Blessing #214 - Save the Pickle Jars

A couple of weeks ago, our refrigerator broke.  By the time I realized what had happened, all the food in my fridge was room temperature.

One of Shad Lankford's greatest fears is food poisoning (poison ivy is a close second).  I used to make fun of him for the fear, but a year or so ago, he actually got food poisoning (from a restaurant not from my cooking).

I could have saved some of the food in the refrigerator maybe the ketchup or the pickles, but it wasn't worth hearing, "Does your stomach hurt? My stomach definitely hurts," every time he eats a pickle for the next month.

As I threw out all the food, it seemed like such a shame to throw out all those glass jars.  Yes, all the pickles had to be sacrificed, but suddenly I was determined to save the jars.

Last week, we went to a friend's house, and I found the perfect opportunity to save one of the jars.  A pickle jar would make a great flower vase!

And of course being the compulsive labeler that I am, I had to cut some vinyl for the pickle jar.  (If you don't have a vinyl cutter these labels would be awesome.)

Are you looking at my dusty mantle right now? Well, stop it!

I spray painted the lid with some spray paint I already had.  That way after the flowers are done, the jar can be used for pens or what not.

Are you looking at my mantle again? Stop it!

This little project saved a pickle jar from the recycling bin, and gave me an easy hostess gift.

The pickles would be proud. They did not die in vain.

Blessing #203 - Toolbox Transformation

Today, I have a quick make over that I really love!

Over the past few weeks, I have been painting more signs.  My supplies normally stay in my chalk board dresser, but when I'm working, I just leave my paints out in the middle of the table.  That can cause a problem when my tools seem to walk away.

The other day, I decided to use this tool tray that I got from a yard sale over a year ago.

I put all my paint supplies in the tray and it worked great, but it just didn't seem creative enough for all my tools.  A little teal paint later and....

I just love it! I love that this tray was used for tools and hard work and now it's all bright and pretty!

Originally, I was going to put the create label right in the middle, but I like it so much better down in the corner.

Oh! But it gets better! I looked through my shelf paper scraps and....

They match perfectly! I knew I saved those shelf paper scraps for a reason!

Now my tools are much more tidy.

 A bright color, some shelf paper, and a label! So many of my favorite things on one piece!

I'll be sharing this project with these great sites. 

Blessing #169 - Bathroom Update.....so far

After buying a new shower and my ADDD kicking in, I started working on the look of our bathroom.

Here is the before....

The room is not done.  I still have a few things to do.  My ADDD kicked in and now I'm working on the kitchen, but here is the after so far...

I found one of my old frames that fit the medicine cabinet perfectly.  I spray it white and attached it to the cabinet with command picture hanging strips.  Sometime the steam in the room makes the strips unattach.  I'm looking for a more permanent solution if you can think of one, but for now this is working.

I sprayed the light fixture with some spray paint and put some light bulbs in.

Here is a reminder of what the medicine cabinet looked like before.

Beside the medicine cabinet, I painted three little signs that I already had all the supplies I needed.

I thought "Wash you hands and brush your teeth" was appropriate when two little boys use this bathroom along with my husband and I.

Behind the door, I found a hanger for towels at Hobby Lobby for $7.  I chose this hanger because I thought it wouldn't damage the door, but it is a little difficult to hang a towel on this.  That's fine.  Even if I have to replace it, the glass knobs are worth seven dollars.

Originally, I was going to use little frames for the labels, but they were a dollar a piece and I would have to paint them.  I already had white vinyl so I chose to make these labels.  They are not perfectly straight, but done is better than perfect.

And here is the shower curtain that started it all!

So far, I have spent....

shower curtain - $24

spray paint for light fixture - $6

towel hanger - $7

Everything else used in the bathroom are things I already had. The paint on the walls is leftover from when I painted the living room. I love trying to improvise and use what I already have, and this bathroom has challenged me.

That is my progress so far.  The projects that still need to be done are....

1. new rug

2. shelves over the toilet (there is no storage in this bathroom)

3. privacy for the window

4. something done about under the sink.  I'm not a huge fan of putting a skirt around the sink.  If you have any ideas or pins for under that sink please send them my way.  I don't have too many ideas. 

Before, I did not like this bathroom at all.  In fact, I got ready in our room every morning.  Since I've updated this bathroom, I love it.  It's such a nice place to start my day.  

Blessing #162 - Monograms

During 31 Days to Love your Home, I mentioned my gallery plate wall.  I started to put it up, and I realized I didn't like the way it looked.  

For a few months, the wall stayed this way while I decided what I wanted. As much as I thought about it, the answer to what the wall needed was simple.  I'm a southern woman, and for a southern woman there is always one answer to, "What does this need?"

A MONOGRAM

Reese Witherspoon said it best when she said, "My rule is, if it's not moving, monogram it!" I really don't know what it is, but I just think they are beautiful.

Now, that wall looks like this.

It's perfect! I painted the sign using a stencil I made with my silhouette cutter. Now, I get a monogram and my lace edge plates all in one wall! I found all the plates at different yard sales and thrift stores.  The one up top came from a friend that saw that I collected lace edge plates.  I needed two more plates, and I found the top right and bottom left plates at an antique store in Georgia.

Here is how the wall looked during my favorite things party.

Eventually, I want a longer buffet to go where the dresser is, and I want lamps on either side of the gallery wall....eventually.

I love how very "southern" this wall looks to me with the dainty plates and monogram. It's nice to have a taste of the south up here in Maryland. I do believe Scarlet herself would be proud.

Blessing #147 - Shad's Birthday Week

Last month was Shad's birthday, and we celebrated birthday week.  It happened right in the middle of 31 Days to Love your Home so I didn't blog about it then.

A few years ago, I started the tradition of "birthday week" with Shad.  I've mentioned how much he loves it here.   Last year, I got really sick during his birthday week so this year I knew I needed to make it up to him.

For one week, and only one week, I am an amazing wife.  See, I'm not the world's greatest juggler.  I can only focus on one thing at a time.  If my house looks clean and great, well, I we are probably going out to eat that night.  If I am decorating and making some pretty project, the laundry is probably stacked high.  I try my best, but I really can't do it all.  Birthday week goes a long way with Shad.  For one week, he is the center of my attention and gets absolutely spoiled.

Before the week begins.  I sat down and listed out the surprises he would get every day.  I tried to think of the five love languages and cover each one with a different surprise.  Here are the surprises for this Birthday Week.

On Monday, I made his coffee station.  This surprise covered acts of service.

Tuesday was 60 cent wing night so he had hot wings for supper.  Because Shad thinks that food should be the sixth love language, he was a happy camper.

For Wednesday, I made a Pioneer Woman recipe.  Now, the man will probably never admit this if you ask him, but he loOoOoves the Pioneer Woman.  It all started when she came out with her cooking show. Because I loved the Pioneer Woman long before her show, I faithfully watch her show every Saturday afternoon during lunch on our DVR.

It's my special little time for myself, and I thought it was strange Shad never complained when I watched this cooking show.  Then Shad started to commentate.  "That looks really good.  I would eat that.  Stephanie, she made him a great lunch AND supper."   I've tried to explain to him that cooking is her job, and that's why her husband gets lunch and supper.  Last night, he said, "When she calls her husband whose name is Lad, I think she is saying Shad."  On Wednesday, of birthday week, I made him this sandwich and called him Lad.

I would be mad at him, but I understand.  He had to suffer through comments like that when I watched the Nate Berkus show. (Why did they cancel it? Whyyyyyy?)

Anyway, on Thursday, he got a massage from me.  That covered the love language of physical touch, and that's all I'll say about that.

Friday, I surprised him with a date to Longhorns.  This surprise covered quality time.

Saturday, I put an organizer in his closet for all these fabric boxes he had.  I also got chalkboard labels to label each bin.  That surprise was also an act of service surprise, and that's his primary love language so I wanted to do that one the most.

Sunday was his actual birthday, and I made him no bake cookies. Because he's not a big fan of cake, I always try to make him a "birthday cake" out of something different.  We just piled the cookies up, and put a candle in the one on top, and sand happy birthday to him.

All throughout birthday week, I watch how I speak to him, and try to encourage him to cover the love language of words of affirmation.

One thing I learned early on in giving birthday weeks is to give without expecting anything back.  The first year I did his birthday week, I really held it over his head when my birthday rolled around.  My expectations were so high, he could not do anything right.  What's the joy in having a birthday week when you have to pay for it in six months?  So now, I give birthday weeks just for the sake of loving him without expecting anything in return.  That kind of giving and loving is very powerful.  At the end of the week, not only was Shad happy and feeling loved, but I was happy and feeling loved because he told me so many times how much he was enjoying birthday week and how much he loved me.  

This years birthday week was a huge success, and I'm glad.  Shad deserved it!

 

31 Days {Day 30} - Lunch Station

After Brandon started school, I knew I wanted a quick place to make his lunches. I used the other side of my coffee station cabinet to make a lunch station. 

I planned on taking some pictures today of the lunch station, but right now I am not in my house because of Hurricane Sandy.  One of the drawbacks of a beautiful old home with beautiful old trees is hurricanes!

Here is a quick picture that I took of the lunch station a while ago on my phone. Sorry with the Hurricane interrupting us, I had to go with what I had.

I found the canisters here and there at Goodwill and yard sales for a $1 each, but I've also seen them at Target and Walmart. 

The labels say salty, sweet, treat, and drink.  I pulled the two baskets up top out because they didn't work.  I haven't found the right container yet for that space. 

I love this lunch station.  It makes putting B's lunch together so fast in the morning. 

31 Days {Day 29} Coffee Station

During Shad's birthday week, I made him a coffee station.  With the cold weather approaching, I knew he would love a nice place for his coffee in the morning.

I put the coffee station in the cabinet right above the Keurig, which we got at a thrift store for $5. Not....even.....kidding.

Here is the finished product....

Originally, I tried to make some cute coffee mugs, but it was a failure after the letters come off.



The K-cup holder is actually a spice rack I found at Goodwill for $2.  Originally, I tried a K-cup holder I found at Kohl's, but it was too big for the cabinet. The spice rack is perfect and it swivels.

 
The little basket is from Dollar Tree.  I put the label on "shadbucks." Inside is creamer, sugar, caramel syrup, and some chocolate powder.

He doesn't drink coffee every day, but when he does he loves how nice this looks.

31 Days {Day 28} Dollar Tree Containers

When I first started trying to  be more organized in my home, I read several books by Sandra Felton.  Her books helped me to stop feeling guilty about being a "messie" as she calls it.  I realized I wasn't lazy, but I had to find how my brain works.

I think I read in her books the "P-R-O-C-E-S-S" method to organizing.  I don't remember what any of those letters stand for but the "c." C is for containerize.

When I started containerizing things, I was amazed.  This really works for me!

I buy all of my containers at the Dollar Tree.  I can find so many good containers for just a $1.  Before I organized this cabinet, everything fell out when I opened it.  I took everything out and made families, and then containerized them.

It's been almost 2 years now, and my "junk cabinet" has stayed organized all because I containerized.  Two years of organized bliss for only $3!

Here is the inside of the spice container.

This would drive some people crazy, but it works fantastic for me.  Does it bother me to dig for a spice....no.  The spices I use most are always on top.

When you are buying Dollar Tree bins to organize here are a few things you should know....

1. The Dollar Tree bins are usually in seasonal colors.  In the fall they sell jewel tones and in the spring pastels.  If you know what color you want you know what season to go.

2. If you want A LOT of them (like 30 or 40), you can order from Dollar Tree online.

3. If you see a container you like.  Buy what you need, and then buy 5 more.  They do not stay in Dollar Tree long, and if you like it you will use those buckets up somewhere.

A year ago, when I organized my pantry, I bought five extra buckets. When I organized my entryway, it was the perfect container.  I was so happy I bought extra!

Also, with extra, if one breaks it's no big deal.



The next time you need to organize something, check out the Dollar Tree for some great containers.

31 Days {Day 27} Labels

I have eluded to it before, but I think I may have a bit of a problem.  I may have an addiction to labeling.

Here are a few examples of my labeling problem.

I don't care if I have a problem! I love it!

I realized I hit rock bottom when I labeled this.....

You know! People could get confused and think, "What is that giant stainless steel fixture in the kitchen....Oh! It's says trash on it. That must be the trash can.  Thanks Stephanie, for clarifying that for me."

It definitely is an extra effort to label things (although it is much easier with my Sillouette) but it's worth it.  After I labeled my pantry, I noticed how neat and organized it stayed.  As I labeled other things, they stayed neat too.

For some reason, if something is labeled Shad and I both seem to just follow what the label says.  When I label an area, it just seems to calm it in my mind.  Later, my mom heard on a show that labeling helps people with ADHD.  I'm not saying.....but I'm just saying.

Maybe I do have a problem, but it has definitely helped my kitchen seem more peaceful, and Shad doesn't ask, "Where does this go," nearly as much!