be ongoing through the summer). The family who uses the LEAST energy wins a treat of your choice from me.

Treats could include:

1 homemade, award-winning, apple pie (made with my own secret recipe)
homemade freezer jam
a home cooked dinner
an evening of babysitting
something else??? I am open to ideas!

Anyone game?

The Dreaded Mom Jean

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:52:00 +0000

This is an absolutely HILARIOUS guide to avoiding "The Mom Jean." Read it. Seriously.

Motely Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:00:00 +0000

I am blogging about some crazy fun kid's stuff over on Motley Moms, today. Click over and check it ou!

Standoff...

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:48:00 +0000

I publish over on Motley Moms on Tuesdays. Today is the story of the laundry standoff at our house. I am not sure how these things happen, but they seem to happen to me. A LOT!

Go on over and have a laugh at my expense. It's fine, really.

Yummm!

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:22:00 +0000

KOTJ, I could eat those cheeks. Or that little nose. Or those curls!

His Daughter

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:17:00 +0000

Gettin' Big

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:25:00 +0000

KOTJ is gettin' big!

In fact, discipline for him has started. I have to use the "mother" voice. And it just kills him. It reduces him to a sobbing (sometimes screaming) mess. Both of my kids are pretty sensitive. THE Princess more so than KOTJ. But they both take discipline pretty hard. KOTJ will walk up to something that he shouldn't touch and turn to look over his shoulder at me and grin.

Of course, I want to smile back. I want to tell him how darling he is. Alas, I am THE MOTHER. So, I make a bad face and use the 'mother voice' to tell him no. And he bawls. And he doesn't touch it.

We don't have a lot of things within his reach that he can't touch, maybe two. I try to set my kids up for success. So, discipline has begun. I don't think he'll be as compliant as THE Princess. He's a second, and they typically act opposite (bad) for attention from the parent.

I am a positive discipline momma. One great book is, Love and Logic Magic. In fact, they even have a resource for Early Childhood which has techniques that are easy to implement. Excellent, excellent parenting resources. These have kept me from screaming. Most of the time. Seriously.

Order Tomorrow for March's SHARE Box

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:20:00 +0000

Now that we are taking some time away from OAMC, I'll be stocking up with SHARE. Tomorrow morning (from 8-9am) is the pick-up time for February's box. I ordered the basic which includes:

Potatoes
Cauliflower
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Baby Carrots
Lemons
Apples
Oranges
2.5 lbs. Chicken Roaster Drums
1.25 lbs. Fish Portions w/ Crispy Breading
12 oz. Canadian Bacon
1 lb. Italian Meatballs
1 lb. Italian Sausage

Next month, I'll double up with:

The Basic ($18.50):
Produce Pack
1 lb. Chicken Tenderloins
1 lb. Center Cut Boneless Pork Chops
13.8 oz. Pre-fried Breaded Fish Tenders
1 lb. Ground Beef 85/15
12 oz. Orange Chicken Egg Rolls

and I'll choose from these options:

Easter Spiral Sliced Ham $21.50
9 lbs. average spiral sliced ham

Easter Special $27.00
12-14 lb. Turkey, Cranberry Sauce (canned), Stuffing, Gravy, Green Beans (canned), Corn (canned), and Pie PLUS Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

10 lbs. Chicken Breast Fillets $18.70
approximately 40-4 oz. IQF raw seasoned chicken breast fillets

Combo Pack $11.75
2-5 oz. Sirloin Steaks, 2-4 oz. Boneless Pork Chops, 2-4 oz. Chicken Breasts, 4-4 oz. Hamburger Patties

March Select Items

1 lb. Chicken Tenderloins $2.55
1 lb. Center Cut Boneless Pork Chops $2.80
13.8 oz. Breaded Fish Tenders $2.50
1 lb. Ground Beef 85/15 $2.25
12 oz. Orange Chicken Egg Rolls $1.90
1 lb. Coffee Regular $8.25
1 lb. Coffee Decaf $8.25
1 lb. Coffee Hazelnut $8.75
2 lbs. RTC Chicken Nuggets $5.00
1.25 lbs. Fish Portions with Crispy Breading $2.40
12.5 oz. FC Jumbo Smokies Smoked Sausage $1.85

I'll get the Combo and probably some of the pork chops. We got the pork chops a couple months ago and they were excellent! I always get the chicken nuggets for my little ones. Plus, those chicken breasts look like a great deal.

Will you be SHARE-ing this month?

Spring Peeks Through the Clouds of Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:10:00 +0000

"Just living isn't enough," said the butterfly. "One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

Hans Christian Anderson

I've been thinking of starting a small garden in the backyard this year. In Zone 9/10, now is the time to start. February is the month to plan beet, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, endive, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, pea, potato, radish and turnip. Late February is time to plan beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumber, eggplant, luffa, pepper, pumpkin, squash, tomato, and watermelon.

We'll see how much ambition I have. :-)

Weekend Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:28:00 +0000

For my valentine, a hand crocheted heart. ($0.25)

Signed books, gifts for my dad ($2.00 for both).Wizard hat for the dress up box ($0.25), bunny ears for an Easter basket ($0.10).

Apron ($1.00)

Counted cross-stitch for my collection ($3.00).

Silver candle holders with snuffers ($5.00). I thought these were incredible!

Mom picked me up a old kitchen tool, to take corn off the cobb ($0.10).

Embroidered hankies ($0.25 each).

Old cookbooks, I totally love reading these! ($0.50 each).

A fun weekend of finds!

Public Service Announcement (Very Important)

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:08:00 +0000

This is the toilet paper holder in the STAFF bathroom at our school. It looks normal, just like it would dispense TP in a regular and normal way. But, no. At my school (and I suspect schools around the district) the TP Gestapo has managed to install toilet paper holders that are a real problem.

You see that little silver knob? It conveniently stops the TP from unrolling when the gray plastic bar turns around. It stops your TP cold. No, the roll won't turn on the gray thingy (what is that thing called?) because the TP is so cheap that it just rips. (And, just an observation - it's rough, too!)

So, when you have to go you race to the staff bathroom between classes (you have 5 minutes to get there and back to your room). You do your business as fast as you can and then you fight the TP holder to get 2 little squares at a time. And, I understand the students needing this gadget in their bathroom. They could get TP crazy.

I am a college educated and modern woman. There is no need to withhold TP from me and others like me!

I am sure you are asking why it is that I don't just take the TP off? It's because you can't! It's locked on by the custodians. It is communism, or socialism, or an -ism of some sort. And, it's just not right!

And, I am not embarrassed to have just walked right into the bathroom to take these pictures this morning. I feel better now, at least until I have to use the bathroom again!

This Old House Gives Some Money Saving Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:08:00 +0000

This Old House is giving away some great money saving tips on their website. We are going to have to institute some of these immediately. Check out this great article!

Sometimes...

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:28:00 +0000

Sometimes I think I will do or be something really really great. And I don't and I'm not. Dang it.

Smashed Apple Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Bryssy) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:01:00 +0000

Over the weekend, I tried a new and fast recipe, Smashed Apple Pie. I am somewhat of an apple pie snob. I really, really, really do not like canned apple pie filling. The store bought kind. It is just nasty to me. And, to be snotty about it, I have won an Apple Pie baking contest with my secret recipe. But, it takes a long time to make a truly award winning apple pie.

My mother-in-law sent me a cookbook and I saw the recipe. It's quick and easy. First, use two frozen pie crusts. Then, take 5 or so apples (no need to use Grannys) and chop them up with the skins on. Add about 1/2 cup of coarsely chopped fresh cranberries (this gives your pie tartness without a cranberry taste). Use 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 3/4 cup cinnamon sugar. Let it all sit together for about 30 minutes. Then, dump the filling in and cover the top of the pie with the second frozen pie crust.

Sprinkle the top of the crust with cinnamon sugar and pinch the edges. Cook at 350 F for about an hour or until you smell apple pie all through the house and you are done! I was pleasantly surprised about the tart flavor and tastiness. It's not an award winner but it is WAY better than a store bought pie.

And, I only got one piece. A certain husband of mine, who shall remain nameless, must have thought it was okay. It was totally gone the next day.