How to Refinish a Table

Remember when .....
-2012-
I have been thinking about refinishing my kitchen table for a while now a couple of years. I couldn't decide what to do. Should I tile it? Stain it? I decided to paint it. Plain old white wouldn't do. I chose this amazing green apple color. I love it! My kitchen is very basic white, wood and chrome. I wanted the color to come from the fruits in the baskets, the dishes, the plants, the rugs etc. It is the perfect setting for a beautiful bright green table.

The color inspiration came from my favorite apron. It's the one on the table above. Every time I wear the apron it makes me happy. This new table color makes me happy too. When the table is set the green frames the settings and food like a beautiful picture frame. It becomes the accent each place setting.

Back to 2017...

 Well, this table is now my work table where I craft and prep for blog posts and work often.  Although I love that beautiful apple green color it just isn't working for me anymore. It's time to go more neutral and I'm thinking of shades of gray. It would have to be a lighter gray but definitely not white white.

Which gray do you like best? I will be posting a vote on my Facebook feed.

I also think I will keep the legs a natural wood color. OR do you think I should stain them darker?

Thanks!

Make this Super Easy No Sew Pad Bag

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and TENA® at CVS. All opinions are mine alone. AD #ChooseTENA #CollectiveBias

Let's talk about that oh to familiar and not so talked about issue of badder leakage.  If you're a women and have kids you most likely know what I'm talking about.  I remember sneezing too hard after having my twins and being worried I would have a leak.  During my pregnancy with the twins I didn't have a problem because first off I was young, secondly they were my first pregnancy and thirdly I was in amazing shape at the time. After pushing them out for 2 hours of the vaginal births with them it all ended. My second pregnancy was a different story. My sister who has 9 kids always laughs about how she has to be careful jumping to hard and the trampoline was out of the question for her. Then we found out about TENA® pads. They brought back the confidence and freedom and not having to worry any more. I see more trampoline time in our future!

"TENA® at CVS allows you to feel like your normal self without giving incontinence a second thought. TENA® Lets You Be You."

To help you grab and go with your TENA® pads I came up with this simple no sew pouch you can use to discreetly carry some extra pads with you in your tote or handbag.

You will nee the following supplies:

• 1 Woven Dish Towel
• Fabric Scissors
• No Sew Fabric Glue
• 
  

Fold you towel into thirds. Lay one of the TENA® pad on the end of the towel leaving about 1 inch from the end.  Cut the towel with the layers still folded about 1 inch from the other side of the pad. This way we get a custom sized pouch that will fit your TENA® pads. 

Unfold the piece you cut and add a line of glue along each middle inside end for seams. Fold the bottom fold back up to form your first seams.

Next, run a line of fabric glue along the ends to make with top flap seams.  Fold the told half over and allow the glue to try according the glue brands directions.

Once your glue is dry add your TENA® pads, toss them in your bag and be confident and free to life your life without worrying about incontinence.

Are you wondering which TENA® products are right for you? Go check them out at CVS and CVS.com TENA let's you be you!

TENA® prodcuts can easily be found in the personal care lane at CVS with the other incontinence products.

Right now CVS has a few offers for you on TENA® pads:

• iBOGO50 and Buy 2 Get $1 Extra Buck Reward
• Also $2 FSI (free standing insertions $2 coupons being circulated in the Sunday 4/30 newspaper as an insert)
• 30% Ship and Save limited offer (4/30-5/13)

Perfect for you to give TENA® prodcuts a try!

French Grain Sack DIY * Sparking JOY Series

Hello Everyone! Thanks so much for visiting Sweet & Simple Magazine.

This past week I have been listening to the book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I like to listen to books since my eyes tend to be tired at the end of the day and it's nice to lay in bed playing one of my phone games and listen to a book to wind down from the day. I'm always looking for something to listen to on my Audible account and looking to see what everyone else is recommending. My first thought was why is everyone reading a book about organizing and cleaning.

Why on earth could this be such a popular book and BORING. But there was literally nothing else I could find that interested me so I thought why not. Let's see WHY everyone is reading this book. It started out a bit slow like I thought it would and then all the sudden BAM, I began to get why everyone LOVES this book. Marie is talking about a lot more than just organizing your house. She is helping you make over your whole life. I mean the whole thing from the clothes you wear to the food you eat to the way you see life. And it's all based around the Magic of Tidying Up.

I am already seeing the changes in my life and all I've done is sort through my clothes and throw away a few dishes. I even threw away some dirty dishes because why on earth would I want to wash another dish I didn't like!! It is giving me relief from stress.

Marie's book is about SPARKING JOY. The tidying up part is how you begin to fine tune your abilities to see what gives you joy and what doesn't.

With that I am starting a new Series here on Sweet & Simple: Sparking Joy. The series will include things that Spark Joy for me and hopefully for you too.

As I was looking through Pinterest today. I came across this simple coffee table makeover from Tweak and Style with stripes and I remembered that I love French Grain Sack linens. It sparked joy in me. I love the texture, the stripes, the colors and the vintage feel of them. I had forgotten I loved them.

The beautiful grain sack striped dresser pictured above at the top from Musing from a French Country Cottage would bring me joy. I can imaging storing my craft supplies in it and every time I go to create a  new project I would lovingly open the draw and choose my papers, glues, paints etc from its drawers. The entire process would bring me joy because I loved the beautiful dresser my supplies are housed in.

I then came across this lovely bench DIY makeover from At Home with the Bakers and thought how nice to sit on a bench with fresh blue stripes and a number on the corner. You could even add more joy by making that number meaningful such as your lucky number or the number of people in your family or the number of your grandchildren. Then, every time you walked past the dining table you would see it and think of those special people or the meaning of that number- Joy Sparked!

You know that extra chair you have around to grab as an extra seat when needed? It sits to the side waiting for when you need it. I have beautiful vintage chair that I bought at a thrift store years ago that is our side chair. It was a steal at $3 considering the same chairs were going for $125 at a local antique shop. I love it but it needs a makeover. Confessions of a Serial DIYer found a great chair and made it over with french blue stripes. Don't you just love the shape of the seat. It has inspired me to paint my chair like this too.

The best thing I think to come of this Sparking Joy is that this sparking joyful ideas. I have been humming and hawing over what to do with my kitchen table. It's a farm style table that I did paint over the top with a beautiful taupy tan color but it hasn't quite seemed finished. All these projects have brought me to sparkingly joyful idea. The color is the perfect background for adding some grain sack stripes. I share the project with you soon.
xo

Valentine's Day Ideas * Crafts & DIY Projects

I just adore this big Red Heart from Little Peanut. It reminds me of the tissue paper hearts we made in elementary school for Valentine's Day. 

Old fashioned Vintage Valentine's are other love of mine. The graphics and sayings are just so charming. I have the sweetest old valentine that was given to my great-grandmother that I place on my mantel every year. A local antique shop here in Provo, UT has a whole collection of vintage valentines. I am making Creative Breathing's Vintage Valentine Wreath  this year. 

Craftberry Bush has directions for this lovely Heart & Love Sheet Music Wreath. It easy to make and you probably have all the supplies already on hand.

I love that this Simple Punch Ruffle Wreath is so easy even the least crafty of us all can make it.

Make some cute DIY Arrows to go with your hearts for a Valentine's Day Mantel decor. Your kids will surely be tempted to play with them. I promise. 

Do you have some fire wood logs? This is such a fun and very simple home decorating idea from Today's Fabulous Finds. Carve you and your lover's initials into a "tree"  for Valentine's Day-
I Love You Log.

Happy Decorating xo

April- founder & editorial director

DIY Peppermint Candy Cane Body Scrub * Home & Garden * Handmade Christmas

Body scrub is always a welcome gift at my house. During the winter I love to use it to keep my skin soft and smooth. This yummy peppermint candy cane body scrub is a sweet and simple gift to give as a hostess gift, for work friends, neighbors, teachers and just about anyone. The cooling peppermint is so refreshing. We use only the finest ingredients of pure essential oils and coconut oil.

Peppermint Candy Cane Body Scrub
makes 4 pint jars

• 6 cups of sea salt
• 3 cups of virgin cold press coconut oil
• Pure peppermint essential oil- we use Spark Naturals brand
• Red food coloring
• Decorative ribbon- we used American Crafts brand
• 4 pint canning jars with lids

In a large glass liquid measuring cup melt coconut oil in microwave for 10 seconds at a time until melted. In a medium glass mixing bowl add 4 cups of salt. In a small glass mixing bowl add the remaining 2 cups of salt.
Pour 1/2 cup of coconut oil into the small bowl with 2 cups of salt then add 5 drops of peppermint oil and mix ingredients together.
In the remaining coconut oil add 10 drops of peppermint oil and 10 drops of red food coloring. Mix together with a whisk.  Pour the pink coconut oil into the large bowl with the 4 cups of salt. Mix together.
Using an ice cream scooper scoop pink or white salt mixture into jar. Pressing into the jar with the scoop. Alternate colors to create the candy cane strip effect.
Tie with decorative ribbons and gift to friends and family. Be sure to make some for yourself too!
Happy Holidays!
April


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Growing Tomatoes * Blight * Heirloom Series * All Natural Anti-Fungal Spray

You planted, cared for and loved your tomatoes with hopes of a hearty harvest of juicy sweet tomatoes. You dreamed of thick slices of tomatoes a top a delicious garden fresh tomato sandwich to only find this....

photo credit  

The leaves of your tomato plants are turning yellow curling up and dying. What happened? What did you do wrong. Nothing really. Your tomatoes have blight. What is blight and how on earth did my tomato plants get it?!?

Blight is a fungus. It's pretty easy to get rid of but it's also pretty easy to spread. As soon as you see this yellowing and curling of the leaves follow these simple steps to cure your tomato plants of fungal blight.

• When working with your plant with blight DO NOT touch any other plants before washing your hands
• Cut (do not break) off all the dead and yellow leaves and tomatoes. These are the parts with blight. Not to worry if you are down to just a few leaves. At this point most of the plant's energy is going to growing your tasty tomatoes.
• Throw away the contaminated parts in the trash or burn them. DO NOT put them in the compost pile.
• Wash your hands and tools.
• Make our Sweet and Simple Anti-fungal plant spray and spray all the leaves and plant down to the soil. 
• To prevent more blight make sure your plants are not over crowded. Fungus likes dark and moist. 
• Water from the bottom of the plant such as a drip line hose. 
• Tomato plants like the soil to dry out a bit. DO NOT over water. 

Crisis diverted. Enjoy all those tasty Home Grown Tomatoes!

Sweet and Simple Anti-Fungal Plant Spray

• quart glass canning jar
• all purpose spray bottle
• 1 quart pure water
• 1/2 teaspoon natural dish soap
• 1/2 teaspoon Spark Naturals pure essential Melaleuca oil
• 1/2 teaspoon Spark Naturals pure essential Lemon oil
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Add all ingredients to quart canning jar. Add lid then shake vigorously to mix oils soap and water together. Pour into an all purpose spray bottle. Mist garden plats effected by fungus such a blight and dusty mildew to kill fungus. Use as needed as soon as possible to prevent the death by fungus. 

Having this all natural chemical free fungicide on hand is a must for the home gardener. 

Store in a cool dark place until needed again.

Sweet and Simple Tip: I recommend purchasing the Spark Naturals Essential 4 Pack for a great discount as well as having the 4 basic oils we always use on hand. Use our coupon code SweetandSimple for an added 10% discount!

Note: Sweet and Simple uses Spark Naturals pure essential oils because of the trusted quality and purity of the oils. Spark Naturals is a Sweet and Simple affiliate. 

Home & Entertaining * Sewing Card Valentine

Click here for this Kids Valentine Craft.

Home & Entertaining * New Years Eve Party Box

Create a "party box" for your guests, to be opened during the New Years countdown. Fill it with a noise maker, glow-sticks, confetti, and candy! When the countdown hits one everyone can open their boxes and celebrate the new year! The box will also be a little favor for each guests to take home from your New Years bash.

Step One: Cut a few strips of tissue paper and use fringe scissors to make little strips.

Step Two: Emboss letters on some purple card stock paper and punch out with a scallop circle punch.

Step Three: Glue the fringe around the outside of the box and the layer it twice. 

Step Four: Using hot glue place the part circle on the outside as well.

You have a fun-filled New Years Party Box!

post by Eden Passante entertaining guest editor | photos by Zan Passante  Sugar & Charm 

DIY New Year's Eve Garland * Home & Entertaining

If you're looking to add a little festivity to your New Years Party try this popular, fun and easy fringe garland! There's so much you can do with this simple, but oh-so-beautiful paper garland! Hang a few strands over a dessert table or create a very cool photo booth backdrop and let your guests take pictures all night! You'll be amazed at how charming the garland looks strung and how affordable it is to make. Bring in the New Year with some fringe!

Supplies:

• Tissue paper
• Twine
• Hot Glue 
• Scissors

Step One: Put two pieces of tissue paper together and fold them in half.

Step two: Cut along the folded edge, creating four pieces of tissue paper. This is one square of the four square garland or you can add more squares for a longer garland.

Step Three: Place the four sheets together and cut strips from the bottom, leave about an inch or two at the top of the tissue paper. Don't worry about making the strips even, different sizes create a fun look! When all strips are cut fold the top over twice... this is where the twine will hide.

Step Four: Add a some hot glue inside the fold and place the twine underneath. Press the fold down so the twin is not visible and stays nicely inside the fold! Make sure you leave a little extra twine at the end so you have some to hang the garland from.

Step Five: Repeat the same steps above until the garland reaches the desired length you want! Glue them next to each other on the same strip of twine. It's easiest to do this part on the floor or a really long table, so you're able to lay everything flat.

The finished garland is so pretty! You can make as many as you want and string them all around.

post by Eden Passante entertaining contributing editor | photos by Zan Passante-  Eden is the owner of Sugar & Charm a boutique event design and dinner party company.