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Tracking the Deep Freeze

Posted on May 16, 2013 in Home Projects | 0 comments

I don’t always live the most organized life.  I try to put things back orderly and know where things are, but sometimes things just slip away from me.  One area of my home that seems to always be hard to keep orderly is our deep freeze.  Food piles up, items get lost at the bottom, and digging in it to see what is in there is a big pain.

I came up with a simple solution, so I can keep track of what is in the freezer.  This helps me plan meals easier, use food that may have been forgotten about, and not have to dig through to see what I have.  I purchased a basic dry erase whiteboard to log what goes in and out of our freezer.

To make a board you just need a few items:

  • a whiteboard
  • a dry erase marker
  • a permanent fine point marker, like a Sharpie
  • something to adhere the board to your freezer or wall next to the freezer (my board came with stickies, but you could use magnets too)
  1. Draw lines on the board with a permanent marker.  This way you can erase food items as you use them without ruining the lines.
  2. At the top mark the quantity of items, description, and date you put it in the freezer
  3. Update the board as you add or take items from the freezer

This is an example of what I’m dealing with and why I need to keep track of the items outside of the actual freezer:

Twitt
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An Elmo inspired birthday party

Posted on Apr 25, 2013 in Entertaining | Comments Off

My daughter was really into Elmo.  She couldn’t get enough of him or watching “Elmo in Grouchland” last year (I, on the other hand, definitely got enough).  When her second birthday came rolling around this February I figured having an Elmo themed party would be just the way to celebrate.  Here are some ideas if Elmo is something your little monster is into.

*To see ideas from my daughter’s first birthday click here

I made invitations from card stock paper.  You could use construction paper too, but they would just be a little flimsier.

For the Elmo cake pops I used little eyes that I found in the cake decorating section of a craft store and orange Tic-tacs for the nose.  I think using orange Skittles would have been cuter.  If you want to learn how to make cake pops click here

I made a fruit platter with strawberries, clementines, marshmallows, and and chocolate chips.  You could also make a vegetable platter with cherry tomatoes, black olives, and carrots.

My daughter’s cake is the little Elmo face.  I found Elmo rings online that I used to decorate cupcakes for the children and just simple polka dots for cupcakes for adult.

I used pre-made red frosting, large marshmallows, 1/2 an oreo, and an orange peanut M & M to decorate her birthday cake.

A little construction paper taped to balloon and Elmo helped decorate Lauren’s chair.

You can make Elmo ice-cream treats.  Here I used a cherry Dilly Bar from Dairy Queen and decorated them with Mentos, a peanut M&M, and 1/2 and Oreo

 

Twitt
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DIY Sparkly Phone Case

Posted on Apr 23, 2013 in DIY & Crafts | Comments Off

So I’m starting to think that I should have named this site something like ‘All that Glitters’, considering how many glittered projects there are!  After seeing some of the projects I’ve done a friend asked me if I could make a phone case for her with a turquoise glitter….of course I could!

*If interested in making glittered washable glassware click here

*For basic glittering directions click here

I knew it would have to be pretty durable, as most of us throw our phones in our purses, counters, floors, etc.  This meant a few more steps than a typical glitter project, but nothing difficult.  If you want to make one for yourself or a gift follow these directions:

What you’ll need:

  • A plain phone case (or anything you want to have durable glitter… such as a camera case, compact mirror case, etc)
  • A strong adhesive for a base coat.  I used E-6000
  • A permanent adhesive for the glitter.  I used Gem-tac
  • Glitter
  • Lacquer spray to seal the glitter

This is what I did to make the case:

  1. First thing I did was folded a piece of tape (or use double sided tape) to adhere the inside of the case to a little soup box.  This made it easy for me to work around the case as I needed without smudging anything.
  2. Applied E-6000 to the phone case and let it dry (basically super glue).  I just speared it on smooth with my finger.   The reason I put this on first was to create a surface that the glitter would stick to and not easily scrape off over time (like the smooth plastic of the original case)
  3. I used a paint brush to apply a layer of Gem-tac and then sprinkled the glitter. I used this adhesive instead of Mod-Podge, like most glitter projects, because it’s more durable.  I let this dry and then tapped off the extra glitter.
  4. After  24 hours I sprayed a coat of lacquer on the case to seal it.  Since it will be getting so much use I sprayed a few coats of it throughout the day.  I let it all dry another 24 hours before using it.

Twitt
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My “what I’ll need at the hospital to have a baby” list

Posted on Mar 14, 2013 in Mommyhood | Comments Off

I’m a list maker.  I have post-it notes, pads of paper, and scribbles all over my house.  I can’t imagine getting by a week without writing down what I need at the grocery store, to pack for a trip, or things to do before a certain event.  Here is my list of what I take to the hospital for having a baby.

*The below paragraph is what I started writing weeks ago, but the night I started this post I actually had my son by c-section a couple weeks early!

“I’m due to have a baby in two weeks and have been putting my hospital packing list together for a couple weeks now;  adding things as I remember and feeling very prepared while doing so.  This will be my second go at having a planned c-section (after having a vaginal birth as well).  My list might be helpful to share for some of you who have yet to experience the joy of labor or a cesarean. ”

For you to easily nurse the baby:

  • super stretchy comfortable nursing sleeper bras (1 or 2 should do it).  I hate wearing hospital gowns, so I just wear these sleeper nursing bras and underwear while in the hospital (except when guests visit, of course)
  • 1 or 2 sleep shirts or nightgowns that unbutton down the front or unclasp at the strap
  • a Boppy style of pillow
  • a box of ‘Mothers Milk’ tea.  I hate tea, however I swear this helps bring your milk in fast and full.  I make it, let it get cool, and then just slam it down…..it does not taste good!  Start drinking it right away after you have the baby and continue drinking it until your milk is in.
  • nipple cream or hydro gel pads for sore nipples.  I LOVE using gel pads instead of cream and recommend ‘Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads’

For your comfort:

  • a box of ‘smooth move’ tea.  This is another tea I dislike, but force myself to drink after having babies.  It helps keep your digestive system on track as various pain medicines and lack of physical movement will slow down your bowels.  You don’t want to have to work hard to go to the bathroom or have any added discomfort!
  • an eye mask and ear plugs to block all the lights and sounds
  • your own menstrual pads (going without your period for 9 months is completely ruined by the 4-6 weeks of straight bleeding after the baby comes).  The huge diaper sized uncomfortable pads that the hospital supplies are terrible and I recommend bringing your own to use.  I like ‘Always Ultra Thin Long Pads with Wings’.

For the baby:

  • a couple outfits.  The hospital has basic clothing and blankets, so if you want to dress your baby in cuter clothes and comfortable sleepers you should pack a few items.
  • a birthday present.  I like to get my kids a birthday present for the day they’re born.  After all, the day they are born is the most authentic birthday they are going to have.  For my daughter I got her a silver necklace with an ‘L’ pendant (for Lauren).  I haven’t decided on what to get my son yet.

For everything else:

  • camera, camcorder, phone, and all the chargers
  • ID and insurance information
  • an outfit for yourself to leave the hospital in
  • toiletries, hair dryer, make-up, lotion, etc
Twitt
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A New Addition to the Family

Posted on Mar 4, 2013 in Photography | 3 comments

Thank you for being patient with me the last few months.  I have not been the most consistant person at posting new tips and ideas for you.  I was a bit exhausted from the last trimester of my pregnancy, but now that it’s over I can just be exhausted due to having a 2 year old and a newborn!

Graham joined us a few weeks before his due date on February 21st!  I’ll put together a separate post under my new page ‘Mommyhood’ with an explanation of his early arrival, but this post is to show some photos I took this weekend of the little guy.  Enjoy my handsome little man!

 

Twitt
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