Avoiding the Frozen Waste

Since I've started actually cooking for my family, I've also started accumulating leftovers. I store them with the best of intentions (as I was raised not to waste food) and even deliberately cook extra just to freeze for later. The problem is, I lose track of things in the fridge and freezer; they get shoved to the back or stacked on top of until...well, they're unusable. Ugh. Who knew leftovers could look like that? [shudder]

When I was at Dollar Tree a few months ago, I saw these photo pockets and purchased a couple. I didn't have a particular use in mind, but there were several ideas floating around in my head — posting Scriptures to memorize, putting up my personal affirmations, menu planning, maybe even photos! LOL

Then I thought, why not use them to keep track of the stuff I put in the fridge and freezer so I can USE it before it spoils? I created a simple Word document, printed it onto blank 4x6 index cards and popped those into the photo pockets (which, I was pleased to note, completely contained the cards instead of leaving the edge poking out). Here's the PDF, if you want it!

Now whenever I put something "odd" in cold storage, I write on the outside of the pocket with some overhead transparency markers I found in my marker stash. (I intended to use dry erase but the tips were too fat and they wiped off too easily. The wet-erase transparency markers are very fine and won't come off if I brush up against the fridge.) In addition to the name of the item, I also put the amount being stored. That makes it easy to see if I have enough for a particular recipe or enough to make a meal.

The only problem now is that I need to buy a bunch more of those magnetic photo pockets! They're pretty darn useful.

Blinged-Out Brace

Saving orphans from ninjas.

That's my "official" story. It's a lot more glamorous than the "I-ran-into-our-steel-baby-gate-instead-of-simply-striding-through-it-and-it-hit-the-nerve-between-two-bones-in-my-wrist" story. Either way, my hyper-stimulated radial sensory nerve ends up in a plasticast.

No, it didn't come that way. I figured, if I'm going to stare at this thing for a few weeks, it darn well better be pretty. It's surprising how neutral leopard print is — it goes with every outfit! I used this picture for inspiration (found by Google-ing "leopard print"), grabbed a couple Sharpies, and went to town!

Everyone at my PT office freaked out when I went back the next time — they thought I'd gotten custom straps from somewhere. :) I spent my next visit decorating another patient's straps (to match her shirt) with my right hand as I did therapy with my left. FUN! Another day, I got to customize a friend's black brace with a silver Sharpie while we were doing some career training.



Next time you're stuck in a cast or brace, find some way for it to make you happy when you look at it!

Repurposing Old Jeans: crayon roll, part 1

I've wanted to make a crayon roll for the boys for a while now. Their crayons are currently in a plastic box from IKEA, but I'd like something a little more travel-friendly. Good thing it's a newbie-friendly project, because I'm going to have to do a tutorial mash-up to get the one I want. :D I like the fold-over flap from Feels Like Home, the trim from Skip to My Lou, the elastic closure from The Pleated Poppy, and the dimensions from Make It and Love It or The Idea Room (since my crayons are the tall twisty kind too). The idea to use vinyl inside is great, too (like on Stitched Boutique).

As if that wasn't enough, I got the bright idea to use some of my hubby's discarded jeans (which, he knows now, go straight into my fabric stash) so the roll will be durable. Is that even possible?!  (UPDATE: Craft Knife used upholstery samples from Goodwill, so probably.) (LATER UPDATE: Craft Knife also did it in denim and corduroy!) We'll see if my machine can handle it. This thing is going to end up being the size of a duffle bag, isn't it...?