Lazy cookies

Ever just too tired for all the effort in making cookies? For school, church or family outing, well I tried a very simple and tested/tasted awesome. 

All it takes is 1 cake mix, 2 eggs and 5 Tbsp of melted butter and 2 cups of chocolate chips. 

Reheat oven to 350 degrees. 

1.Melt the butter on the stove on medium heat while you pull out your ingredients. Let it cool a little before pouring in your dough. 

2. Mix cake mix with 2 eggs until fully combined and crumbly. 

3. Add butter and mix. Will be a wet dough. 

4. With a big spoon gold in the chocolate chips. In a glass casserole dish spray Pam and spread the dough evenly. Out in the oven for 20 minutes. Depending on the oven maybe 2 minutes more. 

Easy peasy! 

Summer garden

This year we added two bigger raised beds with cinder blocks. We tried a new approach with laying dead branches at the bottom then dirt to top it off with compost. 

It's been good so far. I transplanted a seedling Jason threw in a pot and it came out spaghetti squash. Bummer part is that it happened to overtake my two rhubarb plants. Each year we learn where to plant and what not to put next to each other. 

We haven't had as much rain this year but we are learning this gardening thing. 

Lettuce is an awesome crop. Will do it again in the fall. We used the whole envelope of seeds and came out with more than we could use.  Family and friends got bags of lettuce and loved it. Can't wait to do it again. The nice thing is that a mile away is a local farmer where you can get fresh produce cheap. Going to do some canning next weekend. 

Simple bag tutorial.

Want to make a simple tote bag? I can show how easy it is. 

I started with 2 place mats I bought from a dollar store. Found some matching fabric for the inside and webbing for a handle. I cut two squares I'm the bottom 2 inches. I sandwich one inside with outside right sides facing inward. 

Sew along the top to hold handles in place. 

Iron the sides open.  Place both sides of the bag together right sides facing. 

Then the outside fabric sew all the way on the bottom. On the inside fabric leave an opening so you can pull the inside through.  Take the corners and match up the lines. Ironing helps. 

Through the opening, grab the bottom of bag and pull right side out. 

Iron the top tight and stich across the top to look clean. 

Along the inside bottom iron and stich up. Try to use matching color fabric. 

The measurements I used for the bag was 12 1/2 x10 1/2 the bag handle is 11 inches. I like to use a craft fuse interfacing. I like some stiffness to the bag. 

Snow Day!

So we have heard of this storm coming since Monday. My boss decided since people won't show for eye appointments then to close and not pay to have employees sit. Good idea. So the snow is slowing working through and it's nice to have time to clean and make my son's Valentine cookies without rushing at night. All is good and calm. My husband and son went to walmart to get some non cooking foods incase we lose power. Praying it's just a snow day and it's not the 6 inches that they are predicting. Besides my back yard looks pretty. 

Made a rough week to a better weekend.

Last week was a long and busy week at work. So Saturday I told my husband that I needed some fabric therapy and I would take our 18 month daughter. She needed a nap and the drive to JoAnns would be long enough. I was pleased to find some reversible jersey knit fabric 30% off and some cute cotton fabric to make a toy catcher for my daughter. So when I got to the register I pulled out my joAnns app and found a 20% total purchase. Very awesome. So when I got home I washed the fabric and Sunday afternoon my daughter took a great long nap so I got some afternoon sewing in. I made that toy catcher and one infinity scarf. Then after the kids where in bed I made two more. One for my mother in law and I have two for me. What started with creative therapy turned into business. Yeah for me! Two people want toy catchers and one scarf. Ready to go back Saturday. Hoping our snow will have melted enough for driving.

This is a better view of the colors and design. I love it. 

Changes

Sorry, I try to keep up. This last month I've busted out a bunch of purse orders, did a booth at an unsuccessful craft fair, canned some garden goodies and got a job. 

In  I was busy sewing. Made some reusable snack bags, big purse like mine and chap stick holders. I have a bunch of handmade stuff in boxes to sell too. So the church I go to was partnering with another church to do a fund raiser craft fair. Needless to say, wasn't successful. Was glad to meet a person who follows my Mir Made This Facebook page. 

My garden had been great. I have a family recipe for zucchini relish that my family and husband's family loves. I made two batches. Love it on my black bean burgers I have for lunch everyday. 

So I had been on unemployment since we moved and it ran out last month. I had tried going to VSP dr offices in the area and nothing. The week before my last check I got an email from Staffmark for an at home job. I honestly thought it was too good to be true. Well after I filled everything out online they

called me the next day for an interview. It all worked out and now on my second week of training. It's for technical support for Direct tv. It's challenging but great overall. 

The differences in North Carolina

It's crazy how much rain we get. I rarely have to water my lawn. Everything grows so quickly too. I was looking back in march when we had our yard seeded for grass and all the ivy and weeds that come out are crazy. Our 4x4 garden bed with 4 tomato plants are so crowded we know for next year two plants per bed. Our zucchini leaves are so tall it's hard to find the zucchini, but when we do they are big. We ate our first bell pepper yesterday on a pizza and in a salad and it was so flavorful. I think having a garden in NC is less work than CA since the rain and humidity really does most of the work. I do plan to do winter crops this year and add two more boxes. It's really coming along nicely. I have bought canning jars and a big pot to make zucchini relish and tomato sauce. I'm ready. 

For Real, Homemade Deoderant

I love Pinterest. I've seen a couple things for homemade deodorant and soap, you know. Well, I have not been happy with Suave, Secret anything I would try didn't last all day. I like simple and came across a recipe with baking soda, essential oil (what ever scent I wanted) and warmed coconut oil. Mix it until its a paste and store in a container with a screw top. Leaving it in a warm bathroom is ok. It's easier to apply that way. I have been using this for about 5 days and so happy. 

Life on an acre

So since November when we moved into our home we've been working on our wild yard. We now have 4 fruit trees, 4 blueberry bushes, 4 garden beds and seeded grass. Thankfully the grass we paid someone to do it. We plan each year to add to our garden and trees. It hasn't been easy clearing out wild briar patches and weeds. Did you know green onions grow wild out here? I have seen wild strawberries too. Found the strawberries attract snakes. Not good. Most of our plants are growing like all 4 tomato plants, zucchini and peppers. Our watermelon and cucumbers didn't. Can't wait to harvest. 

One Year Later

Life is nuts and it just keeps going. Well, a lot has happened in the last year. 
Starting in June I had my daughter Claire Rene' and that was a new adventure. Breastfeeding for the first time. It was successful and tiring and empowering all at the same time. 
I made friends with a mommy group in Gastonia. Its funny how my son is a little older but Drew fits in well. He loves little kids. So far it hasn't changed. We finally got our big dream house we wanted. With a lot of stress and saving and planning we did it. 
In January the kids and I flew to California to see my friends and family. Such a great trip. 
My son turned 5 and we signed him up for kindergarten for 2013 school year. Such a blessing how my in laws are paying for him to go to a Christian school near by. 
Finally about a month or two ago I got back into sewing and crafting. Much easier now that Claire is almost 1. Its crazy to think that. 
My latest thing is getting my kitchen aid mixer. So happy for that. Got one on a major sale at Target. It was a long day waiting for the UPS guy that day. I had wanted one for about 7 years and before didn't have the money for it or space. Now its wonderful. The first thing I did was make 4 batches of my roll out cream cheese sugar cookie dough to freeze and made 2 batches of bread. They both came out so well. I tried making my royal icing yesterday and that was a flop but I didn't let that get me down. I just looked it up on other sources to see what I can try next. No biggie. I have a Facebook page now for my sewing which is Mir Made This. I really like it. Here are some pictures to show what is up.
My baby Claire

Our great house

                                                                                                 We started with a weekly walk

My niece and kids in CA

My new mixer.

Back to Sewing

Well, I've had a pattern I bought years ago when I didn't really have time to sew, but thought someday I will make it. Well 2 Fridays ago I pulled it out and spent about 4 hours from reading the directions, ironing the fabric and cutting the fabric to make these pocket clutches. I was really happy with the one I made that on Saturday I made two more and then I couldn't stop. In one week I made 8 in total. Now I can make it without the directions anymore. Really nice.
I've been selling my coffee sleeves at a local coffee shop and that has been going great. In 4 days sold two. So last Friday I dropped off 4 pocket clutches to sell. It has been fun with that. I know I won't be able to do a whole lot soon when my baby comes. Just seeing what I can do for now.




I'm working now on getting ready for my baby Claire. I got my fabric yesterday and washed by last night. So today I plan to start making a canopy cover for the car seat. Making a couple for a friend at church too. Then I got a pattern from my mom for my birthday for a purse that has a ton of pockets that look like a great diaper bag. So I'm going to attempt to make that too.


We got a Pac-N-Play with a bassinet and changing table for the first couple months before we move to our house where we will have the room to have a crib and dresser. I have it set up and now it seems more real that my delivery date is in 7 weeks. So many things this month to get ready. Classes and tours at the hospital.

Keeping Busy

Sorry no new posts for a while.

Update: My aunt in Kansas just opened a coffee shop and ordered 20 coffee sleeves from me. Which was so great. I'm still able to sew so far. Attempted at some quilting and doing bias tape. Made her a mug rug too for my appreciation for her order. 

I'm 7 months pregnant and Thank God, doing great. Also I think with not having the stress of working full time in a call center and worrying how we were going to live in a one bedroom condo with a baby was a pain. Now I'm at home getting to spend time with my son.

Joy the baker has a new book. Love it. Made her brown butter blueberry muffins, couldn't stop eating them. I've never made blueberry muffins with fresh blueberries before and it was so wonderful.










With Easter closely approaching I've been making small Easter bags for my son and a handful of other kids in my life. Once I started making some I thought oh yeah, them too. It started from 7 to about 15. It was fun and made me feel good. I had made some last Halloween and Drew still uses his when he totes around his trains or planes. I thought I need to do some more holidays and maybe a plain one for toting around.

My shop in Charlotte is going pretty well. I need to keep up with that soon. I've sold 3 coffee sleeves and a bunny bag.

This week I found another place to sell more coffee sleeves too. Things are really turning out how I could possibly want or dream. I plan to make up a bunch of stuff before miss Claire gets here. I don't think I'll have time to sew for the first couple months when she gets here. If we are moving shortly afterwards I may have more delays. Time to get organized and get cutting.

A couple weeks ago my cousin's son got married and I helped out with the wedding shower. It was nice to have a reason to bake. I have been wanting to bake but not eat it. With my husband and I trying to keep the pounds down that wouldn't be nice. I love to bake and love the idea to make them and give them to someone else. Made some great sugar cookies and chocolate chip. Helped decorate too. It was really nice.

That pretty much is what I've been up to since my last post. Hopefully I won't go that long again. Not promising either.

Living on the Cheap

I know these days everyone is trying to save a buck. Well, its difficult. These are some examples that I have done to make things stretch:

Milk: I use an iced tea pitcher and make one batch of powdered milk and add 2% milk to double the amount in the pitcher. With a young kid who loves to drink milk in the morning and at night, I feel like I have to or I'm buying a ton of milk. Its about $3.75 per gallon these days.

Laundry Soap: I make my own with borax, super washing soda and Fels Naptha soap. I've learned to not add as much water to my 10 gallon bucket. I do at times add Clorox color safe bleach, but its still cheaper than spending around $10.00 every 2 weeks on laundry soap.

Dish Washer Soap: I make my own with Lemi Shine, Borax, Super Washing Soda and Kosher Salt. One batch lasts over a month and its the same price as one big box. One big box at the store is usually $5.00 but only lasts two weeks.

Eggs: I've been buying eggs that are on a flat of 2 1/2 dozen at a time. It lasts two weeks and usually cheaper than buying per dozen. My husband likes omelets and my son likes his scrambled eggs on most days and only buying an 18 count or dozen doesn't last long.

Buying bulk: I do like to buy bulk on some things that are worth it. Oatmeal, sugar, flour, rice and powdered milk. Mostly sugar, flour and milk are great to buy at the big box store. Usually oatmeal is the same price for the smaller containers in the grocery store. Its funny how I can shop mostly at Walmart for some things but be careful. Not everything is cheapest there. I do still get some things once a month at Trader Joe's and weekly at Ingles. Its the west coast equivalence of Safeway but better prices without it having to just be on sale. For our bulk items we have food grade containers with lids to keep our food safe. I don't think I've haven't had to buy rice in a year. We do eat rice pretty often, but we had checked when rice went on sale or major coupons.

I was talking to my husband this weekend and I just don't know how everything still seems so expensive even with all my things I save with a family of 3. In about 3 months it will be 4 and we will have more money to need to go towards diapers, but hopefully will be able to breast feed and not have to spend a small fortune on formula. I know that with medical costs they are killing us. Moving out to North Carolina our health care changed dramatically. We went from Kaiser where we paid minimal each month to have it and only paid $20 in co pays and prescriptions were cheap. Now we have to pay $635 per month to have insurance and a $3,000.00 deductible per year and it renews in July. So the first $3,000. we pay and after that its 30% of the cost is out of our pocket. It makes such a difference. After this year I won't be having anymore babies and when our baby Claire is one she won't need to see the doctor every month. I don't know how other people do this. Its crazy. I hope these tips help you, if you have any please post them in comments. Thanks for taking the time to read.

DIY Air Fresheners

As I love Pinterest so much, I have found another project for the home. I've been buying air fresheners that don't last very long and can seem expensive after a while. I have essential oils on hand so why not? Well I looked up a couple different kinds last night. The first one is a gel air freshener that uses gelatin, salt, essential oil, and water. I have all of the above on hand. I have been saving glass Frapuccino bottles so I used them too. I saw a bunch of cute things to reuse them. I like the drink too so that wasn't so bad either.
Back to the gel air fresheners.

Ingredients:
4 Envelopes of Gelatin 1oz.
2 Cups of Water, divided
1 Tbsp. Salt
20-30 Drops of Essential Oil
Food coloring if you want

Direction:
Boil 1 cup of water, add the 4 envelopes of gelatin and whisk until dissolved.
Remove from heat and add 1 Tbsp. salt and 1 cup of cold water and set aside.
Fill your container with essential oil and coloring
Then pour in the gelatin mixture into your containers.
Mix well and set aside for 6 to 8 hours until firm.

I used sweet orange in one and Lavender Vanilla in the other. Both smell great. Even while its cooling off the house smells great.

The next one I tried is a cheaper version and easier. Its baking soda and essential oil.

Ingredients:
1/3 Cup Baking Soda
30 Drops of Essential Oils
Wooden Chopsticks
Hammer
Nail
Bottle with Lid

Directions:
Using a funnel pour in the baking soda, then add the drops of essential oil. Mix well with chopstick. With the lid using a big nail and hammer, poke plenty of holes. Put lid on and place in any room.

These came out very successful. Both are effective and Next time I think I will keep with the baking soda. Gelatin is more expensive then baking soda. Next time anyone needs some clearing of the sinuses then I will make one with eucalyptus.