Quick! Before Jack wakes up. I made this robot for Jack a few weeks ago and it has stayed in his crib ever since. Thank god he doesn't care that mom messed up the arms. Sweet boy.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Saving Money
Wow. That's a generic title if I ever saw one.
Over here at Casa de Chapin we are trying to save money for a variety of reasons. The main reason we want to save cash is to pay extra on loans to get them over and done with in a reasonable time frame. Here's what I did today:
1. Loss leaders. You know those annoying ads you get in the mail from Save Mart and other grocery stores? Those "deals" they advertise are called loss leaders it's what they use to get you in the door. Once you're there you'll buy a bunch of overpriced stuff that will negate your savings, at least that's what they are hoping. Loss leaders only work if you stick to a list. I got my ad yesterday in the mail and this morning I spent about $28 and saved $20 and some change. Had I stuck to my list and not bought a bottle of extra virgin olive oil I would have saved more than I spent. Good stuff. Oh, and always remember that if it's a really good deal and can store well buy multiples. I bought five loaves of bread because they were around $2 off. They'll all go in the freezer until I need one.
2. Bibs. Back before I had a child (actually before I was even pregnant) I saw these spiffy bibs that pulled over the head instead of being velcroed (is that a word?) at the neck. Now that Jack is eating some food on his own I decided that I needed one. At Target they are $6.99 each. Ummmmm, no thanks. Instead I bought some shirts at Goodwill for a $2 each, cut the arms and back off and there you have it. Jack is wearing one in the picture above. If you want super absorbent bibs you could also sew old washcloths or a cut up old towel to the back. I didn't do that but it's an idea.
3. Repurposing. You know that suitcase full of old bedsheets, pillowcases and scraps that I buy at the thrift store? I actually use that stuff. I had made quite a few pull over bibs for Jack but I had nowhere convenient to store them so I made a simple bag that hangs off the back of the high chair. The straps velcro so if I ever need to take the bag off I can.
When I was done I still had a lot of fabric left over so I decided to make something I had seen a while back but never got around to. 
Obviously it's on the left since it matches the bag. It hangs on the inside of the pantry door and it's for storing plastic bags. Yes, we still get plastic bags every once and a while, I'm a slacker sometimes. Besides, what else am I gonna use to clean up cat and dog poo?
Anyway, it's a tube open on both ends. You shove bags in the top and pull bags out the bottom. Simple concept really. The multi colored thing next to it is a reasonably priced closet shoe rack (I didn't get the cheapest because it was flimsy plastic) and hung it on the back of my pantry door. From top to bottom we have: 1) bottle liners 2) bottles and straws (random) 3) nipples, rings, lids, pacifiers that my son never uses 4) long pasta (angel hair, ect), small and large Ziploc bags 5) aluminum foil, wax paper, stuff like that.
Over here at Casa de Chapin we are trying to save money for a variety of reasons. The main reason we want to save cash is to pay extra on loans to get them over and done with in a reasonable time frame. Here's what I did today:
1. Loss leaders. You know those annoying ads you get in the mail from Save Mart and other grocery stores? Those "deals" they advertise are called loss leaders it's what they use to get you in the door. Once you're there you'll buy a bunch of overpriced stuff that will negate your savings, at least that's what they are hoping. Loss leaders only work if you stick to a list. I got my ad yesterday in the mail and this morning I spent about $28 and saved $20 and some change. Had I stuck to my list and not bought a bottle of extra virgin olive oil I would have saved more than I spent. Good stuff. Oh, and always remember that if it's a really good deal and can store well buy multiples. I bought five loaves of bread because they were around $2 off. They'll all go in the freezer until I need one.
2. Bibs. Back before I had a child (actually before I was even pregnant) I saw these spiffy bibs that pulled over the head instead of being velcroed (is that a word?) at the neck. Now that Jack is eating some food on his own I decided that I needed one. At Target they are $6.99 each. Ummmmm, no thanks. Instead I bought some shirts at Goodwill for a $2 each, cut the arms and back off and there you have it. Jack is wearing one in the picture above. If you want super absorbent bibs you could also sew old washcloths or a cut up old towel to the back. I didn't do that but it's an idea.3. Repurposing. You know that suitcase full of old bedsheets, pillowcases and scraps that I buy at the thrift store? I actually use that stuff. I had made quite a few pull over bibs for Jack but I had nowhere convenient to store them so I made a simple bag that hangs off the back of the high chair. The straps velcro so if I ever need to take the bag off I can.
When I was done I still had a lot of fabric left over so I decided to make something I had seen a while back but never got around to. 
Obviously it's on the left since it matches the bag. It hangs on the inside of the pantry door and it's for storing plastic bags. Yes, we still get plastic bags every once and a while, I'm a slacker sometimes. Besides, what else am I gonna use to clean up cat and dog poo?Anyway, it's a tube open on both ends. You shove bags in the top and pull bags out the bottom. Simple concept really. The multi colored thing next to it is a reasonably priced closet shoe rack (I didn't get the cheapest because it was flimsy plastic) and hung it on the back of my pantry door. From top to bottom we have: 1) bottle liners 2) bottles and straws (random) 3) nipples, rings, lids, pacifiers that my son never uses 4) long pasta (angel hair, ect), small and large Ziploc bags 5) aluminum foil, wax paper, stuff like that.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Done!
Finally, I have finished a quilt. I was on a serious quilting rut for quite some time. I though the "Giant Janell Project" was going to be my only successful project. Thankfully, I got a kick in the rear and plowed through this in a week. This was my first time machine quilting so the lines are a little wonky but the recipient is nice enough to say she doesn't care.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Lazy Summer
Summer here borders on dreadful. It's hot, hot, hot. I stay in most of the time only leaving my home in the early mornings or late evenings the only exception being swimming. While we've dedicated our back yard to a garden Travi's mom has a pool in hers. Thankfully she only lives few blocks from us so I try to get over there every other day with Jack just to cool off and do something other than sit in the house. Last weekend I had the day off so we made it a family swim day.
While staying inside does sound like a great reason to sew till my hearts content Jack's curiosity makes it hard. He's opening cabinets, trash cans and I'm pretty sure he's gonna figure out how to open the toilet lid soon. Also, like I've mentioned before, he likes to push on the foot pedal of my sewing machine when I'm sewing. It gets a little frustrating. There is crafting hope, The Bissat's and the Crum's are both due soon which means I need to kick it into high gear if they hope to ever get a gift. I'm not too sure what I'm making but I some fabric caught my eye and it sits on my table ready to spark my imagination. 
One more thing before I leave. Jack and the plum. Ignore the blurryness, Jack does not sit still.
While staying inside does sound like a great reason to sew till my hearts content Jack's curiosity makes it hard. He's opening cabinets, trash cans and I'm pretty sure he's gonna figure out how to open the toilet lid soon. Also, like I've mentioned before, he likes to push on the foot pedal of my sewing machine when I'm sewing. It gets a little frustrating. There is crafting hope, The Bissat's and the Crum's are both due soon which means I need to kick it into high gear if they hope to ever get a gift. I'm not too sure what I'm making but I some fabric caught my eye and it sits on my table ready to spark my imagination. 
One more thing before I leave. Jack and the plum. Ignore the blurryness, Jack does not sit still.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Not much
So my crafting has come to a halt due to Jack wanting whatever mama has. Currently he's trying to grab the keyboard. He will grab skeins of yarn and pull away from me, he will push the foot pedal down while I'm sewing or he will shove things in his mouth that do not belong there. Oh well, I'll have more than enough time to craft later when he's a pre-teen/teen and wants nothing to do with me because I'm old and his mom.
I do want to mention that I got a Mac on Father's Day. I don't know how I managed to get a gift from Trav on Father's Day but I'm not complaining. No longer do I have to deal with my computer randomly switching over to all caps, opening a new window with every click or holding the power cord in just the right spot to keep it running. Yay!
Friday, June 19, 2009
He walks. A lot
So, Jack just decided to start walking and he hasn't stopped. Pretty steady but tends to look like a drunken sailor when trying to walk fast/run. He's more determined than ever to do what he wants. I think he has his momma's stubborn streak which may drive me insane just like I did to my mom. What goes around comes around I guess.
Travis is at his new job. We love it. He says the hardest day at this job is still better than a regular day in the ED. Yay! He even has a lunch break that doesn't consist of him eating at the desk while charting on patients. At least once a week Jack and I meet dad in Exeter for lunch. The other day we walked in the grass while we waited for our food. My little hippie baby doesn't wear shoes, he doesn't like them. Oh well, I don't wear shoes when I don't have to either.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Quick update
So I spent two evening making this dress from Weekend Sewing. I was super excited. Great fabric (I love red with white polka dots!), great summer style. I put it on at 10PM the night before I had to work and wanted to cry. It's about two sizes too big for me. What.The.F***? I followed the directions exactly. I'm small but I'm not that small. Boooooooooooo.
Something that did work out for me was my baking. We had two giant zucchinis and some browning bananas so I made four loaves of bread and some banana chocolate chips muffins. Yum.Jack is walking now, everyday he goes a little bit further. I'd take the time to post a picture but currently he is pulling on my shirt and screaming. Gotta go!
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