DIY Green Sippy Cup

Ok so I have tried many different sippy cups. The only one Levi, my son, knows how to drink from are the ones with straws. Well they have started growing mold in places I cant get too. I've tried leaving them in bleach over night and ... nothing. So I saw on Pinterest how to make Mason jars into sippy cups! But then I started thinking.... While this is nice and green and inexpensive I'm still giving a toddler glass so I bought on EIO Sleeve. They were a little expensive... But fit perfectly on a half pint jar.

I used a 1/4" drill bit so I believe the grommet size was 3/16"? (I took in a straw to make sure I was getting the right size.) I'm sure I looked funny carrying a straw into Ace Hardware...

You might want to file the edges of the hole down because it will a bit rough. This is where I had my husband feel helpful. I let him put the grommet in. :)

When putting the straw in I got it a little wet and bent the straw in a bit. I actually trimmed the straw because the 1/2 pint cup was smaller than the straw.

 The Total Cost: 12 pk of 1/2 jars = $10.71 which comes out to $0.89 each and the grommets were $0.34 each. $1.22 TOTAL!!!

Update: After using thisfor a little bit we've run into a small problem. It is so leak proof that there is not a continuous way to suck which frustrates Levi. I think I'm going to have to make another small hole for air to come in through and put another grommet on it so he doesn't hurt himself.

Has anyone else run into this problem and how did you fix it?

DIY Moss Wreath

SO I saw this picture on another blog and just had to have the wreath but refused to pay more than $30 for it... I decided why can't I make this? Oh but I can! So I went to Michael's (with my 40% off coupon and bought some moss) and also bought different moss at Walmart for $2 a bag (which I actually liked the best), the hottest hot glue gun (I figured why not?), and at a later date went to Hobby Lobby (also with a 40% coupon) and bought the green Styrofoam wreath. I got the 12", if anyone cares.

 

here's the moss from Walmart:

and the moss from Michael's:

So while I was babysitting I decided to start. It is very easy and a fairly quick project. Only about an hour. BUT LET ME WARN YOU 2 THINGS!

1. It is VERY messy... the moss that is.
2. The glue that comes out of the hot glue gun is... hot. I mean extremely hot. I may or may not have gotten some on me and may or may not have been able to get it off in time... ouch >_<

I got a picture of it before it was done:

What was neat about the Wamart moss was that I could actually roll it out because it was one big moss sheet... or whatever you would like to call it. Then I filled the holes with the Michael's stuff.

And here it is done!

Up on my door! (yes I know I have an ugly door... that's my next MAJOR project... Installing a "new" door.)

My Free Heavy Trash Table

I wasn't really sure how this would turn out but I sanded and sanded and sanded. I had huge gouges everywhere (which is why I sanded and didn't just strip it). After doing research AFTER I had painted like 6 coats of paint on it (I wanted that brand new store look) I didn't realized how important primer is... Next time I will do that. But i did go ahead and put a sealer on it since it will be the family table.

Before:

After:

Dry Homemade Laundry Soap (HE)

So, after making 2 batches of the liquid, I just wasn't happy with the non-smell. So I looked and looked and looked and finally found a recipe that used Purex Crystal Softeners but I substituted those for the Downy Unstopables. (I LOVE THE SMELL OF THAT STUFF!) and our clothes were starting to look dingy... This recipe also includes Oxi Clean. BTW THIS IS GREAT FOR FRONT LOADERS! HE just means little suds which is perfect for front loaders.


Recipe:

• 1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- Found in the detergent aisle
• 1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda- Found in the detergent aisle
• 1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean- Found in the detergent aisle. (I actually use the Kroger brand because it is $4 for 3.5lbs as opposed to the name brand $9 for 3lbs.)
• 2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Fels Naptha Bar Soap- Found in the detergent aisle
• 1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals or Downy Unstopables- Found in the detergent aisle (Optional but I do it for smell)

 I dump everything in a new trash bag and carefully roll it around to mix then put it in my gorgeous glass container I got from Wal-mart in the Household section.
 
I use a cup of white vinegar as a fabric softener. I have found that my clothes are whiter after using the vinegar as well. I read somewhere that it is because it works great with the washing soda. NO it does not make your clothes smell like vinegar. In fact, it is a natural deodorizer as well as softener!


 

Embroidered Love Note

Ok so on our May Babies FB page, we decided to do a Secret Cupid (just like Secret Santa) and once again I'm so not into buying chocolates and bath stuff so I found PINsperation...

So I just got the cheapest white cotton fabric and straight stitched blue horizontal lines with one Red vertical line.

I drew (lightly) lines where I was going to sew (same with the embroidered letters)

A little birdie told me...

So I finally got around to making this after my son was born. I was trying to go for the woodlands/forest theme in his nursery.

(Me being artsy fartsy with my camera phone)



I even used the sticks from the back yard! This is a great remnants project! I bought the fishing wire on sale at Wal-mart for $2 (I can't believe it) and the eye-hole hooks at the dollar store (I get a lot of stuff you wouldn't imagine there). I also bought those $1 squares of fabric at Jo-Ann's and I did buy a package of stuffing WITH A COUPON from Hobby Lobby for $2. So this project cost me no more than $10? The Tut I used is here. I learned how to do a blind stitch here.

As you see I did the bottom bird a little different because it resembled him being hung, to me...

Washing Your Hair the Natural Way (with Baking Soda)

I have very fine hair but a lot of it. I can't use conditioners because apparently I am allergic to them (they make my scalp itch to the point I get sore... I know TMI) I can't use 2-in-1 shampoos, and actually MOST shampoos, for that matter. I have a very good friend that has the same problem as me, except she doesn't have as much hair. Today she told me she washed her hair with just baking soda and water. So I tried it. OH.MY.LANTA. My hair is the SOFTEST it has EVER been. I didn't even need leave-in conditioner!!!

So here is the "recipe" I used:

1 part Baking Soda
2 parts Water.

Now I actually used a cup of baking soda and 2 of water because I decided to bathe in it too. I figured why not? We can wash our hair, clothes, and teeth with it. Why not body? I feel pretty clean!!

Please keep in mind that this recipe does NOT suds up... I think that's why I MAY have gone a little over kill on the amount...


Now here are a couple more recipes I wouldn't mind trying:

Fair Companies:

• Baking soda (aka bicarbonate of soda).
• Apple cider vinegar or one lemon.
• A container (a recycled shampoo bottle works well).

 EHow Baby Shampoo:

• 12 oz. of distilled water
• 4 tablespoons Castile soap flakes (or shavings from a Castile bar)
• 1 to 2 drops of pure essential lavender oil