Friday, April 23, 2010

Reusable Snack Bags!

Juicy Pear!

Like so many other families, the reduce-reuse-recycle bug has caught up to us in a big way. I've become fascinated with these eco-friendly snack bags - they are so adorable & simple - you’ll wonder why you didn’t start using them sooner! Do you ever wonder how many plastic baggies we moms throw away - the waste statistics are staggering? With these bags, we are able to carry snacks around and feel comfortable knowing I can shake out the crumbs and throw them in the washer once a week. It takes a serious commitment to consider giving up plastic bags, but the effort is well worth it (it puts a smile on my face). I didn't use plastic liners in these bags - just natural fabrics against the food. We use these to hold popcorn, nuts, craisins, candy, crackers, fish, pretzels, trail mix (not good for sticky or wet snacks). I used a 100% unbleached organic hemp material for the bag and an organic cotton fabric to applique these. Easy to machine wash and hang to dry – warm iron makes them look fresh again! The bags I made are 7” wide x 6 ½” high with a hook & loop closure. So simple & fun!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Earth Day Shipping!

Fettucini & Cherry Tomatoes!

Since today is EARTH DAY, i am offering free shipping on anything listed in the shop. Enjoy this day filled with eco-friendly toys for our kids & fun ways to take care of our planet!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Strawberry Iced Sugar Cookies!


I can't help but get excited about sweets...There is something so yummy about desserts, even when they are made of Wool Felt!! This new Strawberry Iced Sugar Cookie will be sure to melt your heart. Enjoy this Sweet Treat from my kitchen!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Old Jeans into Bean Bags!



We all have children that outgrow their jeans. Some of them aren’t fit to donate or give to friends! So I decided to cut a pair up & see what I could do with them. I thought Bean Bags would be a fun toy for the kids to play with. I cut the pockets off the jeans & then cut the legs into 5” x 5” squares with my pinking shears. I found a red bandana that my husband had & cut it into 5” x 5” squares with my pinking shears. I sewed one piece of jean to one piece of bandana on 3 sides; filled it with ½ cup of dried beans; finished sewing the 4th side of the square; ta-da - there you have it…..A Really Cute (recycled) Bean Bag to play with! I added a little flower embellishment on each one – optional! I’ll probably make more to put with this set.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Weekly Granola Project!

The oats & nuts are mixed & ready for baking!
All the dried fruits are diced & waiting!
Yum...It's baked & crunchy & warm!

I have made home-made-granola for our family every week, for the last 10 years (well just about!). The kids have become a big part of this project & I am happy to say that my daughter is now taking over this awesome responsibility! We enjoy this crunchy treat with soy milk or on top of yogurt or ice cream. And it keeps us from buying processed/boxed breakfast foods. Breakfast is such an important meal of the day & so many times it’s the easiest meal to skip or rush through. Consider trying this recipe as a simple cereal to add to your family’s favorites. Yum!

4 cups rolled oats, ½ c. roasted sunflower seeds, ½ c. raw cashews, ½ c. raw almonds, ½ c. roasted soy nuts, ½ c. roasted pumpkin seeds, ½ c. dried banana chips, 1½ c. coconut, ¾ c. honey, ¾ c. canola oil, ¼ c. brown sugar, ½ c. diced dried mango, ½ c. diced dried papaya, ½ c. dried cranberries, ½ c. currants.

Mix everything together, except for the dried fruits. Bake at 325 degrees on a baking sheet (you may need 2) for 30 - 40 minutes. Make sure to keep a close eye on it, as it likes to brown quickly. Stir occasionally to keep the cereal browning evenly. Once you take it out of the oven, mix in the dried fruits. Allow to cool on the counter. Place in a sealed container. This freezes well, if you’d like to make a bigger batch.
(Substitute any nuts or dried fruits to make this cereal fit your family’s needs!!)

School Outside Today!

We're doing our home-school outside today because the weather is so incredible! We've been blessed with a very warm spring & we're taking advantage of the fresh air & warm breezes. "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Ps. 25: 4-5

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

New Buds



What an amazing site to watch all the trees outside the house begin to bloom again! I couldn’t resist taking a couple pictures. “...Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy…” Ps. 96:12

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

WOW! - I'm a New Blogger

I am excited to start sharing craft ideas & recipes & new things in my shop on this blog. Who knows how my ideas will change & grow while journaling through the year! I am looking forward to meeting many new crafters & sharing my crafting finds with you, too. If there's anything you'd like to hear about, let me know...I'd love to hear from you!!