I'm a Crafty One...

These days, down to one income, I'm looking at any way I can to save moola and make things better on our growing little family.

Everything from contemplating sewing things for the kids, to making my own diapers, to making diapers to sell, to knitting gloves, hats, diaper covers, etc. to just watching another kid for awhile.

I've also had the treasured and rare time to spend with my kids.  Having been a career focused mom for so many years, just hanging out with my son and daughter has been really nice!  The daughter has one heck of a great sense of humor, and the boy is still as sweet as he ever was, but he's growing up. Both of them are.  I've had a wonderful time this month teaching my son to make quiche and making my daughter her requested birthday dinner (filipino style!).

Even so - as much as it pains me - I do have to find something else to do with my time while they're busy having social lives.

I've been learning to knit (mostly to keep myself from going insane in the last few weeks of pregnancy).  It doesn't require much in the way of physical exertion, but keeps my hands and brain busy.  I've managed to knit a pair of mismatched sized (and shaped) baby booties, a pair of fingerless gloves, and now I"m working on a baby cap. Today I may run to Michaels and get a new pair of knitting needles and some different yarn.  

Another thing I've been researching is wool diaper covers. I did go to Goodwill and buy two wool sweaters and successfully felted them down for use. I debated on deconstructing the one and knitting with the yarn, but I opted to felt it instead. For those of you who don't know what Felting wool is - I have only done it once so I'm no expert - but it's the process of shrinking the crap out of it, basically. To learn more about how to felt wool, click here.   The two sweaters I felted down will become diaper covers for the baby one she's here.   I'll be doing another blog/vlog on that once she's born and I get my new serger!!!

Couponing - Well, I'm not getting all my groceries for .37, but i am saving on average about $7 bucks a trip.  That's nearly $30 a month.  Maybe it doesn't qualify for "Extreme Couponing" but it's pretty exciting to me!

Other than that, just working on slowly adding to my CD stash, thinking about the baby, and waiting.

2013 Stuff. Stuff is good. I like Stuff.

There are quite a few things I’m planning on getting into when my SAHM status is actually SAHM.  Technically that doesn’t happen until 1/15 – but until then I’ll still blog/vlog and update FB.

The CRIBCAPADES!!!

Our beautiful Sorelle Crib was a given to us and has sat in our bedroom for about 3 weeks.  It was time to put it together.   The instructions that came with it told me to put the mattress frame together.  Then one more direction, then it says, in direction 3 – to do something BEFORE Instruction 1.  WHAT????  The instruction booklet left A LOT to be desired, but I muddled through.

After some trial and error (thank GOD I like puzzles) I managed to get it assembled and set up with the help of my Teen Diva – she was absolutely a help.  No way I could have done it without her.  She’s a good big sister. 

After the Diva and I got it assembled, the Boy and the Diva brought up the mattress, we made up the bed, put together the mobile and VOILA!  Instant cute!

Thank you to my family and friends who supplied the gorgeous bedding!!  I can’t wait to see Baby Girl in it!

My Cloth Diapering Dilemma

Here’s the sitch. I don’t have a big enough “Fluff Stash” – meaning, I don’t have enough diapers.  I’ve been in contact with a woman who makes them and she’s going to make me some Newborn sized diapers – I’ll try those out. Her company is called KyroBugz – and she has some SERIOUSLY cute diapers.  I can’t wait to put them on Baby Girl!  If anyone out there has a company, and they would like to have their diaper tried out – then please let me know. I’ll be happy to tell you what a newb thinks! I’ll be doing videos and commenting on them!

Also, I'm in the MD/DC area and have been looking for a place to get diapers that were maybe gently used.  I found a place called Greenberries in Columbia, MD.  This place is THE BOMB.  I will be shopping here regularly. While this is technically a "second hand" store, there is absolutely NOTHING second hand about this place. It is truly and upscale boutique where any parent can go to buy items, feel good about supporting local business, other parents, and leave without mortgaging your home to buy diapers, toys, high chairs, clothes, accessories - you name it!  Please tell them I sent ya!