Monthly Archives: October 2011

Sonja’s Guide to Life: How to Repair a Toilet

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My toilet had been making the sorts of noises that I imagine an asthmatic drowning goat might make for months now. I finally convinced my husband to team up with me today to fix it, and, as a result, I present to you our highly informative and not at all silly guide to repairing a toilet. There’s too much awesome to fit in a text post, so it’s in video format. Enjoy.

3 Things That Are Easier Homemade

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I’m not a huge homemade kind of gal. If I can buy it in the store, I’m usually ok with that. But there are a few things that are better or easier or cheaper when you make them at home, enough so that I’m willing to do it.

Popcorn

I love popcorn. Of the things I love, popcorn probably ranks third behind, like, books and puppies. I used to make it in those microwave popcorn bags. It was ok. But I discovered that it’s easier, much cheaper, and actually tastes better to make your own microwave popcorn bags.

You need:

  • a package of standard lunch bags
  • a jar/bottle/container/whatever of unpopped popcorn
  • butter
  • salt

Measure 1/4 of a cup of popcorn kernels and dump them in a lunch bag. Fold the top of the bag over twice. Throw it in the microwave. Wait until there are a few seconds between pops. Take it out, pour it in a bowl, and dump however much butter and salt you want on it. It’s SO GOOD. Nice and fluffy and way fresher tasting than the prefab microwave bags.

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Halloween Mantel

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I always like to decorate my mantel for the holidays. We only have one “living area” (none of that formal living room, family room, den, etc. crap– it’s all in one spot), and the fireplace is the focal point, so decorating my mantel gives me a lot of bang for my buck. If I’m going to decorate one spot in the house for the season, that’s the place.

The best tips I’ve ever found for decorating a mantel? They come from Dina Holland of Honey & Fitz. Here’s her helpful little diagram:

 

Cool, right? Now you can decorate your mantel for any season, just using those tips. (Check out Dina’s post for some examples of mantel decor that will work for any season.)

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