featuring unique and handmade items to make the world a brighter place
Tuesday has introduced me to the world of camera apps on my phone. I have been having so much fun playing around with them. The photo above I stole from Tuesday. I love it. She showed me a site called mytubo.net. You can upload your photos, add filters and share them with others. I also found a site called picyou.com. Some of the photos I take with my phone and others I take with my camera. It really is incredible how many neat things there are on the internet to enhance our photography.
When I became pregnant with my twins last year, I realized I needed to get some inexpensive cloth diapers. Then, I thought, why not make them myself. Though I have a lot of sewing experience, I think making your own diapers doesn’t have to be daunting! I wanted to make a total of 40 diapers.
First, I needed to find a pattern and style of diaper. There are many patterns out there, some are free, some are a few dollars. Here are some of the sites I found helpful:
http://mayna.livejournal.com/198548.html
This site offers all kinds of diaper making supplies: http://www.assuntastore.com/cart.html
This site has kits that INCLUDE everything you need to sew your own diapers! How cool is that! You don’t have to do any of the prep work!
http://www.kaylasclothkits.com/catalog.php?item=1&ref_catid=3
I wanted to make my diapers as inexpensively as possible, so I opted for a free pattern. I found it here at cloth revolution. Their directions were a bit confusing, so I used a combination of some of the other sites to figure things out.
http://themafiatutu.blogspot.com/search/label/Pattern
Once I had figured out the type of diaper I wanted to use and I found a pattern…then I had to decide on my material. Again, since I wanted to spend hardly any money, I went to my local Goodwill store and I found lots of inexpensive flannel sheets. I spent approximately forty dollars on the flannel sheets. I decided this is what I would use to make my diapers!
I also decided that I would make my diapers with four layers, and use a liner. I figured that way they weren’t too thick and would dry quicker. For my liners, I went to my local dollar store and bought wash clothes. They were two for a dollar, so for forty dollars, I got eighty liners. Each diaper change, I use two liners.
I had to decide between Velcro or snaps. I had never made diapers before, so I decided not to make the investment of buying a snap press. Though I have been told this is the best one to get:
http://www.kamsnaps.com/Snap-Press-amp-Dies/Snap-Press-Dies-not-included-Free-US-Shipping-p112.html
So next, I needed elastic and Velcro. The patterns tell you how much Velcro and elastic you will need. I went online to do some price comparisons. I figured out that I could get the elastic cheaper by going to my local sewing shop with a 50% off coupon. The Velcro I found here:
http://www.itapestore.com/velcroand174brandsew-onwhiteloop1x1yard.aspx
http://www.itapestore.com/search.aspx?find=VELCRO+ONE-WRAP+Roll+-+White+1%22+X+25+yds
For the Velcro, you need a lot more of the loop than you do the hook, so buying it separate is best. If I made the diapers again, I would not use this type of Velcro because it started to curl. I think instead I would buy it from another site. For the Velcro, I spent about thirty dollars. For the elastic, I spent around fifteen.
I cut out all the diapers first. Since I was making forty diapers and they each had four layers, that was a lot of cutting! Then I was ready to get started on the sewing. The first diaper took me a long time. I got confused and had to redo some things, but I looked at the different sites and figured things out. I loved how it looked and I was quite proud of myself. I did the diapers in an assembly line routine…first all the edge sewing, then all the elastic, then all the inside out flipping, then the closing sewing, then the Velcro. It probably took me about a week to make forty diapers!
All in all, it cost me approximately $125 for forty diapers…that’s about $3 per diaper. They aren’t perfect..but they work and I did it myself!
I would be more than happy to answer any questions you had about making your own cloth diapers. It really was a fun experience!!
I was working with River on some homework for her preschool…not easy with little ones about! Of course, Grey wanted to get in on the fun….so we decided to take some photos for Embrace the Camera…..even trickier…..especially when I discovered my camera was on Macro mode…oh well….go embrace the camera….
Having two babies requires a lot of stuff……and stuff can get expensive. I finally got around to joining the SJMOM club….South Jersey Moms of Multiples club. They meet once a month and I’ve only been to two meetings, but I’ve already met such wonderful women! It is great to talk with a bunch of people who know exactly what you are going through….when you are going through it. Everyone is always so helpful about sharing advice and tips. Also, I have been able to buy, exchange and borrow so much wonderful baby equipment, clothing, supplies, etc. It has really been great. If anyone out there has twins or is having twins….join your local twin mom group!!
I love play when it is at its best…spontaneous and full of imagination. Today River played “chef” for about 2 hours…..She brought me every meal imaginable. When Tuesday and Quinn got home she carried them meal after meal to their rooms. She not only did delivery, but cleaned up after every meal. She kept saying how tiring it was to be a chef. It is this type of play that I like best..it isn’t planned. It just happens and it seems to engulf her and take over. She becomes so engrossed in it that she loses track of time…….She has to take out every item in her kitchen and examine it as though she has never seen it before. Everything becomes so exciting and full of potential…she had a great afternoon….just playing…..
So, once again, after reading about these here….I had to try them…..with a few changes. My daughter, Tuesday, doesn’t like peanut butter, so I omitted that and used butter instead. Also, I love wheat germ and I put it in everything and I was feeling lazy and I didn’t feel like grinding up the flax seed in my coffee maker grinder because the coffee maker was dirty! I decided I wanted to pretty much follow the Nestle Toll house chocolate chip cookie bar recipe. So, I used 1/4 cup of butter instead of peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of wheat germ instead of flax seed. So, below I have included my updated recipe. I liked them…they were nice and buttery and moist. I don’t think they were as good as the brownies..which I made AGAIN…yum!
Happy Monday!
Garbanzo Bean Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
1 can of chickpeas
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup almond butter (or peanut butter) (or 1/4 of butter!)
1 egg
1/4 cup oats
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed(or 1 tbsp of wheat germ)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Drain and rinse the chickpeas and then put them in the food processor or blender and pulse a few times. Add the vanilla, almond butter (or whatever you choose) and then mix again. Then add the egg, oats, flaxseed (or wheat germ) and mix. Scrap down the sides if you need to add brown sugar, salt, soda and baking powder and blend again. When done blending, add in the chocolate chips, you don’t need to blend the chocolate chips. Put into a greased 8 x 8 pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.
This moment – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Happy Friday……
*Inspired by SouleMama
Here they are at 5 months old….This photo sort of reminds me of this one….
Go embrace the camera….
So, after reading about Black Bean Brownies here, , I had to try them. I was a bit skeptical, but they were delicious. And everyone of my children loved them also. They were easy. The black beans and spinach replaces the flour. Give them a try. And let me know what you think. I added more chocolate chips than the recipe called for (1 cup). I also used dark cocoa powder. I omitted the coffee, because I didn’t think my children would like that.
Amount Per Serving Calories: 126 | Total Fat: 5.3g | Cholesterol: 40mg
Days with twins go really slowly, but go by really fast. I know that doesn’t make much sense…but it’s just how it is. I feel like I am constantly re-inventing the wheel…trying to figure out how to do things….that a million other people must have already figured out. I know there are lots and lots of other twins out there and I know their parents made it through these first months…but it is a struggle and it is tough and wonderful all at the same time. And the time just goes so slowly…..minute by minute…but the days fly by!! Figuring out how to get to places on time, getting them to sleep through the night, take naps at the same time, getting everything that needs to be done done while making their needs a priority…..it is tiring!! When they are screaming and screaming and you need to go to the bathroom really badly and you are on your 20th cup of coffee and about to scream….one of them just gives me that look…that adorable look and it puts it all back into perspective. I know I’ve said all these things before..I think…but it is all so true.
This morning, I was taking River to preschool and there was snow everywhere because they hadn’t shoveled the sidewalk, so decided we needed to walk in the parking lot. River was on the other side of the car and I told her to slowly walk around the front of the car to where I was…..when suddenly a car coming plowing through at about 30 miles an hour. I instantly yelled at River to stop and not walk around. Thankfully, she listened. Suddenly, the car slammed on its brakes and rolled down the window. The man started yelling at me and saying what was my problem. I told him it was a 5 mph speed limit in the parking lot. He then proceeded to curse, yell and scream at me as he drove away. It wasn’t the way I wanted to start my day….but it made me realize how wonderful my life is and how happy I am that I am not that man….and that hopefully, I will never have to see him again!!
Happy Monday.
