Bringing Sexy Back

Alright Ya'll, I'm bringing sexy back! Or as sexy as birthing hips, stretch marks, cellulite, and bum back can get. I have a new workout routine in place- consisting of yoga and walking- that will hopefully help me slim down, pump up my energy levels, and generally improve my pain levels and appearance.

Here is the UGLY truth in the form of measurements (in inches). I don't own a scale because of the whole muscle weighs more than fat factor. So here is my starting stats:

Arms: 12 inches
Waist: 34 inches
Thighs: 25 inches

Measurements will be taken weekly. Fingers crossed those numbers go DOWN quickly. And no, I am not sharing my butt measurement, this baby got back. A whole lotta back. Scary amounts of back. For my own piece of mind I will not measure that area. I do need to sleep at night people.

Join me on my journey, and if you have any helpful hints* I would love to hear it!

 * I have two herniated discs in my back and have had a hard time figuring out exactly what will work for ME in regards to exercise. I am not a doctor, I just listen to my body so please do not think for a minute that I know what I'm talking about!*

St Jude Hero

Ya know how every little girl thinks her Daddy is a hero? I am super lucky that I my Daddy has become a hero to more than just me- he is a St. Jude Hero! Daddy is looking for sponsors for his next marathon. Every penny he raises will go directly to St Jude Children's Research Hospital!

"I have decided to participate in my next endurance event as a St. Jude Hero. 

My fundraising efforts will directly support the work of St. Jude Children’s

 Research Hospital to find cures and save the lives of children fighting 

cancer and other deadly diseases, and I am asking for your help!"

Daddy likes to show off his Super Hero status- every year "Captain Normal" makes his appearance and just as mysteriously Daddy is nowhere to be found. Coincidence? I think not!

Captain Normal, Lobster Doggie, and My Littest

(she loves having her pic taken with celebrities!)

"I am going to reach the finish line of my event 

and your support will help St. Jude reach

 its goal of finding cures for pediatric catastrophic

 diseases through research and treatment.

 And because of you and your super blog friends, 

St. Jude is getting one step closer to the day when no child will die in the dawn of life."

I know times are tough out there is this economy but we all know every little bit helps so visit my Daddy's, I mean "Captain Normal's" Hero Page and make a donation to St Jude Hospital.

Busy B!

And by Busy I mean I have turned into a bow making machine! Take a gander at some of my pretties:

I am trying to decide if I should sign up as a vendor at the local Farmer's Market this year. It's a huge commitment but I think it might just be worth it. Thoughts?

St. Patrick's Day Hair Clip (tutorial)

This is one super easy peasy hair clip! All you need is 3/8 inch grosgrain ribbon and a clip to glue it on. I added a  dime size "sparkley" in the middle to dress it up (available at Wally in the kids craft section). Note: I use a wood burning tool to cut/heat seal my ribbon ends. If you don't have one use a lighter/candle/campfire to heat seal the ends of your ribbon.

Cut and heat seal 4 four inch pieces of ribbon and 1 three inch piece.

 Fold each piece in half and put a dot of hot glue in the crease.

 Repeat on all four inch pieces

 Next, pull the sides down to make a heart shape. Glue the two ends together.

 Repeat...

 Line up two hearts and glue them together by slightly overlapping the very ends.

 Repeat...

 Here is I added Littlest's "sparkley." Just glued it right on top and then glued the stem onto the back.

 My stem was looking too long so trimmed it a bit- say hello to my wood burning tool :)

 Whalla! Four leaf clover!

All it needs is a clip and you are good to go! I use lined double prong alligator clips, but you can use whatever you have available.

Bitty Bo-Biddle

Reminiscing today. I found its a good thing to do every now and again, how else would I reconcile the fact that this mug:

  is any way related to this one:

Or how about these:

I miss my red hair and being skinny.

Mostly the skinny.

To the boy, my oldest, my mini-me; Please stop growing- you are making me look old.

Probably I should go red again, maybe that would help.

Make Your Own Laundry Soap, Concentrated.

Pintrest is bad. Pintrest puts ideas into my already overcrowded head. I will say however that this is one idea that has been percolating for quite a while and Pintest only helped seal the deal. Homemade Laundry Soap (Duh- you read the title right?) Here is the back story:

I was trying to get some super awesome mud out of a white shirt, we all know how fun that can be. Anywho I read somewhere that stains come right out if you rub them with a bar of Fels Naptha soap. I figured for 98 cents a bar I could give it a go, and it worked. It was magic what with the stain disappearing before my very eyes. I even called Hubs at work and told him all about it. He obviously shared my enthusiasm. Not.

I found about a million different recipes for homemade laundry soap and all most all of them required 5 gallon buckets. Not for me thanks. My house (log cabin) does not have closets so storage space is at a premium. Then I found a recipe for Laundry Soap Concentrate. Yes please.

Math: Ug.

Cost of supplies about $10.00. Yeild: 4 quarts (1 gallon). Amount used per load: 1 tablespoon. 

Number of loads from 1 batch: 256. So for about 10 dollars you can now wash TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX loads of laundry.

Cast of characters: 

2 bars Fels Naptha

2 cups 20 Mule Team Borax

2 cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

6 cups of hot water (+ more water as needed)

Here we go: 

Grate/chop to tiny pieces, throw into food processor- the 2 bars of Fels Naptha. Combine with 6 cups hot water in a large pot on medium heat. Stir until soap dissolves.

Or if you are like me: turn on the heat and then totally forget that it is turned on 

while helping Littlest with her homework. 

NOTE: you do not want this to boil. Boil = Bad.

This was almost Bad. 

Once the Fels Naptha has dissolved add in the Borax and Washing Soda.

Stir, Stir, and Stir some more until dissolved. (Mine took about 2 minutes)

Ladle into quart jars.

The next part is super easy. Screw on the lids and totally forget about it overnight (or about 8 hrs)

The mixture will separate and get firm so take a knife and chop it into bits

Pour it all into your stand mixer

Once you have the hard stuff out there might be some stuff stuck to the bottom of your jar

Add a few tablespoons of warm water, replace lid, shake.

Into the stand mixer it goes: beat on medium high until it looks like this:

Once fluffy and creamy return it to the jar and screw on your lid

Ta-Da! You made your own Laundry Soap Concentrate!! 

1 tablespoon per load. That's it. One.

Can be used in HE washers as this is a NON Sudsy soap.

Also- if 256 loads seems like a bit over the top you could always 

cut this recipe in half.

So what do you think? Are you going to give it a try?

Things You Should Know About Today

1. I am feeling creative.


2. I am on prescription medication.


4. I just discovered where I left my coffee.


5. I like to play with MS Paint. I call this one "Self Portrait of the Crazy Lady"

6. Note to self: when feeling creative, taking prescription meds, and hyped up on coffee= Prolly should take a nap instead of blogging.

Hope you day is as fun as mine is turning out to be :)