Goo Be Gone Substitute

Have you ever done something and instantly realized you made a BIG mistake?  That’s what happened to me when I carelessly sprayed adhesive on an object while holding it in midair over my kitchen sink.  My pretty white sink was covered with icky, sticky residue.  I was panicking.  I rent my home and was expecting my landlord to drop by.  What would he say when he saw what I had done to the sink?  How could I be so stupid?   I started trying to clean it with anything I could think of- Windex, Kaboom, fingernail polish remover, Comet.  Nothing in my household cleaning arsenal was working.  I tried scraping but was getting nowhere fast. 








  
I thought of the product Goo Be Gone but realized I didn’t have any.  I was going to have to put on a bra and shoes (GASP) and go out and buy some.  Then, I glanced over at my bottle of baby oil and thought, hmmm, that might work.  What would it hurt?  So, I squirted a little on a paper towel and the angels came down from heaven and sang “HALLELUJAH”!  The sticky adhesive mess just wiped away.  I didn’t even have to scrub.  I was amazed.  I was saved.  This little clear bottle rescued me from my foolishness. 



If you see any marks in this sink, they are scratches but I’m going to do what Jillee of One Good Thing suggests and use some Barkeeper’s Friend on it to remove the scratches.



I decided to test it on a label that was stuck to a glass jar.  It worked!  It took just a tiny bit of scrubbing,/rubbing and the label was off.  I have heard of people using lighter fluid, gasoline, soaking in hot, soapy water, using blow dryers, and the safe and simple solution was sitting in their bathroom all along. 

That little clear bottle is quite a miracle worker.  Here are 20 other great uses for baby oil:

1. Furniture Polish- Some people like to add lemon juice but I just use the lavender scented baby oil to make my wood furniture shine.
2. Eye Makeup Remover- Why buy that expensive eye makeup remover when baby oil works great and moisturizes your delicate eye area at the same time.
3. Make Homemade Baby Wipes- Combine 1/4 cup of baby lotion, baby wash, and baby oil with 1 1/2 cups hot water and pour over a stack of paper towels cut in half inside a plastic container. 
4. Chrome Polish- Polish chrome hubcaps, faucets, golf clubs, you name it.
5. Ear Wax Remover- Just apply a few drops.
6. Latex Paint Remover- Pour a generous amount on a cotton ball and scrub onto skin.
7. Shoe Polish- Shines your shoes and helps keep them waterproof.  Just buff on.
8. Bath Oil- Just add a couple of drops and relax in the tub while softening your skin.
9. Treat Cradle Cap- I used this on my babies to remove the dry, scaly skin that would build up on their scalps.
10. Massage Oil- Helps to relax those tired muscles and reduce the friction against your skin.
11. Remove Gum from Hair- If your kids ever get chewing gum stuck in their hair, a little baby oil will help loosen it.
12. Aftershave Moisturizer- Keep your legs super smooth after shaving with baby oil
13. In Shower Moisturizer- Add 1/2 cup to your shower gel.  Apply with a sponge to lock in moisture while showering.
14. Eliminate Head Lice- The oil will suffocate the bugs and the nits will slide off the hair shaft.  Cover the child’s hair with baby oil and use a lice comb.  Comb and remove any nits and bugs regularly.  Wash the oil from the hair with dawn dishwashing liquid.  Repeat until there are no more bugs or nits.
15. Untangle Necklaces- Add a drop or two of baby oil and use a straight pin to remove the knot.
16. Remove Rings- If your fingers have swollen and you can’t get your rings off, a little baby oil will help them slide right off.
17. Unstick Zippers- Wipe along the edge of the teeth then pull the zipper up and down and the zipper should glide smoothly.
18. Soap Scum Remover- Wipe down showers and tubs with baby oil to protect it from the buildup of soap scum.  Already have soap scum?  Rub it away with baby oil.
19. Prevent Stretch Marks- Pregnant women can prevent stretch marks by rubbing baby oil into damp skin once or twice daily after bathing.
20. Bandage Removal- Keep those bandages from pulling and hurting when it’s time to take them off by rubbing baby oil over them first.

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Gimme Five For Friday- A BlogHop

On Fridays, I am going to post a list of five things.  It may vary from week to week but it will always be a list of five.  I may post five decorating ideas or five recipes or maybe even five movie reviews.  I would like to make it into a blog hop open to anyone who wants to join in with their own five things.  Just for fun to get the weekend started.  I hope you’ll join me with your own Five For Friday. 


This week’s Five For Friday is my five favorites for 4th of July!


1. Bottle Cap Flag. 
This one was actually auctioned off but I would love to make one of my own. 
 


2.  Wrapped Twizzlers
Room To Inspire wrapped these sweeties with some patriotic scrapbook paper for a super cute and festive treat.





3.  Pallet Flag with Baseball Stars
Sweet C’s Designs made a unique symbol of freedom with an old pallet, some old baseballs and a little paint.

4.  Red, White, & Blue Candy Apples
Tidy Mom shares how she made these mouth watering blue rasberry treats.

5. 4th Of July Candy Corn
Taste and Tell is the genius behind this colorful concoction.



OK, three of the five were candy related – can you tell I haven’t had lunch yet?  I hope you get the chance to try at least one of these.  If not, I hope you will pin it and save it for next year.  For more 4th of July inspiration please see my Pinterest board Red, White, & Blue.


This is the first bloghop so it may take some time to catch on. I will leave this link up all week and if you want to add your post, feel free.  Your five things need not be related to my five things.  They don’t have to be craft or decor related.  This is just for fun.  Just please include my button on your post or somewhere on your blog so everyone will know about it.  Now, come on and 

Gimme  Five
For Friday!

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Guest Post: JoEllen Krauss: Decorating With Things You Already Have

I feel like I am coming down with a summer cold.  I am just stuffy and miserable.  My youngest daughter has it too.  Luckily, my friend JoEllen has stepped in with a few ideas to share with you to change things up in your decor without spending a dime.

JoEllen Krauss is a stay-at-home mom to two rambunctious, yet adorable, little boys.  In her spare time she balances writing freelance for 1800WheelChair and coaching her community’s little league.

 

Decorating Your Home With Things You Already Have

Whether you are just getting started with a decorating project or you just want to change the look you already have, money can be an issue. Quite often the furnishings you envision are way beyond your decorating budget. That's okay, you can still have the quality style you want without spending a dime.
High-quality doesn't have to mean high-price. Beat the high cost of decorating. Create your own home decor accessories by reusing things you already have in your closets, basement or garage. Outdated furniture and accessories can be repurposed and restyled into your current direction of home decor.

Painted Chalkboard Frame via Modern Furniture

Make Your Own Chalkboard Surfaces
Flip through any design magazine on sale at your local supermarket, and you will find chalkboard surfaces in just about any room design. Memo boards, table tops, the glass on old windows and the front of dresser drawers can be given a professional quality finish even if you are a novice DIYer. All you need for success are supplies left over from previous projects and your kids art supplies.
Chalkboard paint is expensive and comes in limited colors. Mixing your own chalkboard paint and recycling your own less than perfect furnishings will make this project expense free. Dig out those half-filled cans of flat latex or acrylic paints and choose the color desired for your project. Mix a cup of the paint with a couple of tablespoons of plaster of Paris. If the paint is too thick, simply thin with a little bit of water. Apply several thin coats to your project's surface, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly. Before actually using the painted surface as a chalkboard, sand the last dried coat lightly with fine sandpaper, then rub all over with chalk to prime it.

Dining Room Chair Redo Photos Courtesy of Jami Screws

Recovering Dining Chairs
One quick way to change the appearance of a kitchen or dining room is by recovering the seats of your chairs that are covered with fabric. No need to hit the fabric store, and you don't have to know how to sew. You can find potential seat fabric in your own closet, trunks or drawers. With a little investigating you will probably find sheets in a variety of designs and colors, tablecloths that you no longer need, cloth napkins that you have never used, grandma's vintage linens or old prom dresses. All of these items can be given a new life as fabric for your decorating.
Most seats are attached with screws. Simply turn the chair over and remove the screws, then remove the seat. You don't need to remove the existing fabric from the seat. Place the seat over your "new" fabric and cut the fabric large enough to fold over the edge to the bottom. Staple the fabric to the bottom of the seat and reattach the seat to the chair. Instant decorating finished in minutes.

Silk Scarf Pillowcase via Creative Space

Pillow Covers from Fashion Scarves
Change your throw pillows to match the season or new room decor by recovering them with scarves from your clothes closet. Don't worry, you aren't going to ruin your really nice silk scarves. They don't need to be cut or sewn.
For large square scarves, lay the scarf out flat. Place your throw pillow in the center and pull up the edges. Bring the ends and edges to the center front and wrap a rubber band around them. fluff out the ends so that the rubber band is not seen. If the ends are really long, tuck them under the edge of the rubber band.
For scarves that are long and narrow, wrap the scarves around coordinating throw pillows and tie in a bow on the front.

Creamy Cheesecake Dip (AKA Liquid Crack) & Cheesecake Ice Cream

 I hope the title of this post doesn’t throw you.  I discovered this concoction completely by accident, trying to find something yummy for my kids to dip fruit in for a snack.  You may have had this before but it was new to me.  My kids gave it the name liquid crack.  They couldn’t get enough of it.  It is so easy, only 3 ingredients!

Creamy Cheesecake Dip

1 tub Cool Whip (frozen)

1 8oz. package cream cheese

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Mix all three together until smooth. Eat as a dip for graham crackers, cookies, fruit, etc.  Keep refrigerated.

 

Cheesecake Ice Cream

Now, to make this even better, put it in the freezer for a few hours. It becomes a rich, creamy soft serve dessert.  Heavenly!  I have made the homemade ice cream using whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk which is really good but this is even richer and creamier with the cream cheese. It is so good it should come with a warning.  Something like “Warning! Don’t eat this unless you don’t care how big your butt is going to get!”

I think this would also make a great ice box pie filling.  Just pour into a graham cracker crust.  When it is solid, top with berries.  It is very similar to the cherry cheese pie I have always made but I think I have gotten the perfect blend of ingredients for just the right balance of tartness and creaminess. 












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Christina's Adventures
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504Main
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While He Was Napping
It's So Very Cheri

Summer Magic

 


Summer is here and I am longing for the sea.  There is something magical that happens where the water and land and sky meet. 



I want to wake up in a little cottage to the sound of seagulls outside my open window.



I want to feel the sand warm under my feet as I walk barefoot along the beach.



I want to become hypnotized from the waves crashing against the shore.



I want to feel like I really am free.



Somehow, the ocean has the power to help me find myself.



And to remind me how small my problems really are.



At the sea, I can find peace.



Yes, there is something magical about the ocean…



It calls to me to return…

And lose myself again.






Images via kathouzz.tumblr.com

Sunshine Award

I love it when a little sunshine comes my way!  That's what happened when I checked my blog today and found out that Sarah from the Blissful Bucket List had given me the Sunshine Award!  I would like to thank her so much for thinking of me!  You'll love her blog.  She tackles her Pinterest bucket list, one project at a time! 

The Sunshine Award is given from bloggers to bloggers. It’s for someone “who positively and creatively inspires others in the blogosphere."

Okay, so here's how the award works:

First, you should thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.  

Next, answer the following questions about yourself.

Then, choose 10 of your favorite bloggers and link their posts to your post.  Be sure to let them know that you are nominating them for the award.

Last, be sure to copy and paste the award to your blog!

So, here are my answers to the 10 questions:

1. Favorite Color:  I have a few!  Sunshine yellow, red, and aqua!  I am also very fond of pink (all shades).
2. Favorite Animal:  Without a doubt, cats!
3.  Favorite Number: 7 which is the number of people in my family and I think it's kind of lucky.
4.  Favorite Drink:  Rockstar Roasted Light Vanilla.
5.  Facebook or Twitter:  Facebook but I really like Pinterest and Tumblr.
6.  Good Book or Good Movie:  Good movie but nothing   compares to a really good book.
7.  My passion: Saving money.  I feel so accomplished when I use coupons or find a good bargain!
8.  Giving or Getting Gifts:  Giving, but I have a hard time not telling someone what they're getting!
9.  Favorite Day:  I may sound crazy saying this but probably Monday.  I feel the most productive on Mondays.
10.  Favorite Flower:  Stargazer Lilies.

10 Blogs (in no particular order) who 

positively and creatively inspire me: 

1.  The House By The Fjord

2.  PinkButterCreme
3.  A Fanciful Twist
4.  Castles, Crowns, and Cottages
5.  Bright Bazaar
6.  I Gotta Create

7.  Silje Sin

8.  Moon to Moon
9.  Happy Loves Rosie
10. Sweet Eye Candy Creations




I do hope you'll take a moment to visit these blogs.  You'll be so glad you did! 

Patriotic Wall Art

Another Father’s Day has come and gone and now my thoughts are turning towards July 4th.  I have such good memories of this holiday growing up.  I have a very large extended family and we would gather every year and have a huge cookout with tons of food, friends, and good times.  I hope my kids will be able to look back on their July 4th holidays and be able to feel the same way.
 
To help set the mood, I am putting up this framed patriotic wall art.  I love the wavy stripes with the classic stars.  There is a little secret to my festive display though.  I’m sure you are wondering how I made it.  Vinyl?  Mod Podge and scrapbook paper?  I must confess.  The secret behind my frame is...

A $1 Walmart Bandana

Yep, that’s it.  A bandana.  Like a biker would wear.  In a frame.  Held on with duct tape, no less. 

I wish I could say that this project required a lot of skill, dexterity, and artistic ability.  Or at least a little class. 

Oh, well.  It’s still cute.

For more inspiring July 4th projects, see my Pinterest board:  Red, White, & Blue.