Aqua-tober

I got the idea for this challenge from John over at Young House Love, only mine has a little bit of a tweak.  He drank only water for a month.  My challenge will be to drink 1 gallon of water every day during the month of October (which means I'll still have my morning cup o' joe that sits until naptime when I heat it up and enjoy it, sans toddler.)

October 1-2, I only made it half-way.  Yesterday was my first day to drink the whole gallon.  (I got up 6 times during the night to go to the bathroom.)  Today, I'm already half-way there!

So who's with me?  My sister Kalie and my friend Anna are also joining in.  You don't have to commit to a gallon a day.  Your goal could be to just drink the recommended 8-10 glasses a day.  Whatever it is, just stick with it...even if you miss a day, or only get half-way like I did the first two days.  Just don't quit!  

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!