In case you haven't guessed I learned to sew recently which has led to a whole new crafting addiction. Just what I needed right? Anyhow I've set out to sew pants for all my little nephews with matching drawstring bags. I've bought light weight flannel and started on some but I still have quite a few to go. Later I'll post pictures on how to make these easy and the finished result.

So my dear friend Frankie walks in and sees the taggie I posted previously and tells me she's been looking everywhere for a taggie and could I possibly make her one? I said yes, but she still felt the need to bribe me with the leftover materials and really what self respecting crafter could say no to such a proposition? ....even though I had already said yes....well you know how it goes. Anyhow we hit Joann's and she picked out some fun fabric, LOTS of ribbon, and asked for a 12x18 instead of 12x12. Easy, easy!


The materials used were ribbons cut into 5 in. lengths of varying sizes and textures, a stretchy satin back and monster print anti-pill fleece for the front. Why all the different things? Sensory items are perfect for little guys and gals!


Ribbon and LOTS of it. I take the thinner pieces and clip two together with either an office clamp or pin them with a safety pin before sewing them into the taggie. Makes for a double the texture and fun! The squiggly one there is felt.


Details of the ribbons. These are so fun and easy to make - plus it's pretty fantastic to have leftovers to make more!!! Another thing my dear friend pointed out is that the scraps bin that is clearanced is a perfect place to locate pieces big enough for taggies at deeply discounted prices so you can score some very expensive fabrics for that special little one. Have fun!

To make up my own things but I'm going to start updating with my day to day activities in creativity. What I'm making today is something of a surprise but I will post the tutorial and finished product tomorrow!



And now it's tomorrow so here's some pictures of the fantastic tutorial the Money Saving Mom posted by I Can Teach My Child. Please click over for the tutorial and to browse around as she has some fantastic ideas/crafts/family activities. At any rate mine took longer then an hour because of the thick and very fuzzy fabric (if you are a beginner I suggest starting with something with less tendency to jam your machine and that won't fray as easily).


This is some of the materials I used. The mommy this is for is doing a forest animal theme and LOVES owls. I couldn't find material with forest so I had to settle for safari with owl ribbon.


This is a close-up of the oh so adorable owl ribbon I found! Isn't it delightful?? Another detail I put into mine which differs from the original is that I found some thinner ribbons and put them together for an altogether different texture. To sew them in I clamped them together with a small office supply clamp then pinned them in.


And here's how they came out! Such a fun project and great for showers or your own little one. I intend to make one for my baby.

So I am embarking on a new journey...to get the grocery budget under control! Money Saving Mom has some pretty amazing ideas and so here's to my first freezer meal:




I did a batch of taquitos - simply shredded two chicken breasts, poured in enough Lawry's Mexican and Chile marinade to evenly coat and be sightly saucy (ONLY SLIGHTLY), did the corn tortillas in hot oil to soften them for rolling (medium heat - then put the tortilla in and quickly flip it 3-4 times with a pair of tongs - no longer then 10 seconds), put filling in, rolled and assembled in container.


My container is stoneware - DO NOT PUT STONEWARE INTO FREEZER! While, yes, it is techinically safe stoneware can crack when going from one temperature extreme to another. I assembled the food on aluminum like Money Saving Mom suggested then lifted out to a tempered glass board and put it in the freezer. This is my first run, but I already feel prepared for a night where I don't feel like cooking.

Simply take taquitos, place in dish, top with cheese and bake for 25 min. at 350 degrees. Allow to cool for about 10 min., top with sour cream and salsa and dig in! I am so excited!!!

So on Money Saving Mom (one of my favorite blogs) there was a blog about freezer day. I feel inspired, but she referred to a site. When I got there I nearly clicked away but in the maze of a site lies a true gem! I will be following the 31 day guide to getting a grip on my home. I am notoriously disorganized, messy and attracted to, well, the overwhelming sense of never being able to find anything...maybe it's the adrenaline that one gets from a horror movie only put me in the victim's spot and give the tormentor some catchy phrase like, "You have to go get diapers since your son filled his with a biologic weapon of mass destruction and it was the last one but you can't find your license or debit card....and I'll never tell you where it is!!!" Probably should throw in a creepy voice and maybe a twisted laugh.

At any rate a new chapter in my life has opened and we are moving into a bigger place which means, you guessed it, more room to create chaos in! So here we go people...Flylady I hope you're everything everyone claims you are!

Who says a cheap date isn't fun....and jam-packed with deals? If you shop right, print coupons and sign up for eclubs it's simply amazing how the freebies piles up!

We started our date at Orange Julius with a BOGO - two big smoothies for the price of one! We ate food court style which cut our meal cost in half...and left us nearly overly full at that. Top that off with some caffeine with another BOGO on granitas from The Human Bean (delish!) Lastly, to round out our date we went to a movie. This is the part that usually costs and arm and a leg. But using a Fandango promotion we got tickets to The Socerer's Apprentice at...you guessed it....BOGO! Our entire date cost approximately 35 bucks. For a movie, four drinks, and a meal that is a cheap date on a deal. Oh yeah!

So if you would have told us two and half weeks ago we were going to be moving we would have told you that you are just plain crazy...nuts....and then hastily moved onto the weather. That's how not interested we were in moving....until we saw this house.
I swear it all started out as an innocent peek at a craigslist.com. You know curiosity and all that. My sweet hubby sends me this post with a "Would you just look at that kitchen!" I open it and so begins our journey.

This Victorian home is on 5th St. It's not that far of a move right? But wait! We said we were staying here until we are done with school and get job offers! Our place isn't bad...ok sure the neighbors are multiplying like rabbits and they seem to think the cul-de-sac here is their own personal parking lot, but those are minor things right? RIGHT?

Ok so they are frustrating us, but really this place couldn't be affordable could it? Oh but it could. For only a little more a month more we get another bedroom, two stories, a full basement and something you don't find in modern, factory pumped out homes: character. So, yes, we went and we looked, and we fell in love. Affordable, bigger, better. Could we ask for more? Yes we can. Our landlord is actually an officer who works in Salem!!!! So yesterday in went the 30-day notice. We signed the papers last week and put down the deposit and next month we will be living in a gorgeous home with plenty of room for our rambunctious kiddos, playdates, game nights and so much more!