A Simpler Life

Recycling Candy Wrappers

2012-04-05T10:06:00.001-04:00

I have always loved this idea , with all the candy and what not the kids get for Easter and any other Holidays this is a useful and recyclable blessing. If you have a child this is a must to make since they go thru purses often. Simply ask your children to save the wrappers for you , of course you will want them to be as careful as possible so perhaps only the older children would be best to ask. Once you have your wrappers , candy , chips or even cookie Bags decide what size you would like to make your bag , clutch or wallet. I have seen many on the internet but most are not very fashionable my goal was to make something fashionable as well as functional. Keep in mind this is a clutch it is not meant to over stuff causing excess stress on the seams just as with any bag , purse and so on.
Please be sure to read the entire Blog before starting , there is a trouble shooting section following the instructions and I really urge you to read them before beginning.

In this Blog post we are going to make a simple , stylish and functional clutch.

You Will Need :

Wrappers ( Pressed Flat either by ironing on a very low heat or pressing in a book or under a heavy book or box , trim edges insuring you get a straight edge )
Duct Tape ( comes in many different Colors these days )
Double sided Duct tape ( if sewing plenty of alcohol to wipe the needle to get the glue off as you sew)
* Optional : Ribbon or Rope ( many different things can be used for handles or shoulder strap if desired)
Scissors / Crafting Knife
Ruler
Cutting mat
Pattern ( here is the pattern I used from Country Living : http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/data/Bagtemplate.pdf )

What to Do :

1. Tape one side of a cutting mat over lapping the tape as you go along.

2. Lift tape from cutting mat.

3. Place the tape sticky side up.

4. Carefully place candy wrappers onto tape.

5. Trim any excess tape.

6. Place pattern on what is now your fabric and cut out the pattern

( I adjusted this pattern to a smaller version ( not shown here ) , to do this simply trim to the size you desire following the printed pattern going in an inch at a time to insure you get the size you want . You can measure with a ruler or eyeball it as I did. )

Clutch :

Stick on Velcro does actually adhere well.

Once the pattern with the candy wrapper fabric is cut out find your fold it is the dotted lines on the pattern. Or it can be done by placing the front and back together and folding the top over. You might want to press it with a heavy book , I used a box with mason jars in it and let it sit for a day or two. Now take the front and back facing each other and use the double sided tape to adhere the front and back along the seams or as I did sew them together ( If you do sew either on the machine or by hand get your rubbing alcohol out and a rag or cotton balls and be sure to wipe the needle often , this is to remove the glue that will attach itself to the needle as you sew. Also if you use your machine you may want to oil the sewing machine when you are done since alcohol is a drying agent and can remove the oil from the machine. ) Once it is sewn or taped together turn it right side out and press again with a very heavy book or box. Now you can add velcro or a button , if adding a button you can easily cut a button hole in the front. With the duct tape you will not need to worry about fraying there simply isn't any.

Trouble Shooting :

You may have a few seams come apart when turning right side out. In this case simply measure your seam and cut a piece of duct tape to secure the area. No , this won't work all the way around on the inside since you are going to have a rounded corner not a square one.

If the thread breaks while sewing on the machine it means your needle is gummed up with glue from the tape. Take the needle out and clean it with the rubbing alcohol , just remember to go over the area where the thread broke. I personally wiped every few stitches while sewing , it takes a little time but does work and allows you to have the rounded corners as will the double sided duct tape.
Many sites will say to use glue guns , super glue , and all kinds of glues. They will not adhere well if at all and you will not get a secure bag in the end.

Homemade Buttercream Frosting

2012-04-04T10:46:00.000-04:00

I would post pics with this but we finished the cake last night , yet my little girl wanted me to post the recipe because she loved it so very much. Using only the things I had in the house I came up with this recipe based on one I had learned some time ago. Now keep in mind that cooking is an art/craft , no really it is (lol). I don't usually measure much of anything unless I am using a new recipe. I like to eyeball it and taste as I go , so here's my recipe.

Homemade Buttercream Frosting :

2 sticks of salted butter
Powdered Sugar
Real Vanilla extract
Sour Cream
Milk

Place butter in large mixing bowl and let soften. Once soft beat butter til creamy , add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and a splash of Vanilla and mix with mixer on low increasing the speed to med. Add more powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time as it stiffens add 2 large spoonfuls of Sour Cream , continue to mix adjusting the speed up and down while adding more powdered sugar and a small splash of milk until it is smooth enough yet stiff enough for frosting. Store in the fridge until you are ready to frost. The sour cream gives it a cream cheese like flavor and is perfect for any cake.

For those who HAVE to measure everything :

I added aprox. 2-2 1/2 c. of powdered sugar , aprox. 5-6 tbs. milk , aprox. 1tsp. maybe a little more of Vanilla and aprox.1/2-3/4 c. sour cream. these are all aprox. and not meant to be exact. As I said I tend to eyeball things when cooking and I encourage you all to change it around as you see fit. If you don't have any sour cream you can always sub. cream cheese or leave them both out and make using more milk to get the desired consistency.
Let me know if you like it and how easy or difficult it was for you. Happy Cooking :)

MIA and Raised Bed Gardening

2012-04-01T18:25:00.000-04:00

Yes , I have been MIA for some time now about 4 months to be exact. Many things have been taking place in my life since that time. Dealing with the Holidays of last yr. being one , the cold weather taking it's toll on me in respect to the fact I tend to shut down during the winter months and recently my adopted father passed away and my mom came to live with me. So as you can see I have been busy and letting nature take it's course with me.
I am BACK!!!! LOL in full force and with many new and exciting ideas , tips , tricks and so much more.

One of my latest projects has been to build a raised bed garden , now we were very lucky to find a kit at a very affordable price from the HOME DEPOT , but you can use many different things to achieve a raised bed. Some people use old tires ( although these days unlike our great grandparents have many , many chemicals so I really don't recommend them ) , bricks , cement blocks or left over wood can all be used. One of the most interesting things I have seen recently is a garden made totally of 2 liter soda bottles , so you see as always get creative and use what you have at hand.

From Pergola Nurseries FB Page

Living in Florida I have no real soil to work with so a raised bed garden was the best solution , now keep in mind this means purchasing soil as well as all the other needed items such as bug spray , fertilizer and since we live in a such a humid environment fungicide as well. Many of these are organic and some can even be made at home with such items as simple dish soap , cooking oil and vinegar. The choice is yours to make when it comes to the things you use. I myself try to be as organic as possible but even I have to use a bug spray that will kill leaf miners and although most people say they do little damage to a plant I am here to tell you they are wrong when it comes to Florida. I have lost more tomato plants to these little pests then I can even list but my spray is mainly organic so I feel as if it is a nice compromise , considering I would loose everything otherwise.
I started planting in early Feb. and the pics you see are the result of time , watering and plenty of care taken.
We currently have tomatoes , collard greens , onions and strawberries growing but our newest plants are peppers spicy and bell , eggplant and green beans. Now you will need to keep in mind where you live before planting , what are your seasons and how long do they last? In many cases with proper care you can in fact keep your plants longer then recommended by the companies selling the seeds or starter plants.
I recommend you plan ahead , you can start your own seedlings with an egg carton , little soil and seeds

( which are much cheaper then starter plants ) plan about 2-3 months ahead and place in a window sill so they can get about 6 hrs. of sunlight a day but be sure to move them in the evening when it gets cold if you live in a northern climate.
Once they get big enough about a month into the growing process you will have to transfer them to something larger perhaps a milk carton such as the ones children get in public school or anything in this size will work just be sure to make drainage holes no matter what you use. Once they are well into the growing cycle about 3 months after first planting the seeds you can transfer them to your garden.
Another tip is to save your seeds from any produce you purchase. Some may not like this idea since so many chemicals are present in store bought produce but it will also work from any produce you grow such as watermelons and peppers to name only a couple. Any seeds your can safely remove can be dried and then planted. To do this take your seeds and gently wash with cold water then place on paper towels or newspaper to dry. Depending on your seeds will depend on how long it takes them to dry out fully most take a few weeks and when fully dried can be stored for future use. Remember to keep them dry!!! Once done simply plant and watch them grow.

This is one of many Unschooling projects we do , many more will be soon to follow since hands on education is our families main goal.
All of this being said here is a list of links you might find useful to get ideas for your own garden :

Pergola Nurseries

Raised Bed Gardening

Recycled Tires For Raised Beds

Brick Raised Beds

Home Depot

Simply Unplugged

2011-10-07T14:41:00.000-04:00

I had been wondering why I was struggling as to finding time for this blog as well as tending to my home and the needs of my family. I found that I have been so connected to the internet that I was missing out on many things. I found this out by reading my own blog posts , ironic I know but it's true.
You see it was and is very full filling to share and write my blog posts but I realized I wasn't truly practicing what I was preaching. Oh sure I was making and doing with my family but not to the extent I really wanted. The house needed dusted , floors needed a good scrubbing and so on. In general I was slacking on some of the most important things , to me that is , my home which to my thinking is the center of family. For days now I have been cleaning , organizing and preparing for the upcoming holidays. I have not had time for getting online daily and I have left FB behind outside of sharing my blog posts with my group. I have to tell you this is such a relief , I am happier , more relaxed and still find time to make and do with my family. Of course I usually plan certain projects for certain days and other things I find time for in the evenings. I actually picked up my crochet needle last night and started crocheting.
One of the other things we have done to unplug is to turn off the Television once we have watched the morning news. We turn it back on around 3 or 4 in the afternoon but other then that it is off. We have not missed it at all in fact it actually makes things go faster and we are more relaxed even as we do chores or other projects. Like many people we would leave it on just to make some noise but it was actually draining us of our day.
I find it odd how we can get so caught up in the latest technology that we really do waste our time and lives with it. And I am as guilty as the next person , but I have vowed to only get online to write my blog posts or check up on my grown children. FB is no longer a part of my daily routine and the television is only an entertainment provider not something I have to have on 24/7.
I will still be posting pretty often but not as much as I did at the start. If I am to actually teach people about a simpler life then I need to practice what I preach and to be honest it is working out just fine. We couldn't be happier just enjoying the simple things in life and at times that may mean a little more work but for us it is just fine. We enjoy working together for one common goal. That goal is to just be happy and healthy by making sure we have enough food to eat , a decent roof over our heads and clean clothes to wear.
I suppose to some it sounds odd that a woman in her late 40's would find such pleasure in slowing down and just enjoying life. Not stressing about the fact I may not have designer this or that , or perhaps being all consumed with my wrinkles starting to show. Actually wanting to go back and do the work that is so rewarding , basic and simple. But I can assure you that I am that woman and as I said when I started this blog I am relearning to live simply , this is a journey for me as well as you the reader. I am sure there will be more enlightening to come for me , since I have only been on this journey a short time. But I think I am headed in the right direction for me and my family and am as excited now as I was when I first began.
Many thanks to all my followers and all my FB group members for your support and encouragement.

Tombstones

2011-10-04T13:22:00.001-04:00

One of the fun things about Halloween is all the crafting we do. One of our favorite projects is setting up an old fashioned grave yard , the kids in the neighborhood just love it. Now I used to actually dig up soil and dump it in the form of a fresh grave , until my husband complained that we did not get enough of the mess up after the big night and it was messing up his front yard...lol One Year we even had a hanging tree we made out of a large tree branch , complete with a head separated from the body below.
So now we simply add tombstones and body parts , some cob webs , an old strobe light I bought yrs. ago , some scary music / sounds and call it a day.
To make your own tombstones you will need some simple things. Cardboard , paint ( Black and Gray ) , Scissors , Glue or Tape and a stake to secure into the ground. This can be done with old wood as well , hint , hint......

Start by getting an old cardboard box and cutting it into the form of a tombstone. Saving some for a stand if making these for table top decorations.
Paint with the grey paint , front first let dry then the back. Once dry use the black paint to write something on it and decorate with any cracks , spiders or other spooky ideas. These are not for rainy weather so you may want to place these a little before the trick or treaters make their appearance.
Attach to the stake with glue or tape and place in the ground. Make many of these for a full graveyard.
For the table top decorations simply follow the above directions but instead of using a stake to secure this you will cut out a back tab to attach. To do this cut out a triangle ( one side should be straight and longer , see pics below ) , bend slightly at the longer end and glue or tape to secure. Place on the table with some other spooky decorations such as cobwebs and presto.

Some cute sayings for your tombstones :
Here lies Mrs. Derns Now being Eaten By Worms
Here lies I.M. Dead
I.M.A. Goner
Here lies Mr. Jones Now He's Just a Bag of Bones

Short Break

2011-10-02T14:01:00.000-04:00

As some may have noticed I haven't posted a new blog for a few days. I do enjoy posting and sharing but I also have to admit it can get a bit over whelming at times. I do my best to include step by step pics for people to follow but I don't have a great camera , this makes it a little harder.
I am working on some new posts in keeping with the current holidays approaching. I am trying to purchase a few basic supplies needed but as with most Americans right now I am dealing with budget issues. So I am having to rethink how to make them in a way most can do as well. Little to no money is my motto in an effort to live more simply and I as well as anyone struggles at times with this concept. The fact that I can't run to the store or internet to purchase supplies makes me want to share my skills and ideas even more.
I have some wonderful ideas for table decorations as well as yard decorations and am bursting to share them with you all. So please be sure to check back in the next couple of days for the newest post / project.

Trash Toppers ( Halloween Hats )

2011-09-29T13:13:00.000-04:00

I love recycling , so much so I have found a way to use most everything others would throw away. This also saves me money and is just plain fun.
This is one of my many ideas for recycling and can be used for other holidays as well. But I thought with Halloween creeping up on us , hahaha that this would be something perhaps you could use or build on to make an inexpensive costume for you and your children.

You Need :
Plastic bowls / microwave bowls from store bought frozen food section , yogurt cups or old plastic drinking glasses. Glue gun , white glue , glitter , scissors , ribbon , elastic / string and any other decorations you would like to add.

1. Clean and dry the item you choose to use as your base.

2. Poke 2 holes one on each side for the elastic or ribbon / string to secure your hat to your head. This can be done by hammering a nail threw or drilling with a drill depending on the thickness of you base.

3. Paint with white glue and sprinkle with glitter. Take your time doing this , it is best to do in sections. Let Dry. You may want to do this more then once and a final layer of glue can be used as a sealer. Simply paint on the glue over the glitter and let dry.

4. Attach any ribbons , flowers or other decorations securing if need be with the glue gun.

5. String elastic threw one of the side holes and knot. Now with the hat on your head measure the elastic to the proper size and thread threw the other hole and knot.

Sand Art

2011-09-27T13:18:00.000-04:00

Living in Florida I have tons and tons of real sand everywhere I look , but some may not or just want sand in a different color. This sand is great for making pictures or for those of us who remember the sand art in jars. After making the sand I will show you how to make some sand art in a decorative jar. There are a couple of ways to do this and I will explain both.
Native Americans have been creating sand art for some time as well as Tibetan Monks , Australian Aborigines and Latin Americans on Certain Christian Holidays. There are many different opinions as to when and where it originated. But it is still considered an art form and can be very detailed.

You'll Need :

Table Salt , Chalk , A Pie tin or other holder , paint brush , piece of paper

How To :

Pour some salt into the pie tin and take your desired color of chalk , place paper in bottom and start rubbing the chalk into the salt. Brush out the pie tin onto the paper. Store in a plastic baggie.

Now to make a picture simply spread glue with a paint brush on your desired design. If it is meant to be something more detailed you will want to do this in sections letting each section dry before moving on to the next. Once dry shake off excess.

If you are like me and love those old fashioned sand jars here's what you'll do . Take a clean jar with no markings or imprints on it and either simply pour layers of sand into the jar and moving around with a skewer up and down to get a ripple effect. I have heard of people sealing this off with Elmer's Gel Glue but I have not tried it so this would be something you might want to try.

You could also use the sand in a clear glass making the ripple effect and placing a tea candle in the middle , like the one at the top of the blog.

Mundane Lives?

2011-09-25T14:06:00.000-04:00

We all have days where we feel a little overwhelmed with life. We all would like to go back in time I think. Yet we as a society in my opinion and from what I have seen most wouldn't know what to do if we did. From what I can tell most people are all looking out for themselves these days. There is no respect for our elders , it's easier to put them away somewhere and wonder what they will leave when gone. And as far as our youth? Well , there was a time it took a village to raise a child but now it seems it takes cold hard cash.
I myself have always loved learning from my elders they have so much to share so much to offer us.
As for the children , why should anyone be concerned with someone else's child or what they are doing , right? It's none of their business and they could get sued or something if they interfere. It's just not worth it to speak up , seriously you could get shot or something either by the parents or the child themselves. When did we as a society let things get this bad and why aren't we doing anything about it?
Me personally , I will tell a child what I think if I know they are in the wrong even if they are not my child , how else are they to learn? If need be go to the parents and if a solution can't be reached then talk to your child about it , how you feel and think as well as what you expect from them I still think this is the best and most impotrant Simple thing anyone can do for the children.
Now me , I still prefer to speak with a human then a machine or computer and love talking with friends face to face it is so much more personal. To many this could be considered mundane or even boring , with all the technology we have now why bother? For me the response is easy , the Human factor. You see to me the human factor is another important SIMPLE thing we can add to our lives.
When was the last time most sat down and actually wrote a letter to someone? No , not on the computer via email , an actual letter. It used to mean so much to so many once upon a time. What about an actual phone call instead of a text message? Wouldn't it be nice to hear the voice of you family member then to simply read their thoughts and feelings? This is something I am always complaining to my youngest son about. He is always texting me since to him making a phone call on his cell is much more time consuming and boring / mundane.
I wonder now more then ever when writing my blog posts if perhaps a Mundane life is exactly what we need instead of more of the "let's make things as easy as possible" that we have all as a society gotten caught up in. I mean why is it such a boring chore for people to make their own , why is it so hard to walk away from the t.v. or why is it such a hassle to spend time with family? I know everyone has a reason or in my opinion an excuse and I say excuse because if people would stop and think , take a few minutes of their time to focus they would see they can do all these things and still be the responsible member of society they have always been.
So perhaps My blog should be named A Mundane Life , it's ordinary and to many boring or even commonplace. Maybe I should dwell on what I don't have and how much more I should have before I die.
But I do in fact like dreaming about things I may never have , making do with what I do have and spending time with people I care about. So I think I will keep my blog name A Simpler Life since that is what I would truly like to achieve not only for myself but to help others see some of the things I see going on in our society and with our children / grandchildren. I will post things I think will help bring a family closer while saving them some money so they will have time for the more important things in life. Post crafts , recipes , tips and tricks for making their lives a little more simple.

Key to My Heart

2011-09-24T07:15:00.000-04:00

I have been making these for yrs. and always loved the simplicity of them. Some pony beads , a key ring , leather cord or other weaving cord is all you need. Every time I make these I am asked to make one for a friend or one of my children's friends. They can be as long or as short as you would like but keep in mind what keys will be going on the key ring. You don't want something to long with your car keys on it.

Fold Cord in Half

Place thru key ring

Pull thru loop & tighten

Do this 2 times / you'll have 4 strips

Thread 1 pony bead onto 2 middle strips

Thread 1 pony bead onto 2 outer strips

Thread 1 pony bead of diff. color onto 2 middle strips

Thread 2 pony beads onto 1 outer strip each side

Thread 1 pony bead onto 2 outer strips each side

Thread 1 pony bead onto 2 center strips

This is your top decoration

Take Concho and thread all 4 strips thru top

Pull all 4 thru bottom of Concho

Now thread as many pony beads as you would like
onto each strip and knot. Trim any extra off.

You can secure the Concho with a hot glue gun or
Super glue.

Halloween / Tin Can Lanterns

2011-09-22T07:47:00.000-04:00

Click the pics to enlarge

Tin Can lanterns are inexpensive as well as fun. Keep in mind you will have little ones all over and there are many inexpensive ways to light these little beauties up without using candles. Dollar Tree has Glow sticks of all shapes and sizes right now so I would recommend looking into that. But there are plenty of other non- flammable products out there should you choose to go that direction. ( this is great for those on a tight budget who might not be able to purchase pumpkins but still wan to decorate plus there's no rotting to worry about )

To get started get a few clean cans together. I have a can opener that doesn't leave a sharp edge , but if you have one that does you can simply push those down with a pair of pliers.

Some Nails , Clothes Hanger or string ( optional ), Plastic Baggie , Printed or drawn template and glow sticks.

You can draw your design onto the can with the permanent marker ( doesn't work very well ) or print a template / trace a template and place in plastic baggie. Fill the cans with water and freeze. Place baggie over the can ( this can be difficult since the can is going to get wet as it thaws. If possible use a couple of clothes pins to help hold in place at the top , very sticky tape works as well but may still come undone.) or as we did just simply free hand it and then start hammering the nail in , following the pattern ( the size of the nail is up to you ). Or you could simply punch holes all over with the nail.

I did opt. to use a candle for the pics

Punch two holes , one on each side to attach the string. Thaw in sink. If using the clothes hanger snip off the ends and bend into a handle , push threw the hole and bend ends to form a metal handle. Tie a piece of string in the middle of the handle and attach the glow stick. It is now ready to be hung from any place you'd like to add a little glowing effect. Or place a little sand in the bottom , add candle ( not recommended if small children will be in the area ) , glow stick or other light and place where ever desired and safe from being knocked over.

You can also paint the can if you like.

Topsy Turvy Planter

2011-09-21T09:07:00.000-04:00

In an effort to do some growing I bought a Topsy Turvy planter. It doesn't cost much and I thought it would be great for growing threw the winter and help as far as my bug problems and trust me everything I plant outside gets attacked by one creature after the other plus the soil is poor and to get it in proper shape would cost a fortune.
So I bought it and a couple of tomato plants that do not need full sun, some good peat based soil and went to work. So far I am not to impressed , the hole for adding the plants is very small so I had to break apart much of the root growth just to get them in the thing. Then when adding the soil much of it fell out due to the openings for herbs. Not to mention the first watering , water went everywhere not that I filled it to quickly but due to those herb ports.
Now the poor tomato plants are struggling to regain growth and continue to seem unhealthy. I did use some fertilizer in order to help but so far I am not to impressed with this device. Of course it has only been 4 days , so I will hold off a final judgement for now.

UPDATE : So I wanted to give this new thing a chance but I can tell you I am fed up. Every time I water this thing it leaks all over the floor and this time it actually spilled out soil from one of the herb ports , what a mess! The plants themselves are doing so poorly I am going to hope they hang in there long enough to replant them into a pot.
If not I will purchase two more and start over. I am planning on moving some of the living room furniture around to make space in front of the sliding glass door so they can get plenty of sunlight. I am an experienced farmer and grew up planting and growing my own food so I think I am qualified to give a report on this product. Trust Me When I Say DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!!!! Unless you plan on having it outside and filling every port I see no way it would work at all. And even then I don't feel you will get the results you are looking for. I am happy I didn't spend a fortune on this but am seriously disappointed in it. I would NOT recommend this to anyone. This product gets a serious F!!!

What Does Living Simpler Mean?

2011-09-20T11:04:00.000-04:00

I was asked by a friend in my FB group what Simplicity was to me and what I considered living simply. This got me thinking for many days since my first response was that living simply and simplicity both meant being happy.
To others it may and I am sure does mean other things but I like the concept of simply being happy , being happy with what I have and even though I may have to make do at times still being happy in the fact that I am self sufficient.
Then I was asked , What does knowledge have to do with living more simply? And I thought to myself that is exactly the point , by that I mean if you have the knowledge to be self sufficient you can and should live more simply. Knowledge is power it always has been and always will be. Now please don't mistake what I am saying here , I am not talking about academic knowledge alone. I am talking about the survival instinct we all have within us that helps us to recycle products by making new ones perhaps out of what ever we have on hand , growing our own food , sewing our own clothing and on and on. Most of these things are truly becoming a lost art and I can't tell you how may people I have come in contact with over the years that think I am the most intelligent person they have ever met only because I think for myself and can make just about anything from anything. This saves money and to many people in these trying times , have to out of simple need. Our unemployment rate is threw the roof and living on what little they get from the government has many asking how they are going to get by. I say by living more simply , ask yourself what are your true needs? And then ask yourself what you can do about it. Think outside the box and back to a time before all the modern conveniences we now have. How did they survive during the 19th century or even before? If they could do it surely with all the things in our lives these days we should be able to as well , plus we are better educated and anyone wanting to use the internet can even if they have to go to their local library to research ideas and ways to get by. I know from experience since as a child and even once as an adult I was homeless for a time , not knowing where my next meal would come from or how my family would survive. I learned very quickly to do for myself.
Everything I blog about is to help others live more simply including myself. I found myself getting caught up in the buy it already made it makes things easier , notice I said easier not simpler. The reason I say easier is due to the fact that everything I buy costs money , money that has to be worked for. So work harder to make more money to make life easier? This just doesn't make sense in my mind. I would rather make and do for myself with what I already have and only purchase what I truly need in order to sustain my life. An example of what I truly need and can't make myself being , my A/C is out right now and it is hot out but it's not as bad as one would think , yet I can and have to admit I would not even think of living without A/C ( Not Ever ). I needed a new toilet the other day when my husband was putting in new flooring , since I can't make one I had to go purchase one. Yet when veggies and fruits are on sale or free ( I wish ) , I can and make jams and preserve my own veggies. This is healthier and more cost effective in the long run.
Living more simply also allows us time together as opposed a family working 2-3 jobs may not have. We talk more and do more together , usually having a Great time depending on the project at hand. We are a normal family we have our moments....lol
As you can see living more simply and the word easy are not the same. I would never tell anyone living a simpler life is easy it does take work but everything in life does. But do I want my husband killing himself to provide for us? No way! Knowing that he is home more and spending time with us makes me happy as it does my 9 yr. old so by living more simply and doing for ourselves we are happier.
These are only my thoughts on living more simply or a simpler life and I know I will probably get many comments on this topic. I hope that I do , it is wonderful to read and see how others view a topic. In this way we can learn from each other and make our lives and our children's lives better. But please keep in mind when you leave a comment regarding what I have said that it is my opinion , I am not putting anyone down for how they choose to live their lives. That is for each person to decide for themselves and I am in no way judging anyone for anything. Until Tomorrow Dear reader's ......

Homemade Hot Cocoa

2011-09-16T07:12:00.000-04:00

With the first cold front of the year coming through the North I started thinking of what would be nice on a cold day and what better then hot cocoa? As always I prefer making my own and sharing is always a blessing. I have given this as gifts for yrs. now and everyone just loves it. This recipe can be jarred and decorated with ribbons , bows and even candy canes and given as gifts. You could also package it in a sealed bag and place in a seasonal coffee mug and decorate as well. Dollar Tree has some really cute mugs over the Holidays which will make this gift very affordable.

Ingredients :

2 C. Non-fat Dried Milk
3/4 C. Sugar
1/2 C. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 tsp. Salt
1 C. Mini Marshmallows

Mix all ingredients and store in air tight container or bag.
To Use simply place 2-3 heaping tbs. into mug and add boiling water. When decorating be sure to include this on a cute little tag or something so the person receiving the gift knows how much to use.

Salt Monsters

2011-09-15T11:34:00.000-04:00

Most of the time we are looking for crafts that we can do for little to no extra money. And in this economy who has extra money? This recipe has been used time and again by parents over the yrs. The simplest thing to make are Ghosts but anything can be made out of this dough for any Holiday. And if your children are like my 9 yr. old they truly love to create and clay or dough is one of the best things you can hand them , letting them express themselves in so many ways.

** This is not meant to be eaten , it won't hurt you or your child if they do but it won't taste very good **

SALT DOUGH RECIPE :

1 c. salt
2 c. all purpose flour
1 c. water

Preheat oven to 250 f. Mix all ingredients until dough is formed , knead dough ( if to sticky add a little flour being very careful not to add to much or it will dry out the dough , causing cracking before baking).
Place on cookie sheet and Bake for 2 - 2 1/2 hrs , checking the bottoms for wet spots. If still wet add an additional 20 mins. to bake time.
Allow to cool fully aprox. 4 hrs. or overnight. Once cooled completely paint and decorate , this can be done with tons of items you already have in your home. These little guys can be sealed with an acrylic sealer. We use my sealer for my polymer clay but they are fine and just as nice if you decide to not seal them. Or you could even use white glue as a sealer , they will appear white and cloudy but once dry they will be clear and shiny.

**Here's a useful tip for crafter's looking for something more. Make smaller ghosties and turn them into earrings. Be sure to seal them and to make a hole in the top before baking to place your eye pin.**

Button Earrings

2011-09-14T11:14:00.001-04:00

This is so simple anyone can do this , Teens adore this project since they can wear it.

You'll Need :

Plastic buttons , glue gun or super glue , earring posts ( can be purchased at any craft store ) and scissors or snipping pliers ( the kind used for cutting metal jewelry )

** Tip , if allergic to certain metals paint a little clear nail polish over the earring post before wearing.**

Pick out two matching buttons and cut off the back (part you would use to sew the button on). This is not suitable for holed buttons such as the two hole or four hole buttons.

Now place a bit of glue on the back and attach to the earring post.

Earring posts come in many sizes so make sure you purchase ones that won't show from behind the buttons. You can purchase the clip on posts as well but be careful they tend to be a bit large.

That's it simple and stylish for any occasion !!!!

Ogre Stew

2011-09-13T09:05:00.000-04:00

Here's a great recipe we have made for years for our family and friends. It's nice to give them something healthy before their journey into the unknown.....LOL

Green & Gross Ogre Stew

Of course it should be fun and a little gross / scary. This fits all three , but it is healthy and will give them the energy they are going to need to get through the night's walk ahead.

If you leave out the food coloring it is a great soup served in a bread bowl for a cold day.

Ogre Stew :

Ingredients

1 pound Ground Human Flesh (sausage/ hamburger)
1 can Dead Man's Tears (cheese soup with 1/2 can of water)
1 (16-ounce) package Pumpkin (processed Cheese)
1 (15-ounce) can Fresh Kidney Stones (kidney beans)
1 (15-ounce) can Rat Turds (black beans)
1 cup medium Human Heart (mild salsa)
Ogre Snot (Green food Coloring)
Toasted Witches Ears (Nacho Chips : Bread Bowls or Pumpkin Bowls can be used )

Directions

Cook Flesh / Sausage in a soup pot over med. high heat until browned. Add canned Dead Man's Tears / cheese soup and water , bring to a gentle simmer. Add the Pumpkin / cheese and stir until melted , remove from heat and add rat turds & kidney stones / beans , Diced Heart / salsa , Ogre Snot / food coloring then bring back to a slow simmer / if needed add a little more water. Serve with Toasted Witches Ears / chips or in a hallowed out bread bowl / pumpkin.

Husky Projects

2011-09-12T13:31:00.000-04:00

In an earlier post I showed how to can corn but what did I do with the husks? I don't like wasting anything if I can keep from it so I dried them out for other fall projects. Here are a couple we enjoyed making and can be used for many other things then Fall Decorations such as , Bride Dolls , Toys for children , Or one I read not to long ago would be if you have hunters who trespass string the dolls at eye level and scatter a few chicken bones under the dolls and give them the willies hahahaha....... I thought that was to cute not to share. But sounds like a great Halloween Decoration

✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

So let's get started. You'll need some dried husks , a bowl of warm water , string and scissors.

1. Soak dried corn husks in water. Cut string for use.

2. Grab several corn husks from the bowl and tie about 1 to 2 inches down from one end.

3. Now pull the lengths of the husk down over what is to be the head. A lot like peeling a banana.

4. Shape head and tie string around what is to be the neck.

5. Remove three husks from the bowl. Tie at one end, braid, and tie off. Cut ends to make even.

6. Place arms between the lengths of husk. Tie waist beneath arms with string to hold in place.

7. Using thin strips of corn husk, criss-cross around chest, wrap waist, and neck. Tuck ends in (you can tie off the husk strips before tucking them in). Use thin husk strips to tie over the strings at arm edges.

8. To fill out her skirt, trim the widest corn husks you have.

9. Wrap these husks around her middle and tie with string into place.

10. Wrap her middle and then trim the bottom of her skirt.
For her head, you can glue on dried corn silk for her hair, or take a large rectangular piece or two of husk, fold it, and tie it as her head scarf. Dry by placing on a skewer and standing in a bottle.

A twig and some corn husks for a broom.
This can be done on a Larger Scale for a
Wall decoration.

Thaumatrope - Pioneer Craft and Toy

2011-09-11T15:28:00.001-04:00

Our Aug. / Sept. Prize

This project was submitted by one of my group members from Facebook. She is the winner of our Aug. / Sept. Contest. The contest was simple , make something from the pioneer era. Nothing to complex but something the entire group could do , everything from toys to homemade recipes were welcome.We hold a monthly contest , but this one ran over a little in an effort to let others participate. Please visit my group on Facebook for more contests and info.
I wanted to share this with you because it is simple and basic but tons of fun for the children and adults alike. It is also educational not only in the making of the toy but the history that surrounds it.

We are studying Colonial America for our history segment, so this project was timely!

The thaumatrope is an optical illusion. When you spin the disk, the two pictures spin so fast that your eye is tricked into thinking they are one.

You’ll need:

a square of stiff cardboard
hole punch
two pieces of string
markers, crayons, or colored pencils
scissors

1. Cut circle out of the cardboard.

2. Punch a hole in each side of the circle.

3. Draw a picture on each side of the circle. When put together, the two pictures should make one picture, such as a bird and a cage, a mother and child, or a flower and a pot. To make sure that the pictures will fit together, hold the circle in front of you. Flip it over from the bottom. The picture on the other side should be right side up.

4. Tie a piece of string to each side of the cardboard circle.

5. Hold one string in each hand and wind up the thaumatrope. When you release the circle, the pictures will spin together and form one picture.

Reference/source http://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/researchthaumatrope.htm

Kitchen Kures

2011-09-09T10:18:00.000-04:00

I have over the years been doctor to my children and thought it might be nice to share some of these home remedies as well as other useful and eco-friendly tips that actually work. These are much more affordable then going to the Doctor in most cases as well as being cheaper then most over the counter drugs , but should you be in dire need Please go to The Hospital or see your M.D.
Almost all of these can be found right in your pantry and most have more then one purpose. So let's get to it.....

1. Vinegar : This is useful for easing the sting of sunburns but did you know it is also a great anti-bacterial? Simply use it in a spray bottle to help during cold and flu season. Spritz in hair to remove build up and get great shine.

2. Baking Soda : This is a truly wonderful product. It can be used in a mixture of water and baking soda , mix to paste and apply to Acne or Razor Burn. Baking soda has so many uses I keep it in my house at all times.

3. Mayonnaise : Now some will not believe this but Mayo can actually get rid of head lice. I swear to you this is true all you need to do is apply to scalp and hair , cover for several hours and when ready wash hair and comb out lice. It is also wonderful for dry cracked feet and yes your mother was right even your hair.

4. Tea : Place a warm tea bag on the eye to help with pink eye or a stye. The natural chemicals in tea helps with the swelling and infection. Chamomile tea is a wonderful relief for those with Eczema simply brush the liquid tea onto the affected area.

5. Maple Syrup : Can be used to help fight aging , simply apply to face and leave on for 20 minutes and remove.

6. Toothpaste : This is useful for bee stings and acne as well as cleaning crayon marks off the wall. Just be careful not to remove the paint when using this method.

7. Lemons : Use to clean cutting boards. Lemons have a natural antibacterial property and will kill germs and remove stains. They are also great for removing stains from finger nails. Use daily on Age spots and watch them disappear. This is also great for stains on clothing.

8. Vanilla : Pure natural Vanilla extract can be used to help ease a tooth ache and as a natural bug repellent.

9. Vodka : Great for jellyfish stings but can also freshen your laundry and help keep flowers fresh. Spray underarms of shirts , leave on for 20 minutes and wash.Also useful for cleaning Diamonds.

10. Honey : Terrific for diarrhea and is Truly wonderful for treating minor cuts and burns. DO NOT GIVE HONEY TO ANY CHILD UNDER AGE 1 !!!!!!

I hope these will be helpful to you and your family. Keep in mid there are many , many other home remedies out there and can be easily found via the internet. KEEP IN MIND ANY ALLERGIES YOU MAY HAVE!

A Corny Topic

2011-09-07T13:36:00.000-04:00

Corn is in season!!!! Yay , hahahaha.......
My family loves corn in case you couldn't tell by the lead in sentence. Since it is in season I am able to get plenty at a good price. And that means canning , it is some work but I always look forward to canning with my 9 yr. old it just brings us closer and is a great learning experience for her.
I am not going to tell you this is an easy thing to do since the corn is going to have to be removed from the cob. But look at this way it's a great upper body and arm work-out that you don't need to go the gym for. Not real big on working out with no results other then my looking better , I mean like to look my best but if I can get another thing accomplished then why not kill 2 birds with one stone? Hahaha.....
Keep in mind while you are shucking the corn that with the upcoming fall events it might be nice to dry a few to have for decoration. This is another post all together though and we will look into crafting corn decorations very soon. On to the canning.........

Drying can be done In Sunlight or a Dry area indoors.

Canning jams can be done with a simple water bath process but veggies need to be done in a pressure canner. I can't stress this enough since I don't want anyone getting sick.

First get everything ready , shuck your corn , sterilize your jars , have your equipment ready and at hand.

Once the corn is shucked and ready place into boiling water for 2 minutes. Remove from water and place another batch into the boiling water , you may need to add a little water from time to time depending on how many ears of corn you will be boiling. Once all the ears are cool enough get ready for your work-out. Being very careful take a sharp knife and remove the corn from the ear cutting in a downward motion. Place the corn in a large bowl until your finished with all the ears of corn. Or simply cut into a large pan.
Place the corn into the jars and add a pinch of canning salt fill with boiling water leaving 1 inch head space. Process according to your pressure canners Instructions.

Fresh Corn Year Round

Taters Not Just for Eating

2011-09-06T14:33:00.002-04:00

Finished works. Halloween Invites , Butterfly and
Heart paper for letter writing.

My 9 yr. old and I were watching a program that teaches educational crafts to children and one of the projects was making your own designer stamps. I helped her remember that we had done potato stamps not to long ago and she was even more excited. We had also used apples as stamps for an apron she made for herself. You see it's not just potato's that can be used as stamps of course the more porous the veggie or fruit the better your stamp will turn out.
I had not given any thought to the carving tools we had used until I watched this program. You see there are many different carving tools we could be using , such as pumpkin carving tools or Polymer Clay carving tools. By using these we can actually get more detail in our potato stamps such as a butterfly which was the one we saw on the program. Of course you could also use the small metal cookie cutters for some basic shapes.

Sometimes using a paintbrush is better
For more detailed Stamps.

Be sure to Blot before Stamping. You can see
I have blotted before stamping.

Now Paints , we like using the cheap acrylic paints they are usually under a buck and we always have them on hand in this house....lol
The normal size bottle lasts and lasts , you can add a little water if you like to give it a bit of a watercolor feel or watercolors themselves can be used. Clean up with either is very easy , but if young children are stamping I would suggest using something to cover them that doesn't matter , the acrylic if it sets for 24 hours or more it is Set and will not come out. Which is one of the things we like using it for , you see stamping isn't only for paper it is a great way to let children express themselves with their clothing. A T-shirt as an example is a great way to let them show their style and stamping with a stamp they designed boosts their creativity and self expression even more.
One other tip try using other things like the side of your hand to make baby feet patterns. Simply curl up your hand and dip the side of it in paint and stamp onto your project , then take your pinky finger and dip in the paint and make the toes.... It's so cute and wonderful for expecting moms. This is the one you will see below , it can also be used as a beach theme.

Line shirt with wax paper

Curl up fist and dip outside of hand in paint.
Place on shirt , press & lift.

Repeat until walking pattern is formed.

Add toes by dipping finger in paint.

Halloween Treat Bags

2011-09-05T13:27:00.001-04:00

I know it isn't even October yet....lol But if you look in the stores it is around us all , I don't agree with the stores doing this but I do like to be prepared so yes I am going to start posting things you can make for Halloween. As with everything I post my goal is to help everyone live more simply and making your own is one of the best ways to do this. So here we go...................
One of the big things outside of a costume is the goody / treat bag. All children want the largest and best decorated one they can get their hands on , right? Well what better way to give them exactly what they want by making it with them.
There are many different ways to achieve this even on a shoestring budget. Of course we all think of using a pillowcase or a grocery / paper bag , but what you may not have thought of is decorating them. And there are tons of ways to do this , depending on your child's age will depend on how detailed and what items you want to use for this. And at this time of the year anything goes , your imagination is your best friend at all times but will really shine during Halloween.
First the paper bag method : 1 grocery / paper bag , Tape , glue ( stick or liquid ) The rest of the things for this are up to you. I am adding some things you could use if you have them. Glitter , construction paper , ribbon , lace , wax paper , tissue paper , paints ( glow in the dark are great ) , wooden skewers , confetti , crayons , markers , scissors and more. The list is endless. Ours is going to be a Light up Treat Bag.

Draw out Design

First sketch out your design onto your paper bag with a pencil , once happy with it cut it out. If your going to use exacto knives make sure your put something inside the paper bag to keep from cutting into the other side of the bag. Now place the wax paper on the inside and secure with glue or tape and take the yarn , punch a hole in the bag and tying a knot in the yarn , repeat til all four ends are secure. For added security you can glue ( liquid / glue gun ) or staple the yarn to the bag. Now for the fun part place a flashlight or a couple of glow sticks ( Glow Sticks can be purchased at Dollar Tree ) in the bag and watch it light up your design. You could also add ribbon , lace or anything you like to the top border of the bag for a special touch.

Cut out Design & Paint Bag if You Would Like.

This also works well for lighting up the walkway the children will use to come to the door using a smaller paper bag/s. Be sure not to use candles though since the little ones tend to trip and fall or their costumes can catch fire by simply passing over the flame. Add a little dirt to your bag and place a glow stick or other non-flammable light in , also you won't need to use the wax paper. The wax paper keeps the candy from falling out of the treat bag.

Measure out wax Paper & Trim to fit.

Tape Wax Paper to Inside

Poke holes for handles and tie handles in place.

Tape or place Glow Stick Inside. The Glow stick can be
adjusted Once The Candy Starts to Fill the Bag.

Now for the pillowcase : Any old pillowcase will do and depending on how much work you want to put into it let your imagination run a muck. You can sew it , dye it and on and on. For this one we are going to paint with acrylic paints I always have some in my house with all the crafting I do , but you could use markers as well since this is a one night thing and probably won't be used again. However if you do use the acrylic paints and don't cut handles into it you can in fact let them use it for their pillow once washed. The acrylic paint must set for 48 - 72 hours before washing and only iron inside out on low if needed. Now back to the project. You can use a picture from a coloring book , print one out from your computer or if your really talented draw free hand. If your like me you'll want to print one out or use the coloring book method. Take the picture you have selected and place inside the pillow case , it's best to use a light colored pillowcase for this since you want to see your design thru the pillowcase. Now trace the design onto the pillowcase , you can put a light under the pillowcase if needed to help see your design while tracing. Pull the template out and place something inside the pillowcase to keep the paint from seeping into the other side , begin painting. Acrylic paint also comes in marker form and aren't to expensive but as I said you can use regular markers if you have nothing else on hand ( Regular Markers CAN NOT BE WASHED ).

Let dry and if you would like paint some glue onto your design and sprinkle with glitter ( GLITTER CAN NOT BE WASHED OR DRIED IN THE DRYER ) or add any other touches you would like. You could also sew felt to your pillowcase in a design of your choice and you could cut handles into the pillowcase and sew them for a nice tote effect. But I like reusing things so we are going to leave it as is other then the painted design.
The bags I have described for you are cheap and easy and for younger children. If you have an older child who is into the gore and gross aspect of Halloween , the wooden skewers are great for an added touch. Simply push them threw a let's say skull design and add paint to make it look like it's bleeding. Got the idea? The older the child the more they can do with these two projects. It's a Simple inexpensive idea and project for you and your children to share and make memories.

Under Construction

2011-09-02T08:35:00.000-04:00

I am currently working on many blogs at this time in an effort to get ahead before the Holidays set it in. I have many , many different things to post and have to get them all in order as well as pics taken for step by step instruction. I will be posting again On the 5th of Sept. Which is the first Monday ( Labor Day ). I have had great feed back and look forward to posting all the projects , recipes , tips and tricks that I have used for years.
Everything from the quick fix to simple and inexpensive crafts as well as everything in between will be posted to help in these trying times. So please check back often to stay up to date or follow to get a heads up on the latest post. Until Monday , Have a Simple and Wonderful Weekend : )

Stone Soup ????

2011-08-30T15:40:00.000-04:00

No Stones in this Soup , but everything else you can think of that is good in a soup can be added to this recipe. This is for those times when you need something filling but have little cash or your just looking for some comfort food on a rainy or cold day.
It can also be a nice way to get friends and family together by donating their favorite foods to be added. Much like the Fable Stone Soup , make in advance and throw a dinner party or have a small gathering. Let them know the ingredients are for a Stone Soup Dinner , your sure to get all kinds of donations. The recipe can be doubled for larger amounts and no one will go home hungry.

Now I am all for making things from scratch but there are times you simply can't either due to a lack of funds or supply. Recently I went to the store to do my regular grocery shopping and they had frozen mixed veggies on sale .99 cents a bag , what a deal and I was tight for money so of course I bought 4 bags. I knew I had potatoes at home as well as onion and tomatoes. Yep you got it , veggie soup was the plan. It's filling , healthy and cheap , not to mention the leftovers can be frozen or canned. I live as simply as possible and learning to use what you have is a huge part of that. Using what money you have and making it last as well as using what you already have to make ends meet along with your talents , skills , imagination and determination.
This soup is best made in the morning and let simmer until dinner time. I like to serve mine with corn bread and honey butter , but alone or with bread , crackers or salad it is a comfort food that is great for rainy / cold days or just a simple way to get everyone fed.

Stone Soup :

Large Stock Pot
3-4 bags of frozen Veggies / Canned may be substituted ( 4 Lg. or 6 Sm. )
1-2 onions , peeled and diced
6 large potatoes , peeled and diced
2 large cans tomatoes , dice if needed
1-2 Tomato Sauce
1 Can Kidney Beans
3 squares Beef Broth ( Add only if not using meat )
Garlic / fresh or powdered
Salt
Pepper
Italian Seasoning / Dried
Dash of Nutmeg
Red Pepper ( Optional )
Meat if Desired
Small Pasta if desired

You can add other ingredients like mushrooms , green onion or what ever you have that would make a good soup.

Place all ingredients except for the pasta in stock pot. Measure water into empty cans and add to the mix. If needed add more water stir and add seasonings to taste.
If using meat , cook the meat then add the rest of the ingredients , why dirty more dishes?
To add pasta simply cook the pasta and add *make sure you do this no more then 15 minutes before serving or the pasta could turn to soft ( Pasta can be made in advance , simply rinse and store in air tight container or baggie in the Fridge add 5 minutes before serving ). The pasta can be cooked in with the soup itself but be careful , the pasta can turn to soft and you will need to keep an eye on the amount of liquid since the pasta will absorb some of it ( be sure not to do this no more then 15 minutes before serving ). The reason I bring this up is due to the fact this is a make ahead meal. If started in the morning as recommended and simmering all day your pasta will easily break apart after cooking most of the day. So I strongly recommend cooking the pasta separately and adding shortly before serving , no more then 15 minutes before. If you don't add the Pasta this make ahead meal is ideal for busy days , it can even be made days in advance and reheated. Presto Dinner is served.