Making Cloth Diapers: Part 1

I finally did it! I made a cloth diaper that doesn't leak and fits Mini. And I broke down and got a pattern... But I still made it all by myself! And if I hadn't had interuptions it would have only taken me 45 minutes start to finish. Perfect amount of time, I could get 2 done during nap time! Now I need to make about 11 more and I will be golden. The next one I make I will give a link to the pattern and photo instructions.

I love being self sufficient!

Homemade "Nutella" Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

I am a cheap person. No really! I hate spending money, I hate it as an object even more because I am always in need of it. We have a budget for food that we cannot afford to go over but as always I find myself a few days short and out of money but I needed something yummy to put on s'mores tonight for a church ladies campfire. I immediately thought of Nutella! But no money... wait a second... I have some hazelnuts! So desprate and frugal me I grabbed those nuts out of the cupboard and threw them in the mini food processor. I ground them smooth, added my homemade chocolate syrup and a heavy splash of rice milk and a tiny splash of vanilla and blended with a spatula. It was spot on and it only had 4 ingredients. Cheap and easy.

Recipe:

1/2 cup roasted, cooled hazelnuts
1-2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 tablespoon milk (any kind)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Grind hazelnuts until very smooth like butta. Spoon into a bowl and add rmaining ingredients, stir or whisk until well combined and smooth. Store in an air tight container in the fridge.

*Note: It may have a bit of a grainy texture and that's cool, makes it easy to see it's homemade! Be proud of your thriftyness and get used to it!

Photo Monday

I am horrible at "capturing the moment" with my kids, cameras just seem to slip my mind! So maybe if I dedicate a day to it I will take more pictures. Here are some of the kids!

Pardon Me...

Very sorry I have been absent! I am in the process of making diapers for Mini Me and will be posting a tutorial from start to finish very soon. Wish me luck!

My Pot Garden

Heeheehee... I couldn't resist that title because it sounds like I'm doing something naughty! Quite the opposite, sorry to disappoint your craving for scandel!

As you know I had a baby in March. Normally I have big ambitions of a garden but this year it just wasn't in the cards. Now I am kicking myself for not preparing and doing one. So I have resorted to pots (and tubs and totes). I would take pictures for you but at the present they are just filled with dirt. Not very exciting. But I am growing some culinary herbs, pumpkins, melons, spinach, lettuce, and swiss chard from seed and will purchase some tomato and pepper plants. This fall we will select a site for a permenant garden and prep it for spring. Maybe even plant some garlic and make an asparagus bed! A greenhouse perhaps? Maybe if I BEG my hubby! Next year I intend to go all out and learn to pressure can to preserve whatever we can. If I don't have to buy it in a store I won't, that is my goal with most of our food. Baby steps, first pot(s).