Egg In the Pot - Definately a Miss

I have seen this one posted on Pinterest many times.

I have seen many gardening tips on Pinterest describing great ways to fertilize your plants.  One post said to put banana peels in the bottom of a hole before you plant something and it will fertilize for the whole season, the other one showed an egg in the hole.  I decided I would give it a try and went ahead and put and egg and a banana.  If one is good, two must be better right?  That was my thinking.  I proceeded to plant four grape vines.  The very next morning I woke up to four holes in the ground, torn up grape vines and no sign of the egg or the banana peel.  Turns out the critters could smell the loot and dug up my plants to get to it.  I don't know if it was a raccoon or what exactly it was, but  it certainly wasn't worth losing four good grape vines over.

This is most certainly a MISS in my book.

I Burned 1,200 Calories Today

I Wish I Could Sleep But...

Projects Today

I started my blog a week and a half ago and I am having so much fun.  I decided that since church is such a big part in my life I am going to add a Relief Society category today.  I am constantly making bookmarks, visiting teaching handouts, invitations, etc. so I might as well post them and make them available to other ladies.  No reason to reinvent the wheel.  Feel free to copy any of my ideas and reuse them.

Today I wanted to drop off a little treat to the ladies I visit teach and a treat for my husband and sons to give to their home teaching family.  Together we have 12 families so it can be time consuming and expensive if I don't plan ahead.

When I think of treats I love the most, it usually always starts with popcorn.  Did you know that popcorn has a 44 to one rate of popping?  It is the best food storage available in my opinion.  It has nutritional value, a very long shelf life, and is very cheap.  I buy my popcorn in 50 lb bags at Sams Club so it is always a sensible choice for starting a treat that I need to make a lot of.  We have also invested in a good popcorn popper so I can make a lot of popcorn without much time, but do not feel that you have to have a fancy popcorn popper in order to add popcorn to your daily diet.  You can make your own microwave popcorn just as easy.  I will give instructions for that in the future as well.

So check back in a little bit, I will update the blog with the instructions on how to make a non-sticky caramel popcorn in 1/2 hour.

Easy Open, Ya Right...

Easy Dry Hand Remedy

How to Soften Your Hands

I have notoriously dry hands.  I have spent a lot of money over the years on fancy products to help soften my hands, but then I came up with my own combination that works better than anything I have ever used.  It is simply sugar and hand soap.

Sugar and Hand Soap

One Tablespoon of Sugar

Vigorously Wash Hands Rubbing Sugar Between Hands and Fingers

That's all it takes.  Soft hands with no greasy residue.  

Best Tip of the Day!

The Best Caramel Corn Ever!

On a Sunday afternoon, when you are hungry for a treat that is quick, easy, and yummy, this is the answer to all that ails you.  It is very sticky so we put it in a bowl and eat with a spoon, but oh, it is worth it!

Caramel Corn Made in 5 Minutes

Ingredients

2 ¼ cup brown sugar

½ cube butter

1 cup Karo syrup

1 can sweetened condensed milk

14 cups of popped popcorn

Directions

Melt butter in medium size sauce pan on medium heat.  Add sugar and syrup.  Bring to a boil.  Boil one minute.  Take off heat and add condensed milk.  Pour over popped popcorn.

To print Recipe Save Image Below on Your Computer, then Print.

Jewelled Cell Phone Case

Bedazzled Cell Phone Case

I found a bin at Walmart that had torn up boxes so the cases were on sale for $5.00.  They were rather odd colors, but who cares when you are adding crystal gems to them.

Cell Phone Case Bling

Case is a bendable rubber

Type in a Letter in Microsoft word, add a fun font and super-size the font, then print out.

Cut out the font and lay on top of the case
Lightly Spray Paint the Image on the case

Add Jewels to the Case Using E-6000 Glue

Ok, I promised to document Hits and Misses.  Guess what, this was a MISS.  After letting the glue completely dry, the entire thing came apart in one big glued sheet.  It turns out that the rubber would not allow anything to stick to it.  Darn:(  Well, after all that time invested I decided I wasn't going to give up to easily.  I remembered I had an old case that was broken.  I was able to apply some glue all over the case and then simply attach the jewels to it with little extra effort.  I then glued a few extra gems to the edges and saved the project.

This is the old broken case I ended up using

So the project ended up being both a hit and a miss.  The moral of the story is, if you want to add jewels to a cell phone case, make sure the case you start with is not made of rubber.

Hits and Misses from Pinterest

I am excited to report on some experiments I conducted over the weekend.  There are so many claims on Pinterest regarding amazing results using common household items.  I am going to do my best to document which ones really work and which ones are nothing more than smoke and mirrors.  The one that caught my eye this week had to do with cleaning the grates on the top of a gas stove.  There was a picture with a before and after shot of the grate.  One was very dirty and the other was shiny and clean.  The claim is if you put the grate in a bag with some Ammonia and seal it off over night, it will wipe away clean the next morning.  Now this sounded too good to be true, but since Ammonia is cheap and scrubbing the grates is time consuming and obnoxious I decided it deserved a chance.  I have three teenage boys who love to make Macaroni and Cheese and it seems to get more on the grates that in the bowl, so I definitely need an easier way to clean up the mess.

Gas Grate Before

I was glad to see that my experiment was only going to set me back $1.00 since Ammonia is very cheap.  After I put it in the bag as instructed, I started to feel real dumb.  I couldn't help but wonder if I was taking myself down a ridiculous path.  All I could think about was how awful Ammonia smells and what if the thing leaks all over the counter, then I will have an awful smelling mess to clean up and still no easy answer to my dirty grate problem.

Put all the grates in a plastic bag where you plan to leave it.
If you try to move it later you will tear the bag.
Pour in Ammonia

Seal the Bag
Let Sit Over Night

This morning I opened the bag and just about got blown over with the rank smell.  Now I knew I was on a carnival ride.  I was a little mad at myself for falling for such an easy trick.  I put the grate in the sink and sprayed it with water.  This didn't even deserve a wipe with a cloth in my opinion.  But what to my wondering eyes should appear, a miracle of all miracles!  Just like the Pinterest claim said, it came clean as a whistle.  No wiping required.

This get's 5 out of 5 stars.  It accomplishes all the of criteria for my blog.  Cheap, easy, relevant, and definitely uplifting.

Missionaries Singing in a Car

The 12 Days of Christmas - Straight No Chaser

Love this!

Hey There Delilah (I'm at the MTC)

Piano Guys - Star Wars

Cello Wars

Virtue Makes You Beautiful - Alex Boye

Laugh A Little

Today's Humor

Funny!

Bling It On - Black Pair of Red Soled Shoes

DIY Bling Shoes

E-6000 Clear Glue

I bought the crystals at Hobby Lobby on a half off sale.  $7.00

The best Purchase of all was the Jewel Picker.

It has a wax top that allows you to picks the jewels up and places them on the glue with ease.  I smudged some glue on the heel of the shoe.

Only due a small area at a time.  Enough to place about 10 jewels at a time.

I was able to put the jewels on the shoes in about 10 minutes.  This is one of the easiest DIY projects I have ever done.

Update 1-24-2018.  I originally jazzed up a pair of shoes back in 2014.  It has now been 4 years and they are still my favorite pair of shoes.  I wear them about 3 times a month and always get a lot of accolades.  They were so easy to make and worth the effort.  This is definitely a pinterest HIT!

DIY Red Soled Shoes - Toupe

DIY Red Soled Shoes

I bought these shoes at Target on sale for $11.00

Tape the edges of the shoes, then tape plastic bags on shoe

Put in Box and Spray Paint 

Light Coats are best and do it Outside

Used for painting tools, why not red soled shoes?

I used 5 coats. Allow at least 4 hours between coats.
Let dry inside where there is ventilation.
I put the box in the bathroom with the window cracked.

Cut the edges of the paint with an x-acto knife before removing tape

Favorite Red Soled Shoes Ever!

Chocolate Humor

Come on, Admit it, it's funny!

If you would like the recipe click on the image below, save it to your computer and print it out.  Enjoy:)

Chicken and Dumplings Like Cracker Barrel

Chicken and Dumplings Like Cracker Barrel

Ingredients

6 Chicken Breasts cut into bite size pieces

2 quarts of chicken stalk
2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons chicken bouillon (I use the chicken flavoring packets from Ramon Noodles)
1/2 teaspoon pepper

¼ cup of chopped onions

3 teaspoons of parsley

Dumpling

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons shortening (I use margarine)
3/4 cup buttermilk (I add 1 tbsp. vinegar to 1 cup milk let sit 5 minutes, then measure 3/4 cup)

Add everything except the dumpling ingredients to a pot or pressure cooker

Place chicken in a pressure cooker. Add chicken, stalk, salt, bouillon, pepper, onions, and parsley. Bring to a boil.  Cook on high until the pressure is up then reduce to low.  Pressure cook for ½ hour.  Reduce pressure and take off lid.  Bring to boil on Medium heat.

Dumplings

While the broth is cooking combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Cut in the shortening. Add the buttermilk, stirring with a fork until moistened.  Knead the dough 4 to 5 times (do not over knead).

Roll out on floured surface to ¼ inch thick.  Cut into small squares.   Drop into boiling broth.  Cook on medium for about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

The dumplings float to the top at first

 If it is not as thick as you would like you can add ½ cup of cold water and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, stirred in a cup and then added to the soup.   Salt and pepper to taste.

To Print Recipe, click on image and copy to your desktop

My Favorite Broccoli Salad Recipe

Cranberry Broccoli Salad Recipe

Cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Combine all salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.

Combine dressing ingredients in a small mixing bowl.

Mix until thoroughly combined using a fork or wire whisk.

Add dressing to salad and mix well.

Refrigerate 1 hour.

Printable Recipe

Instructions on How to Make Your Own Red Soled Shoes

Red Soled Shoes DIY

I love the red soled shoes.  I decided to try making my own.  I found my favorite pair and duplicated them.  The pair that looks like this sales for $850.  I bought the shoes at target for $30.  The plastic dip paint cost under $10.  If you add in the cost of the tape I am up to a total of $40.  The best part about it, is it fits in my 5 steps or less category.  It really is an easy shoe to make, but it does take some drying time.  I am not the most patient person, so that was the hard part for me.

I bought these shoes at Target for $30.

They weren't on sale, which breaks one of my rules, 

but I wanted to get started right away.

The red plastic dip spray paint can be found at most stores that sell tools.  Lowes did not carry the color red, but Home Depot did.  I also found that it is sold at Menards along with other tool stores such as Ace Hardware etc.  I love this spray paint because it is a rubber paint so it adds grip to the bottom of the shoe.  The paint is used to add grip to a pair of pliers, but I figured, why not the bottom of my shoe?

The first step is to tape off the edge of the shoe

Next add plastic to the shoe and tape it down as well

Put shoes in a box to collect over spray.
It is strong smelling so you will want to spray outside.

Bring inside to dry.
Repeat every 4 hours until the shoe has desired amount of paint.
Thin coats are best.

Do not cut the DRYING TIME short.
This is hard for me because I become impatient.

The paint will not set well if you don't let it completely dry.
I ended up putting on about 5 coats of paint over 24 hours.

Trim the edge with an X Ac-to Knife. 

While removing the tape pull away from the shoe so it will tear evenly.

I love the Results!