WHY?...

... if we're smart enough to invent a "washer" and a "dryer", can we not come up with a "folder" and "put away-er"??

Just Call Me Miss Pottery Barn!

Remember when I told you how to make a homemade bulletin board out of an old sheet and a piece of cardboard?

Well, just look at what I found in my Pottery Barn Kids magazine today:


They call it a "Pin Board". It would be so easy to make!! Grab some scrap fabric, some corrugated cardboard, and some duct tape. I like the idea of making smaller panels and putting them together to make a bigger surface.

If you try it, make sure to send me some before and after photos!

A Frugal & Simple Way To Hang A Quilt

This is my baby boy...

And this is his room...
It was just a couple of months ago (he's 10 months old) that I decided I was tired of the bare walls in his room. I had purchased this cute quilt with the bedding set, but I never got it hung on the wall as intended.

One day I headed in there with a hammer and some good ol' straight pins. I was determined... and I was thrilled by how easy it was (and how well it turned out)! The tiny hole made by the straight pin did not damage the quilt (or the wall) either, and it's very securely hung. Give it a try!

Here are some tips:

- Find the top, center (approximate is fine) of your quilt.

- Holding it by that point, tap a straight pin through the quilt and into the wall at the height you want it.

- Next, do the corners to make it level.

- Add pins until the top edge looks straight as well.

P.S. Did you know that you can use straight pins to hang almost any light to medium-weight item on your sheet-rocked walls? They're amazingly strong, and they do minimal damage to your walls.

Check out my other WFMW posts, or head back to Rocks In My Dryer for more WFMW.

Thanks for stopping by!

Desperation. And Clean Baseboards.

"Mawwwm, I'm boooored! Can I go see if Johnny can play?"
"No, it's time to play at home now. I'd like to to play with your sisters for a bit."
"Why can't I see if Johnny can play?"
"Because I want you to include your sisters."
"But why can't I go to Johnny's?"
"Benjamin, you can choose: play with your sisters, or scrub the baseboards for me."
"Arg!"

Talk about a win-win. About 5 minutes after giving him his ultimatum, Ben came up with a game that involved his sisters AND cleaning the baseboards. I now have 3 busy, happy kids...and the cleanest baseboards in the west! Gotta love that :)

Are Debbie Meyer "Green Bags" Worth It?

I'm a sucker for a good infomercial. I've spent way too much money on fantastic looking products on TV, only to get them home and realize that they're junk and that I've just wasted my money. So I've been skeptical of Debbie Meyer "Green Bags". The commercials claim that they'll keep your produce from spoiling over really amazing amounts of time.

I finally broke down and bought a box of 20 for about $12. I found them in my grocer's produce section (not by the other ziploc bags and such).

Before taking them all out of the box, I decided to do an experiment. I took two bananas off of a bunch that I'd just purchased. One went in the bag, and the other didn't. I put them aside in the same corner of my kitchen so they'd see the same light and temperature conditions. After 3 days, I compared them, and here's what I found:


You can see in this following picture that the banana in the bag looks like it just came off the bunch. The stem is firm and still green. The other banana...not so. The banana is starting to show signs of aging and softening.


Interesting, but compelling? Not really. BUT THEN....

Then, I cleaned a bunch of grapes that I planned to bring on the airplane for our vacation. I couldn't fit them all in the carry-on, so I put them in a green bag to see what would happen.

You know how grapes practically whither in 30 minutes once you take them off the stem? And how they get a bit soft and slimy even if you leave them in the fridge?

Well, take a look at these beauties:

Folks, these grapes have been off the stem for 15...FIFTEEN...days. That's more than two weeks! And these grapes were still crunchy!

That did it for me. I am completely and totally sold on these bags. I'm going to do some shopping and try to stock up before my garden produce really starts coming ripe. I'm so thrilled to have found these things!

Now, if Miss Meyer and her people could come up with some sort of facial cream to take care of my signs of aging. I'm tempted to poke a few holes in a green bag and sleep with one over my head tonight! :)

Give 'em a try, they definitely work for me!

BTW...I did a post last week Wednesday, but never got around to linking it to WFMW. If you'd like to read about the Best Parenting Tip Ever, click on over.

Otherwise, head back to Rocks In My Dryer for more WFMW tips.

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How To Make A Homemade Bulletin Board

I wish I could say that I came up with this clever idea, but the credit has to go to my handy hubby.

I'd been searching for reasonably priced bulletin boards for my kids for quite a while, but anything that was a good size also carried a hefty price tag ($20-$30 each). So my genius husband came up with the idea to use some carboard, an old sheet, and some duct tape...of course!

We used a king size sheet that we haven't used in years (we're flannel sheet snobs now that we're used to them). Hubby cut the cardboard, and I cut the fabric. Then I taped the edges down on the backside of the cardboard (sort of like wrapping gift wrapping), and hubby hung them in the kids' rooms.

I was a bit skeptical, but normal tacks work beautifully! It was free, simple, fun, the kids love them, and it works great. Now THAT works for me!

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Oh No!

I headed out tonight with my watering can to water some plants. When I was watering the quarter flat of little plants that I haven't gotten around to planting yet...there they were...watermelon! I forgot to plant the watermelon! I'll have to find a nice edge piece for them so I can let them trail all over the flower beds...no more room in the garden for those big guys!

I've never planted them before. Anyone have any great watermelon growing tips to share with me?

I Got My Garden In!

Yippeeeee!!!


I'll tell ya what...it is MUCH easier to do things like plant a garden and two flats of annuals when you're not waddling around pregnant! As much as I enjoyed being pregnant, it sure it nice to have my body back.


Here's what I planted this year:

3 tomatoes
1 red pepper
4 jalapeno
3 rows of carrots
3 rows of red onions
1 row of corn
2 pea bushes (who knew they came as a bush these days?!)
3 zucchini
an then we have raspberries coming in too


What are you planting?

I had a blast helping my two big kids plant their very own gardens this year. Hubby sectioned off a part of the garden for each of them, and they sorted through the seed packets to choose what they wanted to plant. I can't wait to see how they enjoy watching the fruits of their labor begin to sprout!

I found the best garden glove this year: the Wells Lamont latex coated glove. They give protection from nasty thorns, keep my nails relatively free from dirt, are latex coated so I can really grip with them, are thin enough that I can move my hands naturally, are also thin enough that they're not hot, AND they have a fairly tight fitting cuff so that stuff doesn't end up in my glove. They're not exactly pretty, but I love them! I had to buy a men's size because the women's were too small for me. Does that mean I have "man hands"? I hope not.



I have a great gardening tip for you. I can sum it up in two words : Miracle. Grow.

You organic gardeners out there probably aren't all that impressed with me right now, but I love the stuff! I just sprinkle a little bit of the blue powder in the bottom of the hole, mix it in with the dirt (so bare root doesn't come into contact with the fertilizer), plant my plant, and water thoroughly. I also sprinkle a little bit into the trenches when I plant seeds.


Leave a comment and share your favorite gardening tips!

Help Me, People

Well I am just tickled that Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer is hosting a twist on her typical "Works For Me Wednesday". Today it's "What DOESN'T Work For Me". I sure have one, and I'd love your help.

I like to keep a wreath on my front door, but the birds keep trying to nest in it! You'd think that with as many times as our front door is opened every day, the darn birds would take a hint. Instead, they just fly to the nearest shrub or tree when the door opens, and proceed to twitter angrily at any person coming close to their intended nesting place. Bird brains.

The first thing I did was to hide little pieces of aluminum foil in the wreath, thinking the shiny metallic stuff would scare them away. DIDN'T WORK.

Then I tried a different wreath...one that is totally synthetic with no hint of anything in it that was actually ever alive...all fake flowers and plastic. DIDN'T WORK.

Then I was really consistent about going out there and picking all the nesting stuff out of my wreath. Those birds are quick and persistent builders....I was removing 2 to 3 nests per day! DIDN'T WORK. (Although is was fascinating to see all the little pieces of whatever they used to make their nests.)

So I finally just took my wreath off the front door. I'm guessing that nesting season will be over in a couple of weeks (???), and I'll put it up again.

Here's where I need your help: How, how, HOW do you keep our feathered friends from nesting where they shouldn't?

WFMW: No Mess In My Spice Cabinet!

I love my fresh pepper grinder, but I hate the mess it makes in my spice cabinet! I don't remember where I got this idea, but it works like a charm. I kept the lid to a can of cake frosting, turned it upside down, and use it as a place to store my pepper grinder. I just grab it and tap the mess into the sink from time to time...no more pepper spreading all over my spice cabinet.

Give it a try, it works for me!

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WFMW: Vacuuming Made Easier

Here's a simple way to make vacuuming a little easier...add an extension cord to your vacuum's cord. I added another 12 feet to my cord, so now I can vacuum my whole lower level without stopping to plug-in somewhere else once I run out of cord. Isn't my little Sammy a doll? I'm pretty sure she thinks that this was her idea :)

Give it a try, it works for me!

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Quick Tip: Keeping Spaghetti

Open spaghetti packages always end up a mess in my pantry. To keep the noodly noodles tidy, I have a simple trick: I wrap a rubber band around the outside of the package after it's opened. The pasta stays put and I keep my sanity! Give it a try, it works for me!

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**By the way- I'm hosting a giveaway right now. Come see me HERE if you'd like to get in on it :) **

Recipe: Homemade Hot Fudge

You MUST try this! Right. Now!

2 sticks butter

2 oz semi-sweet chocolate

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 pint whipping cream

1 capful vanilla

• Melt the butter and chocolate over medium heat
• Mix the sugar and cocoa together in a bowl
• Once the butter mixture is melted, add the sugar mixture and stir.
• Add the whipping cream, and stir until blended.
• Stir and heat until mixture comes to a boil.
• Continue to stir and heat for about 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla.

Keep refrigerated when not using it. It will solidify...just pop it in the microwave to heat it back up. Also good by the spoonful right out of the fridge ;)

To go to my main page, click HERE

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Or you can always head back to Rocks In My Dryer for more great WFMW tips. Have a great Wednesday!

P.S. Thanks to my hubby's dad for this awesome recipe

What A Dinner!

Sometimes a simple stew with bread can be so satisfying, don't you think? It's just comforting ...cozy ...yummy.

As you can guess, I made stew for dinner today. Normally I wouldn't write about it, but I also made THE most incredible bread! I wanted to share the recipe with you...but it's not mine to share. If you'd like it, you'll have to go visit Amy. I made the sun dried tomato bread variation, and it was positively amazing. I only had about 3 (OK, 9) pieces. You really have to try it!

I also have a really great stew recipe too. Remind me to post it a bit later. Right now I'm taking my sniffly-nosed self to bed!

Me & Coffee...We Just Don't Get Along

Ahhh, coffee. I love how the stuff smells. Sometimes I like to just pull the big tin of coffee out of the pantry and give it a big whiff.


I've never really been a coffee drinker though. My first real experience with coffee was when I was in high school. I had a student internship at a local high tech company, and coffee drinking was a way of life. I decided to give it a try. I loaded it up with chocolate, sugar, an cream. I actually enjoyed how it tasted! I had several cups, and felt like quite the real grown up sitting there with my cup of coffee.


And then...I learned something very important about coffee. There is a LOT of caffeine in coffee. And do you know what caffeine is? It is a very...I mean VERY...effective diuretic. Especially for a young girl who is not a coffee drinker. I spent that day...well...not being a very productive employee. That's enough about that!


My relationship with coffee would take yet another turn during our first year of marriage. We hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house (maybe Christmas? can't remember...must have blocked it out). There was the two of us and 5 other adults...hubby's mom, grandparents, brother, and sister-in-law. We had a nice dinner despite the hideous gravy and dry turkey. I gained a new appreciation for my own mom and her amazing ability to put a spectacular dinner together.


One thing that I was really proud of was my pies...homemade...from scratch...beautiful and delicious! But everyone knows you have to have coffee with your pie, right? I had thought of everything - even the coffee. I set the coffee to brewing while I cut the pies and whipped the cream. It was going to be perfect!


All I can say is that hubby's family is very gracious. They choked down that coffee with their pie without a word.


It wasn't until it was time to do the dishes that I realized that something was wrong. I went to clean out the filter and grounds from the coffee maker....but there was nothing there! Sure, there was a filter...but it was totally empty. I was baffled.


"Hey, I thought that there was usually coffee grounds left over after brewing coffee?!"

"There should be!"

"Well, there's not anything here!"

"What? What do you mean?"

"Look for yourself!"

"What the...well, let me see the coffee you used."

"It's this stuff" (I hand over the container of coffee)

"Daiquiri...this is instant coffee!"


I wish I could say that I immediately understood what that meant, but it took someone explaining the difference between normal coffee grounds and instant coffee. Ah, put the coffee maker away. I'm not doing that again for a while.

But coffee just will NOT leave me alone. A lot of people drink coffee. For a long time, I cited ignorance (I don't drink it, and don't know how to make it) for not brewing a pot of coffee. But then we started hosting a weekly Bible study at our house, and the coffee maker came out again. I finally figured out how to make coffee that most people seem alright about drinking.


Every now and then, though, the coffee gods have to show me who's boss. My brother and sister-in-law are in town again (ironically, the same couple who witnessed the Instant Coffee Fiasco of '97). I went to brew coffee for them before they came downstairs. I don't know how it happened, but I ended up dumping a giant Costco-sized container of coffee on my kitchen floor and rug.





Coffee is of the devil, I tell ya. The devil! (But I admit, it's pretty yummy with some caramel creamer)

Organizing Puzzles

My friend, Becky, recently wrote a post with a great tip for organizing and storing kids' puzzles. She recommended cutting the picture from the box, and then putting it and the pieces in zipper bags. I was all over that idea! Our puzzles have been driving me crazy...the boxes are always falling apart and letting pieces sneak out. And they take up so much room for such small puzzles - just a waste!

I have to admit, it pained me quite a bit to cut the boxes. Even though they're not the most efficient and effective way to store the puzzles, there's just something so satisfyingly tidy about a BOX.

And my type A eldest child...well, when he saw that I had cut up the box for his puzzle...I didn't think he would ever speak to me again (even though we talked about it and he knew it was coming and had no objections...how much does he actually hear what I'm saying, anyway?)!!

In the end, I'm happy I did it. I plan to do it to any puzzle that is 100 pieces or less (Yes, that is an arbitrary # designed just so that I don't have to cut my boxes...wanna make somethin' of it??).

Here's a satisfying after picture. Oh! I just realized that this is the wrong after picture! I forgot to take a picture of the real "after". All the puzzles didn't fit in this small container, so I used a larger one...with a LID. Oooo...back to that wonderfully tidy box shape! You'll have to use your imagination though... I really did forget to take a picture.

Quick Tip: "Green" & Frugal Cleaning

This is my bathroom. Don't be jealous...it's rarely this clean, just ask my husband! After I unearthed the counter top this afternoon, I realized that I needed to clean the counters, mirror, and sink. I had Sammy "helping" and Thomas chattering to me in his "I'm getting bored and irritated" voice. I was trying to be quick.

I went to the cabinet under the sink where I keep my cleaning supplies for that bathroom. I found paper towel and sink cleaner...but no glass cleaner (Windex, Glass Plus, Perfect Glass, whatever). I didn't feel like I had time to go out to where I store stuff in the garage to find some. So I just wet the paper towel with water and got to work.

It was then that I realized just how brainwashed I'd become! I usually douse the counter, sinks, and mirror with the blue stuff and then scrub 'till it sparkles. I thought I needed it to really get things clean. But as I cleaned today, I realized that the reason that the blue stuff works is just that it's...wet! Well guess what else is really wet? WATER!

I'd been spending money that I didn't need to spend. I had been spraying chemicals in my house that were unnecessary. You can't get much more "green" than good ol' water!

Now, I should be honest. When I had time later in the day I did use a tiny sprits of the blue stuff on the mirror and chrome. And I did sprinkle some sink cleaner in to really get the gunk out. But I used far less of the chemicals than I normally do. And I have a new mind set now: wipe things down with a damp towel FIRST, and then use the chemicals only if necessary. I'll save money and it will be healthier for my family. Give it a try!

Organizing A Diaper Changing Station

Hey, to all you moms-to-be out there...you do not...I repeat, you DO NOT have to buy one of those fancy diaper changing pieces of furniture. Sure it looks like it might convert into something that doesn't look like a diaper changing station in the future. And sure, it's a great match to the crib you want. But do you really want to spend that money? Do you really want to have that furniture forever?

Honestly, I don't have anything against those diaper changing/dresser things. I just didn't have the money for one when my first was born (still don't for that matter!), so I thought I'd share what we did instead.

Here's a picture of "The Poop Station" at our house. Let's start at the left and move right.

First, we have a good old fashioned dresser. When I say old fashioned...I mean OLD fashioned! This was the very dresser that my Dear Hubby had as a child. It used to be dark blue with wooden knobs and remnants of "A-Team" stickers on it. It's particle board. I had to dig deep to see it's potential.

I sanded it down, primed it, and then painted it this gender-neutral green (we didn't know if we were having a boy or girl). I added some cute knobs, and splurged on the fancy changing table pad. You can buy these, along with fabric covers, separately. It's important to attach it to the top of the dresser for safety. The pad I bought came with a way to attach it. Most do.

Moving on...the diaper pail. We had a number of different diaper pails. This garbage can works as well as any. Here's a news flash: poop and pee? They smell gross. There is not a fancy container in the world right now...nor will there ever be a container or bag ever invented that makes poop and pee smell good.

Use a good garbage can with a plastic bag. The garbage can lid should close all the way with no gaps. My favorite part of using just the garbage can is that we can use plain old garbage bags. Those special diaper pail liners/bags cost a fortune. Save your money for college...or for a massage (for you, not baby)...or for a second honeymoon...or, if you're really lucky, a cool minivan!

And then there's the storage. You'll need a place to put the diapers, wipes, lotion, Kleenexes, etc. I found this cute bookshelf at Target for a reasonable price. It would have been more frugal to find a used/old bookshelf and refinish it too...but I only have so much frugal in me! I wanted something new, and I just loved this particular bookshelf with all it's little shelves and cubbies. I got one for my older kids' rooms too...makes a great toy/book shelf for the older kids.

Do you see that I have 2 Kleenex boxes on the shelf? One of them contains...Kleenexes (surprise!). The other one contains plastic grocery sacks. I use these for the real stinky diapers. Toss all the smelly stuff into the bag, tie it off, and bring it right to the garage. The Kleenex brand tissue box (or any other "one up" type tissue box) is a great way to store your grocery bags. If you put them in one at a time, they also come out one at a time (and you'd be shocked by how many you can stuff in there!).

So that's it! That's my organizing post for the day...week...month? OK, year. :)

I'm just kidding. I really love to organize...I'll share some more ideas later (can you hardly wait?!)

When My Heart's NOT Content: What To Do?!

I've been feeling the need all morning to write a follow-up email to one of the posts I put up yesterday. Did I give the impression that from that point forward, I was totally content with what I have? If so, I apologize.

Although I sure wish that the amazing moment I had while standing in the middle of Pottery Barn would have been enough to sustain me for the rest of my life...it just wasn't! I still struggle plenty. And although I'm lucky enough to have the memory of that moment forever etched on my heart, I still forget sometimes. I forget about what's important. I forget that I have all I need. I forget that "The Lord is my shepherd, and I SHALL not want".

So I thought that I'd write today about what I do when I'm bitten by that "I-wanna-but-I-can't-afford-it" bug. Here's some of what works for me (not in any particular order) - maybe it will be helpful to you too:

1. Pray! As you've probably realized by now...I'm all about Jesus! Sometimes it doesn't feel like he's listening to me...or even there at all. But I have faith that He is. If anyone can straighten my heart out, I know it's Him.

2. Focus on Gratitude. I'm sure you've heard this one many times before...but that's because it's really REALLY effective! Sit and meditate on your blessings. Write them down if you have to (I usually have to). When you really focus on all that you have, the things you don't have seem much less abundant.

3. Take great care of what I already have. This is a big one for me. On the days when I feel really discontent, I get cleaning. I focus on the things that I have and how I can make them really sparkle. By the time I'm done cleaning, I'm usually so happy with the way things look around here that I don't want to go buy new things.

4. List my Priorities. I sit down and write down my priorities (I think while I write, if you haven't been able to tell already!) My #1 priority is my family. I want to take great care of them. I could do all the shopping I want...if I went back to work. But I want to be the one to raise my kids. It's mind-numbing and exhausting some days, but I truly don't want to do anything else. What's more important...making the house look nice, or being a SAHM? It's a no brainer for me. There will be plenty of time for beautiful new furnishings...later.

5. Kill Boredom. I love to shop. I love the superstores that enable me to buy a new CD, a new shirt, a bathroom rug, some yummy new soap...all on my quick trip to the store for milk. I'm positively addicted to shopping. But I've realized that what I'm trying to fix is boredom. How can I be bored with so much housework to do and stories to read? I have no idea. But I feel bored a LOT. Instead of heading to the store for "milk", I try to call a friend, read a book, take some pictures...something to kill the boredom. The "gotta shop" crisis usually passes when I just find something interesting to do.

6. Play "5x Why" I love this game. I ask myself "why..." usually about 5 times before I come to an eye-opening answer. An example:

Why do I want that new rug for the dining room?

I'd be excited and would make my dining room look nicer.

OK, why would I be excited about making the dining room look nicer?

I have fun making our house look nice.

Why do I need a new dining room rug to make the house look nice?

Our current dining room rug looks ratty.

Why does it look ratty?

It's got play dough and peas mashed into it.

Why is it dirty?

Because I haven't cleaned it in a while. Maybe I'll pull out the steam cleaner and give the rug a good once over instead of buying that new rug.

7. Have a pitty party. Sometimes I don't feel like doing any of these oh-so-wise things! I want pitty! I want someone to feel my pain with me! I want to cry and have a tantrum! So sometimes...I'm embarrassed to admit...I have my little pitty party. I whine and complain and cry...and just get it out of my system. Then I feel silly and immature, but I also feel a wee bit better. Hey, I'm only human.

My Heart's Content

This post from Meredith at Like Merchant Ships made me think of a time that I went shopping at Pottery Barn. Is there anyone out there who is NOT a total Pottery Barn junkie? I love the place. I love their magazines. I love dreaming of what I'd like to do in my home to make it look beautiful. I rarely actually shop there because...well...I seem to have misplaced the "money tree" seeds. When I find them, I'll plant them in my yard and then I can shop at PB all I want. But for now, I just have to oogle at their magazines and improvise.

Anyway...I was shopping at PB when it first opened here. I was wandering through the store, just looking and smelling and touching. So pretty, so rich, so soft, so smooth, so cozy...I found myself staring at a woman who was loading...I mean LOADING up her basket with whatever she saw. She clearly had one of those trees in her yard.

I admit it - I was jealous. I coveted. I was positively green with envy. "Why not me, Lord? Why can't I do what I want to do in my house?" It wasn't a real question, and I wasn't expecting a real answer. But sometimes He answers even when we're not expecting it.

Suddenly I felt Him. You know the feeling? The feeling that He's right there? Like if you turn your head fast enough, you'll actually see Him. I love that feeling. And He spoke to my heart in that loving and gentle, yet firm voice of His. I love His voice too. Man, just telling you this story has put tears in my eyes.

He said simply, "Daiquiri, you have Me in your home."

That's all I needed to hear. I suddenly couldn't get out of there fast enough. There wasn't a thing in that store that I needed in that moment. I was so content. He was perfectly...enough for me.