Fabric Organization

Yes… I have an obsession with fabric… And if you know me, I am happiest when sewing, quilting, crafting or most importantly in a fabric store… When I was in Design School, we went on a field trip to the Laguna Niguel Design Center.  Upon walking around one of fabric galleries, I actually started crying… everyone laughed at me… but there were tens of thousands of fabrics around this showroom, all you could see was fabric… and they even had 3 yard long samples of their new Ralph Lauren line hanging on display racks… ahhh… 

Anywho, I recently started making baby blankets that I hope to one day sell on etsy.com.  I have been buying a lot of little peices of fabric.  I was struggling to keep them organized… so I did this…

Now I can see all my inventory, and don’t have to get overly frustrated when trying to look through my choices.  Inspiration comes and goes quickly… and nothing kills it quite like frustration!  When I am more organized, I enjoy “working” more and am more efficient!

Other ideas for what, other than shoes, to use these handy dandy over the door hangers for?  Baby clothes, Women’s accessories like scarves (so “in” right now!), hats and hosiery, kids toys, in your pantry to organize table linens- especially if you use cloth napkins.  I have even thought of using it to organize my boys T-shirts.

Sale Alert!!

Listen up Mom’s!  The 99¢ store on Arlington has Hanes 3 packs of boys ankle socks for … yes … 99¢!  Mad crazy deal!  I stocked up because, really, what little boy can keep a pair of socks clean?  And you know you are going to need them!

spellingcity.com

So… this homemaker added something new to her resume this year.  I started home schooling my kids… not really for financial or political reasons (but trust me, those are gravy!).. but because I wanted to be more involved in their development, spend more time with them, and give them a more culturally enriched learning experience.  I want them to love literature, the arts.  I want them to see the world where the historical events we read about actually happened.  I want them to gaze upon a Van Gogh and know about him, his process and his life… not just see gobs of paint… 

How do I transition well to spellingcity.com?  Well.. here goes!  I learned of a great web site for younger kids.  You can go online and enter their spelling list.  The site generates games and practice worksheets as well as tests them and gives you reports on their progress.  I love it and so do my kids.  It makes learning fun and helps me multitask teaching two kids.

spellingcity.com … enjoy!

Vinegar

So my obsession with vinegar grows….  I have ditched all my other cleaning solutions.  I have one bottle of vinegar and water, a 50/50 mix and I use it for almost everything.  Counters, floors, tubs, windows, mirrors, sinks, door handles…. ect…  I bought some extra bleach to use in the toilet bowls.  Let me tell you ladies… it is liberating to be able to walk around the house with ONE bottle of green, inexpensive cleaner!

I have got some frowns from other ladies when I share my new love, “but what about the smell?”  It doesn’t bother me, but I have read a couple articles about adding a few tablespoons of fresh lemon juice to the mix to help.

Now… in the days of penny pinching, how much will this save you?  I estimate you will save about 10-12 dollars a month… but every penny counts right?

FAV new desert

Have you ever had a molten cake? Do you know how easy they are to make? I bought a new cooking magazine last month called “Food and Wine” that had a recipe for these fabulous little cakes. I thought, “I can do that!” and what a great way to make dinner guests feel special… Here is the recipe…

Ingredients

1. 1 stick plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus melted butter for brushing
2. 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
3. 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
4. 6 ounces dark chocolate (70 percent cacao), chopped
5. 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
6. 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar, plus more for sprinkling
7. 1/2 cup granulated sugar
8. 3 large eggs, at room temperature

1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Brush four 6-ounce ramekins with melted butter. In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder with 1 tablespoon of the flour; dust the ramekins with the cocoa mixture, tapping out the excess. Transfer the ramekins to a sturdy baking sheet.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt 1 stick of butter with the chocolate over very low heat, stirring occasionally. Let cool slightly.
3. In a small bowl, blend peanut butter with 1 tablespoon of confectiones’ sugar and remaining 1 tablespoon butter
4. In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the granulated sugar with the eggs and salt at medium-high speed until thick and pale yellow, 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the melted chocolate until no streaks remain. Fold in the 1/4 cup of flour.
5. Spoon two-thirds of the batter into the prepared ramekins, then spoon the peanut butter filling on top. Cover with the remaining chocolate batter. Bake in the center of the oven for 16 minutes, until the tops are cracked but the centers are still slightly jiggly. Transfer the ramekins to a rack and let cool for 5 to 8 minutes.
6. Run the tip of a small knife around each cake to loosen. Invert a small plate over each cake and, using pot holders, invert again. Carefully lift off the ramekins. Dust the warm cakes with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately.

With you…

I have so much to share!  I have been cooking, crafting, entertaining, and cleaning a lot lately… I promise some good stuff soon!  Thanks for not giving up on me!

Clogged Drain

The drain in my shower has been draining slower and slower….

Being that I am extremely cheap, and always on the look out for a low cost, no chemical solution, I used the good old vinegar trick this morning.  

I poured 1/2 cup of Baking Soda down the drain, and followed that with 1/2 cup Vinegar.  (I felt like a kid in science class as I got so excited when it bubbled up!)  I covered the drain with an old rag and let it “do work”.  While it was working, I went to retrieve the boiling water from the stovetop.  I washed it down with the water, and wha-la!  A clean drain!

Family Dinner

We have a lot of family coming in town from Ohio and Illinois for the upcoming wedding.  I asked the in-laws if I could have the pleasure of having them all over for dinner this evening.  I decided to serve Mexican food, obviously inspired my our neighbors to the south.  And I’ve been told good Mexican food in Chagrin Falls Ohio is hard to come by!

My menu?  I thought you’d never ask!

I decided to do ceviche for a sit down appetizer, being as it was such a BIG hit with my family just weeks ago, plus it is different and quite easy!  Then I will set up a buffet where the guests can serve themselves when ready.  I decided on street tacos, which include slow cooked tri-tip and a topping of white onion and cilantro.  As an alternative, we will also have taco salad.  (** side note, did you know that Del Taco sells their taco salad bowls for @50¢?  They are FAB!)

I am also serving fresh salsa, guacamole, refried beans and rice.  Dessert is apple cinnamon “enchiladas” with vanilla ice cream.  I made the beans yesterday so I have had the chance to sample them.  They were so good I decided to share the recipe with all of you.  I left out the jalapeno, since no one is selling them right now!  Instead I added a can of diced green chilies and substituted half of the water with chicken broth.  They were SUPER easy, and yes, fresh and free of preservatives!  Next time I will make them in bulk and freeze them.  

(Are  you seeing a theme here?  I estimate it will cost me @10-15¢ for a 16 oz serving which depending on where you shop will cost you 70¢ to $1.25)

Refried Bean Without the Refry

Ingredients

• 1 onion, peeled and halved
• 3 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed
• 1/2 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 5 teaspoons salt
• 1 3/4 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin, optional
• 9 cups water

Directions

1. Place the onion, rinsed beans, jalapeno, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin into a slow cooker. Pour in the water and stir to combine. Cook on High for 8 hours, adding more water as needed. Note: if more than 1 cup of water has evaporated during cooking, then the temperature is too high.
2. Once the beans have cooked, strain them, and reserve the liquid. Mash the beans with a potato masher, adding the reserved water as needed to attain desired consistency.

Kitchens

There are three thing I LOVE when it comes to kitchens. White anything (it just looks so clean), subway tile and wainscoting. Check these out friends!

Neutral palette, new cabinetry and fixtures mixed with salvage and antique looking accessories. And did you notice the ceiling? Can you say character?

The high contrast here gives a more modern feel while still using very traditional style cabinetry and fixtures. I love how the very minimal reds and greens accomplish so much and bring great interest to the space.

We don’t get to see much of this one, but do you see that window? Who wouldn’t love doing dishes while gazing out that! Yummy!

Here is another space we don’t get much of, but isn’t this a fun idea? And talk about frugal… use your dish ware as decoration! This is a great example of functional accessorizing and the mix of green and blue really caught my eye.

All white cabinetry, traditional style, SUBWAY TILE, with that fabulous lighting fixture… divine!

Oh, my… This one is amazing. Again, all white cabinetry, not quite subway tile but the odd shape, sheen and coloring really stood out to me. The contrast from the traditional cabinetry and oven hood and the lines of the table, mixed with the informal white slipcovered chairs to finish it off, beautiful.

I saved the best for last. We still have the all white palette, but there are two things that get me- that back wall and the floors. The floors are a diamond pattern done in white and cherry, they scream character, originality and style. That back wall is so amazing to me because it has so much architectural detail in it. Those windows are spectacular, they are then framed in with moldings and then surrounded by wainscoting. It feels so open and airy, looks comfortable enough for conversation, and the breeze that would come through those french doors combined with the sunlight might make guests never want to leave!

Ten (or seven) Things

Ten thing I love about THIS space

1.  My favorite thing in the design realm is crisp, white, comfortable bedding.  LOVE IT!!!

2.  The layering of the bedding.  The coverlet, stacked bed pillows, euros, and the folded duvet at the end of the bed, a punch of unexpected, that custom touch I point out so often.

3.  The drapes (#1) and the pattern.  Because of the soft, simple scheme in the rest of the room, the drapes can be a bold pattern and not be overwhelming.

4.  The drapes (#2) and the way the gracefully “rest” on the floor.

5.  The wood pieces bring in a focal point and add another custom look because of their antiquity. Their formal structured lines ground the space.

6.  The nuetral background allows for you to play with color if you want.  Cream carpet and soft golden cream walls.

*** I can’t stress enough HOW important the neutral background is.  We live in a time that trend changes too often so if you give in to neutrality for your bones, your bones will last you a lot longer!

7.  The chair in the foreground has very formal lines which is a great contrast to the informal and comfortable  bedding.

8.  …

I really tried to come up with ten, but give me a break, the picture is small… but the fact that I can’t come up with ten doesn’t mean it isn’t a good space, I just ran out of things to say… shocking… I know…