PB Helpful Hints ..Choose a Perfect Tree

 

 

I love sharing all of these helpful hints from Pottery Barn! Enjoy

 

 

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

PB Helpful Hints... Trim your Tree

I love sharing these helpful hints from Pottery Barn.

 

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

Bridal Shower Fun ...

My son is getting married in January so I threw him and Annie a little wedding shower. She will be having 2 household showers as she comes from a huge family, so I did a "date night" theme and asked for gift cards so they could have some fun evenings out. It was super casual and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. I wanted to share some photos with you of the happy couple and show you a few of the handcrafted items I made for them.

  

  

Cutest couple ever!

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

 

Pottery Barn Secret ...

I love the pottery barn website, they have some awesome merchandise and ideas I like to copy. haha. But did you know that they have some great party ideas and free printables, like invitations and other party related things. Well, yes they do so check it out. Here are some lovely fall pictures I'm drooling at from their website right now.

  

 

  

 

 

 

Partying with Ella Claire, The Inspiration Exchange, The

Shady Porch, Rock and Share, Love Grows Wild, Time

to Sparkle. Heart and Home, Twirl and Take a Bow.

 

 

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

Oh Fall, How I Love Thee....

Images courtesy of "Country Living Made Beautiful" on facebook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

Thrity Black and White Accesories ...

I really like my plate rack/quilt holder in my kitchen, but couldn't find anything to fit in the narrow rack except... what it was meant for, a plate. lol  So I found these cool felt keys on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $1 and added them to a .99 platter from Good Will. Simple and cute, if I do say so myself.

 

While I was at Hobby Lobby I found theses rub on decals and thought they would be awesome for a candle, also .99.

 

 

And my neighbor gave me this little kids bench and of course I painted it black and thought it would be perfect for Nico's bowls.

 

Hope you are enjoying your long weekend! I'm off to a local thrift that is having a 1/2 off sale.
(Because I need more stuff, NOT!)

 

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

Before and After ...

Vintage country bench, $4 with black paint.

Before and After ...

Here's another quick before and after, courtesy of my favorite black paint and a few thrift store cutting boards.

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

Before and After ....

This shelf  was a $1.99 GW find, Painted black of course and I think it looks much better!

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

Before and After ....

I always wanted a step back cabinet but have never found one that I was crazy about. So the other day I got to thinking about a book case that I got at GW for $4.99... Hmmm what if I put it on top of the set of drawers that I rescued from someones trash a few years ago??? Would it look stupid???  So I painted it and turned it upside down and Viola'. I think it will do just fine and for under $5, I love trash to treasures! What do you think?

P.S. The paint I use for everything is called Pure, it has no voc's and virtually no odor. It is carried by Menards for about $21 a gallon.

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

Before and After ...

I found this pine hamper at an estate sale this summer and just got around to finishing it in a deep prim black color. Not bad for $5, I'm using it in the living room to store blankets.

AFTER

BEFORE

I found that if you take the black paint and wipe it on like stain it looks much better than solid paint and so much easier to distress. (Just a little tip)

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

Before and After ...

I found this vintage sleigh at a garage sale a few weeks ago for $5 and wanted to revamp it for the holidays. I am going to keep it on my porch! 

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

Homemade Laundry Soap

I have been making my own laundry soap for about 6 years and not only is it super economical but it works really well and is great for people sensitive skin. I usually make 5 gallons liquid soap but It's a pain to store so I've found the powder to be  perfect for me, here's the recipe.

Homemade Laundry Detergent, (Powder )
1 Bar grated Fels Naptha soap. (you can also use ivory bars)
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of Arm & Ham
mer Washing Soda

Directions:
Grate the bar soap and mix well with Borax and Washing Soda.
Use 2 Tbs per load. 
It will cost about 5cents a load.

XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures

Homemade Cleaning Products

About 6 years ago I read an article about the dangers of chemicals in cleaning products, I had no idea how harmful they can be to us, our pets and the environment. I researched homemade recipes that are Eco friendly and came up with quite a list. Over the next few years I tested many of them and tweaked some to my liking. The best part of natural cleaning is that you need very few ingredients to keep your house clean and germ free and you can purchase everything at the grocery store! I have to confess I use a lot of Shaklee products too!

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Some of the ingredients you need to keep on hand

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Some of the finished products

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Window Cleaner/Antibacterial Spray

2 cups of water

1/4 cup of white vinegar

(Mix and keep in plastic spray bottle)

(I use this on glass, ceramic tile, counter tops, anywhere except wood)

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Soft Scrub Cleanser

1cup of baking soda

5 teaspoons of Glycerin (or use water)

Essential oil, 3 drops

(Mix and keep in plastic container)

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All Purpose Cleaner/Floor Cleaner

1 Tablespoon of Dr Bonner's Soap (I like the Peppermint)

2 cups of water

1/4 cup of white vinegar

(Mix and keep in plastic spray bottle)

(I spray this solution right on the floor as I go and use a bucket of warm water for rinsing the mop)

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Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Borax Powder

(I keep a plastic container in the bathroom and sprinkle in toilet as needed and scrub with brush)

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Furniture Polish (for real wood)

1cup of olive oil

3 Tablespoons of lemon juice

(keep in plastic bottle and wipe on with a soft cloth and buff dry your furniture will love you!)

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Laundry Soap

(Front or top load machine, makes 10 gallons)

4  Cups - hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken. Stir and fill a used, clean bottle half with soap and then half with water.(I use empty water jugs and old detergent containers) Shake before each use it will gel

You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons if you want it scented (add once soap has cooled),I use lavender and make a few gallons with tee tree oil, its a disinfectant and is good for really dirty clothes.

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Stain Fighter

2 teaspoons of peroxide

to 4 ounces of water

(keep in dark place or dark bottle)

I use this to spray on stains on clothes before washing

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Fabric Softener

I use Trader Joe's Lavender Sachets you throw them in the dryer and when they start to loose their smell you can rip them open and vacuum up the lavender to keep your carpet smelling nice

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These are the basic recipes I use, you can google lots of other recipes and give them a try. I also make some health and beauty products that I will share another time. If you try any of them email me and let me know how you liked them.

 XoXo

Michelle / Simple Pleasures