Custom Burp cloths from cloth diapers

This is my kind of sewing project. EASY, simple, and cute! What a great easy gift idea too. Plus, you can use up the scraps you have on hand!

Go to Make and Takes for a full easy tutorial

Here's the small supply list the Baby Burp Cloths:

• Cloth Diapers
• Ribbon or Ric Rac
• Quilt Binding
• Sewing Machine with thread to match the ribbon
  

Thanks,Make and Takes

Easy hooded bath towel

Do you have a baby shower (or toddler b-day party) coming up soon? Consider making this easy hooded towel. For more photos and tutorials Go here to Make and Takes

Supplies for Bath Towel Hoodies:

• one large bath towel – any color
• one hand towel – any color
• fabric for letters – can be anything. I use fleece and it does pill, but I don’t mind as it doesn’t fray.
• scissors, pins, sewing machine
• extras: ric-rac, double bias tape

Thanks, Make and Takes

Making your own wall art using art canvas-for less than $2.00 ea till 4/17 @ Michaels's!

Do you have bare walls and need something custom looking on them....this deal is for you (and me)!

Use wall canvas as a background to glue family photos, scrapbook paper, wall paper scraps, or fabric over them. The possibilities are endless. Oh this is nursery eye candy for me!!! My mind is racing with possibilities of using canvases in my home!

GO here to turn a picture of your child into pop art!

Go toThe Krazy Coupon Lady link for all the details of the canvas prices at Michael's this week only ending April 18th. If you didn't get this deal--keep it in mind for a future project!

Here's a sneak peek of one of the prices:

11×14 Canvas, 2-pack (Reg. $8.49) $4.79
40% off – Artist Canvas, reg or sale price – (michaels.com) 4th coupon down
Final Price: $2.87, or $1.44 each

I was featured on Tip JUNKIE for my Teacher Appreciation door!

I was featured as #21 above on Tip Junkie's Teacher Appreciation door ideas. To see the full post and my #21 decorated door go HERE!

Do you need some creative inspiration for a teacher appreciation gift? You have to check out some ideas HERE!

Sherwin Williams paint coupons

Here are some Sherwin Williams coupons. I used their ProMar 200 paint in my basement remodel and really like the quality! Go to Coupons.com. Scroll through the coupons and find these:

25% off Paints and Stains

$4.00 off CS Soft Woven 3-Pack Roller Covers

Buy 1 Get 1 Free Plastic Drop Cloth

(Thanks Wild for Wags)

My Christian fiction book club books UPDATE!

I joined a Christian fiction book club last fall and I have been meaning to post the lastest book from our book club meeting in early April. Are you in a book club and what are you reading?

Here's a recap for my new blog readers!

Last fall we read The Yada Yada Prayer Group By: Neta Jackson It was long and an ok read. I liked the ending and how it focused on what Christ has done for all of us as sinners. It provided great off book/topic Bibical discussions in our group. Grade: C+





For Christmas time we read Max Lucado's Christmas Collection. It has 3 short stories which is great for that time of year, short. I enjoyed the first one the most The Angel Gabriel story. I will read it again next Christmas for sure. It got me thinking about the angel Gabriel and his journey to tell Mary she is going to have the Son of God. Very thought provoking-BUT FICTION not Bibical. Grade: B+





This was our new spring book called Redeeming Love by: Francine Rivers. I read all 400+ pages and really found it humbling and insightful. This book is based on the book Hosea in the Bible. Go HERE for the full storyline. It made me think more about God's love and how it's for everyone. We are all sinners and NEED a Savior. I highly recommend this book (even if it's long). It has great questions in the back for a book club group.

4 wheel drive vehicle advice needed!

I need your advice and wisdom. We are shopping for a new family vehicle. I would love other veteran mom's opinions.

Here are my current criteria:

We must pay cash for it (so new and leased vehicles are out)
Must have 4 wheel drive for Utah
I want captain chairs in the middle row so the baby and my 3 year old can't touch each other
3 rows of seats=a 7 people vehicle
Trunk space to fit a double stroller
TV screen and good speakers inside to rock out
Safe with air bags etc.
Color is medium important- Silver is my wish!

What do drive that you love along my same lines? HELP!

Lowe's 10% off coupon e-mailed to your inbox

Lowe's- Save 10% on your purchase of (up to) $5,000! If you are remodeling this helps a ton! 10% is still something! Go HERE to sign up. Allow for 3-7 days to receive the coupon in your inbox.

Clean out the clutter-Basement BEFORE picture

Here is our basement "hunting manly great room" BEFORE picture. It shows all our clutter, tools, and remodeling junk. This area was finished when we moved in 5 years ago. This area has been holding all our stuff since December when we started the basement remodel. I am soooooo happy to report the brand new carpet was laid yesterday AND I am in full declutter and clean up mode. I will be off the computer de-junking and cleaning today so stay tuned for some after pictures soon!

Easter Clearance= Baby shower stuff

My good friend is throwing me a baby shower for my first baby boy! So, when I saw these baby blue M & M's and baby blue Reeses's I thought how PERFECT for the baby boy shower candy dish. I will save a couple bags for the hospital visitors (instead of cigars). They had pink and yellow colors too. I bet you could use these for b-day parties too.I got them at Walmart today and paid $1.75 a pack (only 50% off-wish it was 75%). A bit pricey if you consider you can get a whole bag for that but I wanted ALL blue! I might try to hit the store when they are 75% off and see if I can get them cheaper. It's a novelty item too.

Don't forget to think outside the "Easter box" when clearance shopping.

Tip: Wood filler for filling nail holes on trim

For us Elmer's Wood filler (often used for furniture building and repair) worked GREAT on filling nail the holes on the wood trim. It was easy to apply with your finger, expanded in the hole nicely, wiped off easy, and dried quickly. The Painters putty stuff was useless!! It took forever to dry, wiped off, and didn't stay in holes. We got this as Home Depot!

Garden 2010- Our trip to IFA in Utah for peas, onions, beans and BABY chicks!

This is a belated post but I wanted to let you know it's time to plant peas, beans, and onions outdoors. We planted them two weeks ago when the weather was unseasonably warm in the 60's. Here's the details on how much we paid and what we purchased. We went to Intermountain Farming Association in Utah.Yummy tender sugar snap peas $7.99 a lb. Click photo to enlarge for details.We planted a bag of both yellow and red onions for $2.69 a bag.Blue Lake beans $5.99 a lb

The girls were very excited to see it was baby chick days at IFA (it might be going on still call them). We saw a variety of baby chicks, turkeys, ducks and roosters. Great educational opportunity too. I want to have chickens some day.

Clear out the clutter challenge- JOIN ME!

I am ready to go full steam to CLEAN OUT THE CLUTTER in my house! I am joining the clear out the clutter challenge at moneysavingmom.com Starting tomorrow (carpet is getting put in today), I will be working hard to go room by room to clear out and organize our stuff. I WILL be ruthless on getting rid of excess stuff (and keep only what we love). Note to self: I don't need all this stuff that is cluttering my life!

Disclaimer: I am pregnant so I hope to follow her challenge but won't put too much pressure on myself. I am moving two kids downstairs and getting ready for a baby so I hope her challenge fits my current needs. I will show you REAL before and after photos. It'll be an eye opener.

Wanna join me? Let's clean out the clutter before the kids are out of school!!!

Basement remodle update- Tile in Bathroom

Here's the bathroom color and material scheme!

I have shown a cut piece of our existing carpet that butts up to the tile in the bathroom

Wall color: Sherwin Williams Name: Nomadic Desert 6107 Sheen: Semigloss (great sheen for bathroom walls)

Door & trim color: Sherwin Williams Name: Nacre Sheen: Gloss (not shown in photo) It's a nice white color with a greenish brown undertone. If you look at the Sherwin paint fan deck you'll see what I mean by undertones on whites.

Interior Designer TIP: Paint undertones in paint are very important to the overall look. I have lots of clients who call me to pick out paint because I see the undertones on paint chips and the grand plan. It's what I do, COLOR! Don't be afraid to ask for help from an Interior Designer like myself. It'll save you time and money in the long run! Don't pick a color in Home Depot and expect it to "work"! If you are interested in a paint consultation e-mail me. I can pick colors long distance too.

Formica brand laminate: Color: Butterum Granite Matte finish 7732-58

Plumbing: White toilet, sink, and tub surround

Fixtures: Brushed Chrome for door hinges, door knobs, faucets, outlet covers, and light switches

Porcelain Tile: Olive porcelain tile (more durable than ceramic!) from a local small retail store. I paid $1.66 sq/ft. It's a small bathroom so I got a color and pattern that I loved and not one that was just cheap (like .99 sq ft). Spend money where you see it! I picked a dark grout because there is nothing worse than stained grout lines.

TIP: Go to the local tile outlet stores like Tile for Less if you have a small space to work on. You just might get great left overs at a great price. My basement bathroom was only 32 sq. ft= 2 boxes of tile.

Tile picture with the flash on

I like these inexpensive but nice brushed chrome light fixtures from Home Depot.
We needed the upright light fixtures due to the duct work above-it's lower in that location.

I got this Brushed nickle (not chrome but it goes well) dual light light cover for $3.xx from Target. I found it on a clearance end cap rack. I bought the GFI grounded outlet covers from Home Depot about $2.xx. They have the open rectangular slot. Do you know what I am talking about? The 2 circle outlets (that you see in bedrooms) don't apply to bathrooms because they outlets need to be grounded.

Stay tuned for the finishing touches!!
I will be adding colorful towels and a shower curtain (yet to be picked out!).

Using up the Easter Ham in new dinner recipes

I never glaze my Easter ham because I like to use the leftovers in various dishes the next week. Here are three ways I plan on using up my ham this week.

1. Homemade Pizza dough with Easter unglazed ham, canned pinneapple, cheese, and green peppers. I think a salad sounds good with it.

2. Omelets with Easter unglazed ham, bell peppers, cheese, and canned mushrooms. I'll add some fruit and cinnamon toast.

3. The Best bean and ham soup found HERE This way I can use the ham bone and get more beans into our diet. I might whip up some warm corn bread to go with it.

Please leave me a comment on your recipes. I always need and want more!

Growing seeds indoors when it's snowy outside!

Here's our seedlings growing under grow lights in the almost finished basement. As you can see we are just awaiting carpet soon. Yippee! This past week was a cold, snowy, and blowing wind weather weekend (with more snow coming tonight). I can't wait for spring and will be prepared with plants when it comes!We transfer the dirt sponges to Styrofoam cups when they get big enough.
Ah, I can't wait till summer! What are you growing indoors?Then we will (actually my gardening husband) will transfer them to the wall of waters. I don't know why the picture is sideways. Stupid blogger.

You can read more about our Gardening ways and tips from 2009

HERE

He has RISEN! Happy Easter!

Blessed Easter everyone.

I love this day....no Easter Bunny today just rejoicing in the resurrection promise of our Savior.

Easter Story Cookies-Make the night before Easter

A couple years ago, I found this special recipe for The Easter Story Cookies. I was intrigued with the Biblical verses and the Easter visual for my kids. We made these as a family last year on the night before Easter. I replaced the anticipation of the Easter Bunny with this tradition. The girls and I kindly asked the Easter Bunny at the mall to come to our house on Saturday morning instead of the day of Jesus' Resurrection. My six year old daughter "lovingly and matter of factly" states to everyone that, “Jesus gets his own day and doesn't have to share with the Easter Bunny.” I agree! Easter Blessings to you and your family.

Easter Story Cookies
by Rachel Keller

Begin this recipe on Saturday, the day before Easter.
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon or a wooden meat hammer
duct tape or packing tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300*F.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon or hammer to break them into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl.

Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life.

Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste. Then put your pinch of salt in the bowl.

Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus's followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing! Add 1 cup sugar to the bowl.

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know and belong to him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 10 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form.

Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus's body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door.

Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

Leave the kitchen. If you've been making these cookies just before bedtime, GO TO BED!

Acknowledge that the kids are probably sad that they've worked hard to make these cookies, and now have to leave them in the oven overnight. Explain that Jesus' followers were in sad when Jesus died and the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Ask the kids to notice the cracked surface. Have them bite into the cookies. The cookies are hollow!

Explain that on the first Easter morning, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

HE HAS RISEN!