Yesterday....time lost or memories created

Yesterday, was a busy day for me. I feel I loose special moments with my children because of the mundane chores. We need to carve out time for our children. They require alot of guidance, love, and support. They enjoy reading times, playing outdoors, creating art, and so much more. Lets take that time for those simple things that seem time consuming and know its a lifetime investment in the character building, memories, and growth of our children.

The picture below you see a mother who stopped to sit outside and play with her child. I often dont slow down enough to capture these moments. They are so fleeting. 

A gentle reminder to savor time with your children, family, and friends.  

Dollar Tree Diy Projects for the Home

I wanted to share what I created while visiting my sister. I made this Blessed Wreath and Acorn Mirror. It felt great to create and bring home a personalized piece. I will post my video down below if you like to hear all the details of my how to. 

The wire wreath I purchased from the Dollar Tree along with the center picture that says Blessed. This was a picture that I took off the wood backing trimmed then added ribbon detail. The material used around the wreath form was long strips of Muslin fabric that I 

cut then tied into knots. That created a sunburst look. I used hot glue on this project. Lastly, the colorful autumn pick was from Micheals 2 seasons ago that I had not used yet.

This is a mirror from the Dollar Tree (you can use any mirror). I picked up 3 packs of loose acorns from the Dollar Tree. I hot glued the acorns to the frame and to the caps side by side. I love this look!!

Pantry Challenge Prepping Time

Prepping is a serious topic for me. What would you do if
your experienced even on of these events in your life:

1. Loss of Job or job injury that incapacitates you for life
2. Loss of life (main income person)
3. Loss of Savings or Retirement
5. Suffered a weather event (flooding, hurricane, winter storm, tornado, earth quake, volcano eruption (Super Volcano Yellowstone in America).
6. Loss of Medical Insurance (You may have a serious condition that needs treatment and medicine monthly).

These types of events will make you refocus your priorities and expenditures very quickly. My immediate reaction as a homemaker would be take stock of pantry (foods, spices, condiments, drinks, and dry goods), medicines, and other daily supplies we use to figure out how long you can stretch things out to make ends meet with no income etc.. I'm thinking of doing some video's where I will pose these questions and see what your feed back would be. This would be very interesting for all.

Side Note: I just read a good book that is a quick read on
Kindle called Over the River and Through the Woods by Susan Gregory. If you read it let me know what your thoughts are. Another friend on YouTube recommended The Journal by Deborah Moore. I haven't read this one yet it is a series.

My Personal Experience with a Hurricane:
I have been without electricity and water due to a hurricane. I can recall the feeling... it was like I lived in the Flintstones era (big smile). Whatever needed or could be done had to be started at sun light and finished by sundown. There was alot of interaction with one another. That was not the norm in the household. You looked to gardening, books, cards, board games, diaries, sketching, cleaning, organizing, crafting, and singing songs. I recall it was hot with no wind to give us a chance of cooling of during the day. The evening's were the only time for a bit of  fresh air. There was no showering and/or water. So, it wasn't pleasant to say the least. I found myself doing things that I would not normally do because of television, phones, or computers that may have taken up my time. It really opened my eyes to the monopoly played by social media/television/and computers. How much we tune each other out instead of tuning in. Just fruit for thought my friends. 

Pantry Time:
Here are some of Pantry Items I bought and shared on a video (see the video below). Now, these may not be what a typical prep item may look like.  Every little bit helps to extended your food stock and supplies. Each family or person will have different things they may concentrate on for example: if you live in desert you would focus on water first etc... I hope this helps kick start a family into the right direction to love, care, and nurture the ones you love by prepping.

Dollhouse Miniature Room Updates 1:12 scale

My mans room. I made the bed and have a video under my playlist on my You Tube channel. Now, some of the new things I did are:

1. Touched up the mirror edges with a brown marker created from cardboard and Washi Tape and glued the bottom that started to separate a bit
2. Changed the rug from an oriental to a solid light green fabric rement.
3. Made some clothing for the dresser and opened a drawer to peek inside
4. Made a Shade for the window
5. Made a draped curtain treatment 
6. Added the luggage under the window table from Michaels I hauled a few months back.
7. Placed a flower arrangement on the window table ( I removed the boat previuosly show until Hubby cuts the wood down).

                                        Mans Room (Before)

This is the first step to my window treatment I created a type of blind look with lace detail. 

It makes the window look better and the room more warm.

This is the curtain I created for the window. I wanted a large presence and provide coverage for the dark sports on the wallpaper. I wanted to use some of the colors found in the room.

The window Treatment is complete. Now, I will admit I have never made a detailed window treatment before. So for my 1st time I dont think I did too badly. Now, I'm not sure how I am feeling about the green ribbon so I may change this and try to recreate with some of other fabric. Im glad I tried something new.

In this photo you can see the luggage under the table I bought from Michaels. The dresser has a drawer slightly open with clothes I made.

Meal Plan Recipes

This week's recipes where found in Cheap Eats Budget-Busting Ideas That Won't Break the Bank by Sterling Epicure, Delicious Dinners $5.00 by Haystack Media and lastly Taste Of Home Magazine 2016 Summer. Some of the recipes did not have photos.

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Turkey & Wild Rice

Quick Creamy Gnocchi

Chicken and Sqaush Gratin

Steak and Guinness

Breand and Butter Pudding

Morning Coffee Be a Wise Woman

My day starts simply with morning coffee creme brulee and a cinnamon stick. As a list of things to do pop into my thoughts. I decide to slow down and enjoy the sound of the coffee maker and it's steady dripping sound. Pushing the mundane chores to the side for a moment. I hear my children  talking and enjoying their toasted raisin bread with sweet cream butter. I just turned on the wax melter in the kitchen for some aromatherapy. A moment with God is next.

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Think of good ways to bring joy and comfort to your home. Have a beautiful day my friends.

Dollhouse Miniature 1:12 Scale Diy Mans Room Mirror

As always I'm looking for creative ways to use what I have and recycle items. This week I decided to focus on the mans room in my dollhouse. I made this mirror from packaging, washi tape, and redline tape from the Dollar Tree. It was very easy. Please see my video below for my process. I have a list of items I want to create for this room and many others that I will be sharing on a Budget.

Best Bug Sprays List

Here is the list of the Best Bug Sprays by Consumer Reports:

See the full list of Consumer Reports recommended bug sprays below:

1. Total Home (CVS) Woodland Scent Insect Repellent. Score: 94 ($6)

2. Off Deep Woods Insect Repellent VIII Dry Rank. Score: 94 ($6)

3. Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent2. Score: 90 ($5)

4. Ben’s 30% Deet Tick & Insect Repellent. Score: 88 ($8)

5. Coleman Insect Repellent High an Dry 25% Deet. Score 86 ($7)

6. Sawyer Ultra 30 Insect Repellent (lotion). Score: 84 ($10)

7. Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent 20% Picaridin. Score: 83 ($8)

8. Repel Insect Repellent Scented Family 15% Deet. Score: 83 ($4)

9. Repel Insect Repellent Sportsmen Formula Dry 25% Deet. Score 76 ($5)

10. Off Deep Woods Sportsmen Insect Repellent II. Score 74 ($6)

https://www.consumerreports.org/products/insect-repellent/ratings-overview/

Dollhouse Miniature Diy Screen Door from Cardboard

I enjoy using the trash to treasure method.Where ever I go I look at things with the eyes of a miniaturist.  Grabbing a piece of cardboard and making it into something miniature is very gratifying. This door can be made many different ways from any era or time. It's up to you and your project at hand. I may even attempt to make the missing front doors to my latest Dollhouse. I will list the video's below for the cardboard screen door Diy for your viewing pleasure. I am creating a Shabby Chic Porch Scene that I will be sharing with you as I go. This project may take several months depending on how kind time is with me.

I propped the door inside the kitchen of my newest dollhouse so you can have an idea of the look. The color does not match the trim because the door is for another project. The door looks like it is bowed because its not attached rather leaning. If it was attached it would have looked a bit better.

Great Depression Recipe,Living, and Survival in Todays World

These were sad times where the landscape of America changed. I believe that learning from our past is vital. As history has a way of repeating itself. I give myself scenarios of "What If". What if I could not get food for my family.... all the stores are empty,no electricity, no gas for my car, no medicine, no water, no phone, no Internet, no heat (cold winter), no cooking (alternative means), no money available at ATM. 

What if we experienced an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) that could take down our electrical grid for months or years. Here is a link from Washington Times: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/may/21/electromagnetic-pulse-emp-is-a-major-threat/
 I just recently learned from the Weather Channel that the East Coast has a rock that effect us greatly in a Solar Storm here is the link: https://weather.com/news/news/2018-06-14-rocks-under-interstate-95-power-grid-fears
What if we had a natural disaster or weather event that could effect our lives for months or years.
Look at the recent and past hurricanes (Maria and Katrina), snow storms, flooding rain. All these are reality and very difficult to recover from. Lastly, new information has come out on Yellowstone the U.S. Super Volcano that maybe of great importance its recharging at a rapid rate than previously known. Here is a link from Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/yellowstone-supervolcano-scientists-can-tell-how-fast-molten-rock-bubbling-958405

What are some of the steps you could take to ensure your family is in a better position. Think about what your daily needs. Begin there.. I previously listed my pantry categories as a helpful tool.  What else could you do be frugal, re-use, recycle, and re-use again. Make old things new. Learn new skills like sewing, crochet, cooking, baking, preserving, clothing repair, shoe repair, wood making, soap making, herbal tinctures,and gardening (food). 

Having a good selection of recipes to chose from with little amount of ingredients is important.
I have began searching and writing down recipes with 5 ingredients or less. I thought of the great depression and how they had to make meals with little to nothing. I will also be looking at newer recipes as well. My pantry will be re-assessed for important main ingredients that can have long shelf life or used with my food saver for longevity. 

DEPRESSION ERA POTATO PANCAKES
2 to 3 med. potatoes 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 1/2 tsp. flour 1 egg Grate potatoes, add remaining ingredients and mix. Place in piles in frying pan in 1/4" oil and press thin. Fry until crisp and golden brown turning once.Sprinkle with table sugar (cane) and serve hot. Makes 6 to 10 pancakes.

 here is the link for the recipes above:https://www.cooks.com/recipe/as5n36k2/depression-era-potato-pancakes.html

Are you a Smart Prepper

As some of you may know we are a 1 income family. My husband and I work together towards making sure our food and water supply at a decent level. Some of you may ask why? You may even be thinking she is crazy,lol. Life has a funny way of throwing curve balls. They may come in form of a weather event, illness, injury, job loss,economical/recession or death. All these would be a big hit emotionally and financially. Most of us are not prepared even for a job loss let alone temporary illness or injury. 

These are real life events that happen.

When was it the last time you looked at your pantry. This would include water food, spices, and long term foods. These long term foods can be 20/30 years shelf life, canned goods/canning, or food you have placed into food savers bags for extended life. One of my friends on YouTube (At Home with Alicia) is going to use their stock pile of food for the month of July and be on a limited budget. I think that is a great idea! I may have to challenge myself as well to use my food stock. This would allow me to see what my family liked and disliked. Lets Jump into something I feel is important.  Having cook books with 4/5 ingredients are great. However, Cook Books in general are good to have imagine you can no longer afford Internet/cable nor a cell phone. Having Cook Books and other Alternative Health Books (Herbal Healing from the kitchen) and references could make a big difference in your life. Food for thought excuse the pun. Now you may ask what do I have in my pantry. I have shared a few videos on this on my You Tube Channel but here is a short list and a video below.

Some of the foods canned goods or extended I like to have on hand are:

water: Very Important cant Survive without Water

make it a point to get a case of water whenever possible

canned meats:chicken,beef, chili,tuna, salmon,etc

veggies: asparagus,corn, green beans,tomato/sauce/sweet peas,carrots,beet, yams, pumpkin,potatoes etc.

fruit: mixed fruit or apple sauce etc..

soups: all kinds canned or dry

breakfast foods: cereals, oats, granola, pancake mix

spices: are large array to choose from including honey/coconut oil/olive oil,salt/pepper.bay leaf etc.

pasta and rices various kinds

beans: navy beans, red beans,pinto and various dry beans

alternative drinks:shelf stable milk, juices, lemons/honey water, etc..

baking:sugar,flour, yeast,vegetable oil, baking powder etc

cooking helpers: sauces, packaged seasoning,butter etc..

cakes/muffins/cookie mixes/

 Now, lets take a short trip through history.  It provides us with a glimpse of what has taken place and what items you may want to consider stocking up on. Spices and Tea where very expensive and hard to come by. Normally, only the rich has access or funds for such luxuries like sugar, spices, honey, or flour. Remember honey is great for health, foods, and drinks. If the honey crystallizes it can be easily reheated/melted and placed into another container for later  use. Now, lets take a leap into growing our own foods. I don't have a green thumb to save my life(big smile). I'm just keeping it real. So, this process of growing our own food is a bit scary for me. Especially since we are renters and digging up the ground would be a no-no. I have done some research and a garden in pots is what we would be doing as a family. My husband has expressed interest in this. So, lets see what happens. 

My final words. Caring for ourselves and family is easier when you are not in a life crisis. So, I encourage families to start working on their food supplies and water if or when the day comes that tragedy strikes it wont hurt your family as badly because of your forethought, action, and love.