Hair Sticks

Hairsticks

Okay so last spring I chopped all my hair off in an attempt to grow it down to my knees. Confused? Well, I want to have healthy long hair and my hair had a bunch of dead ends, plus I was in the start of pregnancy. Anyone that has been pregnant knows how that goes. So in my quest for beautiful hair, I have discover the fascinating world of hair sticks. They do less damage to your hair than pony ties and are a fun way to express yourself. Here is a picture of me with one of my new hair sticks. So my two favorites places to purchase them are as follows

Hairgems.etsy.com (the lady that makes these is super nice and they are very affordable)
and
Longlocks.com
Long Locks also offers so great tips on growing healthy hair to any lengths. Have fun looking. In case you were wondering this is a four strand french braid tucked under.

bean bags

Sewing- bean bags

The other night my kids were restless and wanting to do a sewing project. So we broke out some scrap fabric and headed to town.

Tic tac toe bean bags
These are great for a starter project and little hands love to help out.

Cut out two square of the same size I do around 4 in by 4in two different colors.
Take one piece of fabric with the right side facing, using a stitch of your choice sew and x or and o  on it. Then match the to pieces of fabric together with right sides of fabric facing each other and sew around the edges leaving a small opening at the end to turn the fabric right side out. Now let the little hands fill about 3/4 of the way full with dried beans. Tuck open ends under and sew shut.
Make a set of 3 x's and 3 o's.
All you need is an empty laundry basket and let the kids take turns throwing them in. And all it took was about 20 mins to make but gave a nightful of fun.

Enjoying the Simple Things

Enjoying the simple things in life is something we have all heard before but yet as hectic as life gets sometimes, it can be challenging to find time to do so. As I type this my little four year old woke up this morning and came to lay her head right on my lap. Hence right on top of my hands and laptop. Instead of feeling frustrated or ready to rush off to get my day started, I am enjoying the moment. (hey this is only taking me two minutes to type). As I gaze at her perfect little face I find a sense of peace, a stillness among a spinning world. A brief moment to stop and just breathe. To know that all is right in the world for at least this moment. So as things get busy and chances are they already are, take a moment and enjoy some simple things in your life.

Pj bottoms without a pattern

Sewing- Pajama Bottoms

So yesterday I got a little nuts trying to clean out my extra fabric and decided to make my kids some Pajama Bottoms. It is super simple and easy to do without a pattern. Great for a beginning project.  I use Flannel for our pjs. All you need is a pair of Pjs, some wrapping paper ( I like this the best, better for adult sizes) or paper grocery sack, fabric, crayon, scissors, 1/2 in wide elastic band and thread. I have included a link to a tutorial  that is great. http://www.ehow.com/how_5894250_sew-pajama-pants.html I will post some of my pictures later.

Just fold your pants in half making sure that you pull the crotch out flat. Lay on wrapping paper, trace with crayon or marker giving about 1/2 seam allowance except at top and bottom of pants. for this add 2 inches extra. For me I found that my kids had outgrown the pants so I needed to add around 3 to 4 inches on the bottom. Cut your pattern out. Simple so far!

Then lay your pattern on your fabric with the crotch away from the fold of the fabric. Cut out twice. Sew the inside leg up to the crotch. Make sure that you are sewing with the right side of the fabric together so that the seam is on the inside.  Once both pieces are sewed, match the waist and crotch together and sew. For the waist fold down inside leaving enough room for the elastic. Sew around making sure to leave a opening for the elastic to fit inside.  Measure your waist size pulling a little tight and then add a inch. I use a safety pin at the end of the elastic to make it easy to push through the waist band. Sew the edges of the elastic together. and finish up the waist. A neat tip is you can use a Serger to finish the waist by grabbing the edge of the elastic so it can not twist inside. You can also modify to add a drawstring.

Now all you have left to do is hem the legs. And there you have a cute pair of Pj bottoms.

Healthy Thanksgiving Yams

Candied sweet potato and yam

I love this recipe. A great alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving Yams.

Ingredients

1 Medium Yam (1 cup cooked)
1 Medium Sweet Potato (1 Cup cooked)
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
2 Tbsp. Butter (I use Smart Balance)
3 Tbsp. Brown Sugar (I use 1 1/2 Tbsp.  Splenda Brown Sugar Mix)
1 pinch cinnamon
1 pinch allspice
1 pinch nutmeg
1 pinch black pepper

Bring water to boil in large stock pot. Add sweet potato and yam with their skin on. Cook until tender. Let cool, then peel and dice. You should have about 1 cup.

In a pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add butter and melt. Add yam, sweet potato, brown sugar and spices. Reduce heat to a simmer until sugar is melted and yam and sweet potato is glazed.

Enjoy!

Lysol!

I love Lysol! It is great tool for fast cleaning germs. So some quick tips are as follows; When empty your laundry baskets spray some lysol in them to kill all those nasty germs hidden in there. It's rather gross when you think about it. Yikes! And don't forget to clean those baskets that carry the clean laundry. No need to get the clean clothes covered in germs.

Also spray out your garbage cans in between cleaning, if you like you can also sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of your cans to keep down on smell. I find that Lysol does the trick generally so baking soda is not needed. Also if you have a mainly paper trash can you can place extra trash sacks at the bottom of your garbage can so that you don't have to run to the cleaning closet every time.

With all the wet boots coming in the house, it can be a wonderful help in keeping those boots from becoming smelly.

Last Lysol tip is when making the beds in the morning in between changing sheets, quickly spray some Lysol on the sheets and blankets.

Now if you have allergies or want a more chemical free cleaning, I recommend using a steam cleaner to quickly do these functions.

Banana Fruit Salad

 Banana Fruit Salad

This is a quick and easy recipe!

Banana Fruit Salad
1 Cup green grapes, sliced in half
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 Cup Orange Juice

Toss together all the ingredients in a bowl and let sit for at least 15 minutes. Don't worry about the Bananas going brown the acid in the orange juice keeps them fresh.

Enjoy!

Clothes, clothes, and MORE clothes!!!

Organizing Tip- Well if you are anything like me, clothes seem to be EVERYWHERE in my house. Laundry is my biggest source of frustration. So first tip in the Laundry is to get rid of what you don't need. Rules to live by, If it is too small, wore out or just plain doesn't look good on you. Get Rid of it! If you haven't worn it within a year or two, Get Rid of It! With the exception of when you are pregnant, it can be at least a year before you look at your pre-pregnant clothes again. Also formal wear or little black dresses don't count either unless it doesn't fit you. If you have other kids that you are saving clothes for, only save the ones in mint condition. Store them in bins downstairs and with a simple piece of tape you can label them by size. A simple way I have found of going through clothes is when I fold laundry. I simply pick out the ones that it is time for them to move on. Or you can just hit those closets and go nuts!

Guilt Free Cookies! Yum!

Guilt free Whole wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
3/4 cup granulated sugar (I used 3/4 cup Splenda)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar "( I used 1/4 cup plus 2 TBSP Splenda brown sugar)
1 cup stick butter "(used smart balance")
1 large egg
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup wheat germ "(flax seed)
1/3 cup oatmeal
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2 cup chocolate chips
Heat oven to 375. Cream sugars, butter and egg in large bowl. Stir in dry ingredients. "(Dough will be stiff") Stir in chocolate chips. Drop in TBSP on ungreased cookie sheet bake for 8to 10 minutes middles will be soft.

Hairbows

So I have been making tons of hairbows and having a blast at it.It is a great way to let your creative side take over.  I went to my local store (Walmart) and picked out some satin ribbons that I thought were cute. I bought alligator clips at Sallys for around six dollars for 80.  Now I know that most people use grosgrain ribbon but I wanted mine to be a little bit fancier. I taught myself how to make hairbows by searching online for intructions. I love YouTube! So I have listed a few websites for you to try your hand at it. I figured it costs about two dollars a hair bow to make.

www.girlythingsbows.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjDOfMoRvEY

Good luck and have fun crafting!

Protein Weight Loss Smoothie

Cooking Diva's Protein Shake
This is my own little recipe
use as a meal replacement or snack
1 cup of Rice milk or Soy Milk
1 banana
1 cup of frozen peaches
1 cup of frozen fruit your choice or mix of them (opt)
1 scoop protein powder ( I use vanilla whey protein)
1 Tablespoon of metamucil clear and natural
1 Tablespoon ground flax seed (opt)

Mix in blender and enjoy.

Simple Balsamic Vinaigrette

Simple Balsamic Vinaigrette (we all loved this 5 star rating yummy yummy)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar (optional) I used 1/2 teaspoon Splenda brown sugar mix
1 tablespoon chopped garlic or garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (i just used pepper)
3/4 cup olive oil
whisk together ingredients until salt and sugar dissolve. ( I threw in a regular onion (about 1/4 cup but a red onion would be better)
Serve with salad mix or favorite greens (i would recommend to use two head of lettuce.) If not using dressing right away cover and refrigerate, shaking or whisking again before use. I also like to chop up a red onion to mix in the salad. If you have a good quality Balsamic Vinegar you don't even need to add sugar. My family loves it without.

Running Program

The exercise program I like to use is a condition program by Jeff Galloway. I have lost 20 lbs with this in the past in just 6 weeks. It is simple to start and is great for those just getting back into the swing of things. http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/condition.html. You just need to find whatever works for you in your busy life. Start small and get into a habit. Then move on to strength training.

Elise's Sesame Noodles

Elise's Sesame Noodles (Yummy Yummy Rating) My toddler loved it so much she has three servings

Ingredients
1 pound whole wheat spaghetti (I used whole wheat penne pasta)
1/2 cup reduced- sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoon canola oil
2 tablespoons rice-wine vinger or lime juice (I used lime)
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1 bunch scallions sliced and divided (I used a regular onion about 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro divided optional (i didn't use this)
4 cups snow peas trimmed and sliced on the bias (I used frozen petite peas)
1 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 toasted sesame seeds (used 1/3 cup)
Cook pasta according to directions. drain and rinse with cold water.
Meanwhile whisk soy saucem sesame oil, canola oil, vinger or lime juice, crushed red pepper, 1/4 cup of scallions and 2 tablesppons cilantro if using. Add noodles and snow peas and bell pepper, toss to coat.
mix with sesame seeds and garnish with the remaining scallions.

Water and more Water

When my family decided it was time for a change, we had a to figure out a way to overcome soda pop, chocolate milk, kool aid and fruit juice addiction in our children. As Adults it is easy to just say drink water. Perhaps if we had started our kids down this path in the first place we wouldn't be here. We chose the option of crystal light in addition to water. It was a healthy choice after all. Only 5 calories per serving and no carbs (sugar). It also made great money sense. We buy the Wal-Mart brand Great Values' version of Crystal Light. For just shy of two dollars we can make 6 Gallons of juice. To do this with frozen juice at least 12 dollars. And Kool Aid... besides the sugar they take into their body, just because it costs only 15 cents a package the sugar increases the cost. Our kids still feel like they are drinking Kool-Aid and living like kids.We of course encourage water as well. :)

Cumin Grilled Chicken

Today's recipe was quite yummy, my kids gave it a yummy rating (Dallas 4.5 spoons out of five). I doubled the spices (although it was a bit salty so I recommend that you only double the Cumin) And I added a few pinches of cumin seed. I also served over wild rice.... yummy yummy.... Enjoy...


Cumin Grilled Chicken
Ingredients

Cooking spray
4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin (I doubled this)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Spray a grill or grill pan with cooking spray and heat to medium-high heat. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil. Combine cumin, salt and pepper and rub spice mixture evenly onto chicken breasts. Grill until grill marks have formed and chicken is cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove from heat, let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into 1/2-inch thick slices. Serve over coleslaw, if desired. (I served this with wild Rice and I added a few pinching of cumin seed.)



Per Serving:



Calories 170; Total Fat 6 g; (Sat Fat 1.5 g, Mono Fat 3 g, Poly Fat 1 g) ; Protein 29g; Carb 0 g; Fiber 0 g; Cholesterol 80 mg; Sodium 360 mg

Hairstyle websites for little girls

As a mother of three beautiful curly headed girls I often find their hair to be a mess and I am always looking for new ways to do it. I stumbled across this website one day and I have to say it has become my favorite. I even printed the pictures out and made a book for my daughters to choose from. http://shedoeshair.blogspot.com/ as well as www.Aprincessandherhair.com Check them out! I should also mention that my friend does adorable hair bows... so check her out as well http://www.spoiledmuch.com/

Mornings

Homemaking Tip- Mornings. In the morning while kids are getting ready or still asleep, I do three things before anything else gets done. I start a load of dishes (If I am lucky there are none), a load of laundry (I always have at least one) and making beds. As I wake each child up and hand them their clothes, while they get dressed I make their beds. It only takes a minute and somehow makes the rest of the chores for the day seem easier to do.

Honoring your Husband-Welcome Home Daddy

Our husbands are pretty amazing guys (at least most of the time), After all they go out in the world to provide for our families so that we as Woman can fulfill our roles as mothers. So in reguards to honoring your husband, Welcome Home Daddy.

Welcoming your husband home after a long day of work is a simple and quick way to let him know how grateful you are for him. My husband has a fairly set schedule so we generally know his arrival time. When we see Daddy arrive home I gather all the kids to the front door making it a thing of excitement. Sometimes I even have kids jumping up and down at the door due to their excitement.

The best part is watching my husband's face light up when he sees us. I also think it helps set the mood for the night in the house. Welcoming your husband home will help in making him want to be there.

Organizing tip- Everything has a home

In my house the rule is that everything has a home, if it doesn't, find it a home and if you can't find it a home it belongs in someone else's home. We have taught this to all our kids, our three year old is so cute. She always puts her toys away saying they missed their mom and dad. :)

Hi and Welcome to my blog!

I struggled trying to figure out where to start since I have so many thoughts running around in my head. I have been a stay at home mom for over ten years. It certainly has had it's moments, happy, sad, hair pulling, frustrated and blessed. Sometimes all within the same day. I created this blog to share ideas to all the other moms out there that have had their "moments".
    
        I don't have all the answers to share with you but I do have some thoughts to share of lessons I have learned along the way. The Lord has blessed me with five wonderful amazing spirits to raise, cherish and nurture. Being a homemaker, I have learned a great deal about creating priorities. Learning about what is most important for me to spend my time on at that moment in time. When my house is a disaster and things seem to be piling up, frustration starts to mount and I find myself wondering, why can't I have just a few minutes alone to get this done. Well, the Lord had to teach me that my number one priorities is my children. These special beings that the Lord sent to this earth, to be placed in my care need to be number one. Now this doesn't mean that I let the house go to shambles or that bills don't get paid because those are part of taking care of my little ones.

          What I mean is that, making time for your children actually creates more time for other things and creates a spirit of love in your home. I remember many days where it seemed like my children make messes faster than I could clean them and I thought to myself what am I doing wrong. I realized I had not been focusing on them rather the messes. So I took my little one, two at the time and set her down at the table to do some play dough. While she was busy playing and having fun, I was able to run around cleaning up the messes she had made with no new ones popping up. Thank heavens for little miracles.

           Now I won't be able to share everything in this one post, I just like to say that homemaking is less about how clean your house is or if your meals are perfect but more about how you make the people in your home feel.