Chicken injuries & the pecking order

Fall is never dull when you have animals to care for.

Hello Napoleon. This hen is the smallest of our half dozen flock. She is little, bossy, and unhappy with her position in life. As a result she tried to change her place in the flock's pecking order. She began instigating and causing problems. 

My other hens put her in her place and left a pretty bad bald spot on Napolen's back. About 2-3 hours after I checked on them, the troublem maker ended up bloody and in pain. I had to separate her so that she could heal. She's on the mend and before putting her back with the others I am going to fashion her a coat to protect her back while she regrows her feathers. This will probably take a month or so.

Meanwhile, my 3 year old started preschool... I know, and I can hardly stand it! My sweet 4 month old is a rolling over machine. The best part is that they totally adore each other. Be still my heart!  It has been a crazy busy fall but I wouldn't have it any other way! 

Well hello teeny tiny 1st egg!

We have had our new chickens for about a month now. Upon arrival they were pretty skittish. They've luckily calmed down quite a bit with the help of several fun treats from my sweet three year old.

They've gotten bigger, they've  been eating more, and man have we been hoping for them to start laying eggs. They were quite the freeloaders until this morning. Usually my husband checks the chickens in the morning but today we waited until the afternoon and lo and behold we were able to collect our first egg from our new hens. 

Technically they began laying about two days ago but the eggs' shells were so thin that I couldn't even pick them up without breaking them. After we saw that they were laying thin shelled eggs we decided to go to the local feed and seed store and pick up some calcium (oyster shells) and scratch for our girls. I sure am glad we did because it seems like that did the trick. The new egg shells are nice and thick and I'm super excited that we will soon be able to eat breakfast every day courtesy of our own hens again. 🐓🐔

In other news, I had a baby boy & we are so excited to introduce David.

He arrived on May 29th weighing 8 pounds and 14 ounces and he was 20 inches long. We quickly fell in love and are so enjoying getting to know our newest family member. As a mom of two life certainly has been quite different but I am so proud to announce that my daughter has become an extremely helpful and sweet big sister. I fell in love with her all over again seeing her sweet tender love of her brother.

 

And I just think to myself in this moment everything is right. I love these kids to the moon and back and they just make my heart feel like it's going to explode.

Sorry that I've been gone a while but I'm sure you can understand life is gotten quite busy; hopefully I'll be back to blogging & as always...

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Veggie gardens, new chickens, and a baby on the way, oh my!

Oh May, Oh My! 

May has been such a busy month already. We ordered new hens, put in our veggie garden, and made final preparations for Baby Baker #2. Elena has been all about baby brother but I have a feeling that may change when he gets here. 😉 

This year we planted strawberry plants, zucchini, sugar snap peas, onions, carrots, three varieties of tomatoes, basil, and potatoes. We so love harvesting our own food, the taste is more than worth the effort. This year my three year old planted all of the onion sets and pea seeds. She also picked out zinnia seeds which we will sow later this week. 

During our spring trip to the hatchery, we placed an order for 6 road island red started pullets. Those are young chickens that have already begun to lay eggs. Many people enjoy raising chicks but with a baby on the way, we were not prepared to take that on this year. Sadly, our current hens will be processed and frozen this fall. It is all part of responsibile animal ownership, it's just not my favorite part. 

Dirty hands make for yummy gardens!

What kind of gardening do you do at your home?

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Update and Refocus - This SAHM's Newest Adventures

Hey Y'all,

It's been about 6 months since I have posted here and my how life gets crazy. In June, I set out on a mission to lose weight. 100lbs in 10 months to be precise. I can say that I lost nearly 50lbs in 4 months and have (since June) lost 63lbs total so far. One thing has been slowing me down a bit since September...

We found out that we are expecting our newest member of the family and its a boy! David Anthony will be arriving in late May and we feel so blessed that our two year struggle with infertility is over.

I feel whole heartedly that our struggle to conceive was in fact due to my being overweight. I have slowed my weight loss down and eat more since I'm growing a baby but I continue to get stronger every day. Healthy food and fitness have become such an important part of my life. This blog will continue to follow our family life but will also be a way to share my fitness goals and workouts. Yes, that means I am back!

"I feel most beautiful when..."

... I take care of my body. Sweaty face and all, this IS my best side!

What do you do to make yourself feel happy and confident?

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Toddlers, Cleaning Supplies, and Racist Undertones, oh my!

I'm not 100% sure but it seems as though there is a season to buy miniature cleaning supplies and right now we are in the off season. Hubby and I have been searching for a little broom and mop for El and after hitting 6 different retailers, we came up empty. This morning might as well have been Christmas in our home as my husband walked in the door with a fully assembled (yes, batteries and all) and out-of-the-box cleaning trolley for our two year old. 

As she toddled away turning the vaccum cleaner on and off a hundred or so time, I casually looked over hubby's purchase.

My first impression was that it looked like the kind of cart a housekeeper in a hotel would push around. The spray bottle and laundry soap box are labelled, "Just Like Home". To top it off, the child on the box appears to be Hispanic. Uh, yeah, my thoughts exactly! 

Maybe it's a coincidence but the not-so-subtle irony was apparent. It makes me think of the one & only episode of Family Guy I have ever watched (just not my thing) and their housekeeper, Consuela. Ah, but I digress. El happily played with her cart and is getting pretty good with the dust pan. I put a handful of dry noodles on the floor for her to practice her "mommy's helper skills". Can anyone remind me about the toddler labor laws in Ohio? 

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The Mystery of Grace - A Stay at Home Mom's Journey

Motherhood does many things to us both inside and out. The most substantial change in me is the gift of grace. Sure I'm still clumsy, can never figure out which is the salad fork, and am a novice wine drinker. The grace I was given is on the inside. Maybe it was always in me, hiding or waiting for the perfect moment to bloom. But let me back up to the beginning. 

Rewind to my pre-mommy days.

I was not a patient person. Easily annoyed and my angry button was pushed in on the regular. That's not to say that I was unkind or unpleasant, I've always found it easy to make friends. With family and my husband, I could be ungrateful at times (embarrassing and hard to own up to as it is). Looking back, I'm just lucky that none of them kicked me to the curb. My husband says that I am exaggerating on those accounts but I disagree. Maybe it has something to do with reflecting on how I was then, from where I am now. Then I found grace.

April 2012

My story may be unique, though I hope it's not. Becoming a mother changes us all. My daughter's crying never stressed me and the lack of sleep was always worth it. Now with a feisty toddler, the challenges are different but the patience remains unending. You see for me, I had no choice, I loved my daughter from the moment that test showed two lines. Motherhood is challenging but the love that overflows in me is without words. When she's screaming and throwing a fit in my arms, I quietly whisper to her, "I love you in every way". It's not forced, it is the most natural thing I've felt in my life. It saddens me that not everyone has this beautiful connection and gift.

What is a Mother's Grace?

It is a peaceful quiet in your soul. It is endless patience. It is a beautiful bond between a mother and her child. It is a gift. 

Where is my Grace?

In meeting other moms & seeing friends become moms, my eyes have opened to how vastly different people can be as parents. Some become parents out of a feeling of family obligation or because their biological clock is ticking. Others try for years to conceive & some get there by chance. One thing to me is certain, not everyone feels the gushy love for their kids at first (or maybe ever). We are all so different in many ways and this "grace" isn't something you can just reach out and grab. Perhaps it finds us when we need it the most.

What Now?

First, stop being so hard on yourself. You are caring for your child, sadly, that is more than many can say. Remember that being lovey-duvey does not a perfect parent make. Being able to have slightly more guarded emotions may make gentle discipline and rule enforcing an easier task. Lastly, remember that your efforts toward a closer relationship with your child are never a waste. 

If you were lucky enough to feel that love at first sight, there is still work to be done. For me, it meant finding a way to harness that quiet peacefulness and using it to better my relationships with everyone around me. 

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Tomato Basil Quiche Recipe

My mouth is watering just thinking about this quiche. For me, tomato basil quiche is perfect for any meal (ahem, every meal). This is the first pie I've made entirely from scratch. Usually I just buy frozen pie crust but let's just say I was feeling ambitious. So without much yapping from me, here's my favorite adaptation of Tomato Basil Quiche.

Start by making (or buying) your favorite crust recipe. I usually leave out most of the sugar as this is a savory dish.

This year I grew a lot of tomatoes. 3 different varieties and 8 plants. Can we say beta-carotene overload!? Literally I have gone all "bubba" from Forrest Gump on you guys. Tomato sandwiches, tomato capris salad, grilled tomatoes, tomato sauce, okay you get the picture! So grab your tomatoes and here's how to make this quiche (didn't I say I was done yapping? Sorry I lied).

[a small glimpse of our produce from the garden this year]

The What:

Prepared pie crust 

3 eggs

15 halved cherry tomatoes 

1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

1 lb of sausage (we use turkey sausage)

1/4 cup chopped basil

1 tsp baking powder

2 tsp italian seasoning

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

Salt & Pepper to taste

The How:

Preheat your oven to 350F. 

Brown the sausage and thoroughly drain off any excess fat. 

Combine all ingredients and pour into the pie crust. 

Please be sure to salt this dish prior to cooking. It's better to salt before, than after. 

Bake for 27-32 minutes or until top is set. Allow at least 15 minutes to cool and set up before slicing (don't skip this step).

This recipe has 8 servings and depending upon the pie crust you make, it has about 265 calories per serving.

I hope you love this as much as my whole family does. Yum!

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Ava Anderson Organic Deodorant Review

[I am in no way affiliated with any below mentioned companies. I just like talking about & sharing great products when I find them.]

Alright ladies, let's talk stink! I'm a girl & I sweat. If I'm being perfectly honest, I sweat a lot! This is my story (cue Law & Order dun dun).

My Ava Anderson products arrived recently and I was like a giggly preteen as I came inside to open my package. I have slowly been switching our family to organic and chemical free cleaning & body products. We have been buying organic food (as much as our budget has allowed) for over 2 years now and I make most everything that would be considered "processed food" from scratch at home (if we eat it at all).

One thing I have had a really hard time letting go of, is my sweet smelling body & hair products (& cheesecake). As many of you are aware, these products contain countless chemicals and your skin soaks it all up (but not cheesecake, it is perfect in every way, but I digress). Still, I was hestitant to leave behind my Degree anti-perspiratant for fear of smelling like I lived in a barn. I switched to Toms Deodorant but didn't care for it. Recently, I won a full sized Ava Anderson deodorant at an Ava Party. (Yay!)

Here are my thoughts on this organic deodorant:

Pros: 

-After a 2 mile run in 80% humidity, I did not stink. In fact, my underarms didn't smell like anything. (No I did not eat cheesecake after the run ;-) )

-The fragrance from the essential oils is mild.

-No stains on my clothing.

-Cool sensation upon applying.

Cons:

-The stick is hard and doesn't apply very easily.

-The peppermint & cocoa butter scent mixture isn't my favorite but it's tolerable.

All in all, finding a chemical-free deodorant that does it's job so well is awesome. I'd feel very confident recommending it to any of you sweaty ladies. What kind of organic cleaning & body products do you like most? Share your thoughts below!

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Pushing Beyond 5k - A healthy update ;)

I promise I didn't leave you all. Life happened and I haven't been posting much. We lost a chicken to a neighboring dog and have been outside A LOT this summer.

A month and a half ago I shared with you my 1 mile story. I still can't believe that I run at all. Since then I have done 3 5k runs (one was 3.5 miles) without stopping and have taken 1 minute and 15 seconds off of my pace per mile. Once I get beyond the 2nd mile, my pace is set and everything just seems easier. In 8 weeks I went from jogging 1/4 mile at a time to over 3 miles at a time. To say that running has changed my life would be a bit premature but I will tell you that it is changing my life. 

Instead of tv time or driving around with my husband, we are outside running at least 3 days a week with our 2 year old in the stroller. We make healthier choices and have both lost weight. My hubby has always kept fit through running as he is still in the military. After leaving the Army, I'll be honest- I got lazy. Not just with my exercise but with my eating as well. It's embarrassing to admit but one day it will be my success story. 

Now my goal is 5 miles. I plan to hit that sometime in September. 10 weeks into my "new life" I can tell you that I am a better person inside and out. I've lost 37 lbs, 2 pants sizes, and am working on continuing to better my relationship with food. (Darn that period for mucking me up yesterday!) It's amazing how much happier my life has become and while I have had to sacrifice play date time with my toddler & our friends, it has been worth it. Now we have much more productive family time and our 2 year old is growing up with parents who are regularly active together.

If you are in a similar position to where I was just a few weeks ago, let me say that starting now is never too late. Whether you're 52 or 15 years old, 150 lbs or 300 lbs, one step in the right direction is better than none at all.

I'm sure that I'll continue to update as I go. What are you doing to get outside this summer? xoxo Jenn

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From 1 Minute to 1 Mile - A beginner's guide to running

Dear Friends, I am officially a runner!

Today I hit a huge milestone. I ran my first mile without stopping. Yeah, sure, some may roll their eyes but for me, this was a huge milestone. Hubby and I began running together (regularly) with little miss in the jogging stroller almost a month ago. At that time I was jogging a 1/4 mile and then walking, jogging a 1/4 mile then walking, ect. The thing that has really kept me going so far has been the quickness of improvements. Week 2 I was jogging 1/3 of a mile at a time and week 3, I was jogging 3/4 of a mile at a time. Now on day 1 of week 4 I pushed past the 1 mile mark. Hubby was in the Marine Corps and now is in the Air Force so he is a great running partner for me. He is encouraging and gentle but most of all he is right there with me, every slow stride of the way. :)

On Saturday we rode our bikes 32 miles so I rested Sunday to prepare for my run today. Let me be the first to say, wahooooooo!!!! 

Now that I enjoy running, the fun doesn't stop here. We usually run around our neighborhood but once I can run around our block twice (1.5 miles) we will likely switch it up at head to the metroparks path. I haven't been following a formal plan but rather setting landmark goals and listening to my body. Here's my mini guide for starting out running as a true beginner. 

Beginner's Running Guide

1. Have proper shoes and music ready to go with you. Find a buddy that can run with you (almost) every time. I always chew gum when I run to keep my throat and mouth moist.

2. On day one, run as far as you can push your body to get an idea of you're fitness level. Either track time or physical distance. 

3. Increase your time or distance by small increments every week. When you get to your "stop point" push beyond it. You'll be amazed at what your body is capable of.

4. Every week your body CAN run further, so push yourself. After a month you should be able to run 10 minutes straight or a whole mile. Don't get discouraged if it takes you longer though.

From one beginner to another, you can do it! You'll be so impressed with yourself when you do!

 Are you just starting out? Tell me about your Day 1?

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Summer Makeup Essentials

Summertime tans mean tossing aside almost all of my makeup. Between biking, running, and outdoor toddler play, my face has gained a nice glow. With my tan darkening by the day, I have only been using two products. The first is Bare Bronze by Victoria's Secret and the second is Maybelline volum' express.

After a recent eye infection I had to throw out a newly opened tube of $25 Dior Show mascara, and yes I was fuming! I heard great things about Volum' Express so I thought I'd give it a shot. Man! For only $7 this mascara can definitely compete with my higher end makeup :)

What is your summertime makeup routine? xoxo Jenn

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Toddler Teachable Moments: Hands on Nature

Yes that's my 2 year old transfixed by our neighbor's honeycomb. We love learning about nature up close and personal. Our neighbors have bees, we have chickens, and we adore our veggie garden.

[first bit of honey from the neighbors]

I love experiencing life's special moments for the first time through my daughter's eyes. That is why I try to give her new experiences all the time. She is so unspoiled. By that I mean, everything is exciting, new, and amazing. Earth's beauty isn't overlooked but little ones. It is such a precious thing to witness. 

[cinnamon, buck beak, mrs. weasley, and alice - our hens] 

Everyday we must ask ourselves, "what have I done to help my little one grow today".  Okay but really most days, as long as we are in one piece, it's a victory but I'm shooting for the moon here ladies! :)

I'll leave you with this gem of a quote from Jerry Seinfeld in case you though that I lost my funny bone. ;)

 

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Raised Bed Garden Update

We are one month into our raised bed gardening season here in Northeast Ohio. Wahoo! I know, I know, I'm like a fat kid in Willy Wonka's Factory when it comes to watching my garden grow. But this year we went nuts planting all kinds of different plants and I'm so happy that most of them are thriving. 

 

Today I caged and staked my tomato plants. I also did some major weeding. We just tilled and planted this year so I'm having trouble keeping up with pulling weeds and grass. In the bed above we have planted (from closed to furthest away): carrots, onions, potatoes, brussel sprouts, and tomatoes. Everything is growing nicely though the potatoes come up in unpredictable spots and I'll plant them differently next year. 

Here we have one watermelon plant in the front, eggplants, and squash. The eggplants are not happy campers but I'm trying to give them time to see what happens.

My pepper plants are still quite small but the tomato plants here are looking great. :) The photo doesn't do them justice.

Peas & Basil

Beans & Cilantro

More beans ;)

Mmmmm basil!

I imagine that in just another month we will have huge growth now that we have +80F temps nearly everyday. 

With that here's my favorite gardening quote as I am a new wino: "Compost is best aged a little like a fine wine. I mean, would you prefer to drink a nice 97, or something that was made last Thursday."

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The Last Forever & Dear John Book Reviews

I've fallen back in love with reading. Or I should say we reunited after a brief parting of ways. People who know me would say that I can only handle one hobby at a time. From sewing to crochet and from baking to gardening, I love it all.  This past week I read two books. Our family has been sick so it's been the perfect quiet time reTREAT for me. 

The first book I read was The Last Forever by Deb Caletti. Following the death of her mother, Tess must deal with an unravelling father while attempting to sift through her own grief. While I expected a swooning love story, this book focuses more on family dynamics and personal growth. I love the way Deb Caletti writes. She writes the way I think and that was refreshing. The story itself was a nice light read but lacked the depth I usually prefer in a book. I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The second book I read was Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. The military made him a respectable man but when John met Savannah, she helped develop his character by teaching him what selfless love really was. The movie version has already been on DVD for awhile but I haven't seen it yet. This was my first Sparks book and I really enjoyed it. It's tender, heart wrenching, and shines a light on a growing condition in this country, Austism. All in all a medium weight book and a very quick read. I would recommend it especially if you haven't seen the movie yet. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Current weeks reads: A Time to Dance by Karen Kingsbury and I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman. Now, rediscover the library (if you don't already live there) and jump on this summer reading adventure with me. What are you reading right NOW?

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Father's Day Handprint Craft / Card

Father's Day is quickly approaching, t-minus 13 days and counting. Craft #1 that my toddler and I worked on is a handprint card. The outside says, "Happy Father's Day Daddy". Here's a picture of the inside.

This is super fitting of my hubby. He loves to fish but rarely catches a thing. Teehee, he's a really good sport about it though so I think he'll enjoy this card. 

We are also making a "Fisherman's Survival Kit.

[free printables here: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/survivalkits/ss/Fishermans-Survival-Kit.htm]

Your turn! What kind of Father's Day surprises do you have lined up this year?

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Making a Summer Adventure Bucket List

Here in Northeast Ohio we are lucky enough to have thousands of miles of trails to enjoy. Everything including: all purpose paved trails, towpaths, rugged trails, mountain biking trails, bridle trails, and so on. As a nature loving family, we love it! Yesterday we visited Brandywine Falls (again) and hiked a moderate trail. Hubby straps Little Bitty to his back and off we go. If you asked hubby or I why we hike, you'd get two different responses. I would tell you that we enjoy nature, being active, and exposing our little bitty to nature. Hubby has some crazy idea stuck in his head that we are training to "thru-hike" the Appalacian Trail. He is obviously delusional but we love him anyway. :-)

I snapped this pic before tightening the wrap, little bitty was sitting a little low but you get the idea. For now, the easiest way for us to cover a lot of ground is to wear our toddler. 

[Brandywine Falls]

With our love of nature I thought that we should make a Summer Hiking Bucket List. So Hubby & I have created a list of awesome hiking areas to try this summer and fall. All of our locations are a reasonable drive from our home in NE Ohio. Here is our top 10 places to hike this summer. (The following summaries of the trails are pulled from various websites which will be listed at the bottom)

   1.) Squires Castle

Squire's Castle at North Chagrin is a 5.2 mile loop trail located near Cleveland, Ohio that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. 

2.) Mill Creek Park

Mill Creek Park has at least fourteen good hiking trails that will make you think that you were not in Ohio. The topography in Mill Creek Park seems to come from another state out West. Mill Creek park covers 2,530 acres and includes 21 miles of scenic drives and 15 miles of foot trails, and a rare collection of gardens, streams, lakes, woodlands, meadows and wildlife for all to enjoy. 

3.) Happy Days, Ledges and Pines

How can you not feel happy and relaxed with a trail named Happy Days, Ledges and Pines? Wind through the sanctuary of stone, trees and moss and enter a trail of enchantment. Happy Days trail offers three trails that are approximately 4.3 looped miles that are moderate to difficult. 

4.) Prairie Oaks Trails

Prairie Oaks features nearly 500 acres of lush prairies and grasslands. In late summer and early fall, visitors can see fields of beautifully flowering ashy sunflower, royal catchfly and purple coneflower against a backdrop of big and little bluestem and Indian grasses.

5.) Clear Creek

Clear Creek Valley is one of the most pristine and secluded natural areas in Central Ohio. Variations of land surfaces, soils and climates have produced a medley of habitats that harbor more than 800 plant species and 150 species of birds, many of them rare. You may catch a glimpse of turkey, deer, ruffed grouse, coyote, black vultures or even see the traces of the elusive bobcat along the park's 12 miles of trails.

6.) Nelson's Ledges

Nelson's Ledges State Park is a 2 mile loop trail located near Garrettsville, Ohio and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for mountain biking and is accessible year-round.

7.) Little Miami River Loop and Spur Trail

Little Miami River Loop and Spur Trail is a 9 mile loop trail located near Yellow Springs, Ohio and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible from April until October.

8.) Deer Lick Cave Loop Trail

Deer Lick Cave Loop Trail - Brecksville Reservation is a 4 mile loop trail located near Brecksville, Ohio that features a river. The trail is rated as difficult and primarily used for hiking, trail running & walking. 

9.) Mohican Trails

Mohican Trails include 13 miles of trails take you to the more interesting areas of the park and forest. Lyons Falls trail follows Clear Fork Gorge and features two waterfalls. The Hemlock trail leads to the scenic covered bridge, and Pleasant Hill trail follows the shoreline and offers beautiful views of the lake. 

10.) Hocking Hills - Old Man's Cave

The most popular of all the Hocking areas is Old Man's Cave, located on State Route 664. Here at the Upper Falls, the Grandma Gatewood Trail begins its six-mile course connecting three of the park's areas: Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls to Ash Cave. This same trail has been designated as part of Ohio's Buckeye Trail as well as part of two national systems - the North Country Scenic Trail and America's Discovery Trail.

So that about wraps it up. For more info on these locations I provided the links for my sources below.

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http://www.hockinghills.com/old_mans_cave.html

http://www.discovermohican.com/activities-mohican2.html

http://www.metroparks.net/parksprairieoaks.aspx

http://ohventures.blogspot.com/2011/08/10-great-ohio-hiking-spots.html?m=1

http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-hiking-trails-in-cleveland/

http://hikingohioparks.com/south-chagrin-reservation-hiking-ohio-parks.html

http://alltrails.com/trail/us/ohio/nelsons-ledges-state-park

Raised Bed Gardening Video

The garden is in and growing but I thought I'd share our first weekly garden video blog. Eeeek... So exciting! Enjoy :D

http://youtu.be/ykYzsCb6s-I

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Raised Bed Gardening in Northern Ohio

Well I have been mostly MIA since the weather here in NE Ohio turned beautiful. We have been playing with the chickens, planning for our cow, and creating our garden. 

The garden began with my husband building three large beds. Then the chickens worked on scratching up the grass. Little by little our fruit & veggie garden began to take shape.

We tilled in some peat moss to make the soil nice and light for our plants. We are very fortunate to have extremely fertile soil, we have hundreds of earthworms as proof, ;)

[A hard at work hubby]

We had to install fencing around the garden since we have all kinds of critters living near by. Our wildlife (pesky a-holes) include: rabbits, geese, ducks, wild turkeys, raccoons, a fox, cats, deer (otherwise known as overgrown rats), ground hogs, squirrels, and mice. All of those are just what I've seen. The fence won't keep them all out but hopefully it'll deter them from trying to hard!

We are using straw in the beds as our mulch and also on the ground to keep the grass down (we need more still).

This first bed has carrots, onions, potatoes, brussel sprouts, and beefy tomatoes. The second has watermelons, eggplants, acron & spaghetti squashes. The third has green & red peppers, cherry & Roma tomatoes, and brussel sprouts. Once I get the spacing figured out, I'll plant my basil and cilantro seeds.

We are so excited to see what works and how well everything does and I'll keep you updated as the summer progresses.

What are your gardens looking like this summer?

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DIY Little Mermaid Apron

Naptime crafting is the best! I have been wanting to make a dress-up apron for a long time now. Today's craft is a little mermaid inspired dress-up apron. 

The whole project cost me about five dollars in materials. I have been buying fabric from Joann's for forever but someone recently told me that walmart has fabric in store. Holy cow! Can we say bargain!? The selection is minimal and since I don't shop there, it was an added trip, but the price was great. I paid 1/3 of the prices at Joann's!

The whole project took me about 2 hours  since I had to do a lot of pinning. It was easy and a fun play accessory for my toddler. When I showed it to her she squealed and said, "mermaid". I call that a win! ;)

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Sew Your Own Queen Elsa Dress from Frozen

So if you have a daughter then it's likely you know all about Frozen. As the mother of a two year old, I sure do. I call it Frozen Fever, it's highly contagious and causes symptoms of: desperate merchandise shopping, panic attacks, 4 hour disney store line waits, and lack of merch induced depression. Luckily, my toddler is still so young that I don't have to run around collecting the character plushes just yet (even though I'd like to).

I did make my daughter Elsa's dress, or at least something similar. Here are some more pictures of it. It cost about $25 in supplies.

The cape is made of the same sheer fabric as the sleeves. I also went through and hot glued gems onto the cape in the shape of a snow flake toward the bottom. I put gems all over the cape at random as well. 

I love how it turned out and for my first dress with sleeves, I kind of impressed myself! LoL

What has Frozen done to all of you?

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