Space saver: Replace closet door with curtain

Originally posted: Friday, March 23, 2012

Our girls share a room right now, and my youngest is insistent on sleeping ina  big bed--- so she crawls into her sister's, and her sister comes to us... so!

We are saving up for a twin bed  & mattress, but meanwhile, I thought I'd really maximize the space, so I have started some projects around the room.

This was one of them---- take off the closest door, and put up a curtain.  Now I can put two beds in an L shape.  If I had done that with the door on, it would only have opened halfway or less--getting caught on the corner of the bed.

Tension rod= $4.99 Target
Fabric= $4.02  80 inches at Hobby Lobby (go for the satin, it's cheap!)

I sewed hems up the sides, then made a casing for the rod, then hemmed the bottom-- done.
Took 35 mins.

If you want it to touch the ground, I guess get around 85".  :)

Stay tuned for some posts I'm moving from old blogs...

Am I the only one who has started a blog, then hated the name?

Is there ever a name you could love for more than 5 years, or 10?  I don't know, but so far I keep unliking the names I pick!  Sticking with this name though, since I've really dug in here.  Enjoy some Posts from the Past...

Happy Mother's Day

MOTHERS-- If today wasn't the greatest day, PLEASE remember... no one is posting pics of their kids yelling at them or having 6 tantrums or making demands. FATHERS/PARTNERS: All most of us want is for someone to take over for the day-- if you were able to achieve that in any small way-- hats off to you!  (Privates messages from several mama friends today-- you aren't alone! We should take down the expectation level--perfection is not possible!)

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms I know and love. And if it falls short (esp if you have many tiny needy kids)... Here's wishing you a drink, some Netflix, and some chocolate once they're asleep tonight. 

The best shot we got , lol!

My Moving Checklist (moving with 3 small kids)

I can't tell you how many checklists I looked at in my prep to move.
I guess everyone hires movers?
Well, we move ourselves (it's a good workout).  :)

We have (oddly enough) moved EVERY time our baby was 1 year old!  Now, we are moving ourselves with 3 young kids... so planning is key.  Even if it does all go out the window.  ;)

We started talking about it with them really early on and brought it up weekly, and I'd say 10 days post-move, they seem okay... it didn't seem to rock their world the way the one 3 yrs ago did!

Moving with 3 kids 6 & under and no movers... WHAT?
You can do it!

Moving when our oldest was 1...

On all the lists I found on Pinterest, lots of stuff seems to be left out.  To me, they seem like short lists of obvious tasks.  (Hire a mover, Change your Address, get boxes... REALLY?)

Moving when our middle was 1...

This is not cumulative-- I've left out the obvious (hire movers, have a yard sale, etc)

TO DO (local move, moving ourselves-- a nitty gritty list):

6 weeks before:

• Pack at least 1 box a day from now til when
  you move.  Start a GoogleDoc and only number the boxes--anything goes for what is inside-- on the Google Doc, put what is inside each number.  That way, you don’t open a box til you need something in it-- then you unpack the entire box. Collect boxes at the grocery store, school.
• • • Give notice to landlord
• Get a great realtor-- if youre local, definitely use Erica Jolles

Moving this time... when youngest is 1

5 weeks before:

• Email realtor to confirm closing date
• Come up with floor plan
  & with a "truck" plan-- how you plan to load the truck-- draw on posterboard and hang in truck-- you will get delirious so it's good to be able to look at this and not have to talk at 2am ;)
• Make checklist of who to change addresses with (Post Office, utilities, DMV, magazines, student loan, internet/phones, doctors, health insurance, banks, pharmacy, schools, PayPal, Etsy, Amazon, alma mater), cross off when complete
• Check in with lender about your loan status (you should have started the pre-approval months before)-- Cindy Reichle is on the ball and the best lender I've ever encountered
• Write down finances for move-- truck, closing costs, new appliances--anything-- make sure you have what you need! We have always used Budget trucks, seem to be the best buy. We get a 16' truck and 12 pads for local move and do 3-4 loads... it costs under $150 including gas to refill the truck! A few other costs to consider with estimates (Termite bond $800, charges for transferring utilities ($20 water, $40 cable/internet), inspection + reinspection after repairs ($575), curtains & hardware-- esp if new construction these things may not be up ($200 if you buy Target brand rods and then fabric and sew yourself-- another cost saver---buy a piece of fleece at fabric store the size of the window, tack it up til you can do the curtains), lawnmower $114 for manual if you like a workout/weedwacker $30/large ladder $100-or find used), change license address ($25 per license), paint & rollers ($300), re-key doors $105 mininum

4 weeks before:

• Measure windows, pool, etc, OR download MagicPlan app and go take pics of the space!
• Line up babysitters for the kids  TIP:  See if someone will come 8pm-11pm so you can really get a lot done while they sleep and not be worried about if the baby is okay with the sitter, etc. We did this the fist night living in the new place and went back for a mega-load and then sent the sitter home at 11:30pm and unpacked til 3am. INSANE? Yes. Major cost saver? Yes.
• Get 2-3 pool fence estimates-- we wound up with Pool Guard
• Buy bathmats/garage mats
• Get inspection & appraisal
• Shop around for and line up homeowner’s insurance and give the info to lender
  Buy spackle and paint to patch rental

3 weeks before:

• Clean out pantry and fridge/freezer
• Book truck rental for 3 days so you can make several trips and save time on packing/unpacking… i.e. one trick is to just load dresser drawers WITH the clothes still in them, then they pop back in and clothes are all where they should be
• Change home phone, TV, internet etc-- cost saver-- Ooma, $3 per month for home phone
• Find out how to maintain a pool- what to buy?
• Keep checking for used: swingset, yard tools, pool tools

2 weeks before:

• Find out trash & recycling days & contact city for bins
• Get estimates on anything you need done before move in (pool fence, re-keying doors)
• Confirm Homeowner’s insurance

1 weeks before:

• Buy a few things at Lowe’s:  lock for fence, plastic roll-out cover (with adhesive) to put down on carpets for moving w/ shoes on, mailbox/mailbox numbers
• Pack a kitchen box that is for the first few days of eating
• Shop washer/dryer, set up delivery date
• Set up install of pool fence
• Change address: See list below
• Get old sheets to put down on carpet so we dont need to take shoes off when moving
• Take shower nozzles off--soak in vinegar overnight, brush with old toothbrush, replace with cheapies
• Pack two small suitcases for 1st night: new shower curatin plus hooks, 5 towels, toiletries, bathmat, sheets for queen bed, clean sheet for crib, pajamas, undies/diapers, clothes, lovies, DVDs/player-- 3 rolls TP, 1 roll paper towels and a small trash can or trash bags

2 Days before:

• Disassemble all furniture
• Keep 5-6 empty boxes out, ready to have stuff thrown in

Day of:

• Close on the house!!!  :)
  Pick up truck
• Send email to everyone with new address
• Cleanse house

Day after:

• Locksmith- rekey doors
• Pool fence install
• Internet install

4 days after:

• Go back to rental and check for anything we forgot--clean up, spackle/paint, vacuum, and turn keys in-- GET SECURITY DEPOSIT BACK (by law they must return or explain why not within 30 days)
• Order new address stamp from Vistaprint

CHANGE ADDRESS:

• Water/Electric
• Cable/Internet
• Subscriptions
• Student loans
• Bank
• Pharmacy
• Work
• pediatrician,
• chiropractor
• School
• health insurance,
• Doctor
• Licenses/DMV
• Life Insurance
• IRAs, etc
• Credit Cards
• PayPal
• Etsy
• Amazon
• USPS- they will send you a 10% of total purchase at Lowe's and Target-- so wait for the big shop til those coupons arrive
• kid magazines
• Alma Maters

Lentil Soup

Huge hit in my house!

4 hours on high in the crockpot (usually done by 2-3 hours, too)-- makes 20 servings

Ingredients:
1 pkg dried green lentils (16 oz)
2 tsp thyme
2 carrots, finely chopped
2 ribs celery, finely chopped
3 boullion cubes (I use Rapunzel vegetable with sea salt)
Salt & pepper to taste
10 cups water
(Plus more below)

Directions:
Put all of the above in crockpot and set on high for 4 hours


At the very end of cook time, chop one onion and 2 cloves garlic-- saute in a bit of oil.  When browned, add to the soup.

Serve!

Stayed good in fridge up to 1 week

Applesauce Muffins

My 11 month old son LOVES muffins.
This is a recipe I came up with as a combo of a few others and substitutions of my own.

Ingredients:
(makes 24)
3 cups oats
2.5 cups flour
2/3 cup maple syrup (grade B preferred, but use any all natural maple syrup)
2 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 jar unsweetened organic applesauce (24 oz)
1 cup almond milk
3 tbsp canola oil
2 eggs

Directions:
In large bowl, combine all dry ingredients, mix well
In medium bowl, combine all wet ingredients, mix well
Combine
PAM the muffin tray (I use silicone)
Fill muffin cups to the top

Bake at 325 for 29 minutes

Making Hamantaschen for Mishloach Manot Baskets

So... if you aren't Jewish the subject of this might make you wonder if I had a tiny stroke while typing.

Nope!  It's almost Purim!  And to stay true to character (not a perfectionist) let me paste some info here about the baskets (which is where Easter got their basket idea, tho I like this better because KIDS GIVE the baskets as gifts and receive a piece of candy for delivering vs. just getting a basket of candy):

KEY:
Hamentaschen- pastries shaped like Haman's hat
Mischloach Manot- Purim Basket
Mitzvah- Good deed
Purim- A Jewish holiday-- this is the actual holiday where we get gifts (Hanukkah became that way, but isn't historically a gift holiday) and we also dress up in costume and get drunk.  We like to joke that it's Halloween meets St. Patty's Day + more.  A festive meal and costume party is part of the celebration.  Giving a Purim basket to two friends with food in it is required.  One of the more interesting things about Purim is it is the only story where God's name is never mentioned once, and no magical miracles--it is all about the Jewish people coming together and... sort of making their own miracle.

Mishloach manot, literally, "sending of portions"; also called a Purim basket, are gifts of food or drink The mitzvah of giving mishloach manot derives from the Book of Esther. It is meant to ensure that everyone has enough food for the Purim feast held later in the day, and to increase love and friendship among Jews as a counter to Haman's assertion that the Jewish people are characterised by strife and disunity.

According to the halakha, every Jew over the age of Bar and Bat Mitzvah should send a food gift consisting of two different types of food to at least one recipient. The practice is a fairly prominent feature of Purim.

Two different mitzvot: the sending of two different, ready-to-eat foods and/or drinks to one friend (known by the Hebrew term, mishloach manot), and the distribution of two charitable donations (either money or food) to two poor people.

Poor people are also required to give mishloach manot. One who cannot afford to buy food for his friend may exchange his own food with that of his friend — this fulfills both their obligations.

This mitzvah may not be fulfilled by giving items other than food. Money or other material items cannot suffice. Only food gifts fulfill this mitzvah.

So--- we set out to start on the Hamantaschen today.  It's kind of a long process for just 16 of them in the end.

I like to make my own filling so it's simple and fresh, but you can just buy apricot preserves.

To make your own, buy a bag of organic apricots, put 5-6 in each muffin spot, cover completely with water, and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Remove from oven, put all of it including water into a food processor, add 1/4 cup cold water and puree 60 seconds.  The entire bag makes enough to fill probably 100 Hamantaschen, so adjust to your amount.  Pureed apricot is also great for babies or smoothies or added to oatmeal or yogurt, so plenty of ways to use the leftovers.

Make the dough (see the end of this post)

Roll it out

Find a nice large round thing to cut circles with-- I used the second largest stacker in my baby's toy stackers, ha!  You want something wider than a cup rim, but not so big as a coffee can.

Put just a bit of filling in the center of each circle-- less than a tablespoon usually--but do it to your taste.

Pinch the 3 corners creating a triangle.  It's very important to really seal off the 3 corners or they will open up in the oven.  (The ones I let my kids do usually open up)  ;)

As you can see, my 6 yr old loved the apricot puree so much she asked for a little to eat-- and that is just PLAIN apricots and water!  Why give them extra sugar if they love that!?

Bake and cool... eat, or put in mishloach manot baskets!

RECIPE:

makes 16

2 cups flour

1/2 cup cane sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

1 tsp orange juice (it really makes it, don't leave it out!)

apricots OR apricot preserves

(Get apricots baking, see above)

1. In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients

2.  Cut in butter

3.  Add beaten eggs & extracts and mix well to form dough into ball, roll & cut circles, etc

4.  Bake at 350 for 25 min