Works For Me - Scrapbooking Organization

With my first daughter I was on top of things. She was a great sleeper so once she was in bed for the night I would often work on her scrapbook. I was always up-to-date. Enter second child....my goal was to have their individual books complete at each birthday. It worked but it was a struggle. I get pregnant with a third and am totally overwhelmed with what I need to scrap...to the point that I hated taking pictures because I knew they would have to be put somewhere.

The Solution:

I will make three by-hand scrapbooks for each girl.

Zero to one year

one year to two

two years to four

This makes the task not so daunting and there is an end in site. After age four it's a digital photo book for each year. Those things are a breeze to put together. And in another three years I will be completely done with the whole scrapbook phase. I'll be OK with that! This works for me.

Check out We Are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday ideas!

Works For Me! Maternity Top Turned Kid Dress

Before you get rid of all of your cute maternity tops check to see if any will work for kids clothes! I wore four of these summer tops almost all last summer in my last few months of pregnancy. It was hot and I loved them. They were even my post-pragnancy go-to shirts for a few weeks. I was going through things for Goodwill last night and didn't want to part with these (knowing I'm not having other babies I don't know why I still had them after a year post pregnancy). Daughter walked by....light bulb popped on....and it looked like a perfect size for a dress. And it was. No tailoring needed. My older daughter even said she would wear them with leggings when they got too short. The shirt that keeps on giving. Now THAT is a thing of beauty! Works for me!

Check out We Are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday ideas!

Works For Me! Lunch Box Napkins

I love to stick a fun napkin in with my daughter's lunch with a little note on it. I have napkins for all the different holidays and such. I just want to make lunch away from home special for them. A few months back I made cloth napkins for the house and just love them.....so I'd been thinking how I could do cloth napkins for lunch boxes but still have them special. I found the answer in antique hankies. They fit my list of wants:

Cheap (had a few but also picked up a lot of 21 on ebay for $12)

Small (perfect size)

Reusable (and no big deal to launder with the rest of the napkins)

Different (they are all different and got a few Cristmas ones as well)

Special (they are FANCY, with crocheted edges and embroidery)

I write a tiny note on a scrap of paper (I plan on sewing little note pockets onto them) and they are good to go.

The only thing you might have noticed is that most of them are white. I am thinking that once they get pretty stained that I will dye them the girl's favorite colors (or tie dye them a bunch of colors).

This works for me! Check out We Are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday ideas!

Mother's Day Gift With Things You Already Have

Hey Mom - **Spoiler Alert** Do not read this. Your gift is in the mail :)

I had to make Mother's Day and Teacher's Appreciation gifts this weekend. I looked all over the Internet for your good ideas. I decided on rice heat therapy wrap and cooling eye pillow sets. If you are a sewer, you probably have everything you need to make these. I looked at patterns HERE at Sew, Mama, Sew and HERE at Amy Butler Designs but really did my own thing. My tutorial isn't very thorough (but the links above are - or if you have questions I would more than happy to answer them).

To make the rice insert all you do is sew a sleeve (sew three sides of your rectangle - however big you want it), flip it right side out, fill it 3/4 full with rice, and sew it closed. I used a cotton scrap material I had. So the rice evened out a bit, for the longer pillow I sewed a line down the center after flipping to the right side but before filling both sides 3/4 full of rice. You can mix an essential oil such as lavender with the rice for a nice, relaxing scent. You could even add some dried lavender flowers with the rice.

To make the covers, again you make a sleeve about an inch and a half longer than your rice insert (I embellished mine a little by sewing a few different colored fabrics to the front), flip it right side out, fold it over the added inch and a half and sew it on the sides (shown above). Open it up to insert the rice insert. The heating wrap and the cooling eye pillow are made the same, just different sizes.

As a SUPER NICE BONUS, Sew, Mama, Sew had a pdf file for nice gift instruction tags. They look very put together.

Honestly, if you are able to sew straight lines, you could make a set of these in a half hour. If you were to have to buy the fabric ($2.00), rice ($2.00) and thread ($1.00) you still can make a nice looking gift for $5.00. This frugal, yet practical gift works for me!

Join Tonya on her Penny Pinching Parade to see more frugal tips! Or We Are That Family for more Works for Me Wednesday ideas (the frugal addition!).

Works-For-Me Art Display

I am reusing this post from December 2008 for Heidi's Monthly Craft Challenge over at Blue Eyed Blessings. This month's material is ribbon!

My girls produce art at an unprecedented rate. Every single day they bring tons of it home from school as well. There is not enough refrigerator space, wall space, bulletin boards space, etc. Also, because they get half of their genes from their father, are very sentimental and want to keep and display everything. What do you do with all of the birthday cards, thank you notes, good job letters from the teacher? My solution - recycle it - but that doesn't go over well (unless you hide it very well in the recycle bin under stuff they have no interest in - NOT all of the toy catalogs you have been getting each day in the mail - they want to dig those out). It's not that I'm completely void of sentiment (I do have boxes of "special" art work from each year), there is just no possible way to keep everything and even less room to display it. We barely have enough room for the three kids.

SO, to make everyone happy, I used the one flat surface that hadn't been utilized - their bedroom doors. Throw a wide piece of ribbon over the top long enough to touch the floor on both sides. Thumb tack it on the top to keep it in place. Buy a bag of clothes pins to hang everything on there (they like the colorful ones). With both sides of the door there is plenty of room for that week's art. There are usually papers on top of papers on top of papers but they don't seem to mind. It's displayed. Every so often I clean it off (late at night or when they are away at school). This year I'm sending a ton of it as filler in Christmas presents to my unsuspecting little sisters who do not yet have children. They would love it, right?!?!?

Check out Rocks In My Dryer for more Works-For-Me Wednesday ideas! (this link will no longer work)

Making Baby Food - first foods

Don't be scared of making your own baby food. It is so simple. You can also start with baby steps. The first food your baby usually eats is rice cereal. Go ahead and buy a box of that. I'm not hard core enough to make it myself, although making your own oatmeal is easy when it is time (just put quick cook oatmeal in a blender and blend until it's a fine powder).

With our first child I made batches of food with blender and an ice cube tray. For my second two children I only used the freezer/ice cube method if I had a bunch of overripe bananas or avocado that I couldn't use in time. If you don't want to commit to making bulk batches just pick up a Baby food mill and have baby eat what you eat (or simple fruits and veggies if they are younger).

For beginning eaters rice cereal, bananas, avocado, and sweet potatoes are recommended. All easy to do for each meal with no commitment.

Banana: when ripe - cut the banana (peel still attached) into about 1 inch sections and store them in a container in the refrigerator. These are perfect for little meals. Put a peeled section in the food mill for perfectly mushed meal that costs barely anything.

Bananas won't get any riper once they are refrigerated so one they are at the perfect ripeness throw them in the fridge. The peels will get brown but the fruit will be unaffected.

Avocado: Cut the top off. Scoop the flesh of the top into the food mill. Store the rest still with skin and seed intact. Each time you need some scoop a little out. The avocado won't brown much this way and it's easy to scoop out small portions.

Sweet potato: cook it (I usually bake it or microwave with the skin on. When cool cut a slice off, discard peel, and puree in food mill.

When baby gets older you get to be a little more creative and baby can usually eat what you are eating (pureed or small bits). Tonight I steamed cauliflower for us (1/2 cauli, 1/2 potatoes for my mashed potatoes) and will feed little chunks to baby. You must make sure that the food is soft enough and small enough - but I think you can handle that!

Cheap. Easy. Really.

I love the book Super Baby Food - it gives you step by step and lots of advice. See more about it HERE.

Visit Tonya at Small Town Louisiana Girl for more frugal tips at Penny Pinching Tuesday. Or Check out more Works For Me Wednesday ideas at We Are That Family.

Works For Me - Tooth Fairy

When my daughter lost her tooth due to a freak accident involving flipping over her bed at the tender age of two, we had not worked out a tooth fairy plan. I think my husband gave her a quarter...what did she know. She was two.

I have heard a huge range of monetary gifts from the infamous fairy and I am not inclined to be at the higher end (or maybe even mid-range) so I wanted to do something different.

I know the idea comes from somewhere else, and I have no idea where. The tooth fairy, is going to give my girls gems. My girls love sparkly things. I wanted something special they could save. For about 20 dollars on eBay I got this HUGE assortment of real stones. They are rubies, sapphires, amethyst, and most others that I don't know. They are not perfect (hence their price) but I couldn't tell. I'm going to give her a few stones for each tooth and will have a fancy bag for her to put them all in.

It works for me! Check out more Works For Me Wednesday ideas at We Are That Family.

Here is a better picture of what I was able to get...I like the top one better but you really can't tell what they are.

Works For Me - Magazine Article Organization

I have learned that if I save an entire magazine I will not go back and look at anything in it. Tearing the pages out that I find helpful (the VERY FIRST time I read it) saves me a lot of time. I use an accordion file to stash these away for the times I am looking for a project. I organize them first by holiday...so I can just grab my Easter folder about now and see what I can come up with for the festivities. I even store holiday related recipes in there. I know I won't need them any other time during the year so why not have it all together? I also have random categories such as Birthday Party Themes, Everyday Crafts, Cookie Decoration, Gardening, etc.


You can see by the labeling that the file was also once my Alphabet file. I would cut things out that started with that letter so that when I needed them for an impromptu letter lesson I would have them handy. I also use a similar filing system for recipes that I have not yet tried so have not earned a place in my recipe box yet. You can see that HERE.


This works for me!

What do you do with all of the magazine articles you find?

For other Works For Me! Wednesday ideas go to We Are That Family.

Works For Me! Kid's Snacks

Over a dozen times each day I am asked "I'm hungry. What can I eat?" Sound familiar? Now that my kids are able to open the refrigerator I have designated the bottom bin their snack bin. I fill it with apples, yogurt, string cheese, and other healthy options (even things like raisins and such that don't have to be refrigerated - at least it is in one place). Now instead of asking what they can have, they ask if they can have a snack. It's so much easier on my brain just to say yes, than to think of what we have. Easy. Works for me!

Visit Real Food Wednesday over at Kelly the Kitchen Kopp and Works for Me! Wednesday at We Are That Family for more ideas.

I just discovered Real Food Wednesday and adore it. She has weekly themes. This week it's great time-saving kitchen tip or nutrition tips. The list of past carnival are nice to browse as well because you know what topic is covered. Go see for yourself!

Works For Me! Lists of Memes and Carnivals

I need lists. After asking about memes and carnivals for my last Aloha Friday post I compiled a list that I can easily go to when I am feeling less than inspired...Go HERE to see them! There are a bunch!

Let me know if there are others you know of and I will add them. Having them all together works for me! For other Works For Me! Wednesday ideas go to We Are That Family, the new host site.

Join me for my new blog carnival Kid Friendly Friday, right here this Friday!

Works for Me - Party Favors - Treat Bags

Who else cringes with the site of a party favor bag fun of little toys that you have to secretly dispose of over the next few week? They, like Happy Meal toys, must procreate while you sleep. I've been trying to get creative the past few years and think of inexpensive things my kids could actually use. I did a mixed CD of kid music, which was a HUGE hit but then a friend told me it was an illegal gift, so I felt bad. Then I did colored kettle corn which the parents tried to wrestle away from their children (which I'll eventually post on). This time around I dipped oreos. They are easy, cheap, and look amazing!

2 bags of oreos $6.00 (although I can get them BOGO if I plan ahead)

2 bags melting chocolate $4.00

treat bags $1.00

sprinkles .10 - a small fraction of a bottle - color to match your theme

computer printed labels and staples .10 (Thank you for celebrating with me! Love, __)

So for about $11.20 I made 23 goodie bags each with 3 dipped oreos.

It took an hour to do them all. Not bad. And if you allow it, they won't even make it back from the party! Yum!!

Check out Rocks In My Dryer for more Works for Me Wednesday ideas!

Works for Me! Traditional birthday pictures!

I love traditions. When Bigs was three I heard the idea to take a traditional birthday photo...of her in my wedding dress. Considering I have only worn it once, this is the best way to get it's moneys worth :) Each girl gets this picture taken each birthday and each girl has a little album just for these. It's amazing how quick they change! For boys you could use a suit coat or your husband's old Letterman jacket (do they get these any longer?). The girls also asked if they could get a picture of ME in the dress on my birthday.....ummmm, we'll have to get back to you on that! So to celebrate Bigs turning 6, enjoy the last few years of her traditional pictures :)

Age 6:

Age 5: Age 4:
Age 3:

Check out Rocks In My Dryer for more Works for Me Wednesday ideas!

Free Books Work for Me!

Have you already heard of Paperback Swap? I absolutely love it. All you do it find 10 books around the house that you no longer want. Create an account and add the books. You will then get 2 free credits. This means that you can get 2 free books right off the bat. You search their database and pick any two you want. That member then sends you the book. When a member requests one of your books you send it to them and earn another credit. When that member requests the book you print out a book wrapper - it's all done for you - tape it around your book and mail it (addresses and everything are already on it). You can use media mail that costs around $2.25 - much less than a new book and comparable to a book you can get resale.

**If there is a book that you want that is not listed you can put in a request. When another member lists that book it will notify you.

**They even have a printed postage option so you can skip the post office all together. There is a small fee for this but is probably less than gas to the post office. I haven't tried this yet but am going to do it the next time someone requests one of my books.

** There are almost 3 million books listed.

**What a great way to reuse and recycle. Maybe get rid of a little clutter (I know, you will just add more with more books)

If you love to read and it's obvious from the tons of books you have in your house, why not? Go over to Rocks In My Dryer for more Works For Me Wednesday ideas.

Sorry about the plug below...while doing a little research (how many books were listed :) I found out that you could get credit for referring a member.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?r_by=gert003%40aol.com


If you use the link above to join, I'll get a free credit when you post your first ten books (and you'll still get 2 free credits for posting them!) but you certainly don't have to sign up through me!! Just an option :)

Works For Me Wednesday Baby Prints

I am bringout out an older post for Amy's Round Robin carnival. Go check out other ideas!




I love baby keepsakes. In Martha Stewart or maybe in a Red Envelope Magazine I saw a cute frame for baby feet prints. I figured I could do that...if only I could remember after 6 and 12 months to actually make the foot print. With each girl I found a little something different. It started out as three separate frames. This was probably most like the original product I saw. I'm sure they were selling 3 little black frames and a stamp pad for an obscene dollar amount. Not sure why the last print turned green....must have used a kid ink pad.


Then came Lexi and less wall space. I saw this frame and had those fabulous rub on letters for scrap booking.

Then came Scarlett and all of the above frames were chipped....so I figured this frame would do. I like that I could include a picture. And I got crazy with the ink color :)

And I am remembering this now because tomorrow is Scarlett's half birthday! I wrote it on the calendar so I would remember to do the print. Be aware that when taking baby's foot print you will have to do a dozen to be able to get a nice print. It will also look that baby just got back from the lock up with her ink stained foot. I can usually get it off with a baby wipe standing by...but when you have the wiggly kid and it takes a half and hour of attempts to get one that works, you are not going to get the ink out of their tiny little crevices.
And a half birthday also brings our traditional half-birthday cupcake! Keep watch for that post. The pictures are always priceless!

I have used this idea for baby shower and wedding gifts. A personalized frame is a welcomed gift. Check out Rocks In My Dryer for more Works For Me ideas!

Boxed Cake Magic

Most often I do not have the patience to make a cake from scratch but have found ways to dress up a cake box cake to make it spectacular. I don't like cake much and I really don't like traditional frosting so I'm sure that is why I normally won't go through all the "from scratch" trouble (you can gasp). I like this cake enough to eat it for breakfast the morning after.

The easy way to do a Tuxedo Cake....

Prepare a devil's food cake according to the directions on the box. Fold in about half of a bag of Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate baking chips (need to reserve 4 ounces for the ganach) and bake in 2 round pans. Cool completely.

Whipped Cream Frosting

Mix 4 cups of whipping cream (the real stuff, not the already prepared whipped cream) and 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar until it's fluffy. About 4 minutes. Frost your cake - be sure to add a generous amount of frosting in between the layers. Don't worry about cake crumbs ruining your perfectly white frosting....most of it will be covered up. Refrigerate for at least an hour before adding ganach.

Ganach

Using your food chopper (what is it that you call the thing that is commonly used to chop nuts that you put on top of the food and smash the spring loaded handle down over and over until your food is chopped, the baby wakes up and your hand hurts??) chop the 4 ounces of chocolate into little pieces - some of it should be finely ground. Put it in a glass measuring cup so you don't have to dirty a ton of dishes. Heat 1/2 whipping cream (not whipped) until it is steaming, not boiling. Pour the cream over top of the chocolate and stir until smooth. Add 1/4 cup light corn syrup and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Let it set for 10 minutes before you pour it over the cake. Even though it seams like a lot of work, it doesn't take long to do this step but it is completely worth it!!

Join everyone over at Blessed with Grace and Temp My Tummy Tuesday for more great recipes! AND I'm using this for Works For Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer....because this certainly works for me!!

Here is a picture of it from recipelink.com.

Here is my picture.....LOL. Photography is NOT one of my talents! Don't let my picture put you off. Even if you don't like cake you will be pleasantly surprised~

Cloth Napkins

During Advent we did a "fancy dinner" with china, crystal, and cloth napkins (they were white, now they are white with pizza stains....I'm not so good in the stain department). The girls loved the napkins and a green light clicked on in my head. My mom made cloth napkins before green was in. I loved setting the table because I would give myself the prettiest napkin. Bright colors just make me happy.

I had a store credit for a home store so went looking for some kid-friendly (dark) cloth napkins. They were all HUGE. So....I bought a table cloth. I lucked out because the pattern has squares in it which made it super easy to cut up. I made them twice the size of a paper napkin so they are workable for kids, fit on their laps, but are plenty big for messy adults. The in-store cloth napkins are way to big to manage. Most of the pieces had a side or two already hemmed so the hemming went quickly. Hemming does not require real sewing skills (just folding and sewing in a straight line) only a sewing machine. I got 21 cloth napkins out of a $7 clearance table cloth! It took me about 2 hours to hem them all. Emma bragged to her friend that was eating over that day "My mom made these just today all by herself!" That made it worth it right there! They are bright and colorful, match my fiesta ware and hide food stains well. AND there is one less thing I have to put in my grocery cart..and in the landfill :)

Go over to Rocks In My Dryer for more Works For Me Wednesday ideas!

Recipe Organization (for those waiting to be tried)

I am a recipe junkie. I read cookbooks like novels and would choose a good food magazine over People any day. What do you do with the hundreds of recipes you've cut out, printed off, saved on your hard drive, or have been given but have not yet tried? I first stuffed them in my recipe box until one night when it was an overflowing mess I purged everything that I had not yet made. I threw away hundreds (really) of recipes I'm pretty sure would never make it to the table. My recipe box is now designated for only those tried and true dishes. My recipe box thanked me and I am forever grateful that I don't have to sort through hundreds of recipes to find my favorites.

For all those screaming "Pick me! Try me!".....This is what I've come up with. Each category gets a file folder (appetizers, sides, main dishes, etc.). When I put a recipe in that file I write in on the front (broken down into further categories). If it's a recipe in a magazine I don't want to tear apart (Taste of Home or Penzey's ONE - never heard of Penzey's? You MUST check them out!) I write the recipe name, which magazine, edition, and page I can find it. I cross off the recipe once it has been made and it either makes it to the big leagues (recipe box) or is sent packing (trash). I use one big accordion file to keep them all together. Sound a little OCD? Whatever. It works for me!

Head over to Rocks in My Dryer for more Works For Me Wednesday ideas!