Benjamin and Joanna

I thought I'd share a few recent pictures of the kiddos...

Benjamin thought this end table would make a great place to read a book =)
An organ duet!
I was feeding Joanna when I had to go do something, so Benjamin thought he'd take over. He did pretty good until he shoved the spoon a little too far in!
Sleepyheads =)

Fabric Bowl Covers

Several months ago I decided not to buy any more aluminum foil or plastic wrap. I didn't use them very often anyway, since I try to use reusable containers, and I figured that would be one less thing to buy. Sometimes, though, it is nice to be able to leave leftovers in the bowl they're in, and not have to transfer them to another container.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I spotted a picture of some fabric bowl covers that someone had made, and I was really excited! That would be perfect for the times I just wanted to stick a bowl of something in the fridge.

They looked really simple, so I made a couple...



They were super easy and quick to make, and they are really handy! I've already used them a few times, and it is the perfect solution for me! Obviously, they aren't airtight, since they're made of fabric, but then, neither is foil or plastic wrap, really. When they're dirty, just toss them in the wash - no garbage!

I'm planning on making a couple more, so I'll take pictures and post a tutorial when I do.

Finished Projects!

I've been able to finish a number of little projects over the last month or so....

A little blanket for Joanna...
Birthday crowns for the kids, from The Creative Family by Amanda Soule.
A fabric gift bag...
A crayon roll for Benjamin's birthday....
Another skirt for Joanna - this will go in her stocking.
Joanna's stocking - I made this using the Knifty Knitter.
A little fleece jacket for Joanna - this was my first attempt at making an article of clothing by tracing a piece of clothing. It turned out really well! I made it simple on myself by just tracing two pieces and not separating the sleeves!

Updating...

I thought it was high time my blog had a new look! I also added a section on the sidebar for links to tutorials and recipes that I really like, which I will be adding to when I have time.

A big girl!

We've started a little self-feeding with Joanna - with a fun new snack recommended to us from a friend. These are "Mum Mums", a baby rice cracker. Joanna absolutely loves them! Whenever I hold one out to her, she grabs it and shoves it in her mouth! I love that they immediately melt in her mouth. Cheerios were the first thing Benjamin fed himself, but these are easier for babies, because they can be held in a fist rather than with fingers.

Early Christmas projects...

I would love to get started on making Christmas presents, but I need some good ideas first! So I decided to make Joanna a Christmas outfit, so that would at least be ready. I had this material in my stash, and it worked perfectly for a little skirt and a headband. I love how they turned out - my only concern is that they fit her now, so hopefully they'll still fit her in a few months!

A new use for olive oil...

If you're like me and reuse glass bottles and jars you get with food (like salad dressing bottles or pasta sauce jars) then you have probably dealt with the frustration of labels not coming off nicely or leaving sticky residue. When this happens, I usually use vinegar to get the residue off, which often, but not always, works. But I read somewhere about olive oil removing sticky stuff - so the last time I had a label not come off very well, I tried it. I sprayed some olive oil on the sticky spot and left it for a few minutes. When I wiped it with my washcloth, the residue wiped right off! Yay for olive oil!