Basement Progress

So because getting the basement is such a huge deal for me I thought I'd write a little post on how it's going. Everything is pretty much on schedule to be finished next week so I'm ecstatic.

Basement compounded and drying.

What Has Been Done: 
-Entire basement has been dry walled and compounded. Third layer of compound drying as we speak.

-Flooring for the sewing studio has arrived! YAY!
-The bulkhead is in the process of getting wrapped and finished.
-Louvered door arrived for the storage room.

-Floor trim has been picked out.
-Final paint scheme and plan approved.

Laminate flooring!

Bulkhead wrapped with wood.

Louvered door and trims.

The next steps are fairly obvious. Sanding the compound, laying the laminate floor, finishing the tile, hang the drop ceiling, putting on trim, and installing the finishing electrical. Then I will have a freshly painted room with flooring and I have to put furniture in it. I'm planning on building a cutting table and ironing bench since I'm particular about those but I also have my eye on some peg board and accessories since they are so modular...or at least something similar. I can't wait to put my bookshelf in and set up my drafting table....very exciting!! Anyway I'll leave this as a short post for now! Good night all!

Two New Best Friends

I have two new best friends. Really. The first is an old-school cold remedy and the second is an equally old-school cleaning aid. This cold has really had me down and out and, let's face it, you can be that way for long with a two year old.

My first new best friend is Alka-Seltzer. Not the Plus or Cold variety. I mean plain old Alka-Seltzer. Taking two of their effervescent tablets in the morning and two at night before bed has really helped a lot. It's helped relieve the sinus pressure, headaches, and body aches that usually plague me at those two times of day. A better start to my morning and easier time falling asleep? Yes please! Like with any type of medication you should read and adhere to all dosing instructions. These helpful tablets do contain aspirin so please be careful.

My second new best friend is baking soda. Once upon a time baking soda was the cure-all for cleaning as well as baking. Well just because we've discovered new cleaning products doesn't mean that this old friend no longer works. It's just the opposite. It works beautifully and is a green alternative to some of the harsher cleaning chemicals.This The New Homemaker article lists twenty seven different cleaning uses for baking soda. Between this and their article on vinegar I think you could almost replace all of the common cleaners in your home. The big breakthrough for me came when my mother showed me how she had begun to use baking soda to clean her stove top. I have a glass top stove and the bottled cleaners always smell bad and God only knows what's in them. This time I tried sprinkling a little baking soda on my stove top after it ad cooled and scrubbed it with a lightly damp sponge with an abrasive side. Sure enough all of the little stains came up without a fuss. Awesome! no more harsh stove top cleaners for me!

The cold is slow in going away but I'm hoping that by Monday it'll be all gone! Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Tomato Barley Soup

My dear husband and I have been trying to lose weight. Who hasn't right? In our bid to better health I have been trying all kinds of recipes and the most recent one is one my mother found. My mom is an awesome cook whereas I've always been better at baking. Anyways this soup, slightly modified from it's original form found on Allrecipes.com, is filling and hearty while only coming in at 200 calories per serving and serves six! Pretty awesome right? It also tastes great when topped with a little grated cheese of your choice but that is completely optional. 

Tools:
- Food processor/chopper/knife and cutting board
- Heavy bottomed soup pot
- Wooden spoon
- Garlic press
- Can opener

Ingredients:
- 1 Cup diced Onion (for dicing I have used the food processor - it goes faster!)
- 1 Cup diced Carrots
- 1 Cup diced Celery
- 2 tsp. minced/pressed garlic
- 2 Tbs. Vegetable oil
- 2 and 1/2 Cups Water
- 2 Tomatoes, diced (can't use the food processor here!)
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can Peeled and Diced Tomatoes with juice
- 1 (15 ounce) can Cannellini / White Kidney beans
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can Low Sodium Chicken Broth
- 1/4 Cup uncooked Pearl Barley
- 1/8 tsp. Ground Black Pepper
- 1/8 tsp Thyme
- 1/8 tsp Oregano
- 1/8 cup Small star pasta (Optional great for small kids) 

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the onions, celery, carrots, garlic and oil and saute for 5 to 10 minutes, or until all vegetables are almost tender.  2. Then add the water, fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes, cannellini beans, chicken broth, barley, ground black pepper, thyme, and oregano. 3. Stir thoroughly and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 35 to 40 minutes, or until barley is tender.

The Cold Season, Tea & Hot Toddies

The cold season has finally hunted me down. I have been a full day with the runny nose, sore throat, and bleary feeling that has plagued the masses this season. Of course this type of thing hits while I have my dear son for two days all to myself.

I have a feeling that I may not post much this week due to this stupid cold that has wiggled its way into our house. My son had a runny nose and a poor appetite for the past half week and I suppose I can look forward to the same. I can only hope that it doesn't last very long and to that end I have been dosing myself with Airborne and my daily vitamins as well. Tea has been my constant companion as well.

One of my favorite collections is my tea collection. I have, in my many years of consuming caffeine, become a great admirer of loose leaf teas. I usually have four or five varieties on hand and have certainly garnered a few favorite blends from a handful of quality sources. One of my favorite spots is a small little store near my sister's place near Montréal. The Cha Noir Tea House is the best little place and their blends of tea are fantastic. My current all time favorite black tea blend is from there: Earl Grey Creme. It is positively delicious and is a mix of a superior black tea, bergamot, and I think a hint of vanilla. Though I am finding that my cold is being helped along a little more by their Rooibos Kalahari blend. This mix includes cornflowers and lemongrass that are not only relaxing but helps me breathe.

While not a tea I've also found that the old-school hot toddy works wonders for your throat. My own recipe uses honey for sweetener instead. Feel free to alter to your taste as usual!

Hot Toddy Recipe

8 oz hot water 

1 oz scotch or whiskey 

2 tsp honey

1 tsp lemon juice 

1. Heat the water, honey and lemon juice together.

2. Add in the whiskey when the mix is off the heat and stir.

The fascinating thing that I've discovered is why this works. Really all you need is the hot water, lemon, and honey but here's the explanation. Lemon had natural acids in it that cuts through the mucus in your throat while honey soothes sore and scratchy throats. Mayo Clinic ¹ has endorsed it as has Parent's Magazine. ² While nothing is mentioned in either articles about whiskey or scotch I still think it serves a good purpose for adults!


1.Mayo Clinic - Cold Remedies: What helps, what doesn't, and what can't hurt.
2. Parent's Magazine - 14 Natural Health Remedies for Children