Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
luxurious lavender bath
To be honest, there isn't much I enjoy much than a hot bath scented with lavender. On a rough day, I can count on a bath to have a calming, rejuvenating effect on my body and my mood.
For a swap that I participated in last year, one of my partners gave be a bunch of fizzy bath bombs in various aromas. My daughters loved them and went through them so quickly that I did not get a chance to try them. I figured that, since almost anything can be made from home, there was likely a recipe for bath fizz out there, somewhere. With the help of my good friend, Google, I discovered a good half a dozen. They all used similar ingredients and the steps were nearly identical. I sort of did a pick-and-choose maneuver to come up with my very own recipe.
Fizzy Bath Bomb
Ingredients
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 1/2 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1/2 teaspoon or so essential oil (2.46 ml)
Food coloring
Additional supplies
Large bowl
Spray bottle filled with water
Silicone ice cube tray or other mold
Jars or bags for storage
Directions
1 In large bowl, stir together baking soda, citric acid, Epsom salt, and cornstarch.
2 (Optional) Add several drops off food coloring to spray bottle filled with water, tighten nozzle, and shake to mix.
3 Spritz mixture lightly with spraybottle until mixture can be packed with your hands.
4 Mix grapeseed oil and essential oils together and add to baking soda mixture. Continue mixing/packing until aroma spreads evenly throughout. If mixture begins to dry out, spritz lightly as necessary.
5 Press mixture firmly into molds and let air dry overnight. Gently pop out of molds and store until use.
I made these on Saturday and used one today. It fizzed and was heavenly! When I made them, I added several drops of blue and red food coloring to get a nice, soft purple color. I am very pleased with how they turned out, and I might make them for favors for my future sister-in-law's bridal shower this coming fall.
For a swap that I participated in last year, one of my partners gave be a bunch of fizzy bath bombs in various aromas. My daughters loved them and went through them so quickly that I did not get a chance to try them. I figured that, since almost anything can be made from home, there was likely a recipe for bath fizz out there, somewhere. With the help of my good friend, Google, I discovered a good half a dozen. They all used similar ingredients and the steps were nearly identical. I sort of did a pick-and-choose maneuver to come up with my very own recipe.
Fizzy Bath Bomb
Ingredients
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 1/2 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1/2 teaspoon or so essential oil (2.46 ml)
Food coloring
Additional supplies
Large bowl
Spray bottle filled with water
Silicone ice cube tray or other mold
Jars or bags for storage
Directions
1 In large bowl, stir together baking soda, citric acid, Epsom salt, and cornstarch.
2 (Optional) Add several drops off food coloring to spray bottle filled with water, tighten nozzle, and shake to mix.
3 Spritz mixture lightly with spraybottle until mixture can be packed with your hands.
4 Mix grapeseed oil and essential oils together and add to baking soda mixture. Continue mixing/packing until aroma spreads evenly throughout. If mixture begins to dry out, spritz lightly as necessary.
5 Press mixture firmly into molds and let air dry overnight. Gently pop out of molds and store until use.
I made these on Saturday and used one today. It fizzed and was heavenly! When I made them, I added several drops of blue and red food coloring to get a nice, soft purple color. I am very pleased with how they turned out, and I might make them for favors for my future sister-in-law's bridal shower this coming fall.
another baby gift
One of my beloved friends from college just had her baby yesterday (congratulations, Beth!). Last month, her sister threw her a baby shower. I unfortunately could not make it to the shower, but I made it in spirit. I knit up a little something for her baby girl and sent it to get there in time for the party. She loved it! Take a look!
For the wrapping, I purchased a cutesy wet bag from BABYbydanish on Etsy.
I wrapped the hat in pink tissue paper and set it right inside the wet bag, which doubled its purpose, making it a green alternative to gift wrap! Plus, there's no denying, it's extra cute. I also included two natural infant prefold diapers, which can be used as diapers if they choose to cloth diaper, which they have been contemplating, or as absorbent burp cloths.
I love the yarn, and I have a couple more skeins in a more natural color. Cotton blends tend to have a nice, clean sheen when knit up. It is a major bummer that the yarn has been discontinued. If I come across any in the future, I have to remember to pick it up for future baby projects.
I searched through my library and found a pattern for Small Things Bonnet by Carina Spencer and decided that the pixie hood would be perfect for a little girl. I raided my stash for some soft yarn and came up with a skein of Vermont Organic Fiber Company's O-Wool Balance, a lovely cotton blend. The pattern worked up quickly without a hitch, but I did braided ties instead because I was afraid I would not finish in time otherwise. The hat is the second largest size, so it should fit next winter and hopefully beyond!
For the wrapping, I purchased a cutesy wet bag from BABYbydanish on Etsy.
I wrapped the hat in pink tissue paper and set it right inside the wet bag, which doubled its purpose, making it a green alternative to gift wrap! Plus, there's no denying, it's extra cute. I also included two natural infant prefold diapers, which can be used as diapers if they choose to cloth diaper, which they have been contemplating, or as absorbent burp cloths.
I love the yarn, and I have a couple more skeins in a more natural color. Cotton blends tend to have a nice, clean sheen when knit up. It is a major bummer that the yarn has been discontinued. If I come across any in the future, I have to remember to pick it up for future baby projects.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
malabrigo swap winter 2011 - received
I just got an AMAZING package from Bethany, aka psammeadred, for the Winter 2011 Malabrigo Swap on Ravelry!
Funny thing that I must share before I get to the goodies: I was stalking the delivery confirmation numbers for the swap this morning, and noticed that Bethany’s parcel was out for delivery in my city. Well, my daughters always get in the swapping mode when they know a package might be coming, and they were on the look-out for the mail truck all morning, hiding under bushes and behind tree trunks, waiting to ambush the postal delivery man! LOVE!! The entire family was home to help me dig in--and everything was unwrapped and being discovered in record time.
The theme for this swap was The Simple Life:
For the yarn category, Bethany graced me with three cakes of Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Tuareg! The color is fandamntastic! As soon as I saw it, I knew that I already had big plans for it!
Something Drinkable includes three types of tea from a local teahouse! There’s Sweet Almond, Raspberry Vanilla Green (OMG!), and Lavender Earl Gray (my favorite EVER!). They are individually packaged in little heart tins with clear tops so you can see the beautiful colors of the herbs. So pretty!
For Something to read or listen to, Bethany picked Douglas Adams’s The Salmon of Doubt and a set of bright and spunky ear buds with interchangeable colors. I haven’t read this one yet, but I heart Douglas Adams so friggin’ much!
Finally, and with great suspense, the Cannot Live Without, which is nature and things that grow! -- A lovely gardening apron with yellow and blue butterflies, the books Colorful Hanging Baskets by Evelegh and Patterson and The Window Box Book by Fausch, and organic seeds for a kaleidoscope mix of carrots, a carnival mix of peppers, moon & stars watermelon, and mammoth melting peas! PERFECT, especially since we will be starting our seeds in less than a month!
A huge "Thank You!" goes out to Bethany for the time and thoughtfulness she put into this wonderful package! Everything coordinates beautifully! I cannot put into words how much I love everything! She really nailed this stalking thing!
Funny thing that I must share before I get to the goodies: I was stalking the delivery confirmation numbers for the swap this morning, and noticed that Bethany’s parcel was out for delivery in my city. Well, my daughters always get in the swapping mode when they know a package might be coming, and they were on the look-out for the mail truck all morning, hiding under bushes and behind tree trunks, waiting to ambush the postal delivery man! LOVE!! The entire family was home to help me dig in--and everything was unwrapped and being discovered in record time.
The theme for this swap was The Simple Life:
- 2-3 skeins of Malabrigo (they can be sent as is or knitted/crocheted into something for your partner)
- Something edible or drinkable
- Something to read or listen to (book/pattern(s)/CD/audiobook)
- Something your partner can’t live without (something THEY say they can’t live without)
For the yarn category, Bethany graced me with three cakes of Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Tuareg! The color is fandamntastic! As soon as I saw it, I knew that I already had big plans for it!
Something Drinkable includes three types of tea from a local teahouse! There’s Sweet Almond, Raspberry Vanilla Green (OMG!), and Lavender Earl Gray (my favorite EVER!). They are individually packaged in little heart tins with clear tops so you can see the beautiful colors of the herbs. So pretty!
For Something to read or listen to, Bethany picked Douglas Adams’s The Salmon of Doubt and a set of bright and spunky ear buds with interchangeable colors. I haven’t read this one yet, but I heart Douglas Adams so friggin’ much!
Finally, and with great suspense, the Cannot Live Without, which is nature and things that grow! -- A lovely gardening apron with yellow and blue butterflies, the books Colorful Hanging Baskets by Evelegh and Patterson and The Window Box Book by Fausch, and organic seeds for a kaleidoscope mix of carrots, a carnival mix of peppers, moon & stars watermelon, and mammoth melting peas! PERFECT, especially since we will be starting our seeds in less than a month!
A huge "Thank You!" goes out to Bethany for the time and thoughtfulness she put into this wonderful package! Everything coordinates beautifully! I cannot put into words how much I love everything! She really nailed this stalking thing!
Friday, February 18, 2011
crafting for my valentines
We have been busy lately, knitting and crafting away! We made some really fun projects that are hanging around the house for Valentine's Day.
First of all, my knitting--I made these lovely socks, and they're for me! Yippee! I used the pattern BFF Socks by Cookie A. from the book knit. sock. love. I used Knit Picks Palette in Raspberry Heather on US 2. I had trouble with the heel not lining up with the cables, so I did the following set up:
K1. Heel begins here. K1, p2, (Cable Decrease, p2, k2, p2) 3 times. Cable Decrease, p2, k1. Turn.
After this project, I may stay away from cables for a while. Whew!
The girls painted paper decorations and wooden hearts to hang around the house to celebrate the holiday. The purple and blue hearts are Eva's, the red ones are Esme's.
We made watercolor-painted paper lanterns to hang on the mantle. Evelyn's friend came over to help with this project.
Finally, Esme's wonderful still-life, done with celery dipped in acrylic paint and stamped on construction paper. The leaves are teeny toddler thumbprints.
First of all, my knitting--I made these lovely socks, and they're for me! Yippee! I used the pattern BFF Socks by Cookie A. from the book knit. sock. love. I used Knit Picks Palette in Raspberry Heather on US 2. I had trouble with the heel not lining up with the cables, so I did the following set up:
K1. Heel begins here. K1, p2, (Cable Decrease, p2, k2, p2) 3 times. Cable Decrease, p2, k1. Turn.
After this project, I may stay away from cables for a while. Whew!
The girls painted paper decorations and wooden hearts to hang around the house to celebrate the holiday. The purple and blue hearts are Eva's, the red ones are Esme's.
We made watercolor-painted paper lanterns to hang on the mantle. Evelyn's friend came over to help with this project.
Finally, Esme's wonderful still-life, done with celery dipped in acrylic paint and stamped on construction paper. The leaves are teeny toddler thumbprints.
Monday, January 3, 2011
if you are expecting...
Many expectant American mothers have little knowledge of childbirth, and some, even though they have gone through pregnancy and childbirth, remain completely ignorant of birth, its natural process and the multitude of choices that revolve around it. Unfortunately, much of that ignorance exists because of the medical community and its inability to establish and maintain doctor-patient communication and education, which often is due to the fact that obstetricians are expected by their insurance companies to see a certain number of patients in a specific amount of time, cutting down on the length of time a doctor can spend with each individual patient. Because of this, and as most women rely on their doctors to make decisions for them, many patients are not given the opportunity during their pregnancies to learn what procedures are risky or unnecessary and which options are available to them when they labor and birth.
After having a deep discussion about pregnancy with an acquaintance who already has two children, I recommended that she watch the film The Business of Being Born to better understand my philosophy of childbirth. She came back to me and exclaimed, "Why didn't anyone TELL ME this when I was pregnant?!" Like many women who are given the opportunity to rediscover childbirth in this new form, she felt an array of emotions, including shock, anger, hope and regret regarding her previous birth experiences.
But what should every pregnant woman know before she gives birth?
Educate yourself. If you are expecting, start by doing your homework. Read objective and informative resources on childbirth. Learn to make educated decisions for yourself and your baby. There are choices to make throughout pregnancy, birth, infant feeding, circumcision, vaccinations, diapering, infant sleep, parenting. Learn your options ahead of time, during the nine-month stretch before your baby arrives, and continue educating yourself along the way. Consult your doctor, midwife, and caregivers regarding important decisions, but do not rely on them to make decisions for you or because that is the procedure your caregiver regularly follows. You are an individual, and every individual/birth/child/patient is unique.
Begin by watching The Business of Being Born or by reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, both of which will help you explore your options in childbirth and give you a better, more realistic understanding of true natural birth. These two resources will also prove that birth does not have to be filled with fear and pain, but can actually be a beautiful, memorable transition.
Continue by learning everything you can about breastfeeding now. While breastfeeding is natural and normal, it does not mean that it is always easy. If you already know important things like how to properly latch, common comfortable positions for nursing, and how often infants infants feed, you will be well on the way to breastfeeding success. Take an afternoon to go to a local La Leche League meeting, speak with women who successfully breastfed for more than a year, watch a baby latch on to the breast and nurse--these things will be invaluable in the days following birth.
Remember, you can read every book on parenting, sleep, birth and breastfeeding. However, you will not truly get it until you are actually experiencing everything first-hand. Your baby is unique and so are you. All the information you soak up when you are pregnant will be put to the test, and you will not really get it until you are right there. In the moment. You will be thankful you did your homework, and, years down the road, your life will be richer and fuller than you ever imagined it could be.
After having a deep discussion about pregnancy with an acquaintance who already has two children, I recommended that she watch the film The Business of Being Born to better understand my philosophy of childbirth. She came back to me and exclaimed, "Why didn't anyone TELL ME this when I was pregnant?!" Like many women who are given the opportunity to rediscover childbirth in this new form, she felt an array of emotions, including shock, anger, hope and regret regarding her previous birth experiences.
But what should every pregnant woman know before she gives birth?
Educate yourself. If you are expecting, start by doing your homework. Read objective and informative resources on childbirth. Learn to make educated decisions for yourself and your baby. There are choices to make throughout pregnancy, birth, infant feeding, circumcision, vaccinations, diapering, infant sleep, parenting. Learn your options ahead of time, during the nine-month stretch before your baby arrives, and continue educating yourself along the way. Consult your doctor, midwife, and caregivers regarding important decisions, but do not rely on them to make decisions for you or because that is the procedure your caregiver regularly follows. You are an individual, and every individual/birth/child/patient is unique.
Begin by watching The Business of Being Born or by reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, both of which will help you explore your options in childbirth and give you a better, more realistic understanding of true natural birth. These two resources will also prove that birth does not have to be filled with fear and pain, but can actually be a beautiful, memorable transition.
Continue by learning everything you can about breastfeeding now. While breastfeeding is natural and normal, it does not mean that it is always easy. If you already know important things like how to properly latch, common comfortable positions for nursing, and how often infants infants feed, you will be well on the way to breastfeeding success. Take an afternoon to go to a local La Leche League meeting, speak with women who successfully breastfed for more than a year, watch a baby latch on to the breast and nurse--these things will be invaluable in the days following birth.
Remember, you can read every book on parenting, sleep, birth and breastfeeding. However, you will not truly get it until you are actually experiencing everything first-hand. Your baby is unique and so are you. All the information you soak up when you are pregnant will be put to the test, and you will not really get it until you are right there. In the moment. You will be thankful you did your homework, and, years down the road, your life will be richer and fuller than you ever imagined it could be.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
new resources
I have updates some of the resources on my pages, including finally adding the Breastfeeding Resources page and the Baby Care Resources page. I will be adding more to them as I bring the links and books in, but if you have anything to contribute, please let me know!
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