Easy Kids’ Lunch Snacks

Tags

children, recipes, saving money, snacks

I must attribute this post to my sister who has awesome kid ideas. When I was visiting she told me I should do a post about Lunchables(not affiliated with my site) and so she made some for me to write about. Thanks Joy, I love you.

If you buy them on sale at the store, you can easily spend $1-$2 per pack on kids’ pre-packaged lunches. Multiply this by two kids, five days a week and I can give you some better ideas on how to not eat your money away!

Materials needed: A small glass or cookie cutter, crackers of choice, meat and cheese of choice, sweet treat, drink, snack box or container

To make, cut out 5 each of the meat and cheese and package together with the crackers, treat, and drink. You can even place them in the plastic package the lunch meat came in! If you don’t have much time, have the kids do it on an afternoon and then place them in individual containers for use throughout the week. EnJOY!

Elsie’s Bug Collection

Tags

children, crafts, toy ideas

The other day I was sewing some changing pad cover savers from my huge stash of bug flannel and my 21 month old was sitting at the table mesmerized with the project. Since she can’t sit still for very long I decided to cut out some of the bugs for her to play with.

What a hit! She took her flannel “bugs” around the house and quickly found out they will stick to other fabric surfaces like the sofa, bouncy seat, and baby brother’s bum.  She has really taken to bugs lately and spots them everywhere. She gets real close to them and squishes them with her tiny finger, not realizing the fate they have just endured.  Flannel bugs are squish-proof.

I even caught myself telling her “leave your bugs here while we go outside.” My little entomologist placed them neatly on her play piano.  When we needed to come inside I said, “let’s look for bugs inside.” People will think we need an exterminator if they ever hear me telling her that.

Changing Pad Cover Saver

Tags

changing pad, changing pad saver, cloth diapering

I mentioned in an earlier post that babies have so much poop. It happens right when you put a new diaper on, or sometimes in the process of putting the new diaper on AND THEN in the new diaper. Since I don’t have time to change the changing pad cover AND the babies clothes, diapers, my clothes, etc. I decided to make changing pad cover SAVERS!

A changing pad cover saver SAVES your sanity along with the changing pad cover some of the time. All you do is lay it down on top of the cover and then replace it with a clean one if it is soiled quickly. You could just lay it on the pad without a cover underneath, but it might slip around since nothing is holding it down. To wash, just throw it in with the cloth diapers or other laundry.

For my savers I used two layers: a layer of flannel and a layer of terry cloth for absorbency. I surged the two pieces together and then sewed lines on it so it wouldn’t shift in the wash. You can also sew right sides together, turn and topstitch, or just put a towel down without sewing anything! Your new savers can even be used as on-the-go changing pads.

SMP

Tags

baby, baby wipes, children, cloth wipe solution, cloth wipes, DIY, saving money, sewing, wipe solution

Babies make So Much Poop. Using disposable diapers and wipes instead of cloth diapers and wipes is like wiping your babies bum with dollar bills. Since I prefer to use something more gentle on my baby’s bum and my wallet, I am cloth all the way (unless unforseen circumstances arise).

Since the last post was about cloth diapers, I thought it fitting that I would share my cloth wipes with you! Cloth wipes can be made from any soft absorbant material, preferably cotton or a cotton blend. I made mine from leftover flannel and terry cloth. Terry cloth works well for big messes because the fur gives it a nice soft scrubbing surface.  We used separate colors and prints to distinguish between face wipes and bum wipes. You can use old t-shirts, flannel blankets, wash cloths, old towels, or sheets.

To make the wipes, cut squares or rectangles about the size of your hand. After awhile you will know your preference-larger or smaller. Mine are a mix of 6″ and 7″ squares. I surged around the outside, but you can also sew it like a pillow, turn it right side out and topstitch around. I didn’t have enough time to do that and I also found that I like single layer wipes better than double layer wipes. You can also just use the squares without sewing. I only sewed so they don’t fray and sewing gives a nice finished edge on something used for not so nice things.

I use an old wipes container(yes I had to buy them once) to hold my wipes. For wet wipes, I made my own solution from baby body wash and baby lotion, which is nice and gentle on baby’s bum. Just stick a small dot each of wash and lotion in the bottom of the container, mix with your finger and add water halfway full. Put in half-fold wipes and use them all day! I don’t put more than a day’s worth of wipes in the container because they can get musty if left too long. It also lets me wash out the container at the end of each day in case I double dipped and there was poop on my hand (it happens).

If you’re on the go, you can either put wet wipes in a spill-proof container or bag, or you can pack dry wipes with pre-made solution in a spray bottle. You will find that you use them ALL THE TIME. They work better than disposable wipes and you can re-use them. You can wash them with your diapers or regular laundry depending on your preference.

Cloth wipes are quick to make and are a great gift for new babies. Happy wiping!

Baby Days and Free Giveaway!

Tags

afternoon project, baby, Cloth diaper, diaper, fabric recycling, sewing, upcycling

Cloth diapers are back! We have been using cloth diapers for almost two years now, and they have been wonderful.  If you haven’t seen cloth diapers recently, these are not your momma’s cloth diapers.  You know, the prefold squares that need crazy origami skillz while the baby is kicking and pins that you need to fasten the diaper closed with(while trying not to stab a leg). New cloth diapers in the last several years look a lot like disposable diapers (but cuter) and are washable. Some come with liners that you can flush if you do not want to handle the mess, but they are really easy to manage and usually stink free.

While prefolds and plastic pants are still used because they are economical and simple, there are other options for parents on the go who do not think they have time for cloth diapers. Enter the pocket diaper. There are so many brands, so many styles, so many deliciously cute prints, and so many choices such as snaps or velcro. For more information on cloth diapering, head to the Zany Zebra website.

I started out with pocket diapers because I didn’t know a thing about cloth diapering and fell in love. Basically, it is a pocket that you stuff with inserts to make it more absorbent.  When it becomes used, you throw it in the diaper pail until wash time.  No need to soak the diapers or mess with stinky solutions or bleach. Just put them in the wash, do a pre-rinse, wash, and extra rinse. Line dry or tumble dry.

Who knew it was cool to like poopy diapers? In fact, I recently sold many of my diapers that have been used for two years and they kept half their value! What else can you poop in, wash, and drag through the mud for one and a half years and resell for $$? You definitely can’t do that with disposables and I hate the way disposable diapers feel in my hand, on my baby, and in the trash.

Modern cloth diapers range in prices from $ to $$$. If you are diapering on a budget, it does take a small up front investment, but DEFINITELY recoups its value in just a few months, if that.  For us, we bought $$ diapers, so it took us about 5 months to recoup the value, and we used them for 2 years. We were going to use them on baby #2, but decided on some other styles so sold the diapers and used that money to buy the new diapers, plus money left over.

So this post is about SUPER budget diapers, and making diapers out of T-Shirts!! It is my new favorite craft! Don’t you just love the cute “I love Mom” bum in the picture? That’s my boy. On him is a small t-shirt diaper(all in one) that took about 2 hours to make and doesn’t need snaps- you could still use pins or velcro. All you need is some t-shirts, some elastic(or not), and your sewing machine.  A great resource for a t-shirt diaper tutorial is Fern and Faerie. The Fern and Faerie website has tutorials for sewing fitted diapers as well as square prefold diapers.  My favorite resource for patterns and information is Zany Zebra. Zany Zebra has oodles of resources including information on cloth diapering, links to cloth diaper patterns, etc.

For my diapers, I made a small and a medium out of 2 t-shirts. By using 2 shirts, I was able to fit two patterns on one shirt as well as get contrasting colors.  I am all about making the most of my fabric even if it is “free”. I made my own pattern on a piece of paper bag and traced it onto the t-shirt with a washable marker. For the small, the “soaker” is sewn right into the diaper(all in one) and the medium is a pocket diaper where you stuff the “soaker” into the pocket.  While I did not take pictures of the whole process, I basically sewed two cuts together to form the outside of the diaper, sewed two cuts together to form the inside of the diaper, and then sewed the front and back together to make a pocket. See the Cloth Diaper Sewing website for info on drafting your own pattern!

You can get fancy by adding accessories like leg elastic, back elastic, and snaps or velcro for a closure. My diapers have leg elastic that I’ve had in a box for years as well as snaps because I have a snap press.  You will need to stuff the diaper to make it more absorbent. Since t-shirts are cotton, they are less likely to cause diaper rash, but stay WET so you need to change them more often.  I made inserts out of the t-shirt scraps left over and terry cloth(towel).  You will also need to cover them with a waterproof diaper cover unless you are enjoying fun in the sun!

FREE GIVEAWAY!

I love my t-shirt diapers so much, I want to share one with a reader! All you have to do is write a comment on any NEW post from now until June 1(including this one). On June 1 (in honor of my mother in law’s birthday), I will randomly select a winner to receive either a small(6-12 lbs) or medium(10-20 lbs) cloth t-shirt diaper like the ones pictured above! I’ll contact you by email address as well as announce the winner on June 1. Can be sent to US addresses only.

Enjoy your adventure in cloth diapering! Even if you do not cloth diaper, you could always sew a stash of diapers for an expecting friend or a family with little ones! Or you could sew a stash because you like to sew and cloth diapers are irresistible…

Post edited to include: Cloth diaper giveaway can be sent to US addresses only.

Reflecting on Mother’s Day: A new Perspective

Tags

children, Mother's Day, nature, outdoors

Mother’s Day Outing:
I’m not sure if it was when the ticks started crawling on my shirt or the mile left to the car that caused me to enjoy my mother’s day present slightly differently than expected.

My husband wanted to take me and the kids hiking for Mother’s Day. Since we are both outdoor lovers and needed a day out, I was really excited to have the chance to enjoy nature (and of course it was FREE).

We had the infant carrier that my husband wore and I was in charge of our 20month old daughter. Someone chose the 1.8 mile “strenuous” trail. I think “strenuous” translated into “slightly uphill” in our minds. Oh no. It was UP hill, rocky, stumpy, underbrush-laden terrain, complete with climbing over tree roots and dodging branches and thorns. Add an 8week old and an under 2 year old to the mix, plus rain, and it was not the smartest walk we’ve ever taken. Why did it take us a whole mile to figure this out?

We wanted to get to the scenic lookout, marked on the map between “T3” and “T4”. By the time we got tired, we knew we had to be close. We saw a marker, oh glorious marker, but when we got there it said “T2” and we were still a whole inch from T3 on the map(.5 mi), NOT to mention the return trip we would have to take if we kept going.

A Realization:
To shorten the story, we completely missed the scenic lookout and ended up at T4 dumbfounded and tired. Then the ticks started falling on us and I had enough nature for the day. The 20month old insisted on collecting rocks, sticks, bugs, and foliage(hopefully not poison ivy), which kept lengthening our walk, so I picked her up and practically ran back down the trail to get out of there.

Tonight while I was doing the dishes(and combing my fingers through my hair for the umpteenth time making sure I didn’t miss a tick, and shouldn’t someone else be doing the dishes on mother’s day?), I was reflecting on the weekend of celebrating moms and how disastrous it seemed. It didn’t make me feel refreshed, but overworked and tired.

That’s when I realized that for me, Mother’s Day should be a day where I renew my focus on God’s plan for me as a mom, and not my own failures or mistakes, or huge list of things I need to get done. Therefore, I am writing a reminder for myself to be an encouragement as I face another year of poop, bloody knees, dirty clothes, messy faces, and beautiful children.

My Commitment:
For the next year I will commit to the following:
• I will remember that God gave me my children, perfect, just the way they are, and He intentionally chose me as their mother. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14, NIV

• I will trust God for wisdom in discipline and not discipline out of anger or frustration. “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:26, NIV

• I will study the Bible on a regular basis so that I will be a godly example for my children. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

• I will not be lazy. I will do what needs to be done to have a safe, loving, and stress-free home. “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31: 27, NIV

• I will remember that God is by my side every step of the way. He is there for me to enjoy, obey, rely upon, talk to, and have as the ultimate example. Nothing or no one else can take His place. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5, NIV

Whether you are a mom, honorary mom, or support staff, please be encouraged and please encourage moms around you that they are not alone and that God has a beautiful plan for their life!