Some days, I am a genius

Other days, not at all.

Thankfully, today is a genius day.

1) I successfully replicated Caribou Coffee's "Sparkling Mint Lime White" (aka "The nectar of God himself"). I used Giant Eagle's brand of Peach White Tea, like juice, and mint leaves.



Brewed the tea, had a tragic accident with my beautiful glass pitcher (I don't want to talk about it...), added the lime and mint, let it chill overnight, put some in a glass, added selzer (don't do that, use sprite. Trust me) and BAM. done. And delicious.

2) I made myself lunch today (tortellini with Alfredo sauce) and had to get the last of the sauce out of the jar. You know how you're supposed to use milk to loosen the sauce up and get the dregs out? Well, we're low on milk and have an abundance of coffee creamer....you see where this is going, right?...let's just say, I'm having Coldstone Sweet Cream pasta and OMG DELICIOUS. It's sweet, so I wouldn't recommend it every time, but it sure is a nice treat! (and I don't care about calories, so I'm sure this is horrible for you)

:-)
Happy Memorial Day! Be sure to remember those who have fallen so we can remain the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Question...

Does anyone think of a funny comment and bust out in giggles while carrying on a conversation with someone? And continue to giggle uncontrollably for 5 minutes because you are just freakin hysterical but the other person is incredibly confused because they never heard the joke?

Just me? Oh, ok. Thought I'd ask.

Tutorial: how to make an organizer for your iPad

I have an unhealthy obsession with the bag company, Thirty-one. I love (almost) all their products and have quite a few in my home I use all. the. time. One product I have been oogling for a while is their fold-and-go organizer. I love the tri-fold concept, I love that it has a pocket, I love that it has a pouch, I love that it fits my kindle, I love that it's slim. All that being said, I wish it came in two sizes--kindle and iPad. The next best thing? Make my own.

Disclaimer: it looks a hott mess in the final product because I had no real measurements to work off of, so I had to readapt midway through. When I do this again, I will use the one I have already made to use for measurements so it looks more streamlined, I'll note this in the post. Also, there are a ton of photos.

Step 1 is to measure your iPad. I have an iPad 2, so I measured it to be roughly 7" by 10". To remember seam allowances, I added a half inch all the way around. Then I tripled that for the three sections and added a half inch in between to allow it to fold in on itself while "full". (This was my first mistake. I should have measured a legal pad for the right side. It will cause problems later on.)








I originally wanted solid on the inside, print on the outside so that when I added the print fabrics for the pockets, etc., it wouldn't be too busy. This ended up getting covered, so that didn't matter at all. There are about 3 layers of wonder-under in between those two fabrics. The solid black is a lightweight canvas, everything else is cotton. I really, really wanted to make sure this project didn't end up "floppy".

Step 2 I started on the iPad section. I imagined it to be a frame of sorts, one that I could access the entire screen, but it would be secure enough that the iPad wouldn't flop around. I measured the screen opening and the width of the white part of the edges. I made my fabric frame to cover the white frame.








Then I laid it over the iPad to make sure it was perfect. I did this step three or four times before I was satisfied it was the right width and sewed it.




In an effort to make it super strong, I put four layers of wonder-under underneath it. I don't know the strength or the company of it, I got it from my mom's stash. HOWEVER, feel it. There are all kinds of weights of fabric backing, I wanted strength on this, so I chose a "heavier” weight.




All stitched! When I cut the inner square, I just made two diagonal cuts (basically a giant X) in the middle. I then folded the triangles outward (you can see this in the photos above). To add even more strength, I took those triangles and folded them under before I hemmed the outside. See?




I wasn't overly concerned that the corners weren't covered in fabric, since this was the inside.

The next step (step 3) was to make a camera hole. I went back and forth on making a hole for the front camera (I decided quickly I wouldn't for the back camera) and figured, why not? So I used a circle stitch to make a small round hole right over where the camera would be....




And then used my sharpest, most pointy scissors to cut it out. This step will be impossible if you do not have super pointy scissors. I tried a seam-ripper for all of 6 seconds and quickly abandoned it. I continually turned my camera on to make sure the hole was large enough and wouldn't create blind patches on the photos. It took around 787234729384 tries to get it right.

Step 4 was to stitch it down onto the backing. This took about 5 seconds. Maybe 15. I also added a flap under the top part that I use to tuck the iPad in after I slide it in. I don't have a picture of that. I also did a small circular embroidery where the home button is at the bottom so I don't have to guess.




Step 5 was to measure for the pouch that the legal pad would sit in. Here is where I quickly discovered it was not big enough and I employeed my life motto, "improvise, adapt, and overcome." I just cute to squares large enough for both side pouches and slid them on. This did two things, added more bulk (I really wanted to make sure this wasn't "floppy") and lengthened the sides.








Now you can see why I'm not a huge fan of the final project. It isn't streamlined, it looks chunky. But, it IS my first time making this, and I didn't have a pattern to go off of. Or measurements really. All of this I rolled over n over in my head figuring out the best way to do it, then just jumped in head first.




Step 6 I did sew some unobtrusive ribbon down to hide the seams.

Step 7 was to sew the pouch for the legal pad. I measured, cut the fabric, and sewed it down. I opted to cut double the height of what I needed, so that I could fold it in half (like a hamburger) and not have to worry about credit night a casing for elastic. It would be done naturally when I sewed the hem stitch. I did, however, forget that when you want to gather fabric, you have to cut at least double the width, so the elastic is in there, but it's pretty useless since there isn't enough fabric to gather. I did manage to create box corners by accident (I was never formally taught how to do that) and it looks really cool.

Step 8 was to make a pouch on the left side. I used the same technique as the legal pad pouch for the base, even boxing those corners too. For the flap, I cut two squares, and sewing them right sides together, formed the "home plate/pentagon" shape you see. I cut off all excess fabric before flipping it right sides out. I then added my label when sewing up the hole. I tucked in a piece of black elastic in a loop to the point, so that I can use that to loop around a button and keep it closed. I happen to have a sleek black button in my box, so I used that.




Almost done!!

The final step was adding the elastic corners to keep it closed. I personally hate them now, I don't feel like they are secure enough, so I am planning to rip them out and try again when I have five minutes to breath.




One black, one teal. I don't like them.

Finally! Fill 'er up!




iPad all loaded, a Michael Scott legal pad. What else would you need?
*phew* Overall, this project only took me about 3 hours. The hardest part was the center iPad window, the easiest was sewing the base.

When I do this again, I will
-measure the base and make it long/wide enough to begin with
-add more to the sides/bottom of the iPad window so that I can box the corners (right now the side panels are being pulled funny because it's really tight)
-sew the pouch for the legal pad correctly
-make better elastic corners to hold it closed. Maybe instead of two on the corners, I'll make one long one that goes the entire length.

Mood: Sad

So my mom died two weeks ago, which is super, awful sucky. Of the highest degree.

When I was in DC I had an especially hard time, since her memory was everywhere. Back in Ohio it wasn't AS hard, since she only made it out to visit once, so as long as I avoided the area she and dad stayed in and Walmart, I'm ok. Which our closest Walmart is super sketchy, so I never go there anyway, so that was easy.

But last night I dreamed about her. She was healthy. She was talking, it was so. real.

Until I woke up. Then I remembered everything. The treatments. The slow decline. The last week in the hospital. Making it back to her room 2 minutes too late to miss her spirit leaving. Sobbing hysterically. Begging her to wake up. Watching them wheel her down the hall so she could make one last sacrifice--donating her cancer-filled brain to the study so they can learn even more about this horrible disease.

And I cried. Because I want my mommy back.

Painting A Washer and Dryer

I have a problem with pretty things. I like things around me to be beautiful and decorated, especially if I use them regularly. That being said, I can't always afford the nice things I want.

Case in point, my washer and dryer.




There is absolutely nothing wrong with them. They are clean, functioning well, never had an issue, but I H.A.T.E. looking at them on a daily basis. They're just....boring. (First world problem, right??)

I had read on Tip Junkie a tutorial on how to paint your washer/dryer (Found here: http://www.fivedaysfiveways.com/2012/02/try-it-tuesday-how-to-paint-washing.html) and thought to myself, "hey, I can do that!" Plus it would save 4K by purchasing a completely unnecessary washer/dryer just because it's prettier.

So I read the tutorial several dozen times (http://www.fivedaysfiveways.com/2012/02/try-it-tuesday-how-to-paint-washing.html) and headed to Walmart. At first I wandered around the paint section trying to get ideas, but then I made a beeline for the reject paint shelf. I decided I would create a design and color scheme based on what was available.

Boy was I glad I did that! A can of paint can cost from $20-$30, based on the size of the can, plus primer, plus rollers and such, it added up quickly!! Even though this project doesn't require a lot of paint (she says in the tutorial you only need to buy a quart and she's right!!), I still wanted to pinch pennies.




I picked up a gallon of sea foam green paint and a quart of rose paint. Notice both say "flat" and she recommended "eggshell".....that's all that was available.




I also picked up a bathroom roller kit. This was $7 and saved me about $35! If I had bought each of these items individually, it would have added up to around $40. It contained a roller brush, 4 roller heads (2 fabric, 2 foam), a tray, and a grate thingy that I never figured out how to use. I already had that paintbrush you see and the giant orange tarp. I used the empty ice cream container when painting small sections and to scoop the paint from the can to the tray. Since it is plastic, it was very easy to clean up and reuse.




The first thing I did was pull the dryer out of the closet onto the tarp and prepare for priming. (I used the oil-based KILZ primer she recommended). I had just scrubbed my washer and dryer out a few days before, so I knew the outsides were squeaky clean. (note: I left the washer in the closet hooked up so I didn't cause a flood in the apartment. I did unplug both the washer and during the entire process. The dryer is really light, so it was very easy to move out and onto the tarp) I rolled on two layers of oil-based primer onto the machines that first night. Since it was stinky, I had a system of fans set up to keep the house ventilated and drying them as quickly as I could.




After the first layer of paint.




After the second layer of paint.

The paint stuck very easily. I decided early on to paint the entire machines the base color, but focus on the exposed parts (fronts and tops) for the design. I have no idea what my next laundry room will look like, so I didn't want the machines to look weird with bare sides if I'm in a room next time instead of a closet.







I then started in on the design. This is where I should have spent more money. I dug through my supply of stencils and used what I already had, which as you can see, is very small. It was a HUGE pain to lift, retape, and paint every time. I should have made an emergency trip to Joann's with my coupons and bought a bigger stencil that I wouldn't have to move as much. Ah, well.




Here is the dryer finished and drying. You can see splotches from stencil mistakes, I have learned to come to peace with them.




Here is the washer done. By the time I got to the front of the washer I was OVER this project. I didn't want to keep going, so the bottom is kind of messy. Again, oh well.

The last step I chose to do is a seal. The paint was flat and I wipe down my washer and dryer almost every week to clean up after spills, so I wanted something that would wipe up easily. All I had on hand was a spray paint seal, so I ran with it. Any time I added a coat, I timed it with the family leaving the house (it helped that it was Easter weekend and we were all very busy up at church) so no one was around to breath in the fumes. I set up a fan to constantly blow on the machines and had fans by the windows to help draw in fresh air. Last, after the paint and seal was completely dry, I opened the dryer and had a fan blowing on it for days. I didn't want any wet fumes to have seeped in and cause any trouble for me (fires), so I made sure to thoroughly air it out.




Back in the closet :)




And the closet put back together. :-D

I have run about 2 dozen loads in these so far and I am in LOVE! I smile when I open the closet doors, I no longer despise doing laundry. I don't even see those smudges of paint from lazy stenciling in person anymore!

This project was cheap too! The paint, primer, and roller kit cost $30 total. I already owned the brush, painters tape, tarp, and seal.

And the best part is, now that I know what I am up against, I can change it anytime I want. If I want a new color scheme or design, it's as simple as the cost of reject paint. :)

Flying

I've flown quite a bit lately, headed back and forth between my parents house and mine to visit mom.

One thing I have noticed is the security at my airport is NUTS. Which is hilarious, considering my parents live in DC, and we all know what happened there a few years ago. It just so happens that the last time I flew (correction: EVERY time I've flown) through my airport, I've been 'randomly selected' to be scanned by the mega-scanner. One that I do not want to be subjected to, because no matter how many times they tell me otherwise, I firmly believe there is some kind of file storage and I don't want my bits to be viewed by others. So, my other option is to get the 'physical examination'.

I. Can't. Handle. It.

I HATE how 'thoroughly' they examine. I HATE how they touch. I HATE how when I fly with my hair up, they feel up my pony-bun (and don't even have the decency to call it in the morning!).

It also raises red flags when people cry through security, which I have had a habit of doing, either upset I've just had to say goodbye to my husband, or upset about the reason I have to fly home.

Point is, I wish I lived in a different world. One where we were trusted, and more trusting of others. One where we didn't have the fear of humans choosing to hurt one another. One where our bodies (and our hairdos!) can be respected and it is totally our choice who looks/touches it.

Most of all, I wish we could all just get along.

Giveaway

I found a giveaway on a crafting blog I read that you should go an enter! All you have to do is go to the following link and enter your love story :-)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFNxbUh6SExRZ3VLYVYxLXFuNGxCQnc6MQ
More information about it can be found here:
http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/my-love-story
For some reason my iPad isn't letting me type out all I want to say on the matter, so I'm referencing the link that I found the giveaway on.
Anyway, first prize is a Canon EOS Rebel T2i DSLR Camera with accessories (drool), three second prizes are Cannon PowerShots, and five third prizes are $30 to Fandango.
So go enter! You have until 4/22!!!


I am blogging about this as an entry for the drawing, you can too!!