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Monthly Archives: May 2012

Upcycle Mash Up {Upcycle Thursdays}

31 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Jamie Lee in Thrifty Style & Decor

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

cheap wall art, crafts, DIY, lampshades, tv trays, upcycle, upcycling

I couldn’t decide on an upcycle theme this week, so here’s a jumble of things that caught my eye.  (I’m a bit like a magpie – ooooh, shiny, pretty, me likey)

(Click on photos for the source)

I’m a big fan of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They have dozens of bins of various sized (cheap!) washers just waiting to become art.

I have set of TV trays straight from the 70s. They could use a little sprucing up.

When my Little Honkers start laying, I’ll need a basket to collect eggs.

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Vintage IKEA?

30 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Jamie Lee in Thrifty Style & Decor

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

card file drawer, crafts, DIY, handmade christmas, IKEA

I have always desperately wanted an antique library card-file-drawer-cabinet thingy.  I’m not sure what I’d put in it, but I love the look of them, and I love all the little drawers.

Image via 1893victorianfarmhouse.blogspot.ca

Here’s a way to get one without spending hundreds of dollars.

Project from http://www.thepaintedhive.blogspot.ca. Click on photo to visit the site.

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The Red Carpet

29 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Jamie Lee in My Life, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

dress911.com, dresses, high heels, lace dresses, opening night, owls, theatre

Opening nights are thrilling.  And a great excuse to buy a new dress.  I’m obsessing over lace dresses and really, really, really high heels.

A few ideas for my TWO opening nights coming up this summer:

I need more navy blue in my life. And that owl necklace makes me very happy.

Just the right shade of pink.

Longer sleeves are great for a chilly summer night. And another cute owl necklace.

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A Real Life Bachelorette

28 Monday May 2012

Posted by Jamie Lee in Entertaining

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

bachelorette, masquerade, party, Stagette, weddings

I didn’t have a stagette or bachelorette party before I got married.  I barely remember having a wedding shower.  I was one of those rare women who was born without a “bride gene” (thank you, Carrie Bradshaw).   My husband planned our wedding, and I promised to show up on the day.  It was lovely.

My friends Aaron and Caity are getting married next weekend.  I went to her bridal shower a few weeks ago, and Saturday night was her bachelorette party.

I am thankful there was no stripper or cakes shaped like parts of a male’s anatomy.  Instead, there was sangria, cupcakes, jello shooters, and a belly dance lesson.

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Love, Actually

25 Friday May 2012

Posted by Jamie Lee in Backyard Chickens

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Tags

animals, Bird, Chicken, flock, Pecking order, pullets

Okay, maybe “love” is a bit of an exaggeration, but I now have proof positive that my chickens no longer hate each other.  Here they are, all in the run, sharing food and water, and NO PECKING!

Greta has allowed the Little Honkers to be part of the flock.  Oh, she still chases them a bit and pecks them, but it’s much more gentle and the chase never lasts long.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  I can relax now.  My chicken mama work is done (for the moment).  It’s lovely to see all my feather-babies getting along.  Finally.

Now if only the Little Honkers would start laying eggs . . .

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How Does Your Garden Grow? {Upcycle Thursdays}

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Jamie Lee in Gardening

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

crafts, DIY, garden, row marker, upcycle, upcycling

I’ve got a garden planted and no row markers.  Better get busy this week.

Some fun recycle/upcycle ideas:

Related articles
  • Upcycled Garden Markers (craftzine.com)
  • Recycle Spoons Into Plant Markers for Your Veggies (wired.com)
  • Handmade Gardening – DIY Plant Markers (solaceandjoy.wordpress.com)

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Campfire Treat

23 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Jamie Lee in Entertaining

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campfire, camping, marshmallow, Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough, roasting marshmallows

Next time you are gathered ’round a fire and get to roasting marshmallows, do yourself a favour and try this recipe.

Take a marshmallow and wrap it up with Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough.  Roast until golden and crispy.  It is a tiny piece of heaven.

roasting a marshmallow

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles
  • Marshmallows (balanceandblueberries.wordpress.com)
  • Softly softly: Marshmallows are being reinvented by a new generation of confectioners (independent.co.uk)
  • Making Smores by Campfire (happilyblended.com)

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We Planted the Day Away

22 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Jamie Lee in Gardening

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

dogs, garden, long weekend, nature, Plant, planting, seeds, succulents

Thank you, Queen Victoria, for the May long weekend.  It was the perfect day to plant.

First stop – Early’s Farm and Garden Centre for seeds!

Must resist greenhouse full of beautiful flowers and succulents. Gah.

Yummy!

Looks like we need some new row markers. These will have to do for today.

Can’t forget the herbs.

Okay, I couldn’t entirely resist the succulents. These are called Firesticks, and they are beautiful.

Kingsley and Ziggy beat the heat by chilling out with frozen Kong treats.

It’s all planted. Now grow, grow, grow!

Related articles
  • Happy Victoria Day! (rescuedinsanity.com)
  • The Top 3 Plants Even You Can’t Kill (bradsdeals.com)
  • Contained. (suzannebrandsen.wordpress.com)

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The Ultimate BBQ Refurbishment

21 Monday May 2012

Posted by Jamie Lee in Thrifty Style & Decor

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Barbecue, Barbecue grill, BBQ, Canadian Tire, consumer culture, Home Depot, Paint, refurbishment, Rust, spray paint

Our little barbecue had seen better days.  We got it as a wedding present seven years ago.  It served us well, but over the last year, it had seriously deteriorated.  Only one side of the burner was working because the other half had rusted out.  The plastic side trays were sun bleached and covered in grease, and the front and bottom trays were full of rust.  We were set on buying a new one.

Our sad little barbecueThen we realized that we had fallen into the disposable mindset of our modern day consumer culture.  If something doesn’t work, don’t fix it; throw it away and buy a new one.  People told us that it would cost more to fix our barbecue than to buy a new one.

Challenge accepted.

Step 1 – Replace the burner.  

We went to Home Depot for the parts, and the first burner we bought was defective.  As soon as we lit it, it twisted and warped.  We were disheartened, but not discouraged.  We got another one at Canadian Tire, a bit higher quality, and it works just fine.  It’s so nice to have even heat again!

Cost = $50

Step 2 – Replace the heat shield.

This was also rusted out.  Apparently, this protects the burner from the fat drippings, which in turn cause the burner to rust out.  Had we replaced this a few years ago, we might have saved our burner.  Live and learn.

Cost = $50

Step 3 – Paint the front and bottom trays.

Pffft!  Easy, peasy.  If there’s one home repair that I’m really good at, it’s spray painting things.  Got a can of Flat Black Tremclad spray paint.

Cost = $7

Step 4 – Clean and paint the plastic side trays

Done and done.  Rustoleum All Surface Spray paint in Flat Black.  I love spray painting. It’s just so darn satisfying.

Cost = $9

Step 5 – Put it all back together and admire your handiwork

Step 6 – Grill some really good steak for supper

Cold smoked rib eye steak from The Bulk Cheese Warehouse.  Yum. Thank you, Cow.

Total cost of the Ultimate BBQ Refurbishment = $116

You cannot buy a new gas grill barbecue for $116.

We win! And so does the landfill!

The only other thing we could have done was spray paint the actual body of the barbecue itself.  When I was buying the spray paint, I noticed they have one specifically for high heat surfaces, such as barbecues or wood stoves.  Ours is still in decent shape, but I might try this in the next few years if it starts to rust.

Happy Victoria Day!  Enjoy the long weekend.

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Pantry Mayhem

18 Friday May 2012

Posted by Jamie Lee in Thrifty Style & Decor

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

additions, cleaning, Home, kitchen, organize, pantry, tupperware containers

I have an old house.  1929.  Sometime in the 1960s, “someone” decided to put a kitchen addition on the back of the house (Actually, I know exactly who that “someone” was.  I researched the historical titles on the house.  Thank you very much, Mary and Henry Dyck).

It is not a nice addition (wallboard, ceiling tiles, and dirty linoleum), nor was it well planned out.  There is no flow and there never will be.  It simply doesn’t work because there are three doorways in the kitchen – the entrance to the kitchen from the hallway, the back door from the kitchen to the yard,  and the gawd-awful pantry in the corner.

I am going to share some embarrassing photos.  My pantry is a mess.  Always.  I don’t think it’s my fault.  I blame the Dycks.  Plus, I truly believe there is just no good way to corral Tupperware containers into some semblance of neatness and order.  (Deep breath) Okay.  Here goes:

Awful. Truly awful. Not to mention the paint colours.

Flimsy shelves made from flimsy plywood and other wooden scraps.

I am mortified.

I tried to organize it.  Once.  I labeled the shelves, I sorted the plastic containers, I purged things I no longer use.  But it’s no use.  Within mere hours, it is like a mini-tornado touched down in there.

Anyway, the whole point of this is that it’s my project for next week.  I’m going to clean.  I’m going to purge (more).  I’m going to paint.  I’m going to whip that pantry into shape, damn it!

And if anyone has any tips on how to organize Tupperware, for the love of all that is good and holy, TELL ME!

Have a great weekend.

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Hey. I’m Jamie.

This is my blog about whatever I feel like writing about.  Usually about chickens.

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Good morning chickies! First batch of littles entering the awkward teenage phase. • • • #chickensofinstagram #chickens #lovemychickens🐓 #saskatchewan #sparrowhillsk #sparrowhillhatch2018 #littles #smallfarm #ameraucanamix
Snowy view from the rehearsal hall today. Feels more like we should be rehearsing "Christmas at Pemberley" instead of Pride and Prejudice. #justno #wintergoawayalready #prideandprejudiceyxe #carolinebingleymeangirls1813 #saskatoon #saskatchewan #persephonetheatre
Ahhhhhhh! Two hundred bales of straw. I was so nervous for this. We decided to get a large quantity delivered instead of trying to haul small loads ourselves. This will last awhile. And we found a supplier not that far from home - support local rural economies! • Kitty likes it too 🐱 • • • #sparrowhillsk #saskatchewan #smallfarm #strawbales #carbonaceousdiaper #livestock #homesteading #homestead
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