Something for me!

This is what I did this week! It makes me happy! I go outside & I love it! I still have so much I want to do yard-wise, but baby steps. I love a pretty yard! Today cost me more money than I preferred. But it's done, & next week I'll definitely keep it less expensive.

First, I bought a Bougainvillea! A few years ago I had one & I had had it for years. It was huge & gorgeous! I had it planted in a metal tub & every winter we would pull it in the garage (& got ripped to shreds by the thorns) when it got really cold. One year we forgot & left it out one night. It didn't survive. Sniff. I'll replant this one in some sort of a planter, too. For now, it hangs & looks pretty! It was $14.



Then, I drug these old planters out. I wasn't about to throw them out when I could put them to good use!



I gave them a good wash & some spray paint. I was going to paint them dark brown, 'cause that seems to be my go-to color right now, but the kids & I thought we'd live on the edge. We chose Tropical Oasis!



Spray paint $4 x 2. Flowers $3 x 2. Potting soil $5 x 2.

Then, I put some pretty flowers in them!



Tada! Love how they match the pool water perfectly. Winning!

My total for the day was $38 + tax. The good news is, I'll be able to enjoy this $38 all summer! Yes, please!

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Homemade "Ranch" dip.

This is soooooo good! This is not my recipe. You can find the original recipe here.

I made a few modifications. Takes about 10 minutes to make.

Ingredients for Ranch seasoning:

1 teaspoon dehydrated garlic
2 teaspoons dehydrated onion
2 teaspoons dehydrated sun-dried tomatoes, finely diced
1 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons dried dill
2 teaspoons dried chives
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon black pepper
Kosher or seal salt to taste (I use Celtic Salt)

Add all ingredients to a small bowl & stir to mix. Store in a glass jar with lid, away from light & dampness. Use seasoning in dips & dressings.

*I doubled the seasoning recipe so I would have more. I sure am glad I did! I think I need to triple it!





Ranch dip recipe:

1 cup Greek Yogurt, plain, fat-free
1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream, optional Greek Yogurt
1 tablespoon Ranch seasoning

Combine ingredients in a medium bowl, store in an airtight container in the frig. Allow dip to set overnight in the frig before serving.

*I do not use low-fat or fat-free anything. Ever. So I used just plain sour cream. After I mixed it all together, it didn't seem to pack much of a punch. So I added another tablespoon of the seasoning.



It is wonderful! After it sits in the frig, it gets even thicker & the seasonings & flavors mix further, making the flavor more intense. If you don't like really strong flavors, I recommend using just the 1 tablespoon to start.

In our opinion, it does not taste like Ranch. I think it has it's own unique taste & my husband thinks it favors Peppercorn Ranch. It's different. It's bold. It's a welcomed change in our home! I already need to make another batch.

This is what the bowl looks like less than 48 hours after I made it. We used it to dip, to spread on sandwiches & in salads. I may add a little milk next time to make it less thick/more creamy.



(Pardon the avocado on the spoon. I added avocado to my salad. Yum.)

I will never purchase bottled dressings again. If we desire something different, I will google & find a homemade recipe. I am really starting to enjoy making our own foods. Did you just pass out? LOL :)

Linking up with Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Shabby Nest, House of Rose, House of Hepworths

Some cute Hobby Lobby!

Good evening Wednesday!

Last Wednesday, we went to Hobby Lobby. Oh Lord, how I love Hobby Lobby!



Seriously. How cute are they? They're heavy, too. I have no idea where to put them! I wish I had a kitchen window. I don't. But I'm thankful I have a kitchen! :)



These two little tykes were in the clearance section. Yip! I would not have purchased them if they had not been. Check out the original prices, but better yet, check out what I paid for them! Cha ching!





Cute & cheap? Winning!!

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Our weekend project!

I am so excited about this little project! This little back patio flowerbed just drives me crazy! Why the builders chose to stick it there, right next to our master bedroom windows, is beyond me. The landscaping here is just nuts. Too much, no consistency, you name it. Eight years later, we're still cleaning it up, clearing it out & replanting.

My plan this summer is to spend a lot of time outside. We do every summer, but moreso, this summer. So I deemed it the perfect weekend to rid this wet, moldy, smelly, unsightly flowerbed. When we first moved in, there were bushes in it, but I pulled those. Some were dying, some were thriving - yuck. They were hideous. I was going to plant flowers there & put down fresh mulch but because I want us to eat outside a lot, I've decided to fill it in!



Here's my plan. Up against one side of our back fence, they put a rock bed, enclosed with landscaping timbers. Why did they do that? There isn't another one anywhere on our property. It's ugly. It fills up with sticks & weeds. So, we're pulling the landscape timbers & relocating the stones over to the back patio flowerbed. Once the stones are laid, my husband wants to pour cement on top, to set the stones. What a great idea! And the only thing we need to purchase for this project is a bag of cement! Hello!? Winning!!



Can't wait to get started! By Sunday, I hope this icky area is gone & we can enjoy our food & drinks on the patio without the dirty, musty smell of the flowerbed.



Isn't such a fulfilling accomplishment to complete a project? Good-bye grossness! :)

Tomato sauce stain? GONE!

When I washed this shirt, I didn't have time to treat the stain. So I washed it, & dried it, & set the stain. It's a Nike shirt, in great condition, so I didn't want to toss it. Last week I pulled it out, treated it (see below), then left it. For about 4 days or so.



Today I washed it. And look! No stain. Not even a hint that a tomato stain was there! Not a toxic chemical was used to remove this stain. I am just tickled pink. Again!



To further prove my point, I lightened the photo quite a bit, so there's absolutely no doubt the stain is gone. Thanks Shaklee! Love, love, love my Shaklee!



How I treat stains:

I saturate the area in Basic H. Then, I generously sprinkle on Nature Bright. I rub it in a bit, then sprinkle just a tad more. Then I let it sit, for days, before washing. Works every time!



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