Kama's Korner

Our A Bible Verse

2012-01-11T21:30:00.000-06:00

We started our ABC Bible Verses today with an easy one--Joshua 24:15.

Here D is showing the motions we came up with to help us remember the verse:

We also made a little house, colored it and wrote our Bible verse on it. We are going to go over this one and all the others at night during dinner.

He did such a good job! I hope he remembers it tomorrow!!

2012 To Do List

2012-01-01T22:15:00.001-06:00

Used under Creative Commons
by puzzlescript

I don't make resolutions, but I sat down tonight and started thinking of things that I need to do this year differently than I've done in the past. I decided to write them down and then share them on this post. What's on your list?

Read at least 3 books to the kids daily

ABC Bible verse weekly

Read story/devotional at night (dinner)

Read the daily Bible

Exercise at least 3 times a week

Pray

Drink 8 glasses of water daily

Straighten up the den, common areas daily
Clean bathrooms weekly

Change sheets weekly

These are the projects I need to finish up soon:

Prayer board
Menu board
Laminate meals, games
E's quilted stocking

ABC Bible Verses

2012-01-01T21:43:00.000-06:00

So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Memorize his laws and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night or getting up in the morning. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Used under Creative Commons
from jamelah

I am taking this command seriously this year and planning to teach my children Bible verses. I have gone through a few websites and created an alphabetical list of 80 verses that I plan for all of us to learn this year. I hope to accomplish this task by doing the following things for each verse:

Write verse on a card with a picture representation
Craft to go along with each verse
Song, video or rhyme that goes with the verse if there is one

I am going to try to come up with the ideas off the top of my head and record what we've done on here. I am hoping to do about two verses a week. Feel free to share any ideas you have for any verses or activites, songs, etc. I think it should be fun and in the end, we will have learned 80 verses as a family if all goes according to plan!

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15
Ask and it shall be given you. Matthew 7:7
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
As for God, his way is perfect! Psalm 18:30

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31
Be strong and courageous. God is with you! Joshua 1:9
Be kind to one another and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31

Every word of God is pure. Proverbs 30:5
Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17
Every knee will bow before me: every tongue will acknowledge God. Romans 14:11
Even a child makes himself known by his acts. Proverbs 20:11

Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17
Fear not, for I am with you. Isaiah 41:10
For nothing is impossible with God! Luke 1:37
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

God is love. 1 John 4:8
Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Mark 16:15
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. Psalms 48:1
“Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good.” Jeremiah 33:11

Honor your father and mother. Matthew 19:19
Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Deuteronomy 6:4

If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against God. Psalm 119:11
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God James 1:5
In all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life:” John 14:6
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Psalms 34:13
Know that the Lord, he is God! Psalm 100:3

Let us love one another for love comes from God. 1 John 4:7
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength. Deuteronomy 6:5
Listen to advice and accept instruction. Proverbs 19:20

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Psalm 100:1
Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
My help comes from the Lord. Psalm 121:2

Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:39
No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

No man can serve two masters...Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24

Oh Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever. Psalm 30:12

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: Hebrews 13:17

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Psalm 95:6

O God you are my God. I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you. Psalm 63:1

Praise the Lord. Psalm 103:1

Peace be unto you. John 20:19
Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good: his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

In Quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15
Quench not the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Let every person be Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; James 1:19

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2
Submit yourselves therefore to God. James 4:7
Surely God is my help. Psalm 54:4
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Psalm 143:10
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Proverbs 3:5
They word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it. Proverbs 16:22
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture 1 Timothy 4:13

Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:2

Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master. Nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. John 13:16 With God we will gain the Victory. Psalm 60:12

Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Romans 12:19

Wait on the Lord. Psalms 27:14

“We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3

Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworth—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Let us eXalt his name together. Psalm 34:3

Let us eXamine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40

I will eXtol thee, my God, O king: Psalm 145:1

EXamine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39

Zion heard and was glad. Psalms 97:8

“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” Luke 19:5

My Homebirth

2011-11-24T21:15:00.002-06:00

I still can't believe that I had a baby at my house...in my clawfoot tub...with no medication! I was so excited about the experience and didn't really know what to expect even though it was my third birth. I had tried to go natural with my first son, but was convinced by the nurses to have pitocin and an epidural after a few hours at the hospital. With the second, I was induced and got an epidural first thing in the morning without ever questioning it. This time, I wanted things to go differently!

I went to see my midwife the day before my due date (Oct. 27) and knew the baby would be coming soon. By the next week, the baby had still not arrived, but I was okay with waiting. I saw my midwife twice that week and at the second appointment, she gave me some herbs to take to start the process. She said it could start up with a few dosages or it might take the whole bottle. A few days later, I finished the bottle.

I started having contractions on Saturday and began timing them around 3:30 in the afternoon. They were manageable, but they were noticeable. They didn't really increase in strength very much and didn't get closer together. My dad decided to take our boys over to my brother's house in case the baby came that night. Around 10 that evening, my midwife contacted me to see how things were going and to tell me to go to bed. I decided that walking sounded like a better idea, so my husband and I headed out for a tour of the neighborhood. While walking, the contractions were really close, but not really strong. We headed home.

On the way back to the house, we saw a falling star, so that was really cool. We walked in the door and my mom met us asking if we had felt the earthquake. Earthquake? In Dallas!? We had missed it, but she said the dog was going crazy and the light fixtures were all swaying. Then my husband turned on the light to walk down the hall and we saw a possum laying in the hallway!! Our dog had gotten out the back door, killed a possum and brought it in for us! I was afraid it was "playing possum" and would jump up when my husband went to scoop it up with a shovel. That, however, was not the case! After all the excitement, we decided to head to bed.

My contractions lasted all night long and I kept waking up to time them on my phone. I got up around 6 because I was starving and my mom met me in the kitchen. She hadn't slept at all! This was on a Sunday morning and I knew the baby was going to be coming that day!

We started getting things ready. We put the shower curtain liner under the bed sheet in case I delivered in the bed. We got all of the necessary towels and other items out and ready. My midwife called in the morning to check on me, but there was really no reason for her to head out yet.

I took a shower and got dressed. When I would have a contraction, I would bend over and hold on to the couch, sink or whatever it was and sway back and forth. I tried to control my breathing and remembered that saying "ah" or "oh" helped. I did this for pretty much every contraction. Laying in the bed hurt really bad, so resting was out of the question.

My contractions took a turn around noon. They were really strong and about 3-5 minutes apart. My midwife said she would come over around 1:00 to check on me, so I knew I could make it that long. She called a little after 1:00 to see how I was doing and let us know that she was going to see another client on her way over to our house. She heard me having a contraction in the background and decided that she had better come see me first! She arrived at our house around 1:20.

When she got there, she said I could get in the bath and to run the water really warm. It felt really good after I got it cooled down a little bit! I relaxed pretty much immediately and my contractions were a little more manageable and I had a little bit of a break. She checked and I was dilated to 7 cm!! This was wonderful news!!

Ben had decorated the bathroom with candles and even a tree in the corner. The tree actually became something I focused on between contractions instead of looking around and seeing everyone watching me! It really did look nice! My mom, Ben, my midwife and her assistant were there.

My midwife suggested a few positions, but most of the time I felt best just laying back and holding on to the side. Sometimes I sat up straight when I had contractions and sometimes I just laid back. I tried to breathe through them. Sometimes they were so hard that I was yelling somewhat and breathing fast. She always would remind me how to breathe deep from my belly and I would regain my control.

She said I could push whenever I wanted and see if it felt better. Honestly, I wasn't sure if it felt better or not, so I would try every once in awhile. This was definitely different than being told to push and counting to 10 in the hospital. I could push as much and as long as I wanted during each contraction.

I remember saying at one point that I thought my belly button was going to explode. It was poking up a good inch from my belly! I also yelled that it hurt so bad. At one point, they said they could see the baby's head and that was really motivating. I was ready to have this baby out.

My back started hurting really badly and this was the end because I kept saying I couldn't do any more. I knew I had no other choice, but I wanted them to know that I was done and I wasn't playing!!

A few more pushes and suddenly the pain was gone at 4:07 pm. There was a baby laying on my chest. Ben told me I had a girl! Then he told me to tell everyone her name which is Elizabeth Dawn. My mom was so excited and started crying (the baby was named after her and my dad). I remember noticing that she was so clean but a little blue. After just a few seconds, she started crying a little bit. They wrapped us in towels and got us to the bed. A little while later we had an herbal bath. I was blessed. She was perfect and the birth had gone perfectly!

The birth happened 2 1/2 weeks ago. My recovery has gone really quickly. I did receive a few stitches, but even those seem to have healed quickly this time. My arms were sore from holding the tub. I pretty much was feeling great within a few days of the birth and back to normal within a week.

Elizabeth has also done really well. She was very alert after the birth and we enjoyed hanging out on our bed and spending some time with her. She has taken up breastfeeding very well and has gained weight. She is precious and the perfect addition to our family.

I love that I had her at home and had such a supportive group around me. This was a great experience, although it was a lot of work and quite painful (but only really painful for about 4 hours).

I have been asked if I would do it again and I think I would. I read a lot of books, blogs and websites about birthing before going through this experience. They each had different information that I took from them to use during the birth. I am so thankful for the birth in the comfort of my home surrounded by people who understand and support my decision.

November 6, 2011

7 pounds, 9 ounces

4:07

To see why I chose home birth, please read THIS post. To answer some of the FAQs I hear, check out this LINK.

My Planned Home Birth FAQs

2011-10-23T17:31:00.001-05:00

I have one friend who has given birth at home. When she first did that, I thought she was crazy!! Now that I'm planning a home birth, I have been doing a lot of research about birthing at home. When I mention it to my friends, family or strangers, I often get a lot of funny looks and questions.

Here are a few of them:

1. Are you going to give birth in your bed?
I will give birth wherever is comfortable, but I haven't ruled out giving birth in or next to the bed.
2. Are you going to labor or birth in your tub?
Again, I'm not sure where I'll end up giving birth, but I do plan to use the bathtub at some point. We have a large claw-foot tub in the middle of our bathroom, so it should work out well.
3. Who is going to clean up?
My midwife and her assistant stay around for a few hours afterward to clean up, keep an eye on the baby and me and take care of any final things they need to do.
4. How did you pick your midwife?
I did a ton of research, but starting at 12 weeks pregnant looking for a midwife, I kind of wanted to get it done. I e-mailed a few CPMs, but we decided to go with a CNM because of the nursing background. I interviewed a birthing center in the area, but we thought that felt more like just going to some hotel to deliver--plus they kick you and the baby out a few hours after birth. So we met with the midwife we chose and really liked her. She had a lot of helpful insights and treated us well.
5. Are you going to have any pain medication?
No, I will be using relaxation methods, water, etc. to help deal with my pain. Plus I plan to focus on Scripture and pray a lot!! Doing a home birth pretty much ensures that you're going to go natural.
6. What happens if there is an emergency?
My midwife brings along a lot of supplies in case there is a minor problem. If there is something major, we can transport to one of the local (close) hospitals. We can either go in the car or call an ambulance if needed. We do not anticipate a problem, but if one arises, we will be prepared and follow the advice of our midwife.
7. When will your midwife come over?
She will be here while I am in active labor. She will come over when we call and tell her that my contractions are 5 minutes apart and lasting about 60 seconds for an hour. When I am "working with" them, breathing through them and focusing.
8. Will she have an assistant?
She will have a birthing assistant with her. Plus my mom and husband will be there!
9. Does she bring everything you need?
She gave me a list of supplies I need at home like towels, diapers, a birthing kit that I ordered online, a heating pad, thermometer, etc. She brings the other necessary supplies including oxygen, IVs and other supplies that she will need (whatever those might be)! Pretty much anything that is available at the birthing center she will bring with her. These are also items that are available at the hospital.
10. What made you decide to do this?
My other blog post at Today's Housewife explains pretty well.
11. Were your other babies born naturally?
My other two were born in a hospital with epidurals. This will be my first unmedicated birth!
12. What is going to happen with your 2 other children while you give birth?
Someone will take care of them if it is during the day. If it is night, they will be sleeping. They will not be participating in the birth!
13. Are you crazy?
Nope. I just want to protect my baby and myself as much as possible now that I have read a lot more about birth and what I want it to be like that I don't think I can achieve in a hospital setting.

What other questions do YOU have?

Other Finished Projects

2011-10-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

I have been trying to finish up a few projects recently before our baby arrives. Here are a few of them: Our son's Name Blessing cross stitch
Time Out Spots for the boys using my embroidery machine.

Planning D's 3rd Construction Birthday Party

Preschool Activities

2011-10-21T22:49:00.010-05:00

Here are some activities we have taken from other sources that I've done with the boys to give them a little structure and learning throughout the day. (I don't have the sites that I used, so I'm sorry for not giving them credit.)

We made an I-spy jar out of an old peanut butter jar, rice and some little items we found around the house.

We painted an egg carton to look like a caterpillar. Well, that was the idea. They scribbled on it about 10 times and then tore them to shreds.

We painted on a paper. #2 hated his smock!

This little sick guy did a good job of putting magnets on a paper over the letters of names.

(See, we really do wear clothes!) He used his Little Speller to write words.

#2 laced up some pictures.

#1 moved marbles from a bowl to a cup using a spoon.

He practiced cutting up old magazines and really liked doing this!

He strung beads on a pipe cleaner to make "snakes."

We made homemade play dough and cut shapes out of it. It has lasted a long time!!

We made a gel pouch with a Ziploc, hair gel, glitter and food coloring. It was fun until the bag popped.

We washed our toy cars with scrub brushes and a little tub of water and bubbles. This was fun!

This was not a favorite activity in the end. Mom cut out letters from a magazine and then wrote the letters on a paper. #1 then glued the correct letter from the magazine on the paper. This was a struggle after about 3 minutes, but we finished it!

We wrote on our dry erase board with markers. He even made a D!

We played Sequence for Kids.

We taped his name on a finger paint paper and then painted over it. Then we realized we really should have used painters tape instead of duct tape when we went to peel it off and half of the paper came up with it!

We used our Bingo and Do-A-Dot stampers to color in some pictures that we printed off the Internet.

Bible Lesson Plans Week 1

2011-10-21T22:47:00.003-05:00

This week I decided to take some of the stuff I've been learning at my Bible study and make little lesson plans for my little guys (21 months and 3 years old). It didn't take that long to plan and I'm sad I didn't start them earlier! Better late than never. Here is what we did this week:

On Monday, we talked about God is Good. This was before I came up with a lesson plan. So the boys used their stampers and stickers to decorate a paper that said, "God is Good" with a smiley face.
Then I found a lesson plan template for the next lesson. On Wednesday, we talked about "God Made Everything" from Genesis 1:1. We watched a DVD that went along with our Bible that talked about creation and had little song called "God Made Everything." Then we talked about how God made colors and read a book called God Must Really Love Colors. That evening, we went on a walk and took a paper sack to collect things that God made. They had so much fun doing this--sticks, rocks, flowers, leaves, etc. When we got home, my husband drew (I have no artistic abilities) an acorn on the paper (because I had seen it elsewhere, but any shape would work or no shape at all) and the boys glued their items to the paper. At the top I wrote "God Made Everything Gen. 1:1." It is now hanging on #1's door. It was a fun activity and they seemed to really love it!

I had three lessons planned for this week, but we didn't get to the third. Guess it will carry over to next week!

Here is the lesson plan that I used (designed for toddlers):

Story/Verse, Song/Rhyme/DVD, Learning Activity, Craft, P.E., Special Activity

We didn't do all of the activities with each lesson, but that will be the future goal in a relaxed setting. If you're interested in specifics about any of the books, DVDs, etc., please leave me a comment and I'll get back to you. We did use the Read 'n' See DVD Bible.

Finished Projects

2011-10-21T22:06:00.005-05:00

This is my 100th post! It has been a little while since I've posted anything on this blog, but I've been working...on a lot of things! 39 weeks pregnant this week, I finished up a few projects that needed to be done.

I was able to make a nursing cover for my sister-in-law who is due at the start of November and one for myself. I make them bigger than most--27"x37"! I also like to make them reversible.
I also was able to finish the quilt I made for my nephew and I like it a lot. I will give it to him when he is born!
Linked up to Finish It Up Friday.

H's Quilt

2011-07-25T15:47:00.002-05:00

My second son turned 18 months old recently and I finally finished his plus quilt. I started it long ago and it wasn't hard to do, I just kept putting it off for no reason. I love the way it turned out. It will be perfect in his big boy bed soon! The backing is from IKEA and I got another one to make his older brother a matching quilt (at least on the back).

M's Quilt

2011-07-25T14:27:00.004-05:00

I got to make a quilt for a brand new baby boy recently! He is the son of a very dear friend of mine. They prayed for a long time to have another child and God blessed this with a precious baby boy. I was excited to mail this quilt to them.
I made it using green and blue minky fabrics as well as matching flannels. Minky is not the easiest fabric to sew!!! I did a patchwork design and sewed it with straight lines that intersected in each patch. It ended up measuring 30" x 33". I think it will make him a nice lovie in the future!

Baby Gifts

2011-07-25T14:08:00.006-05:00

I have 2 friends who gave birth recently and I was so excited to get some gifts in the mail to them. One had a boy and one had a girl.

First I whipped out my embroidery machine to make a few gifts for the new babies and one special big sister! The big sister gift is a cute little apron I found and thought it would be perfect for a little crafty girl.
I saw this super cute idea as a blanket and then as washcloths. I tried the washcloth idea, but the ones I bought were too fat on the sides, so I decided to try onesies. I think it ended up looking so cute! Wrapped in cellophane and tied with a ribbon. This was the gift for the new sweet little boy that I'll hopefully get to meet soon! I made him a little tiny cuddly quilt that I hope he loves in the future (more on the quilt in another post)! I also included a burp cloth which I love made out of super soft flannel. These are also great for wiping noses when they get a little older!
Then for the little girl gift, I included a few girly necessities that I hope will come in handy and be loved as well! I hope to see a picture of her in her dress!

E's Quilt, Shower and Goodies

2011-06-02T15:09:00.011-05:00

We recently threw a shower for Baby E who is set to arrive in July. I am excited to meet her! Here are some of the things we did.

We made sugar scrubs for each of the guests. I had a lot of leftover baby food jars and I thought this would make a cute party favor. I looked up recipes online and we tried them out. They STUNK! Thankfully my sister-in-law had received one the day before from a friend. Mine ended up being like runny goo. Hers were more like sand and smelled great. She used 1/2 a cup of sugar, 1/2 a cup of brown sugar, a T of olive oil, soap coloring and something to make them smell good--orange and vanilla extract, almond extract and lavender essential oil. Everyone loved them--especially that they were in baby food jars for a baby shower!

We decorated with cute teapots and flowers. We also used lots of tulle and doilies. It was super cute and girlie.

We got a cookie cutter shaped like a onesie and made onesie cookies. More people ate these than the cupcakes we had. They sure did taste great. I was glad that my SILs would ice them because I'm no good at icing things!

One SIL made a scrapbook with pages for everyone to sign as the guestbook. They could write a blessing or some advice. It was fun to see what everyone had to say to the mommy-to-be!

I made Baby E a quilt for her shower. It has the colors of her room. It is a design I made up using 2 charm packs and some 1/2 yards of the same fabric. I like how it turned out although you can't tell very much from these pictures! I also appliqued her name to the back of it. I quilted it in a swirl pattern that I told my SIL gave me carpal tunnel syndrome!

I can't wait to see her wrapped up in the quilt!

My SIL wanted a nursing cover, so I made her one following a few tutorials I had found online. This one is really large so it should do a great job of covering up!

I also made a little banner for the shower that can later be hung in the nursery or used as a "birthday banner" as she grows. I embroidered her name on each of the triangles with my embroidery machine.

I also found this cute bag at Old Navy and embroidered her name on it with shiny thread. I like how it turned out. It can be a diaper bag or just a little church bag for as she grows. My embroidery machine is pretty basic, but we got it for a great deal on eBay and I love that I can personalize gifts with it!

*Sorry the pics all look so bad! I used my mom's camera and forgot to get a copy of the pics before heading home, so all of these have been saved from shutterfly. I'll put better pics on when I get the read copies!

Merry Christmas...

2010-12-21T16:28:00.003-06:00

...a little bit late! I finished the quilt I had intended to give my mother-in-law for Christmas just a few days after we celebrated. It is a pieced hexagon and I love it! I nick-named it Blood, Sweat and Tears II because of the pain it caused me, but I think it turned out nicely. It is 47"x56" or so (I forget). It has The Comfort of the Psalms sewn into it and her name embroidered on it as well. She was surprised! Here are the pictures.

A's Quilt on his BIRTH Day

2010-09-29T16:36:00.006-05:00

My sister-in-law decided to decorate her son's nursery in sports, so I decided to make him a quilt to go in there. I ended up picking mostly baseball fabrics and I love how it turned out. I did a large patch (9 1/2") disappearing nine patch. It ended up being 48" x 48" after washing. I even added a little tag on the back using my embroidery machine. I love this touch.

After I cut off the sides to square it up after quilting, I had enough to make a little pillow. I sewed them together, cut them in half, sewed them together, etc. It turned out really cute. I had absolutely no scraps left with this quilt!

I think he likes it!

Bleach Shirt

2010-09-18T09:09:00.004-05:00

Using this method, I made #1 a birthday shirt that has his name and 2 on it.

1. I cut out the letters and number I wanted out of freezer paper and ironed it on the shirt.

2. I put a box inside the shirt so the bleach wouldn't soak through.

3. I put pure bleach in a spray bottle and made sure it was on spray instead of stream.

4. I sprayed the shirt with bleach and waited about 10 minutes for the reaction.

5. I peeled off the letters to see the creation!

6. I used a hair dryer to dry the shirt a little more and then washed the shirt to make sure all the bleach was off of it.

It was super cheap and a really easy, cool way to make a personalized shirt.

I'm linked up.

Happy Sewing Month!

2010-09-14T09:00:00.001-05:00

We are talking about sewing this week on Today's Housewife. Be sure to stop by and check it out! Click over to see pictures of my most recent projects below:

* Name Blessing Cross Stitch from Joyful Expressions--You can find the ones I have for both of my boys. Cross stitching is fun, but it takes a long time! Check out the website--she can make a chart for any name and any verse that you want for a great price!

* Nursing cover for my sister-in-law who is due at the start of next month.

* Quilt for my soon-to-arrive nephew. Here is a preview.

* Reuseable Coffee Cup Sleeve--These are super easy and a great way to use up scraps! Plus, it's a nice homemade gift for Christmas or birthday! I have added rick rack and embroidered letters to a few of mine too!

* Car pillow--Mine looks slightly different because I did puffy tires, but Dietrich loves it. I was just excited that he knew it was a "truck" when he saw it!

* Embroidered items for new babies using my new embroidery machine!

Workin' Hard!

2010-07-14T14:28:00.002-05:00

I've been up to a lot of things lately, but my computer is kaput, so I can't show you any of my pictures! I have organized my sewing/craft room with a cool pegboard (pictures to come), worked some on my scrapbook, cleaned my house, and done various other projects.

A friend of mine came up with the idea to have Siggy Block Swap. To do this, we need to have people from all over who would be interested. That would make our finished quilts all the more interesting! Here is a tutorial for making a block. It looks really easy! We are looking at an organized way to do this. If anyone has any thoughts (or interest), please comment or send me an e-mail. This will be a fun project!!

More to come...

Happy 8th Birthday T-Man!

2010-06-24T19:45:00.001-05:00

In honor of my nephew's 8th birthday, I made him a quilt with his favorite things...

Sponge Bob

Transformers

Star Wars

The back is a little jumbled, but I know he's going to like it! I used pretty much every single bit of all of these fabrics that I had. I have previously made him a Star Wars pillowcase.

It measures 68x45 and I made up the pattern.

HE LOVED IT!

Recent Projects

2010-06-22T21:15:00.004-05:00

I've made a list of things that I'd like to make. It's long. Son #2 is getting more mobile and sleeping less during the day. I love getting to know his personality more, but I love him even more when he sleeps during #1's nap! That's the only time I really get anything done.

Sandra's blog recently had an auction to raise money for their adoption. I made this cute tank top for 4th of July. My mom asked where I got the star from and was amazed when I told her I had made it. I looked up "wonky star" on swagbucks and just traced the one I liked off the computer. It was hard to part with, but I think I'm going to make myself one too!

I have also completed another thing on my list, but I can't post it for a few days. My fabric stash is mostly shrinking these days, which makes me happy!

I just finished my 8th quilt. You can see all of them in my right sidebar. I also have #2's quilt top done and 1 that I'm *slowly* working on binding. I just found out that machine binding looks alright and is amazingly fast--30 minutes versus about 8 hours by hand! Good thing to know! Until later...

Help Fund Adoptions

2010-06-14T14:32:00.005-05:00

My best friend's blog auction is this weekend. They are adopting a boy from Ethiopia and need tons of funds! Check out their blog this Friday to see what is up for bids. I have decided to donate a 4th of July tie strap tank top that I made. Be sure to go over and bid on the awesome items!

My husband and I talked about adopting when we were dating. It is something that we are looking forward to doing. I have some friends who have adopted and some that are in the process of adopting.

This morning, I saw that Wendy's is giving $.50 toward the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA) for each Frosty that is sold on Father's Day Weekend. They are also giving $.50 to DTFA for each Frosty card that is sent. Go here to create and send a card. It's super easy!

38 Bucks

2010-06-12T19:37:00.001-05:00

I recently went to a craft show in my mom's neighborhood and saw the cutest shirt with a bow as the strap for the tank top. So cute! But, I didn't think it was $38 cute!! I KNEW that I could make it...and since we had just bought a tank top at the dollar store, I had the perfect opportunity to try without spending much. The lady sold it for $38 and I made this for about $2.

Here is how I did it:

1. Take out your (ugly) tank top, fabric, felt, button, sewing machine, thread, needle and seam ripper.

2. Measure the strap width. Mine was a little fat at almost 3".

3. Double this amount and add a little for making seams for the bow. I cut my fabric at 7".

4. Cut out the cross for the center and back it with some type of fusible webbing. (My husband drew this cross.)

5. Iron the straps with right sides together so they are easier to sew. Center and iron the cross on the shirt.

6. Sew the straps down the open side and one of the ends. Flip the straps inside out.

7. Rip the seam out of the tank top.

8. Pin and then sew the strap onto the tank top with right sides together. I did about a 1/2" seam and then did a zig zag closer to the edge for reinforcement.

9. Zig zag stitch around the cross making sure that you're only sewing through the front of the shirt!

10. Tie a bow and try it on!

11. Trace a flower and cut out 2 with pieces of felt. I used this flower pattern.

12. Sew these 2 flowers on with a button. I also stitched down my inside flower at each petal so it will lay flat when washed.
EDIT: Next time I will put a snap on the back and on the shirt so the flower can be removed before washing and drying.

13. Ta-da!! You're done! Enjoy your new tank top with a bow strap!

I am linked up.

Easy Burp Cloths

2010-05-06T21:15:00.007-05:00

I made these Burp Cloths that I had seen on Homemade by Jill. They were super easy! I did one with fabric lined with flannel and the others are flannel only. So cute, handy and looking forward to new owners!
I followed her directions except I only sewed accross the middle on one and the others seem fine. I washed and dried them once and they are plenty worn looking!

Me...Gardening?

2010-05-06T20:45:00.005-05:00

If you know me, you know I'm more of an indoors kind of girl, but a post recently struck my fancy from Positively Splendid. She made some Tiered Terracotta Planters and I thought they were, well, splendid! Sadly, I have had this little rod to do a topsy-turvy planter for about a year now, I think, so it was the time. That and the sale on flowers at Home Depot and Lowes. Not to mention that I found petunias (my mom used to call my Petunia Pig when I was a baby because I was fat and my nose turned up, but I'm not scarred) today at Walmart for 50 cents! So I took the terracotta I've had for a little while, bought some spray paint and got to work...during nap time! Didn't get to finish this until CSI was on and the mosquitos were out. NO FUN, but finished before the family arrived for Mother's Day and that's all that matters! So, here you go...

Then a little other gardening. What? From me? I do not like the hot sun, so this was all done at night!

Plus Quilt

2010-04-27T21:11:00.004-05:00

I got the top done to my plus quilt and I love it!! I followed the 4 1/2" x 4 1/2", 4 1/2 x 12 1/2" and 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" squares. They lined up pretty well which I'm excited about. Usually I cut, sew, cut and sew again so nothing lines up. Not sure how I'll quilt it yet.

Moby Wrap

2010-04-22T07:59:00.004-05:00

I just made 4 Moby-style wraps using this tutorial. Super easy. I got the ugly gray t-shirt-like fabric (with picture frames and ugly colors) at WM today for $2 a yard and I bought 3 yards of it. I didn't buy enough because I had barely enough to tie it. My babies were in bed, so I had to "wear" Diego! (I should have better posture.)

The blue was great and super stretchy. It was also $2 a yard and I bought almost 4 yards of it. For each one, I cut them in thirds so they were 20" wide. Then I cut one of the thirds in half and sewed the half onto the longer one (a straight stitch and then a zig zag). The line ends up being right at my son's shoulder, but maybe no one will notice.

So I have two to give to friends now...or keep them because the cutting and sewing skills are so poor!

H's Quilt

2010-04-21T15:11:00.005-05:00

Looks like I'm ready to start on H's quilt. I picked out the fabrics today from my stash and will be making this plus quilt. Super excited am I!

No, my other projects are not done. I just am jumping around to what sounds fun. I have a quilt waiting for the binding to be sewn on and my other quilt that I just finished is waiting in its sandwich form to be quilted. Oh so fun!

Recent Projects

2010-04-20T21:31:00.003-05:00

I recently took some scraps and some of the fabric my mom gave me from her stash and made cute alphabet bean bags for my boys. On the front is the word and a picture and I put different colors on the back. This will be good for grouping colors and other activities. We are currently down one (octopus) because the dog ate it--raw rice and all!

I saw these cute bags on clearance at Hobby Lobby and picked them up thinking they would make cute diaperbags for church. So I sewed their names on them using cricut to cut the fabric...but it didn't work, so I had to cut the paper in the font, draw on the fabric and then cut the fabric. Ironed them on and then edge stitched them.

Obviously I am not great at edge-stitching...

Then I made this cute skirt for church on Sunday with this tutorial by Ruffles and Stuff, but I added a hidden elastic waistband instead of like hers. It ended up being really cute and SUPER easy!! Forgot to take a picture in it on Sunday...

Girl Quilt

2010-04-19T15:18:00.002-05:00

Just realized I never posted pictures of the girl quilt that I made (for someone in the future). After putting it all together, I realized it should have sashing, but that's okay. I like it anyway. The back doesn't say anything, it's just "creative."

The back looks like it has different greens on it because it's soft and fuzzy. I didn't line up the direction that it went...not realizing this until afterward. It will stay all different directions. My lines never line up either, but I'm okay with that!

Cutest Tie Shirt Ever!

2010-04-15T20:49:00.003-05:00

I've seen this in a few places and decided to try it. Super duper cute!

Now I plan to make him some cute shorts to match!

Current Projects...

2010-03-15T21:26:00.005-05:00

I have been doing some searching on craigslist recently and just bought 4 bookcases for our house. Most of them are for books in different rooms, but I also got one so I can organize my fabric in my sewing room. I am super excited to get organized in there!

Here are some things I'm looking to do soon:
Craft Station
Ribbon Organizer
Bible Verse Memorization Technique
Color Quiet Book (I just bought the letters from her etsy shop)
Play Dough for One

I also have 13 friends who are pregnant and due between this month and October, so I want to make (most of them) something. Here are some of my thoughts...
Diaper Bassinet
Moby Wrap or a No-sew version
Baby Bib
Nursing Cover
Hospital Gown
Changing Pad and Wipes Holder
Hooded Bath Towel
Burp Cloth
Tag Blankie
Elephant Teething Square
Ladybug Taggie
Fat Quarter Quilt and Burp Cloths

Do you know of any other good ideas out there? I've got a lot to do! Should be FUN!

What I've Been Working On...

2010-03-09T21:21:00.006-06:00

...other than having a 17 month old, 2 month old and new (to our family) dog...

I finally finished the blocks for the paintbox quilt I started making a little while ago. I made it different than you are supposed to, but I really like it. Whoever is the first person I know to have a baby girl will get this!

I also finally finished Hudson's Christmas stocking. Wahoo!!

Handmade Christmas

2009-12-25T09:55:00.001-06:00

For our Craft Fair at church, I decided to make these cute fleece scarves, but they didn't really sell well. I had already decided to give them to friends and family for Christmas if they didn't sell and that's just what happened.

Then I made these for the women in my family. Each one is quilted with colors in her kitchen. I got the different patterns here. This was my first time to attempt free motion quilting. I hated doing potholders. It was just too small scale I think. I just did the binding on the machine instead of by hand. Much easier, but it doesn't look great!

All we could get Grandpa to say that he wanted for Christmas was a pie, so we decided to make him and Pop a plate with D's handprints on them. Ben designed the plates and we both painted them. I think they turned out great!!!

I made Nana a quilt. She said the only way she was going to get one was if she had a baby. What a surprise!!

It was my first attempt to free motion quilt on a quilt. It was a lot of fun and went much faster than the other ways I've quilted before. I think it turned out pretty good for the most part. It measured 48 x 64 and was designed by me--spools and pinwheels--my mom's favorites.

Aunt L graduated from A&M in December. How exciting!! That deserves a quilt too. Free motion as well. It measured 50 x 60 and is a disappearing 9 patch.

Here are both of the quilts stacked and folded. Love them!!

The Stockings Were Hung By the Chimney With Care...

2009-12-19T10:37:00.008-06:00

This week, I had ended all my other projects, so decided to tackle making our stockings. This has been on my list for a long time, but other stuff just kept getting in the way! I love how they turned out (especially mine). I used this tutorial except I added a 4" top since Dad thought they needed a little extra height. Plus I quilted them and sewed our names on with embroidery thread. The backs look pretty much the same except no name and different fabrics.

I asked Dad what kind of quilting he wanted on his and he said diamonds. To do this, I used 2" masking tape. It made life much easier, but it still took quite a long time to do this!

Since we don't know Baby #2's gender, I did not make him/her one. I got this tiny stocking at our recent Christmas tea and it seemed to work perfectly. I wanted Dietrich's stocking to look like a boy, so I chose denim and lots of boy prints. Then I just did a squiggle free motion quilting in lime green thread. It is also lined in a lime green fabric.

For my stocking, I decided to be adventurous and try some free motion swirls while quilting. I love how it turned out!! I lined it with pink gingham fabric.

These were relatively easy to make, especially if you don't quilt them.

Our mantel

Guess I should have some Christmas greenery on there, but I didn't do much/any decorating really this year!

Help!

2009-12-17T11:17:00.002-06:00

My house is being overtaken by used baby food jars. For some reason, I just can't throw them out! What should I do with them?? I have a ton of them and can't think of anything to do with them! I need help!! Thanks!

Baby-on-the-Way Projects

2009-12-11T21:37:00.005-06:00

Here is the hooter hider I made. I think it turned out really cute! I got the pattern for it here, but I changed it up a little bit by lining it with some super soft microfiber that feels like minky. I thought that would be nice for the winter. Plus, my son is addicted to his super soft blanket, so maybe Baby #2 will love it too!

I just finished my hospital gown which I got the directions for here. I am by no means a great seamstress, but this was actually pretty easy and something I think I'll enjoy having. It doesn't look super, but it will be better than the icky hospital issued ones! I still have to put bias tape along the bottom.

Ben was most impressed that I put pearl snaps on the sleeves!

FINALLY Finished!!!

2009-12-05T17:03:00.004-06:00

Finally finished D's quilt that I started in class in Feb!!

22 Days Until Christmas

2009-12-03T10:24:00.002-06:00

Well, it's 22 days until Christmas and I'm ready!! I've gotten all of my gifts purchased and made. I am super excited about this year because of the handmade items that will be thrown into the mix. They are all a surprise, so I will post about them after they are opened. I have been working on binding my son's quilt and I only have a little less than half to go. Maybe I'll finish it today.

I have some ideas for my next quilts in my head. I have some charm packs from Mary Engelbreit's The Caroler that I plan to do something with, but I haven't got time to make a quilt for this Christmas. I would also love to make a black and white quilt with some bright colors (pink and green maybe) in it. I also have a baby fabric that I just bought, but I lost the paper telling me what to look for online to complete it!

I need to make a nursing cover-up before Baby #2 arrives in less than 5 weeks, but I'm trying to decide if I want to line it with some soft fabric. I have also thought about making a hospital gown, but I'm not sure if I can get it done! Besides all this, I need to organize and work on my scrapbooking! Oh so fun...

Thanksgiving Banner

2009-11-05T07:51:00.001-06:00

Be sure to check out my post on Today's Housewife today with the Thanksgiving banner I made. I've been doing some stuff lately, but I can't put any of it on here yet!

Been Resting...

2009-09-12T21:50:00.007-05:00

I picked up my son the other day and my body said that wasn't nice. My back pretty much quit working after that. Being 23 weeks pregnant, I had to take it easy. So I have been resting my back for 3 days. The first day, I did nothing. Then I realized I could probably cross stitch while I was on my back, so I got out the project I've been wanting to do (instead of working on the million projects I have started). I was able to finish it tonight and I love it! It's a name blessing that I got from Joyful Expressions. We got to pick the Bible verse, etc. I like the way it turned out. Here it is:

Friendship's Craft and Gift Show

2009-08-28T20:37:00.002-05:00

I am organizing a craft and gift show at my church in November! I'm so excited...even though I probably won't have enough time to make anything for it. I just thought of the idea on Tuesday, so it's come together really quickly. I've gotten 4 people to sign up for it today and this is the first I've mentioned it out in the world. Super cool! Here is the website about it if you'd like to read more, and if you live in the area, sign up or just plan to come!!

I've Been In a Mood...

2009-08-08T15:19:00.003-05:00

A quilting mood!

Finished quilting my disappearing nine patch the other day. Now I just need to put the binding on it. I have one other quilt waiting for binding. Then maybe I'll start working on Christmas presents! Wahoo!!

I haven't named any of my quilts yet...and need to start adding a little tag to them! Ideas for names for this quilt?

Some Recent Crafting

2009-07-29T16:34:00.006-05:00

My sis-in-laws sister is having a baby girl! I haven't had anyone around me having a girl recently, so it was time to make some girlie crafts! While at my mom's house, we did this project which we found here: Bow Holder.

I also had been wanting to do a girlie quilt, so I was able to whip this one up. It didn't really take too long and measures about 26" x 36". I just quilted straight horizontal lines on it since I'm not too brave yet. It's my first quilt to make and give away. It had a really soft backing! Pinks, browns and greens are her colors. I got the idea from here: Stack of Sweets

The other thing I made which I failed to take a picture of is a Flower Headband similar to that one. So cute and so easy! She loved the gifts and I can't wait to meet the baby that will use them!

Back on the Machine

2009-06-23T16:28:00.003-05:00

After taking a short break from sewing, I got back on it today and made this for my nephew's 7th birthday. He thought it was a shirt until he opened it all the way up and was super excited! He was so excited to get home and put it on his pillow! He just loves Star Wars.

After lunch with his dad at McDonalds, we headed over to (Up)Chuck E. Cheese to watch him play some games. Fun times!

Practicing Quilting

2009-05-19T15:29:00.003-05:00

I had a good idea to make my family members potholders for Christmas so that I could practice quilting now. I'd love to do some stipling on the 2 quilt tops that I have finished, but I don't want to just jump in there and do it! So I got a few potholders ready and started. Then I tore out the quilting...twice. I then thought it looked okay, so I tried to bind it...and tore it out once! What a pain these little things ended up being. I haven't even finished the first one I started. I thought it was such a good idea and now I can't stand to look at these tiny time-consumers (besides the fact that I think they look kind of funny)!!

Link Parties

2009-05-17T21:35:00.011-05:00

Here are parties I participate in:

Mondays:

Tuesdays:

Wednesdays:

Thursdays:

Fridays:

Saturdays and Sundays:

Weekend Project

2009-04-25T16:36:00.006-05:00

I cut out the parts to this the other day and ended up getting it finished today. It turned out pretty cute although I had to change some stuff around. It's from Simplicity's pattern 3516. It ended up going just where I knew it would! (He is currently taking a nap with it too.)

Quilt Top #3

2009-04-17T11:40:00.003-05:00

I just finished my disappearing nine patch quilt top and I love it! It measures 39" x 63" so far. I like it a lot! The binding is going to be the little yellow squares and the backing is going to be the solid dark purple. This was a pretty easy top to do...it has only taken me so long because my son is now requiring more attention since he's 6 months old! Hey, I don't mind though! His other quilt is still in sandwich form because I'm nervous about actually quilting it! Ideas for a name??

Calling ALL Crafty Ladies!

2009-04-01T13:52:00.006-05:00

This week on my other blog, we are talking about crafts. It has been fun and we would love to hear your crafty ideas too! I wanted to give a preview of a little giveaway I'm doing on there tomorrow. Here is a sneak peek:

I also finally finished a project I've been working on that I can't display on here just yet... Man, I'm being all secretive today, aren't I? I have also been working on my Disappearing 9 Patch and have a few more squares made. Hopefully I'll get some time to work on that and quilt my sandwiched quilt soon. I'm just trying to figure out how I want to do it. I'm not good at free motion yet--I thought about stitch in the ditch, but I'm not sure. Any suggestions??

The Mother's Day Project

2009-03-13T15:15:00.003-05:00

I finally started (and finished) the project I had received from The Mother's Day Project. I contacted Anne by e-mail to let her know I was interested in contributing. She then sent me a name and information on how to sew it. It was so easy (all you need is a needle, thread and a hoop), so if you're interested, be sure and let her know!

The name I received was Keicia M. Hines. After doing a little search, I learned a little bit about her. She died in 2004 after being hit by a vehicle on an airbase in Iraq. She was 27 years old and married to a man named Sean. From the picture, you can tell that she was a very beautiful woman!

I am doing this to honor her and her service for our country. I can't imagine being away from my husband like she was. She was very brave and I am thankful for her. I pray that her husband will be blessed.

D's Quilt Progress and A Question!

2009-03-13T09:37:00.008-05:00

Yesterday I finished the backing for D's quilt. What do you think?? The green flannel was a little too short, so I had to add some extra fabric, which I had wanted to do anyway. I also did the sandwich yesterday, so I just have the quilting part to go!

I also started a new quilt last weekend while visiting my parents. It's a disappearing 9 patch. Are there really any rules to making this? In the first picture, I have them put in random places. In the second picture, I kind of kept the 9 patches together. What do you think?? Do you think I should make the center always be the yellow too (little squares)? It will be the binding as well... Thanks for your help!!

Quilt #1 DONE!!

2009-03-04T21:28:00.007-06:00

Yippee!! I finally finished my first quilt! It has been a long process (see sandwich and top) since it was my first one, but I love the way it turned out. What a fun experience that was. I have other quilts in mind for the next one, but I want to finish D's first quilt first. Here are the pictures of it!

I am entering this in Park City Girls Quilt Festival.

Bubblegum Quilt

2009-02-24T15:31:00.007-06:00

I've been working the past few days. Here is the mostly finished quilt--I just have the binding left to do. I don't think it's bad for my first attempt. I did stitch-in-the-ditch for the zig zag and free motion curly q's on the border. I just have the binding still to go! Up close
Backing

Close-up of curly q's

Sandwich

2009-02-21T16:27:00.006-06:00

I told my husband I needed to make a sandwich last night and he didn't know what I was talking about since we had just eaten. Thankfully I had JUST ENOUGH safety pins to get the quilt sandwiched together. I plan to quilt it this week even though it makes me pretty nervous.
*Note my concentration face--I was working hard to do this right!
I plan to machine quilt it. Since I didn't do flying geese, some of the corners have 8 layers of fabric, so I'm just going to do a zig zag following the middle of each one and then free motion (I think) on the black and white border. I'll put a picture of the back on when I finish.

2 Quilt Tops

2009-02-20T14:37:00.008-06:00

I have just finished my second quilt top. The zigzag bubble gum top measures 43" x 32". I was following Sew, Mama Sew's doll quilt sew along, but doing it my way--here is a zig zag tutorial I just found that looks different than the one I used. I think it ended up being a good size and will be cute. I haven't done the backing yet since I want to do one kind of like this.

I finished D's quilt top on Sunday in class. I think it turned out cute and will fit in his crib and future toddler bed. I noticed that it covered me when I was sitting with it earlier too. The top measures 54" x 66". I will do a similar backing for it. He still loves his first quilt too!

This is how he looked this afternoon while I was working. Thankfully, he was having a GREAT nap! Notice that his finger are poking through the holes in the blanket at the top right. So cute.

Tiny Quilt

2009-02-11T21:53:00.004-06:00

I started working on this quilt today and got pretty far, but it's really tiny. It will end up being 21" x 29" if I put a 3" border on each side. I was planning to put the black and white stripe on each side and the bubble gum as the binding. I was going to do the doll quilt but I wanted to follow a zig zag pattern, so I switched it up. Now I know I should make my squares a little bigger! I am thinking this will turn into a cuddle quilt for D or any future children instead of a bed quilt obviously, so I'm going to put something fuzzy as the backing. Any thoughts?

Update: My mom said it needs to be bigger. I'm going to add a blue row and then do each of the rows again so that it is about 40 x 29.

The Joyful Foundation

2009-02-08T16:25:00.007-06:00

Yesterday, my church hosted The Joyful Foundation's Blankets of Kindness. Some local women (and men) came together to make blankets for terminally ill people. I took my sewing machine and was seated in the final step--top stitching the blanket together (which made me really nervous). My machine was giving me trouble, so someone suggested I change my needle. (I have had this machine for over a year and never changed the needle.) Lo and behold, it solved my problem and I was able to help sew quite a few blankets together. I was there for 4 hours and when I left, we had just completed the 45th blanket. They were pretty cute! Here are some pictures from the event (sorry my camera's flash didn't make it bright enough).

After this, I was in a sewing mood, so I came home and finished putting together the strips for D's quilt. I think it's going to end up looking great!

Wal-Mart Fabric Section

2009-02-05T17:09:00.006-06:00

Did you hear that some Wal-Marts are getting rid of their fabric section? I went in today and found their fabric marked half price. I was in need of some basics for quilting, so I picked up 30 bolts of fabric I liked and ended up getting half a yard of each. Some of them I got a yard of--if I REALLY liked them. I think this will help grow my stash.

I also went to IKEA yesterday and got some fabric for $.99 a yard! The red with white is a little nicer, so it was $2.99 a yard, but I really liked it. Now I've just got to pick a quilt to start working on. I'm thinking of doing this one next: CRUMBS.

I also plan to make this doll quilt from Sew, Mama, Sew! I don't know how to sandwich the quilt, quilt it and put the binding on, so this tutorial should really help me to learn that (on my own). Can't wait!!

Sweets For My Sweetie

2009-02-03T16:02:00.003-06:00

My friend Sandra hosted a "Sweets for My Sweetie" party last year for Valentine's Day. It works like a cookie exchange. Every guest brings a dessert to share and a container to take home goodies. After some great fellowship, everyone shares their sweets with each other and take home a sampling to their own sweetie.

We are doing a virtual Sweet Swap at Today's Housewife this week. We are sharing our best recipes for sweets in plenty of time for you to make one (or more) for your sweetie this Valentine's Day. Go back there on Friday to link up your own favorite recipe for your sweetie.

Thanks Alicia for letting me copy your post!

Giveaway Winner!

2009-02-02T17:22:00.006-06:00

When we checked the mail, D's teething giraffe was in there! He loves it! I have entered some contests and won a few things online--like the giraffe (thank you Wishing Willow) and diaper carrier (thank you Sister Sue) pictured here. I also have gotten some fabric, Signing Time Colors DVD (thank you Freebies 4 Mom) and a Cart Stopper before. This doesn't include the free samples I get from Wal-Mart! I just love getting stuff in the mail and so does D!!
I haven't done much lately on the quilt, so that's why there are no new pictures of it. My class resumes on the 15th, so I have to have my homework finished before then. I'll post the finished strips later this week (I hope).

Finished Homework

2009-01-16T15:09:00.005-06:00

I did my homework, plus a little extra for class. I think it's coming along well. We didn't have to put our 9 patch row together, but I went ahead and finished so I could see what it would look like.
I'm so excited about it that I bought fabric to make another one (on half price). I don't know any little girls, but I just couldn't resist. I spent a long time in Jo-Ann's trying to find the "feature" fabric and the butterflies just stuck out to me (even though I wanted a neutral one). It took me quite a while to get the other coordinating pieces, but I think it goes well together! I'll be cutting it out soon. They said in class that making a second one at the same time helps the concepts to stick in your head. I'm all for that...and trying to get someone else to do it with me. Any takers??? I can send you the directions!

I've got my 4 pillowcases made for ConKerr Cancer and plan to donate those when I go in for my class on Sunday. I told Ben that I'm not going to make any more because they are kind of boring!! They were really easy though, if any one else wants to do some!

Quilt Progress

2009-01-13T11:26:00.007-06:00

I got some time to work on D's quilt last night and got some of my homework done. I just have a little to go before class on Sunday. It is really fun and I enjoy doing it! I think it's going to turn out looking great!

I am also making some pillowcases for ConKerr Cancer which has a collection site at the quilt shop where I take classes! I saw this on Martha a few months ago and thought it sounded interesting. Then when I saw the brochures in the quilt shop, I knew I had to participate. I wonder if I can include a note with my pillowcase... Anyway, read about more at the site, but you donate pillowcases to this organization that takes them to hospitals to give to kids with Cancer.

Birds

2009-01-09T13:54:00.003-06:00

I found this pattern the other day for Mr Blue Bird and decided to try it so I could practice my sewing skills before going back to quilting class. I then thought I would join the Advent Calendar Sew Along by making 25 of them. I'm on my way and they are turning out so cute! Here is a picture of them from the other night when there was ice (and icicles) on all of the trees!

D's Quilt

2009-01-06T16:34:00.005-06:00

While we were visiting Nana and Pop for Christmas, we got this quilt from a lady whose husband works with Pop. Isn't it great?? It's so soft and warm and D just loves it!! I think this is an awesome gift--I can only imagine how much time and energy she put into making this for him!

Quilting Class

2009-01-05T17:17:00.005-06:00

I'm bored with Gratis Means FREE and will do a blog makeover.

I am really into quilting and sewing now. I read a ton of crafty blogs and would love to share some of my new hobbies on this blog. I am going to mail my mom my most recent project and will post a picture of it on here after she sees it.

For now, I'll put a picture of the quilt I'm making for D. I'm in a quilting class and we're doing a quilt. I should be done the first week in February and can't wait. Do you like the fabrics??

Quilts!

2008-11-13T15:26:00.002-06:00

I would love to win one of these awesome quilts! It's from Old Red Barn Co.. What do you think??

Jesus and Nicodemus

2008-10-24T10:42:00.005-05:00

This is a painting that my husband and I got from my parents for our one year anniversary. We love it because it is different than any other paintings, so it attracts a lot of questions. We saw this painting while at the Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It was painted by Harry Antis. Here is that the brochure about it says:

"This painting is filled with symbolism. First the choice to come to Jesus during the darkness of night represents the lack of spiritual understanding by the Pharisees. The red sleeves denote that it was at the hands of the religious leaders that the prophets were stoned. The white that appears under his garment speaks of his desire to know truth. Nicodemus is sitting with his feet in the fire. The flames represent Hell itself. He thought he was right with god because of his good works, but the spirit of man died when Adam and Eve sinned. When we come to Jesus, believing, and asking him to forgive us, our spirit is given life eternal. We then are born again. Note the three white robed figures represent the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

"How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?" John 3:4

Grandad's Pie

2008-09-27T07:00:00.001-05:00

Over at Today's Housewife, we are having recipes from our family members. I put my mom's veggie dip on there and also wanted to share this recipe from my grandad.

Low Sugar Millionaire Pie (Like from Furr's Cafeteria)

20 oz. can of crushed pineapple (in its own juice)

1 small box of no sugar instant vanilla pudding

1/2 cup of chopped pecans

1/2 cup of coconut (if desired)

Cool Whip (Lite) 2 or 3 large tablespoons

1 graham cracker or short bread crust

Mix cream cheese with pineapple juice (drained off crushed pineapple). Add the Cool Whip and the instant pudding and then mix in the pineapple, pecans and coconut. Pour into the pie crust. Add more Cool whip on top and sprinkle more chopped pecans on top. Then refrigerate.

Did you know?

2008-09-21T13:49:00.002-05:00

I got this previously from my mother-in-law and it has some good tips in it. Thought I'd share!

Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little 'stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it.

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.

For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.

Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yummm!

Reheat Pizza -- Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

Easy Deviled Eggs -- Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

Expanding Frosting -- When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

Reheating refrigerated bread -- To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

Newspaper weeds away -- Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

Broken Glass -- Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

No More Mosquitoes -- Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

Squirrel Away! -- To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

Flexible vacuum -- To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Reducing Static Cling -- Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! ... static is gone.

Measuring Cups -- Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Foggy Windshield? -- Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the window s fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Reopening envelope -- If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

Conditioner -- Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.

Goodbye Fruit Flies -- To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants -- Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material ... I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well ... the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free ... that nice fragrance too. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box ... well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months.
He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?!

Read Your Receipts

2008-09-05T19:27:00.002-05:00

Have you been out to eat lately at a fast food place and noticed at the bottom of your receipt is sometimes a "prize" if you complete a short survey? I have become a master at scouring these receipts and finding the deals...even on the back. Here are some things I've gotten:
*Multiple FREE regular roast beef sandwiches at Arby's
*Frosty float from Wendy's
*Multiple 10% off one item at Burlington Coat Factory
*$1 off next purchase at Taco Cabana (got that one today)
*Free bean burrito or taco at Taco Bueno
These things take just minutes to fill out (online or on the phone) and are well worth it in my opinion. I just wanted to share this if you guys haven't taken notice of your receipts recently. Anybody else gotten some great deals out there for completing a survey for the company?

Sandra's Chicken Ranch Wraps

2008-08-23T08:50:00.003-05:00

Over at Today's Housewife we are sharing recipes with chicken. Head on over and check out some new recipes. I forgot that this was the recipe I wanted to post for the "chicken" week!!
Sandra introduced this to me and I LOVE it! My family also loves it. I once served it to my brother who thought it looked so gross and ended up telling me that it as so tasty (and it's SUPER easy). Enjoy!!

Chicken Ranch Wraps

Flour tortillas
Chicken grilled or boiled and cut into bite sized pieces
1/4 cup of ranch dressing
Lettuce
Long grain and wild rice cooked according to the package

Mix the rice, ranch and chicken in a bowl. Put in a tortilla and add as much lettuce as you'd like. Roll like a burrito. Enjoy!!

Squidoo

2008-07-23T09:22:00.002-05:00

I've talked on here before about Squidoo, but today I wanted to add it to Works for Me Wednesday. I'm sure you've never heard of this great site before. It's a fun way to make a little money on the side. I have been a member for about a year now and have probably made $100. The money takes a little while to come in. What you do is you make a "lens" about something that interests you that you think will interest others. I have quite a few (20) lenses. They range from my Freebies lens to my James Avery lens. They can literally be about anything you want. The more you have, the more money you make. To make money, you just make sure they are maintained. I do this by editing my lenses about every other day. This takes about 15 minutes to do all 20 lenses. At the start of the month, you will get $ for your lenses based on your rank--how many people visit, how much they buy off of there, etc. This really is just a way to organize information (amazon, ebay, etc.) in one place. Then instead of google getting the credit (and portion of the profit), squidoo gets it and they share it with you! This last month I made $20 for very little time invested. It's fun, free and easy! To learn more, click here. If you decide to sign up, use my referral here: Squidoo. TRY IT OUT!

Baby Cheapskate Give Away

2008-07-22T16:51:00.002-05:00

Have you heard about this?
Baby Cheapskate Diaper Give Away
I am thinking about doing cloth diapers, so it sounds like a great deal!! Go and enter!

Today's Housewife

2008-07-16T16:37:00.001-05:00

I don't really post on this blog anymore... Please go over to Today's Housewife and take a look around! :)

Target Clearance!!

2008-07-08T14:49:00.006-05:00

We aren't finding out what we're having, but that doesn't stop me from shopping--I just buy a boy and a girl outfit... Whichever we don't use will be gifted away! I got these SUPER cute outfits for a steal today at Target. They were having a great clearance on a lot of their baby clothes. The first picture is a little cap, gown and blanket for $4.98 instead of $10! The second and third pictures were their 4th of July clothes--$1.99 instead of $8!!! The little girl headbands were $.99!! Plus the bibs come in 3 packs and only one of the girl ones says "4th of July." The other 2 match the outfit! The boy bibs have 2 that say "4th". So cute!

What would you like to see here?

2008-07-05T19:48:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure if I should keep up with this blog. It takes a lot of work for me to put together the activities and food... I am also now blogging on Today's Housewife with some friends which I really enjoy. Is there anything you would like to see on here?

Preview of next week...

2008-07-05T19:35:00.002-05:00

Next week on Today's Housewife where I also blog, we're going to be talking about coupons. I am a total coupon freak and can't wait to post on Thursday. Today was a GREAT coupon day at Brookshires! I went there this morning to pick up some fruit. I normally don't shop there, but I decided I would go there because they normally have decent prices on fruit. I found a few other things I needed and used a few coupons, not thinking I would save too much. I ALWAYS watch my total go down, so I was really surprised when I gave the girl $.55 coupons and the machine said Double and then Triple! Huh? So I ended up saving 46% which was $23.77. I figured something had to be going on, so I let the guy take my groceries out (they still do that there) and then went back in to look for the ad. There, on the front page was an amazing sight--Triple coupons up to and including $.60!!! Are you kidding me??? So I headed home on a mission. I had already saved so much, but I knew I could get stuff for FREE! On Thursdays, we get a free newspaper which has coupons in it, so I don't pay for them on Sundays anymore. Then I remembered the house down the street...vacant...forclosure...at least 10 newspapers on the front porch! So I went and helped them "clean up." I ended up with around 20 coupon insert packets which took me about 2 hours to go through. I cut out a lot and put the ones I thought I would use in an envelope. Out I went...again. It was a HOT day too! I spent at least one hour going up and down the aisles...sometimes more than once! My total was $89 something. Oh wait, I have a few coupons... I was still counting when I gave the girl my first pile of 20. I finished at 33 coupons! (I count to make sure they get them all because it drives me nuts when they go fast and skip one!) So, after all of that, my total was $29.33 and I saved 70% which was $64.90. Uh, impressive. Above is what I got on that trip--all name brand as you can see!! Most of it we will use--the rest I will donate. I also did another transaction while there because I had kept track of which coupons were great and I knew I had a few doubles, but they said (when I called to check before going) that they would only triple the first one. So I bought 6 things using coupons and the girl was shocked that my total was $0. I told her that if the coupons had actually counted correctly, they would owe me... Like the floss was $1.26 and I had a $.55 coupon--once, double, triple=$1.65. My savings was 100%. I had one other coupon and once again saved 100%. The manager kept having to come okay my total. If you'd like to learn my "tricks of the trade," check out my post on Thursday. Needless to say, I was very excited!!

Flan

2008-06-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is a great dessert given to me by my missionary friend in Mexico while I lived there! YUMMY! You do need a flanera to make this which you should be able to buy at Wal-Mart or order on the internet. Worth it!!

1 can condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
5 eggs
1 T vanilla (Mexican is best)

Blend all ingredients in blender.

Brown 1/4 cup of sugar in flanera on top of stove.

Pour milk mixture in flanera and close. Bake in pan filled halfway with water for 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees F.

From a nurse:

2008-06-24T21:11:00.001-05:00

I'll never forget the look in my patients' eyes when I had to tell them they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast. I remember begging the Doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer, only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance companies. So there I sat with my patients, giving them the instructions they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless, frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank You' they muttered. A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a Mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same. There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the 'drive-through' Mastectomy where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their Web page with a petition drive to show support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name, state, and zip code.

Sign the Petition

Familia Part Two...

2008-06-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here are some additional family vocabulary terms to add to last week's terms. There are still others which you can find at the site below. Hopefully you are keeping up with la familia and can now call your hijo or hija.

hermana - sister
hermano - brother
tía - aunt
tío - uncle
primo - cousin - male
prima - cousin - female
sobrina - niece
sobrino - nephew
abuela - grandmother
abuelo - grandfather
nieta - grandaughter
nieto - grandson

Pronunciation Guide

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

2008-06-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if this is officially "Mexican", but when I'm in the mood for it, IT COUNTS! There are a lot of recipes for this out there. This one is pretty easy and fast. Plus it's very tasty! Serve with beans and tortilla chips.

1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 4 ounce can of Ro-Tel
2 1/2 cups boiled chicken breast chopped
10 corn tortillas cut into fourths
12 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese

Mix together and heat the soups, Ro-Tel, and chicken. In a 3 quart buttered casserole dish, place a layer of tortillas, a layer of soup mixture and a layer of grated cheese. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Familia Activities

2008-06-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

These are great activities for working out the vocabulary.

Family Activities
Family Worksheet
Family Quiz

Another way to practice with your little one is to go through pictures of your family. Point to each member and say the Spanish word. For example, show a picture of their grandmother and say "abuela." Remember that your pronunciation doesn't have to be perfect, as long as they are hearing Spanish spoken and getting those connectors in their brain. This will make learning the language easier when they take it in school! I hope your lessons are going well.

Familia Part One...

2008-06-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Let's start today with a few essential vocabulary words for family. I will add some more next week. To hear pronunciations, please go to the links below as I couldn't get them to paste too.

padres - parents
madre - mother
mamá - mother
padre - father
papá - father
niño - child - male
niña - child - female
hijo - son
hija - daughter

Pronunciation Guide
Family Tree -- Put your mouse over each picture and hear the correct pronunciation of each family member on the family tree! This has a ton of great vocabulary for family!

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2008-06-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

A teacher I knew made this for a luncheon once. SO YUMMY!!! Enjoy!

2 cans crescent rolls
1 1/2 c sugar
1 8 oz. cream cheese
1 t vanilla (Mexican is best)
1 t cinnamon
1 stick butter

Open first can of rolls. Roll out into bottom of 9 x 13 baking dish. Press out making sure all perforations are closed. Cream 1 cup of sugar and vanilla with the cream cheese. Spread over the dough in the pan. Open second can and roll out on wax paper pressing out the perforations. Lay dough on top of cream cheese. Melt butter and pour over the top. Mix 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and sprinkle over all of the rolls. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F in the oven. Serve warm.

Fiestaware!

2008-06-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Fiestaware is awesome! I have been a collector of Fiestaware for a number of years and have got quite a collection in many different colors. I have vases, plates, bowls, coffee mugs, tea cups, pitchers, and many other kitchen accessories. I have never had a problem with it and I think it holds up great! I love it because it's so colorful, looks nice and is a great quality! I also love that it is not very expensive compared to other everyday plates. They also have a collection of Christmas/holiday plates and glasses that are very cute. Recently I bought a plate that we'll use for special celebrations that says, "It really is all about you!" and has dots all over it in many colors, so it will match everything! Check out my Fiestaware squidoo page to start a collection of your own!
I guess the only connection it has with Spanish is its name. Maybe that's why I love it so much!

Check this out: Fiesta Kitchen

Deals this week

2008-06-12T10:28:00.000-05:00

Thankfully I was checking Money Saving Mom the other day and noticed she had some deals for Wal-Mart right before I was heading there. So I sat down, clipped the rest of my coupons and got them organized. With my list in hand, I headed out and saved 66% of my bill! It ended up being $10 for some stuff we needed, but I got a lot of it free--plus overage! Thanks MSM!
Then I headed to Kroger with no list. I was able to save 59% just by looking through the ad and my coupons. I got some milk for free because I bought 2 things of cookies and Pop-Tarts (which I was out of)! What a deal!! I still haven't tried CVS... I don't get the Sunday paper any more because double packs are now $3 instead of $2. I might start that next week...

Take a hike!

2008-06-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

Take the bus! While I lived in Mexico, if I needed to get somewhere quickly (or if it was farther than I could walk), I would take the bus. Taxis will charge a lot of money. I once paid $70 (pesos) to take a taxi to a school that I could ride for $8 (pesos) taking 2 buses. It was a lot quicker to take a taxi (most of the time), but worth it to ride the bus and save money. Yes, it does take a little while to learn the bus system, so if you're only going to be visiting for a short time, it would be worth it to ask someone to help you figure out what exactly to do.
The Metro in Mexico City is also really cheap. You could ride it for around 20 cents and get anywhere in the city! When you're down there, you don't have to pay for connections as long as you don't come back outside. I would advise against riding it late at night, but I never had any problems riding during the years I lived there. If you have on a backpack, put it on your front and carry your purse in front of you. There is a ton of traffic during "peak" hours, so I would avoid that too! I once was riding with my brother (a rather non-Spanish speaker) and it was during the "peak" time. A man behind me decided that he was going to get on the next car that came through, and it was PACKED! He put one arm on either side of me and started pulling me in! Out of fear of being separated, I started yelling, "NO" and he finally stopped. We took the next, less-crowded car that came!

Basic Work

2008-06-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

TODAY IS MY 30TH BIRTHDAY!!

Here are some sites to check out for basic vocabulary work. Some of the sites use more vocabulary than was listed yesterday, but most of the words are pretty easy to pick up! I hope you find some activities you can enjoy doing! Remember to keep practicing colors and try to add this new vocabulary.

Quia.com -- has many extra vocab words, but you can click on the link and it will show the words and their meanings

edhelper.com

spanishspanish.com

spanishpronto.com

Basic Vocabulary

2008-06-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple of VERY basic vocabulary works to get you started! More to come!

hello Hola
good-bye Adiós
yes Sí
no No
friend Amigo (m), Amiga (f)
thank you Gracias
where is the bathroom? ¿Dónde está el baño?

Once again this site from last week should be very helpful: Basic Spanish

Mexican Wedding Cookies

2008-06-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

One year I was teaching, the students made food for a project. This is one of the recipes I kept because it was so good! Enjoy!

1 c butter, softened

3/4 c sifted powdered sugar

2 c all-purpose flour

1 t vanilla (Mexican is the best)

1 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)

powdered sugar

1. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 3/4 cup powdered sugar, beating well. Add flour, mixing well. Stir in vanilla and pecans.

2. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheet.

3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool slightly. Roll warm cookies in additional powdered sugar. Cool completely on wire racks.

MAKES ABOUT 4 DOZEN

Fiesta Friday

2008-06-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today I am really having a fiesta!! I am officially done teaching...at least for now. I've been a Spanish teacher for 6 years (with a 2 year break in the middle to do mission work in Toluca, Mexico). I've really enjoyed teaching, especially these last 3 years. I found out I was pregnant in January (due in September), and I've always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, so it wouldn't work to continue teaching next year! Finals were this week and yesterday was my last day of in-service. Today is summer day #1!
I am so excited about the baby coming...and any future children (which will make my teaching break longer)! Life is going to be so different! I'm going to have time for my coupons, CVS trips, sewing, scrapbooking, getting organized, decorating the baby's room and everything else I've had to put off until the summer! Sure I'll miss my students and the teacher-friends I have, but the future is more exciting right now!!
The only Spanish thing on my mind right now is...SIESTA!

Thrifty Thursday

2008-06-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

I have done a little traveling while I lived in Mexico and Spain. I have also been to El Salvador and Costa Rica for vacation. There are tons of ways to save money in Spanish-speaking countries and I'd like to share those on Thursdays. I also would like to share my deals for the week (if I have any). If you have any suggestions, please feel free to comment!
I have not traveled with a child (since I'm pregnant with our first). While I lived in Mexico, I learned that it was way cheaper to buy where the locals buy instead of going to Wal-Mart or another chain. That meant I would head to the market on market day. What an adventure--tons of people, crowded areas, crazy smells and sights, and pick-pockets. Just make sure that you know what you're looking for and what "section" it might be in. Vegetables are the best to buy here cheap! Even if you're visiting for vacation, make sure you check out the local market just to experience it!

Workout Wednesday

2008-06-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

Keep up your skills from yesterday's lesson by going to Colores to practice. Then point to various items that are around your child and ask them "De que color es..." If they are too young for this activity, then point to an item and tell them what color it is in Spanish (review pronunciation from yesterday if you need to).
If you are self-conscious about speaking in Spanish, don't worry about it! If you're saying something wrong and say it in front of a Spanish-speaker, they will probably just be excited that you're trying to learn their language. Your kids won't know until they start taking Spanish in school that they're pronouncing words wrong and that can be corrected easily. Keep trying! It is a slow process, but you'll find that it is worth it.
It is important to be introduced to a second language early. Studies show that the earlier a person tries to learn a language, the easier it will be for them to acquire it (that's why kids can pick up another language faster than adults). Can you imagine when you're driving down the road and your son says, "Verde" when he points to the grass outside?! How exciting!!

Translation Tuesday

2008-06-03T09:00:00.001-05:00

Since I'm pregnant and have many friends who have little kids, I wanted to start off with some basic vocabulary you can use with your kids. If you have any suggestions, please leave me a comment and I'll make sure and get to them in a future post.

Colores:
amarillo — yellow
anaranjado — orange
azul — blue
blanco — white
plateado — silver
dorado — golden
gris — gray
marrón (or cafe) — brown
negro — black
morado — purple
rojo — red
rosado (or rosa) — pink
verde — green

Here are some great sites to help you pronounce the words correctly: Learning Spanish
Study Spanish
Basic Spanish Vocabulary

Mexican Dish Monday

2008-06-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

Usually I'm trying to keep my cooking time and cost to a minimum. I have a few favorite recipes that I cook pretty often that don't require much time and taste pretty good. I plan to include some of those here as well as some that are new that I haven't tried (but that I plan to try).

Here is an old stand-by in my family--it can be made for 2 or 20.

Crushed Chip Taco Salad

tortilla chips

cheese

lettuce and tomatoes

beans, jalapenos or anything else you want to add!

ground beef or turkey browned

Taco seasoning packet (follow directions on packet)

In my family, we crush the chips on a plate, add the seasoned meat and top with whatever we want. It is pretty cheap and can be made quickly for last minute guests. Enjoy!

Since I love Spanish...

2008-05-13T20:49:00.000-05:00

Usborne has some of their Spanish children's books on 70% clearance. I got one in my last order called "Mascotas." It's a GREAT book and was $2.99. Each page has a little puzzle for the baby to put together and something to "touch" (fuzzy ears, etc.). If you're interested in seeing the Spanish flyer, click here.

You can then order the items at my page here.

There is a ton of research that says teaching your child another language as early as possible will help them acquire it easier. This includes just seeing the words (if you don't know how to correctly pronounce them). Every little bit helps prepare them for future learning (belive me!!).

I've been...busy?

2008-05-01T19:40:00.000-05:00

Hello! Well, things have been crazy and I've been too busy to coupon, CVS, be frugal... We are trying to pack up our house so we can move to another house, I'm trying to finish out the school year and we're enjoying time together before the baby comes! I am really looking forward to the summer though! It will be nice to relax.
My friend Tres Alejandros became an Usborne consultant recently and it sounded like a great deal, so I also joined in! I got a great deal because she was in her incentive period and I got the start-up kit for half price (regularly $199). This is great because I can have a little income when I'm not teaching next year. I also get free books and these are REALLY great children's books! So if you're interested in becoming a consultant, hosting a party near me, or hosting an eShow, let me know!! EShows are easy--you just e-mail people and tell them to buy books from the site and then you get free books for the purchases they make! I just hosted a party and sold $265 worth and got $85 worth of FREE books! What a deal!!
Oh yeah, here is my Usborne page.

Prego...it's in there!

2008-03-26T17:17:00.000-05:00

Well, I've been out of touch with this website a lot lately. I actually have been taking a break from CVS, Walgreens and coupons. I had about 15 stacks of coupon booklets to cut out previously and they sat there for many weeks. They are still mostly all sitting in the same spot. Maybe I'll pick this back up during the summer when I have some more time.

We found out a little while ago that I'm pregnant and due on Sept. 30. We are very excited. Today was doctor visit #2 and we got to hear the heartbeat for the first time! It was amazing!! Here are pictures from our ultrasound. Enjoy and I'll catch up on here later!

I'm behind!

2008-02-16T20:14:00.001-06:00

I have been so out of it lately that I haven't even cut out my coupons in about 3 weeks. YIKES! I have been to CVS and Walgreens, but have only cut out and used the coupons that showed to be a really good deal. Like last week at Walgreens, I bought 2 deoderants, Bayer, toothpaste, and 4 packs of 17 stick gum for $2.76. At CVS, I spent 10 ECB and $.07 to get a Heath bar, 2 apple juice bottles, Excedrin, 2 toothpastes, Gatorade G2 and shave gel. I think I got a little over 5 ECBs back. We'll see what happens this week at CVS. Maybe I'll be better with the coupons--only one pack, so i can get caught up from the other weeks!

I heart Walgreens and CVS!

2008-01-30T18:53:00.000-06:00

I think I would make a shirt that says "I heart Walgreens and CVS" and wear it when I'm doing my weekly shopping. Today was no exception. I have never done the 2 transaction thing because I don't want to bother the workers or people in line. Anyway, I headed to CVS first because I was more excited about their sales. (They are right next to each other too! I'm trying a new CVS and like it MUCH BETTER--they take multiple CVS $/$$ coupons.)

1st transaction:
$.99 A&H toothpaste with $1 off coupon ($1.99 with 1 ECB)
$9.99 Breeze 2 meter ($9.99 with 9.99 ECB and $9.99 mail in rebate)
$6.99 Fusion Power Razor with $2 off coupon ($8.99 with 6 ECB)
Total--$0 after 12 ECB, CVS coupons. Awarded 16.99 ECB
2nd transaction:
$.50 Kashi bars with $2 coupon ($2.50)
$6 (2) Robitussin with $3 coupon (buy $20 worth of this plus Advil, get 10 ECB)
$2 (2) Advil Liqui-gels with $2 on box coupon
$1.29 Clean Dry-max with $2 coupon--I can only find the $1 one now...(3.29 ECB)
Total--$.79 because I didn't want to use my 1ECB. Used 6ECB and CVS coupons. Awarded 13.29 ECB
CURRENLY HAVE 24.29 in ECB!! That's double what I went in with and I only spent $.79 OOP!

Walgreens:
3 Kleenex (I forgot to use the $1 coupon in the $Saver, but had 2 others)
2 Nail polish ($.50 each)
Schick Quattro (with free MP3 arm band--$.99 after coupons)
2 Envelopes ($.50 each on sale)
Fructis Shampoo (I forgot to use the $1 coupon I had, but will get the $3.99 rebate)
Total: $10.42
(plus $3.99 rebate here and $9.99 at CVS--I GOT PAID TODAY TO SHOP!)

Thanks to all you people out there who help me figure out how to use CVS and WG! You guys rock!! (Links to the side)