Last year, I used the Ikea square mirrors for a craft project (etched mirrors) and I had three leftover. When I moved into my house, I did not have a full-length mirror and a little mirror in my bathroom. I decided to mount the extra three mirrors inside my linen closet to create a full-length mirror option. It isn’t the same as a full-length mirror, but it is better than nothing!

Buying this mix, I realized I can make my own dry mix and then use pie filling or peeled apples (yes, could be less lazy) and make small servings of apple crisp whenever I want!

When I lived in an apartment, I kept my shoes in a Rubbermaid bin–classy. Once I got settled into my house, I decided I needed to find a better way to organize my shoes to sped up my morning routine.

My front hall closet is very deep and with nothing on the floor, I decided to use this area for my shoes. I have a 15 compartment shoe organizer and decided if I could not fit all my shoes in or on this organizer, I would need to eliminate some shoes (again fewer choices speeds up the morning process).

This has worked well, because just like Mr. Rogers I come home sit down and change out of my shoes into my flip/slides and put my shoes away.

As for my bedroom closet floor, I stow my laundry basket there, which is why the organizer does not fit. The previous owner had her shoes in a hanger on the door, but since the clothes are so close to the door that the soles of my shoes would be touching my clean clothes and that grosses me out.

Last night, my pal ShannanB of MommyBits, said I noticed you haven’t blogged lately, like since your advent calendar (not true because that was 2008!).

I have no excuses.

Here’s a photo of what I gave my valentine. A Pringles can covered in scrapbook paper and filled with peanut butter kiss cookies. I love being able to run ribbon through my Xyron to make it adhesive. I took a piece of felt, zipped it through the sewing machine and trimmed it with pinking shears to make an envelope filled with….oh wouldn’t you like to know Because my favorite Girl Scout does not have a driver’s license and I had to work this weekend, I was not able to pick up the Thin Mints that complete this sweet treat!

Hope you had a Happy Valentine’s Day!

I mentioned that I use a magnet to cover the vent in my basement, which makes the basement chilly but ideal for storing extra food. When I started blogging in 2006, I was reading mostly personal finance blogs and wanted to be more of a stockpile grocery shopper. However, I lived in a 333 square foot studio apartment where storage space was a premium and I knew I would be moving within a year. Instead, I used coupons and shopped as frugally as I could and said one day I will live in a space where I can have a stockpile.

That day has come. I now have shelves in the basement where I can store extra paper goods (sometimes given to me by my gramma who loves to find a bargain) and dry goods. I am storing the ingredients for several make-ahead meals I like. The good thing is the basement is on the same level as my garage so I can pull into the garage and if my groceries are packed correctly, can leave all but frozen foods in the basement. Then, come back and sort between stockpile and kitchen. Less lugging items up and down the stairs!

The point of this photo is the 5, which is a magnet from pizza shop I found on my walk and kept thinking I would do a craft project. Instead, it was the right width to cover the heat vent, which is the first one off the furnace. By shutting the lever and covering it air is forced past the opening up to the first floor vents, which is the main living space of my house.

My second floor is a finished attic space with old windows. After putting plastic on the windows, I decided to hang one thermal curtain. It helps, although when it is 15 degrees out it is hard to feel a big difference. At the stairway going upstairs there had once been a door, but it was probably removed because when open, it would create an awkwardness in the hallway where the bathroom, bedroom and linen closet doors meet. To help, keep heat from rising through that stairway, I used a tension rod and panel to serve as door. It seems to be working well with no draft of cold air in the hall or vacuum of warm air being pulled up the stairs.

The final steps of my garage makeover include painting that back wall and replacing the heavy, wood garage door with an aluminum door, which should be lighter in weight, but more importantly but insulated and hopefully an automatic opener. Even though it is not complete (I need to get rid of the previous owners’ stuff), I think it is a vast improvement. You can see the before photos on my flickr account, by clicking the above photo. Also, check out my basement paint improvement.

I will not apologize for liking my network on Twitter or a possibly new obsession of Foursquare. This week alone on Twitter, I tried to win tickets to the Cinci Beerfest and Aronoff’s Spring Awakening and am aware that two local blogs are giving away copies of the book, The Spark. I won Martha Stewart’s Craft Encyclopedia through Twitter and have met a host of new people. I scan Twitter for coupons, deals and freebies. I find myself enjoying friends’ Facebook updates, but checking fan pages of the businesses I am following to see if they are offering coupons or promotions. But it is not all about me gaining, if I see something noteworthy, I share even with those who tease me about being on Twitter.

In a stand mixer combine:
1 pound of sage sausage
8 oz of shredded cheddar cheese
3 cups of Bisquick

Roll into 1 inch balls.
Cook at 350* for 15 minutes.