I had intention to NOT show anymore kid stuff, but it's all so cute!
Like these little Turkey'd up mini pies!
Our kids would LOVE this, and it is kinda funny!
And another snack and craft all in one!
16 November 2010
15 November 2010
~Saving Money~
The new year is fast approaching.. and I am NOT ready! One of our goals for the year is reducing/eliminating our debt. We have been following the Dave Ramsey plan (although I haven't been very good lately) and it is working, slowly but surely. We could probably do it a little faster if I were working outside the home, but neither my husband or I think putting the kids in daycare for me to work is worth the financial benefit and the loss of being with the kids all day would be very hard on all of us, just not worth it right now. So I do my best to save in ways I can, and no not just clipping coupons! Thought I would share them over the next couple weeks as some of us prep for new years resolutions! I've posted about some of those ways before but some are new and I don't want anyone to miss the old ones either!
So I'll start with the first way I started making a change at home to save money. It was Homemade Laundry Soap, that was my first time making it and I messed it up so it doesn't look right. That was almost 2 years ago and I have only had to make 1 batch since and that was just recently. I think that the 10 Gallons lasts me about 18 months!! Which is amazing considering the cost for making it the first time was
Bucket $6 (I think), Zote Soap $1, Washing Soda $3, Borax $3
Total of $13 for the first time supplies (the borax, washing soda and bucket will be re-used) I try to gage a savings by per use, per pound or ounce, whatever I can break it down to. I do an average of 5 loads a week for 18 months is about 78 weeks, 78 weeks worth of loads is 390 loads!! Compared to the tide HE, Free and clear that gets 64 loads for $14. The price per load for tide is about 22 cents a load. For the homemade (also for the He and unscented) is 3 cents per load, the first batch! The second batch when you don't have to buy the bucket or washing soda or borax is only an extra dollar for zote, the price for those loads is less then a penny per load!
I figured the 3 year savings (2 batches) is HUGE since the average is just over a penny per load. If I used tide for those 780 loads in 3 years it would have cost us $171!! I could easily pay off my Gymboree credit card with that! So even though it was really a very small change for us, over time it will REALLY save, and it requires no more effort than loading the tide bottle in and out of the grocery cart and car every month.
The recipe is on the original post, but remember I messed it up, so yours SHOULDN'T look like that, It should look like this!
14 November 2010
Thanksgiving #15 Boys cuteness
Girls have a lot more choices for accessories but there are still some cute boy ones too.. like this built in tie!
Or just a bow tie! I don't think I could get our little one to leave it alone, but I can probably get our big boy wear one!
This hat is awfully cute too!
And this one is hilarious!!
All pictures are links to their source!
Finally the Matilda Jane inspired something!
I hoped to have it finished a long time ago, but with a few kids that have been skipping naps it just took a little lot longer to finish!
My Mother in law painted this little table and chairs for the kids a few years ago, and it was looking a little beat up, pencil and crayon marks (that the magic eraser couldn't get off), gouges from toys and dents from being run into with hot wheels! It just needed some help! Hubby sanded it down a little to try and get some of the dings and dents out and then I started painting, it took TONS of coats, and now that it is inside again, I see a few spots I missed, but I have more plans for it, so I will catch the misses spots when I do the next thing!
I didn't take any before pictures, should have, but I forget. When I start a project I am too antsy to get started and often forget the before shots!
What made me decide to paint it black?! All of our other furniture is black. How did I decide on the wording on the skirt? THAT is where my favorite Maggie Stew from Matilda Jane Clothing comes in! The dress is the first MJ I ever bought, I fell in LOVE with the ribbon along the bottom hem.
Here is the dress
The pink ribbon towards the bottom! It says "Fall asleep with a smile for the moon. Wake up Happy, Play Fair, Be a good friend, Read Books"
Yeah I LOVE that! I think those are all great things for little girls (and boys) to practice!
Finnley is already trying to climb up (not sure he is ready for that though!)
The thing that ISN'T done, is the top.. it's been painted and all that, but it needs something else!
See, kinda boring huh? I am pretty sure I am going to do a design on the top in CHALKBOARD paint, since I already have it! Just need to figure out how to get the design on first!
And I need to do a couple more chairs since we have 3 kids and 1 other little sweet pea that is here a few days a week!
All I did on the table and chairs, was paint it black, paint it black, paint it black. Then I used the cricut to cut the words out and I modge podge'd em on!
The kids are excited to have their little table back and I am excited to have our table back without crayon shavings or stickers on it!
Linking this post up here
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