Condo Blues

Sunday, June 30, 2019

DIY Beer Bottle Soap Dispenser

My husband and I often celebrate the end of the workweek with a little TGIF craft beer tasting. Like the full on nerdy thing about recognizing, talking about, and even recording tasting notes of the new beers and types we've tried.

After sampling an Innis & Gunn bottle, my husband commented on the unique look of the bottle and suggested/challenged me to do something cool with it.

Fortunately, I started dabbling in making liquid Castile soap in the slow cooker and I'm in need for a new liquid soap dispenser. (If you want to try it I suggest reading the books Making Natural Liquid Soaps and  Liquid Soapmaking because I'm still learning and it will be quite awhile before I feel confident in writing a tutorial for Condo Blues.) (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links to the supplies I used for your convenience.) 

It practilally a no brainer to to make a soap dispenser from a glass bottle that has a threaded screw cap like my DIY Chamboard bottle soap dispenser because you just screw a replacement liquid soap pump like this one onto the bottle and Bob's your uncle.

But can you make a soap dispenser from a recycled glass beverage bottle that does not have a screw thread top? Yes you can! Here's how!

How to Recycle a Glass Beverage Bottle into a Soap Dispenser


how to make a liquid soap dispenser from an upcycled glass bottle 
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Thursday, June 27, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 482

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Sunday, June 23, 2019

How to Fix a Ripped Screen in a Door or Window the Quick and Easy Way

Lacey is a good watch dog.

She watches out the patio door as cars go down the street.

She watches out the patio door as kids play in their yard across the street.

She watches out the patio door as the next door neighbor’s cat struts outside.

And she barks at them.

A lot.

While trying to tear through the screen door.

how to fix a screen
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Not only do I have a big ol’ rip in the screen in my sliding patio door but also the upstairs window screen where Lacey’s good for digging dog nails have ripped it too.

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 481

Rain, rain GO AWAY! This year is mirroring last year when Ohio broke the record for average rainfall in 2018. Throughout the state have had flash floods, road closures,and full on floods of areas in the state that rarely if ever flood. Farmer's fields are as wet as over saturated sponges and there are many that haven't planted and doubt they will this year.

Personally we're OK, and the helpful folks at the Ohio Department of Transportation have come up with a creative solution to clean up all of this wet mess, check it out!

  
A great creative reuse for state snowplows!

Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!

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Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
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Thursday, June 13, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 480

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Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
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Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

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Friday, June 7, 2019

10 Quick and Easy Outdoor DIY Projects that Save Money

One of my favorite ways to spend a beautiful weekend day is to work on an outdoor project. I get a healthy dose of Vitamin D, and more often than not, end up with a project that not only quickly pays for itself but saves us a bunch of money on some of those household bills and necessitates.
Bonus points if it includes using tools. Projects involving hammers is cheaper than therapy I always say!

10 Home Improvement Projects that Save a Ton of Money


10 outdoor projects you aren't doing to save money
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Think of these as options, not absolutes. Have a different money saving idea? Share it with us in the comments below!

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 479

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Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
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Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

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Thursday, May 30, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 478

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Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
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Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL
Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

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Sunday, May 26, 2019

How to Make Garden Plant Markers

The theme of this year’s container herb garden is Hey, That’s Different, Let’s See If It Will Grow (and We Need Cilantro.)

Which means I need plant markers to identify what this stuff is once it comes time to harvest it for cooking.  Sure, some of the plants came with a plastic plant label stuck in the pot but I had to split some of those plants up into different plant pots that make up my small patio container garden.

I want a set of plant markers that is cute and somewhat unique.  I turned to my little stash of on deck items to repurpose (or formally recycle in our bin after a given time limit) and made plant markers from recycled aluminum cans. I got four plant tags from one aluminum pop can and put the scrap into my city recycling bin.

DIY Garden Markers from Recycled Aluminum Cans


How to make cute unique  DIY garden plant marker tags
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Thursday, May 23, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 477

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Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL
Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

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Sunday, May 19, 2019

How to Make a Grill Cover

The four seasons have taken their toll on the cover on my outdoor gas grill. I need a replacement grill cover. 

I don’t want to buy a vinyl grill cover because they rarely last more than two years in the elements. Fabric seems the best way to go since the BBQ cover I made from a drop cloth lasted seven years.
I planned to scope out the heavy duty outdoor fabric at the fabric store after a stop at Homegoods when I found a cheaper and cuter outdoor fabric option – an indoor /outdoor tablecloth.

Which also just so happens to go with this majestic beauty that I also picked up for the front yard.

Her name is Divine.

She is 6 feet tall.

And I love her.

Yes, I am THAT neighbor. You know the one.

How to Make an Outdoor Grill Cover from a Tablecloth

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 476

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Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:



Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL
Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

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You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

12 Ways to Reuse Old Pillows

When our bed pillows flatten I fluff them up after washing them by popping a couple of dryer balls like these into the dryer along with my pillows. (I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.) That usually does the trick but after many years, there isn’t much left to fluff in our current set of bed pillows. It is time to replace them.

12 of the best ways to reuse old pillows
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Thursday, May 9, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 475

Time to add your fantastic and creative craft and DIY projects, recipes, and ideas!

But before we get this party started, I want to let you know about a super cool grilling giveway on my food blog Lazy Budget Chef! After you have read all of the amazing posts here on Condo Blues pop on over to Lazy Budget Chef and enter to WIN a HUGE Summer Grilling Prize Package!

One grand prize winner will receive a prize package including:
  • iGrill Mini Grilling Thermometer from BBQGuys
  • Case of Cornbread Crisps from Farmer's Pantry
  • Indoor Searing Grill from Hamilton Beach
  • Stella High Ball Glassware from Joy Jolt
  • Best Seller Collection from The Spice House
  • 1 Year Supply of Syrups from Torani
  • $100 via PayPal

You can find all of the details on Lazy Budget Chef here!


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Tuesday, May 7, 2019

How to Hang a Shelf on the Side of a Kitchen Cabinet

I hung a shelf on the side of my kitchen cupboard to give the succulent planter I got for Christmas a fighting chance at life by the only sunny window in my house. I’ve always wanted add an aloe plant since they are so handy when it comes to burns and to add visual balance by hanging a plant shelf on the empty cabinet on the other side of the window.

Which was a little tricky because I have thin builder grade kitchen cabinets. There just isn’t enough wood in the cabernet wall to hold a nail for a picture let alone the weight of a lightweight shelf.
But it can be done and all you need is a simple wine cork.

how to hang a cupboard shelf with a wine cork
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How to Hang a Shelf with a Recycled Wine Cork



Friday, May 3, 2019

California Design Den Luxury Sheet Giveaway!

Let’s face it, soft luxurious sheets Step Number One to getting a good night’s sleep.
I should know. I have battled insomnia for as long as I can remember. One of the ways I can sleep through the entire night is by treating the quality of my bedding as Priority Number One. I’d rather lay out the cash and have two sheets of super soft sheets to rotate in my linen closet between washings than a dozen horrible, stiff, and scratchy cheap microfiber sheet sets. Ew! Ew! Ew!


I want to share a lovely and luxurious night’s sleep with you courtesy of our friends at California Design Den who are kind enough to sponsor this California Design Den Luxury Sheet Giveaway!

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 474

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Monday, April 29, 2019

Gardening Hack: How to Know When to Water Your Vegetable Garden the Lazy Way!

The only reason my first attempt at growing a vegetable garden survived is because my husband and I worked on the project together.

Basically, I forget that plants need water to grow.

Gardening experts say vegetable gardens should be watered 2 to 3 times a week to promote healthy growth and nice deep roots. I start out doing that after I plant my garden but once you throw rain into the mix,  I either accidentally over water or under water depending upon if I wait for a rainstorm.

Either it doesn’t rain enough to water the plants enough or I don’t want to take a chance on the weather forecast for rain failing me again and water the garden only to be followed by a heavy thunderstorm.

So yeah, up until now my garden fails are a result of watering too much or not enough.


how much water does a vegetable garden need
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Photo used with permission by MSI Sakib on Unsplash

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 474

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Tuesday, April 23, 2019

6 Ways Plastic Helps Me Live Zero Waste

Almost every blog post I read that offers tips and tricks how to live Zero Waste they almost always use plastic free as a synonym. They say something like, “We got rid of all of our plastic stuff and bought the same exact thing in wood/bamboo/natural fiber to replace it and wow how cool we are living zero waste now!”

It. Drives. Me. Crazy.

Throwing away usable items to buy a cool looking replacement is the exact opposite of zero waste living folks!

Zero waste living means giving up using disposable single use plastic and items as much as possible, not no plastic at all.

Plastic free is great but that is a different goal.


6 Easy Ways to Live Zero Waste (ish) and Save Money Doing It!

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Photo used with permission  by Sophia Marston on Unsplash


Thursday, April 18, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 473

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Thursday, April 11, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 472

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Thursday, April 4, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 471

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Monday, April 1, 2019

How to Make a Quick and Easy Laundry Room Counter Top for Under $30

My laundry room is an unorganized mess!

Being a short person, I know that if I add cupboards above my washer and dryer I won’t use them to organize because I won’t be able to reach them without pulling out a step stool. Long story short: any organizer hanging over my head is dead to me.

Also I don’t want to take down all of the crazy toys decorating my utility room because they sum up the way I feel about doing laundry in the first place – a comedy horror show.

Doing laundry does not spark much joy but having clean clothes does!

A laundry room counter top and folding station would solve my organization problem nicely – and it is a quick and easy project to make!

How to Organize a Laundry Room with a Counter Top


Thursday, March 28, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 470

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Sunday, March 24, 2019

Recycled Crafts: Bottle Cap Bumble Bees for Kids

When I perform at my home renaissance festival, children bring little trinkets like shiny stones, jokes, plastic doubloons and such to trade with the performers. I understand that many parents, and my green living minded readers in particular, would rather not have yet more kid clutter in the house but it is amazing how something as simple as a painted acorn can make a child’s visit magical.

A new friend used the word magical over and over to describe her foster children’s visit, how they carried the treasures our performers gave them like gold that day, and even now these trinkets are very special for her children. Learning that her kids marveled at meeting so many "famous people" (what her kids call costumed characters) made my heart flutter and knocking myself out performing, especially on the tough weather days worth it even more.

Last year I made lady bug favors from bottle caps. I was surprised at my own reaction to every single child and adult who politely accepted my bottle cap ladybug only to get excited and surprised once they turn it over to see the little craft gem I glued underneath as craft supply stash bust project.


Pin this recycled craft tutorial to your Pinterest boards for later! Share this idea with your friends!


Who knew a silly plastic gem could spark so much joy?

 

DIY Bottle Cap Children’s Party Favor Craft

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Friday Favorites Linky Party 469

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Wednesday, March 20, 2019

How to Mount a Big Flat Screen TV in a Small TV Niche

The thing that has been holding my husband and I back from upgrading to a larger TV is trying to figure out where to put it. We maxed out the TV hole in the wall above our fireplace with a 30 inch flat panel. We honestly don’t have any other place in our small living room for an entertainment center or to hang a TV but in our wall niche.

how to hang big flat panel tv in a small over the fireplace tv nook
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