My Powerhouse Cleaner

I was never concerned about chemical household cleaners until I had the boys. I actually love the 'clean' smell of bleach, pine-sol, windex, and other cleaners. The problem? Babies put their mouths on everything, and put everything in their mouths.

I started looking for safe, non-toxic, effective cleaners. I discovered vinegar. I have used vinegar for multiple other things, but never to clean counters, toys and floors. Well, what can it hurt to try? I mixed the ratio recommended (don't remember now usually do half vinegar, half water).

The verdict- it worked. Everything looked and felt clean and germ free. The problem was that the house smelled like a pickle factory after I cleaned. I was willing to look past this knowing the boys wouldn't be ingesting bleach everytime they put their mouths on something. (The smell does go away after about a half an hour or so.)

One day while surfing I found a post about citrus vinegar. The cleaning power of vinegar, without smelling like a pickle factory- could it be true?

I am in love. Here's a brief how-to:
Peel citrus fruit. (I use oaranges cause they are cheap)
Put peels in container.
Cover with vinegar.
Wait two weeks.
Strain liquid from peels.
Put concentrate in container until your spray bottle needs filled.
Fill spray bottle half citrus concentrate, half water.
Use the same as any household disenfectant.

This stuff is amazing. It actually works better than the plain vinegar mixture I was using. There is still a slight vinegar smell, covered by a citrus aroma.

A New Skirt For Mommy

I have a bad case of (self-diagnosed) ADD. I also have a finishing problem- an aversion to finishing projects I start. This is why our dining room table is stacked with sewing stuff, the vacuum is sitting in the corner, the laundry is piled in baskets (folded though), and the list goes on. I look around and see so many unfinished projects I get overwhelmed, and want to hide.

Lately I have been trying to finish projects. (Part of my 30 by 30; craft through stash) One nearly finished project in my stash is a skirt. I made it last summer, shortly after having the boys. Needless to say it is a bit too big now. Instead of finishing it, into a (rather big) pile in the closet it went.

Today I finished it! The sad thing is, it took me longer to load my bobbin into the machine than it did to finish it.

This skirt was super simple, the hardest part was pinning a straight line (something I sorta have a problem with). Unfortunately, I do not know where I found the tutorial, so maybe I'll post my version of instructions next time I make one.

I am extremely happy with this skirt. It is very comfy, light, airy, summery and cute. One more to-do done!

30 by 30

Wow, May flew by and June is on it's way! I had a birthday in May and my first official Mother's Day.

I'm not good at New Years Resolutions. I fail forget about them before the first week is over. I'm horrible at any type of habit changing activity. See, I like to track progress, mark things off, see my accomplishments. That's all good, except I have this need to start at the beginning- the beginning of the week, the beginning of the month, the beginning of a challenge... you get it? (Please tell me I'm not alone!) Then when I slip up for a day, week, whatever- I think what's the use?

Well, I made a 30 by 30 list. Kinda a bucket list of things to do before I turn thirty (next May). I guess you can't even call it a bucket list, because it's nothing exciting, just things I have wanted to work on in my life. So, here's my 30 by 30 list (with a couple added in for safe measure):

1. purge home, clear clutter
2. make cleaning a habit
3. make recycling a habit
4. scan pictures, organize pictures
5. organize recipes
6. paint bedroom; decorate
7. paint living room; decorate
8. learn how to effective manage household, and time
9. make wedding album
10. journal for the boys
11. journal for my husband
12. learn how to use my camera, and take more pictures
13. have monthly date nights with my husband
14. go on mini-vacation with hubby
15. go on vacation with the family
16. read to the boys every day
17. learn to/teach the kids to pray (and Lord's prayer, and Ten Commandments)
18. teach my step-daughter to sew and/or encourage her creative interests
19. implement a budget
20. start nursing clinicals
21. manage time better
22. get up early (like to start day by 6:00)
23. dress for my hubby more often (less jeans and t-shirts)
24. style hair more, less ponytails
25. blog regularly
26. exercise regularly
27. craft through books; get rid of books not needed
28. craft through stash
29. make a dress, and wear it
30. start selling on etsy
31. do a 365 project
32. have a (semi) handmade Christmas

There it is, my 30 by 30. Here's to hoping I can check it all off!

ID Wallet Done

Well, I got a couple of projects done from my list. I tend to do that- make an unattainable list, just so I can mark a few things off. For a while now I have had a problem finishing things. So I guess if writing an impossible to-do list gets me to do a few things, we can call it a success, right?

Anyways, I wanted to make an ID wallet. I used this tutorial, mostly. I didn't bind the inside like suggested.

I liked this ID wallet because:

1. The ID is inserted from the inside (zipper part).
2. There is a phone holder on the back.
3. It has a zipper.
4. There is a good amount of room.

Here's how it turned out:

Front, ID pocket

Back, phone pocket

Overall, I liked this tutorial. Now that I have one done, I have plans for a couple of changes. I would like to add card slots on the inside. If I add card slots, I will probably skip the flannel lining on the outside piece, otherwise it will be too bulky.

I'll post my version soon.

(I realize the sewing is not perfect.)

Potato Bread Fail #2, and What's for Dinner This Week

I tried bread machine potato bread again. I finally found my digital thermometer, so I made sure to bring the water and potatoes to temp. I also bought new yeast, just in case mine was old (who am I kidding, it was old). I measured everything according to the recipe, turned on the bread machine, and patiently waited. What happened? I got a very lovely bread bowl again! Actually, the first bread bowl looked more lovely- this last one was pretty dark. (I did not take a picture, because potato bread take 2 was a lot like potato bread take 1. I will try one more time, this next time I am going to use my bread machine to make the dough, and bake it in the oven. We'll see...

What's for dinner this week? (Some is the same as last week because we had leftovers a few times, and didn't get to the planned menu for the day.)

Sunday- grilled chicken, potatoes, and veggies
Monday- something from the pantry (tuna helper)
Tuesday- pork Steak on the grill
Wednesday- roast, potatoes, and veggies
Thursday- leftovers
Friday- chicken burritos
Saturday- something crock pot and grab-n-go; thinking sloppy joe's

Bread Machine Potato Bread Take 1

I came across a wonderful idea while reading one of my to-read blogs thefrugalgirl.com. Blogger Kristen does Food Waste Fridays, where she posts about the food wasted in her household during the week. She had potatoes that needed to be used up, so she made potato bread. This recipe was pinned! Well, her recipe is for real homemade bread, like kneading, rising, baking, the whole shot. I felt a little intimidated. So I headed to my new favorite recipe book- Pinterest- and searched for a bread machine potato bread recipe. Found this recipe from food.com, and got to work.

I boiled my potatoes. I saved the water. I mashed the potatoes. I threw everything in the bread machine. I pushed start. I looked at the clock, "Good the bread will be done right before the hubby gets home."

I was proud of myself, a little giddy actually. I tend to get that way when I master another awesomely frugal tactic. (That is something the hubs says he loves about me. I'm not sure if it is the frugality, the giddy excitement I get, or the comical combination. He loves it and we'll leave it at that.)

Are you excited? Bet you can't wait. Well, I am sad to say that I have not mastered potato bread.

What did I do wrong?  My research tells me that I may have used too much flour, the yeast may have been old, the water too hot, or even too cold. (Um, I never found the thermometer I was looking for.) I am not giving up. I will try to master potato bread.

Hubby tells me to look on the bright side, "At least you know how to make a bread bowl. It might be good with soup in it." Thanks honey.

Two Ingredient CHOCOLATE cupcakes

We just found out that one of our boys is severly allergic to eggs. This revelation brought forth a slight panic. You see, we are about two months away from their first birthday. What is a first birthday without cake smeared all over the face(s), tangled through the hair, mashed in fingers, and everywhere else possible?

I knew I saw a two-ingredient cake in linky land somewhere, where was it? I turned to trusty Pinterest and started searching, in less than 60 seconds I found the post I was looking for. Stephanie at ladywiththeredrocker.com made a delightfully yummy looking strawberry cake.

Well, I had a box of Devils Food Cake mix, and a can of Diet Coke. I'm gonna try this...

Here's how it went down:

I mixed the TWO ingredients.
Filled lined cupcake pans 2/3 full.
Baked at 325 for 18 minutes.
Cooled, then frosted using this frosting recipe.

The verdict: The cupcake was good, moist and fluffy. Next time I will bake one or two minutes less. The frosting was runny, and a little strong on the mint flavor. It also does not make very much, I had to double the recipe. Next time I want mint frosting I will make a buttercream frosting and add a little mint extract.

I do think the two-ingredient cakes may work for the boys' first birthday.

Let me know if you try this concoction or another variation, I'd love to hear about the other combinations.