Weaponry

For weeks we've been dealing with violence.  Our dear 14-month old Boy has learned to hit and bite.  The biting is usually done in love -- his version of love, that is.  After a smooch, he'll lean down and bite my shoulder.

As if this weren't bad enough, he has learned to turn just about anything into a weapon.  The following is a list of war implements:

Coffee cup
Hair clip
Comb
Pillow
Spatula
Bowl
Teddy Bear (which really doesn't hurt a lot, unless the hard plastic eyes get ya)
Wonder Pets FlyBoat
Sippy cup
Spoon
Book
Shoe (a good thrown weapon when aimed properly)


Of course, if it can be picked up, it's a valuable weapon in The Boy's arsenal.  The challenge is catching him before he raises the arm to strike.  So far, firmly holding the offending hand and removing the object while firmly saying, "No hitting," serves to make him laugh.  Spatting the hand is not an option, because hey, we're trying to convince him not to hit and here we go hitting the hand.

I'm hoping it's a phase, and he'll get past it.  After having three girls, getting to know the habits of boys is definitely an adventure.

Also featured in the learning curve:  climbing and using various household items as stairs.  Ugh.

Cloth Diaper Attempt #1

While awaiting my supply order to arrive, I sought out a free online diaper pattern to try for Isaac's cloth diapers.  I'm on a mission to produce a good cloth diaper for less than $5.  

I found this diaper pattern on another blog.  It's a pretty simple pattern that doesn't call for closures of any kind except a pin.  I had a Snappi stretch closure, but it really didn't work for me.  I discovered that next time I will use Aplix or snaps for closures.  But it was a good first attempt.  By no means is it close to great, but it will work once I get my snaps and pliers in the mail.

I used a receiving blanket I already had for the flannel inner layer.  This is a pocket diaper, so it is stuffed with a Chinese pre-fold that I had laying around.

Instead of using two flannel layers and covering with a diaper cover, I chose to use PUL for the outer layer.  Since that is waterproof, it eliminates the need for a cover.

Once it's folded, the suggestion is to use a pin to close it. 

I didn't have a large enough safety pin, so I used the Snappi I had on-hand.  It didn't work for long with an extra-active little boy.

I just love cloth diaper butts!

I learned a lot about the design and construction of the diaper on this first try.  That knowledge should help me create a better one in the future.  So the quest continues.  I just wish the shipment would hurry up and get here!

Doll Dresses

I'm only a couple months behind making the 18" doll dresses for the girls.  Amazing that I actually made them at all.  Ha!  You know what they say:  Procrastinators are the leaders of tomorrow.  I even made one for a friend's daughter.  These are super easy.  Just two pattern pieces -- took less than 30 minutes from pinning the pattern to trimming the threads.

Pink and white daisy dress for Savvy's doll

Made for a friend's daughter

Denim and postcard print dress for Riley's doll

 Maybe more will follow.  Savvy is already begging for a vest out of the faux leather I have.

Make Your Own "Bisquick" Mix

Love the ease of quick pancakes and biscuits, but hate paying the stupid high prices for Bisquick?  Here's how you can make your own at home.  

Ingredients

6 cups all-purpose flour (or 3 cups AP flour and 3 cups whole wheat flour)
1 cup nonfat instant dry milk
3 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon salt 
1 cup vegetable shortening


Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Cut in the shortening with two knives or with the pastry blender attachment on your mixer, until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

Put into a plastic zipper bag or other sealed container.  Label and date the mix.  It's good for six weeks in the refrigerator.  I also wrote the recipes for pancakes and biscuits directly on the bag.

For pancakes:

2 cups mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten

For fluffier pancakes, substitute the milk with buttermilk.  If you don't have buttermilk, make your own by putting 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into a measuring cup, and then filling with milk to the 1 cup line.  Let sit for 10 minutes and stir.  You can also add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla for a little bit of flavor.

For biscuits:

2 cups mix
1/2 cup milk


Mix together and roll out dough to 1 inch thick.  Use a biscuit cutter or a round glass to cut the biscuits.  Put on ungreased baking sheet and bake at 450* for 10-12 minutes.  

This recipe was found in the book Homemade published by Reader's Digest.  It has been such a great book to have around.  You can get it from Amazon by clicking this link:

Tired of Being Sorry

The other day I was on the phone with a representative from the company we have our truck financed, trying to obtain the payoff quote.  And I kept saying to the lady, "Sorry about the noise.  I have two little ones at home."  After I disconnected, it hit me that I am tired of saying "sorry" for my kids.  

Yes, they make noise.  And yes, they make messes.  But they are also in training, and are entitled to make a few mistakes.  How else do they learn?  

There are times that I have tantrums of my own, when it seems as though no one gets me or what's going on in my life at the present time.  But I am an adult, a time in life when that sort of outburst is discouraged because I KNOW BETTER.

But these little ones biting my ankles on the time ... they, on the other hand, are just learning the skills of expression and communication, of tidiness and responsibility.  

So if you notice that I don't apologize for them anymore, now you know why.  They are in training and will make mistakes.  I will not say I'm sorry that my house looks like Toys R Us vomited in my living room, nor will I apologize for the dishes that piled up when I was playing with the kids.  I've determined that messes are a part of life.  

Jesse read me Proverbs 14:4, a verse that sums it up:  "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest."  Basically it means this:  you can either have a clean manger or oxen out in the field working for you.  If you've got a working team producing results, you will have a mess.  And so it is with kids, in my mind.  I'm gonna have a mess while the training is in progress.  

And I will be thankful for it, as soon as my OCD lets me.  :) 

Handmade Valentines

Won't you be my (handmade) Valentine?  Saving money and encouraging creativity and thoughtfulness all at the same time.

Make Your Own Toothpaste!

If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm into making my own stuff now.  Stuff -- you know, the things that cost exorbitant prices out in town, but are relatively cheap when made at home.  If you know how!

I ordered a really awesome book called Homemade published by Reader's Digest.  It has hundreds of recipes for making your life more natural and saving money.  After browsing through the book and looking for key ingredients the recipes have in common, I purchased a few of them in the hopes of getting down to the homemade business asap.

If you're interested in starting this endeavor, I will encourage you to have these staples on hand:

Baking Soda

Arm & Hammer's Super Washing Soda

Borax

Vinegar 

Ammonia

Glycerin (available at health food stores)

A few essential oils -- I have on hand peppermint, tea tree, lemon and lemongrass

You will be amazed at the products you can make at home with just these inexpensive ingredients.  And don't buy the expensive brands.  House brands work just fine.

This morning I decided to make my own toothpaste.   I had a small container on hand, and decided to make just half of the recipe, in case I didn't like it or it wouldn't all fit in the container.

To make your own toothpaste you need:

• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons glycerin
• 5-8 drops of peppermint or wintergreen oil
• Warm water

Mix the baking soda and salt together in a bowl.  Add the glycerin and mint oil.  Add the warm water drop by drop, stirring until you get the consistency that suits you.  Stores in an airtight container indefinitely.

That's it!  Here's the best part:  The Cost.

Baking Soda:  $0.12

Salt:  $0.01

Glycerin:  $0.30

Peppermint Oil:  $0.15

Total Cost of homemade toothpaste:  $0.58! 

Ingredients, instructions and the little canister of toothpaste I made

Can't beat that!  And you really only use a little bit, so who knows how long that little bit will last?!

Stuffed Shirt #1

What to do with a shirt that the kids has outgrown but refuses to pass it along to little sister?  One with sentimental value ... "Aunt Kanny GAVE that to ME!"  Well, make it into a pillow.  

I have to say that I thought this would be one of the easiest projects ever.  And it was easy.  Until my sewing machine broke.  Ugh.  Oh well, the bottom of the shirt was stitched close using a double-running embroidery stitch with all 6 strands of the embroidery floss and a large needle.  Easy peasy.

Riley's Stuffed Shirt Pillow

Stuffed Shirt #2

Thought I'd post pictures of Savvy's Stuffed Shirt Pillow.  She (of course) had to have one just like her big sister.  We picked a favorite shirt that no longer fit.  Since my machine broke on the last project, I handstitched the closures with a double running embroidery stitch.

I fully expect to be making one for the littlest sister soon.  :)

The shirt before the stuffing

After stitching and stuffing

Detail of double-running embroidery stitch

I'm Turning Into Memaw

I used to think my grandmother was weird.

photo by ivoryelephantphotography

Most of us kids do, I'm pretty sure.  After all, she would save just about EVERYTHING.  From milk jugs and egg cartons to used cereal boxes.  All these things puts aside to use again.

I didn't understand as a child, but I believe I am beginning to grasp the importance as an adult.  She lived through the Great Depression, a time in this country's history that made or broke a lot of people.  And while they didn't have much in the way of possessions or money during that time period, they became rich in wisdom.  

Now, I look at the cardboard box formerly housing the vanilla wafers and think, "How can I reuse this perfectly good box?"  The easy answer is gift giving, since that is what Memaw uses old cereal boxes for.  Stick a gift in it, wrap it up, and bam!  A gift box.  But I've begun to challenge myself to find additional uses for every day "trash".

PawPaw, Memaw, my Mom and her new husband Bob

Cereal box = magazine holder.


Egg cartons = seed starters or paint trays.


Milk jugs = seed spreader or children's game.

Mayo jar = pencil holder.


The possibilities are endless for the creative mind.  We may not be in the Great Depression, but we are in a terrible recession.  I'm glad that Memaw taught me to see the value in trash, and to cherish the things that I have and not constantly want the shiny new.


I used to think my Memaw was strange.  Now I hope my kids think I'm strange too.  In a good way.