Kool-aid pickles

I can imagine what you're thinking. I made this book over ten years ago and I use it all the time. My last name is on the front so please pardon the little brown swatch. I chose to call it Good Things because, well, we all have our heroes. ;-)

I have this OCD thing about throwing magazines out before I've read them front to back at least six times and clipped every single good idea I've found in them. If I threw these clippings into a drawer or a big envelope, I'd never look at them again.

So I bought an inexpensive photo album at Walmart, removed the magnetic photo pages (which you should never use on photos because they're not acid-free and eventually your photos will deteriorate - a hundred years from now, but still) and I replaced them with equally inexpensive clear sheet protectors. I use plain white printer paper to glue these fabulous little finds of mine to and slide those into the protectors.

I use this book all the time. It's full of all kinds of interesting, useful and fun ideas. You may think that's a little over the top. Except you, Laura. I know you don't think it's over the top. It's an excellent way to organize my clippings in such a way that I'll actually refer to and use them.

And I get kind of a kick out of imagining my daughters going through this someday when I'm no longer here. I can just hear them saying, "So THAT'S where she got that idea!" For now they just think Mom comes up with the most amazing ideas. :-)

Just look at the fascinating things you'll find in my "Good Things" book:


Here's an article on what kind of spray paint to use on almost anything
from metal to plastic to wood to wicker.
If I ever decide to spray paint something, I'm all set.


This page showed me how to freeze ripe bananas and use them later in coolers and slushies. And that clipping at the bottom tells me how to clean cast ironware with a coarse salt scrub which will not mess up its seasoning.


This is the guest room I dream of having some day. This is exactly how I'd want it to look, sloping ceiling and all. You know. When I convert the attic into an amazing guest room.


I knew when I saw the Chris Madden spa collection bathroom linens (Penny's)
I wanted them. And guess what? I have them now.


There's a recipe for a raspberry cheesecake shake on this page. Yeah. Cheesecake. If I were rich, I'd own about a dozen of those wonderful Adirondack chairs from L.L.Bean. I love that arrangement of botanical prints. And Martha Stewart's instructions for "turning strawberries into a juicy compote that's delicious spooned over ice cream or cake" is on this page. It's called macerating strawberries.
I didn't know that. But I do it all the time now.


Well, for heavens sake. Here's the BLT pasta I made for dinner last night.
I have no idea how that photo got in there.


Here's a chart of all the pieces available in my Pfaltzgraff pattern (Cappuccino).
And there's an article on forcing pretty spring bulbs indoors.


If I ever get my hands on some gigantic seashells, I'm going to do this.
I love these used as planters for small green plants.


Did you know the maximum shelf life of Windex is two years? Same thing for a tube of lipstick. Regular Coke in a can will last for nine months. Diet Coke is only good for three months but I know it doesn't last that long around those of you who are addicted to it. (Sarah) This is a "use it or lose it" chart. It tells me the shelf life of everything from honey (forever) to dried pasta (twelve months) to a fire extinguisher (service or replace every six years).
Oh! And hair gel only lasts two to three years.


The next time I can afford new living room furniture, I'm going to remember that I'm going for a minimalist look, NOT flowers, for petes sake.


One of the cleverest things I've ever come across is using lifesavers as birthday candle holders on kids' cakes. And I'd jump through a ring of fire for that sweet cottage style bathroom.
Maybe I'll do that when I remodel the attic.


If you've been inside a Walmart in the last six years, you've probably seen Paula Deen on those overhead TV's showing you how to put water in votif candles to prevent a waxy mess when they melt. But I saw it first in this clipping a long time ago. And I never would have thought to drill drain holes in my trash cans to make washing them out a lot easier.


I have no earthly idea why I've yet to make these oatmeal cream pies.
I think I'll pull this page out and set it on my kitchen counter.


This is just downright fun - using traditional lollipops as cocktail stirrers, in colors and flavors that compliment them. Imagine a lime lollipop in a gin and tonic.
Or! A strawberry lollipop in a frozen margarita. Fun!


Let's go back to those macerated strawberries for a moment. It's strawberry season and I love to do all kinds of things with them. We're really fond of strawberry shortcake at Casa del Rob and Barb. So try this. Hull and slice a couple of cups of strawberries, then mix in two tablespoons each sugar and lemon juice. Cover and let "macerate" (code for stand and soften) at room temperature, for an hour. Now you have the perfect strawberries for strawberry shortcake
or a wonderful topping for ice cream.

And if you love strawberries as much as I do, you can buy boocoodles of them and macerate them because they freeze beautifully in airtight containers for up to three months.


And really, I never had the slighest intention of doing a post like this. But I was reading People Magazine last night and saw this. Is this not strange? But you know, the whole concept is oddly appealing to me. Kind of tickles my pickle fancy. Seriously, I'm brave enough to try strawberry dill pickles. So I clipped this out of the magazine. Which led me to my Good Things book. Which got me to thinking.
There really are some very unique ideas in my little book.

So I decided what the heck. I can post about anything at all and sharing my book, why I made it and how I use it just sounded like a good thing to me.