Homemade Febreze

I found the "recipe" for this over on Pinterest and could not wait to try it.

All you need is this:

~ 1/8 cup of your favorite fabric softener

~ 2 tablespoons of baking soda

~ hot tap water

Simply pour the fabric softener and baking soda into an empty spray bottle (I used an old Shout bottle), add hot water to fill the bottle up, shake it up, and start spraying!  I made this on Tuesday and I love it!  

PS - If you click my link up there to Pinterest, and then click the link you find there, it will eventually take you here, where the author gives a price comparison of making your own, and actually buying a bottle of Febreze.  Also, if you haven't checked out Pinterest, click my "Follow Me on Pinterest" button on the right side of the blog and check it out.  You will be addicted!

Turtle Cheesecake

**Courtesy of Mrs. Tiffany Fleig

Ingredients:

~ 1 1/2 cup crushed vanilla wafers or graham crackers

~ 1/4 cup melted butter

~ 2 (8 oz.) packages of cream cheese

~ 1/2 cup sugar

~ 2 teaspoons vanilla

~ 2 eggs

~ 1/4 cup hot fudge topping

~ caramel topping

~ chopped pecans

1.  Preheat your over to 350 degrees

2.  Mix butter and crushed wafer/graham crackers (I prefer graham crackers) and press into 9 inch pie plate.

3.  Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and eggs in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until smooth.  Pour half of this mixture into the pie plate.  (This is the most frustrating part for me.  As you spread it, the crumbs will lift off the bottom, but that's ok!  I've found that using your finger is the best way to spread the mixture.)

4.  Add the hot fudge topping to the remaining cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth.  Spoon over the vanilla mixture (Again, use your finger to spread.  It's easier...plus you get to lick your finger.  Win-win!)

5.  Bake 30-40 minutes or until center is set.  Do not test with a knife or it will crack the cheesecake. (I wiggle the pan and if the center isn't too jiggly and the edges of the crust are browned, it's done!)

6.  Cool at room temperature for 1 hour and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  (I let it refrigerate overnight and it had a great texture!)  Serve with caramel topping and pecans.  Enjoy!

Master Bedroom: Update

I first shared pictures of our master bedroom (in this post) back in September 2009.

Here are a few pictures from that post, taken not long after we moved in.

The next few pictures were taken back in January (Karlie's birthday to be exact).  Our new bed had just arrived and was waiting to be assembled but I wanted a few more pictures as "before" shots.

Here are some pictures of what our room looks like today.

So far we have:

• Removed the dresser 
• Switched to a white platform storage bed from World Market
• Removed the sconces
• Replaced the ceiling fan with a chandelier we found on Craigslist for $20
• Sanded and painted our nightstands and antique mirror
• Replaced the lamps with some from TJMaxx
• New bedding from HomeGoods
• New chair from Ikea.
• New curtains from Ikea
• Painted a table we found at a yard sale for $1
• Brought in a floor mirror from Ikea
• Built a headboard {that I H-A-T-E...please ignore it and stay tuned.  We have all the materials to make it something we both love and hopefully it will be done in the next week}

It still needs a few more things:

• FIX THE HEADBOARD
• Something hanging over the gray chair
• We're going to make something new to hold my jewelry and get rid of the brown jewelry stand under the antique mirror
• Curtains need to be hemmed
• We need to buy knobs for the nightstands (the ones in the picture actually belong in the kitchen...)
• Spray paint the chair legs ORB (oil rubbed bronze)
• New laundry hamper
• New paint (the previous owners painted all the walls with flat paint, which looks incredible, but is impossible to clean.)

I think that's about it.  We're still not finished but we love how far it's come.  Slow and steady!

Misto-fied

I first heard about the Misto Gourmet Sprayer about 2 weeks ago.  It's a stainless steel bottle that you can pour your own olive oil into to use as cooking/baking spray.  You remove the top, pour in 1/2 cup of olive oil, replace the top, pump the lid until you feel resistance, and start spraying.  According to Pfaltzgraff, you can also use any oils, vinegars, and lime or lemon juice.  I found it online at several websites, ranging from $9.99-$20.  I was willing to pay $9.99 but knew I'd have to wait until our next paycheck.  

Until last night.

We went into HomeGoods in search of a glass pitcher.  Lo and behold, my eyes fell on this.

I couldn't believe it.  I wouldn't have to pay for shipping!  

Then I flipped the box over and saw the beautiful price of $7.99!

And I'm obviously not the only one excited about this...

 I've already used it twice and I love it.

And we did find a glass pitcher at HomeGoods' sister store, TJMaxx.  We paid $6.99 and have already transferred our iced coffee over to it!

My One-derful Table

The reason I think this table is so wonderful is because it cost me $1.00!

Sorry the pictures are so grainy...I don't know what to say.

Like most things that cost $1.00, it just needed a little bit of love.  We decided to paint the metal part with some left over spray paint from a slightly-failed attempt at a headboard (that's another story for another day...)  Then I took the glass table-top out and scrubbed it the best I could but it refused to look clean.

On to Plan B.

We bought a piece of wood ($4) that is 1/4" thick from Lowe's, traced the circle onto it, and cut it out with a jig saw.  Then we took some zebra print fabric ($4) from Joann's and wrapped it around the wood, using spray adhesive and staples to attach it.

That was all it took!  It fits perfectly beside the chair in our bedroom!

Again, I'm sorry that the pictures are so grainy.  If only I had a Nikon D5000....

Pull Up a Chair

Back in April, when I shared my crafty corner, it was missing a chair.  Since then, while searching for the perfect chair, I've been using a folding metal chair.

Finally, the day came.  While we were walking around Faith Rescue Mission, my friend and fellow DIY-er Anna, found this for me...

{you can also see the chair I've been using on the right side of the picture...}

What made this chair even more appealing was the price...

$10.00!  Not too shabby.

Now anyone who has spent any length of time with us knows we do not like to pay full price and will avoid doing so at all costs, whether it's through coupons or asking for a discount (JP is much better at it than I am but I'm learning...it never hurts to ask.  The worst that will happen is they say no).  This holds true even at thrift stores.  However, before I could put my crazy bargaining skillz to use , they gave us 50% off because Kalie flashed her student ID.  So I bought this chair for $5.00!

The first thing we did was remove the seat.

 It always helps to have a toddler around...she has to earn her keep after all.

Buddy Fruits don't grow on trees, baby doll!

The chair was slightly coming apart on one side so JP drilled some screws in to hold it together.

Then using a white wood filler, he filled in the spaces over the screws.  After it dried, we sanded it down until it was smooth.

We applied one coat of primer...

And then one coat of glossy white...

We found the material at Hobby Lobby.  Using a 40% off coupon, we paid $4.98.  We laid it face down on the floor, put the cushion on top, and then probably went a little over board with the staple gun.  If we saw a loose spot, we stapled it.

When we were finished, we trimmed all the excess material.

After attaching the seat, we were done!  And it only cost us $9.98.

{clicking the picture should make it larger}

What's not to love?