My Current Favs

As a new mom once again, I definitely have my daily go-to favs!  So today I thought I might share them with you!  Some things are handmade and some came from the store!

My Milkies
I have blogged about these before, and that was before I had used them.  And now that I have used them I do not know how I managed without the with the other girls.  I already have about 60 oz of breastmilk in the freezer and I have only pumped 3 times!  This is what my working mommas will be getting from me, because I remember how hard it was to get a supply in the freezer when I went back to school or work with my other 2 girls.

aden + anais
Swaddling Blanket
 
Burpy Bibs

I am in LOVE with these (Thanks G Fam!!)  These blankets have been perfect for this summer heat and I find myself making sure that I have one of these burp clothes clean at all times! (I am hoping get my own version figured out sometime soon.)

My Coupon Binder
I don't go shopping without it!! (now the pics wont upload! UGH!)

My Sewing Machine
It is my friend, my slave, my co-worker and many others...maybe it needs a name??  But first is it a he or a she....hummm??

My nursing covers
I have used these at the house, pickup or at a friends house...but I am still not comfortable enough to use in the middle of a restaurant or other places like some people.  Maybe one of these days, but we will see!

These are just a few of the things that I have been getting full use of in the past few weeks..we will see what else I can find to try or find new uses for in the future.

Later Peeps...

~Gift Idea for a College Kid~

I know some people have been looking for different gift ideas for those recent graduates who are about to head off to college!  And I have definitely been one of those!  You see my baby cousin (well I guess he isn't actually my youngest cousin, but I do remember when he was born so he is still my baby!) just graduated from high school (hold on gotta find a tissue) and I have been postponing making his gift because then that would make the reality of him living for college even more REAL!

Of course I am going to make him something that is personalized, but I am also going to work on a supply box for him.  Because I mean we are talking about a MALE here, don't get me wrong my Dev is mature, responsible and super smart, but men or boys are not use to having to go to the store and buy deodrant or shampoo!

Now back to the matter at hand, I have all of these coupons for products that my hubby, dad or brothers do not use.  So I am going to use them to find CHEAP deals and fill Dev's box with "goodies".  I'm thinking body wash, deodrant, shampoo, maybe some detergent or cleaning supplies, and maybe trash bags.  These are necessities that he will use even in the dorm!  And of course most college kids are not too picky.

For example:  this week at Target Nivea Men's body wash is on sale for $3.04.  I have a buy 2 get one free coupon, a Target coupon for $1.00 off Nivea body wash and several manufacture coupons for $2.00 off Nivea Men's body wash.  In my first transaction I will get 3 bottles for $1.08 and in my second transaction one bottle for $0.04.  So that will be $1.12 for 4 bottles of body wash!!  Not too shabby if you ask me!  Who knows I may even use some of those Buy One Get One Free toothbrush coupons and whatever else I run across!

Just a few items I'm lookin to put in the supply box:
body wash                       shampoo                    razor
deodrant                          detergent                    razor refills
cleaning supplies               trash bags                  toilet paper
toothbrushes                     first aid kit                 paper towels
Febreze                            pain reliever              batteries

Happy gift giving Peeps!!

Real Quick...

I have added a couple of pages to the top of the blog (Homeschooling & Couponing) to start out with.  There is one where I have listed websites and blogs to assist you in cutting down your grocery bill, couponing and frugalness!!!  I hope to soon have recipes, tutorials and who know what else I can find to share with you peeps!!

If you want just take a quick peak and check out the changes!  (oh & dont forget I love suggestions!!)

Also you can follow me on Facebook as I will try to share all the deals that I find!!!

Happy Friday Peeps!

Latest Mission...

Okay so I have been on this mission to cut down our grocery bill, stock the pantry & frig and quit eating out so much (okay so that is really 3 missions!)  But who isn't making small attempts at these things in this economy with high fuel and utilities soaring through the roof???
I have got to get back to doing my shopping every 2 or 3 weeks (except for milk & bread of course!) and buy more in bulk if I can.  I have also been trying to rebuild my coupon stash that has slowly dewindled down to pretty much nothing. 

So yesterday I sat down and made up a semi detailed grocery list of the things that I buy regularly and then I got on samsclub.com and wrote down the prices for everything.  I then went on to figure the cost per pound, ounce, cup, etc.  I think this will help me in doing more comparison shopping.  Now I just need to get prices from say Wally World and United.  I am really going to start working on the comparison shopping and price-matching; considering that this is something that I haven't ever really done.  Except on large ticket items that is! So why not do it on stuff that we use every week or 2 weeks?  Makes total sense to me!

I am hoping to share my experiences with you and if you have any thoughts or suggestion just send them on over my way!  They will be greatly appreciated!

p.s.  I will share my list with any that are interested in it...just let me know!!

Later Frugal Peeps!

New To-Do List

Ok thanks to the Hubby (and yes I am putting a majority of the blame on him) I barely got started on my To-Do List from last weekend.  Instead we ended up tearing out the front walkway and entire front porch--it was Monday before my ears quit ringing from 2 days of listening to a jackhammer outside my front door.  However I did make my 1st boppy pillow cover with help from Vanilla Joy and I also made a matching nursing cover for a really great friend's sister-in-law.  I used this pattern that Vanilla Joy supplies on her site and altered it some by not using a zipper and made it close like a pillow sham.  I also got the last batch of my custom orders packed up and shipped out.  It might not have been very productive in the garage/sewing room, but it was an overall productive weekend around our little house!

But now I have another To-Do List (I'm still going to work on the other one too!!)

• master a pattern for the Rachel Ray moppine towels (my mom has been waiting for like 2 months for these, I probably need to make them a priority!)
• create a pattern/design for a boot bag
• make up some more bandana/pillowcase dresses
• make more Cool 'em Totes
• AND of course keep making more Feed Sack Totes!

And these are just a few of the things I would like to work on! Now these are just a few of the projects that I work on in between orders, so I should stay plenty busy!

Until later Peeps...

*Weekend Project*

So this weekend I AM determined to work on our garage turned office/sewing/craft center!  I have slowly worked started on this project a couple of different times this winter on an occassional evening or 2.  Then I have to leave it to work on something else and 2 weeks later it looks worse than it did before I worked on it last time.  How the heck does this happen?  I know you are probably thinking "excuses, excuses."  So here is the  To-Do List:  (I figured if I wrote it down/blogged it then I might, just might, get half way through the list)

1. sort through books
2. sort through office paperwork
3. sort fabric scraps
4. organize current orders/projects
5. straighten shelves & sewing supplies
6. dust/vacuum walls
7. sweep
8. rearrange tubs/boxes
9. move unnecessary stuff to cellar
10. set up old kitchen table for sewing

Okay I think this is a decent list to get started with, considering some of the these I might have to recruit the Hubbs to assist me!!  Hehe and he doesn't even know it yet!!  Shh don't tell him, I like to catch him off guard with the honey-dos!
With all of my comings and going lately my sewing area looks like a tornado has hit it.  And I really need to get it tackled before I start any new projects!  So if I dont show back up in the next few days, please send someone to find me in our garage somewhere!!  Because this is where I will be either cleaning or finishing a couple of orders!

Wild & Crazy Wed. Night

So last night after getting a few things accomplished around the house, fed the starving munchkins, put up laundry, and got the munchkins to bed, I finally sat down and threw and eye pillow together! I didn't even use any of the patterns I had so carefully printed off yesterday (since it was like 10:30 and all of that stuff was still in the car--what can I say I didn't feel like walking out to the car). I wasn't even going to sew the pillow last night until I stumbled across a length of material that was right at 8" wide (then I held it across my face & determined that it was long enough, even though the patterns called for 10 inches). So I checked the pantry and I had a bag of regular rice tucked away in a far corner. By this time my dog Hannah is following me around giving me this look like "um Mom its like 10:30 and waayyy past our bedtime!" But I just kept trucking along, I was on a mission & I had a vision!! So I cut a 8X8 square and folded it into a 4X8 rectangle (right sides together) and sewed the 2 short side together with and opening on the long side, flipped it inside out, and filled it with about a cup of rice. (I think flaxseed will work better but where am I going to get that at 10:30 at night & in the middle of nowhere TX?) I topstitched the opening and threw it in the microwave for about 30 seconds. & I was ready for bed!! So then Hannah and I went to bed and slept like angels with our warm eye pillow or at least I did. Maybe I will get a slipcover or case made for it in a couple of days because I am preping for major sewing weekend!!

Later Peeps...

Welcome to My World with Google!

So I have spent some time this week with my ole pal Google. I have been researching various topics like handmade eye pillows, heating pads/pillows, patterns, and fillers. I ahve also been researching a couple of sewing machines. I love finding new patterns or ideas to try and tinker with. I think I have finally found a couple of patterns that I can alter, combine and tinker with until I get the results that I am looking for. I am super excited about getting home and getting my 1st eye pillow made just so I can test it out myself (I love testing out my stuff!)

I started thinking about this project and wondering if there were any patterns for an eye pillow thingymagig because I have been using my heating pillow to cover my eyes when I have a migraine. If I couldn't find one, then I was going to find the measurements for an eye mask or make a super-small version of my heating pillow. After another migraine wrecked havoc on my weekend this past Sunday, I jump started my research!! Sometimes I feel like I am still in school with all of this researching and studying that I do on patterns, projects and items---but I absolutely love it!! That's all that matters right? I will do my best to get some pics up of my end results!!

Later Peeps...

Oh and dont forget to send me suggestions for things you might want patterns for or even where to find specific ideas! Or you can suggests other Peeps that might want to be showcased!

Great Gifts For Baby Showers-Part 1

Ok the secret to giving a great baby gift is by not just picking something off of the registry (granted the registry is there to give you an IDEA of the the new parents need or want). But honestly half of that stuff never gets used. Now if there is an item (like a Boppy Pillow) that you yourself found as a necessity then get it! I am guilty of the crazy scanning while registering but now I know better and I want to help you give the gift that is remembered and that is possibly the hit of the party (because that is a pretty good feeling to have!).

Ok here are a couple of suggestions that are some of the BEST everyday items for a new mommy to use!
1) Swaddling/Receiving Blanket
2) Nursing Cover
I believe that both of these items are now carried in Babies'R'Us, but when I first saw them they were only in boutique stores and cost a fortune, so I looked at patterns and figured out my own tweeked version to make. They are awesome products but the actual products are limited in colors and patterns (so if you need something specific you may have to make it yourself-but that's why I am here-to help you!) Today we will focus on the super simple swaddling blanket!
This blankets start at $18.99 and range up to like $35. However this is an item that will be used day in and day out, so you will want to give at least 2 or 3. (This is why you want to make them so it is much cheaper on you, plus being handmade will give your gift that WOW factor!)

Items you will need: 42-43" X 42- 43" pre-shrunk flannel (1 piece for each blanket) and a coordinating thread.

Fold over a hem of 1/2 inch, then fold again and pin...do this all the way around. You will have to play with the corners (I usually try to fold them at a diagonal line). Then sew your hem all the way around and ta-da! Super Simple, Super Awesome!

Now this project can be as simple or as fancy as you want (you can round the corners, make it double sided, quilt it or even hand sew around the edges). There are numerous ways to add your own flair to this project!