Re-Usable Swiffer Wet Jet Pads!

Yet again, I was sick of chucking out money for those refillable pads!  Every time I turned around I was out of them again.  So, here's my solution!  :o)  I already tried it out...it cleaned better than the pads and washed up great!!!  :o)

Re-Usable Swiffer Dusters!

Motivated by the inch of dust that was accumulating on my TV since I used my last Swiffer Duster, and re-fusing to go to the store to buy more, I decided to do something "green."  I made my own out of scrap fleece fabric I had in my stash!  (I must confess that my motivation was more out of saving $$ and less about being green, but the benefit is the same, right?!)  haha  Now I can dust my home and throw them in the wash instead of in the trash!  Genius!  Saw this idea on Pinterest, and actually followed through!  It's rare, but it does happen some times.  haha

My Baby's Going to Junior High!!

Deep thoughts, by Dawn.....  hahaha!

How is it possible that my baby boy is going to Junior High next year?!  I found myself at a PTA meeting yesterday, discussing course selections for next fall.  Course selections?!  Really?!  This can't be true, certainly my baby boy hasn't reached the point where "course selection" is in order!  As I was trying desperately to listen to the Junior High principal last night, my head was spinning.  I can't be old enough to have a Junior High kid, could I?  I'm still 24, aren't I?  LOL

Well, like it or not, I do have a child who is entering a new phase in his life.  So hard to believe!  So as I choked back tears while looking over his course options, I had to come to terms with this.  I'm not sure I'm ready to move into the "teenage years."  But I guess......her I go!  Wish me Luck!!

Gluten Free Ham & Corn Chowder

OK so today I made the most amazing soup.  Since my kids all actually ate it, I feel like I'm required to write down the recipe.  Usually, I deem a recipe a success if at least 1/2 of the family liked it...but when everyone liked it, it's HUGE!  :o)  Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a photo earlier....I'm not used to the idea that I have a blog yet...  So not the best pic but trust me when I say it was delicious!

I've never made chowder before so I looked at a few different recipes and then came up with my own.  Did I mention this recipe is Gluten Free!?  Always a bonus in my house, as my oldest child has Celiac Disease.

Here's how I made it:
       Ham Stock
I started by making my own Ham Stock.  I had a ham bone left over from a meal we had last week.  I just put it in the freezer until I needed it.  I made it by filling my stock pot halfway with cold water and adding in the frozen ham bone.  I put the burner on low and just let it go.  Once the bone was thawed through I turned the temp up, added a half of an onion, a carrot, and 2 stalks of celery.  Then I just let it simmer for about 3 hours.

After that I just just strained the stock and chilled it in a container.  When it was cool, the fat forms a layer on top...I skimmed off the fat, and set it aside.

      Ingredients for Ham & Corn Chowder
1/2 lg sweet onion diced
2 celery stalks, diced
3 lg carrots, peeled & diced
2 lg. Yukon gold potatoes, diced
2 cups of prepared ham stock
4 cups of 2% milk
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1/2 cup hot water w/ 2 tbsp of corn starch whisked in
1/2 bag frozen sweet corn
1/2 c. frozen peas
2 cups diced left over ham
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste

First, saute onion & celery in 2 tablespoons of oil for about 5 minutes, season with salt & pepper.  Add carrots, potatoes, Italian seasoning, ham & ham stock.  Bring to a boil, then add the water & corn starch mixture stirring the whole time to prevent lumps.
Next I added the milk and brought the chowder to a simmer with the cover on for about 20 minutes.  (Or until potatoes and carrots are tender.)  At this point I tested the soup for seasoning.  My ham stock was plenty salty, so my soup did not need any additional salt.  I did add a little shake of pepper though.
Next I added the corn & peas and just brought the soup back up to a simmer.  At the last moment I added the shredded cheese and just stirred until it was all melted and incorporated.

I served this up with freshly baked bread.  It was awesome.  (For my son, I simply toasted up his favorite Gluten Free Bread and added some spray butter.)

Hope you try it an enjoy it!  :o)

Purse from a Re-Purposed Sweater!

  I got this idea from a blog called Make it - Love it....and I did and I do!!!

Made this from an old (Ugly) sweater I found in my husbands
closet, and I frankly wanted to ensure that he never headed out
 the door to work in it again! haha

I lined it with some fabric I had on hand and added a
magnetic closure and a pocket for  convenience. 

This is a little bow detail I added with the belt from another old
cardigan sweater I had been given by a friend...layered
a couple of buttons on top and that was all she wrote!

Doo Wraps

I got this great idea from my sister-in-law.  She gave me one of these beauties and I have used it daily ever since!  So easy to make...makes a great gift for teachers and friends.  Can't miss with this one.

My little models...  My little Rylan in the yellow doo wrap,
and his bestie Chloe in the turquoise.

Super Capes

The Super Cape idea came up a few years ago when my now 11 & 8 year olds were 2 & 4.  All my boys ever wanted to do was pretend.  They were not the type of kids to sit and play with a train table or build with blocks for hours, but give them a blanket and a laundry basket and they were entertained indefinitely.  I would get such joy watching them pretend to be knights charging to battle only to suddenly find a fire burning that they needed to put out; suddenly changing before my eyes into firefighters.

Balin's 3rd Birthday Party, 2006

When trying to come up with a creative idea for my soon to be 3 year old's birthday, I decided I wanted to do a super hero party.  I'm not a big fan of goody bags...I never really understood the point.  Why send children home with a bag of junk that will end up in the trash the next day?  So, instead, I decided to make each kid a cape as their take home gift.  The result was a huge hit!  I still get comments from the parents whose children attended that party; the capes ended up being a well-loved and played with gift!  This still makes me happy to this day...

Balin flexing his Super Muscles!

The 1st batch of capes - All birthday party kids went
home with one

Minnie Mouse Super Cape, made specially for my niece who LOVES Minnie Mouse,
and whose first name just happens to be Mya.  Perfect.

Cameron

And my youngest son's beloved nickname is Yaya.  So of course
I had to make his supercape with a Y.  

Bryson, by best friend's nephew, having fun in his new Super Cape.
Merry Christmas Bryson!

The original capes had velcro closures, but velcro tends to wear out
after a few tumbles through the wash...hence the snaps.

Here's a closeup of Bryson's cape...I'm not a huge fan of the
commercial Super Hero's...as I like the to see children
transform into their own "Super Selves" but I
made an exception in this case...

Baby Capes!