Ironing - frugal ways

some of my son's dress shirts before ironing

I iron most every week.  

My son would rather not iron, but since his job requires him to wear dress shirts every day 

and his big law school debt,  he is currently ironing his own dress shirts.

He brought over 11 dress shirts to iron after Sunday lunch.  

He has taken them to the cleaners several times but it expensive.  I don't like the idea of my clothes being put in big tub of chemicals with many other people's clothes - ick!  So I never use the dry cleaners, even if it was  really cheap.  

Liquid starch - mix with water in a spray bottle
1 part starch to 2 parts water

A while back he tried adding the liquid starch to the rinse water in the washing machine.  He was not crazy about those results ( I am not sure why,  just that he did not want to do it that way again)

Since I was out of aerosol spray starch,  I mixed up some Sta-Flo in a washed out spray bottle.  

ironing in progress

some of his finished shirts -
and, Yes, he does only wear white or light blue dress shirts 

I thought his ironed shirts looked really nice.  So I tried the mixed up starch on my blouses too.  

My ironed blouses

I like this new to us way to iron.  I think it is cheaper than aerosol  cans but I have not done the math because I don't know many uses you get from aerosol compared to the liquid spray.  I do know that not using the aerosol cans is better for the environment.  

I've also read that mixing up, maybe it involved cooking?, corn starch with water can also be put in a spray bottle to use instead of liquid or aerosol spray starch.  Anyone tried this?  

For now,  I think I will keep using the StaFlo starch mixed with water for my ironing.  

any other ironing tips for us?

Friday night sewing

My grandtoddlers wear bibs at our house pretty much anytime they eat anything, I don't like them wearing dirty clothes and bibs are  much easier to take off than to change into a clean outfit.  

Their other batch of bibs were getting rather worn so I sewed up a new batch.  

the bird print is my favorite

For the pattern,  I traced around a bib we already had,  then since my tracing was not as straight as it could be,  I just cut it out about 1/2 inch away from the tracing line.

pattern drawn on wax paper

I used a couple yards of a retro fabric bought at a thrift store a few years ago.  

Blogs are like diaries,  I just did a search and found exactly when it was purchased from an old blog post of mine. 

If you are curious,  you can read it on this link.  

when I bought that funny animal fabric at a thrift store in 2009

I fussy cut each bib so I could center these fun animals on each one.
And I ended up with 9 nice size bibs.

I've used velcro for closures but it seems to get full of lint in the laundry and  velcro bibs are a little to easy for toddlers to take off.
Ties get tangled and knotted.
So,  I put button closures on this batch,  so far,  I like this method  a lot.  

My toddlers never did smile for the camera but they really liked their new bibs.
Gavin picked out the seal one and Elizabeth chose the cat and mouse one.


And just in case  because I said I don't like for them to be dirty, that they don't have fun,
 well,  I should of said I  don't like for them to run around in food-dirty clothes.
It is very warm today and we had rain over the weekend that left their sandbox full of water.
So for play time,  they played in the water in sandbox.  It kept them happy for 2 hours.
We came in at noon and put on clean dry clothes,  had lunch, story time and naps.  

Use your gadgets Part 3

Another gadget I found in my decluttering is this potato ricer.
I think Jeff bought it about 7 or so years ago and I think he saw the Barefoot Contessa or Alton Brown or one of those tv chefs use one.
The first time I used it was for a big Thanksgiving meal and  I cooked at least 5 pounds of potatoes.
Jimmy helped me that day and we were both tired from squeezing that many spuds.  

this Sunday,  I only cooked 6 small potatoes.
Ricing just a few potatoes goes really quick and easy.  

See how fine they are?
I just added a little half and half cream to them until they creamy
and a little salt and pepper.
They were really good mashed potates - very light, and smooth

If you like really smooth potatoes,  then you should try a ricer.

Cook your potatoes all the way tender so your won't have to work up a sweat while you press them  through.

But if you cook mashed potatoes for a crowd,  I would not recommend ricing unless you have some helpers with  muscles.  

about the Pampered Chef 4 loaf baking pan- I looked on the Pampered Chef sight and they do still sell it. 

 I think it is $34.  

I've got one more gadget to show you later,  as soon as I work up my nerve to use it anyway. 

Any guesses on what it might be?  

Bloggers are the best! Many thanks to Jilly

Blogging friend Jilly over at Sunnyville Cottage    just moved to a smaller town and smaller home.  She downsized her craft and sewing supplies as she says she really prefers to cross stitch and crochet.  

So Lucky Duck me,  I was the recipient of  her quilting strips.  

These pictures don't do justice to just how much fabric and how nice this fabric is.  

Jilly packed this box with precision and I think she had to of sat on it to get it close.    

 This box was much heavier than it looks, and my Marine husband dropped it when he got it out of the mailbox,  .  Jilly's Sailor husband will probably think that is funny.  

I tried to spread them out to take a better picture of them,  but there are just so many and I am not a good photographer.  

You will just have to believe me that this was a wonderful gift and I will have so much fun sewing up some strip quilts.  

Thank you Jilly!  I think you are the best.  

Sweet Baby Andie

 We had the best time Saturday,  we spent the whole afternoon with tiny Andie and her parents.  

Andie was 10 days old yesterday and is doing just fine.  

She gave us such a scare coming into this world so early and then taking a helicopter ride to the big hospital when she was just 1 day old.

Except for still being tiny and sleepy,  you would never know any of that.  

Sheena, Bobby and baby Andie

This proud Grandma Rhonda holding precious Andie.

Isn't her little cap so sweet?
Sheena pinned it on Pinterest and my mom crocheted it for them.  

Use your gadgets - part 2

During my decluttering,  I found this Pampered Chef stoneware pan tucked under some other bakeware.
I've been making all our bread since Christmas in the new breadmaker,  it makes very nice bread but the loaf is huge.
Well,  one batch of bread dough is the exact amount needed to make 4 little loaves in this pan.

I just make the dough in the machine,  then take it out and divide it.  After it rises,  the little loaves get baked in the regular oven.  This size loaf is much more practical when just my husband and I are here.  I sliced each loaf and froze the extra in ziploc bags.

Lent Declutter 2012

I've read on several blogs about other homemakers doing a 40 bags for 40 days decluttering challenge for Lent.   I am not sure cleaning out drawers will make me a better Christian but I do like the timeframe of this challenge.

So, I made a list of every place in my home that needs cleaned out or decluttered and I plan to have them all done before Easter.  My list starts at one end of the house and works my way to the other end.

I started making the list on Ash Wednesday and have crossed off a few things.  

I was alone all day this Wednesday and made a lot progress on some of the bigger places - mainly getting the entire kitchen done except for one cabinet that is in a corner.  

The places highlighted in red are decluttered 

A list is my way of staying on track and eating this elephant one bite at a time.  

Master bedroom

Endtables

Desk

Under bed

M bath

3 drawers

2 lower cabinets

1 upper cabinet

M closet

File cabinet

Supply shelf

R – clothes

J – clothes

Laundry Room

Upper cabinet

Lower cabinet

Drawer

Dining room

2 drawers

Entry closet

The whole thing!

Charging dresser – 3 drawers

Living room

Dresser – 7 drawers

1 cabinet

End table

Lamp table

Table drawer 1 and 2

Recliners

Bed #1 closet and under bed

Bed #2 top shelf and under bed

Bed #3  computer desk

Hall bath

Sink cabinet

Big cabinet

Kitchen

Red pantry

Green pantry

Drawers

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Under stove

Cabinets

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Attic

Garage

all the the discards are going into a big pile in the master bedroom, 

thankfully it is a big room.

Then I will have to decide whether there is enough for a yard sale,  or if I should Freecycle it or donate it to a charity shop.


 - anyone else working on this too?

Andie Day 4

Little Andie will have lots of good times growing up with her fun-loving parents.  

Her silly daddy put "eyeballs"  on the outside of her light-protection goggles.  

I can already imagine her as a 13 year old and rolling her eyes at her daddy when he is still doing pranks like this.  

Andie is still in the hospital but her parents have been told she should be released Monday.  

She has passed all her tests and is thriving.  

Thank you all so much for your prayers and kind comments.  

Good news!

Lamentations 3:22-23

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²² The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, 

For His compassions never fail. 

²³ They are new every morning; 

Great is Your faithfulness.

Baby Andie is doing great,  better  faster than I ever imagined she could.
She has had no more apnea / breathing problems since she the helicopter ride.
Today she is eating some of her mom's milk and it seems to agree with her.
And today we got to hold her for a little bit.
Yesterday we only got to see through a little window.  

Andie is spending time under a nice lamp for jaundice treatment.
She just relaxed under it like she was a tropical beach sunbathing.  

she is still tiny - that is my finger she is holding
but it is so amazing and encouraging that Andie has made so much progress in just 36 hours.

Thank you all for your prayers and kind comments.  

You all are so sweet and I appreciate every one of you.  

Please pray for our new granddaughter

Andie Elise was born this morning,  early and tiny.  

All her vitals and tests are good but she is just 5 pounds 1 ounce 

and she has stopped breathing in her sleep 4 times.  

She took a helicopter ride from the hospital in southern Oklahoma to the big childrens hospital in Oklahoma City and will be there for awhile. 

She is a beautiful little girl,  she has her daddy's blue eyes and long toes.  

We are already head over heels in love with her.  

in the picture,  that is her momma's hand by Andie's leg.  

and momma Sheena's hand are not very big 

Please pray that Andie will grow and breath.

How I make pizza crusts for the freezer

Traditional Pizza Dough - recipe from Zojirushi

1 1/4 C water

1 1/2 T olive oil

3 3/4 C bread flour

1 1/2 T sugar

1 1/2 t salt

2  t yeast

This will make 2 big 16 inch crusts or 4 smaller crusts, about 12 inches each.  

after you roll out the crusts,  let them rise a bit while the oven preheats
be sure to dock them -poke holes in them - so they don't puff up all over like a pillow
I used a big meat fork

bake the crusts at 500 degrees for just 5 minutes

wrap each crust in plastic wrap
or put in bags if you have bags they will fit in
Then just put them in the freezer.

When you want pizza,  get your sauce and toppings ready.
Unwrap your crust and top it as desired - no need to thaw.
Then just bake at 450 degrees until done.

I make this in a bread machine but I am sure it would be great done by hand or in mixer.

Barbecue chicken pizza for our lunch today

a prebaked crust from the freezer

I have been making pizza crusts ahead - just using my regular recipe - then rolling them  out, pricking all over and baking for just 5 minutes.
Then they get wrapped in plastic wrap and put in the freezer.

For a quick meal, just get a crust from the freezer - add toppings - and bake at 450 or so until done,  about 15 minutes.  

today,  we had a barbecue chicken pizza made like a restaurant in my town.
The crust was spread with Head Country barbecue sauce (that is an Oklahoma brand but you can use your favorite)
then add some red onion,  leftover chicken and top with cheese.
I used Monterrey Jack today but usually use Mozzarella.   

then just bake until golden

This was Gavin's plate

I like grapefruit and eat it most every day for lunch.
Gavin likes grapefruit too but Elizabeth has tried it 4 times and always makes a face then spits it out.

Today,  she noticed right off that her plate did not have that grapefruit like Gavin and she pointed at his.  He  gave her the first bite off his plate and I expected her to spit it right out
Nope!  she liked it today and ended up eating 2 helpings of grapefruit.

So,  if you think you or your children don't like some food,
be like Elizabeth and try it again!

Roku Channels

The posts I've done about Roku  have got more hits than anything else on this blog,  I think mostly from potential Roku buyers doing Google searches.  Several commenters have asked what channels are on Roku.
Well, there were hundreds, maybe thousands.
This video is long, about 10 minutes,  so I suggest you only spend time watching it if you are really interested in Roku.

I show some of the channels in this video but there are way too many to even start to show them all.

Questions?  just ask and I will try to answer.

last week's sewing and handwork

Crib sheet
this was so quick and easy to make!  I  read over a few online tutorials, then I got busy.
You need a length of fabric 69 inches by 44-45 width which is the standard width of most  fabric.
Then cut 8 inch squares from each corner of the fabric.
Now, sew those corners back together on the diagonal and finish the seams.
Then,  finish the edge all the way around and add elastic to the corners.

I got that cute redwork fabric from my Mom's fabric stash several years ago.  

I am not a very good blogger,  I should of taken this picture when the bag still had yarn in it for a before and after comparision
.
I got a bag of cotton yarn scraps at the thrift store on Friday,  50 cents for the bag.  It contained 3 skeins, partly used,  and  about 7 small balls of yarn.
I have been wanting some more crocheted dishclothes so again,  I looked at some online tutorials.

I don't really like to crochet or follow patterns so I ended up just crocheting circles because that is easy for me, no stress.  

I used almost all of that yarn and ended up with 6 scrappy dishcloths.
Not bad for 50 cents!

Some of the yarns were thin so I doubled them up if you are wondering about the parts that look variegated.
Nope, they are not all exactly the same size,  I just stopped each one when they looked about right or when I ran out of yarn.    

St Patricks day is coming up.
I got a very long length of this sweet shamrock fabric at a thrift store  about 2 years ago.
I used some of that fabric and some vintage bias binding to sew up a new tablecloth for the dining room.  

I really like how the binding looks on the hem.  

the last project was some plastic canvas bird plant pokes.
Doesn't every home need some?  

use your gadgets

To go with Sunday lunch,  I baked cornbread muffins in some miniature muffin pans that have been gathering dust in the cookie sheet drawers.  

The tiny cornbreads were so popular,  I used those mini-muffin pans again today 

and baked mini blueberry muffins with scrambled eggs for our breakfast.

The blueberry muffins were just as yummy and cute as the cornbread muffins.


I am going to look around my kitchen and pull out some other kitchen items I have not used lately.

Do you have any kitchen gadgets you  have not used in a long time?  

first round of breakfast eaters at Cafe Rhonda -
my parents were here for several days but left to go back to TX this morning.

Gavin and Amanda ate here too but they get here later than Nina and Elizabeth do.

 Toddler fun

 G and E had fun playing ring around a rosie this morning,  you can see in the last photo that they really like the  all fall down part.  

Walgreens and AARP

Frugal tip - if you shop at Walgreens and have an AARP membership - always hand your AARP to the cashier to scan when you check out.  The coupon machine will spit out some extra coupons for you,  usually one like $3 of your next $10 purchase of Walgreens items or $5 off your next $20 purchase as well as some discounts on other products.

The $2, and 2 $4 register rewards were from buying toothbrushes a few weeks ago.  I was expecting 2 of them but the 3rd one was a surprise.  I don't know if the AARP card triggered it or not.

I am not a dues-paying member of AARP,  I read about a sign up for a free membership a few months ago and got my membership card for free.

(almost) Once a month grocery shopping

Doing a "big shop" once a month is still working for us.  It is a lot of work to make a long list, checking it twice,  then driving to Sams and maybe Aldis and Crest.  Putting away all the purchases is tricky too,  good thing I like to work puzzles!  

It is just really a big time saver all the rest of the month to not have to go shopping.

little fridge

We bought lots of oranges, clementines and grapefruit - they keep well.

full size fridge - more meat is in the small chest freezer

Can you see the bottom right drawer is full of romaine lettuce?  Each head is wrapped air tight in a plastic bag and should keep all month.  The grapes, strawberries and spring greens will be used first.

partial view of the pantry

Onions and potatoes are stored in crocks on the pantry floor.  I've been keeping the door shut on the pantry so it stays cooler in there and the root veggies have been keeping very well.

I still watch the local sales and have bought a few things.  One store had Pace salsa on sale for 99 cents for the Super Bowl and I got 24 jars.  That same store had butter for $1.99 a pound and I got 6 to put in the freezer.
I've also bought a few things at Walgreens but mostly I have stayed out of the stores.  I can't say I am really spending a lot less shopping this way but I am spending less time.