Nursing Pads

Nursing pads can become expensive when you nurse. I decided to make my own. They consist of 3 different layers. The bottom layer is made out of PUL material (which is waterproof, this stops the leaks), the inner layer is a bamboo filler (this soaks up everything, it's 50% bamboo (which has natural antibacterial properties), 50% cotton so it breaths too), the last layer is a cute flannel which is 100% cotton. I traced a CD and cut it all out, then I did a quilters stitch putting the batter and the flannel together so it wouldn't bunch up during washing. Lastly I surged all the layers together and voilà, no more buying nursing pads.

Nursing Cover

I am nursing my third child and have never had a nursing cover, so I decided to finally make one. It was actually pretty simple. I used the following webiste: http://blisstree.com/live/free-pattern-to-sew-your-own-nursing-cover/

I added some ruffles to the front of it to make it more decorative, but it works great!

Pinto Beans

Canning pinto beans sounds intimidating, but it is one of the easiest things I have canned. I wash and sort some beans (honestly I don't measure how many beans I put in each jar). (Prepare your jars and canning materials first by sterilizing them) I fill up each jar a little less then 1/2 way with dry beans. I then fill them with water just below the lid rings. For a pint, I will add 1/2 tsp salt, for quarts I will add 1 tsp salt. Pressure cook at 10lbs for 70 (pints) or 90 (quarts) minutes. Take it out and let it cool. I love to use my canned beans as my refried beans by just putting it in my blender and adding a little bit of water until it is to the consistency I want. 

Piano

I love the sound of music in my home. I would love a baby grand in our home. But with budget lacking a yard sale piano must do. It needed a little help inside and out. What a better way to make the piano a focal point than to paint it.

2 cans spray paint primer
5 cans colonial red spray paint
1 happy family

Murals

Adding a mural to a wall is a great way to add art work to a room. I did this one in my daughters bedroom, and she loves it.

special plate

I made a special plate at a paint-your-own pottery place. I use the plate for anyone in the family for a special event (birthday, 1st day of school, accomplishments, etc). The kids feel extra special for the attention they receive! If you don't feel up to painting your own, just buying a special unique plate works as well!

Birthday streamers

The first time I put up streamers was the night before my son turned 2. Ever since then, it has become tradition for each kid in our family to wake up to streamers everywhere I could on their birthday (bedroom bed, fan (their favorite so far), door, going down the stairs, into the kitchen, their kitchen chair for a special breakfast). My son even reminded me during his last birthday to get streamers. Darn, he took the surprise out of it last year, but he still enjoyed it. I had to get a little more creative for him when he was 5 to make it a little different.