tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45844213239853151692024-03-13T07:48:42.487-07:00Homespun HeathcotesJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-73157446383527584532013-08-20T19:45:00.000-07:002013-08-20T19:46:25.895-07:00Unintended HiatusSo the last blog post was almost 9 months ago. It was aptly about how two children is more than one. And surprise, surprise life caught up with me. Not only did we slowly adjust to life with a new baby, we learned to live with a two year old. Having a two year old is not for the faint of heart. Every day is a challenge and a blessing often in the same moment. If I could only write all of my adventures....but I shall save that for another day.<br />
The last almost 9 months have been filled with ups and downs and most importantly (drum roll please) homeownership!! Third time apparently is the charm because on our third attempt at the home buying process we succeeded. On a whim we decided to go look at a house and a month later we signed our savings away.<br />
We always wanted a fixer upper and that's exactly what we got. Almost a whole month of work and we finally moved in. There are still some things to be done but we are happy and beginning to find our new normal. Hopefully this will be the end of my hiatus but only time and two little boys will tell.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBPjRqdScEKsV72bV6UvCmsEPGGPOE6XrAgEWBYTuR2TLXeGaiA1_fsa9xTdQ7q_WPYl0O-3Z8bJ6MzYcWnVZ5LnzDRx6K9St1HbW0OnLqK087rhlStdnXLTiPcx4nggi0VAl41n7FMms/s1600/SAM_4356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBPjRqdScEKsV72bV6UvCmsEPGGPOE6XrAgEWBYTuR2TLXeGaiA1_fsa9xTdQ7q_WPYl0O-3Z8bJ6MzYcWnVZ5LnzDRx6K9St1HbW0OnLqK087rhlStdnXLTiPcx4nggi0VAl41n7FMms/s320/SAM_4356.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Heathcote Homestead</td></tr>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-19507316713493156902013-01-08T13:51:00.000-08:002013-01-08T13:51:30.013-08:00Adventures in Motherhood - Two is More Than OneSo it's been about 3 months since I last posted. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of blogging but I seriously have been <s>overwhelmed</s> abundantly blessed by two little boys. The Bear is 2 and yes I do hope to post about his birthday just as soon as I organize my thoughts and receipts. We went Cars themed and it was super fun & a little crazy. But that's another blog. Today's work of genius is inspired by my new title of mom of two. I knew this was true before I even started having children, but two is so different from just one. As I'm sure you've noticed, I'm all about creating Top 10 lists. So here they are the Top 10 ways having two is different from having one.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Top 10 of Having 2</span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><b>1. You have to play man-to-man defense. </b>Gone are the good old days when you can defer to dad when your munchkin gets snotty. Dad's hands are already full with the other one.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><b>2. Going any where by yourself is a thing of the past.</b> You might as well kiss goodbye ever going to the bathroom without an audience ever again.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><b>3. Love rage.</b> Where your older one loves the younger one so much they just can't contain themselves. Usually ending in some form of little brother getting hit and crying.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><b>4. You base your wardrobe on how accessible the girls are and how easily you can hide spit up, peanut butter, and miscellaneous stains.</b> Let's face it, clothes are only good for covering up the necessities & as an extra burp rag.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><b>5. Your older child is suddenly so big.</b> It's like a woke up one morning and suddenly my 2 year old could to everything!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><b>6. Your older child is suddenly incapable of doing anything.</b> He can do everything. Include choose to NOT do the things you know he can do.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><b>7. You don't document every little thing about blessing #2.</b> I've been good about writing down measurements and trying to note milestones but we'll see how long even that lasts. (I have also failed to purchase/create a baby book for the little guy).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><b>8. You feel most proud as a parent when they are both napping simultaneously.</b> I'm enjoying this right now and yes, I'm very proud of myself. Thank you very much.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><b>9. You don't breathe easy until 8:00 p.m. </b>Bedtime is my favorite time of day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><b>10. You love just as much but different.</b> This was one thing I was very worried about. The Bear has been such a joy and I was seriously worried that I wouldn't know what to do or how to love my second baby as much. But it's just something you do. It's truly amazing. I love the Bear for who he is and I love my little Tiger just for who he is. </span></div>
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Well that's it. My top 10 when it comes to having two. Probably not exciting but it is to me. Life with two little guys is challenging every day but I wouldn't change it for the world. </div>
Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-47786974442351165112012-10-14T20:27:00.000-07:002012-10-14T20:27:24.936-07:00My Pinterest AddictionSo like every other girl/woman (yes, I'm finally beginning to consider myself a woman) in the world, I have a <a href="http://pinterest.com/razorbackmomma" target="_blank">Pinterest account</a>. To be accurate I'm a bit of a Pinterest addict. I will sit for <s>minutes</s> hours on end pinning away finding ways to clean my house, make my baby cuter, and fix the perfect meal. But this evening as I was drudgingly cleaning up my kitchen (no amount of pinning makes that easier), I got to thinking. How many of those hundreds of pins will I actually bring to life? To go a step further, how many have I actually done? I had to give myself a few criteria: 1. It couldn't be something from my own blog and 2. It couldn't be from <a href="http://homemadeginger.com/">homemadeginger.com</a> because I've been doing her stuff long before pinning become popular. With that set, I looked through all my pins and came up with the rather short list below including my graded experience.<br />
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<b>1. <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/227713324880250320/" target="_blank">DIY T-shirt scarf</a>: </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>D-</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> </span>It wasn't an epic fail but it was pretty close. I didn't use a shirt without seams, mistake #1, and I think I cut the strips too thin. All in all I might do it again but I don't have enough clothes to experiment too much.<br />
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<b>2. <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/227713324880250313/" target="_blank">Repurposed Plastic Closures</a>: </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>A+</b></span><br />
It's hard to mess this one up. You basically take those plastic tab closures, attach to electronics cords, and label with a sharpie. Great way to know what cords are what.<br />
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<b>3. <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/227713324880250295/" target="_blank">Yarn Mobile</a>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">B</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> </span>I did this in varying sizes for my son's mobile over his crib. The small versions turned out good but the larger ones have started to unravel.<br />
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<b>4. <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/227713324880250290/" target="_blank">Microwave Potato Chips</a>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A-</span></b><br />
They taste good, come out crispy, but to it takes a lot of potatoes to make a substantial serving.<br />
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<b>5. <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/227713324880250286/" target="_blank">Razorback Subway Art</a>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A+</span></b><br />
The pin actually takes you to someone's Etsy site but my husband and I managed to put our efforts together and create our own version of this. Sometimes all you need is a little inspiration.<br />
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<b>6. <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/227713324880250285/" target="_blank">2-Minute Mug Brownies</a>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A++</span></b><br />
This alone is worth Pinterest existing. Best thing ever!<br />
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<b>7. <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/227713324880250271/" target="_blank">Crispy Sweet Potato Fries</a>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">B-</span></b><br />
Don't get me wrong, these tasted good and everything but I was really hoping for crispy as the recipe claims. Maybe it's just my oven but rather than getting crispy they just started to over brown/burn on one side. I think I'll stick with my unhealthy fried version.<br />
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Well there you have it out of almost 350 pins I've actualized 7 of them. Sad but true. So I'm curious, how many of your pins have you done?Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-32482143541005670252012-10-02T20:05:00.000-07:002012-10-02T20:05:31.696-07:00My Top 10 Must-haves for New Baby and MomSo that little bundle I made the post-partum pads in preparation for finally arrived and only 51 hours of labor! With his arrival, I got to thinking about those "essentials." You know the handful of things that actually make life possible after the baby comes. So now that I'm a mom of two and a total baby expert (*extreme sarcasm*), I thought I'd pass on all my matronly wisdom in the realm of stuff you'll need. So here are my top 5 baby and top 5 mommy must-haves.<br />
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*I should note (not that it matters) that I have in no way been compensated by the makers of any of these products to promote their wares.*<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Baby's Top 5</span><br />
<b>1. <a href="http://www.target.com/p/summer-infant-swaddleme-swaddle-blanket-2-pack-neutral/-/A-13001979" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Swaddling Blankets</span></a></b>: I'm not talking those little receiving blankets. I mean the stretchy cotton, baby burrito-style wrapswith the velcro. Because let's face it the worst thing is trying to rewrap a screaming baby at 2 a.m.<br />
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2. <a href="http://www.teenygreenykc.com/FuzziBunz_Elite.html" target="_blank">FuzziBunz Cloth Diapers</a>: Obviously this one is a little taste specific, but now that I'm on cloth diapering baby #2, I can say these are by far my faves. Sturdy snaps, adjust to fit my newborn and my giant two-year old, and clean up great.<br />
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3. <a href="http://www.target.com/p/moby-wrap-baby-carrier-black/-/A-11003995" target="_blank">Moby Wrap</a>: I say Moby because it's what we have but truly any baby carrier will do. I'm not really one of those huge proponents of baby wearing (yes, it's a thing), but it's nice to be hands free when doing things around the house.<br />
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4. <a href="http://www.target.com/p/philips-avent-soothie-pacifier-0-6-months-green/-/A-13956486" target="_blank">Soothies Pacifiers</a>: Not much to say other than they may not be the cutest but they do the job the best.<br />
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5. <a href="http://www.target.com/p/aveeno-baby-essentials-daily-care-gift-set/-/A-11480420" target="_blank">Aveeno lotion and wash</a>: I love Aveeno for myself and love it for baby. It's mild, has a pleasant but light scent, and it feels good on mommy's skin too!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mommy's Top 5</span></span></span></h3>
1. <a href="http://www.target.com/p/medela-tender-care-lanolin/-/A-10762134" target="_blank">Medela Tender Care Lanolin</a>: If you are nursing you are going to want lanolin. I love Medela brand because it comes out smoother and softer than other brands.<br />
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2. <a href="http://www.homespunheathcotes.blogspot.com/2012/08/postpartum-care.html" target="_blank">Post-partum Pads</a>: Check out my previous post for more info. Basically it's soothing relief to your lady parts.<br />
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3. <a href="http://www.target.com/p/medela-pump-in-style-advanced-breastpump-on-the-go-tote/-/A-10762141" target="_blank">Medela Double Electric Breast Pump</a>: If you're not needing to pump because you'll be away from baby, this fancy one probably isn't necessary, but I'm sure glad I have mine for when I head back to work.<br />
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4. <a href="http://www.target.com/p/maybelline-define-a-lash/-/A-13669941" target="_blank">Mascara</a>: If you don't get to put any other makeup on before leaving the house, or even at home, put on some mascara. It always makes me feel a little more put together. I love Maybelline Define-a-Lash.<br />
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5. <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2011/09/13/two-minute-mug-brownie/" target="_blank">Mug Brownies</a>: I discovered this recipe on Pinterest a few months ago and the two of us have become good friends. Put 1/4 c. flour, 1/4 c. brown sugar, 2 Tbs. cocoa powder, an pinch of salt in a mug. Mix. Stir in 2 Tbs. milk and 2 Tbs. oil until it's a thick paste. Microwave 60 sec. That's it!<br />
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Well there you have it. The products I love for mommy and baby. Obviously there could be many more and are that I love, but these are the ones I am loving right now.<br />
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Here's the inspiration behind this post. Pretty cute, huh?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQMObe3IQKz9xztHyGcwTw0Z00H8DwAZGPmWt8QQm8_fj0tbUumvnm8YoonDjCugys6inQV9uxP7zuhHbqOFF-zTSl3MH9pa3fiOLaWM5wtu4KCaa-ODGARRcGBX-GfpIPkoVgEAbMFzZ/s1600/SAM_2787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQMObe3IQKz9xztHyGcwTw0Z00H8DwAZGPmWt8QQm8_fj0tbUumvnm8YoonDjCugys6inQV9uxP7zuhHbqOFF-zTSl3MH9pa3fiOLaWM5wtu4KCaa-ODGARRcGBX-GfpIPkoVgEAbMFzZ/s320/SAM_2787.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-28456936563193028802012-08-12T19:21:00.000-07:002012-08-12T19:21:47.350-07:00Postpartum CareJust a few weeks from delivery date and we are in full prep mode! That includes prep for my own care as well as baby's.<br />
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If you've had a baby or even if you haven't, you probably know, have read, or have had the life scared out of you by other moms about what things are like postpartum (aka after a wonderful baby the size of a melon pushes forth from a part of your body that went from being the width of a finger to being the width of a DVD). In a much understated word...OUCH!!<br />
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Now that that's been explained, it's time to talk about taking care of afore mentioned traumatized nether region. To avoid being to graphic let's just say that things are not so pretty. Lots of swelling, extreme tenderness, and let's face it the biggest period you will ever have. At the hospital they usually provide you with some stylish mesh panties courtesy of Victoria's Not-so Secret and a giant ice pack/mondo pad. Truth be told I greatly appreciated every bit of aid I got in the hospital. They may not have been pretty but the soothing relief was much desired. Sad to say they do not send you home with a month's supply of these ice pack pads, that's where the Pinterest-coined "padsicle" comes in. </div>
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So for all you moms-to-be out there, enjoy this quick and worth while tutorial that quite literally came to my rescue. It may have even been more helpful than all those wonderful meals I didn't have to prepare myself...well at least tied for first.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Step 1: Gather your materials</span></b></h3>
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<li><b>Mondo pads:</b> As in the longest, biggest, most absorbent pads you can find. Some moms suggest the incontinence pads but I'm all about Always brand extra long, overnights. The best part is it's not super bulky and they re-wrap easily (an important thing to keep in mind for this project).</li>
<li><b>Witch Hazel: </b>Usually found in the first aid type stuff in the pharmacy near rubbing alcohol.</li>
<li><b>Aloe Vera Gel:</b> The same stuff you rub on your skin after a sun burn</li>
<li><b>Small Spray Bottle:</b> Used to dispense the magic concoction onto the pad.</li>
<li><b>Foil:</b> You'll probably have this lying around the house</li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Step 2: Mix it up</span></h3>
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Mix 1/4 c. of the witch hazel with a 2 tablespoons of the aloe gel in a bowl. Carefully pour into the spray bottle. I would make at least a double batch for a full box of pads. Any extra you may have can be stored in the fridge and used as a soothing spray during potty time.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Step 3: Spray it on</span></h3>
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You'll need to carefully unwrap the pad and gently remove the center plastic that covers the adhesive on the wings.</div>
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Now spray a good amount (enough to sufficiently saturate) of the mixture onto the center part of the pad. Basically you want the part of the pad that will make direct contact with your sore lady parts. Be careful not to spray the adhesive on the wings or else they won't be sticky anymore.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Step 4: Wrap it up and freeze</span></h3>
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Once you're pad is sufficiently dampened, carefully replace the plastic coving the wing adhesive and gently wrap the pad back up. Cut a sheet of foil that will completely wrap the pad.</div>
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Next wrap it up like you would a foil pack, sealing the ends.</div>
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Now repeat the above steps with each pad. Once finished put them back in the original bag/box and pop in the freezer. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Step 5: Enjoy soothing relief for your aching lady parts</span></h3>
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Once you run out of the few ice packs the hospital sends home, use one of these "padsicles" instead of a regular pad. It will not only take care of flow issues, but provide the soothing relief of cold (frozen) and gentle healing properties (aloe & witch hazel). </div>
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I went through about two boxes of these with my first baby. I made up one ahead of time (about 3 weeks out) and made another one when I realized I was going to need more. Hope this helps. I know I appreciated having them ready for me when I got home.</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-9219894926213062642012-07-18T18:35:00.003-07:002012-07-18T18:36:59.051-07:00Budgeting 101: To Market, To Market<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-_gE_WVf7Trrz8HF09Qm2HJYvgWxFNrEOOEfQdxi_v85q80Vog8AbhnhV964aD7mAhNDgxckATIyyWZXITBDfyjvGA-8sNwm8RrgNxXZyInhTX80eTrH3fpFOfNpTooNeV05kbrabsrh/s1600/To+Market,+To+Market+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-_gE_WVf7Trrz8HF09Qm2HJYvgWxFNrEOOEfQdxi_v85q80Vog8AbhnhV964aD7mAhNDgxckATIyyWZXITBDfyjvGA-8sNwm8RrgNxXZyInhTX80eTrH3fpFOfNpTooNeV05kbrabsrh/s320/To+Market,+To+Market+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>Well so much for being consistent about blogging. A month and a half later here I am back again. Truth be told, life caught up with me a bit. The Bear got bronchitis (major ugh!), work got a little hectic, we celebrated year 4 of married life, and let's face it the energy level is ever decreasing as I near the birth of baby #2. That said, I am here to deliver my shopping plan as promised.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Step 1: Take Inventory</span><br />
Probably the most important step is to know what you have in your stash and what basics you're running low on. My basics are things like coffee, crackers, cheese, flour, sugar, rice, pasta, canned soup (tomato, cream of chicken and mushroom), canned veggies and beans, potatoes, as well as paper goods (TP & paper towels). Things of that nature. These are things my family uses a lot of and so I make sure we have it all in the house. After the basics I take inventory of our meat. Know what you've got to work with.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Step 2: Plan Your Meals for the Week</span><br />
1. Take into consideration what you already have in stock before you start looking at what you need to buy. If you are really trying to save money, also look at what you can substitute in recipes. For example this very evening I substituted a can of green chiles for a few chopped jalapeno slices in my chili recipe.<br />
2. When it comes to planning meals, find a balance of proteins and get creative with them. Let's face it, unless it's majorly on sale, beef is really not an affordable option, even ground. We stick with whole chicken (it can go a long way), pork when on sale, beans (pick a night to go all veg), and fish. I try not to have the same protein more than two meals in a row just to keep the variety going.<br />
3. Shop the ads. I'll be honest, I don't really do this but I have been blessed by Aldi where I don't necessarily have to shop ads because their prices are already lower than most brands on sale. That said, I don't buy meat from them (solution added is not okay in my house). So in the way of meat, shop the ads. And fresh produce, buy on sale and in season!<br />
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Here's an example of a weekly meal plan I did. Hopefully in the near future I can post the recipes. <br />
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Monday: Roasted Chicken & Greek Potatoes w/Green Beans<br />
Tuesday: Southwest Veggie Bake (lots of beans) & Salad<br />
Wednesday: Honey Garlic Pork Chops w/Broccoli and Baked Potatoes<br />
Thursday: Chicken Lo Mien & Crab Rangoons<br />
Friday: Mushroom Steak (using cube steaks) w/Green Beans & Mashed Potatoes<br />
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We are a family of 3 and yes my toddler eats like an adult so I count him. I usually make enough for 4-5 servings so that there is a little left over the next day for lunches. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Step 3: Make Your Shopping List</span><br />
Now that you've got your meal plan and know what you have in house. Make your list. The key to this is being detailed. I shop two stores: Wal-Mart & Aldi. I know these stores and where everything is. I make my list according to the store's layout. At Wal-Mart I start at the back and work my way up. Aldi you walk in and end at the check out. Making your list to suit your store is important for a few reasons. First, it saves you the time and frustration of going back and forth and up and down a bunch of aisles as you realize you've missed something on your list. *Disclaimer: this still happens to me as I sometimes skip over things even when they are in order on the list.* Second, it saves you from going down aisles you don't need to go down and being tempted to purchase things not on your list.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Step 4: Go Shopping!</span><br />
Normally, a woman loves to go shopping, but let's face it grocery shopping is tedious. Having the list makes things so much easier and more efficient. There are two major tips: 1. Stick to the list & 2. Write down the price of each item. This second step is super important when it comes to the budget aspect. When I write down the price I over estimate to the next half dollar. Actual price, $3.15; Written price $3.50. This helps take into account tax. I like to add as I go so I know where I am budget-wise and know what to expect when I get to the register. Sometimes the prices will ring up different from what you estimate. Don't be afraid to double check on stuff if it rings up more than you wrote down.<br />
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Okay, I think that's it. Probably not as detailed as I could have been and may not even be that helpful, but I got it out there.<br />
Forewarning, next post will probably be baby related. I'm thinking 'What's in my bag, hospital addition' and probably my amazing recipe for postpartum care.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-29529038738235172842012-06-04T12:10:00.000-07:002012-06-04T12:10:25.916-07:00Budget 101: The Cardinal Rules of Grocery Budgeting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To really get your grocery budget in check, you’ve got to follow a few cardinal rules.<br />
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1. Embrace the generosity of others.</h3>
This is probably the most difficult but the most important rule of all. There is a fine line between enjoying the generosity and taking advantage of it. Every family’s version of this is different. For us it includes participating in <a href="http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/" target="_blank">WIC</a>. If you are unfamiliar, WIC is a fantastic government-sponsored program for families with young children that provides very basic groceries such as milk, cheese, bread, cereal, beans, and an allotment of fruits and veggies based on financial need. Truth be told this is the biggest source of help when it comes to our overall grocery budget. WIC provides at least another $100 a month to our groceries. It took me a little bit to get over the stereotype I had associated with WIC, but putting my own pride aside, I did what was needed for my family.<br />
Aside from the generosity of taxpayers, we have also learned to embrace those families who love us enough to share a bit of their blessings with us. If someone invites you over for Sunday lunch, accept graciously and always offer to bring something. If you have a friend who happens to slaughter a cow or have lots of venison left from hunting season and offers you some meat, open up that freezer and allow them to share the wealth. And of course, if your loving parents or in-laws ask how they can help, tell them they can take you to the grocery store.<br />
Husband and I look forward to the day that we too can pour out our blessings on others, but for now we are the ones receiving the blessings from others. Now on to the other ‘rules.’<br />
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2. Set your budget and stick to it.</h3>
Take a hard look at your finances and see what your average spending for groceries and toiletries have been over the last 6 months. See what you specifically spend on meats, produce, dairy, and dry goods. If possible also look at what meals you prepare on a regular basis. This will help tremendously when you move on to other steps. Now set your budget. Again every family is different, some spend more, some less. We stick to an average of $50 a week. Some weeks are more, some less. Knowing your budget and sticking to it strictly is the key. <br />
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3. Shop with cash.</h3>
This has truly been the money saving tip of the century. Every two weeks I visit the bank and take out the grocery money for those two weeks. When I go to the store I know that that’s all the money I have for two weeks. If the money runs out, I don’t by anything else. When you have that cash in hand it makes you much more aware of how much you spend. <br />
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4. Shop with a plan and a purpose.</h3>
Before I even think about going to the store, I make a plan. I know what stores I will go to, what meals I will make that week, and exactly what I am going to buy. I’ll go into more detail about the planning stages in another post. Basically, in making a plan you can save yourself time and money.<br />
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That’s the basics of it all. It sounds so simple and yes, it is once you get the hang of it all. Next post I’ll share how I do my shopping plan. Enjoy your first full week of June!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-23478809557894149542012-06-01T12:38:00.000-07:002012-06-04T12:13:28.323-07:00Budget 101: The Basics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Look at me two posts in 1 week. Woohoo! So if you are part of the privileged class known as our friends and family, you know that we have always been on a tight budget and now with both of us only working part time the budget is even tighter.<br />
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In an attempt to get some creative ideas for our budget I started looking around the world wide web for ideas. Lo and behold my idea of a strict budget varies greatly from the general population. I feel like we live on the bare necessities but I guess you can be the judge of that. Without going into too many details, here's the general scheme of our monthly budget.<br />
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<b>Essentials (aka bills we can't really change)</b></div>
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$500 Rent</div>
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$400 Health Insurance (it super sucks having to pay for your own insurance)</div>
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$128 Car Insurance (trying to get creative with our agent to get this lower)</div>
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$200 Student Loans (only 6 more years to go!!)</div>
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$180 Car Loan (only 20 easy payments left)</div>
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$272 Tithe (give to God what is God's, pre-taxes of course)</div>
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$200 All Utilities (this is the top budgeted, we have yet to actually spend this much monthly)</div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Extras (aka stuff we need and yet don't need)</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">$139 Cell Phones (ugh! why does it cost so much?! trying to figure out a way we can get this lowered)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">$24 Internet (yes, we need it. How else would I get to blog?)</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Grocery & Gas (the most creative section of budgeting)</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">$200 Groceries (yeah you read that right, $200 a month = $50 a week)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">$100 Gas (this has been the most difficult and the one we fudge on the most) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: black;">That brings us to a grand total of <b>$2343/month</b>. When I add it all up is sounds like so much but I guess in comparison to others it's not so bad. I won't go into the detail of saying how much we actually bring home (I gotta keep something private!), but let's just say there's not much left for fun and games. Oh, by the way, the grocery budget also includes any toiletries we might need to get. That money doesn't just appear out of thin air. With what is left over every month, we set it aside for things like oil changes, insurance co-pays, and a little bit of cushion. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: black;">So there you have it, that's the budget. The funny thing is, out of all the money we spend every month there's only a few hundred dollars worth that we actually have real control over. Since that is the case over the next few posts I hope to focus in on one particular area: groceries. It's the one with which most people struggle (notice my amazing grammar there?) and it's the one with which I've had the hardest time finding help via the internet. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: black;">Tune in next week for some general tips on sticking to a small grocery budget.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="color: black;">Have a wonderful weekend!!</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv545dBiYI_QNDOGp6YgNCCoTqqLa5M3JCQPw7Fr87AsdxvRHX44PHQs0Wqib0CtAiO6mUebU9vUrvKg_-UEHmcSZbrWHIeWEoUsX4aQaYey4FRap0kpL5Zf6CCMwTVdD2SEg2RndAdm3/s1600/Run+Ruckus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv545dBiYI_QNDOGp6YgNCCoTqqLa5M3JCQPw7Fr87AsdxvRHX44PHQs0Wqib0CtAiO6mUebU9vUrvKg_-UEHmcSZbrWHIeWEoUsX4aQaYey4FRap0kpL5Zf6CCMwTVdD2SEg2RndAdm3/s320/Run+Ruckus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Husband, the Bear, and Brother at Run Ruckus (from back in March but I'm still pretty proud)</td></tr>
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<br />Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-40849999924058764102012-05-30T13:20:00.000-07:002012-05-30T13:20:04.911-07:001st Birthday on a Budget: Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow, I am really bad at this blogging thing! But hey, working and raising a family is hard work and let's face it, blogging isn't exactly top priority. That said, here's the rest of the Bear's 1st birthday.<br />
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<b>Step 3: Pick a Menu ($30) & Make a Cake ($8)</b> </h2>
Since we did a Razorback themed party we opted for game day food including hot dogs, beans, salad, and chips and dip. Not the healthiest of menus but hey it's a party. The key to food at a party is to keep it simple, inexpensive, and of course have the grandparents chip in a little. They kicked in a little when it came to the sides and we handled the rest. Super easy and cheap.<br />
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When it came to the cake, I tried to be ambitious and make one from scratch. Who knew that cake is next to impossible to get out of a custom cake pan without cake release? Not me. The first version failed miserably so I did what every good mom does and bought a mix ($2). The most expensive part of the cake ended up being the icing. I purchased a tub of plain white ($1) thinking I would get off cheap but lo and behold to get a quality red coloring I had to go to the cake decorating section. Let's here it for $5 for a small canister of crimson food gel. I know it's probably horrible for us and will someday give us cancer but I used it anyway. So now we are to a grand total of $8 for the cake. I guess in comparison to a store bought cake it's no big but it was more than I had expected.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished cake w/decorations (His name was across the top, again removed for privacy)</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Step 4: Favors ($7)</b></span></h2>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;">For favors</span></span> I opted for cookies and mints. The mints I had left over from a shower so they were free! For the cookies I borrowed some cookie cutters from my mother-in-law that were jersey and football shapes. I spent my $7 on the baking supplies, frosting (which I homemade), and the dye ($4). I had some red from the cake but had to buy the brown for the footballs. Again, good food dye is expensive.<br />
I found the key to good cut out cookies is to cut them again after they bake. This gives you clean lines when you decorate and you get to munch on the crusts!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh baked sugar cookie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place cookie cutter over cookie and give one firm press</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH-e0RnThoy5wN0OCu4gcKpbS26eyJ-7CFrr4ZAz5mNnVQThIirP42si5FgvG_1vJpLw27KgcgWM4a98p5AA58u2px-xETqRoqDnOTowtSmI-hH3oeQpJEf8p0lEDt_0a5xLwV1V18jk0/s1600/cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH-e0RnThoy5wN0OCu4gcKpbS26eyJ-7CFrr4ZAz5mNnVQThIirP42si5FgvG_1vJpLw27KgcgWM4a98p5AA58u2px-xETqRoqDnOTowtSmI-hH3oeQpJEf8p0lEDt_0a5xLwV1V18jk0/s320/cookies.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Result is clean cut cookies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHyIz5L764J8sA2MhDWe2n6D8W90MOJdBRottyn6jqAI9kCGhBxY490HRGtt40oCOBKK8VThfgd6LUGraomOCtbqvkW6nbolbRT_cAn0bO6RvJpC3tUoVPlfUdFxS0JL5NLs-9qW8A7R0/s1600/cookies+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHyIz5L764J8sA2MhDWe2n6D8W90MOJdBRottyn6jqAI9kCGhBxY490HRGtt40oCOBKK8VThfgd6LUGraomOCtbqvkW6nbolbRT_cAn0bO6RvJpC3tUoVPlfUdFxS0JL5NLs-9qW8A7R0/s320/cookies+final.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product (sorry I didn't get a pic of them decorated outside the bag)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="color: #990000;">
<br /></h2>
<h2>
<b><span style="color: #990000; font-weight: normal;">Step 5: Presents ($40)</span></b></h2>
<span style="color: black;">I feel like deciding on a gift is always the difficult thing. Do you go one big gift, several small, consider the party itself a gift and let the grandparents handle toys? Because it was so close to Christmas we opted to go very simple on gift. One gift for birthday and one gift for Christmas. The Christmas gift I snagged for $10 so that left us a little more to spend on birthday. While perusing the aisles at Target we came across this little darling and knew it was perfect for our little Bear. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQDT3pOsMJEmEWexPQV52FBugpy41x-wkku6hoOnE18Gk59a-nAoHl2-uknMnDG4lg9F1-xFZPSAK1o9wGukupDix4V2M1abWcY1igBNtpeEGuowGBzSHGDznQUxyHZSIrZgDvjU3SvIH/s1600/batman" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQDT3pOsMJEmEWexPQV52FBugpy41x-wkku6hoOnE18Gk59a-nAoHl2-uknMnDG4lg9F1-xFZPSAK1o9wGukupDix4V2M1abWcY1igBNtpeEGuowGBzSHGDznQUxyHZSIrZgDvjU3SvIH/s320/batman" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.target.com/p/Fisher-Price-Little-People-Batman-Batcave/-/A-13382621" target="_blank">Awesome Little People Batcave</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">So there you have it. 1st Birthday party for just under $100. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Let's review shall we: Free (decor & cute outfit) + $11 (invites) + $30 (Food) + $8 (Cake) + $7 (Favors) + $40 (Present) = $96</span></b>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-72335526391922397962012-03-21T13:33:00.000-07:002012-03-21T13:33:48.432-07:001st Birthday on a Budget Part 1I realize that this post is more than 3 months overdue but hey a lot has transpired. We moved, Husband got a new job, I got a new job, Bear had a birthday, and we're expecting again. So there is a little slack to be cut.<br />
<br />
So the Bear turned 1 a few months ago and did so on a very tight budget. Like most young families, we don't have an abundance of funds and that didn't miraculously change when the Bear's 1st birthday rolled around. We had to really think about what we wanted to do and how much we wanted to spend.<br />
<br />
I started mapping this out and discovered that it was way to long for one post so I'll break it down into two. Part 1: Planning/Prep and Part 2: Party<br />
<br />
So here are the guide so to speak of how I kept my son's birthday from start to finish for under $100. <br />
<br />
<div style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Step 1: The Theme/Decor (Free)</span></div>I started planning my son's party while I was still pregnant. Call me crazy but doing so saved me some serious dollars when it came to the party. How so you may ask?<br />
<b>I saved the decorations from the baby showers!</b><br />
We did an Arkansas Razorback themed nursery and so two of my showers were also Razorback themed. I saved napkins, streamers, wall hangings, stickers, plates, etc. Yes they took up a little closet space and yes my husband tried to throw things away a few times, but I hung on to it all! I also borrowed some decorations from the Bear's nursery and set out his baby book, photo albums, etc.<br />
<br />
<br />
I didn't have to buy a single decoration and the space looked great.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDkBmroJq7OXTMozekSsLE4jhCNKuqdyixUt7ocUs5DHeZAXIqybGrOH527KY4789juafivtXFFzHRIa6NU9-h2ti8ErLD8ybnXpWeqvdqY0AsAWufkm4xJ84Bd73E7n64VD241SyZvQE/s1600/SAM_2148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDkBmroJq7OXTMozekSsLE4jhCNKuqdyixUt7ocUs5DHeZAXIqybGrOH527KY4789juafivtXFFzHRIa6NU9-h2ti8ErLD8ybnXpWeqvdqY0AsAWufkm4xJ84Bd73E7n64VD241SyZvQE/s320/SAM_2148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute baby stuff</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdS9h54_uyQG9oPKzud8jfiPI8HpTZZMluON55Qr9G5QIQS1_nor4Lvx3xgCVK_dWfAAp_nKQIWKGOCPtOrTdANLLEi4SIU8BKjBV0bF6dphyphenhyphenSpLkRpUuHX5TqPVhtqMpe6GNBoNC7ddL/s1600/SAM_2150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdS9h54_uyQG9oPKzud8jfiPI8HpTZZMluON55Qr9G5QIQS1_nor4Lvx3xgCVK_dWfAAp_nKQIWKGOCPtOrTdANLLEi4SIU8BKjBV0bF6dphyphenhyphenSpLkRpUuHX5TqPVhtqMpe6GNBoNC7ddL/s320/SAM_2150.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banner from one of my showers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DZUXxF8IZe4lI4AS5SLMDhMf8cPVe1YfjJghN9TAx977OMbFD-5xghTfKspbBGjWYQpWBWVd7sfnwzfG5YDEByOg6REpF2ET8hJIH_zr_s3O6Xj7ZjmzwA-V0zKmObhQfP5oWe0djCt8/s1600/SAM_2151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DZUXxF8IZe4lI4AS5SLMDhMf8cPVe1YfjJghN9TAx977OMbFD-5xghTfKspbBGjWYQpWBWVd7sfnwzfG5YDEByOg6REpF2ET8hJIH_zr_s3O6Xj7ZjmzwA-V0zKmObhQfP5oWe0djCt8/s320/SAM_2151.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictures of the Bear over the last year</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Step 2: The Invite List (Free) and Invitations ($11)</span></span><br />
<br />
I know the tendency of 1st timers is to go overboard with the first birthday. Hey, I was in the same boat. If I could have, I would have gone all out and probably tried to get Tyler Wilson himself to come to the Bear's party (wouldn't that have been awesome)! But, again, reality set in.<br />
Rather than inviting everyone we knew with kids, people from church, and every family member we could find, we kept it to our immediate family and a few close friends with kids.<br />
I made the invites using a combo of stuff I already had and a few simple purchases <br />
<ul><li>Wrapping paper from a shower</li>
<li>Brown scrapbook paper</li>
<li>"You're Invited" rubber stamp ($6 from Hobby Lobby)</li>
<li>12 pk. of red envelopes ($3 from Hobby Lobby)</li>
<li>12 printed pics of the Bear ($2 from Wal-Mart)</li>
</ul>Here's the finished product. Not bad, eh? (The blackouts were obviously not on the actual invite, just personal stuff blocked for this post.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUGJJF3CuGY2OLIJQJo8pUNEzeDbnQTMaxYwhaUlNv_OREqdMWPpVBcSgjnFPTu12A4vTsuTPYBXtDDRjdmOWK4Q-4KuBBAqn74geyc1hHt1SeerCuG4klW52P0tvGtl1P01La-O5Kiay/s1600/SAM_2055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUGJJF3CuGY2OLIJQJo8pUNEzeDbnQTMaxYwhaUlNv_OREqdMWPpVBcSgjnFPTu12A4vTsuTPYBXtDDRjdmOWK4Q-4KuBBAqn74geyc1hHt1SeerCuG4klW52P0tvGtl1P01La-O5Kiay/s320/SAM_2055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yRFL9xALymO3RQt_vw1gpWaeui84ya5VUTnkg7uhLsCS4LrZUYGzzdvHqeSYcRUQJxTFAwpIuv2RdA0h1ai1O1U_Cc5FhVqSicP0F_r6Bcnl2zCPOwwkk3UwmrsatYkizQGDEF1PunKU/s1600/invite+back+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yRFL9xALymO3RQt_vw1gpWaeui84ya5VUTnkg7uhLsCS4LrZUYGzzdvHqeSYcRUQJxTFAwpIuv2RdA0h1ai1O1U_Cc5FhVqSicP0F_r6Bcnl2zCPOwwkk3UwmrsatYkizQGDEF1PunKU/s320/invite+back+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasuvhD6RFmh7GEsTnXcWCcPVobgUQ-yvamQqRP_jvedOcwr0bFaJWK3q4bJ5leVrYNX0IPBsXfbRuzAFQp-e2fCndwO8cmcxtFmjS9vxnn-1UQWYR6Cs-aW8Y61knSWv9ooNFNtHuwt3g/s1600/SAM_2057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<div style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Step 3: Super Cute Outfit for the Birthday Boy</span></div>Just like every mom I wanted by Bear to have a cute out fit to wear. Something that had a "1" or "Birthday Boy" or something similar on it. Truth be told I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for so I just made it myself. I am not a master seamstress so I assure you anyone can do this. I took a white onesie we already had and some material that was left over from covering a footstool in the nursery.<br />
I cut out a one and zig-zag stitched around the edge. Done!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYNUEEoZewPyH4Ni0wN4t9FKueUWkljxzDhn4hufXOoQVppAN9j6dQ_ht8ImxItPgQ84HbCM0i771OBrqOegIJVxtbciBEeP4XwKWVt-Cro7SAED-Lb1lG_NHpHZ5n-WZg6br8V9tmz20/s1600/SAM_2058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYNUEEoZewPyH4Ni0wN4t9FKueUWkljxzDhn4hufXOoQVppAN9j6dQ_ht8ImxItPgQ84HbCM0i771OBrqOegIJVxtbciBEeP4XwKWVt-Cro7SAED-Lb1lG_NHpHZ5n-WZg6br8V9tmz20/s320/SAM_2058.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br />
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That's it for now. Still to come are The Food/Cake, The Favors, and The Presents.<br />
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I'm glad to be back in the blogging world after my brief hiatus.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-62792283939169953362011-12-01T10:52:00.000-08:002011-12-23T14:12:31.669-08:00Brown Paper PackagesGrowing up, the Sound of Music was my absolute favorite musical and of course one of the best songs is "My Favorite Things." Oh the wonderful things that come wrapped in brown paper and string. Okay, most things now-a-days don't come wrapped in brown paper. They come in bright wrapping paper, cellophane, and bags with balloons. But not this year at our house! We're kickin' it old school!<br />
<br />
My first married Christmas I got creative and used newspaper and cloth ribbon for wrapping paper, but got busy and less creative the next two years. This year I decided not only would I get creative but also resourceful. Most of the grocery stores around here give you paper bags at the checkout. I had been saving them to reuse but then a light bulb went off. Ding! Use them for wrapping paper. Genius I know! So for the past few months I've been saving my paper bags and with all my Christmas shopping done (yeah, you heard me, done), I started wrapping today.<br />
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Let's go through this process together.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;">Step 1</span><span style="color: red;">: <b><span style="color: black;">Dismantle the bag.</span></b></span><b> </b>First remove the handles. You'll use these later for bows.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqw162LeIKaN66wAYm4sTAMlZt-8-vpBY8RqMjMtn2TkWNgRpePjDavxND0CQq4Q_daUjc7pSxgsr6_Od1y91NVGZyEP1xMYDGXxl1-ANX6Ixxea0eYmotw6RAPe3QmSbQ_bDOIhuPFun/s1600/SAM_2077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqw162LeIKaN66wAYm4sTAMlZt-8-vpBY8RqMjMtn2TkWNgRpePjDavxND0CQq4Q_daUjc7pSxgsr6_Od1y91NVGZyEP1xMYDGXxl1-ANX6Ixxea0eYmotw6RAPe3QmSbQ_bDOIhuPFun/s320/SAM_2077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Then carefully take the bag apart at the seams. I chose to do this to save every scrap I could but you can also just cut it apart. No big.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxd7dtFBO7OYPwGXpz0u_KNQ23O5Hx4DYu0o1LQUm1w22i-K51-xx0gFhJ88myL9d6Y-TDwAL7urp_RhStTBAoEsLLyo3NnT73xIZvY-jE2qdwDT0O7RIlOCda4BaQDTzu8sCeML2AQr8/s1600/SAM_2078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxd7dtFBO7OYPwGXpz0u_KNQ23O5Hx4DYu0o1LQUm1w22i-K51-xx0gFhJ88myL9d6Y-TDwAL7urp_RhStTBAoEsLLyo3NnT73xIZvY-jE2qdwDT0O7RIlOCda4BaQDTzu8sCeML2AQr8/s320/SAM_2078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Step 2:</span> <b>Lay it out and wrap up your gift.</b> I highly suggest either turning your edges under so no rough edges or you could just trim up the edges.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmjcnF11J8hYSQaIYPskSQx7GEjOXm_X3wsft_5wOUJZL5S3-ermy-YLmq1ynJ_9eGVUHf8fvm67L5n-il8d5Cp_4dkpe_uVKmDdOGkTe9iAFBYKT0p1q3SG6tWe_G-e43JdIzQfn_iPV/s1600/SAM_2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmjcnF11J8hYSQaIYPskSQx7GEjOXm_X3wsft_5wOUJZL5S3-ermy-YLmq1ynJ_9eGVUHf8fvm67L5n-il8d5Cp_4dkpe_uVKmDdOGkTe9iAFBYKT0p1q3SG6tWe_G-e43JdIzQfn_iPV/s320/SAM_2080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Step 3: <b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Make the bow. </span></span></b></span>Take one of the handles and bend it the opposite direction that it was on the bag. This creates a loop. You'll need to smooth it out slightly.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGAbcrbjRDEXlu7GD_i2MKlPX8aBxy_qdvxQ_XRTtgyfyE2HxqaY7idPMRbDzwIWpVhzP5cE2MKmLG6nxeiNDeBynBxYiMBumZkYJFrOuhQtLhBH88F-K45X3Fymv6I1eg-ToAoIx9NYj/s1600/SAM_2082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGAbcrbjRDEXlu7GD_i2MKlPX8aBxy_qdvxQ_XRTtgyfyE2HxqaY7idPMRbDzwIWpVhzP5cE2MKmLG6nxeiNDeBynBxYiMBumZkYJFrOuhQtLhBH88F-K45X3Fymv6I1eg-ToAoIx9NYj/s320/SAM_2082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Next place a piece of tape on the back side of the bow so that it doesn't show.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOMVwY7qIZrFoRWKhK79-KE_DMa6oow73athrJ4mDEahQgpT8FXjFmNoL7E7Hxq8taZjPPlMTxyovFrDqxUvIbH0bdudc1hb8OLPSIEYhdPaiYSXubr0VlZVOVK5MwqIWWDpnJn5QRqEf/s1600/SAM_2083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOMVwY7qIZrFoRWKhK79-KE_DMa6oow73athrJ4mDEahQgpT8FXjFmNoL7E7Hxq8taZjPPlMTxyovFrDqxUvIbH0bdudc1hb8OLPSIEYhdPaiYSXubr0VlZVOVK5MwqIWWDpnJn5QRqEf/s320/SAM_2083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Now repeat this with the other handles. You can add as many as you like to your "bow cluster."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWbTx5uTmwQ6nbT4TPy2M4tdH5hIE9ngm3RG0XZMBuIZgjWBs7SnEIrOwqV7Vb5Osl7lVS4RkozArDaGq0-PiAkLfPeo6ivOuvJX_UtBUiHihc6McYPKsaooG8Ap81u8j7GP88sT3KI65/s1600/SAM_2084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWbTx5uTmwQ6nbT4TPy2M4tdH5hIE9ngm3RG0XZMBuIZgjWBs7SnEIrOwqV7Vb5Osl7lVS4RkozArDaGq0-PiAkLfPeo6ivOuvJX_UtBUiHihc6McYPKsaooG8Ap81u8j7GP88sT3KI65/s320/SAM_2084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I chose to use four "bows." To secure them together, I took a small red ribbon and tied it around all of the bows.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMORtEdsTJcbsGnKQGlRIbupNcVEfvBMx1WHXPvKK_hyphenhyphen4GeCFUDNZtnQ64FiiR2MgQcZ_9CzyEtxY7SnkzjHagv4kqiCs5tAdBHQvdIvebOlHObN7hDcQxC4q11gxYVNuLV8ZWUEb3QsR/s1600/SAM_2086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMORtEdsTJcbsGnKQGlRIbupNcVEfvBMx1WHXPvKK_hyphenhyphen4GeCFUDNZtnQ64FiiR2MgQcZ_9CzyEtxY7SnkzjHagv4kqiCs5tAdBHQvdIvebOlHObN7hDcQxC4q11gxYVNuLV8ZWUEb3QsR/s320/SAM_2086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchsV_SZisDWuONe_kkkT8cJeN14ypN8QuLf-nNNcV8KU7H5S9KeAbRx_V-Jz5WGE3NOHdR0gkFd7MFLxau3OPw7swKOsECW34l56jtRytpFItZKRA0-nnO7H2zWPYuVvXqL1kvWjyZ0cl/s1600/SAM_2085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now all there is left to do is fancy up the bow a bit and attach to the wrapped package.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Step 4:</span><b> Enjoy brown paper packages tied up with string!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kF5b31pWjG_4blLTRx_jldePN-czVHR70uVAOSHd4KlRa62GZ707ph_ySxjARifTkupbJGrj26m4GimotarnYeJPRvRhPliaDmGqdzTWLXal0N9zO8M2Z70pRaYiUke6Piaq1TKWWlp_/s1600/SAM_2075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kF5b31pWjG_4blLTRx_jldePN-czVHR70uVAOSHd4KlRa62GZ707ph_ySxjARifTkupbJGrj26m4GimotarnYeJPRvRhPliaDmGqdzTWLXal0N9zO8M2Z70pRaYiUke6Piaq1TKWWlp_/s320/SAM_2075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all I'm fairly pleased with the outcome. If I had it, I would use wider ribbon to cover up the tape on the sides or better yet use the clear tape designed not to show. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know it's early, but I'm glad I have my packages wrapped and under the tree. With the bear's birthday next week, I have to be on the ball with things so it will be smooth sailing until Christmas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Check out my husband's lovely gift wrapping!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk69FOaZglZ3XmdbQLwYdozgr_ZySQ5qjEYzA9f40O47dRMozdT8sU25XUJhccbiQZWZnPClh7y6vGLrYc6CIe1wksmcFGIGF42eyYfaf81dMZ7iqZ6OAZJ8iC0SwwKo5iLxWP-zwM50Oq/s1600/moose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk69FOaZglZ3XmdbQLwYdozgr_ZySQ5qjEYzA9f40O47dRMozdT8sU25XUJhccbiQZWZnPClh7y6vGLrYc6CIe1wksmcFGIGF42eyYfaf81dMZ7iqZ6OAZJ8iC0SwwKo5iLxWP-zwM50Oq/s320/moose.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's moose...or a reindeer...I'm not sure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-89277059127367200532011-11-22T16:50:00.000-08:002011-11-22T16:50:15.469-08:00Trying out Deceptively DeliciousOkay so it's been a while (a long while) since I've posted. I was supposed to be doing a comfort food series which totally tanked. Oh well. We've been super busy around here but I have been trying new things, just not posting about them.<br />
Update on the dress project: it's way harder than it looks to make a dress from scratch. I pieced everything together, thought I was almost finished but my fitting keeps coming out wrong. So this project has been put on hold until I gain more patience.<br />
In the meantime I have been working on something a little less complicated. As a shower gift I received <i>Deceptively Delicious</i> by Jessica Seinfeld. Basically it's a book of normal recipes that add vegetable and fruit purees to normal foods. I've heard good things about it, so once the bear got big enough to start eating table foods, I knew I had to try. So far we've tried french toast, oatmeal (a big hit), grilled cheese, and mac and cheese.<br />
The little man has really enjoyed all the recipes and so have the hubby and me. We've made the oatmeal which uses canned pumpkin several times. Yum!<br />
I knew I wanted to start small when it came to purees, so when cauliflower went on sale I figured it was the time to start.<br />
<br />
So here it is, my adventure into purees and the resulting mac and cheese.<br />
The book outlines how to do the puree which is relatively easy so until I have pictures documenting how to do the purees, I'll skip this step.<br />
<br />
Here's the mac and cheese recipe.<br />
1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni (I used whole wheat spiral pasta)<br />
Nonstick cooking spray<br />
1 Tbs. olive oil<br />
1 Tbs. all-purpose flour<br />
1/2 c. non-fat (skim) milk (I used 2% cause it's what we had)<br />
1/2 c. butternut squash or cauliflower puree<br />
1 1/2. shredded cheddar cheese<br />
4 oz. cream cheese<br />
1/2 tsp. salt<br />
1/8 tsp. paprika<br />
1/8 tsp. pepper<br />
<br />
Cook pasta according to package directions. This is also a good time to defrost your puree if using it from frozen.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxVAss42VbG3yPb5fwVh0YfnkkkiH0Dt7YwoKBEKXfQECpoY_aM-QmBwu7bmiycmGpBYOTqYcEktmnJxfUvPlmSHATDrswntU_so9w_9Y3rQlQw_imFxhJDtzYnvRyiBddYQdrgrsAh50/s1600/SAM_2061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxVAss42VbG3yPb5fwVh0YfnkkkiH0Dt7YwoKBEKXfQECpoY_aM-QmBwu7bmiycmGpBYOTqYcEktmnJxfUvPlmSHATDrswntU_so9w_9Y3rQlQw_imFxhJDtzYnvRyiBddYQdrgrsAh50/s320/SAM_2061.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My frozen cauliflower puree. I used "Fresh Baby" trays but ice cube trays work too. Five cubes is 1/2 cup.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>While the pasta cooks, coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and heat over medium high heat. Add the oil, then the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture resembles a thick paste but has not browned, 1 to 2 minutes. **Be sure to cook this the whole time suggested. I didn't and the final product tasted to flour-y.<br />
<br />
Add the milk and cook, stirring every now and then, until the mixture begins to thicken, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the vegetable puree, cheeses, and seasonings, and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Stir in macaroni and serve warm.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-2N5BC2sVdFGqeG5JkFxNFBM78mIXLyuZnX0GbHXDS4v-liCEoPpoTsdYWGDlxIchTIfQpzLyLOJQXjr3-6N_jTSMxBslnB2Tn_yNjeLkBCazb4dYhXa3KP7c2zHVnbLB1DhF5NlMZUM/s1600/SAM_2060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-2N5BC2sVdFGqeG5JkFxNFBM78mIXLyuZnX0GbHXDS4v-liCEoPpoTsdYWGDlxIchTIfQpzLyLOJQXjr3-6N_jTSMxBslnB2Tn_yNjeLkBCazb4dYhXa3KP7c2zHVnbLB1DhF5NlMZUM/s320/SAM_2060.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final creamy product</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A few notes, like I said make sure you really follow the step about the flour. All in all the little bear liked it a lot. I fix a lot of mac and cheese for his lunches so I'm really glad I found a recipe that adds a little extra nutrition. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL4zAVuNaKsxg8pxUasbuc1tFElaCW-NGc_ZDfoIKz6Tacz94CzjJMR0VgX-pZ4ZAaYTdbsL_dMnMADHpyNdKaZv0NCwbDhf8IUb2LgaaDHlnpNBrmnBA4rg5M6UANsMmjlr1SqyHzyao/s1600/Henry+approves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL4zAVuNaKsxg8pxUasbuc1tFElaCW-NGc_ZDfoIKz6Tacz94CzjJMR0VgX-pZ4ZAaYTdbsL_dMnMADHpyNdKaZv0NCwbDhf8IUb2LgaaDHlnpNBrmnBA4rg5M6UANsMmjlr1SqyHzyao/s320/Henry+approves.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can judge for yourself, but I think he enjoyed it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-72674637336761538502011-09-16T15:13:00.000-07:002011-09-16T15:13:34.324-07:00Comfort Food Series: Chicken and DumplingsSo to keep myself motivated to blog bi-weekly if not more frequently, I decided to do a series. And what better thing to write about than food, comfort food!<br />
<br />
To start I wanted to do <i>my</i> favorite comfort food: chicken and dumplings. I think everyone has their own variation of this recipe and it's always "the way mom made it." So for me this is the way my mom made and my grandma taught her to make it. It's quite the legacy so you should feel honored that I am sharing this time-honored recipe with the public.<br />
<br />
The way my mom cooks is by touch and feel and if she actually has a written recipe, the actual product is probably some variation. This recipe is one that is not written down or at least I sure have never seen a written copy. So again feel honored that you get a written copy!<br />
Here it is my version of Chicken and Dumplings.<br />
<br />
<br />
What you need:<br />
Leftover whole chicken (still on bones) or 4-6 chicken thighs (raw or cooked)<br />
3-4 cubes chicken bouillon<br />
1 1/2-2 quarts water <br />
Flour<br />
shortening or fat from chicken broth (preferred)<br />
warm chicken broth<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
What you do:<br />
There are a few ways to make your broth.<br />
1. Raw chicken: Cook chicken in water with bouillon in crock pot on low all day. Feel free to add your own extra spices such as salt, pepper, fresh or powdered onion. At the end of the day, remove all chicken (meat and bones) from broth and set aside. Run broth through <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-and-food/cooking-utensils/oxo-fat-separator/s548642">fat separator</a> or something that will remove any bits of bones/meat and allow broth to sink and fat to rise. Leave in fat separator or put in another container. Refrigerate overnight to allow broth sink and fat to harden. Meanwhile, let chicken cool enough to handle. Separate chicken from bones and store chicken. All this can be done same day if desired.<br />
2. Leftover cooked chicken (my preferred method): Using leftover baked chicken, remove as much meat from the bones as possible without completely dismantling the chicken. Place chicken in large stock pot and cover with water. Add bouillon. Cover and let simmer for 2-3 hours until chicken and bones separate. Remove meat and bones from broth. Run broth through fat separator and remove usable meat from bones. No need to store broth if using right away.<br />
*If you don't want the hassle of making your own broth simply buy ready to eat chicken and canned broth.<br />
<br />
Now that you have both broth and chicken, get to work on the dumplings.<br />
Boil broth in large pot. Broth needs to be a full rolling boil before adding dumplings. <br />
Dump about 1 c. flour in a mixing bowl. (1 c. of flour makes about 6 servings of dumplings) Cut in shortening or chicken fat from top of broth and make a course crumble. (Using the chicken fat instead of shortening gives the dumplings more flavor and you use all of your resources). Add enough warm broth to form a soft, elastic dough. Dough will be fairly sticky. Put half of dough on lightly floured surface. Need very gently so that dough maintains elasticity and softness. Roll out thin into rectangle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnB_AqRqlM9QwMDjM1irSN2TmKPa-d28BqfyGR3_P3iQnVPUFnVTmWqhsjScgeplzIUjB6rI9dhhysfZE54CDXdpLpI9FGL1bPfRGwNs5t1aFV8kHqE2Ypz3kmRS1apmXJ5liw9jpX8nz/s1600/SAM_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnB_AqRqlM9QwMDjM1irSN2TmKPa-d28BqfyGR3_P3iQnVPUFnVTmWqhsjScgeplzIUjB6rI9dhhysfZE54CDXdpLpI9FGL1bPfRGwNs5t1aFV8kHqE2Ypz3kmRS1apmXJ5liw9jpX8nz/s320/SAM_1596.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Using a butter knife, cut into 1" strips. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34W7pl4AacdOM6BzbJvOVl-vNJUocp59llBSmm7OvESr-6yZ8I7Oo5aE6aH1lPrhGi-EA0_S6_Vu1LTuQEv8n6Aqc-52bR82y5SnJG1W73DrLqHDUcwBjM3mq5BGJgy7NbGt8mRld6Wq6/s1600/SAM_1598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34W7pl4AacdOM6BzbJvOVl-vNJUocp59llBSmm7OvESr-6yZ8I7Oo5aE6aH1lPrhGi-EA0_S6_Vu1LTuQEv8n6Aqc-52bR82y5SnJG1W73DrLqHDUcwBjM3mq5BGJgy7NbGt8mRld6Wq6/s320/SAM_1598.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cut in half.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1INDrM64g_-jahIfCQVncDbdi_Dj6Er4Ih4p-338c-OnyD-EiRGhFuRdYrz4osp5RrHwKlNU5wDrlYBFqbJHlTyGDYcEKrmLWZ7Y2UDsaV6Wm8gX4VEkxuIPe3aXQ19Ha0blwOPzEkzq/s1600/SAM_1599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1INDrM64g_-jahIfCQVncDbdi_Dj6Er4Ih4p-338c-OnyD-EiRGhFuRdYrz4osp5RrHwKlNU5wDrlYBFqbJHlTyGDYcEKrmLWZ7Y2UDsaV6Wm8gX4VEkxuIPe3aXQ19Ha0blwOPzEkzq/s320/SAM_1599.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gently take strip. Stretch slightly and drop into boiling pot of broth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFeeWBmc3kC8laIf4cdb3XiSDdALIqyep3UZ-wmYOqhxgXlDm0V98ea30pMYLtMY7to5-9BQNsmUgN22Lt2z0iAOB00P2RjRrDroUVt3geMcO4nEuOi6Tyu1Y2Pg3gIz4wunLvYKaQVvH/s1600/SAM_1594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFeeWBmc3kC8laIf4cdb3XiSDdALIqyep3UZ-wmYOqhxgXlDm0V98ea30pMYLtMY7to5-9BQNsmUgN22Lt2z0iAOB00P2RjRrDroUVt3geMcO4nEuOi6Tyu1Y2Pg3gIz4wunLvYKaQVvH/s320/SAM_1594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Repeat with other half of dough. Let dumplings cook 5-7 minutes in boiling broth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIDPiDw-NQObzoYM6ZTiMUR96SYHUQRjf4cOSaZECh5O5TuI2SDwqLYDxOCEET9tOzNxgWUOGR2HMto3352Gb_pE3F3QVJEPe71kRyQVBqadL0p5ThgvSk73cZBcCXJseHzwF8r5kXhDZ/s1600/SAM_1595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIDPiDw-NQObzoYM6ZTiMUR96SYHUQRjf4cOSaZECh5O5TuI2SDwqLYDxOCEET9tOzNxgWUOGR2HMto3352Gb_pE3F3QVJEPe71kRyQVBqadL0p5ThgvSk73cZBcCXJseHzwF8r5kXhDZ/s320/SAM_1595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To thicken your "sauce" take about 1/4 cup of broth from the pot and whisk in 1/4-1/2 c. flour depending on how thick you want it and how much liquid you have. Return mixture to pot and allow to cook over medium heat. Be careful not to keep on too high of heat or dumplings will stick. Cook until desired thickness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that's it. This was surprisingly harder to put on 'paper' than I anticipated. Chicken and dumplings is one of those recipes I grew up making and I've never really thought about how to actually do it. I really hope I haven't missed any steps!</div><br />
<br />
*Next post: Hamburgers with homemade buns!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-7986373206585482092011-09-09T07:56:00.000-07:002011-09-09T07:56:08.790-07:00What sparked my 'Pinterest'So I've been hearing about <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinteres</a>t. Several <a href="http://homemadeginger.blogspot.com/2011/05/have-you-pinned-yet.html">blogs</a> I follow wrote about it and I finally had a <a href="http://www.meinardusphotography.com/">friend</a> sit me down and actually look at it. I was little skeptical, but then I just dove in and I love it.<br />
I can find so much stuff! I've really been looking for Razorback baby room ideas, but they are few and far between. Other than that I'm just having fun looking through other people's pins.<br />
<br />
Pinterest is a great way to get a lot of ideas in one place. It sure is better than me googling topics and hoping to find at least something worth while. I haven't pinned much but I've found great stuff already.<br />
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If for some reason you want to follow my pins click <a href="http://pinterest.com/razorbackmomma/">here</a>. But I suggest giving me some more time before you really check me out!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-30147926725712609942011-08-30T07:36:00.000-07:002011-08-30T07:36:42.452-07:00Sewing Project UpdateWell it's been a month since I set out on my two month journey to sew two pillows and two dresses. I am happy to report that the two pillows are done. Super easy to do. All I did was measure a little wider than the pillows I was covering, fold the edges inside, iron and then sew around the outside. Done! Here's the result.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdqs0Pe9AqR2h51pkqO4v5lq2MUMybi1NeSC1ESl83txTvI0L2eYRtVWHEMQ-rIRpulX86GXeG8Iq_Mvce-FVU7Wzooyb-O8Gj5-P9q4j5tFkoADGkvAjDaudnF71dCKVTzyYuSqmawbU/s1600/SAM_1542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdqs0Pe9AqR2h51pkqO4v5lq2MUMybi1NeSC1ESl83txTvI0L2eYRtVWHEMQ-rIRpulX86GXeG8Iq_Mvce-FVU7Wzooyb-O8Gj5-P9q4j5tFkoADGkvAjDaudnF71dCKVTzyYuSqmawbU/s320/SAM_1542.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The dresses on the other hand have proven to be a little more difficult. I was going to make my own patterns (way more daunting than I had anticipated), but thankfully my mom had some old patterns that I think will work for at least the base of each dress.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQwmbe1vNidczOzuiMc3YBlpuzS7uf0Z7tMtV3WHiN-xHmtbslmzUOQ0pdlvcKHaXo3Mwr7W4LPimsb54A19qMqDZ7nY9CGPlihUBqEzztKfxXgH6KsgTbN1D6qcL3b4_9m06e0OYuLIO/s1600/Dress+Pattern+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQwmbe1vNidczOzuiMc3YBlpuzS7uf0Z7tMtV3WHiN-xHmtbslmzUOQ0pdlvcKHaXo3Mwr7W4LPimsb54A19qMqDZ7nY9CGPlihUBqEzztKfxXgH6KsgTbN1D6qcL3b4_9m06e0OYuLIO/s320/Dress+Pattern+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This will be the base of the origially red dress that will be the flowery material. The neckline will be different but the shape is similar.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioixByBLIowWUAsdTs7VGV0WcTmav9EgB9KAMLNSXaWqcSFMlrYtNXAMTB0tfNFnUS7_Fv8I8MW-E4R-MOU7sOMMxpSRHxNSCV-jUmIMJIU9LoasuHQSLniH3S_Tq0AA3O34lxUeaJA8IS/s1600/Dress+Pattern+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioixByBLIowWUAsdTs7VGV0WcTmav9EgB9KAMLNSXaWqcSFMlrYtNXAMTB0tfNFnUS7_Fv8I8MW-E4R-MOU7sOMMxpSRHxNSCV-jUmIMJIU9LoasuHQSLniH3S_Tq0AA3O34lxUeaJA8IS/s320/Dress+Pattern+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This will be the plaid material dress. I need this pattern for the top part but the bottom will be straight instead of the traditional flare. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Well that's the update. I'm not confident I will have both dresses done but I'm hopefully I can at least get one finished. That's all for now. The bear is ready for a diaper change and a nap!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-48452722334871252962011-08-23T12:21:00.000-07:002011-08-24T16:47:16.198-07:00Homemade Wipes SolutionSo in the last leg of total cloth diapering is using cloth wipes. I had purchased <a href="http://www.teenygreenykc.com/Accessories.html#FB_Accessories">FuzziBunz double sided cloth wipes</a> but had not been brave enough to actually make the jump from disposable to cloth wipes. I finally decided it was time and thought it would be wise to try them out while I still had disposable wipes on hand just in case.<br />
Since I already had the wipes the next step was to find a recipe for a solution. I searched the web and my favorite <a href="http://homemadeginger.blogspot.com/2010/03/green-project-for-green-day-cloth-wipes.html">DIY blog</a> and eventually landed on this <a href="http://www.zany-zebra.com/cloth-wipe-solution.shtml">website</a>. I liked it because of all the different recipes it had to offer. I ended up adjusting the basic wipes solution a little to my own liking.<br />
<u>Basic Wipes Solution</u>:<br />
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE3QUdJanWQ8BJOk_mtk8Jhp9VOBDT7l9Qgc8zEZ3WZ70EuwQcv81AhLMBc-U1ubOKeDNCTRuArKBn1hJHQv0smljU69S46B0pPpp32GUI0RpryhQwzlSW3JK8vgLrSNLSF3HQjb8yvcG/s1600/SAM_1524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE3QUdJanWQ8BJOk_mtk8Jhp9VOBDT7l9Qgc8zEZ3WZ70EuwQcv81AhLMBc-U1ubOKeDNCTRuArKBn1hJHQv0smljU69S46B0pPpp32GUI0RpryhQwzlSW3JK8vgLrSNLSF3HQjb8yvcG/s320/SAM_1524.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<li>1 Tbs. Liquid Castile Soap (I used Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby-Mild)</li>
<li>3 Drops Apricot Oil (Burt's Baby Bees)</li>
<li>2 c. water (or more as needed)</li>
</ul>I measured the water then added the oil then soap. I did it in this order to avoid suds. Then just pour over wipes. You can also keep in a spray bottle and spray each wipe as you need it, but since I have a wiggly bear I opted to have them pre-moistened. The only disadvantage is that I have to keep a close eye on them to make sure the wipes don't get musty or mildew. So I'm just checking it daily. I only put in 10 wipes at a time which should last about 2 days or less.<br />
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I put mine in an old wipes container that has a hole for the wipes to continuously feed through, but with cloth wipes I was concerned I would have to be digging in the hole just to get the next wipe. Being the problem solving wizard that I am, I folded the wipes so that they interconnect and as each wipe is pulled out the next one is partially pulled through and ready for the next time I need it. It takes a little more time on the front end but is well worth it when the little man is wiggling around and I need a wipe ready.<br />
<br />
So there you go. I've finally fully embraced the world of cloth diapering!! I hope to also make a few of my own wipes from flannel or plain cotton. <br />
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-20805324714651131222011-07-29T11:25:00.000-07:002011-07-30T07:48:44.869-07:00It's 'Sew' On!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So if you know anything about me, and let's face it most of my readers are close friends and family, so you do, I look forward to this time of year almost as much as Christmas. What time of year is that you may ask? Um...Project Runway season!! I've been hooked for several seasons now and I just can't help but love every minute of it. My dearest thinks I'm slightly crazy (but secretly I think he likes it too), but every year he lets me indulge in the glory that is the Runway. I love the crazy wanna-be and semi-professional designers, the ridiculous challenges, and of course the drama, drama, drama. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For many seasons I've wanted to do my own version of PR. Of course I had wanted to do it with a few of my friends and have a fantastic challenge to end at fashion week. But since I'm still a little lonely in the south (miss you KC girls and Michelle!), I must embark on this journey on my own. So the challenge I have set before me is this:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFsalpjJODNqhj31j_4jKY_p8RFDeyckP1_Rg0KeFUxbiRB0oF65LfXMPZbMDln0pTtMH9GJxW4qFHQyabfW5-Pb611hvM9JMo17qXGM5lMPQd7bm6q5XQzU-UStYDFTXR8Iss9KmhFTW/s1600/Two+dresses+main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFsalpjJODNqhj31j_4jKY_p8RFDeyckP1_Rg0KeFUxbiRB0oF65LfXMPZbMDln0pTtMH9GJxW4qFHQyabfW5-Pb611hvM9JMo17qXGM5lMPQd7bm6q5XQzU-UStYDFTXR8Iss9KmhFTW/s320/Two+dresses+main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yes I'm planning on making two dresses in two months (as well as a couple of pillow cases). I've been wanting to make my own dresses for a while and I thought what better time than now. Not only am I making the dresses, but I'm making the patterns. They aren't original (modeled after two dresses I already have), but it's still a challenge. Here's what I'm working with.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpg3Q70xPpyNaDh2KdD3D6bVg2KMPEGgUBV0gC1mpt08lQ5BwQ31jROdqtfPflD6BioN5Pa0bQCBbOND-l2mbD8mRBC_DnmbCkd-Dz8vWTi9tRd9gHjdsJRHCb20tIi6_UjvOKdS4Ogkf/s1600/red+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpg3Q70xPpyNaDh2KdD3D6bVg2KMPEGgUBV0gC1mpt08lQ5BwQ31jROdqtfPflD6BioN5Pa0bQCBbOND-l2mbD8mRBC_DnmbCkd-Dz8vWTi9tRd9gHjdsJRHCb20tIi6_UjvOKdS4Ogkf/s320/red+dress.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGbtHx6-6LF5Yvm0DNPTQjjGL9loyPz6Vce8Alt-1b0_UKJC_tRjuVEp37-1YB_rjT7JIX0HlocbpdWG8ESYxQ6NcQeq9g23-AG50U5CD_FG8hllvKpRFKuQZv10XZdxqvzb0vxaN6jx6/s1600/SAM_1468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGbtHx6-6LF5Yvm0DNPTQjjGL9loyPz6Vce8Alt-1b0_UKJC_tRjuVEp37-1YB_rjT7JIX0HlocbpdWG8ESYxQ6NcQeq9g23-AG50U5CD_FG8hllvKpRFKuQZv10XZdxqvzb0vxaN6jx6/s320/SAM_1468.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUakEPCoyCO7kCOn2gdrav6ff8le5xo-w14DFGP_ZaXhbs3SKXfqFTe_T9EH95L3_64ZIURkmCLtZxqIX4phRa1AaxGTF1Tu9dByRUa1J23DJi3AduoxUX3W0EIxxCqLRzZaB-XA4y08-o/s1600/plaid+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUakEPCoyCO7kCOn2gdrav6ff8le5xo-w14DFGP_ZaXhbs3SKXfqFTe_T9EH95L3_64ZIURkmCLtZxqIX4phRa1AaxGTF1Tu9dByRUa1J23DJi3AduoxUX3W0EIxxCqLRzZaB-XA4y08-o/s320/plaid+dress.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9bhKFVbUsKFUzfiLJ7xmHB0YYpILVey8n5r1B6as47XETvLfDhQVm-GjUol1V_nAvXtg6NqwwfcAzY61F3jOEgwBzuxHiB6tZr2pkJCHqs5SLRGKfrOGnKcxqDbSSbmc0dndO_hfxZfs/s1600/SAM_1474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9bhKFVbUsKFUzfiLJ7xmHB0YYpILVey8n5r1B6as47XETvLfDhQVm-GjUol1V_nAvXtg6NqwwfcAzY61F3jOEgwBzuxHiB6tZr2pkJCHqs5SLRGKfrOGnKcxqDbSSbmc0dndO_hfxZfs/s320/SAM_1474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">In case it needs explanation, the red dress will use the floral fabric and the plaid dress goes uses the plaid fabric. We'll see how it goes. I'm by no means a master seamstress, but I'm going to give it the old college try. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Just to make sure I don't feel like a total failure if the dresses don't go well, I'm also doing pillow cases.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4DzLxJMk3FZlgaaJDm1Ys7HL9k-I2jdlUK78dPN04VrU4Z4KhqDDErjXv66hA99u1mA7DJcr9EOWQi-CSH8iU0aWuEQcemQjPNFy_4T2dWIVmDtpHKMaM6gGO5JdRaxp8Hxv5QHeZ4Sj/s1600/SAM_1476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4DzLxJMk3FZlgaaJDm1Ys7HL9k-I2jdlUK78dPN04VrU4Z4KhqDDErjXv66hA99u1mA7DJcr9EOWQi-CSH8iU0aWuEQcemQjPNFy_4T2dWIVmDtpHKMaM6gGO5JdRaxp8Hxv5QHeZ4Sj/s320/SAM_1476.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> So that's the plan. We'll see how it goes. I'll try to keep you posted on my progress and hopefully in two months I will have two pillow cases and two dresses. Wish me luck!</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-8857839396615709272011-07-02T13:04:00.000-07:002011-07-02T13:05:45.786-07:00DIY Dishwasher Soap updateWell I finally got around to actually trying my homemade dishwasher soap and the verdict is...<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">It worked great!</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">I put a heaping tablespoon in my soap dispenser and ran the dishwasher like normal. I was a little skeptical since I had heard other people's recipes didn't always come out great, but this particular concoction did just fine. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">In case you missed it, here's the recipe.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">1 c. Borax</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">1 c. Baking Soda</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">1/2 c. Citric Acid</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">1/2 c. Kosher or Sea Salt</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Use vinegar as your rinse agent.</span></div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span>Combine all ingredients in an airtight jar, shake up, and seal.<br />
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That's it!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-78461198387570703062011-06-14T17:46:00.000-07:002011-06-14T17:46:41.804-07:00Motherhood of the Traveling DiapersCloth diapering on the go was a S-U-C-C-E-S-S! I was able to wash on Thursday and Saturday so the longest we went without washing was two days. Not bad! I was a little nervous with the bear having started solids the week before traveling (as in nastier, smellier poo), but it ended up not being too awful. Lessons are learned:<br />
1. You can never have too many wipes.<br />
2. I only needed to bring the All-in-One diapers rather than every diaper we own.<br />
3. Don't squeeze the air out of the full wet bag<br />
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That's pretty much it. I love cloth diapering and it's not as scary on the road as I anticipated.<br />
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Preview of coming attractions: Jarrod's uncle is my new favorite person. He grinds his own grain and has an amazing stash of grains and cool old things. He makes his own butter and cheese. I hope that future posts will be of things he teaches me. Too bad he lives 9 hours away or I would be over there all the time!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-64301039197712032032011-06-08T15:19:00.000-07:002011-08-23T12:23:02.473-07:00Cloth diapering on the roadSo we are gearing up for our first major trip other than moving since our baby bear was born. One thing that has been a major debate is whether or not to cloth diaper while we travel. Ultimately I decided to stick with the cloth for the trip. We'll see if it ends up being a wise decision.<br />
In preparation I did some research on other cloth diaper moms had to say about traveling. Basically their tips were to bring all the diapers you think you will need and then some more. The next step is bringing the washing supplies and stuff to put dirties in. I decided to bring our pail liner and two wet bags. We will be in the car for several hours so we'll see how well these bags keep in the stink. The other major concern is where and how to launder. It's thing to be able to wash in my own laundry room and hang up covers to dry and deal with the odor of hot water on dirty diapers, but either washing in a laundry mat or at someone's house is another story. Thankfully we'll be staying with or near family who will graciously allow us to use their facilities.<br />
So my diaper bags are packed and I am ready for the adventure that surely awaits me. I'll be sure to report back with how cloth diapers to go succeeds.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-35649580917098179872011-05-23T18:54:00.000-07:002011-05-23T18:58:25.563-07:00Homemade Dishwasher SoapThis whole keeping up with the blog thing is hard! Oh well.<br />
Lately I've been trying to do as many DIY cleaners as I can. I adapted <a href="http://homemadeginger.blogspot.com/2009/11/homemade-laundry-detergent.html">this recipe</a> for laundry soap. It's super easy: 1 c. Borax, 1 c. Baking Soda, 1 bar pure soap. I use 1 heaping tablespoon full per normal load. The original recipe uses washing soda but I could only find baking soda. Also I did a little research and found out that washing soda is more caustic than baking soda. Basically it is an 11 on the pH scale, just short of being considered toxic. Even though fumes are not harmful, extra measure should be taken when handling it. This <a href="http://www.diaperpin.com/clothdiapers/article_bakingsoda.asp">article</a> was very helpful. Also I used Ivory as my soap simply because it is dirt cheap.<br />
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So after being inspired to make my own laundry soap I decided to find a homemade dishwasher soap. Dishwasher soap can get expensive and a lot of them contain chlorine bleach that can discolor clothing and wear down on dishes. After searching, this is the <a href="http://www.diynatural.com/simple-effective-jabs-homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse-agent/">recipe</a> I found.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrK2gOS0GZ_fropnUfeSMUzYj00dCt-O1q0TkMKSJooAk8ZGV2pdFrDmSt9WAdGUKkv4YeenpwxkGnkScUdD9fFM_-SvYREhr30BlfUjrFhNRGDwVaaKOAwkIRsDPL4-VIGVam-LYxd8L4/s1600/diswasher1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrK2gOS0GZ_fropnUfeSMUzYj00dCt-O1q0TkMKSJooAk8ZGV2pdFrDmSt9WAdGUKkv4YeenpwxkGnkScUdD9fFM_-SvYREhr30BlfUjrFhNRGDwVaaKOAwkIRsDPL4-VIGVam-LYxd8L4/s320/diswasher1.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
1 c. Borax<br />
1 c. Washing soda (or baking soda)<br />
1/2 c. Citric Acid (found in the home canning aisle)<br />
1/2 c. Kosher salt (or sea salt)<br />
The borax and soda are obviously your cleaners. The citric acid helps keep the dishes from getting cloudy. I also read you can use unsweetened lemonade instead, but I haven't tried it. And lastly the salt is your scrubber. The more coarse the salt the more scrub. I only have sea salt at the moment and should be fine. You can also use vinegar as your rinse agent.<br />
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Truth be told I haven't used it yet. I'm still using up a bottle of store bought detergent, but as soon as it's out I'll be using this. From what I've read it's a good recipe. I'll repost with first hand results later.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-52023854327744502972011-05-02T14:17:00.000-07:002011-05-02T14:21:36.301-07:00A cup of cocoa for a rainy dayA rainy day calls for a cup of cocoa but alas I had no mix in the house. So it's time to make my own. I found this very simple recipe and am currently enjoying it.<br />
2 Tbs. baking cocoa<br />
2 Tbs. Sugar<br />
1/4 c. water<br />
2 c. milk<br />
dash of cinnamon<br />
mini marshmallows<br />
Blend sugar and cocoa in saucepan. Add water until smooth. Heat until boiling, stirring constantly. Add milk and heat through. Pour into mugs, add marshmallows, and enjoy. Makes 2 servings.<br />
Enjoy!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-53339248321301651322011-04-29T12:25:00.000-07:002011-04-29T12:25:03.339-07:00Couponing updateI've been at it for a week and haven't really used my coupons much but I'm getting there. Last week I did some much needed prep work. I searched for or requested the coupon policies of all the stores I shop at including Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Harps, and CV's. Wal-Mart had<a href="http://walmartstores.com/7655.aspx"> their policy</a> posted online but the other three I had to email to get but they were all quick to respond. From what I have researched one of the most essential parts of couponing is knowing the policies of the stores you frequent.<br />
Armed with that, I set out to do my first super couponing. I opted for the small victory of buying anti-bacterial wipes. Walgreens had a sale for Lysol wipes. Here's the breakdown: Lysol wipes are usually 2/$5, with an in-store coupon they were 2/$3, I had a coupon for -$1/2 and a register rewards coupon for -$3, and I bought all they had in stock (3). After my deductions and coupons I came away with 3 containers for $1.19. Not exactly an extreme coupon moment, but I figure getting 3 for less than the price of one is a good start. I'll keep everyone posted on future successes.<br />
On another budget note, I came in $40 under for my food budget for the month and was able to use that $40 to get a few items for the whole family from Old Navy. Let's hear it for good budgeting!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-71028309907569430012011-04-17T18:50:00.000-07:002011-04-17T18:50:32.116-07:00The Quest to CouponSo my new addiction is TLC's <a href="http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/extreme-couponing">Extreme Couponing</a>. If you have yet to experience the wonder it's a show about these moms who are the queens of couponing. I'm not talking saving a few cents here and there. These women literally gets hundreds of dollars worth of groceries for $5. One mom was featured on Rachael Ray and got $6 back from the store. Amazing!<br />
So while I may have lofty ambitions, I set my actual standards much lower. I am starting my own version of extreme couponing. I bought 2 Sunday papers (one of the moms suggests a paper per person at home) to get double the coupons. This week I plan to clip and organize. The idea is you try to double up on coupons and match store sales and store coupons. This way you get the most off you can. I'll also be clipping coupons online from <a href="http://coupons.com/">coupons.com</a> and consulting the <a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/">Krazy Coupon Lady</a>. <br />
My husband gives me a month to get started. He claims I'll give up after that. I say 'we'll see.' I don't anticipate that I'll be like these ladies overnight, but I do hope that I can at least get my foot in the proverbial door. <br />
Wish me luck and I'll check back with you in a month!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584421323985315169.post-45989964821089161972011-04-04T13:19:00.000-07:002011-04-04T19:27:48.239-07:00Simply ApplesauceAnother day another new homemade recipe. I've been wanting to make my own applesauce for a while and decided today was the day.<br />
<br />
4 lbs. apples, cored and quartered (I used some older apples that were too soft for eating or pies)<br />
1 c. water<br />
Cinnamon to taste<br />
Sugar to taste (optional)<br />
<br />
Put apples and water in a large pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, simmer, covered, for 25-30 minutes until very tender, stirring a few times.<br />
Press apples through a food mill. Return pulp to kettle. Stir in sugar if desired. Add additional 1/2-1 cup water for desired consistency if needed. Boil. Remove from heat.<br />
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I chose not to add sugar simply because I like my applesauce a little more tart. Also if using overripe apples, you shouldn't need much sugar. The best part about this recipe is that you can use it for baby food, just leave out the cinnamon and sugar.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562759227873883883noreply@blogger.com1