Non-Traditional Bar Cart Ideas

Bar carts are definitely all the rage and have been for quite awhile.  I saw this shelving unit on sale at World Market for only $89.99 and my first thought is it would make a great bar cart.  I really like the industrial look. 



                       
Love the look of this old industrial turned bar cart. 



This industrial cart from Hudson Goods is bit more pricey but would make a really fun bar cart.



Love the pop of green color on this bar cart.  Also, look at all that booze, I would need to do some major shopping, I tend to only keep wine on hand. 

Maybe its all the Mad Men I have been watching that has me thinking about bar carts.



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DIY Fabric Roller Shades

I came across this DIY fabric covered roller shades on A Well Dressed Home.  I was totally surprised how easy they look to make, how reasonable they are and how simply beautiful they look.   Of course, I'll take the whole kitchen please. 


These DIY Shades on Cottage and Vine look awesome too with easy step by step directions. 



I have been thinking about this Striped Cordless Roman shade from Pottery Barn.  It is so clean and classic looking but at $249.00 for one, I think I can get the same look by making my own fabric roller shade.  I think I will try to make my own and see what happens.  I'm not very good at DIY stuff but I have 5 windows in the kitchen alone so it would be well worth it for me to finally purchase the ever popular glue gun. 



Now I just need to find the perfect fabric...

Work in Progress

I started painting my kitchen white, not just any white, Benjamin Moore Super White.  Remember my inspiration? It is such a dramatic change. The room looks bigger, fresher. However, I am a bit nervous. I'm not sure what I was thinking having a 14 year old and two 12 year olds. I have become the wall police. I never realized how much they touch the walls. The walls are so white and bright they make my awful linoleum floor look really dull and dirty. I just want to have the room finished so I can an idea what it will really look like.  Also, I can't decide if I should do my family room the same color?  I think I will to get a unified look.  In addition, the wood trim looks a lot better against the white but I kind of want to paint it white too.  Man, once you start a project it can make the home improvement process never ending. . .

Christmas Party Ideas

Shot glasses made of ice, which are great for doing fun party shots such has espresso flavored vodka, peppermint schnapps or Jagermiester.

Also, chunks of fresh bread to dip in cheese fondue, Swiss and Gruyere cheese, yum. Every party should have bread and cheese, really that is all I need.

Shot glass molds

Laundry Detergent Update

I made another batch of laundry detergent and this time I grated the bar of soap smaller and it worked much better. Also, I stirred it really well.

Oiginal Post with  recipe can be found here

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I have been reading a lot about homemade detergent lately and finally got around to making my own.  From everything I have read they all seem to use the same ingredients which can be made into a liquid or a powder form.  The only difference is the liquid form you boil with water and let it cool into a sort of thick liquid.  Since the liquid form is diluted with water you use about 1/2 of cup per load.

1 – 55 ounce box of Arm & Hammer® Super Washing Soda = $3.99

1 – 76 ounce box of 20 Mule Team® Borax = $4.69

1 – Bar of Fels-naptha soap = 1.39 each   (I bought 4 bars)  Ivory soap works well also

I got everything here locally at our grocery store, Wegman's.

Grate one bar of soap and mix with 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Washing Soda.  Stir everything together really well, it is just that easy.  You only need to use 1 tablespoon per load, if you have heavily soiled laundry you can add a little more. 

 So, after using this for awhile I will probably never buy regular detergent again.  At about 0.05 cents a load I am saving quite a bit of money.  My old detergent cost around 0.22 cents a load. 

Also, I have tested it on smelly, dirty lacrosse and football clothes and everything has come very clean.  You can rub the Fels-naptha directly on a stain and it works great.  The only thing I miss is that fresh like Downy smell so I buy dryer sheets to solve that issue.

Remember 1 tablespoon is all you need.

I Heart This DIY Table

 I have been lusting after one of these two tables from Restoration Hardware for quite awhile now.  They are both perfect in every way.  The first table with its wood top and metal base is simple, modern and rustic.  The second table has this beautiful cast iron base made of vintage sewing machine legs and a zinc table top.  Unfortunately both of these tables are out of my price range, for now at least. 

So today when I happened to be reading Creature Comforts I immediately fell in love with this table.  I am amazed by how talented and creative Ez, the author of Creature Comforts, is.  There is not a DIY bone in my body but for this table I may have to gather all the patience and tools I can muster and attempt to make this table.   Oh yeah, I must call my Dad and enlist his help.  It is my only chance at successfully making this table.