1.25 oz Giffard Elderflower Alcohol Free
0.75 oz Fusion Verjus Blanc
1 oz Seedlip Garden
0.25 oz Coalition Tea Jasmine Green Tea Syrup
Combine all ingredients over ice and stir to combine.
Jasmine Green Tea Syrup:
1 Cup Water
3-4 TBSP Jasmine Pearls
1 Cup Sugar
Bring water to a boil. Add jasmine green tea and remove from heat. Let steep 2-3 minutes. Strain tea into a small saucepan. Add sugar and stir well until it dissolves. Cool, bottle and refrigerate until needed.
This will be my new summer staple, hands down. Floral, herbal, and crisp - absolute perfection!
]]>DRY DIRTY MARTINI
DIY Sasquatch & Oregon Ornaments
I also have lots of other ornament options here - which is your favorite?
]]>Pour 2 oz. of Seedlip over ice in a wine glass
Top with your favorite premium mixer
This! Lately because it's been so hot, I've wanted quick, simple and refreshing. This hits all of those notes with 2 ingredients and so so much flavor.
Seedlip is one of the first, if not *the* first non-alcoholic spirit - I'm a huge fan of botanical flavors so Garden is my favorite, but Grove makes a pretty epic margarita, too!
]]>2+ oz Wilderton Bittersweet Aperitivo
4-5 oz Fresca
Add to glass with ice, stir to combine, and enjoy!
So easy, so refreshing, and so perfect for summer. I can't stop drinking this. The herbal notes of the Wilderton work so nicely with the Fresca - you definitely want to give this one a try!
]]>2oz Bare Zero Proof Reposado Tequila
2oz Modica Cucumber Aloe Margarita Mix
Tajin or Trader Joe's Chili Lime Seasoning to taste
Add to glass with ice, stir to chill, top with tajin, and enjoy!
I was a big tequila drinker when I was drinking alcohol. To the point where my nickname in college was "Ta-Leela". I probably over-imbibed and I'm just now starting to get back into enjoying it. This margarita mix is so lovely and refreshing, that I find myself reaching for it frequently as it's also so simple to make this drink! This is the perfect sunny day sipper, friends.
]]>1.5oz Cut Above Gin
1oz Dr.ZeroZero Amarno
0.75oz Vera Herbal Aperitivo
Add to glass with ice, stir to chill, and enjoy!
Vera Herbal Aperitivo has been one of my very very favorite non-alcoholic spirits since I tried it. Unfortunately, the production company may be discontinuing it, and I'm savoring the tiny amount that I have left of my last bottle. Its an herbal amaro - bitter yet refreshing. I love it as-is, but it's fantastic in a Bijou or a white negroni as well.
If you know of a similar non-alcoholic alternative, I'd love to know what it is so that I can try it as well!
]]>I've discovered recently that I'm somewhat of a cinephile. I thought I just liked things that made me feel nice to watch, but I love the trivia and behind the scenes facts. I find myself deep diving after every season or movie learning things about production and the actors and the various challenges they faced with filming.
Recently, we started our re-watch of Ted Lasso so that we're current for the new season. After the second season in 2021, I started thinking about all the things I loved about the show, and how watching it just didn't feel like enough. I found myself texting quotes back and forth with some friends, and we just felt like we couldn't get enough of the show! So naturally, I started designing some things.
]]>Recently, we started our re-watch of Ted Lasso so that we're current for the new season. After the second season in 2021, I started thinking about all the things I loved about the show, and how watching it just didn't feel like enough. I found myself texting quotes back and forth with some friends, and we just felt like we couldn't get enough of the show! So naturally, I started designing some things.
My friend Traci, of Lock & Co., was one of the people who I discovered was a fan like I was, and she just happens to be a phenomenal photographer so we started chatting about our favorite Ted Lasso quotes.
I realized that TV shows can not just be your escape from reality, but can continue to evoke that feeling with products. My entire product line is based around bringing joy - either through order or by being a reminder of something joyful.
I hope to continue to add more products from TV Shows & Movies that speak to me. If there are any that really resonate with you - please do share! I always love adding to my list of "things that I love"!
]]>Now that I've been making mixed drinks more regularly, hubs has hopped on the bandwagon and asks for proofed versions of what I'm making myself. This means that my space in our shared bar is slightly smaller.
Anyway, staying true to my one in, one out rule, I work with the space that I've allotted myself within our shared bar and drink fridge. Since the shelf life of most of these non-alcoholic drinks is so much shorter than bottles with alcohol, I opted to purchase myself a designated drink cooler so that I could have more bottles open at a time.
]]>I say unproductive hobby because my husband says that all of my hobbies relate back to the business somehow (photography, web design, organizing...), and that I needed a hobby that was just for fun. He's probably right >.<
Anyway, staying true to my one in, one out rule, I work with the space that I've allotted myself within our shared bar and drink fridge. Since the shelf life of most of these non-alcoholic drinks is so much shorter than bottles with alcohol, I opted to purchase myself a designated drink cooler so that I could have more bottles open at a time.
Now that I've been making mixed drinks more regularly, hubs has hopped on the bandwagon and asks for proofed versions of what I'm making myself. This means that my space in our shared bar is slightly smaller.
He gets two shelves in the bar, the top for the bottles he drinks more often, and then the bottom for the less used bottles.
The other two shelves are for my mixers - a bitters lazy susan - I know, but if you have more than a few bottles that you use often, do this - it's a gamechanger! The other shelf is for my syrups and tonic waters. I keep 2-3 cans of tonic water in the fridge ready to go, but keep the rest of the cans in the bar so I can replace them easily as I use them.
My drinks fridge is as follows:
- Top shelf for syrups, cherries, mixers
- Middle shelf for rotating bottles that I'm experimenting with or considering for permanent rotation
- Bottom shelf is for the permanent rotation bottles
Admittedly, the bottom two shelves kind of depend on bottle size or what I'm really hooked on at the moment.
I know that for someone who isn't a bartender that it definitely seems excessive, because when I hobby, I hobby pretty hard. I've never been the type who just likes one thing. I can't do the same protein multiple nights in a row for dinner, and the same goes for my drinks - I want variety.
BUT with dry January sales, etc. I went a little crazy and I actually need to work on spring cleaning. My ultimate goal is to curate the collection to vermouths, 1-2 whiskeys, 1-2 gins, pathfinder, vera herbal (if I can get my hands on it), mezcal, and then a tequila.
Wish me luck >.<
]]>Every year, as I feel spring heading my way, I get excited and then depressed about my wardrobe. I don't have one of those super fun walk-in closets with shoe and bag shelves. I have a dresser and half of a reach-in closet. When we moved into our house, I really wondered how I would realistically just use half of the closet space, but I devised a system to help me with over-buying and space conservation.
One in, one out.
I use this concept in all of the areas around my house. If I buy a new shirt, then I look through all of my shirts and pluck out one that I've worn the least. If I rarely wear it, there's a reason, so it's not terrible if it gets donated.
I organize my closet by type of clothing, and then by color within each section. I don't know why - but that's what has always worked best for me. From left to right, tank tops, t-shirts, shirts, button-ups, sweatshirts, then pants.
Sometimes the hangers turn into a little bit of a mess if I've slacked on laundry consistency, so I designed closet dividers and hanger tags to help me remember the beginning of each section.
Bonus: The clothing icons are offcuts from my cedar closet dividers - when I say I try to use my material as efficiently as possible, I really mean it!
How do you keep your closet organized?
]]>I've been drinking non-alcoholic spirits for a few years now. So far, the gin substitutes have been the best in the market, with a large variety depending on what your flavor preference is. I like herbal and bitter, to make it a sipper instead of a drink that disappears in minutes. What's really funny is that I couldn't stand alcoholic gin when I was drinking, so the fact that I've so enjoyed all the alcohol free options is just too fun for me.
Keep reading to find out what I've tried over the years, my personal opinion of each bottle, and which I prefer for mixed gin drinks vs for a clean gin & tonic.
]]>You. Guys.
I've been drinking non-alcoholic spirits for a few years now. So far, I've found that the gin substitutes have been the best in the market, with a large variety depending on what your flavor preference is. I like herbal and bitter, to make it a sipper instead of a drink that disappears in minutes. What's really funny is that I couldn't stand alcoholic gin when I was drinking, so the fact that I've so enjoyed all the alcohol free options is just too fun for me.
Keep reading to find out what I've tried over the years, my personal opinion of each bottle, and which I prefer for mixed gin drinks vs for a clean gin & tonic.
All of the gins that I've tried in chronological order:
Still one of my favorites to date, and it remains in my bar as a staple. Very garden-forward. I love it in a martini.
Cucumber-forward. I didn't love it in a gin & tonic as much once I found other options, but it was amazing with Som Thai Basil Vinegar and La Croix Hibiscus.
Not for me. Much too light in flavor in general.
This was up there for me to make martini's with for a while, but I found out that I don't drink martini's as much as I thought I would and it stopped being a staple in the bar after that.
Also too light for me. Could barely taste it mixed.
Ok this one is tough because I love how botanical it is, but the menthol back was a little hard to mix with sometimes. I've gone back and forth on keeping it as a staple in the bar.
This was a big no for me. I thought I'd enjoy the florals but I really didn't.
This was a great citrus-forward crisp gin. I ultimately decided I preferred the bolder, more herbal tastes of other brands.
Also on the lighter side for me. Nothing specific stood out about it for me to keep buying it.
Nothing specific stood out about it for me to keep buying it.
Nothing specific stood out about it for me to keep buying it.
This was a great citrus-forward crisp gin. I ultimately decided I preferred the bolder, more herbal tastes of other brands.
One of my favorites. I've had one bottle go bad (this is about when I switched to storing all my alcohol free bottles in the fridge), and another randomly lost it's taste towards the end of the bottle. But flavor is definitely in my top 3 favorite non alcoholic gins.
Hands down my absolute favorite. Though difficult because it isn't being distributed in the US yet (as of when this was published). I've found 2 online shops that will ship to the US but the cost is pretty high. I think it's worth it, and I have to control myself to not *just* drink this and nothing else. This & fever tree tonic is absolute magic. I was gifted a bottle for Christmas, and loved it so much that I haven't had the heart to drink it mixed (southside, gimlet etc).
Currently, my favorite for mixing. Holds up really nice in a cucumber southside and all the flavors play together really nicely.
Please note that I'm in no way saying any of the ones that I didn't end up keeping for my bar weren't good, they just weren't for my flavor preference.
The bottles that have become staples in my bar are:
Seedlip Garden (martini's)
Cut Above Gin (general gin cocktails)
Tanqueray 0.0 (gin & tonics)
As you can see, I've invested some time and money into this search. I find that with most of the spirits, I haven't found one bottle that hits the spot for all of the cocktails that I make. I wasn't much of a connoisseur before I stopped drinking alcohol, but I've heard that this isn't unusual for spirits. Of course, tastes also change as time goes on, so I've circled back on a few bottles here and there as well.
Are there any alcohol free gin's that you've tried and that you don't see on this list? I will always try any bottle once, and love exploring and discovering new things, so if you recommend any please do let me know!
]]>2 oz Lyre's Highland Malt
1 oz Roots Divino Rosso
4 Dashes Aromatic Bitters
1-2 Maraschino Cherries
Add to mixing glass with ice, stir to chill, strain into new glass and garnish with cherries.
I was blown away with the Lyre's Highland Malt when I first tasted it. It's been exactly what I was looking for to make Manhattan's and Rob Roy's. The Rob Roy is a fairly new drink to me, but it's a staple drink in my husband's family for quite some time. Recently, my husband's grandfather has needed to stop drinking for some medication that he's on, so my husband and I set out on a journey to replicate his favorite drink (as much as possible) with non-alcoholic ingredients.
We knew the Highland Malt was the winner for a scotch replacement, so we got the Martini & Rossi Vibrante, the Lyre's Aperitif Rosso, and the Roots Divino to compare the flavors. The Roots ended up being the perfect balance for the drink, being a little less sweet and on the drier side to mix with.
Of course, this all comes down to personal preference, so if you're able, I'd recommend experimenting to see what hits the spot for you.
]]>Every couple of months, I do a big order and try new bottles. Below, I'll list some of my favorite recipes, as well as brands for you to try if you're curious about going zero ABV or low ABV. Gone are the days of just bubbly water in fancy glasses - the dry beverage world has evolved!
2 oz Three Spirits Livener
Top with Fevertree Tonic Water
1oz Ritual Gin
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Meadowland Hibiscus Passionfruit Syrup
1/2 oz Lyres Italian Orange
Top with La Croix Hibiscus
2 oz Tanqueray 0.0
3 oz Fever Tree Tonic Water
2 oz Ritual Tequila
1/2 oz Lime Juice
4 oz Grapefruit Juice
1 oz Pathfinder
1 oz Campari (Giffard Aperitif Syrup)
1 oz Monday Gin
I'm a bit of a tough one when it comes to having a home bar, because I like multiple types of drinks. In the summer I definitely lean towards the gin or tequila based drinks, while in the winter I prefer more of the whiskey drinks. I've been working on "curating" my bar since 2020 with *some* success... but really the market is shifting and growing so rapidly that every new bottle that I try is fun and interesting. I have found a few things that I will always have in my bar:
Pathfinder
Monday Mezcal
Vera Aperitivo Herbal
Aplos Calme
Lyre's Highland Malt
Roots Divino Aperitif Rosso
Roots Divino Aperitif Bianco
Tanqueray 0.0 Gin
I've tried quite a few things that are on the market, but the above are the bottles which I want to drink regularly, or make a great base for a variety of mixed drinks.
Give these a try and let me know which one was your favorite!
]]>
2 oz Pathfinder
1/2 oz Demerara Syrup
4 Dashes Aromatic Bitters
Serve on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass.
Pathfinder is the best non-alcoholic spirit I've found yet. It's bitter, complex, and smooth all at the same time. I've never tried it personally, but I hear it's comparable to an amaro. I use it as a substitution for whiskey in some of the drinks I make, being aware of how bitter it is and how it would mix with citrus or sweet flavors as well. I would highly recommend it for alcohol and non-alcoholic drinkers alike. Everyone I've shared it with has since added it to their own home bar!
]]>First, find what tools will work best for you. I’ve been through a few different kinds of meal-planning boards (most of which didn’t work for one reason or another), but what really ended up sealing the deal was a two-part system for us. First, we have a shared calendar where we list what we’re eating for the week so that it can be referenced by either of us from anywhere. After a few months of “What’s for dinner tonight?”, I didn’t have a ton of patience and implemented easy access to the answer to that question. Second, I write out the week on a dry-erase board that’s on the side of our fridge, with what to thaw or marinate the day before, so we can be aware of prep work as we’re in “dinner” mode.
Another thing that I found was to digitize our recipes so those could be accessed by either of us. Whoever is home first can take a peek at the recipe to be aware of what prep needs to be done, as well as what the timing is for prep and cooking.
Here are a few variations of weekly boards that I’ve designed that can help you with your meal-planning journey:
I also implemented a “Freezer Board” once we got a freezer in the garage because I could never keep track of what meat we had available for meals without braving the weather and sticking my head into an ice box.
Another handy tool I added was a “Fridge Things” board. Really it’s just a dry-erase board but you can personalize the text or if you want it lined or not. This is where we jot down the things that we notice we’re almost out of as we’re making food. Then those items get transferred to a digital list (also shared between both of us) before the weekly grocery trip.
If magnetic isn’t your style, this one might work for you as well:
The biggest tips I can give you are these:
Give some of these things a go and let me know what did or didn’t work for you! Or maybe you have a system that I didn’t touch on that has changed your life - let me know so we can share it with others as well.
One of the best things about meal planning (once you get it dialed in) is that it reduces food waste. You know how much of each thing you need, and only buy what you need for the pre-planned recipes. With increased grocery costs, this is definitely something to keep in mind. We like to do a "splurge / fancy" meal once a week and tend to stay on the budget side for the rest of the week. This article covers a recent survey on cooking at home vs eating out. Some really interesting stuff to keep in mind, especially for Earth Day (but really, we should think about it all the time).
]]>I was blessed and cursed with a unique name. Growing up, it was a sore spot, as I could never get any of the keychains or memorabilia with personalized names on it. Now that I have my laser cutters, I make something personalized almost every day! Here are some custom wood ornaments and Christmas stocking tags that I make so that you can personalize your holiday decor:
Flower Ornaments
Image by Denise Van Photography
Heptagon Line Ornaments
Image by Denise Van Photography
Mountain Ornaments
Image by Denise Van Photography
My First Christmas Bear Ornaments
Star Ornaments
Image by Cecelia Lucy Photography
Triangle Ornaments
Image by Images By Kelli
Modern Stocking Tags
Image by Folk Creates
Script Stocking Tags
Image by Market House Ltd.
Whatever your design style may be, I’m sure that one of the personalized wooden Christmas ornaments or personalized wooden stocking tags listed above would be great personalized gifts for others (or yourself)!
]]>
2 oz Scotch or Bourbon (Lyre's Spirit Co or Free Spirits)
1 oz Sweet Vermouth (Roots Divino)
1/2 oz Hojicha Simple Syrup (Coalition Tea)
Combine ingredients over ice and stir briefly. ENJOY!
I've wanted to incorporate tea into my mocktails for some time now, so I've been working with the team at Coalition Tea to use their teas as simple syrups for my drinks. I am so blown away by this drink that I made it every day for multiple weeks. I ran out of scotch, then promptly lost my mind while waiting for my new bottle to arrive. Trust me, you'll love it. If using alcohol, I'd recommend bourbon over scotch. For the non-alcoholic options, it just comes down to how sweet you like your drinks - the bourbon will make it sweeter while the scotch is more 'crisp'.
]]>
1.5 oz Amaretti (Lyre's Spirit Co)
1 oz Whiskey (Ritual)
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Earl Grey Simple Syrup (Coalition Tea)
Combine ingredients in a shaker, shake to combine, pour over ice. ENJOY!
I've loved Amaretto sours since college, so of course, I was ELATED when I learned that Lyre's Spirit Co makes an amazing non-alcoholic Amaretti. I like mine with a bit of whiskey to give it a little extra depth of flavor.
]]>This month, I want to share my FAUXgroni recipe with you, something I do to organize my week, and share a little about what’s been occupying my design mind as of late.
FAUXgroni (aka Negroni)
1 oz Pathfinder
1 oz Gin (Free Spirits)
1/2 oz Vibrante (Martini & Rossi)
1/2 oz Aperitif Syrup (Giffard)
Pour over ice, stir briefly to combine, ENJOY!
This has been my go-to drink since I discovered it last fall. It's the only thing I'm always craving - which says something because I like to try something different every day. You could also sub Lyre's Italian Orange instead of the Martini & Rossi and Giffard. It's not too sweet, not too tart, not too bitter. It really is the perfect mocktail!
Photo by Tambi Lane Photography.
Start your week by taking some time to sit and loosely plan out your meals. I say loosely because things to come up, so make sure you do a few freezer or very low labor meals that can be moved around if things come up. Doing this weekly planning has made a massive difference in our grocery bill, and general day-to-day productivity. Knowing what you'll be cooking the upcoming week helps with the budget, time management, and end-of-day brain exhaustion. I even keep all my recipes digitized in Google Drive so that if my husband happens to be home first, he can start prep by referencing the recipe listed on the meal planning board.
Roasted Hazelnuts by Holm Made Toffee Co. Pictured above is the Mexican Street Corn flavor.
Sometimes I like to practice my photography by shooting things for other people. Mostly I just like to work on my own skills and then share the images with people (in this case businesses) if they choose to use the images as well. I've worked with Holm Made Toffee before, and everything that I've eaten from them is absolutely top-notch. I highly recommend giving it a try! My personal favorite is the Sweet & Savory Whole Roasted Hazelnuts.
]]>Do you know what I've always wanted? A nice to do list. After years of using pieces of paper and crossing things off, it always got to the point where the paper was so cluttered that I couldn't see what still needed to be done!
One day while I was using some scrap acrylic to keep quick notes and I had an idea! What if I designed an acrylic to do board! Everything would be in one place, and then erase the completed tasks creating CLEAN space (for more tasks, clearly!).
Start your day by listing what you’d like to accomplish that day. While you drink your coffee/tea, gather your thoughts for the day ahead. This will help you gear up for a busy day, or make sure your mind stays focused if it’s a “stuff that got pushed to the bottom of the pile” kind of day.
Keep your tasks and desk organized with this frosted acrylic note board. Keeping the tasks that need to be taken care of visually in front of you helps keep you stay organized and motivated so you can check off (or erase) each task as it's completed.
With a dry erase board to do list, you can remove the clutter (and waste) of post-it notes/papers all over your workspace! This tabletop to do list dry erase board will definitely keep your desk neat and organized while keeping important tasks in front of you visually.
]]>The Adult Sprite (aka Gin & Tonic)
2oz Gin (Monday)
4oz Tonic Water (Fever Tree Elderflower)
Pour over ice, stir briefly to combine, ENJOY!
This has been my go-to drink as soon as it’s above 90 degrees outside - I keep calling it my adult sprite because it’s so refreshing. The bitterness and herbal notes of the tonic and gin are nice to keep you from downing it all at once, white it’s still interesting enough to want to keep drinking more. Sometimes I sub for the citrus flavor, or yuzu and lime flavor, but I almost always use Fever Tree - their range of flavors is amazing! Pictured with my Cheers Cocktail Pick.
]]>Back when we only had one dog, Stella - we would so frequently forget to feed her that we set an alarm on my phone to remind us. She was happy as a clam, laying in our laps or sleeping 12+ hours and would never remind us! To be fair, she's not very food motivated, either though.
When we first got her, she was just about 9lbs, and we were able to fatten her up to 12. I know, it really doesn't sound like much, but look at this!
She was in pretty bad shape from having been on the streets and we just couldn't resist that cute little face!
Anyway, back to food. Once we got Ruby, our Jack Russel mix, we had absolutely no problem remembering feeding time. She starts telling us a solid 1/2 hour before it's time, loudly and pointedly. Including at 6am when she jumps on my bladder because she figured out that's the best way to get me up quickly.
My husband told me stories of when he was a kid and he'd feed the family dog, Sammy (a lab), then his dad would come home late and she would look all hungry and then get fed again! I hear stories like this from friends all the time, and decided it was time to make a tool that could help: a pet care tracker.
Not just to track food, but also pills, if they'd been let out, if they'd been taken on a walk, etc.
Thank you to Kristin Rose Photography for images of Baxter's setup!
]]>This has been a tough time for small businesses, but you made it a great year for LeeMo Designs. These were your favorites each month!
AUGUST - Dry-Erase Fridge Boards
NOVEMBER - Dry-Erase Cheese Markers
When I calculate how much material I cut to make these top sellers... it blows my mind 😱 To put it into perspective - I have about 150 Sq. Ft. of space to work out of to produce everything!
Cedar:
1,909 Sq. Ft.
Plywood:
1,858 Sq. Ft.
Acrylic:
1,700 Sq. Ft.
Totaled up, that equates to 5,467 Sq. Ft. - a pretty big house!
Now remember, I always design smaller products with the off-cut (scrap) from my main products so that I can maximize the use of every sheet of material that I purchase. Any wood material left over after that is used in our fire pit or when we go camping as kindling.
]]>Want to feel better? Make something! In one study of more than 3,500 knitters, published in The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 81% of respondents with depression reported feeling happy after knitting. More than half reported feeling very happy.
Crafting can also reduce stress, relieve or reduce depression and anxiety, build self-esteem, decrease the risk of cognitive impairment as you age, help with insomnia, reduce irritability and restlessness, build community and friendships plus crafting helps if you are grieving.
]]>Crafting can also reduce stress, relieve or reduce depression and anxiety, build self-esteem, decrease the risk of cognitive impairment as you age, help with insomnia, reduce irritability and restlessness, build community and friendships plus crafting helps if you are grieving. To get into the details of these benefits read Crafting for Health on the University of Arkansas blog.
One of my favorite crafts is origami. I traveled a lot between Japan and Hawai’i as a child, and needed activities that weren’t electronics for my 8 hour flights. It quickly became an obsession, where I constantly wanted to better my skills and create new things.
I know not everyone is a natural crafter so I’ve designed an entire product line of games and activities so you can pick up a marker or paint brush and have some fun. When you are finished you have a functional object for yourself, or a gift you customized for that special someone.
Here are some DIY Craft Kits to Get You Started:
DIY Kits for the Jewelry Lover
DIY PAINT KIT TABLETOP ACRYLIC JEWELRY ORGANIZER
DIY PAINT KIT SINK SIDE JEWELRY / HAIR TIE / SCRUNCHIE HOLDER ORGANIZER
DIY Kits for Board Game Lovers (young & older)
PERSONALIZED WOODEN TIC TAC TOE BOARD GAME
DIY Kits for Gifting
DIY Kits for Christmas
PERSONALIZED WOOD HOLIDAY ORNAMENT DIY PAINT KIT
PERSONALIZED WOOD MOUNTAIN OUTDOOR HOLIDAY ORNAMENT FOR KIDS / BABIES
]]>NOW this line of products has grown to include 3 font options, 4 material options (including dry-erase!), and either hooked tags or tie on tags.
The options are:
Hooked Tags
Tie-On Pantry Tags
Tie-On Linen Tags
Dry-Erase Hooked Tags
Dry-Erase Tie-On Tags
While I don't personally have a kitchen pantry (trust me, I want one very much), I do have a wire shelved closet in my studio, and I have definitely used bins, baskets, and containers to their fullest extent to be able to easily see what I have and keep track of it. Of course, we all have a corner of our closet that ends up being a "catch all" - don't think that your storage will always look pinterest perfect - you'll still need a monthly or quarterly "check-in" - especially if you're not the only one using the storage systems!
]]>Every time I read the news I get a little bit sad, so mostly I've been only letting myself do it for a little bit each day, or it all weighs heavy on me and I feel like doing nothing. I do find that organizing when I'm feeling blue helps elevate my mood quite a bit, and makes me feel like I've accomplished something!
I collaborated with Jen from Paper Sushi last year, on some cute little origami inspired stamps, but wanted to sneak in another collab where my true passion lies: organizing and systems. I'm no pro, but I sure do love to create things that make life just a little bit easier. This stamp is only available through January of 2021, so snag it while you can, here.
Here are a few ideas on how you can use this to help you keep track of the littlest things to feel accomplished.
This image features a beautiful notebook by Stationed By Hand
]]>About two years ago, I developed a weird thing where I get REALLY bad headaches whenever I had any alcohol. It started with beer, so I thought - it's ok - I'll just avoid that and drink other things. Well... no luck there. No wine, no tequila, no vodka. So after mourning that for a little while, I had to figure out a plan B. Luckily, that's about when the mocktail movement was picking up, and a friend of mine introduced me to shrubs, drinking vinegars, and seedlip.
Here are a few drinks that Lisa of Binary Star Systems and I came up with:
1/2 Oz Meadowland Goldfinch Simple Syrup
1 Tsp Honey
4oz Sparkling Water
Meyer Lemon squeezed to taste, and sliced as garnish
2oz Metolius Chai Mix
2oz Sparkling Water
2oz Half & Half
Cinnamon to Taste
2oz Portland Syrups Marionberry
6oz Sparkling Water
Meyer Lemon Squeezed to taste, and sliced as garnish
1oz Som Salted Tangerine Vinegar
1oz Williams Sonoma Passionfruit Vinegar
4oz Sparkling Water
Top or Rim with Trader Joe's Chili Lime Seasoning to taste
These are just a few of the drinks I've been making to as part of our nightly happy hour. One big benefit of not being able to have any alcohol... no more hangovers!
I hope everyone is staying safe out there, and finding new ways to keep yourself occupied and sane!
]]>Stay sane, guys! I think it's going to be a while before we're back to “normal.“ I'll keep posting here, and on Instagram and Facebook with ideas as they come to me on how we can stay positive, as much as possible, during this time.
Kitchen organization is so tough because really, unless it was custom designed around how YOU cook and use it, there’s always going to be something weird. I used to keep my spices in a narrow cupboard next to the stove – now, no more overhead storage there so that’s out. Then I tried the most used ones sitting on top of the stove where I could see them – practical, but then the jars got dirty from cooking and it just didn’t look so nice. I moved in with my husband (then boyfriend), and he kept his in a drawer. It was so nice! I could see all of the labels, they were all there just waiting for me to pick what I needed! Turns out that was a mutual friend of ours who came up with it and he just kept the system because he’s bad with change (>.<). Regardless, that system came with us to our current house.
Counter space is a premium, and the rotating racks always just took up space and then I didn’t use over half of the spices included. I definitely have spices that I use daily (1), then the ones I use less often or when I’m only making a specific cuisine (2), and then the ones that we bought for ONE recipe that we haven’t made again since (3). I know you’ve done it too. So I have to drawers: one for the first and second priority spices, then the other drawer where everything else lives. Naturally, the one we access more often is closer to the stove.
A friend of mine who just moved into a new apartment was struggling with the same thing, so I found this:
It was perfect! You can keep your spices grouped by use, see them so easily, and each "drawer" stays "open" so you can grab one at a time while you're cooking instead of needing to pull them all out! I was so impressed by this that I've recommended it to MULTIPLE others who all say they love it and it makes their lives so much easier.
Also pictured: My Vinyl Spice Jar Decals and Square Spice Jars (that don't roll around so you can't see the labels, AND come with split lids for shaking or a bigger side for measuring).
I love problem solving, even when it's not a problem that I have in my kitchen personally. I hope this helps you find the perfect system for your spices as well!
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What’s even better is that Abby had the idea to add charms to each of the keychains to signify the tables that they would be seated at, and to color code each symbol so that it was easier to spot. She even had this great board where everything was hung so beautifully.
The keychains were inspired by the old motel plastic keychains, but without being as big, and adding some dimension by cutting out the guest names instead of just engraving them. I’m a big fan of cutout details in my work, as I think it makes design aspects pop. I like the combination of cutout and engraved, as it highlights each detail in a different way.
Projects like these are great because they stretch my mind to think really creatively in terms of material – what is going to hold up the best to daily use? What hardware makes it easiest to attach and detach? What is the ideal size so you can have it on your keys without being too cumbersome?
Even the lettering for the seating chart was a fun project – Casey of My Fair Letters hand lettered the quote, then digitized it so that I could scale it up and laser cut it to use as a title for the board.
Here are some other wedding items that have inspired me or that I've made in the past: LeeMo Designs Wedding Pinterest Board
Wedding Planner: AE Creative
Photographer: Jessica Hickerson
Venue: Loloma Lodge
Calligraphy: My Fair Letters
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