Melted Crayon Shapes

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What would you do with an ice cream bucket FULL of crayons?
Well I’ll tell you what I did.  I sorted them by color and saved all of them longer than 2 inches for precious little hands to color with. The ones under about 2 inches went back in the bucket to be melted into new exciting shapes!
I did this a few years ago with my playgroup friends.  At the time it was just about Easter & we made butterflies, eggs, and spring shapes.
Today it’s just me and my little guy, so we are making dinosaur shapes!

So far I have had the oven set at 170 (the lowest my oven will go) for about 20 minutes.  I checked them at 15 and they weren’t totally melted yet.
I’ll post an update when they’re completed!  I hope they turn out well, but if they don’t, I’m not too worried about it.  These were just pieces of crayons that had already had lots of love.  And really, more than anything it’s something for the short guy and I to do together until his big sister comes home from school.

*Update:  My dinosaur took FOREVER.  I know this is because I didn’t break mine into little pieces.  So the result was it took longer (about 50 minutes), and the back of my dinosaur looked like it had bones and a horn where there were still pieces that hadn’t melted.  The front of both looked just right though!  Mine is the brownish/red (I used all the dark crayons I was sure the kids wouldn’t want to use).

Now the two creatures are playing with each other and the little guy is occupied because it’s like he has a new toy.  Success!

Back to Blogging

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I would love to get back to blogging!  I can’t blog from my phone (although it can do just about everything else!).  I can bring up the web-site but I can’t type anything in. 🙁  So I am going to make an honest effort to turn on the laptop at least once a week & blog.  It makes me feel good to write out my thoughts & it makes me feel bad to realize I haven’t been doing it.  But we have had an awesome summer and kept very busy.

Okay- My goal of becoming a better homemaker has been going well.
A wonderful woman from church has given me her bread maker.  Making fresh, nutritional bread for my family is amazing!

I’ve realized in the past year how seriously important the food we eat really is.  I can tell what types of food my kids have eaten based on their attitudes & attention span.  My body feels so different based on the food I’ve put in it.  I compare it to how your car would run if you filled your tank with water instead of gasoline.

Starting Sept. 26th I’m joining in on Menu Planning with Keeper of the Home.  I’m hoping that doing this will help me be more prepared for meal time so I can serve nutritional food & save money on our food.  Because saving money is always a good deal. 🙂

Quick & Easy Money Savers For a One Income Family

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I get asked this and sometimes even ask myself:
Family of 4 living on one income and you still stay home, how do you do it?
First I want to give a big huge thank you to God, for placing the 4 of us together.  Without Him we just couldn’t do it.  He is a mighty, wonderful God who blesses us in so many ways.  Second a big huge thank you to my husband.  I appreciate him waking up each morning and going to work for us.  I know he enjoys his job, and that helps all of us live happier.  He is a godly man who is very involved with his family.  And a third thank you to everyone who has shared their tips with me.
Okay here it is, Money Saving tips, by room:
Starting with the Laundry Room:
Wash clothing using the appropriate water level, on cold.  I’ve been doing this for years now and have found the clothes get just as clean on cold as they do on hot.  No special soaps needed.
Speaking of laundry soap, use only about half of what the package tells you to use.  It will be easier on your clothing, and save you a bundle on the soap.
Easy Step:  Shorten your drying time (stop the dryer before it gets to the cool down).
Next Step: Hang clothes on hangers and hook them on the shower curtain bar to dry in the bathroom.
Advanced Step: Line dry your clothes outside.  I’ve found this to actually be quite therapeutic.
Also- Quit buying dryer sheets.  They’re dangerous in terms of build up on your lint screen and causing house fires, but also loaded with chemicals your precious family would be better off without.  If you do need something to make your clothes a little softer use vinegar in your washing machine.  It works, promise.
Kitchen:
This is a money and time saver; cook a double batch of whatever you’re making.  Save the leftovers for another day.
Buy in bulk; especially beef if you like it.
Eat less… I’m not really joking here.  How often do you go for the second burger that you really don’t “need”.  If you could have that one for lunch the next day and still be satisfied you’ll be saving.
I save left overs, even when it’s literally only 3 bites.  Because that 3 bites will satisfy my toddler just fine.  Or I chop whatever it is up small and add it to our Friday night pizza.
Yes… We do Pizza almost every Friday.  I clean out the fridge… Sometimes it’s carrots and parmesan because we don’t have mozzarella on hand (which we’ve found is actually a combination we love) other times we can add more to it.
Soap dispenser:  I use a foaming soap dispenser.  1 part soap 5 parts water. I just refill it when needed.  This has cut our soap use by SO much!  I’m also pretty sensitive to soaps, so my hands look like I’m 70 after washing in straight soap; the foaming soap has helped this.
The next step took me awhile, but I eventually threw out pretty much all household cleaners and sprays.  We now use just a spray bottle of vinegar/water mix.  For tough things that need to be scrubbed I use baking soda.  Vinegar is a natural disinfector, and come on people, the smell does NOT stay around, so get over buying your expensive products that are attacking your body and pick up a gallon of vinegar & a cute $1 spray bottle.  Everything is getting just as clean if not cleaner than it was using the toxic sprays.  And yes… I wipe up raw meat using this spray, or soap and water.  No problemO’.
Paper towels/napkins:  We were a little crazy with our paper towels, going through about 2 rolls a week… I do not know anyone else who has ever used that much, but we did.  And at about $1 a roll, we cut just over $100 out of our yearly spending by using dish towels instead.  For napkins we bought wash clothes from Ikea that have a cute colored loop on them.  This way I know they don’t belong with the bathroom wash clothes.  I store them in a basket in the cupboard.  They’re much more absorbent and can be used more than once.
Turn off your oven about 5-10 minutes before the timer goes off.  You’re using less energy and the oven is still hot inside.  In the winter, (if you don’t have little ones that might get hurt) leave the oven door open for a bit to let the heat into your home.
You can use this same concept on the stove top for most things.  I turn the burner off before it’s done (unless it’s rice.. that stuff is pretty picky!), my husband sometimes leaves it on even after the food is on the table…So,  I think we balance each other out here? 😉
Okay enough of the kitchen… On to THE LIVING ROOM:
Watch less TV!  Spend more time playing board games, cards, and reading.  Our TV is on a power strip that I sometimes will turn off for a week or better.  Most commonly though, it’s only off for a couple of days at a time. It’s not hard, no one misses the TV and to be honest, it’s pretty fun to go without it.
We have a big TV and when I say big I’m not talking about the screen.  Our TV is almost 10 years old.  Sure we could go buy a new big screen, but then we’d need a new entertainment center too, and frankly I like the one I have, it serves its purpose well.  I do enjoy watching TV at friends and relatives houses though, as corny as it sounds, I feel like it’s a real treat.
Over all tips:
Thanks to my daddy, this has been drilled into my head:  If you leave a room, TURN OFF THE LIGHT!!!
Along with that don’t use a light unless you need it.
Don’t turn on the water full blast when doing anything (showering, brushing teeth, washing hands, etc).
Take quicker showers using warm water instead of hot.
I think you will find these things are easier to implement than you think.  Oh & I’m not a professional, so use your own discretion when trying these.  But they do work for us.
What other easy money savers can you share?  Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Bathroom Upgrade: Shower Filter

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Last night we installed a shower filter.

It all started yesterday, Sunday, when went to Home Depot for a few pieces of lumber we forgot to order from the local lumber yard on Saturday (when they were open and we ordered the rest of the lumber we needed).

I was browsing and decided to look for a new shower head & hose for the kids’ bathroom.  Theirs has been broke for quite some time, so they’ve only been using the bath in there.
After MUCH comparison (mostly on the gallons per minute, and the “looks”), I decided the $12 shower head was just as good as the $74 one.

So it was settled, until….. I saw a shower filter!  This is something I’ve been meaning to look into.  So there I was again, now comparing shower filters for our grown up bathroom (the one that doesn’t have rubber ducks everywhere).  I decided on the Sprite Slim Line.
This brand claims to do quite a bit, you can read about that HERE.

Total cost of upgrade, about $20 and 20 minutes

Oh, and the lumber there didn’t work out for us… So I’ll be ordering that from the local lumber yard today 😉

Activity Calendar

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Last Thursday I unplugged the TV… literally.. I disconnected the DVD player, VCR, converter box, Wii, & UNPLUGGED the whole stinkin’ thing from the wall.  I even covered up the entertainment center with a huge piece of fabric. AND put the couch in front of it so it is NOT easy to get to it.
It’s  not that we don’t like our TV… You see, we are a little hooked on so many shows that really aren’t doing anything for us.  For me, watching TV even just a 30 minute episode is taking away from time I could be spending helping my daughter become a better reader, or teaching my son the right way to use his scissors and draw a straight line.  Or ummm.. I could be doing laundry!
Having the TV on as background noise isn’t something we do here, so any time it is on, it is very distracting to the little people in this house.
I came up with this cute little chart, inspired by a friend who made a much more adorable one  for her boys.
We are using this as a FAMILY activity chart, so even Daddy played Barbies with us last night.   By having a plan in place we are less tempted to run to the TV to entertain us.  I am especially excited for warmer weather so we can add in things like…Dinner at the park, riding bikes, and other outdoor activities!

Total cost about $17. All items from Wal-Mart.
$7.88- Magnetic Dry Erase Board
$5.44- Plastic Name Badges
$2.97- Week Day Magnets

…Used 3 sheets of card stock & some markers for the pictures. I measured for the grid & applied it with perm. marker.

Inspiration

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Have I ever told you what inspired me to start being better?  It was a book I bought on a whim for a buck at Dollar Tree in the Mall of America.  Yes, I went all the way to the MOA and still shopped at Dollar Tree… What can I say, I LOVE that place.

So, this book is titled: 1,000 Ways to Be a Slightly Better Woman.  It’s full of lists. My organized personality can sure appreciate a good list!

I seriously could not put it down once I started reading it.  If it weren’t for the toddler in the house, I would’ve read right through it in one sitting.

From this book (and some other influences) I started serving my family healthier food, spending less money on materialistic things, organizing my closet, and just trying to be a better ME.

It’s not that the book was SO incredible, or some sort of best seller, but it just movitated me.  I like being motivated right where I am, and this book was great at that.

What motivates YOU to be better?

Ps- I can feel our gracious God healing my physical body, and I feel SO honored.  I am honored that He chose ME to live this life, to raise these kids, and to be a wife to this husband.

Thank you God!
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Kitchen Uprgade: Plastic Storage Containers.

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My husband mentioned that the toy isles of Wal-Mart smell when you get close.  That darn plastic smell.  Have you noticed this?

I haven’t, just because I avoid those isles.  I’m always shopping with children, and rather than saying “no” all the time, we just skip it all together.

Well it got me thinking about this drawer in our kitchen that was full of plastic Ziploc storage containers.  I never noticed it until this morning, but when I open that drawer.. it STUNK, like plastic.

Plastic smells so nasty.

I started taking out any plastic containers that were “pitted”.  I ended up with just TWO that were decent.  I ended up putting all of them in the recycling bucket and nicely lining the drawer with my new adorable jelly jars (They were on clearance at Wal-Mart).

They look so much neater than the plastic.  We use these to store food in the fridge, cupboards, snacks in the car, wherever!  we also use the larger jars as our “bottled water”.
In the fridge I date the tops with a dry erase marker, so we know when the food was made.  Oh & these awesome, adorable little jars are MADE IN THE USA.  How cool is that?  Oh, it’s pretty cool!

This was a very refreshing change, one I’m happy I made!  Are you making any, or have you made any changes that you’re happy about?

As a mom, God is trusting me with my familiyand it’s my honor to look after their health and nutrition.

Psalm 20:4 (Amplified Bible)

4May He grant you according to your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans.
Disclaimer- I did keep a few square plastic containers my husband takes his sandwiches to work in.  I want to replace these with stainless steel containers, but haven’t found them reasonably priced yet.
UPDATE- He’s now using stainless steel containers!

Kitchen Upgrade: Strainer

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For Valentines day I bought myself my husband a new strainer.  AND since I bought it early….. I’ve already showed him.  I just can’t keep a secret.

We had a plastic blue one, which I have never totally liked.  Mostly because when you put it in the sink and pour your pan of boiling hot water and pasta in it, the water touches the bottom of the sink then rushes back up into your cooked pasta.  YUCK.
Also because it’s plastic.. and your putting hot food into it, we know this is dangerous.
The little princess and I were at Target shopping for craft supplies for MOPS when I ran across this beautiful strainer.  oh, I just loved it!  It’s stainless steel, AND it’s footed, so no more nasty-bottom-of-the-sink-water touching our cooked food.    It was $8.  An inexpensive upgrade, and one I’m very glad we’ve made.
Bonus:  It’s cute enough that I’m not embarrassed if it’s in the sink when company comes over.
Whenever you can switch away from plastic you’re making a good choice!

What’s in Your bathroom?

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Toxins- freak.me.out. 

They really do.
But not bad enough to totally ditch everything I own.
I have some favorites, like my cosmetics.  Mostly because I paid a fortune for them while I was selling cosemetics and would feel totally guilty just throwing them away.

Really though, what’s in all those tubes and bottles? TOXINS!
A few months ago I cleaned the bathroom.  Not like wash the sinks & scrub the toilets kind of clean (that only happens when my mother comes over & does it for me).  I just quickly (HA!  okay, it was like 2 hours) went through the cupboards and drawers and took out any lotions, body washes, sprays, etc that I didn’t use or just wasn’t interested in using.
The result was fairly clean shelves, and A FULL garbage bag!

So today I decided to clean the bathroom again, this time just washing the mirror & counter top.  While I was in there I thought to myself, what would happen if I were to take out every product that wasn’t good for me/my family?

I thought about it for a few minutes and realized my shelves would be empty and I would probably look horrible & stink.

But this is something I want to keep in mind, especially when buying new products.

Oh, we also ditched the bathroom cleaners A LONG time ago, because they made me physically sick!  I found that vinegar and water in a spray bottle works just as good.  And a baking soda/water paste is sufficient for scrubbing (Thanks Jessa for this tip!)

Have you made any big moves in the bathroom for the sake of protecting your family?

Godly-Givers

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Let me start with telling you that I am a purger (On a whim I decide to throw or donate tons of things, all at once, it’s usually a big production).  I’ve always kind of known this, but a good friend pointed it out recently (because good friends can do that).  I didn’t think much of it at the time, but the next time I was in a purging mood I sat down and thought hard about why I was doing what I what I was doing.

Here’s what I came up with:
I wasn’t doing it to provide for the needy or to give to others with a kind heart.  I was doing it as a way to cleanse the space around me, to get rid of the STUFF that was occupying my eyes.  I did it so it was easier to clean, and less to mess with.

I’m not certain, but all I can think is maybe I was doing this because I have pretty much ALWAYS had more than what I needed.  Growing up in a home that was certainly not high class, and sometimes not quite middle class, I only a few times really remember experiencing a sacrifice or struggling.
But when we did, those times although hard, passed quickly, and without a thanks to God or a lesson from my parents about the things we did have.  (You’ll know from past posts though, I have great parents, but God was not usually pointed out as being the center of our home when I was growing up).

So recently I decided to go through my home and give, when I wasn’t in a mood.  I took the kids along with me and we went through each closet, drawer, cupboard and shelf.  We decided that the dining room table was our GIVE space.  We talked about the types of things we wanted to give and that we weren’t giving just because it was things that we didn’t need, but because we wanted to be Godly givers.

When my children went through their toys and clothes to give, it shocked me.  When going through my daughters hair bows I stepped back, and let her decide what to keep and give.  I didn’t influence one way or another.  Once she was finished I just asked her, “Are you sure your piles are right, this looks like you’re giving more bows than you’re keeping?”.  Thinking that she’d quickly switch the piles, she instead just said “That’s right, and guess what mom? I still have A LOT!”

My daughter realized that she still had more than enough.  We said several thankful prayers to God.  This was much harder with the 3 year old because everything was “This is mine” “I want to keep everything!”.  But by the end of the two day event it turned into “I don’t NEED this” or “Someone else can love this”.  He would willingly run his un-needed items to the giving table and proudly yell out “I’m giving!”.

This experience was great for all of us.

I was certain not to guilt the kids into giving, I wanted them to realize each of their blessings and only give what they felt comfortable giving.

The princess and I took a car FULL to the second hand store and on the way down she said “Mommy, I really don’t think I’m ready to give my Hannah Montana pillow”.  We talked about it, and I told her how I had also put something in the give pile that I thought I wanted to keep.  I told her I was going to go ahead and give my item because I knew I was only thinking of keeping it because it was new, not because I had a use for it, or an attachment to it.  If she wasn’t ready though, she could keep the pillow until she felt ready.  So she kept it, hasn’t touched it since, BUT that’s okay. 🙂  She recognized her feelings and expressed them to me, that made me pretty happy 🙂

What can you give freely and with an open heart?  If not something you possess, when and where can you give your time?

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