Refreshing a Happy Heinys Diaper Tutorial

I have a new tutorial over on my new blog: How to fix a worn, but still usable Happy Heinys diaper with Velcro closures. 
Check it out here. 

Princesses and my Prince

I have a new blog which will be explained below.  Here's the URL: http://makingallthings.blogspot.com/

The web address sort of ties into my Etsy shop's address: http://www.etsy.com/shop/makingallthingsnew which is named in such a way first of all because I like to make things, second of all because I like to make new things out of old things, and third of all because Jesus Christ is always making new things out of my mess.  So, in case you don't feel like reading any further, that's the long and short of it.  

Here's more of the story, though:

I can't believe how I've neglected this blog! It started of course when school began back in August and then culminated when I got pregnant (yay--big news!) and became terribly ill with what many call hyperemesis gravidarum--a quite severe form of morning sickness that calls for lots of medicine and trips to the hospital. 

Once I got pregnant, I suddenly felt the need to streamline things a bit and start yet another blog.  Nothing is really different on the blog other than the fact that the address and the title match and they also match my Etsy shop name and URL.  That makes me happy.  When I made this blog it was really just a way to put all my cloth diaper entries away from my real blog and then I sort of became cloth diaper obsessed and, well, I haven't been so obsessed since my daughter Bunny potty trained, though it's starting to come back as I round my fifth month of pregnancy with my second child--a boy (hence my Prince in the title). 

In addition to my really awesome news about the baby boy gestating inside my womb, I have some lesser news: a couple new dollies have been added to my shop including two Princesses: Snow White and Ariel.  My daughter loves them both and it's only through repetition and the practice of not receiving all of Mommy's handmade things that she's okay with them going to Etsy rather than to her.

Check them out!

Freezer Jam

A month ago, I found a ridiculously awesome deal on blueberries at our local bent and dent store.  They were $.69 a pint.  Yeah, I know.  Ridiculous.  

I've recently switched to as much whole food in our diet as I can manage without killing myself.  We've replaced refined sugars with things like maple syrup, agave, honey, and sucanat.  We've switched to all whole grain, and we're eating organic as much as possible.  Also, we do as much home made as I can manage so as to avoid preservatives and unnecessary chemicals in our food.  

Enter, my blueberries and the desire to make a whole food jam.  My dear friend recently brought me over some of her strawberry freezer jam made with apple juice and honey instead of sugar and it was great!  So, when I bought the blueberries, I decided to try it.  

So, I bought like 8 pints, maybe even more of these very cheap berries, and went to work following this recipe.  

I shared some and froze the rest and we'll have home made, preservative free blueberry jam for the remainder of the year.  SCORE!!!!

New in my Shop: A Green Monster

I made a new toy for my shop! He's a cutie and my 2 1/2 year old daughter, who does watch Smallville, named him Zod, though I don't think she realizes the Superman reference.  I love him because he's long, and lanky with poseable arms and a goofy smile. He even gives hugs!

 Bunny is jealous because she thinks some kid gets Etsy gets all the best of her Mommy's creations so the moment I showed him to her she declared simply, "I want a blue one."  She'll get one sometime today, probably.  :-D  Without further ado, here he is.  If you like him, he's only $15.50 which is cheaper than most other monster plushies of this caliber and relative size on Etsy.

First Haircut

I wanted to postpone Bunny's first haircut till forever but her little ends were getting so split and damaged after her nearly three years on earth without my touching them, that I figured it was time.  That, and she sort of already gave herself a first haircut of sorts when she hacked a chunk right out of her bang area the other day.  Six inches of beautiful, yellow baby-to-toddler hair gone and in its place a little tuft that pokes out when she wears a pony tail.

I guess this isn't a first haircut, then, if we're talking bangs.  I had her bangs cut once, right before her second birthday party, but once she stopped pulling barrettes out of her hair, I decided to grow out the bangs because I REALLY hate bangs on little girls--mostly because the nature of growing out your baby hair tends to give them a helmet head.  I know, I'm the oldest of 7 children and 6 girls. 

In any case, despite the TWO bang cuts, if you count the one she did to herself, the rest of her hair hadn't been touched.  Til two weeks ago, that is.  My aunt and my sister are both hairdressers so I've learned the proper technique for a trim.  It came out marvelously, if I do say so myself.  It rid her of all the straggle and none of the length.  Woo hoo!

An Amazing Cooking Blog

 One of my dear friends has a new cooking blog! I've known her for many long years, and at just the right time we were close enough that she was my maid of honor.  She's always been an amazing, artistic, and wonderful soul to be around.  She's just as fantastic a cook as she is an artist! (Meals are always exciting when she prepares them) 

If you're interested in some cooking advice from someone who's above the cooking skill of most of the rest of us, check her out at www.granolalola.com. 

I promise, you won't be let down. :-)

(PS, this image is pulled from her blog, and is not my own.  But isn't she an amazing photographer?  Inspiring.)

Mango Orange Fruit Leather

Fruit Leather

Three pureed mangoes
 
 1 can of 100%, no added sugar orange (or any flavor) concentrate

 A bit of honey 2-3 hours in the oven at 200 degrees on parchment paper in cookie sheets

 Cut them up into squares, roll, and store in baggies.


Now, that's how I like it, but I'm pretty sure you could change it up any way you like.  Basically, you just need to make a fruit puree and then dehydrate it.