Something Old Becomes New Again

While I was trying to pay off my Student Loans I took on a ton of odd jobs every month.  Every little $20 I could make went straight into the Student Loans Savings account I set up so that I could make huge payments each month.  One of the projects I took on was recovering this recliner for a client.  I'm not sure why I didn't take actual before pictures, but here is one stolen from the internet:

Credit: here

It actually looked just like that, except more royal blue.  Anyway, it was in great shape and my super sweet client wanting something more feminine and washable for a corner of her bedroom.  So I created this slip cover, complete with ruffle:

Sorry about the blur, this was a quick shot from my phone while I was waiting for the client to come pick up the chair and realized I didn't have any photos.  

Anyway, I loved this project and was so proud that she loved it too.  It took about a week to really get where I wanted it but it was so worth the time and effort.

I had to stop slinging my sewing when I took my new VISTA position, but it's nice to know I have something to fall back on later if I ever need the extra income.  Anyone else picking up odd jobs to save up some cash?  

Salty Upgrade

With me being home, and needing more projects, I have really taken on the role of house wife and homemaker (sometimes).  Mostly, this means that I am more aware of when things need cleaning and I have really gotten into the habit of cooking/shopping/saving us money on groceries.  This also means that sometime we buy in bulk.  And sometimes my sweet husband notices that I love to reuse things and then this happens.

He refilled the "old" salt container with new sea salt from our bulk container in the pantry.  He knows me so well.  Keeping a former container and just refilling it.  I knew I married a good one.  But I couldn't just leave that blue tape on there.  So like a good wife, I went back behind him and fixed it.


I cut off the top from the old container, flipped it upside down and traced the mouth of one of my canning jars onto the back side of it.

Then I flipped them both over, added the salt, twisted on a canning lid and labeled accordingly.

Later I added a few rubber bands around the glass to make it easier to hold and less likely to slip and break.  It still pours the same and is now completely refillable.  Plus moisture is less likely to seep in and it cost me exactly zero dollars.

I have a few more canning jar upgrades to share over the next few weeks too, but I have to stop soon because I need those jars.  Last year we only put up tomatoes, salsa, peaches and pears, but this year I'm excited to try out our new pressure canner.  We will be able to preserve so much more without having to pickle everything and I cannot wait to get started.

Make it Shine

While we are chugging along on our Living Room Makeover 2012, I took a few hours to update another item that appears again and again throughout our home. The white, plastic, average socket covers throughout entire house.  You know, the ones that constantly leak cold air into the house which is incredibly aggravating...

So for the last few months I've been scouring eBay and thrift stores to stock up on vintage and used brass covers for the sockets and the lights.  I still need about 10 more, but I thought that I might as well get started with what I have.  Plus, I bought these while I was at it.

The process was easy, if not a little time consuming.  I simple removed the white, plastic cover, put a sealer over the gaping hole in the wall and replaced the cover with the brass plate.

I think it looks more custom than the builder white ones, and they really belong better in the house.  They match the brass doorknobs and hinges and they're shiny.  Win win win if you ask me.

And in the matter of about an hour, our outlets started to look better and the temperature in the living room was noticeably higher.  No kidding.  I probably should have done this earlier in the winter.

An easy update that will also help with our heating and cooling bills.  Plus, I figure if you can't hide the outlets (everybody's got'em), you might as well make'em bling.  And I kept the old white ones so if/when we move, we can always replace them back.  How's that for looking ahead?

Anyone else changing switch plates?  What about plate insulation?  I can already tell a difference in the temperature in the living room.