Flannel Burp Rags

So CUTE!

SUPPLIES: (makes 4 burp rags)

1 1/2 yards flannel (base color)

1/2 yard flannel (embellishment)

 

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut out your pieces: four 12" x 45" pieces of the base color fabric & eight 6" x 45" pieces of the embellishment fabric

Cut out the pieces

 

2. Lay the long strip of base fabric out then fold it into thirds, overlapping the ends. Your two raw ends should be in the middle with two folded edges on the outsides. Place the embellishment strips on the top and bottom of the folded piece with right sides facing out.

Fold the burp rag overlapping the ends

 

Laid flat and ready to sew

3. Zigzag stitch over all of the raw ends (either side of the embellishment and the top and bottom of the whole rag). It is not necessary to sew the folded edges unless you want to.

Zigzag stitch raw edges

4. As you are sewing you may find it faster to "chain stitch" between multiple rags. Rather than sewing all of the edges of each rag individually, sew one line for each of them all at once feeding one rag after another (stay stitch the ends) without cutting the thread in between until that line is done. Then clip them apart and do the next line in the same way.

TIP: chain stitch one line of stitches at a time

5. To finish, check to make sure all the raw edges were caught by your stitches, trim any excess fabric and threads and you are done! :)

Finished burp rag

What's In My Bag

Mom of three about to have my fourth child...letting you take a peek into my hospital bag! Let me know if I forgot anything!!

Baby Diaper Bag:

Wrap-style baby carrier

Changing pad 

5 diapers & wipes

Hand sanitizer 

Swaddle blanket

2 changes of clothes in a ziplock bag

Nursing cover

Nursing pads

2 Burp rags

Vaseline (to coat baby's bottom and help meconium poop wipe right off) 

Diaper cream and powder

Pads for mom & sanitary to go wipes

Mommy Hospital Bag:

Two pair underwear

Comfy pajama bottoms

Nursing bra/tank

New toothbrush & toothpaste

Chapstick

Travel shampoo, conditioner & body wash

Face wash & moisturizer

Loose fitting outfit for going home

Makeup

Homecoming outfit for each gender 

Extra clothes for each gender 

Headphones

Phone charger

Camera

Boppy Pillow

Midnight Snacks (chocolate covered pretzels, trail mix, s'mores chex mix)

Kids' Overnight Bag (per child):

Pajamas

Change of clothes

New toothbrush

Travel toothpaste

Big bother/sister gift

SAFETY PIN A NOTE TO THE BAG to remind you to grab last minute items such as their comfort toy or blanket and pillow. 

DIY Boppy Cover Tutorial

Three kids later my Boppy Pillow needed a face lift. After digging through my fabric scraps and a few trial runs, I have a tutorial for you that works beautifully!! Just FYI - this is for a cover that is non-removable, not a slip cover (no zipper, snaps or flap).

 

Add caption

SUPPLIES:

2/3 yard fabric

1/2 yard thin elastic

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. With approximately 2/3 yard of fabric folded in half, lay your boppy down with the "arms" open wide. You may need a helper. Trace the outline of your boppy leaving a generous 1 to 2 inch border. (A wide border and outstretched layout are both IMPORTANT --- I ripped the first two I made because I didn't leave enough fabric for it to stretch)

Hello pregnant belly :)

2. Cut out two identical layers of fabric. You can see from my photo that the boppy was "open" when I traced it.

Fabric cut & ready to sew

3. Starting on the top at one of the corners and right sides together, sew a 1/4" seam. When you get to the inside middle sew in your elastic with approximately 50% tension (not loose, not tight). Continue sewing your 1/4" seam until you get to the first coner again. STOP when you get to about 10" from where you started. This may seem like a wide opening but its necessary for the pillow to fit.

1/4" seam and elastic middle

4. Turn the cover right side out and stuff your boppy inside. Helps to bunch it up at the ends like when you are putting on panty hoes. ;)

Boppy stuffed into cover

5. Hand stitch the opening with matching thread, and you are done!

Hand stitched closed

DIY Nursing Tank {Pintrest Craft Success}

I saw these on Pinterest and immediately added them to my sewing to-do list!!! Such a fabulous idea --- when worn as an undershirt the tank top provides coverage for your side and stomach so your top shirt can be lifted without your whole side hanging out.

To nurse your baby just leave a small gap between your shirts for your baby to latch on. With practice it is able to nurse uncovered (GASP!) without the entire world seeing your chest. :)

 

1. With spaghetti strapped tanks, start by clipping the strap from the back of the shirt. Leave the front of the strap intact. 

 

2. Sew a small loop 3/4"-1" where the front straps start just over the chest of the shirt. Trim the strap. DONE! 

TO WEAR: 

Hook the loop over the flap of your nursing bra before clipping closed.

If you haven't seen the Luv's Breastfeeding Commercial --- its worth it! Love breastfeeding my babies and strongly believe every mom has the right to nurse her child however she feels comfortable wherever she feels comfortable. Can't say I am bold enough to show as much skin as this mom though. These tanks give me a sense of modesty even when I choose not to use a cover.

 

Keeping the Car Organized

The kids are too old for a diaper bag, but its still nice to have things on hand for them --- just in case! You can thank me later. ;) 

{DIY BIG KID CAR KIT}

Per Child:

-Change of clothes in a ziplock bag

-Age appropriate activity/new toy

For Toddlers:

-Disposable sippy cups

-Adhesive disposable placemats

-Baby spoon/spork

Family Bin:

-Snacks

-Mini water bottles or juice boxes

-Sunscreen

-Ziplock bags (large)

-Grocery bags

-Wipes

-Bandaids & Neosporin

-Paper Towels

-Hand Sanitizer

Here a what other moms had to say when I asked what they always kept in their car...

Lacey, mom of 3

"wipes, music, snack, sippy cup for eating out and extra shoes"

Alison, mom of 1

"books, blanket, teddy of some sort, tissues, sealed carton drink (the type that has a straw attached)"

Jen, mom of 5

"sunscreen, wipes, bandaids and a snack"

Brenna, mom of 3

"wipes, extra outfit for each, busy bags, snacks, juice boxes"

Megan, mom of 3

"diapers, wipes, snack and an ipad"

Brandis, mom of 3

"Water, wipes, sunscreen, diaper or two, empty sippy cup, their lovies"

Keep your things organized in a backseat organizer like this one! 

You can find a photo tutorial at the link bellow. It took about 4-5 hours to make and 2 yards of fabric plus ribbon (the tutorial calls for nylon belting and cording). 

http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-seat-car-organizer/2013/05/24/

Bountiful Basket to 2-Week Menu {June 22}

Time to plan meals for the next two weeks! We've gotten our baskets and made our list, peaked in the pantry to see what we have on hand, grabbed our calendars --- ready, set, GO!

Produce:

Bananas

Blueberries

Mini Watermellon

White Nectarines

Tomatoes

Romain Lettuce

Celery

Russet Potatoes

1 red potato (random - LOL)

Yellow Onions

Asparagus

Dinners Inspired (from 2 baskets)

1. Cream of Celery Soup with BLT sandwiches

2. Loaded Potato Wedges

3. Pasta with Celery Almond Pesto

4. Chili Baked Potatoes

5. Roast Beef and Mashed Potatoes over Texas Toast

6. Salmon with Wild Rice and Asparagus 

7. Meatloaf with Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

8. Baked Tilapia with Watermelon Salsa

9. Salad Greens topped with Grilled Chicken with Fresh Grilled Peaches

10. Bruschetta Pasta with Grilled Chicken

11. Asian Lettuce Wraps 

12. Grilled Pizza with Fresh Tomato & Mozzarella 

13. BBQ Pork Stuffed Pitas with side salad

14. Peach Teriyaki Glazed Flank Steak with Grilled Foil Potato Packets 

Desserts & Snacks Inspired:

1. Banana Blueberry Muffins

2. Watermelon Ice

3. Fresh Fruit Lemonade Popsicles

4. Chocolate-Dipped Banana Pops

5. White Nectarine Cobbler

6. Small Side of Homemade Potato Chips (from my 1 red potato, haha)

Lazy Mom Lasagna Casserole

Layering too much of a hassle? No worries I've gottcha covered...

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef, chopped 

1 lb rotini pasta, cooked al dente

1 jar of your favorite tomato sauce

16 oz cottage cheese

16 oz ricotta cheese

2 cup shredded cojack cheese

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl combine cooked pasta, sauce and cooked ground beef. Place into a large casserole dish. 

2. Mix ricotta cheese and cottage cheese together and spread evenly over pasta mixture. 

3. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. 

4. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. 

5. Rest for 10 minutes before serving. 

Homemade Nursing Pads Tutorial

With baby #4 coming in just a few weeks the nesting phase has definitely set in. At the top of my seeing to do list were homemade nursing pads. I love-love-love these for so many reasons, mostly because they are so soft and reusable. They are easy to make too - check it out...

Supplies (yield 20 pair):

1 yard soft flannel

1/2 yard PUL (polyurethane laminate) - typically a cloth diaper fabric

Matching thread

Instructions:

1. With the fabric folded in half, mark as many 4" circles as you can fit on the flannel & PUL. I used a stadium cup and was able to mark 40 circles on the flannel and 20 on the PUL with each folder in half. 

2. Cut out the circles with the fabrics still in half, yielding twice as many 4" circles of each fabric. (80 flannel, 40 PUL). 

3. You will make a 3 layer fabric sandwich, made of 2 layers of flannel and one of PUL. With the shiny side of the PUL facing the flannel and the right side of the flannel facing out. Serger or zigzag stitch over the edge of the layers making sure to catch both the top and bottom layers. Trim threads. 

USE & WASHING INSTRUCTIONS: 

Change nursing pads promptly when wet/damp to prevent irritations and chapping. Hand wash used nursing pads with gentle laundry detergent* without fragrances, enzymes, bleach or phosphates --- typically for sensitive skin. Do not use fabric softener. (Nursing pads may also be washed with cloth diapers if you use them) Tumble dry low or air dry. 

If you develop a rash or irritation while using your nursing pads try a more gentle detergent. (Search detergents for cloth diapering)

*Suggested Detergent: 

Woolite for delicates (pink bottle)

How to plan meals based on your basket

Where I live we get a basket every two weeks and for my family of 6 I purchase two shares (approx. 50 lb of produce). My goal is for these fruits and veggies to last us for an entire cycle or two weeks time. When we started buying baskets we only hot one and I was so intimidated by the things I hadn't tried yet that much of of spoiled or I gave away. Now, after almost a year of buying them we go through 2 baskets easily and sometimes even run out early. I absolutely LOVE the thought that my family is eating 50 lbs of fruits and veggies and what other not-so-healthy snacks the produce has replaced!! You may ask, are we vegetarians? Not at all - my boys love them some meat! The produce supplements our balanced diet, but is now based on a strong foundation of produce instead of more processed foods. Yesterday was basket pickup day, here is a step-by-step tutorial of how 50 lb of produce turns into a two-week menu!! :) NOTE: If you only get 1 basket you can still follow along, just pick half of the recipes or make smaller portions. Before you start get some scratch paper or print my meal planner.

STEP 1: Look at what you've got

Separate your produce into fruits and veggies, then if it is helpful for you, make a list. Here is what we got...

FRUIT:

Strawberries

Blueberries

Red Plums 

Bananas

Red Grapes

Romain Lettuce

Spaghetti Squash

Anaheim Peppers 

Fennel

Yellow Peppers

Cherry Tomatoes

Step 2: Fill in what's easy

If there is something in your basket that you plan to eat raw or in its original form, jot it down first. For us, most of the fruit is eaten with breakfast or as morning snacks so I don't need to look up recipes for those. 

Step 3: Fill in what you know
Does your family have a favorite recipe that uses one of the fruits or veggies? Write those down first. Keep in mind that some items may used for more than one meal. (To help save some money consider what you already have at home for your primary meal planning as well)

Step 4: Do some research
Find our what you can about the produce that is new to your family and finish your menu by writing down recipe ideas for everything that is left.

SAMPLE 14-Day Menu Based on Basket Produce

1. Grilled Chicken Salad (lettuce, tomatoes)
2. Shrimp Spaghetti Squash Alfredo (spaghetti squash)
3. Chili Relleno Casserole (anaheim peppers)
4. Huevos Rancheros with Homemade Green Chili (anaheim peppers)
5. Lasagna Stuffed Peppers (yellow peppers)
6. Chicken Ka-Bobs (cherry tomatoes)
7. Sweet and Sour Pork (yellow peppers)
8. Roasted Pork Tenderlion with Fennel (fennel)
9. Pot Roast (fennel)
10. Taco Salad (lettuce)
11. Spaghetti Squash Casserole
12. Baked Mac & Cheese with salad (lettuce, tomatoes)
13. Sloppy Joes with Hidden Veggies (yellow peppers)
14. BBQ Meatballs (yellow peppers)

Chicken Cordon Bleu Wraps

Ingredients:

Tomato Basil Tortilla Wraps

1 lb chicken breast, cooked

Ranch dressing

12 slices deli ham

12 slices deli Swiss cheese

1 pkg Broccoli Slaw

 

Directions:

Shred cooked chicken breast into bite sized pieces and toss with ranch dressing. Place two pieces of ham and two pieces of Swiss cheese onto each tortilla. Microwave one a time just until cheese is melted (30-45 seconds). Place 1/4-1/2 cup of chicken mixture onto the ham and cheese. Sprinkle with broccoli slaw. Wrap tightly; serve warm. Makes 6 wraps. 

10 Baby Shower Ideas for the Baby Not First Born

With four kids I understand the awkwardness of having more than one baby shower. Every baby deserves to be celebrated just like the first, we just have to think outside of the box a little. Here are {10 Baby Shower Ideas for Babies Not First Born}

1. Scrapbooking Shower

Guest bring scrapbooking supplies to fit the theme that mom chooses. Enjoy each others company as you create the baby's first year album together. By the end of your party she will have a completed album ready for photos to simply be glued right onto the page. If you need some inspiration consider inviting an independent consultant from a scrapbooking company like Creative Memories to join you. (Mom gets the hostess benefits) 

*Did this for my third child & LOVED it!!

2. Piggy-Bank Shower

Give baby's bank account a head start! Guests fill a giant piggy bank with cash and checks as they arrive. 

3. Diaper Shower

Diapers and wipes only please! No wrapping, no thank you notes - just lots and lots of diapers! Hooray!!

4. Spa Party

What mom doesn't want her toes polished and her back rubbed?! Do come calling around and recruit a few consultants or students to pamper mom and her guest. Facials, foot soaks, massages oh my!!

If you are worried about sales pressure be up front and offer to pay the consultant for her time in exchange for a no-pressure time of relaxation. 

5. Freezer Meal Shower

Guests bring frozen meals for mom in lieu of baby gifts. As one if your activities do a recipe exchange and put together a collection of freezer meals, crockpot meals and other dinner ideas that are quick and easy to prepare for a mom now juggling two (or more) kiddos at meal time. 

6. Long-Distance Party

As a military family I know all too well that life sometimes doesn't wait for babies to arrive and you find yourself across the country without a friend anywhere close. Bless the mom who has just moved with an albumn of handwritten letters, notes and photos to remind her that her friends and family are only a phone call away. For gifts consider stuffing flat rate boxes and bombarding her with care packages at her new home --- stagger shipping so they just keep coming. (See also Cash-Raffle Party below)

7. Cash Raffle Party

Have friends and family pick a date they think baby will be born! To reserve the date they have to pay a certain amount (we did $20). Then on baby's birthday the winner gets half the money and baby/mom get the other half! Great way to pitch in for larger items that are often needed with additional kiddos - like a minivan (ahem).   

8. Welcome Home Party

Instead of celebrating before baby arrives wait until after (especially nice when the gender is going to be a surprise). When mom feels ready (maybe 1-2 weeks postpartum) have a get together to bless the new baby. Mom will have a better idea of what she needs and wants that she doesn't already have then too. 

9. Donation Shower

For the mom who has everything already, consider this special way to celebrate. Have a regular baby shower but have guest bring gifts to donate to the local pregnancy center or money for an organization that supports moms of still born babies or parents of children with special needs. (Call your local hospital for more information on these in your area)

10. Ladies Night Out

Skip the silly games and have a gun night out. Go to a nice restaurant like The Melting Pot, to a chick flick at the theater, or book group mani/pedi at the local spa --- anything goes! 

Baby Shower Gift Ideas for the Mom Who Already Has Kids

Diapers 

Wipes

Baby Powder

Lotion

Diaper Cream

Baby Soap

Gas Drops

Baby Tylenol/Motrin

Teething Gel/Tablets

Custom/Personalized Items

Professional Photo Session

Babysitting Coupons

Date Night Gift Cards 

Maid Service

Prepaid Digital Photo Printing (Snapfish, Shutterfly, Walgreens)

Quiet time activities for the older child(ren) while nursing

Double Stroller

Second Dresser

Toddler Bed

Journal

New Carseat for the Older Child

Custom Mom Jewelry

Gift certificate for local mom & baby classes (baby sign language, Gymboree, etc)

Gift Certificate for Auto Detailing