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how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bag

By Amanda · Comments (2)
Friday, February 3rd, 2012

I saw this tutorial floating around on pinterest and decided to make one for my boys to warm up to when they come in from playing out in the snow. However, turns out it can be transformed into a weapon (is there anything that a 4 year old boy can’t turn into a weapon??) so I quickly called dibs and have been popping it in the microwave throughout the day for myself!

featured image how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bagSurprisingly, Babylegs are the perfect shape and width to wrap around my neck/shoulders. And since the material is stretchy I can actually walk around without it falling off my neck like the magic bag does. And it doesn’t weigh much – who wants something heavy pressing on their shoulders at the end of a long day?!

SO, this little gem takes no time at all to make — maybe 10 minutes of stitching by hand. And you can get your children involved with the sewing if you trust them with a needle and thread (I don’t yet)  or just have them to do the pouring.

Screen shot 2012 01 26 at 11.11.08 AM how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bag- needle & thread

- about 2 cups of rice

- a legwarmer (or stretchy pant leg or sock with the toe cut off…)

- canning ring (optional – see below)

Screen shot 2012 01 26 at 11.10.57 AM how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bag
Grab a babyleg.

IMG 3128 how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bag

Stitch up one end. Nothing fancy, obviously….look at mine.

IMG 3131 how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bag

Done. Onto the rice.

IMG 3130 how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bag

To make it easier for my son to pour the rice into the sock, I slipped a canning ring into the end so he could do it all by himself without me the babyleg open for him.

mason ring how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bag

Fill it up to just about the top (quality control, doing his job)

IMG 3122 how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bag

Now, just stitch up the other opening…

IMG 3121 how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bag

 And you’re done.

IMG 3125 how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bag

Pop it in the microwave for 1 minute then warm up on the couch after playing outside to the point of exhaustion. Try not to whip it around your head 457 times and subsequently stretching it about 5 inches longer than it should be  ;)

IMG 31502 how to: make your own (upcycled) heating bag

Oh, my big boy. I can hardly believe you used to crawl around in those just a short time ago.

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Categories : LIFE, The Recipe Box

in the kitchen: simple oatmeal berry muffins

By Amanda · Comments (20)
Monday, January 30th, 2012

These delicious mini muffins are a staple in our house because they’re a quick one bowl recipe with ingredients that I always have in my pantry.  I make them about once a week to have on hand for snacks, breakfasts, lunch bags,  bedtime snacks — really, when isn’t a muffin convenient?  I make them in mini muffin tins so they are the perfect size for little hands.  muffin final in the kitchen: simple oatmeal berry muffins

The recipe isn’t fussy and doesn’t call for a ton of ingredients (inexpensive!) which means  I can have them ready for my boys in under 15 minutes from start to finish. Or if the children are helping me bake (usually the case!) I can let them do most of the work themselves.  Dump, mix, dump, mix :)

It’s not a super sweet muffin – the small amount of sugar and berries seem to make them just right. They’re also filling from the oatmeal but not dense and the addition of frozen fruit keeps them moist.

Screen shot 2012 01 26 at 11.11.08 AM3 in the kitchen: simple oatmeal berry muffins- 1 cup of flour

- 1 1/4 cups of rolled oats

- 1/4 cup sugar

- 1 tbsp baking powder

- 1/2 tsp salt

- 1 beaten egg

- 1 cup milk

- 1/4 cup oil

- 3/4 cup of frozen berries (I use a frozen mix from costco – blueberries, raspberries & blackberries. Fresh works too.)

Screen shot 2012 01 26 at 11.10.57 AM3 in the kitchen: simple oatmeal berry muffins

Combine flour, rolled oats, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Give it a stir. Add in milk, egg, oil and stir until dry ingredients are moistened. Gently fold in frozen berries.

muffins 1 in the kitchen: simple oatmeal berry muffins

Spoon into greased muffin tins (mini or full size) to almost full.

muffin 6 in the kitchen: simple oatmeal berry muffins

Bake at 425 degrees for about 8 minutes (for mini tins) or until they’re golden.

muffin 5 in the kitchen: simple oatmeal berry muffins
Makes about 24-28 mini muffins or 12 full size.

P.S. definitely eat with a swipe of butter over the top ;)

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Categories : LIFE, The Recipe Box
Tags : easy breakfast idea, fast meals, frozen fruit muffins, healthy breakfast, wholesome food

how to: make foaming handsoap for $0.03 & skip the chemicals

By Amanda · Comments (15)
Friday, January 27th, 2012

When little ones are learning to wash their hands properly foaming hand soap saves mommies a lot of hassle. But the price of it is ridiculous, especially when you have a 4 year old who thinks it’s hilarious to fill the sink with foam (otherwise known as pouring $5 worth of foaming handsoap down the drain while I’m not looking). I also want to avoid ingredients like triclosan so making my own takes care of that.

Would you believe me if I told you that one bottle of your $2.00 dish washing liquid will make almost 50 bottles of foaming hand soap?  True story. Works out to be about $0.03 a bottle. If you already have a foaming handsoap dispenser, you’re golden. This DIY will cost you pennies. Let’s get started!

make your own soap how to: make foaming handsoap for $0.03 & skip the chemicals

Screen shot 2012 01 26 at 11.11.08 AM1 how to: make foaming handsoap for $0.03 & skip the chemicals- any foaming handsoap dispenser

- 1 tbsp of your favorite eco dish washing liquid

- a measuring spoon (or eyeball it)

- warm water

IMG 2939 how to: make foaming handsoap for $0.03 & skip the chemicals

Screen shot 2012 01 26 at 11.10.57 AM1 how to: make foaming handsoap for $0.03 & skip the chemicalsMeasure or eyeball about 1 tbsp of dish washing liquid.

IMG 2940 how to: make foaming handsoap for $0.03 & skip the chemicals

Pour into your empty foaming soap dispenser.

IMG 2942 how to: make foaming handsoap for $0.03 & skip the chemicals

Or skip those above steps entirely and just pour about 1tbsp of dish washing liquid directly from your bottle into your dispenser  ;)

IMG 2944 how to: make foaming handsoap for $0.03 & skip the chemicals
Slowly add warm water to your dispenser, leaving enough room for the pump. Swirl it gently to mix together.

IMG 2946 how to: make foaming handsoap for $0.03 & skip the chemicals

End result? Foamy hand soap that won’t make you angry when your children use 43 pumps to wash their hands.

IMG 2948 how to: make foaming handsoap for $0.03 & skip the chemicals

Oh! And there’s  handy little Pin it button right below this if you’d like to share!

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Comments (15)
Categories : LIFE, The Recipe Box
Tags : chemical-free, chemicals to avoid, eco-friendly soap, homemade soap, how to make soap, non-toxic, soap recipe

how to: make an orange julius at home

By Amanda · Comments (22)
Thursday, January 26th, 2012

When my children are sick (and therefore ridiculously picky eaters like most kids are when they’re under the weather) this is filling (if you make it with whole milk) while giving them a boost of vitamin C that’ll help heal their colds. Also, the nice thing about this smoothie is that you likely already have everything you need on hand to whip it up.

orange julius 1 how to: make an orange julius at home


Screen shot 2012 01 26 at 11.11.08 AM how to: make an orange julius at home

 

- 2 cups of orange juice

- 1 cup of milk

- 1 tsp vanilla

- 1 tbsp sugar

- 6 icecubes

Screen shot 2012 01 26 at 11.10.57 AM how to: make an orange julius at home

 

 

Pop it all in a blender and mix til it’s smooth.  Makes approx 4 servings.

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Categories : LIFE, The Recipe Box

before & after: brass lamp redo

By Amanda · Comments (25)
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Start with a trip to a thrift store to buy a set of not so pretty brass lamps. Choose ones with good lines and test to see if they’re working before you buy. These babies were $7.99.

Then, wipe them down, apply 1 coat of spray primer, followed by 2-3 thin coats of glossy white spray paint!

Screen shot 2012 01 24 at 9.44.31 AM before & after: brass lamp redo

Try not to make your husband grumpy by getting white spray paint all over the (new) garage floor. Use lots and lots of cardboard. Or if it’s not subzero temperatures where you live, do this outside.


Screen shot 2012 01 24 at 9.45.12 AM before & after: brass lamp redo

Screen shot 2012 01 24 at 9.44.49 AM before & after: brass lamp redo
The white drum shades were around $10 at walmart that I bought years ago.

photo 1 before & after: brass lamp redo

photo 2 before & after: brass lamp redo

The goes anywhere fake Ikea plant  ;)

photo 4 e1327442269264 before & after: brass lamp redo
I can see re-painting these lamps in a pretty teal or turquoise color in the future, but for now white is simple and a nice change from the usual nickle finish I always go with!

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Categories : LIFE
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