Making baby wipes....

In a pot on the stove you mix about 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of baby soap, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. You heat it all up so that it mixes together. Meanwhile you take the paper towels that come in "select-a-size" you know 3 small ones = 1 regular paper towel. You tear them a part and fold them to either fit in a already made container or a wipe container. so you get your folded stack and put them in a pan or glass dish and pour the water mixture (stir well before) over the paper towels. Once they are cooled down you put them in your container and there you have it!

Another Martha Stewart Moment...

I forgot to tell you all this..... On Sunday night I was making brownies for a Memorial Day Cookout and I realized I only had 2 eggs as oppose to the 3 I needed to make "cake style" brownies. So I referenced Betty Crocker and she was no help... she substituted eggs with other egg parts that you just happended to have in the freezer or egg beaters. So I said well the internet will rescue me... sure enough it did. It said "2 tablespoons cornstarch = 1 egg", so I thought well I have nothing to lose except messing up a brownie recipe. Sure enough, it made the best brownies I have ever eaten. I think I will always make the brownies that way and save an egg and use the cornstarch I keep in my pantry for that 1 recipe I use it for.

The One Month Catch Up

Ok so its been a month since my last post.... it has indeed been a busy month.

After the last post I boarded a plane and went to SC to spend the week there with family and friends. It was so nice and warm and lovely. I had a great time. Mack stayed with my in-laws and he did great too. After weather issues in Atlanta, I finally boarded the plane and made it back to Seattle airport all in one piece. This is going to sound silly but it took me about a week to get back into my normal routine here in WA because I was playing catch up from being gone for a week... so that was interesting.

When I got back I had to start working on a meeting I was leading and also a cookout that we had on Memorial Day... also we are doing a girls night out that needs planning, as I type. So the family group I work with has definitely been taking up some time which is good.

I decided to be Martha Stewart one week and I made quite an assortment. First I made dog treats for Mack, they turned out great and they are much less expensive than buying treats at the store. Also we shared some with Mack's dog friends and they all liked them too. Then I made some baby wipes because I had all the ingredients and I figured well, why not. I use them to clean off Mack's feet and also sometimes for a wiping things off. The third thing I tired to make was California Roll Sushi.... it wasn't a failure, but my technique definitely needs work, but I think I figured out a better method and will try again real soon.

I have gotten the bakers rack in the house a few weeks ago and am working on getting it settled in and looking good. Same with the corner shelf, working on getting it settled in and looking good.

I will post pictures this week of some things around that have been going on to show everyone.

Starbucks & Savings.....

I read somewhere recently that Starbucks will give you a 10 cent discount if you take your own mug or insulated cup for them to fill up with your order. So today I was making a trip to the credit union and I decided to get some Starbucks with my giftcard there, so nice not having to pay for Starbucks, haha. I asked the barista (can you tell I live in the Coffee Capital of the world?) if they did the discount for bring your own cup and he said yes.... so I saved 10 cents and didn't waste a paper/plastic cup!

New Furniture...

Well I have been walking through the thrift store at least once a week just to see what other people have donated/consigned. I have bought a few small things, such as some Pyrex pieces. We use the custard bowls all the time for things so I got a few more of those and I had an extra lid when I received my Pyrex set so I've been looking for just the bowl part and found it a few weeks ago.

Also a few weeks ago I found 2 metal corner shelves that each shelf was glass, they were really cute and functional and very sturdy, so I bought them and I have painted one so far and have one to go. Also on that same day at the same store I found a bakers rack that was also in really good condition. Andrew and I have been wanting a bakers rack since we lived in KY, but we kept putting it off in KY because we knew we were moving. Well I finely found one that was in good condition and at a "used" price. So yep, I bought it and brought it home. I will paint the metal parts this week and get a picture posted soon.

Happy Birthday to Mack!

Mack turned 1 year old on Tuesday. Andrew bought him some curly chews and he loves them of course, they must be tasty. I also put on his new collar and in the process of 24 hours he lost his ID tag, so I rushed out and got him a new blue bone. I remember getting Mack at 7 weeks and how small he was, I think he weighed 6 or 7 pounds or something and now he weighs about 21 pounds. I can't believe we have had him for almost a year now, he is part of our routine and fills our time. (top: first week we had him. bottom: this week with his chewy) HAPPY BIRTHDAY MACK! WE LOVE YOU!

Daffodil Parade--Puyallup, WA

Well Andrew's mom and I and 2 friends went to the Daffodil Parade today in Puyallup. I had never been to Puyallup, but it is a nice town, bigger than where we live, but still not a big city. The parade went thru 4 towns today and Puyallup was the 2nd on the parade route. The floats were very nicely decorated and creative. Here are a few pictures of what we saw: Picture 1--Color Guard from First Corp, Fort Lewis, Washington

Picture 2--One of the many floats we saw

Picture 3--A bagpipe band they also had a few drums. They were really good.

Picture 4--There was this really cool group of unicycler kids, they were amazing, and they had to keep making loops because the parade would stop/slow down.

We had a really nice time, it was a 2 hour parade with lots of bands, floats, and entertainment. Afterwards we stopped at a Germany grocery, bakery, cafe and had a little snack.

Accessories, Accessories....

Ever since back at Christmas I have wanted a giraffe purse. I had admired them at the post exchange on post and I had loved them online, but I waited because I didn't have a job yet.... Well, one day I was on eBay looking around and saw one of the styles of purse I had been liking and it was a super steal, so I waited until the last 2 minutes of the auction and bid, and I won! :)

So for the past few weeks I have been sporting this super fabulous purse that I got a GREAT deal on.

I have been wanting to make jewelry for a while now and found out that some of my new found friends have "beaded" before. So we met up yesterday at a local bead store and got "beading". Me, being a beginner, I didn't get a ton of beads because I wasn't sure how everything would turn out and how I would like it. Well first thing I did was pick out this metallic medalion and I decided to string it on a black cording. Then I got a few beads to make some earrings to go along with it. Once we had our beads we headed back to my house and we started working on our projects. (Yes, the necklace and the earrings do match, but the photo just couldn't get the colors exactly right. Also the earrings have the J hooks on them, but you can't see them in the picture)

The earrings took me less than 5 minutes and so did the medallion. So I ended up making a 2nd pair of earrings from some beads my friend had in her stash.

Do you skype?

Yes, I Skype. Skype is a webcam/webchat program that you can use to stay in contact with others all over the world. Well....do you skype?

I Won!

My dear friend Tequila, who is the writer at http://bloggymomreviews.blogspot.com/ was having a Fiber One Spa giveaway a few weeks ago and I just received an email that I am the WINNER. The basket I won includes a bath pillow, chocolate scented soap, lotion, and bath salts, and a coffee scented candle along with a box of the NEW Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars. I am SUPER excited and let me tell you, those fiber bars are really great! I buy them whenever they are on sale or I have a coupon.

Please stop in and visit Tequila's site she always has giveaways going on and she reviews different products. Also she is a Mom of a preschool girl so she always is giving Mom advice to you parents or soon-to-be-parents out there.

Recent picture

I'm really bad about putting pictures on here, but here is a recent one of Andrew and I. Aren't we cute?

Soggy Weekend

We have had an unusually soggy weekend. Its been raining/snowing/sleeting alot, also its been very windy. So as expected, we have pretty much just stayed inside and been lazy.

I have been thinking about all the fun things I want to try over the next few months. I really want to try and make some pet treats, just for fun. Also from what I have been reading it may be cheaper plus healthier because I will know what Mack is eating. I don't know if that idea will get any further than my house, but I've considered making and selling them. We will see, I'll keep you posted.

The past month or 2 I have wanted to take a cake decorating class at Michaels and I think I will sign up for the April class. I think it will be fun and also good to know for future parties. I may or may not like it, but I've always had an interest in it, I remember when my Mom took the class and she let me practice on the laminated practice board. So stay posted

A while back I started working on a blue jean blanket so I would like to continue working on that and maybe finishing it. Once again, stay tuned.

So I guess I have a list to work on the next few months...... :)

Andrew Kayaking.....

A few weekends ago Andrew rented a kayak and went out into the Puget Sound and paddled around. It was in the low 40s and VERY windy. Mack and I watched from the shore for quite a while and then we went and sat in the Jeep and watched, we were borrowing Andrew's parents vehicle to transport the kayak around. He paddled out to an island and got out and walked around for a little and then paddled on back to the shore. Andrew has found a new hobby he will be pursuing in the near future.

A Mack Moment

Since we have moved into this house Mack has found that the best place to lay if Andrew and I aren't sitting down is in a sunny spot. Lucky for him sunny spots are all over the house in the afternoon, when its sunny. He will even lay on the kitchen floor if its sunny there. This picture shows him laying in the dining room next to our radiator.

Edit since posting: Yeah he really does have long legs. I'm pretty sure he has stopped growing, he might gain a pound or so of bone weight.

The Lion King

We went and saw The Lion King last night in Seattle. It was the coolest thing I have ever seen. It was so amazing how the "puppets" came to life to tell the story. Also the music and singing was awesome! What a night, we had a great time!