Upcycle it!

    Cotton prefolds are great for cloth diapering! Not only are they cheap ($1-3 each), but they are super absorbent, 100% natural, easy to care for, and last forever! My favorite places to get prefolds are GMD, Cotton Babies (who has free shipping too!). GMD is a great website to learn about prefolds, covers, etc, and have pictures of their products on all shapes and sizes of babies.
    Last year, I scored 4 dozen prefolds (newborn, capri, premium, and toddler) and 3 organic flats (total value of around $120) off craigslist for $50 bucks, thats about $1 a diaper (the larger the prefold, the more expensive, nb-$1, Toddler-$3). Now, I didnt need all of those... but they have come in handy! Several friends in need have borrowed them, as well as I have been able to upcycle some into training undies for my daughter!

    I used some simple cheap polyester fleece from Walmart ($5 per yard), some FOE (fold over elastic), and a prefold! Ive had a few people ask me how I did it, so here you go! If you have any questions please feel free to comment!
   The trainer I made is a large Trimsies trainer pattern, about an average 4yr old size.  I hadnt made any new trainers for DD in a while, so this one is too big for her. Sad for me, but GREAT for you!! That means Im giving it away!!! Instructions below the picture tutorial!


    I started by cutting out the fleece in the large Trimsies pattern. Making sure the stretch is going side to side, so that the wings are as stretchy as possible. The second fleece piece, is the top portion of the pattern, cut off at the starting points of the leg elastic, plus 1/4inch added for seam allowance. Since the capri prefolds I have are not long enough to be the same length as the trainer pattern, this extra fleece part will attach to the prefold portion, making it all fit.

Lay the full pattern fleece piece flat, lay the prefold on top, lining up the front edges (you can have the prefold going longways like this, or turn it sideways, which I find to be easier to sew, but it is a little less absorbent). Lay your extending piece, lining up with the top edge of the outer piece. Now you will mark 1/4 inch before the bottom edge of the extending piece, on the prefold. I find that the skinny Crayola washable markers work well! This will be where you will stitch together the prefold to the extending piece.

    Now with your outer piece on top of the prefold (you can see here, I did this with the prefold sideways), fronts lined up. Cut out the prefold along the edges of the outer piece as your guide. If you dont have a rotary cutter, just trace the outline with a marker, then cut with scissors. 

    This is what your inner piece should look like, (without the extending piece attached)

Can We Make Cupcakes, Mommy?

    Yesterday, after breakfast, my three year old asks me, "Can we make cupcakes, mommy?"  Then I remembered I had promiced her last week we would make cupcakes this week!  So, I went on the hunt for a "clean" recipe, no sugar, whole wheat, etc. I found a great one!!

Sunny Days

    Winter in Kentucky has been strange this year. It was 60 degrees in the middle of December, and didn't snow until the middle of January, but melted in the 50 degree weather the next day!  Luckily for me and the girls, that means play time outside on those nice days!

Ran out? Just make some!

    I wanted tuna salad for lunch one day. But we were out of mayo!! AHHH!! I got online and found some recipes, and vuala! Mayo!
    Ingredients consist of: 1 egg yolk, vinigar, lemon juice, salt, dijon mustard, and I used Olive oil instead of Canola oil. Which, mayo made with Olive oil is actually called aioli. I wisked and wisked my poor arm to death! But it turned out great!
    The tutorial I found can be seen here.  The recipe I used is below, which I found here.

• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
• 1-1/2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• 1 cup oil, peanut or corn
• 1 to 2 Tablespoons lemon juice

Dresses And Leggings Everywhere!

    Ive made so many (at least to me) dresses and leggings for my girls, and for gifts this year! AH! But they all turned out so cute!

    I did the 3 I posted a few weeks ago. And here are the ones I finished right before Christmas. The dresses are the Emmy Dress pattern from Fishsticks Designs, I LOVE her patterns! The leggings are a pattern from Too Sweets on etsy.

Cordouroy Emmy dress and leggings for Jaide in 12-18m.

Cordouroy Emmy dress and leggings in a 4T for my neice.

12-18m cotton Emmy dress and leggings for my youngest neice. This pair of leggings is the 12m pants pattern from the Fishsticks Little One Layette pattern, I just made them longer.

Made in USA... Grocerys?

    Once Derek started his new job in October, we knew we would soon no longer qualify for food stamps.  And what was left on the card ran out a few weeks ago.  Since we are staying with the inlaws, my mother-in-law and I menu plan for the week every Sunday evening. On Mondays, we shop! I have re-discovered Aldi's! Wow! 

    Given that Derek got 2 deer this past season, and we already had a decent supply of chicken (stocked up when whole fryers were $.79lb... the next week they were $.49lb...poo), I rarely have to buy meat. Only if Im wanting some fish, or pork for something special.  I have set a goal for myself to only spend $50 a week at the grocery. This doesnt include the 1 gallon of Raw milk, 1 dozen local free range, soy free, organic eggs, and 1 quart of Raw yogurt (every other week for the yogurt) I get at the local Heartland Wholelife Co-op. Sometimes I buy some produce there as well.  Today's shopping trip to Aldi,  I only spent $38!

   

    I noticed when I got home and was unloading the bags, everything I purchased was labeled, "Product of USA"! I was soo excited!! Even the broccoli, kiwi's, and strawberries! The canned food is from Illinois (at least its distributed by....). I soo love Aldi's!