Homemade DIY Leather Conditioner & Cleaner Plus a Giveaway!

We have this Navy blue leather chair that we have had about 15 years.  It was one of our first purchases when we got married and bought our first house.  We ADORED this chair... we vowed to never get rid of it (we did pay a fortune at the time for it!)  Well The chair has been thru moves, 3 kids, cats claws, and well LIFE!  It is the most comfortable chair ever though... and it RECLINES without looking like a gawdy recliner!  Over the years we have purchased expensive Leather Conditioners and cleaners... They smell horribly toxic and do a less than par job if you know what I mean! We were even on the verge of getting rid of the beloved chair simply because it looked so dry and beat up.  No longer the glory of the living room it has been moved to our bedroom looking sad.

Well I have been learning about Essential oils the past 6 months or so.  And after using them personally with huge success for some health issues I bit the bullet and got a started kit with doTERRA so I could get them at wholesale.  My kit just came in last week and anxious to use them I did some research and found a recipe for a leather cleaner.... Would this help sell my husband on my "witch Dr hobby"?  lol....  Read on!

He was using the smelly toxic stuff we had left from the last time it was cleaned.... He was fristrated at how little it was doing.  I went to the kitchen and whipped up a small batch of cleaner

• 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
• 1/2 Cup Vinegar
• 5 drops Wild Orange Essential Oil or Lemon Essential Oil

That's it!  I added it to an empty clean spray bottle that I had on hand and my husband tested it on a small spot... He was amazed immediately and excited began doing the whole chair.  Just spray and wipe in a circular motion.  It replenished the dry, sad leather in an instant!

I didn't think to get a"before" picture until he was half was through, but you can see the difference on the ottoman and the chair that my husband was working on.  If you would like to order or have any questions about Essential oils I would love to help you!  I know I was very overwhelmed with the idea of how to use essential oils in the beginning.  One of the easiest ways to get started with them is to get an intro set which is about $20 and includes Lavendar, Lemon, and Peppermint Oils.  These 3 oils are used for sooooo many things from help with Sleep, healing/soothing cuts and scrapes, headaches, cleaning, etc. 

I am having a giveaway for a FREE bottle of doTERRA Wild Orange Essential Oil!  One winner will be selected at Random February 3rd, 2015, simply leave a comment on this post to be entered.  Winner will be contacted once the drawing ends so please make sure your profile has a way to connect to you!

Free Friday Giveaway! Halloween Spider Clippies

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1.  Be a fan on Facebook,  enter on the giveaway on the Facebook page!
2.  Follow Sandrabees on twitter
3.  Tweet about the giveaway
4.  Pin or repin this post with the spider clippies picture to pinterest! With "pin it to win it" as the caption

$2 Bow Sale!

Time to stock up!  All small tots size bows are on Sale!    Visit the Facebook page or Sandrabees.com for details and to order!  Sale runs 1 week only!  They won't be this low again until the Spring of 2013!  Single layers are just $2 each.  Choose from hundreds of colors...,  including solid grosgrain, polka dots, stripes, preppy stripes, & printed ribbons.

Make them double layers for $1 more or add a monogram for $2.

Want an outfit matched?  No problem.  I can match colors for you with a picture or link to the outfit online

Please pin, share with mommy groups, Facebook and twitter friends and family!

Queen Platform Storage Bed DIY

Shopping List:
Headboard/Footboard
1 – Sheet 3/4" Plywood, MDF
2 – 1x3 @ 8 feet long
2 – 2x3 @ 8 feet long
1 – 1x2 @ 8 feet long
4 – small moulding pieces 8 feet long
3/4” finish nails
1 1/4” pocket hole screws

Storage Bases
2 – Sheets ¾” plywood or MDF cut into strips 15 3/4" wide, referred to as 1x16 boards throughout this plan
2 – sheets ¼” plywood or other backerboard
4 – 2x4 @ 8 feet long
2 – 2x2 @ 8 feet long
3– 1x3 @ 8 feet long (for the slats – try and burn up small scraps here)
7 – 1x6 @ 8 feet long OR 1 sheet ¾” plywood cut into strips 5 1/2" wide, used as 1x6s for drawers. You could even use 5/8” thick material
4 – 1x8 @ 6 feet long
Optional drawer moulding
24 (or 12) – Drawer Knobs or handles
12 – 14” long drawer slides, the white euro style bottom corner mount ones will work best
1 1/4” and 2 1/2" pocket hole screws
1 1/4” finish nails

CUT LIST
Headboard/Footboard
1– 3/4" plywood or MDF @ 60” x 25" (headboard)
1 - 3/4" plywood or MDF @ 60 x 23" (footboard)
2 – 1x3 @ 60”
2 – 1x2 @ 60"
2 – 2x3 @ 47 1/2”
2 – 2x3 @ 27 1/2"
2 – 1x3 @ 67”
8– Moulding pieces ... i will have to measure these
8 - Moulding pieces (again i need to measure these (long point to long point, both ends cut at 45 degrees off square, not parallel to each other)

Storage Bases
4 – 1x16 @ 80”
8 – 1x16 @ 14 7/8”
2 – ¼” plywood @ 80” x 16 ¼”
4 – 2x4 @ 75"
4 – 2x4 @ 10”
2 – 2x2 @ 80"
14 – 1x3 or 1x2 scraps @ 7”

DRAWERS ( I need to double check the drawers
24 – 1x6 @ 14”
24 – 1x6 @ 21 ½” (I think I added a smidge to the length of the drawers Bu need to measure... I think I used 23 3/8")
12 – 1x8 @ 24 5/8” (Drawer Faces) measure and build to your exact drawers though
12 - ¼” plywood @ 23” x 14” (Drawer Bottoms). Again I think I added an inch or so... will need to measure to confirm)

This was the BIG summer project!  The plan when moving my son to his own room (which happened to be the bonus room) was to eliminate the need for a dresser.  Partly due to space and low ceilings.  After much planning we decided on the Fillman storage Bed that Ana-White had posted.  It was for a twin size bed.  I calculated and measured and came up with a queen size based on those plans.  I will update with my cut list and sizes if anyone is interested.  For now here are the pictures!  I did add 2 wooden knobs to each drawer (stained to match)  Need to get an updated picture!

THE BED!  12 Drawers queen size... I can't believe I built this!

Headboard and Footboard trimmed out

Easy Waffle Recipe

First off, I LOVE my waffle maker!  It is made by GE and makes 4 square waffles at once.  With a family of 5 this was a must for me.  This recipe makes 12 and feeds us plus a few leftover.  I always flash freeze the leftover ones and then place in a freezer bag.  Then they can get popped in the toaster for a quick breakfast, snack or breakfast sand which base :-)

This recipe came with my waffle maker and is awesome just as is.  Now sometimes I like to add blueberries, or diced apples and cinnamon or a dash of vanilla.  But 95% of the time I use this basic recipe.

2 Cups flour
2 TBS sugar
1 TBS Baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 3/4 Cups milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs

First mix dry ingredients in a large bowl, then add milk, oil, and eggs and whisk until just blended.  For my waffle maker I use 1/3 cup measuring cup to pour into each waffle square and it is perfect.

These are WAY better than any frozen store bought waffles, without any preservatives and so easy to whip up a batch.

If you want to stock your freezer you can make a few batches at once.  To flash freeze lay them flat on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Stick in the freezer until hardened.  (about an hour or 2) then transfer to a gallon size freezer bag.  I think I can fit 8 in each... maybe a few more.  I do also reuse my freezer bags if no meat was in them

This Week's Menu

Monday (9/3/2012)
  Breakfast: Cereal

  Dinner Potluck with Friends

Tuesday (9/4/2012)
  Breakfast: Cereal or grits

  Dinner: Spaghetti w/ homemade Meat sauce, French Bread (makes 2 loaves, salad

Wednesday (8/29/2012)
  Breakfast: Homemade Waffles, sausage

  Dinner: Chicken Fried Steak, Mustard Greens, Rice (gravy), Corn on the Cob, Amazing Yeast Rolls (double for next day)

Thursday (9/6/2012)
  Breakfast: Bagels

  Dinner:  Homemade Cheese Ravioli with Meatball, Amazing Yeast Rolls

Friday (9/7/2012)
  Breakfast: French Toast (using , Sausage

  Dinner: Rice and Bean Enchiladas

Saturday (9/8/2012)
  Dinner: Grilled Chicken, green beans, Rice Pilaf

Sunday (9/2/2012)
  Dinner: Chicken Panini's, Broccoli Cheese Soup

***Lunches are usually easy pasta dishes, mac n cheese, sandwiches, or leftovers.

Free Sharpies's TODAY only

Snatch an 8-pack of Sharpie Fine Point Multi-Color Markers from Walmart for free with today’s Wild Deal at ShopAtHome.com. Plus, choose to pick your purchase up in the store to avoid shipping charges.  We are always reaching for Sharpies in my house.... just be sure to keep them away from the kiddos hands LOL
Here is how Wild Deals work at ShopAtHome.com:

• Head to ShopAtHome.com.
• Click the "today's daily Deal" for Walmart
• Click “Buy It Now” button for the Sharpie's.
• Pay $3.97 for the 8 pack of Sharpie Fine Point Multi-Color Markers.
• Choose to pick your order up in the store and you won’t be charged shipping.
• $3.97 cash back will be added to your ShopAtHome.com account.
• Final Price: Free

New to ShopAtHome.com? If so, you’re eligible for a $5.00 signup bonus. Because orders must fully process, the cash back and bonus will take a couple of days to show up in your account. Once earnings reach $20.00, cashing out is allowed.