Cleaning Vomit out of Carpet

I hate that I have this experience to share, but I suppose its a celebration that it took us over 4 years to have it.

This is how I felt at 3:00 this morning... but more disheveled.

Cleaning Vomit out of Carpet
*spoon
*paper towels
*baking soda or corn starch
*stain remover of your choice (here's mine)
*vacuum

Scrap as much of the vomit up using the spoon as you can.
Blot the remaining spot with paper towels to absorb as much liquid as you can.
Sprinkle baking soda or corn starch onto spot and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
Vacuum
Use stain remover for any remaining color.

Sorry you need this and I hope someone gets better soon!
XO!

Upcycling a Baby Doll Bed Tutorial

Isn't it funny how innate it is for little girls to play mommy? I love watching Chloe be sweet and loving to her babies (all 8324 of them).  While helping her go through her toys the other day for our monthly "Let's get rid of anything you don't play with!", I noticed her baby pack-n-play was ripping at the bottom.  It wasn't too surprising, considering the material used to make it, is the same thin material most princess costumes are made of. (and we all know how easily those rip or fray or snag!) 

My first thought was to sew up the hole real quick and move on.  But the more I sewed, the more it ripped.  2 hours later, someone had a completely "new" baby bed.  (It's most definitely not perfect, and when I was taking the frame apart and putting it back together, I tweaked the levelness of it somehow... but it holds babies, the fabric is cute, and Chloe loves it)

Materials:
   sewing machine (hand sewing would take forever, but you could)
   scissors
   fabric for the sides ( 11" x 36" )
   fabric for the bottom ( 12" x 21")
   thread to match
   coordinating ribbon

• Begin by cutting your pieces.  I struggled with the decision to cut panels, or use one long piece of fabric.  I decided it would be easier to manage with panels. (each measurement allows for a 1/4" seam)
• 2 side panels measuring 11x14"
• 2 side panels measuring 11x22"
• 1 bottom panel measuring 11x21"
• Sew these all together with a 1/4" seam.  (I hate 1/4" seam, but it allows for the least amount of fabric waste. 
  • *Don't forget* Iron your seams for a sharp edge. 

• Now that you have one long piece of fabric, measure the allowance for your bed leg.  Mine was 1 1/2".  (put your pins in to hold it, then check with the leg before sewing)
• *Tip* Use a rubberband to mark your seam allowance to keep your sewing straight!

• Attaching the bottom seemed intimating at first, but just take it one side at a time.  I started with a longer side to get it out of the way. 
• *Tip*  When sewing with Minky fabric, pin every inch.  The fabric stretches as it runs through your machine and will bunch up if you are stingy with your pins. 

• As you begin to sew around the bottom, think of the extra material as wrapping paper.  Fold it as you would if it were a present to keep it out of the way. 
• Attach your bottom to the "wrong" side of the fabric so when you look into the bed, you see the "right" side of the fabric at the bottom. 
• DO NOT sew the "pocket" for your bed leg. I used a larger pin to remind myself when to STOP before closing the "pocket". 

 

• After attaching the bottom, fit your creation (what would you call this thing?) onto your baby bed to make sure all is well. 

• Cut 10 pieces of ribbon and sear the edges with a lighter to keep them from fraying.  Line them up evenly along the top (over the rail) and attach with pins.  Hand sew or machine sew on. 

• Ta Da!  High five to you and be happy with the cute (more kid resistant) baby bed! 

Bloopers - Almost every time I do a sewing project, I have at least 1 oops of sewing the fabric together wrong.  I had 3 this time.  Lesson learned, don't do this with "helpers" or past my bedtime.

XO!

Stained Clothes and Smelly Towels

Laundry is not something I hate doing. I don't mind washing, drying isn't so bad and as long as I can watch something (or listen) good on TV, I will fold and fold. What I do hate... putting clothes away! If I could, I would leave the nicely folded clothes stacked in organized piles all over the living room floor. (And sometimes I do for hours.) I know I'm not alone, right?!

One part about laundry I really enjoy is the thrill of getting a stain out of something that you know is a stubborn one. The cleaning aisle at the store is one of my favorite to browse and see what's out there, and over the years, I've tried A LOT of stain removers that didn't really do anything that detergent alone wouldn't do. Since having kids, I have been on a mission to make the clothes last as long as they can (mostly because Chloe and Aria don't grow out of a size for what seems like forever - my 5 month old is still wearing 0-3 month stuff for example). After searching and scouring the interwebs, I may have found the mother of all stain removers...

1 part Dawn dish soap
2 parts Hydrogen Peroxide.
(And if its a old stain, like your husbands yellow arm pit stains, add a dash of baking soda)

I usually mix it up in a little dip cup, pour onto the stain and scrub with an old toothbrush for about 3 seconds then toss it in the washer!
Strawberry stain on white shirt, gone!
Mud, gone!
Bottoms of socks that have ran through the yard, not gone... But much whiter!

After a crazy day at daycare in the sandbox and yard on a sweaty day... yuck! 

Not perfectly white, but a VAST improvement! 

This recipe has even been used on our carpet when someone, ahem Chloe, attempted to secretly color on the carpet. (And maybe that time I spilt hot pink nail polish all over the floor - but I tried this after lots of other attempts)

Something else that happens on a regular basis is our laundry room: Vinegar! If your towels smell after being used a time or two, throw 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar in with your regular detergent and fabric softener and wash as usual.  The difference is unbelievable! I do this with every load of towels I do and never notice a smell anymore.

What laundry tips or tricks do you have?

XO!

Kind of starting over

Hi out there.  I'd like to take this opportunity to sort of... start over in a sense.

So, hi!  I'm happy to meet you.  I am a mom to 1 adorably ornery 3 year old and a soon-to-be-here little one (soon-to-be-here meaning 6 weeks... but with this weather, hopefully a tad bit sooner).  I am embarking on a new journey as a stay-at-home homemaker as well as taking on a second child and am loving it so far - but I'm pretty sure I'll love it more when I can bend over and do the dishes without wanting to die.

I love love love organization, although I sometimes get so caught up in what I really want to do, that it's hard to tackle it and may procrastinate it far more than I should.  I also sincerely enjoy DIY crafts and creations that I pick up for Pinterest, HGTV, other blogs... where ever!  As I begin my new adventure into homemaker, I'm trying (not very convincingly yet) to become better with cooking and managing our finances.

This blog is going to be a collection of sorts... more or less, me trying to depict my successes and struggles with 2 kids, a home and maintaining some sanity throughout it all.  I hope you enjoy and come back often.

Until then... XO

Leaving on a jet plane

Today is the big day.  Only a few hours left before I board the plane to 'Sunny Southern California'.  It's been almost 3 years since I've been out that way to visit and I'm super excited for some time away to relax.

The week's not over yet, but since I'm leaving home I was looking back at my goals from this last few days:
Goals for this week:
*Pack my suitcase for a sister visiting trip!!
*Grocery shop for Ed and C while I'm gone
*Make some freezer breakfasts that do not include oatmeal or yogurt for C
*Spend time outside everyday
*Do all the laundry before I leave Thursday


 Have I mentioned what a struggle keeping a clean house is when you're around all day, and even better.. you're 3 year old is around all day.  I'm hoping to come back to find it at least as clean as I'm leaving it today (but I know this is extremely wishful thinking)

Here is my favorite pic from the week - On Monday when I return, it will be Ed and I's 1st wedding anniversary!  I can't wait for him to open his present... something he's been asking for for a LOOONG time!

XO!!