Soda? Coke? Pop? .....Other???

This is by far the most interesting map of the United States I've seen in a L-O-N-G time. (At our home, states are mostly referred to as a "red or blue" state. Politically speaking, of course.)

So, what do YOU call a carbonated beverage? Is it a coke? A soda? Pop?

According to the map, my county in Indiana goes by "pop". I think that's what we always called it when I was growing up, so it makes sense to me.

(By the way, my dad always drank Pepsi, but we called it "pop". We kids got one glass a week while we ate a bowl of popcorn and watched The Carol Burnett Show. ....Memories... But I digress...)

Somewhere along the line I started calling it "soda". I think it happened during my short stint as a nanny in New Jersey. Look at New Jersey....the entire state thinks it's "soda".

I noticed there is category for "other", and there are a lot of "other"s in places like North Carolina. What is "other"? Someone from a bright green county please enlighten me!

How does the map match up with what you say at your home? Is it a coke? A soda? Pop? Other?

I'm off to consider other earth- and mind-shattering questions....like what to make for dinner.

Frugal Friday--Saving on Milk

We drink a LOT of milk around here! Rick and I have to have three cups every day because we've both had gastric bypass surgery. Not to mention the girls drinking milk, cooking, having it with cereal, etc. With milk pushing $4.00 per gallon in our neck of the woods, we've made the switch--to powdered milk.

Before you turn up your nose and make an "Ewwww-w-w-w" sound you should try it! If you mix it up the night before and chill it well, you will not be able to tell the difference between it and the skim milk you buy in jugs. I promise!

Here's the best part: You can buy a box of powdered milk that makes five gallons at Aldi's for around $9.00 which works out to $1.80 per gallon. The only way to beat that is to buy a cow!

Head on over to Crystal's Blog for more Frugal Friday tips!

ZZZzz-z-z-z-z----z--z-z-z-----z-z-z-z--------

I haven't done any posting for over a week!

I've been recovering from my second knee surgery. It wasn't bad in the beginning, then it had to be drained last week. There is just one word for that--PAINFUL!

Since then, I've been on pain medication--and I'm allergic to it. In fact, I've somehow become allergic to all prescription pain medications. So, instead of NOT taking anything, I take it with two benadryl. Know what happens when you take benadryl with a pain medication??? You sleep. You keep sleeping....then you sleep some more.

This sleeping has my body's internal time clock all messed up. Now my days and nights are confused. So, I sleep all day, then I can't sleep at night! I spend all night trying to go back to sleep and doing quiet, non-brain-stimulating things. For me, blogging is VERY brain stimulating. Hence, no posts. (Please, someone comment and say you noticed I hadn't been posting!!!)

Now it's time to go listen to some quiet music, read a little, tend to the girls when they awake during the night, play with the kitties, weave some headbands (I can to this in my sleep now.)....

Works for Me Wednesday: Food Scoops

I have two scoops that look like extra-small ice cream scoops—the old-fashioned kind with the squeeze handle. The smaller of the two belonged to my grandmother. She was a cook at sororities and fraternities at “a major university”. She bought the small scoop when she worked there. It makes cookie baking so easy! Just scoop out the dough, squeeze the handle, and voila--uniform cookies that are fast to dip out! (Anyone who’s been through 4-H Foods Division I knows how important uniformity is!) This small scoop holds about one measuring teaspoon. It’s just the right size when you want bite-sized cookies: baby or wedding showers, cookies for small children, or when you want a recipe to yield more actual cookies than the recipe states.

The larger of the scoops says “40” on the inside. That must have something to do with the size, but I’m not sure exactly what it is. I’m guessing it holds about two measuring tablespoons. This scoop is great for “normal”-sized cookies. Again, it makes scooping fast and easy. This scoop is also wonderful for muffins: two scoops of muffin batter in a regular-sized muffin tin is just the right amount for perfect muffins, regardless of the recipe. They’re never too small, and the batter never runs over the sides.

These scoops are also great when you’re making cookies or other recipes that require rolling food into balls. Just scoop out the food, plop it on a piece of waxed paper or a cookie sheet, then roll it into a rounder ball. No food gets under your fingernails…I just HATE it when that happens! I do this when I’m making peanut butter cookies or meatballs. No digging into the food with your hands!

Making cooking more uniform, less messy, and easier….that Works for Me! Be sure to check out Works for Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer for more great ideas!

I'm Officially Addicted...

Hello. My name is Dana and I'm addicted to headbands.....

I'd been seeing these woven headbands all over the Yahoo! boutique message boards so I went on a quest to find the instructions. There are several out there, but I chose the directions from Little Cans of Beans.

The directions are easy to follow and have photos showing every step. Changing the colors of the ribbons and the initial placement will give you a different design every time. The variety of available ribbon colors is virtually limitless giving you endless design potential.

The headbands are also very inexpensive to make. I bought the plastic headband forms from The Ribbon Retreat for less than $.50 each. I used less than 3 yards of 3/8" ribbon costing less than $1.00 total. These would be easy to make for sale at boutiques, schools, daycares, eBay, or even etsy!

Yes, I can see an addiction forming......

(The photo isn't the greatest. The colors used were black, orange, deep purple, and neon green.)

WARNING: Addiction Possibility Ahead!

WARNING: Making this project could become addictive!

Now that I have the legal stuff out of the way, take a look at this beaded headband I made today! The instructions came from The Ribbon Retreat.

Using beads I already had was my first challenge. I had a bunch leftover from a project I did last year so they soon became scattered all over the dining room table. Of course, the girls were FASCINATED by all the pretty little beads and wanted so much to "help" momma!

The second challenge was working with jewelry findings. I had no idea what a crimp bead was nor how wire is gauged. Once that was figured out, the next part was fun.

Making this first headband took about 35 minutes with a few interruptions. The next one should be faster. The instructions say the materials cost $12-$16 per headband. The main cost would be the glass beads they recommend. The beads I used were plastic and less expensive.

I could see making one of these to match each of Katie's dresses. Not to be forgotten, Audrey could wear it as a necklace. You could make one tiara-style and put ribbons hanging down the back. Every little princess would love having this for dress-up time.

It's a Boy!

After adopting Roxanne a few weeks ago, we decided to bring Vinnie home too. He's a real sweetheart and has adjusted very well! He like's to sleep in "Rick's chair" and is a real cuddler. Fuzzy still hisses at him occasionally, but doesn't put much effort into it any more. Vinnie just doesn't care! His "real" name was Sven, but the girls were having problems pronouncing it and kept calling him "Fin". It was somehow changed to Vinnie and it seems to fit him well.

I would say we are done adopting kittes...however...there are two kittens at the rescue who are at the least, blind in one eye. They are siblings from the same litter and are 4-5 weeks old. While the last thing we need is two more furbabies, we don't want to see them separated. They may be coming here once they are weaned.

Kids and kitties...I just can't resist!

On a Roll

Using scraps of fabric leftover from my purse project last weekend, I made this cute crayon keeper. The instructions came from here.

The best part about this project is that the keeper will match my purse. And we all know how important it is for kids' playthings with to match your accessories!

Seriously, crayons are very inexpensive now with the back-to-school sales going on. These would make great frugal stocking stuffers or terrific birthday presents for kids of all ages.

Sewing time is minimal. Fabric usage is also minimal. It would be very easy to make this bigger (for 24 crayons), smaller (for 8 crayons), or even for markers. It would also be easy to customize this for a Dora the Explorer fan, SpiderMan, or or even Cinderella fan. The possibilities are endless!

On a side note, why are the 24-count crayons $.09-$.12 per pack right now and the 16-count crayons are almost $1.00? Doesn't make sense, does it? I bought a dozen 24-count packages and gave the extras for my girls to use.

Pattern Review: Sweet Pea Purse

I belong to several Yahoo! groups that deal with sewing and/or boutique clothing for children. Most of the sites highly recommend the patterns from You Can Make This. I decided to purchase this purse pattern and give them a try.

I ordered this pattern in the middle of the night and the file was immediately available for download. The instructions were very clear and there are lots of photos to help you along.

I chose several prints with chocolate brown, pink, and a light teal green. I added the teal fabrics at the last minute because I felt my fabrics were too "matchy-matchy". With the exception of the lining and backing fabrics, it takes less than a quarter yard per choice.

This pattern introduced me to fusible quilt batting. It's the coolest thing since sliced bread! It makes the pieces easy to handle and machine quilt (all straight stitching) because the layers don't slide! I can't wait to try this stuff with other projects.

The purse also uses a magnetic snap. It was very easy to install and makes the finished purse seem so.....finished! This little detail gives it a professionally-made appearance.

I did deviate from the pattern just a little. The main thing I did was to NOT make the strap. The strap instructions that come with the pattern are great, but I had a purse with a removeable handle that matched perfectly. I made little loops and sewed them in then sewing the lining onto the outside then clipped the handle on. This way I'll be able to make more purses in lots of colors and just clip the handles off and on. (I'm thinking of looking at thrift stores for more purses with handles like this that I can use!) I also put two pockets on the inside instead of just one.

While this pattern is fairly easy, you do need a little sewing experience to make it, in my opinion. The batting-backed pieces along with the interfaced pieces make for some bulky handling (but that's what gives the bag structure). I plan on using up my scraps and making a few more of these gems in the near future!

And the Winner is.....

Heather from "Running from the Little People" is the winner of the Candy Corn Hairbows! Congratulations, Heather!

Thanks to everyone who entered. This has been a lot of fun! I'll have to do another give-away in the near future.

Dog Days of Summer Giveaway--Candy Corn Hairbow!

Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer is hosting the Dog Days of Summer Giveaway! I'm giving away a Candy Corn Hairbow on a French clip and two yellow ribbon-covered snap clips with bows. Everyone is eligible! Just leave a comment and if you're chosen as the winner on Friday, June 27th I'll contact you to get your address. You don't have to be a blogger to win! International entries are welcome as well. Good Luck!

Be sure to visit Rocks in My Dryer to see all the great giveaways!

Fun in the Sun

Today was a great day to be lazy. After lunch the girls put on their swimsuits and we went outside to the pool. Our pool is about 4 feet across and only about 8 inches deep. The girls had a blast! We like to never got them inside to have a bath and get ready for dinner. They'll both sleep well tonight. It's amazing to me how simple things like a little pool with a little water can keep two little girls happy for hours.

It's a Girl!

We are the proud parents of a new little girl....kitty! Her name is Roxanne and she's from the animal rescue where I volunteer. I fell in love with her the first time I saw her. There's a special place in my heart for tuxedo kitties. She's adjusting, but we're sure it will take a while for her to totally acclimate.

Free CD Giveaway!

You could be the winner of a Monk & Neagle CD! Just go here to sign up. Gotta love comtemporary Christian Music!

Works for Me Wednesday: Little Red Wagon

Last summer I bought a little red wagon at a yard sale for $10.00. It seemed like a lot for a child's toy, but it was metal and in great shape so I forked over the money and took it home. My thought was to put flowers in it next to the front porch as a cute little display.

The girls cabbaged on to that wagon and it's never made it as a display. My real hint today is to have a wagon to lug things around outside. For example, we can't park our van very close to the door. When I get groceries (and I try to buy a month's worth at one time) I use the wagon to haul several bags from the van to the door, saving my aching muscles for getting the groceries put away. It's also hauled landscaping bricks to various places, 50 pound bags of cat food, outdoor plants, and the occasional child who just wants to go for a ride!

Saving my back...that Works for Me! Check out other Works-for-Me-Wednesday ideas at Rocks in My Dryer!

All Good Things Must Come to an End

I'm finally taking the Memorial Day/Independence Day tree down. But before I did, I had to take some nightime photos of it. I love how it lights up the room! It will be even better at Christmas when it's fully decorated. I'm thinking this will become a tradition and do it every summer!

YEEEEE HAW! Cowboy Cookies!

Rick and Miss Katie have a tradition with these cookies. First of all, they always make them together. Then, what’s a cowboy cookie without cowboy music? They always break out a Roy Rogers cd and let out a few “YEEEE HAW”s to add to the atmosphere.

Cowboy Cookies

1 cup Splenda or sugar
1 cup brown sugar or ½ cup Splenda brown sugar blend
1 cup shortening or applesauce
2 eggs
1 ½ t vanilla
2 cups flour—white or wheat
½ t baking powder
½ t baking soda
½ t salt
2 t cinnamon
2 cups rolled oats (not instant type)
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup raisins—we use craisins instead.

Cream together Splenda, brown sugar and shortening. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well.

Stir dry ingredients together. Mix into creamed mixture. Add oats, nuts, and raisins. Mix.

Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 12-14 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Don't they look delicious! They keep very well and also freeze wonderfully. Whole wheat flour, applesauce, and craisins (dried cranberries) mean I don't feel badly when the girls want more than one!

Fireworks!

Miss Katie woke up just after 9:00 tonight so I loaded her up in the van (Yes, in her jammies!) and we headed out to see the local fireworks. I have no idea why they were on a SUNDAY night!

Last year Katie was "freaked out" by the noise. She doesn't really remember the fireworks, but she does remember being scared by the popping. This time she really enjoyed it.

On the way home she said, "Thanks, Momma, for takin' me out to see the friarworks. I lub you so much!"

Makes the mosquito bites worth it.

Independence Day Trees and Tutus

Miss Audrey and Miss Katie having fun with their play skirts.

Happy Independence Day!

One of the first things you'll probably notice about the photo above is that our Memorial Day tree is now our Independence Day tree! The bottom is a bit "undecorated" thanks to a curious cat and two little girls.

We've spent a quiet day at home. Of course, pouring rain with thunder and lightening, not to mention severe storm warnings, contributed to our decision to stay put.

While the girls were napping I got out some tulle and made a tutu! (Katie and I went grocery shopping yesterday and she wore a hot pink "grass" skirt all day so I knew a tutu would be a big hit.) The tutorial for this skirt is at Girly Things.

I used two yards of pink tulle and two yards of white. One of the best things about this skirt is that it's VERY forgiving! I didn't measure anything, or even cut the straightest lines, and it still looks great! The only thing I would do differently next time is to use wider elastic. I had some quarter inch on my sewing table, so that's what I used. It twisted easily and stretched out a bit. Next time we'll try half inch elastic and see how that works.

Fuzzy had fun with the tulle, too!

More Hairbows!

No bows for Miss Audrey...yet!

I've been working with hairbows again. There's a big pile of ribbon next to me, but not much is being done with it! Wider ribbon is what's needed, but will have to wait for a trip to "town" sometime next week.

Last night I made this bow for Katie to wear to church this morning. It went well with her denim dress with the pink buttons and pink trim.

Audrey wants to wear the "poofy" bows in the worst way! She needs more hair first! Next on the hairbow agenda will be making some smaller bows for her. Unfortunately, those usually involve the glue gun (one of my favorite things!) so it has to wait until they're asleep.