Upcycled Laundry Bag

One of the benefits of children growing older is their ability to learn new jobs and take on new responsibility.  It's great that I get to teach my kids valuable lessons they'll need for the rest of their lives ...


... and laundry is a biggie.  


Especially with three girls.  The older two produce mounds of dirty clothes.  Previous solutions were individual laundry baskets and then later, one community basket.  Baskets, stairs and shorter limbs only complicate the problem of getting the dirty laundry to the washing machine in the basement.


My newest idea was to use laundry bags.  Once it's full, they can just roll the bag down the two sets of stairs and drag it to the washing machine.  And then once their clothes are dry, reverse the process.  I had a couple of bags on hand, so no big deal.  Until wash day came and I realized that I needed spare bags for their newly dirty clothes while the others are washing.

Deceptively Delicious ... We Shall See!

A great friend of mine, Mandy, recommended Jessica Seinfeld's book Deceptively Delicious.  It has lots of kid friendly dishes with hidden superfoods mixed in the recipe.


Yesterday at the grocery store I picked up quite a few fruits and veggies to puree and stock my freezer.  The two that I chose to work with today were the sweet potatoes and butternut squash.


I learned two things today:  the first being I really hate the smell of butternut squash puree.  The other is that I most definitely need a food processor.  Trying to use the equipment I had on-hand was good.  So is learning that our lame blender cannot function as a food processor.  Oh, and it is a very messy process any way you look at it.  But that's three things.  Oh well.


That said, I still have broccoli, zucchini, apples, avocado, bananas and cantaloupe to prepare and process.  Not sure which recipe I will try first, but I'll post the results

The Reality of Blogging

Lots of people make my day by telling me how they enjoy the blog posts and my Facebook entries.  They tell me they don't know how I do it, with littles ones running around like crazy.  

Today I decided to snap a couple of pictures to show what it is like to blog when Isaac is awake.  The truth is that I normally only blog when The Boy is asleep.  And this is why:

Foolproof Checklists for Kids

Do your kids ever give you the excuse, "I just didn't know what to do!" when asked to clean a room?  Well, that's a favorite in our home.


No more!


I made checklists for the kids' chore zones.  Details, baby.  Now they can't claim they didn't know they had to sweep or pick up the snotty Kleenex on the floor.  Another neat idea is to put the checklist in a plastic page protector.  Now they can check off each task with a dry erase marker.


Goodbye excuses.  Hello accountability.  :)  Happy to see you.

Little Kitchen Helper

Brooke was my "helper" in the kitchen today while I made bread dough.  I estimate she ate about three tablespoons of flour and spilled about 1/2 cup on the floor when all was said and done.  But she had fun and taught me to relax a little in the process.

Brooke's Easy Smocked Dress

This one is so simple ... a great project for a beginner.  If you can sew a straight stitch, then you can do this one. The material is pre-smocked on the bolt, so you just need to measure out how much you need for the person (wrap it around them or yourself).  I like to add six inches to that just to be sure.

Winter's Fighting Back

While I'm thankful that The Range missed the humongous snow storm -- it went south of us -- I'm not happy that winter is still holding on tooth and nail.  Last night the low was below zero, and at 0830 this morning the radio deejay was saying it was a balmy 5 degrees outside.  Ugh.  The bright sun is slowly melting the snow, despite the  freezing temps, but I am really hankering for some spring-like weather again.

It also helps that I am a homebody.  I'd much rather be snug as a bug in my own home than freezing outside, and it's because of this that I am able to catch up on a LOT of sewing projects.  Normally, the urge to serge happens about twice a year; this sewing wave has lasted much longer than usual.  I am determined to complete all the projects I've bought material for.  Confession is good for the soul:  I have an addiction to pretty fabric.  I will buy and buy and buy until I'm stuffed to the gills with the stuff.  It's then that I lose the desire to sew.  The fabric then sits in storage or collects dust until the next wave hits.  

Diaper Attempt #3

My own design for a cloth diaper, in that I fiddled with a couple of others and squished them together to produce this one.  

Outer layer is waterproof PUL with snap closures.

Inside layer is a store-bought prefold diaper.  No pockets on this one.  Just a real all-in-one.

This time I didn't add a pocket, just to see how it works.  And I'm not sure on the legs, whether the material will chafe.  But we'll see.  Reviews to come.  






Review #1:  Shoulda put some elastic in the back waist area.  Gaps a bit.

Knees Bent, Fingers Crossed

After 7 long years of paying for a house we don't live in, we finally have a buyer prospect lined up!  So grateful for this answer to prayer, even if it's just the possibility.  Today our property manager is meeting with the current tenants about buying the house.


Not only that, but the tenants paid an extra month's rent -- just to get ahead.  How nice is that?!  They really love the house, and I truly hope they buy it so that they can love as much as we did when we lived in it.


Double mortgages over the last few years have been quite a strain.  But I would encourage anyone in the same situation to pray for a resolution.  We never know God's timing, and it certainly is hardly ever our own.  Maybe this is the time for a buyer.  I really hope so.


And hope is just faith in action.  

And now ... Brooke's Pillowcase Dress

I wrecked one shirt by cutting it too short in the width, so I moved on to the last one I purchased at Salvation Army.  Same concept as the other mens' shirts conversions.

I absolutely love the navy and white stripes in this one.  My favorite out of all of them.

I think Brooke is happy with the dress too.

Man, this has been one productive sewing day!  What a great way to spend my birthday.

My Corner of Heaven

My birthday treat to myself was to sew in my completely child-proofed dedicated sewing area.  It's awesome!  I can sit and sew and not have to worry about monkeys unplugging machines, getting fingers cut off in the serging blade, or all my spools of thread being unwound.  This little nook o'mine is so incredible that I finished THREE projects today.  Happy Jenny today!  Not so happy about turning 35, but I hear it's the new 25.  Hmmm.

Savvy's Pillowcase Top

As promised, Savvy's pillowcase top.  Not quite as billowy as Riley's but still cute.  More A-line, I think.

Originally this was a men's button-down long sleeve shirt from Aeropostale.  Picked it up at Goodwill for $1.50.

This time I used the front buttons AND the hem.  I finished the arm holes with bias tape instead of serging and turning.  I like it this way better, and honestly it was easier.

Pink, blue and chocolate pinstripes are just perfect for my Savvy Girl.

Brooke's Pajama Capris

After much begging and pleading, Brooke's pj capris are done.  And so cute too!  She wanted to pose for a couple of pics, and I was happy to oblige.  

 

Hair Cuts by Brooke

Opening soon in a small town near you:  Brooke's Styling Salon, featuring off-the-wall cuts and very bare foreheads.  Don't worry ... I'm standing by to correct her errors.

"The static was annoying, Mama.  I had to cut it out."

After emergency hair repair.  Oy ve!

Pink Bathroom DONE

Finished the silhouette murals in the pink bathroom.  Here are a few pictures!

The after picture ... see previous blog for the before pic.

Silhouette murals on all the walls, with the grass going all around.  A pot of tulips is on this wall by the window.

Behind the door is the lovely pinkish toilet and the "pushing tulips" mural.

Detail of the boy with his tulip cart.

Decorative vinyl film on the windows replaced the ugly pink vertical blinds.  Now we have natural light with privacy all day.

I added the Bible verse in honor of my kiddos.  They're quite loud.  

Pink Bathroom Reno: Part One

This pink bathroom is charming, with the Eisenhower era tile and the matching pink toilet.  However, it's a pain in the butt to decorate.  


A few Before pics:

Picture taken while house hunting

Yes, that's brown and black mosaic tile on the floor.

The problem is the floor.  It's pretty, but doesn't work well with the pink tile.  As a solution, I recently painted the walls "sand castle" beige and distressed with some brown paint.  Now I've begun to add some silhouette art, which I think brings in the black nicely and gives it a vintage feel.  The silhouettes were taken from a vintage scrapbook my mother-in-law Carol has.

To the upper left of the drummer will be the "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord" Bible verse.  I plan to put up another on the wall behind the toilet, and once all is said and done, I will take the BIG picture showing the transformation.

DIY Febreeze

Ever wanted Febreeze to make your favorite fabric softener scent into one of their sprays?  Now you can do it yourself.  Here's a quick and easy way to make your own.


This is what I used:


Large spray bottle
1 cup favorite fabric softener
1 cup vinegar
2 cups water


Pour all ingredients into the spray bottle and shake well.  Spray onto the desired area.


I will note that I can smell the vinegar.  If you don't like hints of vinegar (which will go away with a little time), you can try this recipe:


2 cups warm water
1/4 fabric softener
1 tbsp baking soda


Both vinegar and baking soda are wonderful for removing odors.  Have fun stretching that penny for all its worth!

From Button-down to Pillowcase Top

Yesterday's sewing project:  turning a Goodwill men's button down shirt into a pillowcase-style shirt for Riley.  Pretty simple.  I even used the existing armholes for the shape of the new ones.  All I did was hold up the shirt to Riley, make some mental calculations, cut and sew.


Hopefully in another post I can explain how simple this kind of top is.  My good friend Mandy Geiger has made a business out of making pillowcase dresses.

The shirt before the big cuts

I love plaid, and this one screamed little girl to me!

Detail view of the top of the shirt.  Notice the buttons?  They make a cute accent.

The final shirt.

 This was a fun project, and it only took about 45 minutes start to finish.  Like I said, I'll explain the how-to in another blog.  But for now, I've gotta get ready to head to Duluth.


Have a great day!

Sprung?!

I can see GRASS in my yard, and it rained without snowing or sleeting.  I guess that means spring has begun to emerge from its long winter sleep.  I really haven't seen grass in the yard since October, so I am so excited to see it.

Grass beneath the snow!

Soon it will be time to get out and plant in my flower beds and gardens.  Soon, as in May.  Ugh.  Only a month to go until I can get the veggies in the ground.  Hopefully sooner than that I can dig out the flower beds enough to put in some bulbs that didn't get  planted in the fall.  And then to pray that they bloom.  First time I will have ever grown tulips on my own.


Until I can get out and get my hands dirty, I've been keeping busy sewing and doing inside projects.  Next projects in the works:  pillowcase-style dresses from men's button down shirts for Savvy and Brooke, and a button down shirt for Isaac.  Then I'm going to attempt some cloth pull-ups for Brooke and the neverending night time potty training.


For today, though, we are headed out to see Jesse's grandparents in Duluth, and maybe do a little shopping while we're down there.  I'm looking forward to the drive, so that I can maybe get a few pages down on the current book I'm reading:  The Sacrifice by Beverly Lewis.  I have become addicted to her wholesome Amish stories that tell of growth and grace.  If you've never read her books, I'd suggest starting with the first one, The Shunning.


Until later!

PJ Pants Take 1

Today's sewing project:  flannel pants for Isaac.  A very simple two-piece pattern from McCall's.  Of course, the tracing of the pattern onto the waxed paper -- to preserve the original -- took about three days because of grabby little paws.  


Total time spent from tracing the pattern to sewing the last autolock stitch:  about 35 minutes.

DIY Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets

Never before have I looked forward to running out of my Bounce dryer sheets.  Until now!  That's because I made my own dryer sheets.

Here's the scoop:

If you have an old receiving blanket, t-shirt, towel, etc., cut it up into small rectangular sections.  Like a dryer sheet.

Mix 1 gallon water with 1 cup concentrated liquid fabric softener.  I picked up Target's Up&Up lavender scented for around $2.  I scented my homemade laundry detergent with lavender essential oils, so the scents go together.  You can choose whichever scent you like best.  

Mix the solution well, and keep covered when not in use.  My pail is sitting next to the washing machine on the floor under my ugly old deep sink.


Soak a "dryer sheet" section in the solution and wring out.  Toss in the dryer and start the dryer right away.  If fabric softener of any kind sits on laundry too long it will discolor it.

Remove your dryer sheet and wash it with the next load of towels, or however you want to wash it.  I think it prudent to have about 10-15 dryer sheets on hand.  This is because I wash a freakin' abundance of clothing in this house.


I'm thinking a gallon of this stuff will last a while, and with several cups of concentrate on hand I won't be making a mad dash for dryer sheets anytime soon.  


Let me know how it worked for you, faithful followers!




P.S.  See that green container?  That's my liquid laundry detergent concentrate.  I made 5 gallons of concentrate (which equals 10 gallons of detergent) for less than $5!  You can see the recipe for the laundry detergent here.

Recycled Napkins

Today's sewing project:  cloth napkins!

I've gotten somewhat adept at the serger, cranky as it may be.  It was the fastest and easiest choice for this project  Of course, I forgot to take a before picture.  

I found a round tablecloth at Goodwill, on sale for $1.50.  Since grubby hands like to pull tablecloths off tables and I don't have a round one, I bought it simply because it was the best material and I loved the pattern.

It was a Martha Stewart Living cloth done in purty a blue and white floral motif.  Using my rotary cutter and cutting mat, I cut 16" squares out of the cloth, taking advantage of as much material as I could.  Cutting squares out of a circle can be a challenge to the mom-bogged mind, as simple as it sounds.

Once the squares were cut, I just serged around the edges.  Used some Fray Check at the corners where I had to cut the overlock loops.

Here's the final results:

 

There are two napkins that have the big floral pattern, and the other six have the small blossoms only.  I like the way these turned out, and will be on the lookout for more potential napkins when I'm treasure hunting.  

Have a crafty day!

In Need of Advice!

Homeschool seemed a sure thing for next school year, but now I am wavering.  The girls are saying that they don't want to do it now, and I'm not sure if making them do it will be effective in the long run.  However, I do feel that it is what God wants me to do, despite the difficulty.  I even have Savvy's teacher begging me to keep her in school because she's such a blessing to the teaching staff.  ARGH!  I'm so confused.

I guess questioning is normal, but I just want to do what is right for the kids.  We plan to join a homeschool group, so they will not have to worry about a lack of interaction with peers.  I plan to use Connections Academy, which is accredited through the state.  And I also will supplement with some Bob Jones material.  It all seems clear to me, but I still face the kids saying they don't want to homeschool. 
 
Have any other h/s parents out there had this experience?  Does it work out in the end?

I need advice!

Monkey Boy

Lately, this is what I battle on a daily basis.

Not only he is a very curious little guy, but he's also very creative.  He finds unique ways of getting into the places he's not supposed to be.

Not only is he good at climbing, but he's really good at climbing quietly.  Makes a difference. 

Someone needs to invent an alarm system for alerting me when he's being a monkey.  Seriously.

You've Got Mail!

Found these little mailboxes at Target around Valentine's Day for only $1 apiece!  I couldn't believe it!  I had been searching online for months for little mailboxes and the cheapest I could find was $5.

I use them to pass along little love notes to the family.  And they enjoy sending mail to each other too.  But I think it may be a while before Isaac really gets the hang of it.

Modest Barbie

My good friend from high school, Mandy Leap, shared a link to another mom's blog that inspired me.  As a mother of three girls, I have seen my share of naked Barbies lying around the house.  I absolutely hate it!  I have been known to sit down and dress the Barbies, just so I don't have to look at those little plastic boobs and derriere.

The other mama had the idea to take a Sharpie marker and permanently create a bodysuit on Barbie, so even when she's unclad, she's a little more modest.  I loved the idea and followed suit.

This is a fraction of the number of Barbie dolls we have, so I have my work cut out for me.  But it was worth it.  And it entertained Jesse to no end watching me color.

Diaper Attempt #2: Success!

Different pattern, slightly better diaper.  I still haven't put the snaps on the first one, and I'm really not sure that I am going to waste the effort. 

I like the way this one turned out:

Outer layer is flannel, with a PUL layer underneath that.  The snaps weren't too hard to attach.  Only screwed up one.

Not sure if I will need to add hip snaps or not, but this one is supposed to be the 12-18 months size.  I adjusted the pattern to snaps.  It called for a velcro/aplix closure.

My top stitch was a bit wide on the crotch elastic area, but I can correct that with the next one.  The inner layer is white suedecloth, good for wicking to the soaker in the pocket beneath.

Not a bad effort, all in all.  I think with the next one I'll make some adjustments to the width of the side flaps.  But I like the way it turned out, so I may stick with this pattern for a little while.  The pattern is by Jalie, and you can find it here.