Spring Cleaning

You may remember me saying a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to do some spring cleaning. I didn't end up getting to it that week because of things we had going on, kids getting colds, etc. But last week I was able to tackle these projects I really wanted to get to, and I have a list of things to tackle this week as well. When one has 3 little children, spring cleaning is a long process, bit by bit.

Done

-Baby dresser organized and sorted
-Stacks and piles of Clothing Swap Clothes are now out of the house, yay!
-Cleaned under my bed and organized a few bags of odds and ends left under there from our move in Dec.
-Organized our desk cubby and threw out old papers, sorted what to keep, etc.
-Sorted through all of the kid's clothes yet again
-Organized Alathia's clothing shelf and folded all the clothes. I figured that she's now old enough to keep the piles neat and straight and so I'm going to start folding her clothes again.

Goals for This Week

-Organize Homechooling/Craft Shelf
-Organize my pantry
-Go through my tickler file and sort papers
-Clean out my closet
-Rotate toys again (How do we keep ending up with tons of toys out even though I try to keep to my Pioneer Living goal of 5 per kid?)
-Vacuum baseboards around every room in the house
-Clean out and organize my fridge and freezer

Sew Crazy #5--Final Projects

This apron was going to be for my new sis-in-law and then I decided it just didn't look like her style. So, I decided it would perfectly match the tastes of my friend who is getting married next month.

I made this Chic Sisters apron (a Marie-Madeline Studio pattern) after I ordered this from Fashionably Modest Patterns. I was a little disappointed with the fabric I had. I hadn't realized how thin the light pink stuff was when I bought it on clearance.

God has laid on my heart the person whom I really think needs to receive this apron so I won't be keeping this one!

I seem to be the queen of improvisation. So, when I attempted to make a One-Hour apron out of this fabric, and didn't read the directions enough and made a major mistake, it became a little skirt for Alathia!

Justus enjoys his new tie quilt. No more sleeping in a princess blanket!

Now that I've caught up on all of these sewing projects, I think I'll take a break from sewing this week! But I enjoy it so much, I know I'll be back to it soon! My head is spinning with all the things I want to make for people. I need to pace myself though! I think when I take up sewing again it will be to make a few more Chic Sisters Aprons for 3 friends getting married this summer.

More to Come!

I have a few more projects to showcase in my Sew Crazy Week here so check back for pics of another skirt, another apron, and another tie quilt! Have a great weekend blog friends!

The Best of COF--Snack Ideas and Cute Poem

This list was published in the May 2007 newsletter.

Healthy Snacks for Kids

Baked apple rings

English muffins topped with scrambled eggs and cheese

Banana frozen on a popsicle stick

Celery with peanut butter and raisins (ants on a log)

Cereal low in sugar

Hardboiled eggs

Zuchinni or carrot muffins

Fruit smoothies

Frozen yogurt topped with nuts

Pita bread

Popcorn topped with cinnamon or Parmesan cheese

Rice cakes

Finger sandwiches

Homemade popsicles

Sunflower of pumpkin seeds

Cottage Cheese

French Toast Strips

Meat balls

Fruit leather (made without sugar)

Cucumbers

Quesadillas

Taken from The Mom Book by Stacey M. DeBroff.

Poem written by Jill Briscoe

Submitted to the newsletter by my friend Hanna

A Prayer About a Hot Spot

Am I like a tea bag

Waiting to know

What flavor I am

When in hot H2O?

Am I like a tea bag

Soggy and wet?

Am I asking the Lord

Just how hot it can get?

I want to be able

To give out for sure

A fragrant aroma

That makes folks want more

But that means hot water

That hurts my deep pride

And cleans out my life

Till I'm tired inside

Of a fragrance-less life

That knows not how to sing

So dip me in water

But keep hold of the string!

Amen.

Sew Crazy #4---The Cutest Skirt I've Ever Made!

Ever since Crystal featured a giveaway at biblicalwomanhood.com for one of these Gracie Ruffle skirts, I have been dying to make one. They are so pretty! I tried to make one on my own, but my ruffles weren't full enough and it was kind of a flop, which got improvised into a different cute skirt. So, I ordered this Marie-Madeline Studio pattern from Fasionably Modest Patterns (the cheapest deal on the web) and have been carefully crafting this skirt all week! It took a lot of time and I was more careful than I've ever been about measuring and pinning every hem perfectly so it would not have a single flaw.

There were two bands, three ruffles, and a yoke to cut out for this skirt. Now that I know how to make it, it will be a snap to put together any future skirts! I may just make myself one of these one day since I'm a mom that loves to have fun!

This skirt, which my friend Amy hired me to make for little Arianna a couple of months ago, is about the second cutest skirt I've ever made!

Sew Crazy #3--Fast and Frugal Apron Project

This darling shirt was a thrift store buy. I eyeballed it instead of trying it on (never a good idea) only to find that it was too tight/immodest to wear. I considered making the bottom portion into a simple and quick skirt for Ali, but she already has two new skirts I've made this week. So...I ran with a different idea that popped into my head...
I turned it inside out and sewed from the shoulder line down to the waist, thus cutting off the sleeves. I then trimmed them off. This is what it looked like turned right side out again.

Then I cut the back out, aligning it with the front neckline. I turned down the edge and sewed the neckline together on the orange trim.

I took a strip from the sleeve that had been cut off and made a neck strap. At first I just made an attached strap with no ties. But then the apron didn't come up as high as I liked, so I cut the neck strap in half and made it a tie-able strap that can be adjusted tighter or looser.

This apron is unique because it's extra thick (two layers of shirt) and it is made out of t-shirt material. A great apron for doing dirty jobs or washing dishes and keeping your waist dry!

Very frugal at the cost of about 25-50 cents for the shirt!

Stayed tuned for pics of some DARLING skirts I made for Ali and a tie quilt I'm making for Justus.

Sew Crazy #2!

This skirt was $2.99 at K-Mart. However, they didn't have my size, just a size or two larger than mine. I loved the skirt, needed a new skirt, and knew I couldn't get the fabric to make one for that price! So, I got it and carefully removed about 4 inches from the waist elastic. It now fits perfectly and I love wearing it because it's so cheery and feminine!
Someone donated some adults clothing for our clothing swap. This pretty skirt caught my eye but was about 3 sizes too big for me in the waist. Again, I just cut out about 6-8 inches of the elastic and perfecto!


I found this racecar fabric on clearance for $1 a yard in Billings. I knew it would make some cute pillowcases for Jerby. He's just getting to the stage of using a small pillow at night like sister. One yard made two cute pillowcases.

Jer lost his security blanket a few months ago and I made him a new little one out of fleece. However, he lost that one a couple of times (we found it though) and he often gets it dirty or wets on it at night. When it's in the wash it's really hard for him. So, when I saw this extra-fuzzy fleece on clearance, I got enough to make TWO blankets! Each blanket is 1/4 yard of blue fleece sewed to 1/4 yard of duckie fleece. One will go into the linen closet and will be pulled out when the other one is in the wash, or is missing. The thing I love about this is that now he actually has a "duckie" blanket. Ali has a duck security blanket which she has had for 4 years. Jer's two security blankets he has had thus far have not had ducks on them at all or been yellow but he has always called them "duckie blankies" mimicking Ali, which totally confuses everyone. Now the name fits with the blanket!

Sew Crazy!!!

A truck book and a racecar blanket. What could be better?

Sleepy Jer loved his tie quilt I made him out of the sale fleece I mentioned snagging last week at Wal-Mart. No more sleeping in pink blankets!

A fun and simple tutu. I used an elastic waistband (sewed together) and then tied 3x24 inch lengths around the waistband until it was full and poofy. Because I had gotten a bolt of tulle at the thrift store for $2, this tutu only cost me around 70 cents to make! I made three last week and we gave two of them away to Ali's friends.


I'll be featuring more sewing projects this week as I'm excited to share with you all some of the fun things I'm making. I've been bitten by a spring sewing bug and I have so many things I'm anxious to do. It helps that I have a couple of fun new patterns and a few yards of fun, new fabric!

Clothing Swap!

Just a reminder to those of you who live in my county and read my blog (all 3 of you) that this Friday is the Clothing Swap at my house at 10:00 a.m. You don't have to bring anything to participate, but if you have kids clothing or maternity clothing or toys/games/videos that you want to pass on, bring them! It'll be like a free yard sale for mothers of young kids. Anyone is welcome to come and we'll have snacks and some good fellowship! Hope to see you there!

*All the excess clothing will be donated to the nearby crisis pregnancy center or given to the thrift store.*

Reaching out to Other Moms

Pic from: http://www.crpn.net/Guide%20for%20Moms%20Cover%20Art.gif





The other day I was thinking about the moms all around me. It seems that each one is carrying a huge load. Whether it is homeschooling, dealing with grown children who are not walking with the Lord, raising their grandkids, dealing with tiny kids all day and all night, being very pregnant, or raising teens, almost every mom I know is often tired and could use a pick-me-up.



God caused me to think about what I could do for these moms. Encouragement is a spiritual gift God has given me and thus, I would like to do something to bless some of these moms in my life.





Here are some possibilities for things I might do:



Make a meal

Sew a fun apron

Bag of groceries or Walgreens freebies

Send a pizza gift card

Send a card with encouraging verses

Drop off a spa basket with bath goodies

A box of chocolates

A babysitting coupon

Cooking up a bunch of hamburger and beans for a Mama going through severe morning sickness





Sometimes the needs are hidden and sometimes a mom isn't going through a visible trial but is just exhausted and tired of feeling like a slave to her family and taken for granted. There are also moms all around me who are visibly hurting. Right now, I know people dealing with loss/miscarriage, dealing with pregnancy nausea, feeling overwhelmed, suffering from postpartum depression, trying to supplement the income with part-time work or working full-time outside the home and doing all the household chores too, trying to get by on one income when hubby's work has been slow, dealing with unemployment, dealing with marriage problems, dealing with sickness, feeling overwhelmed, and feeling disconnected from other women.




I've often looked for ways to bless other moms and friends but right now there is so much I want to do since there are SO MANY in need. I will be praying that God would really lay on my heart the one(s) who needs my encouragement this week, this day, this hour, etc.



Mothering is tough. Often, I feel totally overwhelmed and incapable of the incredible task it is to rear children. I want reach out to the moms around me with the gifts God has given me! I've found that giving to others gives me a boost as well! When I am having a hard time as a mom, I find that reaching out to help those who are in even harder circumstances really energizes me and blesses us both!

What ideas do you have for blessing your fellow mom friends?

Easter Poem

Today instead of posting the usual "Best of COF" recipe/article I am going to post this Easter Poem which I wrote when I was 16. It sums up what Christ has done in my life.

I LAID in a pool of sin, in bondage


HE CAME so I could be free.


I SAT in doubt and pride, wondering


HE STILLED the storm in me


I ROSE on shaky ground, trembling


HE PRAYED that I might stand


I STOOD as His child by grace, with hope


HE TOUCHED my life with His outstretched hand


I WALK in a world that's dying, with conviction


HE GAVE His Spirit to live in me,


I'LL RUN the race He's planned, with joy


HE'LL COME any day to deliver me.


HE LIVES.









1 Cor. 1:30 And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption





1 Cor 1: 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.








(Image from http://media.photobucket.com/image/Images%20of%20the%20cross%20at%20sunset/fieldijm/cross-sunset_628_1024x768.jpg)

Successful Baking Day

Ever since I read through my mom's once-a-month cooking cookbooks in my mid-teens I've seen the benefits of bulk cooking. It's been so nice when I've had my babies to have a stocked freezer with meals and easy-prep foods. It's such a time-saver to cook chicken and beans and brown rice in bulk and freeze. Yesterday I decided we didn't have nearly enough snacks in the house and I decided to bake up a bunch since I'm trying to eat from the pantry as much as possible this week. So, I made cinnamon graham squares, granola bars, muffins, oatmeal bread, and black bean brownies as well as cooking and freezing black beans and making about 4 dozen hardboiled eggs for us to dye this weekend as a fun spring project. The freezer is full of snacks, and the table is loaded with healthy treats now! A big part of the reason I got so much accomplished was that one of Ali's friends invited her over for 3 hours to play and the boys were napping during that time!

You can find the granola bar recipe I used here. My bars were overcooked and more crumbly, like granola cereal so next time I will try making them in a smaller pan and less time in the oven since my gas stove cooks things very quickly.
This is the cinnamon graham squares recipe.

Black bean brownies are the best for those of us who love chocolate but are trying to drop some weight too! You take a can of black beans (or I do 2 C. of cooked black beans made from dry) and puree in the blender. Add about 1/2-3/4 C. of water to them and blend very well. Dump into a bowl with a brownie mix and mix up. Don't add eggs, more water, oil or anything else unless you want to throw in some chocolate chunks or chips. Bake in a greased 9x13 until done. I usually throw some chocolate chips or marshmallows or both on top just before they come out of the oven to make them extra tasty. You would NEVER guess they were made with black beans and they fulfill that chocolate craving with about 1/3 of the calories you would normally get out of a brownie.

Recent Pics of the Kids

His look that reminds me of "The Count" off of Sesame Street

Trying to capture 3 in a decent photo....not happening

"What on earth are you wearing sis?"

"Okay, enough of this sibling thing....I was happy until you made me sit by him!"

"Get your paws off me lady!"

So far, Justy has green eyes like Mama. Will he keep them? We'll see....

"Okay, Mom! I'm ready for summer now!"

Toes taste yummy!

I love wrestling with my big bear!

"Look Mommy! I drew a snake and there's a bike cart on the end of it's tail so he can pull things!"

Jolly Justy

What was I thinking giving a 2 year old shaving cream for some texture finger play? I just turned my back for a second....

Eating Mac n' Cheese for the first time and loving it!

Grammy gave the kids a "fake" hamburger she made out of sugar cookies, coconut, peppermint patties, and red frosting. I tell ya, everytime she swings by she gives the kids more sugar! This was her April's Fool's Day Treat for her students.

Brother Buddies

I got this racetrack for King Jo for our first Christmas married because he'd never had one and I thought he'd enjoy being a kid. He pulled it out for the first time for Jer the other day and Jer was in heaven! But neither of our kids could figure out how to gently touch the triggers.

My girl is getting so big and loves to dress herself in vibrant outfits!

Learning how to stick his tongue out

I made some springy cupcakes for Ali's preschool party last week.