The Miracle Stain Remover You Have In Your Cabinets!

 I found this cool little trick on Tip Nut.  They have some very cool little tricks and tips on there you should check it out!  Anyways, this is a miracle cleaner because it is non-toxic and you probably have it in your pantry or cabinets!

Ok so you can see the DISGUSTING stain on my carpet...not sure how it got there which is probably more scary.  Oh well it won't be there for much longer!

 All you need is an old rag, a sponge or spray bottle, 1/3 cup vinegar, 2/3 cups warm water, and an iron!

Dab/spray the area with the vinegar/water solution until damp.  Place the rag on top of the stain and set the iron to the "cotton" setting or about medium.  Hold the iron on the stain for about 10 seconds alternating spots until you have covered the entire stain.  You may need to add a little more of the solution if the stain doesn't come up immediately.  You are basically just steam cleaning your rug with a harmless cleaner.

This is the area where the stain was.  Pretty amazing for a few minutes of work, plus I didn't douse my carpet with smelly chemicals or anything like that.  I have seen alternative methods using ammonia, while it may do the trick a little quicker, I liked the idea of vinegar better.  The stain wasn't in a room that I could "tape off" from the girls and I just didn't feel like doing it at night when they were sleeping--lazy!  :)

Have fun cleaning!

Vintage Pattern for the First Day!

I had been browsing Etsy for the perfect vintage dress pattern for Laura's school dress.  I found this one from 1965.  I LOVE how innocent and sweet the dress is and besides the buttons, it was pretty easy to make.  Her favorite feature are the "treasure pockets."

 My little one LOVED her dress and frankly was a slave driver while I was sewing it.  She'd ask everyday where I was in the process and if I was going to work on it that day.  When I started the buttons, she would come and sit next to me and say, "Wow Momma, those buttons sure do take you a long time.  Do you need help?"  haha This is why I am so glad that her smile expresses how happy she was to be dressed and ready for her first day of school.

 I love this girl, she is one of my two favorite models ever--without a doubt!

12 buttons............(sigh)

 Ours isn't quite as short as the pattern called for, but I thought that it would get me a little more wear out of it.  Well, at least a few extra months maybe.....My sleeves were also a little too large and the sewing is definitely amateurish but it made me so proud when her teacher commented on her pretty dress and she beamed and said, "My mommy made it!!" :)

The fabric is Michael Miller's Children at Play in Meadow Pink.  

Hello Fall and Bread Making!

Ahh goodbye summer, picnics, and pools but we're ok with that because it gives way to FALL and fun fall activities like pumpkin carving, planting mums, crock pot recipes, and bread making!

I had been pretty obsessed with Danielle of Blissful and Domestic and her family's plan to live on $14,000 a year.  While her suggestions are great, they don't all fit the needs of our family, HOWEVER I was intrigued that she makes her own bread all the time.  

After trying a couple of recipes, this one is by far the best and easiest!  I actually fell asleep (thanks Baby 3) during the rising stage and overshot it by 40 minutes--did not make a difference in the least!

Try baking your own sandwich bread this fall, it's a lot of work, no lie, but it really makes your PB&J sandwich special.  Plus you can devote a Sunday when you are at home watching football to make a few loaves and kids can help too!  Caroline helped me with these two loaves!

Easy Homemade Bread  (Adapted from The Wannabe Country Girl)

1 packet of yeast

7 cups of flour (bread or all purpose) 

4 cups of warm water

1/4 Olive Oil

2 Tsp Salt

1 Tbsp of Sugar

1.  Dissolve yeast according to package add sugar and let sit till foamy.

2.  In a separate bowl, add flour, salt, oil, and water.

3.  Stir that mixture ( or if you have a Kitchen Aid, attach the dough hook and give it a whirl!)

4.  Add yeast mixture and continue to stir until completely incorporated.  If you aren't using a dough hook you will have to take the dough out and knead it until it forms a ball.

5.  Once the ball is formed, plop it onto a sheet of parchment paper or saran wrap and spray the bowl you just used with cooking spray and then plop it back into the bowl.

6.  Cover with a towel and find a nice warm and dark place for your bowl.  Some people choose their stove top, but I go with the top of the the dryer.  It also forces me to do a load of wash, so I kill two birds with one stone haha.  ( You should have seen the hubby's face when I asked him to get the bread dough from the laundry room in the basement haha)

7.  Let it sit for about 45 minutes until it is nice and fluffy.

8.  Take it out and sprinkle flour on top.  Cut in half and store the half that you don't want to use right away in the fridge or freezer.

9.  Take the other half and roll it out into a rectangle shape.  Roll it up like a fruit roll up and tuck the ends inward.

10.  Spray a loaf pan and pop it into the oven at 350 for 25 minutes!

Cleaning MAGIC

I'm not sure if I am nesting or just in the cleaning mood for these past few weeks!  I have been scouring the internet trying to find ways to fix little things in our house that have been driving me crazy.  For instance the mildew and rust stains in the bath tub.  Now I clean my bathroom probably twice a week--it's one of the things I am crazy about, that and the kitchen.  I will allow myself to step on the same toy for a week, but I don't miss my twice a week bathroom cleanings.  Anyways, I clean my bathroom a lot, but I could NOT get those stubborn mildew and rust stains out of the grout.  GRR!

So...after some digging I found a home remedy that was cheap and easy and made my bath tub look BRAND NEW. 

1.  Ok, so go to Sally Beauty Supply and get Cellu Cotton.  It's basically a long cotton ball that can easily be torn apart.

2.  Break the cotton coil into strip to fit your tub.

3.  Put gloves on and open your windows (it's best to do this when you will be out of the house or at night when you can shut the bathroom door so fumes don't escape and leave the bathroom window open and fan on to ventilate).

4.  In a pot/pan/bucket, pour a little bit of bleach and soak your cotton strips.  Place the strips on your mildew infected areas.  It should stick up there like caulking.

5.  Let it sit for at least 3 hours (the longer the better)

6.  Remove and rinse the area with hot water from the shower head. 

7.  Go back to the rust stains and use a magic eraser to get rid of those and then you are DONE!

Magic Eraser Trial Size:  $1.76

Cellu Cotton:  $1.99

Bleach:  Had it already

Total for a shiny new tub:  $3.75