Easiest Ever Berry Cobbler

Okay. When I saw this recipe on Pinterest I knew I definitely had to try it. Who makes cobbler with pop? 

 

Even if it didn't turn out, I knew that the boys would think that it was pretty funny.  Pop is their absolute favorite treat ever.  I try to restrict it as much as possible so I knew that they would jump at the chance to help me out! 

Like the title says, this is seriously the easiest dessert that you could possibly make.  Here's all you need:

• 1 white cake mix package
• 1 can of pop {we used 7Up but the original recipe used diet Sprite}
• approximately 3-4 cups of fresh berries or 2-12 oz. packages of frozen berries

**NOTE** - There was a lot of discussion on the original recipe about whether or not to use diet pop or regular pop due to the aspartame in most of the diet versions of pop {although I know there are some diet pops out there that do not use aspartame}.  As far as I understand it, the aspartame tends to lose its sweetness when it is heated; however, there have not been any proven health risks associated with its chemical breakdown.  So... use what you feel is best for you and hopefully we won't have any heated discussions here about Aspartame!

1. I used a 9x13 pan and filled the bottom with black berries {that we picked!} and blue berries.  I didn't measure what I used but I would guess that it was around 3-4 cups.  The recipe from Pinterest called for 2-12 ounce bags of frozen fruit which would work out to about 4 cups {I think?}  The original recipe also said to spray Pam on the pan but I skipped this and had no problems.
2. Take your cake mix and sprinkle the entire box over your berries.
3. Slowly pour the pop over the cake mix.  DO NOT MIX!!!  The goal here is to cover as much of the cake mix as possible.  It should look all bubbly when you are done.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.
5. Add some fresh berries to the top and some whipping cream or vanilla ice cream.  YUM!!!

I must say, it was pretty tasty and the boys all gobbled it up.  I thought it tasted even better the following day after being in the fridge overnight!  The more mushed up, the better!

So have any of you tried this recipe or any variations of it?  What did you think?

And for those of you who prefer a more traditional cobbler recipe, here's a great one from The Pioneer Woman.  

Happy Friday! Have a fabulous weekend!

I linked up with The 36th Avenue, Not Just a Housewife, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Tip Junkie, Skip to my Lou, Funky Junk, Thirty Handmade Days, Whipperberry, Tidy Mom, The Shabby Nest, Gluesticks, Delightful Order, Uncommon, Lil Luna, Home Stories A to Z, Today's Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, CRAFT, Craft-O-Maniac, Positively Splendid, I Heart Naptime and Tatertots and Jello.

Master Closet Organization

Hello friends!  I hope you have all been having a great week! Like a lot of you, this is our last week before school goes back and it is going by WAY too quickly.  Only 5 days left!!! 

On Monday, I shared some closet organization tips and today I am going to show you our master closet.  It's not quite as fancy as the inspiration photos but it is organized and it functions quite well for us. 

When we originally bought our house, the closet just had a set of white wire racks running down each side of the closet.  While our stuff still technically "fit" into the closet, it didn't look very nice and it definitely wasn't very organized.  We had boxes piled up on the floor and boxes piled up on the racks above.  Well, apparently wire racks do not like to have boxes piled on top of them and they eventually had enough abuse and broke. 

I talked Dave into looking into custom closets but, unfortunately I had to agree that they were way too expensive.  For about 1/4 of the cost, we had a friend of Dave's build this shelving unit for us {as it was WAY beyond our building abilities!}  Over the last few months, I have changed a few things around and I think I finally have it arranged the way I like it!  Thankfully, Dave just kind of goes along with the flow... 

Clothes 

 I hang up most of my clothes with the exception of my pajamas {and other "comfy, wear-around-the-house" clothes!}, workout clothes, and tank tops.  I organize all of my clothes by color as it makes it very easy for me to find what I am looking for.  I do separate out the pants and dresses but all of my jackets, shirts, sweaters, etc. are all just hung up together.

 I would definitely recommend investing in a matching set of hangers.  We have had these wood ones for a few years now but I really like the thin, velvet covered ones as well.  If you can't afford to buy them all at once, keep your eyes open for sales and pick a few up each time.  Home Sense {or Home Goods in the States} often has them for really affordable prices.

I purchased the black bins at Kohl's for about $6 each {they have lots of other great bins that can be found here}.  On Dave's side they are filled with his T-shirts and shorts.  I had tried to organize the bins by color but he did not comply with my method so I gave up! :)

On my side, I have 2 bins for my pajamas and other "comfy clothes", a bin for gym clothes, a bin for my accessories {scarves, belts, and other smaller items}, a bin for sweaters that might stretch out if they are hung up, and a bin for my tank tops.

 Jewelery 

Last year I made this jewelery holder from an old wine rack. It has actually worked out great and makes it really easy to keep everything organized.  I find that I change up my jewelery a lot more frequently when I can see everything!

I also painted a tray to match the jewelery holder and added some pretty paper underneath the glass.  I keep a bowl and my Anthropology egg holder on it to hold my more frequently worn jewelry so I can just pop it off.  I also have a little basket on here to hold all of the change that I collect from pockets!

Seasonal Items

Being from the Vancouver area, most of my wardrobe actually functions year round.  There are a few items; however, that I know I will only be wearing or using for one season.  I have a few bins that are kept on the top of Dave's side for things that are not currently being used or worn.

Purses and Bags

I attached some Command hooks at the end of our storage unit to hold my larger purses and bags.

The other set of hooks are from Ikea and hold Dave's hats and some smaller bags.

Most of my fabric bags are stored in one of these bins at the other end of the closet.  The other baskets hold our iron, fire extinguisher, and a few other random storage items.

Shoes

I had a couple of old shoe storage racks that I moved into the closet that were originally in other areas of the house but no longer being used.  One was placed to the back of the closet and the other one was put on the floor in the shelving unit.  There is also room on the floor underneath the bottom clothes hanger for any extra shoes that are not worn as often.

Keepsakes

Even though it is just a closet, it is still nice to personalize the space a bit.  First of all, the prettier something is, the more likely I am to keep it tidy. And secondly, this closet is one of the first things that I see each morning.  Since I am not a morning person, a few nice things to make me smile is always good!

The Mommy and baby elephant was my first Christmas present from Matthew after he was born.  I also have a couple of boxes with some of my favorite art work from the kids and any special cards or notes.  There are also some scrapbook albums and some picture frames scattered throughout the closet.

If you are looking for some storage items to get going on your own closet, Kohl's has offered a 10% discount code for you to use until October 24th, 2012.  This can be stacked with one other department specific code for added savings!

Use Code: UBLOGTEN now through October 24th, 2012

So what's in your closet?  Anyone have any great storage or organization ideas for me?  Just leave a link below and we can check it out!  If you are looking for more ideas for kids' closets come on back next week!

I hope you have a great day!

I linked up with The Shabby Creek Cottage, The 36th Avenue, Not Just  Housewife, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Tip Junkie, Skip to My Lou, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk, Whipperberry, The Shabby Nest, Gluesticks, Delightful Order, Uncommon, Lil Luna, Home Stories A to Z, Today's Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Thrifty Decor Chick, CRAFT, Craft-O-Maniac, Positively Splendid, I Heart Naptime, Tatertots and Jello, 30 Handmade Days, Chic on a Shoestring, Liz Marie Blog and Tidy Mom.

Thetis Island

Last weekend the family headed over to Thetis Island, B.C. for our niece's wedding and I wanted to show you guys some pictures of our beautiful province and this fabulous little island.

Neither Dave nor I had been to the island before and, honestly, I don't think I had even heard of it.  Of course, it took two ferry rides and 8 1/2 hours to get there which is probably one of the main reasons why.  But... it really was the most beautiful island and the perfect setting for an outdoor wedding.

The island itself only has a population of around 500 and there is only one restaurant on the island with one tiny "store" {I use this word very loosely!} There was the cutest, one-room elementary school {serving Kindergarten to grade 7} with beautiful stained glass windows in the back.  I thought that the school was darling but the kids weren't too impressed with the playground...

The only accommodation on the island is in the form of Bed and Breakfasts.  For $90 per night we had our own suite, lounge area, private deck and hot tub overlooking the water.  Not to mention some pretty fabulous breakfasts!

There weren't really any sandy beaches around the island but there were lots of rocky beaches - perfect for little boys to explore.

As nice as it is to visit other areas in the world, there is something to be said for staying close to home.  Sometimes you just take for granted all of the beauty that there is around you. 

Have a beautiful day!

The Creative Spark {No. 55}

Welcome back to another edition of The Creative Spark! I'm looking forward to seeing what you have been up to!

So today is my first day back to work after my week vacation.  I definitely could have used another week or  two but here is what I managed to do while I was off...

I have decided that I need to diversify my very limited cooking repertoire and have committed to trying at least one new recipe per week.  Since I was on vacation, I started out with something really simple - this fresh corn and spinach salad.

On Thursday I went out blackberry picking with a friend of mine and we came home with a pretty good haul.     After eating lots and using some for baking, the rest was frozen for future use!  Here's how to clean and freeze your berries.

The rest of my spare time was spent organizing our bedroom closets.  Here are some closet organizing tips to get started with yours and I will be showing you our spaces later in the week.

{from Houzz}

So now it`s your turn!!  What have you all been up to?  I can't wait to see what you have been working on! Feel free to link up anything that you have created - crafts, DIY, scrapbook projects, organization ideas, decorating, recipes - anything goes! 

Want to link up?

• Link directly to your specific post {not the homepage}.
• Please add The Creative Spark button to your post or blog {the code is in my sidebar} OR place a text link at the end of your post. I would love for you to help me spread the word!
• Check out some of the other fabulous links. A few nice comments always inspires us to create more!
• Follow along with Facebook to see if you have been featured throughout the week. I will also be back to showcase some of my favorite ideas for my Sunday Sparks.

Closet Organization - Part 1

Happy Friday!! I hope you have all had a wonderful week! I was on vacation last week so {of course!} the weather decided to turn cool and cloudy.  Since I didn't have any opportunities for some "fun in the sun" I decided that it would be a good opportunity to get some organizing done around here.   Project No. 1 - The Bedroom Closets!  

Traditional Closet design by Houston Interior Designer Munger Interiors

I think that it is safe to say that most of us do not have a closet that looks anything like this but with a little purging and some great organization, it does not take much effort to get it tidied and spruced up.  Do not let the size of your space be an excuse!

I'm going to start today with some general tips on how to organize your clothes closets.  Check back on Thursday for our master closet organization and next Monday for our kids' closets.

Traditional Closet design by Newark Interior Designer Kingsley Belcher Knauss, ASID

Top 6 Closet Organizing Tips

1. Purge

As with most organization projects, you must start with a good purge!  Empty out everything and sort your items into categories {clothing, shoes, bags, keepsakes, jewelery, etc.}  Now is the time to get rid of everything that you have not used in the past 12 months.  If you don't love it, wear it, or look good in it, it is time for it to go! I realize that, for most of us, this is much easier said than done but you must be RUTHLESS here!

Place items that you are not going to keep into a DONATE, SELL, or TRASH pile.  Remember that unless your items are in high demand, vintage or designer, it is unlikely that you will be able to get a lot of money for it and it is probably not worth your time to sell it.  Donating to Goodwill is often the way to go and your clothes can often make a big difference in other people's lives.

If there is a specific reason that you are not fitting into some of your clothing {such as a pregnancy or illness or if you are currently on a diet}, try putting the items that you do not fit into into a storage bin and commit to getting rid of it after a determined amount of time if the items are still not fitting.

{source}

2. Replace Your Items Systematically
Now that you have decluttered, it is time to put everything back into the closet.  Before you start, think about how you would like things organized.  Your aim is to design a system that you can maintain easily on a daily basis.  You can group everything by 

• item {i.e. all jeans together, all sweaters together, all handbags, etc.}
• season
• color
• function {i.e. work clothes, gym clothes, etc.}
• or any other method {or combination of the above!} that works for you. 

Keeping the design of your space in mind, decide which items you want to hang, what items can be folded on shelves, and what items would work best in a bins or baskets.  Use coordinated hangers for those items that you are hanging.  Place items that are used most often in the front and middle sections.  If you have a small closet space, consider storing out of season or rarely used items elsewhere.

 {source}

3. Utilize All of Your Space

Especially if you have a smaller closet, make sure that you are getting the best use out of your space.  Build up as high as you can in your closet and store out of season or less used items on the higher shelves and towards the sides.  Utilize every space in the closet - every wall, the floors, the backs of doors.  Here are a few space savers that may work for you:

• The place between the floor and where your clothes hang is the perfect place to store some extra shoes or clear plastic bins on wheels for your accessories.  
• If you have a solid door, add some hooks or an over the door pocket organizer to the back.  
• If you do not have double rod hangers, move a dresser into the closet below your shorter hanging clothes for extra drawer space.
• Remove the closet doors and hang curtains.
• Add hooks to the walls or sides of storage units {the Command hooks work well and can easily be changed around as your needs change}

4. Look for Unique Storage Items

There is definitely not a shortage of closet organizational products out there.  You can find some great options almost anywhere - from Ikea, to The Container Store, to your local dollar store.  Figure out what items you need to store, and then look for products {or create your own} that would work for you in your space.  Here are some great ideas from Real Simple.

1. Short on shelf space?  Purchase one of these hanging shelving units to store your sweaters or jeans.
2. Hang your purses from shower curtain hooks.  {I love this idea!}
3. Hang a pegboard on the back of the door or a wall to hold your accessories or jewelry.
4. Use these shelf dividers to prevent your clothing stacks from tumbling over {they also work well for separating larger accessories such as handbags}

 Don't be afraid to think "outside the box" and be creative with how you use them!  The easier the item is to see and to access, the more likely you are to wear or use it.  Love this organization system from Lookie What I Did.

5. Use some of your favorite items to pretty up your space

Since it is just a closet, you probably do not really want to be spending much money {or any money?}on decor, but pick some of your favorite items and put them on display.  Grab some of your favorite shoes or purses, or some colorful scarves and show them off!  Hang a favorite picture or two on the wall.  Line the back of the closet or your shelves with wall paper or paint it a fun color.  I always find that the prettier the space, the more motivated I am to keep it clean!

{from Pottery Barn}

6. Consider a new storage system

If your closet is just not working for you, consider looking at a new closet organizing system.   Custom closets can be pricey but store bought systems from Ikea, Martha Stewart, or Rubbermaid {which can be found at Canadian Tire or Home Depot} can offer cheaper options that can look just as nice.  If you are handy {or know someone who is!}, try building your own.  Anna White has some great design plans!  Even if you have to hire someone to complete the plans it can still be the cheapest option.

1. DIY closet from Pink Toes and Power Tools.
2. Design plans from Anna White.

Remember...

The ultimate goal when organizing your closet is to come up with a system that can be easily maintained on a daily basis.  A quick update every couple of months and a small decluttering every 6 months to get rid of items that you did not use through the season, should be all that is needed to keep things tidy and organized.

And if you still can't fit everything in, maybe you should consider building a second story for your closet.

Contemporary Other design

That should probably do it!

Remember to check back on Thursday for more ideas from our master closet organization!  Wishing you all a wonderful and organized week!  I hope to see you Tuesday night for another edition of 

The Creative Spark. :)

I linked up to Whipperberry, The Shabby Nest, Delightful Order, Uncommon, Home Stories A to Z, Today's Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Craft-O-Maniac, Positively Splendid, I Heart Naptime, Tatertots and Jello, 30 Handmade Days, Chic on a Shoestring, Liz Marie Blog, Tidy Mom, The 36th Avenue, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Uncommon, Savvy Southern Style, Lil Luna, Not Just a Housewife, A Bowl Full of Lemons and Skip To My Lou.

My Sunday Sparks {No. 54}

Happy Sunday my friends! I hope you have been having a fabulous weekend!  We finally had some sunny weather yesterday so we took the day off to hang out by the pool.  Today we are off for some back to school shopping and a trip to Ikea {love that place!}. 

So are you ready to see a few features from last week's Creative Spark?  Here we go...

I love these DIY topiaries from Alderberry Hill.  Beautiful and so easy to do!

Simply Vintageous created this amazing Union Jack bench.  So cool!

These easy pin cushion jars from The DIY Dreamer would make such a cute little gift!  Love the wooden spools too!

If you are getting your kids ready for back to school, you must check out this art wall and back to school organization from Achieving Creative Order.  Her blog is filled with lots of great organization ideas!

I am still holding on to summer with everything I have but I know that some of you have already started to move on to Autumn thoughts.  So for those of you that want to get a jump start, here is the cutest twine pumpkin from Sarah Dawn Designs.  

And for my yummy treat of the week, check out this delicious looking carrot cake from Mom on Timeout.  My mouth is watering...

Thank-you to all of you who participated in last week's party.  If you haven't had a chance to check out all of the link ups, you can head on over here.  For those of you that were featured here or on my Facebook page, feel free to grab a featured button from the sidebar. 

Have a beautiful Sunday!

How to Clean and Freeze Berries

Yay! It is officially blackberry season around here!  

Blackberries are one of my favorite berries but they are really pricey in the stores.  After heading out blackberry picking a few days ago, I completely understand why - I definitely had my fair share of thorn pricks and scrapes and had to brave numerous spiders to get to those nice, juicy berries.   But, I came home with 2 big sand pails full of berries and immediately made myself up a nice big plate topped with some Cool Whip {that I love almost as much as the blackberries!}.

So once I was done eating, I had to figure out what to do with all of those berries.  I had a couple of recipes that I wanted to try but wanted to freeze the rest of them.  Here's the best way I have found to clean and freeze them {or any other berry}

1. Pour the berries out when you get home into a shallow pan and remove any mushed or rotting berries.  Keep your eyes out for little bugs!!

2. If you are not going to be using or freezing your berries immediately, they can be placed in the refrigerator for a up to 4-7 days depending on the berry and how ripe they were when you picked them.  Wash the berries only when you are ready to use them or are going to be freezing them.  {NOTE: If you are freezing blueberries, they do best if you do not wash them before freezing}

3. To wash your berries, place them in a colander and spray water over them using your fingers to gently dislodge any dirt or bugs.  Mine were pretty clean with the exception of these two little worms that were trying to escape.

Dry the berries off well using an old towel or paper towels.  

Spread the berries out on a cookie sheet, place it in the freezer, and freeze overnight.  

Put them in a freezer safe Ziploc bag and freeze until you are ready for them!  Personally I love eating frozen berries as well!

So what do you like to do with your berries.  Any recipes for the blackberries that I should try?  I'll have a few to share with you next week.  

And for those that are missing the organization posts around here, I have been working on our closets and will have a post for you on Monday!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

I linked up with 30 Handmade Days, Tidy Mom, The 36th Avenue, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Savvy Southern Style, Lil Luna, Not Just a Housewife, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Skip To My Lou, Craft-O-Maniac, Under the Table and Dreaming, Positively Splendid, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors and Tatertots and Jello.