Baby Moccasins at a low price

So, I found these moccasins on Amazon for the low, low price of around $5 (depending on size and color). The shipping was even free.

I ordered a pair in white to see if they would just feel like a piece of paper...Now, they aren't real leather, but I am pretty impressed (especially when I consider the price).

I also ordered a tan pair of these. 

Both pairs were a little larger than I had thought they would be. I am excited for Nora to grow into
these.

These are in my shopping cart right now! Nora might need every color.

Just thought some of you might be interested as well.

Making My Own Baby Food - It's easier and cheaper than you think!

For my first born son, I made 90% of his baby food myself. It wasn't because I wanted to be different or all organic. It was basically for cost reasons. If I pureed the food myself, I could save SO much money. I also knew exactly what he was eating and I feel like it helped him to try new flavors and eat what we ate.

Here's a picture of some of my little girl's sweet potatoes (frozen cubes and thawed puree)

I googled and read recipes, finding the method and technique I liked the best. I watched produce sales and would stock up when the price was right.  At meal times, it was so easy to just pull a couple cubes out the freezer, mix some items into a palatable combination and thaw. If the puree seemed too thick, I could add more water. If it seemed to runny, I would thicken it with baby cereal.

I purchased these ice cube trays because they make flat cubes - I could easily fill a gallon sized freezer bag with the frozen cubs and store them easily and efficiently in our deep freezer in a wire basket.

I had four of these trays and it was more than enough. (Amazon seemed to have the best prices - here or here. They sell them in sets of two). If you don't make large quantities of food at one time, you could get away with just two trays.  I would use a tiny spatula to smooth the tops of the puree. And I found that if I made sure that all the little lines of the tray were wiped clean of the puree, the cubes would release from the trays much easier once frozen. I would just use a paper towel to clean up the tops of the tray and then seal the tray in plastic wrap before freezing. After 24 hours, the cubes were solid enough to be placed in the large freezer bags. I would date and label each bag with a sharpie before filling. 

For some reason (maybe it's just because I don't get that much sleep) all these little colorful cubes of frozen food make me really happy. I had tried regular ice cube trays, but they didn't stack as neatly in the freezer (and they weren't half as cute). It really didn't take that much time. I enjoy cooking and with the help of my food processor/blender, I could quickly puree, pour and freeze a certain food in no time. 

I wish that I had found this book two years ago when I was trying to figure out the best methods and recipes. The Amazing Make-Ahead Baby Food Book is an ideal resource. In beautiful picture filled glossy pages, this hardback gives more than enough information to make the reader feel confident in their abilities to make their own baby food.

The pictures are beautiful and the pages are filled with those colorful little frozen cubes! And the instructions are easy to understand.

There are example shopping lists (how much to buy and what to look for), step by step instructions, ideas for finger foods, and my favorite - cooking session charts that easily illustrate how to prepare and puree the different foods.  The book describes how to introduce foods to your babies (and her descriptions were very similar to what my pediatrician had told me). There are menu planning charts (3 months at a time), tips for traveling or on-the-go meals and a flavor compatibility guide. I appreciated that her "on the go" tips included sometimes just purchasing baby food. Or you could buy an avocado or banana while you are out. Her tips are realistic. 

There are some new flavor combinations and different foods that I hope to try with my second child. I so wish I would have had this book when I was making my son's food. It's a great resource.

Here's some more easy and yummy recipes to try! I love finding new flavor combinations!

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. 

No-Sew Baby Headbands

Every once in a while, I need a cheap but practical project that I can complete in 30 minutes or less. Nothing too involved, but something that I am proud of upon completion. 

Last night, I made Nora several headband bows. Sure, my bathroom floor needed scrubbing and I could always do dishes...but my baby needed some cute accessories. And I needed to feel like I could actually complete something I started! 

I had seen this style bow on a friend's little girl. She told me she had just purchased the fabric and tied it into a bow. So, one Sunday morning, Nora needed a pink bow. I dug through my fabric stash and found some cute striped knit. After cutting a long strip, I tied it onto Nora's head. 

I love this style for several reasons. My baby doesn't have hair on top. So, this makes her receding hairline less noticeable. And Nora has a pretty large head...those elastic bows leave an awful line/indention that can't be healthy. This knit fabric didn't leave lines...and if it gets too small, I can easily retie the knot. 

But pink and white stripes only matches so many outfits. Yesterday, with coupons in hand, I ran to the fabric store. Even without the coupons, I would have spent less than 40 cents per headband. 

I bought 1/8 yard pieces of several knit fabrics (stretchy t-shirt-like material). These cuts cost around 75 cents each. 

At home, I cut the length of fabric half, giving me two strips that were roughly 4 inches by 32-ish inches. The lady cutting my fabric gave me a 5 inch cut for each piece of fabric. One was even wider, and I was able to cut four strips from it. Each of these strips would make one headband. If the fabric was bulkier (didn't lay as flat in the bow as I would like) I cut the strip in half...2-ish inches x 32-ish inches.  

I love that this navy and gold knit has different patterns on each side...two for one!

As you can see, there is no exact science here. If your baby's head is bigger or smaller, just adjust your cuts accordingly. The knit fabric won't really unravel. So there is no need to hem the edges. And the edges kind of roll up, hiding any crooked cut lines! I love a project I can't really mess up. 

On this yellow fabric, I accidentally cut the strip too short. But I liked the results of just tying a double knot (instead of a bow).

And you can see that these aren't tied too tightly... I might have to retie this one...

I imagine these will also look cute tied around Nora's head when her hair is in a messy bun or pony tail.  In fact, I might even make one for myself!

And the next time I get rid of a knit shirt, I might try to make another headband from the fabric! Oh the possibilities! 

Baby Hospital Bed Bunting

Those last few weeks before I had Nora, I felt a little stir crazy each evening. Since Hudson had arrived almost two months early, I was a little anxious to get this baby home after my 32nd week. So, to combat my restlessness, I would craft.

One night, I pulled out some felt that I had on hand, cut out little shapes and made some bunting.

Since I'd pick my hot glue gun over my sewing machine any day, I simply hot glued these felt pieces to the string (baker's twine).

Source

I knew those baby hospital beds are usually pretty plain - and I thought this would be the perfect element to add a little color.

Draped across that clear bed side, I think it added a cute element to Nora's sleeping quarters.

I had originally made a little hair clip to go along with her bunting.

Since I had forgotten to use it in the hospital, I had a valid excuse to take her picture with the bunting here at home.

This was a quick and easy project. I am thinking it might be an adorable element to add to my baby gifts in the future. Plus, it is a great way to use up scrap fabric and felt. Even if it is just used for a photo or two in the hospital, every baby deserves a little bed decor. 

Nora's Changing Nook

I am now approaching the 33rd week of this pregnancy. I am just days away from the point where Hudson was born in a surprising way. We are recording my blood pressure daily and I am going for weekly check-ups with my awesome doctor. At my appointment this morning, everything looked great!

But I still find myself feeling the need to get everything in place -- just in case Nora decides to arrive early like Hudson did. My family and friends have been great to help me get the nursery looking the way I have envisioned. And, I must say, it is a definite work in progress. So many areas of the room are half-way complete. I've been itching to share with you some of these fun projects.

Finally, thanks to my in-laws and my husband, one corner of the room is ready to go!

Nora's room will still have the "guest bed" in it - so, whoever comes to visit has to get up with the baby! ...just kidding! The room is really too big to just be a nursery. And I hated to lose our spot for friends to stay. Nora can just have a sleepover elsewhere when guests come.  Last time my parents visited, they helped to move the furniture around and switch our cribs. Nora will have the Jenny Lind - and Hudson has a crib that could transition to a toddler-bed, should we reach that milestone any time soon.

I hated to lose valuable floor space - but I knew that I wanted the changing table near Nora. It seems like you have to change a newborn every five minutes, and the changing table makes that a little easier.  I think Jeremiah was the one to suggest putting the table in the closet - and I am so glad! It is perfect! The Diaper Genie even fits one one side of the table inside the closet. The Diaper Genie is a necessity to us, but I love that it can be out of sight!

In order to quickly be able to transform this room into a guest room, I love that I have the option of shutting the doors to the changing area. Many have asked if I will remove the closet doors, but I have decided to leave them as they are. When open, they are not in the way. And I love that they kind of look like shutters.

In order to not have Nora's adorable clothes hanging in our faces while changing her diaper, I asked my husband if he could re-do the top portion of the closet. While my father-in-law was here last week, they worked hard to recreate my idea. They sawed, painted and cleaned up - I'm already making a to-do list for their next visit!

There is now a space to hang her clothes on either side of the changing table. And, this arrangement isn't permanent. When the time comes, we can easily convert the closet back to it's original layout.

I am thrilled with the results! We will add a shade to the light above so that Nora isn't staring directly at it during a diaper change.  I decided that a yarn pom-pom would make a fun, girly, light pull.

Since the area could feel closed in, I decided to hang a mirror on the wall. This will also give Nora something to look at and it will reflect the light nicely.

This mirror used to hang over the kitchen sink in my apartment. Spray paint would have worked so much better on this metal surface. But in order to get the desired shade of green, I went with a little sample pot.

These can be mixed in any color and are usually under $3. It only took a tiny amount to cover the black frame.

I love adding these little splashes of green! The vintage suitcase on the top shelf was my mother-in-laws. It will probably be used elsewhere in the room, but I needed the top shelf to look cute for the closet reveal! The jar pictured holds all the extra diaper creams, lotions, etc. The shelf will eventually hold boxes of clothes that Nora outgrows or extra diapers.

And, I have changed Hudson's diaper on this changing table in the closet just to try it out - it doesn't seem cramped or really any different that it would if the table were out in the room. You still stand the same distance in front of the table.

Since Hudson is not potty trained (and I'm not rushing things in that department), I decided to move my desk (that used to be in Nora's closet) into his room. I need to get another changing pad, since we will be using two.

The changing pad fits nicely on the top along with his diapers. His hamper fits perfectly below. And the drawers are perfect for clothes and supplies that I like to have close during diaper changes.

This was my desk that I used during Jr High and High School. It will be a great transitional piece of furniture for Hudson. When we originally hung the peg board here, I knew that a desk would probably end up in this space eventually.

Back to Nora's Nook...The space under the changing table is ready and organized too. I loved having the orange tool box to hold Hudson's diapers. It was easy to grab and looked a lot better than the plastic packaging. Nora's diapers fit nicely in this old doll cradle that my PawPaw Covey made many years ago. The old 7 Up pop crate holds Nora's shoes underneath. And the three baskets were a thrift store find. They worked great for Hudson's sleepers, hats, burp cloths, etc. That way, during those middle of the night spit ups, a clean sleeper was easy to grab.

A metal card file got a little coat of that green paint, as well. One drawer holds diaper creams while the other holds her socks. Q-tips are in the little dotted creamer.  This Jenny Lind changing table that my mother in law found set out for the trash has served us well! (Read about the painting of the crib and table here.)

I am thrilled with Nora's nook and can't wait to finish the rest of her room.

Oh, and I rolled up her swaddle blankets into a magazine rack I had on hand. I loved those large muslin swaddle blankets with Hudson. I found some for a super good deal on Amazon recently here (2 for $12.50) - after all, Nora needed some girly ones!

I knew that I wanted these blankets in an easy-to-grab place.

I'm so thankful for all the help we have received lately! Every cut board, painted frame, sewn fabric and vacuumed carpet are greatly appreciated!

I couldn't do it without help! I can't wait to show you the rest! And I can't wait to bring Nora home to her room!

Let's Play with Something "New"

I was starting to notice that Hudson might be getting a little bored. Recently, it has either been super hot and humid or pouring rain. Lots of "inside time" has been challenging.

Our living room, most evenings, was looking like this. I joked on Instagram that it felt very much like SunnySide DayCare - however, no toys were harmed during this playtime!

Despite all the toys, Hudson's new go-to activity was taking the pillows off the couch and then putting them back on the couch.

So, the other evening, after he had gone to bed, I decided that I would re-organize the toys and do some rotating. I had recently cleaned out the red hutch, thinking that I might move it into the baby girl's nursery for her clothes and supplies. I have since changed my mind, but I was still left with an empty hutch.

Toy rotation would work perfectly in a coat closet near the living room - except that we don't have one. The hutch shelves now hold several of Hudson's toys. When I sense boredom again, I'll pull out a few surprises.  And the hutch, with the closed doors, keeps my living room from looking like a daycare.

So far, Hudson hasn't been crawling behind the couch. Since there is an outlet back there with the lamp plugged into it, I've been trying to discourage him from even considering the fact that he would fit back there nicely. The one side of the couch now has our typewriter table and the pouf from his nursery.

I stuck a basket full of blocks at the other end.

I also put a few of his books on the library cart across the room from his book tub. The tub was getting too full, creating an easy avalanche if all the books were picked up.

Just moving items to a different location in the living room has worked out so well for us. The next morning, I didn't point out any changes - I just let Hudson find them on his own. He is becoming so observant these days. I knew that in no time he would discover my surprises.

He spent forever just looking at the cart. It was filled with toys and books that are very familiar to him - but the different arrangement made all the difference.

I can remember walking into my elementary classroom some mornings to find that my teacher had rearranged our desks. It always gave me a new level of excitement. It is for this reason that I still love to rearrange my own areas in our home.

Hudson was thrilled with his "new" play things.

Taking some of the books out of his very-full book tub also allowed him to find some of his favorite books that had recently become buried. And I must admit, I am glad to read a few different titles to him. Those five or six books on top were becoming way too familiar.

Most of our morning went by without him even noticing the "new" basket of megablocks. I figured that as soon as he saw it, he would dump the entire container. However, he took his time, laying out blocks in rows all along the couch...

...and the coffee table. He is an organized child.

In true boy fashion, the basket eventually got dumped.

But it was no surprise to me that he then proceeded to pick up every block, placing it back into the basket.

With the new toy locations, Hudson played independently most of the day. It made me want to think about rotating the toys more often. Even if I just brought out a new item everyday, the rewards would be worth it.

And one of my favorite benefits of not having all of his toys accessible at all times is that clean-up is faster!

Especially if part of Hudson's fun is putting the toys back into their containers! It's not something I'm going to discourage!