The five things in January that made my life a whole lot better!
I think I’ve said this 1,000 times since I started this blog: Sometimes the smallest things can make our lives dramatically better. It surprises me how the big projects can make as much of a difference as some of the smaller changes I make. I moved our living room around a tad the other day and BAM, no cost and now I literally love the room again! Sometimes it does cost a little, or require just a small change (or the purchase of a product) and it truly can change your life for the better. Here are the five things that happened in January that absolutely made my life incredibly better!
Glass spray bottle affiliate link
I told you how much I love my glass spray bottle in my post about my new recipe for an all purpose natural spray. After a couple of months of using this little bottle now I am here to report that it remains one of my favorite purchases. The head is durable, it never dribbles or squirts funny, in fact it works better then any spray bottle I’ve ever used even on the regular windex bottles! It sure beats dumping vinegar on all of my surfaces! I almost feel spoiled now using such a fancy pancy spray bottle. (Yeah apparently it doesn’t take much to make me happy lol)
Bed buddy affiliate link
This might be an obvious one but seriously I don’t know how I lived without one for SO long! I had one growing up and my family used it often for aches and pains etc. I also experimented in making my own etc. (and rather failed at that I might add) but I’m so damned frugal I just couldn’t justify buying one for myself. Enter my mother-in-law the hero who purchased this for us for xmas ๐ I can’t tell you how often I would come home in January (when it was in the negative temperatures outside) warm this baby up and wrap it around my wet freezing feet. My husband has taken a shine to it as well and it is almost every night now one of us warms it up and brings it to the couch for our evening sit.
Hanging basket affiliate link
I mentioned this little basket in my post about it here, but I have to bring this up again. This project literally took me all of ten minutes (less time then it took me take the photos of it!) and it has improved my kitchen life so dramatically it is almost hard to believe. FINALLY, no sponge or soap container knocking over into my sink. I think the real last straw for me was when I had a big nasty pan soaking – filled with gross dirty cold water – when I bumped the foaming hand soap and it went SPLOOSH, spraying me, the counter top, the floor etc. and, yes, it went in my mouth. That was it and funny how I don’t always wonder WHY THE HECK DIDN’T I DO THIS SOONER!?
Silicon baking cups affiliate link
I love love love these little guys but I hadn’t fully fell head over heals until January when I discovered THIS RECIPE. Yes it is literally just 2 ingredients (bananas and oats) and nothing else unless you want to add something. Now I made them as big cookies initially and they stuck a bit and I’m not a baker so I thought maybe I should try my little silicon baking cups and I swear I heard angels singing. This last time I made them I mixed in some of my sister-in-laws homemade tri-berry jam and a pile of blueberries I picked last summer and, seriously people, AMAZING. My husband calls them “gewies” and I almost wish they weren’t so good because they were supposed to be my very healthy breakfast but I’m eating them all the time! Seriously, NOTHING sticks to these little cups, I was able to donate all of my muffin tins etc. In the pic the “recipe” is of our absolute favorite egg muffins – they are incredible. Just mix up a bunch of eggs with your favorite seasonings and then in the bottom of each cup I add ground cooked sausage and onions and cheese, top with the scrambled raw eggs and bake for half an hour! I’ve tried all kinds of different combos from ham to pepperoni etc. and they are always AMAZING. And, they are a great way to use up eggs, in one batch I usually use 17 eggs! And they freeze great too!
Saving jars affiliate link
So, it finally happened people, I went to my stash of jars and I had run out. How is this even possible!? All these months of my ridiculously saving ever single glass jelly, pickle and olive jar and it turned out I wasn’t a total nut after all! (A little story. I threw a sweet potato away the other day – it was already cooked, there was nothing wrong with it but I knew I wouldn’t eat it so I decided to skip the putting it in the freezer for 6 months before throwing it out. I have real issues with throwing anything away – just call me grandma.) So, I have this jar hoard in our house (And also in the barn but those are special jars left to me from my grandma so those don’t count as hoarding, is what I tell my husband.) so, anyway, I save every jar and I actually used them all ๐ Between rice, oats, seasonings, herbs, leftovers to freeze etc. I utilized almost every single jar I had saved over the last 6 months!!! Sweet victory!
It really is the little things folks ๐
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I’m Tarah!
It’s been a hell of a ride since I started this blog and renovated and moved into this old farm house back in 2015. I got married, divorced, lost my doggo soul mate, spent two years as a single gal, remodeled everything, threw my back out countless times and was even found by an amazing guy in my own backyard! (The story behind Storyhardt Farm.)
Around here we’re totally fearless when it comes to bettering our home. We love to refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces, build it from scratch and totally renovate anything that needs it! If we can do it – so can you. We’ve got some serious plans for this old farm and, for first time ever, I have a real partner!
This is gonna be so much fun!
You can also find out more about the amazing Grandma behind this blog who moved in to this old farmhouse with my Grandpa nearly 70 years ago!
I love this! Really, we’d all be so much happier & content if we look for ways to make do or enjoy the simple things.
I have found when I’m discontented, if I walk through my house & find the spot or thing that annoys me the most then really search for a make do solution…oh how good it makes me feel. Kind of like your basket over the sink! ๐
I’m going to check out the bed buddy for sure!
Love your blog.
Thank you so much Jenny! That’s a really good tip because we don’t realize how one little thing that’s not working well for us can ruin the way we feel about a whole room!
Question, you mentioned the egg cups but did not give a bake temp. They sound fast and good. Could you give me the temp. Thanks
Hi Kay, just 350 for about 35 minutes depending on how hot your stove is! ๐ Jut keep an eye on them, when they start browning on the top you’re good to go!
I am a sr. citizen and i love all little things in life and how great they make you feel. I enjoy your posts thank you for sharing.
Thanks for coming by Marlene!
I enjoyed this post very much.
It’s the small things, right?
Love your blog!
Thank you Carol!
I have been thinking about getting some of those silicone baking cups since I bake a lot. Sounds like it would be a good idea!
Roseann I bought a set for my mom and my aunt now too, they’re so easy to clean!
Yup, it’s often the little things that make us happy! thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks for coming by Jann!
Fun post Tarah! I’ve never heard of the bed buddy–I’m going to have to find one of those ๐ Thanks so much for linking up with us at Vintage Charm–
Thanks Diana!
My goodness, I guess I’ve been hiding under a rock, because I’d never seen any of these wonderful inventions!
Thanks for coming by and reading Michele!
That bed buddy sounds like something I’d use all the time!
It is definitely something I would encourage everyone to get, especially for those cold winter nights ๐
Tara we also have lots of those silicone thingies. My daughter makes all sorts of things in them and I love how easily they wash up. Now about hoarding jars… well let’s just say I am at a point where there are more empty jars in my cupboards than anything else. Not good Tara. I need to do something to scale back. I know you get me.
lol Mary I totally get you! When this post went live I was already hoarding more so honestly I don’t think a day will come again when I ever use them all again *facepalm* oh well, we get to be a little weird right?
I with you, silicone cupcake liners are the best. Thanks for sharing the things that made your life a whole lot better at the Creative Muster. PINNED
Robin | Fluster Buster
Thanks for commenting and coming by Robin!
I’m definitely getting some of those silicone cup cake holders. Thanks so much for sharing with us at #OvertheMoon Link Party. I’ve pinned and shared.
Thanks for coming by! Those little silicone cups have just made my kitchen life SO much easier!
Silicone baking cups! Feet warmers! What great ideas. I could really use those feet warmers.
April, yup that bed buddy has warmed my feet many times!
Such fantastic finds! Definitely going to have to look into Bed Buddies. My feet get so cold at night! And we love silicone baking cups, too. We use them all the time as cups for dip and hummus for the kids, or to separate food in lunch boxes. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Leslie, a bed buddy is one of those things that now that I have one I don’t know how I lived without!
My feet are always cold and I need a bed buddy. I also need to start using the silicone baking cups and molds that are just collecting dust on my shelves. Thanks for the reminder! Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story, have a great weekend.
Thanks Sandra! That bed buddy was a life saver for me this winter!
Oh that bed buddy sounds amazing Tarah. I need to get me one of those. There’s nothing worse than cold tootsies and I’m sure hubby will be forever in your debt too, I no longer need to use his back to warm up my feet ๐
Michelle, my hubby feels the same way lol!
Lots of good things here. We use our homemade rice bags and really like them…. they would be like your foot warmer. So handy. ๐
I really need to try and make my own someday too! Thanks for commenting!
I love some of these ideas! I may have to get one of those bed buddies for myself. I am perpetually cold, no matter the temperature. I also need to get myself some silicone baking cups. It’s one of those things that every time I see them I think, “I need to get some of those.” And then it just never happens. I just need to MAKE it happen. ๐ Thanks for sharing!
Amy I totally know how you feel being “always cold”. At my day job, in the summer time when the air conditioner is running, I’m always sitting at my desk with a space heater running at my feet lol! That bed buddy has been a major blessing when I get home!
I was thinking of getting my middle son some of those silicone baking cups; he just loves making cupcakes.
They are absolutely amazing!
Your all purpose spray sounds great and I love that you were able to use all those jars! Super you are keeping your feet warm too – it’s not indulgent to take care of yourself. Thank you for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party, Tarahlynn!
Thank you so much April, have a great week!
I hoard jars too! But how do you get the pickle/olive smell out? It always seems to stick in the lids. I’ve tried soaking in vinegar, maybe I didn’t let it sit long enough?
I’ve been eyeing silicone cups, may have to move them from my wish-list into my checkout cart!
Thank you! :O)
Hey Laurie, those silicone cups are AMAZING. Everyone in my family owns them now lol I always soaked them in vinegar over night and ran the lids through the dishwasher a couple of times and, when you store them, make sure to store them with the lids OFF, so they can breathe, that seems to help a lot too!
I LOVE this post! I have made several of these changes myself (saving all.the.jars, using silicone baking cups, and making my own cleaners), but now I am looking to order that hanging basket & foot warmer! There is nothing like a cozy& simple life! Thanks for linking up with the Homestead Blog Hop!
Thanks so much for coming by and commenting Jessica! I literally look forward to getting home to my bed buddy all winter long lol!