Organizing Kitchen Drawers!

I started this project before Christmas...  and by started... I mean I saw the idea on pinterest!   Here was the idea:

Source: ana-white.com via Jamie on Pinterest

And I did purchase my wood, Although I may need more... I cut one piece to fit and then held off on actually screwing anything together because I wanted to use the Kreg Jig to make pocket holes...  and well... I didn't own a Kreg Jig! Haha!  I did buy the Kreg Jig Mini last week and absolutely LOVE it!  So here is my "before" picture of my large kitchen drawer that everything gets jumbled in and slides around....  I hope to post my "After" picture soon!

My "Before" of my large kitchen drawer

WOW! at the stuff!  Time to get organized for good!

My Little ChalkBoard Easel I made

Here is one of my recent woodworking projects I did.  I was itching to get back into woodworking.... and a little intimidated by the miter saw that was sitting in the garage.  One day I saw some old wood laying the the yard... Actually they were the stakes I used in my garden last summer.  The kids had been playing with them... they were wet, dirty... really almost threw them out... Started looking them over and envisioned a chalk board I could write my menu on.... Originally I was thinking something I could place on my small buffet table in my breakfast nook... After taking some measurements of what I had on hand I thought I would go bigger to place on the floor or even use for outdoor parties down the road.  I love cooking, and just thought it would be a cute piece to have... Something just for me!

A quick call to my husband that went a little something like this... "hey, how do i use the miter saw?"  He was a little leary to say the least.  He told me to hold my wood firm, wear eye protection, and be CAREFUL!  uh ok honey lol :)

This is about 30 inches high... I built the frame for each side and then used some scrap 1/4" wood I had as well ( I painted those with black chalkboard paint) I used a black wood stain I had leftover from another project and then coated it with some poly.  I used 2 hinges on the top and twine with 2 eye screws to secure it from flopping on the floor.

~My little Chalkboard Easel~

I just love how it turned out!  Now when the kids ask what is for dinner I can just point :)  and as a bonus I can use both sides :)   I am linking up to a great Link Party.  Lots of great home organizing ideas for you to browse... Can't wait to see more ideas!

SandraBees Bows Weekly Specials

Every week I try to add new bows and specials to my facebook page! Most all of my bow specials thru facebook ship to you for FREE :) Specials change from week to week. I hope you will stop by to check them out!
Here is a link to this Week's Specials

A few of the specials this week include:

Valentine Clippie
Valentine Clippie.... If you would be interested in a tutorial on how to make these let me know!

Missy Size Valentine Ribbon Rose Bow

Jumbo Size Mardi Gras Mickey Mouse Bow 

Large White Bow with Ribbon Rose

New Things for a New Year!

I am going to start doing some before and after pictures to document some of my home projects.  I personally love to "see" things thru pictures, to be inspired and hopefully it will inspire others too!  I am not one for making New Year's resolutions so much.... In fact for about 25 years +/- I had the same resolution.... To stop biting my nails!  I finally set my mind to it... yeah I know after 25 years LOL but I finally did do it so that counts for something right!?!  This time lasy year I was stumped cause I had no "resolution" to make.  Instead I decided to make my motto for the year... "TO SIMPLIFY"...  Simple as that!

Through the entire year my focus was to refine my home to really work the way I wanted it to.  Keep things simple.  This included getting rid of clutter, and things that I didn't want, or simply things that I did not want to spend my precious time "maintaining".   I really was impacted by an Oprah show that aired about 2 years ago.  It focused on how people lived in other countries, and showed their homes, etc.  Focusing on women of course :)  Here is a link Inside the Lives of Women Around the World

You can also view the video specifically of the home in Denmark that impacted me so much here

Simplicty!  I remember my husband coming home from work that day and doing what he typically would do when he came home.... SWEEP THE FLOORS!!!  We have stained concrete floors which we love!  They are a burnt amber color... but with children, pets and a typical day the kitchen area would be... well in need of a sweep!  This just so happens to be one of my husband's pet peeves too, and back then with 3 young children I would just let him come home and sweep!  I told him on that day.... Think of all the time we spend CLEANING and MAINTAINING things!  Never, ever do I want a larger house!  I want to be content with what I have, get rid of the excess space takers... Reduce what I need to buy... Really think about what I "NEED" in my life.

This was a game changer for me indeed... In fact that year I skipped the trip to the pumpkin patch that I was having trouble fitting into our schedule!  I know GASP!!!  My poor children, right?  Well, no... Finances were tight, gas prices were sky rocketing and the pumpkin patch was about 30 miles each way... plus $8 per person (x 5 of us)...  This included 1 pumpkin per person.  This got me thinking.... Do I REALLY need to spend all of this money, have the stress or fitting it into our cramped schedule, & have 5 pumpkins to sit on my front porch to quickly decay in the South Mississippi heat?  "Simplify"  yes, I need this!  That year I purchased 1 good size pumkin for $4 at the local Walmart... We carved it together as a family (which has become a new tradition too... 1 "family" pumpkin).

Anyway, all of my rambling... we are onto a new year now.... 2012!  I am fully inspired to continue my journey of simplifying my life.  My head is swimming with many ideas and I plan to blog about the projects as I do them this year.  Among the big projects I hope to get to this year are:

• Building our corner fireplace complete with mantel so my stockings are not duct taped to the plastic wrap of the firebox next year :).....  We do have the firebox already purchase sitting in place! 
• Building a laundry cabinet system for my laundry room to organize dirty clothes, have a folding area, and hanging area.... 
• Building a bench for my dining room table.... 
• Deciding on cabinetry for the dining room and wall shelves
• Building a butcher block station for my bread machine on casters
• Building a trundle for under my daughter's bed....   for storage now, and a future matress
• Converting the bonus room into a room for my oldest son.  Right now my 2 boys share a room (ages 4 & 9) and the bonus room is my bow making area, sewing area, scrapbook stash area as well as family room/play room... Hopefully I will be able to figure out a system to move most all of my things out of the bonus room and redo the room for my oldest son.  My youngest will turn 5 and start Kindergarten in August so that is when I intend to do this redo.  Possibly building a Full or Double size bed for my oldest at this time too... One day we have plans to build a shop and have a studio above for my work area and guest sleeping/bathroom....  Yes one day!

Okay so I those are off the top of my head.  I know I am a dreamer!  But hopefully I will be able to accomplish these things and some others as I feel inspired :)  Pix to come!

I fully think the way my home feels and functions effects my day to day happiness!  Do you have new year's resolutions?  or are you like me and make goals?  Love to hear!

Amazing Yeast Rolls, bread machine

1 cup warm water
2 1/4 tsp yeast
4 TBS sugar
2 TBS Melted margarine or butter
3 Cups Bread Flour
1 tsp Salt
1/4 Cup dry powdered milk

Place ingrdients in bread machine... set to dough cycle... once complete turn to lightly floured surface...  pat dough into a rectangle shape... with a pastry cutter cut in half then cut each section into 6 squares... giving you 12 total...  you may round them slightly while moving to a cookie sheet... space them evenly apart to fill your cookie sheet. cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled...  45-60 minutes.

bake on 350° about 12-15 minutes or until browned

Depending what I am serving these with sometimes I will drizzle with honey before baking... or add 2 tsp garlic powder or minced garlic to the dough cycle.  or you can brush with butter after they come out... these are divine!

Soft Pretzels

makes 8 large pretzels

1 Cup Warm Water
1/4 Cup sugar
2 1/4 tsp yeast
1 tsp salt
1 egg
2 TBS softened margarine or butter
3 1/4 Cups all purpose flour

put ingredients in bread machine on dough cycle.  Once finished turn out to a floured surface.  Divide dough in half... then cut each half into 4 sections.   Roll into 8 long ropes.  then shape as pretzels or cut for nuggets...  place on a greased cookie sheet, cover with damp towel, let rise in a warm spot until doubled... about 30 minutes.

preheat oven to 400°

once they have risen boil some water in a shallow pot... at boil add some baking soda...  i didn't measure... somewhere around 1/4 cup though...  cook about a minute on each side and remove each pretzel with a slotted spatula back to the cookie sheets.  Bake about 15 minutes until browned.

if you like you can add course salt before baking...  or my kids like these brushed with butter and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar...  do that after baking :)

Sweet Honey French Bread

1 Cup water
1 TBS honey
1 TBS olive oil
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp sugar
3 Cups bread flour
2 1/4 tsp yeast

Put in bread machine in order listed...  when it gets to the bake cycle you can also drizzle on more honey if you'd like... and I think you will like :)