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A little bit of anything and everything that's part of
​creating, enjoying, and living a simpler life!
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Hollow Logs & Trees On Our Land

8/30/2018

2 Comments

 
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So we have hollow logs and trees on our land and this can be a real problem. We honestly had no idea that this was even a thing until we started clearing the land to put our private driveway in. Turns out this is a pretty common problem. It is also a dangerous problem, but I will get to that in a minute.

Why are the trees hollow?
This is a question that I needed an answer to. I guess this is why I am a science teacher....I need reasons and answers. I not only wanted to know why, but exactly what causes it, how to prevent it if possible, and how to recognize trees that might be hollow inside and pose a danger.  

Ok, so the reason they are hollow is because they literally have a fungus eating them from the inside out. Yup, sounds gross. But apparently that is what it is. It is sometimes called heart rot because it is eating away at the 'heart' of the tree.  


There are actually different circumstances that can cause the fungus to eat away at the inside of the tree quite rapidly. For example, too much water will allow the fungus to thrive and this was one of the most common answers I was given when I asked people who live in the Adirondacks - it's caused by too much water. The answer makes sense if you have ever been in the Adirondacks in the spring. Have you ever heard of the muddy season? When the snow melts the Adirondack park becomes a giant mud puddle. It was even hard to walk around our land in the spring - only high spots could be navigated without sinking in. 

But the water just helps the fungus to grow, it is not the cause. 
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You can see the locations where branches broke off and fungus was growing at one point.
What causes the fungus?
The Adirondacks can be a pretty dangerous place when the weather suddenly changes and the winds pick up. Especially in the spring when the ground is so wet and soft. The trees tend to be very tall and the roots are not necessarily deep due to the bedrock being near the surface in a lot of areas. During this time trees can fall very easily.

Seriously, I know this first hand. We were hiking around our land this past spring when this happened. I was standing in what is not our clearing listening to trees crack as they began to fall. It was one of the scariest moments in my life. I heard it, but I didn't know where it was. I just stood still urning in circles to see what was falling so I would know if I needed to run or not. Luckily it fell a good 20' away from me. I was also fortunate that it did not hit another tree and cause it to also fall (also a very common occurrence). So anyway, as we spend more and more time on our land we are learning more and more about the dangers that lurk beyond the beauty and peace of it all.

So back to the fungus. When winds blow and trees fall, branches also tend to break. Trees can also be damaged by vehicles and work equipment, and even humans when clearing a path. Anywhere a branch has been broken or cut off an open wound is literally left behind for the fungus to grow and enter the tree.

The fungus is always out there and is referred to as shelf fungi or fungal conks. They come in different shapes and sizes and can also be beneficial in some ways. However, the conks are how we are going to be able to identify the trees that are most probably hollow. All we have to do is identify the trees with a lot of conks going up it and that would be the one we want to cut down because it is not healthy and has the potential to fall easily in the next storm.

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What to do?
Well, we will begin harvesting the trees that we believe to be hollow or damaged and we will use the wood! It could simply be burned, but we prefer to be more creative. I have already made some beautiful picture frames (video and post coming soon) and we have plans to make some end tables and maybe even a coffee table. Nothing goes to waste! Even the soft material inside is great for the garden!   Check out the video we made of us harvesting the wood, laying it out to dry, and even cutting a few slices to make picture frames and please subscribe to our YouTube channel! It would help us out a lot :-)
Here is a video of the photo frames I made with some of the slices my husband cut:
Thanks for visiting!
Sincerely,

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Sources: 
  • https://homeguides.sfgate.com/hollow-tree-fungus-64419.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rot
2 Comments

Bat House on the Homestead

4/4/2018

0 Comments

 
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We have bats. I know for a fact because they have literally flown past my head. This mostly happens ad dusk when we are swimming in the pool. The bugs just love to hover right above the surface of the pool so the bats just love to swoop in and "chomp" on them!  I don’t mind though.  In fact, I am actually thrilled because with all the mosquito born illnesses being discussed on a daily basis in the news we certainly want to get rid of them. So we welcome the bats because, well, they eat this nasty mosquitoes right up!!! 

Think about it.  Have you ever heard anything good about mosquitos?  I certainly haven't. I just 'googled' the question and the only good thing that came up is that they are part of the food web.  Yup, they are good food for birds, fish,frogs and, of course, bats!  Their purposes on Earth is to be food for other animals.  Sort of the bottom of the food web.  

So I guess it makes sense that we (humans I mean) do everything we can to either get rid of or to minimize their presence. On a community level they spray neighborhoods regularly where we live.  I don't really like this, but even with the spray the mosquitoes are horrible. On a personal level people use all kinds of sprays and lotions, burn citronella candles, buy mosquito zappers, and more. In our yard we make sure there is no standing water, we make natural DIY mosquito repellant (essential oil recipe here), and of course use citronella in lots of places.

And now, we finally have a bat house that holds up to 100 bats!  But we are not hanging it at our current house, we are hanging it on our future homestead! Yes, that's right, we have decided to hang the bat house on our land in the Adirondacks. We chose to do this because the summer is when the mosquitoes are the worst and last summer when we were working on the land we were literally eaten alive. So this summer we are hoping to decrease the mosquito population by luring bats in the area where we plan to build our house.

Check out our video on You Tube of How NOT to Hang a Bat House:
Click here to subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
What are the benefits of a bat house?
  1. One single bat can eat up to 600 to 800 mosquitoes an hour.  Thats an average of 6,000 - 8,000 mosquitoes per night! 
  2. They also eat moths, gnats, and other annoying little buggies that bother us at night.
  3. Their poop, called guano, is nitrogen rich and that makes it perfect for the compost pile or to be used as fertilizer in the garden! The guano will be easily found at the base of the house.
  4. The bats will live in the bat house rather than in your house which could lead to destruction and other problems like bats getting loose inside.

What are the negatives?
  1. Like raccoons and many other animals, they can get rabies.  For this reason bats should never be handled in any way, especially if the bat appears sick or can't fly.  If a person or pet is ever bitten, or just comes in contact with a sick bat in any way it is very more important to safely save the bat somehow in a container (so it can't bite anyone)  and bring the person and the bat in for rabies testing immediately.  The most common method for people getting rabies from bats was when he bats were sick inside the home. This fact makes a good argument for having a bat house in the yard away from the house!
  2. Bat guano can grow a fungus and cause histoplasmosis.  Note that bird droppings can also grow this fungus and cause this as well! The fungus grows on the feces and if the spores become airborne and are breathed in they can be dangerous to anyone with a compromised immune system.  The Mayo Clinic stated not their site that most people feel no ill effects.  If this is a concern, just wear a mask when cleaning up the guano. We already wear a mask when we clean out the chicken coop so this is no big deal for us!​
Check out our YouTube video about why you NEED a bat house! Please be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for future videos!
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What next?
Buy or build a bat house – some links for plans and some links to buy it
   1.   Build a Bat house with one of these plans:     
     - Single Chambered Bat House by Bat Conservation International
            - Plans, Tips and More from from the Organization for Bat Conservation   ​
   2.  Buy a Bat house at this link (same one I have):
      - Single Chamber Bat House by Organization for Bat Conservation $49.99
​

Paint the Bat House:
Depending upon where you live and the average temperatures, the color you paint it will vary. We painted ours black because of our location.
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Try to use exterior water based paint or stain paint.
Hanging the Bat House
  • Install facing South or Southeast
  • Must get at least 7 hours of full sun a day
  • Should be high up on a pole or on the side of a building (preferably not your house) – minimum is 10 feet, but up to 20 is better
If You Build it They Will Come....Maybe
"What?" After all that work there is a chance that no bats will move in?
​This is true, thats a possibility.  So here's how to increase your chances of having bats move in:
  • There should already be bats in the area. If you have NEVER seen a bat at dusk then your chances are slimmer.
  • Make sure that there are trees around and available fresh water within .25 of a mile (a pool, river, stream, pond, etc.).
  • The best time to put up a bat house is during the winter since bats will move in during the spring.  It gives the house a chance to acclimate to the weather and for any odor from painting to wear away.  
  • Note that it can take up to a year for bats to move in depending upon when you put it up, so be patient!
Update! We have purchased a new ladder (Gorilla Ladder 22') and relocated the bat house! Check out our new video of us using the ladder to relocate the bat house :-)
Thanks for visiting!
I would love to hear if you have a bat house and how it has worked out for you :-)
Check out our Bats and Bat Houses Pinterest page for more information and tons of other plans and ideas.
​Sincerely,
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Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/bats/education/
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/histoplasmosis/basics/definition/con-20026585​
0 Comments

Two Party Recipes: Watermelon Punch & Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip

1/28/2018

0 Comments

 
FREE Printable Recipe Cards!
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I love parties and I love them even more when I am providing healthy beverages and snacks that are suitable for most, if not all, of the guests!  Check out these two party favorites!
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WATERMELON PUNCH is a healthy and delicious beverage that is sure to make any party, especially an outdoor summer party, extra special! My daughters mother-in-law made it for the backyard bridal shower last summer and it was an absolute hit with the guests! 

The original recipe comes from Rachel Ray who is known for her fabulous, and simple, recipes, however a few minor changes were made. The watermelon was not used as the bowl and the alcohol was not added. Instead, the punch was provided in beverage dispensers (see photo above) and a bottle of rum was on the side to be added if guests chose to spice up their drink!  Extra limes and lemons wedges were also included in bowls on the side for added flavor if desired.

Honestly, it was delicious and refreshing with or without the alcohol!
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GREEK YOGURT RANCH DIP is a healthier, and in my opinion, better alternative to all other ranch dips because it is high in protein and low in calories.  It's made of all natural (preferably organic by choice) ingredients and if you buy a high quality yogurt with live and active cultures it is a giant plus for the digestive system!  It can also be eaten by anyone that is lactose intolerant because apparently the good bacteria takes care of any lactose for them. Definitely another bonus for guests, including any lacto-vegetarians!

Print out these two FREE 5x7 Recipe Cards Now!
Simply click on either of the recipe cards below or the link above to download an 8.5" x 11" pdf document. Then simply print it on 8.5" x 11" card-stock paper (affiliate link) and cut them out! I always include two recipes at a time so theres as little paper waste as possible :-)
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Thanks for visiting!
Check out our other printable recipe cards and/or
our Weddings & More page for more great party ideas.
Sincerely,
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0 Comments

DIY Mini 'Survival' Kit

1/15/2018

0 Comments

 
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Supplies for two kits are shown above.
We LOVE the Adirondacks and if you've read anything about our Future Homesteading Dreams then you know we have 30 acres in the Adirondack Park that we will be moving to permanently when I retire. We really can't wait...especially for the cold winters where we can ride snowmobiles on the trails that run right through our land! How convenient:-)

But the Adirondacks get cold. Really cold lately. And there are hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails that are very often not within easy walking distance of anyone or anything. And of course it's hit and miss with the cell phones. So I started thinking about safety. My parents are both in their 70's and still out there snowmobiling. Oooh. What if...what if....Nope. Instead of thinking about the 'what ifs'  I decided to do something.  I made them each a simple 'survival' kit to keep on their snowmobiles.

It's not a perfect kit, but for it's easily portable size it has the basics that could save a life if necessary and that is all that matters to me. Nobody in their right mine goes out there snowmobiling alone anyway. At least they shouldn't :-)

Snowmobile 'Survival' Kit (affiliate links):
  • Small Canvas Bag with belt loop
  • Whistle
  • Polarized Sunglasses
  • Thin Gloves
  • Two Mylar Blankets
  • Small First Aid Kit
  • Knife Multi-tool
  • Chapstick
  • Lifemask
  • ​Flashlight
  • Matches
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Of course these mini 'survival' kits have multiple other uses besides snowmobiling. Depending upon what you add or remove from them they can be suited to fit any activity. I made similar kits for bike riding (straps to the bike), hiking (fits right in the backpack), and for the cars (they fit in the glove box). Each kit is pretty much the same with a few minor differences because who knows? And why not be ready just in case?

What a thoughtful way to show your family how much you love them! God bless and have a wonderful day.
Sincerely,
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0 Comments

DIY Seed Packet Favors

1/13/2018

3 Comments

 
FREE Template!
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Photo by Samantha Brancato Photography
This was a simple project to make and they are absolutely adorable! I made these seed packet favors for my daughters wedding this past September but they can easily be altered for bridal showers, baby showers, and more!

Watch our quick YouTube video below, or check out the pictorial instructions farther down! The materials list and templates with detailed instructions are below the video. Thanks for visiting!
Materials (affiliate links through Amazon.com):
  • Coin Envelopes (grocery bag color) 2.25" x 3.5" 
  • ​Black Eyed Susan Seeds (Rudbeckia Hirta)
  • Natural Jute Twine
  • Aleenes Tacky Glue
  • 1" x 2.62" Address Labels
  • 1/4 teaspoon measurer
  • Glue stick
  • Template for front writing (fully editable!)(download below)
  • Template for directions on address label (download below)
  • Printer (preferably color)
  • Ink (black and or color)
  • Scissors
Seed Packet Front Download
​(Download using button below)
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Instructions:
  1. Download the template shown above by clicking on it. It is a Microsoft Word document so you MUST have MS Word in order to use this template.
  2. The download will be UPSIDE DOWN. It must be upside down in order to print on the envelopes properly. You may turn it right side up to edit (you do not have to), but be sure to print it in the upside down position.
  3. Edit the names and the date (either upside down or right side up).
  4. Adjust your printer paper tray to the width of the envelopes. 
  5. Program it to print about 20 envelopes at a time, however, only put ONE envelope into the tray to be printed. More than one envelop in the tray at a time leads to crooked printing.  You also must put the envelopes in with the FLAP CLOSED and facing DOWN (this is why the template must be upside down). As each envelope begins printing, place the next envelope in. I know this is a little time consuming, but it is necessary to have the envelopes print straight.
Print the Planting Instructions (download using button below)
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Directions:
  1. Print a practice sheet before using the labels to make sure everything is lined up correctly.
  2. Put the labels in the printer and print one page at a time until you have the quantity you need.
  3. Set the labels aside until later.
DOWNLOAD SEED PACKET FRONT TEMPLATE HERE
DOWNLOAD LABEL PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS HERE
Pictorial Directions:
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Print the envelopes.
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I used black-eyed susan seeds. because they grow easily and re-seed themselves every year!
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Add 1/4 teaspoon of seeds to each packet.
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Glue the flap closed. NOTE: I could have licked the glue on the envelope but I prefer not to.
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Cut string and tie small (approximately 1") wide bows.
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Lay all the packets out and add a single drop of glue at the top center.
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Stick a bow onto each drop of glue and allow to dry overnight. I use Aleenes craft glue because it is very strong and dries clear.
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Stick the planting instruction labels on the back.
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Create a display for guests to help themselves! But there are many other ways to share them with guests.
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After planting the seeds I reused it by by turning it into a Christmas ornament for our memory tree! Link to memory tree blog post below.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments below!
This favor was simple to make and can be edited to used for birthdays, showers, and more.

​Please check out our other DIY Wedding & Shower Blog Posts
and our
DIY Wedding and Shower videos
on our You Tube Channel!

And finally, if you want to know more about what a memory tree is, then read
​DIY Memory Christmas Tree.

Thanks for visiting!
​Sincerely,
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3 Comments

DIY Chalk Shower & Wedding Welcome Signs

11/18/2017

0 Comments

 
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While obsessively searching through Pinterest for ideas for my daughters backyard wedding, one thing that kept coming up again and again was a welcome sign. There were many kinds of signs: some were printed, some were purchased, and some were even printed on wood for a real rustic look. I chose to go with a giant chalkboard sign like you see outside some country restaurants.  I just like that rustic/country feel and I really wanted to try my hand at some fancy chalk writing.  After some failure, and then a little more trial and error, I came to discover how much I like using chalk paint pens. They come in multiple colors and work really, really well! Beware though: If your surface is porous they may not wash off!
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A nice clean surface to start with!
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Sign in progress....
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Almost done....
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The sign the day of the shower :-)
I can't really teach you how I wrote these signs because I really just winged it.  I did do some searching online for different lettering ideas but after trying several of them I decided to just go with what felt and looked right to me.

What I can do however, is share some tips with you that I learned:
  • Make sure you have a quality chalk pen. There are a lot of brands out there and some of them were really crappy. Others were simply disappointing.  Practice with the pen before you do the 'final' job.
  • If you are having trouble removing some of the paint (after mistakes) try a little rubbing alcohol. 
  • As you are working keep a wet paper towel and Q-tip nearby. This helps tremendously with minor mistakes.
  • Be sure the board is completely dry before writing anything.  Better yet, dry the board thoroughly with a clean towel that will not leave any dust behind. Doing this also removes any chalk residue making the board super nice and clean!
  • Be sure you use the pen on some cardboard or paper before writing on the chalk board. This makes sure that the chalk paint is flowing smoothly. Every few letters, cover the pen, shake it, and then prime it up on the cardboard again. If you don't then the pen will start to run dry and the writing will not be as vibrant. This is ok, but I tried to avoid this happening if I could.​
Products (affiliate links):
  • Chalkboard sign
  • Fine White Chalk Paint
  • Colored Chalk Paint
  • ​Green Leaf Ribbon
  • ​Flowers were from Michaels Craft Store
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Sign was a work in progress over several days...
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Sign almost done!
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I changed the flower ;-)
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Front of Wedding Sign at the Backyard Reception
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Back of Wedding Sign at the Backyard Reception
I have to say I was really happy with the way the signs turned out for both the shower and the wedding, especially considering I had never made a sign before! I also know it was a lot more economical than paying someone else to do them!

Check out our other Shower and Wedding DIY's here or on our You Tube Channel!
Follow us so  you don't miss these upcoming posts:

Note: These beautiful pictures were taken by my daughters photographer Samantha Brancato.
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DIY Picnic Basket Card Holder
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DIY Centerpieces
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DIY Seed Packet Favors
Thanks for visiting!
Sincerely,

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0 Comments

DIY Shower & Wedding Mints

11/12/2017

0 Comments

 
SUPER SIMPLE AND SUPER SWEET!
FREE MS WORD DOCUMENTS FOR BOTH!
Why not make them for your next celebration?
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I wanted to make something 'extra' for my daughters bridal shower and wedding and thought mints would be perfect!

Materials purchased/needed/used (affiliate links):
  • Large bags of mints
  • 8.5" x 11" craft paper
  • Double sided permanent tape
  • Paper cutter (scissors work too)
  • Colored Ink
  • Printer
  • FREE word document for Bridal Shower (can be edited)
  • FREE word document for Wedding (can be edited)​
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Shower Label Sample. Click on picture to download MS word document (fully editable).
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Wedding Label Sample. Click on picture to download MS word document (fully editable).
Video "How-To" (pictorial below):
Pictorial:
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Print labels on craft paper (or any paper you choose).
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Use paper cutter or scissors to cut labels out.
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Use permanent tape across entire back of label and then fold over the end of the mint packaging squeezing tightly together so it holds!
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Shower Display!
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Wedding Display!
So simple to make!
So sweet a treat to share with guests!
And who doesn't want a nice fresh mint after eating?
Check out our DIY Showers & Weddings and
​other DIY crafty ideas!
A few DIY's coming soon:
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DIY Card Holder!
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Photo frame!
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Seed Packet Favors!
And here are a few that we already posted - click on the picture to read more....
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Thanks for visiting.
Follow us on social media or sign up for e-mail
​to stay up to date on new posts!
Sincerely,

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0 Comments

Mason Jar Mugs Instead of Plastic Cups

10/15/2017

0 Comments

 
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The past few months have been a little hectic for our family. My daughter, the oldest child, was married in September. She had a wonderful backyard wedding with about 250 people! Yes, 250! This was really only possible because it was in the backyard but it was well worth it.  So basically over the next few months I will be posting about how we planned this tremendous party. In fact, I have already posted some information about her shower and making two different dream catchers(see them below) that were used as part of the ceremony and as decorations for the party.  Today, however, is about using mugs instead of plastic cups.
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I know, plastic is so much easier. You just use it and throw it away.  But seriously, with 250 people, how many would we need to buy?  I couldn't imaging the nightmare that this would create with garbage after the party. And after all, all the plates, silverware, etc. were going to be recyclable bamboo!  So why would we ruin the environmental theme by using plastic cups? We wouldn't.  And in fact, we used mugs for the bridal shower as well!
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Bamboo utensil and plate. Note the mason jar in the background.
 A lot of people questioned the cost. Believe it or not, in my opinion (and my daughters as well), the cost was worth it for several reasons.  First, we weren't using plastic which we all know is not good for the environment because it literally never decomposes.  Second, we allowed guests to bring them home as a souvenir. This was especially good for couples because they would have two to bring home and use. This was also good for use because we wouldn't be left with hundreds of left over mugs!  However, any left over mugs could still be used for future parties, for gifts, or many other ways!  And what made these extra cool is that regular mason jar lids screw right on to them so they could even be used for storage! Anyway, back to the cost. We did end up buying a few cases from Amazon and they were definitely more expensive.

For the bridal shower we purchased the Libby Drinking Jar With Handle (Amazon affiliate link). A case cost 28.95 so we paid approximately $2.41 per mug. We had to do this because we needed them fast.  Since there would only be about 40 or so people at the shower I simply tied a paper tag around each mug and let everyone write their own names on it for the party (note the mug filled with markers). The mugs are also filled with tickets for the 'Chinese' auction game! Directions were provided on the welcome sign shown below.
Items purchased for the bridal shower mug display (affiliate links):
  • Libby Drinking Jar With Handle
  • Jute Twine & Craft Paper Gift Tags
  • ​Pink Raffle Tickets
  • ​Crochet Table Cloth (36" Round)
  • Large Standing Vintage A-frame Chalkboard Sidewalk Sign
  • Washable White Liquid Chalk Markers
  • Washable Colored Liquid Chalk Markers
Video "How-to" (see pictorial below):
Pictorial:
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For the wedding we had a lot more time to wait for delivery so we actually ordered about 12 cases of mugs from Dollar Tree. At dollar tree they were $1 per mug plus tax. Much more cost effective! But again, you need to have a lot of patience and time for delivery because I think they literally came from China. You also need to be prepared to go and pick them up at your local Dollar Tree Store.  The unfortunate part of this was the fact that every mug came with a sticker on the bottom that took my husband and I three nights to peel off of the mugs in all twelve cases.  Oh, and guess what! They were literally identical to the mugs we got from Amazon! Just no Libby name on the box! The Libby mugs didn't even have the name brand on the mugs either so they were really, truly, the same.
Items purchased for the wedding mug display (some are affiliate links):
  • ​Mugs ordered online from Dollar Tree
  • Removable Chalkboard Labels
  • Permanent White Sharpie Paint Marker (fine)
  • 8' Foldable Plastic Banquet Table
  • 8' Fitted Beige Banquet Tablecloth
  • ​Two 4' Foldable Plastic Banquet Tables
  • Two 4' Maroon Fitted Tablecloths
  • One Maroon Square Tablecloth (with crochet border DIY How To Here)
  • Chalkboard Easel from Michaels Craft Store (DIY How To Coming Soon!)
  • White Chalk Washable Paint Pens
  • Silk leaves decoration
  • ​Decorative flowers from Michaels Craft Store
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Heres How They Were Done:
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I created a list of everyone that responded "yes" to coming to the wedding in EXCEL by last name, first name. When the response date came and went I sorted the names alphabetically.
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Then I used the permanent paint pen to write the names on the labels. I skipped the shapes I didn't really want to use.
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After all the names were written in alphabetical order, I carefully placed them onto the mugs.
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The mugs were packed back into the cases in alphabetical order so they could easily be arranged on the table at the reception. This made it easy for guests to find their mug!
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I used twine to divide the chalk easel into even sections so I could write the saying on it using the washable chalk paint pens. I used some hot glue to add flowers to the corner as a decoration (see picture below).
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I even used the mugs to make these special Bride and Groom mugs! That post is coming soon too :-)
We have no regrets about using the mason jar mugs instead of plastic! One comment we recieved from guests at the shower was that it was a little difficult for them to drink from the mug being that it had the funny edge to screw on lids.
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Because of that comment we provided optional drinking straws at the wedding. Some people chose to use them, and some didn't.

I know, you think maybe it defeated the purpose because they too are plastic, however, the amount of plastic used by 100 or so straws was nothing compared to how many cups we would have gone through!

We would love to hear from you so please share your thoughts and experiences with us!

Check out our other DIY Shower and Wedding Ideas here.

Sincerely,
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Making Our RV Feel Like Home!

10/10/2017

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This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.com.
Having an RV (recreational vehicle) is awesome! It gives us the freedom to be able to travel and always have a comfortable place to sleep with no worries. It is also super convenient to just pull onto the side of the road if  you have to go to the bathroom! No more painful waits for the next rest area or searching for a gas station with a working bathroom.  Maybe that's just me. Either way having an RV with all the comforts of home and stocked with just about everything  you need for traveling makes traveling simply delightful!

​However, our RV, being inexpensive and small, did not come with most of the comforts we wanted nor did it have a lot of space for all of the above, so here is what we did to make it like home for us.

1. The Bed
We chose an RV that had a bed that never needed to be 'broken down.' In other words, in many smaller RV's the bed is also the kitchen table and benches.  We made sure this was not the case for us so even though our RV is small (18') it has a permanent bed. The bed also had to be a decent size. Our RV is a queen size bed and this was very important to us. 
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  • ​To make it more homey we made our own custom headboard. Note that the bed was meant to be slept in with our heads at the other end, but we couldn't cover up the emergency escape window so we covered the window at the other end instead. To make it we simply cut a piece of Luan to size, covered it with a foam, and then stretched material over it using staples to hold it all down. Now we have a soft back to sit against while in bed. Note that because it shows through the window we also covered the back to look nice! Here is a great DIY of how to make a foam headboard, but note that we used 1" velcro to hold it to the wall instead and had to make a few customizations so that it would fit our trailer bed instead (we left the bottom part off).
  • Next we improved upon the mattress.  The mattress it came with is thin and uncomfortable so we purchased a 3" foam mattress topper with gel cooling. It makes the bed so amazingly comfortable we don't even want to get out!
  • Last but not least, we purchased a nice matching comforter set and some extra decorative pillows. I don't know, it just looks nice and is easy to 'make' on the fly (check out my post on Ways to Simplify Your Life Now).
2. The Entertainment Center
OK, I know it is not camping if you have an entertainment center, but really. It's not exactly camping to stay in a nice trailer with the comforts of home anyway!  At our age, we just don't care. We want to travel all around the country and at the end of the day we like to relax and watch some TV. Even if it is just a DVD, we don't care. It is relaxing. So Since our RV didn't come with an entertainment center we had to make our own!
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  • First we purchased a TV/DVD combination unit because it would take up less space. It is a great little unit but the sound could be better. 
  • Next we purchased a TV wall mount. We mounted it to the side of the kitchen cabinet which is very secure and the TV can be moved so that we can comfortably watch it from the bed or the kitchen area.
  • Lastly we purchased a pre-stained wall shelf that matched the stained wood in the trailer. We had to custom cut it to fit between the kitchen cabinet and the cabinet holding the air conditioner. We used metal L brackets to mount it to the cabinets on each side. We avoided putting anything into any of the outside walls.
  • For 'looks' was purchased an extension cord and a special wire channel to hide the cord under down the wall to the outlet. This was so that we could plug the TV cord into the end of the extension cord under the shelf and out of the way and not visibly see any wires.
  • Lastly, we contacted the RV dealer and purchased matching wall paper to cover the channel with. It matches the walls perfectly!
3. The Bathroom
I don't know about you, but this room is pretty important to me! In a small trailer you get a small bathroom. In our case it is really, really small. In fact, it only came with a tiny shower, a toilet, and a mirror on the wall! Nothing else but a door!   
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  • I have no idea why it didn't come with a towel bar or toilet paper holder, but these are the first two things we added. They were easy to install on the wall between the bathroom and the closet, that just happens to be on the right side of the toilet. It makes sense to have them there so I am not sure why the trailer didn't come with them in the first place!
  • A small caddy with a handle to hold soaps and shampoos is all that was needed in the shower. It can be hung on one of the hooks on the back of the door when not being used.
  • A nice soft brown toilet shaped rug fits nicely on the floor (after we custom cut one corner) and is great for keeping your feet warm and absorbing water when getting out of the shower.
  • Lastly, we just added metal over the door hooks. This is simply to hang our wet towels on after getting out of the shower.  
4. The Kitchen
Of course this is really part of the bedroom, the living room, and the dining room! Ha Ha. But who cares? It's still my kitchen and I knew I could improve upon it!
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  • Added a magnetic bar to the stove to hang our knives on. Despite how many bumps we have hit a knife has never, ever fallen off!
  • Hung a paper towel bar the upper cabinets over the counter.
  • Bought a small electric coffee maker with a metal pot that can't break, but also keeps the coffee warm!
  • We have a bamboo utensil and napkin caddy for all our silverware! It's easy to use in the trailer, or to take outside if we are barbecuing.
  • Bought simple matching dishes and cups to always keep in the trailer. The dishes are kept on a plate cradle in the cabinet to save on storage.
  • Theres no oven so we purchased a small simple toaster oven. 
  • We hung acabinet kitchen towel bar on the pantry door.
  • We added sticky tape hooks to the inside of the pantry door to hang all the cooking utensils.
  • We stocked the kitchen will all the basic needs: pots, pans, knives, silverware, potholders, utensils, towels, matches (to light the stove with), dish soap, sponges, napkins, and more!​
5. Key Holder
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  •  We added a key holder basket to the side of the cabinet so as soon as we walk in the door we can hang our keys or find a small flashlight quickly!

Take a little video tour with us.....

Now our trailer is always organized, ready, and feels like home no matter where we go!
Happy Travels!
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DIY Butterfree Pokemon Costume

9/12/2017

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I already posted the Poliwrath Costume DIY, so now here's the Butterfree Costume DIY I said was coming soon! 
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Poliwrath costume - can be easily made into Poliwhirl (the happier version!). Picture is a link to the 'how to.'
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Also check out how to make these DIY Incredibles Costumes by clicking on the picture!
Supplies Needed:
  • Butterfly Wings (affiliate link)
  • Blue Tunic (affiliate link)
  • Purple Dress
  • Blue Tights (affiliate link)
  • Clear Plastic Ornament (affiliate link)
  • Headband
  • Two black pipe cleaners
  • Black paint
  • Red Paint
  • ​Black marker
  • *Scissors, needle, and thread (or glue)
  • *Drill (or glue)
*I used the drill to drill two holes in the sides of the eyes so I could sew them onto the headband (I didn't want to ruin it). If you don't care about the headband you can simply glue the eyes onto it.
How to:
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Use a marker to sketch the design onto the wings. Be sure to have cardboard underneath because the marker (and the paint) will go through!
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Then use black to paint the design.
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I painted both sides of the wings because I thought it looked better.
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Finished wings!
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Paint the inside of two halves of an ornament red.
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It takes two coats!
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I drilled two holes on opposite sides of each eye so that I could sew them onto the headband. If you don't care about the headband you can simply glue them on.
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Create a curl on the end of two pipe cleaners and then connect them to the headband by simply wrapping them around!
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Excuse the mess in the background - it is a shared office at work!
Check our our other DIY craft ideas here and have a safe and happy Halloween!
Sincerely,
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    Hi there! I'm Kathie, the author behind Creating A Simpler Life blog. I'm excited to share our longterm projects (and planning) toward building our future retirement homestead in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. In the meantime I will be sharing all the other little things we do that are part of creating our simpler life!
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