Full Circle Mother

TV free weekend

We are trying something new with the girls over the weekends - no tv or computers. Too many times I went looking for one of them, only to find that they had been sitting behind the computer playing games for hours. Then there's the tv (which if I had my way, the cable would be out-of-here!) which is a major distraction, source of sound (like we need more with five chatty girls) and general couch magnet. 

I really want the girls to be able to play, ride bikes, or explore outside but it is the hottest summer ever here in south Texas which makes sending them outside to play an unavailable option right now. So taking away the tv and computer time was a challenge at first (read all morning and afternoon long) but once the girls embraced the idea - this is what I turned around to find and it made my heart leap. 

Happy Weekend!

I feel pretty, oh so pretty

That's exactly how I feel when I wear this skirt. It's girly, twirly and fun! The pattern is the Yard Sale Wrap Skirt from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. 

I changed the pattern slightly by adding 8 panels total to the S/M skirt. So even though I know she's done an errata page to correct the pattern in the book, I found I needed even more panels (she lists at least 6) to make it a skirt I could wear without worrying about the Texas wind picking up my skirt - if you know what I mean.  I thought the length might be too short while I was sewing it up, but it turned out to be perfect. All in all, I love it and I can see myself wearing this when I want to dress up a bit - it's way too pretty for yard sale shopping though. 

I bought up all the Freshcut fabric I could when I saw this bolt nearing the end at my local quilt shop but I needed more due the changes made to the pattern. Luckily, I was able to locate more from an Etsy shop because this fabric was hard to find! Every time I sit down to sew, I learn something new - this time it was how to make a "french seam" and Heather Ross does a fantastic job explaining how to do them in her book.

On another note, a friend of mine is sewing up dresses for an organization called Little Dresses for Africa and I'd like to help her by making a pillow case dress. If anyone else would like to help by making up a dress for a little girl, please let me know! Crafting for a cause means so much and it only takes a little bit of time. The smiles created are priceless and there's a little girl out there somewhere who also wants to feel pretty! I'll post a pic as soon as I get one sewn up.

Plenty o' peaches

I have good news and bad news - which would you like first? The bad?? Okay.. I understand, get the pain over with quick right? Here it goes...deep breath...this weekend marked the last visit of the "Peach Man" to the Farmer's Market. It's so sad!! I love Texas peach season and so does my family. My husband lives for the peach cobbler I make each summer. So we couldn't let this pass us up without one last hurrah for the peaches. 

Here's the good news! We bought so many peaches this past weekend that there are plenty for more peach cobbler for weeks to come! I flash froze some of the peaches by cutting them in slices, sprinkling some lemon juice on them (so they keep their color) and froze them uncovered on a baking sheet for about an hour. After that, they were nice and frozen so I placed them in some freezer bags. 

Then I made some peach jam with a couple cups of peaches. I had never made peach jam before but it turned out really good. I sweetened it with honey - so yummy! Putting away food proved to be lots of fun.

We couldn't hold out much longer though. Here's the peach cobbler and homemade ice cream. It looks so good I wish it wasn't all gone now!!! Thankfully, there's more in the freezer so we can enjoy it again. This is my favorite ice cream recipe - it's quick and easy. Enjoy!

Homemade Ice Cream Recipe:

4 cups heavy whipping cream

2 cups half n half

1 1/2 cups sugar

pinch of salt

2 T. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together until sugar is dissolved. Place mixture into ice cream maker and follow maker's instructions. Freeze in a separate container. If you can't wait to freeze it, then enjoy right away as soft serve ice cream! I wouldn't blame you one bit. :) If you are feeling a little crazy, go ahead and add a few drops of mint extract and chopped chocolate before freezing for mint chocolate chip ice cream - really the possibilities are endless with this recipe as your base. 

Silliness

Last week while my oldest daughter enjoyed dance camp (declaring it THE BEST WEEK of her life) and my three middle girls had fun at VBS, I had the pleasure of spending some one-on-one time with this little chick. Miss Abbey and I had nothing else to do but to just be silly. (The bed was made, then unmade, then made, then unmade - it's how 2 year olds work you know)

Oh, how I love this girl! She holds my heart like no one else. 

Seeing Spots

Twister + a family of girls = tons of fun!! I can't remember the last time I played Twister but I do remember what fun it was. What a great way for the younger girls to remember their "right" vs. "left" too. We modified it a bit for the under 6 crowd by just calling out a color close to them. The older girls went all out (and Mom too - but could someone please tell my knees that I'm only 38, not 75). Isn't 40 supposed to be the new 20? 

Right now

Right now:

I am - in the kitchen ready to start breakfast for everyone - blueberry oatmeal pancakes with fresh fruit.

I hear - birds outside the door and the girls talking in the back bedroom while doing each other's hair or dressing their dolls.

I see - the dishwasher needs to be emptied and the "cleaning out of the fridge" I did last night is still sitting in the sink waiting for me. 

I feel - really good! Yoga this week didn't leave me feeling as sore as it does sometimes so that's a good thing - maybe I'm getting stronger.

I think - today we'll stay at home as much as possible and try to sew a little. The "Little Bo Peep" skirt from Seams to Me is still on my to-do list. Today might be the perfect day for it.

I hope - for a peaceful day.

I love - my husband & all the blessings God has given to me. 

Creating - train case face lift

A little while ago I found this train case at my favorite thrift store for $6.00 - whoop! As soon as I saw it, plans were being made to recreate it into something special for Allie. She just turned five years old and I could picture her carrying around all her little bitty things inside, taking it to a friends house for a playdate or bringing it with us on a camping trip to collect her treasures.

My assistant had a glue project of her own going on.

Here are the after pictures: I used ModPodge to glue the pieces down to the case itself, then I went over the whole thing with 3 coats of glue (drying each time in between coats). After it was dry, I sprayed with an acrylic to finish. This was such a fun project and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

Allie loves it and has carried it around all day long with her Bitty Baby tucked safely inside. I hope she'll enjoy it for a long time.

Let them make Flubber

Around this time each Summer, the girls days of doing whatever they want starts to get old and they come to me with the "I'm bored Mom". So I start to try filling our days with fun activities. Making Flubber is a hit everytime! I am not a playdoh fan - it's messy, sticks to the carpet and well - it's messy. 

Flubber on the other hand is such fun. It's a mixture of two liquids that come together to make a solid and it feels slimy, chilly and stretchy. The girls watch the liquids as they come together in amazement. Someone picks their favorite color (Lissy B. got to pick blue last time as you see) then we cut it into pieces for them to mold, squish and to be generally silly with. Flubber stores great in the refrigerator for weeks too so you can bring it out anytime the "I'm bored Mom" starts. 

To make Flubber you will need:

2 cups white glue (like Elmers)

1 1/2 cups very warm water

food coloring

 

Mix the above ingredients thoroughly in a plastic container.

In a separate bowl mix together: 

1/3 cups very warm water

2 teaspoons borax (found in the grocery store detergent aisle)

Carefully pour the borax mixture into the glue mixture and knead or stir thoroughly. I always let mine sit for a few minutes to let it soak up any extra liquid. Discard any remaining liquid if needed. 

Enjoy the giggles and wows! (Remind them NOT to put the flubber in their hair though...don't ask me how I know this).

Sizzling Summertime Sale over at FCB

I cross my heart and pinkie swear this little corner of mine won't turn into a place to advertise my business all the time. But....I only have this sale once a year and someone might want to know about it right? So hear it goes - there's a huge, giant, really, really big sale over at our store Full Circle Baby right now through the end of July.

We're celebrating five great years and I just love going into the site and lowering prices for you! So it's our Anniversary Sale - we do this once a year in July - but it's so stinkin' hot here in Texas right now, it just had to be called the Sizzling Summertime Sale - Anniversary Sale just didn't pack the punch.

I've marked prices 5-50% off everything in the store. So if you are looking for some cloth diapers, baby carriers or natural baby care (we have Klean Kanteens too!), stop on by soon.

Back to wiping the sweat beads - it's 106 here today....

~Lisa

Loving my life

I love my life - I really, truly, positively do! I live on the edge of the Texas Hill Country with my amazing husband (whom I sometimes refer to as Manly Man when he does something to deserve the title- like building me stuff), my five daughters, one not-so-smart labrador, one too-smart-for-her-own-good but uncoordinated cat and one goldfish (although it's really black, not gold).

I'm busy all the time and I'm never bored - my work is never done. We home educate our girls, love to travel & camp, learn, seek, play and laugh a lot. Sometimes we are lucky and food grows here in our very own backyard, sometimes my black thumb kills every house plant that enters our door. 

I don't have a nanny or housekeeper, but I'd looove one! There's usually a naked bottomed child sitting in my lap while I work behind the computer but sometimes they wear panties. I'm keeping it real here.... Thank goodness for the panties when that child decides to "toot" on my leg like she just did. Like I said, there's lots of laughs!  

My hope is that this site will be a place for me to think, write and share the busy times, the fun times and the inspirational times.

~Lisa