Look at me go!

In a couple of ways.  First of all, all this blogging lately?!?  Crazy.  Second, check out this project.

Making your own baby food.

Here is my afternoon project from a week or so ago. From left to right. 28oz Edamame (soy beans! yummy!), 22 oz mango (bought two packages frozen mango chunks), 34oz peaches (2 packages frozen peaches) and 60oz green beans (4 packages of frozen). I also bought tons of bananas, but didn't mash them this day because I was waiting for them to brown a bit more.

When I had Luke, I decided to make my own baby food. I figured with one kid, I should be able to accomplish something like that since I stay home. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I didn't think it would be that hard. I did get a couple of books, but I found them to be more useful in scheduling eating and introducing new foods etc. Since I didn't know if I'd make my own baby food for #2 I didn't want to invest a lot of money into containers to store it. I should have. With Luke I used old yogurt containers and used baby food jars that I had received from a friend. When it came time for Leta to begin eating purees, I decided to make my own again, since it was so easy last time, but this time I wanted freezable plastic containers. It was a bit tricky finding a size I wanted that didn't come in a variety set, that I could order individually. But I found some "Lock N Lock" brand on the Organize.com website. They are 6 oz. containers.

She has also had: applesauce, avocado, peas, sweet potato, carrots, acorn squash, and butternut squash. Still to come: Eggplant, zucchini, and more fruits!

I. AM. A. GENIUS!

Luke and I made sugar cookies a few nights ago. Just cutting them out and getting them baked with the "help" of this particular two-year-old was stressful enough for me. Above picture should be enough of an explanation as to why it was stressful. The kid is a MESS! Anyway, we'd made the cookies but had never decorated them. I'm taking what's left of them to our end of the year fellowship at Body and Soul tomorrow for the kids so they needed frosted. One of my projects today for during Luke's nap time. While making the glaze is when I had my epiphany.

I made my glaze, poured some into a lid, or other shallow dish with sides (should be large enough to fit your largest cookie entirely, but if it's too big you'll waste a lot of frosting) and then added my dye. THEN I DIPPED EACH COOKIE INTO THE GLAZE, COVERING THE TOP COMPLETELY AND THEN USED MY CLEAN FINGER TO WIPE OFF EXCESS/SMOOTH THE GLAZE. (I'm sure there is some sort of utensil that would work better, but, whatev.) They turned out perfect! The tops are smooth, completely covered....gorgeous! And I probably spent 1/10 of the time it would normally take to frost cookies! That's always the most labor intensive part. I think for tomorrow, I'm just going to leave them like they are, but if you were totally ambitious, after the glaze layer sets you could easily pipe on more frosting to outline or decorate in some other way, too.

Maybe you all have known about the Cookie Dipping Method (or CDM as I like to call it) for forever, but I just figured it out. So maybe I'm not a genius...maybe I'm just incredibly slow, but either way? I feel great right now!!!!

Organizing.

So, I've been trying to organize my recipes. I have about a bazillion cookbooks, and I love them all. I like to try new recipes out of them and then I forget which cookbook they came from, making it difficult to make that recipe again. So I thought I should centralize all recipes that I plan on making again into 1 place. After talking with Audra, we thought maybe having our recipes, that we have tried and would like to make again, all in one place would be easiest. One time mom gave me a cookbook with many of our family favorite recipes from growing up, so I know that cookbook has all good, already-been-tried recipes. And I have 2 other cookbooks for recipes I acquire from friends, or online etc. Only one of them is in use. I figure the best I can do is consolidate into two cookbooks. If I'd like to try a new recipe I have my cookbooks, friends, and online sources for that, or if I want tried and true, I have two cookbooks to go to.

I've also been contemplating keeping them all on my computer. They would definately stay cleaner and would be easier to read and I would be able to easily post recipes on my blog. I have been considering placing my planned meals on here per request of a few people. The only problem with that is if I were typing out all those recipes every time, it would be very time consuming, and I'm lazy. BUT if they were all on my computer already...easy peasy. However, I don't want to haul my laptop to the kitchen every night to cook. I've done a little searching for a PDA that can sync to a recipe software program on my computer. No such luck yet. Appearantly if I had an iTouch or iPhone they have an application that does just that. However, I don't have either, and they are not exactly cheap. So. I'm needing suggestions. Please help, dear 3 readers.

I did find a recipe software with a 30 day free trial so I've been looking around and that and I did add a recipe that I made last night to see how it worked ect. However, that still leaves me with the problem of what to do while actually cooking. sigh.

Anyway, here it is. This recipe came via mom, but I think she got it from Michael and Audra. It makes a ton.

Crock pot Mexican Chicken Burrito
Easy and yummy Yields: 8 Servings
Ingredients
5 Chicken breast fillet

1 can (16 oz) Black beans drained and rinsed

1 can (16 oz) Corn drained

1 jar Salsa

4 servings Brown rice cooked

Instructions: Place chicken breasts in bottom of crock pot. Cover will all other ingredients. Cook on low all day. Shred Chicken. Stir in brown rice immedietly before serving. Serve with whole wheat tortillas, sour cream, and shredded cheese.
Rachel Soper
Cuisine : Mexican
Main Ingredient : Chicken

Rachel's Couponing Tips (especially for Michael)

This post is going to stink if you don't care about how I get all my free stuff.

Keep in mind, that I am a complete amateur, and I really am not very good at the whole couponing thing. First I'll list my tips, and then some things that I've done to make things easier for me. Also, it really helps to live near a CVS. That's where I'm finding my best deals. Walgreens has some good 'uns, but it's no CVS.

1. Clip every coupon from the Sunday paper ect. and save them in an organized fashion. (All You magazine usually has a ton of coupons and is many times worth buying just for the Qpons)

I keep my Coupons in a make up bag I found at Target. I used the small size envelopes and taped index cards vertically in them to make my category holders. I have the following categories: Baby, Bags, Baking, Bread, Canned goods, Cereal-Post, Cereal-Kellogs, Cereal-General Mills, Cereal-Other, Cleaning-Laundry, Cleaning-Kitchen, Cleaning-Misc., Condiments, Dairy, Frozen, Hygiene-Feminine Care, Hygiene-Body Wash/Lotion, Hygiene-Hair Care, Hygiene-Make Up/Face Care, Hygiene-Oral, Hygiene- Razors/Deoderant, Meat, Medicine/Supplements, Mexican, Refrigerated, Seasoning/Spices, Pasta/Rice, Paper Products, Snacks, Miscellaneous, CVS, Resturaunt, Target, Walgreens, Other

It's a lot of categories, I know, but it helps to not get a bazillion coupons in one slot. It makes it much easier to find this way. I didn't used to have all these categories, but found I needed more as time went on and I accumulated a larger coupon stash.

2. Be lazy.

I have a Google Reader account. It is invaluable to me. There are tons of great bloggers out there who are willing to do all the hard work for you. I subscribe to many blogs and follow them on Reader. Reader tells you when there is a new post to any of your subscribed blogs. Many posts I'm not interested in, as they may be telling me about deals at stores that I don't have access to. (Boy do I wish we had a Publix grocery store around here!). Here are the "frugal" blogs I follow: http://babycheapskate.blogspot.com/ http://budgethelpers.blogspot.com/ http://www.couponcravings.com/ http://www.kingdomfirstmom.com/ http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ http://thecentsiblesawyer.blogspot.com/ http://thecentsiblesawyer.blogspot.com/ http://www.swaggrabber.com/blog1.php http://www.5dollardinners.com/

The women who write these blogs keep track of practically every coupon available and match them up with sales, deals, other offers etc. I let THEM tell me what will be free at CVS after Extra Bucks and coupons with sales etc. They also will have LOTS of links for Internet Printable coupons, that you can print right from home. If you're a mom of a baby, the babycheapskate blog tells me every week where the best prices on diapers are. She'll also let me know if it's a stockup opportunity (really great price per diaper). Since following that blog, I haven't bought diapers for more than the stockup opportunity price. It's great.

3. Set your limits

I say set your limits because couponing and deal finding takes time. I could make a full time job out of it! Seriously. There are many more deals to be had out there that I don't particiapte in because I only want to spend a certain amount of time going to the grocery store etc. Many of the excellent Frugal people recommend that you grocery shop at at least 2 stores. I don't do this. I don't want to be running all over the country side. I want to go one place and be done with it. So that's what I do. Could I save more money the other way? Sure. But I'm lazy. Also, when I clip coupons I only clip the ones if they meet my Yes criteria...if this product were free because I had a coupon, would I get it?

4. Don't be brand loyal.

If you really want to save the big, bucks, you can't be brand loyal. I used to be brand loyal in almost everything I bought. Now I'm brand loyal for Shampoo (since I color my hair to get rid of the grays, I need a sulfate free shampoo...usually pretty pricey). I'm not brand loyal for toothpaste, conditioner, body wash, deoderant, make up, moisturizures etc. I'm brand loyal to Bartilla pasta though. Love that stuff!

5. How I plan my trips

Throughout the week, by following blogs, I keep a spread sheet of things that are Free This Week at CVS, Walgreens, Target and Walmart. CVS alwasy has the most, followed by Walgreens, Walmart and then Target. If it's a good week and there are quite a few free things to be had, I'll make a run. If not, then I skip. I usually won't make a run if I'm only going to get 1 thing for free. There are a lot of other good deals to be had, and I do use other coupons, mostly for my regular grocery shopping etc. Once I decide to go, I usually spend about 20 minutes comparing the deals to the coupons I have etc. and decide where I'm going to go, if anywhere, besides CVS. I like to have my plan and my coupons organized before I go, becuase that makes the actual shopping trip so much easier.

Note on Walgreens:

Make sure you get the Walgreens EasySaver catalogue that comes out every month. Every month there are a few items that are completely free after rebate and others that can be free after rebate and coupons etc. You can submit your receits for rebate via the mail or internet. I like the internet, of course, because it's faster. Always choose to get your rebate in the form of a Walgreens gift card (and they can add it onto an exsisting one so you don't end up with 900 of them). When you put it on the gift card, you get a 10% bonus, covering the tax you paid on the item, plus a little profit. So really, they're paying YOU to take products out of their store.

What to do with extras? There is always a local food pantry or mission willing to take your extras. I took mom 6 bottles of Excedrin (can't take...upsets my tummy) that I got for free. I can't use them, but she can. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Another Favorite

Dimmer switch in the nursery! It's so nice for night nursing. I turn it down almost as low as it can go, just enough for me to see by. Lamps are nice, but they are really bright and in just one spot. I got the idea from Audra, and Michael said they weren't hard at all to put in (he was right), so I had Kyle install one. I liked it so much I had Kyle put one on the pot lights above our bed for reading.

Forgot one

I forgot one!

OxyClean! I have been struggling with getting poop off of his clothes. I've soaked, double washed and imediately treated...and sometimes all that doesn't work. And I nurse! Isn't that supposed to make the stains easier? Anyway, I had some clothes that I'd been WORKING on, got some oxyclean, soaked and washed according to directions...and my whites are a white as can be! Not even a hint of yellow! I must say, this stuff really works. Go. Buy some.

New Mother/Baby Stuff I can't live without

1. Baby Bjorn Carrier- I may not know how to say it, but I sure know how to use it! I love this for grocery shopping, Target, and sweeping/vacuuming with Luke. It gives me both hands free and I really enjoy the snuggle time with Luke. He's a snuggler, too, so he likes to be close to Mommy and look around at the same time. He can face towards or away from me.

2. Barrettes- While nursing I'm constantly leaning my head over to look at Luke (even though it's bad for your neck muscles and spine) and a barrette keeps my hair out of my eyes. I usually have one clipped to my pocket for whenever I need it.

3. Boppy- Mine was made by my Grandma Olson. I can't feed Luke without it. If we have to go somewhere...it goes with us.

4. CARTERS Lap Pads- They're thick cloth pads that are waterproof. They keep me from having to change my changing pad covers all the time. Also, they're great for when the baby begins sleeping all night. I put one under his little bottom, that way if he leaks through his diaper (rarely) I don't have to change the sheets. Get the Carter's Brand. I bought some at Target and after the first washing the two pieces of fabric came apart and they had to be thrown away. Complete waste of money.

5. Lansinoh Lanolin Cream- You'll hear that breastfeeding doesn't hurt. This is a LIE! It hurts like crazy for the first few weeks, and if you're like me...for a few months. Lanolin cream really helps chapping and you don't have to wash it off, which is great, because you'll be so tired you won't want to have to remember that. Be careful, though. It stains horribly. Make sure you wear breast pads while using.

6. Lil Noses Saline Spray- Luke hates to have his boogies sucked out of his nose, but the spray softens them and makes the task a little easier for both of us. Not enjoyable...just a little quicker.

7. Madela Sanitizing Steam Bags- Great for breast pump parts, bottles (if using), pacifiers, small plastic toys etc. AND it only takes 1 1/2 minutes!

8. Mirrors- What can I say? All babies love 'em. Any distraction is a good one.

9. Mobile for changing table- Luke loves his bears. He smiles at them every time. It makes diaper changing and getting dressed much more fun. We have one on his crib, but since he's a tummy sleeper, he's only watched that one once. The changing table is a much more practical location for us. If we only had one, that's where it'd be.

10. Nursing tanks from Target- They sell them other places, but Target is cheaper. I wear one every single night with my flannel jammies. They make nursing easier, I can wear breast pads at night, and the sports bra-like support is nice for sleeping.

11. Onsies- Everything else rides up. My favorite until he's walking.

12. Sleep Blankets- Since they aren't supposed to have anything in their crib while they sleep, these are nice. They just pull on over their sleepers. I saw some new ones at BRU that are WAY better than the ones I have. I can't wait 'til Luke outgrows his and I can go buy new. They snap over the shoulders and the zipper is on the side!!! and zips all the way down and across the bottom for easier night diaper changes.

13. Sleeping/Nursing Log- I kept track for the first 3 months. I was so tired I couldn't remember what he did when, so writing it down helped me. It also helped me establish a schedule for him that fit us both.

14. Swaddle Me Blankets- Of all sizes. We all know babies like the swaddle when tiny, but still, at 4 months, being swaddled is the only thing that will calm Luke down when he gets to throwing a fit. I sometimes have to use one to get him down at night or for a nap if he's really fighting himself.

15. Trumpette Socks- Of course, they have WAY more styles for girls than boys, but I love their "shoe" socks. I bought a pack of 6 and they come in all colors. Luke never wears shoes, but it looks like he does! He even likes the laces on them (that can't come untied) and the bright colors. Ne noticed his feet for the first time wearing them. Of course, he didn't realize they were his feet, but he enjoyed watching them just the same.

I'll add more as I add them to my list on my blogspot page. Many people helped me get off on the right foot with things. My sister in law, Audra, sent me the GREATEST new mommy list that I really think I would've died without.