Make a Felt Animal Plushie

I recently discovered the joys of crafting with felt. Craft felt is relatively easy to work with, and so inexpensive! My son received two amazing books from his uncle and auntie for his birthday - How Loud is a Lion? and Hidden Hippo - featuring hand-stitched felt illustrations by Clare Beaton. After reading the stories to him, I found myself flipping through the books with admiration long after he had moved on. I was so inspired by the felt jungle scenes in these books that I began to plan a felt jungle project of my own. At first I envisioned a felt board, but ultimately fell in love with the idea of a collection of plushies for play and bedtime snuggling. I found this felt penguin tutorial and used it as a guide for my own plushie.

Here's how I did it:

1.  Lots of google image searching. I searched for simple animal illustrations, stock photos, and coloring book pages with a cute, trace-able jungle animal that would translate well into a plushie. Finally, I picked this lion:

2.  A template. I could have drawn this image and blown it up on a copy machine (if the size needed to be adjusted), but my hubby is a Photoshop wiz, so I employed his help in creating a template using the image above. We traced individual shapes in the image, tweaked them to get the size I wanted, and printed them out. I then cut these shapes out.

3. Cardboard stencils. I traced the shapes onto cardboard and cut them out to create stencils for the felt.

4. Cut out felt. I used binder clips to hold the cardboard stencils in place while I cut the shapes out of craft felt sheets. Since the plushie is two-sided, I doubled up felt sheets for the mane, body, and hair tuft on the tail.

5. Attach face pieces to mane and hair tuft to tail. I selected an orange thread for the bulk of this project, and black thread for the eyes and nose. I decided to hand-stitch the whole thing for more of a handmade look. I used a running stitch for the cream-colored piece, eyes, and nose. I used a blanket stitch for everything else. I had never sewn a blanket stitch before, and I found this video very helpful in getting started. I used a running stitch to add a smile and whiskers to the lion's face. I added Poly-fil to the face before closing the stitch, using a pencil to fill out all the corners. I stitched the tail hair tuft closed and stitched it over the ends of the tail pieces (front and back), overlapping slightly.

6. Stitch and stuff the body. I stitched the body pieces closed using a blanket stitch, adding Poly-fil with a pencil before closing the stitch.

7. Attach the head to the body. I stitched the back piece of the mane to the body.

8. Stitch and stuff the head. I stitched the mane pieces closed using a blanket stitch, adding Poly-fil with a pencil before closing the stitch.

9. Enjoy!

I am pleased with how this adorable little guy turned out. He's cute and cuddly, and closely resembles my photo inspiration. I considered saving the plushie for a Christmas gift, but was too excited to wait to see how Jackson liked him. I was thrilled to see that he adores him, too.

Next, I am planning a felt plushie for my niece for Christmas, and many more in the future. I am thinking of applying the same concept to a crib mobile as well. I hope you'll take this idea and make it your own, too!

Happy crafting!

DIY: Pajama / Lounge Pants

 I have owned a functional sewing machine for over a year now, but I'm still very much a novice in the sewing world. Granted, this has a lot to do with having a very energetic toddler and not much free time, but it's also due to a lack of confidence in my abilities and not really knowing where to start. I have successfully repaired elastic on my gDiaper liners, repurposed some bed linens into an apron, and some other simple projects, but sewing my own clothes (or clothing for others) was too intimidating. But sewing my own clothes has always been my dream, so recently I managed to muster up the courage to dip my toe in with a very newbie-friendly project - pajama pants. I figured something with an elastic waistband worn in the privacy of your own home is a good place to start. Hubby needed a new pair, so I was able to justify the purchase of some flannel and matching thread to make him some comfy pants for his birthday. I must confess that his birthday was actually in March, and he ended up getting the promise of some pants for his birthday. But he didn't really need them until this fall anyway, so hubby waited patiently until I was ready to tackle the project.

Internet research led me to this Instructables tutorial, which I studied for quite awhile until I became convinced I could do it. I was a little freaked out about making my own pattern instead of buying one, but the tutorial explained it in detail and provided really helpful photos. It turned out to be pretty simple and straightforward. I took the author's advice and used wrapping paper to make the pattern. It was perfect for the job, and best of all, it didn't cost me anything since I had leftover Christmas wrapping paper in the basement. Tracing the waist was a little tricky, as you have to stretch the elastic completely out and trace that length, then connect it to the leg (which is traced without the elastic stretched out). I wasn't sure I'd done it right, but the pants actually fit perfectly when they were all done!

As for the sewing, everything was also fairly easy and beginner-friendly. The photos were awesome here too. I felt the hardest part was sewing the two legs together, as my only experience with this was making a pair of shorts in my middle school home ec class, and I have no memory of assembling those. It took some time for me to figure out exactly how to tuck one leg into the other, but now that I've done it, this will be a breeze in the future. Since I had a bunch of leftover fold-over elastic from diaper repairs, I decided to use that to minimize costs. Figuring out exactly how to sew the elastic together and insert it into the waistband was time-consuming, but again, this is a skill I will retain for future projects and it'll get easier with time.

I'm so glad I decided to do this project! The pants turned out great, hubby loves them, and I learned some very useful sewing 101 skills that I will be able to apply to future projects. I am already planning some pants for my son as well as Christmas gifts for the family. Check out my finished product - modeled by husband, with special appearance by my son, Jackson - below.

He's a good sport.

I was ecstatic that the plaid print is actually straight.

Perfect for work-at-home parents!

Happy sewing!

Cloth Baby Wipes

With all the innovations of cloth diapers, why are we still using disposable wipes?! I found a great tutorial at My Happy Crazy Life and decided to give it a try. I got a few different prints of soft flannel (which is on sale at Jo-Ann's right now!). You can cut them to any size you like and you can do just one layer or two. It is up to you and what will work. I decided to do 2 layers.


If you do 2 layers, I highly recommend either putting pins in the middle or doing a crossed basting stitch to keep the layers from sliding while sewing. Next I took it to the serger and sewed around the edges. I wanted my corners rounded and sergers apparently only like straight lines, so I will just keep practicing. (and I also realized it's okay if it isn't perfect, it's just going to wipe up poop, anyway) If you are working on a regular sewing machine, the zig-zag stitch will work just as well. Here's my final product.

These make great shower gifts or to keep for your own children. The previous link above with the original pattern also has a recipe to make your own wipe solution, or you can just use water.

DIY: Wool Dryer Balls

Dryer balls are such a simple, inexpensive solution for softening laundry and controlling static, it's a wonder more people don't know about them. They're a great alternative to softeners for those with sensitive skin or allergies. As a bonus, they also significantly cut drying time, which is especially exciting to those of you using coin-operated laundry machines. To cloth-diapering families, wool dryer balls are a godsend in a world of products that aren't "CD-safe." As I mentioned previously on this blog, most laundry detergents on the market aren't good for diapers, and fabric softeners/dryer sheets are also a no-no. Even using these products on other loads of laundry can cause diaper issues due to softener build-up in the machines.

Of course, line-drying is always a good option, or you could dry with no softeners at all. But it is always nice for the laundry to come back soft and fluffy (without the waxy stuff), and if you're like me, your kid is wearing his very last clean diaper while the others are being laundered, so time is of the essence. (This is when you will pat yourself on the back for cutting that drying time!)

You can purchase wool dryer balls online from a variety of sources, or you can follow this super easy tutorial over at goodmama. There are multiple methods for making wool dryer balls; Acacia and I experimented with hand-felting some over my kitchen sink, and they came out pretty nice if I do say so myself. But you will want at least six dryer balls in your collection, and I knew that my carpal tunnel syndrome would prevent me from making as many as I needed by hand. Because hand-felting is rather tedious and labor-intensive, I'd recommend the wool yarn method unless you are experienced in working with wool.

Making felted balls is actually a great skill to have -- they not only make nice gifts as dryer balls, they can entertain pets and young children for hours! Personally, I was amazed (and grateful) at how long and the creative ways in which my 2-year-old played with them while I was sick in bed one week. He was so enamored with them that I'm thinking of making another set just for him.

Happy crafting!

The Harvest, Part 4

With autumn lurking around the corner and each crop bowing out in turn, our garden is starting to look rather sparse. The beans are finished after a rapid harvest, and sadly the zucchini plants were taken out by powdery mildew likely brought on by high humidity and lack of air flow between the plants. We have learned so many lessons this year that will aid us in cultivating next year's vegetable garden, and I'm already looking forward to the next planting season.

While most of our plants are done growing for the season, the tomatoes and bell peppers have only just begun.   Each day I walk up to the garden and return with a fistful of tomatoes. I forgot how truly delicious and unique a homegrown tomato tastes. It's amazing. We have had tons of rain lately, which has caused many of the tomatoes to crack around the top, and in some cases, split open on the side. Apparently the rain causes rapid growth, and the tomato skins aren't able to keep up. Forgive me, but I can't help but be reminded of stretch marks on a pregnant mama.

Enormous carrot

The carrots have been ready for some time, and we've been picking one or two at a time as needed. Earlier this week I discovered a rotten carrot in the bunch, which was really fascinating but pretty gross as well. The top looked normal, but as I pulled up on the stalks, the carrot top pulled right out with stringy orange goo trailing underneath that used to be a solid root vegetable. Some internet research seems to point to bacterial soft rot as the prime suspect -- yet another problem abetted by heavy rainfall. To prevent spreading, we went ahead and pulled the lot and brought them inside.

It's always exciting to see what the carrots really look like under the soil. Our soil is not ideal for carrots, so we've had quite a few interesting shapes and even some siamese twins and triplets. Luckily, silly-shaped carrots are just as delicious as the regular ones.




But I'm not sure I'll have the heart to eat this loving couple here:

Such a sweet embrace!

Since chilly weather is approaching, it's also time to dust off the old sewing machine and start on some warm and cozy projects, like pajama pants, fleece hats, and cuddly stuffed animals for the holidays. Keep your eyes peeled for more craft posts as the garden goes into hibernation 'til next year.

Be well.

The Harvest, Part 3

The first cucumber.

We have patiently waited for the day we could pluck cucumbers and carrots from the garden to throw into a salad - and it's finally here! We also have zucchini now, and wow are they growing fast! I made zucchini bread with one large zucchini last week, only to have 3 more in the fridge this week. Since I actually bought fresh zucchini from the grocery store last week because I was convinced ours wouldn't be ready in time, we are still polishing off leftover zucchini with quinoa stuffing (yum!). So working the homegrown zucchini into the menu before they go bad might be somewhat challening. But I'm up to the challenge. I'm thinking I'll do a pasta primavera for starters. If anyone has a good zucchini recipe, please share!

One of our first carrots.

Green beans are still sprouting, but the harvest seems to be slowing. I have a feeling if we were out there picking on the daily we'd have a higher yield, but we're still pretty happy with them regardless. We have about 6 or 7 freezer bags full of blanched green beans in the freezer to be enjoyed at our leisure.

Sadly, our lettuce harvest season has passed and our plants are spent. However, I've been doing some reading on growing lettuce through the fall, so I think we'll be starting another batch sometime soon. The spinach season is long gone and we were somewhat disappointed with how fast it came and went. Not sure if we'll do more spinach for fall or even next spring. One big thing we'd like to do differently in the future is sow seeds in stages over a period of weeks instead of all at once. Hopefully that will help us avoid an all-at-once harvest next time around, and we'll have crops to look forward to for a longer period of time.

The first zucchini.

We finally installed trellises for the tomatoes and cucumbers, and they are much happier with the supports in place. For the cukes, we used found materials that were left in our garage by previous owners. Brian took some heavy gauge wire, cut them into strips roughly 4 feet in length, bent them into U-shapes, and positioned them around the cucumber plants in the soil. We wrapped the vines around the wire, and they took it from there.

For the tomatoes, we decided to build a trellis like this one. Instead of metal poles, Brian buried cinder blocks in the ground with the holes facing up and placed inexpensive 2x2s into one of the holes. He cut off small pieces from the 2x2 and wedged them in the hole around the pole to keep it from moving. He did this for each side and got some garden wire from the hardware store and ran it from pole to pole about once every foot off the ground. The wire is coated in plastic to keep it from rusting. Then we attached the tomato stems to the wires with twist ties.

tomato trellis

tomato tied to trellis

bell pepper

The tomatoes are growing nicely, but still have some growing to do. Also, we finally have some tiny bell peppers growing on the pepper plants! They are super cute.

Finally, I've been reading Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza and finding her gardening methods very inspiring. I want to start building my own lasagna garden this fall and pick it up again in the spring. More on that later.

Happy gardening!

Eff the Joneses, Keep Up With Yourself!

Homemaking is a 24/7 job. It is hard work and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Lately, I've felt myself slipping into a rut and if you are feeling the same way, I'm here to help you (and myself) climb back out. Everything that comes with this line of work can be a daunting challenge. Between everything you possibly have to do in a single day; childcare, food preparation, cleaning, shopping, scheduling, and maintenance, just to name a few, it's easy to lose yourself in the mix. In my own household, I only have one other person to worry about besides myself, and I still feel like I can't keep up with the mountains of dirty laundry, dishes, organization, and worst of all, personal motivation. There are a few things I've tried that have proved useful in helping me through my daily duties and I would like to share them in the hopes that it could help out a struggling friend.

1.Make a schedule. I used spreadsheet to write out daily and weekly things I need to do. Mostly just so I can remember. I scheduled all of the things that I like the least for early in the morning. That way I can kick them out of the way and do more enjoyable things in the afternoon like painting or reading. I even have a day and time where I write out the next week's grocery list so I can stay on top of that and not waste time before I need to be at the store. You don't necessarily have to keep to your schedule, either. Stay flexible and don't stress if you didn't do something on your list. You can always do it later.

2.Baby steps! You're not going to have an amazingly spotless well organized living space in a day. It takes time and even then, it is impossible to achieve perfection unless no one (not even you) lives in your home. Life is messy and it's time to accept it. Do what you can when you can. FlyLady (I apologize for the gender specificity of this but it is helpful and for anyone) is a site that can help you to get on track to making small good habits a little at a time. Got a messy counter? Set your timer for 5 minutes and get rid of everything you can in that amount of time. When the timer stops, you stop. You'll actually be amazed at what you can do with just five minutes.

3.Remember that your work is meaningful and important. If you don't work outside of the home and aren't bringing in a paycheck, it doesn't mean that you aren't contributing. Of course, if you want to contribute in this way, go for it! You can absolutely do both because you are an amazing and diverse person. For those of you who choose to remain solely in the home, what you do is just as important, if not more than a paycheck. When you take into account of the actual costs of daycare, restaurants/take-out, cleaning services, maintenance work, etc., you are singlehandedly saving your family a fortune! In addition to this, these services don't provide the love and nourishment that you do.

4.Take a break. Want to read a book or go for a walk? Do it. You deserve it. You work in the home but you are not a prisoner there. Put breaks into your schedule or just sit down when you need to. You need to take care of and love yourself before you can give it back to your family. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Don't overlook it. You are a superhero, but even superheroes have their follies. Know your body and your mind and pay attention to what they are telling you.


Health and happiness to all!

The Harvest, Part 2

Over the past couple of weeks, the garden has been blooming like crazy. Everything is flowering and growing nicely. This past weekend, I noticed that we have about 6 small green tomatoes already. Since the carrot tops have been sticking out more and more, we went ahead and picked one to see how they're doing. It was a bit small and a little knobby in shape, but it tasted great! The color and texture were also perfect. Even Jackson heartily approved. I washed the carrot and left it sitting on the counter top, where Jackson found it and scarfed it up happily. I was so happy to see my toddler not only eating a vegetable, but one we grew ourselves! Hubby noticed a small cucumber (about 3 inches long) growing as well.

But somehow we both missed a multitude of green beans that sprouted seemingly overnight - that is, until late yesterday afternoon. Hubby said he saw a couple of really long beans in the garden, and I excitedly grabbed my basket and went to investigate. Beans are sprouting up by the handfuls on each plant, and many are ready for harvest! I picked a bunch and brought them inside, where we gazed lovingly at them before storing them in the fridge until dinner tonight. We boiled them tonight and served them alongside perogies. They were fantastic.

On the downside, my bean harvest led to an unhappy discovery that while we seem to have nipped our beetle problem in the bud, we now have what appear to be aphids making a nice home of our bean plants. So far I don't see much damage to the plants, but if we don't act soon, they will likely stunt their growth or kill them completely. My Organocide spray is supposed to control aphid populations, so we're hoping a few sprays should do it. I think we also need to work on watering the beans more frequently and keeping the soil moist and less inviting for the aphids. I'll post again after we see how it goes.

In the meantime, I need to pick up some freezer bags so I can start blanching and freezing green beans for the winter. Next up on my list is learning to can vegetables and building a stockpile of canned and frozen vegetables for fall and winter. Also, we need to get moving on building some trellises for the plants that need support. I'm pretty sure we should have put them in the soil when we first planted, but hey, we're amateurs.

The lettuce is still growing rapidly. We pick it frequently and always have an abundant supply for salads throughout the week. We've even given lots of lettuce to our parents and friends, but our supply never dwindles. We are curious to see how long the leaves continue to grow. I'm so glad we chose to grow lettuce this year, and we'll definitely be growing more next spring.

Happy gardening!

The Harvest, Part 1

As you sow, so shall you reap - and I, my friends, have reaped some lovely spinach and red lettuce! While most of our crops will not be ready for weeks to come, our spinach and leaf lettuce have been ready for harvest for several weeks! We pick the largest outside leaves first while the inside leaves mature. You have to pick leaves frequently to prevent flowering or else the plants will stop producing leaves. I've decided that I will definitely grow lots of lettuce again next spring. Not only are all the fresh salads great, but being able to reap the rewards of our garden so early when no other veggies are ready for picking is very exciting and satisfying. The lettuce also seems to be a fairly low maintenance crop, especially since the fence keeps rabbits out and bugs don't seem to be interested in this variety.

On the downside, we have had some garden pest issues lately. We noticed a few small insect nibbles on the spinach leaves, which soon became many bites on the zucchini, bean, and tomato leaves. A little observation revealed some striped beetles that resemble the Colorado potato beetle. Husband and I saw these beetles crawling on the plants on separate visits to the garden. We are not growing potatoes; however, the beetles will apparently feed on some other crops, including a few we are growing. I suspect that some of the damage may also be caused by stink bugs, which are rampant in PA. So far, the plants still seem to be growing fine, so I hope they will survive the damage and still produce veggies.

We purchased an organic insecticide spray called Organocide when we bought our first seeds just in case we would need one. We sprayed this once so far and have not seen the beetles since. We will be mulching the garden with our finished compost to improve the health of the plants, fight weed growth, and hopefully prevent any potato beetle eggs from hatching under the soil. We have thoroughly inspected the leaves of all plants and have not seen any eggs or additional pests. I'm hoping we can nip this in the bud early and move on to the enjoyable parts of gardening.

I'll post again when I have an update. Happy gardening, and check back soon for a new recipes feature!

Cloth Diapers: The Basics

In most parts of the country, the decision to use cloth diapers instead of disposables is considered radical. Many parents don't even know they have a choice. Those that have heard of cloth often have misconceptions about it. Most of us cloth users were converted when we actually talked to a real, live parent who uses cloth diapers and told us the truth about them. Others found them online in their quest to find eco-friendly baby products or through parenting message boards.

Whatever motivated their switch to cloth, most parents are thrilled that they did. Some even become advocates for the "Cloth Movement" when they see how easy, fun (yes, really), and beneficial they are for parents, baby, and the planet. Please check out the Real Diaper Association for an exhaustive list of the benefits of cloth diapers, complete with references. For many, the core benefits are substantial cost savings (we're talking thousands) and environmental friendliness.

I'm not going to try to persuade anyone here; nor am I going to pass judgment on parents/caregivers who use disposables. I still use disposables myself in certain situations, and I respect every family's right to decide what is best for themselves. But lately I have been fielding a lot of questions from curious friends, family, and even strangers, and I can remember how confusing it was for me when I first got started. There is a lot of information out there to wade through, and sometimes it feels like cloth diapering parents are speaking a different language. I feel compelled to help others understand and use cloth diapers, as I wish someone had done for me. I could have been spending all those hours of internet research having romantic dinner-movie dates with my husband!

So, let's go through the basics of what you need to know to successfully cloth diaper your baby.

Diaper Options:
There are actually a variety of cloth diaper styles on the market, so you'll want to research your options and decide what works best for your family. This YouTube video gives an informative look at each type of diaper and how they differ. You'll want to consider your budget and lifestyle in order to select the diapering system that will work best for you. Keep in mind that your preferences may change with experience, so avoid buying one huge lot of diapers until you've tried a few different styles. Personally, I tried hybrids and then pockets - each time thinking this was the perfect diaper for us - until I realized I prefer an AI2 system best. Luckily, cloth diapers in good used condition have a pretty good resale value, so if you make a mistake or change your mind, all is not lost. Speaking of resale, it's a good idea to shop around for gently used diapers on sites like diaperswappers.com. Consider trying a couple different diaper styles for different purposes; for example, hybrid diapers for car trips, AI2s at home, and pockets overnight. Whatever system you choose, most babies will need extra absorbency to last through the night. Other considerations include whether you prefer snaps or velcro; natural fibers or synthetics; your baby's allergies or sensitivities; or the business ethics of the diaper manufacturers. Some babies, like my son, are intolerant of certain synthetics, such as microfiber, and may need to have natural fibers against their skin. Some parents prefer to avoid synthetics because they are said to hold odors more than natural fiber diapers.

If you're a savvy sewist, you may opt to make your own diapers. You can find diaper patterns and tutorials on the web. Another option is to purchase diaper shells, but make your own custom inserts to use with them. If you're willing to replace elastic or do other minor diaper repairs, you can save money by purchasing used diapers and fixing them yourself. Some parents will even give away diapers they can't repair themselves. Even if you buy new diapers directly from a company, your sewing skills will be a great asset in extending the life of your diapers -- particularly if you're wanting to use them for a second baby. But if you're not feeling the DIY love, don't despair. Proper care and maintenance will ensure a long life for your diapers, too.

How They Work:
Most cloth diapers work just like disposables, for the most part. If you're not using all-in-one diapers, you'll probably want to assemble a few diapers ahead of time so you can grab and go when you need one. To start, you simply put a clean one on and fasten it in place, usually with velcro or snaps. If you need to apply diaper rash cream, be sure it's cloth-safe; most diaper creams are not, and they will ruin your diapers by adhering to the inserts and causing them to repel liquids. When it's dirty, take it off, wipe your baby, and put on a clean diaper. Once baby is changed and happy, you'll take care of that dirty diaper, and this is what many newbies have questions about.

What to Do with Dirties:
Every parent - even within one household - has their own routine, so some elements are simply a matter of personal preference. First off, you're going to need a container of some sort to store your dirty diapers until laundry day. One option is a dry diaper pail, which is just a tall garbage can with a tight lid and a diaper pail liner. A diaper pail liner is a waterproof laundry bag designed to hold diapers. Look for one with a tab on the inside that you can dab essential oils onto to mask odors. Tea tree oil works well for masking the inevitable ammonia smell that will build up in your diaper pail. It's a good idea to wash diapers every 2-3 days; as long as you do, odor shouldn't be a problem. The diaper pail liner will need turned inside out and washed along with the diapers. Simply grab the bag from the bottom and dump the diapers into the washer, then push your hand up through the liner from the bottom to turn inside out without touching the dirty side of the bag. You'll want to have two diaper liners, so you can use one while the other is being washed. Another option is a wet bag, which can vary in size from very small and portable to quite large, and typically features a zip closure. Even if you use a pail at home, you'll probably want a couple small wet bags for car trips and errands. Diaper pail liners and wet bags are widely available, but I found some nice handmade ones for a good price on Etsy.com.

If your dirty diaper is just wet, you can toss it straight into the pail until laundry day. If you use an AI2 or hybrid system, you may be able to reuse the cover; in that case, only the insert will get tossed into the pail. If you're dealing with a poopy diaper, there are a couple extra steps. If your baby is exclusively breastfed, you can simply toss the dirty diaper - poop and all - straight into the diaper pail without thinking twice. Breastmilk poop is water-soluble, so everything will come out clean in the washer. If your baby is formula-fed or eats solid foods, you'll want to dispose of the solid waste before dropping the diaper into the pail. Some parents use a flushable diaper liner that catches most of the mess for you and makes clean-up easy. The liner and poop are flushed down the toilet, and the dirty diaper goes straight to the pail. Many parents swear by their diaper sprayer, which is just what it sounds like - a small hose attached to your toilet which is used to spray the diaper out into the toilet. Solid waste goes into the toilet, and the soiled diaper goes into the pail. You may want to wring out the excess water if the diaper is fairly wet from spraying. Fold the diaper over so you're not touching the dirty side. It goes without saying that you'll be washing your hands well after depositing your diapers.

How to Wash Your Diapers:
Most diaper companies have their own washing instructions for their particular diaper, so be sure and check those first. Just as before, everyone has their own opinion on what wash routine and which detergent works best for them. Most laundry detergents at the supermarket aren't good for your diapers, so you'll want to do your research and select a detergent well before laundry day. I recommend checking this detergent chart as a starting point. Some online diaper shops offer detergent samples so you can try it before you buy a large quantity. Use a very small amount of detergent with your diapers; because diapers are so absorbent, you have to be careful not to use too much or you'll have detergent build-up in your diapers. When in doubt, start with less detergent, and if your diapers don't come out clean, use more until you find the optimal amount. Many cloth users recommend a cold pre-rinse, followed by a regular hot wash and rinse for a full/heavy load, and an extra rinse at the end. Top loading washers typically do a better job of cleaning diapers because they use much more water, but an HE washer can work if you find the right set-up for your diapers. Be prepared for a little trial and error, and remember that once you have your system in place, keeping it going for the rest of your diapering experience will be easy peasy.

As for drying diapers, many cloth users prefer to simply line-dry them, but you can use a conventional dryer on a low setting as well. Do not use dryer sheets, because this is yet another product that leaves residue on your laundry that is harmful to diapers. You can buy or make your own wool dryer balls to safely and naturally soften your diapers while also speeding up drying time. Waterproof covers should be line-dried to preserve waterproofing as well as the elastic. If your diapers become stained (and they probably will), you can lay them out in the sun while clean and wet, and the sun will bleach out most stains within a few hours.

Resources:
Fortunately for you cloth diapering beginners, there is a wonderful online support system to help you along the way. Even if you don't know another person close to you who uses cloth, you will find a wealth of wisdom and advice if you know where to look. I took the liberty of putting this list together for those of you who want to know even more about cloth diapering. Enjoy.

Real Diaper Association
Diaper Pin
The Cloth Diaper Whisperer
Diaper Swappers
gDiapers Yahoo Group
Abby's Lane
Fluff Envy
The Diaper Jungle
The Nappy Shoppe
Fashionably Green Baby Shop
Fashionably Green Baby Blog

Happy diapering!

Project Veggie Garden, Day 64

We've been at this gardening thing for 64 days already! The outdoor veggie garden is in full swing. We picked a rectangular piece of the backyard, pulled up the grass, turned the soil, and mixed in a bag of organic garden soil. The lettuce, spinach, cucumber, and zucchini seedlings have all been transferred to the garden one at a time following a week of "hardening." One week before planting the seedlings, we began the hardening process by sitting them outside for just a couple of hours the first day and increasing the amount of time each day until finally they were outside overnight the night before planting. We also gradually moved them from indirect to direct sunlight, exposing them to more sunshine and wind over the period of the week. This process is supposed to toughen the plants so they'll survive out in the elements once planted.

Most of the plants adapted well, except for the red leaf lettuce. Since they were the first to begin the hardening process, and our spring weather was being quite fickle, they sat outside during some pretty chilly weather with almost no sunlight and strong winds. Thus most of the original lettuce seedlings died off that week and we had to start over with new seeds. An experienced gardener would have postponed the hardening week, but I was too excited to get the outdoor side of the garden going to wait. It all worked out in the end, though. We planted the surviving lettuce plants in the dirt and sowed additional lettuce seeds directly in the ground. They have sprouted just fine outside and we now have lots of gorgeous lettuce getting bigger and more colorful by the day.

We planted carrot and green bean seeds directly into the ground, per the instructions on our Seed Starting Chart. The carrot tops are still small, but looking good so far. Beans have not yet sprouted, but it's only been a week. I also started watermelon seeds indoors and have two happy little watermelon seedlings sitting in my windowsill. I would have had five, but my curious toddler dumped the other three and I haven't replanted just yet. I'm also having bad luck with basil seedlings. My first batch died off during early spring when we couldn't get any sunlight. I replanted and they sprouted quickly; however they were killed when hubby mixed up the water bottle and the vinegar bottle and watered them with cleaning solution. I will be replanting, though, because I love basil and can't live without basil pesto. Let's hope third time's a charm.

With all these veggies outside, the garden needed a little protection from bunnies and rodents. Brian picked out steel fence posts and poultry netting at Lowe's and installed a sturdy fence that has kept everything but the birds away from our veggies. The birds poke around inside the garden, probably looking for worms, but I haven't seen any damage from their presence so far. If they do cause problems, we'll probably try to construct a scarecrow to keep them out. The fence didn't seem to take long to install, but it must have been difficult because I was informed that we were never, ever taking it down.

This week, we are planting eggplant seedlings and hardening the pepper seedlings. We are down to only 3 eggplants and 2 peppers, but have decided not to start more at this time so the garden stays small and manageable in our first year as gardeners. So far, I don't think we're doing too bad, considering we're newbies with zero experience. There haven't been too many terrible mishaps -- just enough to keep it interesting.

Stick around for more adventures in veggie gardening. Happy planting!

Urban Gardening

One huge disadvantage to living in an apartment is no yard for gardening. But you shouldn't let that stop you! Most plants are happy to live indoors in their own pots. My husband and I got some seeds, soil, and those little peat dishes to start. Since our windows are facing east we also had to get some special plant lights but they turned out to be much cheaper than expected. So far we have cucumbers, tomatoes, chives, onions, and spinach. I must say, though, that the spinach doesn't appear to like the indoors very much and I haven't figured out why. So if you know, please tell me! Here's the setup and a pic of the starts.

As soon as they get a little bigger, I'll be transferring them into their own pots so they can get nice and big. A major advantage to indoor gardening is that you can do it all year round. Due to our latitude in upstate New York, it is better to start indoors anyway. Especially since right after we seeded them, it started snowing outside! Gardening is a lifelong learning experience so don't be afraid to give it a try whether it's indoor or outdoor!

DIY Birthday Party

I know every parent ever says, "I can't believe Suzie is [insert age] already," but seriously, you guys! How has it been 2 years already?! The calendar says so, so I guess it must be true. My baby is hardly a baby anymore. I won't bore you with the sentimental drivel. The point is, Jackson turns 2 next month, and it's time to talk birthday party.

Now, last year we spent a small fortune in supplies and decor at the local party store, and for what? It was a nice party and all, but it was kind of hard to see where the money went when it was all said and done. It was a Sesame Street-themed party with mostly licensed paper products and decor, so the cost of everything was highly inflated. I should know better, but I fell for it because I was short on time and wanted my first kid's very first birthday party ever to be special. The first birthday will never happen again, I reasoned! I even bought bulk-sized products from Sam's Club (my dad is a member) to make sure we had enough to feed a small army, in case one showed up at the party. Some of my super-size condiments are still hanging out in the fridge to this day.

When March rolled around and I brought up Jackson's second birthday party, hubby was extremely apprehensive, and I got it. But this year, I told him, I am armed with DIY inspiration! We can still have a great party on an appropriately small budget! The key is to start early so there is ample time for stress-free DIY projects. As a stay-at-home mommy to a very clingy toddler, I don't get a lot of free time for crafting, so planning ahead is extremely important to make the most of it.

Our theme this year is "Jackson's Favorite Things," so the plan is for most of the party elements to tie into something my son loves.

First, I wanted to create the illusion that all his favorite characters came to wish him a happy birthday. I found images (via google image search) of the characters that were simple enough to sketch and printed them out so they were handy for spare moments in the middle of the day. I bought poster board (between 50 and 75 cents a piece) and used a pencil to freehand images of the characters on the posterboard, erasing and tweaking until I was happy with them. Then I outlined the images and colored them in with markers (and in a few cases, used crayons for detail). I was psyched to find blue and red poster board at the dollar store, because that saved me a lot of time coloring in Elmo, Thomas, and Blue! Jackson watched me excitedly and shouted their names. I was thrilled that he could recognize them, since I don't have a huge amount of confidence in my artistic ability.

             

Next, I did a little searching on my favorite craft sites for birthday party ideas. I found this fantastic post full of DIY/inexpensive birthday ideas, which led me to this free banner template. I printed these letters and symbols to create templates for the banner. Then I traced the templates onto a leftover poster board, cut them out, and colored them with markers. Brian helped cut out all the little details in the letters. I could have saved time by buying colored poster board or cardstock, but I decided to use the white board and markers because I already had them on hand. I strung the banner together with yarn (which I already owned as well), and voila! A perfect birthday party banner.

I remembered that the Nick Jr. website has tons of free printables, so I poked around their site for awhile and found some great stuff for the party. I printed and assembled this Dora the Explorer birthday wish poster so guests can write birthday messages for Jackson as a party keepsake.

 I found Yo Gabba Gabba masks that I know Jackson and his cousins will adore.

I decided to do small goodie bags for the kids that follow the "Favorite Things" theme. I found craft foam bookmarks and stickers at the dollar store and made cute bookmarks for party favors. Some are transportation-themed (for Jackson's favorite toys) and some are Eric Carle-themed (for Jackson's favorite books). I found mini shape pencil sharpeners with stars, circles, squares, and rectangles (all different colors) and divided those up, one per bag. Jackson loves to find and identify shapes, especially stars. The Dora the Explorer tops were two for a dollar at the dollar store. I rounded out the goody bag with red Thomas the Tank Engine whistles and Thomas plastic goodie bags. These are licensed party items, of course, but they were inexpensive at K-Mart, and I decided that it doesn't have to be all-or-nothing when it comes to DIY parties. A couple of cost-effective, ready-made items can save time and stress, and if you choose wisely, can even help keep you on budget.

Heather at Dollar Store Crafts has some fantastic free/cheap birthday game ideas. I will definitely be borrowing her block-stacking game for our party, since Jackson has tons of blocks in a variety of styles. I think we may modify this game a bit by having guests play on teams. I also anticipate Jackson trying to knock the block towers down as they are being built (his favorite part of blocks), so we figure that's just one more challenge to spice up the game. If Jackson knocks it down, tough luck - start building again! Whoever has the tallest block tower in a TBD time frame will win a small prize. I haven't decided on prizes at this time.

I'm also imagining a "car corner" with Jackson's road playmat and all types of cars (which we already own, of course) for the kids to play with throughout the party.

Our current menu for the party is as follows:
-Pizzas! Who doesn't love pizza? It's a favorite of kids and adults alike.
-raw fruit and veggie trays with homemade dips
-Jackson's favorite crackers
-O Cookies
-delicious ice cream from a local dairy farm
-a giant cookie cake

Regarding the cake: I try to minimize the amount of artificial dyes in Jackson's food, so I wasn't comfortable making or buying a cake with tons of color. I considered a train cake, block cake, or a regular sheet or round cake with an image, such as Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar or Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? I researched natural food dyes for icing, and found some interesting ideas for making your own food coloring (such as boiling spinach or beets), as well as ready-made natural food coloring. There are more options out there than I thought, so I would encourage anyone interested to consider this option when serving artificially colored food to children. Ultimately, I chose simplicity over what felt like an immense amount of additional work required to make icing of various natural colors to decorate a cake that will probably be devoured in no time at all. Since Jackson is only turning two - and isn't particularly picky about what is on his cake - I opted out this time, but I would consider it again in the future. Instead, we are going to try to make a giant cookie cake inspired by Jackson's love of cookies, especially Ginger-O's. We found the perfect "2" candle with a pair of star candles at the dollar store to top the cookie cake. We haven't decided on the exact cake and filling at this time, but we will be baking it from scratch and will strive for healthy as well as delicious cake. The writing on the cake will most likely be a natural cream color. One possible decoration or filling idea up our sleeves is to use SunDrops candies, a natural alternative to M&M's. These are sold at our local health food store.

We still have plenty of leftover paper goods from parties past, so many of the basics are already covered. We also have tons of red balloons and some punching balls from the dollar store to add color and festivity.

So far, this party is shaping up to be low cost and full of fun. There's still more planning, crafting, and cooking to be done, but we're confident it will all come together fabulously. I can't wait to have a party that is truly inspired by Jackson; a party that celebrates all the wonderful things about him. Not only will these DIY projects result in cost savings, but they will also make for a more meaningful, memorable party.