A Book For My Nook

I think I have mentioned several times that I have a Barnes and Noble Nook Tablet.  And I have to say that I am very happy with it.  Yeah, yeah, yeah the iPad is great if that is what you need, but for the most part I just want to have an ereader that occasionally allows me to surf the web or play a game.  I don’t want nor do I need a lot of apps.  That’s just me…it’s what pops my panties.  Me.  If you want an iPad or a Kindle Fire then go for it, do you.

Having said all that, let me get to the reason for this post.  I am all about accessorizing.   I like shoes (no I love shoes), watches, earrings (the bigger the better because I have REALLY short hair), makeup, rings, purses (I call them my bags), just accessories.  So I’m always thinking of cost effective ways to accessorize all my gadgets.  I’ve made camera bags for my camera, covers for my Kindle (the DX – the big one), and my Sony, etc.  I hadn’t done anything for my Nook because I was treating my baby to special treatment, nothing but the best for my girl.  The problem with wanting the best and me loving accessories is that I cringe (mean really cringe) when  look at something that is gloriously beautiful that is right up my speed but cost $70.  I can’t do it.  Nope won’t do it.   Not spending $70.  The other problem is that there is not as many pretty covers for Nooks as there are for the Kindle Fire and iPad (I wonder why that’s so?).  About a month ago I went on a rampage looking for a cover and found that I can make this amazing cover for less than $5.00.  People are selling beautiful covers on Etsy for $60 (and I’m not knocking anyone’s business) and I can do it myself for around $5.  This is how I did it.

First I went to Goodwill, Nook in hand and found a book that was around the same height and width of my Nook  and paid $2.50 plus tax (I actually bought three books because my girlfriend begged me to make one for her and I wanted to make something for my mother).  I then went to JoAnns and spent some cash (about $30) for fabric (I just couldn’t just buy one), felt in various colors, elastic (in two widths), batting, and buttons.

Then I went home and got to working.

I cut the insides of the book out,

I cut and measured my fabric,

trimmed up the batting to layer between book and fabric then I used my trusty hot glue gun to glue the fabric and batting and to the book,

then I added my button on the outside and elastic that would attach to the button

cut the elastic to hold the book in place

This is what the final project looked like.

Afterwards, I realized my mistake.  And I made improvements.

Then I realized that I need to make another improvement.  After three attempts, I had perfected it and this is my final.

  

I added pockets and an elastic band instead of the button to see how it would work.  I also made one for my daughter’s Nook.  I couldn’t keep making them for others and not one for her.

I will be spending some time soon making covers for members of my book club and maybe anyone else who wants to order them.

 

 

I haven’t quite figured out what to charge for them yet, but it won’t be $60.  I couldn’t do that to someone else.  They will just have to know that I will be picking the fabric (based upon their description of what colors they like) and it may not be a rush job if I have my mom/wife/business owner stuff going on.

What’s a Chifferobe? Part I

I’ve been looking for a dresser for the Baby Doll’s room since before we moved.  I didn’t know what I was looking for, I just knew that I would know when I saw it.  I wasn’t being picky either – I looked in the new and thrift stores for this piece, I just couldn’t find it.

Last week, my man was out of town on business and my thrift store partner (my mother) called on my day off and said “I’ll meet you at the Goodwill Outlet if you have the time today.”  If I have the time?  Really people…if I didn’t have the time, I was going to make the time.  Imagine our disappointment to find that there was nothing worth getting at our FAVORITE thrift hangout.    A lightbulb when off in mom’s head and she said let’s hit the Salvation Army  next.  I was so glad we didn’t give up.

We walked in and saw some really great stuff, but horror of horrors they were asking regular store prices for it.  We started raising a stink and soon ended up talking to the manager on duty, Raymond.  While my mother continued to explain to Raymond the reasons why most people come to thrift stores (because they are looking for a great deal and can’t afford to spend regular department store prices and not because they were on the hunt for a diamond like us), I headed to the back of the store to see what I could see.  I found a headboard and a really neat table that had some potential to go in the entry-way.  I had mother bring Raymond back and we began negotiating.  I had made a deal both pieces for $30.  I still had some more searching to do, I was feeling dresser lucky when I spotted this dresser that had some great potential but was hidden between to entertainment centers.  As I tried to navigate my way in between the entertainment centers my mothers exclaims loudly, “Oh My God…It’s a chifferobe!  I had one of these when I was growing up”  My navigation halted and I went back to see what the excitement was all about.  At the same time a gentleman starts heading over to her as well.  There was no price tag, so we began calling for Raymond again.  No answer….Mother went to find him and the gentleman hung around behind me, I guess in hopes that I would walk away.  Not going to happen buddy.  And I told him as much.  We negotiated a new deal for the chifferobe only for $37.50.  I acted disappointed but was truly on cloud nine.  I was seeing the transformation in my head.  It was the one.

My Baby Doll was not impressed, she actually said, “It’s ugly”. Oh yea of little faith. Have I every left her with ugly?

When I told some people about my find, they asked “What’s a chifferobe?” Most thought it was an armoire. Nope, negatory, unh unh.  An armoire has two doors and drawers on the bottom. They are most often used to house tv’s and maybe some extras. A chifferobe has a dresser side and a tall cabinet side for hanging clothes.

(This is a picture of the before…If you look through the pass-thru on the right, you can see a little of my ugly kitchen cabinets…who picks brass door pulls in the year 20-anything?)

I’m thinking high gloss black, diamond-like knobs, purple felt-lined drawers, and some type of fabric or wallpaper for the inside of the wardrobe portion.  I’ll post the transformation next time.

A Place To Rest My Feet

Well I finally got it finished!  A place to rest my wearies.  A place to put up the dogs.  A place to chillaxe.  A place to rest my feet.  I finally finished my ottoman.

I started working on my ottoman a couple of weeks ago, but finally finished it on Sunday.  What took me so long to finish something so simple you may ask?  Well I’ll tell ya.  It started with me deciding to make a complicated fabric pattern for the top of the ottoman from extra fabric that I had around.  It involved my sewing pieces together that were cut into a particular pattern.  I was doing pretty good until my children,

aka my Baby Doll

and miz Sasha Fierce

started harassing me and each other (in my craft room/office-no less…I mean really, no respect for the zen that is in my space).  So I stopped sewing, ushered everyone out, and closed the door.  Two weeks later, my intricate pattern still was not finished and I still had no place to rest my feet.

Last weekend while shopping at Hobby Lobby for the Baby Dolls knobs and such to complete her chifferobe (I will post about this soon..trust me it is a winner), I decided to head over to the fabric department to see what I can see.  I found this beautiful fabric on the clearance rack for $3/yard.  I bought a yard.  Sunday I went into my room with the staple gun in hand and got-her done.  I really love the pattern on the fabric, it’s reminiscent of the scrolls that are on my desk and the colors really tie-in to the craft table.

Now I have a place to rest my feet when I take a seat in my comfy chair and read.

I just have to find a way to keep people out and the peace in.

Of course now that I have my snazzy ottoman, I now feel the need to recover the chair in something equally fab.  I’ll keep my eyes open for the fabric that makes my heart sing.

Do you think it’s too tall?

I debated cutting the legs down some, but the jigsaw has been “misplaced” during the move.

Lonnita   

Lawn & Patio

As I’ve may have mentioned before our back yard is a blank canvas.

We entertain quite a bit and our previous home had the backyard that allowed for all of our outdoor entertaining needs.  One of the first “projects” that we have set is to get something going with the landscaping and backyard portion of our home.

A couple of weekends ago The Lawn and Patio Show came to our town.  WooHoo!   The family packed up and headed out (camera in hand).  So many pretty flowers and trees.  So many pretty flowers and trees.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I love, love, love Hydrangeas.  I want about 10 bushes in my backyard, but I’ve heard their hard to grow. 

We will soon have a wonderful fence put up.  We’ve never had a fence before, just liked the open feel you get from not having a fence.  But now we live on a corner lot, so decided to go with a wrought iron fence (actually it’s aluminum – you get the same look without the possibility of rust or the high cost).  Once we have our fence in place we’ll have the front yard landscaping done and then move on to the patio and deck.  We’re still trying to figure out what to do.  Here are a few options…

We definitely want some type of pergola or way to provide shade.

We have space for something this grand.

Definitely want a space to have a seat.  And since we are definitely getting concrete, I’ve been checking out different ways to keep it from looking so bland.  I’m loving this…

Yep, that’s stamped concrete.  How about something like this for a pathway option?

I couldn’t my post without a shot of the baby doll in all of her perfect posing beauty.  She came up with that pose herself.  Can you tell why I call her baby doll?

If you have any great ideas for landscaping or patio décor, I’d love to hear about it.

Lonnita

Time to DIY

Now that we’ve finally found and moved into a house that we love, everything is unpacked (for the most part), the old house is just about ready to lease out, and the weather is finally coming around to something more conducive to working outdoors; so what does this mean for me?  It’s time to start some DIYing projects.

With us acquiring a bigger home (more rooms, larger rooms), and the fact that we decided that some of our old furniture did not make the cut for the new home; there were a few items that we are working on replacing.  Unfortunately for me, my husband is not a big fan of refinishing furniture or seeing the diamond in the rough that I am.  He loves to see the diamond after it has gone through the process.  Me…I like to dig for the diamond and process it.  Do you see my dilemma?  I have been a good wife and went along with the purchase of a lot of new things that I KNOW in my heart of hearts that we could have found and with a little bit of work made something awesome.  Don’t get me wrong, I love buying new…it’s just that I’ve found that a lot of the newer items aren’t as well made as some of the older pieces.

What have I been doing to appease the DIY monster in me?  I’ve been working on my office and the Baby doll’s room.  My Baby doll wants her room to be in black, purple & white zebra print – with hints of pinks and LOTS of bling.  She has very specific ideas about what she needs to have in her room and it is up to me to execute her vision.  Did I mention she’s 7?  As I add to her room and make new and inventive ways to add bling and BLACK to a 7 year olds room.

As for my office/craft room…I’m taking it slow.  I’m purchasing a lot of accessories.  But one day while I was sitting in my chair reading, my knees started to hurt.  I have bad knees, trying everything I can to avoid knee replacement before I turn 55; so if something hurts my knees I must pay attention.  I need an ottoman.  After careful reflection I came up with the thought of transforming a small table into an ottoman.  After a stop at one of my local thrift stores I came home with a small table that is currently being transformed.

But I must show you a finished project.   I create a menu for the family EVERY week.  I usually post it on the frig for the family to look at so that they won’t have to ask me, “What’s for dinner?”  I really wanted a big chalk board, but had been unable to find something that would work for me.  I then started the search for a huge frame that I could make into a chalk board.  No go.  I did have a piece of MDF left over from making my Baby doll’s craft table just sitting in my laundry room.  Smooth surface, right size…I’m going for it.  I bought my chalkboard spray paint and got to spraying. 

I bought some blue acrylic paint (my kitchen will eventually be in shades of blue) and lettering stencils

and nearly two hours later this is what I ended with.

Now I just have to hang it….oh yeah and get some chalk.  BTW, you may be wondering why the bottom has a shortened (and offset) “F” & “S”….well usually we eat “whatever” on those days.  I’m either working late into the evening/night or we’re eating out (regardless of how much I plan meals and I plan meals for every Saturday).

So tell me, are you doing any DIY projects?  I’d love to hear all about them.

Chocolate, Peanut Butter, & Caramel

Happy Tuesday everyone,

I hope that everyone had a great weekend and President’s Day.  Last Friday was Stan’s birthday and my babydoll decided that she didn’t want to have barbecue (Stan had told us all week that was his planned meal for the big day) so she called a cousin to get out of the meal and didn’t return until late yesterday evening as much as we tried to persuade her to come home.  What do you do when you have a three-day weekend with no crumb snatchers underfoot?  You catch every movie that has a high kill count you want to and hang out with that loved one like you did before you began to procreate.  Mind you we still had Sasha-bear, but my pup is starting to lose some of her rambunctiousness (or maybe it was because babydoll was gone) so she was pretty chill too.

I think I’ve mentioned several times that I love to bake and I’m pretty darn good at it, so you can imagine the total and utter confusion I feel that my husband purchases himself a birthday cake from a bakery or grocery store every year. 

I mean if I wasn’t made of sterner stuff I would be totally offended, but I just go with the flow of it.  Regardless of his purchase on Friday, I had already come up with a plan for dessert this week…and it involved, you guessed it…chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel.

I knew I was going to make a chocolate cake and I wanted to make something different with it, so I thought why not peanut butter.  Everyone loves Reese’s Cups right?  I was discussing my great idea with my mother (I always bounce ideas off of her) and she started telling me about a peanut butter-caramel cake that she and my babydoll had seen Giada make a few days previously.  I asked her if it was a chocolate cake and she said no.  She said it was a vanilla cake and she that she had used caramel that she melted.  I said I would make a homemade caramel sauce and that it would be even greater with a chocolate cake…I mean chocolate and caramel go well together and chocolate and peanut butter go well together, so let’s do a trio.

I made my caramel sauce

 

and basic chocolate cake with the addition of about 1/2 cup of peanut butter to the batter. I tasted the batter and found that it didn’t have enough peanut butter taste, so I decided to mix some peanut butter with the caramel sauce.  This I swirled into the cake batter before baking (I felt this would help the caramel sauce from sinking to the bottom of the cake during baking).

Once the cake had come out of the oven and began cooling, I took some more of the caramel sauce and put it all over the top of the cake layers after I had poked holes in the layers (I do this with my caramel cakes to help infuse the cake with the caramel flavor).

To make this cake extra luscious I thought what icing would push it over the edge?  Mocha Chocolate Buttercream Icing of course.  I don’t like coffee, can’t stand the smell or taste of it actually.  But you add coffee to chocolate and something magical happens. 

 The chocolate becomes more chocolate if you can imagine or believe it.  As you can see from the beater that I stood in the  middle of my kitchen and licked clean, it was a dessert all on its own.

The final product was soooooo good.  The plate is not really neat after I finished, but doesn’t it look delicious?

My favorite dessert is ice cream and cake.  Of all the delicious things that I make, there is nothing that gives me more joy than having a slice of birthday cake and ice cream.  And you must have an equal amount of both with every bite….no bite of cake without ice cream on the spoon at the same time.  You HAVE to have the complete package.

What about you…how did you enjoy your weekend?  Did you have to work on President’s Day?

Caramel Sauce

1 cup light brown sugar

1 stick of butter

1/4 cup evaporated milk

1 tsp of vanilla

pinch of salt

Combine all ingredients in small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil.  Continue to cook until desired thickness is achieved.  This stuff is good, you can pour it over ice cream also and swoon.

Mocha Chocolate Buttercream Icing

1 stick of butter softening

2 tsp instant coffee

2 tbsp boiling water

4 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted

2 cups powder sugar (confectioner’s for you sticklers)

1/2 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla

Combine coffee and water until dissolved.  Add melted chocolate and set aside.  Beat butter until light and smooth.  Gradually add powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.  Add coffee/chocolate mixture and beat until smooth.  Lick the beater clean( ) and frost you cake accordingly.

We finally did it

Happy New Year!!

The last time I wrote to everyone, I was discussing the “curses” “joys” of housetraining puppies and the relapses associated with them.  Well…I’m happy to announce that we are no longer having relapses.  In fact the puppy has learned to ring the bell (large jingle bells that we purchased from Garden Ridge a few months ago) when she needs to go out.  We did have a couple of accidents this past weekend, but that will be explained a little later.

I have some very exciting news to share…After almost a year of searching and disappointments and ‘I think we found it’ and ‘we’re going to build’ and ‘we’re in a bidding war’….we found and bought AND moved into a new home.  YEAH!!!!

OMG!!!  This has been the rollercoast ride of our lifes.  We had thought we had found “our” house a couple of times.  The first time, after we had looked at the house for over two hours only to find out of that an offer had been excepted on it the day before (our realtor was so not happy about that).  Our “second” house was lost after being in a bidding war for a week.  This one was perfect or so we thought…right around the corner from Kristian’s school, it had the rooms that we needed and it was move in ready with the need for a few minor repairs.  A month later we were still looking at houses and getting more depressed by what was out there.

One Saturday after we had looked at one two many houses (even going to look at a house that we had previously rejected) when my husband suggested we look  at a builder.  I had just told our realtor that I wanted to be in a new home by the end of the year.  I knew going to a builder would have us moved in after the new year, but my other options weren’t looking too good.  We checked out the builders and were ready to make a go of it.  We called our realtor to share the good news and she said and I quote, “don’t build there….I can find you a house in that same community for less than what you will pay for new construction and you can be in before the end of the year.”   Did I tell you that I LOVE MY REALTOR?  Within 2 hours she had emailed us listings for around five properties.  One rang a bell for my husband…DING! DING! DING! DING!  We arranged to go see it the next day.  I was so done from all of the previous looks, that I was in a ‘I don’t care’ phase.  When we went to look at the house, I didn’t even worry about how I looked.  I went in thinking I was going to hate it.  I LOVED IT!  It had the basement space for my husbands media room, his office space, a formal dining room, my office/craft room, a guest room…it was great!  My realtor checked to insure that there were no offers (didn’t want that to happen again) while we were looking.  It was all good.  We were like let’s get on it before someone else does.  Needless to say we had to get rid of the mortgage broker we were working with and we put in an offer by Wednesday and got our reply back (counter) by Saturday.

I would love to tell you that the whole process went by so fast that I can’t remember, but it didn’t happen that way.  It seemed to drag on forever.  Even with packing over 15 years of stuff it still seemed to drag on for ever.  Oh yeah and to add stuff onto my stress, I said we were going to host Christmas Eve dinner with our family.  That was two weeks after our move-in date.  YIKES!!  We moved in on the 10th of December and yes I did host Christmas Eve dinner.  It was great, and there was more than enough food.  Sasha seemed to be overwhelmed by all of the people in the house because she ended up having two accidents – one when she was trying to get to the door and someone was blocking it and the other time was discovered after she had hid under the table for the evening.  Yes…the little terror, my Sasha-bear, became overwhelmed and hid under the dining room table.

I have to say that I really am happy with my new home.  The kitchen is butt ugly, but I knew that going in.  It is a very nice size and I will get tons of joy decorating.  I will try my best to post as many pictures as possible.