One of my new favorite things...

...hydrogen peroxide!

Several months ago I read a blog post on the wonderful stain-removing power of hydrogen peroxide, and decided to try it on several stains on our carpet. I was amazed at how well it worked! I was so happy - I did not want to pull out the Resolve with a little guy on the carpet all the time. Since then, I've also used it on our very dirty white couch, with great success! I'll be trying it on clothes next, but so far I'm am very pleased with the results I've gotten from using it! I screwed a spray bottle top onto the bottle, which worked really well on the couch, but I've found that it worked better on the carpet if I just poured it on, perhaps because it's able to go down into the carpet instead of just sitting on top. I'm happy to have another cheap, safe way to clean!

Christmas Plans...

I've been thinking a lot about Christmas lately...and getting excited! Right now I'm focusing on thinking of gifts. I have a couple of things ready, a couple more in the works, and many more ideas to come up with! I'm mostly trying to things of gifts that are nice, but simple and useful. I'd like to have gifts ready as soon as possible, so that I'll be able to relax and enjoy the busy season! Maybe this year I'll actually be successful in that goal - I can dream, right! =) I'm also trying to come up with a few ideas for Christmas activities. Last year got so busy with Benjamin that we didn't do too many Christmasy things, so I'd like to do a little more this year! My overall goal, though, is just to have a fun, but simple and relaxing season of making memories while celebrating our Savior's birth!

To the Pumpkin Patch!

We joined Seth's family for a trip to the pumpkin patch last weekend!


We left with a couple of lovely pumpkins we'll use as decorations for a while - then I'll try my hand at cooking them up!

Wet Bag

I've been trying to use my cloth bags at the grocery store more often, but in order to do so, I have had to find replacements for the uses I had for store bags. I used paper bags to hold our recycling, then just took it all out to the recycling bin when it was full. I no longer need these since I was able to get a nice plastic recycling tote bag from the city. Plastic bags I used for garbage can liners and also for holding wet diapers in the diaper bag. I don't have a way to replace them in the garbage can, but I'm pleased to say I no longer need them for holding wet diapers!
I first saw the concept of a wet bag at Passionate Homemaking, and was intrigued. It is a zippered bag, lined with vinyl to hold wet items. I had plenty of leftover vinyl from the changing pad, so I decided to try making one. It was a little tricky for me to put it together so the seams were in between the layers, but it's not bad as long as I don't look at it too closely! It works wonderfully! I wipe it out with my vinegar cleaner each time I use it so it stays clean and odor-free!

Homemade Changing Pad

I have a changing pad for Benjamin that has pockets for wipes and diapers, and then all folds up and closes nicely. I really like it, but he's starting to outgrow it, and I also thought that it would be nice to have another for when the baby is born. So I thought I would try making one. I picked up some tablecloth vinyl at the store for a few dollars, and also used some fabric I already had. This new one is much bigger than the other one and much cuter! I added some elastic to wrap around it when it's folded so it stays closed.

Fall Fun!

With fall clearly here, I picked up some decorative gourds and a pumpkin at the store the other day. Benjamin had fun playing with them for a little while before we used them to decorate the table. I think they look especially well with the pretty flowers my sweet husband brought home! Our favorite is the cool gourd in front that looks just like a swan!