Homemade Pedialyte

I don't know how much money I spent on Pedialyte before I wised up and realized that it's the absolute simplest and cheapest stuff in the world to make at home.

Of course, I didn't come to such knowledge until, like, the day before my boys were over a stomach virus (plague) that hung around for over two weeks.

Isn't that always the way it goes?

As cool as this recipe is to have in my back pocket, I'm SO hoping we don't get to be close chums any time soon.

Wretched stomach bugs. There are just some things I never envisioned myself doing at 3 AM pre-motherhood and we'll just leave it at that.

Oh, I can't be a grump when my little sickie is so cute and happy-go-lucky.

PS: Lizards L-O-V-E this stuff.

Homemade Pedialyte

Heat 2 quarts of water in a large pot. Whisk in 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 7 tab lespoons sugar (or honey for kids over a year old), and 2 tablespoons flavored gelatin (optional, but my 4-year-old was unlikely to drink it otherwise). When everything is dissolved, refrigerate and serve cold (your kids might like it warm, but we didn't try it).

Stuff I Love: Bale and Twine {Store for Handcrafted Goods}

I'm always a fan of products created by hand-- there's something so authentic and genuine about knowing that what you're using has been lovingly and carefully made by a person with a story, a family, a life.

That's why I've been so impressed with Bale and Twine. 

Suzanne, the owner, beautifully constructs soaps, soy candles, jewelry and seasonal products, and she features other talented artists, too.

The coolest part is that Bale and Twine selects a different charity every month to donate a percentage of their sales. You can read more about that here.

So, you can imagine how excited I was to receive a package of goodies from Suzanne!

Here's what she sent me and I love, love them both.

1. a FANTASTIC soap, Orange Ripple with Shea Butter

which I had to force myself not to eat. That's how good it smells, girls.

Orange Ripple is like an orange dream bar in my opinion, but better. It is blended with shredded loofah and shea butter so it's a nice exfoliater yet provides plenty of moisture.

My bar is almost gone, by the way. I've seriously used it every day.

2. a pure silver "E" mini-pendant, hand rolled and stamped with a vintage letter stamp from Japanese silver clay

This unique jewelry is adorably petite and dainty, perfect on a small ribbon or chain as a necklace.

I think it would make the sweetest baby or child gift on a little bracelet.

Definitely get to know Suzanne-- who is so nice-- and her great company, Bale and Twine.

 

Milk Monster Onesie

I hope you all had a super-duper Easter weekend with family and lots of kids running around the yard, looking for brightly painted, chocolate-stuffed eggs.

We did!

Are you ready to swear off candy forever?

We are!

Here's a little project to help you out of that sugar coma.

(I hope I'm not the only one who ate jelly beans all day yesterday!)

This is one of those takes-no-time-but-looks-so-cute kind of projects (my favorite kind).

Feel free to save the image to your computer and print it out to make your own.

If you want to make a t-shirt or onesie like my baby's, simply trace the image and words with fabric paint.

Place cardboard under the picture first so the paint won't bleed through to the other side. Then follow the paint's directions for drying time.

Butterfly Cupcakes

Are you going to an Easter gathering this weekend? 

I made these fun 3-D butterfly cupcakes for my mother-in-law's birthday in March, but I thought they'd be fun for any spring or summer party.

I should start by saying that I am NOT a fan of cake decorating. 

I almost always order my kids' birthday cakes, unless we do something super-easy like these.

So forgive the messiness of these. They were really fun, though, and not difficult at all for a cake-novice like myself.

Here's how I decorated my butterfly cupcakes:

1. Melt a package of chocolate-flavored melting pieces and transfer to a plastic baggie with the corner snipped or piping bag.

2. On wax paper, pipe disconnected butterfly wings like the picture above. It would probably be helpful to trace your wings on a piece of paper and place under the wax paper for a uniform guide. (You'll notice that I also piped antennae, but didn't end up using them.)

3. Refrigerate. Meanwhile, melt a package of orange melting pieces (or use white with orange food coloring-- I used the gel for a rich color). Transfer to a plastic baggie or piping bag.

4. Fill in the middles of your wings with the melted orange candy.

5. Refrigerate. Meanwhile, pipe frosting on your cupcakes.

6. After the wings are chilled, pipe white dots on top. Then, push the wings into the frosting at 45 degree angles, creating the "body" of the butterfly with the frosting in between the wings.


Linked to: Tatertots and Jello, I Heart Naptime

Cuddly Easter Bunny Softies

My boys will each get a little baby bunny 

in their Easter baskets on Sunday morning.

No, not real, live rabbits! Are you crazy, girl?!

I have enough mouths to feed and bottoms to clean around here.

But I couldn't resist these simple little bunnies. I found the free pattern here at Wee Wonderfuls.

I used soft flannels and miniature buttons for eyes.

The cutting took only a couple of minutes and the stitching took a couple of minutes more. 

You still have time-- whip some up for Easter morning and your kids will have a keepsake to cherish.

Linked to: Tatertots and Jello, The Creative Crate

Front Door Makeover

If you are a facebook liker (how do you say that?), then you know I have been working on a front door makeover.

I finally got my porch light in and Jeremy installed it over the weekend. 

Are you ready to see it?

Before:

It wasn't terrible, just a little bland and in need of some color.

The front door should welcome visitors to our home and I wanted it to stand out.

After:

We added new hardware and vinyl numbers in addition to the new paint and light fixture.

Here's a little tip if you want to paint your own door...

After the paint has dried, it takes several days for it to set completely. Well, you can't really leave your door open that long.

We used Vaseline on the edges to keep the door frame from sticking and pulling off my new paint. It worked great!

The paint I used was Valspar and the color is called Belle Grove Spruce. It's a latex-based exterior paint and I did not prime first.


Linked to: Today's Creative Blog, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Domestically Speaking, The Creative Crate, Tatertots and Jello, Centsational Girl

Peanut Butter Crunchy Nests and {My Sisters}

My mama used to make these for my sisters and me when we were little.

Last week when my husband was out of town, I felt very nostalgic making them with my 4-year-old. It sent me into a series of flashbacks, standing on a chair in the kitchen from my childhood.

And I hope that my boys will always share the bonds of tradition and family and familiarity that I share with my sisters.

So, here's to my lovely baby seesters. You're some of my favorite people.

And here's to our wonderful mama, too.

Peanut Butter Crunchies (Nests)

1/2 c. corn syrup
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. peanut butter
2 cups puffed rice cereal
miniature chocolate egg-shaped candies (Robin's Eggs)

Bring syrup and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and add cereal. Drop by spoonfuls on waxed paper. Push the candies into the center to create little nests.


Linked to: Tatertots and Jello

Date Night (at home)

Jeremy and I are on to something here.

It all started on Valentine's Day when we were tired of going out (my birthday, our 4-year's old's birthday, other engagements, etc.) and decided to put the kids in bed early and cook ourselves a fancy meal--a cooking date, if you will.

Ever since, we've had several of these little stay-in dates and they're quickly becoming our favorite!

The trick is to buy special date-night-worthy food that requires little prep and serve it on the good dishes.

Last night, the menu was: artisan rosemary bread (from the freezer section) with herbed olive oil for dipping (recipe at bottom), lamb tenderloin--salted, peppered and pan-seared, crab cakes (from the seafood case) and fresh spinach with a little of the warm, flavored oil drizzled on top.

Can you tell how much I liked that bread and oil? Nyum nyum nyum.

After dinner, we watched a movie and enjoyed a piece of chocolate pie.

simple and relaxing, lots of laughter, I totally recommend it.

Herb and Garlic-infused Olive Oil

(These are all approximations, as I really just made it up as I went. You can't mess this up.)

Drizzle a little oil in a saucepan (I used about 1/3 cup). Begin to warm the oil over low heat and chop fresh herbs. I used a sprig of rosemary, a few leaves of oregano and a few sprigs of thyme. Add the herbs to the oil, along with a clove of chopped garlic and a sprinkling of sea salt and cracked black pepper. Simmer until the garlic looks toasted.

Linked to: Fingerprints on the Fridge, Finding Fabulous, Tatertots and Jello

Easter Egg Hunt Invitations {Free Printable}

(and because I love any excuse to get a pinata and throw a party).

Right click and save. For personal use only, please.

Linked to: Blue Cricket Design, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Finding Fabulous, Tatertots and Jello

Creamy Parmesan Orzo with Spinach

I don't really make up recipes too often.

Pretty much, I follow the rules and stay on course. 

But sometimes when the stars align and Venus is in the fourth blah blah blah...

Sometimes I just feel like wingin' it.

And sometimes, every so often, it's a hit. 

Ingredients:

2 cups orzo (I used the pretty tri-colored kind.)
2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 T. flour
1-1/2 c. milk
3/4 c. grated Parmesan
1 t. sea salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
3 cups fresh spinach
fresh basil for garnish

Boil the orzo according to package directions. Drain and set aside. In a skillet, heat olive oil. Add onions and garlic and cook until soft. Sprinkle in the flour and let it cook for a minute. Whisk in the milk. When thickened, add the cheese, salt and pepper. Stir in the spinach and let it wilt in the heat of the sauce. Mix in the orzo. Garnish with basil for a great lunch by itself or a nice side.


Linked to: Sugar Bee, Blue Cricket Design, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Finding Fabulous, Tatertots and Jello

Tutorial: Pretty Pocket Tissue Holders

I created this pattern, thinking that I'd make one 

pretty pocket tissue holder to give to my mom on her birthday.

**a little something extra to go along with our pedicures and lunch out**

--And here we are, three pretty pocket tissue holders later.--

They're just so fun to make.

my little heart pitter- patter

Make a stack and give them out for Easter or just because. 

Materials:
2 pieces of felt

sewing machine

miscellaneous scraps of fabric and buttons for embellishing
scissors (pinking shears optional)
needle and thread for hand-sewing embellishments

1. Cut each piece of felt into a rectangle 6-1/4" x 7-1/4".

2. Optional: Trim your edges with pinking shears by cutting right along the edge. I trimmed mine slightly shorter on the top piece.

3. Lay your felt rectangles on top of each other and place a travel pack of tissues (with plastic removed) in the center.

4. Fold the left side on top, then the right side. Hold in place with your finger.

5. Pin the top layers together on both sides. You don't need to pin to the bottom layers.

6. Remove your tissues and sew the sides together (top and bottom layers) with 1/2" seams.

7. Embellish however you like. You might want to embellish the top layer before sewing the sides together. I did both ways-- it's a personal-preference thing.

For personal use only, please.

If you liked this tutorial, it would make my day if you'd become a follower or subscriber.

{Hugs to you!}

Linked to: Fingerprints on the Fridge, Tatertots and Jello, The Creative Crate, Under the Table and Dreaming, I Heart Naptime