Your Comments (and a deer PSA)

Just a quick note for today...we are camping (actually it's a little more like glamping if I'm being honest - not a whole lot of hardships other than being cooped up with the husband, dog, and bird all day because it's raining outside hahaha!) and I haven't had time to make something to share, I did bring projects to work on and hopefully will show you something tomorrow!

I forgot to tell you before now about a problem I'm having with the comment section of the posts. If you leave comments -- which I really, really, really appreciate -- I am not able to respond to your comments. I can read them, I just can't write back. So keep them coming and I'll keep trying to figure out what's wrong on my end that I can't let you know I see your nice notes. I was hoping to spend time working on it today in the rain but no luck so far.

Finally, here is of a PSA of sorts. Our friends had their little dog attacked by a deer and the poor thing is seriously injured. The culprit is a doe that had a baby in their backyard and was protecting it - by literally stomping on the dog! I've never heard of such a thing! They went to the emergency clinic first and was told that it was the 6th dog attacked by a deer that week, and then when they went to their vet they were told it was the vet's 3rd dog attacked by a deer that week! Isn't that crazy? My friend said he went outside to help the dog and had to actually punch the deer repeatedly before it stopped its attack on the dog. I had no idea this could happen. If you have a dog that potentially has access to where a deer might be with her baby, be careful!!! I'm looking at deer a little differently now, yikes.

Halibut Stack

This sounds a little strange but it's delicious! Promise! I'm not a huge fish lover but this is one of the ways I love to eat it - probably because the grilled fish is sitting on top of mashed potatoes... potatoes make everything right ;)

Super simple: a big spoonful of steamed spinach, topped with a spoonful (or two...or three...!) of mashed potatoes, topped with a piece of grilled halibut seasoned with salt and pepper. Drizzle with balsamic reduction (you know how to make reduction? Put some balsamic in a small saucepan and let it cook until it's reduced by at least half - until it gets nice and thick like syrup. I drizzle my salads all the time with balsamic reduction, it's so good and tangy!).

Paper Flower with Pinwheels

Made a big paper flower to give to my little friend at her dance recital - very easy to make and look how cute it is! I wasn't sure if I'd like it tho, so as a back-up plan I found some little pinwheels at the Dollar store just in case; when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to put in the center of the flower I thought of the pinwheels and combined the two together (using a rubber band so she can take them apart if she wants), I love how it turned out.

You can easily make these bigger or smaller depending on how long you cut the strips, I did a couple of them to see which I liked better. I also experimented with types of paper - regular weight paper (like printer paper) bends and sticks easier than cardstock, but the thicker cardstock stands up and holds its shape better. I recommend using lighter weight paper if you're making smaller flowers, and heavier weight for a big flower.

For the one I gave her I mixed the two papers together, the heavier cardstock is the back row and then I did the lighter on top - the main reason is because I cut a bunch of lightweight strips before realizing I needed the heavier paper to help hold it up and I didn't want to waste the paper!

Cut a 3" circle out of cardstock for the back of the flower, and cut paper strips about 1/2" wide and 2 different lengths. I did strips 8" and 11.5". Glue the longer strips down first (see the photos). Add rows until you like how it looks, I ended up with 1 row of cardstock and 3 rows of lightweight. Put a smaller circle in the center to finish it - I did glittery paper before adding the pinwheels. To finish I wrapped it in cellophane so it'd look more like a flower bouquet :)

Camping Shower Lanyard

Yes this is a little weird. But it's also extremely handy and practical so just stay with me a minute and try to appreciate the geniusness of this shower lanyard.

If you've never taken a shower in a campground bathroom you might not get why this is just a great idea - but I have (and really, who would have seen this coming if you know me...?) taken lots and lots of campground showers. And they are not usually nice. Quite often not clean. And trust me, you do not want your stuff touching anything that the person who just showered before you touched. Yuck. So - what's the answer you ask? A totally jerry-rigged homemade contraption that I may or may not have made using part of Sarge's dog leash, some carabiner clips and round keychains, and travel sized bottles that have a hole in one end. Now to my credit I did make the first one out of an old dog leash but after realizing that this does indeed work I made a second "nicer" one using a cord lanyard that is clean and new (but it's in the rv and I forgot to take a picture of it - it's basically just like this one only not out of a dog leash).

For the first one I cut the dog leash about 24" leaving the hook intact, then loop the free end back to the hook and sew it in place - you now have a big loop. I ended up cutting it in half and attaching velcro so I could loop it around the shower head easier but for the "nice" one I just left it in a big loop without being able to open it and it works just fine (if I can reach the shower head that is - if I can't then I just wear the lanyard while showering!).

Next step is to sew the keyrings in between the 2 sides of the leash, spacing them about an inch apart. For the lanyard one I hand stitched the rings in place since the lanyard is more like a thin cord. Then attach a carabiner to each keyring.

Fill the bottles with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion...whatever your shower essentials are. I have a loofah thing clipped onto the bottom (the hook on the leash that clips onto a dog collar - if you are using a purchased lanyard like a normal person would do, then clip the loofah to the hook on the bottom of the lanyard where you'd hook your keys or key card, etc.).

I don't want to hear any mocking (looking at you sister) about the fine fashion statement I'm making wearing my shower lanyard to the bathrooms - I am now handsfree to only carry my towel, and once in the shower I can either hook the lanyard over the shower head or just leave it around my neck while showering! Genius, I know!

Oh, PS: I sewed loops onto all of our rv towels so we can hang them in the bathrooms (if, pray to God, they have provided hooks - most of them do)...it's all about the minimal touching of anything that other campers who've come before have touched! Ewwww...seriously, some people are gross.

DIY: Duvet Cover

This is the world's easiest duvet cover (well, technically just buying one is probably easier but what if you can't find one you like? Or don't want to spend a fortune? Or just feel like making one? Huh, huh? Yep, in that case this is the easiest hahah!!). You don't even need mad sewing skills for this, it's just easy straight seams and a velcro closure. I took it one simple step further and added little ties in the inside corners to tie down the down comforter (or whatever you want to stuff the duvet cover with - I've used old blankets, quilts, old bedspreads...) which helps hold it in place inside the cover. If you don't mind it moving around and bunching up then go ahead and skip that step ;)

I realize I could have taken a better picture
of this on the RV bed...oh well...you get the idea. 

Either raid your linen closet or buy 2 flat sheets the size you want the cover (full, queen, king...) in colors and patterns you like - two different ones is nice so it's reversible (like a pattern on one side and a solid color on the other). Put them together with right sides facing (basically it's inside out while sewing together), pin in place, then sew them together leaving a large opening on one short side for the comforter to go in. I hand sewed velcro pieces along the opening to hold it together when it's on the bed, and if you are so inclined sew 4 short pieces of ribbon in the corners to tie the comforter in place. Turn the cover so right sides are out and stuff with the comforter. Done. Took me as long to write this as it does to make it hahaha!

add velcro to close the cover

sew a piece of ribbon into each corner (on the inside of the cover obviously)

tie onto the corner of the comforter to keep it from shifting around inside the cover. 

RV Headboard Wall

We are camping this week for a few days and I can't take the ugly headboard and wall behind it in the new motorhome (I've named it "Nessie" because It's such a monster!) one day more...so camping or not I decided to re-decorate. I don't really have the tools to reupholster the headboard but I did find this large roll of fake wood removable decal stuff and figured what the heck, couldn't be worse than the original blah wall. No ruler, no x-acto knife, no problem. I just took some scissors and winged the whole "measuring and cutting straight" idea - I'm super happy with how it turned out and now the headboard doesn't even look as bad. Sweet.

before...

plain ugly wall...

...after (it isn't as dark in real life as this photo appears). 

I hung up the dreamcatcher that Brooke and I made (click here for that post) - hopefully it's hanging high enough that it doesn't touch my face in the middle of the night and freak me out ;)

1,000 Posts!

I just see that yesterday (6/11/2018) was my 1,000th post - that is crazy and even tho it's not the blog's 3rd anniversary just yet (that's on 9/16!) I still wanted to stop for a second to say...who 'da thunk 1,000 posts ago that I'd still be making stuff, writing it up, sharing and yakking away to you guys about it- and that you'd still be tuning in and supporting me (even my sissy on occasion!). I did not. I didn't actually know what it would be like, how long I'd do it, if anyone cared (other than my family who I'm sure are quite happy that I'm not blowing up their phones every day showing them what I made, since I can post it here instead!), or what I'd have to share (other than my love of all things crafty/bakey/gardeny/etc....) - and here we are 1,000 days later (actually 1,001 since I missed one day somewhere along the way)! Anyway - what I've "made" today is the discovery of this 1,000 milestone - and also the realization that I, like my sis has always said, might indeed have too much time on my hands.

Phone Case Hack

I thought I posted this easy trick I learned from Brooke, but can't find it if I did - so at the risk of accidentally repeating I'm posting it now! So simple and smart - if you have the kind of phone case that can easily be removed (mine is bendy rubber/plastic which works great) - you can slip your id, a credit card and/or a couple bills between the back of the phone and the case. It's a secret little stash place (and let's face it, even if you aren't carrying a purse or wallet you know you are carrying your phone!) and makes it safer than just shoving them in your pocket! Plus it's a little thrill when you forget you've got a secret $10 in there and "find" it. Great idea, right?

Road Trip Survival Kit

My friend Candy (her husband Steve and their cutie potootie dog, Buddy) moved out of state (selfishly I'm bummed about her moving - there goes my "Wine and Design" friend!) so I made her a little "road trip survival kit" for the 2 day drive. And because most of the things that went into the
bag o'shizzle is boring I made little notes for most of the stuff to make things more interesting - I'm sure the gift would have been just as useful without my notes so if you want to make this for someone don't think you have to label everything just 'cuz I did!

Super easy - I've done enough road trips at this point (hello spring and fall cross-country migrations!) to have a sense of what is needed and/or wanted, plus I added a few things just to be silly and made a simple tag on my computer.

Choose a mix of practical things like t.p. (I couldn't find travel t.p. so included a thing of flushable wipes - can't tell you how many times I've been at rest stops that are out of t.p.!), napkins, hand sanitizer, tissues, ginger candy for car sickness, ear plugs (I wear headphones ALOT when I'm in the car with Dave LOL!!!) and a sleep mask; Snacks like m&m's, cracker jack, crackers and packets of peanut butter, dog bones, rice crispy treats; and a couple boredom busters like a paperback puzzle book, magazine, and a card game.

Obviously tailor your road kit however you want!

I do not know how Sarge knew there were dog bones going into
 the bag, but he fell asleep waiting for one to fall on the floor! 

I'm going to miss having them around (Steve had been known to bring me his fantastic homemade soups and that delicious baked mac and cheese I posted here - def gonna miss that!); I'm going to miss the wine and designing, painting, junkin', lunching, and so much laughing!... but I'm very happy for them and can't wait to hear all about their new house and adventures. Good luck guys!

Mini Sample Hoarder

Putting my travel stuff away and it occurred to me (when I couldn't open the drawer because it's so full) that I am a sample and mini bottle hoarder! Seriously, I don't know if you get the whole picture in these photos but I obviously have a problem. So I did what should have been done a long time ago since I'm actually a pretty organized person - I spent the time to pull it all out, put it into categories, and then purge. I ended up giving my niece P. a gigantic bag full of samples (she's in starving student phase of life and was thrilled to receive so much shampoo - I told her she should combine it all into big bottles, I bet she's got months worth of toiletries now HA!) and I kept a small bin of only one or two of each thing (shampoo, lotion, etc.)...ahhhhhh I love being able to open the drawer now and see what I have!

Funny note: Sarge was sleeping in the corner of our bathroom while I had all the stuff sorted on the floor - I walked away for a bit and eventually heard these little doggie chirps which I ignored until he kept doing it...I walk back into the bathroom and see that he is "trapped" behind the line up of samples LOL. He couldn't get past there were so many, it was an impenertable wall :). Poor fella.