The Hip Homemaker

FREE poster calendar from Shutterfly!

2010-01-08T16:32:00.000-08:00

Enjoy a free 16x20 calendar poster from Shutterfly when you check out and use code FREECALENDAR. Offer ends January 17th. Taxes, shipping and handling charges will apply (mine was $5.12 to Utah).

You don't already have to be a Shutterfly member, either. I only joined to get the free calendar.

Macaroni Grill Copy Cat Recipes: Parmesan Crusted Sole (with Lemon Beurre Blanc) Orzo and Spinach, and Rosemary Bread

2009-12-05T22:51:00.001-08:00

My husband, Scott, LOVES Macaroni Grill's Parmesan Crusted Sole so much that when they pulled it off the menu a few years back he unwaveringly pouted until they brought it back just recently. We decided that in case they take it back off the menu again, we must learn how to make it ourselves!

I pulled a few different recipes online and experimented with them a little to get it just right. I really love this recipe because it introduces some new ingredients to the typical kitchen, which is fun for my toddler son who gets excited to taste new things while I'm cooking.

Because these recipes have so many steps, I recommend having someone be your assistant/sous chef along the way as it can be pretty complicated. Scott was a jet set business man when we met, so he never cooked anything, eating out constantly, but we have really grown to love cooking together in the kitchen. This recipe is so much fun to partner up with someone, and the end result is awesome!

Rosemary Bread:

You will be amazed at how easy this bread is!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup warm water
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons rosemary
1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)
Dash of black pepper

Directions:

Place yeast, sugar and water in large bowl, stir lightly, and allow mixture to become bubbly.

Mix in 1 T butter, salt, and 2 cups flour.

Add one tablespoon of the fresh chopped rosemary.

Knead for about 10 minutes by hand about 5 minutes until well mixed. Add more flour if necessary. Lightly coat a bowl, put dough in it and cover with a towel. Let dough rise in a warm place for one hour until doubled.

Punch down dough and divide in half. Let dough rest about 5 minutes.

Spray baking pan or cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Shape the dough into 2 small rounded oval loaves.

Sprinkle remaining 1 Tablespoon of rosemary over the loaves and press lightly into the surface.

Let loaves rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned. Carefully remove from oven, brush with some of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt (if desired).

Dipping oil for bread:

Mix one part olive oil with one part balsamic vinegar. Add a dash of black pepper.

Parmesan Crusted Sole (with Lemon Beurre Blanc)

Adapted from this recipe.

Ingredients:

4 Sole fillets - 6-8 oz. (If the fillets are smaller, you can use 8 instead of 4)
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons fresh parsley - minced
1/2 teaspoon powdered garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup flour
3 eggs
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup Lemon beurre blanc (See recipe below.)

Directions:

In a food processor blend panko, parmesan and parsley until fine. Transfer to a shallow pan. In a separate pan whip eggs and milk until well combined. In a third pan place the flour.

Take the sole fillets and season with salt, pepper and powdered garlic. Dredge sole in flour, then egg wash and finally in the parmesan/panko mix. Pat the parmesan and panko into the sole until the mix sticks to the fish.

In a large sauté pan heat butter and olive oil until hot. Carefully place sole in the pan and shake the pan to make sure the fish doesn’t stick. When sole is golden brown, flip over and continue to cook. When sole is done (120° F internally), transfer to plate and top with lemon beurre blanc.

Lemon Beurre Blanc

Yields 1 cup

1 cup white wine
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon shallots, minced
4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1/4 lb butter – unsalted, chilled, cut into cubes
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper

In a sauce pan over medium high heat, combine wine, vinegar and shallots. Reduce until almost a syrup consistency. Add cream and continue to cook reducing by half. Turn the heat to low and add butter cubes 2 at a time while stirring until all the butter is added and sauce is a creamy consistency. Season with salt and pepper.

Note: If the butter is not chilled it will not incorporate into the sauce. Also if the wine mixture is not reduced far enough the sauce will be runny.

Orzo and Spinach

Ingredients:

4 ounces julienne-shredded fresh spinach
1/2 small julienne-cut radicchio
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/3 cup sun-dried tomato packed in oil, julienne cut
2 tablespoons capers
3 tablespoons sliced kalamata olives
4 ounces orzo pasta, uncooked
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Juice and zest of one small lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

Cook orzo according to directions on box, about 9 minutes or until al dente.

Heat the olive oil on medium heat. Add garlic and stir, making sure to not let the garlic brown. Add the zest and lemon juice. Toss in the spinach and radicchio and cook until just wilted.

Remove from heat and add orzo. Mix. Sprinkle with cheese once it is on the plate.

Sweeter Sweater Giveaway

2009-08-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

One of my good friends just started a business making adorable sweaters.

She felts reclaimed wool to make fun original sweaters, caplets, vests and hair accessories. The little details are amazing and all done by hand with wool roving.

The items in her shop, www.sweetersweater.com, are incredible and worth looking into.

This week she is doing a giveaway on her blog. If you would like a chance to enter visit her blog at www.sweetersweater.blogspot.com.

Jello Monoprints

2009-06-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

I'm always trying to find ways to keep the kids busy over the summer. Here are a few kid friendly projects I've been saving for a rainy day.

Jello Monoprints

I am really excited to try this project with my kids. They love to get their hands dirty so this seems perfect. The idea comes from crafter Jessica Willson and the craftzine.com blog. Jessica has step by step instructions on how kids can create monoprints with Jello. {link}

Linoleum Prints

I remember making linoleum prints in high school but never thought about how much fun it would be to do with the kids. If you're interested check out The Long Thread's tutorial. Its not nearly as complicated as I remember. {link}

Felted Beads

This project looks great, is simple enough for toddlers, not to mention fun for older kids. Just think of all the bracelets and necklaces your kids will make with these beads! They could be busy working for hours. What more could you ask for?{link}

I hope you enjoy these projects! Oh and If you need to whip up a few aprons to cover your cuties while you craft, you should try these. {link}

Easy Friendship Bracelets

2009-05-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

My daughter had to make what seemed like a million friendship bracelets to sell on market day at school. They had to be quick and easy because we only had a few days notice. So we used the twist method, added a bead and voila!

Here is how you can make your own.
(click on any image to see a larger version)

Supplies:

Scissors
Craft or embroidery thread in various colors
Super Glue
A large eye needle
Medium sized beads with a large hole (one for each bracelet)
A ruler

Step 1: Measure and Cut the Thread

Cut a 26 inch length of 3 to 5 colors of thread. We made a medium child's size bracelet you should adjust this length if you want to make the bracelet larger or smaller.

Step 2: Tie a Knot

Tie all the strands together with a square knot at one end. Leave a 3 to 4 inch tail to make it easier to thread the bead later.

Step 3: Twist

Have someone hold the knotted end while you twist the threads together.

If you are doing it by yourself you can pin the knotted end to your pants, a beading board, or even hold it with your toe.

Keep twisting until it is tight.

Step 4: Fold and Tie

Place your finger in the center of the thread and fold it in half.

Pull the sides straight and remove your finger. The two sides of the bracelet will twist together.

Tie the unknotted end to the knotted end. Make sure your bracelet doesn't untwist while you are doing this. You may need someone to help you. Make sure the knot is tight.

Step 5: Add the Bead

You should now have two sets of tails at the knotted end of the bracelet. Take one set and thread it through the eye of the needle.

Slip the bead on the needle and over the threads. If you can't get the bead over an entire set of threads do as many as you can and let the extra hang down with the other set.

Remove the needle and tie the two sets of tails together securing the bead. You may want to double knot it.

Put a dab of super glue on the knot to keep it from coming undone. When the glue is dry trim the ends.

All Finished

Your bracelet is done! To wear it simply slip the bead through the twist at the opposite end.

Write it down.

2009-04-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have a confession to make. As a historian I totally tell people that they need to write their stories down. . .usually go as far as saying please write it in your own writing. I usually say that because as an archivist I want to see writing samples, it is fun and can tell a lot about a person through their samples by way of grammar and spelling and such. Besides writing styles are always fun to look at. . .

My confession is as follows, I don't write in a paper journal. Now, with that said, I do write in a journal online that is private, but there is an option to have it published in a book. I stumbled across the site while I was perusing facebook. It is the best thing that ever happened to me because I can't write very long without pain in my hands. So as I have gotten older (this makes me sound really old but I'm not I am 27 and have fibromyalgia) I have accepted the fact that sometimes these things have to be done in other ways, and my other way is typing. Whatever way you need, keep a record of your life, others will be thankful to know you through your writing.

My favorite site for writing is here. I also know other people who keep a blog and print out each entry they write. The options are endless!!! SO get pen and paper, or your computer or even a sketch book and start writing or creating!

One little after thought is that an "entry" doesn't have to be grandios or verbose, just write what you feel, and even if it is a sentence or two, it will be worth while. It will also become easier over time.

Our Family Embarks on a Garden

2009-04-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

So, I've have never had a green thumb. Far from it. I took Horticulture with Mr. Sonnichsen back in 7th grade at good ol' Orville Wright Jr. High, but I couldn't really get anything to grow in my row. Or at least not that I remember.

So, when I heard that Gordon Wells Jr. was going to be teaching a home gardening class this year in our Stake, my ears perked up. I thought - hey - I'll attend and see what I can pick up. The 6 week course was great, and I learned quite a bit in that time. And now it's the start of April, and it's time to begin the Spring Garden.

At this point I'm still not as prepared as I'd like to be. I bought almost everything I need and cleared out the garden area. The Halls across the way let me borrow their rototiller and it worked like a charm! The ground is very soft and loamy, which is great. Now, I just need to put some fertilizer in and rototill it over again.

Brother Wells states that I can just take 3 cups of 16-16-8 fertilizer and 1 cup of ironite and mix it together, and then sprinkle it all over the plot of land and rototill that in. I will be trying this. I also tried getting some elemental Sulfur from Highland Gardens, but they did not sell it. They said to go to IFA to get it, so I'll see if I can do that this weekend.

BTW - with the size of the sacks of fertilizer they gave me, that stuff is going to last FOREVER.

Anyway, as I was at Highland Gardens, they took me past some apple trees, and showed me a grafted Granny Smith, Fuji, and Golden Delicious apple tree. I was thoroughly impressed and thought about grabbing it to replace the dead one in the front yard (so sad...I know...but I had no idea how to spray). I'll be tearing that tree out and figuring out what to do with the spot in the yard. However, Laurie reminded me that fruit trees in the front yard decrease the home's value (people seem to dislike all that messy fruit falling on the sidewalk and driveway), so I found a spot in the backyard that I think will do very nicely. It's got good drainage, good sunlight, and will serve our neighbors well too, as I put it right by our common fence. Of course, I may not see much in the way of fruit this year, but I was glad to learn to plant a tree for the first time.

I also started some seeds today - Peas (Little Marvel), Spinach (Bloomsdale Longstanding), Swiss Chard (Lucullus), and Lettuce (Parris Island Cos). I have them sitting upstairs in a South-facing window.

Wish me luck! Hopefully these babies will take!

Inexpensive Photo Books

2009-02-12T11:28:00.000-08:00

You know how Photo Books are all the rage right now? I don't mean the old-school photo albums where you print out your 4"x6" pics and slip them into little plastic sleeves. I'm talking about the "design-how-you-want-it, professional layout, hardcover-bound with customized pictures and text" photo books. I get emails to make them dirt cheap from Shutterfly, Kodakgallery and Snapfish. Even Wal-green's sends me emails touting their photo book wares.

But I've never seen them for less than they're presently going for at ArtsCow, where an 8"x8" 30-page photo book is only $11.99 plus you get free shipping! My only regret is I didn't log in to check out their latest promotions earlier, because this price is only good through February 18 using any one of the following coupon codes at checkout:

Z8ZPRM4
Z5WJ5VC
ZG8KTK4
ZC48VSX
ZDBJ3PT
Z6CRD7Q
ZB5J562
Z9V6RF5
ZLYVUMH
ZEQN3VW

You'll need to sign up for ArtsCow if you don't already have an account and upload your photos. Download ArtsCow's photo book software (very quick and easy to use), design your book, and enter one of the checkout codes listed above on the Billing & Shipping info page. It's so simple!

Don't have time to create a 30-page photo book in only a week but think a 20-page book is doable? Use coupon code PBS699 at checkout instead to get a 20-page photo book for only $6.99 plus free shipping. And new ArtsCow members also get an automatic credit for 1200 free prints just for signing up!

I've loved everything I've purchased from ArtsCow so far, especially my new shopping bag. It's no longer on sale, but it makes such an excellent reusable grocery bag that I'm going to make another if I see a coupon code for it again.

Another Giveaway?

2009-01-19T03:48:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago we had a giveaway for the success choice planner. If you really wanted one and and didn't win you have another chance. It is one of many items in a giveaway going on at Mormon Mommy Blogs (click here)! Good Luck!

Confessions of a digital scrapper:

2009-01-09T08:06:00.000-08:00

The truth is I've only been digitally scrapbooking for about a year now and the other truth is, I'm addicted.

For me, the more I can do for free is always a goal so I'm going to tell you some ways and tips for cheap/free digital scrapbooking.

I began with a free trial of photoshop and a tutorial. But lets back up a bit first. Before you begin downloading photoshop I recommend downloading and extracting some free digi scrap kits from places such as:
shabby princess

Oscraps
digital scrapbooking-free
free digital scrapbooking

A quick google for "free digital scrapbooking" will bring up a ton.

If you do see a kit and you love it but it isn't free remember that you can use it as much as you like - and you don't have to worry about ruining a piece you've already glued down when you realise it's upside down or in the wrong place ;) I've not yet bought a kit and have far too much too pick from - atleast it isn't bogging up my craft cupboard though, right?

I organise my kits in folders by renaming the folder to the kit name and I delete the zip file and catalogue page that comes with most kits to save room - and so my husband doesn't get upset when the hard drive is full :D

Get to know what files you have and think of the photographs you have to use with them so you can make the most of your 30 day photoshop trial.

Download your free trial of photoshop and follow this video tutorial from Shabby Princess and you'll easily have your first layout completed. I watched and followed along with the tutorial twice and was on my way after that.

With the skills you learn from digital scrapbooking you can make baby announcements, invitations, Christmas cards and learn to edit your own photographs the way professionals do.

Pair your new hobby with Artscow and you've got cheap printing and gift ideas!

For completely free and easy digital scrapbooking check out scrapblog.
Or for bit of a twist on digital scrapbooking make some emailable ones at Smilebox.

Make 2009 a year of capturing and preserving memories. Organise your photo files into year>month>day/occassion files so nostalgia is a simple click away and easier to share.

Good luck and Happy New Year!

Safe Drugs during Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding

2009-01-02T12:53:00.000-08:00

My pediatrician's office got a new nurse last month and I recently called to see if there were cold medicines I can take while nursing my baby that were off-limits during pregnancy. This new nurse happened to be on-call that morning and told me about SafeFetus.com, a website I can use any time to check the effects various drugs have on pregnancy and the milk produced by nursing mothers, and whether or not said drugs and effects are considered safe by the FDA.

From the SafeFetus.com website:
"Safefetus.com is a complete database of worldwide medications (generic& trade) providing information on the drugs' indications, fetal risk, breastfeeding risk, during pregnancy, according to the FDA."

I recommend double-checking with your ob or pediatrician about newer drugs because the website's list of drugs has not been updated since October, 2006 and an email I sent requesting a recent update has gone unanswered. So far, every drug about which I've asked my pediatrician has been in line with the site's recommendations, so it does provide good general guidelines.

Mistletoe Kissing Ball

2008-12-22T23:34:00.000-08:00

This Mistletoe Kissing Ball is my own adaptation from a Martha Stewart creation. Though it's similar, the biggest difference really is that I made mine on a budget, choosing denim leaves instead of Dupioni silk, etc. saving quite a lot of money. (Estimated cost: 48.00 for the materials for six balls, $8.00 per ball.)

These mistletoe balls are especially perfect for hostess gifts for all of the many parties you are visiting this holiday season. They do take a little time and since it's already last minute and they are very detailed (but they are terribly gorgeous!)... so, craft! Craft like the wind!

Materials Needed:

4" styrofoam ball
Silver spray paint
Cup hook
Craft glue
12 Miniature pine cones with floral wire tied at the bottom (to attach to ball)
Silver glitter
White glitter
Miniature ornaments or 2 Beaded branches (I purchased discounted champagne-colored beaded twigs from Michael's Craft, marked down to $.59/each)
Wire cutters
1/4 yard light green denim
Floral pins (with white pearlescent heads)
Floral tape
Decorative ribbon in the color of your choice (for hanging)

Directions:

Begin by spray painting silver your styrofoam ball and cup hook. Allow to dry according to directions on paint can. Attach hook to ball using craft glue.

Prepare pine cones by dotting the edges with craft glue and sprinkling with silver glitter. After they dry, attach each one to the ball at random with glue on attached wire.

Pinecones attached to painted styrofoam ball.

Prepare miniature ornaments. If you purchased a beaded branch, remove beads using wire cutters, and allowing for at least one inch of wire to attach to ball. Separate beads evenly into two separate piles. Leave one pile plain, while glittering the second pile of beads.

Beaded branch in a champagne color, purchased from Michael's Crafts.

Wire cutters and plain beads removed from branch, leaving a one-inch wire stem.

To glitter the beads, first coat each bead with a thin layer of craft glue using a dot of glue placed on the tip of your finger. Roll in a bowl of white glitter and set aside for at least an hour to dry.

Glittered beads using craft glue and white glitter.

Once both groups of beads are ready, coat their wires in craft glue and attach at random to the styrofoam ball until almost completely covered (leaving a few small holes is fine).

Ball with beads and pine cones attached.

To create the leaves, first draw a leaf on a piece of paper, about one inch tall. Cut your denim fabric into strips and layer four at a time. Use clips to keep them from coming apart while cutting. Holding your template in place, carefully cut around template through all four layers. Each ball will require about 40 leaves, or to your liking.

Use a floral pin as the mistletoe berry. Use 1-3 pins for every two leaves. Wrap together using floral tape. (Pull floral tape taut to activate its glue to keep it in place). Randomly place mistletoe into ball, coating the floral pins with glue first.

Mistletoe leaves made from denim. Place two leaves together, secure with pin (left). Wrap bottom with floral tape (right).

Cut ribbon to desired length and tie with a bow at the top. Attach to cup hook on ball.

Great deal on 'All You' magazine

2008-12-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

Cheryl Hinton is a Southern Living at HOME consultant that has a current deal right now where you can purchase a 2-year subscription to the popular All You magazine for only $19.95. 'All You' is only available for purchase in Wal-Mart stores, and the shelf price is more than $2. Cheryl is able to get us 24 issues for only 83¢ each! I am passing along this information with her permission.

Cheryl has set up a way to place your orders online with a credit card. If you'd prefer, she can also call you directly to place your order over the phone. You can pay via credit card or personal check over the phone.

To order online:

Click HERE.

Type 40776 into the Product Search box
Click "All You personal subscription"
Click "How to Purchase"
Enter "Kim J" into the Hostess Name boxes
Click the first name link to access Kim's December 15 party
Type 40776 into the Product Search box again
Click "All You personal subscription"
Click "Select this Item"

On same page, click on the "Finalize and submit your order" link
Your subtotal should be $19.95. If it's more than that, double-check the number of subscriptions in your cart.
Click "Continue to Checkout"

Fill in your personal information and follow the directions for payment. Make sure to use your MAILING address. The confirmation statement about items being shipped to the hostess only applies to PRODUCTS, and NOT MAGAZINES. There is no additional charge for the magazine to be delivered directly to your home. The $10 charge mentioned is only for the direct shipment of products. **PLEASE do not check that box!**

If you wish to purchase a Gift Subscription, just place an order using the name and address of the person you are buying the subscription for. You can then use your credit card information to pay for it.

Cheryl has made herself available to answer your questions or address any problems you encounter during the ordering process. Her contact information follows, or you can fill out and submit this simple form.

Cheryl Hinton

813-504-5788
Independent Consultant
Southern Living at Home
finallylarrys@yahoo.com
www.southernlivingathome.com/hinton

~Cheryl just emailed me and said the ALL You deal will be going on after the first of the year. I will post again in January with updated 'party information' if you'd like. Thanks!~

Hipster Holiday Music

2008-12-08T15:54:00.001-08:00

If you're one of those types that greatly dislikes the same old Christmas songs year in and year out, we have just the suggestion for you!

Enter Pandora!

If you haven't heard yet, Pandora.com is a free online service that allows you to listen to specific genres you enjoy. You simply enter in your favorite band as a "station", and it generates an endless play list of suggested similar artists, so your favorites, along with some new bands you may not have heard of yet are being played.

For Christmas, we suggest entering in "Sufjan Stevens (holiday)" as a new station... it's hip, young, and unique Christmas music from bands like Relient K, Jars of Clay, and of course Sufjan Stevens!

Just in case you needed a break from your mom's Christmas music...

(Thanks, Jamie!)

Eggnog Pancakes

2008-12-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

This delightful and delicious recipe has just the right amount of eggnog and a healthy dose of Christmas cheer! Excellent topped with a bit of butter and maple syrup!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 cup eggnog
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 to 1/2 cup milk, add until desired consistency

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, combine eggnog, oil, and egg.

Create a well in the dry ingredients and pour wet ingredients into well. Whisk together. Add milk until you reach your desired consistency and mix.

Cook on griddle or stove top until the middle is cooked through.

Check out Weefinds and Win a Toys R Us Gift Card!

2008-12-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

Introducing Weefinds - a new site run by three moms that tells you where the best online deals are! Christine, Debbie, and Sherri are moms of young children and are always on the lookout for cheap deals. They've gathered them here on their new website. Right now they are having a giveaway - just post a comment sharing your favorite Christmas gift idea for under $25, and a winner will be randomly chosen on December 7th. I just popped over and there are some good ideas there already - hmmm...that reminds me, I better start making my Christmas list!

Pine Cone Wreath

2008-11-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

This wreath is SO cute! Check out the Brightwood Living blog for more details.

She doesn't have step by step instructions, but it sounds like she attached the pine cones to the wire form with floral wire & the last row looks like small pine cones attached with floral wire to the center to hide the floral wire that attaches the larger pine cones to the wire form.
Hopefully that makes sense.

Check out the blog post & her pictures.

One suggestion - she mentions the sap gets all over, so wearing latex type gloves (like your Dr/Dentist) may be a good idea. (maybe not, so don't hold me to it ;-)

I found your Camera.com

2008-11-13T01:23:00.000-08:00

I heard about this site Found cameras & orphan photos if ever you find a lost camera you can email this site two photos on the camera or memory card and send a description of the item found and they will post it to thier blog and hopefully it will be a wonderful reunion with the memories you photographed and thought you lost...

I think that it is an awesome thing to do.. I will tell you that a great friend of mine went to California with her family and it was her boys first trip to sea world, Disneyland and DCA ... She happened to set her camera down in a bugs life show at DCA... about a half hour after she left the camera she went back and asked a cast member about if anything had been turned in and well the answer was a NO... We then went to file a claim with lost and found and nothing... She checked back at the close of the day and still nothing... so I hope that someone with some sort of moral code will post onto this wonderful site so that way my wonderful friend can obtain her photos of a lot of firsts for her kiddos...

Please pass the word about this wonderful site... maybe just maybe the more people know about this site the more photos will be returned to thier rightful owners... Thanks all for letting me ramble...
I just want a happy ending... cause the trip really shouldve been a magical one... and for the most it was...
Thanks again all...

Another Headband Giveaway!

2008-11-11T23:03:00.000-08:00

The Orange Plum is having a headband giveaway...check out their blog for the details & check out their Etsy store for fun new patterns & colors AND their new Baby Blankets!
(the drawing will be Nov 16th @ 4:30 MST)Two of the reasons these headbands are so great is because they STAY where you want them, and they don't hurt your head...no more "headband headaches".

Paper Doll fun:

2008-11-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

Feeling a little bored? Have a daughter who needs a little entertaining? In the mood for some brightly coloured, awesomely charactered virtual paperdolls?
Check out the Cartoon Doll Emporium.

Creative Pumpkins

2008-10-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

Want to do something a little different with your jack-o-lanterns this year? Here are a few ideas.

Stalloween.com has a step by step tutorial on how to make these creepy pumpkins from papier mache. {link}

If that's a little too scary you HallmarkMagazine.com has a how to for a variety of fantasy pumpkins. {link}

However, if you're itching to do something completely different this year you can print out these patterns for Campaign-o-Lanterns from the Associated Press. {link}

Enjoy! And happy pumpkin carving!

Spider Cupcakes

2008-10-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

How fun are these cupcakes?

Blogger NG at Alice's Adventures Underground has a series of pictures showing how she made them. Though perhaps a tad time consuming, she promises they are easy to make.

{link}

Don't forget

2008-10-02T12:10:00.000-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so remember to wear pink and get the girls checked.

Breast wishes for Healthy Boobies :)

Catch All Shelf

2008-09-24T14:59:00.001-07:00

I wish I'd thought of this when we were looking for a shelf in my daughter's room.

This great little shelf is made from a wooden magazine holder sold at IKEA.

I absolutely love it!

You can find instructions on how to make your own at Design*Sponge.

{link}

Drum Roll Please

2008-09-22T06:19:00.000-07:00

It is time to announce the winner of the Joy in the Journey giveaway.

And the winner is richi and elissa who said, "I would love this! Sounds amazing... :)"

I hope you do love it! I just need your to give me your contact information. Please send me and email. You can get my email address from my profile page here http://www.blogger.com/profile/02350563639002868719 just click the email link in the contact section.

Congratulations!

Find Joy in the Journey Giveaway

2008-09-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to do this giveaway. I've been using the Success Choice Planner for 2 months now and I love it.

It has a monthly overview as well as a section for each week. There's even a place to keep track of the phone calls you need to make.

Every month has a list of regular monthly tasks (like fertilizing the lawn) and section for goal planning.

Each day has a health tracker. There is a chart that makes it easy to record how much water you are drinking, what you are eating, and how much you are exercising.

The planners are broken into quarters so you only carry around 3 months at a time. This way you don't have a big bulky planner to keep track of-- just slip it in your purse.

You can check their website out here {link}

Their website says "It's not just a day planner -- it's a life planner" and I totally agree.

We will be giving away one 4th Quarter (October - December 2008) Success Choice Planner. If you want to enter this giveaway leave a comment on this post. The deadline is Sunday 21 September 2008 at midnight. The winner will be announced on Monday. Good luck and happy planning!

Glow In The Dark Yarn

2008-09-05T06:57:00.000-07:00

Bernat has just come out with a line of glow-in-the-dark yarn (link) . It is only available for a limitied time and can be purchased at Micheals.

I am going to buy some to knit a hoodie with a glow-in-the-dark Transformer logo. However if you don't have a child who is interested in Transfomers, Bernat has provided free downloadable patterns for a glow-in-the-dark trick-or-treat bag, ghosts, alien head bands, and more.

What are you going to do with your stash of glow in the dark yarn?

Simple Carpet-Cleaning Solutions: Baking Soda or Hydrogen Peroxide

2008-08-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many people out there are as sensitive to the fragrances found in most carpet-cleaning solutions as I am, but I was happy to discover recently that you can easily find alternatives by doing a simple internet search.

The two I was happiest to find were one article on using baking soda, and another on using hydrogen peroxide. I've used baking soda before and was pretty happy with it, but I'm always glad to get more instruction. Baking Soda is included in this link: Clean Carpets without Dangerous Chemicals.

I am a little wary of the "sprinkle on, vacuum off" method, though, so finding out from a friend recently that you can use Hydrogen Peroxide sounded great. This one, "Using Hydrogen Peroxide," mentions combining Hydrogen Peroxide with simple Castille Soap, but I watched a friend clean stains off her carpets recently using simply water and hydrogen peroxide alone. Just make sure you follow the instructions for the correct ratios of hydrogen peroxide to water.

The Couponizer

2008-08-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

I've become one of those mommies. Not only do I have zucchini squash coming out of my eyeballs, freezer jam in the fridge, and several bread recipes out while I bake and bake, searching for the best one - I've also started couponing a little. I haven't fallen off the deep end and become completely obsessed with it yet, but I have to admit there was a small thrill when I got some 64-ounce Juicy Juice for 88 cents each, 'bought' some makeup for free, and made 60 cents on some new cereal for Grayson (sure hurts less when he refuses to eat it if it didn't cost anything in the first place!).

Anyway, if there are any of you venturing out into the coupon world, a coupon organizer might be helpful to have. I don't really have a system yet, so I entered this contest to win one. It sure looks like a good system to have if you're a serious couponer. And who knows, this system just might convert you!

Got expired coupons?

2008-08-14T05:19:00.001-07:00

Please don't throw them away. Here's a link with a few addresses of overseas military installations that can distribute them to service member families. Commissaries will accept manufacturer's coupons for up to 6 months after the printed expiration date.

http://www.grocerysavingtips.com/expiredgrocerycoupons.htm

I have heard that it's helpful to separate food and non-food coupons into ziploc bags marked as such. I think the best way to send them would be to gather from a few people (maybe have everyone from church put them together) and send them in a fixed rate box. The addresses are APO boxes, so you have to send them via USPS.

Plastic Bag Alternatives

2008-07-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

I have often found myself thinking about this subject. When grocery stores around me started selling reusable bags for 99 cents, I purchased 4 from my regular store. I have since added more to my collection- 3 from another grocery store and one from Ace Hardware (it was free with purchase- bonus!). I have come across coupons from various stores giving them away with purchases and offering discounts. In fact, I save 5 cents for each bag I use each time I go grocery shopping. But now I have an additional incentive to start using the reusable bags- not having to pay for plastic bags.

Seattle will start charging 20 cents a bag in January (story at this blog). The City Council recently voted 6-1 to approve charges for grocery, drug store and convenient store paper and plastic bags. That cost can add up quickly.

But I LOVE my reusable bags. I have learned that I can fit what might take up 3-5 plastic bags into one of those reusable bags, meaning less trips to and from my car. In addition, the straps are more comfortable carrying than the straps on plastic bags. And the bags are very durable. I just empty them out and put them back in my trunk so they're handy when I need them.

However, I have found it a little uncomfortable at times to pull out a bag for a store like Albertson's when I'm at a store like Target. So I have started looking for other reusable bags that are more universal (and no one has commented at all about my using bags from their competitors or other stores other than to thank me for bringing in a bag).

Some of my favorites I've run across at Amazon (because of their low prices) are these and these. What are your favorites?

Are you already using reusable bags? Do you plan on using them in the future? I'm thinking that this trend will continue, and it's best to be prepared.

Mini Carmel Apples

2008-07-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves caramel apples-- which is why I was so excited when I saw great tutorial for mini caramel apples! It has great photos and easy to follow instructions!

Click Here For Tutorial

Lullaby, and Good Night

2008-07-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

I often find myself singing nursery rhymes and lullabies my mother sang to me when I was a small child to my own son now, only to replace forgotten lyrics with the word "something." My husband has also picked up this habit - it's pretty sad. Thank goodness a simple internet search turned up this website for us to remember and relearn some favorites we've long forgotten.

KiDiddles is the offspring of Terry Kluytmans, a single mom who lives with her daughter, Tiana, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The idea for KIDiddles came about after Tiana joined Terry's family through adoption in May 1994. She wanted to sing to her daughter -- just as her father had done with her -- but was having a difficult time remembering the complete lyrics to any given song. She went online to see what she could find, and came up empty-handed. She started her own collection of songs through visits to garage sales and second hand book stores, and decided to share what she found. And so the KiDiddles site was born.

KiDiddles is super easy to navigate. You can search by subject, song title or even lyrical excerpt. You can sign up to print out song sheets of most songs to put into your own personal songbook. And if you can't quite remember a tune, many songs even include a midi file of the tune on the lyrics page to help refresh your memory.

If you do run over to KiDiddles and fall in love with it the way I have, please read and follow the copyright rules before using it in an inappropriate manner (no reproduction, no redistribution, and no commercial use).

*Image and website creator information courtesy KiDiddles.com

Just Click to Give; then maybe shop

2008-07-24T18:34:00.000-07:00

One of my longtime favorite websites is The Hunger Site. All you have to do there to help donate food to the needy is visit the site once a day and click where it says, "Click to give." Sponsors do the rest by donating on your behalf.

The site also has five "sister sites" that you can get to simply by clicking on their tabs at the top of the page, and, you guessed it, by clicking on their accompanying "click to give."

The fun part: you can also give by shopping on any of the sites (Hunger, Breast Cancer, Child Health, Literacy, Rain Forest, or Animal Rescue.) I picked out some of my favorites to show you. Their items are a bit like having Pier One and Etsy shops all rolled into one, with the added bonus of giving back at the same time.

The Hunger Site

How to Cut a Watermelon

2008-07-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

Summer just wouldn't be summer with out watermelon. Here are two links that will help you enjoy your watermelon to the fullest.

The Old Farmer's Almanac's Nine Ways to Tell if Your Watermelon is Ripe www.almanac.com

Instructable: How to remove most of the seeds when cutting up a watermelon
www.instructables.com

Photo courtesy of the US Agriculture Research Service

Etsy, RookieMoms & BlogCoach

2008-07-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have 3 *great* finds today...

The first one is a blog for local Utah Etsy sellers. I love Etsy, and I love supporting locals.
So as I'm writing this, I'm thinking...there must be other local Etsy groups out there...
Sure enough there is!
Check out the etsy sellers near you or groups of etsy sellers that have something in common (like Vegan Etsy or the Jewelry on Etsy Team)

My second great find is RookieMoms.com
I found this site because I went to High School with Heather & she found me via Facebook yesterday. So I checked out her site, blog & BOOK (all co-written with her friend Whitney). There is so much great info, I kept thinking, who do I know that is a new mom, or will be a mom soon that I can share this with....well, the answer is: possibly you.

In a nutshell, "RookieMoms.com is more than 300 activities for new moms that are more fun than wiping someone's tushy."

Their blog is more personal, "about pregnancy, babies, toddlers, preschoolers and the products that go along with these experiences".

And their book, The Rookie Mom’s Handbook: 250 Activities to do with (and without!) your baby, was "inspired by the enthusiasm their website readers had for their activity suggestions", and contains 250 activities which are organized by the baby’s age.

If you're at the BlogHer conference, Heather and Whitney are there...tell Heather I said Hi :-)...her gorgeous curly red hair will be hard to miss!

Which reminds me of a story...bear with me...
I was on a cruise with my family & my 6ft tall brother with red curly hair says to me "how come the guy that cleans our room knows who I am?"
I looked at him and said "seriously?...how many guys with red curly hair & a goatee do you think are on this ship?!"

Ok, one last cool site....if you're looking for tips on how to make your blog better, check out TheBlogCoach.org. "At BlogCoach, you'll find helpful, informative articles about blogging, blogging resources, and a friendly community full of plain-talking bloggers and web publishers eager to help you grow your blog."

Make Your Own Invisible Shelf

2008-07-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

PoppyTalk shared this fun tutorial on how to make an invisible shelf

(click here for tutorial)

Modest Maven

2008-07-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about the Hip Homemaker is that it's provided a venue for several of my favorite things: writing, homemaking, crafts, and especially networking! (If you ask any of my close friends, they'll tell you that I'm a "networking addict," if such a thing exists. Why re-invent the wheel when it comes to finding good ideas for things? Save it for what you do best.)

After my somewhat verbose "Modest Magazines" post, I was ready to start in on reviewing some of the modest clothing links that the two magazines provide. With the limited budget I've been living on the past two or three years, I couldn't have done it justice. Then Modest Maven stepped into the picture with her new blog:
Modest Maven: "All your modest clothing news." So far it's mostly a review of the websites. And what a list it is...and a list of links as well.

MM's Blogroll
A Simply Modest Blog…
All your modest clothing news
old fashioned lady
Pretty/Modest Blog

modest clothing company
Be Precious Clothing
Christa-Taylor
Downeast Basics
Funky Frum
Layers
Modbe
Sexy Modest
Shabby Apple
Shade Clothing
Stop Staring
Taqwa Iman
The Mod Bod
The Soon Collection
Vintage Hem

(please, MM, keep it up! And anyone else who orders from some of these lesser known places...like the ones so many of Laurie's HH bloggers tell us about.)

Review: Hippychick Hipseat

2008-07-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

I am obsessed with baby carriers. I have tried many different kinds: the basic fabric wrap, the Mei Tai carrier, the New Native sling, the Baby Bjorn, the Hip Hammock, and the Ergo. So far the Ergo is my favorite but my only complaint is that it's very bulky and doesn't fold down small when we're not using it. But it definitely is the most comfortable for me.

Well, I just bought myself a Hippychick Hipseat. I've been wanting one ever since I saw it on Babygadget but the price (about $70 plus $16 shipping) seemed a bit much for something so basic looking. But then a couple weeks ago I saw a used one on eBay and ended up buying it for $18 (plus $9 shipping).

My first impression is that it is pretty high quality. It is very basic but it does look well made. It kinda looks like one of those hip packs. I was surprised at how hard the seat is... the website says the seat is made of padded foam but mine, at least, doesn't seem to be very padded. You can remove the foam piece and throw the outside part in the washer.

Wearing it is very comfortable. So far I have only worn it around the house, but it is very easy to use and feels natural. Slipping the kid on and off is so quick without any straps to deal with. It's definitely easier carrying my 2-year old on it because he helps by holding onto me. I have to use more effort when carrying my 10-month old, but it's still a lot less effort than just using my hip. I will probably use it a lot more for my older one since he can never decide if he wants up or down. This should make my life easier when we're out and about.

Overall I really like this carrier. I don't know if I would pay full price for a brand new one, though. I definitely recommend it if you can find a cheaper used one on eBay or Craigslist.

Giveaway: Cute Headbands!

2008-07-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the lookout for cute things to keep my hair out of my face, off my neck in the summer, or just to add more personality to my look.

Check out these fun headbands! Not only are they stylish, but there are 7 reasons why these headbands are "The Best":

*VELCRO: So they won't slip off your head!
*RIBBON: No headaches with these headbands!
*WASHABLE: They are durable!
*QUALITY: They have hidden stitching!
*2 IN 1: Each 2"-3" headband can be worn Thick or Thin!
*VERSATILE: They can be worn with anything!
*AFFORDABLE: Awesome Prices ($3 - $7)

Enter to win a FREE headband!
To enter the drawing,
leave a comment on
this Orange Plum blog post,
It ends July 15th at 9:30am MST.

check out TheOrangePlum.blogspot.com
and TheOrangePlum.etsy.com

If you don't win a free headband, place an order by 7/31/08 and get a FREE GIFT if you order $7 or more from their Etsy store!
*When checking out, you must enter "Blogger Special" in the message to seller section to receive your free gift!

Don't see a fabric you like, or need a different size? Just ask!
They will custom make headbands for you!

Sorting Out The New Airline Fees

2008-07-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

I'm restraining myself from getting on my soapbox about all the new airline fees. Instead, I'll just offer some help in figuring out how much your flight will REALLY cost you. All of this info is available on the individual airline websites, but having this handy-dandy chart is nice because you can see at a glance who charges how much for what. If ticket prices are comparable, the extra fees could very well be the deciding factor in choosing which airlines you fly. It's also a good idea to double check the fees a few days before your trip, to see if they have increased. Here's a list of what you may have to pay for before or during your flight:

Making your reservation via the phone
Checking 1 or more bags
Oversize or overweight bags
Choosing a seat
Beverages
Snacks
meals
Traveling with Pets
Unaccompanied Minors
Curbside Check-in
Changing your ticket

There are other fees, like purchasing headphones, watching TV/movies, etc but those aren't listed since they generally haven't changed recently.

Airline Fee Chart

I've flown my fare share on Southwest, but never really loved flying with them. I have to say, I may be flying them more, since so far they don't charge extra for anything except Business Select.

You may also want to check out the carry-on size & weight restrictions. This past week I have heard a lot about the airlines cracking down on the carry-on restrictions that they have only half-heartedly enforced in the past. I for one will be taking the largest carry-on possible to Hawaii in September. Hopefully by packing as much as possible in my carry-ons, I'll be able to avoid the $50 (round trip) fee Delta charges for a 2nd checked bag.

Carry-on Baggage Chart

Thanks FareCompare.com & Rick Seaney!

Reading to your children just got easier.

2008-07-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

I was searching the website for our local library when I came across the kids section. They have a whole website on Early Literacy! You may not be in Maryland, but you can take advantage of this wonderful information.

They have booklists for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Most of them are books that I've never seen before, but my 20 month old would love them.

There's even a list of tips and activities for each age group.

I also found a section just for parents and caregivers. There is information about behavior, homework help, and resources for family fun.

PS - Don't forget to add your personal children's book recommendations to this list!

Granola. Green. Natural. Etc.

2008-07-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking lately about trying to be a little healthier. I’m not about to stop eating candy and fast food, but I started looking into chemicals and things that are in our cleaning products and personal care products. The more I read, the more grossed out I get. Finally I decided to start replacing the chemical-filled things I have with some less deadly products.

Nature Clean - That might be my favourite company in the world right now. Their website is super easy to navigate, very pretty, and there’s lots of information that even a jerk like me can understand. I’m totally into their cleaning products. They have a ton, and now that I know they work, I’m going to go tomorrow to pick up a whole bunch more.

Green Beaver is pretty sweet too. They have a really informative website as well that really helps me understand what all the commotion is about. I’m wearing their deodorant today, and I’m happy to report that I don’t stink at all. Yay! (Well, I smell like lemons, but I like that smell.)

Desert Essence is another one I’m liking. Probably easier for you Americans to find their products than the other two. I use their shampoo, conditioner, and face wash, and they all didn’t cause me to get cancer - yet. They also worked very well. That's important too.

Anyway, I wouldn’t claim to be an expert on any of this crap. It’s all new to me, but so far so good. Oh, and it was shocking to go into The Body Shop and find that every single product I looked at had ingredients that those Green people say cause cancer and such. I thought Body Shop was supposed to be so good for us. I had a gift card to spend there, so I just bought headbands and facecloths. Yep.

Anyone have any tips for other less cancer-giving products? I found Mexitan for sunscreen, but I haven’t been able to find a good sunscreen for my face that doesn’t include chemicals. I’m looking to avoid benzophenones, PABA, cinnamates, salicylates, digalloyl trioleate, menthyl anthranilate, and avobenzone. I'm also looking to avoid acne, so....

Oh, and did you know about Triclosan aka Microban aka triclocarban aka quaternary ammonium compounds? That’s the stuff in anti-bacterial products. It’s…well…bad! Look it up. It's in half the stuff I had in my house. Sick.

I have this handy-dandy list of ingredients to avoid in general.
Triclosan
Paraben, hydantoin, or quaternium preservatives.
Sulfate detergents including SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate)
Artificial aromas, fragrances, dyes.
Phthalates, propylene glycol, or pertrolatum.
EDTA

(Every Body Shop product I checked had at least one of those.) This is hard work!

fairly new "Modest Clothing" magazines

2008-06-26T13:18:00.001-07:00

I can be slow to contribute a promised blog entry (I promised one earlier on this subject), but eventually I do deliver...

So..

I've been intrigued over about the past ten years or so with what seems to be an increased demand for modest clothing: or more correctly, also, a backlash at times at what seems to be a lack of "modest" clothing. And no worries....I won't present opinions on that here. I'm hoping to share two of my favorite resources of late: Eliza and Jen magazines. Now, to be sure, what can be defined as "modest" is fairly subjective.

But even including what could be a very broad definition of "modest", I applaud the efforts of what continues to seem to be a growing number of fashion industry professionals who are willing to help us out with the search for modest clothes.

Today I'm going to be brief and, instead of trying to tell you everything I've found out about over the past year while trying to learn more (as a non-industry professional), I'm just going to post links to them. From both of these magazines, you should be able to continue finding all kinds of fun new online stores and other links pertaining to fashion, which will include most of what I'd found on my own anyway; and much more, of course. Jen Magazine (online) and Eliza Magazine (online, subscription, and at select Barnes and Nobles and other retailers listed here). And yet another favorite find, today I discovered the Eliza blog.

One note about Jen magazine (a free online magazine): the front "page" calls it "A Modest Fashion Magazine for Young LDS Women," but quickly adds, "*Jen* is a free online magazine. We welcome anyone who shares our (modest) values." values.

*Jen* has a page, which I believe is only accessible once you register, of dozens of links devoted entirely to online clothes shopping. As with what you see in Eliza, the links include clothing from major retailers and smaller online boutiques. Both magazines, though still well in their beginning stages, (they've been around just a little over a year each) show a lot of potential, and I hope they'll be around a while.
The photography in Eliza is excellent, and the spreads and articles include both professional models and articles featuring "real-life" people sharing, say, their favorite skirts; or a fashion designer wearing her favorite dress. The designer in Eliza's spring issue looks more like a person in the supermarket than like a contestant on America's Next Top Model, which makes me a bit more comfortable reading it for some reason. It makes Eliza a bit more like a Dove ad with clothes. And no offense meant to professional models, of course, but it's always nice to see that someone in the clothing industry finds beauty in more than one kind of reality. ;-)

TypeRacer

2008-06-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

This site lets you "race" other people by typing lines from movies, books, and songs. I am so addicted right now. You can also have a private race with your friends by sending them a code or link.

Simple & Enchanting and Beautiful

2008-06-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

For all you women who may be interested in "interesting mom products," you may want to check out the blog Simple Reviews. This is a new blogspot site I just discovered and already love because of the ease of navigation and plethora of wonderful information (not to mention give-aways and coupons).

And recently, they reviewed (and raved about) a product made by someone I know. I haven't yet tested the shampoo & conditioner, but I have sampled the wonderful (and natural, which is even more wonderful) lotions made by the company, Enchanting and Beautiful. There is currently a give-away for free shampoo & conditioner, so check it out.

Free Printable Owl Envelopes

2008-06-24T21:28:00.000-07:00

We found this darling printable owl envelope over at Rubbergob! Head on over there for printing directions and to check out the rest of their chic crafting blog.
Our suggestion: Brighten the day of someone special by enclosing a hand written note expressing how much you love them!

Update: I don't know about you, but my printer keeps cutting off parts of the envelope... so if that is happening to you too, you can click here to download a smaller pdf version!

Quick and efficient way to fold laundry, the Chinese way!

2008-06-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

I came across this video some time ago and ever since then it's how I've folded all our shirts. It works a lot better on men's shirts than on women's, which are more curvy.

The video is in Chinese, but it is easy to follow, I didn't understand what he was saying either (my Chinese is incredibly limited). It really is very easy and it's second nature to me now. It has also cut my laundry folding time in half!

Recycled Denim Fiesta Skirt: A Tutorial

2008-06-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

I love this tutorial from Crafty Daisies and I am sure to find the perfect pair of pants to try this with when I clean out my daughter's closet next week. Recycled Denim Fiesta Skirt: A Tutorial

Children's Books

2008-06-19T08:54:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do is read to Grayson while I'm feeding him. I feel like it creates an even deeper bond between us, as well as benefits his mental and language development. I have accumulated a very small collection of children's books over the years and they currently sit on the bookshelf in his bedroom. Among them are classic Dr. Seuss books, several by Max Lucado, and of course Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. But how many lesser-known authors am I missing out on?

I'd really like to expand Grayson's library. Tell me, what were your favorite books as a child? What are your children's favorite books? What is the one (or two or three or...) book that no child should live without? All books are welcome - boy books, girl books, board books, educational books, religious books, or just plain silly books! Please leave a comment with the book title and author's name. I want to hear from you lurkers as well! Thanks!

RECOMMENDED BOOK LIST:

1. I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg
2. Fanny's Dream by Caralyn Buehner
3. The Missing Piece Meets the Big O by Shel Silverstein

4. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
5. Just In Case You Ever Wonder by Max Lucado
6.

I thought this was awesome!

2008-06-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Plus, it saves money on having to buy clips that break all the time!

Online children's journals

2008-06-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across a website I really like last week. Kidmondo is still a baby, as it was only publicly launched in April, but it's a wonderful site for sharing your children's growth, 'big news', pictures, videos, and stories with friends and family. My favorite part is the Growth Chart, where you can input your child's weight, height, and when their teeth come in. You can even choose to track this information in pounds and inches or kilograms and centimeters! And the growth charts provide you with your child's percentile information for weight and height. No more trying to recreate what your pediatrician gives you at the office - just print it out from this site and paste it into your baby book.

Kidmondo has three types of accounts available for use. The free account allows you to record information for up to three children and gives you 25mb of storage, but requires your account to allow online advertising. For just $5.00/month, you can go ad-free, track five children, and up your storage to 100mb. The max account costs $10.00 per month and allows you to track unlimited children and gives you 500mb of storage.

The site is simple - there are only four color schemes to choose from - but it gives you a separate url for each child's journal for easy sharing with friends and family. Toggling between different children and journals is very easy (just use the drop-down box in the upper right corner). Subscribers can choose when to receive updates about your child, but you get to choose those subscribers, and decide who sees what information about your child.

So check out Kidmondo if you have a few minutes. Even if your children aren't brand new, the online diary is a great way to start keeping a journal for them if you haven't already begun, or if you want to share stories or names you don't feel safe sharing on your blog.

Great find!

2008-06-16T06:27:00.001-07:00

Flame Decals for Kitchen Aid mixers.

I think I want the purple flames.

My black Artisan is already pretty dang pimp. But can you imagine the PIMP FACTOR of a black kitchen aid mixer with flames?

I think it would make my bread and cookies ever more awesome.

Digital Scrapbooking

2008-06-15T23:13:00.000-07:00

If you are a digital scrapbooker, or want to start, check out the 50% off sale at PeppermintCreative.com
For 5 days only, save 50% off their 50 best selling products of all time. (sale ends Friday, June 20th at midnight EST)

Also, I have to give a shout out to TangieBaxterDesigns.com Her digi-scrap items are some of my favorites ...
& not just because she's one of my very favorite people in the whole world :-)

Summer Retention

2008-06-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

My daughter and I spent the summer between kindergarten and first grade doing virtually nothing. It never occurred to me to help her retain her math and reading skills, but then, when she started first grade, she struggled. She was put in the lowest reading group even though she had been in the highest the year before, and the first month or so of math was a nightmare. She was frustrated and had a hard time keeping up with the rest of the class. As first grade drew to a close, I knew I had to make the coming summer more productive. But I also wanted her summer to be fun and relaxing. I needed to find a good balance between work and play. That summer we came up with some fun ideas and activities that have become tradition with her and now my other children as they start school. Here are some things we do.

We plan family outings, one for each week of the summer. By planning an outing a week, they always have something to look forward to. This summer our outings include the water park, aquarium, dinosaur museum, and beach. Pick a mixture of outings. Plan some that are simple, like a picnic at a favorite park, and plan some that are more extravagant, like a trip to the zoo.

We learn about something they enjoy. I talk to the kids about what they want to learn over the summer. This summer my daughter wants to learn about poetry. ShadowPoetry.com has a list of different poetry types. I had her look over them and pick out one type of poem for each week of summer. Every morning during breakfast we talk about the poem type of the week and she writes a poem. We could have done the same thing with art styles, artists, musicians, or musical genres.

We don’t avoid math. Though it isn’t necessary to learn new math skills over the summer, it is a good idea to review the skills they’ve already learned. You can always buy math workbooks, some, like the School Zone Interactive series, come with software. If you aren’t interested in buying a full-fledged math workbook, you can ask your child’s teacher for extra worksheets, or you can print out work sheets online at places like Saxon Basic Fact Sheets and Discovery School's Worksheet Generator.

We also visit the library regularly. Librarians often provide book lists by grade level and subject that will guide your children to books they are sure to enjoy. And don’t forget that libraries aren’t just places to find books. As well as story time and summer reading programs, our library offers weekly science and craft classes.

We create a summer journal. This helps them focus on what they are doing and to helps them later remember what we did. I buy hard-backed composition notebooks when the school supplies go on clearance each year. Then, at the beginning of summer, each child gets a notebook to keep as their summer journal. This is where my daughter writes her poetry and my son draws his plans for robots and rocket ships. They glue in ticket stubs and postcards and fill it with anything else that strikes their fancy.

All of that said, however, we allow plenty of time to play. Try to have any curriculum done first thing in the morning. This way your children have some free time in the afternoon—it is summer after all!

Turquoise Flower Earrings

2008-06-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased these earrings from Lisa's Etsy shop, and let me tell you, I am in love!

Dainty, dangling, turquoise... One glimpse, and I couldn't help myself but immediately purchase them. They arrived super quick, which is good, because I was waiting for them! I was even more pleased to find her jewelry is really well-made and looked just as pretty and perfect as they did in the photo.

So hurry on over to Lisa's shop as I've noticed several pieces have been going quickly!

Cooking Vegan

2008-06-10T08:59:00.001-07:00

This is my first post on the Hip Homemaker. Yay!

So this year I decided to become a vegan. While I am very excited about this decision, others (mostly my mom) are concerned about how I will raise/feed my children with this lifestyle. For the record I don't have kids nor am I dating anyone seriously but whatever. So being the brilliant girl that I am, I decided to search the internet for some vegan recipes. The first one I stumbled on was when I had some left over Butternut Squash soup that I needed to use. Imagine Foods has some awesome soups but I tire of soup fast. Luckily they have a page of recipes and it just so happened that they had an animal free one using the very soup I needed to use up. It is called Shells w/ Creamy Butternut Squash Sauce :

Ingredients:
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
1 cup mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 zucchini, about 1 1/2 cups, small dice (broccoli may be substituted)
1/2 red or green bell pepper, small dice (optional)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Brown Rice pasta Spirals
3 to 4 cups Imagine Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

The recipe calls for pasta shells but there is a better way! Brown rice pasta is far more healthy than white pasta and much more tender than wheat pasta. Seriously, if you haven't switched to this, do so NOW.

Directions:
In a large sauce pan, sauté the garlic, onion, mushrooms, zucchini and bell pepper in the olive oil. Cook until tender, about 5–7 minutes.
Add the soup, shells, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, stirring well.
Serve hot and garnish with fresh chopped parsley. So Delicious!

Love scrambled eggs but hate the cholesterol? You would not believe how good this tastes! Behold, Tofu Scramble:

Ingredients:
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1 block tofu (I prefer extra firm), drained and pressed
2 tbsp oil or margarine
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp nutritional yeast (I use Brewer's Yeast. You can find it at health food stores)

Directions: Slice the tofu into approximately one inch cubes. Then, using either your hands or a fork, crumble it slightly.
Saute onion, pepper and crumbled tofu in oil for 3-5 minutes, stirring often. Add remaining ingredients (be sure to sprinkle on the yeast slowly and evenly so it does not clump), reduce heat to medium and allow to cook 5-7 more minutes, stirring frequently and adding more oil if needed. Wrap in a warmed wheat flour tortilla with a bit of salsa for a breakfast burrito. I got this recipe from About.com

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies? You're kidding me!

All you do is take a standard chocolate chip recipe from the back of any package of semi-sweet (non dairy) chocolate chips. I used one from Ghiradelli. Please pay attention to the butter and egg substitutes.

Ingredients:
2 1/4 C unsifted, unbleached flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 Cup Earth Balance (I like the shortening cubes)
3/4 C Sugar
3/4 C Brown Sugar
Ener-G Egg Replacer mix for 2 eggs
2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (you decide how many)

Heat oven to 375 degrees, mix flour salt and baking soda together and set aside. In mixer, mix Earth Balance, Sugar, Egg replacer mix and vanilla until creamy. Slowly mix in dry ingredients. You will notice your mixture does not have the same consistency as regular chocolate chip cookie dough. That is where the Almond milk comes in. I add it until the consistency isn't dry yet isn't to runny. Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes. I like to leave mine a little gooey in the middle. Play around with the recipe. I have a friend who likes to ad maple flavoring. Yum! I promise once you find your way around the substitutes, these cookies are to die for!

I cannot wait to find more ways to cook without using animal products. My next attempt will be coconut blueberry pancakes (I'll include pictures once I have mastered this and share the recipe) And my mom was worried!

Facebook for "Grownups"

2008-06-10T06:05:00.000-07:00

It's no longer just for college students...

First off, I don't want to imply that college students aren't "grownups." But I can't think of a shorter term for "those of us who aren't in college anymore but still might want to find out what the buzz is about this Facebook stuff."

So there it is.

I first heard of Facebook from my younger sister, Kaitlyn, when she was in her first year of college at BYU. Then one day, about a year later, I received my first "invite" to Facebook from our beloved Laurie, or the creator of the "Hip Homemaker" herself. I resisted, as I figured the last thing I needed was more "group e-mails" or access to more internet message boards.

Finally one day, half on a whim, and half because my niece Emily was also now away at college, on Facebook, and claimed to be posting photos...

I gave in and joined.

It's now one of my favorite websites.

(If you don't already belong, you can find it here: http://www.facebook.com/index.php? )

Now be warned: it is possible, especially as the months tick by, to join Facebook and, though not meaning to add any "applications," and then once you've begun adding friends, to start accepting invitations from your friends and little by little feel overwhelmed. So here is my guide to keeping Facebook simple:

1. If you receive an invitation to Facebook itself, don't be afraid of it. You can easily opt to keep your profile (and information) viewable only to your friends.

2. You don't have to accept invitations to applications if you don't want to. If you keep the number small, Facebook makes them pretty easy to keep track of on your own "applications" page.

3. Facebook is a social networking site, but it isn't geared towards dating. To be sure, there are applications on it that can be used for such; but they're by far only a very small part of what's offered there.

4. Individual photo albums make it easy to keep up with what friends and family are up to, even if they're far away. And you *don't* need to upload anything, yourself, to be able to view others' photos, as long as you're on their friend's list and they've chosen the option for "all friends" on their own profile news and photo options.

5. There are groups you can join on Facebook, only if you want to, geared towards just about any interest you can imagine. Through some of these groups I've been able to find friends I made in France in 1993 and 1994; friends from high school and elementary school; political groups (but no arguments allowed here on the HH) ;-) : and groups for two new "modest clothing" magazines, one in print and one online. (I'll write more about those later. If you have an interest in modest clothing, you'll be pleasantly surprised at all the resources you can find through Eliza and Jen magazines.)

Of particular note: none of the "old friends" I found on Facebook was "unwilling to be found," so to speak. Your privacy options allow you to be "found" (name and your chosen profile photo only) solely by the groups you choose to allow. You can even choose to remain completely invisible, or not viewable in searches of any kind.

6. My favorite part of Facebook: an application called "We're Related."

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=5388815661

Once I've found family members on Facebook, I'm then able to keep track of their birthdays and profile updates through this application. My cousins and siblings and nieces and nephews can then also contact each other if they wish; again, only if their chosen privacy settings allow their profiles to be "found" or seen. It also gives me a way to contact them all at once, easily, in if I need to.

7. My most recent find: a former roommate from college from South Africa. We'd gotten out of touch, and I hadn't been able to speak with her in over ten years. Now, thanks to Facebook, I'm browsing through photos of her daughter's first birthday from thousands of miles away. I realize that this sort of thing is becoming, in some ways, so "ho hum...more of the internet age." But seeing those photos posted yesterday on her profile gave me pause.

As long as I keep things simple on Facebook, I've found that it can possibly be, after e-mail, my most valuable tool on the internet.

8. Now, if someone can just explain to me why the video of my son's solo in a school play won't upload to my profile, my day will truly be complete. ;-)

9. Last, but not least, as another example of what you can find there, one of the most recent groups I joined: someone I knew in high school sent me an invite to a group she'd helped to start recently. It's called "Movies You Enjoyed To Watch (And Would Even Recommend It To Your Priest)." (Which could also be Pastor, Rabbi, Bishop, parents, etc. of course.) It only has 30+ members at present, but I already feel like I've found a wealth of excellent movie options for both myself and my kids to watch, through this simple idea of "join a group and share ideas." There are currently 10 conversations going on in the group about different movie recommendations, ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to foreign films and films for children.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13201015274

If you have an area of interest you want to talk with others about, it's probably on Facebook somewhere. If not, you can start a group yourself.

I hope this this has helped someone to become a bit less scared of Facebook. I now seem to know more about the daily happenings of my niece and little sister than I did when they lived just twenty miles away! It seems like every month, other friends of mine who once resisted Facebook are now joining. For someone like me, who has lived in seven different places during the last eighteen years, it's been the perfect way to keep up with friends and family who now live all over the globe.

-Rachel
mom of 2
Orange County, CA

Fun site :)

2008-06-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

OranizedHome.com

Flat Belly Foods

2008-05-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm not so sure that we'll all get flat bellies in time for swimsuit season by eating these foods, but eating healthy is always a good idea, so I thought I'd share this article from Prevention Magazine.

38 Flat Belly Foods That Fight Disease & Shrink Your Tummy (pdf article)

Here are a few of my favorites:
#1 Kashi 7 grain pilaf
#7 Naked Juice Probiotic Tropical Mango 100% Juice Smoothie
#34 True Lime/Lemon/Orange (free sample)(free sample in Canada)
-I carry packets of True Lemon or Lime in my purse to put in my water at restaurants, instead of putting that yucky, dirty lemon peel in my water.

Overall, the top 5 are:
(1) oils,
(2) nuts and seeds,
(3) avocado,
(4) olives,
and my favorite...
(5) chocolate.

"Eating one serving of any of these foods at every meal will help reduce your accumulation of dangerous belly fat; control your calorie intake and you'll lose inches and pounds, too--especially around your waistline."

For more info check out the Flat Belly Diet

Why pay sticker price again...

2008-05-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

When you can get a great deal....

If you have Triple A or a Costco membership you can go directly to them and let them know you are interested in buying a new vehicle. They will ask you the make and model you have in mind and from there they will find a participating dealership in their program. They will send you to the Fleet manager of the participating dealership. You will pay a certain price over the invoice price... Triple A it was 499$ above the invoice price. No haggling, no mumbo jumbo... Just great customer service. They go over everything... Since we were looking for a Ford Escape Hybrid we choose to Deal with VILLA FORD in orange (close to the InLaws). They gave us the price of the vehicle and then looked high and low for a hybrid. Since those are "gold", scarce to find one with what you want and well since they couldnt find one, we ordered one (can take up to 8 weeks). We wanted the ice blue escape with the chrome package... well since another dealership had gotten one in after we ordered, The gentlemen in the fleet department asked if we wanted that one (ice blue with the electrical plug no chrome package) we decided to take it. So, on saturday we walked into the dealership around 10am and walked out with a new car washed, fueled up, and paid for with in an hour and a half... we walked out and drove off into the sunset at 1130am ...

However after we had started to look into getting the hybrid about a week Ford Motor co sent out a memo to the dealerships nationwide that they can not longer have the hybrids participate in the fleet pricing program. They can not keep the cars in stock long enough. The escape gets 34 city and 30 highway. We got just the basics, nothing really cool or fun. I love that the new cars automatically come with a plug for your MP3 Player.

Since it was Memorial day weekend we did get a 1000.00 cash rebate from Ford as well as we put a hefty amount down... we paid for lojack which is normally 999$ for triple A customers we got it at 40% off , as well as on the extended warranty... New car buying wasnt so bad. So next time go to good ol' Triple A if you are a member and ask them what they can do for you in re to purchasing your next vehicle... Mind you if you are looking at buying used I believe they can help you with that as well... It doesnt hurt to ask.

We also have Triple A for our insurance and we asked how much our insurance will go up if we added the escape and dropped our truck. We really wanted to know how much our total purchase would be and how much we would be spending extra a month. Since we decided we could afford it we went for it.

I work for a bank and I went ahead and applied with them and we are getting a 4 year loan and with any luck we will be able to pay it off in 2 years... if all goes the way that is planned. :)

A new car is such a big purchase, we really didnt know if we could do it until we explored all the options and priced it out. I hope this info helps.

Korie

How much will will it cost to drive to...

2008-05-19T20:48:00.001-07:00

Call me stupid (seriously), but I'm driving to Phoenix this weekend. It's a long drive, so if it were just me, I'd fly, but being fairly last minute, and a holiday weekend, flights aren't cheap. So, we're driving.
Have you heard about the AAA Fuel Cost Calculator? I hadn't, so I thought I'd share this handy little gadget with you.
You enter your starting and ending cities, plus the make, model and year of your car. Then it takes current gasoline prices & your car's average gas mileage over the distance of the trip, and it tells you how much it will cost to fuel your car one way or round trip.
Check it out at www.fuelcostcalculator.com

Downloading Free Music Online

2008-05-16T21:39:00.000-07:00

A brief (and probably mostly irrelevant) introduction: Throughout my 29 years on this planet, I have witnessed music evolve from 8-tracks, to records/vinyl, to cassette tapes, to CDs. Somewhere in there radio stations were still using something called Reel-to-Reel... a phrase/device that today's teenagers have probably never even heard of. Frankly, I'm glad it's gone. It was a pain to use. In high school I had to splice one of those for credit before my teacher would allow me to be a dj on his radio station.

I digress.

Nowadays, though, people all over the world are downloading their music online in the form of "digital downloads" or "MP3s", and radio stations don't need to worry about their music being scratched as it is mostly, if not all, computerized. Welcome to the 21st century, friends. The romance of the vintage record stores (a la High Fidelity) may be gone, but there are many other perks to being able to instantly purchase your favorite songs with just a click of the mouse.

A quick search of free music downloads yields overwhelming results, but one must still be careful in downloading anything copyrighted on the internet without permission. So to be safe, here are a few tips to finding free mp3s online.

Directly from the artist/record label:
The newest trend in digital downloads is the release of free music put out directly by the artist and/or record label to help promote their upcoming albums. In October of 2007, many were shocked (and thrilled! I was!) to find that Radiohead was releasing their latest album, "In Rainbows", completely free to the public for a limited time.

If you know of a new album coming out, check out the artist's official website as many of them will offer either a track or an entire album FREE! Downloading directly from the artist and record label will ensure you are downloading legal mp3s. This is often time-sensitive, however, so know that they do expire.

A few examples of artists currently offering free downloads:

Barenaked Ladies' "7 8 9" (song only)

Due West (entire album, limited time!)

Nine Inch Nails, The Slip (entire album)

Music Blogs:
Many MP3 blogs exist where people often share their favorite downloads. You can easily add them to your RSS Reader and be notified every time they are updated, thus ensuring you keep up to date with the latest music out there. That's important for those of us who feel like we're seriously losing grasp of what music is up and coming.

Here is a list of some of the more popular (and truly cool) blogs that I am personally subscribed to:

Brooklyn Vegan

Gorilla Vs. Bear

I am Fuel, You are Friends (My personal favorite recommendation!)

I Guess I'm Floating

My Old Kentucky Blog

Stereogum

You Ain't No Picasso

Social Networking Websites:
If you check out an artist's official MySpace, Facebook, even Twitter pages, you will often find free downloads or news of where you can find them.

A Cool Google Trick:
If none of the above suggestions appeal to your personalized tastes, you can enter in specific text to bring up search results for specific MP3s. (Again, practice safe, legal downloading!)

For a general list, copy and paste the following text into Google.com: -inurl:htm-inurl:html intitle:"index of" mp3

To look up MP3s to a specific artist, copy and paste the following text into Google.com (changing Kanye West to the name of the artist you are searching out): -inurl:htm-inurl:html intitle:"index of" mp3 "Kanye West"

Thanks for letting me have my "hip" moment in sharing tips on legal, free music downloads... Happy listening!

Free Reading

2008-05-12T15:49:00.000-07:00

If any of you are like me, you like to read books. I found out about this site where you can read books by email or RSS. I am so excited to get started here & thought you might like it as well. :)

Daily Lit

Kitchen Adventure

2008-05-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

I was in the kitchen on Tuesday (I think that was the day) and I made an absolutely wonderful base for a salad, salsa, or dip. Use it for whatever. I am not big on measuring when I create my own recipes and I don't know how much of each item I used but here is what I did.

Finely dice 1 whole avocado, add the juice of 1/2 a lime. Dice 1 roma tomato and add to the avocado & lime. Remove the seeds and dice 1 medium orange pepper and 3 green onions (depending on how much you like green onions and how much of it you use. I would say that if you use a lot of the green at the top only use 2) and add to the mixture. I only had dried cilantro which is also known as coriander but I added some, well actually a lot more than some people think is normal (I love cilantro) If you have fresh cilantro chop some up and add as much as you like. Also add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.

This "recipe" doesn't make tons, but it is Oh so good!! I had some just plain on chips. I also added black beans to make it go a little further, but be sure to add some more salt if you do that, it kind of took the fresh flavor away though. :( The next time I made it I put shredded chicken and ranch dressing with it. . .OOOOOHHHHHHH. Chicken salad. (Can you say pseudo Cafe Rio/Bajio/Costa Vida dressing?)

Okay, I know that this is a random post, and it is my first entry on hip homemaker, but enjoy the "recipe." Besides my new roomie loves it. :D

Popsicles and Cupcakes

2008-05-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

I just saw these fun pans featured at Ohdeedoh, and all I have to say is, who wouldn't want to make cookie Popsicles and cupcake ice cream cones? I am thinking this is a must have for the summer.

FREE pictures plus an 8x8 photo book!

2008-05-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

For a limited time, Artscow.com is offering new registrants 200 free 4x6 prints, 200 free 5x7 prints, and 1 free 8x8 photo book! But once they reach their targeted number of new customers, the freebies disappear, so you need to register now! And as an added bonus, anyone that becomes a member and purchases something before May 14 will get a free 8.5x11 photo calendar that you customize with your own pictures. What a great gift idea for 2009!

Click here for more information and to register for your FREE prints and picture book!

Twilight in HD :)

2008-05-06T23:51:00.000-07:00

To anyone who loves Twilight as much as I do... here's the teaser, teaser trailer :) The actual teaser comes out in 2 days here: Twilightthemovie.com. Hope ya love it ;)

DIY: Embossed Wall

2008-05-03T08:30:00.001-07:00

DIY: The Embossed Wall

Wall embossing is a technique a friend taught me. What to emboss your own wall? Well, today is your lucky day!

You will need: Stencils, craft knife, pencil, putty knife, painters tape, paint rollers, paint brushes, paint, and dry time spackle.

Pick a Pattern. First off, you need to decide what you are going to emboss on your walls. We picked maple leaves. But be creative, you can use a fleur-de-lis, a daisy, or a bird. Doing a child's room? How about cars, trucks, stars, or fairies?

Get a Stencil. After you have chosen a pattern you need to find a stencil. If you can't find exactly what you are looking for, it is easy to create your own. Simply trace your pattern onto a blank stencil sheet and cut it out with a craft knife. We cut out four maple leaves in various sizes.

Prepare the walls. We will be spackling and painting so give the walls a quick wash and remove any wall plates that might get hit with the roller. Don't tape off yet! If you put the tape on too early, it is harder to remove when you are done.

Outline. Take a pencil and lightly mark where you are going to be stenciling. We wanted the leaves to be placed on our wall in a tree branch pattern and drew lines accordingly. If you want your pattern to be placed on the wall at specific intervals, make sure to mark it off. Depending on how precise you want your pattern to be, you may want to use a ruler and a level.

Spackle Your Design. Grab your putty knife, it's time to spackle! We suggest using dry time indicator spackling. It goes on pink and dries white. The pink color makes it easier to see the design as you're putting it on.

Firmly hold the stencil in place, using your putty knife spread the spackle across the stencil. It works best to spread from the outside of the stencil in. If you want a more worn or rustic look, you can try filling in only part of the stencil. Have fun with this part! If you don't like it, scrape it off and try again.

Let it Dry. While your spackling dries, use painters tape to tape off any door jams, baseboards, ceilings or walls you don't want to get paint on.

Sand. Once the spackle designs are completely dry you will want to sand them. At this point the spackle is still fragile, so use a fine grit sand paper. Sand just enough to get rid of any sharp edges. You will want to leave some of the texture, as it adds to the look.

Paint. Now it is time to paint your walls. Make sure to use a primer if needed. If you find that your spackling is coming off during the painting process, spray it with a little varnish first. Remember to remove the painters tape while the paint is slightly tacky. Don't wait too long or you'll be needing that craft knife to remove it.

Details. Once the paint is dry, feel free to highlight your embossing with little bit of color. You can do this by rubbing a small amount of paint onto the embossed area, then wiping it off with a dry rag. However, don't go overboard, the embossing should be subtle.

Product Review: OxiClean Baby

2008-04-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Ladies, if you're anything like me, you may have found yourself in a laundry nightmare after your first little one arrived. Not only did I find myself doing load after load of laundry, but I wasn't drying some of it because I didn't want any stains to set in. Let me tell you, it became quite the juggling act.

A great friend of mine lent me some of her son's preemie baby clothes to wear while my son spent several weeks growing into the 0-3 months we already had on hand. There is no worse feeling than pulling borrowed clothes out of the washing machine and finding they're still dirty, even after subsequent washes. I was at my wit's end - not only could my son not wear these dirty clothes, but I'd have to return them stained! Well, there was no way I was going to do that. If I couldn't find a way to get them clean, I'd have to replace them.

I did a google search for how to remove baby poop stains from clothing (my son is exclusively breastfed, so spitup came right out). I happened to come across an online discussion where women were praising a product I hadn't yet heard of, OxiClean Baby.

Sure, sure, I'd used regular OxiClean before, but always found it a hassle to make up a solution for pretreating stains. The OxiClean Baby line includes the tub of powder, but you can also get this Baby Stain Remover in a premixed spray bottle! It sounded good and looked easy to use, so I decided to try it out.
I've used it consistently for about a month now, and I'm totally hooked! Not only did it get the stains out of the clothes my son soiled, but it brightened several used outfits my sister gave me, even removing some older, set-in formula spitup stains. I was touting its amazingness to a friend of mine, and her neighbor that overheard me said it works great on her toddler's clothes, too! It's removed grass, jelly, blood, and lots of chocolate stains over the last six months. This is definitely a product every Hip Homemaker needs in her (or his) laundry room!

The best part about OxiClean Baby is that it's 100% fragrance, chlorine, detergent, and dye free, without sacrificing its stain-fighting effectiveness. You can get your baby's clothes squeaky clean without worrying about what's touching their skin! If you'd like to try out OxiClean Baby powder and spray, this is the best combo price for both. And be sure to look here for current coupon codes before you check out and save even more! Happy laundering!

Storage Solutions

2008-04-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

Ohdeedoh, a design blog focused around children, just posted the winners to their "Now You See it, Now You Don't" storage solutions contest.

They had a lot of great ideas from some very creative moms. My personal favorite was the bucket brigade (a memo board with buckets attached).

You can check out the other winners here.

Mark Your Calendars

2008-04-14T13:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I could never say no to an ice cream cone, let alone one with a 31-cent price tag!

On April 30th, stop by your local Baskin Robbins ice cream store inbetween the hours of 5:00 to 10:00 pm to participate in the annual 31 Cent Scoop Night, benefiting The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. There is also opportunity to donate a little more if you so wish.

And while you're there, why not pre-order a darling mothers day cake. (Let's be honest, mothers, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Maybe your husband and kids can get some credit for having to pick it up.)

By the way, if you happen to work for Baskin Robbins, be sure to stock up on Gold Medal Ribbon, because my family is headed your way!

Photo via: Baskinrobbins.com

Hulu.com

2008-04-12T19:11:00.000-07:00

In the past week, I have seen at least ten personal blogs talk about their new obsession with Hulu.com.

On Hulu.com, you can view full-length television episodes and movies for FREE! Missed the season premiere of The Office or Scrubs? No worries, you can view them on Hulu.com! Want to see old episodes of your favorites such as Bewitched? Again, free on Hulu.com!

Free stuff is always good, Right?

(As if I honestly need another excuse to watch TV!)

Bowling Birthday Cake

2008-04-10T21:03:00.001-07:00

My sister made this cake for a friends birthday party. I loved it so much I wanted to share. My favorite part is how she used tea lights for the holes in the bowling ball. She did say to keep in mind that once you cut the cake to shape it, the newly cut edges are hard to frost.

I want to talk someone into a bowling birthday so I can take crack at this cake.

Postcard Heaven

2008-04-06T21:07:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone, I'm at it again. I'm going to ask whoever can do this for me, please please please send me a post card (or however many you want) to me :). Last time I did this, I got quite a few, and some are still coming, but this is just a reminder to those who don't know about it yet... Please send me as many as you want, or can. And spread the word. Even if you don't know me, or want to tell your friends to send some random person a post card, please do it. I think it is so great to see pictures of the different places people live in the world!

So, send them to this address, and pass this news along too:

Lauren Whitney
760 E 300 S Apt 3
Payson, UT 84651

Also, check out some of the post cards I've already gotten here: Post Cards for Lauren

There's also a postcard trading site called Postcrossing.com

Thanks in advance, can't wait to see these great postcards!
~L

Pimp my stroller

2008-04-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NnzF772EkI

Check this out... Pimp my stroller... It is Funny... Granted it is 5 mins long but it is worth it...

Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles!

2008-04-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

So, I've fallen in love with the command Picture Hanging Strips. My mother-in-law bought me some for a painting she wanted me to hang, and I thought, "They'll never hold!" Once she left, I put them aside, and forgot about them, until the day I decided to hang the picture, and couldn't find my nails... So, I grabbed the hanging strips, followed the instructions, and placed one strip on all 4 sides of the medium sized painting, and stuck it to the wall. I stared at the picture for a good 10 minute making sure it wasn't slipping. Almost a year later, the painting is still stuck and steady on my hallway wall :) And, if I decided to take it down, all I have to do is pull the tab and it'll come clean off my wall without scraping, refilling a hole, pulling the paint off or anything! I *heart* the Command Picture Hanging Strips :)

Tracking Cycles

2008-04-04T20:36:00.001-07:00

I don't know how many of you track your cycles and for what reason, but I was hoping I could do so via the Internet and stumbled across My Monthly Cycles during that search. I'm still fairly new to the site, but there is a lot of interesting information and tools on there. So if you're like me, you may find it useful.

Savings...

2008-03-30T23:14:00.000-07:00

I just was overly consumed this evening to talk about saving... I know it is the Sabbath and I really shouldn't be sitting at the computer typing this or rather thinking about this... I know this is the day of rest... Yet, I was very consumed by this thought... Although My Dear Hubby and I both work and as I pay the small bills (our utilities, insurance, etc...) DH pays for the Mortgage, and the credit card bill (we put groceries, or if we go out... on the cc) and then I put what I can into 2 different accounts. I put at least 300$ a month into savings which is roughly 16% of my monthly income into a regular savings account, and then another 200$ a month into a mad money account... which we have used for vacations, for improvements for the condo, the list goes on... It is always good to put away some money every month and try to live with out debt. Once the time is right, which would be when we have kids, we do not want me to work, so I am putting as much as I can into "the savings".

I know this can be hard, Especially when you only have one person in the household working. I am working on paying off my credit card as we speak it has about 1700$ left and I am putting 300$ away on that every month as well... and mind you once it is paid off the extra 300$ will be going into savings as well... I try to stay on a budget... Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
My Grandma Beverle Biggs once told me that I should have about a years worth of bills or living expenses in the bank for savings, and after working in collections for a large bank, I realize why she said that. Life comes at you hard sometimes and you need to be prepared. Yes here on Earth money is just a material possession and it really won't be able to carry any weight once we leave Earth and pass into Heavenly Fathers home.

My Grandma was a very smart lady. She was really good with numbers, well that comes with being a book keeper. She loved Tax season, she would do taxes for her family members and friends, mind you she did charge (more for her time than anything else) not for the extra money but rather cause she enjoyed working with the numbers. She would constantly tell me how credit is very important and making your bills on time influences that. Stressing that you need to live with in your own means. Stressing to save, save and save. Pay cash whenever possible. If you don't have the funds then you should not buy it right then and there. You need to assess whether it is a need or a want. Using that to base whether to buy things. My Grandmother was a very smart lady. She worked as well as my grandfather and they raised 5 kids and were able to travel every 2 years. She would save their tax returns so that way they could take a vacation in their Winnebago (RV). She also stressed the importance of travel of going and seeing the world. Learning about new places and people and things. Mainly other cultures and getting to know new people.

You totally need time as a family to be able to get out of your daily rituals and just get away to learn and grow as a family. To get away from the stress of life.
I believe in this day and age we want so much and have so much I am totally guilty of this myself... I will be the first to admit it. I love to scrapbook and I am into Rubber stamping so I tend to spend more money on that than anything else of my wants. I have been purging my stash... Where do I put all of it? I do not have that much space... I am very limited on my space...
It is hard to break old habits, but oh so worth it...

I have seen what it looks like for a couple who doesn't save... My parents had some savings but then had to use it (due to unforeseen financial hardships...Loss of job/income, Illness, etc...) and they really didn't think too far into the future... 2 months before my grandma Bev passed away my parents filed for BK. My grandma was a wonderful woman and told them that she would help them get back on their feet, basically to bail them out and my parents told her that while they appreciated the thought, that they had really put themselves into this mess, that they really needed to be the ones to get themselves out of it... Besides what would they do when she wasn't around anymore... How prophetic those words were... that was in the summer of 2003 and my Grandma Bev passed in Oct 03' ... It was very unexpected, my grandmothers death.
My Parents did not for the longest time have anything for retirement. However things do have a way of turning around on us. And they seem to be getting their act together. Well, like I said before things have a way of turning out for the better as well, my father isn't quite in management, but with only one grown kid at home, and thier house almost paid off (less than 10 years to go) they are able to shove some money into savings...

So please if anything please, please please save what you can... Food storage(that in a way is saving as well) do what you can when you can...

Once I had enough in savings I had an opportunity to invest it into a CD to earn some extra money/interest... DH and I both put money into our 401K plans at work. Every time I get a raise at work I up my percentage... usually by 1% which really isn't that much...

Please do not take this as preaching, I am sorry if it comes off as such, Just please take it as a warning and a friend trying to guide in the right direction. More of advice...

If you do find yourself in a tough spot with credit cards, mortgages or even making your car payments... contact the financial institution that handles your loans or credit cards ask them for an extension or ask them for what kind of help they can offer you... It never hurts to ask.

Thank you
Korie

How to Make a Button

2008-03-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

This is a great instructional video on how to make a button.

Do we really have to grow up?

2008-03-21T14:53:00.000-07:00

I have never been one to play video games and I haven't allowed them in my home. I want my children to be active and think of other things to do besides sit in front of the TV. Back in my day we only had 7 channels to chose from, so we were always being inventive and coming up with made up games to occupy our time. But, last night I was acting as if I was 12 and hanging out with my girlfriends. My sister bought a video game of American Idol. I love to sing, so why not at least try it one time. I did the same with guitar hero - once was enough for me on that one. But this time it was different. I started singing and couldn't stop! I wanted the most points - I wanted Simon to love me - I was in it to win! Side note, I have never been an American Idol fan and have only seen a couple of episodes. By the end of the night, the kids had been running around the house like mad people and were pretty much babysitting themselves. My sister (a mother of two) looked at my brother and me and shouted "we should have a sleepover!" I thought we totally should! She then suggested we have grandma and grandpa take all the kids for the night so that we can play American Idol until the sun comes up! For one evening we were 12 again, free of responsibility, laughed until we fell off the couch, and felt no stress or worries of the world!
I am seriously thinking of taking her up on that offer. I think I deserve it!

All the mom's out there - we deserve to act like kids too sometimes! So, my recommendation to all mom's who have felt the need to relax, instead of taking that day trip to the spa this time, try playing with a girlfriend, sister, or neighbor for just one night. Forget about all the things we have to do the next day. Just act like you are 12 (remember that movie 13 Going On 30)!

I was so relaxed last night I didn't even care that my child didn't go to be until 10:30 on a week night!

On a Diet?

2008-03-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

Trying to lose weight? Then make a blog about it!

I've made a new blog about my weight loss journey. And I've found that it's one of the biggest motivations I've had in a really really long time! I finally feel like I'm doing this for the right reason, and the people who are on there supporting me, depend on me to make sure that they don't fall of the track either. I feel like a role model, and that they look to me for inspiration, guidance, and for a little push in the right direction.

So, now I'm extending my hand to YOU. The one who wants to lose either a few pounds, or a whole preschooler. Here is your chance to join in the Weight Loss Web Ring (WLWR).

Click here to start your journey! Make your own blog, send me the URL, and I'll add it to the WLWR. I've added a few sites to my site that are good for recipes, inspiration, motivation, and tracking your goals. Feel free to browse, and comment. I'd love to be on your journey with you!

Make today, the first day, of the rest of your HEALTHY life!

Pricked: Extreme Embroidery

2008-03-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

Pricked: Extreme Embroidery is currently being displayed at the Museum of Art and Design in New York. It highlights embroidery artists who take a less than traditional view of this traditional art. If you won't be able to make it to New York to see the show in person you can see samples from the show here.

Polyvore.

2008-03-18T00:22:00.001-07:00

Oh my gosh! This might be my favourite game from now on.

Polyvore gives you a huge variety of clothes & accessories which you can combine together and create thousands of outfits. Now all these should just start shipping to Europe.

This is my first fast draft.

Thank you Design Mom for sharing this.

Chivalry is not dead? Oh and Organization

2008-03-14T17:23:00.000-07:00

I ordered some things from http://twopeasinabucket.com/ since they were having a sale on everything organizational... I decided to get a making memories desktop organizer (see picture #3)... It is chipboard material made, and I am not sure I am going to like that, I was hoping for something a little more sturdy... It will do. I also ordered a Cropper hopper trolly seen in picture #2 which was a good price of 34.99$. I am right now storing paper on top and my Cricut on the bottom, and then sliding it into my closet downstairs.

I also bought 2 Lisa and Becky paper holders to sit up top of my trolly... I am so excited I can't believe it! I am finally going to get my scrapbooking under control. I have been purging my stash lately. So since I ordered this stuff last weekend and they ship via USPS, I had to go to the Post office to pick up my new toys...Since there were 2 packages that came it was a little bit of a challenge. So here I was getting ready to go back out to my car with my hands full due to the 2 boxes, And a small thought occured to me how the heck am I going to get the doors open so I can leave? Well, this
handsome young man (really he was probably closer to my ripe old age of 30) opened the door for me... not just the one but both doors... He stated that the boxes constituted as a 2 door opener... My jaw just about dropped to the floor. This is unheard of in this neck of the woods... A complete stranger, handsome and young opening a door for an overweight, average looking gal like myself... I am in total awe... Let me be the first to say chivalry is not dead... WHO KNEW?
Have a great weekend

Korie

Vintage Buttons

2008-03-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

I began collecting vintage buttons quite by accident. However, now that I have them, I can't imagine crafting with out them.

Vintage buttons are a must have for any crafter. They can be used to dress up scarves, sweaters, drapes, and bobby pins. I've also seen them used to create rings, necklaces and brooches. Their uses are endless.

Want to start your own vintage button collection? Start by looking in your own home. Check those boxes of old clothes you were going to toss. You may want to salvage some buttons. Don't forget to check your grandmother's sewing closet and your local second hand store. Vintage buttons are also for sale on Etsy.

Do you have a great way to use a vintage button? Leave a comment and share it with us!

Blog Books!

2008-03-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have been using your blog as a form of journaling and would like something a little more stylish than a printed stack of paper put into a 3 ring binder... This company will turn your blog into a very pretty customized book. Prices start at $12.95 for softcover and $22.95 for hardcover.

Test Your Geography Skills...

2008-03-13T10:18:00.001-07:00

How many countries can you name in 5 minutes?

54

Knitting Books

2008-03-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

I love knitting. In fact, I have to set aside a specific time for my knitting. If I didn't I'd sit in the corner all day and knit. I'd become so engrossed I would forget to feed and clothe my children. Social workers would be pounding on my door as I yelled, "Just let me finish this row!" I am an addict. As an addict I am going to tell you about three knitting books I am currently pouring over.

The first is called Knitting for Two by Erika Knight. It's patterns are for expectant (and new) moms and their babies. The patterns are amazingly elegant. Soft baby blankets with ribbon and sweaters with beautiful buttons and embroidery--this book has all of them.

The second book is Hand Knits for the Home by Caroline Birkett. This book is complete with practical designs for pillows, throws, bolsters, bags and rugs. She has a pattern for a fantastic beaded table runner that I will be making before too long.

The third, and my favorite of the three, is Alterknits by Leigh Radford. This book is about the creativity of knitting. There are patterns for shirts and scarves, but she also has a pattern for a crown knit with crepe paper, and paper lanterns knit with special Japanese yarns. The woman who wrote this book looked at a screen door, said, "hmm. I think I could knit that," and then did. I absolutely adore this book.

Now go and knit! I'm about to.

America vs Europe.

2008-03-13T00:33:00.000-07:00

I often wish that I could be able to order directly from an online shop in the States but often it is not possible. I could ask friends to send me that stuff but it's a hassle.

I once heard that Old Navy is not very popular in the States but they do have some cute summer shoes and clutches that I would order in a heartbeat.

Women's Wooden-Handle Clutches

Women's Chainlink Gladiator Jelly Sandals

Women's Patent T-Strap Sandals

Women's Printed Satin Flats

Women's Embellished Patent T-Strap Sandals

Women's Canvas Ballet Flats

How fast do YOU type?

2008-03-12T22:57:00.001-07:00

67 words

Speed test

DON'T do the Hustle (doo doo doo doo)

2008-03-12T22:19:00.000-07:00

Well, as long as we are showing cute hip art, I might actually contribute, even though I assumed as not so much a maker of the home, though hip I may be, I would be a lurking member of this blog. But these are crafty cute, huh?

However, none of them look like they are for sale right now.

They all "live" at Avocadolite Farm as does the second most dangerous thing to productivity since Scrabulous, for which I can blame the HILARIOUS Chris Leavins of Cute with Chris for hooking me on. (Dude, I LOVE CwC so much. SIGH!) It is a Bejeweled-like game called Farm Hustle. It is, mind you, MINDLESS. And yet... somehow it compels me to play almost daily, not unlike my OTHER Crack, Scrabulous.

NOW, I ask you. What is this to HOMEMAKING? DANGER! DANGER, WILL ROBINSON! Because why do the laundry when you can stack small animals into 3s? Or spell obscure words in your hand and yet on the board lose again and again and again and... oh, is that just me? Whoops.

matteart

2008-03-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

I came across this artist Matte Stephens which I fell inlove with immediately. These are my favourites:

NYC

It can be bought here.

Happy happy Simon

This can be bought here.

Is this hip enough for the hippest homemaker? :)

Comfort Food

2008-03-10T18:27:00.001-07:00

Old habits die hard. Specifically the habit of making mac and cheese from a box. I did a little experimenting with an old-fashioned macaroni and cheese recipe I have and the result was a super-rich, restaurant quality dish! I was going to top it with breadcrumbs, but tonight my husband requested using French Fried Onions instead. It gave it a little bit of tang.

Ingredients:

14 ounces macaroni
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk (whole milk for extra-creamy texture, if desired)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

1 cup dry bread crumbs OR 1 (2.8 ounce) can of French Fried Onions
2 tablespoons butter
1/4-1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, if desired

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

While noodles are cooking:

In a 3 quart saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and stir in flour. Cook for about 1 minute, until smooth and bubbly; stirring occasionally. Mix in milk, cream cheese, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard. Continue cooking until sauce is thickened and smooth. Add cooked macaroni and mozzarella and cheddar cheese and stir to coat.

Pour into 2 quart casserole dish. In small bowl mix together bread crumbs (or French Fried Onions), and butter; spread over macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.

Welcome to The Hip Homemaker, The Blogspot Edition

2008-03-09T23:29:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this blog is to collect ideas, tips, musings, and advice from hip women like you. It is a shared blog, with a diverse group of contributors that include mothers, professionals, homemakers, etc., all with different backgrounds and points of view.

I hope this becomes an enjoyable place for people to visit and find perspective in your own home life.