A Tale of Two Totes, or Three

At a garage sale in May I got this heavy wood tote for a buck.
Didn't need it, but it was only a buck.
I may have a tote addiction, it's not like this is my first one.

Before

The tote was already white when I picked it up, then I painted it more white with some ASCP in old white, which was really the new white as far as the old tote was concerned.

In March I had found a post from Angie over at KnickOfTime with a *Bliss's* seeds graphic.
As soon as I saw the Bliss part I knew I had to put it on something.

I printed out the graphic in reverse on wax paper, wet the sides of the tote and put the graphic on.  Since by now you all should know I hate typing out tutorials, especially when I basically follow the tutorial of someone else, so it should come as no surprise that I'm not posting a tutorial. The wax paper method can be found all over blogland, but this is the tutorial I used here. 

Then the tote sat some more.  From May till the end of August to be exact.  In it's very white-unsanded-unwaxed-but-with graphic-on-form,  I used it on the table with flowers in it.  I remember taking the pictures but can't find them.

This weekend I got out the dark wax, some stencils, and finished the tote.  I did this to justify why I have several more totes in the garage.  As if to say to the world, I will finish those totes someday too.

 I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it.  I will probably use it this fall with leaves and fall stuff in it.  Like this tote;

Think I picked this up for a buck at Goodwill in spring.  I don't have a before photo.  Well I do, but can't find that one either.  It was all sorts of colors.

I painted it old white, added some metallic orange and waxed it with dark wax.  All the totes were sanded with steel wool for the extra scratchy look.  Like this tote turned dog feeder;

This tote was a guest post I did for Linda @ItAllStartedWithPaint.  You can see the before photo over on her blog.

These are just a drop in my tote bucket.  I told you I might have an addiction.

Toting my totes to party at:

UnderTheTableandDreaming 
Make it Pretty @TheDedicatedHouse 
Twisted Party @ DebbieDoos 
Cowgirl Up @CedarHillRanch 
Wildly Original Party @IGottaCreate

Tote Turned Dog Bowl Holder

Today I am guest posting over at ItAllStartedWithPaint 

where Linda has a week of funny while she's in the sunny.  

Stop and see how I compared Linda to my dog 

and turned a garden tote thingy into a new dog bowl holder.

Homemade Laundry Soap Copy

Some ladies simply have sweet dreams and some have dreams of sweet laundry rooms.  I fall into the latter.  Dreaming of a laundry room redo isn't anything new, but it was Kari's laundry room photo at ThistleWoodFarm that got me dreaming recently.

But I take baby steps when it comes to change, so I'm starting with the soap.  

Laundry soap... white gold that removes Texas tea.

All the ingredients together at last

My daughter in law has been making her own laundry soap for the past year and she loves it.  I figure it works since The Grands never returned to my house covered in Red Velvet batter stains from the evil cake pop making episode.  Unless my DIL had to throw those clothes away?  Hmmm.

Ravenous Wildebeest

 I narrowed down my quest for a laundry soap recipe, first found at Savvy Southern Style where Kim grated soap into a bin as Mr. SSS pondered having her committed to the asylum.  This led me to Yvonne at Stone Gable .  When I saw all the elbow grease that had to go in to grating that soap I almost didn't make mine.  Most of the ingredients sat on my counter for 3 weeks.

Vintage French jelly jar a gift from Kim at La Belle Epoque

 I could not chance Brawn pondering an asylum committal for me, so I got out the food processor and in less than 10 seconds my two bars of soap were cheese in a bowl.  

I will call this the 10 second rule for soap.

I secretly hoped my 13 yr. old would walk by and sample the cheese.

The soap was going to be my entry for the copy cat challenge over at DebbieDoos and I missed it.   Ms. Doos added a twist, we could copy a blogger and I wanted to make that soap and get the ingredients off my counter.  Every store repeatedly-always-and-forever was sold out of the elusive box of washing soda.  My DIL finally snagged me the 2nd to last box and I made the soap the very day Arm & Hammer came through my door.

 I whipped up my batch in less time than it takes to sort and toss a load in.  I couldn't stop there, I still wanted to do my blogger copy cat.  I had to enter this rather pathetic condiment tote from a magazine while nursing a cold and sore toe. 


I felt cheated so I staged my copy cat anyway.  I used the photo from Stone Gable because I didn't have a basket to copy Kim's photo.

Here is the original from Stone Gable:

 And here is my copy:

So I guess this was a copy copy cat since I copied the recipe and the blogger.

I will write a review once I have a few loads under my belt.  (Ewww!)

 

If you want the recipe go over to Stone Gable or Savvy Southern Style.  

I'll just say it's easy.  If you use a food processor that is.

If you get a chance stop over and visit Christina at IGottaCreate.  She has a series called Inspiring Creative Women and she picked moi as this month's feature.

Bliss Ranch:  Inspiring Woman to Make Their Own Laundry Soap since August of '12.

ALSO.... As a 06/12 Newbie Graduate,
I'm linking this up to DebbieDoo's new grad party

And how about these great link parties too...
CowGirlUp @CedarHillRanch 
Tuesday Vintage Style Treasures @KnickOfTime 
AllStarBlockParty 
Made U Look @MadeInADay 
The Wildly Original Party @IGottaCreate 
Thursdays are your days @52Mantels 
Part Time @ 36th Avenue 

And how can I not link at Yvonne's party since I copied her!
Tutorials, Tips & Tidbits @StoneGable 

Featured at:

Baby Blue Lavender Pizooki

Baby blue lavender....... PIZOOKI!   

I just waved my wand and put a spell on you.

It has been well over a week since I have posted (thank you for the reminder Kristy).  Last anyone heard I had a 500 lb. barber chair dropped on my toe.  I didn't die, didn't need amputation nor did I get tetanus (although the jury is out regarding if I have a mans vintage hair lodged in my wound).

Instead of posting I went out of town for a couple days, got busy, then got lazy during the time I wasn't busy.  When work calls I must answer.  So I was doing a little bit of this......

Baby Blue

 Stole the scrabble tile idea from Heather over at OurLifeInAClick.

And Kirby inquired if I was slacking.  Not really, I did write a lot of guest posts.  I visited Laura at OurPrairieHome, Kristin at MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia and today I am over at Redoux with Karen, and one coming up next week at ItAllStartedWithPaint while Linda is off sunning herself.   I try to write a new post with stuff never seen here before when I guest, so if you click over you might see something new from the ranch.  Stay and visit those blogs too, not only are they full of awesome ideas, the bloggers are A+ people.

I am also excited for some Q & A at I Gotta Create where Christina features inspiring creative women.  She asked fun questions and I really enjoyed answering them.  It humbles me to think I could inspire someone.  If you all only knew how much inspiration I draw from you !

Then there was the fresh lavendar and vintage French jelly jar that arrived in my mail.  I won them by being the first correct answer from Kimberly at La Belle Epoque Home. Lucky huh?  I thought so.  Thank you Kim.  I used the jelly jar tonight to make the famous Pizooki.

Famous Pizooki from  Iheartnaptime

I was so engrossed in my work, and reading blogs between, hungry as usual, that I decided to make the first thing I saw. The gift from Kimberly was looking at me when I spotted the Pizooki and since there were no kids here I decided it was a good time to test the recipe: translation - I didn't have to share.  I ate it as I made belly stretch marks vanish on a pregnant lady.  Probably gave myself a fresh set though. Some people eat when they are depressed, some eat impulsively, and then there is me who eats when I blog.  Not only do you all inspire me to D.I.Y., but you inspire me to E.A.T. as well.

Also, if you get a chance stop over today at FancyLittleThings where my friend Heidi who blogs at Decor&More is doing a guest post and giving my kids art a shout out.  Thanks Heidi. 

I did create a project, but I've yet to take pictures of it.  I was in a rush to make it so I could post about it.  HA! ..you get this one instead.  Oh pizooki.

Copy Cat Challenge Tote

It's that time of the month.  No, not that time.  You know, Debbie Doos Copy Cat party.  This month she gave us a twist.... we could either copy something out of a magazine OR copy another blogger.   My intention was to copy a blogger.  Lord knows I have Pinterest boards full of inspiration.  But one item to complete my blogger copy is elusive so I went to plan B and plan B had to be quick because the challenge date is here, as in today.

How could I not copy this for a link party, it says Party Time!

Now don't everyone get all excited about my creation.  I didn't even want to copy it exact because I didn't think it was all that cute.  What a vote of confidence huh?  My spirits are dampened, I have a summer cold.  You know when you feel run down and the only thing you want to copy is a sleeping baby?  I'm there.  And I have a sore toe. Partially smashed actually.  Brawn and #1 son accidentally dropped the base of this antique barber chair on my big toe.  I wish I could breath and walk.  (Dii if you are reading this neither will stop me from sales this week).

500 Pounds of Hell

My magazine copy cat came out of a Food Network magazine, June issue of last year.  I saved these three beverage carriers from stocking my Libation Station.  I don't know why I saved them, but I'm glad I did or I would of needed a plan C.  I chose the box with 6 slots, the Corona one, since that's what the magazine one had.  Corona beer smells like a skunk.  I don't want to be reminded of it.

I wasn't sure at first if I was going to use paper or fabric.  As I sneezed my way through the decision I took two of the fabric pieces and steamed the folds out of them, my bed was within view of the steamer, so I decided paper would be faster.  I was all about fast since I was running low on Kleenex.  Basically I cut and glued, if you need a tutorial for that drop me a note.  I used "The Podge" because I wanted it to hold.  I also went for a two tone look - stripes and dots.  I'm guessing there are plenty of these tote things floating around on the internet, I didn't look, I was focused on breathing and not banging my toe on the table.

I liked the look of the white mayo container better than the mustard in the magazine photo, but I took a picture of it the other way too.

And speaking of copy cats.  I've been copied!  Me!!!  My Kodak dresser has a knock off!

Here is mine.....

 

And here is it's copy from StarviewSonnet

Wonder if she knows about Debbie Doo's magazine challenge?  

Should I drop her a note or soak my toe and lay my snot filled head on my pillow?

Linking up to the one, the only, the famous DebbieDoos Copy Cat Challenge
Also linking at some of my other fav par-tays:
All Star Block Party
Made you look @ MadeInADay

Kids Art at the Ranch

Stop over at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia where I have a guest post today and find out what I had to do quick and cheap to get some art on my walls before company arrived, or just to find out why there is a sheet hanging on the wall in the background of this picture (no the sheet does not have to do with being quick and cheap!).

Then when you are done at Kristins blog, check out the new blog from FunkyJunkInteriors called I Love That Junk where Donna showcases projects from her weekly link parties.  It just so happens she likes a certain dresser of mine, but you have to head over to see which one!

And if you haven't done so there is one more day to link up with the last  

Hot Fun in the Summertime party.   

This week Lorraine from MissFlibbertigibbet has the honor of picking the features, so lets try to push the links over 100 so she can feel the sun burn when it was my week to pick.

Non Edible Spam & What's cooking for Dinner

I'm sitting here as my daughter is in the kitchen making Martha Stewarts mac n cheese recipe that I snagged from the SmittenKitchen.  She is making that and broccoli to go along with the Parmesan Chicken Bake I have in the oven because she said she always gets mac n cheese/broccoli with her parmesan chicken at Noodles & Co. restaurant.  When that meal is over I will frost the Key Lime cake recipe I made from SomewhatQuirky.  We are having a blog land meal.  I've been in a cooking rut and tonight we are breaking out.

 So while I'm waiting for all the tastiness to cook I decided to clean out my email.  I get plenty of spam in my other email accounts, but very little spam at the Bliss Ranch account (that is not an invitation for more thank you very much!) but I noticed one lone junk email from Mr. Salami.

One ridiculous email.  You hear that Mr. Salami, RIDICULOUS!  Do you read my blog and that is how you got my email address?  I think not or you would not have referred to me as 'My Dear'.  I'm not really all that dear.  Oh I see I'm mistaken his name is Samani not Salami.  Whatever, I'm picturing a man that looks like a salami.

Here is Mr. Salami's email, typo's and all, and he has a very serious matter to discuss with dear me.  Hold yourself back because I know all of you are sooooo gonna fall for this and want part of my windfall.....

Hello My Dear, 

 This is very serious, My Name is Mr Hamad Samani, the bill and
exchange manager in the bank of Africa Ouagadougou Burkina Faso, I
will like to ask for your assistance to resolve and transfer into your
account the total sum $10.5 Million Dollars.
 
Now my questions are:-
 
1. Can you handle this project?................
2. Can I give you this trust?.....................
3. What will be your commission?.............
Your full names..........................................
Your phone/fax number.............................
Private email address................................
 
If you can sponsor and handle this project consider it and get back to
me as soon as possible.But if you are not interested do not bother to
respond.
 
Regards.
Mr Hamad Samani

Is it any wonder I am not going to bother to respond to Mr. Samani?  I only accept millions of dollars from phoney banks in towns with names I can pronounce.  I'm pretty sure he also could not trust me with his 10.5 mil, even though he doesn't know my name and wants to send it to me anyway, because once it's in my account it's mine.

I used my 45 minutes of dinner baking time to delete one email.  Now you understand why I didn't get a project done this week.  But I intend on getting some eat'n done right about now.  Later you can check my Pinterest board where I collect recipes I want to try, and I will leave a comment on the recipes about to pass from fork to lip at our table.

  

Hot Fun Link Party

 Attention!  Attention!  99% of the following post is not mine.  It's sort of like having a guest poster.  Not only did I not get any project completed this week in time for our party, I also didn't get a post written.  So being the totally awesome and quirky gal that she is, Karen, one of the partners in crime for the Hot Fun in the Summertime Link Party let me hijack her post.  She only asked that I not say anything within the walls of her post to get her kicked out of blogland.  So with that I will clarify what are Karens words and what is my two cents worth.....

Bliss says:  It was Somewhat Quirky's week for features and here they are!  Then it's time for the last Hot Fun in the Summertime party, so link up your goods, show us what 'ya got.  Five blogs, four Fridays.  

Karen says:  Well week 3 of Hot Fun In the Summertime! is over and I must say that this whole party thing has been pretty fun.  I've met LOTS of new bloggers and after all isn't that what parties are all about?  This week the onus is on me to pick the party features.  Here are some of my favs.
Bliss says:  yeah what Karen says, except what's an onus?

Karen says: I'm booking my reservations for a mud treatment at Levi's Mud Spa.  Levi is a guest blogger over at Hating Martha.  Be sure to watch the video - there's some serious engineering going on at the spa!
Bliss says:  Hey'd 'ya hear the one about the mud bath and the... opps wait that might get Karen kicked out of blogland. 

Karen says:  The winner for "the link I am most likely to copy immediately" goes to Heather @ Our Life In A Click.  I'm not one for chocolate covered fruit, but soak that said fruit in some chocolate vodka first... that makes me go ''hmmmmmm"..... and "yummmmm"  I'll be making some dipped chocolate vodka soaked strawberries before summer's end.
Bliss says:  Soooo the way to Karens heart is through alcohol infused fruit.  You hear that Mr. Quirky?

Karen says:  For best use of an old drawer I pick the bathroom reveal by Katie @ Creatively Living.  I love this drawer so much, the rest of the bathroom could look horrible and I wouldn't even notice - but that is not the case.  I could decorate my whole house around the colors in this drawer!
Bliss says:   Yeah what Karen said because she has onus on her.

Karen says:  Deb over at Lake Girl Paints wins the "man this project was way harder than I thought it would be!" award.  As an active participant in the complicated projects club, I can appreciate all the work that went into this Nautical Dresser.
Bliss says:  Karen's doing a good job picking features don't 'ya think?

Karen says:  And last but not least - Maureen over at It's All Connected must be rewarded - because if you decoupage furniture and I'm the feature picker - you get featured.  I'm a fan of decoupaged furniture and I love this print and that it was used for the table on her deck.
Bliss says:   Congratulations to the features this week, and thanks Karen for sending me code so I'd have a post today.

Karen says:  Thanks guys for making this such a fun party!  Be sure to grab a featured button and show off a little!

<a border="0" href="http://www.somewhatquirkydesign.com" target="_blank"><img src=http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc10/Lollymmm/FEATUREDBUTTON.jpg></a>