why i love thrift shop blankets....

i don't know if i mentioned this before, but i have cats.
naughty cats.
and dogs. big hairy dogs.
so some time ago we replaced out carpet with laminate. i wanted wood, but laminate was cheaper.
so be it. it's actually holding up pretty well and looks like rustic board so i really have no complaints.
but carpet is nice, warm and soft.
that's where one turns to rugs.
-but then we're back to the cats. and the dogs.
my nice, relatively expensive rugs were getting destroyed.
i needed a plan.
i was using those dollar rag-rugs, sewing them together to get the size i needed.
but they are difficult to wash, and sewing them takes time.
bummer.
 what to do...

now, i don't know if i mentioned this before, but i have a little addiction to crocheted blankets.
luckily it's a cheap and practical addiction, they cost only about 1-5 dollars at thrift stores and garage sales, and i use them for everything from guest room bedding, dog blankets, throws to a cover for my tatty sofa cushion.
one fine day, upon realizing the replacement for my sofa cushion was too small, i set the blanket on the floor.

neat. i just bought a new rug.

as it turns out, most blankets are the perfect size and shape for my living room.
and since i have a large coffee table to anchor it down, i don't need to put a non-slip mat underneath.
and when they get dirty...toss em in the wash.
a bit worn and tattered...into the dog kennel.
it's probably one of the most efficient way i could be spending $2, when it's all said and done.
plus, being that cheap, i have no reservations about switching them out as often as i like.
this is my living room now, with the "rug" i bought for $1 a day ago, ant the other blanket workin hard as my sofa cover.

i also wanted to change up the dining room table, (though i was given specific instruction not got get too "springy" from the love of my life who, apparently, enjoys wallowing in the misery of wisconsin winters) so into the cupboards i went, found an old bottle and butter jar, a table runner, an antique glass pitcher from my grandma and an antique book in some language i can't read.
all i needed was a candle, a stick from the lilac bush outside and a couple old christmas decorations (and owls, of course) and i was in business.
done.
the butter jar held egg-shaped chocolates (which are now gone, thanks to the above mentioned winter wallower. perhaps that's how he's staving off the winter blues) and the candle got plopped inside the pitcher.
simple, easy, free.

ooohhh...

(way too early) spring fever

yeah, it's unseasonably warm.
but it tricked my weak brain into believing spring is on it's way, and i got a bad bad case of cabin fever.
so to satisfy my outside urges, i removed the pine boughs from the front yard (and the christmas tree i arbitrarily tossed out there. i know, classy) and hauled them into the back...by my fire pit deck.
oh, how my mind reeled...
"these things have been drying for months...what great kindling they would make!" whispered the squirming voices in my spring- drugged mind.
-oh yes, i built the start of a fire.
i'll need to pick up some wood, ours is currently soaked, but i believe that tonight after our weekly wednesday venture to our favorite tavern for tacos i'll be wandering home to have a little fire out back.

that said, spring has polluted my mind indoors as well.
much to my fiancees dismay ("you're too early; it's still winter") i've taken to incorporating some brighter touches here and there. you know, trying to sneak them in...unsuccessfully.
-look, i get bored staring at the same things for long periods of time, and considering that it is winter in northern wisconsin and we are not a wealthy family, we spend a lot of time inside our home.
and though i don't mind it at all, i feel a bit more sane if at least i can change the scenery up a little bit (or completely) from time to time.

a couple of cheap things ive done in the past week or so:
recently the cats destroyed one of my bookshelves (cats are awesome. so awesome, in fact, you should take mine and experience the joy firsthand), so i dug up an old fruit crate i had laying around (yeah, i have stuff like that lying around) and stacked my books in that.
it is actually bigger and more sturdy than my old bookcase, and it works better as an end for my little bench (a ceder lined bench i salvaged from the curb). i actually like it better than the old bookcase, and it has a rad little moon drinking orange juice on top. who can resist that?

                                                           
my coffee table was looking a bit drab and wintry, so so i foraged around the house and found a bunch of old blue canning jars of various sizes, cleaned them up, plopped tea lights in them, and reveled in my thrifty genius.

                                                             
(oh, and my coffee table, it's an old trunk with a piece of plexiglass on top.)

                                                       
it's not much, but it at least brightens it up a little.
oh, and a dog on the sofa is essential.


i know spring is still a couple months away, but i can at least make the wait a bit more pleasant inside.  and enjoy a winter fire with a warm beverage outside.       

dress yourself, ladies!

sorry i've been off the radar for a while.
after the madness of the holidays and these damn feather earrings i;ve been laying a bit low.
but it's the earrings and other ideas i've been tossing around for my in-the-works etsy store that has got me writing, if only briefly, today.

so, instead of writing about fun and funky home stuff, i'm gonna share some ideas for easy, cheap ways to spruce up your wardrobe. seeing as cash is tight for almost everyone i know, finding ways to breathe new life into what you've already got seems lie a really superb idea.


first off, if you really want to look like a million bucks you'll buy some of my junk i'm making (yes, shameless self-promotion). the feather earrings and hair accessories are fabulous, unique and demand attention, plus they are made from as much recycled material as i can get my hot little hands on (like that feather duster you never use? yeah, i want that.) and as soon as i get some material i've got some very neato ideas for some goodies made out of recycled lace. as soon as i get enough stuff put together i'll get the site up and rolling, until the, if there is something you want let me know and i can custom make a piece.
 if you haven't been paying attention to my incessant facebook posts, here is a little sample of the feather stuff...

 -but, enough with that nonsense.
i was also doing a little online window shopping and i stumbled upon something called shoe clips.
these things have been around forever it seems, but they are totally new to me! they come in a gazillion different styles from felted flowers to sparkly brooch-looking things, and they just clip on to your shoes like little clip-on earrings.
-which got me thinking...why couldn't you just use clip-on earrings? they are unbelievably abundant and inexpensive at flea markets, antique stores and rummage sales, and a little press with pliers to flatten the backs and you're in business! what a great way to spruce up those boring flats (that i have absolutely no lack of)!
i was smitten.

got a brooch and a ribbon? then you have a lovely headband! and you can switch it up; it's great!
actually, i have an addiction to gaudy glittery vintage brooches, and never ever wear them as intended, but feel guilty for just letting them sit. this totally solves that problem. you can also attach the brooches to hairclips which i am quite fond of doing.

and lastly, collect items you never wear and do a clothes swap with your pals. i just did, and it was awesome. i got to spend some time with the girls, unloaded unwanteds and scored some amazing items i actually WILL wear. and when we were done what was left unspoken for got donated to the thrift store. a total win/win.

holidays

This holiday season finds my little family totally broke.
not just a little bit broke, but totally and completely penniless.

but, like that's going to stop anyone from having a good time...

ok, so the gift exchange thing is out of the question.
we're just not doing it.
what we ARE doing...is going sledding.
yep, christmas day the plan is for me, my fiancee, my sister and her boyfriend to trudge out to the ol' sledding hole in the woods with a thermos of cocoa, sled all day (which means "make about 3 passes down the hill each"; it's a monster. huge and steep. and in the middle of the woods...with no trails leading to it. it's exhausting), trudge back to the house while (at least i will be) swearing like a sailor; an angry, tired and completely out of shape sailor. then drink more cocoa, make cookies watch movies and eat.
that is going to be our christmas.
and it's essentially free.

oh, and don't think this whole not having money thing has effected our holiday decor.

our christmas tree was free. we just had to chop it down.
and the rest of our decor was basically free.
of pine boughs.
lots.

but they are beautiful, natural, organic, and biodegradable.
and free.
(though, if you are going to decorate with pine, hemlock is best avoided. oh, it looks beautiful, but it dries out extremely quickly and showers your home with hundreds of pine needles...daily. also, do your tree-host a favor and don't take too many boughs from one tree.)

we will host a potluck/byob party for our friends for new years, which always goes over extremely well. our pals usually bring a homemade treat, and everybody shares the goods. nobody feels obligated to do or bring more than they can, and there is always an overabundance of food and drink. it's a great time.

and that's it.
simple.
liberating.

mushroom soup (vegan)

i decided to be a good girlfriend and make john some soup while he was at work.
it was good, so i'll try to share what went into the pot...

handful of dried porcini mushrooms, (chopped)
4 cups vegetable broth ( i had bullion)
2 cups fresh mushrooms, chopped
1/2 onion chopped
1 clove garlic minced
1 cup unsweetened soymilk
3 tbs margarine
2 tbs potato starch
1 tsp truffle -infused oil (if you've got it)
1/2 tsp sage
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp chili spice - optional (i found it in my cabinet. it had chili peppers and clove and garlic in it. i figured "what the hell?")
 salt and pepper to taste.


soak the dried mushrooms in the broth  and simmer for about 5 minutes ( keep the heat at a simmer throughout the whole process. you don't want to heat this too much, or it'll separate and get gross. low heat!)

add the other mushrooms, garlic and onion. simmer until tender

in a separate bowl, heat the soymilk and margarine until  margarine is melted.
add the potato starch and whisk until thick

add soymilk mix to soup, whisking constantly.

add the rest of the spices and stuff

revel in your accomplishment.

"new" table

our dining room table was in desperate need of replacement.
so off to the thrift store...

john spied this little $10 gem.

buried under years of ugly paint was a solid wood table just the size we were looking for.
after a bit of sanding...

 

and staining

we had a new, perfectly rustic little table!

and the total cost (i had the stain in my basement, and borrowed the sander from my dad) for table and pack of sandpaper: $13.

awesome.

sinful sweet potato bread

lately john has been baking like crazy.
i can not bake.
 instructions and precision measurements makes me feel stifled and rebellious.
and rebellion in a field which requires precision usually ends in smoke and anger.
john has the patience for it, and amazing things are suddenly emerging from our oven.
this is one of them...

1  1/2 cups sugar
    1 cup canned sweet potato
    1/2 cup banana
    1/2 cup water
    2 eggs
    1  2/3 cups flour
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    1 teaspoon cinnamon
    3/4 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon baking powder
    1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
    1/2 teaspoon cloves


Mix dry ingredients, mix wet ingredients, and stir them together. 

                                     

Bake in a greased loaf pan at 350 degrees for 60 (?) minutes.

            (Keep an eye on it, when a toothpick comes out clean, it’s done.)

Let cool for at least 10 minutes and then remove from loaf pan to a plate.

try not to eat the hell out of it with your bare hands.

Serves: 6-10