Is there such a thing as craft nesting!?!?

This summer has been CRAZY FUN!!! I can't even begin to tell you all that we have done, but let me just say we played HARD knowing that our 3rd baby (Morgan Olivia) arrives in November things will be slowing down a LOT! Here is what I have been up to!

I have to say that I have had a few bee's in my bonnet and it feels GREAT having some pink in the house. I whipped together a cheater blanket (semi-homemade), some birds for her bird mobile, & I'm working on her Birthday banner!

I also made her a girlie car seat cover which I think will work perfect for while she is sleeping. I sewed this paper garland for her room, and here was a side view of a few of her mobile birds!

I will be posting a few tutorials here in the next month on some fun baby & kid friendly things!!! Stay tuned! SeW hApPy!!!!

"Don't agonize, organize.” -Florynce R. Kennedy

Ok, so When I was expecting my first child I was encouraged to read Babywise by:Dr. Ezzo! I LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!!! Now, just know when I read this book I was a master procrastinator, the Queen of sleeping in and I had no clue what time management was!?!?! (TOTALLY being transparent here!) I just loved the idea of the book and how you had your child on a routine so the baby knew when to expect it's eat/wake/sleep times! It also made it easy for me to know when to meet all of his needs as well! Let me tell you...it worked and I had two boys who both started sleeping through the night at 9 & 10 weeks old! To this day I kiss them and lay them in their beds awake and walk away. They go to sleep on their own and it is an amazing thing!

So, now that my son is 3 he is still on somewhat of a routine (with eating and sleep). But he is soooo much more awake and active than any infant would ever be. So normally our day consist of waking up, eating breakfast, watching cartoons, and then whatever, whenever! It makes for a crazy and long day with "Mama...can I watch a movie!?" "Mama...wanna play cars!?" "Mama...can I _________" It seriously drove me bonkers. I didn't know how to entertain him. I wanted time with him, but I also felt a pull from my daily responsibilities...there was always dishes, laundry, dinner or SOMETHING! Then what about my free time!? What is that!? Seriously!

Last week my dear friend Charlene came over for a visit. While she was here she was talking to me about how she would have done things differently with her girls. (They are all 6yrs+) Char is also a Christian pre-school teacher as well. She was sharing with me how amazed she is at what pre-schoolers are capable of. She went on to tell me about her day at school and how these kids would do pretty much everything on their own and what kind of a schedule they had. She shared that she wished when she was a stay at home Mom that she would have put her girls on the same kind of routine/schedule when they were that age! That totally got my wheels turning! Why had it NEVER dawned on me to put my oldest on a scheduled routine like that!? I did it when he was a baby. Everything was scheduled then.

So I started googling example schedules for stay at home Moms! I came across one that sounded perfect for us! I just started implementing this routine and I have to say it has helped everyone at home to know what to do when! I didn't have my 3 year old wondering around wondering what to do & It has also helped me to organize my cleaning & Internet/free time. I had the kitchen spotless & the house picked up all by 8:30am this morning!!! It was AMAZING! So here it is...hope it helps someone else out there like it helped me!

7:30-8 -Wake up & have breakfast

8-8:30 -Cartoons (educational TV or Video): P watched Veggie Tales today

8:30-9:30 -Outside play (Summer) or Inside play (Winter): P played with play-dough

9:30-10:00 -Singing time: Put on pre-school songs and danced and sang like crazy with P.

10-10:15 -Snack Time: Cheese and crackers today

10:15-11:15 -Arts & Crafts: Payton made homemade Thank you cards to mail out from his Birthday party! He also colored his Pixar Cars coloring book!

11:15-12:00 -Free play while I prepare lunch: He played with his trains and then I had him clean up his toys before he ate!

12:00-12:30 -Lunch Time

12:30-1:30 -Relax time/story time: Winding down before nap...we read some fun books!

1:30-3:30 -NAP TIME & Mama's free time!!! I'm blogging today :)

3:30-4:00 -Snack time: Apples wedges

4:00-5:00 -Playtime & clean up while you prepare dinner

5:00pm -Daddy is HOME!!!!!


It is amazing to me how we TRULY THIRVE on a schedule! When I get to a point that I feel out of control and haven't been getting everything done or not having that sit down time with my boys, it's ALWAYS because we got off a schedule or routine...or never was on one! :P Sooooo happy for this new revelation! It will give me the opportunity to get everything in and have those teaching times with my boys. It will give me that time to teach them about God, creation, life lessons, motor skills and I'll be building a relationship at the same time! LOVE IT!!! :)

Mama's Famous Hawaiian Enchiladas

I FINALLY got these into a recipe format...if you know Mom she does everything by taste and what looks right! Hope you all enjoy this YUMMY family recipe!!! This is one of David's FAVORITES and I am sure it will be a hit at your house as well. We like the chicken as well as the beef ones...but the chicken are MY fave! These are EXCELLENT to freeze too, just double the recipe and have one pan for dinner tonight and have another pan in the freezer ready for unexpected company or a lazy night!!! This is a Family recipe and a favorite FOR SURE!!! ENJOY!

Love, Janell

Mama's Famous Hawaiian Enchiladas

Ingredients:
2 Large boneless chicken breasts (or 2lbs ground beef...Mama always does a tray of each!)
1 Large Green Bell pepper
1 Large onion
1 large can of olives
1 (10 1/2 oz) can cream of chicken soup
1 (20 oz) cans of crushed pineapples
3 (1.62oz) Enchilada sauce packets (found by gravy packets @ the store)
3 (6oz) cans tomato paste
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 package of burrito size flower tortillas
Salt & Pepper

Prep: Boil chicken until cooked through. While chicken is boiling, Strain crushed pineapple (let strain until added to chicken mixture -reserve juice) chop bell pepper, onion, and olives. Saute' onions and Bell pepper in butter or oil until translucent. Set aside. After Chicken has cooled, chop into bite size pieces and then add to the Bell/onion mixture. Add salt & pepper to taste and the can of cream of chicken to the chicken mixture and mix well. Add three quarters of your pineapple as well as your olives (just eye ball it) to your chicken mixture and reserve the rest for topping your enchiladas, mix well.

Sauce: In a pan add all 3 enchilada packets, only HALF the water that is called for on the back of your packet. (At this time I measured out the pineapple juice that we reserved and used it for part of the "water" called for in this sauce. This may vary depending on brand, mine called for 3c. water per packet originally and I only added 1 1/2c. per packet...part of that was the pineapple juice.) Then add the 3 cans of tomato paste and whisk together until well blended.

Assembly: Ladle a small amount of enchilada sauce in the bottom of your 9x13 dish. Take a flower tortilla and spoon a very small amount of enchilada sauce down the middle, then spoon the chicken mixture down the middle, and finish off with a sprinkle of cheese. Roll up the enchilada and place seam side down in your dish. Keep doing this until your dish is full and then top your dish with enchilada sauce just until tortillas are covered. Then top the tortillas with the remaining olives, pineapple, and some cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees until bubbly and all the cheese is melted...about 30ish minutes.

THAT'S A WRAP!!!

I have been looking into the Moby wraps for when our sweet little one comes. (in 3 1/2 months!!!) A Friend was sharing with me that she just bought fabric and made her own!? WHY hadn't I thought of that? So I started searching the web about how to make your own Moby type wrap! The original Moby runs about $40 bucks. I came across this thread today and I can just buy fabric and make my own for cheaper! Sounds like Walmart has the best deal on 100% cotton interlocking fabric & best of all it's a NO SEW project!!! Thought you might be interested in one too! ♥

http://community.babycenter.com/talk/a7701445/how_to_make_a_moby_wrap?cpg=1

Here is how to make & wrap it too! http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about492363.html

Both of these sites were VERY helpful!

Enjoy~ Janell

MY ALL TIME FAVORITE TUTORIALS!!!!!

Hey girls:
a few nights ago I was going through all my favorite tutorials that I have come across over the last year and a half. I have had these on my "favorites" list for a while. Some I have made, but others are on my "To do" list! I typed them all up so that I could save them on my email incase our computer ever crashes! So, needless to say I REALLY thought you would enjoy looking through these and maybe even get inspired to make something too!? There are a lot of baby things, (I wonder why???) but there are some other fun stuff too...just scroll down and read through them! For those of you who don't sew there are a handful of fun no sew tutorials as well! Happy crafting!!!

Love, Janell

Sew a Birthday banner http://seemommysew.wordpress.com/birthday-banner-tutorial/

Sew an adorable Buttercup hand bag http://rae.oostendorp.net/ButtercupBagfinal.pdf

Make a Canvase Fabric Collage http://specklednest.blogspot.com/2008/03/tgif-quickiefabric-collage.html

Sew a Changing pad clutch http://smallfryandco.blogspot.com/2009/02/changing-pad-clutch.html

TONS of Handmade gift ideas & tutorials http://www.skiptomylou.org/handmade-gift-ideas/

Sew a Hip Mama diaper Bag http://amingledyarn.wordpress.com/gallery/tutorial-hip-mama-diaper-bag/

Sew a Hip Baby sling http://www.mykarmababy.com/pages/BabySlingPattern.php

Sew a Hooter hider/Nursing cover http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/2009/02/description-stylish-and-practical.html

Sew a Little girls Twirly Skirt tutorial http://7layerstudio.typepad.com/7_layer_studio/2008/10/twirly-skirt-tutorial---at-last.html

Sew an Open pouch tutorial ("To go" diaper/wipes case) http://7layerstudio.typepad.com/7_layer_studio/2008/10/open-pocket-pouch-tutorial.html

Sew a Purse pouch (Gift bag) tutorial http://7layerstudio.typepad.com/7_layer_studio/2008/09/ribbon-drawstring-pouch-tutorial.html

Sew a scrap savvy Bookmark tutorial http://7layerstudio.typepad.com/7_layer_studio/2008/09/scrap-savvy-bookmark-tutorial.html

Little baby or little girl NO SEW tutu tutorial http://vermillionrules.blogspot.com/2008/12/extremely-detailed-tutu-tutorial.html

Sew an ADORABLE half apron http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/how-to-stitch-an-apron-3128/

Sew a GREAT baby changing pad http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike/2008/07/diaper-changing.html

Cute NO SEW covered Baby wipes case http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com/baby-wipes.html

Sew baby cloth shoes 0-12mo http://stardustshoes.blogspot.com/2006/10/cloth-shoe-pattern.html

Home made burp cloths http://gerberadesigns.com/indieshopperblog/?p=537

Sew an adorable Hobo bag http://www.jcarolinecreative.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=JC&Screen=HOBO_BAG

Sew an ADORABLE Ruffle half apron http://morganmoore.typepad.com/one_more_moore/2007/02/valentine_tree__1.html

Sew a picnic blanket with corner rock pockets http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=531

Sew MY FAVORITE peanut burp cloths http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2008/01/burp-cloth-tutorial.html

Sew an ADORABLE Baby Bib http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2008/02/bib-tutorial.html

Make a friend a Diaper cake for her Baby Shower http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2007/09/diaper-cake-tutorial.html

Sew a cute spring tote http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2009/03/spring-tote-tutorial.html

Sew cute taggie animals for a baby http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2009/02/taggie-animals-tutorial.html

Sew an Easy clean vinyl baby bib http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2009/03/wipe-clean-vinyl-baby-bib.html

Preschool Scripture Memorization

Well, my 23 month old son Payton knows all of his letters and is getting the sounds down...so I figured he must be smart enough to start memorizing Gods word. This is something I personally have been convicted about as well. So why not do it together!? I was googling lists of preschool verses and came across this great list! Hope you enjoy it too! =0> I can't wait to get started!

Janell


ABC Memory Verses

A - All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
B - Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. Acts 16:31
C - Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Ephesians 6:1
D - Depart from all evil and do good. Psalm 34:14
E - Even a child is known by his doings. Proverbs 20:11
F - Fear not, for I am with you. Isaiah 43:5
G - God is love. 1John 4:8
H - Honor your father and your mother. Exodus 20:12
I - If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:14
J - Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me. John 14:6
K - Keep your tongue from evil. Psalm 34:13
L - Look to me, and be saved. Isaiah 45:22
M - My son, give me your heart. Proverbs 23:26
N - No man can serve two masters. Matthew 6:24
O - O give thanks to the Lord: for He is good. Psalm 118:1
P - Praise you the Lord: for it is good to sing praises to our God. Psalm 147:1
Q - Quit you like men, be strong. 1Corinthians 16:13
R - Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exodus 20:8
S - Seek you the Lord while he may be found. Isaiah 55:6
T - The Lord sees me. Genesis 16:13
U - Unto you, O God, do we give thanks. Psalm 75:1
V - Verily, verily, I say to you, whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. John 16:23
W - Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 56:3
X - Exceeding great and precious promises are given to us. 2Peter 1:4
Y - You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14
Z - Zion heard, and was glad. Psalm 97:8

SUNDAY~WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

White Chicken Chili

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 (4 ounce) can chopped green chili peppers
3 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
3 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
3 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
3 (15 ounce) cans white beans
2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans
2 shakes of the Tabasco bottle
2 cups whipping cream
1 cup sour cream

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Slowly cook and stir the onion & garlic until tender. Mix in the green chili peppers, Tabasco, cumin, oregano and cayenne. Continue to cook and stir the mixture until tender, about 3 minutes. Mix in the chicken broth, chicken and white beans. Simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the Whipping cream and sour cream right before serving! Enjoy!

*I made this "Sunday" friendly today and did everything except add the whipping cream and sour cream and put it in the crock pot. I put it on low for about 2 1/2 hrs (or till church was over) and when we got home it looked great! I added the whipping cream & sour cream and dinner was ready!!! I served it with corn bread and a Caesar salad. We also added some crunched up tortilla chips...yum! Everyone LOVED IT!!!