Kentucky Lemonade

This is an awesome drink that I just discovered recently. It's perfect for your outdoor summer parties!! Be sure to serve in a Mason jar.

Kentucky Lemonade

1 cup sugar
1 cup hot water
1 cup fresh lemon juice, about 5-6 lemons
3-4 cups cold water
ice
6 shots of Kentucky bourbon

1. Dissolve sugar in hot water.
2. Add lemon juice.
3. Fill pitcher with ice and add cold water.
4. Stir.
5. Pour a shot of bourbon in each glass.
6. Add ice and pour lemonade in glass.
7. Enjoy!!
Makes 6 servings

Dollar Store Homemade Deodorant

I have been searching the internet for recipes to make deodorant and I have found there are just as many different recipes as there are brands of deodorant in a store. I took bits and pieces from the different recipes and made my own deodorant. Let me just say, it works! I have put in to the test for three days now. I put some on in the morning and that evening, I mowed grass, the deodorant held up! Ryan wore some to work yesterday to test it himself. It was a hot day and was out in the elements all day delivering several appliances. In other words, he had a hot and busy day. He even came home and worked in the yard without applying more deodorant, he really put the deodorant to the test. It's amazing how it kept odor away all day! This is a keeper! He usually has to reapply deodorant when he gets home from work, but didn't yesterday!

I bought all the ingredients at Dollar General to make this and spent $3.50 for supplies that will make a ton of deodorant. A big price break from store bought, plus this stuff isn't giving Ryan a rash like the store bought does. This deodorant will not keep you dry, but it defiantly keeps the smell away!

I just used a plastic spoon for measuring and stored it a mini Glad container.

Homemade Deodorant

3 tsp. Queen Helene Cocoa Butter Cream
1 tsp. Vitamin E skin oil
2 tsp. baking soda

Stir all together to make a cream deodorant. It may be necessary to add more coca butter for a smoother consistency.

Vacation Photos

Here are a few of the over 200 pictures I took on vacation. We had so much fun!!
You can click on any picture to make it bigger.

Star Spangled Dress

Last night I realized that I didn't get the girls anything to wear for the 4th of July! I knew I could go get an outfit, but I wanted something more than just something to wear once. I found this fabric at Walmart for $2.44 a yard and thought it was perfect! I am in the process of making them matching dresses to wear to the festival we are going to tomorrow night.

I made my own pattern for the dress. It is a lot like the Pillowcase Dresses I made last summer, with the exception of a more A-Line type skirt than the straight line. If you are uncomfortable making your own pattern, you could buy New Look 6578. Just use the front panel of the dress and cut straight across the neck line instead of making a scoop and straps.


I think the best, and cheapest, way to make a pattern is to buy the paper bag looking wrapping paper Dollar Tree sells. It works great!

Supplies:
1 yd. material
60" bias tape/ binding
12" thin elastic ( I think I used 1/4")
pattern paper/pattern

1. Fold your paper in half and make your pattern. The pattern shown is for Arya's dress; she is about a 2T. Fold your material in half and place pattern on top. Cut out. Repeat for back of dress.



2. Sew the front and back together, right sides together, from the bottom of the arms down. Fold over about an 1" on the front and the back to make a casing for the elastic. From here, I followed the directions of the Pillowcase Dress starting at #5 to the end.


I made my own Bias Tape for this, but you could buy it also. I have $2.50 invested in each dress!

Furry Flip Flops

My mom made these furry flip flops for the girls and they just love them!
They are really easy to make and right now, you can get flip flops on sale at Hobby Lobby for $0.50! All you do is wrap yarn around the strap of the flip flop! There is are endless possibilities with the huge assortment of yarn and different colored flip flops! You could even mix two colors for a totally different look.

PVC Sling Chairs

These chairs are so nice for outside! The fold for easy storage and the covers are washable! I have tested the chairs up to about 45 pounds in weight.

I have about $10.00 invested in each chair and I sell them for $20. I have been making them for about 2 years now and they sell fairly well. Nice to use camping or any outdoor activity. The are so lightweight, that even the girls can carry their own!


Chair Cover Supplies:
13"x26" fabric for front
13"x26" fabric for back
13"x26" fleece interfacing

1. Layer the pieces together, wrong sides facing. Sew around all edges, leaving a space for turning.

2. Turn right side out. Fold 2 1/2" to the back on each end and pin in place. Sew.



Chair Frame Supplies:
About 15' of 1" outer diameter PVC pipe
8- 1" PVC elbows
6- 1" PVC T's
drywall sanding block

1. Using the drywall sanding block, sand any marking off the PVC pipe.
2. Using a miter saw, cut the pipe into the following pieces:
4- 3 3/4", 6- 6 3/4", 4- 12", 3-14"

3. Start by making the bottom frame.Take 1-12" piece and attach elbows to both ends. Attach a 3 3/4" piece to one elbow and a 6 3/4" to the other elbow. Attach a T to both pieces you just placed with the "stem" of the T facing inward. Repeat with another 12". Now join the two frame pieces together using a 14" inserted into the "stem" of the T.


4.To make the back frame: Insert a 6 3/4" piece into the T on each side and top each piece with another T with the "stem" facing towards you. Insert a 6 3/4 piece on the top part of the T on both sides. Top each piece with an elbow. Join the back frame with a 14" piece.

5. Insert a 3 3/4" piece into the T on the front of the chair and top with an elbow. Repeat for other side. Insert a 12" from the elbow to the T on the back. Repeat for other side. Insert your last 14" piece to complete the chair frame.


6. Make sure all of the joints have been pushed together really well.

Strawberry Jalapeno Jelly

This is another tasty treat I am making to sell at the local Farmer's Market and it is good!! Last night, I spent over an hour looking for a recipe for making this and I came up empty. I found strawberry jelly and I found jalapeno jelly, but no recipe with the two combined. Plus, the recipes for strawberry jelly called for 7 cups of sugar for one batch and I thought that was outrageous!! So, I decided to make my own! Here's my strawberry jalapeno jelly recipe from my kitchen to yours.

Strawberry Jalapeno Jelly

2 1/2 lbs. fresh strawberries, hulled
3 jalapenos, stems removed
3/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tsp. lemon juice
8 cups sugar (makes 2 batches)
2 packages powdered pectin

Place strawberries, jalapenos, and vinegar in a food processor and puree. Add lemon juice. Measure out 3 cups of strawberry mixture and bring to a boil. Add one package of pectin and allow to boil for 2 minutes. Add 4 cups cups of sugar and bring to a roaring boil for 3-4 minutes. (It took awhile to get mine to boil.) Pour into sterilized jars and process in hot water for 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make another batch.

Makes 12 half pints

Great over cream cheese.

Peach Jalapeno Jelly

One word, "Yum"!!! This stuff is so good!! I made two batches yesterday to sell at the farmer's market to earn some extra money. I can eat this stuff right out of the jar with a spoon, but you can serve it over cream cheese with crackers.

Peach Jalapeno Jelly

6 lbs. fresh peaches
3 fresh jalapenos, stems removed
2 tsp. lemon juice
3/4 c. apple cider vinegar
6 cups sugar
2 packs dry pectin

Peel and de-pit peaches. Place peaches and jalapenos in food processor to puree. Add vinegar and lemon juice. Measure out 3 cups of peach mixture and heat to a boil. Be careful, it will splatter. Add 1 packet of pectin and bring to a boil for one minute. Add 3 cups of sugar and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour into sterilized jars and process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. Repeat process with remaining ingredients.

Makes 12 half pints

Honey Do Belt

What more does a husband need other than a list from you! I have had so much success selling my "Daddy Tool belts" that I decided to give these a try. I know Ryan hates summer because his "honey do" list keeps expanding as the weather gets warmer!

These belts are really simple to make, if you have the right supplies. I use my T-Shirt Marker program to make the iron-on on the belt. I bought this program about 2 years ago at Office Depot for $20 and I make all kinds of things with it. It's a great investment if you want to make your own printed shirts. I got my canvas waist aprons at Oriental Trading, but I think you can find them at Michael's or Hobby Lobby. I got all of my stuffers at the Dollar Tree

Supplies:
canvas waist apron
iron-on transfer "Hubby's Honey Do Belt"
screwdriver
work gloves
tape measure
paint brush
carpenter's pencil (Home Depot or Lowe's)
picture hanging kit
card stock
safety pin

1.Prepare transfer and transfer onto apron.
2. Using card stock, make a card with emergency numbers (I used Publisher).

3. Arrange items in pockets of apron.
4. Attach emergency card with safety pin to apron.

Sidewalk Chalk

This is the first time I have ever tried to make sidewalk chalk. I just want to say that it works, but it is not the prettiest looking chalk I have ever seen! The girls had fun with it today so, I guess that's all that matters!

To make it:
1 cup water
1/2 cup plaster
food coloring
empty egg carton

Mix plaster with water and food coloring. Pour into egg carton and allow to dry. Pop out of carton when dry, about 30 minutes.