My Summer In Review

The summer officially came to a close today with the start of school. My oldest started 3rd grade today and my youngest will be starting Kindergarten on Friday. I have to admit though that I've been anxious for the start of school this year. But, today I found myself to be a bit aimless and random in my tasks. The summer has been such a blur of constant motion, events, friends, birthdays, and vacations, that I haven't really had time to look and see what has and hasn't been accomplished this summer. I have to say that overall it was a wonderful summer. The girls had a blast and we did a lot of things together as a family. But.... what happened to all that sewing that I was supposed to get done... and all the “organizing” of the house and garage that desperately needs to get done... and lets not even mention all that yard work. Sitting here as the kids go off to school all I see is backed up commissions, a messy house and yard, and an endless winter of housework.

So... what DID we do this summer?

Birthday parties for both my kids and husband.... check
Family BBQ at in-laws for summer b-days...check
4th of July dinner and fireworks... check
2 Trips to the family cabin at the beach... check
Lots of play dates with friends... check
Multiple days of playing in the slip and slide... check
Swim lessons every morning for a month... check
½ Of garage cleaned out... check
Garage sale... check
2 Camping trips with lots of sightseeing... check
Family check-ups, vision, and dental... check
Organizing the laundry room and closet... check
Trip to the Science Museum with friends... check
Lots of visits to Grandparents house... check
School clothes shopping... check
Oldest daughter gets her ears pierced... check
Trip to the local water park... check
Install new hallway and bathroom light fixtures... check
Nasty cold that went around to whole family... check
Getting the news that my parents are moving 4 hours away... not willing to check this one yet... it's still to... hard to imagine.
A successful summer filled with lots of laughter, fun, and family... priceless... hehe... just had to.



It's funny the things that stand out in your mind... usually things that are of small consequence.. but important non-the-less. Things like: I remember my youngest daughter in the “Gino Petrified Forest” museum that we visited. She knows not to touch anything... but sometimes she just can't seem to help herself. But, at the museum she put her hands in her shorts pockets and just kept them there. Neither my husband or myself told her to do this. It was just something that she did all on her own. I smiled the whole time as she walked around that museum and peered into the display cases with her hands in her pockets.

I remember last month when my oldest had a good friend over. I went upstairs to put away some laundry and I hear the two of them up in her bed just talking. Talking about how excited they were for school to start and which friends the wanted to see the most. Talking about girly things like what type of clothes they wanted for the new school year, etc. It wasn't what they were talking about that made me stop in the hallway and listen for a moment. It was the realization that my little girl was truly growing up. They weren't playing dolls, or dress up... they were just talking. Sigh....

For the closing of this rather long winded summer review I just wanted to send a “Love You!!” off to my mother. I never understood until this summer why she always looked forward to the start of a new school year. Now, I understand. Don't get me wrong... it's really nice to have the kids home all day after a long school year. But after a while you realize that it's really hard to get anything “done” when they are in the house. And, that the summer activities that revolve completely around the kids leaves you with a ton of work to do come fall. Thanks mom for all those fun summer months of my childhood. And, thanks for not going crazy come fall.

Brynn's "Almost" Organic Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've been developing this recipe for almost a year now. Slightly changing something from one batch to another. I wanted a cookie that was healthier and more "organic" for my family to be eating. These cookies have helped my kids slowely adjust to that "wheat" flavor in things. We are now eating whole wheat pasta, bread, muffins, pancakes, etc. (Pancake recipe to come) My kids LOVE these cookies, and I hope your family will love them too.


Brynn's “ Almost” Organic Chocolate Chip Cookies (photo will be added tonight)
Very Budget & Child Friendly

1 cup (two sticks) Cheap Margarine
1 cup Dark Brown Sugar
¾ cup White Organic Sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt
1 ½ tsp. Vanilla
1 cup Ground Flax Seed
2 ¼ cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 bag Dk. Chocolate Chips

Soften butter. Mix in ingredients in the order given. Use a cookie cutter to for cookies OR drop large spoon fulls on your baking sheet. Bake at 350% for 7-10 minutes. This time depends on the size of cookies. Cool & Eat.

Notes about the recipe:

I make these with and without the flax seed. You may replace the flax seed with wheat flour if you wish. And, you may also use semi-sweet chocolate chips in place of the dark chocolate.

Also, I use a 1.5” and 3” round cookie cutters to make my cookies. I place the cookie cutter on my baking sheet and fill it with dough. I then lift the cookie cutter and repeat until the sheet is full. This makes for a cookie like the ones you get at the stores. No thin edges.. just a perfect plump cookie that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Felt Foods For Sale - Photos Added

Edit: Photos of most of the items listed below have been added to this post. Please see below price list for the pictures. More photos will be added soon. Thanks.

I've had many requests for my felt foods. So, I've decided to put up a price list. Anyone who would like to order something, please send me a message/comment or email me. If you don't see an item on the list that you would like, just let me know and I will see about making that item for you. Photos of most of these items are shown on my felt foods post. Thanks everyone for your support and wonderful comments on my felt foods.

Things to note:
- Shipping is extra and based on your location.
- When ordering, please let me know which item you would like and and the amount of pieces/sets you want.
- If you want a color change just let me know and I will do what I can to accommodate you.
- All items are made with acrylic felt unless otherwise noted. I do as much machine sewing as possible to keep cost low.. so most the decorative stitching you get will be done on the machine. I use polyfill and occasionally recycled yarns to stuff my foods.
- Small items like fruit snacks and anything beaded is not recommended for children under the age of 3. Beading can be omitted for items upon request.
- Colors may vary slightly depending on what is available. Please ask if you would like a color change and I will do everything I can to find that color.

Items are prices per piece or set. The amount of each item in a set is noted.
Fruits & Veggies:

Single Color Flat Items (flat slices of things):
Banana OR Pickle (set of 3) - $1.50
Tomato's (set of 2) - $1.50
Lettuce (set of 7 different colored and shaped leaves) - $4.00
Lettuce (set of 3 - this would be good if you just want some lettuce for sandwiches and hamburgers) - $1.75
Onion pieces (set of 3) - $1.00
Half slices of lemon OR lime - $0.75 per half slice

Two Color Flat Items:
Cucumber (set of 2) - $2.00
Kiwi (this one is a ½ slice with beading) - $3.00
If you would prefer paint instead of beading - $1.50

Whole Fruits & Veggies:
Baby Carrots (set of 4) - $2.00
4-5” Whole Carrot - $2.00
3” Whole Tomato - $2.50
3” Whole Onion - $2.50
Whole Pear - $3.00
Whole Apple $2.50
Corn on the cob (with removable husks) - $8.00
Whole Mushrooms (set of 3) - $6.00
Brocolli (set of 3) - $5.00
Cauliflower (set of 3) - $5.00
Whole Eggplant - $3.00
Strawberries w/ beads (set of 3) - $9.00
w/out beads (set of 3) - $5.00
Soy Beans (set of 3) - $2.00
Lemon or Lime - $1.50

Meats:
Pepperoni slices (4 total) - $2.00
Meatballs (2) - $2.50
Hamburger Patti - $2.00
Mystery lunch meat (1 pink colored round slice) - $1.00
Lunch meat (1 cream colored “turkey” or 1 brown colored “roast beef”) $1.00 ea
Steak, Pork, Fish Filet- $6.00 ea
Meatloaf $2.00

Grains:
Sandwich bread (whole wheat or white) (1 slice) - $2.50
Incredible "Infinity" bendable wrap bread/crust - $6.00
Hamburger Bun with “seads” on top - $6.00
Bow-tie pasta (whole wheat or white Or I can mix them)(set of 12 pieces) - $3.00
Pancake - $2.00
Quesadilla with 6 slices approx. 12” around - $6.00
note: the quesadilla works great a pizza crust as well!!
Baked / Mashed Potato (will come with a creamy potato center with a removable skin) – $6.00

Misc. Items:
Fried Egg - $2.50
Whole egg - $2.00
Syrup - $0.50
Gravy $0.50
Butter slice (set of 2) - $0.75
Bacon Strips (set of two) - $4.00
Pasta Sauce glob (approx. 5” around)- $3.00
Pizza Sauce glob - looks like the photos with stuffing and extra layers of felt to look more 3D(will fit on incredible bendable wrap or quesidilla) - $4.00
OR Pizza Sauce glob - will be two pieces of flat felt with decorative swirl stitching in the middle - $1.50
Mesh Cheese for pizza - $4.00
Note: Pizza sauce OR Mesh Cheese can be cut into 6 pieces to fit onto the quesadilla pieces for an additional $1.00
Cheese Slice (white, orange or yellow) - $1.00
Cheese slice with holes (this one is pale yellow) - $1.50
Cheese & Crackers (4 crackers and 6 different colored cheese slices) $3.00
Peanut Butter & Jelly Globbs - $2.00 for both
Ketchup & Mustard Globbs (circle shape for hamburgers & sandwiches) - $2.00 for both
Bag of chips – Includes a bag and 6 chips. Your choice of cheese triangle chips or oval potato chips - $6.00
Tea bags (set of 4) - $2.00
Plain lunch sack - $7.00
Lettering added (cost is per letter) - $0.30

Sweets:
Frosted Donut - $5.00
With beads added - $6.00
Sugar cookies w/ frosting (set of 3) - $7.00
With beads added (set of 3) - $10.00

Bag of Fruit Snacks (not recommended for small children) - Includes a little felt bag and 6 felted colorful fruit snacks - $10.00 (the fruit snacks are felted and take some time to make)

Sugar Cookies (with bead sprinkles), and Fruit snacks
Pancakes, Syrup, Butter Slices, Fried Eggs, and Bacon Stripes


Quesadilla & Bow-tie Pasta, Sauce, & Meatballs
Lunch meat sandwich showing: bread, mystery meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, & pickles


Infinity Bread Uses: Pizza Crust, pizza sauce, pizza mesh cheese, pepperoni slices
Wrap bread / pita pocket, veggies or fruit inside


Examples of the fruits and veggies


Whole lemon, lime, tomato, and onion.


Meats: The steak is "raw" on one side and "grilled" on the other. Hamburger patti, meatballs, pepperoni, and bacon.


Dairy: Mesh Cheese, White, Yellow, Orange, & Swiss Cheese, Butter, and Eggs.


Condiments: Pizza & Pasta Sauce, Ketchup & Mustard Blobs, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Syrup.


Grains: Any of these can be made as white or wheat. Quesadilla, Pancakes, Sandwich Bread, Hamburger Buns, Infinity Bendy Bread, and Bow-Tie Pasta


Example of the pizza sauce and mesh cheese cut into 6th and placed on quesadilla to form a pizza.


Potato Chips, Cheese Triangle Chips, and Tea Bags. Please note that the colors used on the chip bags will vary.

Eco Friendly Laundry Detergent

I've been using some eco friendly laundry detergent that I purchased off Etsy. I've loved it. I was fast approaching the bottom of my detergent bag when I decided to make my own. I hopped on the good ol internet and found lots of free recipes. I found one that used the same ingredients as the one that I was currently using. I had to go to 3 different grocery stores to find everything that I needed. Luckily the last grocery store carries everything that I need, so next time I'll just go there. I used recipe #9 here: http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/
I cut the recipe in half because I was afraid that it wouldn't all fit into my container (the container in the pic is a container for animal crackers.)

I've been using these types of laundry detergents for three reasons... number one: it's more cost effected (see below for total rundown of savings). Number two: it's better for the environment. And, number three: my hubby has sensitive skin and since using the natural stuff, he hasn't had any problems. (note that I've also switched to homemade bar soaps as well)

For anyone who is curious, here is a breakdown of what I bought, how much it cost, and how much it's saving me per load.

What I bought:

2 Boxes Of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda: $2.89 ea. (4 lb. Boxes)

5 Bars Fels Naptha Soap: 2@ $1.25 ea.(freddies) 3@ $1.49 (Albertsons) (yeilds 1cup grated soap ea.)

1 4.7 lb. Box of Borax: $3.79

1 4 lb. Box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda: $3.09

Total: $19.66

What I used:

4 cups Washing Soda (half box): $1.45

4 cups Fels Naptha (4 bars): $5.75

4 cups Baking Soda (half box): $1.54

6 cups Borax (half box): $1.90

Total Used: $10.64

Mine made approx. 18 cups of detergent. I will need to use 1/8^th cup detergent per load. 144 loads total in my bucket = $0.07 per load.

Tide = Around $20.00 for the big box with 90 loads = $0.22 per load

Vaulted Ceilings & Color Mishaps

Alrighty... now onto the living/dining space. The hallway has been finished. We actually had it fully painted before we realized that the color we had chosen for the entire living space was way to light. It looked like pistachios. Well....I think it looked more like butter with a pinch of green, but my hubby and mom said pistachios. Anyways, we picked a new color called “Shaded Path” It was a color by a new earth friendly line of paint called “The Freshaire Choice”. I would have really liked to try the new paint, but we have a ton of wall to cover and I didn't want to risk having to do more than two coats. And, I know that Behr covers great, so I had them colormatch it. So, we repainted the hallway and yesterday my mom and I finished the living room. We had run out of paint, so I went back to the store to get more. Please note, that we only had touch up in the living room to do at this point. (and the stairwell and upper part of the kitchen left) I bought the paint and my mom started touching up. 4 hours later were looking at it, and looking at it, and looking at it.... The color was wrong!! It was a full shade lighter. So, back to the store I went. Really frustrated and trying very hard not to cry. They were incredibly nice at the store and refunded me my money on the bad gallon and remixed me a new one. It looked great. They even put a huge slab of it on the original can to make sure it was right. I came home and we tested it in two areas. I went to bed fretting, but hope full. This morning, it looks better than the other color, but the sheen is off or something. I mean, it's just not right!!! I'm going back to the store today. I have a feeling that I'm going to have to repaint the “nook” in the dinning area (that's where we did most of our touch up work). But, we'll have have to do something about the rest of the house left to paint. I'm irritated in general about all this. Painting those high walls was not fun, and I'm not looking forward to the next few days.

Forgot to mention the wallpaper border... The front room and hallway was painted only halfway up the vaulted walls. And, they had put up a wallpaper border. The border had 3-4 layers of paint on it and it was a pain to remove. You can see it in some of the pics.

On a more happy note: The living room and hallway look stunning. We have soo much organizing, decorating, and cleaning left to do. But, I'm starting to see the light. By the time were finished the house is going to look completely different.

Paint Chips & Hardware & Frustrations, Oh My!!

We finally began the remodel on the house last week. I've been putting it off for almost 6 months now. Mostly because we have very tall vaulted ceilings in the front room and the back art space has TONS of stuff everywhere. I've decided to break up this post into two posts. One about the back of the house (aka: the art space) and one about the front of the house and hallway (aka: the living/dining space)

So, We started in the art space. I took everything down and moved things into the kitchen space. I then painted that ugly yellow ceiling in the art space and the burgundy ceiling in the hallway white!!! Nothing to date has been as satisfying as painting those ceilings. It instantly brightened up the space. I'm a firm believer in the fact that most ceilings should be white. (there are a few exceptions on that) Then came the tough decision about the wall color. We had decided on the color number 3 in the “paint by numbers wall picture”. But, after painting the ceiling the color turned out to be to gray, so we needed to pick something else. I was going for a nice gray blue. Not to gray and not to bright blue, but a happy blue color. It took us 7 tries (the seventh color was on another wall, trust me when I say it was electric blue). Eventually we decided on a color called Newport Blue. (number 6 on the wall) It's stunning against the newly painted white trim. Oh yeah... the trim.

First I just want to say that the previous owners were TERRIBLE painters. They didn't care if paint got sloshed onto the trim, floors, or ceilings. Nor did they painting over painters tape and then leaving the tape there. And, in some places the trim was left in it's original primed state where you could see the brush strokes by the factory. Ok... now I'm getting all worked up... calming down. Ok, so we painted all the trim our “Cottage White” color. Much better!

The room is finished being painted, but I still have a huge amount of organizing and decorating to do. My goal is to “let go” of at least 1/8^th of the stuff in this room. I'm very tired of the clutter. My mom and I are planning on doing something to the windows. And, I have some pages from a Victorian clothing catalog that we are going to frame and hang. I'm already loving this space and I can't wait to fully finish it. (before pics on bottom, after pics on top)

Weekend Projects

So, a few weeks back I mentioned that the weekends would be my “craft anything I WANT days”. This weekend I was able to do just that! Actually....I started my own crafts on Friday. That may have been cheating just a bit, but I really wanted to make my pattern weights.

So on Friday I made my pattern weights. I decided to use some fabric samples that I had ordered from a great fabric shop in the UK. The samples were nice and big. Around 6/8” each. But... some of them had “sample” stamped on them. Which eliminated the idea of piecing them together and making a doll quilt. I did think however that they would be great as my pattern weights. I had three samples of oil cloth and 5 samples of upholstery weight fabrics. I did a lightweight interfacing on the upholstery ones just to make sure they would stand up the the weight of the BB's. I pinked all the edges and just sewed em up on three sides. I then poured in some BB's and stitched up the tops. The edges are pinked, so I didn't have to turn them or anything. I made three sizes. The largest ones and three of the med. ones still need BB's. (I ran out) But, the others have already seen use. I LOVE them.

On Friday night and Saturday afternoon I sewed up some summer dresses for the girls. Ironic too, because it decided to snow on us Friday late afternoon. (and to think that last week it was over 80) I followed a tutorial on Crafster to turn a men's button down work shirt into a sun dress. It was very easy to follow. I altered mine a bit. I added detailing around the empire waist, and I put elastic in the back so the girls could wear them longer. I also added a tie in the back. They are really cute. I'll be making a few more of these. I'll try and get the girls to model for me sometime.

Saturday evening, I finally cut out the apron that I've been wanting to make. It'll be for me to use while I'm sewing and crafting. I'm using and adorable print that has a “pattern piece” background with sewing forms dressed in dresses. I'm making the apron reversible, so the back is an orange and bright pink striped. Both sides will have pockets and the front will have a decorative black border around most of it.

Well, I'm off to go sew up my apron. Finished pics will come tomorrow.