Vinegar

by the Big Sister

How very stinky yet so very useful!!  Pungent, strong and natural.  I'd like to share a few reasons I like the acidic liquid.

Reason #1 - Salt & Vinegar Chips.  Although they resemble the scent of sweaty feet, this tangy snack is a winner in my book!!

 Reason #2 - cleans the paint off your paint brushes and it keeps your bristles soft!

Reason #3 - I don't have a picture of how terribly corroded my shower head was or how clean and shiny it is now.  I soaked the shower head in a bowl of vinegar for several hours and ta-DA! 

Reason #4 - We've recently started using vinegar in place of bleach.  We've needed something strong enough to combat our work out gear yet gentle enough not to break down the material as often as we need them washed.  See what has caused our increased sweatiness here.  (1 cup of vinegar seems to works well on a large load).   It also works great as a natural fabric softener!

Reason #5 - One of my favorite summer recipes!!  Cucumber Salad.  This is a fresh, simple, and low calorie side dish that my Grandmother has made for years.  I've modified the recipe slightly but it's just as good.

What you'll need:

• 2-3 medium cucumbers
• 1 large onion
• 1 cup vinegar
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup (or less) sugar
• A ton of dill weed

Directions:

• Thinly slice cucumbers.  
• Slice onions into thumb length strips. 
• Bring vinegar, water and sugar to quick boil (to dissolve sugar)
• Cool liquid and add to cucumber and onion mixture
• Cover with dill - I go crazy with dill to the point of not being able to see the cucumbers and onions 
• Best if chilled for several hours (or over night) before serving.

*** Taste liquid mixture before adding to veggies.  You may want less vinegar, more sugar, etc.  My Grandma's recipe calls for equal parts  sugar, water and vinegar.  I found that it was far too sweet for my liking so I altered it a bit.

What are your favorite uses for vinegar?  I'd love to hear!

New Kitchen Wall Art

by The Big Sister

We've lived in our house for four years or so now and most of the walls remain white.  I'm slowly bringing life to our home but it's much scarier then some may think.  I blame my overly active brain - it brings a lot of ideas and design to the table but my ideas don't often mesh well together.  

Does anyone else suffer from an interior design identity crisis?  Do you change your interior design style as often as you change your socks?  Do you mix styles that only "a mother could love"?  

....random thought------------------->>> Have you ever seen the movie Cry Baby ?  The above picture has always reminded me of the character "Hatchet Face".   

...and back to business... I always wanted to go to school for interior design (what's stopping me?  ...excuses) and I'd imagine I break every rule every second of the day.  There is a serious "Sybil" design crisis happening here.  

So... my latest design "warm and fuzzy" is in the rustic / chic / modern /  eclectic / warm / upcycled  - FaMiLy.  What does that mean?  No clue.  

...and...as much as I love to post "new" content and ideas that are all mine.... I must give credit where credit is due! I have a few shout outs today as I share my latest kitchen wall update.  

I think most of you are familiar with The Graphics Fairy.  I've used her amazing graphics for many occasions so I knew it would be a great starting point for some inspiration.  I googled my tail off trying to find ideas for inexpensive printable DIY art.  I stumbled upon Twigs and Twirls' great use of the Graphics Fairy Dress Forms and fell in love!  I searched TGF's site looking for anything that could relate to my current style needs and I came up with ....

Chairs (by Graphics Fairy: Vintage Clip art French Chairs, Vintage Clip Art - Pretty Paris Tufted Chairs, Vintage clip art - Frenchy Chairs).

I took some serious inspiration from Twigs and Twirls Dress Form Wall Art (thank you!!)

Where did I start?

Do you remember these GUYS?

Did you know they started out looking like this?!

Are those sheds? porta-potties?

So, the latest modifications..

• Dry brushed the black frame to give it a more worn beachy look
• The background consists of old book pages
• Free printable chair graphics printed from The Graphics Fairy (cut and taped in the middle of the book pages)
• The End

I tested my new happy place out on a small wall in my kitchen and married a variety of styles together.  What are your thoughts?  Do they  make sense? 

Art (above) created by my niece, Karsyn

Thank you A Girl and a Glue Gun for your photo editing alternatives to Picnik now that it has shut its doors to us.  I took her recommendations and used PicMonkey in today's Post.  I don't mind it so far :)  

Thanks for reading!!

New Adventures and I Miss You Much

by The Big Sister

Hello!  Happy Martin Luther King Jr., Valentines, St Pattie's, Easter, Passover, and whatever other big day I've missed :) 

Lot's of things have happened since my last post and I thought I'd clue you in on some of the latest and greatest.

My first distraction from Design DNA was an on going love affair with a book of been trying to write...for over ten years.  My unofficial A.D.D. diagnosis seems to prevent me from focusing on extracurriculars for long periods of time so I tend to have way to many things going on at once. 

My second distraction from Design DNA and my first distraction from my latest attempt at writing... was the decision my Husband and I made to join a gym.  Elliptical, treadmill, or leg press machines are not found in this gym.  Only my BLOOD, SWEAT and TEARS!

Curious?

Check out my latest adventures in Krav Maga here !!

 Have you stepped out of your comfort zone lately?