Sock Monkey Towel Hooks

I realize that I have not yet posted photos of full rooms, only glimpses of our bedroom here and here and our entry/mudroom - which those photos are terribly outdated...

One day, I am making that promise now... Please hold me to it!

I guess the point that I am trying to make is simply that you've never seen Preston's room, but the theme is traditional sock monkeys...

We wanted to run with that theme for the kids' bathroom as well, only make it more fun with more modern sock monkeys in brighter colors.

This was the only room that we hadn't painted and it was a very cold blue that made me feel not so warm and cozy.

Here is the before photo:

The photo actually makes the bathroom look better than it really is :P

I painted the wall straight ahead a color called Exotic Isle and made some hooks for the wall for the kids to hang their towels. Oh I as so tired of towels hanging over the banister, over chairs, balled up in corners and on door knobs.

Remember my birds on a wire coat hooks?

I decided to make something similar only square and with fabric! 

This Sock Monkey fabric is by Moda

In use! 3 kids' and the dog's towels hanging up = one happy mom!

Up close and probably the truest green to the color on the wall:

Washing the towels, the hooks look lonely but still adorable!

Paint

modpodge

fabric cut to size

modpodge on top of fabric

rustoleum enamel in gloss on top 2x

hooks screwed into the blocks and studs or anchors 

And here's what we get!

I'm loving this sock monkey bathroom. It needs a little more TLC and paint :) 

but nothing is ever quite done!

Tell me where you could use some hooks in your life?

Cloth Cocktail Napkins/ Cloth Dessert Napkins

I have been showing my shop some love lately...

I have added new cloth beverage napkins and cloth dessert napkins both with over cast edges.

These would make lovely personalized cloth beverage napkins for a wedding, as a hostess gift or stocking stuffer. Yes, I just said stocking stuffer, it is August after all.

Take a peek at these adorable mason jar napkins:

Here is an order of 72 count order of dessert napkins that I recently completed:

Here the cupcake ink is drying in my sewing studio/bedroom:

New set of baby pink cloth dessert napkins! These would be the sweetest at a baby shower, bridal shower, tea party, bachelorette shindig... really, these would be cute for anything:

Cutting and hand stamping cloth cocktail napkins :)

If you are interested in making a purchase or you'd like to place a custom order, please visit my shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/besweetlyinspired

Thanks for letting me show off my fresh inventory!

Easy Quinoa Salad

2 Cups Cooked Quinoa

1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar

2 Diced Roma Tomatoes

1/2 Cup Frozen Corn- 

(We use the roasted corn from Trader Joes)

1/2 Cup Frozen Peas

1/2 Cup Chopped Sweet Onion

1/4 Teaspoon Chili Powder

1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning

2 Teaspoons Basil

I run hot water over the corn and peas to defrost them, then drain and throw all ingredients together in a bowl. SO stinkin' easy and delicious!

It is best if it sits over night. You probably have everything in your kitchen already, if not just try adding something different and let me know how it turns out!

Cilantro would be good...

DIY nightstand from old wood- a free project!

Some people see these old shipping crates and think, "junk."

I see these shipping crates and think, "victory!"

I found them on craigslist, and sent my amazing, willing, forgiving and oh-so-compassionate Happy Hubby to break them apart and bring it home to his creative wood loving wife. 

Wow, I did just type that...

I know pallet projects are all over the place, and I love it!
They are cheap, they reuse/recycle (I'm a huge fan!), and they are so darn cute!

My side of the bed has sadly been looking like this for awhile:

Yikes! That's embarrassing! 

Looks like a dorm room. 

Needless to say I was eager to turn free loot from the pile of crap above into a functional less of an eye sore nightstand... 

So, we got to work.

we cut.

we screwed.

we sanded.

and sanded.

um, and sanded.

we painted.

we sanded.

we sealed.

and here she is...

The shelf to the right is going to go soon...

We are looking less like a dorm room! Yipee!

Not bad for free huh?!

free wood.

white ceiling paint left over.

spare screws.

left over poly-acrylic. 

(Yes, it yellowed a little, which was fine for this project.)

I'm considering adding a little something to the front of the shelves... 

we will see how that goes, you know you'll hear about it when it happens ;)

It compliments our homemade headboard and our luxurious pin tucked duvet cover from old Rit dyed sheets! 

Happy, happy homemaking- one project at a time!

Do you have any free projects or pallet projects you'd like to share? 

Post a link in the comments, I'd love to see 'em!

Menu Monday

I have been a meal planning fool. I have to be when there are 3 children in our care and we have implemented a tight budget! So I have decided to celebrate all of my planning by blogging about it!

We don't eat gluten, soy, or red meat, and only clean and organic poultry, fish and eggs. On $500 per month which includes paper products etc.

Monday: Ground turkey, bean, pumpkin concoction in the crock for lettuce wraps and sautéed summer squash with basal and parmesan.

Tuesday: Grilled BBQ chicken, steamed artichokes, and grilled sweet potatoes.

Wednesday: Tuna salad stuffed mushrooms topped with cheddar and spinach salad.

Thursday: Black beans, quinoa, roasted corn, kale bowl topped with avocado.

Friday: Black Bean burgers and salad.

Saturday: Sandwiches and cold quinoa salad since we will be on the road!

Sunday: Taco Casserole!

Hope this inspires your meal planning this week!

Make Your Own Oat Milk

We eat a lot of oatmeal around here! 

Sometimes there is a weird amount left over that we don't want to throw out, but there isn't enough for everyone. So, I have started making oat milk with it!

Throw your leftover oatmeal in the blender with water and blend it up. You can then add a little vanilla extract, a pinch of nutmeg, and more water to thin it out. Blend it again and strain it through a nut milk bag.

It is seriously. that. simple! 

happy blending!

GIMP and Preston in Grayscale

Happy Hubby got new *free* photo editing software called GIMP off of the internet. He has been having a blast with it, although I think it looks complicated to use.

Here is a photo of Mr. P from our recent trip to South Carolina. I love how Happy Hubby did all of the background in grayscale so that our little man pops! This photo will go on a canvas for Mr. P's gallery wall, which is still a work in progress.

I feel like I am working on a million projects at once!

I haven't been posting as much, it isn't because I have been less inspired. My attention has been more on my family as my bonus daughters are here for summer. We stay very busy making messes and cleaning up after ourselves! I have been meal planning and budgeting and even snuggling these days.

The stinky desk has received more of my attention lately, it is curing before the next step as I type. As well s another little *free* (in price, but not in time!) project for our bedroom. 

Lots in the pipeline! 

Thanks for sticking around while I've been in limbo ;)

Are you in the middle of something this summer that you feel will never end? 

If so, what is it?