Little Smocked Dress

You are looking at little Miss Hannah Rose's birthday dress, made by, believe it or not, me! To be honest, I can't believe it turned out as well as it did. I followed an online tutorial over at Kojodesigns. I really suggest checking that site out, it's filled with great ideas and easy tutorials (and no, I'm not being reimbursed for saying that, they have no idea who I am).

This is super easy, trust me. It had to be because I really have never sewed much of anything prior to this. You do need to know how to do shirring (mock smocking) with elastic thread - again this is super easy. I followed this tutorial to get me started. I "practiced" on a pillowcase, and that turned into a dress for Hannah, lol. I plan on making more of those and sharing my own tutorial with all of you.

Now I just need to sew some ribbon on a pair of her socks and make a bow hair clip and her outfit will be set. I'll share the steps to making those later this week.

Take care everyone!
~Lisa :)

Homemade Pasta

I love pasta! I could probably eat it everyday. A few months back, we started making our own from scratch and rolling it out by hand. It's laborious, but well worth the effort. Once we decided that this pasta making wouldn't be just an occasional treat, we bought the attachment pieces to the mixer we have to speed up the process a bit.

Here's some pictures of how it's done with the machine, and the family's favorite noodle recipe. Enjoy!

The machine, covered in flour. The recipe we use is stickier than normal, so I have to coat the dough in flour each time I put it in the machine so pieces won't get stuck.

This is the size of the dough ball before it gets flattened out. It's surprising to me still, just how many noodles you get from such a small ball of dough.

Cutting the pasta, after it's been flattened. The flattening process activates the wheat gluten in the flour, which is what creates the smooth texture of the noodle.

Our pasta hanging to dry. I did another batch with basil from our garden in it. I want to use it for our next pasta salad - yum! Here's our recipe, adapted from one I found at allrecipes.com

Noodles:

2.5 Cups flour (we use whole wheat)
1 pinch salt
2 eggs beaten
1/2 Cup milk
1 tbsp melted butter

Stir flour and salt together. Add the liquid ingredients and mix well, then knead dough for 5-10 minutes if not using a pasta roller. Let the dough sit for 10 minutes before rolling out. Cut noodles to desired width and that's it!

Because of the egg and milk in the recipe, you can't dry these out for storage. You can freeze them though. Frozen noodles take about 7-10 minutes to cook in boiling water, and fresh noodles take about 5 minutes to cook in boiling water.

Styrofoam Jet Airplane on a Stick

I thought I would share some pictures of our jet airplane adventure... This was an Austin led craft - and he loved it! Notice how simple it is? Sometimes simplicity is the key (actually, it typically always is...) Anyway, here he is, painting the Styrofoam that we hot glue gunned together to look like a jet (again, his idea) After the paint dried, we stuck a small dowel rod in the bottom and off it went! Hannah of course needed her own shortly after that.

I have to say, though, I was pretty excited how it all started. Chris had just emptied out a box containing a mirror for Hannah's room. As soon as the white squeaky Styrofoam boxes appeared, he instantly declared that he needed them. We asked why and he informed us that "it will be for a craft Momma, a jet airplane, didn't you know?" And so we set them aside, and now he has his plane.

Right Now

I've decided to add a "Right Now" section to this blog. Pretty much just to share what we have going on in our lives right now. This is also a way I'll be able to look back in the future to reminisce.

I can't say that I'm very happy with the overall look and feel of this blog, so I'm still trying to get all of that in order. If every time you visit, it looks a little different, please bear with me, hopefully I'll decide on a decent layout soon.

Life has been busy, when is it not? So sometimes I manage to sit down and write, and sometimes I don't. I'm hoping once the school year starts, things will settle down a bit and I'll fall back into a routine with this. That being said, I'm still crafting away and thinking up new projects for myself and the kids. Below are a few pictures of what we've been up to...

My knitting bag - usually filled with at least two projects at a time.

The hat Austin begged me to make for him. We bought the book Pretty in Punk (you can do the same here), just got the yarn, and hopefully it'll turn out okay. He chose black and green, minus the design.

Recent fabric purchases for my fist attempt at little girl dress making, ruffle additions, and skirt transformations.... I'll keep you posted on that...


Pasta salad with homemade dressing and garden grown veggies, pair this with roasted ranch potato wedges and I have one happy family.

Miss Rose finally taking a nap - poor girl has been sick all week.

Hannah's new smocked dress (a.k.a. - the old pillowcase)

I thought for a split second that maybe I could turn that pillowcase into a cute new top for me. Like I said, a split second.

My little girl just adores shoes, so of course she needed some fancy house slippers. I may be making myself a pair soon.... maybe in a different color though



We'll be back soon I hope. Now it's time to go construct a jet plane out of old packing material, wish us luck!

Natural Hair Build-Up Remover

Commercial haircare products are loaded with synthetic and a lot of times, dangerous ingredients. These, along with styling products build up on the hair shaft. Though it's probably not harmful build-up, it definitely does a number on your hair's shine and manageability.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a known disinfectant and conditioner and can be used on hair. It's too concentrated to use undiluted - so it's suggested to do a 50/50 mix of ACV and water.I decided to give this a try, even though I don't use styling products. I've noticed my hair gets a little life-less for lack of a better term.

It worked wonderfully! I put the mixture in a spray bottle, and sprayed it on my scalp after washing and then all over my hair and let it sit for a minute before rinsing it out and then conditioning (I have very long thick hair and need the extra conditioning - those of you with shorter hair might be able to skip it all together!). The end result was fantastic! I could tell just by touching it that it was super clean, and softer. When my hair dried (I always let it air dry), all of the body came back and it was super shiny. Without saying a word about what I did, some women at work noticed how much better it looked.

I'm sold - and for less than $0.50!

Cleaning up Indoor Air

I have been focusing on indoor air quality over the last few weeks. Studies reveal that the quality of the air in our homes can be up to 3 times as harmful and pollutant filled than the outdoors (and yes, this includes the inner-city). Think about it for a minute, all of the exhaust fumes, pesticides and allergens that are outside - multiply that by three and then shove it into a small contained space and take a deep breath. Yuck. Not to mention the average American spends about 90% of their time indoors.

Some causes of indoor air pollution include (but are not limited to):
- synthetic flooring
- VOC emitting paint (unless it says "Low VOC", you can assume you're getting a pretty hardy dose)
- Air "fresheners" (sprays, plug-ins, candles, etc...)
- Synthetic cleaning products
- Gas stoves and heating
- Furniture glue
- Pet messes
- Personal toiletries (perfumes, hairsprays, nail polish, polish removers, etc...)

The list goes on and on....

Aside from avoidance from some of these (obviously you can not avoid them all), you can add houseplants to each room in your house. Ferns and Orchids are especially good at "greening" up your air. If you have small children and/or animals, be sure to check the safety of the plant before you bring it into your home.

Still want a fragrance?
What better way to add an enticing aroma to your home than to bake fresh bread or cookies. You can also simmer sliced oranges, cinnamon sticks and lemons, or better yet, bake them on a tray at a low temp of about 150-170 degrees in your oven until they are dried out and then use them as potpourri.

Most importantly, open your windows as often as you can, especially in the evening. Outdoor air quality tends to be better late at night while less people are operating vehicles and machinery, and most buildings are shut down.

Exfoliating on the Cheap

Welcome Back!
A few weeks ago, I posted about my face cleaning routine (which is super simple!). In addition to washing with castile soap, I also exfoliate almost everyday during the summer. Part of the reason my skin used to break out so much was because it does not shed the dead layers off like it's supposed to. This is a pretty common problem I found out. So, my quick and practically free solution - Baking Soda! Seriously.

I always have baking soda around the house, we cook with it, clean with it, and now shower with it. It's mildly abrasive, but has been gentle enough on my face, and let me tell you, my skin has started looking amazing!

I just shake a small amount into the palm of my hand, mix with a bit of water, and then massage onto my face after cleaning it. It rinses right off, and you'll feel a difference immediately. This really only costs pennies, and you don't have to worry about chemicals, additives, or anything of that nature because you're just using that one ingredient.

I hope someone finds this helpful. Please let me know by leaving a comment.

Take care everyone!
~Lisa

Colorful Sand Art

Welcome Back!
Today I'm sharing a much over-due kid's craft project. We had a lot of fun with this one, and ended up using it as a center piece on our kitchen table. I hope you enjoy it!

What you need:
Sand (we stole some from our sandbox - I don't think the kids will mind)
Zip closure bags
Food coloring
Funnel or small cups, or both
Toothpick (optional)

1) Put 1-2 cups of sand in a baggie. We did four different colors, so therefor filled up four different bags.

2) Put 4-8 drops of food coloring into each bag and close. Make sure the bag's are completely closed, or you'll have quite the mess on your hands. Shake each bag vigorously until the color is well blended and you don't see any food coloring clumps. The should look like the photo below.

3) Pour the sand in alternating colors, layering them on top of each other, in any way your child wants. If they're old enough, have them do the layering - as well as the shaking above.

4) Here's a shot of our halfway threw. My son asked me to give it teeth, so the only thing I could think of was to stick the toothpick in along the side of the glass to push some of the color down. He seemed pretty happy with that solution. You can see it in the next photo.

5) We then filled it almost to the top with more layers.

6) We found some fake flowers laying around and pushed them in the middle, and now we have a cute little center piece for our table.

Thanks for visiting my blog, and please leave a comment and let me know what you think about the site. Is there something you'd like to see more of? Or less of?

Take care everyone!

~Lisa :)

DIY leather and bead necklace

Hi Everyone!
I'm really excited to share this post with you! One of my favorite things to do when flipping threw magazines is to ask myself if I could make whatever I'm looking at. A lot of times the answer is yes, but for the price tag, it's not worth the time and effort. The last one I came across however completely was. I found this necklace in the August edition of Rachel Ray Magazine, in the Everyday Faves Style section. The necklace they feature is $128! Really?? For a strand of leather and three beads??? It's super cute and will pair well with a white T-Shirt (ignore my outfit in the finished photo - because it really doesn't go with that!) I went out and bought all of my supplies for this, which came to less than $4 dollars - and I could make at least 4 more without spending another dime! So here goes....

What you need:
`Leather string (found in the jewelry section of craft stores)
`Beads of your choice (1 large & 2 small) - make sure the holes in the beads are large enough to fit the leather string
`Scissors

1) Collect your supplies.

2). Cut the sting to the length you'll desire. You will have to fold the string in half and then measure. Be sure to add about and extra inch or two for trimming at the end. String your large bead, and let fall to the bottom center.

3) Tie a knot (looping both ends around your finger and then inside each other) at the top of the large bead, making sure that your end pieces are similar in length. Try and get the knot as close to the bead as possible.

4) Measure where you would like the necklace to fall on you, and then keep your finger in that spot when you remove it. This is where you will make your next knot (again, looping them both around and then threw).

5). Lay the bead down and line up the knots. Place a finger where you want to tie the next knot. Make sure there will be enough room to slide the large bead threw the gap. Then tie your second knot in the same fashion as before.

5) Here is an example of what it should look like:

6) String each small bead onto the ends of the necklace and decide how far down you want them to dangle. Then tie a knot under each bead to secure it in place. Make sure to pull the knots as tight as you can to make sure they won't come undone.

7) Trim your ends and you're done!

That's it! I love it! It only took about 10 minutes start to finish, and saved me $124 dollars (not that I would ever spend that amount on fashion jewelry, but still). Again, I think this will look great with a white tank or Tee - not what I'm wearing in this photo :)

Homemade Soft Tortilla Shells

Welcome Back!

I wanted to write about one more recipe before returning to more creative posts (I have lot's to share in that department!). This is one of our favorites. It's really simple. In fact, had I known earlier just how simple these were to make, I would have started this years ago. For less than a dollar you get 8 - 10 large soft shells. We use these for tacos, sandwich wraps, banana roll-ups, and even to make our own tortilla chips. Click here for the original recipe.

What you need:

3 C Whole Wheat Flour

1 C Water

1/4 C Melted Coconut Oil (or preferred cooking oil, such as olive)

1/4 tsp Baking powder

1 tsp Salt

1) Combine dry ingredients, then add the wet and mix until it forms a slightly sticky dough.

2) Mold into 8 - 10 balls and let sit for 10 minutes.

3. On a floured surface, roll out into tortilla shape and grill on a warm skillet for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until done. Be careful not to let them get brown, or they won't be as pliable.

I like to double up this recipe and freeze half.

Take care everyone!

~Lisa

Balsamic Dressing

Welcome Back!
I absolutely LOVE Panera Bread's fresh mozzarella and tomato basil salad - especially the balsamic dressing that they use. I've looked for similar dressing's in the store, and nothing comes close. Then I tried this recipe, and it's it! It tastes just like the one I love so much, and at a fraction of the price. Combine this with my own fresh mozzarella and tomato's and basil from my garden and I'm in heaven. Now I just need to find the recipe for Panera's rosemary focassia bread....

What you need:
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp brown sugar
1 garlic clove
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 C olive oil

1) Mix everything but the oil, and then add the oil at the end, whisking briskly until blended well.

Homemade Pizza Sauce

Welcome Back!

A few weeks ago, I posted our pizza dough recipe. So I figured you would probably need some sauce to put on it. This is our all time favorite pizza sauce! Try it and let me know what you think.

What you need:
1 can tomato paste (6 oz)
6 oz warm water (just fill up the empty can)
3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp anchovy paste (adds lots of Vitamin D)
3/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp dried marjoram
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp salt

1) Mix together tomato paste and water until it has a smooth consistency, then add everything else.

2) Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour to let the flavors blend.

This will provide enough sauce for up to two large pizza's depending on how much you use. I like to double the recipe and freeze pre-portioned sizes to go with our frozen dough.

Blueberry Coffee Cake

Welcome Back!
I've decided that for the rest of this week, I'm going to post some of our favorite recipes. If you know me off-line, then you already know I'm a bit of a natural food freak ;) I've tried tons and tons of recipes over time with my family and came up with a little system that has served us well. Each time I try something new, if three out of the four of us like it, it makes it into my recipe box. So every recipe on this blog is straight from my box. Enjoy!

Blueberry Coffee Cake

What you need:
2 C Flour (I use stone ground whole wheat)
1 C Sugar (I use raw cane sugar - or sucanant if I have it)
3/4 C Softened butter - preferably from grass-fed cows, the flavor makes a HUGE difference
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 egg (farm fresh) beaten in a liquid measure cup, then fill to
1 C buttermilk

1) Mix sugar, flour and butter until it resembles corn meal.

2) Set aside 1 & 1/4 cup for topping

3) Mix baking powder and soda into the original dry ingredients in large bowl

4) Lightly beat an egg in a liquid measuring cup, then fill the rest of the cup with buttermilk until it reaches the one cup mark. Pour this into large bowl.

5) Mix well and then spread into a greased 9x9 or 9x13 pan.

6) Spread a layer of blueberries

7) Squeeze small handfuls of the dry mix from earlier and drop in small chunks on top of the blueberries.

Bake on the top shelf at 375 degrees for 35-45 minutes.

We like to serve this cold, right out of the fridge after baking.

This is a modified recipe from one I found online here.

Upcycle Baby Blanket into a Floor Pillow

Welcome Back!
I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend (for those of us in the states) - we sure did :) I made this pillow on the 3rd and brought it with for the fireworks for my little one. She loves it! I found the idea for this in the back of a recent issue of Parent's Magazine. This took about 30 minutes start to finish.

What you need:
A double sided (meaning 2 separate pieces of fabric sewn together) baby blanket
Scissors
Fiber Fill
Thread that matches existing stitching
Needle

1. Snip open a four inch section near the seam of the blanket. I chose to do mine by the tag, near the corner so it wouldn't be too noticeable and so I could remove the tag.

2. Stuff the blanket to desired thickness with fiber fill. You can buy fiber fill at any craft store. I purchased a 5 pound box because I wasn't sure how much I would need. I used up a little over half the box. I wish I could say that I bought it with a 50% off coupon that are always available at those stores, but it was a last minute rushed idea so the box ended up costing about $14. But now I have lots left over for other projects too.

3. Once full, sew up the slit with matching thread, and that's it! You now have a super soft and super comfy floor pillow for your little one.

Have a great day and please come back soon!

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Welcome Back!

Today I wanted to share my homemade taco seasoning recipe with everyone. The store bought versions contain starches, citric acid, maltodextrin, and a bunch of other unnecessary junk. This recipe is the best I've found so far and it tastes amazing - so much better than the pre-made mixes. You can quadruple the recipe and store it in an air tight container for future use. We use about 2 tablespoons per pound of meat.

What you need:
2 Tbsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1/2 tsp Oregano
1 tsp paprika
3 tsp Ground Cumin
2 tsp Sea Salt
2 tsp Black Pepper

1.) Combine all ingredients with a whisk and store in an air tight container.

That's it!

DIY No Sew Tutu

Welcome Back! Or shall I say "I'm Back!"

At least for a bit anyway, lol. I wanted to share this super easy and adorable project - it took about 30 minutes start to finish, and ended up sooo cute! My daughter absolutely loves this.

Here's the link to the tutorial I followed to make this tutu.

To get this Forth of July design, I used blue satin ribbon and the color rotation went: 4 white, 4 red, 4 white, 4 blue, repeat....

I'm pairing this tutu with white legging shorts, red sparkle mary janes from Target, a white tank embellished with homemade boutique bows, and a matching hair bow. Oh, and this is for my 2 year old, not me, lol.

Homemade Pizza Dough

Welcome Back!
Pizza dough is one of the easiest yeast breads to prepare, and is a great starting point for beginners. I use this recipe to make our pizza's as well as bread sticks. I usually make four batches at once, and freeze the leftover three. If you do this, make sure to open the container or bag that the frozen dough is in while it's thawing, otherwise it might burst (I know this from personal experience). I also soak the wheat flour overnight in an acid medium to help break down the phytates. Doing this creates a soft dough similar to using white flour, and helps aid in digestion - allowing more vitamins and minerals to be absorbed into the body. I do a separate post on soaking soon.

What you need:
1 Pkg active dry yeast (2.5 tsp)
1 C warm water (110-115 degrees - should feel slightly warm to the touch, but not hot)
2 C Flour (I use a mixture of whole wheat and spelt) + up to 2/3 C
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Sugar

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water for 10 minutes, or until it gets super bubbly and frothy (this is called proofing)

2. Combine all ingredients and knead until the dough is very elastic, not stiff. You will probably need to add a bit more flour while kneading - you want the dough to be tacky, but not so sticky that it won't come off your hand.

3. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a towel and put in a warm place. Let rise for 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.

4. Roll out to desired shape and size, and cook at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until slightly browned.

Searching For Clovers

Welcome Back!
Today was absolutely beautiful out, and the inside of the house was not the place to be. We spent the majority of the day outside playing, and ended the great day with a walk near dusk. Our mission? To find the infamous four leafed clover... We never found one, but the kids had a great time in the process. We came across an ant colony, touched the different textures of grass, had a few bird sightings and counted the sidewalk blocks. This is a great exploring activity and serves as a good opportunity to teach your kids about nature.

What you need:
comfy shoes

1. Decide what it is you'd like to go on a search for. Some examples would include our clover idea, or maybe a robin's egg, colored rocks, and so on.

2. Point out different things that you see around you, the smells, the sounds. Ask your children to do the same for you - you'd be amazed at some of the things those tiny eyes catch that you would otherwise never notice.

That's it really, just make sure to have a good chunk of time set aside to do this - everything is amazing to a young mind and you don't want to have to rush them along.

Take care everyone!
~Lisa

Cardboard Fun! Uses for packaging inserts

We recently purchased a new set of stainless steal pots and pans to replace our old non-stick set. There are health and environmental reasons behind the switch that I'll delve into deeper at another time. For now, I just wanted to share the fun my children had creating new things out of what would have otherwise ended up in the recycle bin.

What You Need:
Cardboard packaging inserts
Glue
Embellishments
Markers

1. Let your kids get creative and do whatever they dream up. Help the smaller children where necessary.

In the photo above, the children created a bangle bracelet, and home/hut for transformers, and a princess crown. My son refuses to let these go, and we did this project well over a month ago. I was surprised with what they came up with, and everyone had a great time.

Have you re-purposed anything lately? Share with us in the comments box below!

Homemade Laundry Detergent - Biodegradeable & Chemical Free

I'm used to getting funny looks when I talk about some of the things I make myself, with one exception - laundry detergent. The minute I mention it costs me a little more than $3 to wash 64 loads, everyone asks how I do it. So, I figured it was time to post the recipe online to give my hands a break from writing it out ;)

An added bonus, and the main reason I went searching for this recipe is that it's completely biodegradable, and free from harsh detergents, soaps and dyes. So not only does this wonder soap cost considerably less than store bought jugs, it's safer for my family's skin, safer for our water supply, easier on the machines, and produces less waste for the environment. A win-win in my eyes. It is important to note however that this soap is not like traditional detergents, and it requires a little shake before pouring it into the measuring cup.

What you need:

1C Castile Soap (I use dr. bronner's sal suds - you can buy it here)

2C water

1/3C Salt

1C Baking Soda

Vinegar

1. Warm the salt and baking soda in water until it will no longer dissolve (you will have quite a bit of extra baking soda that does not dissolve and this is why it needs to be slightly shaken prior to measuring out for the laundry).

2. Transfer this to a clean gallon container, add the soap and then fill the rest with water.

3. Use 1/4C per load unless super dirty. For heavily soiled clothing use 1/2C. Add 2 tbsp of vinegar to the rinse cycle. This acts as a fabric softener and disinfectant.

Click here for the original recipe.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment.

Happy cleaning!

Pipe Cleaner Flower Pots

This is a great Spring project, and doubles as a gift your children can give to relatives for holidays and birthdays.

What you need:

Pipe cleaners - assorted colors

Pony beads

Dry beans

Dixie cups

Small Styrofoam balls (1 for each "pot")

Paint - we chose green and brown to be realistic, but get creative here!

Craft Glue or Glue gun

1. Paint the Dixie cups and Styrofoam balls and allow to dry.

2. Once dry, fill each Dixie cup with about a half inch of beans - give or take so that your painted ball will still rest nicely inside the Dixie cup.

3. Glue the ball to the Dixie cup by applying glue along the inner edges of the Dixie cup where both objects will touch. This secures the beans.

4. Take one pony bead and one pipe cleaner, loop the pipe cleaner threw the pony bead to create the petals. Expect to ruin at least one pipe cleaner while you get the hang of this - I tried doing this in a bit of a rush, big mistake! :) Allow a bit of pipe cleaner to extend from the loops so that you can attach it to the stem.

5. Create stems by folding a green pip cleaner in half and cutting at that fold (1 pipe cleaner will give you two identical stems).

6. Twist together the flower and stem, and then push the bottom of the flower into the pot.

That's it!

This was a fun project for us, and I think it turned out pretty cute.

Be sure to check back often - I'll be updating the site and adding new posts more frequently.

Did you try this one? Let me know, leave a comment :)

Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap - Face Wash

For years, as long as I can remember actually, I've had problem skin. When I was younger, we couldn't afford a dermatologist, and now, as an adult, I wanted to avoid one because I knew the "solution" would be in a pill. I prefer to take a more natural approach when it comes to my body. With that being said, I am sooo excited to share this with all of you!

As a last ditch effort I decided to give a pure castile soap a try in hopes it would clear up my sensitive acne prone skin. I had tried every product imaginable from drug stores and department stores, as well as proactive (don't even get me started on that one - ugh!). Nothing worked. I told myself if this last method didn't work, then it was time to make a dermatologist appointment. Oh my gosh am I glad I gave this a try! It's super simple, costs hardly anything and my skin has not been this clear since I was a child.

All I do is mix a small bottle with a 50% castile soap solution and 50% filtered water. I put 2-3 drops in my hand and rub my hands together quickly to form a good lather. I wash my face twice a day this way, and after a month, I am pimple-free. That's it, seriously! Now that my skin is adapting to this method, it has dry days, and I use a handmade face cream (more on that later!).

I use Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap, the mild baby formula. You can buy it online here or go to your local Vitamin Shoppe.

I love that this works because I also use Dr. Bronner's to make my own laundry detergent (for less than $4 for 64 washes), homemade body wash (I actually use the same solution I use for my face, and have since needed far less body lotion), baby wash, dishwasher detergent, and dog shampoo. I'm sure I'll find plenty of other uses for it in the future, and I'll be sure to share.

And, an even better bonus to Dr. Bronner's is that it's completely natural, and biodegradable. I won't harm our water system, or our skin and is produced in a fair way. Because it is free from harsh detergents, it doesn't wreak havoc on my skin (sodium laurel sulfate is a major skin irritant for me).

Let me know if you have questions by leaving a comment below. I'm always happy help!

Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

I brought this dressing to work with me, and everyone raved over it and has been asking for the recipe. This is sooo good, and healthy too!

1 C Cultured Buttermilk
2/3 C Mayo
2/3 C Plain Yogurt
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Onion Powder
2 tsp Chopped Chives (or dried)
2 tsp Chopped Dill (or dried)
1 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper

Combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk together quickly until evenly mixed. Refrigerate for 30 minutes prior to serving. This will last as long as the expiration date on your buttermilk.

Enjoy!

Grow Your Own Seedlings

**This a post from my other blog - Clearing Out The Stuff, that I felt could be carried over to this site as well**

This was a huge step for me! If you know me personally, then you probably know just how un-green my thumb really is. I have never been able to keep a plant alive - even the easy ones. This is a difficult area for me, and I know it's silly - so I'm trying super hard :)
As a fun project, my 5 year old son Austin and I decided to try and grow our own seedlings using an inexpensive greenhouse kit (to a more experienced gardener I'm sure this seems wastefull - but I've never done this before, and I wanted my son to see something, lol). This was so easy, we just poured water over the soil packets to make them expand, planted 2-3 seeds in each soil packet, and covered it with the lid - I didn't even have to water it the first week because it stayed so moist.

It's hard to tell from the photo, but everything sprouted, and quickly at that. This photo was taken 1 week after we planted everything. We have six different varieties, and 12 of each, leaving us with 72 plants, and no where to put them, lol. That issue led to me to container gardening and garden beds - but more on those later! We are three weeks out, and so far everything is thriving. It's my hope to have a bunch of fresh veggies this summer for my family. Knowing where my food is coming from, and the soil it's grown in is important to me - not to mention it will save us a lot of money over time if I freeze (or, imagine, learn how to can/preserve!) the food.

Spring Butterfly

Welcome Back!

We're counting down the days until Spring arrives - and I know we're not alone! :) We decided to make butterfly's today. This is an easy and fun project for the kids.

What you need:

Pipe cleaners

Scissors

Coffee filters

1) Fold a coffee filter in half and cut out the shape of half of a butterfly wing. Open it up and cut a small hole in the center to slide the pipe cleaner threw.

2) Fold the pipe cleaner in half, and grip the un-joined ends about half an inch down and twist to form antennas

3) Slide the wings onto the body of the butterfly, and there you have it!

Come back soon for more crafty fun!

-Lisa :)

Clothes Pin Alligators

Welcome Back!

We just got back from a vacation in Florida where we visited a crocodile park. I thought the kids would enjoy this project a lot.

What you need:

Wooden Clothes Pins

Markers or paint

Pipe cleaner

Googly eyes or a black marker

Craft glue

1) Paint or color the clothes pins your desired color (Austin wanted his brown and green). To make the inside of the mouth for the gator, color or paint pink on the inside gripping points (see the photo above)

2) Fold the pipe cleaner in half, and then in half again and separate into the "legs", so it will sort of look like an X - glue this inside the gator's mouth and then shape into feet

3) Glue on googly eyes, or color them on with a black marker.

Thanks for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed this craft. I will be posting another later this week.

-Lisa :)

Easy Wall Art

Welcome Back!

This was a fun project for my son. He's fascinated with reptiles, so we flipped threw some National Geographic magazines (super old ones, lol), and tore out the pictures he liked best.

The frames were in packs of two from the dollar store, and were unfinished.

What you need:

Photos or Magazine pictures cut to the size needed to fit the frame

Lightweight unfinished frames

Acrylic Paint

Paint brushes

1) Paint your frames in the desired color (Austin's room is based around the primary colors, so we plan on hanging these on the blue wall to follow the theme). Gather your photos or cut out the magazine pictures while the frames dry.

2) Insert the photos and you're done!

I hope you enjoyed this one!

Come back soon for more projects for you and your children.

Take care,

Lisa :)

Sensory "Table"

Welcome Back!



Or maybe I should say "I'm Back!!"



I've been very distracted over the last few weeks, and have jumped into a bunch of projects (I'll post more on that later ;)



So I'd like to jump right back into this one. I will be doing my best to post at least 2-3 new projects each week. I actually started a new blog that focuses on simplifying, gaining health, and living in more sustainable lifestyle. If you'd like to take a peek click here.



Now onto the project....



What you need:

Large plastic storage container w/lid (I used an under the bed version that I already had)

3-4 large bags of uncooked rice (I found these for $1 a piece at the supermarket)

Any extra kitchen "tools" and toys you have - we used measuring cups, Popsicle sticks, funnels, foam pieces and old die-cast trains.


1) Empty all of the bags of uncooked rice into the storage bin and add your "tools" and toys - that's it!



My children will spend a good 30-40 minutes playing in the rice. They pour it from funnels and cups, and make birthday cakes with measuring cups and Popsicle sticks. They like making designs in the rice with their fingers and pushing the die cast cars and trains around in it. I have to stay close by my little one to make sure she doesn't throw the rice all over the place.


Make sure that you close up the rice to avoid small pests.


Thanks for visiting my site and please come back soon! I will be adding a few projects each week.


Take care!

-Lisa :)

King Cake - Fat Tuesday

Hi Everyone!
We're making a king cake tonight to celebrate fat tuesday. Here's a super simple way to make this complicated cake.
Buy pre-made cinnamon roll dough with frosting. Take out all of the roll segments and shape them into snake like shapes then attach them together to form a circle. Bake according to directions on the package. While that's baking, separate 3 piles of sugar and place in small bowls. Use food coloring to dye the sugar (I used 3 drops per bowl with about 1/4 cup of sugar in each one - traditional colors are purple, green and yellow ( we didn't have yellow, lol). When the cake is done, frost then add the colored sugar in three segments. You can also include a trinket before baking (plastic baby, bean, and so on) - we won't because my children are still too little.
I'll post a pic tonight.
Happy baking!
Lisa

Fuzzy Felt Spider

Welcome Back!

Everyone is finely feeling better in our house, thank goodness! We got back to our crafts this afternoon, but the last few days got me thinking. I'm changing the dynamics of this blog. I still intend to do a craft everyday with my children, but I won't be posting daily - it's just too much right now. I'm limiting my blogging to 2-3 days a week - so you'll still get plenty of crafty ideas :)

My son's 5th birthday is next weekend, and a friend of mine gave him a craft DVD that was completly geared toward his age - I love it! The DVD gives you a few different crafts to complete, and then goes on to tell a story involving the character's your child just created. Thank you Mar! This spider was one of the crafts in the video.

What you need:

2 Sheets of felt in different colors

4 pipe cleaners

Scissors

Fabric Glue

Tape

1) Cut out 1 large circle, 2 smaller ovals for the eyeballs, and 2 tiny circles for the pupils.

2) Glue together the eyeball pieces to create finished eye, and then glue those to the large circle to create your spider base.

3) Hold the 4 pipe cleaners together in your hand so that they are even, and then twist from the ceneter to secure them, you can also take one end and wrap it around the center and then pull it back over to line up the legs. About an inch and a half from each grouped end (4 ends in a group) hold your hand straight, and bend the legs down, then do the same to the tips of that section, but pull them up a bit. Repeat on the other side. Now it should look like cartoon spider legs with feet.

4) Attach the legs to the back of the spider face with tape, and then you're done!

That's it!

My son had a great time making his spider climb the walls of our house this afternoon.

Thanks for visiting, please come back often!

-Lisa

Some Links

Welcome Back!

Everyone in our house is sick now, and none of us really want to do much, lol. If you're looking for some fun craft ideas for you and your children, here's a few links to some sites I enjoy. Hopefully we'll all be up and moving soon, and back on track with our projects.

Nick Jr. Games

Easy Child Crafts

Family Fun

Take care everyone!
-Lisa

Groundhog Day!

Welcome Back!

Well, both kids are still sick, and Austin had no desire to do much of anything today, so I went online to look for a cartoon groundhog for Hannah to scribble on. I found this, and it looks a lot like the one I did when I was little for the movie Groundhog's Day staring Bill Murray. It was filmed in the town we live in, and it's a huge deal over here, lol. Our little theater plays the movie for free the entire week, and people can take tours of the town's square where it was filmed and see the spot where Bill Murray tripped and fell into the street - seriously. So, that being said, I just couldn't let the day go by with out doing something festive :)

Please be sure to check back tomorrow - hopefully my little artist will be feeling better.
-Lisa

Make A Face

Welcome Back!

Austin is still a little under the weather, but he said he wanted to do a project, so we did this, and he had a great time. He thought making his own people, or aliens as he put it, was hilarious.

What you need:

Construstion paper for the base

Magazines

Scissors

Glue stick

1) Depending on your child's age, either cut out a bunch of body parts from the magazine, or have them do it.

2) Let your child glue the parts together however they want.

3) Talk about what you see in the finished image and what the new characters are doing.

That's it! This is so simple and inexpensive, and so far I'd have to say this was one of Austin's favorites.

Be sure to sign up for the daily emails so you don't miss a project.

Come back again soon!

-Lisa