Caution: Addictive DYI Craft Site!

Awesome site, don't blame me if you find yourself sucked in for hours!




http://craftgawker.com

Time To Change The Chalk Boards

The month is ending soon, so it is time to once again change the chalkboards. To my readers who have not idea what on earth I am talking about, I will explain.....

"You can get all A's and still flunk life"

I love chalkboards and have several in my home, either ones that I have made or ones I have found and salvaged through my gypsy travels. (The brown board in the photo is a large picture frame that I turned over, what you see is actually the back of the frame, distressed, stained and decorated with antique hardware. The white board is an old board from a local school, distress by me and decorated with interesting old hardware) Being a lover of the written words and a sometimes teacher, I have a deep seated desire to foster this same love in my family. I dream of them deciphering poetry, memorizing meaningful quotes, and searching out an author, verse, or story that not only speaks to who they are, but inspires them to enhance their sole.
As you can guess, this is basically a pipe dream

"Education is not filling a pail, but lighting a fire"

As a busy mother, I must admit some degree of defeat since my kids are interested in well, kid's stuff and though they do like to read, they predictably roll their eyes at my valiant, usually failing, attempts. As a last ditch effort, I have begun writing thought provoking quotes on the blackboards of my home. I change them by season, holiday or month. The sentiments range from the humorous to the startling, all in the hopes that they will spark some glimmer in the recesses of my families' brains, or at the very least, seep in through osmosis.

And on the bright side, if this does nothing to further the thoughts of my husband and children, I still thoroughly enjoy them, as does, I suspect, the family dog.....

Start a Love Affair With Spray Paint

Can't believe I have not thought of this before! Spray painting curtain rods for a pop of color, imagine what else you can transform with a simply can of spray paint when you start to look around......

Sad......but True

Halloween Printable To Help You Haunt!

Here is a link for some Halloween Printable fun that is more classic, less cheese......

http://www.howtohauntyourhouse.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=63

Oh how I love the Fall

Fall is my favorite season! Decorating has begun in this Gypsy's household!

Oven Cleaning for a Lazy Gypsy

Quick Tip for A Simplified Life:

I have a confession to make.......I never clean my oven
That's right, never.
I wipe up overflows, etc. but using the self-cleaning option has always irrationally scared me and the thought of buying and using oven cleaner sounds about as fun sliding down a banister naked into a pool of sharp glass and rubbing alcohol.
So when I kept seeing this tip on Pinterest, (follow me at http://pinterest.com/ELMandP/)  I decided to give it a shot, and you should too, because it changed my life! Or at least my oven's life.

All you need is baking soda (got mine from the dollar store)
and white vinegar (got a big bottle of that at the dollar store too)

1. Spread a thick layer of baking soda on the bottom of your oven and on the door
2. Pour enough white vinegar on the baking soda so the entire surface is wet (at this point you can spread some of the paste this will make on to the outside surface around the glass in the door so everything is nice and covered.
3. That's it! Walk away, come back in 20 mins to wipe off the mess making sure to rinse out your cloth with water a couple times until you get it all.

And you are left with a sparkly clean oven! I was so delighted with the results that I felt like dancing and singing and taking a picture for the front of this year's Christmas cards. But I think I will just be satisfied that I no longer need to hang my head in shame when cooking with family and friends during the holidays this year....