Keep Your Kitchen Ant Free

Last year it was fruit flies. This year it's ants. They keep getting in and it's bugging me, no pun intended. They're not the tiny ones either, just the regular old black kind. They must really like what they're finding here cuz they're climbing up 3 stories and in near the sliding screen door in search of food (I think). They've finally reached the kitchen and dining room so I doubt they'll starve to death for me. Toddlers aren't known for eating neatly.

When I was growing up we would get ants in the summer. Mum always terro'd 'em to death. Now that I have a toddler and cat I don't really like that option. So, after searching online I came up with this recipe for a homemade ant killer:

1 Part Borax
1 Part Corn Syrup
2 Parts Water

Mix and set out small amounts (about 1 t-1 T) for the ants to eat and carry back to the rest.

Yesterday evening, after setting some bait outside, I looked onto my balcony and saw what must have been a good 20 of 'em- the most I've seen in one spot yet. Normally there are no more than 3. Now they're all gone out there. I can't say they all died but at least they're leaving me alone. Really, that's all I'm asking.

Terrific Tips: Creative Cleaning

1. How to Clean a Garbage Disposal
HowStuffWorks

2. Frugal Fabric Softener Recipes & Dryer Sheet Tips
TipNut

3. Ivory's Liquid Soap
Little House in the Suburbs

4. Tub Scrub Tip
Martha Stewart

Terrific Tips on Tuesday

Considering I just did a whole slew of food related posts the other day I'm gonna go ahead and post some tip links today instead.

1. Adventures in Rechargeable Batteries
Coding Horror

2. Mailorder Merchants that Ship Japanese Goods Worldwide
Just Hungry

3. Free Potty Training Printable Charts
Potty Training Concepts

4. Multi-Purposing in the Kitchen
Passionate Homemaking

5. Kids Eat Free Restaurant List
Frugal Living TV

6. Teaching Your Children About Money Management
Money Saving Mom

7. 10 Simple Steps to Living Green
LifeTips

8. 8 Ways to Find Motivation at Home
Simple Mom

9. Round Printable Labels for Spice Jars
Eating is IN

Little Miss Muffet

Remember how I've been going on and on about changing to environmentally friendly things? Well, as soon as I run out of paper towels I'm all stocked and ready for cloth ones. In fact I've already started using them every now again.

Unfortunately this left me with a bit of a dilemma. What was I going to do with the paper towel holder I had recently repainted and hung? I mean, I'm already in the habit of hanging cloth towels over the faucet to drip into the sink. If I hung them from the holder I'd just end up having to put down a second towel to keep it from dripping all over the craft dresser. What to do, what to do....



It just so happens I decided to embark on another experiment tonight- making homemade cream cheese from yogurt. I tied it to the holder and wrapped it with some twine for good measure. Fixed two birds with one stone- don'tcha love it?

I even made sure to save 1/2 c so I can make more yogurt as the mood hits! Yep, I'm feeling pretty thrifty right about now. ^^

Terrific Tips

1. 10 Ways to Go Green
Worldwatch Institute

2. How I Dress My Children for Free
Lake Michigan Treasures @ Money Saving Mom

3. Top 10 Ways to Trick Yourself into Saving Money
Lifehacker

4. But Waldorf Toys are so Expensive, Part 1
The Rowdy Pea

June Wallpaper & Calendar Love

I'm a sucker for calendars. Right now I have one in my living room, one in my bedroom, a Disney printable next to my computer, and another printable for Am to color. I used to have 2 more but I took them down. Am's bulletin board tells me the month and day of the week. My household binder/planner holds printable weekly outlines from Tricia Rennea along with a monthly menu planner. I double check all appointments using the Windows Live app linked to my hotmail account. You'd think with all of these calendars I'd be on top of things.

Nope. I still have to ask the date every time I fill out a check. It's just my little quirk. If you're a calendar lover too, Within Purple Lemon Designs has released their June calendar wallpaper. It's free and it comes out monthly. It's even available in different screen sizes- whatever works best for ya.

Organize Everyday Items

Found these tips in my most recent All You magazine.

• Use a pretty teacup as a catchall in the bedroom.
• Create a row of beautiful knobs screwed onto a piece of painted wood to hang purses, belts, or necklaces.
• Let a wine rack hold towels and more in the bathroom.
• Place toys in colorful bins and tuck them under something- like a bench.
• Sort linens by size and label the shelves.
• Hide remotes and things in pretty boxes.
• Turn craft supplies into displays with the use of clear glasses and vases. *See photo above*
  

Child-Proofed Dresser

I am so excited to be able to link to this post I just read. We happen to have a dresser in the kitchen next to the china hutch. Ever since Am could crawl I've been forced to leave the lower half empty. Now thanks to Totally Tots I can reclaim my furniture! If you have any dressers you should go check out their Child-Proofing Dresser Trick too.

Martha's Organizing Tips

Every now and again Martha comes up with a new nifty organizing tip. Here are a few of my favorites:

Remote Under Control

Cord Labels

Post a Stain First-Aid Chart
(with printable)

Six Things to Do Every Day

Paper Cup Liners

I had a post all set to go today but apparently it deleted itself. So now you can check out Martha's funky Paper Cup Liners tip instead. Here's to a more organized new year for all of us.

Ribbon Embellished Plastic Container

After my great trash can gift basket fiasco (don't ask) I've been racking my brain trying to figure out a cheap and easy gift basket that doesn't look dull. This Ribbon Embellished Plastic Container by Make and Takes is anything but! In her words, "These are easy to create and would make great gifts for anyone needing a container." I couldn't agree more.

Organize Your Recycling Center

New Year's Resolution #2: Be more environmentally friendly.
New Year's Resolution #3: Organize & Declutter

You can kill two birds with one stone with Martha's Recycling Center Instructions. I already know the exact space in my closet where I'm going to set mine up.