Jenna

Free & Easy!

Published on July 13, 2014 by Jenna2 Comments

I recently found some pretty green bottles and instantly knew that I wanted to use them in the kitchen for the hand and dish soap. I lucked out and the top from the store dish soap bottle fit the glass bottle perfectly. It even screwed on tight without a hassle.

The hand pump was a little more difficult. I tried a pump like the one we used on the mason jar soap bottles, but it wasn’t the right size to fit the opening. I had a small hand soap bottle in our bathroom that had a larger pump so I decided to try that. That one did fit, unfortunately the stem wasn’t long enough to reach the soap at the bottom of the bottle.

Then I remembered that we had a package of flexible straws somewhere and wondered if that might fit the pump. I dug through the cabinets and found them, then tested out the length next to the bottle. It seemed like it would work, so I pulled the old stem out of the pump and pushed the straw in. The connection was a little loose due to the flexible part of the straw, but it stayed snugly attached as I fussed with it.

Since it seemed pretty secure, I put everything together and gave the pump a couple pushes. It took a few before the soap started flowing, but when it did it worked just fine. It’s been about a week now and it’s still working great, so I guess my little DIY rig is good enough. And it’s a whole lot prettier than the plastic store bottles!

I’m not crazy about the different colors of the two tops, but they work and I’m probably the only one who notices it. Plus the bottles fit the little tray I’d been using to hold their plastic predecessors as if it was made just for them, leaving just enough room for the sponge. But the best part about the whole project is that it was 100% free! Now if only I could get all my projects to be this affordable and easy. 🙂

A Little Update Up Top

Published on July 10, 2014 by Jenna3 Comments

Although I love the decor I chose for the small section of our kitchen cabinet tops, I wasn’t super crazy about how things were looking on the long portion. I’d tried a few options and had a plan to update a large tin I purchased, but something still wasn’t just right. It just seemed a little to sparse compared to the other side, so I knew I wanted to add something. Maybe a few somethings.

Luckily, while I was in Portland I found several somethings on my pilgrimage to Home Goods and a visit to a large Goodwill. The new haul included a basket tray, a tall distressed white ceramic container, a fake plant and a green glass jar. All together, I probably spent around $30 for all four, which brings the current total spent to around $40. Still within my bargainista budget.

I added a cream ceramic pitcher I already had and the former cache pot – watch for an update on that project soon. I played around with the items, trying things in different spots and finally settled on this line up.

Apparently Luna approves! In fact, I’m surprised she didn’t knock over the basket so she could lay in IT! I’m still getting used to the new look, but I’m pretty happy with how it pulls in the colors and textures from around the kitchen and family room. The fact that the pitcher is a different color than the other ceramic pieces kinda makes me twitchy, but it works for now. 🙂

My Macy’s Personal Shopper

Published on July 9, 2014July 6, 2014 by Jenna1 Comment

Did you know that Macy’s offers a free personal shopper service? I heard about the program last year and scheduled a session when I was in Portland last fall. The process was super simple, I just sent an email to the address on the website and within 48 hours I was in contact with a personal shopper associate who asked questions about my style and expectations.

When I arrived my shopper had a selection of items already pulled for me based on those conversations. I was a little worried that she might just push their new or designer products, so I was very pleased to see several clearance items among my choices.

As I tried things on she offered feedback on how each item looked and styling suggestions. She also brought alternate sizes for several items and because she knew exactly where everything a located in the store she was often back with the new size before I’d changed into the next outfit!

She was also able to look up items in the computer to find out if they came in alternate colors and if they weren’t the store if they could be ordered. Those that I chose to order were shipped directly to my home for free!

I was a little surprised when she politely declined the tip I offered saying they aren’t allowed to accept tips and confirmed they don’t work on commission. I guess Macy’s just believes in good old-fashioned customer service!

I enjoyed the experience so much that I decided to do it again this trip. This time around I worked with Lori, who started the appointment off with a home run on a pair of leopard print flats, which I had told here I had been wanting for some time. And they were on sale!

That was the only item she pulled ahead of time. Instead she chose to have me walk the floor with her and choose items together. I really liked this option because I did miss the fun of browsing the racks and grabbing things that caught my eye last time. She let me wander the different departments, but kept me on track making sure we also got items I’d told her I was in need of ahead of time. And she rang everything up in multiple orders so I got the most savings possible with the coupons I had! That impressed me even more.

I ended up finding just about everything I was looking for, including a few last minute requests I asked for upon arriving! Here’s a few of the items I picked this time:

So if you’re looking to update your wardrobe or just need something particular, I highly recommend the Macy’s By Appointment service. It’s like shopping with a girlfriend, but without the drama. 🙂

My Garden Stool Addiction

Published on July 6, 2014July 15, 2014 by Jenna3 Comments

My name is Jenna and I’m a garden stool addict. Our trip to Portland produced three new garden stools, which now brings me to a total of five. It all started with an online purchase of the first when I needed a table for the chair and ottoman in our family room. Then I picked up a metal stool last summer at the nursery and used that as a side table for the chairs on the balcony of the rental house.

I purchased the third in Portland last fall, but couldn’t bring it home on the plane so we left it there with the ’55 knowing we would be back to get it in the coming months. I plan to use it with the chairs going next to the fire pit.

In the meantime, I’d started using the blue metal stool in our master bathroom shower as a spot to prop my foot when shaving my legs. It fulfilled a need, but the blue wasn’t working with the rest of the room’s decor, so I was planning to paint it gold like the accent in our mosaic tile. I purchased spray paint several weeks ago, but hadn’t gotten around to completing that project before leaving on our trip.

So when I spotted a white Moroccan garden stool that I loved at Home Goods during my pilgrimage there I convinced myself that it would coordinate with the white trim in the room and would make an excellent replacement. It was a bit pricey at $80, but I reasoned that if I decided it didn’t work in the shower I could use it elsewhere and go back to my previous stool.

A few days later we hit Marshalls to use a gift card and I found this. The color was a perfect fit for the bathroom and the pattern would work with the decor as well. And at $39.99 it would only cost me $15 after my gift card! I believe there was a heavenly hymn playing on the overhead speakers. I snapped that baby up and claimed her as mine.

Then I spotted a wooden stool nearby and debated which would work better in the shower. So I did what I always do, I grabbed both and found the hubs to let him help me decide.

That wonderful man didn’t bat an eye when I walked up to him with not one, but two more stools and asked which he liked better. Oh how I adore that man! A short discussion later the decision was made and the wooden stool left behind as we proceeded to the checkout.

So now I have a diverse collection of stools. But in my defense, they are all useful and #5 is perfect for the shower! So I guess this is one addiction I’ll maintain. 🙂

Down the road…

Published on July 2, 2014July 2, 2014 by Jenna1 Comment

I can now cross driving the AlCan off my bucket list , since we just completed a trip from Alaska to Portland and back! It was a long haul – about 5,500 miles – but it went pretty smoothly and we saw lots of beautiful scenery. There was a plethora of wildlife along the route as well, including black bears, grizzlies, caribou, bison, elk, porcupines, beaver, mountain goats, deer, fox, ermine, swans, geese, hawks, rabbits and moose.

We didn’t stop at every attraction along the way, but we did hit a few of the fun ones:
The Hell’s Gate Airtram on the Fraser River was closed when we came through, but we did get to see the trams move across the canyon as they did safety checks on the equipment.

We picnicked at the 108 Mile House Heritage site before I wandered the 13 historical buildings from the old 108 Mile Ranch and 105 Mile Roadhouse. The Clydesdale barn was my favorite. I seriously considered digging up some of those amazing white and purple iris, but figured that would be frowned upon by the caretakers.

The world’s longest wooden tress pedestrian bridge and a huge gold pan in Quesnel.

We missed the numerous chainsaw carvings in Chetwynd on the way down due to traveling at night, but enjoyed seeing them as we passed through during daylight hours on the way back.

Milepost 0 of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, which dates back to the 1940’s.

Crossing the Canadian Rockies and hugging the blue-green Muncho Lake were two of the most scenic areas of the whole trip.

We wandered the Signpost Forest in Watson Lake, B.C., where we added our own sign to the over 75,000 already there!

We watched the world largest weathervane, a Douglas-DC 3 move with the breeze in Whitehorse.

Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church was created in 1954 out of a quanset hut previously used by the US Army during construction of the Alaska Highway. Today it’s the most photographed church in the Yukon.

The main reason for the trip was to pick up my 1955 F-100, which we trailered from Virginia to Portland last fall. We also loaded up several family heirloom items of my husband’s while at his mom’s house including a grandfather clock, plane models and a set of china with glassware.

Of course I took the opportunity to shop at retailers we don’t have in Alaska while there, with a pilgrimage to Home Goods, World Market and Marshalls. Posts on the treasures I found at each, along with a few others will be coming soon. Additionally, I enjoyed a session with personal shopper at Macy’s, which I will share in another post.

Because we live in Alaska, our visits with family are few, so making the most of them is important. Before leaving, I made sure to squeeze in some family portraits with the hubs and his mom.

We were certainly the most unique rig on the road, resembling the Clampits on the trip back with the tarpped grandfather clock sticking up in the back and the cab of the 55 packed to the roof.

But even with that, we still had many admirers along the way. Someone would ask about the F-100 every time we stopped, even when it was for road construction and we chuckled watching folks stop what they were doing to watch us go by. One guy stared so hard he fell off the bike he was riding!

All said and done, it was a wonderful experience full of fun memories.

Berries in a Bucket

Published on June 28, 2014June 24, 2014 by Jenna1 Comment

Strawberries are my favorite part of summer, so when the coordinator of the Farmer’s Market I frequent offered me an entire flat of starts for free because they weren’t top stock I was elated. Since we don’t have the vegetable garden set up yet, I had to figure out another spot for my personal berry patch.

I’d seen tiered planters on Pinterest and knew I could rig something similar that would work using a large metal tub I already had. The hubs found me a freebie metal bucket to create the second level and it fit perfectly.

I didn’t take pictures of the process since it was so simple. He drilled a few drainage holes in the bottom of the bucket and I just placed it on top of the soil in the larger tub, filled it with dirt and planted my new berry babies. Easy peasy, berry squeezey.

The Magic of Kohls

Published on June 26, 2014June 24, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

I hadn’t been to Kohls for some time, but swung by before our trip to pick up some new camisoles with a 20% off coupon. There was a great sale going on and in addition to the camisoles, I ended up finding several amazing bargains, including several new costume jewelry pieces and a dress that should transition right into fall with several cardigans I already have.

I also used the in-store kiosk for the first time ever to order an item they didn’t have in my size in the store. Shipping was free, I got to use my coupon and the process was fairly quick and simple. A quick scan of the item’s barcode took me right to an order screen where I selected the size and quantity I wanted, then scanned my Kohls card and coupon. My only complaint was that the screen was a bit finicky when I was entering my address and email information, but I’d use it again for sure.

When I checked out with my in-store purchases my savings were more than my total spent thanks to my coupon and clearance finds. That always confuses my hubby, who just can’t understand how it’s possible. When I mentioned that to the cashier, she said “That’s the magic of Kohls!” I have to agree.

And here we go…

Published on June 24, 2014August 6, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

Sorry for “going dark” recently, but we’ve been traveling the AlCan to Portland and back to visit family and bring home my prized 1955 F-100 pick-up. I’ll be posting about the trip soon, but for now I’ll get you caught up on a few projects I didn’t have time to share before our trip.

The biggest was the installation of our first landscaping, two flowerbeds out front! After waiting weeks for the builder to grade our lot without resolution, the plants that had been sitting on my porch in anticipation were in desperate need of a permanent home. So we purchased top soil, mulch and weed fabric and set to work.

I marked out the shape I wanted with the hose as a guide. Then the hubs helped me till and level the area.

We added a layer of top soil on top of the tilled ground in the area where we planned to plant.

Next, we put down the weed fabric and used some large metal staples that came home in a bucket the hubs found for me as pins.

Then we put a section of pea gravel on top of the fabric along the house so when the rain water runs off the roof it doesn’t pool in the bed. Luckily, the hubs was able to get a free supply of gravel that worked out to be just the right amount for this project!

We also placed large rocks from around the yard along the border.

After that, I laid out the plants to decide exactly where I wanted everything. It took a little rearranging to get everything just right, but it was fun trying out different groupings.

Once I was happy with the layout, I cut holes in the weed fabric to plant each. The hubs filled in mulch around each plant as I moved on to the next plant.

We also did a small bed between the porch and the garage, which included a walkway to the hose spigot on the wall. The pavers were a bargain find on a local buy/sell page for just $2/each, so we picked all we could and have a healthy stash for other projects.

We followed the same process as the larger bed, but included spots for a rain barrel, hose rack and fountain.

The rain barrel and fountain still need some work, but at least they are in place and prepped. Watch for posts about those and the hose holder soon.

The entire process took about two days – much longer than I estimated, but it was well worth the effort and looks great! Although the kids played most of the time we were working, they did take a few breaks for naps on the pea gravel which they apparently found quite comfy.

In retrospect, I probably should have skipped the weed fabric since everything we planted are perennials – hosta, iris, lilies, phlox, dianthus, peony, pincushion flower, lavender and salvia – which will spread with each season, requiring I cut a bigger opening to allow that process. I’ll leave it in place for now and see how it goes. For now, I’m just giddy to have our first plants in the ground.

Now I just need to get the rain garden, lawn and veggie garden going! Let the madness of planting begin!

Sea-Life

Published on June 5, 2014 by Jenna3 Comments

It’s another crazy fast week here in the DB&DT home, but I did manage to find time to edit images from our trip to Seward over Memorial Day weekend to visit friends from Kodiak. While we were there we went to the Sealife Center to check out all the Alaskan sea creatures. Here’s a few of my favorites!

First we saw the harbor seals, who were totally adorable with all their spots!

We also saw them from underneath the water, while they swam. This one liked to swim upside down. 🙂

Next was the sea lions, including Woody the MASSIVE male who’s been there since he was born. He wasn’t super active but at 2,500 lbs I probably wouldn’t be either!

The bird enclosure was my favorite because you could stand right next to the water where the birds were swimming, which made for some great close ups.

The puffins were my favorite bird there. Here is a regular puffin and a horned puffin. Check out those eyebrows!

There were also several other species of ducks and water fowl, although I don’t remember all the names.

I spotted this puffin right behind where I was standing and enjoyed watching him watch his peers.

Apparently someone was building a nest, because this puffin kept taking mouthfuls of material up to this ledge where it would hide them behind that rock on the right.

But some just chilled, looking dashing in their permanent tuxedo.

We also saw this sea lion from the overlook to the training and medical pens. He was quite interested in what the staff were doing near his enclosure.

And of course there were many types of fish. Some cruised back and forth in their tanks, while others just ‘hung’ from the rocks.

Then there were the jelly fish. Every time I see one I think of Dory and her “Squishy”… and yes I did quote her several times!

But one of the coolest things to see was the giant octopus, or at least what we did see of him against the glass!

Although he never moved the whole time I was by his tank, he made some great abstract art!

A Quick Fix

Published on May 30, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

When we first brought Luna home, she took out her anxiety on my storage bench in the Master Closet. Since my other chitlins had somehow stained the seat while we lived in the rental house I wasn’t too upset about it.

But now that we’ve passed the “settling in” phase and she is secure in her role of ruling the DB&DT household, it was time to fix this little blemish.

I dug through my fabric stash and decided a tan microsuede remnant was the perfect match for the master bedroom decor and was just the right size for the project. Apparently, Luna felt a tad bit guilty about her role in creating the problem, so she wanted to help by taking her bath right next to the board as I worked on it.