Google Docs for Simple Storage

Have you enjoyed discovering new delicious recipes on Pinterest?  Are you finding healthy ideas for the New Year on blogs like Once a Month Mom or through weight loss sites like Weight Watchers?  It's January and that means that life slows down just ever so slightly here and we begin to hunker down for winter weather.  With this increased time indoors and at home, I find myself re-committing to cooking at home for my family.

Now, lets get things straight.  I can most definitely follow a recipe, but I'm not the type of cook that can look in her pantry and whip random ingredients together to create a yummy meal.  I find myself constantly struggling with what's for dinner tonight.  With most things in my life, I've learned that in order to be successful with getting dinner to my family's table, I need to be organized.

That's where Google Docs has entered my life.  Have you tried it or ever heard of it?  I'm a new user, but here is what I've already discovered.  I now have a quick online destination to copy and paste all of those fabulous recipes I come across on Pinterest, favorite blogs or healthy websites.  You can also add collaborators to your documents so they can view and edit items.  What a great way to share recipes with  

your family or circle of friends.

Even better is that I have discovered an App for my phone that allows quick access to all things Google called G-Whizz!  It's perfect for when I'm out at the grocery store and know that I have one more ingredient to pick up but can't remember all of the items in the recipe.  

Check out this quick You Tube clip to learn more about the simple organizing you can do with your documents at Google Docs.  I would love to hear about your system for keeping your various recipes organized.  Until next time, keep it fun and simple ~ Alissa

   

Chalk It Up

The kids are at my parents and my hubs is out at a work event.  A quiet house is very much the exception to the rule here.  Rather than completing a full load of laundry or other items on the ever evolving to-do list, I decided to break open an old can of chalkboard paint that was leftover from our basement remodel.

Another idea from Pinterest - create a chalkboard with a silver platter.  Look what I scored at TJ Maxx for $9.99...

I like the idea of having a dressy look to a chalkboard for the kitchen.  A few coats of paint will cover completely and dry within a few hours.

I picked up some fun ribbon to complete the look.

I liberally applied hot glue to adhere the ribbon to the back of the platter.  Here is the completed project.

A little Italian message "Let's Eat" was the perfect first note for our kitchen.  Until next time, keep it fun and simple ~ Alissa

Monogramed Key Holder

I completed the Monogramed Key Holder over the weekend and in true novice style, had a few hiccups and lessons learned.  Make the right mistakes, right?  Ones that don't hurt you or others, but teach you something.

Anyway on to my first DIY project.  Again I found this idea on Pinterest and found the supplies at a Hobby Lobby.  Here is what you will need.

1.  A wooden frame in any size.  Mine is 8 x 10

2.  Spray paint in your favorite color

3.  Hooks like the one pictured above

4.  Wooden letter and your favorite color of acrylic paint

5.  Scrapbook paper - big enough to serve as the background in your frame

Truthfully this project is so simple, that I feel a little silly providing step by step instructions.  Here is a picture of the finished product and then I'll add instructions below.  Being a novice, with these things I am definitely a visual learner, so let's start with a pic and then the written description.

Paint your letter and frame and allow 1 day to dry completely.  You will need to do a few coats to cover completely.  Next, fit your scrap paper to the backing of the frame.  I used both double-sided tape and a few drops of hot glue to adhere the paper to the back of the frame.

After everything is dry you are ready to glue the wooden letter onto the scrap paper.  I would suggest putting your frame together and then glueing down the letter.  This way you can make sure things are centered and allow enough room along the edges of the frame (I did not do in this order, and so the top of my "S" is set slightly too high).

Finally, you are ready to install the hooks on your frame.  Lightly tap them in and then you will be able to turn/screw them in the remainder of the way.

It's a fun, easy and fairly cheap project to try to get used to crafting with spray paint and using a glue gun.  Oh, and as my hubs mentioned, it's really functional!

Next up is a fun twist on creating a dressed up chalkboard.  Yes, another idea from Pinterest.  Until next time, keep it fun and simple! ~ Alissa

Welcome!

Well, hello!  Whether you accidentally arrived at this blog or were begged by me to check it out, thank you for stopping by.  I'm excited to share various ideas, stories and random thoughts via Basically Simple Girl.

So let's talk about the blog title and concept.  Basically Simple Girl is about everything that I've ever considered trying or doing, but have lack of knowledge, energy or possibly time to attempt.  I find that I'm surrounded by so many talented friends and family.  Some quilt, some paint, some craft, some are talented photographers and others are amazing cooks.

While I feel that I've tried some of these things, I'm not really the type of person to be described as any of the above labels.  But, I've always been inspired by what they create and I love to write.  So, why not start a blog, right?

If you like to watch a novice in action, you are at the right place.  My plan is to have this blog serve as my forum for trying new recipes, sharing fun ideas for the kiddos and learning to create fun stuff for our home.

Project number 1 is from an idea I found on Pinterest.  It is a monogramed key holder that I'm creating from some supplies from Hobby Lobby (a store I had never been to until a week ago - see I'm totally a novice).  I'm armed with my new glue gun and some spray paint, among other things.  I'll post the project details soon.

Please become a follower and leave a comment too if you so please.  Followers and comments get me excited!