I bought all this fabulous felt to make a ton of play food for my daughter but as usual the thought had more energy than the actual application. I have made a nice set of items to present her with on her birthday (which will have to have pics later when she has seen them) but found myself with much more felt than I cared to turn into food.

Then my little Peanut had been really trying to play with this sorry dollhouse we attempted to make together a few months ago. I knew it needed a renovation but was fresh out of ideas. We had started it with one of those boxes they give you at the warehouse store for your purchase. We had a two sided on and I had (genius) made the dollhouse to be one level with two rooms. I wanted better for my Peanut.

I had been looking at the different ones online but with all we were putting into her play kitchen I kind of felt that buying a new dollhouse too was just too much.

By the way if you are looking for a nice store bought dollhouse Pottery Barn for kids has a nice cute one for younger children that is about %50 off.

Sooooo. I called my mom, artist extraordinaire, and she hopped over to help me out. We ended up turning the doll house on it’s end and she fashioned a gabled roof and patched up the sides with rogue cardboard I had been begging my husband to get rid of.

While she did this I started to felt and wallpaper the inside and outside of the house.  And made a diving wall for the upstairs.

A while ago we had papier mache’d a few bathroom items that are now too large for the new house’s proposed bathroom so we’re thinking of making the new attic room the bathroom. We also papier mache’d a couch which I covered with felt and made a big fat cushion for. I’m in the process of making a bed frame for the bedroom and figuring out what else to do around the house.

This sounds probably much better than it looks. I’ll have to take pics another time as the family has come down with a cold and I find myself with limited energy.

In the meantime dollhouse making with stuff around the house is nothing new.  So here are a few links to inspire you.

• Dollhouse Furniture With Everyday Objects
• Wood Built Handmade Dollhouse
• Make a Dollhouse Dining Room from Recyclables (so cute to see the little girl working on this)
• Make a Dollhouse Dresser
• The Perfect Dollhouse This was just amazing. The stuff the came up with!

I can’t believe this! Where have I been! I mean I have a child! I’ve cared for several (foster)! Why wasn’t I told!!!

I’m talking about this new obsession called felt play food. Well actually felt anything. You can make so much stuff out of this! It’s amazing!

Check out this amazing refrigerator with food!!!

This is by DearMyKid’s Shop on etsy.

Then she also has this darling farm set up which I wish I had known about eons ago!!!!

And follow this link to see a great magnetic cantaloupe slice with rind! Now that is cute!

But this is only some of the felt play things I’ve seen. There is so much my eyes are bugging out. I’ve found several doll houses. Another kitchen set up that included the stove along with utensils and food (that was a book). Now these are all patterns but the stuff is easy to make (just not so easy to design).

Apparently this stuff has been around for a while and I’m just now finding out! What else is out there that I’m missing??!!!

I’ve been struggling with what to make and buy for my daughter. Her whole Thanksgiving dinner has taken a bit of a turn. The main dish is still the same but I’m trying to figure out what to round it out with. I also want to make some of it myself.

Anyway enjoy!

I’m in the midst of shopping for my daughter’s birthday and boy is it hard to make a choice!

Some background: Back when I was a new mom I thought it was great to get that cheap plastic and cardboard play food in great quantities. Fast forward 3 years and we have had a ton of it that was just finding places to find around the house. One of those cases of quantity not quality.

So we had little talk with our Peanut and made the decision to donate our excess of pretend dishes, food and such and replace it with just a few pieces of well thought out pretend food based on how she plays. She says “Okay”.

Our daughter has this great love for Thanksgiving. Ever since her school program spent a month going over the Pilgrims, Native Americans, being thankful etc she prepares Thanksgiving dinner on a daily basis for her stuffed animals.

Sooo…

We decided to get some play food for that meal and some new dishes. You see her previous set included 2 teapots, about 8 plates maybe more, several pots, ice cream cups, regular cups, a juicer, a pitcher… really it goes on but there was so much I’ve forgotten all of them. Her kitchen set, which we spent more thought on, came with one stock pot and a ladle which we are keeping.

Now after browsing around I found myself on Etsy again (I love Etsy, people are sooo talented) and fell in love with felt food. This is not my first time seeing felt food. My aunt has several books laying around with it in there and has been trying to get me to make some to no avail but this time it spoke to me. So cute and fluffy. All the lovely things you someone else can make. It’s so beautiful.

So I’ve already ordered the main dish from mudpiekids…

We’re discussing dessert. She REALLY likes pumpkin pie so mommy24cs is looking good for this…

And The Birch’s Perch Shop has adorable crackable eggs, peeled bananas and shucked corn I have my eye on.

As tempted as I am to overindulge and get Breakfast, and lunch, some fancy desserts and more I think this will keep Peanut happy for some time and I really need to try my hand at making some (right before posting this I made a very ugly pancake with a pat of butter and some syrup).

If you’re looking to buy some felt food ,besides Etsy (which I think has the best), you can also find felt foods at…

• Oompa Toys
• Cillerenda’s
• Lillybean
• Felt Food Creations

Or if you’re creative and talented you can get patterns and supplies to make your own felt play food at…

• Lillybean
• Etsy
• Keeper of the Cheerios (links to tons of free patterns)

Here are some of the rolls (getting ready to rise a bit before baking) I made from the Hot Roll Mix I talked about earlier.  Notice my marble rolling pin in the background? I get teased about this from my family. Maybe because I bought it when I was about 20 years old. So that would make it 20 years old. Still looks like the day I bought it. Smooch!

Oh the rolls. Yes I halved the recipe and still had too many for my dinky family and then was one rogue roll I had to fit in between some others. But I’m loving the mix cooking. I don’t always want a thousand packages and drops of this and that on the counter. On a day when our daughter was feeling under the weather mama still punched out made from scratch yeast rolls. I really should be making the whole wheat mix but I’ll get to that later.

The bug has bitten.

I’ve felt the need the last few weeks to whip up a few freezer meals, master mixes, and spice concoctions.

I’m not sure what happened but going with the pull I got out my books Make-A-Mix and Make Your Own Groceries and decided to whip up some freezer cookie dough and some muffin batter.

If you’ve never heard of these books they are both cookbooks designed to help you spend less time in the kitchen and come up with your own healthier packaged mixes for whipping up stuff like quick breads, cookies, dinner, snacks, breakfasts and even household products (Make Your Own Groceries). It’s a wealth of information.

I like having the freezer cookies on hand not only for unexpected company but because my husband likes to make a few cookies now and then and having some easy slice and bake in the freezer lets him cook as many as he wants and the easy directions are right on the package.

I love having the dinners in the freezer for when I’m feeling lazy and I can just thaw one in the fridge and cook it up for dinner with an added salad or fresh veggie.

Next up I’m agonizing over which master mix to whip up for breads and the like. I also took some time to make a lasagne for the freezer and some german meat balls (an altered version I came up with based off of the one from The Joy of Cooking).

Someone suggested that if you have never seen the books before check them out from your library before purchasing. That is a good idea and always recommended.

It was also a good time to read Lynn’s blog post about freezer peppers from your garden and a yummy recipe to go with. I plan on growing some this year so this was good information to know.

If you’re not sure what master mixes are here’s an article from the main site.

Does your favorite shopping place have a discount bin you regularly visit? Our does. I actually don’t visit it that much unless I’m in need of something like flannel sheets (our only set died this winter, they are now happy rags).

But evidently my husband visits it because last week he brought home this little gadget for the kitchen. He presented them (2 of them) to me and I wasn’t too interested. Yay another pot holder. Oh this one is plasticy looking.

I vaguely remember that these silicone plastic kitchenthings have been around a little while but I haven’t paid much attention until I found myself needing to stop the kitchen sink (our stopper doesn’t work too well), peel some garlic, and find a quick pot holder to grab a pan out of the oven! AND IT WORKED! Remarkably well. The garlic peeled so nice and clean and was still whole. The sink had nary a leak. I felt no heat on my fingers as I pulled the pan from the oven and then even had a place to set it!

That’s what the label said it’s a silicon pot holder, trivet, sink stopper, and garlic peeler…oh AND jar opener. It was amazing.  I don’t mean to be so WOW about it but I do like gadgets that work What is even better was the price. %50 off of $1.97.  Can’t beat that. $.98

Here’s my new kitchen friend.

The Cloth Diaper Report is hosting a giveaway for Crunchy Clean natural laundry detergent (and some sprinkles) on her blog. I’m already a faithful user of this great product so I’m entering.

Yes you could make your laundry detergent but why try when Crunchy Clean has so many fabulous scents. I’ve been using the Everyday Detergent Hard Water, Diaper Detergent (no longer needed wahoo!), and linen spray in Crisp Cool Clean. I also have the deodorizing sprinkles in grapefruit which you can sprinkle and then vacuum up for a nice clean scent. Since I no longer have a laundry need for the diaper detergent I’ve been mixing with vinegar and using it to wipe down walls and flat spaces when the mood arises. It gives such a delightful scent to the home! I had also purchased the lavendar and eucalyptus in diaper detergent but since I don’t need it for that right now I want to use it on something. It is fabulously strong (I love that scent combination).

Anyway drop by The Cloth Diaper Report and follow all her detailed directions for entering numerous times. I admit I sometimes get confused with all the follow me and tweet me here and blip it twice or whatever. But I did set up a twitter account (twitter.com/momtools) and have attempted to do some things there.

Off you go now. Go enter.

It’s January and for the first time in my life when this month hit I was excited to get gardening catalogues and start my planning.

Admittedly I’ve done nothing BUT I am excited! Doesn’t that count?

This year I’ll try and do better by the onions, carrots and lettuce. I’m thinking of picking up a few more Smart Pots for those. Not too many because I’m still gardening in a small space.

I’m finally reading my copy of Momma’s Guide to Growing Your Own Groceries by Kimberly Eddy. That has me stoked even more. True this gardening guide is not written with the container gardener in mind but it is written to help you get started growing items you will actually eat (rather than just start fondly at). Having lived in Europe Kimberly’s book is great with practical advice on thinking through the placement, design and application of your garden so that your grocery budget will be reduced (the ultimate goal).

Kimberly has been at this (13 years in 2005) much longer than I have (year 2 wahoo!) so I’m counting on her advice to help me have a better harvest. We did GREAT! with our tomatoes and potatoes last year. This year I’m adding better cucumbers, lettuce, onions, carrots, and peppers to the bunch.

So are you gardening this year? And if so what are you planting?

I’m on week three of Queen of the Castle and it’s like Lynn is watching me or something. She KNOWS what is going on in my life.

You see last week I realized I needed to start taking better care of myself. I fall of the vitamin bandwagon much too often and I have the telltale signs. Listless and last night after dinner I had a cramp in my foot which can be a sign of a calcium deficiency. I’m not a big milk drinker and they had stopped carrying the yogurt I like at my local grocery store. I hadn’t bothered to find a replacement, I’m not a big organge juice drinker and I let my calcium supplements gether dust.

Well Lynn KNEW! You see week three in Queen of the Castle is all about taking care of mom. Knowing when you’re feeling run down that it’s time to take care of you. Seriously who takes care of us if we don’t?

So mom if you’re feeling a bit run down about now make a few changes. It could be a litte more sleep (it’s okay to say no). Or maybe eating a healthier breakfast for good energy. Or even just making it a regularly scheduled even to have a pampering session while someone else watches the children.

Take good care of mom.

On an average morning I get up an hour or so before my daughter and have my devotions, get things going in the house, breakfast ready etc. Dinner is planned and ready to go and  I have a bit of web work under my belt. Then she wakes up and the day begins in earnest.

But lately I have noticed a little less pep in my step.  About the last few months to be exact.  I’ve been feeling the need for a tune up.  A jump start. And no I’m not into cars.  Sometimes it’s energy but mostly I was looking for a little motivation. I know what I do is important. The little peanut growing by leaps and bounds is proof daily of that.  And so are all the emails of thanks for this tidbit or that. But still…

Being a big reader I have been browsing the homemaking book sections lately looking for something more than just your average how to organize, clean, cook book. I have tons of those and have written a bit about it myself. I wanted something more.

So when Lynn Bowen Walker contacted me to take a look at Queen of the Castle: 52 Weeks of Encouragement for the Uninspired, Domestically Challenged or Just Plain Tired Homemaker I jumped at the chance and am glad I did.

What a great read! And I mean that sincerely.

It’s not just that she added all those wonderful vintage (and some modern) quotes from books I know and love.

It’s not that the book is arranged so that each week’s focus is timely to the season and time of year and even possibly how you’re doing right about that time in this big job of homemaking.

Nor her new words for the week that gets a nod ’cause I can soooo relate.

Not even for the timely scripture at the end of each chapter or prayer example to remind you what this homemaking is all about and Who you ultimately serve by giving it a go.

It’s that this book is a big hug for women out there who need to know that the work they do at and for the home and home life is truly important.

And YES! there are homemaking tips in there. These are practical application tips and even recipes that Lynn has learned along the way and is passing along.

Designed for the Christian homemaker (and by the way whether single, married, with children and without if you have a home of any size and/or description (palace, to studio) you are a homemaker) this book is a year long, 52 week long advice book on picking up your chin and being proud of what you do.

Right now I’m on Week Two where I am reminded to Give Homemaking My Best. There is the suggestion, especially if you have children or a spouse who may not quite understand, to give it your all and then take a vacation. One that takes you off the premises so others in the household may understand all you do I do this now and again.  Also incorporated is the reminder that no one is super woman.  This is perfect wisdom for one of close friends who is struggling with feelings of inadequacy on not being able to work part-time, raise two children and foster for two more who are under the age of five. This in addition to being a wife and very active in her church’s music ministry. It’s okay to say no. To only do the amount you can do well. When we start giving less than our best it’s time to cut back. No comparison to anyone else. No other homemaker, blogger woman, business executive etc.

See how inspiring the book is?

Although listed as 52 Weeks of encouragement you’ll read through each chapter (which is for the week) rather quickly and be tempted to jump ahead. My advice? Read your chapter at the beginning of the week and use that week to digest and apply the tips Lynn provides. As with a foreign language, which this may be for some of us, it sometimes takes digestion over and over to get the message.

You can also visit Lynn on her recipe blog at Queen of the Castle Recipes. Did I mention there are recipes in the book?

Queen of the Castle: 52 Weeks of Encouragement for the Uninspired, Domestically Challenged or Just Plain Tired Homemaker