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Thursday, January 16, 2020
Friday Favorites Linky Party 512
Time to link up your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
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Wednesday, January 15, 2020
12 Knit and Crochet Dishcloth, Washcloth, and Scrubby Patterns
I’m attempting to phase out disposable kitchen sponges and scrubbers because you’re supposed to throw them out after a week or so and most hacks to clean them actually cause more bacteria to grow on them – ew!
That adds up to a lot of kitchen sponges in the trash and if I'm lucky, compost bin.*sad face*
When I hand wash dishes I’m trying to with reusables over disposables. I’m currently washing dishes with reusable Skoy cloths (learn how you can wash them in the dishwasher here) and reusable Paperless kitchen pot scrubbers you can also wash in the dishwasher (learn more here.) We also use this cast iron chainmail cast iron scrubber to clean sticky stuff from our cast iron pans. (Disclosure: I am including some affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)
And most recently, I’m washing up with a set of handmade dish wash clothes my mother in law made and gave me for Christmas. The cotton dishcloths are quickly becoming my favorite (if there is such a thing about having a favorite pot scrubber. Oh, the joys of adulthood!) because I can easily pop them in the washing machine a couple of uses and pull out a clean one lickety split.
Save this list of easy crochet and knitting patterns to your Pinterest boards for later! Share them with your friends!
Her thoughtful gift has me toying with picking up crochet again (something I haven’t done since I was a kid) or maybe actually finishing a project on that knitting loom (a knitting loom looks like this) I bought and gave up on. Which in that case, making dish cloths, wash cloth, and pot scrubber are the perfect project to practice knit and crochet patterns!
That adds up to a lot of kitchen sponges in the trash and if I'm lucky, compost bin.*sad face*
When I hand wash dishes I’m trying to with reusables over disposables. I’m currently washing dishes with reusable Skoy cloths (learn how you can wash them in the dishwasher here) and reusable Paperless kitchen pot scrubbers you can also wash in the dishwasher (learn more here.) We also use this cast iron chainmail cast iron scrubber to clean sticky stuff from our cast iron pans. (Disclosure: I am including some affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)
And most recently, I’m washing up with a set of handmade dish wash clothes my mother in law made and gave me for Christmas. The cotton dishcloths are quickly becoming my favorite (if there is such a thing about having a favorite pot scrubber. Oh, the joys of adulthood!) because I can easily pop them in the washing machine a couple of uses and pull out a clean one lickety split.
Her thoughtful gift has me toying with picking up crochet again (something I haven’t done since I was a kid) or maybe actually finishing a project on that knitting loom (a knitting loom looks like this) I bought and gave up on. Which in that case, making dish cloths, wash cloth, and pot scrubber are the perfect project to practice knit and crochet patterns!
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Spa Bathroom Remodeling Plan
Before you start any type of home improvement update or remodel you should come up with a design plan first. This way, you can decide on what to keep, skimp, or splurge to keep your project on time and on budget.
Do you know the absolute worst time to toss out your original plan and make a new one from scratch?
When your room looks like this.
My original guest bathroom design plan had us giving the bathroom sink and vanity a makeover.
On demo day I found black mold growing on the back of the bathroom vanity which made it completely unusable.
And just like that, my beachy remodeling plan got tossed just like the mold ridden vanity.
Do you know the absolute worst time to toss out your original plan and make a new one from scratch?
When your room looks like this.
Demo day!
On demo day I found black mold growing on the back of the bathroom vanity which made it completely unusable.
And just like that, my beachy remodeling plan got tossed just like the mold ridden vanity.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Friday Favorites Linky Party 511
Time to link up your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
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Sunday, January 5, 2020
Quick and Easy DIY Heart Door Decoration
I like to decorate the front door of my house but lately I haven’t been feeling the winter door wreath. It probably has a lot to do with most of the wreaths I like have greenery that doesn’t show up well on our green front door.
Not to mention I seem to have a love hate wreath relationship. I love the wreaths my neighbors use to decorate their doors and seem to hate every wreath in the store. What can I say? I’m the Goldilocks of front door décor, apparently.
I found a contemporary, modern, classic, or rustic (depending upon how you view it) front door decoration idea when I made a fast and simple Danish Christmas Heart decoration to coordinate with the giant outdoor Christmas gnome decorations I made from tomato cages last year.
I like the look.
Not to mention I seem to have a love hate wreath relationship. I love the wreaths my neighbors use to decorate their doors and seem to hate every wreath in the store. What can I say? I’m the Goldilocks of front door décor, apparently.
I found a contemporary, modern, classic, or rustic (depending upon how you view it) front door decoration idea when I made a fast and simple Danish Christmas Heart decoration to coordinate with the giant outdoor Christmas gnome decorations I made from tomato cages last year.
I like the look.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Friday Favorites Linky Party 510
We're kicking off the Roaring 20's in style!
Time to link up your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
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Time to link up your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 509
Our Christmas holiday celebrations and visiting took over so much of the holiday week that I posted the linky party very, very late. Don't worry! You can still add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Let's Party!
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Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
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Thursday, December 19, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 508
ime to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
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Let's Party!
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Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
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Sunday, December 15, 2019
How to Go Zero Waste on a Budget: Use the Rule of Half
When someone brings up trying to reduce their household waste with zero waste living and one of the first things they ask is me is why does it have to be so strict, expensive, and hard?
I understand how you can get that impression seeing photos online of DIY everything, people using plastic free as a synonym for zero waste (plastic free living is a noble goal but is not the same thing, ) and mason jars full of one year’s trash, but those are the rare, edited for the Internet exceptions, and not the reality.
I get it. I truly do. Local laws prohibit me from using my own containers at bulk bins, my farm markets are only open during the summer, and frankly both of those options are more expensive than Aldi where I can do a monthly grocery shop in under an hour. However, over time I was able to reduce my household weekly trash to a small grocery store size bag a week.
How do we do it?
I understand how you can get that impression seeing photos online of DIY everything, people using plastic free as a synonym for zero waste (plastic free living is a noble goal but is not the same thing, ) and mason jars full of one year’s trash, but those are the rare, edited for the Internet exceptions, and not the reality.
I get it. I truly do. Local laws prohibit me from using my own containers at bulk bins, my farm markets are only open during the summer, and frankly both of those options are more expensive than Aldi where I can do a monthly grocery shop in under an hour. However, over time I was able to reduce my household weekly trash to a small grocery store size bag a week.
How do we do it?
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 507
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
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Let's Party!
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Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
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Thursday, December 5, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 506
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Condo Blues World Headquarters and Thunderdome!
This year our family broke a decorating record by having our Christmas tree decorated after we came home from Thanksgiving dinner! Take a look.
Our tree is actually a rosemary bush our Thanksgiving host and hostess gave us at the end the evening. I decided to have a laugh and decorated it a few German Christmas ornaments friends gave us on their vist last fall. I' bought the Viking gnomes from a friends shop at the renaissance festival as a birthday present to myself after admiring them for the last 2 summers.
We need to put our Christmas tree up soon. This one's not going to last long for as much as we've been using it to cook with fresh rosemary. Nom! Nom!
Be sure to pop over to my food blog Lazy Budget Chef and enter our $175 Amazon Gift Card Givewawy after you've shared and read all of the amazing party posts!
This year our family broke a decorating record by having our Christmas tree decorated after we came home from Thanksgiving dinner! Take a look.
Other houses have Christmas gnomes. We have Vikings!
Our tree is actually a rosemary bush our Thanksgiving host and hostess gave us at the end the evening. I decided to have a laugh and decorated it a few German Christmas ornaments friends gave us on their vist last fall. I' bought the Viking gnomes from a friends shop at the renaissance festival as a birthday present to myself after admiring them for the last 2 summers.
We need to put our Christmas tree up soon. This one's not going to last long for as much as we've been using it to cook with fresh rosemary. Nom! Nom!
Be sure to pop over to my food blog Lazy Budget Chef and enter our $175 Amazon Gift Card Givewawy after you've shared and read all of the amazing party posts!
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
$175 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!
December is here and we are in full swing getting ready for the December holidays! Woohoo!
I'm always looking for giveaway opportunities to thank you for being part of my blog community
s community. A bunch of my blogger friends want to find a way to reward their readers in the same way.
We got together and thought what would people like? The December holidays are coming up. Everyone has a different opinion on what is and is not the perfect gift. Many of you don't celebrate the same holidays as I do. We thought....
What would you do with an extra $175 to spend this holiday season?
That would buy a whole lotta cookies like the Peppermint Gingerbread Cookie Ball Recipe I wrote on my food blog Lazy Budget Chef.
Peppermint Gingerbread Balls! Nom! Nom! Nom!
Wait. What?! You didn't know that I have a food blog?! Well I DO!
Well know is the perfect opportunity to check it out! Not only do I have a fantastic cookie recipe for you to try but you can ENTER TO WIN A $175 AMAZON GIFT CARD RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW!
Don't dawdle! The $175 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway runs from December 2 - December 16, 2019 on Lazy Budget Chef!
Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to the Condo Blues RSS Feed or to Condo Blues by Email.
I'm always looking for giveaway opportunities to thank you for being part of my blog community
s community. A bunch of my blogger friends want to find a way to reward their readers in the same way.
We got together and thought what would people like? The December holidays are coming up. Everyone has a different opinion on what is and is not the perfect gift. Many of you don't celebrate the same holidays as I do. We thought....
What would you do with an extra $175 to spend this holiday season?
That would buy a whole lotta cookies like the Peppermint Gingerbread Cookie Ball Recipe I wrote on my food blog Lazy Budget Chef.
Wait. What?! You didn't know that I have a food blog?! Well I DO!
Well know is the perfect opportunity to check it out! Not only do I have a fantastic cookie recipe for you to try but you can ENTER TO WIN A $175 AMAZON GIFT CARD RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW!
After you enter the giveaway before sure to check out the links to the yummy holiday recipes my co-hostesses have created!
Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to the Condo Blues RSS Feed or to Condo Blues by Email.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 505
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Or Happy Random Thursday in November to our readers outside of the US, LOL.
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Or Happy Random Thursday in November to our readers outside of the US, LOL.
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
Sunday, November 24, 2019
How to Make Tomato Cage Christmas Gnome Decorations
I saw a big Christmas gnome decorations on line at IKEA and knew two of them would look perfect decorating both sides of my front door this Christmas. Unfortunately they were already sold out of them by the first few days of November!
I was severely bummed.
It was all the encouragement I needed to shop IKEA for the materials and go with my original plan of making a set of outdoor Christmas gnomes built around tomato cages. Since storage space is at a premium in my condo, I made my Christmas gnomes (which we Scandinavians call Tomte or Nisser) as a temporary slipcover. That way I can use the cages in my summer garden, clean them, and use them again during the Christmas decorating season. If you have the storage space you can permanently hot glue the fabric to your tomato cage instead of holding it in place with clothes pins like I did.
I was severely bummed.
It was all the encouragement I needed to shop IKEA for the materials and go with my original plan of making a set of outdoor Christmas gnomes built around tomato cages. Since storage space is at a premium in my condo, I made my Christmas gnomes (which we Scandinavians call Tomte or Nisser) as a temporary slipcover. That way I can use the cages in my summer garden, clean them, and use them again during the Christmas decorating season. If you have the storage space you can permanently hot glue the fabric to your tomato cage instead of holding it in place with clothes pins like I did.
Save this tutorial to your Pinterest boards for later! Share this decorating idea with your friends!
How to Make Scandinavian Christmas Gnomes
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 504
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
Monday, November 18, 2019
10 Quick, Easy, and Eco Friendly Kitchen Cleaning Hacks
I love a clean and tidy kitchen but I don’t love spending all of my time cleaning and organizing it. That especially goes for the holiday season when I’d much rather be entertaining my guests than slipping out to the store because I ran out of some disposable cleaning doo dad or supply in the middle of cleaning up after dinner.
Because if I run out of something, it is always going to be when I need it use it immediately.
It. Never.Fails.
Luckily I developed have several hacks that replace disposable kitchen cleaning tools with reusable and others that make those disposables last a little bit longer so you aren’t stuck with a Holiday Hostess Fail in the middle of your party fun!
Because if I run out of something, it is always going to be when I need it use it immediately.
It. Never.Fails.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 503
Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away!
Eek!
I barely have Halloween put away!
I have no idea what I'm making for Thanksgiving dinner, besides something that goes with turkey. What are your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes? Help a girl out!
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
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Eek!
I barely have Halloween put away!
I have no idea what I'm making for Thanksgiving dinner, besides something that goes with turkey. What are your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes? Help a girl out!
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 502
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 501
Happy Halloween! Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 500
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
Sunday, October 20, 2019
What to Do If You Find Black Mold in Your Bathroom Remodel
It’s time to get started on my guest bathroom renovation.
With demolition!
Because Demo Day is the best day.
It can also be the worst.
My demolition plans included removing the rest of the flooring, the toilet, and vanity. I planned to makeover the bathroom vanity if I could get it out in one piece. The builder installed all of the sink cabinets in the house first and installed the plumbing in around them. When I removed the vanity in the powder room remodel I had to destroy the cabinet which wasn’t the plan.
Joy.
I cut holes for the plumbing in the cabinet with this exact Rockwell oscillating tool (after reading a lot of specs and reviews I chose the Rockwell because it is the only oscillating tool that can use bits and blades from any brand not just its own.) I was pretty stoked this DIY idea actually worked until my husband and I lifted the vanity up and over the plumbing to discover black mold on the wall and wood vanity. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)
Oh yes, my friends. We sang the Condo Blues.
With demolition!
Because Demo Day is the best day.
It can also be the worst.
My demolition plans included removing the rest of the flooring, the toilet, and vanity. I planned to makeover the bathroom vanity if I could get it out in one piece. The builder installed all of the sink cabinets in the house first and installed the plumbing in around them. When I removed the vanity in the powder room remodel I had to destroy the cabinet which wasn’t the plan.
Joy.
I cut holes for the plumbing in the cabinet with this exact Rockwell oscillating tool (after reading a lot of specs and reviews I chose the Rockwell because it is the only oscillating tool that can use bits and blades from any brand not just its own.) I was pretty stoked this DIY idea actually worked until my husband and I lifted the vanity up and over the plumbing to discover black mold on the wall and wood vanity. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)
Oh yes, my friends. We sang the Condo Blues.
How to Get Rid of Black Mold
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 499
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 498
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Allergy Free Trick or Treat Ide: How to Make DIY Bottle Cap Halloween Pumpkin Pins
I know first hand how much it stinks to get a bag full of Trick or Treat candy on Halloween and can’t eat most of it due to a severe food intolerance or allergy.
It’s a total bummer.
That’s why I display a teal pumpkin to let my Trick or Treaters know that I have food allergy safe treats to hand on out Halloween. We let the kids decide if they want a Treat or a Prize. My husband mans the Treat bowl full of candy. I woman the Prize bowl with food allergy friendly non food treats.
This year’s food allergy safe Trick or Treat Prize are Jack o’ Lantern pins I made from caps in my bottle cap collection.
My quick and easy bottle cap pins are a kid friendly craft if you are looking for a Halloween party craft activity. You can also make them ahead of time and give them out as party favors.
It’s a total bummer.
That’s why I display a teal pumpkin to let my Trick or Treaters know that I have food allergy safe treats to hand on out Halloween. We let the kids decide if they want a Treat or a Prize. My husband mans the Treat bowl full of candy. I woman the Prize bowl with food allergy friendly non food treats.
This year’s food allergy safe Trick or Treat Prize are Jack o’ Lantern pins I made from caps in my bottle cap collection.
My quick and easy bottle cap pins are a kid friendly craft if you are looking for a Halloween party craft activity. You can also make them ahead of time and give them out as party favors.
How to Make Recycled Bottle Cap Pins
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 497
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
Sunday, September 29, 2019
How to Dye Suede Shoes
I bought a pair of cream suede oxford shoes similar to these thinking they would look cute with jeans but didn’t wear them very often because of the color. Changing the color is easy as dying the shoe. Since these are basically an extra I have and don’t’ wear I decided to go with something fun and dye my suede shoes blue with this exact suede shoe dye. *Cue Elvis joke here* (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience)
I was very nervous about messing up this project and put it aside for quite awhile after I bought the dye. Once I got up the nerve to do it I learned dying shoes a new color isn’t hard, just a little messy so make sure you protect your work surface and you’ll be fine.
I was very nervous about messing up this project and put it aside for quite awhile after I bought the dye. Once I got up the nerve to do it I learned dying shoes a new color isn’t hard, just a little messy so make sure you protect your work surface and you’ll be fine.
How to Dye Shoes a New Color
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Friday Favorites Linky Party 496
Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
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