Construction

I should know better.  Well, actually I am started out right on this one.  Hired someone!!  Good thinking if I do say so myself.

This one needed to be done.  As I mentioned before Sis and I are going to flip flop apartments, and we are fixing up the attic to make it part of the house instead of being the construction zone on the way to the bedrooms. Good idea to do it, yes.  Good idea to hire someone, yes.  It still seems to take forever.

Hopefully it will be done by Friday.  I will post pics then.

Immediate gratification

Refinishing projects is great for my immediate gratification problem. I woke up on Saturday and decided that it was time to update my faded, scratched, crusty looking front door.

I have really been into grays lately, and I love the muted blue that is the undercoat on the door.

I got this done in one day all by myself!

I love pinstripes

Need I say more?

Blue

It is getting easier with each one I make. This one may be my first one fire sale. I opened an account on etsy.com.

Change is-a-comming

Big changes at the House of Temptation.  Sis and I are in discussions about changing apartments.  With her having a bigger family and I not having room mates any more, it is only sensible that they have the apartment that is larger.

It is a bitter sweet feeling.  I have done a lot of work in that apartment, the floors, the painting, decorating... I obviously do not need 4 bedrooms, but when we were talking about some of the changes I got a little emotional about giving up my place.  It was short lived, and the emotional response really surprised me.  Sis and I talked about it, and I am now ready to make the changes!  I mean really who could turn down a new project like making a new apartment my own?  I think it will be fun and I have some ideas already.  Implementing them is a different story, we will see how it goes.

Anyway, there is the news... you saw it here first.

Shoe update

This is taking sooo much longer than I thought it would.  I have totally been slacking on the shoe making.  I have run into a few hurdles, and I take a few days to stop and think about what I need to do instead of just doing something to figure it out.

This is what I have accomplished so far...

• made the mold of the shoe to make the last (shoe form that I will build the shoe around)
• sanded down the last so it looks like a shoe
• drawn the pattern for the shoe (wrong)
• cut out the materials for the top part of the shoe (wrong)
• went to the shoe maker store and bought stuff to make the sole - that was an interesting place
• sewed all of the top of the shoe together (wrong)

And, then I was surprised when it didn't work out.  Hummm. Back to the drawing board, literally.  I had to redraw the pattern.  That is where I am now.  I am going to have to start from there and try it again.  What took the longest was figuring out where I screwed it up in the process.  

I think I am back on track now and ready to try it again with only minimal wasted materials.  Hopefully I will have more news soon and pictures of my cobbling adventure.

Oh, and if you want to know where I am getting my information from, I got this book about how to make shoes.   http://www.marywalesloomis.com/

Going on week 3

Yea, so I said I was going to go a few days wheat free... Well, I am starting on my 3rd week.  I had a couple of minor slip ups, and ate something that I wasn't supposed to, but I have to say that I am not really missing the wheat and grains a whole lot.  Instead of a sandwich, I am having a meat and cheese roll up.  I am doing a lot of grilling, and there is no bread involved there, and even pan frying, the breading I am using is a parmigiana crust with coconut and garbanzo bean flours.  I do feel like I have more energy, and surprisingly more time on my hands because I am not constantly in search of food.  I just haven't been as hungry.  Actually, I go to the store and pick up fresh fruit and veggies, and I don't use them all up in time before they go bad.  I have had to adjust my buying habits a bit.

As for the sugar... I haven't cut it out completely.  I am eating sugary fruits, but not processed foods.  Also, I am indulging in dark chocolate and that helps to kill any craving I have.  I do feel my belly going down, and that is a great thing!!!  I didn't originally start out doing this to loose weight, I started doing this to see if it decreases the inflammation and pain in my knee, and because I know so many people are having problems with wheat products.  Truth be told, some of the things they were talking about in the book Wheat Belly were scaring me. I don't have most of those problems, but I don't want to get them either.

One area I have had a little bit of trouble in is going out to eat.  I don't do it much, but when I do, it is somewhat difficult to find things on the menu to get.  Everything seems to be breaded, even the salads often have some sort of wheat product.  And, truth be told,  I am not a big fan of salads.

I have been keeping a food diary of what I am eating, and it doesn't seem like I am eating a whole lot. Don't worry, I am not starving myself by any stretch of the imagination.  But then again I am not listing all ingredients in everything I eat either.  I figure I just kind of know what is in it.

That is where I am at with it.  My family has been really supportive of this food change for me too.  Sis is making more stuff on the grill if she is cooking for all of us, and Mom has been pretty careful too.  Thanks guys!  I am down 6lbs, and I fit into my pants a lot better!!!

Spending a few days wheat free

I have done this before. Its not so bad. I have just been feeling a little puffy lately. OK, there is a little more to it than that. I was listening to an interview with the guy who wrote the book wheat belly. It was very interesting and a little scary. So I figure what the heck? A few days of wheat free can't hurt.

Actually it opens up some new cooking avenues for me. I will see how I like it. I am thinking chicken piccata for dinner tonight. And I saw a recipe for crackers that looked pretty good.

Ok, I am off to whole foods to pick up some crazy ingredients. We will see how this turns out.

Sparkly Shimmery Shiny

I love my new chandeliers! One in the bedroom and one in the dining room. Actually this week was filled with lots of new stuff.

Back in February I went to visit mom and dad and was on a mission to find a chandelier for my bedroom. I am going for a romantic look in there and thought a chandelier would be perfect. We looked everywhere but nothing was striking me as the perfect lighting situation. The requirements are sparkly, shimmery, and shiny. In other words, lots of crystals. Anyway, we looked all over and found one that we could work with. It had no crystals, but we could see that it was a good base and we could add them ourselves. Here is the best part... While we were out shopping I found dining room chairs! I have been looking for years for dining room chairs I like!

One problem... I flew to Florida. This creates a logistical issue.

Mom to the rescue! She says she will bring them to me when they come home for the summer! I an saved! I get my chairs! Overall it was a good trip. Chairs and the start of a chandelier. Life is good.

OK, it gets better! Mom sent me random pictures of 2 chandeliers about a month later. She found exactly what we were looking for!  Everything is perfect now. She picked then up and now all I have to do is wait... And wait... And wait. You know how it is when you really want something but it isn't coming for several months? Well, I have a problem with immediate gratification anyway, this was pure torture.

I lived.

Mom and dad arrived home on Wednesday and came directly over on Thursday. Here is the result. Practically a new dining room!

It is worth the wait.

Huge, huge, huge thanks to mom for everything, dad for hanging them, and mombff cooking fool for storing my purchases until transport.

You guys are the best!

Upcoming project

I have always wanted to learn how to make shoes.  Yes, shoes.  So I am.  Wish me luck.  I started them a few weeks ago and I have been puttering.  We will see how it goes.

Headboard

My room looked very bare and not decorated.  Not that the rest of my house is perfect, but truth be told, my pillows kept falling between the bed and the wall and it was making me crazy.  I got to kill 2 birds with one stone on this project.

Here is the solution...

This project cost $43 and took about 2 hours.  


Material was 2.95/yard @ 2 1/2 yards (I have leftovers)
Foam 2x6 foot piece was $29
Batting 2 yards @ 3.95/yard
Particleboard - Scrap in the garage
Staples (and staple gun)
Spray adhesive 


The foam I bought was 2 feet tall, so I made the headboard 2 feet tall.  I measured the width of the bed at 53 inches.  (This is a full size bed)  There was a piece of particleboard  in the garage and a friend helped me hold it while we cut it down to size with a jig saw.  A circular saw would have been a better choice but I couldn't find mine.  After that I was on my own, so most of this was a one person job.  


I cut the foam to size with a utility knife and it made a very rough cut.  In hind sight a serrated knife would have probably been better because you can see on the right side of the headboard it looks a little lumpy.  I thought the batting would cover it up enough, but it didn't.  You need to make sure there is a clean cut to the foam. I used spray adhesive to glue the foam to the board, then spread out the batting on a flat surface and put the foam side down on top of it.  I used a staple gun to attach the batting pulling the batting taught, but not too much.  The batting tends to pull apart, so I just pulled it taught.  It took a lot of staples.  I trimmed the edges so there wasn't a whole lot sticking out especially on the corners.  Then I ironed my material, laid it out on a flat surface, laid the foam side down on top of it and stapled it on to the board as well.  I found that if I stapled one long side first I could tilt the board up to see and pull the other side taught and make sure that my vertical lines were straight.  Then did the shorter sides holding the board up to see where there were loose spots in the material, and pulled that area a little tighter.  

It was a super simple project, and took almost no time at all!

Now I just have to figure out how to hang it on the wall or attach it to the bed.  

Messenger bag

The latest in my bag collection.  This one was a special request from BFFQ.  It is like a gym bag, but looks better and has a paisley lining.  FUN!

I am getting better at this!

Today I did my very first original design purse!!!!  I have had the material and quite frankly didn't know where to start with out a pattern.  It is a fairly simple design, so it came together pretty easily.  Well, here is what happened...

Summer... In March

It is amazingly warm here in Chicago. Yes, it is March. We had a high of 86 degrees yesterday, and I am pretty sure it is going to stay that way for a little while.  Here is one of my favorite things about summer.

Cool new project

I couldn't help myself. I have been wanting to make a duct tape wallet for the longest time.  Here it is!

I am getting better at this

I have wanted to learn to sew for a long time.  So finally last summer I took a couple of classes, and decided that I kind of like it.  "Kind of" being the key phtase here. then I started making bags. Now this is a whole different situation! I love making bags!

Here is my latest creation. I can't believe I went through the whole winter without a black bag.

Yes, it is fuzzy

It is the perfect size - I have 2 others just like it and it holds everything!

I just love making fun linings!

It's like an old friend

My George Foreman grill.  It has been buried in my pantry since I moved out of my condo about 10 years ago.

It was when I didn't have an outside area, no grill, no sunshine, no view... no outside.  But I made it work with the help of several people, some great ideas, and fairly heavy curtains to block the view of the dumpster outside my windows.

I received said Foreman grill from a friend in a drunken TV infomercial buying stupor.  The guy I was dating at the time and this friend were over at my place and had a few too many cocktails.  The guy I was dating went to the bathroom and when he came out our friend had flipped on the tv and was on the phone chatting it up with the operator.  Seems he was hungry and the food they show on there looks incredible.  So, instead of ordering out... yeah well, we've all been there.  Anyway, after about a half hour of conversation with the poor operator 2 grills were being shipped, and my grilling days had begun.

It is truly amazing how man things you can cook on it.  Grilled cheese sandwiches, bacon, chicken, steak, veggies, you name it.

Ok, so much for my sales pitch, this was really about the fond memory of the grill, friends, and my first place.

Florida inspiration

I got back from Florida visiting Mom and Dad about a week ago now.  I have to say it was a shock to the system to get off the plane and have it be cold.  I knew it was coming, but somehow it seemed like it shouldn't have been THAT cold.  Ah well, I had the same problem when I got down there only opposite.  I felt like I needed to take a jacket with me everywhere.

While I was there I went to a friend's house and we had fresh juice.  It was wonderful!  So my mind started moving along at a rapid clip thinking how I could incorporate this into my everyday world.  Then it hit me!  Get the junk I don't use off of my counter and keep the juicer out all the time.  Duh.

I went to the store and picked up some fresh fruit and veggies, and I have had juice every single day!  I love it!  The last few days have felt like spring is in the air so I made myself some pear and dandelion juice with ginger.  Sounds a little weird I know, but dandelion is one of the best greens you can eat in the spring.

Now, when can I get back to Florida....

Knitting and Crocheting

This has been a great winter for knitting and crocheting!  I have started about 10 projects and sadly am still working on about 8 of them.  I have gotten a few things done though.  Here is one, and hopefully I can get pictures of some of the others.  I gave them away as gifts this year, so it is kind of tough to get pictures after the fact.

This one is crocheted.

This one is knitted, it is a cowl.  I love the pattern on the green one.  I may do another one for me...

Lots to say today

I have been working on a bag for Mom.  Hi Mom!

Here is the finished product.  Notice the clip to hang keys on, and the tie straps to hold the bag together.  I added those myself.  No instructions...  I think I may actually be getting better at this.  My own designs will be coming soon.





Speaking of my own designs coming soon, if there are any features of a bag that you particularly like, let me know so I can incorporate that into one of my upcoming creations.  

I love when I think ahead

It is a beautiful day here in Chicago!!!!  It is snowing, and that makes me happy.  As long as I get to stay inside and watch it, that is.

So here I was this morning looking out the window watching the snow thinking, wow I am starting to get hungry.  I went to the kitchen to putter around and see what I have left (I cleaned out the fridge, freezer and pantry just the other day) and I came across some corned beef that I had cooked and frozen a while ago.  I had some potatoes sitting there and viola... Corned beef hash.

A hearty breakfast on a snowy day.  I am tossing around the idea of some sort of casserole for dinner.  This day is pure bliss.

In my down time

I have been learning fun stuff and I have found  that I love making bags! Here is some of what I have done so far.