SillygeeseDesigns

{Pretty, happy, funny, real}

2012-02-23T11:02:00.001-08:00

~ Capturing contentment in everyday ~

Pretty

Its been a few weeks but today is my baby girls big #1 Day. I cannot believe how fast time goes! My sweet tiny girls are all getting so big!

Happy

Youngest gosling is sleeping through the night! I thought this day would never come! Oh, I am bitter sweet over it, but right now I am getting a full night sleep so I'll cry over her growing up next year:D Besides how can anyone not be happy when they get to see this face everyday!

Funny

We took bare bottom photo's yesterday in a studio of birthday girl, funny is how gaga both her sisters where over the photo's, especially since they aren't nearly as thrilled with the pictures of THEM already on my wall. I just find it funny that they are so enthralled with our tiny terror, even after a year of helping change her diaper and getting fussed at for not taking enough care with her. Here she is with all her clothes on. I had to trap her by the back door, now that she walks she walks fast and is either moving quickly to me or away from me, but rarely still...

Real

Real today is birthday girl waking up with a fever and throwing up, no pictures of that ! So I am thankful that I made up her birthday cupcakes yesterday, not yet decorated, but I think we will skip the frosting on hers today and give her a frosted one on Saturday if she is feeling better, that is when our extended family will all wish her a wonderful year!

5 Simple Ways to Accomplish More Each Day

2012-02-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

While wondering around the Internet when I should have been doing something like going back to bed and catching another hour of sleep while I can I found this post and it made me laugh and it made me think. So I am blogging on it.

My list would be a little different. Her two would be my one for example Her 4 would be my 2.

1. Get Off the Computer/Couch/TV/Phone

There are some benefits to being on the computer, even a few learning opportunities on the tv. But moderation is the key, and taking care of what needs to be done should be done first.

2. Stay Home

When my older kids where little I used to joke about being a stay at home mom was a misnomer because I was rarely home, between play dates, errands, and exercise dates I found excuses to be gone and exhausted when I got home. Staying home is the only way to get things done AT HOME.

3. Pray

"We are on this earth to love God and serve his people. Pray for God to show you how to use your time in a productive way that glorifies him. When we are focused on living our life God’s way, much can be accomplished!" quoted from Heavenly homemakers, really she says it all!

4. Break it up/ and share it

A list is only good if I find time to make it, or if I remember to use it. But I find I get more done if I break the chores up into bite size pieces and share them with my kids. Laundry is not so over whelming if my kids help do it, Vacuuming gets done much more often when the kids get involved, and the dishes don't pile up if I can hand over my one year old and ask that she not be left to scream at the baby gate.

5. Take stock at the end of the day

Huh? I know your thinking, "what add to my to do list, no thanks" But seriously, at the end of the day make a list of what you really did that day, and you may be surprised at all the Lord helped you do. This is especially good when you are feeling down on yourself. Your not super mom or super woman. But your awesome anyways just ask your kids!

Coupon Links

2012-02-17T09:50:00.000-08:00

New coupons up. Just triing to make a little something from the blog. I don't post these things often. click a link and I'll make a few cents.

thanks!

Glade Coupons

$1.00 off any Glade Scented Oil Candle holder
$1.50 off TWO Glade Scented Oil Candle refills
$1.50 off on any TWO Glade 4-oz. Jar Candles

Cereal Coupons
$1.00 off 1 Honey Bunches of Oats cereal
$1.00 off one Pebbles Giant Size cereal
$0.75 off Dulce de Leche Cheerios cereal

Hormel Coupons
$1.00 off 1 HORMEL Refrigerated Entree
$0.55 off 2 HORMEL Chili products
$1.00 off HORMEL™ COUNTRY CROCK side
$1.00 off HORMEL ALWAYS TENDER meat
$1.00 off 2 HORMEL COMPLEATS kids meals
$1.00 off HORMEL COMPLEATS microwave meals
$0.55 off two HORMEL Pepperoni packages

Nature Made Coupons
$1.00 off Any Nature Made Vitamin B
$1.00 off Any Nature Made Vitamin D
$2.00 off Any Nature Made Fish Oil
$1.00 off Any ONE Nature Made Product

Family relationships

2012-02-16T17:47:00.000-08:00

Some of my favorite bloggers posted on Sibling relationships this week."This week The 4 Moms are discussing sibling relationships, more specifically how we deal with sharing, bullying and arguing.
So I posted this in the comments.

Maybe I should blog on this, but I have not seen this mentioned. For mom's and kids, hydration can lead to bickering and stress. How, a dehydrated person may develop headaches, tiredness and other things that lead to a lower tolerance for interacting with other people siblings, children, spouses etc... feeling cranky, or have a cranky kid,try a tall glass of water then have a redo on the offending interaction:D

I just wanted to write more on this subject so here I go. When my oldest was 5, I had an issue with her being very arguementative, every day when I picked her from school. Worse she yelled at me every day, then passed out in the car on the drive home. Of course I could not let her yell at me, but I knew something was wrong. After speaking with my daughter before school and later in the evening, we determined that she had a headache by lunch time, and was tired and needed a snack. I spoke with my pediatrician about the headache and developed a plan of action. My daughter got a full sized water bottle every morning and was told to drink at least 3/4 of it before I picked her up from school, and I would provide a snack and time to rest in the car.
The difference that bottle of water made was amazing, now I watch myself and all my kids water consumptions, there are lots of reasons for a fussy kid and a fussy mom, but at least now we can call that one do something about it.

I hope this information helps some other mom at her wits end out their

Just curious

2012-02-16T10:30:00.000-08:00

I have had three babies and with the first two I was blessed with friends who brought over some meals to help welcome our blessing home and to give me a break from cooking. My mom who came out to stay with us and to help me was surprised both when it happend and then when it did not.

Growing up this was not something we did and not something that our friends did. That got me thinking, how common is this practice? Let me and leave me a comment to fill me in on more than the survey can ask.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Being Introspective

2012-02-11T21:13:00.000-08:00

"Sometimes I feel like a square peg being pounded into a round slot"
Food for thought, I have neglected my blog. I have many ideas and limited time. Ahhh being a mother.
My youngest is less than a year and full on walking . And we are in the being process of started a new phase in life and educating our kids.

All my life I have felt like a square peg, I never fit where the school wanted to put me. I tried. I never fit what my classmates wanted. I tried. I bucked the system and paid for it. I couldn't stop myself, I tried. It was picking from a bunch of bad choices. It was never picking a good choice

I had a profound experience in a private university as a young married adult. I bucked the system again and my kids went to private school. We loved it.

Now we are joining the ranks of home schooling.
Pray for us on our journey.

Ideally you will see more crafty posts from me soon!

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}

2012-01-19T07:53:00.000-08:00

Pretty
I am behind on these posts! I love doing them, but I was off the computer almost completely for the 2 weeks I was in California!
So this post is going to this from the past month I have been absent:D

Pretty, my mom's Christmas tree! All those ornaments have childhood memories for me, I love that my kids get to decorate mom's tree and they ask about all the different mismatched ornaments, so unlike other trees they see.

Happy
Visiting with my extended family makes me happy, but so does coming home. I love my family, but I love my home and my life in Texas too:D If only I could convince the other members of my family to uproot and move here. I'd post a picture of me and my 3 brothers, yes we got a picture of that this year, but one of them is kinda funny about pictures so I will refrain.

Funny
This picture of my daughter eating snow makes me laugh everytime I look at it. She is such a ham.

Real
Youngest Gosling is walking! Okay very unsteady and drops to a crawl after 2-6 steps, but yeah she took six steps in a row! How exciting is that for a 10 month old!
My oldest gosling took this video on her new camera, and I trimmed it and tried to upload, but can't seem to make that work! So here she is free standing.

New Year New Crafts...

2012-01-16T14:25:00.000-08:00

Well, sorta. I am committed to not adding to my current hobbies. I simply have more hobbies than time to commit to them. But, out with the old and in with the new, Projects that is. Done with Christmas and setting my eyes on what I want to do, and the next batch of birthdays.

My new years resolution is to not look back at what I couldn't get done and concentrate on what I want to do.

My necklaces, where a hit with the young girls in the family.

In the comming weeks I'll be making and posting about more hair flowers, softie dolls, and cloth diapering on a budget.

Christmas is almost here!

2011-12-21T08:17:00.000-08:00

Wow where has the time gone!
I did not get everything on my bucket list done but I will be happy with what IS done!

I had to take a break from my store and I just hope that does not kill what progress I have made.
I will post again when time allows, until then have a very MERRY Christmas!

Tis the Season

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

For stress, running around and generally feeling like you are always behind and getting nothing accomplished, right? Oh is that just me?

Okay well, I know I am getting stuff done, just not what I WANT to get done.

My computer does not want to let me type, it keeps repositioning my location on the page or deleting half of what I have typed. Any idea how annoying that is, and I have no idea what starts it, or how to make it stop!

I have typed a post 3x this long 3-4 times now and my computer did not like it and deleted it all on its own, so I am done, will try again later.

Vista Print again!

2011-12-08T16:46:00.000-08:00

This year take care of all of your holiday shopping at once with 10 Free Holiday Products from Vistaprint! Everyone on your list will love customized holiday gifts and you will love saving money and time on all of your holiday card and gift needs. EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2011

10 FREE Holiday Products & Gift Ideas! Get our top 10 Holiday Products for FREE Today! Choose from Flat and Folded Holiday Cards, Wall and Desk Photo Calendars, Holiday Postcards, Totes, Holiday Labels, Mugs, Stamps, & Business Cards. Products are FREE, pay only for shipping & processing. Order today; receive in as few as 3 days.

FREE Holiday Postcards (Qty. 100) Get your message across this holiday season with customizable postcards! Use them as holiday cards, invitations or announcements for home and business use. Mailing services available. Matching envelopes available at checkout. Create today and receive in as few as 3 days. Printing is free, shipping starts at $7.

FREE Business Cards (Qty. 250) Choose from 45 templates printed in full color on premium 80 lb card stock. Select a design template and personalize it to best suit your needs. Easily add your own logo or photo. Business cards can be used mommy contact cards, personal contact cards, networking cards, appointment reminder cards, loyalty cards, tiny greeting cards, referral cards, raffle tickets, place cards & much more. Upgrade to premium business cards and save 50%. Printing is free, shipping starts at $5.67.

FREE Photo Holiday Cards (Qty. 10) Choose from flat or folded holiday cards with Free Envelopes. Order today, and save 50% off higher quantities. Products are free, shipping starts at $4.60.

FREE Photo Calendars (Qty. 1) Impress family, friends or customers with customizable photo wall calendars this Holiday Season. Select from Wall or Desk calendar and hundreds of templates to suit your style. Choose icons, add captions and highlight important dates. Upload your photos from Facebook, Flickr or Picasa. Calendars make perfect holiday gifts! Create today and receive in as few as 3 days. Bonus: Order today and save 50% off higher quantities. Printing is free, shipping starts at $5.67.

FREE Holiday Labels (Qty. 140) Spread the cheer with every letter you send! Stick your labels on festive holiday letters, cards and packages. Choose from thousands of designs, upload photos or create caricature return address labels. Create up to 7 caricatures of your family, friends and pets! Use labels as To-From stickers, gift tags & more! Printing is free, shipping & processing starts at $3.07.

FREE Mug (Qty. 1) Serve up some fun with a 11-oz full color ceramic mug. Choose from a variety of designs and personalize with your text. Have fun creating a gift to warm hearts this holiday season! Printing is free, shipping & processing starts at $6.06.

FREE Holiday Stamp (Qty. 1) Choose from over a dozen designs and make holiday labeling a tad easier this year. Choose from red, black or blue ink. Printing is free, shipping & processing starts at $5.67.

FREE Tote Bag (Qty. 1) Perfect for everyday use, these 100% canvas tote bags can be customized with your name and message. Choose from 24 designs. Printing is free, shipping & processing starts at $4.41.

Make something Mondays

2011-12-05T17:05:00.000-08:00

I finished my first diaper cover! Oh, I have many diaper covers, but not really enough, and I am thinking of making some of my own AIO diapers, but figured I should start with a cover and go from there.

JoAnne Fabric and Hobby Lobby both have a whole line of PUL fabrics that I wanted oooh 10 years ago when I started on my cloth daper journey! But I guess better late than missed the boat for me altogether right!

How cute is this.

This was suppose to be the front, but I took my hand off her belly and snapped, this is what I got, heehee.
I tried again, and again , and finally got a front shot.

Oh, wait, I was triing to get pics of her cute new diaper cover, but I am a mommy how could I risist this cute face!

Okay diaper cover

.
.
.
.
.
..

She has worn it several times now and it really did the trick on keeping the wet in and not on her clothes.
I used underwear elastic for the first time, and I wasn't sure it would do it, but sure enough its working! I think with these new Babyville snaps I will make the next size up, this one seems like she will outgrow quickly.

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}

2011-12-01T04:45:00.000-08:00

Joining Like Mother, like Daughter in captureing some contentment in the past 2 weeks!

Pretty

My middle gosling had a masquerade mask making party at a craft store for her birthday party this year. I think they are so pretty! It was fun and we will definitely have this kind of party again!

Happy
Last year my oldest daughter learned to crochet. this made me very happy as I am a real yarny, we have yarn everywhere, in the house and I always have a project near me if not working on it. I started her using a big hook a size P, she made scaves for both her main teachers with only a little help from me. I was very happy, and she did not make those scarves and put down the hook, oh know, she was given a set for Christmas and is now hapily working away using a tiny little hook and sock yarn, she is making herself a purse! And this year for Christmas she is making her two teachers KNITTED scarves!

Funny
Is all the girls and the one brother going gaga over a bunch of masks the teacher had at the party, really I had no idea it would be such a hit! I highly recommend letting your kids make some masks and to let them be creative. We will be making more, what a fun and funny way to spend an afternoon!

Real
All the missing faces at Thanksgiving Dinner. Yes we are Thankfull for those of us that where there. However we still missed that that where not. My SIL, whose house we where at, went down to her parents to pack up all their years of living into neat containers and to part her mother with many of the things accumulated, prepairing them for assisted living.
My husbands niece(who always have to point out is older than us)moved this year to Minnesota. No one told us of the move until months afterwards, we only saw her on holidays, but her face and smile and fun personality where missed by all.
It was baby goslings first big holiday and it was a small intimate affair with 8 family members, but we are Thankful for those we have close and that we got to spend time with them.

Make something Mondays

2011-11-28T10:26:00.000-08:00

I made quite a few Christmas themed items this week.

These little ornaments are super easy to make.
Take little wood or plastic frame shaped item you have that you have no other need or purpose for. I had these. Pick your yarn colors, one acrylic or cotton, and one fuzzy eyelash yarn.

Sc around your frame, when you end make a loop then tie off and bury your end.
With eyelash yarn sc in bl only around and tie off and bury end.

just to show how to attach yarn to the ring

Take a piece of card stock cut to fit slightly larger than your opening and hot glue it 3/4 the way around, leaving a space big enough to fit a picture in.

done!
If your not a yarnie but love this ornament never fear just click the link and buy some from me in my etsy store:D

Crochet Designs, Filling Custom Orders

2011-11-23T11:48:00.000-08:00

I would put this under "Real" for this weeks "Pretty, Happy, Funny, and Real" Post but we are not doing that this week. So it gets its own post.
I have no idea how many of my readers Crochet or Knit. And out of that number how many suffer from my most serious flaw. Before I state my flaw let me say that I can read patterns, and I am trying to figure out the writing down or typing down of patterns to make them easier to repeat.
Okay, drumm roll.... My most serious flaw is an inability to make anything, and I do mean anything, exactly as written and or pictured.
Okay, others might not see this as my biggest flaw, my flawed housekeeping might make it higher on some peoples lists, or my refusal to iron, again anything, LOL.
Okay, so this means that when I see a yarn I make up for the most part my own patterns, sometimes I just adjust someone else's pattern to fit the yarn I want to use but mostly I just make it up as I go.
So when I get asked if I can make something, my answer is usally yes! I'd love the challenge.
Recently I got asked to make a boy doll.
I have several girls on my etsy store

Some people might recognize the style as a picture I use in my Ravelry Profile, but I am not going to hunt down that imagine on my computer:D
So I couldn't just make one boy doll, no I made two.

And my children have put in a custom order for some wedding dolls, now that they have seen me make some boys! My oldest gosling has had her creativeness flowing and if I don't get them made, she just might!

2011-11-23T08:48:00.000-08:00

Hi, I got a wonderful lead from a fellow blogger on how to generate income from my blog, and like all of you extra income is a wonderful thing. Especially for doing something I wanted to do anyways. One of the offers I received was to offer a free subscription to American Baby, when I got pregnant with each of my three goslings, I got a subscription to this magazine, and each time I benefited from the magazine. It is a great resource for the new mom and the experienced mom alike.
Of course full disclosure I get .18 for each of you that signs up, so click the link below and get your free subscription.

Free offers from Vista Print

2011-11-21T09:03:00.000-08:00

I promise not to turn my blog into a giant adevertisement.
But I think especially with Christmas right around the corner that some of you are like me and have some hard to please people on your list. I know that I do and that Vista Print is offering some free*pay shipping and handling* items that those hard to please family members just love. Hurry this offer is only good til November 25, 2011

10 FREE Holiday Products & Gift Ideas! Get our top 10 Holiday Products for FREE Today! Choose from Flat and Folded Holiday Cards, Wall and Desk Photo Calendars, Holiday Postcards, Totes, Holiday Labels, Mugs, Stamps, & Business Cards. Products are FREE, pay only for shipping & processing. Order today; receive in as few as 3 days.

FREE Holiday Postcards (Qty. 100) Get your message across this holiday season with customizable postcards! Use them as holiday cards, invitations or announcements for home and business use. Mailing services available. Matching envelopes available at checkout. Create today and receive in as few as 3 days. Printing is free, shipping starts at $7.

FREE Business Cards (Qty. 250) Choose from 45 templates printed in full color on premium 80 lb card stock. Select a design template and personalize it to best suit your needs. Easily add your own logo or photo. Business cards can be used mommy contact cards, personal contact cards, networking cards, appointment reminder cards, loyalty cards, tiny greeting cards, referral cards, raffle tickets, place cards & much more. Upgrade to premium business cards and save 50%. Printing is free, shipping starts at $5.67.

FREE Photo Holiday Cards (Qty. 10) Choose from flat or folded holiday cards with Free Envelopes. Order today, and save 50% off higher quantities. Products are free, shipping starts at $4.60.

FREE Photo Calendars (Qty. 1) Impress family, friends or customers with customizable photo wall calendars this Holiday Season. Select from Wall or Desk calendar and hundreds of templates to suit your style. Choose icons, add captions and highlight important dates. Upload your photos from Facebook, Flickr or Picasa. Calendars make perfect holiday gifts! Create today and receive in as few as 3 days. Bonus: Order today and save 50% off higher quantities. Printing is free, shipping starts at $5.67.

FREE Holiday Labels (Qty. 140) Spread the cheer with every letter you send! Stick your labels on festive holiday letters, cards and packages. Choose from thousands of designs, upload photos or create caricature return address labels. Create up to 7 caricatures of your family, friends and pets! Use labels as To-From stickers, gift tags & more! Printing is free, shipping & processing starts at $3.07.

FREE Mug (Qty. 1) Serve up some fun with a 11-oz full color ceramic mug. Choose from a variety of designs and personalize with your text. Have fun creating a gift to warm hearts this holiday season! Printing is free, shipping & processing starts at $6.06.

FREE Holiday Stamp (Qty. 1) Choose from over a dozen designs and make holiday labeling a tad easier this year. Choose from red, black or blue ink. Printing is free, shipping & processing starts at $5.67.

FREE Tote Bag (Qty. 1) Perfect for everyday use, these 100% canvas tote bags can be customized with your name and message. Choose from 24 designs. Printing is free, shipping & processing starts at $4.41.

I do benefit in cash from your taking advantage of this offer. But I would not recommend it if I had not had great experiences with this company myself.

Crochet along Grand Finalle

2011-11-21T04:48:00.000-08:00

Well the Blue Blanket is DONE and gifted! YAY
A Recap
Make 4 Squares
to work the squares...
Ch 41, turn
Row1: 2sc in next ch from hook,* skip one chain, 2sc in next ch*, repeat to end(should have 40sc)ch 1 turn,
Row 2: 2sc in next sc from hook,* skip one sc, 2sc in next ch* repeat until you have 38sc, in last set of 2sc from below row, 1sc in each sc, ch 1 turn(40 sc)
Rows 3-36: repeat row 2.

bind off leaving a tail long enough to stitch the squares together.

Layout your squares to determine how you want them placed, I have a self striping yarn, so I placed my squares to make the stripes go in different directions, this was on purpose partly because I new the stripes would not line up with each other.
from here I used my tails and whip stiched my squares together

Then I added my border.
Rnd 1: Join in a corner, ch 4(this acts as 1dc1ch)even space 42 dc ch1 across the side ending in a dc at the corner ch 3 dc in same spot. Repeat across remaining 3 sides, at last(first) corner dc in same spot as oringinal join, ch 3 and sl stich into to of ch 4,
Rnd 2: sl into space between ch4 and dc, then repeat rnd (1
Rnds 3-? until you either run out of yarrn, or decide you are done, I am doing 10 rnds(I actually did 9).
Instead of my 10th round, I went around doing picot edging.
It went like this, on my last round I sl into the ch 4 from the start of the round, then slip stiched into the ch space, 3 ch, sl into the ch1 space, all the way to the corner, in the corner I did the ch3 sl into corner 2 times, then went down the next side and repeated to end. Bind off. and bury the tail.

I had a lot of trials doing this, but I finished it and my friend seemed to really like it. YAY.
I hope to get my pink one done soon and type up the variations I used on it. While it has the same 4 foundations squares it is a totally different pattern.

I hope you got a baby blanket done, weather following along with me or a pattern that you found you wanted to make. I'd love to see what you have gotten done!

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}

2011-11-17T03:35:00.000-08:00

Pretty
Watching my ten year old follow my 8 month old around with the camera, that is funny but what she captures is priceless and Pretty!

we call this baby attack

Here is baby waking up her middle sister:D


I can do it myself

And this is, I can do it myself, where baby takes the spoon and won't eat or give it back.:D

Happy

Yes I should have vacuumed, but this is real

These boots made my 10 year very happy this week. she tried on a dozen pairs of boots looking for just the right pair, to look good with her jeans, has some traction, and no heal(okay she would have loved heals but daddy would have never let her wear them and I would have been in trouble) Payless had their BOGO going and we needed formal shoes for her band concert, so we bought her yearly boots at the same time, a little outside my normal kids shoes price, but her feet are adult sized now:( and she pitched in some of her own money to get them. I am loving that she has a job earning some cash, she is really learning to value it. And THAT makes me happy:D

Funny
My middle daughter's teacher loves babies and lets me bring mine into class to volunteer. This week gosling headed out the door while babbling something that sounded very much like bye bye, but was probably more like baabaaeee. So teacher decided that the whole class is going to work on teaching her to wave hello and bye bye, to have her copy this behavior by Christmas break. I think this is funny and watching all these 6 and 7 years old say hello and goodbye and wave several times a day is a hoot.

Real
Husband spent some time working in
Germany and Belgium this week, but now he is home! YAY! I don't know how military moms do it because I was a wreck for just one week of it! That is as real as it gets!

Crochet Along, camera's, life, and babies

2011-11-15T15:56:00.000-08:00

If I believed in astrology I'd say when I started this crochet alonng the stars where aligned against me.
Every week something prevented me from following thru to the extent I desired and that it really required. I can make excuses about camera problems, getting a stomach virus passed around, my youngest throwing up and having a fever at 2 am on Saturday morning so no dr until Monday unless I wanted to expose her to more by going to the emergency room.(ear infection)

But in reality all of those things DID happen but when I COULD have worked on it I found myself doing other things I wanted to do more.
This week I am giving myself a Pass and next WEEK I will finish it up and be done!

Thank you to anyone following, and I hope you have done better than me, I would love to see what you have done or come up with!

Hunt’s® Lemon-Tomato Chicken Pasta

2011-11-13T16:37:00.000-08:00

Hunts tomotoes is offering up to $2 in coupons on there site, I get a .60/3 coupon for sharing one of their receipes with you. At the top of the receipe there should be a link to how you can also get in one these great coupons.

Hunt’s® Lemon-Tomato Chicken Pasta

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

2011-11-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

Pretty
The beautiful faces of my 3 kids that I can't show you because I am again without a camera, and well I'd rather I not show the older two online, so in my 2 days of catching up I got some really cute bare chested pics of baby and pics with big sisters.
Happy
The chore chart we made last month is still going strong. The kids do things without constant reminders, and only when they are really tired do they hassle me about doing what I ask. YAY chore charts! I should be happy about more than that since I have already mentioned the chore chart in a past post, I am also happy that baby is not quite free standing, but that topic also makes me a little sad.
One more try on Happy, I should get my camera back again tomorrow! THAT makes me happy! I guess you'll all know if I have pics next week:D
Funny
I get to run Lego League this week in place of my husband. So I got them all straightened out on what they want to make, this years theme is Snack Attack. So funny is I hand drew what they want to make and the jokes on dearhusband because I have no earthly idea how he is going to get 5 7-8 years to accomplish their awesome task!
Did I say awesome, it is, they want to make a motorized converyor belt that has treats dropped onto one side, moved thru a "freezer" and picked up on the other side with a motorized thing that picks them up moves them up and over and drops them into a box. FUN!
Real
I found this awesome wire manequin on clearance! I LOVE IT, but real is I have no real place to put it. I have been triing to justify buying one using a coupon for over a year to use taking pictures of stuff for my shop. This week during the 2 days I had a camera I finally got a shop picture taken using it. YAY

I had a couple of yards of tulle hanging around that was meant to be used a skirt I never made(sound familar to anyone?) I think it looks great inside of this manequin! LOVE IT.

Crochet-Along Week 3 All about borders

2011-11-07T11:29:00.000-08:00

Week #3. Last week we had a nasty stomach virus in my house, so I had not gotten anything done. To top that my camera is in for warranty repair so I had no pictures either. I did have some links and I hope you all where healthy and moving along on your projects.

I got mine baby blue whip stiched together, I laid out my pieces so that they stripped in different directions.

I went out and bought another camera for those that want to know. But now I cannot find my second ball of yarn. With any luck by the end of the day I will find it and let you know how many stitches to put across each side for our border.

Okay, I am a bit late and minus a camera AGAIN! But I can say they border pattern I am working on for the blue baby blanket goes like this.

Rnd 1: Join in a corner, ch 4(this acts as 1dc1ch)even space 42 dc ch1 across the side ending in a dc at the corner ch 3 dc in same spot. Repeat across remaining 3 sides, at last(first) corner dc in same spot as oringinal join, ch 3 and sl stich into to of ch 4,
Rnd 2: sl into space between ch4 and dc, then repeat rnd 1
Rnds 3-? until you either run out of yarrn, or decide you are done, I am doing 10 rnds.

Link up and show your progress!

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

2011-11-03T05:16:00.000-07:00

Pretty
I found my all time favorite short boa yarn back for Breast Cancer awareness and picked up a bunch on clearance at Michaels. It is so soft and SUCH a pretty pink!
Happy
Watching my husband and two oldest goslings encourage the youngest to figure out how to climb over the back of the couch. I know I should have discouraged it, but they where so animated, and she got her little self right over the top that is almost taller than she is. she had 6 hands ready to catch her a a soft landing prepared just in case. It just made me Happy to see all of them interacting with the baby.
Funny
One morning this week my littlest gosling woke up her normal happy self, but... well mad that she was alone in her crib and not snuggled up against me, where she believes she belongs...at all times...! But really happy, because she only screamed and sounded like she was crying to get my attention.
I opened the bedroom door and she smiles, (no tears in sight), and promptly says DAADDEEEDAADEE.
"no sweetling, MOMMY"
"Giggle"
Sigh, DAADDEE will and big sisters will eat this up:D
Real
I had a nasty stomach bug this weekend causing me to speed up weaning my 8 month onto a bottle, for fear of dehydrating myself and landing in the emergency room(this happened a few years ago, so a real fear for me).
Little gosling has shown her strong will since before birth, and while she accepted the bottle and formula she did not do so with grace, she has been on a hunger strike. Not to worry she is eating, when she is allowed to feed herself i.e. foods she can pick up and feed herself, and I am not really stocked for that we where still finishing up her puree's and she only got past gagging about 3 weeks ago, or, when mommy will share her food, can't do with my virus. Or...if I can actually get the bottle nipple into her pursed lips, she will take it and finish off the whole thing with nary a pause to breathe.
Little victories can be had as I painted one of her hands with breakfast mush after a full minute of examining her hand consented to letting me feed her half the bowl. YAY. Read a little more on my mothering of this little gosling here.

and to when they decide they are big

2011-11-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

Newborn, to Infant, to Toddler...My tiny little girl is no longer a Newborn, and I am not sure she is an Infant...I think she has decided that she is a Toddler.

But she is only 8 months old. and has been mobile since she was 4 months(backwards army crawl) But in the air on her hands and knees since 5 1/2 months, cruising furniture 6 1/2 months, climbing (now!)

I know she is not free walking, and for my babies she is down right tiny, still wearing 3-6 month clothes. Her big sisters where in 12-18 month clothes at this point.

I have been sick this weekend and she would only let me feed her, she would purse her lips and blow out any food her daddy or sisters tried to feed her. With one exception. Food she could feed herself.

All of this is considered toddler behavior. Oh, did fail to mention she is attempting to stand in the middle of the room? So what is a mom to do when her baby decides she wants to be big and do it herself, but she is still so little?

Cry! then try to help of course... at least help them not to get hurt.

Crochet-Along Baby Blanket Joining blocks

2011-10-31T06:24:00.000-07:00

I have made my blocks and hope you have as well, if not it is not too late to start. I am having two issues with this post so bear with me.
1. My camera is is shipped off for repair, so no camera

2. I got a nasty stomach but over the weekend, and still not recovered.
So I figured I could use what is already out their to give you all the info needed. I found this wonderful site that shows several different joining techniques click here. I will be using the whipstich for one of my blankets. For the other blanket I want more of a lacy effect. So it will be a variation of this. If you want to start this my plan is use the lacy v edging on all 4 blocks, but for two blocks I will join as I go. Attaching with sl st at the middle of each picot. I'll have pictures of this and better directions as soon as I get my camera back!
Good luck and I'd love to see what yarns and colors you all have picked out. My blue is a self stripping yarn for those wondering.

Life in a Shoe and the Modest Mom giveaway

2011-10-29T13:26:00.000-07:00

Another giveaway over at Life in a Shoe. I love reading that blog:D Today she is having a giveawasy for $50 at the ModestMom. So to get some extra entries and I am over here on my blog telling you about it:D I highly recommend going over and checking out the shop, today's clothes can be so revealing, it is nice to find these layering shells that are thin enough for the Texas heat and provide coverage so I am not falling out of the cute shirts I find. Really I should not be forced to wear oversized tshirts everday because I don't want to accidentally show to much of myself. This is the perfect solution.

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

2011-10-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

Pretty
I got these necklaces that have been on my To Do list made this weekend. Aren't they pretty! I am so pleased with how they turned out! Just home the teens and preteens they are going to will like them as much as I do!

Happy
I had my yearly physical, don't worry not a TMI post, just that I don't have a working scale in my house and I found out that I am 15lbs lighter than my pregnancy weight, whoo hooo! That has made me sooooo HAPPY! It has me motivated to take my water bottle when I leave the house and drive past Sonic during that happy hour 1/2 price soda's, instead of giving into temptation and getting a rootbear.
Funny
Okay, there is nothing funny about my oldest being home sick, except...she has not been ACTING sick. I am not doubting she IS sick. I just find it funny that she desperatly wishes to be AT school and not home with me. When I was school age, I would have pretended to be sicker in order to prolong my reprieve from school. You know covering up with blankets and moaning randomly as I watched my way threw my favorite movies, NOT talking mom's ear off while working my crochet project, watching every show dad has DVR for her for months. and bouncing off the walls the second her sister gets home.
Real
My camera was sent off Wednesday to the manufacturer for repair. Sadly I have only had that camera for 2 months, so real for me is a 7-10 days with no pictures:( Unless I can find an old camera and revive it. I still have my first digital camera floating around I just don't know if I have a working battery for it. My last camera got smashed somehow the back screen shattered. The one that camera replaced was lost during a family holiday. That puts me at my first ever digital camera. All I can say is sweet little gosling had better not do anything new this week, she has to wait for my camera to come back!

Christmas Bucket List

2011-10-26T03:44:00.000-07:00

In an effort to NOT procrastinate this year, Thanks KimC from LifeinaShoe for bringing this flaw to light. I am making a list of things to make/buy for Christmas this year. I usually buy and make things all year round and just put them up in my closet. The downside to this is I sometimes forget what I have bought for who. Besides the wonderful contributor on FrugalHacks does nnyone else have that problem? Surely I am not alone in this?

My fiinal kick in the pants so to speak was this wonderful blogger. So this post may evolve or I may just make new posts. I'll link where I am getting my ideas and what my finished project looks like.

Have fun with me and share what you are getting done for Christmas.

hubby-
gosling1(10)-http://www.etsy.com/transaction/61210448
earings holder , necklace, digital camera-done can't afford anything else!

gosling2(7)-princes crayola kit, wow this kid is hard!
gosling3(>1)-ummm honestly the older two didn't get gifts from us or Santa at this age, and they didn't know any better so I don't feel bad about that at all! But this time big sisters will notice, so what to do!
niece1(14)-necklace

niece2(11)-necklace

nephew1(13)-pencil case?
going in with someone on a Kindle?
nephew2(6)-pencil case, lego book, croyala storybook kit
nephew3(1)-My inspirations turtles matching game,and these bean bags, I'll post if my idea bears fruit.

Baby Shower1-baby blanket-done and gifted
Baby Shower2-baby blanket

Crochet-Along Baby Blanket Pattern in Progress

2011-10-24T04:22:00.000-07:00

Join me in a crochet along. As I come up with a pattern! I am using two balls of Baby Bee Sweet Delights yarn and a sz G hook.
This pattern can be made very simply or more complex. I'll give instructions for both. No babies in your house make one for charity! Or be frugal and make it up ahead for the next person you know that has a baby. Right now I know at least two pregnant ladies, and that is all that is admitting at the moment, by this time next year who knows how many new babies I'll know.

Right now the plan is 4 squares, Depending on how big you want it make either 4 or 9.
to work the squares...
Ch 41, turn
Row1: 2sc in next ch from hook,* skip one chain, 2sc in next ch*, repeat to end(should have 40sc)ch 1 turn,
Row 2: 2sc in next sc from hook,* skip one sc, 2sc in next ch* repeat until you have 38sc, in last set of 2sc from below row, 1sc in each sc, ch 1 turn(40 sc)
Rows 3-36: repeat row 2.

bind off leaving a tail long enough to stitch the squares together.
I'll post more when I get all the squares made. On Monday I'll shoot for ways to put the squares together, lots of options!
Okay so I think I figured out Linkies, so join me in a crochet along and post your progress for other's to follow:D Leave notes of encouragement to each other.
At the end we can vote on our favorites.

My next episode is up check it out here.

DIY jeans purse

2011-10-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was browsing the web and I found this cool site about 100 DIY homemade gifts.

I thought was very cool, and really into my budget for this year! Right at the time I found this site she had just posted this nice turtorial on upcycling jeans into purses as one of her gift ideas!

I loved it and made a note to do this soon.
Well I promptly forgot about it until I did this project for daughter, a project that left me with two pieces of pant leg. Well and I have two big girls who are a little purse crazy. This is what I came up with.

All I did was hem the top of the leg, I gave it angles at the sides just because. My denim was not decorated so I sewed on the triangle. No ribbon around but I cut out the inside seam so that I wouldn't have to find some denim needles when I was decorating the jeans, so I used those scraps as a handle. Super easy and very little effort.

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

2011-10-20T06:06:00.000-07:00

Pretty
I've been working on getting some projects done. Some for sale and some as gifts. So this week, Pretty for me is a finished self designed purse.

crochet owl purse

Happy
I have several friends expecting babies in the next 6 months. That makes me happy, my little one might be the oldest of this set of babies, but at least she will have other littles to play with.
Making gifts for the coming crowd makes me happy too:D

started baby blanket

Funny
For the last two years my oldest has had to face that she is not perfect. Her math grade is her lowest grade, and her teachers advised me to not work with her to resolve this because she could use some humility. This is hilarious when her one "bad" grade ranges from 89-93. LOL! Apparently her class mates know she is smart and not leading the class in ONE subject will teach her some humility.

Real

As my littlest has become more and more mobile. This is the face I get to look down at, while doing any project from cooking, so sewing. Mommy can do nothing with a gosling holding on to a leg and wanting to be right in the middle of everything:D

Hemming and girling up jeans

2011-10-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

So Thursday night I got a note from school saying that Friday the kids could wear jeans and a sports jersey. My kids have several soccer jersey's to choose from since my husband is a soccer ~~junkie~~ umm I mean fan:D
Once they had decided on who was wearing what we had the denim dilemma. Have you noticed that most if not all jeans for kids right now are cut skinny? and low? Seriously my kids do not need to show off their underwear!
Okay, so I have managed to pick up some jeans new on clearance in the under $2 range, but not in the sizes you would think they need. My oldest loves her's and does not mind rolling up the hems and tightening the waist, she only wears them maybe once a month, seriously if that.
My youngest is a problem. She is not thin. She is not average. Maybe chubby. I am not delisional on my kids, I know that if I let her eat what ever and however much she wanted plus paid no attention to her excercise habits she would be the dreaded "O" word. As it is we skate the line, I want her to be comfortable with who she is, not starve her and set her to a bad self image. We work on moderation and getting up and moving, often!
Okay so how does this fit with jeans?

To get jeans to fit my baby girl that don't show her underwear, and that she is comfortable in, I needed to cut off about 8" of hem.
Then I trimmed up the middle of the leg taking out the middle seam, so I could add this pink fabric! We needed to girlie up these jeans so that she wasn't jealous of the butterflies her sister had.

I sewed leaving the raw edges out for a frayed look and sewed about 1/2 inch up from the bottom edge for the affect. Keep in mind when looking for the frayed look, you will need to trim after the first couple washes, so be prepared.
Lastly I sewed back up the inside inseams.
She loves them! Oh, and I cut out the size tag. she doesn't need to know what size they are, but I will say we tightened them up on the inside so she may have more than one season of wear. And with any luck we will find the right amount of exercise to help slim her down, even a little bit more.
After this last minute exercise of my talents, we made purses out the cut of legs! I'll blog on that next.

Guest Posting with Jaybird Designs

2011-10-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

I am so excited, I got to know Jennifer via the internet back in 1996 or '97 when I was selling on e*bay. I love her designs and love her work!
My crochet pumpkin is featured on her blog Jaybird Designs. Go on over and let her know how much you like my pattern! Also check out all the other crochet related topics, Jennifer is an awesome crochet designer after checking out her blog your totally going to want to see what else she has to offer!

Pretty, happy, funny, real

2011-10-13T04:02:00.000-07:00

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

PRETTY

Big sister's insisted she have a hat too, even though they did not make any small enough, I folded one and my oldest ran off to find a person with a stapler, and find one she did, both big sisters where so pleased with themselves, and baby gosling , loved eating it.

HAPPY
My kids school grades make me happy this week. The two in school, are totally bored but still maintaing 94-100 in all subjects. YAY! Don't get me wrong they like school, but it just doesn't move fast enough for them, I know I had a hard time when I was bored so I think the fact they like their teachers anThd classmates, makes all the difference.

FUNNY

The way my baby will scream that I am not feeding her fast enough, then whip her head a way as I am putting the spoon in her mouth, to follow a family member if they make the mistake of walking by while I am triing to shovel food into fast enough to make her happy. LOL!

REAL

Chore charts are what is real for me this week. Seriously if you have been putting off making a chore chart for your house, do not procrastinate any longer! My children have really taken to it. They are transformed. Not perfect, never that, but they do most things happily and without the fuss and constant complaints. They get one point for each chore, and can cash in the points for things like candy, ice cream scoops, special treats they generally have the opportunity to earn enough for one piece of candy a day, much more for ice cream or root bear floats, but if they save they could have one a week.
I am very pleased.

Free Pumpkin Pattern

2011-10-12T04:09:00.000-07:00

I made this pumpkin applique a few years ago then never used it. Since it is Fall Harvest time I decided to recreate it and practice my pattern writing skills. I'm going to sew them onto a onsie for my youngest gosling

Of course she just wants to chew on them, but that is quite all right with me, it is washable after all
so I used cotton yarn, you can use what ever you have on hand but different yarns may need different hook sizes and will result in differing finished product. Mine is less than 3 inches long by 1.5 inches at its widest point.

I used mercerized 100% cotton yarn.Sinfonia from Hobby Lobby
ch 15,turn
Row 1: sc in first ch from hook, sc in next 5ch, hdc, dc in next 2, hdc, sc in next 4 remaining ch, (14 total)ch 1 turn,
Row 2:( Back Loop only for whole row)sc in next 4 sc, hdc, dc in next 2, hdc, sc in next 6 sc., ch 1 turn,
Row 3:(in Front Loop Only) sc in next 6ch, hdc, dc in next 2, hdc, sc in next 4 ch, 1 turn,
Rows 4-5: repeat rows 2 and 3.
Row 6:repeat row 2, except do not turn add 2 loops to your hook on the end of your piece, then pull a loop thru all three creating a decrease along the end, repeat , bind off.( I do this by cutting my yarn a couple inches longer then slip stitching and pulling the yarn all the way thru framing a knot, then taking a darning needle and burying the yarn into the piece.

Add stem
on the opposite end from your decreases, pull a loop thru and chain 6
sc in first ch from hook, sc in next 4ch, sc into pumpkin. bind off and bury tail of yarn.

Let me know how the pattern worked for you!

Guest Post on SAHM of Etsy Blog

2011-10-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

One of my mint tin tutorials is featured on the SAHM of Etsy blog. Go check it out and all yhe other neat stuff posted over there, such a creative group I love being part of it. Thank you guys so much for posting about my tins. Check out my other three posts here, here, and here.
Thanks and enjoy!

Wonderful uses for mint tins #4

2011-10-10T04:45:00.000-07:00

First of all a list of all the things you can do with these decorated and covered tins. If you can think of something I miss let me know and I'll add it! since these all had food in them we know they should be food grade tins. But don't use one for food if you have stored pills in it, remember practice safety when reusing anything.

1. pill box

2. earrings case

3. home made mints (like this one at Southern couponer)

4. Home made lip balm, (again like this one from Martha Stewart)

5. sewing kit

6. magnetic needle case

7. small present box

8. organizing beads for a project

9. coin case

10. mini candle

11. holding small sharps

12. why?....

Today's case holds my small sharp objects that need a home in my craft supplies so that small hands don't get hurt. Such as blades for paper cutter's, I have varies styles of blades and varies types of paper cutter devices. My sillygeese like to open mint tins to see what goodies may have been forgotten, so covering them, tells the silly creatures that there are no candy pieces inside. Well it works for us:D

So this is my fourth tin and I rounded up what I would need.
I have this cute round tin, some pinking shears, and that cute spotted minky material, not enough for a real sewing project but enough for some cute tins, and some trim.

Normally I would trace my in on my fabric, but my circles are exactly the size of my tin, lucky me. I trimmed the circle outside the circle perimeter, when I do this again I will move out a little further than on this one.

For the lid go slowing and work a small section at a time, and try to avoid big globs. I again used an anchor in the middle to help hold the fabric in place as I glued down the edges then I still went around the top edge. Using the special scissors means no bulging fabric. Some cute trim or ribbon to cover the rough edges and glue.

What do you think? A pretty addition to my craft supplies. I have a feeling I'll be making a few more as my daughters start putting together their own sewing kits.

I admit I'm a little needy, some feedback especially positive makes my day:D
It might not show up right away, but I am still triing to figure out all the settings on comments, but leave me a comment anyway, please:D

Mini Vacations

2011-10-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

With today's economy, plus other factors like having a new baby, we skipped this years Sea World fun passes, and have been looking into smaller day trip mini vacations. There are lots of inexpensive things to do in Texas.
We chose to go to Brenham and check out the tour of Blue Bell Ice Creamery.

They where under renovation. But they where open, in there off season they sometimes shut down production on Wednesday and Friday, so they highly recommend calling before heading that way, at least on Wednesday and Friday's. We did not know how to plan until I got the green light Wednesday night that yes they planned to be open on Friday, so we had a back up plan for our next trip.

My girls all loved it. The tour showed the production rooms, and talked about the process of making ice cream, the different machines used, and the different flavors. Of course the best part was the free scoop at the end! We also found that you can stop by anytime during the week and they have $1 a scoop ice cream available, no tour required. YAY, so from now on we have a stopping point, if our travels take us thru Brenham.
Of course if you are going to Brenham as a destination, they have quite a few other activities to fill in your day. We got a late start and called it done early in deference to the baby.
We did pull of one other stop to make the drive worth it. I had to try the $100 burger at the Southern Flyer restaurant. We saw this restaurant featured on TV and that is all I have heard from husband and kids since, you know things like, we need to stop there next time we pass thru, or when are we going to try that place with the $100 burger.
Don't worry, my frugal heart did not pay $100 for a burger it was around $8 with cheese and onion rings:D
It was a good meal, but our family of 4 eaters spent $50 so plan accordingly.
I forgot to take some pictures. But my girls got to see some small planes take off and land, that was super neat, and they picked out several songs on the Jukebox.

MommysClothTreasures Giveaway on Life in a Shoe

2011-10-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs is at it again with another giveaway that I really want. So go over to etsy and check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/MommysClothTreasures
They head over to Life in a Shoe and find out how you can win a set of 4 bowl covers. But I really want to win so just go back over to her etsy shop and buy a set:D

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

2011-10-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

PRETTY
How can this face not make you smile:D

Happy:
Okay, so that face is pretty and happy, finding my digital frames also make me. I miss playing with them, so after a year on my netbook, I am back to using my laptop with all my fun photo software.

Funny:
My oldest gosling told me a new joke this week. Making up jokes is a work in progress, she doesn't always understand what makes a joke funny, but this one she got from school and it was spot on.

"Mom, we got two frogs in school today. We named them Pete and Repeat."
"That is silly dear, I am sure your class will have fun with them"
"Yep, we made a joke, Everything that Pete does, Repeat does, Pete crokes, Repeat crokes, Pete jumps, Repeat jumps, Pete drowned, who else drowns...."
"Repeat"
"Everything that Pete does, Repeat does, Pete crokes, Repeat crokes, Pete jumps, Repeat jumps, Pete drowned, who else drowns...."
"Repeat"
"Everything that Pete does, Repeat does, Pete crokes, Repeat crokes, Pete jumps, Repeat jumps, Pete drowned, who else drowns...."

"HAAHAAAHAAA!"

Real
Baby Gosling, got her first tooth last night! Explaines why we are not sleeping around here! So glad it finally make itself known.(Picture to come if I can get a tooth pic)

In my Hand Chore Chart

2011-10-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

I was over at frugal hacks and what did I find? A post on Chore Charts. A very creative post on Chore Charts, that had me thinking about what I have in my hand that could be turned into a Chore Chart. This is something we have needed for some time, and that I promised myself I would make back when my baby was born in February!

So the good Lord speaks to us in many ways. I took this as a sign to stop my procrastinating ways and to just get it done!

This is what I had in my hand. It has been floating around my house waiting for me to put it together for over 2 yrs, don't worry I spend only $2-3 on it, thank goodness because when I finally opened it, it was missing all the hardware.

I did not let this set me back, I did not run to the store to buy any new pieces. I looked at what I had and checked my crafts supplies for anything else I needed.
I used glue dots to secure all the pieces. It came with 8 12x12 pieces of paper, I only used 2 1/2. Plus some of the extra's. I raided my scrap ribbons for some color, and had a cute set of stickers for accents. I picked up a die cut machine and letters for super cheap a few years ago, and got that out for lettering.

At the bottom I made two pockets, and then have a spot for some tiny folders that came with the kit, In one pocket we will store the chore cards, the other will have reward points, those points can be stored in the little tiny folders, cute, I think.

I'll let them trade the points for candy, or ice cream, since those are treats they are rarely allowed to have. Now somewhere in my house I have picture hangers to attach to the back, but until I locate them it will live on a bookshelf that both kids can reach.

Yay I did it:D You can do it to without the nifty kit I used. But I am glad I didn't have to:D
Have you made a chore chart for your kids?

Wonderful uses for mint tins #3

2011-09-29T03:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, so technically this is a gum tin... This week I started looking for a way to keep my needles put, a place to put them and not worry about my baby knocking them all over the floor. And if they do fall to the floor an easy way to pick them up.

So this was my third tin. I rounded up what I thought I'd use. I have some flannel scraps, and a magnet that came off a fridge magnet. I again traced the tin on my fabric, twice, in this case triing to center a pretty piece of embroidery from the fabric on one piece, then cutting that one out slightly outside the lines.

The one cut on the trace lines I put on the inside of the tin. After gluing down my magnet I glued in the fabric
I cut a scrap a little big for the top. My trick to gluing it down with a hot glue gun that works on the lid does not work on the inside, you just have to be quick and make sure the gun is hot. See how the magnet holds my needles secure.

For the lid go slowing and work a small section at a time, and try to avoid big globs. I again used an anchor in the middle by glueing down the embroidery, then I still went around the top edge, then around the side edges leaving the corners undone so the stick out kinda funny. Trim the fabric so that it goes all the way down to the curled up edge of the tin.

Just like tin #2 I slit the edges and cut out a notch so that they cover the corner without bunching. I didn't like the raw edges showing so I glued down a pretty trim to hide it.

What do you think? A pretty addition to my sewing kit. I have a feeling I'll be making a few more as my daughters start putting together their own sewing kits.

Check out my other tins posts here, here, and here.
I admit I'm a little needy, some feedback especially positive makes my day:D
It might not show up right away, but I am still triing to figure out all the settings on comments, but leave me a comment anyway, please:D

Guest Posting

2011-09-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

My mint tin tutorial is featured on the SAHM of Etsy blog. Go on over and let them know how much you like my tutorial! And check back here on Thursday for my next mint tin.

Baby Food Carrots edition #3

2011-09-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a well baby visit and darling is doing well just not growing very fast. That is okay we have several small babies in the family and she is passing 9 month milestones between 6-7 months. So just one active busy baby.
Just one small thing. Dr. wants me to up her solid foods to 3 times a day along with my current level of breast feeding. So, I am getting down to business and making up the rest of the baby food on my agenda.
Today, carrots...I peeled and cut 2lbs of carrots and went with baking them. Steaming would have been better, but as in all things can't find the steamer, figures right.

This is what 1 lb of carrots looks like, not enough..

So I looked up baby food and carrots online and found this site. here
I knew that carrots could have special requirements, So I baked them for 45 min at 350 degrees. When done I let them cook and ended up adding about 3 cups of water to blend them smoothly.

At this point they got stuck in my fridge as I needed to clean some extra ice cube trays, Will be freezing tomorrow.

Homemade Butter and Beer Bread

2011-09-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

I learned this morning why homemade butter making is passed to the kids! It took me almost 45 min of shaking to make butter this morning. And I am insane because I did it twice! Well it was a nice upper body work-out:D

I was given 5 containers of heavy whipping cream and I don't normally have a use for it. I could of course have whipped it with sugar and served it with fruit, or made ice cream, both yummy to be sure but my wonderful husband mentioned that he likes fresh butter, and oh butter with cinnamon and sugar mixed in it would be delicious. On homemade beer bread with dinner sometime, if I wanted...

So here goes, I thought I was done after 30 min, but I realized it wasn't butter it was just thickened cream, almost butter. Keep shaking at this point. it then separates and you finally have butter, you stop shaking when it forms together so that you can pour off the butter milk.

Beer bread is the only way that I like beer. And my receipe is supper easy.
1 12oz bottle of beer.
3 cups self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar, mix, but in a bread loaf pan and bake at 425 for 40-45 min.

Second attempt at Knitted designing

2011-09-21T06:10:00.000-07:00

I did it, little dance around the living room. When on vacation this summer I bought a small round knitting needle and some Cascadian 100% fuschia yarn at The Cotton Ball. We spent a week at the beach and I had no project with me. So I set out to create something, no pattern just an idea and chest measurement for my 4 month old. This was July.
Fast forward to mid September and it is done! See mom I really don't need patterns, LOL, but they do help.

And for curious minds, yes my 6 month does pull herself up every time she is set down, so this sitting position is very hard to get.

And even though the measured right for her 4 month old chest, it is to big, so are the straps, so I laced them thru the shell pattern and tied a bow.

And the best part is she will not outgrow it anytime soon:D It might go from dress to shirt though and of course a long sleeve shirt under it when the weather finally gets cool, or I should say IF the weather ever gets cool, ya never know around here!
What do you think did it come out nice?

I'm Guest Posting!

2011-09-19T06:09:00.000-07:00

It's very exciting for me! Natalie over at A Turtle's Life for Me is going thru a flood cleanup and asked for some guest posters. Out of the flood of responses she got she picked my post on upcycling mint tins.
So go over and check out her blog and leave me a note saying hi, and what you like about my post, pretty please:D
If you found me from Natalie's blog, then look around and let me know if you like what you see:D
And most of all a HUGE THANK YOU to Natalie and Hugs on getting her house back in order.

Using what's in your hand, concept's in frugal living

2011-09-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

As I was browsing my favorite blogs I ran into this one. It got me thinking about all the ways one can use what is your hand. Obviously when looking for a solution for well just about anything you look first at what you already own. Look outside the box, maybe google search to see if anyone else has had this problem and how did they fiix it
.
As funny as it may seem, I couponed, shopped clearance and thought I was doing a pretty good job of being frugal and using our money wisely. Then a few years ago my husband got laid off, and even though he found a new job right away, it jolted me. Was I really using our stuff and money as frugally and wisely as I could?

No I was not. I had not yet embraced the "in my hand" concept, I had not even heard of it! This was when I learned about eating out of my pantry and clearing my pantry to stock it with real food.

I learned about finding alternatives to tortilla chips if that was all my meal was missing. What else could be served with spaghtetti besides french bread. I went down my normal menu items and identiied my frequently menu stoppers, missing items that put that meal on hold until I could run out and buy said missing items. I had to rethink my main dish + side dish combo's.

Other examples are here on my site. Using scraps to decorate tins for useful purposes instead of buying something ready made to serve those needs.

Using paints I already had to decorate a free backpack and lunchbox for my daughter here.

Adding a strap to a three ring zipper binder that I have had floating around for years. Giving my daughter what she both wanted and needed for school.

Years ago all of these things would have required spending money.
It was revolutionary in my life. How about yours? Have you always lived this way or did you find it at some interesting point in your life? I'd love to here about it!

Call to action, supporting the Red Cross

2011-09-14T06:14:00.000-07:00

I am participating in an Artisan Call to Action. I will be donating 25% of my shop sales to the Red Cross of Central Texas. And I have one special item in my shop that goes almost completely to the charity. My cupcake coin purse I will donate $4 per cupcake.
Check out the HOMESPUN Marketplace for a list of participating Artists. So think about Birthday and Christmas presents, or any gift giving opportunity in your near future, go shopping and help us support the Red Cross.

Wonderful uses for mint tins #2

2011-09-12T07:02:00.000-07:00

Well I did say some more to come. This week I scrambled around looking for something my oldest goose could use to put her earrings in during sports. She is feeling very put upon right now, after the long awaited age, her daddy let her get her ears pierced, and every time she turns around someone is telling she has to remove them. Sigh... the life of a preteen can be so trying.

So this was my second tin. I rounded up what I thought I'd use. I have some minky scraps and said sillygoose keeps trying to steal it so I am using a piece for her. I cut it to size and to try and center the white diamond between circles in the middle. I place a piece of glue on the lid to hold it in place.

I cut a scrap a little big for the top. Then discovered the trick to gluing it down with a hot glue gun. Go slowing and work a small section at a time, and try to avoid big globs. This time I since I had an anchor in the middle I still went around the top edge, then around the side edges leaving the corners undone so the stick out kinda funny. Trim the fabric so that it goes all the way down to the curled up edge of the tin.

This time I left off the ribbon and slit the edges and cut out a notch so that they cover the corner without bunching.

What do you think? I added a paper also notched at each corner and the sides folding down, this gives her spots to put earings and keep them neat when we travel, also she can just toss her earings under the paper and not have worry about losing them when opening her tin on the sidelines or gym. As a finishing touch I put a sticker with her name on the back, with hopes it would find its way home should it get misplaced.

Check out my other tin posts here,here, and here.
I admit I'm a little needy, some feedback especially positive makes my day:D
It might not show up right away, but I am still triing to figure out all the settings on comments, but leave me a comment anyway, please:D

Homemade Baby Food #2 Peaches addition

2011-09-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, since my baby gosling has a strong gag reflex, and needed her food a little more pureed than I managed with the butternut squash and no food processor, I broke down and bought a hand blender. No fears on using the butternut squash, I will either puree small amounts, or just wait until and try again in a month or two.
Back to the blender. You would NEVER believe what happened when I got home with my new blender.
I found the lid for my OLD food processor, less than 30 minutes after walking back into the house.
That is right, EXACTLY what I thought would happen.
After some serious debating I am keeping my new toy. It made short easy work of these peaches!

My store had large peaches on sale for .77 cents a lb. My confession is I don't know what these 8 peaches cost, because I bought way more peaches and the big geese in my house have been eating them. So good, but little tart raw. So for baby I cook them. For us I added sugar. Sorry baby no sugar for you.

I sliced an X on the bottom of each peach. Then boil them for 6-8 minutes depending on the size of your peaches.

Once boiled, dip them in a ice water bath. This makes them easier to handle and stops the cooking. That nice X I did at the beginning, it helps peal the peaches.

Then take the pis out and puree!

Once done, I made 72 ice cubes, equally 36 baby food jars. I know I spent less than $10 and if I had bought the baby food jars it would have costs $14.40 or more.
And most importantly she loved it! I added some oatmeal to one batch to thicken it, and serve it straight once. She gobbled it up both times:D Actually her big sister liked it too. Oatmeal and peaches might be a good breakfast for school aged kids.
I hope my posts inspires someone to try making there own baby food. Simple and cost effective, no fancy expensive blender, or fancy expensive containers needed.

Wonderful uses for used mint tins. #1

2011-09-08T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sometime last year, I got really tired of misplacing yarn needles in my car. Then finding them right after I bought more! Then of course the random need for sewing needle and thread to repair a school uniform, sewing project that I decided to work on while waiting for someone to finish something away from home. Then my wonderful husband asked me if I wanted one of his mint tins before he tossed it. Why YES! I did, and any future tins please:D

So this was my first tin. I rounded up those needles from my car console, and added a thimble. That is how it remained until this weekend. Thankfully one of the needles was already threaded because I needed to repair my flip flops, the only shoes I had with me while 20 miles from home. I used up the thread in there and determined I needed to finish up my sewing kit.

So here goes, I taped down the loose edge to two old bobbins full of thread. Added a safety pin(will add more as I come across them loose in my craft supplies). I will add finger nail clippers still in my console once it goes back out to the car. Why nail clippers? Because they work great to cut thread and thin yarn, and mostly because all my little scissors mysteriously disappear. I'm sure I lay them down as I am out and about and walk away, but who knows....

Then I got the nifty idea to cover the top, this way my husband and goslings can tell what I am asking for if I send someone after it for me:D

I cut a scrap a little big for the top. Then discovered the trick to gluing it down with a hot glue gun. Go slowly and work a small section at a time, and try to avoid big globs.

Once covered trim closer to the edge so you can go around and glue that down without any bunching at the corners. Pick your trim, you want something that is not wider than the area to be covered, all my ribbons where really narrow or too wide, so I picked a narrow ribbon.

Please don't judge me by the colors of my scrap fabrics and ribbons:D
Check out my other tin posts here, here and here.
What do you think? Any suggestions on what else I should add to my sewing kit?
I admit I'm a little needy, some feedback especially positive makes my day:D
It might not show up right away, but I am still triing to figure out all the settings on comments, but leave me a comment anyway, please:D

Wildfires in Texas....

2011-09-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

To my face to face real life family and friends that check me out:D The wildfires are not near us at all. They are much further South and East of us. I actually can't see the smoke from my house.
Well over 500 homes have been lost to fires and many more damaged in the Bastrop/South east greater Austin area. If you live in Texas, ask your local church to check on their Bastrop equivalent. I strongly believe chruches do a much better job of distributing aid with more funds reaching those in need. If you don't affiliate with a church please remember the Red Cross is spread thin with the floods in the Northeast and the massive fires across our great State and other States.

DIY Binder Strap

2011-09-04T19:35:00.000-07:00

School started for us a few weeks ago, and one thing on the back to school list was a 2" 3-ring binder. That was all. Luckily we had 3 choices already and in good condition, white, black, and pink leather with a zipper. Surprisingly she nixed the pink leather and went for the white. I'm thinking, yeah me, most expensive thing on the list and we already have it.

Fast forward to Wed of last week and oldest goose tells me"Mom, my best friend just went and got a binder with a zipper and a strap, do you think we could get a binder with a zipper and a strap?" My response of course is," first your friend going and getting one is never a reason to run out and my buy something." Goose that she is, she understood, but smart too, and says "can I trade out for the pink zippered binder?, at least it will be zippered, so my stuff won't fall out."

This sounds like an excellent solution, and I tell her, "hmmm...maybe we can alter the pink binder to have a strap, let me look when we get home."
So after looking I decide I can invest $2 in strapping ribbon for her:D
Finally I get it done.

First I noticed it needed cleaning up. Pencil does erase from leather, but not if you try leather cleaner first. So most came off, but one stop is going to stay dirty. If I were a betting person, I'd better this particular sillygoose is responsible for the pencil marks in the first place, I am not concerned:D

And the zipper pull needs replacing while I'm at it.

Here is where I found an opening to thread thru my strapping.. This is on the side that does not open, the back or bottom of the zipper. I used wide strapping for more comfort on goose's shoulder. Narrow strapping or woven ribbon would not need to be folded, but would dig into her shoulder by the end of the school year.

After checking to make sure my strap is facing the correct direction and will not be twisted, I tripled sewed around the overlapping pieces, then crisscrossed it. This is similar to how commercial strapping is overlapped.

And a small piece of ribbon knotted at the end makes a new zipper pull. Just a note, I used an open flame to seal my ribbon ends, only do this if you have understand that ribbon will burn, so be careful stand over the sink for safety and just melt your edges. Why? this prevents fraying of the ribbon. Don't ya'll hate fraying ribbon? I do!
Okay, so that is how I made a DIY strapped binder for my oldest sillygoose.
What do you think?

Life in a Shoe-Lilla Rose Flexi Clip giveaway!

2011-09-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, so with my hair, and 3 girls I really want one of these! So go over to Life in a Shoe and check out all the examples of different hair types and thickness's and styles, but don't enter, because did I mention I really want one of these? Instead go to Lilla Rose and order one:D Just kidding you can enter the give away , too. After all she is giving away TWO of them.
I think I found something to add to my Christmas list!
No need to comment here, but I always like hearing from my readers.

Wordless Wednesday...

2011-08-31T10:10:00.000-07:00

Umm, yeah....and it does take 2 spoons to feed her...

Bananas, Bananas, Bananas...

2011-08-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

What do you do with a surplus of bananas? I was at the grocery store and got around 10 lbs of ripe, not green bananas for $2! I noticed a few weeks ago my grocer doing this but new I did not have the time to process them in anyway, so I passed. Today, bingo, I had the morning free and I grabbed a bag.

Since I have been wanted to switch to muffins for breakfast, this seemed like a windfall. See my post on breakfast wars to learn why. I have this recipe that I have used before. I make it leaving out the nuts, and it is the only banana nut bread recipe I have found only using one egg, simple and easy. I only had 4 eggs in my fridge. I used evaporated canned milk, and cake mix that I got for free using coupons and matching sale prices some time last year when it was easier to do this.

First thing I did when I got home was make 4 batches of these. I got about 18 muffins per batch. Some I am leaving out under a cloth, a few I ate:D, and the rest are being frozen for breakfast. At this point I noticed I was down to one gallon size freezer bag. Soo... I am freezing them in my cupcake carrier until I can get back tonight to move over some freezer bags.

The rest of my bananas I peeled and froze. Some I froze whole, some I broke into pieces, mostly because parts where more ripe than others, and some pieces needed to be discarded all together. The pieces I seperated into baggies, enough per baggie to make another batch of muffins, I got 11 bags ready for my next baking day. I have all the extra bananas in the freezer, I'll put them into freezer bags when I get home as well.

Or maybe I'll make smoothies, yummm! Or baby food, today my little goose had fun smearing her banana all over herself! I think I will never be afraid of extra bananas again!
What about you what would you do with 10 lb of bananas? Share your recipes I have a bunch of bananas to use up!

Homemade babyfood Post #1

2011-08-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

Isn't it amazing how some things change in life and some things stay the same? I started making homemade babyfood with my oldest daughter 10 years ago. I had many reasons at the time, some are the same today and some have changed. One thing I am thankfully for is still have my copy of Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. This book taught me soo much! I have a couple of other books giving to me when my second goose was born, but I keep going back to that one book.

Okay, I admit I went off of memory this morning, and one thing I highly recommend is checking your equipment before buying your produce!

So this is how I got started this morning, I preheated my oven to 400, I have a gas oven so I don't worry to much about the cost of running it for an hour. Then I cut my Butternut Squash straight down the middle.

Took a spoon and cleaned out the seeds, you can take a second and roast the seeds with the squash if you want they are a lot like pumpkin seeds. I tossed them. Then I placed them on a foil lined baking sheet, lightly sprayed with oil to keep it from sticking, cut side down. Took the tip of my knife and punctured the squash a few times, this allows the steam to escape while baking.(well sounds good anyway:D )

When done it should look like this...

Take off baking sheet and let cool enough to handle, oh and reserve any liquid in the bottom of the pan to add into the puree. Okay, this is where checking your equipment first would help you. while my squash was cooling I was cleaning my equipment and could not find the lid to my small food processor. It has been getting in my way for the last 3 years every time I clean or just cook dinner there it is. I know I did not toss it, but it is currently missing in action.
Figures... I have the rest of the parts I could not find last time I wanted to use it for something.
Okay, choice time. I could cut up the squash and refrigerate until I find missing part or buy new processor, this one is 10 years old anyway. I could use the use the big blender, I am more sure of those parts because this is dh's one appliance, he is in charge of things like virgin daiquiris and milkshakes. If I use it I have to clean it, and not lose any thing.

I choose to use a hand tool. I am not sure what this thing is called, I think it is for pastries, you know like making strudel toppings. It also mashes potatoes and who knew it mashes squash:D

I added about 1 cup of water and mashed away. It will look like this when filling your ice cube trays, I got about 1 TBSP per cube.

I got 44 cubes, and enough for 6 more in the cup to the side. I'll freeze the cubes then store in a gallon size freezer bag. The cup on the side will go in the fridge and I'll scoop out a Tbsp at a time at meals times. My goal is to use it up within a week.

Okay my math, $6.39 for the squash it come to just under .13 per Tbsp or per meal at this point.I can buy jarred for .40 a jar or .20 a meal. Not great but not bad either. And isn't she worth it:D

If you make your own baby food or have a receipe or book title to share I'd love it if you left a comment!

More on Pictures

2011-08-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed, I have been adding pictures again. I even went back and added a photo of my nursing necklace. (If you missed that you can go back here and see)

So YEAH I got a new camera. Obviously I can't take a picture of it but it is red and a Kodak easyshare m522. Not fancy and not expensive, but it is a step above what I had and makes a great snapshot camera!

Why Kodak? I like just like the quality I had before, since in my former before kids life I was a store manager in a camera shop, I am familiar with lots of camera makers, not a novice in reading the manual and just playing with a camera to figure it out pick the most user friendly for me and my family.

This camera had four big selling points for me.
1. It was red, not black:D
2. Real metal buttons, the other Kodak models had flimsier looking buttons covered over with just a strip of plastic.
3. Price!
4. It was still an upgrade in pixels and optics over my last camera.
Anyone else out there using a small inexpesive camera? If so what are you using and why?

I have not been compensated in anyway for this post, I paid for my camera and all opinions expressed are my own.

Mobility and what it means as a mommy...

2011-08-22T06:43:00.000-07:00

She turns 6 months old in a few days, and has been moving backwards on her belly for over a month. But we are now getting onto the knees, watch out big sisters she is not going to get left behind!

The steps to mobility are bitter sweet as a mom. I am so proud of my little one for making this leap in her development, it certainly explains some of her recent sleeping patterns as she has been triing to figure this out in her head before accomplishing it.

She is ahead of the game according to her pediatrician, average babies crawl at 8-9 months, what is your expedience? When did your littles crawl? or did they skip it totally?

I remember when my older to walked, but I don't remember them crawling alot first, just all the cruising on furniture...

Scraps and pieces Fridays

2011-08-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

Link up your ideas and projects...

Since I still don't have a camera and want to post regularly. I found this darling lunch money wrist pouch!

http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2010/09/lunch-money-cuff-tutorial.html

To give credit I found this link from the $5 dollar dinner blog. I am a little behind on my blog reading:D

Mostly though it has just inspired me on how to make that opening in the middle of the fabric and all the things I could do with that knowledge!

After buying my camera, I'll be off to the fabric store to buy some interfacing and zippers! I totally have enough fabric to make a few of these.

Have you seen or done anything lately to use up your Scraps and small pieces of what ever you craft? From fabric to paper, beads...you name it its your left over pieces being put to use.
Inspire me or someone else and leave a comment with you post.

I do monitor my comments so give it some time to show up.

Importance of Pictures

2011-08-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

Their is something about pictures that makes reading a post more interesting. It makes typing a post more interesting. Let's face it, they are fun to take, fun to share, and help give insight to some topics, or make your mouth water, or provide inspiration. Our generations has a love affair with the photograph. And my camera is dead. Completely, no getting it back, it appears the back viewing screen is shattered, I got a few pictures out of it then nothing, capoot!

I am not sure how this happened but since it was riding around in the bottom of my diaper bag, I can guess....
At least I didn't completely LOSE this one, like I did my last camera. Let's just say someone got a great Christmas present with tons of first grade pictures of my oldest on the memory card. Wow, my oldest, I didn't do to bad, that means this last camera has been around since Late Dec 2007.

Now I have to decide on what is in my budget(nothing) or I can scrape together, because with a 5 1/2 month old I want a camera!

Pinching babies, breastfeeding and making jewlry

2011-08-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

What do these things have in common? Well, if you don't know it already, babies pinch, and they do it alot while breastfeeding. Unless, you are smart and already have a necklace or something for them to hold while eating. I'm not that smart. I thought I was, but I never had a nursing necklace with my older two I just directed little hands and fingers to clutch my shirt, or ended the feeding when they would start with a loud exclamation. My babies were smart they figured it out.
Okay, this one is pretty smart to, she screams in my face until I give her my breast back, at which points she pinches and scratches again. Multiple repeats of above scenario leaves me with little scratch marks, frustrated with a frustrated baby.
I have over the years contemplated making jewelry. Having little girls I have even gone so far as to buy the random bag of glass or ceramic beads, and pretty other assorted jewelry making bits and pieces.
So I did it, I made two necklaces and a bracelet, one long one for me, one for my oldest daughter and a bracelet for my middle daughter.
It was a hit, baby LOVES the necklace, and wants to hold it .....and chew on it. I am thinking I don't want her chewing on it...will need to try again with chewing approved beads.

I found this necklace on etsy organic nursing necklace, along with tons of other options that take teething into account like this, and this...

Special Back-to-School scraps and leftovers

2011-08-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

School is starting back soon in most of the country, that means back to school deals and promotions, and triing to figure out how to supply all the cute stuff my kids want on a budget.

Last week I got a free two tone pink backpack and matching lunchtote. This week I looked around my house to see what I could do to make my little girl thrilled to call "THIS" backpack hers. Last year she trashed 2 highpriced backpacks that I had gotten on clearance a few years before. This left me not wanting to spend anything and see what I can come up with on clearance in a few weeks. BUT she needs a backpack to start school with.

Sooo.... I found a iron-on princess that I had never gotten around to putting on a shirt, and some fabric paint left over from something a few years ago.

She was so thrilled that her older sister got jealous and started rooting thru our craft shelf for things to update her backpack. The green paint has a glitter shine to it, The white was used to outline all shapes and to write her name, so the white was a writer style paint bottle, the other two I found a paint brush and had to stick it down to the bottom of the bottles. If you try this and the paint doesn't seem to be covering the fabric color, don't worry you can add another coat, or just lay it on thick. Not bad for a free backpack and lunch tote:D

Free Kids Activities

2011-08-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

We started taking our kids to Home Depot's kids clinic, and they have loved it. The kits are definately kids sized, and geared towards kids, but hey that is the point. I can tell you first hand that the quality of the program varies from location to location, as the lady in charge at the California store did not do a very good job, of providing what the kids needed. While back at home it is set up wonderfully. An example of the differences, in one store they set up flimsy plastic topped folding tables, the other store had study wooden folding tables. The store with the platic tables didn't order or at least forgot to retrieve the free aprons, and did not hand out the certificates that comes with the kits, the store with nice wooden tables, had sandpaper stapled to blocks of wood so the kids could sand their projects first, the certificates and the aprons. My kids told me if we had to go back to this store can we just take the project home, from the mouths of babes.

They run this activity on the first Sat of every month from what I can tell. Times may vary to check out your store:D Lowes has a similiar program, but we have not been able to make it over their, they also have info on their website.

We just spent a pleasant afternoon painting one of the projects we made. We have enough unpainted projects right now that I don't need to worry about coming up with a project that will keep them entertained, my onlly concern is if I have enough left over paint to cover them and exactly how dialute can I make and have it still be paint:D

My only compensation for this post was taking my kids to participate. Home Depot did not ask me to write this, and in no way supports this blog. The opinion stated is purely my own, and the post was written to give other mom's an idea for a free activity to do with their kids.

When did sewing turn into a Hobby?

2011-08-10T14:51:00.000-07:00

Sometime after everyone started buying their clothes ready made at discount stores, the world of sewing turned into a Hobby and had Hobby prices. Ever notice that things that are hobbies cost twice as much or more as the did before? Thankfully cooking has not turned into a hobby...or has it? You decide:D
Since I don't like sewing with knit I still buy some of their clothes from the stores things like our tshirts and tank tops, leggings, well you get the picture, what used to be about 15% or less of my kids wardrobe, is now closer to 50%. Here are some examples of the things my kids would wear....

My friends would often ask me things like, how can you afford to make their clothes, or I looked into it, but fabric and notions are so expensive, I can buy a cute dress for half of what it would cost me to make. That is when quality comes into play. Those $20-$30 dollar dress's at discount stores, don't hold up well, how many of you have had seams come undone under the arm or at the hem, zippers break or trim unravel.
Sewing for myself tells me what quality something is and here is the big secret my friends never seemed to get. Don't pay full retail for anything! I don't pay full retail for ready made clothes, I am not about to pay full retail for clothes I make. Between remant piles, repurposing, and store coupons and sales every part of any outfil should cost between 40%-80% less than the original sticker price estimate.
Because my friends where right about one thing, At hobby prices who can afford to sew clothes?

Now with baby number 3 almost at 6 months, and even with having donated most of my 0-24month clothes, I have managed to only buy 1 pack of onsies, and one pack of footies. Not doing to bad...But I am feeling funny about not having made anything just for her. One thing I won't be doing is running to the fabric shop, I think I have enough fabric to clothe all 3 girls for the next 5 years!

Freezer cooking...no casseroles in sight!

2011-08-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

Sharing this with my friends on life in a shoe as they discuss food budgets. This saves us so much because there is no "what's for dinner moments, or paying full price for meat. I have time to wait on the ideal price.

I ran into this blog aturtleslifeforme while reading one of my favorite blogs, and I just have to say I do this type of freezer cooking! I am new to blogging but after reading this post I just wanted to share how I do this, maybe someone will read this and think hey that is totally doable and make dinner easier for them, I know it has helped me a ton! My husband is a no casserole kind of guy, with a few exceptions because we don't consider enchaladas to be a casserole. He also requires meat at every meal, obviosly the man does not do the shopping or he'd understand the cost involved in this!

So I hunt down the most bargain prices on meat I can get, marked down meat is only a bargain if I can cook it up that night, or freeze it right away. Also not every mark down is a real bargain, you HAVE to know your prices to know if you are getting a good deal or not!

So, well I don't cook quite so much all at one time, as the other blogger does. Here is what I did, and it saves so much on money and time! I started with hamburger because I hate how raw defrosted hamburger meat smells and looks. I pick up 5-10 lbs of hamburger when I can get 15% or less fat for under $2 a lb. That night we get hamburgers, and that is the only time I make hamburgers, when I have a fresh container of hamburger meat. I then cook up the rest scrambled. I reheat my hamburger on the stove top by adding half a cup of water and putting a lid on my skillet, heat over med heat for about 15 min then taking the lid and letting the water evaporate. I don't season my hamburger though so I can use the meat for taco's, enchiladas, or spaghetti. I rarely get so many good deals on meat all at once, but I cook it up like this when I get it. I love the idea of adding the onions and carrots, probably could not get away with adding the peppers

I have found that buying a large piece of pork at Sam's club, and cutting it up myself, saves tones of money, I don't precook my chops, or even all my roasts, but I cut the roasts big enought for more than one meal, so when I do cook it, I am cooking once for several nights.

Another thing is cooking things in compatible bases, I like to cook pork roast in pineapple juice in my crock pot, I separate the meat, the first night I reserve the liquid from the crock pot and add it to terriaki sauce, with 1/4 cup brown sugar and 2T cornstarch, thicken it and serve over rice with the pineapple tidbits from my can of pineapples(the source of my pineapple juice). Then I either freeze the left overs or use it later in the week with I can serve it just heated through with some sides, or shred it with bbq sauce on buns, tonight I put some already cooked shredded pork to use in enchiladas, I have never used it that way before and it was a hit!

With chicken I use my crock pot and just plan the first night to use chicken, and freeze the extra. I can make all same things with chicken that I make with pork, I can also mix up the sauces, use green enchalada sauce instead of red, make a sweet and sour sauce stir fry. A quick stir fry with frozen chicken or pork would be putting the frozen meat in my hot skillet with water and a lid, once it is defrosted cook off the water and put in your vegetables. I can do any of these meals in 30 minutes starting with raw meat it takes me much longer.

What I have learned from flying with 3 children

2011-07-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

Each of my 3 girls has been on an airplane before they turned one, and thru that I have learned quite a bit. I don't buy a seat for my under 2 child, and each child has taught me something. This last child taught me that I am not super woman and to accept help when offered!

At the check in desk, when getting out bags checked in and our tickets issued my husband asked if he could escort us to the gate. They let him! I LOVE my husband. On the return trip the ticketing lady asked if my mother or father wanted to escort me to the gate. We did not even have to ask, they asked us! YAY for jetblue! My new favorite airline:D

Getting thru security is fraught with its own issues. I made two big mistakes on the outgoing flight, I didn't think to unwind my moby and put it thru the scanner and I wore a long comfortable dress, because my thought was on comfort. Husband to the rescue taking the older children thru sorting and gathering our stuff, and most importantly taking our puppy out of his carrier and thru the scanner then wresling him back in without losing control.

All the while I was taken to the side was given the dreaded pat down. I have to say after all I have read and heard and seen, it was nothing. She wiped a white clothe over a few areas, so lightly I didn't even feel it, this clothe is to detect chemical residue. She then ran one hand between me and the baby after asking if I could hold her away from my torso, no problem. She proceed to run her hands along my underwire and down my ribs, quickly and efficently. Same for my legs. Not friendly not chatty, but she told me what and why at each step and was done quickly.

I got to the gate and dh bought each older child a head set for $2. I highly recommend doing this! We used the same headsets on the return flight. Free direct tv inflight kept the squablling down.
For baby I back twice the number of diapers I think I will need same for wipes, and a change of clothes for each person on the flight. I didn't need any of this, but after one baby thru up on me and another baby had a leaky diaper on herself and me, I don't take chances.
I brought game boys, didn't need them, I had my Nook, and got to read. Only remember to pack my knitting on the return trip, wood needles go thru security with no issue, but who am I kidding with a 5 month old on my lap I got no knitting done.

And like all things, letting a child take a treasured possession, in the cabin is safest, but go over your space carefully before leaving your seats, leave no area unchecked. Much like a hotel room. Even areas that should not hold anything get checked twice. And if the flight attendant offers to help, LET HER!
Okay, that is my insight from flying with my kids:D

Oh, and then two days after you return home and a child wales over a missing precious irreplaceable item is missing and they KNEW it was on the plane, MAYBE you'll remember to send said child out to check the car, unlike me, who only learned this lesson hours later when we got in the car and found the missing item.

Summer Vacation

2011-07-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

I had this crazy plan to take my girls to visit family this summer, just me, my 3 girls and oh, plus one dog and an airplane for 4 hours, many more on the road and still retain my sanity.

Well the sanity part is still up for debate.

My dog loved his taste of the ocean and forgave me for the tiny carryone he had to fly in.

My girls and I hunted the beach for sand dollars and found an amazing array, plus my middle child had an I for these tiny little shells. For a week we took daily 3-4 mi hikes on the beach. I have hopes that my oldest will remember this trip even if the younger two do not.

My girls learned to bottle feed some drop calves. getting a taste of farm life. With both morning and night feedings we where very grateful these guys seemed a little older than the average drop calf, and moved on to drinking from a bucket before we visited the beach. Yeah for buckets!

I got very little crafting done, but hope to soon have a knit jumper made and designed by me done soon!

Autism Awareness Month

2011-04-22T15:11:00.000-07:00

This month is Autism Awareness Month. I made up 10 of these cute little cupcake pouches to sale. Priced at $5 each, $4 of each sale will go to Autism Society of America. This is just a sample of the cupcakes, I have placed them in a bag and will randomly grab one for each sale. Just click here to purchase one!

Treasure Hunt and Charity item

2011-04-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

For the SAHM of Etsy Treasure Hunt I made and donated this cute little change purse.

The little purse is a miniture of some cupcake purse's I have made in the past. My oldest daughter saw it and instantly thought I had made a pacifier holder:D I do plan to use for this purpose.

This got me to thinking....about small easy to make charity items. Back when I sold my stuff on ebay I partcipated regularly with charity auctions. And I have seen many people place items on etsy to raise funds for charity.

So here is my plan, Once a month I will pick a charity, feel free to leave some suggestions in my comments, and put at least 10 items up in my store, the proceeds will go to the charity of the month. It may be the same item from month to month or I may change it up, but it will be a grab bag sale, I'll premake the items and they buyer will get one I pick out of the bag at random

This will allow me to clean out some of my smaller bits of yarn and allow me to support some worthy causes at the same time:D

SAHM of Etsy Team TREASURE HUNT

2011-04-17T19:05:00.000-07:00

I am part of a wonderful team on etsy and we are having a treasure hunt! Read about it Here
http://stayathomemomsofetsy.blogspot.com/p/treasure-hunt.html

and play along:D Its bound to fun and you may some new treasures you just can't live without.

Yikes! Time flies.

2011-04-17T19:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, so having a new baby and starting a blog are a hard thing for me. Thanks to the reader that posted a poptart receipe for me! I tried the frozen breakfast taco's and my dd thought they defrosted to wet, so a no go there.
All I can do is try to do better:D
Have a blessed week everyone! I'm focused on enjoying my baby and getting done what i can!

Breakfast wars

2011-03-12T14:15:00.000-08:00

I have a very persnickity breakfast eater, and at my wits end on how to get her to eat breakfast before school. Really she just isn't hungery before school but sorry for her she leaves the house early and doesn't have lunch until almost noon with no snack.

I have tried to entice her with a variety of cold breakfast cereals, she might agree to cereal once a week, dislikes any muffin that myself or her older sister like. What she will eat, again not with any REAL consistancy but better than cereal, she likes breakfast taco's, poptarts, and yogurt.

So to make my breakfast wars take on a whole new demension, I am a frugal grocery shopper and my budget has just gotten tighter with the onset of higher gas prices. I manage to keep yogurt in my fridge for free, and the makings for breakfast taco's for almost nothing, but even if I could find really good deal on poptarts, witch does happen from time to time, but not since before last Thanksgiving, I really want to provide a healthier breakfast than poptarts. I am therefore searching for a home made poptart options. Anyone have a link to a recipe I should try? Tomorrow morning I will be making breakfast taco's before church, I plan to make a few extra and freeze them, I'll update how the defrost goes and if it helps me end the breakfast wars with my darling daughter!

Where have I been?

2011-03-04T06:42:00.000-08:00

Delivering a baby! My newest goose has made her arrival, my smallest goose yet, but she has us all wrapped around her finger already. I'll be triing to get into my groove this next week. So stay tuned!

Not me Monday

2011-02-14T08:04:00.000-08:00

“Not Me” – Bravely confessing some of my faults, failings and quirks by denying them.

Today was silly sock day and I did not let my nine year walk out of the house with one black and one turquoise soccer sock, what is more this is NOT a normal occurance for her at soccer practice, no it is not:D My youngest is NOT wearing one soccer sock and one ankle high sock, nope not my kids.

I also did NOT buy my husbands valentines day card last night! Along with strawberries for our kids, nope I wouldn't wait that long to buy things like that.

I do NOT procrastinate that badly, nope this baby is still not here so not having her crib put up and not owning her car seat yet are not a problem. I absolutely did not spend 3 hours in the hospital last week with images of my husband purchasing the wrong carseat while I wait to go home, Nope, God is good and I got a second chance to buy the car seat I want.

Getting ready for baby

2011-02-05T10:27:00.000-08:00

I am in the middle of getting ready for my newest sillygoose. House cleaning is an essential step, some people call it nesting, but lets be honest, who wants to bring a new life into a disaster zone. Okay, that might be a little heavy, my house is not in the running for the tv show on hoarding. Not from any help from the two geese already in residence.
I can honestly say that we have too many clothes, too many toys, and yes, I will it admit to much fabric.So I'll be doing round the clock laundry and clothes culling this week. I only keep clothes in the best repair and that I liked the first time around, everything else with make it to the trash or goodwill.
I want very much to simplify our lives and our house, but I know that the first step is giving stuff up and getting past the thoughts of how I could use that fabric for something else and just get things that we know longer need or really never did out of the house. So this week it is clothes and what toys I think I can get away with.
Send up a prayer with me that I can make it thru this week without going into labor and without getting sick!
Spring cleaning really needs to come early this year!
Crafting can still happen, after all I need those Thank you cards, and birth announcements, but I see that as part of the cleaning process, repeat with me please" I WILL NOT BUY ANY NEW SUPPLIES" There I am commited:D I will post pics of the cards when I finish them:D

Soap giveaway

2011-02-04T09:28:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs is Life in a Shoe, I love to get info about all sorts of things. I also love the giveaways.
This time Life in a Shoe is partnered with http://applevalleynaturals.blogspot.com/ they also another etsy seller! So go over to Life in a Shoe to find out how you can win some applevalleynatureals soap!

Pink is a reaccuring theme

2011-02-03T19:10:00.000-08:00

With two daughters and a third on the way, pink is a way of life in my house. This leaves out the small fact that I myself lived in a pink bedroom almost until I married. I was the only girl in a houseful of boys, pink was a statement!
My wonderful husband has never minded my tendancy to wear pink, buy pink and surround myself in pink. I have found that we have masses of pink fabrics, pink yarns, and pink creations.
As I have started designing my spring collection of purse's, and children's clothes, I get to sew, knit, and crochet for girls from newborn to sz 10, and I am wondering if I should try harder to include other colors. Pink as a theme to bind everything together sounds fine, mix and match pieces are great especially since two of my girls mix and match each others clothes, I can't make for one they both end up wearing it.

What do you all think, are there pink color combo's that just don't work for you? Do you have a girl that hates pink?

Basic Daisy

2011-02-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

Okay, I like roses fine, but the basic daisy is the flower I go back to over and over. Every flower I make ends up in someone's hair as soon as the glue is dry. From clipping onto purse's, backpacks, dolls, hats, and headbands, the versatile crochet daisy abounds.
Simple one layer of petals.

Pick a hook that works with your yarn, I like F, G or H for most flowers.

To start ch 4, st in first ch to form a ring.
first petal ch 2, dc thru center, triplech, dc, ch 2. repeat 4 or 5 times for 5 or 6 petals. Depending on how much fur you have you can sc ch or slip stich around each petal, or chain around flower just slip stiching into the center of each petal.

Add a bead or brad to the center and glue to clip or barrette.

Not me Monday

2011-01-31T07:29:00.000-08:00

“Not Me” – Bravely confessing some of my faults, failings and quirks by denying them.

Ummm, I did NOT promise to do my first ever tutorial over this weekend, only to have my youngest come down with a fever. Yeah, that is my excuse I had a sick kid. She did not spend most of the weekend asleep, and I did not spend most of it playing webkinz, because, well I have been sick all week and dear husband was home to make be stay on the couch and not do anything.
I am certainly NOT in my last month of pregnancy and NOT having issues with sitting still when so much still needs to be done.

I am not the ONLY mom who has not done these things am I. Surely NOT.

Scraps and left overs

2011-01-28T11:56:00.000-08:00

Most crafty people I know share a similar problem when crafting. What to do with the odds and ends that result in creating our works of art. From Scrapbooking to sewing to knitting and crocheting, the list of crafts go on...
A few years ago I made a resolution to not keep any fabric smaller than 4"x4", and it has helped:D My husband surely appreciates this even if my kids use it at as an excuse to raid the trash bin for bits and pieces to tie into knots for no reason that I can figure out other than it makes them happy to leave knotting up bits and pieces laying around. or attached to varies toys and furniture. Come on my kids aren't the only one's admit it.
So I want to make a scraps and Leftovers Friday. Every Friday I will try to post something I do with my odds and ends, or if I am at a loss what my kids did with them, LOL.

Play along and post what you do with your Scraps, Leftovers, Odds, and Ends, then post a link here to your blog sharing it with the rest of us. And please link your blog page to mine. Thanks!

This week I am making flowers. I have lots of leftover pieces of yarn just long enough I hate to toss it, but really not big enough for must uses.

I also used a scrapbooking brad that was not designated for any other project. If I had less fun fur I would make a smaller flower.

I am working on a turtorial will try to post that this weekend. It is pretty basic, find a flower pattern you like, then trim the outer edge in your fun yarn, not enough for that, slip stich around the edge in a circle just catching onto the back center of each "petal".

Learning something new everyday

2011-01-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

I do try to learn something new everday. It just seems like a smart idea to keep my brain active and to keep me humble. Of course some days I don't realize what I have learned and it doesn't strike me until much later. Sometimes I go out of my way to learn something new. Like adding pictures to blogs, see post above. Yeah I did it! Or for another example last year a month or two before Christmas I taught myself to knit.
I have been crocheting since I was around 12, and I have tried to learn knitting off and on over the years only to set it aside as crocheting was easier and faster for me, why should I bother with something so slow and hard and time consuming. Well I realized that those where all excuses my 9 year old and 6 year old daughters would use if faced with learning a new skill. Okay well there's might be why mom will do it for me, but the principle of the thought is what I am going for here, they don't see the value in failing and triing and practicing to perfect something.
It's been over a year know and I am designing my own knit hats, now just to learn how to write a pattern! hmm.. is it worth the effort, its going to take some trial and error...Well learning something new was never an easy prospect and already I have benefited:D

Check out the baby hats I am going to try to write patterns for:D

New to the world of Blogging

2011-01-25T09:57:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is my first go at Blogging. I have some Blogs that I follow regularly, and I am sure I wIll "meet" tons more people that I find interesting enough to read.
My purpose here is to share my newest designs an insight in my design inspirations, promote my budding business and of course anything else that catches my fancy.
What is inspiring me today? Valentines Day and my children.

A few years ago I bought a bolt of pink heart and zebra fabric. We have used most of it for lounge pants for all the little girls in my life, but it inspired me to make this scarf http://www.etsy.com/listing/66523089/boutique-crochet-valentine-wild-pink and matching clipies. Pictures of the clippies coming soon, I have to figure out how to post pictures!

SillygeeseDesigns

{Pretty, happy, funny, real}

5 Simple Ways to Accomplish More Each Day

1. Get Off the Computer/Couch/TV/Phone

2. Stay Home

3. Pray

Coupon Links

Family relationships

Just curious

Being Introspective

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}

New Year New Crafts...

Christmas is almost here!

Tis the Season

Vista Print again!

Make something Mondays

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}

Make something Mondays

Crochet Designs, Filling Custom Orders

Free offers from Vista Print

Crochet along Grand Finalle

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}

Crochet Along, camera's, life, and babies

Hunt’s® Lemon-Tomato Chicken Pasta

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

Crochet-Along Week 3 All about borders

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

and to when they decide they are big

Crochet-Along Baby Blanket Joining blocks

Life in a Shoe and the Modest Mom giveaway

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

Christmas Bucket List

Crochet-Along Baby Blanket Pattern in Progress

DIY jeans purse

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

Hemming and girling up jeans

Guest Posting with Jaybird Designs

Pretty, happy, funny, real

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Free Pumpkin Pattern

Guest Post on SAHM of Etsy Blog

Wonderful uses for mint tins #4

1. pill box

2. earrings case

3. home made mints (like this one at Southern couponer)

4. Home made lip balm, (again like this one from Martha Stewart)

5. sewing kit

6. magnetic needle case

7. small present box

8. organizing beads for a project

9. coin case

10. mini candle

11. holding small sharps

12. why?....

So this is my fourth tin and I rounded up what I would need.I have this cute round tin, some pinking shears, and that cute spotted minky material, not enough for a real sewing project but enough for some cute tins, and some trim.

Mini Vacations

MommysClothTreasures Giveaway on Life in a Shoe

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

In my Hand Chore Chart

Wonderful uses for mint tins #3

Guest Posting

Baby Food Carrots edition #3

Homemade Butter and Beer Bread

Second attempt at Knitted designing

I'm Guest Posting!

Using what's in your hand, concept's in frugal living

Call to action, supporting the Red Cross

Wonderful uses for mint tins #2

Homemade Baby Food #2 Peaches addition

Wonderful uses for used mint tins. #1

Wildfires in Texas....

DIY Binder Strap

Life in a Shoe-Lilla Rose Flexi Clip giveaway!

Wordless Wednesday...

Bananas, Bananas, Bananas...

Homemade babyfood Post #1

More on Pictures

Mobility and what it means as a mommy...

Scraps and pieces Fridays

So this is my fourth tin and I rounded up what I would need.
I have this cute round tin, some pinking shears, and that cute spotted minky material, not enough for a real sewing project but enough for some cute tins, and some trim.