Elfing

Christmas time has rolled around again. And while most years we find ourselves making the majority of the gifts we give, this year, with a new baby, we decided that we would save ourselves the extra work and just buy gifts... Holy cow! Now I see why so many people complain about the cost of Christmas. It is a good thing Papa has a better job now, than in years past. Even still, I put my foot down when it came to Baby Mousey's first Christmas ornament. I found one that I loved for her on amazon... For $23! Sorry, but that is not going to fly with me. Then I found one on zulily, but it would not be here in time for Christmas... Finally, I said to myself, "Self, how hard could it be to just make an ornament?" So that is what I set out to do. 

I searched Pinterest and came up with a few ideas. Most involved felt. Super cute, but i did not have the supplies on hand and didn't want to wait to get them. When the crafting waves hits, you have to ride it now. 

Then a link to a link to a link led me to some youtube tutorials. Boom! There is was. The perfect little mouse for my perfect little mouse. So I grabbed some clay (I had just seen some when mom was cleaning out some boxes) and made this little critter in a few minutes. 

I was psyched at how it turned out, so i cranked out two more little critters.

Later, I added eye hooks (I made them with jewelry wire) and baked them. Then I added some details with a couple of sharpies. I tied on some pink ribbon, and was done. Ornaments for my three girls, in no more than a half hour total, with only supplies I already had laying around. I call that a win.

Tails!

Wonderfull (Full of Wonder) Wednesday

 

Looking for the wonder in everyday life! 

I'd love for you to join me on this journey. 

If you find wonder along the way, please leave a link in the comments,

so others can share in your wonder

 

 (hate flash... but then I get blurry..anyway you get the idea of the magic of the moment!)

Crafting Along With Needle And thREAD

Tree buttons that Papa Elf made.

This week has been jam packed full of craftiness.

Elfing, if you will.

So many things being made in preparation for Christmas.

Loving this fabric and these sweet little fairies starring at me while I work.

I have taken on the task of sew the girls' Christmas dresses. Using my favorite dress tutorial. I have made this type of dress nearly a dozen times. However, a new challenge presented itself as Bunny is now much too big for the measurements given. And Squirrley is still much too small. I had to come up with my own. Bunny's turned out great, but Squirrely's was a bit too tight. So I learned a new trick to expand it just enough to fit well.

Diamond added to the armpit for more room.

Now I just need to add some ribbon and they will be ready for Christmas.

Along with elfing, we have also been busy fighting colds. I have been reading up on all my natural remedies in an attempt to nip these sniffles in the bud.

You might notice that this picture was taken with the book laying on my carpeted floor.

That would be because we have been spending quite a bit of time sitting on the floor these days.

All of us.

Yay for little sister! Sitting at 5 months 10 days!

Kitchen Elfing and the Eco-Kids Tuesday Link-Up

Monday evening, a little elfing went on!

We made a few gifts in the kitchen!

First up were bath salts.. both lavender vanilla and peppermint eucalyptus.

We used 3/4 cup of epsom salts and 1/4 cup of baking soda as the base for each jar.

For the peppermint eucalyptus, we added 10 drops of each essential oil.

Perfect for colds, congestion, coughs.

To make the lavender vanilla, we used 10 drops of lavender and five "smidges" of vanilla.

Very relaxing!

 Shake, shake, shake!

Next we made peppermint eucalyptus chest rub. (It can also be rubbed on thebottoms of your feet.)

For each tin, we heated (double boiler) 1/2 cup organic olive oil and 1/8 cup organic beewax pellets.

To that we added 30 drops of peppermint essential oil and 60 drops of eucalyptus (we like the smell!)

We label the jars and tins.  The ones with paper labels are gifts and the others ones are for ourselves!

Bonus Happy Baby Picture!

Now onto the Kids Link-Up!  Welcome!!  We had so many great posts shared last week! I enjoyed each and every one of them.  It is getting harder and harder each week to pick just a few features!  Here are three of my favorites.

My first feature is from Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk!  We liked her paper plate angels so well that we made them in our playschool!

I have always liked beeswax! So I really liked this ornament from Sunshine Living!

Alderberry Hill shared a sweet paint dipped pinecone ornament!

If you were featured please feel free to grab a button for your blog.  And please keep linking up great all your Eco-Kid ideas!

Now on to the party!!!  I hope that you'll share some great family-friendly posts that are also friendly for the environment. Some ideas include:

•  Nature Activities
• Outdoor Activities
• Crafts made with re-purposed or recycled materials
• Sewing and DIY home projects
• Science Experiments
• Posts on environmental issues for kids or families
• Non-toxic living
• Homeopathic Remedies

Eco-Kids Tuesdays is co-hosted by Organic Aspirations and Like Mama~Like Daughter this means that anything you link-up shows up on both blogs!

Feel free to link up several of your posts.

There are only a few rules:

Please follow both co-hostess' blogs, and visit some of the other posts and give them some encouragement!  Please stick to posts and photos not giveaways or items for sale.

By linking up, you are agreeing that Organic Aspirations or Like Mama~Like Daughter can feature your photos next week with a link back to your site.  

Please link back to my site using this button (once I get it fixed !!) OR simply text linking within your post!

The Elfing Begins Again & Eco-Kids Tuesday

I have been very into making presents this Christmas season. I feel like maybe gifts are more meaningful when they are hand made. Either that or I am just cheap ;) No, really I love making things. I put a lot more thought into something I am making, than something I buy.

A tree pendant I made for my midwife, Ruth.

Because she helped me to grow. Spreading my branches, while staying rooted.

A necklace I made for Bunny from beads I ordered on Esty.

Gemstones to help sooth her and ease her discomforts.

An upclcled hat and mittens (that Bunny helped with) and wool boot insoles for The Hubs (Shh, don't tell...)

I plan to make more gifts. Pajamas. Maybe matching hats for my girls. Something for my sister's children. Who knows what I will end up with.

What gifts are you making this Christmas?

Welcome back to Eco-Kids Link-Up!  We had so many great posts shared last week! I enjoyed each and every one of them.  Here are a few of my favorites from last week!

Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk has the cutest idea for decorating an outside tree with repurposed water bottles!

I adore this simple, eco-friendly Nativity scene over at An Idea on Tuesday!

We have a soft spot around here for gnomes! 

madebyjoey shared her Christmas crafting and this adorable red star gnome.

If you were featured please feel free to grab a button for your blog.  And please keep linking up great all your Eco-Kid ideas!

Now on to the party!!!  I hope that you'll share some great family-friendly posts that are also friendly for the environment. Some ideas include:

•  Nature Activities
• Outdoor Activities
• Crafts made with re-purposed or recycled materials
• Sewing and DIY home projects
• Science Experiments
• Posts on environmental issues for kids or families
• Non-toxic living
• Homeopathic Remedies

Eco-Kids Tuesdays is co-hosted by Organic Aspirations and Like Mama~Like Daughter this means that anything you link-up shows up on both blogs!

Feel free to link up several of your posts.

There are only a few rules:

Please follow both co-hostess' blogs, and visit some of the other posts and give them some encouragement!  Please stick to posts and photos not giveaways or items for sale.

By linking up, you are agreeing that Organic Aspirations or Like Mama~Like Daughter can feature your photos next week with a link back to your site.  

Please link back to my site using this button (once I get it fixed !!) OR simply text linking within your post!

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspiered by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Merry Christmas!

 

Elfing: Fake Fudge

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is "elfing" (SouleMama's word). From making homemade gifts and goodies, to decorating, to staying up late wrapping presents even though Bunny is only eight and a half months old and wouldn't know the difference, to hiding Hubs' present in plain sight just because I know he will never think to look there (It has been over a month and he still hasn't found it!). I love the mystery and the magic that surrounds it all. Elfing gets you in the Christmas spirit! A spirit that is being replaced more and more each year by hustle and bustle and stress. 'Tis the season to be jolly and there is nothing more jolly than a little elfing!

 All my life, my dad has made "Real Hershey's Fudge". It was the definition of Christmas time perfection. However, over the years, he has, well, slacked on his fudging. Out of desperation, I have been forced to do some fudging of my own.

My fudge is not "Real Hersey's Fudge"... It is "Fake Fudge". But it is good. My recipe consists of one 11oz bag of chocolate chips and one jar of chocolate fudge icing. Melt the chips and mix in the icing. Then spread into a baking dish and allow it to harden. I sometimes use other flavors such as white chocolate chips and lemon icing or butter scotch chips and butter cream icing.

P.S. Nothing goes better with fudge than a little milk!

(Don't worry, I didn't give Bunny any fudge)

Elfing: Gingerbread

One of my favorite thing about the Christmas season is "elfing" (SouleMama's word). From making homemade gifts and goodies, to decorating, to staying up late wrapping presents even though Bunny is only eight and a half months old and wouldn't know the difference, to hiding Hubs' present in plain sight just because I know he will never think to look there (It has been over a month and he still hasn't found it!). I love the mystery and the magic that surrounds it all. Elfing gets you in the Christmas spirit! A spirit that is being replaced more and more each year by hustle and bustle and stress. 'Tis the season to be jolly and there is nothing more jolly than a little elfing!