Little girl dress out of a T-shirt

This is a no sew repurposed T-shirt dress.

I took a pink shirt I had and cut off the sleeves. Out of the sleeve pieces I cut two strips and made a head band out of one and a tie for the back of the dress with the other.

It took me about five minute. All you need is a pair of scissors and a T-shirt.

Repurposed Graco playpen

Make your own toddler bed or fort out of a portable playpen crib by simply cutting out the net.

This is a wonderfully simple repurposing gem that I found on Pinterest.

Lucky me I found an old playpen in truck of a car we are selling. It had gotten moldy so I did not feel bad/wasteful cutting out the netting.

Damien hopped right in as soon as I built it and hasn't gotten out yet.

He says its his ninja movie watching bed. LoL I love that little boy!!!!!

I put a blanket over the top but the one on Pinterest had a crib mattress over the top. FYI :-)

Veggie fried rice

-cooked rice
-onion red and white
-garlic
-scallions
-celery
-carrots
-mushrooms
-red cabbage
-napa cabbage
-bok choy
-mung bean sprouts
-water chestnuts
-bamboo shoots
-baby corn
-peanuts
-cashews
-almonds

Chop all the ingredients and fry in peanut oil, sesame oil, and soy sauce.

DIY fabric softener

Make your own fabric softener for a fraction of the price.

All you need is:
-An empty container
-Vinegar
-Conditioner
-Water

I mix up a half water and a half vinegar mixture. Once this mixture is mixed I add conditioner till I reach my desired scent. I start with about a cup of conditioner and add more from there.

This is your own mixture so play around with it.

Have fun and let me know how yours turns out ;-)

Leaf prints

Today we went for a walk in the crazy November wind to explore the falling of leaves.

I took all the kids and had them collect leaves of all sizes.

For fun I had the kids hold lightly on to leaves and pretend they were trees loading their leaves.

It was so windy that the wind kept blowing the leaves right out of their hands.

It was a perfect example needed for my preschoolers.

After our hike the boys chose their colors they wish each leaf to be.

We used markers which kept ripping the leaves so paint would be easier for the little ones to do.

After coloring the underside of the leaves we took turn using a rubber mallet to hammer the prints into the paper.

The result were beautiful works of art that all the kids were proud of.

Materials needed:
-Paper
-Leaves
-Mallet
-Safety

Addition tips and safety: I held the leaves and the mallet to insure the leaves didn't move while being hammered. I let the kids assist with the hammering of the leaf prints into the paper. I "helped" so no fingers got smashed.

Monster spray

Do you have a child who is afraid of the dark? If you do than you know what a struggle bed time can be.

My sweet little Damien recently decided that he is afraid of the dark.

Even though we have discussed in great lengths that there is NOTHING in the dark to be afraid of.

I tell him Mom and Dad are right next door as well as his big dog Odin, so he is super Protected all day and night always.

Needless to say Damien is still certain there is something so scary that he MUST sleep with mom and dad and that is the only solution.

I however have a trick up my sleeve, monster spray.

All you need is an empty room fragrance spray bottle filled with water.

This way is too much gets sprayed no one will get sick.

I made a label with some printer paper, marker, and tape.

I hope this helps other parents and kids out there in the life puzzle we all live in.

Fake makeup

Little kids love doing their makeup, it is fun, it is cute, but it can be too messy for this busy mom.

I'm not sure where I got the idea for this but I've made fake makeup for all my little ones that I've babysat over the years. It is always loads of fun for the little girls and boys that wish to do their makeup with me.

This is so simple you only need three things:

-An empty eyeshadow container
-Fingernail polish
-Patience because it takes a couple weeks to dry

Pour a thin layer of polish into the empty makeup container. Set out of the way to dry for two to three weeks.

Now you are ready to play. This is so easy and will last forever.

Healing affects of lemons

Lemons have long been a remedy to many health issues. Lemons are loaded in vitamin C but what else?

Lemons properties include:

-Antibacterial
-Antiviral
-Citric acid
-Calcium
-Magnesium
-Bioflavonoids
-Pectin
-limonene (immune booster)

So whether you want to clean your kitchen, your skin, or your insides, lemon is the golden ticket to success.  Well, the Egyptians thought so anyway. Modern medicine has proven Egyptians right, score one for humans!

Here are some of the many uses of lemons:

Disinfectant: Lemon juice can disinfect any surface making it a must if you choose to clean naturally without chemicals.

Acne solution: Rub lemon on your face to cleanse blackheads or make a mask from lemon and honey and allow to sit for 20 minutes then rinse clean.

Eczema relief: same recipe as the face mask only soak a cloth in the honey-lemon mixture and place on problematic area everyday one to three times a day.

Corn and callus remover: Take a thin slice of lemon and place it on the corn or callus and cover with a bandage overnight. Repeat nightly until area is healed.

Weight loss: Drink water with lemon in it everyday to speed up your metabolism. Squeeze half or a whole fresh lemon in to hot or cold water daily.

Flu and cold relief: Mix the juice of 1 lemon with 1 tsp honey in a tea cup and then once mixed blend with hot or boiling water. Drink this as much as needed. The lemon helps boost your immune system, soothes a soar throat, and calms shivers associated with being ill.

Anxiety relief: Lemon is a calming fragrance so inhaling its sweet fragrance can actually center your worriers. Lemon balm essential oil can add calm to your homes aroma if you use it regularly.

Cold sore cure: Rinsing your mouth with lemon water can actually heal a cold sore faster than most store bought medication. Rinse multiple times a day until cold sore subsides. Caution-lemon juice will sting.

Fight fatigue: A sip of lemon juice can quench your thirst way more than water can. So sipping on a lemon is great for long distant runners or just someone looking for a quick boost without snacking. Lemon juice is no substitute for water but it is good to know that it can work if it has to. 

Halitosis cure: Bad breath is the worst so fight it with lemon juice. That is correct rinsing with lemon can freshen your breath and keep it fresh. Mix a tbsp in a glass of warm water a rinse for at least thirty seconds.

Magnesium Citrate for your health

Magnesium is beneficial in more way than I have ever thought. 

I am always glad to share my natural discoveries in my blog. 

Here are just some of the benefits of taking a magnesium supplement:

-Reduces stress
-Reduces insomnia
-Relieves headaches
-Relieves muscle tension
-Combats osteoporosis
-Prevent liver disease
-Promotes cell production
-Eliminates growing pains
-Anti-aging
-Promotes pH balance

Our family uses a liquid supplement called Calm from this website. The product we use is liquid for quick absorption. 

 

I love the companies sales slogan,

Your health is most important as it contributes to quality of life.
Everything cost money but good health costs less than poor health.

So true.
 

House aromatherapy

Make your home smell heavenly by simmering natural ingredients over the stove.

Any concoction will work so play around with your favorite fragrances.

This one is simple and smells amazing.

Simmer rosemary sprigs, lemons, and vanilla on the stovetop.

Apparently this is the William Sonoma fragrance but I've never been there so in not sure.

Either way it is a wonderful and simple fragrance that is a thousand times better than any household fragrance spray.

Health benefits of cinnamon

Once upon a time, cinnamon was more valuable than gold. And while these days I'm betting most of us would rather get our hands on 24 karats over 24 ounces - a bar over a stick - this bark-cum-spice has just as much bite as it does bark. The potential health benefits attributable to cinnamon could be stated as nothing short of astonishing.

It's possible we're just brushing the surface here, for Chinese medicine and Ayurveda have long revered cinnamon as a superpower used to treat things such as colds, indigestion and cramps and also believed to improve energy, vitality and circulation. The following are ten health benefits associated with this beloved spice that studies have suggested:

1. 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower your bad cholesterol (or LDL).
2. Cinnamon may help treat Type 2 Diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels and increasing the amount of insulin production in the body.
3. Cinnamon has antifungal properties, and it's been said that candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment. 
4. Cinnamon can reduce the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
5. Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
6. Honey and Cinnamon combined has been found to relieve arthritis pain.
7. When added to food, cinnamon inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.
8. Just smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.
9. Cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.
10. Cinnamon has been found to be an effective natural remedy for eliminating headache and migraine pain.
11. Cinnamon can also help stablize blood sugar (which is great for weight loss). A couple of dashes in your morning tea or cereal is all it takes!

Many new studies are revealing that cinnamon is more effective than the leading diabetic medication on the market.  So there you have it, cinnamon is for more than just a fragrance it is all natural medicine, who knew.

This information was obtained through http://www.organicauthority.com

No knead pizza dough

I love this pizza dough recipe that I found at bonappetit.com

It is really simple if you make it in advance.

Ingredients

• 7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (1000 grams) plus more for shaping dough
• 4 teaspoons fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast

Preparation

• Whisk flour, salt, and yeast in a medium bowl. While stirring with a wooden spoon, gradually add 3 cups water; stir until well incorporated. Mix dough gently with your hands to bring it together and form into a rough ball. Transfer to a large clean bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let dough rise at room temperature (about 72°) in a draft-free area until surface is covered with tiny bubbles and dough has more than doubled in size, about 18 hours (time will vary depending on the temperature in the room).
• Transfer dough to a floured work surface. Gently shape into a rough rectangle. Divide into 6 equal portions. Working with 1 portion at a time, gather 4 corners to center to create 4 folds. Turn seam side down and mold gently into a ball. Dust dough with flour; set aside on work surface or a floured baking sheet. Repeat with remaining portions.
• Let dough rest, covered with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel, until soft and pliable, about 1 hour. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Wrap each dough ball separately in plastic wrap and chill. Unwrap and let rest at room temperature on a lightly floured work surface, covered with plastic wrap, for 2–3 hours before shaping.

To Make the Pizzas

• During the last hour of dough's resting, prepare oven: If using a pizza stone, arrange a rack in upper third of oven and place stone on rack; preheat oven to its hottest setting, 500°–550°, for 1 hour. If using a baking sheet, arrange a rack in middle of oven and preheat to its hottest setting, 500°–550°. (You do not need to preheat the baking sheet.)
• Working with 1 dough ball at a time, dust dough generously with flour and place on a floured work surface. Gently shape dough into a 10"–12" disk.

If Using Pizza Stone

• When ready to bake, increase oven heat to broil. Sprinkle a pizza peel or rimless (or inverted rimmed) baking sheet lightly with flour. Place dough disk on prepared peel and top with desired toppings.
• Using small, quick back-and-forth movements, slide pizza from peel onto hot pizza stone. Broil pizza, rotating halfway, until bottom of crust is crisp and top is blistered, 5–7 minutes.
• Using peel, transfer to a work surface to slice. Repeat, allowing pizza stone to reheat under broiler for 5 minutes between pizzas.

If Using a Baking Sheet

• Arrange dough disk on baking sheet; top with desired toppings. Bake pizza until bottom of crust is crisp and top is blistered, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a work surface to slice. Repeat with remaining pizzas.

Read More http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2012/03/no-knead-pizza-dough#ixzz2BBrC1Abc

Master cleanse

The master cleanse is water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper.

Daily doses can be made up ahead of time and stored in a pitcher in the fridge.

Daily dose:
60 ounces filtered water (not city water)
12 TBSP lemon juice (fresh squeezed)
12 TBSP maple syrup (100% natural)
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper powder

Single dose:
10 ounces of water
2 TBSP lemon juice
2 TBSP maple syrup
1/10 tsp cayenne pepper powder
 

To successfully do a cleanse you must not eat anything!!!

You must drink this drink for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

You can drink this any time you feel hungry.

You must drink at least 40 ounces of the master cleanse a day. Most recipes recommend 60 ounces a day.

During the day drink plenty of water.

You should drink your body weight in ounces each day.

Do NOT drink any coffee, soda, caffeine, or alcohol.

Expectable beverages include water, decaffeinated tea without sugar, 100% fruit juice, broth, and any drink that is all natural with NO sugar added. Many dieters use laxative tea to help aid in the release of toxins.

The whole idea of cleansing your body is to give your digestive track a break. By giving your body a break from processing food it allows your body the chance to rid itself of toxins.

Human bodies are not meant to constantly digest food. Our bodies need down time to deal with the plethora of junk we ingest.

The master cleanse can be done for as few or as many days as you feel you can commit to.

I do it for three days every six months. Many experts recommend ten days. I've even read of a man that did the cleanse for one hundred days.

The master cleanse helps you rid your body of toxins and helps you lose weight.

My husband once did it for a week and lost ten pounds.Afterwards he became really aware of the amounts of needless food he was ingesting.

Results may vary. If you are not a healthy individual please consult your doctor before trying this diet. Releasing too many toxins at once can make you ill.

With any diet the key to success is your own commitment. Pump yourself up a couple days before you begin the cleanse.

You should be excited about committing to cleanse you body. This is beneficial for your body, your mind, and truly your life.

Exiting the cleanse is also an important step. To continue the benefits of the cleanse you must not jump back into junk food. Ease back into food by choosing non processed options. Eating slowly while paying attention to your serving amounts can help you become more conscience about how you treat your insides.

Always drink plenty of water for it is the elixir of life whether you are cleansing or not.

The master cleanse is NOT a cure all of the unhealthy choices we make on a daily bases. However, I do find the occasional reboot beneficial to my entire system.

By letting my tummy shrink up I can actually feel full. It is impossible to feel full when you are constantly stretching your tummy with meal after meal after meal after meal.  

DIY Moon sand

This recipe is to make your own moon sand at home out of flour and oil.

Materials:
Flour
Oil
Container

I used baby oil but you could use any kind of oil.

I put a couple cups of flour in a container and slowly mixed in the oil until the mixture crumbled but could still hold shapes when pressed.

If it is too dry add more oil. If it is too wet add more flour.

I made the boys their moon sand in the summer and it is still just as fun as the day I made it five months ago.

The boys play with their containers of homemade moon sand all the time.  They focus on it which is rare for these wild boys.  I love that not only do the boys enjoy playing with this super cheap DIY moon sand but they love sharing the fun when their friends come to visit.  Friends and cousins of all ages get loads of entertainment from this simple craft.

Great craft for any age as long as they don't eat it :-)

I was going to make some up for gifts this holiday season. I just cant decide what size container to put them in.?.hmmmm....Or what color to make them?? Or maybe no color and just glitter, oh yeah, glitter! Sorry, squirrel.....................................

DIY all purpose cleaner

2 cups vinegar
1 cup hydrogen peroxide
1 to 2 tsp Dr. Bronners soap
30 drops tea tree oil
Citrus or any essential oil you like
Dilute with water until the concentration you prefer. 

I steeped my cleaner for two days to draw out the citrus and then strained it into a spray bottle.

This all purpose cleaner really works!!!!
It removed red wine and permanent marker stains. This stuff eats through grim and is all natural.

It has cleaned and deodorized everything I cleaned so far.

I can honestly say it is better than most of the natural store bought cleaners.

Great for kitchens, bathrooms, kids rooms, garages, floors, and probably anything else that can get icky and sticky.

DIY compost

Composting can cut down on waste by as much as half in a household. I just made up that statistic. But seriously, half is a lot when you stop and think of all the food waste one person can make in one day, week, month, or year.

I started composting a couple of years ago. I was amazed by all the things that I could put in my compost. I compost so much now that I'm a vegetarian. So much in fact that I needed a bigger compost to accommodate my super composting habits.

After searching the web for bigger compost containers I was disgusted at the price of most of the styles I liked. Even most of the do it yourself composts were still more money than I wanted to spend.

After seeing my friends compost container that she had made out of pallets, I knew this was the size and price I was looking for.

A compost made out of pallets is super easy and cheap. All you need is 3-4 pallets, chicken wire (the smallest mesh available), and a spot to build it.

I attached chicken wire on the inside of the pallets with a staple gun. Then I propped up the pallets how I liked them. Finally I drilled screws in the corner to secure the compost. And I was ready to compost !!!!!!!

Once my compost got a bit full I put a piece of plywood in the front as door to hold it all in.

Now all you need to do is fill it with food waste (no dairy or meat), dirt, yard debris, and farm animal waste (no dog or cat waste).

Once a month I water it really good and toss it around with a pitchfork.

Within one year you should have the best soil you have ever gardened with.

Compostable items:
Shells of ANY kind
Feathers
Farm animal waste
Vegetables
Fruit
Hay
Ash
Grass
Weeds
Dirt
Paper
Cardboard (small amount)
Yard debris
Soil
Sand
Moss
Other compost
Not too much:
lawn clipping or pine needles
No meat
No dairy
No cat or dog waste

A good blend is critical. You don't want too much of one substance.

iPhone holder speaker amplifier

Take an tape cassette case flipped over on itself. It makes a great iPhone holder stand contraption. What is even better is it acts as an amplifier for the speakers if you are listening to music on your iPhone.

This is a great use of an old tape cassette case.

I love up-cycling stuff it's rad.

DIY fruit fly trap

Materials:
Paper
Jar
Tape
Vinegar

Roll paper up like a funnel with a tiny hole in it and tape it. Pour vinegar into the jar to cover the bottom. Place funnel in and tape around the rim so no flies can escape. I cut down the paper down so it's not so big. Set the jar in your fruit area and watch them be attracted.

When the jar gets full of flies take them outside and set them free. Unless you want them to die than you add a drop or two of dish soap and they will drowned.

I have no fruit flies in my jar because it works so well. Actually there are two in there you just can't see them.

DIY solar cooker

I built this solar oven out of a reflective car windshield visor thingy. I bought it at the auto store. This project cost me less than $10

Supplies needed:
Visor thingy
Black pot with lid
Reynolds oven bag
Bucket



Ive read a lot about building DIY solar cooker online. From my research I have concluded that this style only gets up to higher temps like 350 in the southern states. I live in Oregon and can only get mine up to 240 so far.

Well that's enough free heat to cook a lot of things. So in my book this is a great skill to have.

My first day I heated up some turkey cheddar sausages for lunch and then cooked up a apple cobbler for dessert.
Both were awesomely delicious.

Apple dessert

I love apples and cinnamon. Apples desserts are hard to mess up so I thought it would be a great dish to try in the not so hot solar cooker.

I wanted to try out my solar cooker that I made but didn't want to ruin anything. I thought apple dessert would be perfect because you can eat it raw.

This can be cooked in a solar cooker or a regular oven.

Ingredients:
4 Apples (diced)
2 tbs cinnamon
1 tbs sugar
Juice of a lime
Granola (I prefer flavored like vanilla)
3 tbs butter

Mix apples, cinnamon, sugar, and lime in your baking dish (I use Pyrex). Sprinkle enough granola to cover the apple mixture. Dollop the butter over the granola and then cover in foil.

I cooked it in the solar oven from 2 to 6. If you bake it in the oven I would suggest 350 degrees, until the apples are tender.

Repurposed fall decoration

I reused a copper candle holder by filling it with spice scented pine cones. Topped with a little white pumpkin.

I love fall decorations and I love repurposing things. Two birds, pow!

DIY iPhone charging dock

My husband Kyle wanted a new charger by his computer. He already had the standard iPhone USB to 30-pin charger/sync cable connected to his computer. So after being inspired by some other crafty geek online, he designed his own.

His charger/dock/amplifier is steam punk. Which means that it is overcomplicated and unique.

He began by chiseling out a slot for the iPhone to sit in from a chunk of 2X6. He drilled out two holes side-by-side through that slot to run the USB end of the 30-pin cable.

Next he drilled out a hole for his pipe/amplifier. Once the two main holes on top were done he drilled a hole through the side to connect the two cut out sections on top. This tunnel is how the sound travels through the iPhone slot to the pipe.

Kyle had to drill straight through the side to get the sound channel where he wanted it. This left an unwanted hole on the side, which was easily sealed with some hot glue.

Once all the holes and cut outs were exactly how he wanted them we went to the craft store. While there, Kyle found sticky back cork paper that had fake writing on it. It was perfect. He also bought some brass tags and corner pieces from the scrapbook section.

Once home, I cut out the cork paper with an Exacto knife and wrapped it around the block, covering the holes.  I know how to work with corners, but I would suggest making a paper template to work with.


Have fun and get creative. This handmade dock is way cooler than any I have ever seen for sale. The best part is it is one of a kind.

Salt and flour dough

Mix 2 cups of flour with 1 cup of salt. Mix in cold water until it becomes the consistency of play dough.

Make shapes. I used stamps to stamp images on them. You can do whatever you'd like. You can poke a hole in them with a tooth pick to hang the finished product.

Once dough it done being molded and shaped. Bake at 250 for two hours or until hard.

I had some bigger shapes that took 3 hours.

I spray painted them this time but next time I want to try spray glitter.

Repurposed shoe box lid

Materials:
Acrylic paint
Shoe box lid
Paint brush
Scraper or end of paint brush

Cover shoe box lid with paint. The thicker you put on the paint the more texture it will have.




Scratch any design you can think of.





I scratched in the boys first letter of their name and the age they are.

Really, skies the limits!

Reused Glass Coke Bottle

Reuse a cleaned out glass coke bottle and a spout thingy as a dish soap bottle.

 You can use any dish soap you prefer the only thing is it must be diluted until it is thin enough to pour out easily.

I think it is super cute.