Ava's Army 2012

So we had a lot of fun on our last minute JDRF walk to cure diabetes. But you would not imagine some of the team size's just ONE kid can have at these things. I couldn't help but feel a little down about how I hadn't decided sooner that this is about Ava and NOT me! So Andy and I talked about it and we decided next year we are going to go all out. Reason 1: to make this a good experience for Ava and 2: at four years old I think she will be able to appreciate everyone's love and support! So be prepared for BATTLE we are going to do all we can to raise money and help battle diabetes. We plan to do this by creating...."Ava's Army" it will involve some sort of camo(which if anyone knows,that is a huge sacrifice for me;) and we can't call it "Ava's Army" with out a lot of people so please SHOW YOUR SUPPORT and be "prepared for battle" and join our team....I will keep everyone updated as to when we register for next year so you can sign up!!

It's not bout me...

I decided at the very last minute that the family(just the 4 of us) would go to Portland for the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes on Sunday(October 2nd 2011)I did not feel like celebrating diabetes at the moment(it's been a tough year)....however I decided to register Ava as a walker because this is about her not me and about awareness, research and a sense of belonging. Ava may never see a cure but I hope that someday no other parent has to live with this disease in their home.

We called about 6 weeks before the event to get into our Dr while we were there and they had to put us on a cancellation list. Well it all worked out they called us Friday (yes the day before we left) to let us know they had an appointment on Monday at 10! Sign me up! So glad we decided to make the trip.

The walk was fun, cold as usual and a rained at the very end. Ava and Logan had a blast we didn't meet anyone new nor did we get the chance for her to make any friends(she is only 3 after all:) but I would say it was a success....as for next year we have BIG plans....Ava's Army get ready for battle!

Homemade Laundry Soap...Cheap and Easy just the way I like it!!!

We do laundry what seems like all day every day and now we are on an even tighter budget with me staying home. So I decided to do a little research and found out it is totally the thing to make your own laundry soap, and dirt cheap....I had to do some scouting for the products so for those of you in Bend I have done the hard work for you...leaving you no reason NOT to do it!

1/3 bar Fels-Naptha Walmart .97cents
1/2c. Washing Soda Walmart $2.12
1/2c. Borax Fredmeyer's 4.39(this was the tough one to find)

I followed these exact instructions and it was kind of fun:
http://thefrugalgirls.com/2010/08/how-to-make-homemade-laundry-detergent.html

I will warn you that once it sits for the 24hrs it does have an odd gel consistency, I stirred it up and funneled it into my container's and it doesn't seem to be an issue.

It is green(less chemicals, you can use an organic soap if you wish - google that) and affordable, 2 gallons(which is the recipe) cost a little less then a dollar according to my math :O

We used it and no laundry was harmed ;) who can't afford to NOT do this?! Me, me, me... and YOU!

Enjoy!

EXTRA CHEAP TIP: Soak wash cloth's in fabric softener wring out and use as a dryer sheet....one cloth should last 10-20 loads(wash when used up and re-peat!)and a $3 dollar bottle of softener should last almost a year!

Chevron...Yep I jumped on the hot decor trend! DIY curtains...sort of.

 
Hopefully my kids wont be saying our house looks sooooo 2011 in a few year's ;D right like I won't change the curtains before that!

So I purchased the taupe curtain panel's at Target for 8.99ea. Pretty good deal, except they were almost 2 feet too short! So yea I had high water curtains for over a year trying to decide what to do with them :O

Then I found this fabric on the good ol' WWW I knew I HAD to have it! It was a super deal(on sale apparently) and I found a code for first time purchase's cutting the shipping in HALF.

***I cut my panels apart a 12 inches down, seem ripped the side seems on the curtain about 2 inches down or up on the cut sides so I had all raw edges exposed, measured across the whole width of the raw edge cut and added in my fabric(right side together and repeat for lower half of cut panel), pressed and sewed the hemmed sides and tada!***

My total for "custom" curtains(I have 4 panels...2 window's)....about 60 bucks!
P.S. I have enough scraps from the width for a couple of throw pillow's..woot, woot!

I'm new forgive my lack of blogging...Short, Sweet DIY to make up for it!

*****DIY Printed Pillow with Art Links*****

Who needs front porch pillow's?! Me....really, we don't ever sit on the front porch because we live on a corner (traffic) and can't see the kids playing so I usually sit on the step at the end or the walk way :) maybe I will make a "step" pillow next. But with the sun shining and plants being planted I felt our dingy little chairs needed some froofing...so here it goes!
The cost to me NADA...I have a lot of crap...oops I mean craft stuff :O
The cost to you cheap, cheap, cheap assuming you have a functioning printer or a friend with one...and a sewing machine.
Supplies:
Drop cloth or plain fabric of your choice (I have a ton of drop cloth I attempted to sew a chair cover, it got SCRAPPED!)
Iron on transfer paper
Stuffing (I reused some from old pillow's) I hold onto pillows for the very purpose of re-purposing
sewing machine and supplies
Stay with me it's EASY I promise:
1: Cut 2 squares per pillow 15x15
2: Sew right sides together leaving a 4 inch gap along the bottom center
3: Trim corner's and turn right side out and press
4: Print keep calm freebie and summer freebie onto your iron transfer paper.
5: Trim iron transfer, center on front of pillow make sure hole is on the bottom
6: Iron on per manufacture's direction(my keep calm had an iron incident :O)
7: Stuff and sew hole shut(I HATE hand sewing so I ran it under my machine...not as easy as it sounds stuffed full!)
8: Enjoy...sorry no pic's this was purely an after thought!

More great DIY ideas and CHEAP coming soon....This momma's on a BUDGET!

Three Dollar paint!

So I shop at Walmart....A lot! I have done everything in my power to shop there less. Not for any other reason then my safety! Our Walmart is a scary place. I went to exchange a lamp(which took way too long) and the police showed up and set up camp for the day to watch surveillance.So I am finally trying to sever the ties with Walmart when possible. With that said....I got a quart of paint there on clearance for THREE DOLLARS! Which was plenty to do my dining room wall. I picked a random not white but not cream color just so I didn't have to go back, we already had lot's of painting supplies from the kid's rooms(to be blogged soon) and my math genius husband taped off the wall and wa-la, a whole awesome statement wall for 3 dollar's. They still have paint on clearance. I might be going back soon!

***Notes***
The stripes are one foot wide. Tape with a level ALWAYS and press tape down firmly before painting, let paint dry before removing tape.

The light fixture WAS nickel the hubby spray painted with rubbed oil bronze spray paint and replaced the frosty white glass. Highly Recommended!

Furniture and Accessories list:
Table: LL Bean Farm house - Free (hubby used to work at an outlet it was damaged)
Chairs: Bi-mart on clearance 80 bucks or so for the set
Curtains: Lenda ikea 14.99 pair
Curtain Rod: Ikea 9.99
Decorative wood box: 3$ Yard sale(was red, I hate red!)
Clear Plastic floor protector: Free(but a life saver under the kid's side of the table)
Mason Jar: Free (mom in law) Mason jars=love for me ;)

I still need to finish the other curtains and a few decorative items. Not bad considering my little girl with the flu on my hands too ;)

Yick...I did attempt a yellow accent wall month's ago....This was a do over. I had to paint it back to the original interior color before doing the stripes. Well worth the extra work.

Inspire

My goal THIS year has been to finally get our home in order and somewhat decorated to fit our style(still not sure what that is).
We bought our first home in August of 2009 and it's a Very Fine House for a cookie cutter subdivision. I would have loved to have something with character but we didn't have the time or money for "character" so we settled for a newer home with a great lay out and a good sized lot for the money$$.

Since we are now house poor(which is a good thing) I have been challenged to decorate/redecorate on a tight budget. I am learning a lot about resources, craftiness and DIY and I hope to be able to share those wisdom's with you. Or at least inspire some creativity and save you a few dollars along the way.

-Rachel

Our First Home

I'll light the fire
You put the flowers in the vase
That you bought today

Staring at the fire
For hours and hours
While I listen to you
Play your love songs
All night long for me
Only for me

Come to me now
And rest your head for just five minutes
Everything is good
Such a cozy room
The windows are illuminated
By the sunshine through them
Fiery gems for you
Only for you

Our house is a very, very fine house
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy
'Cause of you
And our la,la,la, la,la, la, la, la, la, la, la.....

Our house is a very, very fine house
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy
'Cause of you
And Our

I'll light the fire
And you place the flowers in the jar
That you bought today

Pay it Forward

Came across this today. Ava has been a lucky girl thus far(no major diabetic emergencies or hospitalization since diagnoses!) and I think it is time we make another little girl feel special some where around the world. I will be making and donating a dress Asap! I hope you can do the same :D Happy Sewing!