Handy House Tip #4: Fall Cleaning Checklist

    
      So it’s really fall, which means it time to start getting ready for the cold times ahead. I despise being cold, my mother likes to say “She is too old to be cold”. I may not be as old as her (but, who is counting Mom) but I’d like to think I can live through her mantra as well. My apartment is filled with blankets, like at least three in my living room, including this one. Thus in fall, when they start to get used daily instead of weekly, I really need to clean them.  Here is my fall checklist for cleaning :

• Clean blankets
• Dust EVERYTHING
• Switch out summer clothing for winter ones
• Clean oven (research first)
• Really go through the fridge and throw out expired foods
• Do the same thing in the pantry and freezer
• Figure out how to clean the shower and do that
• Wipe down fans
• Clean out magazine stack, it’s overgrown again

Do you have any fall cleaning checklists? Anything you always clean? Know how to clean an oven? Tips on dusting, tip on anything?

How to not: Melted Crayon Art

…As only a mother could love. So I decided to try one of those uber-cool melted crayon art things. One thing off my fall list of projects, phew. Still not sure if I love it, I tried to do a heart and FAILED but hey maybe, the half heart things is kind of cool in a modern art kind of way (though I detest most modern art, okay ALL modern art).

    I liked the original one but just found it a bit too elementary for my tastes ( I know I recycled my pun, but it's just so pun-y!) Anyways, I tried to make the heart stay white on the inside but I was lazy and thus failed. As my mother says "If you have time to do it over, you have time to do it right" and this time I learned that lesson really well. It's like the time I tried to make a lamp or ship a cake.

 
Materials:

Crayons

Blow-dryer

Hot Glue Gun

Canvas

Parchment Paper


 
Directions:

1. Decide on the pattern for the crayons. THEN unwrap the crayons, it's easier because you might not have to peel as many crayons. *Make sure you have a good tv show to watch, because it can take forever to peel them. Who knew?
   
2. Hot glue the parchment paper down completely (this is where I messed up). Then hot glue down the crayons.
   
3. Let it sit outside or a hot for a bit to soften the crayons.
   
4. Take a blow-dryer to the crayons, with the canvas slightly at an angle so crayons melt in down the canvas. Be careful there will be a 'splash zone'
   

 


I did this with one of my best friends when we were both home over summer, but hers looked much better. Oh well, next time?