Handwashing vs. Dishwasher

Our dishwasher has been a mainstay of our home from the very beginning.

However, a few months back we noticed it was beginning to show it's age

and this past week the pump washed it's last wash.

The debate is on as to replace the pump or upgrade to a new dishwasher.

But I told hubby there was no rush. I could hand wash our dishes.

After all, it's only the two of us at home now and we both work all day,

I don't bake and cook to the extent I used to 

when the kids were home

and I was a stay-at-home mom.

So, in reality washing the dishes doesn't take long at all.

The benefit is there are always dishes in the cupboard

and we don't run out of cutlery.

It took us so long to get the dishwasher full enough to run

that running out of cutlery was a problem

Some other benefits of handwashing is that hubby helps

dry the dishes in the evening and it has been

so relaxing to wash the dishes, chat with hubby

and enjoy the beautiful view of the backyard out the window.

What about you?

Do you prefer handwashing or the dishwasher?

 ~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Alana

 

Playing with Essential Oils

 My daughter loved essential oils

And always had some blend running in her diffuser.
When she moved away I missed

Coming home to the scents of the essential oils

So I bought a small diffuser and started dabbling.

At first I just used one oil at a time.

Then, I started using different blends

That I found on Pinterest,

But often I found they started strong

And then disappeared to nothing.

Now I am moving on and experimenting

With blends of my own.

I love this handy reference sheet of

Top notes, middle notes and base notes.

For my little diffuser

3 drops of a top note oil,

2 drops of a middle note,

And 5 drops of a base note

Give me beautiful scents that last all day.

Do you use essential oils?

What is your favourite blend?

~~~*~~~

~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Alana

Pantry & Freezer Cleaning

Just before it is time to start harvesting in the garden

I like to give my pantry and freezer a thorough cleaning.

This is pretty much an all day job but it is the best time to do it

as the freezer and pantry are at their lowest stocked points.

I start the day by unplugging the freezer 

and taking everything out and putting it in baskets.

I try to put like things together,

breads in one basket, veggies in another, meat in another, etc.

When I am done taking everything out

I leave the freezer and head over to start on the pantry.

I start by taking everything off one section and

wiping it down with a mild bleach solution.

While the one set of shelves is drying

I start taking things off the next section of shelving.

It is always handy to have a large garbage can nearby

to throw out any old items or packaging.

When I am about half done working my way around the pantry

it is usually time to head back to the freezer.

Once all the chunks of ice have fallen down

I scoop them out with a shovel.

I'm short and it's the easiest way for me to get them out - lol :)

I then wipe down the freezer with a very mild bleach solution,

rinse it and dry it.

As I put things back into the freezer I make a list of everything going in

with the quantity of each item.

When I am all finished I put the master sheets on top of the freezer

and as an item is added or removed I change the total on the sheet.

Once everything is all back in looking neat and tidy

it's time to plug it back in, shut the lid

and wipe down the outside.

Now it's all ready for the veggies that I will be freezing.

Then it's back to the pantry to finish the last half.

For some reason this side always seems to go a little quicker

but I don't mind.  By this time I just want to be done.

When the shelves are done I give the floor a good wipe down as well

and change and update any shelf labels that need it.

It's a wonderful feeling to have it done

and seeing those clean, empty shelves

just waiting for the canning from the garden.

~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!



Vignettes Fight Clutter

I discovered something recently

that made me love making vignettes

even more than I already do.

They help reduce clutter!

The top of this dresser was bare except for one lone candle.

Bare spots don't stay bare for long

and things get placed there,

just for a moment,

that seems to last forever.

I loved the colors and saying on this piece

and thought it would be perfect on top of this dresser.

These two candle holders fit the love theme.

Don't you just love this little candle snuffer.

And the heart shape on this one.

This vase needed a home

and goes so well with the colors.

It is really true.

Love makes a house a home.

~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I am joining...

A Stroll Through Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Mod Vintage Life for Mod Mix Monday
Have a Daily Cup from Mrs. Olsen for Share Your Cup Thursday
52 Mantels for Thursdays Are Your Days
A Ruffled Nest for Friday Pretties

House Plant Makeover

I love growing things outdoors

but for some reason

I don't have much success with

growing indoor plants.

My daughter, on the other hand,

seems to have great success with her houseplants.

She had one instruction for me when she went off to college -

"Don't kill my plants."

Well, believe it or not I didn't kill them.

I actually am pretty proud about that - lol.

But when she got home she declared

they needed transplanting

and, well, they did - desperately.

We went shopping for some new pots

that she felt would go with her room decor.

And then the transplanting began.

The plants were so happy to have

bigger pots and fresh soil.

And the new pots look so nice in her room.

I love her bamboo.

It even got a new pot,

fresh water

and new rocks.

The plant on the left she took from me

and nursed it back to health

when she discovered it almost dead.

The little shamrock has been struggling

so she's claimed that one too!

I thought this pot was so cute for the shamrock plant.

She tried to match her plants to her pots :)

And her Christmas Cactus bloomed twice this year

under my care :)

It was a good day to be planting inside

because outside the snow was coming down.

It's been a crazy weathered spring

that's for sure.

I am joining...

Be Different...Act Normal for Show and Tell Saturday

Our Delightful Home for Show Me What You Got

Cozy Home Scenes for Your Cozy Home Party

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Happy Hour Projects for Happy Hour Friday

Easy Pillow Make Over

I have had these pillows (below)

since we moved into this house

over 12 years ago.

I had found the cloth at a garage sale

and the colors matched perfectly

with my dining room.

As you can tell though,

they have become quite faded over the years.

When I saw these pillow covers in Dollarama

I knew they were the perfect thing

to revive my old pillows.

All I had to do was unzip the back

and put the old pillows inside.

And as quick and simple as that

my old pillows were revived!

I am joining...

Lorie at Be different...Act normal for Show and Tell Saturday

Shannon at Cozy Home Scenes for the Cozy Home Party

Welcome Home!

After being away at school for the past eight months

my daughter has come home for the summer.

To welcome her home I did a special

"Welcome Home" tablescape.

I used her favorite colors - orange and pink.

The vase she picked out from Michaels on a previous visit home.

The flowers I found at Dollarama

as well as the clear frames and stickers

which I used for the welcome home sign.

These wonderful woven placements I found at JYSK

and were the perfect color.

I layered them and just tucked under the ends

on the pink placement to allow

the orange placement to accent.

And added some houses

to complement the theme of home

which I found at the local thrift store.

I used simple white dishes

to allow the pink and oranges to shine.

The napkin and napkin ring are both from Pier 1 Imports.

And the tealight holders were from Dollarama.

The glasses I bought at a clearance sale from Stokes last year.

I just love the pattern on them.

I added a few pink daisies,

which are my daughters favorite flowers.

And my "Welcome Home" tablescape was complete.

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the look on her face when she saw it.

She absolutely loved it!

And that's what I love about tablescaping -

seeing the joy it brings others :)

I am joining...

Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays