Pin 129

Original pin:

http://www.aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com/2011/06/kitchen-kapers-diy-fruit-veggie-wash.html

Vinegar and water fruit wash to kill mold and extend the freshness of produce.

I bought some fresh fruit at the farmer's market last week and decided to try out this wash to see if it really makes a difference.  I usually give the fruit a good rinse with water, let it dry, and then put it in the fridge. I had grapes, strawberries, and grape tomatoes. And before you even ask--I disinfected the sink prior to doing this.

I brought them home and dumped them in.

The website promised me filthy water when I was through. This is a sample of what I had. A little turbulent, solids that settled to the bottom. Nothing I would want to drink, but not really filthy either. Mostly it was those little hairs off the strawberries and little grape leaf remnants.

Did it fulfill it's promise? My strawberries lasted only four days before they showed signs of mold. The grapes showed mold in two days. Both of these seem earlier than usual when I wash with just water. Plus, the strawberries seemed to have soaked in the solution because they oozed watery fluid out of them and they didn't taste very sweet. Can I attribute this to the vinegar wash versus produce quality to begin with? No. I only did it once so I don't have anything else to compare it to. But I do shop at this farmer's market every week, and these were the poorest tasting strawberries I've had all summer. 

One thing it did do was cause me to immediately sort out any suspect items that may contribute to mold earlier--there were a few icky grapes in the bag and one strawberry was mushy on one side.

Total cost:$0

Total time: 10 minute soak, then a rinse, dry, and sort of the fruit. 20-ish minutes total

Final verdict: Seems that a good wash with water is working fine around here. Probably won't spend any time on this one again.

Pin 128

Original pin:

http://simplekids.net/easy-ways-to-surprise-and-delight-your-children/

Easy ways to surprise and delight your children--that don't cost money!

I actually took this pin from the comment section of this post, but it fits right in as if it were part of the list anyway.

The commenter in the post surprised her son with a birthday cake no where near his birthday because that is what he wished for on his dandelion wish. I don't know many kids that love to play "happy birthday" more than my little W so he probably would have played real nice with her boy. I started this over the summer--surprising him with a birthday cake lunch!

W and I were feeling pretty lonely this week since big L is off to kindergarten and his preschool hadn't started yet. Everyday we were looking for fun things to cheer us up. So I whipped up his birthday cake lunch, sang a rousing round of happy birthday, and presented it to him.

bread, deli turkey, and veggie straw "candles"

I imagine his flames look something like this artist's rendition

So excited listening to me sing happy birthday to him!

Aaaannnnddd he blows out the candles! Yay!

Total cost: $0

Total time: 2 minutes

Final verdict: Why wouldn't you want to bring a smile like that?? He loves this game and it's so easy. What a fun way to surprise your kiddos and make lunch fun.

Pin 127

Where have you been?? Where have I been? I'll tell you where--I took the 300/30 day ab challenge.

Original pin:

http://www.lifeafteridew.com/2012/05/300-ab-challenge-results.html which is a link to http://kayciesantics.blogspot.com/2012/03/300-ultimate-ab-and-core-challenge_22.html which is the workout from another link taken from another blog and another. . . I don't know how far it goes. I followed the directions on the second link.

I can't believe I am actually posting pictures of myself like this on the internet. I am a little embarrassed so don't say anything too harsh about it, okay?

I don't consider myself to be totally out of shape, but I have never really had any core strength. Having two children pretty much ruins that for you. Here is my before shots, I had to soften them up a little bit to be brave enough to post them to the world. . .

Don't look at my misshapen belly button. :)

 

And then I started the challenge. It is 300 ab exercise moves daily for 30 days. Check out the links above if you want to see what exercises they are. From reading the comments on the above blogs it seems that these exercises are very similar to P90X--which I have never done so I can't really say.

I started this August 1st. I also did at least 30 minutes of cardio 2-3 times per week and ate a healthy diet.  I started out with a yoga mat on the floor. I couldn't do them all without assistance so I took my time--however long it took to get all 300 in.  Here is the journal I kept during this experience:

Day one: It took me one hour to complete the entire routine. Tough, but not impossible.

Day two: Finished in 25 minutes with the kids acting like maniacs all around. My tailbone is sore so I padded the mat with a folded towel.

Day three: OUCH. Hard. 25 minutes to complete. My tailbone is raw. I can't stand up straight because my inner hips are so sore. People are telling me to quit. I looked at the other links and many people commented that day four is the worst then it gets better.

Day four:  SO MUCH BETTER! i started feeling better early this morning. I padded the floor well. Exercises are getting significantly easier. Even did a few of the roll up-v-ups full out. But my tailbone is BLEEDING!!!! (That's an official pinjury.)

Day five: Bought some friction block for my tailbone. Using lots of padding on the floor. My tailbone is still sore, but not bleeding.  Exercises getting easier but it still took a long time because I keep watching those Olympic gymnasts. 

Day six & seven:  Continuing to get easier. Lots of padding but no more bleeding.

Day eight: Right flank felt tight when I started and then shooting pain when I started the wide leg sit-ups.  Couldn't go on without fear of injury.  Warm soak and icy hot. Don't know why I am not warming up before this. I should warm up and stretch first. 

Day nine: Warmed up with 2 mile run and some good stretching.  A little scared about how this is going to go. Started smooth, skipped all the hard ones for the end.  Made it through 23 roll up-v-ups before starting to have some pain.  So I did everything but the wide leg sit ups.  Pretty respectable. Will rest and icy hot and try again tomorrow.

Day ten: Well warmed up. Changed up the order again. Only made 15 roll up-v ups before pain and quitting.  Feel good though. Taking it slow and easy.

Day twelve:  Did all wide leg sit ups and roll up-v ups at the end of the workout. No pain!!

Day fourteen: Did full work out in original order. Did all exercises with no assistance (i.e., using furniture to help me keep my feet/legs down). Getting close to completing in 20 minutes. Warming up with jumping jacks and stretches. Stretching between exercises.

And it just got easier from there! By day 30 I was doing the full sequence in 15-20 minutes including my warm up. I used the friction block every day and my mountain of padding:

I don't know why the other posts don't mention warming up. This is a strenuous workout (well for me at least) and you SHOULD warm up first. Unless I had just finished my cardio then I did a warm up of 25 jumping jacks. I always stretched first doing some side bends, forward folds, and some cat/cow stretches. One post said to not do it after your workout because it will be harder, but I always found it much easier to do after a workout.

It works a lot in your thighs as well as your abs so don't be surprised if you feel it there too!

Here are the shots you are dying to see. . .the afters:

Still not ready to show the world that belly button one of those boys distorted.

I still have a ways to go, but I have never had definition like this before. I am proud of myself for sticking with it even though I had people telling me to quit at day three. Look at what I can do! I would like to continue to do core work but I don't think I want to keep doing this one every day. My tailbone might just turn gangrenous and fall off. I really slimmed down in my love handles too.

Total cost: $5.26 for friction block

Total time: 20 minutes-1 hour daily. I can totally whip this out now. By week 2 I was pretty proficient at it.

Final verdict: It feels like such an accomplishment to have completed it. It is amazing what we can make our bodies do. I would definitely recommend doing some sort of warm up and stretching before starting each time. Looking to change up the routine. What core routine do you like?

Pin 126

http://colbyalmond.com/12-creative-ideas-the-will-change-your-life/

Because I'm always looking for new ways to change my life. . .

This post is specifically related to number 8--soda straws. I didn't plan this pin, it was just one of those things that happens. I had just popped open my Diet Coke and remembered this trick. I'll let the video speak for itself.

So, I guess my memory isn't too great because maybe you noticed that the tab needs to be more like a 90 degree turn instead of the complete 180 I gave it. The pin failed, but it seems that it was user error. Guess I'll have to try this one again on another day.

Total cost: $0, I was "borrowing" the soda from my parents fridge.

Total time: 30 seconds

Final verdict: Needs a do-over. User error due to lack of following directions. oops.

Pin 125

Original pin:

Original source unavailable.

The pinner said "Flatten a slice of wheat bread, cover it in peanut butter and roll it around a banana. Slice like sushi and drizzle with honey!" I thought this would be perfect for the kiddos.

I am always searching for lunch to serve the boys other than pb & j's or spaghetti o's. This was a cute idea and actually came in very handy when I had only a few slices of bread left and a couple of bananas that only had one or two good days left in them.

I skipped the honey drizzle, but I did put a tiny dab of marshmallow cream in the roll with the peanut butter. 

Either my bread was small or my bananas were large, but I had trouble getting the bread to wrap all the way around the banana. See in the picture above where the bread tore a little as I tried to stretch it around the banana? Also, it needs to be cut very delicately. I would suggest a serrated knife because the smooth one started to squish the banana out!

This one got a little mangled in the process.

Total cost: $0. It made the last few slices of bread stretch a little farther.

Total time: 5 minutes

Final verdict: These were delicious! The eating boy ate two whole rolls (equivalent of two slices of bread and one banana) and the non eating boy almost finished one roll. I had to deny the request for more because we were out of bread! We called it banana sushi and L thought it was "Yum, yum, yummy!" If you've been reading along, you may remember we have been helping L cope with effects of his asthma medication by making sure he has appropriately timed and filling, nutritious snacks. This one is a winner and will be a good one to put in our rotation. Easy enough to pack for school as well!  If you banana is too ripe to hold its shape, it would still be yummy to smash it up and layer it on top. It might help it all fit together too. Might have to try that one next time.

Pin 123 & 124

Original pin:


This particular photo is from http://probablyactually.wordpress.com/ but it links to the original tutorial found here: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/05/craft_pattern_podcast_snuggler.html

The little girl I've been sewing for lately needed a swaddle wrap to add to her collection. As a neonatal nurse for over 10 years I have performed the swaddle literally hundreds of thousands of times. I have very specific requirements and techniques for it. I looked at this tutorial and a couple of other pictures of different styles of wraps and then just made my own pattern. I took out the Velcro. Instead, I made the right wrap to encircle the baby completely. Sadly, I had no model available so I had to steal Mr. Kitty late at night out of one of the boys rooms. He seemed to be about the size of a newborn, just fluffier.

I added some extra lightweight interfacing to the swaddle straps to help them keep their shape. I also made the entire thing out of cotton. It is August in Texas. No infant should be dressed in flannel or fleece this time of the year.  Safe Sleep recommendations warn against overheating so I felt cotton was a good choice. Cotton outer shell, cotton lining, extra lightweight interfacing, and matching thread were my supplies.

I played around with it a little and it was very simple to piece together. Finished it up and tried it on Mr. Kitty.

The top strap started at the right, went over both arms and around the back. Mr. Kitty is pretty squishable so his top strap went pretty far.

Thanks for sharing Mr. Kitty with me, L.

 Total cost: Not gonna say--it was a gift. I used about 3/4 yd each of lining and outside. I didn't even think to take a picture of it open so I could show you the pretty lining and how I changed the straps.

Total time: 2 1/2 hours but that includes the figuring out how to make this time. When I sew without a pattern I usually have to sit down and visualize it for a few minutes first.

Final verdict: It fit Mr. Kitty pretty well. I didn't get to try it on baby because when I went by she was out of the room for tests. I was a little worried it wasn't going to be long enough for her. Next time I will make the foot portion narrower and longer. This time it was more of an oval shape from shoulders to feet.


Original pin:

Original source unavailable.

Wrap baby gift in a blanket instead of paper.

So I made her a receiving blanket and wrapped up her pink stuff inside.

Total cost: no comment--gift

Total time: I can make a receiving blanket in 20-30 minutes or so.

Final verdict: Pretty presentation. Got that baby girl some pink now!

Pin 122

Original pin:


http://www.u-createcrafts.com/search/label/teacher%20gifts

Back to school time! We've been busy getting ready to send our oldest off to Kindergarten. I took a break from sobbing to put together this little gift for his teacher.


I was going to get some more expensive lotion but when I saw this I thought it was more appropriate. What Kindergarten teacher doesn't need something that is positive, nourishing, and, above all, energizing??

I took it that additional step and added in the hand sanitizer too. Must be the nurse coming out in me.

I updated the card. Wrote my stuff inside and let L write a message to his teacher also. Clipped it on to the ribbon with a clothes pin and headed out to meet the teacher night.

Total cost: $5

Total time: 15 minutes. I am a slow stamper.

Final verdict: I've never given a back to school gift to the teacher but I thought this might get US off to a good start seeing that I'm a little torn up about this whole Kindergarten thing lately. It was cute without being pricey.