Waste Not
Last night I stopped at my mom’s house and she was telling me about how my great-grandma used to save everything. She said that it their time people never wasted, and reused everything imaginable. I am pretty much a pack rat and always try to find new uses for old things too, but she had a couple of cool ideas I never thought of.
One no-brainer that she mentioned my great-grandma did was save her bread bags. She would shake or rinse them out and reuse them as baggies. Really? We use baggies for everything, so why had I never thought of this? You could use them as a cheaper alternative on dog walks, or even to bundle or store the items you normally use a baggy for! So simple, yet so green and effective!
She also mentioned that they often saved the same bread bags for making rugs. I have seen these in my grandparent’s old house. Here is a picture. Visit her site to see instructions for crocheting the round version here: http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2008/09/27/recycled-round-plarn-rug/
I think these could be really fun and funky. Now I need to learn how to crochet!
Other things that my great-grandma saved were more common, and things that we already frequently save, but still great reminders nonetheless. Cool-whip containers, coffee cans, other plastic, cardboard, or metal containers. These can be reused in so many different ways in the home. You can even recover or paint them to match! One more thing that she saved was the little plastic eggs her pantyhose came in. I had to laugh. My mom said she had tons of them. Hmm… what would you use those for?
Especially in hard economic times, but always to be healthier for our planet, its great practice to reuse such commonplace items. What other ideas do you have?
My Life Gets Even Busier!
In addition to my full time job, planning a wedding, caring for two puppies and a fiance and decorating our first home, I also get to be a student again now! I just got accepted into grad school! I will be starting my master’s program in forensic psychology online with the Chicago School of Professional Psychology this coming Monday. I am excited and nervous. I will be busy, but that’s the way I like it. So, if my post slow a bit once in a while it may be because I am doing homework! Here are the books for my first term:
Homemade Fortune Cookies
I read on-line how to make my very own homemade fortune cookies recently. I thought this would make a cute, personalized gift for Tony for Valentine’s Day. They turned out pretty well, so I thought I would share this little recipe with you.
You will need:
- 1 Egg
- 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons Butter
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2/3 Cups Flour
- 1/2 Cup Milk
Start by making 20 paper strips with fortunes or messages written on them. Then:
- Cream together egg and sugar.
- Beat in butter and vanilla.
- Mix flour and baking powder together and pour into mixture. Mix.
- Beat in milk.
- Heat nonstick pan on medium-low.
- Drop a spoonful or batter onto pan and form into a circle.
- Cook until lightly brown, about 30 seconds.
- Flip with spatula and cook another 5 to 10 seconds.
- Lift cookie and insert fortune with first cooked side on the outside, and fold in half, and hang over a rim or edge of a glass.
- When cookies are cooled, lay on cookie sheet and bake at 250 for 15-18 minutes.
Here I am in the process. Some of the cookies are hanging on the edge of the bowl. This is a very good technique for forming the cookies!
Overall, the recipe worked very well. The cookies were still a bit soft, however. But, they tasted good. I think that this is one of those things where you get better with practice. My first cookies were too small and got a little too brown, but by the end they looked like real fortune cookies, as you can see here:
Tony thought they were great and he loved the sweet messages I wrote.
If you want to try this out, check out the full recipe and tips here: http://www.wabisabibaby.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/fortune-cookies-recipe/
A Big Girl
We recently decided on the name Marley for the puppy. She is also a big girl now and has gotten her first collar and tag. We even added a little skull with a diamond for some girly-punk. I thought I would show you her charm and a few cute new pictures, since this is what we have been busy with!
Marley's new tag and charm.
What a daddy's girl.
A New Addition
Well, it has been a busy weekend around our house. Nope, no house projects, no scrap-booking, no treasure hunting. We got a puppy! Yes, we picked out a new little puppy Saturday night. It has been crazy at our house ever since. The dogs seem to get along, but are wild right now. So, I thought I would show you a picture of our cute little girl. She’s 9 weeks old, and she’s a Boxer/Rottweiler mix. I think she is going to be huge! We are considering naming her Wrigley, but let me know if you have any other ideas!
Does she look like a Wrigley? And, did you see all those wrinkles she has to grow into? And the size of those paws!?
P.S. We are still undecided on a name, but have narrowed it to Wrigley, Marley or Ridley, so let me know what you think!
Owls Make A Comeback
I recently found a necklace in a box of childhood stuff that I used to use as dress-up jewelry when I was a kid. The necklace is a large owl. It was so weird and interesting when I was little that I had to get the necklace out and do some research. Come to find out, the necklace was very popular in the 70’s. Many designers had versions of the owl pendant necklace, each looking a bit different. The sad part, however, is that my owl is missing it’s feet. The parts are connected with rings, and mine has fallen apart. I have the body, but need to reattach it. Maybe with some more searching I can find his poor missing feet. Here is what mine currently looks like.
I think the necklace is so cool even without the body that I am determined to wear it! Here is a vintage owl with his whole body intact, but in a more silevr color:
A little more research led me to find that these necklaces are regaining popularity, both vintage and reproductions. Etsy has some versions for sale:
Ebay also has many versions for sale:
So, go ahead, jump on this owl bandwagon- again! 🙂
All Dressed Up
Last weekend was the annual Red Ribbon Dinner and Great Art Auction. The dinner is a fund-raiser for HIV/AIDS. The company I work for puts the dinner on every year, and it is a huge deal, so, of course, Tony and I got to go this year! Here is the outfit I put together. Fun for cocktails and partying, but also professional:
The dress I picked- wish I could wear this everyday!
The ring to match the belt on the dress.
Not the best picture of us, but you get to see the outfits! 🙂
We just had fun being dressed up and out on the town for a night. We even bid on some art, but got outbid in the last minute. Aw.
Quirky
We had a busy night last night and didn’t finish ANY of the projects we had planned. So, in the meantime, I thought I would share with you some quirky little things that we are currently loving. Enjoy!
This pillow by Brandon Dunlap is just adorable! http://shanalogic.com/item.php?item_id=1931&manufacturer_id=156
We would love to keep our guests' drinks cold with these bone ice cubes. http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/a34b/?cpg=froogle
Cocktail chemistry set. Guests will be amused! http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/cocktail-chemistry-set
Vintage fancy framed mirrors. These look so pretty in every home. http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/set-of-3-antiqued-vintage-style-mirrors
Frilly vintage frames. Especially in teal. http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/bouquet-of-flowers-oval-picture-frame-aqua-by-growing-veip
Jewelry made from random items. This is made from two vintage bottle caps. http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/etsy-47bonanza-vintage-soda-pop-bottle-cap-pendant-necklace
Antique bottles. Plain or fancy, they are so pretty. This one is an old ink well. http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/cobalt-blue-ink-well-vintage-bottle
Well, there’s a mish-mash of all the random (and quirky) things that are on our minds lately. Hope you are inspired. Or, at least amused.
I’m Thrifty
I’m usually kind of a name brand junkie. Not proud of it, but I can admit it. I do give in to cute vintage finds, but I rarely find clothing at a thrift store. But, I was feeling creative last night when I stopped at the Salvation Army for the little glasses. I was just creative enough to see the potential in a long, red, vintage jacket. I snatched it up for three dollars and ended up loving it! So, here you go, I just had to share!
Go ahead, be honest. But, I think its cute!
Etsy: A New Fav.
I had heard of Etsy before, but had never shopped thier site. Before Christmas my mom asked me if I had, and said that she was going to try it. When Christmas day rolled around, we were both delightfully surprised.
She had ordered me this adorable apron and potholder set from an Etsy seller named Annie’s Attic. The set was so cute, the seller had quick shipping, and it came all wrapped up in matching tissue and ribbon, with a hand written thank you on it. We were so impressed not only by the wonderful products, but also by the personable service. We just had to promote Etsy and this particular seller. No more poor service (thank you greatbookdeals at Amazon) and no more torn up packages and broken toys (another Christmas story), this was great on-line shopping.
Take a look at this oh-so-cute apron and potholder!
Thank you Annie’s Attic and Etsy! We will both be return customers!
Make Mine Eclectic 