What She Made: DIY Green All-Purpose Cleaner

30 May, 201417 July, 2014 oursweetsomewhereLeave a comment

I’ve got a super easy green, all-purpose cleaner for you to try at home.

Recently, I’ve been much more aware on what I have been eating and cleaning in order to make both more sustainable and healthy choices. After hearing about how little chemicals are regulated on NPR, I was even more convinced in my switch from harsh chemical cleaners to a more green, all-purpose cleaner.

It takes almost no hands-on time, which makes it an easy switch.

Here’s what you need:

1 large Mason Jar
2 lemons, halved – Just save your squeezed lemons, maybe from this recipe!
Enough distilled white vinegar to fill up the Mason Jar
1 spray bottle

Put your left over lemons and vinegar into the Mason Jar and seal. Leave it under your sink or in a cool, dark location for about a month. The vinegar will turn yellow. Once it’s ready, pour it into your spray bottle to about the halfway point and fill the rest up with water. That’s it! Your green all-purpose cleaner is ready to be used.

When you see your mason jar running a little low, just refill it with some more vinegar. Sometimes I replace my lemons (when I remember to), but I don’t all that often.

Let me know what you think! Also, I would love to hear more green cleaning or eating tips you have.

xoxo,

Kate

In Love

30 May, 201423 June, 2014 oursweetsomewhereLeave a comment

These two could not be more beautiful. I am so happy you lovebirds came to visit.

xoxo, Kate

Mixtape: Road Trip to Ohio

20 May, 201427 October, 2014 oursweetsomewhereLeave a comment

The time is finally here! After months and months of talking about it and weeks and weeks of counting down the days in my planner, my dearest Jamie and her lovely Scott will be in the same state as me this weekend! In anticipation of their trip, I have planned a little road trip mixtape to listen to on their drive to the Midwest.

Hurry up, Friday and get here already!

xoxo, Kate

What She Cooked: Apricot Oatmeal Bars

18 May, 201417 July, 2014 oursweetsomewhereLeave a comment

Okay, obviously there is a theme on my mind. I am missing my Mama’s cookin’ something fierce! Here is yet another recipe that I can thank my Mom for.

Apricot Oatmeal Bars ! (nomnomnom)

Doesn’t my mother have beautiful handwriting? I am creating a bucket list and on there is to take a calligraphy class so my handwriting can be half as good as hers. She is left-handed and writes basically sideways and it always turns out looking so elegant. I even had her address my wedding invitation! Anyway, back to the task at hand, baking!

Ingredients for Crumb
1 1/4 Cup flour
1 1/4 Cup old fashion oats
1/2 Cup sugar
3/4 Cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon vanilla

Ingredients for filling
1 jar (10 oz) apricot preserves
1/2 Cup walnuts or coconut

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. mix crumb mixture together and press down half into a greased 8×8 baking dish. In a separate bowl mix filling ingredients and spread over top the crust. Evenly distribute the remaining half onto the top and bake for 22 to 27 minutes.
Be sure to let your apricot oatmeal bars cool completely before you cut into them or they will be very messy (I have learned the hard way too many times. Patience is a vertue!)

Watch out, these are surprisingly addictive! Enjoy!

xoxo,

Kate

DIY Easy Homemade Cards

15 May, 201417 July, 2014 oursweetsomewhereLeave a comment

We love homemade cards! And although Mother’s Day has already come and gone this year, we wanted to share with you a couple easy ideas to help spark some inspiration for your next DIY homemade card that can be used for any celebration! These cards are so easy and require many items that you might already have on hand. So go ahead and get your craft bins out and start creating!

What Jamie Made: I did not have to spend an extra penny while making this card since I used items that were already in my craft bin: multi-purpose paper, scrapbook paper, hemp string, colored pencils, washi tape, glue stick/gun, and a thin Sharpie.

The paper flowers that you see on the front of the card are from a piece of medium-sized scrapbook paper that had a floral pattern. I cut the flowers out individually from the pattern and then glued them on to the front of the card after drawing/coloring in the stems. To finish it off, I created a little bow from a small piece of hemp and used my glue-gun to adhere it to the base of the stems.

The personal stamp that you see above is one that I purchased over three years ago from the Rubber Stamp Press Etsy store, and believe it or not, it still works! I highly recommend checking out this shop’s products if you’re looking to personalize your own stamps.

What Kate Made: I made a super easy DIY Mother’s Day card this year for my mama! This same idea would work though for any holiday, birthday, or event. I used foam paper to make the flag banner with Washi tape wrapped around to write the letters. The string is embroidery floss. This card is so quick I was finished it in just a half an hour!