Vacation

You'll notice a lack of posts for this coming week because we will be on vacation! I may check in a few times if I have a chance, but we will be in Wisconsin for a few days to relax!

Adios!

Fun with Water

Here's a free and simple activity for babies or toddlers!

Just take a medium sized container outside and fill it with water. Give them some cups, smaller sized containers, and bath toys. Let them play and splash to their heart's content!

Mom can take out her favorite book and sit a little bit away and enjoy some time to read or just relax while baby is happily splashing!

For more frugal ideas visit Biblical Womanhood.

Be Inspired

- Make some beautiful hair bows for little girls.

- Or make nature cans out of old oatmeal containers.

- A simple spring flower craft.

- I love this spring book basket!

- 50 activities for pre-schoolers to do at home.

- Cool milk trick

- A bookshelf works as a closet for little ones.

- What an adorable thank you idea for teachers!

- These silhouettes would be fun to try someday.

Boost your Grocery Budget!

Moody Bible Radio is sponsoring a contest to win a $50 gift card to your local grocery store! What could be better than that? I'm dreaming of all the little extras I could add to my cabinets with that $50!

To win just visit their site, fill out the form and tell them your favorite savings story!

Speaking of Moody, their radio station is a fabulous ministry and encourages me greatly throughout the day! I love to turn it on and listen to some interesting Christian programs while working in the kitchen.

Our Top 3 Baby Wipes Solutions

1. Washcloths squirted with plain old water does the trick almost all of the time for the right price! We bought some regular old baby washcloths at Target and keep them on hand next to the changing table. We keep a squirt bottle filled with water there too for convenience. Since we use super cute cloth diapers the dirty wipes just get tossed in the pail with the diapers and washed with them too! No extra work and lots of savings!

2. Free Wipes purchased with overage at CVS! I like to throw in the small travel sized wipes ($.99 ) if I have any overage from using coupons at CVS. If you don't know what I'm talking about visit Money Saving Mom's primer on learning to shop for great deals at CVS!

3. Homemade Baby Wipes come in awfully handy for those really messy diapers or just when you don't feel like going to the store! You can find plenty of recipes online but here is our favorite shared with me by my cousin Kelly.

Baby Wipes:
Boil 1 2/3 cups water,
Add about 1 TBS baby oil and 1 TBS baby shampoo (feel free to adjust to desired consistency)

Cut paper towels in half and fold. Stack as desired in an old wipes container. Pour solution over the paper towels until all towels are wet but not soaking! If they are too wet, leave the lid
up to allow them to dry out some.

It works for us! I honestly can't think of the last time I had to run to the store to buy wipes!

Homemade Bubble Mixes

Simple Bubble Mix:
1/4 cup Joy brand dish washing detergent (other brands don't work as well)
1/2 cup water
a few drops of food coloring
1 tsp sugar

Mix together and put into a container with a lid. Let the mixture age for 2-3 days before using.


Gooey Bubble Mix:
1 cup Joy brand dish washing detergent (other brands don't work as well)
3 cups water
6 tablespoons light corn syrup

Mix together and let sit for a few hours before using. This mixture is best for toddlers and for making huge bubbles because it stays together better. It does make the ground more slippery where bubbles pop though!

Recipes from Beginning Fun With Water & Bubbles - A Totline Beginning Science Book

Girls' Day Out

On Sat. the girls (my sister-in-laws, mother-in-law, grandmother, and myself) headed out for a fun day together! We pampered ourselves by getting a manicure or pedicure and then enjoyed the soup and salad deal at The Olive Garden! What a nice treat.

Here are a few ideas for having a fun girls' day together:

- Pamper yourselves like we did with manicures or pedicures or get together and do it yourself at home!

- Head to the park for a picnic lunch and a walk to enjoy the scenery.

- Host a brunch and then head out to do something fun afterwards like watching a matinée or browsing your favorite bookstores.

- Have everyone over to work together on their current project. Whether it's knitting, scrap booking, needlepoint, or something else, it's probably more fun with company around!

- Get together to make something fun but unusual. You could try homemade ice cream, homemade pasta, or an elaborate cake you've always wanted to try to make. If it's a flop you'll have had more fun making it with friends.

Make sure to treat yourself once in awhile and spend time with your family and friends!

Prayers for Little Ones

Lord Jesus, prepare my heart today that
Thy word may be to me very sweet and
precious. Amen.

Lord, Let me in Thy holy name
My task today pursue:
Thy glory be my only aim
In all I think and do. Amen.


- Prayers for Little Ones compiled by Geo. L. Conrad, Copyright 1923

What is this Mom?

Today was our first real chance of the year to get out and crawl around in the grass and dirt. We looked at grass, bugs, sticks, and leaves! What fun!

Borax to the Rescue

Recently I bought some new adorable cloth diapers but found that after a few washes they just weren't smelling fresh after being washed.

I concluded that the multiple layers of fabric built into the Kushies diapers just weren't coming clean with my regular routine. That's when I discovered Borax! By soaking the diapers in water and borax, I'm back to having fresh smelling diapers. An added bonus is that Borax is just about the cheapest thing you can buy in the laundry detergent section! One box only costs about $2.00. It works for us!

Shoveling

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.

Phyllis Diller

Inexpensive Entertainment - Friends

Well once again it is Friday! Today is my last post in this series I've been writing on inexpensive entertainment.

Today I'd just like to say that the least expensive option for entertainment is just to take the time to invest in your friends and family! Spending some quality time with your good friends does not cost much but provides plenty of fun and memories. Can you think of times in the past when you had friends who you could do nothing with but still have fun? Find those friends and you will find plenty of fun for a good price.

I was just listening to a radio program the other day where they were discussing the importance of friends. If you don't have close friends it can be intimidating and hard to know where to find them. I suggest diving into a group for a cause that you love, where like minded people will be present. You just might find a good friend. The next step is to nurture your friendships. Friendships are a give and take relationship, and they do take time to develop!

A high school friend and I were just reminiscing recently about how we used to have a craft night where we would have a set monetary limit. We would drive to Walmart , buy our supplies and then head home to create the project. We had a lot of fun doing this, mostly because we were spending time with good friends. The project itself wasn't what was important, it was spending time with friends! I need to remind myself that just spending time with people is what makes "entertainment" entertaining!

So send an email, give someone a call, write a letter, or better yet get together with a friend! You won't regret it!

For more frugal tips visit Biblical Womanhood!

A Windy Chicago Day

This morning was just one of "those" mornings. I decided to begin vacuuming after my little guy went down for his morning nap. I managed to clean up the layers of cat hair from the floor and couch but also managed to get the vacuum extension stuck out. Just imagine a giant pole sticking out of the top of the vacuum and you will be imagining what I'm stuck with. I'm not sure how one even manages to do that, but I did somehow. In the process of vacuuming I woke Luke up.

Also while vacuuming, Chicago showed it's true self by blowing my recycling bin over repeatedly in my front yard. So as my yard filled up with newspapers, magazines and other miscellaneous objects I ran throughout the muddy yard (in my slippers and pajamas) trying to pick it up while yet again the wind would knock the bin over. I'm sure if the neighbors were looking they probably had quite a laugh watching me run around the yard.

Eventually the wind won and we brought the recycling inside to await a less windy week.

Be Inspired

- Color at the doctor's office

- Mood changers for toddler boys

- How to remember the details

- Money laundering

- Felt Food

- Baking fun for toddlers

Dish Towel Bibs

Having a growing toddler has made me think a good deal too much about bibs. During this constant state of bib awareness I came to realize that the bibs we own were NOT made for toddlers! They were made for infants who spit up or little ones just learning to take a bite of rice cereal.




So I decided to conquer my junior high home economic fears and use my new sewing machine. I successfully wound the bobbin (a miracle in itself) and managed to do some sewing with no damage done. I am quite proud of my little project though if you look closely you will notice that I could probably wear the bib as I made the neck opening far too large. The stitches themselves are also quite pitiful and would make any seamstress laugh hysterically.

But it does not matter - I successfully used a sewing machine and made something somewhat useful! As my sewing skills improve perhaps I will make some more awesome bibs!


If you are interested here is what I did:

Start with any dish towel, can be an old one you own or something new if you are making the bib for a gift.




I took a lazy woman's route and used a bowl to trace a circle onto the middle of the towel. I used an erasable fabric pen so any marks will wash out. I then used my scissors to cut a circle out of the fabric. I guessed on the size of the circle and made it way too large. I would suggest you actually measure your toddler for better results. :-)





Next I sewed two ends of elastic together and then stitched the elastic onto the bib. Here is the finished project.

Spring has Sprung

We got out for two wonderful walks this weekend! We enjoyed the beautiful spring weather and headed over to the the local playground with Daddy on Sat. On Sunday we walked downtown and visited the library!

Finding those freebies

Awhile back I discovered free-attractions.com. This site lets you search throughout each state for free attractions! This would be fun to do for your own area or to find some free activities for any upcoming trips or vacations!

For more inexpensive tips visit Frugal Friday at Biblical Womanhood.

Dear Zoo

What could be better than a little boy curling up in his Mommy's lap to read a wonderful book? Not much! Lately we've been enjoying "Dear Zoo" by Rod Campbell. It is a delightful book for little ones if you haven't read it!

Be Inspired

- Great ideas for a spring vacation at home

- CVSing with kids

- Do what you can

- Have your kids decorate your French doors

- Make a lift the flap book for your toddler

- Make your own children's board book

- Adorable and practical soap buddies

Whirlwind of Activity

My, oh my, was yesterday a whirlwind of activity at my house. Yesterday I accepted the challenge of babysitting for 2 kids under the age of 2. If you do the math that means I had 3 under the age of 2 all day!

It actually went fairly well, all the kids behaved themselves so I just had to deal with the normal craziness of a 5 month old, a 13 month old, and a 2 year old! That alone is a lot to handle.

After all the children were sound asleep (yes, praise God, it did happen!) I stopped and just stared at the state of my home for a moment. How could just 3 little children cause such an explosion of toys, diapers, blankets, and dirty dishes? I commend any mothers of multiples or families who have children so close in age! Believe me, I slept well last night!