How to Make Your Own Sea Monkey Food

For decades, I was known far and wide as the Sea Monkey Killer. Over a year ago, I bought my daughter a Sea Monkey kit. Not just any kit, either...it was Sea Monkeys on Mars. I was determined to give those little fellows the best environment possible and to break my Sea Monkey Serial Killer streak.

Thanks to the magic of the Internet (mostly Google, of course), I was able to determine that the instructions that come with the little pink guys aren't ideal: the Sea Monkeys only need to be fed about once a week. Any more is too much food, and over time it builds up in the water and suffocate them. 

Armed with this new, important information, I doled out a small scoop once a week, and the result has been many happy, healthy generations of Sea Monkeys on Mars! They're still going strong...it will be two years this Christmas!

The little packet of food that came with the kit doesn't last forever, though, and I wasn't fond of paying to have another tiny packet of food shipped to us if I could find something we already had that would work. A couple of years ago, I bought some Spirulina capsules after reading about their health benefits. I have been taking them since, and they work well as a diet supplement for me. It's worth some research and a discussion with your doctor if you think they might be beneficial for you, too! However, they're definitely good for Sea Monkeys, and are the exact same thing that comes in their starter kit, but in pill form. 

To make your own Sea Monkey food, you'll need:

- Spirulina (It comes as a powder or capsule, if you get the powder, that's all you need.)

If you get the capsules, you will also need:

- A saucer 

- A flat-bottomed glass or cup

- A small, lidded storage container

To make the food, simply place a few tablets into the saucer, and mash them with the glass. 

Pour the powder into your storage container, and use this as your food going forward. 

I've been using this for two months now, and my little Martian colony is thriving!

A Quick and Easy Father (or Grandfather) Gift

I always struggle with gifts for my husband, father, and father-in-law. Men are usually just harder to buy for: they already have everything they need, and when they need something, they just go buy it. All the men in my life do appreciate it when my daughter makes them something, though, so I always try to find something cute that she can do herself (with maybe just a little help from me).

In the past, we have made a hand print tree, battery gardens and hand / foot print tees, and filled out the "All About my Granddaddy" page. This year, my daughter made my father tee shirt with his "picture" on it, and it turned out really nice! This would also make a great gift for a Grandma, mother, teacher, or anyone in your child's life!

What You'll Need:

- Fabric paint (I used Scribbles. It looks and works great and they last forever!)
- Plain t-shirt (pre-washed)
- Chalk
- Cardboard or newspaper

First, place the cardboard or newspaper inside the shirt. This will prevent the paint from soaking through to the back.

Spread the t-shirt flat, then give your child the chalk, and let him or her draw a picture of the recipient.

It doesn't have to be perfect - my daughter got frustrated because the chalk kept "skipping" on the fabric. I explained to her that we'd smooth it all out with the paint, and the chalk would wash away so it wouldn't really matter in the long run. Also, the chalk is great because you can just rub away any errors and re-do them until it looks they way they want it to look!

Once the picture is finished, I asked my daughter to write "Granddaddy" underneath, but obviously, your child can write anything he or she would like! I also think it would be cute to have a picture of "Ganddaddy and me", but my daughter just wanted to draw her Granddaddy.

Next, you can paint over the chalk with the fabric paint. Older kids can do this themselves, but my daughter is still a little young, and I worried about her accidentally smearing it with her arm and hand. She told me which colors she wanted to use, and I filled in the picture and letters.

She wanted to use glitter paint for the gray hair, which I thought was a nice touch. Let the paint dry completely (according to the label), then wash and dry the shirt. All the chalk will be gone, and your child's design will really look great!

How to Make an Easy DIY Natural Body Scrub

I have been using this great body scrub for a couple of years now, and it works really well to exfoliate and moisturize my skin. It's also a handy way to use coffee grounds instead of dumping them out!

Here is the recipe:

1/4 cup used coffee grounds
1/4 cup sea salt or kosher salt
1/4 cup olive (or other, such as almond or joboba) oil
1/4 tsp lemon juice
5 - 10 drops essential oil for scent (optional)

Just mix everything together and store in a plastic container. If you have a non-textured tub, be sure to rinse the tub area really well afterwards so it won't be slick for the next shower.

How to Restore a Faded Patio Umbrella

Now that the weather is getting warmer, we're getting our patio ready for a lot of use this spring and summer. I noticed that our patio umbrella is in good shape, but it had become striped with fading from the sun. I decided to try to even out the color rather than replace it, because - stripes aside - it's still very functional.

I picked up two cans of Rustoleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover at the hardware store, and I used Moss Green as it seemed to be the closest match to the color of our umbrella. Two cans proved to be just right for us - I have a little less than 1/2 can left. You may want to pick up more, though, if your umbrella is quite faded, or if you're trying a different color.

I removed the fabric from the wooden fram by unscrewing the top and sliding the supports out of the pockets. I placed the fabric flat on the ground in our yard. 

Since the paint was green, I wasn't too worried about having painted grass. If you prefer, spread your fabric onto a painter's cloth or tarp before spraying. 

Next, spray your fabric evenly. I applied three coats altogether. The fabric soaked it up and dried very quickly, and it took less time than I'd thought it would. 

The shade I chose ended up being a little lighter than the original, which was fine because it really evened out the color. I love the way it looks now. Since these umbrellas start at $50, I am really happy to have this one for a few more years!

Easy Things to do for a Fun Fairy Party

As I mentioned in my previous post, we recently had a fairy-themed party for my now six-year-old daughter. While we bought a few Tinkerbell items that were pre-made, we also had a great time making our own decorations and games. These are a few of my favorites:

Decorations

Balloon flowers

We made these cute balloon flowers for the yard and garden.

To make them, we used four balloons for the petals, one for the center, clear packing tape, and a wooden yard stake (available at hardware stores).

It took a few failed attempts before I realized that the secret to making these work was to under inflate the balloons. I made the red ones slightly larger than the yellow, and I only filled the red ones half-way. That gave  me the extra room I needed to tape the ends together as a flower.

Another very important note: you'll want to cover the end of the stake with tape so that any splinters won't pop your flowers!

Here they are, ready for the garden!

Welcome to Pixie Hollow Sign

We have a long, wooded driveway, so we made a welcome sign for the party-goers to welcome them to our version of Pixie Hollow. This was just an old shipping box, and I covered a large logo with white spray paint, then painted the letters and flowers with bright colors. If you look closely, you'll notice a tree face. We have several of these in our driveway, and they're always a big hit with kids and adults alike.

Other Decorations

We also picked up a few strands of floral garland and colorful, large silk flowers at a craft store. We placed those around tables and a lawn tent that we used as a craft station for the girls.

Activities

Luckily, we had perfect weather for our party, so we did everything outside. We could have done all of these indoors, but they wouldn't have been as fun.

Decorate Your Own Fairy Wings

I found these great cardboard wings online. We set up a decorating station for the girls to bedazzle their own wings for the party. We let everyone do this first, so they were occupied as everyone arrived. 

We put out stickers, markers, and stick on jewels, and the wings all turned out lovely.

Treasure Hunt

Everyone's favorite activity seemed to be our backyard treasure hunt. We picked up a little gift for each girl from the dollar store, wrapped them, and hid each in a different spot in our yard. We then drew up a fairy-themed treasure map that I copied so we'd have one for each girl. 

I then drew a path to each "station" on the map, where an activity would need to be performed (stuff like walking around the turtle sandbox four times, swinging seven times, crawling through the tunnel, standing on your left leg and counting to fourteen, etc.). It gave everyone a chance to move around and do a few fun things, plus at the end they each had a treasure to open and take home.

Cupcakes

My daughter is a huge marshmallow lover, and we chose to make these simple flower cupcakes for her and her guests.

They were so simple to decorate, she did them all herself! I added plain frosting and cut each pink strawberry marshmallow into three pieces. She placed an M&M in the center, then five marshmallow pieces around it for the petals. 

Favors

As favors, we made these simple Fairy Flowers for everyone to take home and grow. We used small flower pots, potting soil, Viola seeds (I've heard that fairies love Violas), green glitter, Ziploc bags, labels and decorations.

To assemble them, I first mixed the potting soil and green glitter in a bowl, then spooned some into each Ziploc baggie. I sprinkled a few seeds into each baggie, then sealed it and rolled it up, and placed it into a pot. I printed the labels with printable business cards, but you could write your labels by hand or use plain paper. 

I picked up the little felt flowers in the dollar bin at the craft store, and clipped the label to the baggie. So cute!

We had an incredibly fun fairy party, and I hope you do, too!

A Cute DIY Gift for Your Child

My daughter is getting ready to turn six, and she has slept with a little stuffed doggie since she was only a couple of months old. When she started talking, we used to play with it and make little barking noises like, "Ruff! Ruff!" Because of that, we ended up calling it Ruffy, and she (it's a girl doggie) has been a staple in our life ever since.

She's my daughter's special lovey, and luckily I was able to buy not one, but two identical back ups from ebay. I don't always remember to rotate them out like I should, though, so the stuffing is a little less fluffy in one than in the other two. So far she hasn't noticed, though.

Each Christmas, I make a photo calendar for my husband and the grandparents using Shutterfly. There are quite a few online services out there like this, and I have used others in the past. I really like Shutterfly's designs best, though, and their service and quality is top notch. If you enjoy scrapbooking, this Karen Foster blank calendar is a great option - you can print your own photos and build around them.

This year, I decided to make a calendar for my daughter with Ruffy, and it will be a special gift from Ruffy herself. I have been posing the stuffed animal once a month in order to capture the "secret life" of the stuffed animal - all the fun things she does when my daughter is a school or otherwise not around.

Here is a preview of the shot I took last December when our Christmas tree was up:

The best part is that I'm not using any special equipment to do it - just my iPhone to take the photos, then I enhance them with Picfx and Instagram. I love the way they're turning out. I have been using a few doll props and seasonal decorations for each photo - things she would otherwise never see Ruffy do or wear.

I'm so excited about the calendar, I really can't wait to see her face when she opens her gift from Ruffy!

Behold the Redneck Wind Chimes

For most of my life, I have lived in a rural area of the south, and I come from a long line of rednecks (and there's nothing wrong with that!). As a gag gift for a family white elephant gift exchange, I made the Redneck Wind Chimes.

They're a fun and easy gift, and you probably don't need to buy anything to make them.

What You'll Need
- 4 - 6 empty aluminum cans (PBR and RC Cola are always good choices, but anything will work)
- Rope or twine
- Screws with circle on top (I'm not sure what the real name for these might be?)
- Paint
- Drill or staple gun
- A piece of wood (any size or shape will work, really)

First, I attached a string to the cans so they could be hung. I actually used twisted pair copper from an RJ-45 cable for my cans, just because I had a spare piece. You can use twine or string, or anything that you happen to have around. Make the strings long enough to hang down a bit. I punched a small hole through the top side of the can and threaded the wire through that and the opening in the top of the can. I wouldn't use the pop top to hang it, they probably aren't strong enough.

Next, I drilled holes at the bottom of my board for each wire, threaded the wire through the hold, and tied it in a knot. If you don't want to use a drill, you can staple the wires to the back of the board.

Then, I fastened my screws to the top edges of the board. If you don't have any of these little screws with a circle at the top lying around your house, you could always use something like these picture hangers and just attach them to the back top edge of your board.

Attach the rope from which the board will hang by threading it through the two screws (or picture hangers).

All that's left is your painting! I just used some leftover outdoor trim paint that we had, and painted, "Redneck Wind Chimes" and on the front, along with a few XXXs. You can be as creative as you'd like, though!

These were a huge hit with our family at the party! Have fun!

Experimenting with Fused Plastic

I have quite a few fabric shopping bags, but I don't always remember to take them with me when I shop. I usually recycle any plastic bags we bring home, but every once in awhile I experiment with fusing plastic bags into fabric. I have made a few really useful things so far!

I made my daughter an apron, perfect for painting and crafts because it just wipes clean!

I made a hair cutting cape since I usually cut my family's hair at home.

I like to play around with the designs, and it's so easy to do - just cut colored pieces of plastic and place in between layers of clear or white pieces, then fuse them together. The patterns stay put and show through, so it's like creating your own fabric!

Here are some yellow and orange flowers:

 And some hearts!

Have fun, and remember to recycle your unused plastic when you're done!

How to Paint a Wine Glass

Painted wine glasses make a great gift for any occasion. Most of the time the Dollar Tree has the extra large glasses for only $1, so they're really an economical gift also! Creating a custom, one-of-a-kind gift is easier than you might think - you can paint anything you'd like on the glass in just a few simple steps, even if you've never painted anything before!

This is the finished product, although I wish I'd taken a better picture of it. My friend is a nurse, so I painted her name, this picture, and, "Trust me, I'm a nurse. This won't hurt at all..." on the glass.

What You'll Need
-Wine Glass
-Rubbing Alcohol
-Pebeo Paints for porcelain or glass (I used the pens and paint but you could use either/or)
-Brushes (if using the paint)
-Oven
-Photo or stencil, if you don't want to draw free-hand
-Tape

First, I found a photo that I liked and printed it out. You could also use a picture from a magazine or other source, or something you drew yourself. For copyright reasons, you'd never want to use someone else's drawing if you plan to sell these, though.

I trimmed the photo and taped it to the inside of the glass, then prepared the outside of the glass by cleaning  it with rubbing alcohol. From there, I really just used my pens to trace the picture, and filled in the hair with my gold paint.

I added my text, then after the paint dried, I baked it in the oven at 300 degrees F for 30 minutes to set the paint and make it durable. That's it! The paint holds up well - in my experience, the Pebeo paints are the best for glass and ceramics. This technique will work on any glass or mug. I have a test mug that I run through the dishwasher regularly, and the paint looks brand new. I do recommend hand washing, though, just in case.

The recipient really went crazy for this glass - it was so much fun to make and give!
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New, Improved DIY Powder Laundry Detergent

For quite a while now, I have made my own laundry detergent. I have been fine-tuning the recipe, and wanted to share my new, improved process.

Rather than grate the soap, I have found that if you turn it into a fine powder, it dissolves, mixes, and cleans much better. To do this, start with 1/2 bar of Ivory soap.

Unwrap it and place it into a microwave-safe pie plate or casserole dish (you want something wide).

Place it into a microwave and set the timer for 1 1/2 minutes. Watch it closely while the microwave is on - the soap will grow and expand, much like volcanic lava. When it stops growing, stop the microwave (mine usually goes for a little more than a minute).

Remove the soap from the microwave and let it cool. Once cooled, you'll be able to pull off pieces and crumble it into a fine powder, which you'll be able to easily mix with your Borax and washing soda.

It's also a fun project for kids - my daughter loves to watch the soap while it's in the microwave, and she helps crumble it afterward. Just don't let your kids inhale the fine powder, keep it down near waist level while working with it.

An Easy Way to Clean Out Your Shower Drain

I have really thick hair, and my shower drain tends to clog fairly frequently. It's always best to keep it clean regularly, before it becomes a problem (unfortunately, I speak from experience on this). I used to struggle with bent wire clothes hangers, fancy plastic tools designed for cleaning out showers, plungers, and Liquid Plumr, but in my experience, none of these work as well as a thin barber's comb.

That's right! Remove the drain stop (or even work around it if yours doesn't easily come off), then use the skinny end to grab the clumps of hair (and slimy stuff) and pull it out. 

See? Yuck. But it works great. Be sure to dispose of the gross stuff in either the toilet or trash can - don't just wash it down the shower drain (again, I speak from experience). 

Make Your Own Bows from Gift Wrap

Out of bows but still want to dress up your gift? It's easy to make your own using strips of gift wrap!

 First, cut a few strips from the end of the sheet of paper.

If the strips are more narrow, they'll be less bulky and easier to loop.

Start on one end and make stacked loops using the paper. Make a final loop on top, then secure everything using tape through the top loop. Use the tape to secure it to your package.

Make several of different sizes and place next to each other for a great three-dimensional look!

An Easy Gift For Your Man

It's always hard to find a good gift for a man - all the men in my life buy something the minute they want it. My husband was in need of a small box to place the items from his pockets at the end of each day, though, and I was lucky enough to find this pretty wooden box at a local thrift store.

It was in great shape but had a couple of nicks and scratches in the wood. I wish I'd taken a before picture, so you could see how easy those were to fix using Restor-a-finish by Howard. 

I can't say enough good things about this stuff - it rocks. I use it for any real wood - on our bedroom furniture, dining room table, wooden trim on the stairs...it really just works great, with no sanding or refinishing. 

I cleaned up the inside of the box using a lint roller, and I added a photo of my daughter and me to the little indented spot in the lid, for a personal touch.

We gave it to my husband for his birthday, and it was a big hit!

How to Give Yourself (and Your Family) a Haircut at Home

Going to the salon is a pricey endeavor in today's world. Even a quick trim of the bangs can set you back more than a little, and a full wash, cut and style can easily run into the triple digits (and that's before tip!). If you're like me, you're looking for ways to reduce household expenses every day, and the easiest way to save money is to not spend it in the first place.

That doesn't mean you have to let your hair completely go, get it trimmed twice a year, or constantly wear a ponytail or cap. It's easy to trim your hair (and your family's) at home with the right tools: the hardest part is getting past the fear to try it the first time. Once you try and and see the results, though, you'll be hooked!

My husband was easy: he doesn't like the thinner spot he is noticing on his crown, so he decided to go from his longer, wavy locks to a short, uniform cut. He initially went short at a barber shop, but once the cut was in place, it became very easy to maintain using this Wahl trimmer. We have been using it for almost two years now, and I have to say, it paid for itself after the first month. It's so easy to use, and it only takes a few minutes every couple of weeks.

My daughter and I were a little harder. Neither of us was particularly interested in the Sinead O'Connor look, so I had to look a bit harder for the right tool for the job. Both of us have thick, medium-length hair, so keep this in mind - what works for us may not work for other hair textures and/or lengths.

After a little bit of online research (I love online reviews - what did we ever do without them?), I found the Seki Edge. Its low price and great reviews convinced me to give it a try, and I have to say that I love it! I have used it on myself and my daughter, and it's so simple to use.

Here are a few pointers I have learned:
-Start with a salon cut you like, that way you can follow the same shape without having to experiment yourself.
-Start with longest setting, and when you get more comfortable, and if you want, work your way up. It's easier to cut more than to realize you've cut too much, then have to wait for it to grow back out.
-Never start at or near crown. Same as the above - you can always move up a little as you go, but if you start to trim near your crown, you'll have a bit of spike going on, whether you want it or not.
-Use a light touch - don't apply a lot of pressure.

And for any styling and cutting tool, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and maintenance. Cleaning and maintaining trimmers and tools will prolong their life and ensure that they remain clean, so take a few minutes after you use them each time to clean them up!

Once you get some confidence and want to try different styles, there are many awesome how-to videos now available online for practically any style. I'm really impressed by the wealth of information that is out there - have fun with it and feel free to experiment - you'll love the results and so will your wallet!

How to Decorate a Purse

I recently came across a fairly plain black messenger-type handbag, and I thought it had promise. I picked it up at a thrift store for $4 and it's in really good condition.

The weave in the front got my attention - I immediately thought it would be fairly easy to dress it up with several different colors of ribbons.

I picked up some pretty ribbon in autumn colors at the local craft store, and pulled out some Quick Grip Glue (this stuff really does work great on everything!).

I decided that I didn't want to weave ribbon into each spot of the purse - I wanted to leave some areas black. For the areas I wanted to fill, I cut the ribbon about an inch longer than I would need on each size (so 2 inches longer total). I then wove the ribbon into the front of the purse, following the pattern that was already there.

I placed a little dab of glue at the outer edges of each piece of ribbon to hold it in place, and that's it!

The best part is that when I get tired of these colors, I can replace the ribbon with new colors.

Obviously, this method won't work for many purses, but hopefully it will inspire you and give you a some new ideas!