Sorry for ignoring my blog

It is that time of year... uber busy time when you have to get all the x-mas stuff figured out and done and keep the house clean. Sadly, I won't be able to post regularly again until after the New Year some time.

Anyway, update:

G is crawling (ok, more like pulling himself forward with his arms and letting the legs just drag, though he does get up on all 4s he can't figure out how to more forward...) and he is eating solids quite well. He can not get food fast enough and if he has trouble sleeping, it is a guarantee that he wants more to eat.

N is playing little mother. She is convinced that G is her baby and she tries to help him crawl and tries to feed him (pretend feed him because she won't actually eat the goldfish, yogurt or anything else...).

I am finishing up x-mas presents. Some are wrapped most are not. We (kids and I) leave some time next week to my inlaws (plane should be landing at about 2:40) so wish me luck traveling alone with 2 kids under 4.

Anyway that is it for my update. Hopefully I will post again before the new year but who knows.

Getting hubby to clean!

I admit it, I have a gamer husband (this means that hubby likes to play games online and on gaming systems). He also does not like to clean (neither do I but that is a different post).

So when I ran across "Chore Wars" I knew I had found something great, and I am pretty sure that other ladies related to gamers (Ok, and a few of you that ARE gamers... *cough cough*) will love this site.

The site is set up like D and D (Dungeons and Dragons) with mom as the game master (person that can set up what chores get how many points). You can also set it up that you can earn gold and "treasure" for defeating monsters that are encountered while doing the chore. These treasure can be anything you want, like a ticket to get out of doing one chore next week, or you can have a set amount of gold that can buy them out of a chore or something they are working towards (that toy that they have been begging for?). You can also set "quests" which are one time events (deep clean the basement for that X-mas party?) that can have special rewards. I do suggest that you have everyone in the family play if you are having kids play, so they know just how much work you really do.

Sick days...

Seems everyone is sick right now.

Hubby has been having fevers every night for 3 days and been feeling aches and pains.

N has been feverish (ok it is really an "elevated temperature") as well ans her ears have been an issue.

G has been teething, so he isn't really sick but he doesn't feel well.

I was sick, but being my fathers daughter I was over all of it in less than 24 hours.

Schedule issues

Well, things have been a little hectic lately. Hubby's schedule is really crazy. He is working 12 hour shifts and some are day and others are not. His schedule (Can this be called a schedule?) has been disrupting our schedules.

I am sadly not able to keep up with a non schedule. I am really ADHD and must make myself at least a quasi schedule to keep up with chores or nothing happens. I have been getting behind on all sorts of things including knitting... or should I say especially knitting considering that many of the knitting project I have right now are for X-mas.

WFMW - Toys

Growing up I LOVED perler beads (we called the hama pegs). I spent hours making things and just having a blast. So when my little girl turned 3 I got some. I love it, hours of fun. She likes to sting them and make necklaces too.

You can buy them at a craft store and I also tr to keep up to date with craft store coupons on here so you might want to check that out...

Just a reminder...

I am just posting to say I voted...

And I am reminding everyone that bothers to read this blog to vote as well. Not just who the President will be but Congress, Legislature and all the other stuff on the ballot. The President is just a small part of it so PLEASE look it ALL over and do some internet research before casting your vote.

Nights...

Well, Hubby went to the conference, but I didn't get to go. Oh well. Seems that he is working nights this month. So I am virtually parenting alone because he is going to be tired. I need to clean the house, but REALLY don't want to. In fact I don't even want to knit. That is saying something....

Conference

It seems that hubby has a "mandatory" med school conference he must attend. I may get to go too, but it matters if we get our own room or have "roomies" for it. We won't know until aout an hour before it starts so I am packing now.

"Crapola" yarn has ARRIVED!

I got the yarn today and I have to say that am VERY thankful the yarnarian was thoughtful enough to put it in a plastic ziploc-like bag. Why? Because I found the whole package covered in some kind of oil. I was so worried until I opened it and discovered that it was just fine, though I did have to cut it out of the bag. The yarn looks yummy. I will post pictures later...

Beat the flu bug faster

Having small kids it seems something is ALWAYS going around and someone is always sick. And I am going to show you how to actually cut that sick time down.

We are going to bleach are dishes. All you do is add bleach to your dishwasher (or dishwater if you hand wash) instead of soap. The reason for the instead is because th bleach and the soap will actually react with each other and make poisonous gas (just what everyone wants! poisonous gas!). So if you want to use soap too, just wash once with soap and once with bleach.

The bleach will kill whatever germs are being shared and actually help you get better faster. I actually do this whenever I feel a bug coming on and have noticed a significant reduction in sick time (about half as long). Anyway that works for me.

Ultimate Dressup for a little girl!!!!!!!

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

You just have to look to see how CUTE this dress is! I mean it go look!

LeapFrog contest

I really love LeapFrog and so does my 3 year old. Sure it is over her head a little but it is a great learning tool and makes for great mommy and little girl time. So when I saw this contest for free LeapFrog products... I had to share. Hop (haha I made a punny) on over and enter yourself!

Birth...

I have been meaning to write this for a while (almost 6 months...) and I finally decided that I just needed to go out and say it and not worry that it was written perfectly.

With my first child I had everything figured out. I had a OBGYN that allowed birthing balls, soaking in bathtubs, showers, you name it while in labor and giving birth. Then we moved in my 7th month... and NO OBGYN would take me (I was considered a risk being so far along...) except 1. He was a little old fashioned. Though, he very pro- vaginal birth (I really wanted to have a vaginal birth), he wanted me in bed laboring and wouldn't allow any of those other things I wanted to try.

Gave birth to a lovely baby girl, but really didn't have the birth experience I wanted.

So when I found I was with child a second time, I knew I was going to go the most natural way I could. I really wanted to do a home birth, but because hubby was in medical school I couldn't (If something went wrong, he would be blamed by the school even though it was my choice...). Next best, birthing center with a mid-wife. As luck would have it, there was a water birth center in town.

I have to say the difference in births was like night and day! If the pain in the hospital birth was a 10 out of 10 then the pain in the water birth was a 2 or 3 out of 10. REALLY!

I would recommend a water birth to any woman (of course you need to be low risk for you to get one). In fact, I want a water birth for every pregnancy from here on.

Dirty loves Clean

I found a contest and to enter you have to blog about it and tell your friends! So guess what? I am blogging about it... because I love homemade soap... I mean love. You can read more about it here.

The coolest auction EVER!

Hubby found this and I have to say it is awesome!

I really love it.

I have been Taged!

So MommieDayz got tagged and tagged me.

The instructions are:

* Go to your Sixth Picture Folder then pick your Sixth Picture.

* Pray that you remember the details.

* Tag 5 others.

Well, my 6th picture folder is named: Blog (Christ, coffee and knitting needles), so you can guess that the picture is already on this blog.

And here it is:

Yep already on my blog... here is the post about it.

Now to tag...

Captivating Moments

The Yarnarian

Knit by Night

The Painted Tiger

Bring on the Lloyds...

Now to go off and tell them.

Another treasury!

I am on a roll man!

Anyway here is the link!

And if you want to be in my next treasury (or a chance to be in it at least...) then comment on my treasury.

Craft store coupons

I have updated my coupons but I am not posting new postings anymore. Instead I will be just update one post with all coupons. If you want to find them you need to click on the craft store coupons link on the sidebar.

I got a TREASURY!!!!

Sorry, it is gone now...


100% spinning batts for your pleasure!!!

Now I need to find Etsy sellers that are also on Ravelry for my next poster sketch...

Update in flintstones vitamins...

I wrote the company and they want to pick up the bottle to check it out. I haven't tossed them yet so I guess it will be going back to the company. They also want to give me a free new bottle.

They say the reason this is happening is because of moisture and that it isn't mold but rather the minerals oxidizing.


The expiration date is Feb. 2010.

WHAT!?!

My little N loves Vitamins... LOVES!!!!

Give her a choice of chocolate or a vitamin as a "reward" for peeing in the potty and well... vitamins will win out.

Does that tell you her level of obsession with vitamins? And not just any Vitamins... Flintstones Vitamins.

Now imagine my surprise when I discover what appears to be mold growing on the vitamins....

That is right MOLD!

I could understand if the vitamins were a year old or something, but I bought the big ole bottle in July... meaning it isn't even 6 months old.

I guess living in Florida, with it's SUPER high humidity, causes issues.

I wonder if she will like gummy brand vitamins....

Score!!!!!

I will start with saying that I deal with knotted yarn a lot.

I have a very curious little girl. She likes whatever it is that mommy likes. In this case.... yarn, knitting, crochet, spinning... you get it.

In fact, she is so curious that I have found almost finished scarf fully unraveled and every strand of yarn in knots. (I restrained myself... she only got a time out... ) Only to have the same yarn destroyed, as I was winding it, with a seam ripper. (You should have seen to look of pride and the "ook mommie" when she did this... I could have killed her... but she was so proud) It was very lovely merino wool and I can't bare to toss it because it *might* still be useful... as something. I mean it is yarn abuse to toss merino wool regardless of the condition...

Oh and this is in NOOOOOO way the only thing she has done to my prized yarn or projects. She has abused and tangled my yarn to no end... and not the cheap acrylic either; the wool, cotton, cashmere, and silk are her choice yarns to "disrupt".

(Though the cutest thing she had done is give my yarn to baby G because it is "soft" and made mommy happy so must make G happy... though this might lead to bad things later... we'll see...)

Needless to say I am the closest to an expert yarn untangler that one is likely to find.

This brings me to the "score" in the title. Seems the Yarnarian didn't follow her own advice about dyeing yarn. Supposedly this super lovely yarn is a tangled mess that defies bothering to untangle it. I offered to pay shipping and take this yarn off her hands.

She accepted, and I am sure, thinks I am crazy.

Pictures of the tangled heap will come...

Is it sad that I am excited about untangling yarn? Like in really excited...

Don't answer that....

June Cleaver conclusions

I am going to continue the June Cleaver thing, well at least somewhat. I actually really like heels and skirts so those I will keep, but the necklace has got to go. In fact, hubby bought me some new heels, so he might be trying to tell me something (nudge nudge wink wink).

I also noticed that I get a lot more respect from strangers if I dress nice. Like I know what I am talking about or something just because I look nice. I didn't really notice it until I stopped dressing up, which I think is odd.

DIY Sock blockers

Target was getting rid of a bunch of place mats for 99 cents each about 3 or 4 days ago so I picked up 2 (one for my feet and one for hubby though I haven't made his yet.)

Anyway I thought I would show off what I did with a kinda picture tutorial (original is here).

I started off making a foot form for the sock blocker and testing it out by putting one of my socks over it. It is was not fitting I trimmed and if it was loose I added cardboard with tape.


I traced the cardboard with a dry erase marker. (dry erase makers will erase off of most plastics and glass.) This way I got a mark but could remove it easily and not have it mar the finished product.

I ended up making the cardboard pattern to long in the leg so I just trimmed it off. Looks good if I say so myself.

Sick

Seems the flu hit us early this year. I got it yesterday. My joints hurt, my muscles ache and I am just pooped. I was going to do the "June Cleaver" thing again but couldn't manage it. In fact I was so lazy that we ate Ramen all day. I am still feeling it but not nearly as badly as I was yesterday. Anyway, off to fold some laundry. I can do that in my bed so that seems like a good chore to do while sick.

Saturday Links

Designer children :: Talking about genetically engineered children.

Make your own lidman :: Tutorial on a very cute toy.

Etsy Giveaways :: A blog dedicated to finding giveaways for etsy products.

Want to stand by your man? Quit work. :: A commentary on stay at home vs. working out of the home motherhood.

Antibiotics and allergies linked :: A commentary on a study that shows that antibiotic use and allergies in children is linked. It is kinda old but still is relevant.

Craft store coupons

Note: I am no longer doing this! I am moving to an area that has NO craft stores and since this was for me personal use I am no longer going to be doing this. Sorry for any inconvenience.

A.C. Moore has none



Hobby Lobby has none.



JoAnn's has none.



Michaels has none.

Heels

I mentioned yesterday that I was wearing the "June Cleaver" thing. I am actually really loving the dressing up. It is fun and makes me feel grown up and respectable. It is weird really. Who knew I would feel that way. I went to Bible study today and another mom of little uns (she has twins the same age as my little N) commented that I looked nice. I really liked getting complimented from someone other than hubby.

I am finding heel to be a real pain but really fun too. It adds a sophistication that I didn't know about. I might do this longer than a week... maybe until I am pregnant again.

A.C. Moore coupon for 50% off. October 2nd, 2008 and October 3rd, 2008 only.

Wow! I need to post!

I have been derelict in my posting lately. So I thought I would fill everyone in on the latest goings on.

*Hubby is back from his military hospital rotation. He got back last Saturday and we have been having some great family time.

*I am knitting M's B-day/X-mas gloves which are a mix on the Broad street Mittens and Knucks. I hand dyed the yarn a great wine color (ok so it isn't a solid... and it is self striping.)

*G can roll over from front to back and back to front and can do the military tummy crawl (Hubby told me the name for that but I can't remember it...) but hasn't mastered it at all.

*N is learing about dress up and will ONLY wear dresses. She also had gotten intp mommy's heels. (We have pics.)

*I am hating the "new" facebook and am really thinking about quitting it. If I do I need to find a way to share photos though...

*I am also doing the "June Cleaver" thing with MommieDaze. I have taken my own bohemian theme on it but heel are worn everyday, and so are skirts. I even carry G in a sling in heels! Of course they are only 1 to 2 inchers and have a heel base the size of a dime so I can actually give chase to N and climb the stairs to the house.

Anyway that is an overview. Must get to bed... Bible study early and I must be in my heels...

AC Moore has a 50% off coupon for Friday, September 26th, 2008 ans Saturday, September 27th, 2008.

Micheal's has a coupon for 40% off one regularly priced item.

It is valid from September 22nd, 2008 to September 27th, 2008.

How to hold a givaway.

I am sure many people put a contest up thinking "now this will help bring people to my blog" or "this will spread the word about what I am selling" and it will... but most of the time this can be improved upon.

How?

Easy!

Get linked to. This can mean giving extra entries to those who blog about the contest and link to you. OR you can get linked up in a contest blog of some sort (they don't host the contest, they only blog about contests... just follow the links, you will see).

My favorite contest blogs are:

Etsy Giveaways : Etsy contest only
Wiknit : Knitting, crochet, or spinning related prizes only.
PRIZEY : From what I can tell they take ALL types of contests and are even equipped to help you by providing the legal mumbo jumbo needed... very nice! (I suggest you do pay up to get the legal help, at least the first time.)
Then there is Bloggy Giveaways and their VERY AWESOME carnival. I have done the carnival once and got over 600 hits in one day! Talk about crazy! It comes around every 3 months so plan ahead on this one.

I know there are more out there (just Google "contest blogs" and "contest directory" and see the many HUNDREDS there are!) but I am only linking to the ones I like the most (the ones that have products on them that I like and use...). So be smart about which directories are worth it for you and hit the demographics you want and would be interested in your product.

The fastest way to find ones that suit you, that I have found, is to find one or two that you like and then add them to Google Reader. Then look at your suggested reading.

Anyway, that Works for Me....

JoAnn's has a 40% off coupon.

This coupon is good from September 21st, 2008 to October 4th, 2008.

Career by Color

I found this test on the net today. They claim that they can tell you what your ideal job is by the colors you most like.

I thought this was too interesting not to do!

Strangely accurate...

• Best Occupational Category

  You're a CREATOR

  Key Words:

  Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional

  These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

  CREATOR OCCUPATIONS
  Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

  CREATOR WORKPLACES
  Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.

  Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums, libraries, and galleries.

• 2nd Best Occupational Category

  You're an ORGANIZER

  Key Words:

  Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate

  These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail, and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. Persistence and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.

AC Moore has a coupon for 50% off. Good on Saturday, September 20th, 2008 only.

Getting busy!

I have been rather busy lately, mostly trying to distract my self from hubby being gone for training this month. I have Bible study on Thursday and MOPS every other Tuesday. We also try and get out of the house everyday either with shopping, swimming, or playing on the playground. I am starting to think I need to get a different type of sling for little G because flops wildly when I try to pick up N.

I am also getting caught up on CSI: Miami while knitting X-mas gifts. I love this show and missed the last 2 seasons due to no TV or cable.

My knack for coupons

I have a odd knack for finding coupons (like my shopping trip last Sunday that I got 71.81dollars worth of food for 28.12) and most people think it is luck. It isn't. I just know where to find them and how to get them. And guess what, I am going to share with you how I get them.

It starts with figuring out what products my family needs/likes to have and visiting the website for the manufacture. Many of these sites have a sign up for deals and coupons right to your mailbox or email. I love this. They are also usually for a dollar or more off and sometimes even for free! These are usually the BEST coupons for the most off. They usually also send you major coupons before they introduce a new product so even if you don't use the product all that often, signing up might be worth it. Also coupons are the first part of the ad campaign so you might be able to do a double whammy with the item being half off and having a coupon for a dollar more off!

Also remember to go to your favorite grocery store websites and see if they will send you coupons (Publix baby club does and you can also find Target coupons). These coupons will most likely be good only in the store in question and the store brand but that is better than nothing.

Sometimes you can also google search for coupons. I usually don't find very good coupons this way but I also have a linix box (which means I can't download the software for most of the online coupon sites).

Anyway, that works for me!

So what color are you?

you are violet #EE82EE

Your dominant hues are red and blue. You're confident and like showing people new ideas. You play well with others and can be very influential if you want to be. Your saturation level is lower than average - You don't stress out over things and don't understand people who do. Finishing projects may sometimes be a challenge, but you schedule time as you see fit and the important things all happen in the end, even if not everyone sees your grand master plan. Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

I see this as a little more pink than violet, but that is ok I guess.

Joann coupon for 25% off select classes. This is good from September 9th, 2008 to September 21st, 2008.

Joann also has an online code for 50% off a regular priced item from now until September 20th, 2008: EDF264

Miracle Preemie Hat

I hate when my ears are cold and I figured that little preemies would hate it too. Hence a hat that covers the ears.

And in case anyone wants to know, you can get your own doll at Target or Wal*mart in the toy section. Just remember to bring your tape measurer so you know what size preemie (baby doll) you have. Another thing you can remember is that small preemies are born with heads about the size of an apple or orange, so if you don't want to buy a doll you can just buy fresh fruit instead!







Yarn: Soft Baby Solid by Red Heart
Hook: J/10-6.00mm

Notes:

• I made this with 2 strands held together.
  
• Finished hat should fit a 1 pound to 3 pound preemie.
• Repeats are from * to *.
  

Pattern:

Ch 2
sc 6 st into first ch, connect.
ch 1, *sc 2 into next st, sc* connect.
ch 1, *sc, sc 2 into next st, sc* connect.
ch 1, *sc, sc, sc 2 into next st, sc* connect.
continue with pattern adding sc's until you have 11 rows (36 stitches).

ch 1, *sc, sc, sc 2 st tog, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, sc 2 into next st, sc, sc* connect.
repeat this for 8 rows.

Note: this pattern has NOT been tested. Please do tell me if there are any issues.

CTM: Thank you for the correction! I have added the 2 stitches needed in red! I no longer have the hat so I think I got them added correctly.

Hobby Lobby has a 40% off coupon. It is good from September 15th, 2008 to September 20th, 2008. (It is also the "text only" coupon for those who are still on dial up!)

Michaels has a 50% off coupon. It is good from September 12th, 2008 to September 20th, 2008.

JoAnn's has a program for teachers (this includes parents that home school, that is if you have proof of home schooling) that gives them 15% off all purchases all the time. It will be good until August 31st, 2009 and can be used over and over.

They also have grants for teachers (same link) that can be applied for. You must apply by September 30th, 2008 for the grant.

silly memories...

One of my first ever memories was of Star Wars. I was really little at the time, in fact I was still nursing. I know this because mom was watching it while I was eating and I kept wanting to watch and eat but could not do both at the same time.

But back to Star Wars. The scene was of Obi-wan Kenobi and Darth Vador fighting with light sabers and Darth Vader "killing" Obi-wan.

Now as an adult I know that people don't just vanish when they die. They leave behind all these thing, like a BODY. I didn't know that as a child. I truly believed that when you died that nothing was there, like you just instantly disappeared into heaven and took your physical shell with you.

This was rectified by the time I was 5 or 6, but until then I was very confused by many things. Things like why you would need a burial plot or a coffin. Or how someone would even know that someone died if someone were not there to witness it and tell people. (I came to the conclusion that was the reason my parents had drivers licenses with pictures and everything on them. Just in case a stranger saw it happen)

The reason I tell this story is because you never know what your child is picking up and what they make of it. I look in wonder at little N and wonder what she thinks is "logical".

AC Moore has a coupon for 50% off one regularly priced item.

It is good Saturday, September 13th, 2008 only.

What if...

A blog I read often, is wanting people to blog about what they would name their handbook and why for a prize, so I am.

If I were to write a handbook I would name it Frugal Motherhood. The reason I would name it this is because we have been living under the poverty line for quite some time (since little N was born... before really). I would put all sorts of helpful hints in it about how to find free things to do online and off line (activities and products), get gobs of coupons and cheap cleaning tips. I would have these things sprinkled in between stories of the crazy things my kids have done, odes to people I respect and the crazy stories from own childhood.

Now I just need write it. Wait a decade or so and it might be started!

9-11

It is hard to believe that it has been 7 years.

Lima beans

I don't remember my parents ever making lima beans. I remember the kids at school complaining about them but didn't know what they tasted like so I assumed they tasted a lot worst than they do and never bought them.

At least, I didn't until about a year ago.

A store in town was having a sale on frozen mixed veggies and they happened to have lima beans in them. I figured that N wouldn't eat them and that I could.

Imagine my surprise when she picked out all the lima beans and left the green beans, corn, peas and carrots. With hefty encouraging she ate all the peas and corn too but nothing could get her to eat the carrots or green beans.

It is just funny how kids like a food that you are sure they will not.

Mrs. Rosener

When I was a little girl we had a neighbor named Mrs. Rosener. She was a widow and was old. I don't know how old but I do know she was "grandma aged". I don't know how old I was either but it was some time around kindergarten and 2nd grade that I started visiting her. I remember going over to her house and watching her crochet to wheel of fortune. I can safely say she was the person that made me love yarn, fiber and crochet. I remember her talking about her children and how she always wanted a daughter but got 4 or 5 boys instead.

As I got older, like 5th or 6th grade, she started to have really bad memory problems. She would think that I was there to play with one of her sons and I would humor her and sit one her couch and crochet with her until dark. All the while she would be telling me that I was such a nice girl and she would ask me which of the boys I was interested in.

I never really found out what happened to her. We moved in the middle of 6th grade and I never got to visit like I did before.

I think of her every so often and wonder what she was like as a young woman and as a mom. I remember the stories she told me, like of her family going to Colorado in a covered wagon and her first set of glasses.

I loved her.

JoAnns Fabrics has 5 coupons this week. All of them are 40% off and all of them can be used in store. Four of them are good from September 7th, 2008 to September 13th, 2008 and one of them is good from September 7th, 2008 to September 20th, 2008.

Some one rolled over!

That is right G rolled over last night about 6 times. He would roll over and then start screaming, and I would put him on his tubby again and he would roll over again. Such a goober.

N learned to lock her door this morning and then was crying that she couldn't leave her room. I felt sorry for her but also thought it was really funny.

DIY coupon/money holder...

So I have one of these to hold my coupons (this picture is of my hubby's though because he has managed to keep his nice for 2 years...). Problem is that I am so mean to them that the plastic rips or cracks in about a week and it really only survives about a month. So, after much searching for a fabric one (And not finding a SINGLE ONE!), I decided to make one.

Supplies:

• double sided fusible fabric (the thickest you can find, mine is about 1/8th of an inch)
• Pretty fabric to fuse with
• needle and tread or sewing machine (I am hand sewing, because I don't have a machine...(Scratch that! I got a machine on freecycle half way through! I love it!))
• card stock to make the "pattern" with (You can use a cereal box or a manila folder.)
• magnetic snaps. or some other method to close it.
• iron (I iron all the hems down then sew because I find that easier.)
  

Hints:

• Make the pattern first and then get the fabric so you get enough.
• Get a few inches too much fabric so you can trim the sides and hem. (or it can unravel a little if it needs to be washed)

Directions:

1. Read the directions on your fusible fabric, some want the pretty fabric washed, others do not, so do whatever those directions say. (If it says to wash, remember to iron the fabric before fusing!)
2. Make your pattern. I wanted a 7 by 3.5 rectangle but you can make it larger or smaller based on your purse or what you are carrying. you need a 3/4th to an inch for the top and bottom.
   
3. Cut out the fusible fabric.
4. Iron your pretty fabric.
5. Fuse them. (If you want to you can make the fold over flap have a pretty edge before you do this.) Remember to give fold over space.
6. After fusing, trim the interior of the pocket.
7. Fold over and hem.
8. Make pattern for interior. I intend to only need to open this about 90 degrees so I made the pattern with that angle. I made mine 5 inches.
9. Cut interior pieces and hem them.
10. Fold the 1/4 circle piece in half and then half again. Make with some washable fabric pen or a pencil.
11. Sew the rectangle pieces to the half circle pieces like so.
12. (If you are going to use a magnetic snap this is the time to put it in....)
13. Sew the interior part to the outside part.
    
14. All done! How cool is that! (I put money in this one for the picture, mostly because my two year old destroyed all the coupons while I made this over 3 days and I have a bunch of ones in my house...)

Other uses:
Money carrier, note cards/flashcards, credit cards, pictures, business cards, business papers, and homework just to name a few. Of course you can make them bigger or smaller mattering on what you need.

Find the hurricanes

I was reading another blog and found this link to an interactive hurricane map. It is really cool and really helpful. Just remember that the course for Hanna has changed dramatically on it so you still need to keep informed and look up information every so often.

Happy Birthday M!

It is my sister's birthday today! She is an intelligent, funny, and very pretty young lady. She is the sort that is too busy living her life to blog about it...

She is a great sister and I am glad to have her.

Changing blogs.

So I am changing my blog from fiber-mama.blogspot.com to this one because several people have gotten me confused with fibermama.blogspot.com. She had hers first so I figured I should switch names. Due to all the hassle of backlinks and such I am keeping the other one open, just not going to post there anymore.

In other news, hubby is now gone for another month, which is both nice and annoying. I get to blog more, knit more, craft more and basically do more "me" stuff, but I miss him.... which sucks.

He left today at 7 am and already I have had an adventure. My phone got run over. Silly me I put it on my car and then started to drive to church. It fell off and when I went to get it some kid swirved to run it over. Talk about sucking. Good thing is that after I let it dry out, I put it back together and it still works! I love it! I might still buy a Go phone from Wal-mart and just put my SIMS card in it (Just so you know, if you have AT&T you can buy any old AT&T phone (about 25-30 dollars) and stick your SIMS card it it and it will work. No reason to go and BUY an super expensive phone).

Happy anniversary!

Today I have been married 4 years. Wow how time flies.

Thinking back to when we got married, this was the year that we were going to start thinking about having kids. That didn't work out the way we planned! I got pregnant with N 5 months after getting married, not the "4 or 5 years" we had planned on. Of course, I couldn't think of living without N or G now. Glad God has better plans than us. Makes things easier knowing he is in control.

To celebrate we were going to try and get a babysitter, but decided that instead we just wanted to get sushi and bring it home. I LOVE raw fish and with hubby being in medical school this is a rare treat (Haha! I made a pun!).

Lost receipts!

I was going to post EVERYTHING I bought with food money, but I lost a few receipts so now I can't. But I will be posting more of what I have bought soon.

Hair...

I just was reading this blog and she was talking about how she had found white hairs. This got me thinking about my own hair. You see I started going white at 23 years old. Sure, no one noticed it (not even my husband) noticed the white hairs around my face, but I was 23, I shouldn't have WHITE HAIR.

I then went back through the family tree and it seems that many women in my family start going white young. In fact, one of my Great Grandmas or Great Great Grandmas started to go white at 16.

16!

Wow...

So maybe I AM old enough to have white hair. Regardless I have it and truth be told, I like the white. I am going to keep it.

Wordless Wednesday

And the Rain, Rain, Rain came Down, Down, Down! These are pictures of the back of our apartment building, needless to say we got some flooding (Like we do with EVERY rain storm). The playground is under water too.

Money

on 8-3-08 I bought 8.48 of fresh fruit from Publix.

Peaches
2.86 lb at 1.99 a pound (sale!) = 5.69
Bananas
2.55 lb at 0.69 a pound = 1.76
Oranges
0.52 lb at 1.99 a pound = 1.03

Subtotal: 8.48

I then went to Walmart to get a "congrats on the new baby" card.

That was 2.23 because Walmart only carried ONE card to congratulate a birth but had about 5000 cards for birthdays... Who thought that one up?

Subtotal: 2.37

On Monday, I went to Chick-Fil-A for the FREE promo breakfast they have all this Aug. (this is only in Lee county FL so if you aren't here, sorry...) I felt guilty getting free breakfast so I bought a coffee too. That cost 1.27 with tax.

Subtotal: 1.27
Total: 12.12
Left: 232.15

Hurray for the hubby!

It seems that coffee wasn't the reason little G was being so whiny, it was that he had a kink in his bowel and it was causing discomfort (making it so he couldn't go number 2). Daddy did some OMT on the little un and we had the 2 days of blowing out the diaper every hour or two. The best part is that G now only whines when he is tired and wants to go the bed, eat, or a diaper change. All things I can fix, which makes life MUCH less frustrating!

$244.27 left

I bought a Sam's Club membership today for 40 dollars. I should end up saving about 80 dollars just on milk in the next year (2.5 gallons a week and it is about 50 cents less at Sam's Club).

I also when shopping:

18 ct of XL eggs : 2.02
3 gallons of 2 % milk : 3.64 each

This means that after taxes (FL doesn't have food tax) I spent 54.94.

That makes 244.27 left.

Shopping right along...

I have finally had to up the food budget to 300 a month (though I am really going to try to keep it as close to 200 as possible). To help me I am going to start blogging EVERY food purchase starting today. (actually food budget purchase).This could get really boring, but I need it.

Walmart:

3 pound bag of yellow onions: 2.28
Greeting card to congratulate a graduation: 0.48

Total spent (tax included) 2.79

Money left this month: 297.21

Oh NO!!!

Little G has had tummy issues since being born. Cramps up, crys, gas, you get it the whole works. Well last week I tried not drinking any coffee, and guess what, he didn't have any tummy issues...

This does not bode well for me.

I love coffee, LOVE IT, I say! And I might not be able to drink the wonderful stuff until he is weaned... He is 3 months old and since I am going to breastfeed for a full year that makes 9 months with out coffee.

This does not bode well at all.

The things you give up for children...

Wishful thinking

Money is tight... really tight... and I think my daughter is just figuring out that we don't do things because of this special thing called money. This makes me sad. I wish I could give her everything. I wish we could go to the zoo, or the park (you have to pay to park at the parks here! Whats up with that!?), or well, anywhere really. We have recently been going to Chick-fil-A and I have been having a coffee while she has been playing for hours, but really I can only afford that 2 times a week, and really not even that if I am honest with myself...

Of course I am most likely projecting. I probably am just feeling the crunch and being wishful on her part. She probably doesn't know that she is missing out on anything.

Ummmm....

I hate writing a first post. Really I do. What do you write about? It isn't like anyone is reading it anyway, at least until you get some readership and then they go back to the first post to get back story. Well, if you want back story, you are out of luck on this post. Sorry.