For every job that must be done...

there is an element of fun....

Ah, Mary Poppins.  

Don't we all sometimes long for your sweet optimistic attitude toward daily chores?  

I'll admit it frankly- I am not the best housekeeper.  Now, I try - and I have gotten better - there are just many other things I would rather be doing and I tend to get caught up and *honestly* forget to do some chores.  So I have made a list of chores that I need to do every week to keep my home running smoothly.  Obviously some things (like doing the dishes) aren't on here - and I also left off more detailed cleaning that may need to be done once or twice a month.  But this list helps me remember to do all my chores- it's also good for moments when I just stand in my kitchen and turn in circles looking at the mess all around me....I just pick a task from this list and move on.  Some days I'm extra motivated and I do 4 or 5 things...which is good for the days that I do none.  I also like this list because it provides the satisfaction of checking something off - a visual that it is DONE!  So you can print this out and frame it behind glass -

then use dry erase marker to check off each task every week (you could also add a few to the list with your marker).  Here's to better luck with house cleaning!   jessica

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Last book of the week:

One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects; Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric!

This is another great book full of ideas - especially useful for those just starting out in sewing...

or for those who can only afford to buy 1 yd of fabric at a time ;)

I chose to make a hot pad from this book because...I don't have many hot pads
and I don't like burning my hands.

I quilted this on my machine - just be sure to pin it really well and go slowly.  

Hope you had a good weekend and I hope you enjoyed book week!

jessica

Delicious Fruit Crisp

Next book on the list:

Apples for Jam: A Colorful Cookbook

This book you should buy just for the pictures.  It is gorgeous!  As a bonus, it is filled with delicious recipes that include things like real butter, heavy cream, cheese...mmmmm.  She's not afraid of the calories!  So a few weeks ago, when we went hiking we picked those delicious blueberries remember? 
Well this is what I did with them.
I made this delicious Peach Blueberry Crisp.  

You can use any berries and/or fruit, which is really great this time of year
when they are in such fresh juicy abundance.  

Go buy her book and cook to your heart's content!
 jessica

Weekend Sewing...in the middle of the week

If you haven't taken a look at this book, you really should.  

 

 Weekend Sewing: More Than 40 Projects and Ideas for Inspired Stitching

Heather Ross, (one of the teachers at Purl Soho) has compiled such a wide 

variety of projects, it could be a really versatile gift-

for yourself or a friend ;) 

The first project I made from this book, was this little sundress:

It was my first venture with elastic bobbin thread and her instructions were thorough and easy to follow.

I'll be making many more things from her lovely book soon.  

Today we are off to Tennessee Quilts in Jonesborough, TN to shop their 8000 bolts of fabric!!!

Quick Apple/Yogurt Facial Cleanser

"A man finds room in the few square inches of his face
for the traits of all his ancestors;
for the expression of all his history, all his wants."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today's book is

Country Living's Healthy Living Pure Beauty: Simple Recipes for a Naturally Beautiful Body (Healthy Living)

This book is a wonderful resource for making your own beauty and cleansing products. 
This recipe I am going to share with you is made from ingredients that you probably already have.

Quick Apple & Yogurt Cleanser

1/8 of a medium apple, peeled and cored

2 Tablespoons of plain yogurt

1/2 teaspoon of honey

1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil

In a blender or mini food processor, blend these ingredients for 30 seconds.

Apply in a circular motion to your face (avoiding the eye area) and then rinse with warm water.

In addition to being an astringent, apples are full of malic acid and vitamin C,
both of which dissolve facial grease and dirt.
The enzymes in the yogurt help restore the skin's natural pH balance. 
I hope you enjoy your natural, glowing skin!
jessica

Book Week

Hello!  I hope you had a lovely holiday weekend.  We certainly did ;)  This week I am going to be sharing some projects and recipes that I have been making lately - they are from some books that I have acquired recently. 

Today I will begin with:

 Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home 

I don't know how you feel about Martha - I think she has some really nice ideas and good methods...sometimes she takes it too far in her quest for "perfection".  We don't have to be perfect friends, we simply have to do our best.  Anyway, this book is a nice one to have on hand -  it has answers to practically any question you could ask about housekeeping.  

Since I just moved, I decided to consult Martha on her Laundry Room setup.  

This was my laundry room before: 

This is my laundry room now:

Also if you go here, you can download this nifty little stain removal reference chart 

to hang in your Laundry Room.

Have fun organizing!

Happy Fourth of July!

Hope you have a lovely day!