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Thursday, October 5, 2017
Friday, September 29, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 391
I had a pretty bad day that ended in inspiring a very good thing. The day started forcing my sleepy self (and trusty travel coffee mug) to get up and out of the house for a cart trip. Even though I've driving the route a million times I missed an early exit. I didn't think much of it because of the familiar landmarks along the way.
An hour into my drive I realize those roadside landmarks were for driving to my in laws house and NOT the place I needed to go. I get there 40 minutes late. I hate being late. As I'm fussing with something in my car trunk, I hear light ker-clutch.
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Elizabethan Doublet Costume Reveal!
My husband needed a new Elizabethan nobleman costume when he performs at renaissance festivals. It is a tricky business because the history geek in me wants to be as historically accurate as possible.
However unlike a living history museum, what we do is historical entertainment. Being outdoors in all temperatures and weather conditions means there are some liberties I have to take in the clothing design, construction, and preferences of the guy wearing it. In other words, please don’t yell at me historical clothing purists. I know where I did not follow Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws (dress code.) Thank you.
I gave you a costume project sneak peak in Elizabethan Doublet Costume Work in Progress. I cut the velvet front of the doublet trim larger than my pattern so I could hoop it and spent a 12 hour day doing nothing but embroidering the border design over and over holding my breath every time hoping everything will line up when I finished. Thank goodness it did!
However unlike a living history museum, what we do is historical entertainment. Being outdoors in all temperatures and weather conditions means there are some liberties I have to take in the clothing design, construction, and preferences of the guy wearing it. In other words, please don’t yell at me historical clothing purists. I know where I did not follow Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws (dress code.) Thank you.
I gave you a costume project sneak peak in Elizabethan Doublet Costume Work in Progress. I cut the velvet front of the doublet trim larger than my pattern so I could hoop it and spent a 12 hour day doing nothing but embroidering the border design over and over holding my breath every time hoping everything will line up when I finished. Thank goodness it did!
Gold metallic thread would make the embroidery really sing. After a few frustrating test pieces I learned there is a finesse to machine embroidering with metallic thread that I do not have yet. That is a skill to learn for another day.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 390
How to Repair a Dishwasher that Won’t Drain
My dishwasher did not drain after washing a load of dishes. I like my dishwasher and it is barely four years old. I really hoped I could fix my broken dishwasher because I do NOT want to go through The Great Dishwasher Research Hunt again.
Basically there are a series of filters and pumps in a dishwasher that can become clogged through normal use, not rinsing dishes, or in my case my bad habit of not removing paper labels from jars before I stick them in the dishwasher clogged the drain pipe. This little exercise cured me of that habit.
Unclogging a dishwasher drain pipe is much easier than the dozens of YouTube videos I consulted make it out to be. The most difficult part of the process is dealing with the vile stench of the clog because I’m a baby about bad smells.
Basically there are a series of filters and pumps in a dishwasher that can become clogged through normal use, not rinsing dishes, or in my case my bad habit of not removing paper labels from jars before I stick them in the dishwasher clogged the drain pipe. This little exercise cured me of that habit.
Unclogging a dishwasher drain pipe is much easier than the dozens of YouTube videos I consulted make it out to be. The most difficult part of the process is dealing with the vile stench of the clog because I’m a baby about bad smells.
How to Unclog a Dishwasher
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 389
Wow what a crazy couple of weeks its been. How are you Hurricane Harvey and Irma folks doing?
I know Texans are tough and Floridians totally have hurricane prep and recovery DOWN but that hasn't stopped me from worrying about family and friends in both states (everyone is OK whew) and all of you in the Condo Blues community (if you have the power to read this post.) Some of you are dealing some stuff that is totally out of your control that just flat out sucks.
Which in all honesty, makes me think that writing about all of the Halloween costume and decoration posts on my blog calendar seem trivial, silly, and stupid. Then again maybe you might need that as a brain break to better deal with endless cleanup and the kids not going back to school because they are still being used as storm shelters. I dont' know. What do you folks need? Tell us in the comments below.
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Monday, September 11, 2017
20 New Ways to Use and Repurpose Old Towels
I swear the amount of towels in my linen closet magically doubles or triples on its own. I bet it is some relic from a science fiction universe (or that I live in a small house with a small linen closet but I’m still blaming aliens because it is more fun.)
If I don’t clean it out my linen regularly the towel population grows to the point it is so large I can’t close the closet door. Which given the size of the linen closet, it doesn’t take a huge towel population to achieve this.
But it also means that I regularly have old towels with a worn spot or edge but overall fairly usable and as such, something I don’t want to send to landfill hell if I can get another reuse out of it.
Luckily, old and worn towels are one of the easiest things to reuse and upcycle to save a little money, the environment, or better yet – time.
If I don’t clean it out my linen regularly the towel population grows to the point it is so large I can’t close the closet door. Which given the size of the linen closet, it doesn’t take a huge towel population to achieve this.
But it also means that I regularly have old towels with a worn spot or edge but overall fairly usable and as such, something I don’t want to send to landfill hell if I can get another reuse out of it.
Luckily, old and worn towels are one of the easiest things to reuse and upcycle to save a little money, the environment, or better yet – time.
20 Genius Ideas to Reuse Old Towels You Have to Try!
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 388
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Thursday, August 31, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 387
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Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
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Monday, August 28, 2017
Elizabethan Doublet Costume Work in Progress
This time of year most folks are looking forward to their favorite fall holidays and pumpkin spice everything.
As much as I hate to see summer slowly transition into fall, it signals one of my favorite times of the year:
Costume Season!
I gave a tiny sneak peak of my latest costuming project on Instagram (follow me @condoblues on Instagram pretty please?) an Elizabethan doublet, breeches, and hat for my husband. I'm machine embroidering all of the velvet trim like a crazy person.
As much as I hate to see summer slowly transition into fall, it signals one of my favorite times of the year:
Costume Season!
I gave a tiny sneak peak of my latest costuming project on Instagram (follow me @condoblues on Instagram pretty please?) an Elizabethan doublet, breeches, and hat for my husband. I'm machine embroidering all of the velvet trim like a crazy person.
This eagle will appear on the back of the jacket, flanked by two embroidered flourishes. I bought the killer machine embroidery files from Urban Threads.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 386
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Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
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Thursday, August 17, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 385
Are you ready to safely view the eclipse Monday? Buy eclispse glasses is on my Weekend To Do List.
The one thing that is not on that list is Buy Plants.
Let's party!
The one thing that is not on that list is Buy Plants.
I love Little Shop of Horrors so hard. (aff link)
Let's party!
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
How to Install a Solar Security Light
This post is written in partnership with Deelat. All thoughts and opinions are my own
My backyard is dark. The dinky porch light doesn't do the job, not to mention I always forget to turn it on before I take Lacey out for her nightly post potty Perimeter Sweep.
My next door neighbor solves the problem by leaving her porch light on 24/7 but I’d rather not waste electricity during the daylight hours. I am a big fan of solar powered outdoor lights by Deelat Industrial.So you’d think I’d already have some sort of solar security light in my backyard right?
Well, no. So far my only experience with solar lighting are small garden lights in my front yard. My solar garden lights don’t throw as much light now that the tree in our front yard decided to grow large enough to prevent the panels on the lights from charging.
Fortunately, my backyard faces South and gets full sun. I was a little leery of a solar security light being bright enough based on my tiny solar garden light experience but Deelat assured me that their solar security light produces 1000 Lumens of brightness using 44 LEDs and is bright enough to be used to for businesses as well as homes.
Sounds good, then. Let’s give it a shot!
My backyard is dark. The dinky porch light doesn't do the job, not to mention I always forget to turn it on before I take Lacey out for her nightly post potty Perimeter Sweep.
My next door neighbor solves the problem by leaving her porch light on 24/7 but I’d rather not waste electricity during the daylight hours. I am a big fan of solar powered outdoor lights by Deelat Industrial.So you’d think I’d already have some sort of solar security light in my backyard right?
Well, no. So far my only experience with solar lighting are small garden lights in my front yard. My solar garden lights don’t throw as much light now that the tree in our front yard decided to grow large enough to prevent the panels on the lights from charging.
Fortunately, my backyard faces South and gets full sun. I was a little leery of a solar security light being bright enough based on my tiny solar garden light experience but Deelat assured me that their solar security light produces 1000 Lumens of brightness using 44 LEDs and is bright enough to be used to for businesses as well as homes.
Sounds good, then. Let’s give it a shot!
Solar lights are simple to install, renter friendly, and the solar panel naturally works as a dawn to dusk timer while using green and free solar energy to charge and power the light. What’s not to love?
How to Install a Motion Activated Solar Security Light in 30 Minutes or Less
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 384
Sunglasses have always been my thing. I hate squinting from the glare of the sun and not to mention, sunglasses are a fun way to accessorize an outfit while protecting your peepers from harmful UV sun rays.
So it is no wonder I chose The Style Safari's sunglasses DIY to feature from last week's party. Giving old things new life is what Condo Blues is all about and if it just so happens to get inspiration from Dolce & Gabanna I think we're all the better for it.
Let's party!
So it is no wonder I chose The Style Safari's sunglasses DIY to feature from last week's party. Giving old things new life is what Condo Blues is all about and if it just so happens to get inspiration from Dolce & Gabanna I think we're all the better for it.
Lisa from Condo Blues chose
3 DIY Sunglasses to Try by The Style Safari
Let's party!
Sunday, August 6, 2017
How to Make a Folding Cloth Fan
We are in the sweltering hot Dog Days of Summer. Ohio likes to add a little
extra misery to the mix with humidity. Hazy, Hot, and Humid is a phrase all
Ohioans face with sweaty dread and air conditioning.
Until you have to go outside – yuck.
Fortunately, there is an easy, eco friendly, and cute solution – use a hand fan to keep cool!
Until you have to go outside – yuck.
Fortunately, there is an easy, eco friendly, and cute solution – use a hand fan to keep cool!
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 383
Wowzers gang! I absolutely love how creative you are! It makes my job difficult trying to select a favorite craft or DIY project, recipe, or post from each week's roundup party as my feature pick. More often than not, I'm stuck between several standouts and dearly hope one of my co-hostesses will feature that I can't pick as a weekly favorite.
Monday, July 31, 2017
36 of the Best Zero Waste Lunch Bags for Back to School
I'm on a bit of Zero Waste kick lately. Well, more like Trying to Reduce Our Household Trash Each Week Without Living Like Little House on the Prairie Because Electricity and Indoor Plumbing Are Fantastic but that is too much to write over and over in one blog post.
Specifically, I'm looking for low waste lunch bags and container ideas.
I'm finding it is better for me to pack a dairy free lunch, dinner, or snack to better deal with my food allergy when I'm on the go. I like to travel as light as I can (especially if I'm at an event and have to cart stuff with me all day,) I don't want my food to dry out before lunch (which means cloth snack bags are out) and as much as I love my glass food containers they are too heavy and impractical.
All of that and it must be attractive without looking like something a preschooler would carry.
Specifically, I'm looking for low waste lunch bags and container ideas.
I'm finding it is better for me to pack a dairy free lunch, dinner, or snack to better deal with my food allergy when I'm on the go. I like to travel as light as I can (especially if I'm at an event and have to cart stuff with me all day,) I don't want my food to dry out before lunch (which means cloth snack bags are out) and as much as I love my glass food containers they are too heavy and impractical.
All of that and it must be attractive without looking like something a preschooler would carry.
Sunday, July 30, 2017
How to Fix Rear View Mirror
The rear view mirror came off my car windshield. Luckily I wasn’t driving at the time.
I’ll admit it was odd to get into the car and see the mirror was sitting on the front seat like it expected me to drive it somewhere after it popped off.
Replacing the car would be a fun way to repair the rear view mirror until I remembered that as much as I love cars (and I really do) I hate car shopping.
I despise the haggling, the fake let-me-talk-to-my-manager dance (seriously. they are salespeople who know how, when, and where they can go only so low on the pricing,) and worse how I’m often treated like I am an idiot who doesn’t know anything about cars (my father worked in the industry.)
That may not be an exclusively female customer thing because a male friend who is a car nut also gets treated like he can barely put the key in the ignition when he goes to a car dealership.
Besides, the car is paid for. Fix instead of replace it is!
I’ll admit it was odd to get into the car and see the mirror was sitting on the front seat like it expected me to drive it somewhere after it popped off.
Replacing the car would be a fun way to repair the rear view mirror until I remembered that as much as I love cars (and I really do) I hate car shopping.
I despise the haggling, the fake let-me-talk-to-my-manager dance (seriously. they are salespeople who know how, when, and where they can go only so low on the pricing,) and worse how I’m often treated like I am an idiot who doesn’t know anything about cars (my father worked in the industry.)
That may not be an exclusively female customer thing because a male friend who is a car nut also gets treated like he can barely put the key in the ignition when he goes to a car dealership.
Besides, the car is paid for. Fix instead of replace it is!
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 382
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Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
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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!
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
Monday, July 24, 2017
How to Sew an Easy One Seam Sundress
We’re deep into what I call Three H Summer Weather – Hazy, Hot, and Humid.
Ugh.
The type of weather that makes a sun dress the most appropriate way to stay cool (while still looking cute!) which you can barely find in a store because it is full of Fall Back to School clothes and gear.
Double ugh.
Fortunately, while shopping for costume fabric, some pre- shirred and pre-smocked with elastic flamingo fabric caught my eye. I adore flamingos! Most of work was done for me and the kids maxi length fabric is just the right length for my wee 4’11 frame to be a sundress to the knee. I popped the bolt in my cart and starting shopping for the actual reason I went to the fabric store in the first place.
As I shopped, I put the fabric back on the shelf since I was drawn to it only because I have a made crazy love of all things flamingo. It’s an impulse item and I’m trying to stick to my shopping list.
Later I went over and put the bolt in my cart. I do need some summer clothes. I can wear to the annual luau!
Again, I put the fabric back. Would I have time to make an unplanned sewing project or will the fabric sit and take up space until I forgot why I bought it in the first place? Not that there is already any cut fabric like that in my stash already…
I stood there looking at the fabric I put back and though,”Oh for Pete’s sake you are TOTALLY overthinking this! It is a quick and easy one seam sundress. You can sew in less than an hour because most of the work is done for you.. Life is short! BUY THE FABRIC!”
So I did.
Ugh.
The type of weather that makes a sun dress the most appropriate way to stay cool (while still looking cute!) which you can barely find in a store because it is full of Fall Back to School clothes and gear.
Double ugh.
Fortunately, while shopping for costume fabric, some pre- shirred and pre-smocked with elastic flamingo fabric caught my eye. I adore flamingos! Most of work was done for me and the kids maxi length fabric is just the right length for my wee 4’11 frame to be a sundress to the knee. I popped the bolt in my cart and starting shopping for the actual reason I went to the fabric store in the first place.
As I shopped, I put the fabric back on the shelf since I was drawn to it only because I have a made crazy love of all things flamingo. It’s an impulse item and I’m trying to stick to my shopping list.
Later I went over and put the bolt in my cart. I do need some summer clothes. I can wear to the annual luau!
Again, I put the fabric back. Would I have time to make an unplanned sewing project or will the fabric sit and take up space until I forgot why I bought it in the first place? Not that there is already any cut fabric like that in my stash already…
I stood there looking at the fabric I put back and though,”Oh for Pete’s sake you are TOTALLY overthinking this! It is a quick and easy one seam sundress. You can sew in less than an hour because most of the work is done for you.. Life is short! BUY THE FABRIC!”
So I did.
How to Make a Sundress in an Hour or Less
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 380
It's raining.
It's pouring.
The old man is snoring. (I don't see how with Lacey barking at thunder all. day. long.)
So we woke him up and said it is more fun to DIY, craft, and cook recipes and share them on line with all of your friends while you have electricity to use the computer than let him bump his head, go back to bed, and not wake up until morning which is a terrible way to deal with a rainy day. Who writes these old nursery rhyme anyway?
It's pouring.
The old man is snoring. (I don't see how with Lacey barking at thunder all. day. long.)
So we woke him up and said it is more fun to DIY, craft, and cook recipes and share them on line with all of your friends while you have electricity to use the computer than let him bump his head, go back to bed, and not wake up until morning which is a terrible way to deal with a rainy day. Who writes these old nursery rhyme anyway?
Let's party!
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Quick and Easy DIY Wood Shower Floor Tile
I absolutely adore high end teak in a bathroom, especially the trend of using it for a shower floor. It is warm, it has texture, and not to mention wood is more eco friendly than the vinyl shower pan that came with my house.
On the flip eco side, keeping the current shower floor during our bathroom remodel to be is uses less new resources than ripping it out and replacing it with a new shower pan and wood shower tile just for looks sake.
Fortunately the solution was a quick, easy, and split the eco friendly middle IKEA hack away – install removable outdoor wood deck tile over the current the shower floor.
On the flip eco side, keeping the current shower floor during our bathroom remodel to be is uses less new resources than ripping it out and replacing it with a new shower pan and wood shower tile just for looks sake.
Fortunately the solution was a quick, easy, and split the eco friendly middle IKEA hack away – install removable outdoor wood deck tile over the current the shower floor.
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Easy Zero Waste Summer Food Options and Friday Favorites Linky Party 379
Husband took time off to play over the long Independence Day weekend. Naturally part of that was taking in a local Fourth of July parade with Lacey in a way that was as convenient as was it Zero Waste.
We can't eat out when Lacey is with us because Ohio law prohibits dogs on the outdoor restaurant patios we used to patronized when we were waiting for the parade to start. It is way more convenient to bring our own and impromptu picnic.
Pin this idea for later!
We can't eat out when Lacey is with us because Ohio law prohibits dogs on the outdoor restaurant patios we used to patronized when we were waiting for the parade to start. It is way more convenient to bring our own and impromptu picnic.
It was super simple to pop some snacks in containers and a few reusable water bottled from the fridge into the bottle holder in our backpack picnic cooler (aff links to the best family Christmas present ever!) and set up Parade Central. Even Lacey goes low waste with a sweet insulated double tiffin we just used as a water bowl since Lacey ate before we hit the road.
A Chinese parasol for shade, cloth fan for the heat, and mineral sunscreen for the sun and we were good to go! A green life doesn't have to be full of angst and woe unless you want it to be.
Let's party!
A Chinese parasol for shade, cloth fan for the heat, and mineral sunscreen for the sun and we were good to go! A green life doesn't have to be full of angst and woe unless you want it to be.
Let's party!
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
How to a Make Tomato Cage Plant Stand
This year’s Tabasco and Habanero pepper plants aren’t doing as well as they could planted discretely in our front flower bed as they could on the sunny backyard patio. They only way to do that is to eek out space for two more plants on my small patio container garden with four plant stands.
Which was a fantastic excuse to check out our new IKEA store! I saw a self watering planter and stand on the IKEA website that would do the job nicely.
Until I got to the store and an associate told me they were discontinued. *sad face*
No worries! I swung by Home Depot on my way home to buy tomatoes cages to make into a quick and easy modern plant stand.
Which was a fantastic excuse to check out our new IKEA store! I saw a self watering planter and stand on the IKEA website that would do the job nicely.
Until I got to the store and an associate told me they were discontinued. *sad face*
No worries! I swung by Home Depot on my way home to buy tomatoes cages to make into a quick and easy modern plant stand.
Quick and Easy DIY Modern Plant Stands
You will need:
Sunday, June 25, 2017
How to Make Compost Tea Fertilizer
Every evening as part of my post dinner cleanup, I try to dump our kitchen compost collector into the big tumbling compost bin outside to keep the little guy from stinking up the joint.
This particular evening I gave the compost bin a crank like I have done so many evenings before only for the half full bin to suddenly become much easier to turn, like it was practically empty – because it was.
The hinges and latch on the door to the compost bin failed and dumped compost all over the yard.
For the third time.
I didn’t have enough finished compost to fertilize my garden but instead of singing the Condo Blues, I used it to make compost tea. Compost tea is an excellent plant food and fertilizer and well earns its nickname – Black Gold.
This particular evening I gave the compost bin a crank like I have done so many evenings before only for the half full bin to suddenly become much easier to turn, like it was practically empty – because it was.
The hinges and latch on the door to the compost bin failed and dumped compost all over the yard.
For the third time.
I didn’t have enough finished compost to fertilize my garden but instead of singing the Condo Blues, I used it to make compost tea. Compost tea is an excellent plant food and fertilizer and well earns its nickname – Black Gold.
How to Brew Compost Tea Concentrate the Easy Way
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