On the Banks of Squaw Creek

Keep it Simple, Make it Meaningful: Valentine’s Day

2012-02-12T07:59:00.001-06:00

I have a new motto for holidays, and by new, I mean that I came up with it yesterday afternoon.

Keep it Simple, Make it Meaningful.

Last year for Valentine’s Day, we made these adorable thumbprint Valentines. But to be honest, I did most of the work, and it was pretty frustrating. Getting a 2 1/2 year old to make a pretty fingerprint was nearly impossible.

This year, I wanted to include Adam again, but I didn’t want to provoke a melt down or force him to do something he wasn’t interested in. I thought maybe he could cut out hearts and write his friends’ initials on them, but had to abandon that idea quickly. After he labored to cut out one heart from paper and colored another and declared he didn’t want to do anymore, I got a little frustrated. So we gave up on that, and decided to make cookies for the people he loves.

Now, I realize that baking cookies might not seem simple. But we’ve made cookies before and he’s pretty good at it, so this wasn’t a stressful activity at all. And our time at the kitchen counter gave us a chance to talk about what Valentine’s Day means and list people that we love. Then, he guided me while I decorated the cookies and finally he decided exactly which cookie would go to each person.

So, even if the world (and blogs, and pinterest, and your friends on facebook) make you feel as though you need to go all out for every holiday, don’t be afraid to

Keep it Simple and Make it Meaningful

Sharing this post at www.mushkiloves.com , youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com, threemangoseeds.blogspot.com , www.getouttamyheadplease.com, soverycreative.blogspot.com , www.askannamoseley.com/, www.thegunnysack.com , http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/

Squaw Creek Kids

2012-02-11T10:41:00.001-06:00

*I’m slowly updating the pages shown below my header. This is what you will see when you click on “Squaw Creek Kids” from now on.*

I am not a parenting expert. I just play one on my blog.

Just kidding.

I am not a parenting expert, nor am I a perfect parent. However, I have over 10 years of experience working with kids including:

an after school program for K-6th graders
teaching K and 1st graders how to keep themselves safe
nannying in the home
teaching 4th grade
teaching Title I for 4th-6th graders who struggled in reading and math
coordinating and teaching a Talented and Gifted program to K – 12th graders

I have a B.S. in Elementary Education and over 20 graduate credits in reading instruction and Talented and Gifted Education.

I also have two little boys of my own, and I am blessed to be a stay at home mom to them. Adam was born in July 2008 (3 1/2 years old) and Isaac was born at the end of March in 2011 (10 months old.)

As I encounter challenges with my boys, I draw from my professional experiences and the hundreds of kids I’ve met over the years to solve those problems.

In my posts about parenting, I may give advice that you don’t agree with. That’s okay. I am just another mom who is trying to do the best I can for my kids, and if I find something that works for me, I’m eager to share it with others.

If you have a specific parenting or education question you’d like me to address, please leave a comment here or email me at katieolthoff (at) gmail (dot) com.

Small homes…

2012-02-09T16:17:00.001-06:00

I LOVE my new print from Etsy seller (and blogger) Amelia of Bright Sides Designs.

It hangs on the wall opposite my “spot” in the living room next to a picture of our house when it was built and a print depicting Charleston. I know that small homes have their challenges, but there are also many things to love!

Do you have a small home? If so, I’d love to hear what you love about it and what you’ve done to make it “work” for your family. I am working on a series of posts called “Love Your Little House” and I’m looking for 5 guest bloggers to contribute. Please comment or email me with your ideas and I will try to work you into the series!

Linking at Inspiration Friday, Sundae Scoop Link Party, Remodelaholic, Sunday Showcase

Help name this blog!

2012-02-07T18:30:00.001-06:00

Okay, folks…I’m planning a little blog update. Dropping the “.blogspot” and a new header. But I have a question and I’d like your honest input.

This sign has hung in the entryway of our house for a loooonnngg time. Like, 20-30 years. The creek really is called “Squaw Creek” and we call our farm Squaw Creek Farm. The name is kind of a nod to the past, and I want to honor that…

…but I know that the word “squaw” isn’t exactly politically correct. And I definitely don’t want to offend anyone.

So, I’m thinking about dropping the “squaw” and changing the name, but I’m kind of torn. What do you think?

I’m going to put a little poll on the side of the blog here, so that you can give your opinion anonymously. But I would love to hear your honest opinions and suggestions in the comments section.

Factory or Family?

2012-02-06T14:54:00.001-06:00

I have to admit, when we started farming, I didn’t realize that people considered our farm a “factory farm.” To me, it was (and still is) a family farm.

Yes, our buildings are large.

Yes, we have a lot of livestock.

Yes, we take advantage of the latest technology to ensure that our birds are comfortable and healthy.

Yes, the family farm looks different than it did 50 years ago.

But 98% of American farms are still family owned.

And really, do we look like a factory?

(Family photo courtesy Photography by Becca)

An email from Martha

2012-01-31T15:54:00.001-06:00

or, from her MS Living staff, anyway…

I emailed Martha Stewart regarding this issue over the weekend. Here’s what I said:

Dear Martha Stewart Living,
For years, I have looked to Martha Stewart for inspiration, so I was
very intrigued when one of my blog readers emailed me to tell me that
the February 2012 issue of Martha Stewart Living included a project
inspired by something I posted on my blog earlier this summer. I am
flattered that you liked my son's dresser enough to make your own
version, but I am very upset that I did not receive proper credit or
compensation for my original idea.

This afternoon, as I mentioned on Squaw Creek’s facebook page, I got a reply.

Dear Ms. Olthoff,
Thank you for contacting Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
We appreciate your interest in the Martha Stewart Omnimedia family of
publications.

We are in receipt of your email from January 30, 2012. We apologize that
you are upset at the article in our February issue of Martha Stewart
Living. We work on issues anywhere from 6 months to one year in advance.
Unfortunately, we do not have access to the files to see how/who/what
inspired the idea. However, we like to support our fellow crafters, and
we would be happy to give you an acknowledgement.
This issue should be posted live to our website sometime in the middle
of February. As such, we would like to offer to place the following
credit along with a link to your blog on the electronic version of the
article:

“Project inspired by Katie Olthoff of
www.onthebanksofsquawcreek.blogspot.com “

Please let us know if this accommodation is amenable to you.

Sincerely,
MSLO Customer Relations
customersupport@marthastewart.com

Yeah, Martha, I guess that would be alright.

Now, do you think I could get her to retract her little youtube message in which she portrays large farms as terrible places where animals are abused daily? Or maybe I’ll just invite her to read about how farm animals are truly treated on my blog and the blogs of my friends. :)

(And if you’re interested in finding out the REAL story about modern farming, check out the Real Farmwives of America and CommonGround.)

Sharing here:

Turn your “Can’ts” into “Cans”

2012-01-30T08:42:00.000-06:00

For many of us, our dreams are just that – dreams. We have a million reasons why they haven’t become our reality.

I dream, daily, of a beautiful, organized house with character, and built-ins and clever storage solutions. I have saved pictures for years – ripped them out of magazines, saved them to my computer, and lately, pinned them by the dozens to my pinterest boards. I spend hours thinking about how to make our home work the best and look the best for us.

Over the past few years, I have shared these ideas with my husband. And at first, he was totally on board. But the physical and mental exhaustion that comes from long hours of manual labor and stress of owning our own farm has kept him from carrying out all of my plans.

So, for awhile, I got frustrated. And then I got to work.

1. Barn Wood Shelves 2. Landing Zone 3. Pull Out Pantry Tutorial 4. Clean Laundry Closet 5. Bookshelf Dresser 6. Stuffed Animal Zoo

At this time last year, I had very limited experience with power tools, definitely not enough to be comfortable building something on my own. I wanted to learn to use our compound miter saw, so I did one of the things I do best - I googled it. I watched a video on youtube, read our manual online while sitting next to the unplugged saw, and prepared to make my first cut. I will admit, it was a little scary, because it was something new (and sharp and noisy) but I had my dad supervise a few cuts, and kept my trusty best friend Karen by my side for the first big project.

Now when I dream up something new, I KNOW that I can make it a reality. I may not have the necessary skills right now, but I can learn.

Lack of knowledge will no longer be one of my limitations!

Source: theglitterguide.tumblr.com via Katie on Pinterest

My friend, Kim, is also a great example of this. A few months ago, she made one of these for her husband, and when I asked if her red frame would “match her décor” she replied that they didn’t really HAVE any décor. Now, after discovering pinterest, she is hooked on making her house beautiful and functional.

She wanted to cover a basket with fabric, similar to what I did here, so she bought a glue gun, even though she had NEVER used one before. In fact, when I told her that I plugged it in the kitchen, she asked, “It has to be plugged in?” Lack of knowledge and experience with DIY was definitely one of her limitations, but she is NOT letting that stop her!

So what are your dreams? What are your limitations? Dreams of a beautiful house may be insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but they are an excellent example of how continual learning and willingness to try something new can help us do things we never thought possible.

Source: ieltsin30days.wordpress.com via Katie on Pinterest

*By the way, have you “liked” Squaw Creek on Facebook yet? If not, head on over!

Ballard to Barn Wood

2012-01-27T07:43:00.000-06:00

About two years ago, my dad and hubby helped me make these Ballard Designs inspired shelves for my kitchen.

(March 2010)

I loved using them to hold my everyday dishes.

(August 2011)

But this fall, they were feeling a bit too feminine. And since we hadn’t mounted them on studs, they were getting kind of wobbly. I was constantly in fear that my dishes would all come crashing down.

So I replaced them with two reclaimed wood shelves.

The wood is from my Great Grandpa’s barn, and I prepped it by sanding it smooth and brushing on 3 coats of polycrylic. I *thought* I took pictures of this process, but they seem to have disappeared. Sorry.

I screwed the shelf supports to the studs this time, and screwed the shelves to the supports. Those babies aren’t going anywhere!

In addition to my everyday dishes, these shelves are strong enough to hold some of my cookbooks and baking supplies and I’m still loving the dresser there.

Do you see the “new” turkey platter? Maybe someday I’ll get tired of collecting all things turkey, but not yet!

To see our total kitchen remodel, click here.

To see more barn wood projects, click here.

To see why I collect turkeys, click here.

Sharing at Saturday Night Special, Metamorphosis Monday , Serenity Now and The Girl Creative this week!

Well, they say…

2012-01-26T08:37:00.000-06:00

…imitation is the best form of flattery…

Martha Stewart Living February 2012, p. 54

On the Banks of Squaw Creek

July 14, 2011

So, I guess I’m pretty flattered!

Bart’s Word of the Year: Progress

2012-01-24T08:27:00.000-06:00

On New Year’s Eve, Bart and I put the kids to bed early, and spent the evening together in our living room. We talked about 2011, and made plans for 2012. We shared our goals and things that we hope to change. I told him about my word of the year, and he started to think about what his word might be.

After much discussion he landed on one word: Progress.

I think it’s the perfect word for him. Raising turkeys offers a lot of opportunities for progress and improvement. Every 2 months, we get a new flock, and I don’t think he’s “managed” or raised any two flocks exactly the same way. With each new flock comes a chance to tweak things that might increase energy efficiency, decrease stress on the turkeys, keep the barns cleaner and improve our farm in a variety of other ways. He is constantly trying to improve things…
…and constantly making progress.

3 things I learned on Thursday

2012-01-21T08:09:00.001-06:00

1. I need to buy laptop cords in bulk. My recliner ate the first last May. I bought one on ebay that lasted until November when it magically quit working. The one I bought in November died Thursday. I ordered 2 this time around.

2. When women get together, they all talk about the same things. Whether it's kindermusik moms, friends out for girls' night, or a bunch of farmwives volunteering for Common Ground, the conversation always includes: men, kids, weight loss/exercise, food, and shoes.

3. I met Emily, from Busy-Mommy.com on when she came to speak to our group of Common Ground volunteers. She is adorable, and so sweet! It was great to meet her!

Ground Turkey Tuesday: 10 ways to use it!

2012-01-17T05:46:00.000-06:00

Rounding up these recipes was much easier than rounding up the turkeys for load out. It turns out there are a TON of great ground turkey recipes out there.

These recipes will be great for the turkey breast we ground, browned and froze last week!

Ground Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers

from Po Boy Living Rich

These stuffed peppers look sooo good! I will definitely be making them later this year, when peppers are in season and aren’t so darn expensive!

Ground Turkey Enchiladas

from Audrey’s Spot

Enchiladas are on the menu this week! Can’t wait to try Audrey’s version.

Easy Haystack Dinner

From Sugar High

As I just explained to Adam, I’m not really a pea lover, but I’ve grown to tolerate them. Pretty sure, as long as you cover it in melted cheese, I’ll eat it! This would be so simple to throw together for hubby!

Ground Turkey Fajitas

from Brownie Bites

We use ground turkey in our “Mexican” meals a lot! Here is another great one!

Quinoa and Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

from Debbi Does Dinner Healthy

I’ve heard quinoa is really nutritious. Here is another stuffed pepper recipe that uses quinoa instead of rice.

Ground Turkey and Vegetable Casserole

from Audrey’s Spot

An easy casserole using stuffing mix…I love me some stuffing and turkey!

Spicy Tomato and Turkey Soup

From Iowa Girl Eats

This looks sooo good! I wonder if Iowa Girl knew that her turkey was probably local?

Bubble Up Enchilada Casserole

from Emily Bites

Emily has two versions of this casserole on her site. It uses the classic enchilada ingredients, but instead of tortillas, there are chunks of refrigerated biscuit dough thrown in. Yum, yum!

Ground Turkey Stroganoff

from Just the 4 of Us!

Doesn’t this look easy and delicious! And since there are noodles involved, the whole family will be happy!

Eatturkey.com

A quick search of the National Turkey Federation’s website brought up a kazillion ground turkey recipes!

For more turkey recipes, check out my pinterest board!

Sharing at Beyer Beware for Hunk of Meat Monday!

Word of the Year: Intentional

2012-01-16T06:48:00.000-06:00

I’m not sure where I first heard of this idea, but I love it. Instead of making New Years’ Resolutions, you choose a word that will guide you through the year.

Last year’s word was PRODUCTIVE. Fall of 2010, I had terrible morning sickness. I spent a few months just laying on the couch, and taking Benadryl to help me sleep through the nausea. In early 2011 (or maybe late 2010), my husband sat down and had a little talk with me. Basically, he told me that since the nausea was gone, the laziness needed to leave, too. He was very kind and gentle about it, but I cried and cried. Mostly because I knew that he was right. I was be lazy – and not because of morning sickness at that point – just because of habit.

So, I tried to be more PRODUCTIVE and I think I was. I kept my house a little cleaner, spent less time on the internet, and did some house projects that I’m pretty darn proud of. I (mostly) broke my bad habit of laziness.

Source: marykatemcdevitt.com via Katie on Pinterest

This year, I’m going to build on that. This year’s word is INTENTIONAL.

I pinned this a long time ago, and even shared it here, and I’ve continued to think about it almost daily.

Source: flickr.com via Katie on Pinterest

I realized that if I want to change anything – my habits, my home, my parenting, my body – I was going to have to be more INTENTIONAL about it. It’s not enough to say, “I’m going to start exercising.” Instead, I need to be more specific and intentional. “I’m going to do a workout video during Isaac’s morning nap on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”

Right now, I’m focusing on food (cooking it, eating it, planning meals, planning shopping,) exercise, and simply completing my to-do list.

So what’s your word for the year? One of my friends decided that her word is “simplify.” Another chose “progress.” Layla, from The Lettered Cottage, chose “up.” But if none of those sounds good to you, head over to TLC for “This Little Word of Mine.”

But first,

Source: femailcreations.com via Katie on Pinterest

(just kidding.)

Storage Solution: Clean Laundry Closet

2012-01-14T06:51:00.000-06:00

I have trouble keeping up with the laundry sometimes. I know I’m not the only one with this problem. It’s not so hard to get it washed and dried, but folding it and putting it away seems impossible – overwhelming, even. I know, I know…if I just folded each load as I took it out of the dryer, it would probably be no big deal. But for various reasons (disgusting basement laundry room, two little boys who need my attention every 30 seconds, etc.) that just doesn’t work around here.

But SOMETHING had to change.

So, after seeing a “laundry basket dresser” on pinterest, I developed a system. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly an improvement over the giant mountain of clean laundry on the dining room floor.

I used this empty closet in my still-barely-functional-not-yet-finished bathroom and constructed three simple shelves. I screwed a 1x2 into the studs on either side wall, and then set two 1x8s across the opening.

There is one shelf/basket for each family member. When the clothes come out of the dryer, I carry them upstairs and sort them into the right baskets.

(Bart’s closet is downstairs, so those his basket is combined with other downstairs items, like bibs and dish towels.)

Then, during bathtime, I can pull out one basket and fold it. Folding one family member’s laundry at a time prevents the “there were 17 different stacks of clean, folded clothes, until my baby/toddler/dog just knocked them over and now I have to start over” scenario.

Hanging clothes are put on the back of the door, and the occasional wrinkly shirt can be hung at the end of the shower curtain rod. Since farmer Bart takes a minimum of two showers a day, those wrinkles are steamed out in no time.

Adam’s basket is on the floor so that he can reach it easily himself. As he gets older, I fully expect HIM to take the full basket and put the contents where they go.

Like I said, it’s not a perfect system, but it’s keeping the clean clothes off the floor and making it much easier to find what we need. I still get behind sometimes, but concentrating on one basket at a time seems much less overwhelming.

Shared at: Whisperwood Cottage

Phrase of the Day Calendar

2012-01-13T19:08:00.000-06:00

Bart recently compared our Adam (3 1/2) to those “Word a Day” desk calendars. It seems like he has a new phrase every or vocabulary word every day. Here are some of our most recent favorites:

“Unfortunately, the tree got sick and had to be cut down.”

“What’s unfortunately mean?”

“It means the tree got sick and had to be cut down.”

“Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? I see a red bird looking at me.”

"In fact, it’s a cardinal.”

In a dejected tone of voice, “I can’t make up my mind. My mind is out of order.”

My fort doesn’t have enough room to hide my head, so I’m introducing a new way to build it.

“I have a collection of coconuts.”

“What?”

“A collection of coconuts. From the park the other day. For Isaac, in his stroller.”

“Pinecones?”

“Yeah! A collection of pinecones!”

“It’s not for babies. It’s for big-year-olds.”

Storage Solutions: Wrapping Station

2012-01-12T07:20:00.000-06:00

This cabinet in my living room has a secret.

The back side is home to all of my gift wrapping supplies.

The wrapping paper fits perfectly in a $4 Ikea plastic bag holder.

The rest of the supplies are in this inexpensive hanging organizer from Walmart.

Don’t have a cabinet that will work? How about the back of a door, or inside a closet? Your wrapping supplies will be close at hand whenever you need them!

Sharing this project at:

Miss Mustard Seed

Feature Yourself Friday

Serenity Now

Remodelaholic

Whisperwood Cottage

Sharing at Saturday Night Special this week!

(Ground) Turkey Tuesday

2012-01-10T06:03:00.000-06:00

Two weeks before a flock of turkeys goes to market, Bart has to take fat samples from a few of the birds. The samples are sent to the plant, where they are tested for food safety. The breast meat from those birds ends up in our freezer.

I love turkey breast in the crock pot, cooked on low for several hours. But, a couple of weeks ago, I found a meat grinder at Target on clearance – originally $100 but marked down to $30! I snatched it up and put it to work!

Bart and I spent about an hour grinding and browning about 16 lbs of lean turkey breast. We divided it into pint sized freezer bags and now it’s ready for supper at any time!

Got a favorite ground turkey recipe? I’d love to have you share it!

Iowa and the Caucuses: Two Things I Want You to Know

2012-01-04T09:51:00.001-06:00

#1. Your vote counts. EVERY vote counts. The Iowa Caucuses were won by 8 votes. EIGHT VOTES! Crazy

#2: Iowa has been described rather negatively in the national press lately, but THIS is the Iowa I know and LOVE.

Party Animals: 5 Tips for Surviving a Party with Youngsters

2012-01-02T20:53:00.001-06:00

(And a few Christmas pictures.)

We have successfully ~~survived~~ enjoyed 9 family gatherings this holiday season. We are blessed with large families who all live within a few minutes of us, and when you throw in a few important birthdays (Grandmas and little cousins), it makes for a VERY busy couple of weeks for a 3.5 year old, 9 month old and farmer who doesn’t get to take vacation days.

So tonight, while gearing up for two more birthday parties at the end of this week, I compiled a list of some tips I’ve learned in the past couple of years.

(Christmas Eve 2011 – Adam David, 3 1/2; Isaac Douglas, 9 months)

1. Potluck: bring something they like or feed them before you go. Adam is Picky (with a capital P.) For family Christmas #4, he helped me make peanut butter sandwiches, cut out with the new sandwich cutter that Santa brought. They were a huge hit, and kept him from having a hunger induced meltdown.

(Christmas #1 – thank goodness for the fruit, cheese and crackers!)

(Christmas #4 and the puzzle shaped PB sandwiches at the kids table.)

2. Make it work for your schedule. Don’t be shy about coming late or leaving early if the party interferes with naptime. Isaac goes with the flow, but some kids are extra sensitive to missing naps. Adam was that way. A missed nap or late night meant two or three days of cranky-ness. Don’t feel guilty if your child is also like that.

3. Prepare them in advance: tell them what to expect. Let them know who will be there and what events will be taking place. “FIRST, you need to eat something healthy, THEN we take family pictures and AFTER healthy food AND pictures, THEN you can have presents.

(Pictures with my parents and Grandma before presents and cake!)

4. Find a quiet place. Some little kiddos get overstimulated quickly. Help them find a quiet place to take a little break. I am not opposed to nursing in front of my family, but Isaac gets so distracted that we have to go find somewhere quiet (and preferably dark) in order to be successful. At birthday party #3, I went into the nursery and left the light off, and Isaac finally filled up his tummy.

(All he wanted from Santa was that darn toothbrush!)

5. And finally - Bribe them with whatever it takes. This is one of the few times that I think it’s okay to bribe. Won’t smile for the pictures? Mention the word “presents” and I bet they will! Cake and fudge also make great bribes.

Christmas Morning

(Don’t you love how Adam wrote Isaac?!?!)

Any other tips for making family gatherings and birthday parties go as smoothly as possible?

Top 10 Projects of 2011

2011-12-28T19:40:00.001-06:00

1. Storage Solution: Children’s Books

2. DIY Pull-Out Pantry Tutorial

3. Storage Solutions: Pretty Storage Bin Tutorial

4. Pinterest Project #7: The Zoo

5. The Siding and Windows: Before

(Wow, I REALLY need to update you on this project – This side of the house looks AMAZING and the rest will be finished in the spring!)

6. Pinterest Project #6: Tripod Lamp

7. Just hanging 'round

8. Switcheroo

9. Pinterest Project #2: Because it makes me smile

10. Mistreated Windows

Partying at:

Home Stories of A to Z

Southern Hospitality

Overflowing with Creativity

Fingerprints on the Fridge

A Little Knick Knack

Blooming Hydrangea

2011’s Digital Scrapbook

2011-12-28T09:05:00.001-06:00

Each year, I make a scrapbook for our parents and siblings through Creative Memories. The book showcases my favorite memories and photos from the year. This year was no exception. The only difference was that the book had twice the usual number of pages this time around!

Microwaving and Metaphors

2011-12-18T14:17:00.001-06:00

Adam and I spent a couple hours yesterday doing some holiday ~~baking~~ microwaving.

We started with some microwave fudge. This has been a holiday favorite of mine for several years, and couldn’t be easier! I use the microwave version of this recipe:

Source: eaglebrand.com via Katie on Pinterest

Then, we moved on to the microwave caramels, and Adam broke out some creative figurative language. He exclaimed that the Karo syrup looked just like a magnifying glass, and then a few minutes later, chanted, “We’re packing down a sand castle, we’re packing down a sand castle” while we measured the brown sugar.

Source: food.com via Katie on Pinterest

Last but not least, we made some almond bark pretzels. Our pretzels were Christmas tree shaped, and I had to laugh when Adam told me that “The trees are so pretty with their ice cubes on them!” Yes, Adam, the salt does look like mini ice cubes!

When all the yummies were done, we had a Christmas celebration for my mom’s family. It was a great night!

Merry Microwaving and Happy Holidays!

Five Favorite Things for Babies 0-6 Months

2011-12-13T18:53:00.001-06:00

(I started this post 2 1/2 months ago, and it’s been sitting in draft since then, but, with the holidays coming up, I thought I’d better get it posted!)

My baby Isaac is almost 7 8.5 months old, so I thought I’d do a round-up of some of my favorite things for everyone who might be expecting a baby or needing to buy a baby gift!

1. The Miracle Blanket. Love it. I used SwaddleMes with Adam, and they worked well, too, but the Miracle Blanket was even better. Totally worth it.

2. Bumbo. With a tray. We used this all the time for both boys. Isaac loved sitting in it to watch his brother play. See?

3. Long-sleeved, white onesies. I love layering these under short-sleeved onesies. We get much more wear out of baby clothes this way, especially hand-me-downs, because they make short-sleevers work for any season! Walmart has some inexpensive ones – here’s one in action, underneath a short-sleeved jumper, modeled by Isaac and Great Grandma Ede.

4. “Shower Cap” style carseat covers. My talented mother-in-law made this one. It fits over the top of the infant carrier, and has kept both boys toasty warm when it’s cold out. The “shower cap” style is important…you are not supposed to use a cover that goes between the baby and the seat, or really put bulky coats on the kiddos in the carseat, either, so this is a great solution as long as you can still carry the baby in the seat! (This is modeled by Adam – we used it for both boys and it has held up great!)

5. The First Years Breast-flow BPA Free Bottles…mimics the real thing, inexpensive, and easy to clean! Bingo, bango, bongo!

What are your favorite things for 0-6 months? Anything I missed out on?

A Picture-less Post about Sleep Training

2011-12-01T15:13:00.001-06:00

This morning, while our preschoolers were in Kindermusik, a couple of the mommies and I were discussing sleep training. This is the message I just sent them via facebook.

“oh mylanta. I snuggled Isaac for nap. Put him in the crib. he woke up. Repeat.
So, I decided to do the sleep training I did with Adam. I'm waiting the intervals and going in to sooth, and he just starts crying again. I unplugged the monitor and am keeping myself busy with Adam downstairs.
Pray that I have the strength to make this work and that he falls asleep soon!”

When Adam was born, I was FIRMLY against any sort of cry-it-out. Fast forward 9 months, and I was working full time, and he was waking up 6-10 times PER NIGHT for the pacifier. At his 9 month check-up, his pediatrician told me we could do sleep training, or he may learn to sleep through the night in a couple of years.

I knew, deep in my heart, that I had to do the sleep training. I was literally running on empty. We had tried some “no-cry” solutions and I just didn’t have the energy or patience to make them work.

So, following a modified Ferber method, Adam cried. For almost 45 minutes. And then he slept. For 12 hours. Ah-mazing.

The next night, he cried…for 3 seconds, while we walked from his room to ours.

Of course, there were regressions, and we had repeat the process a few times over the next year or so. But overall, we were SO HAPPY that we decided to do it.

This time around, I knew it was probably just a matter of time before I’d get desperate enough to do it again. And I swore I’d do it before Isaac could stand in his crib – that just seemed to make it harder. He’s 8 months old now, and today’s nap was the straw that broke the camel’s back. And I’m so relieved to report, after less than 35 minutes of crying (interrupted every few minutes when I went in to sooth him) it’s done.

He’s asleep.

P.S. No hateful comments allowed ESPECIALLY if you’ve never gone 9+ months without sleep and/or a super, amazing, perfect mother, because I am NOT.

P.P.S. This is pictureless because I looked at all my sweet, smiley pictures of my boys and couldn’t bring myself to post one with such a depressing topic.

Two Lists for Turkey Tuesday

2011-11-29T04:46:00.000-06:00

We are headed to the Iowa Turkey Federation’s Winter Meeting today. After the meetings, there is a Vegas themed banquet to attend tonight. While packing for this little outing, I realized:

I do NOT own ANY Vegas-y jewelry.

Or Vegas-y shoes. I got rid of my fancy heels this summer after realizing I hadn’t worn them in 5 years.

And Vegas-y clothes? Fuggedaboutit. Unless you count the tote full of dance costumes from high school that I can’t part with.

(That’s me, second from the left, several years and two babies ago.)

The last time I painted my toenails was before Isaac was born. He was 8 months old yesterday.

I have two bottles of perfume. I bought them my junior year of college. They’re still half full.

We can’t check into our room until afternoon so I’m not sure where I’ll pump and/or store the milk until then.

This will be Bart’s first overnight away from the farm. We will be an hour away, and gone for about 30 hours. We will be leaving the turkeys in the capable hands of Josh, our FarmAssist (ant). This was him, hard at work in August. We are not leaving the boys with him, although he could probably handle it.

The success of this trip will determine whether we can ever venture farther from home. So here is my list of directions for Josh and the turkeys.

Absolutely NO equipment malfunctions allowed.

NO feed problems allowed – the appropriate amount must arrive on time and may NOT clog the feed lines.

NO severe weather allowed – wind, electricity outages, snow. Those things are not okay.

No overnight guests and no pay-per-view.

And finally, don’t lose the dog.

Win a CUTE Carhartt!

2011-10-17T05:56:00.000-05:00

Every farmer has a Carhartt, right?

But they usually look like this:

Now, I have my own, but it’s CUTE!

Carhartt provided me with this “Women’s Sherpa Sweat Jacket” to review and I LOVE IT!

It’s super soft, sweatshirt material, and I have worn it everywhere this fall. In fact, my friends have posted 3 pictures of me in the jacket on Facebook recently:

On a hayride with my boys…

Adam’s friend Tanner’s birthday party…

I’ve worn it to work, Kindermusik, the turkey barns, and even church! (Seriously, a Carhartt at church!)

Here are a couple more pictures of me wearing it, just to show you how adorable it is. (Adorable Carhartt? Never thought I’d say that!)

Now, the important part – to win a Carhartt of your own, visit www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com to sign up for their giveaway.

Carhartt did provide me with this product to review but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own. Honestly, when I was approached with this offer, I was SO EXCITED, and they did not disappoint!

FAMILY Rooms

2011-10-13T19:12:00.001-05:00

I’ve come to terms with the fact that my living room will ALWAYS have at least one toy, stray sock, or sippy cup where it doesn’t belong.

And that’s okay.

Here are a few more family rooms where it truly seems as though EVERY member of the family is welcome – grown-ups AND kids!

I love the storage along the wall in this room, and kid-friendly leather furniture. From www.iheartorganizing.com

This is not really a living room, but I love the colors used. The flooring looks like carpet tiles, which are great for kids. www.bhg.com

This is definitely a sophisticated space, but there are toys VISIBLE! I love it! From www.hgtv.com.

See that basket of toys in the bottom right of the photo? Plenty of floor space to play, and places to cuddle for movie night. www.beachhouseinthecity.blogspot.com

I love the mix of colors on the sofa, and the great family photo! My boys would love driving tractors all over that tile floor. www.kristendukephotography.com

The wall of storage is great, and the coffee table looks like it could double as a play table. From: www.theinspiredroom.net

The use of color in this room would help camouflage any wayward toys that happened to be left around. www.abodelove.blogspot.com

Do you have a family room that you love? What elements make it work for your family?

Momma's New Groove: How I Decided to Become a Stay at Home Mom

2011-09-23T11:38:00.003-05:00

You know that feeling, when you're just "in a groove?"

Life is going smoothly,
each day starts and ends with a smile,
you feel content
and blessed
and happy.

That was how I felt for most of the summer. I was in a groove.

Although there were moments that made me want to pull my hair out, I loved being home with my boys. We had a great routine established; one that included plenty of time for playing and cuddling.

As the summer came to a close, I started to get very anxious about returning to work. But I told myself to "put on my big girl panties" and get over it (or maybe that was a coworker who told me that.) LOTS of mommies work, and many, many women deal with the same struggles that I dealt with as a working mom. Plus, I only teach part time, so I should count my blessings, right?

Then, the week before school started, I got my daycare contract. I love my in-home childcare provider - seriously, love her. But stupid me, I had never actually added up how much it would cost for TWO boys instead of one. And when I compared those numbers to my paycheck, it was depressing. Really depressing.

And on the teachers' first day back, I was miserable. I just kept thinking, "Why am I here? Why am I away from my boys?" I like teaching, I really do, but I like being with my boys more. I racked my brain trying to think of a way that working part time really benefited me or my family. Of course, there were some small benefits, but none of them seemed worth it.

By noon that first day, I was talking to my principal about it. She was very understanding - she had stayed home when her boys were little, too. I went home and talked to my husband, family, some close friends, and God, and woke up the next morning absolutely sure that I needed to resign.

So, the day before school started, I submitted my resignation.

The timing was terribly awkward, and really unheard of around here. My contract (and conscience) said that I had to stay until a suitable replacement was found and after the school board meeting Wednesday night, the search for a new TAG teacher can officially begin.

It's really a bittersweet time for me. I have been teaching as I normally would, and there have definitely been moments of joy at school. Like I said, I like teaching. I will miss my students, their families, my coworkers, and the community I've come to know over the past few years.

But I can. not. wait. to get back into the groove.

Top 6 Things I should Blog about (but haven't.)

2011-09-19T10:21:00.000-05:00

6. My new method of putting away laundry

5. Recent home decor bargains - a TV console for $30, lamps for $4 each, $25 headboard, $12 mirror, etc. etc...

4. How I limit the amount of time my preschooler spends watching TV and keep him from having a fit about it.

3. Five Dollar Footlongs

2. A siding and windows update

1. Love for Leontien
(Leontien is a fellow blogger and farmer. She is a cancer survivor, but is now fighting for the second time. Please head over and show her some support - we are trying to flood her with positive thoughts and prayers. www.fourleafclovertalesdairy.blogspot.com OR http://www.facebook.com/LoveForLeontien)

All Things Bright and Beautiful

2011-09-07T08:49:00.002-05:00

Hi friendly readers,

I'm posting at All Things Bright and Beautiful today, as part of Aubrey's "How to Make Your Home Your Own" series.

Come check it out and see how I filled my $50 Craigslist cabinet!

A place for lists

2011-09-04T15:27:00.000-05:00

(Alternate Title: Did you know you can write on glass with a dry-erase marker?)

The other day, I was feeling totally overwhelmed by my to-do list.

It was long.

And time was short.

And believe it or not, I couldn't even FIND the darn thing. I had a mental list going, but I couldn't prioritize it or choose a task to complete without seeing a hard copy. So, I did what any busy gal would do - a quick project.

Supplies:

A picture frame with glass (8x13 bought 1/2 off at Hobby Lobby)

Something to put in the frame like paper or fabric (I used two fabric placemats that I've had forever)

Something to hang the frame with (drill, drywall anchor and screw)

Dry erase marker

Procedure:

I tied a little ribbon between the two hangars on the back. I did NOT want to mess around with putting two (four) holes in the wall in exactly the right places, so this was much easier.

I taped the placemats in the frame, without cutting them to size, because heaven forbid I do anything permanent.

Tip: When choosing a backing fabric or paper, choose something LIGHT and simple. This gray ticking stripe was just too dark.

Cream, tone-on-tone striped placemat = MUCH better.

Finally, I hung these using my drill, screws and anchors. Since I knew they'd get touched a lot, I wanted them hung securely. I'm thinking about writing a tutorial on hanging things, after I google it to make sure I'm doing it correctly.

I put them on the wall right off the kitchen, leading to the stairway and bathroom, where I would see them a million times a day.

Now, I just need to come up with a great place to keep the marker. Suggestions?

The Siding and Windows: Before

2011-09-02T11:09:00.002-05:00

I've been looking forward to this for a looong time.

If you follow Squaw Creek on Facebook, you know what I'm talking about.

Our long-awaited siding project has begun!

Our house was built in 1907/1908 and still has the original wood siding. Unfortunately, over the years, the wood has deteriorated and is in pretty bad condition.

How bad? Well...

When we began remodeling the living room in 2008, we found a vine growing up the wall to the 2nd story.

When we removed the kitchen cabinets, we could see daylight in places.

When the wind blows from the north in the winter we can feel cold air coming up through the floorboards on the 2nd floor.

And then there are the windows:

When the kitchen windows were replaced, these two side-by-side windows weren't even the same size!

Hey - recognize that tripod lamp?

When the wind blows from the east during storms, the curtains in Adam's room actually sway in the breeze.

And the original windows in the living room and dining room are drafty enough to refrigerate our house.

But I am happy to report that the beginning of the end (of cold drafts and ugly exteriors) is here. Stay tuned for more details and updates as the work progresses!

Shared at
Funky Junk Interior's Saturday Night Special
Metamorphosis Monday

An Inbitation

2011-08-31T15:51:00.000-05:00

"Do you know what inbite means? It means you inbite someone to bisit you."

(That stunningly intellectual definition is courtesy of Adam.)

Today, I'd like to extend an inbitation to bisit someone other than myself.

First up, Erin from His & Hers. She is hilarious and has a fresh, fun decorating style. I hearby declare her blog to be the next Young House Love. Plus, her house is oooold, like older-than-mine old.

Next, another old house, tight budget, and great sense of humor. The Kiefer Cottage desperately needs followers, so they can get some sponsors, so they can buy some wickedly expensive Anthropology wallpaper to cover some of the wood paneling in their house. (And if you know the same Kiefer family that I know, you will do a double take when you see Starr's picture. She looks like a long lost sister!) Here's a lovely before picture to show you what they're dealing with.

Finally, Aubrey from All Things Bright and Beautiful deserves a shout-out because she leaves the most "bright and beautiful" comments. Seriously, this gal is the BEST follower. She also has a wonderful blog full of eye candy.

http://loveallthingsbrightandbeautiful.blogspot.com/

So there ya go. Even better than inbiting myself over to your house, I inbited you to someone else's!

Just hanging 'round

2011-08-28T15:25:00.000-05:00

I've been working hard to organize a "landing zone" for our home, which is why I recently moved this dresser to accommodate our shoes.

And when I saw this picture on Pinterest, I knew I could (kind of) replicate it.

Source: remodelingguy.net via Katie on Pinterest

And so, I gathered my supplies and my friend Anna (from Sometimes on Tuesdays) and I knocked this project out in about 15 minutes.

I used some of the original trim from one of our windows and some hooks I unscrewed from my closet.

After removing the loose paint off the trim with my favorite wire brush, I gave it a coat of polycrylic to seal any yuckies, and taught Anna how to use my drill driver.

We marked out where we wanted the hooks and predrilled the holes.

The crown molding had come loose, but that worked out to our advantage, as it was easier to screw in the hooks.

The hooks are identical to these, which I found on Etsy.

(Except mine were free because I found them in the closets.) The end is just like a screw, so you literally just twist them into the holes.

Then, we re-attached the crown molding with wood glue (not pictured, because I forgot to take a picture.)

And hung it on the wall at the bottom of the stairs. To hang it, we used holes that were already in the trim and they just happened to line up with studs. (Lucky us!) So, while Anna held it up, I drilled the wood screws into the wall.

And then I used a sharpie on the screws so they wouldn't be quite so noticeable.

I love the authentic character that the chippy-ness and leftover paint on the hooks provide.

And since I'm a sentimental kind of gal, the fact that I was able to reuse original elements of our house is kind of special, too.

(Plus, it meant that this was a FAH-REE project! We love free!)

To give you some perspective, this is what you see as you walk in our kitchen door...

...and the new coat hook is at the bottom of the stairs, inside the stairway.

So when I come home, dragging two boys and at least a purse and a diaper bag with me, I can, go ahead and kick my shoes off under the dresser, and then keep walking to hang my coat and drop my bags.

One more project (that helps create a bit softer landing) crossed off the list!

Shared at Metamorphosis Monday

Show off Your Cottage Monday

Wow Us Wednesdays

Saturday Night Special

Strength in Numbers: Wall Art

2011-08-26T19:19:00.001-05:00

I'm totally digging sets of coordinating wall art lately, like this:

Source: phoebehoward.net via Katie on Pinterest

And this:

Source: cotedetexas.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

And these, too:

Source: shelterness.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: thepaintedhive.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

So, you know me...I decided to DIY it.

But even after trying a million different frame color/mat combinations (seriously, my mom will vouch for me. Every time she came over it was different.) it still wasn't working for me.

I decided I needed two more frames/pictures. Except I couldn't decide which pictures to use. And then, this happened.

And I gave up. And finished painting the living room, instead.

And then hung something else there.

Yep, another project that I didn't even share before I replaced it. Are you seeing a trend?

I still totally love the pictures, so they will be finding a new home, somewhere...

By the way - do you follow Squaw Creek on Facebook? I just recently set up a page and I'd love to post some more updates, especially since the exterior siding project starts tomorrow!

Have a great weekend! I'll be busy spending time with my boys, and undoubtedly, switching up some more things at home while giddily watching the old siding come down!

Shared at:
Saturday Night Special

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2011/08/sunday-showcase-party-with-lucy-doo.html

Already Gone

2011-08-25T14:36:00.000-05:00

My sister in law was here the other night and said, "Jeez, you move furniture a lot!"

She wasn't even referring to the dresser in the kitchen. I'm not sure she even noticed that one.

It's true. I've said it before. I'm a chronic rearranger.

So here's a project that I haven't blogged about, but have already replaced with something new:

This little harlequin table was a $6 goodwill find about 5 years ago. I painted the harlequin, but when we moved, it didn't make it into this house. Karen and I dug it out of a shed and I decided to use it for an end table.

I used my handy wire brush/scraper thing (find it in the paint department) to scratch off the loose paint and give it some more chippy-ness.

Then, I cut some old barnwood from Great Grandpa's barn and applied a couple coats of polycrylic to seal the chipping paint and any other yucky things.

Finally, I placed the pieces of wood across the top of the table. I didn't even secure them, because I figured that if I left them loose, I could turn them over to the red side and maybe use the table in Adam's room someday, or even change it up for the holidays, if I wanted.

And we all know I love change! So much so that I didn't really even get the table accessorized before moving it out of the way to make room for a new one that I found a couple weeks ago. It was cute while it lasted, though, right?

Shared at Remodelaholic
Frugal Friday
Furniture Feature Friday

He thinks he's a firefighter...

2011-08-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

Washing machinery is pretty important around here. And it takes a lot of time.

So I guess it makes sense that Bart is teaching Adam how to do it.

I mean, that's the whole reason we keep having kids. We're trying to grow our own workforce.

And it's totally cool if he thinks he's putting out a fire, right? Right.

Empathy: Picture Books

2011-08-22T14:27:00.000-05:00

I'm kind of an expert on childrens' novels, but not so much on picture books. So I invited my new friend, Vanessa, to do a guest post on children's books that teach empathy. She has a great website devoted to childrens' books, Silly Eagle Books. (And for certain best friends born on another continent, she even has a couple book lists about Kenya!)

Books to Help Your Toddler Understand Emotions

Hi, I'm Vanessa from Silly Eagle Books. I write about children's books and how they inspire and influence my family's everyday life.I visit the library regularly and love using picture books to teach my two daughters. If you need a children's book about a particular subject--I can probably give you a few titles.So, when Katie asked me to share some of my favorite feelings books for toddlers, I jumped at the chance! Here are the ones I've enjoyed reading with my own daughter.

The Way I Feel by Janan Cain is probably my favorite. It covers a wide range of emotions and the illustrations are powerful. Even without being able to read the words, my daughter can feel the emotion depicted on each page.

When I Feel Sad (Way I Feel Books)I also like the Way I Feel books. There is a sad, angry, scared, and jealous book. Each one is dedicated to a single emotion and helps toddlers really understand all facets of the emotion.

A really great hands-on book/toy is Little Bear's Happy Face/Sad (First Book about Feelings) by Lynn Offerman. The book comes with four bear faces that your child can insert into a space (like a puzzle piece) in the book to match little teddy bear's emotion. (For example, when he falls off his bike, they can put the sad face in the spot.)My daughter enjoyed playing with the pieces and being actively involved in the story. It made it very easy to talk about the various emotions.

A few years ago, a friend of mine who has a child with Aspergers asked me if I could recommend a book about feelings with pictures of real children (as opposed to illustrations). She said her son could not relate to the illustrations, but that pictures of real children were what he needed.I found Everybody Has Feelings by Charles E. Avery--a beautiful collection of black and white photographs that depict the moods of children. I sent her the book and she said that it was perfect.

While searching the internet, I came across these Facial Expressions Learning Cards which look like another good source of images of real children. I also like that they are cards--which allows for more hands-on learning experiences with your child.

Todd Parr Feelings Flash Cards are another option if you like illustrated images. (Added by Katie: I totally love Todd Parr's illustrations!)

Everyone loves smiley faces, but kids can also have fun exploring emotions other than happiness with this I Feel Stamp Kit from Alex Toys.If you are really feeling crafty, you can make these funny faces feeling eggs from Happy Together. I've had them on my to-make list forever.

What about you? What are your favorite books, toys, or crafts to help your child understand emotions?

Happy Saturday

2011-08-20T09:26:00.001-05:00

(Source: Pinterest)

Busy

2011-08-16T12:51:00.001-05:00

This week is busy.

Baby turkeys come tomorrow, which means extra long days for Bart as he cares for the "little fellows."

He also has to take fat samples this week because we have another flock almost ready for market. This means he kills 6 turkeys and sends fat samples to the processing plant to be tested for safety. And then we clean the turkeys and fill the freezer with lean turkey breast.

In addition to the busy-ness on the farm, I have to go back to work tomorrow. Most years, I'm excited for school to start, but I'm having trouble finding the silver lining this year. I have gotten into a groove at home and I'm not looking forward to interrupting that.

Although my boys drive me crazy at times, I enjoy having more flexible time to spend with them, instead of the hectic, trying-to-get-everything-done-after-work evenings that are coming up.

We (Adam, Isaac and I) have been sleeping 9PM to 9AM pretty consistently this summer and spending at least half the day in our jammies. Wish us luck as we try to get out the door by 7AM tomorrow, without Bart's help, since he'll be unloading turkeys. At least I only have to do it 3 times a week, since I only teach part time.

I obviously had some funky camera settings going on, but look at those blue eyes!

Here's hoping everything goes smoothly and this week turns out to be less stressful than we are anticipating!

Switcheroo

2011-08-15T08:26:00.001-05:00

I'm always trying to make things better. I see (imagine?) problems where others see none. And I like to try different solutions to these (imaginary?) problems.

Case in point:

This is what you would have seen if you had entered our kitchen anytime in the past two years.

Since it was right inside the door, we kept our shoes in there, but most of the time, the shoes lived in a pile on the floor instead. It was just too much work to open those doors.

And that pile of shoes (and hubby's "inside" clothes after working on the farm) were always right in the way when you came from the dining room into the kitchen.

So after a game of musical furniture the other day, the black cabinet was replaced with this white dresser.

The dresser is open at the bottom, meaning that we can kick off our shoes underneath it. Let's face it, when you are carrying in an infant seat, dragging a preschooler behind you, and are met by a ferocious, barking shih-tzu, you're not about to bend over and open a door to put your shoes away. Kicking them off works much better!

When under-the-dresser gets too full, the shoes go into the drawers, which Adam (preschooler) can open himself.

There you have it. Another beautiful storage solution to a not-so-beautiful problem!

Linking to:
Piece of Work Wednesday at Primitive and Proper

Freckled Laundry Kitchen Party

Empathy: The Fast Food Rule

2011-08-12T10:42:00.000-05:00

**This post is part of a series I've been doing on empathy. For other posts on how to show empathy and teach your children empathy, click here.**

I read The Happiest Toddler on the Block about a year and a half ago. One of the strategies that Dr. Karp suggests is the "Fast Food Rule." It's very similar to the "empathy reflex" that I wrote about here. The Fast Food Rule works like this: if someone is upset, let them speak first, repeat back their feelings, and they say your piece. It's similar to the employee at the fast food drive through. You order, they repeat your order, THEN they tell you the total price.

So this FFR is meant for toddlers, but I have found that it works well on my husband (shhh...don't tell him!) and also my students.

Here is a typical conversation with one of my students.

Student (in a whiny voice): Ugh. This is hard. I don't want to do it.
Mrs. O (in a stern voice): Well, you have to, so get to work.

But here's how the conversation went when I used the FFR.

Student (in a whiny voice): Ugh. This is hard. I don't want to do it.
Mrs. O (in an understanding voice): I know it seems hard right now. But I will help you through it and by the end of the assignment, it won't be so hard.
Student (staring at me like I'm an alien before hesitantly answering): Okay.

How easy was that!?!?! And then, the student sat and worked quietly for 40 minutes. FORTY minutes! That's literally 10 times as long as he normally works quietly!!! I did help with a few problems, but I never had to redirect his attention or deal with any other complaints!

Have you tried the Fast Food Rule or Empathy Reflex? How did it work for you? Any tips or suggestions?

Reader Feature: Pinterest Projects

2011-08-11T09:30:00.006-05:00

Good morning!

Today I've got a couple of projects sent by my readers (and friends) to share!

Tati shares my addiction to Pinterest and she emailed me this fabulous organization project she took on. She pinned this:

And then tackled her medicine cabinet.

Before

After

Looks amazing, doesn't it? Tati came over and deep cleaned my kitchen right before Isaac was born. Maybe I'll have another baby so I can get her to do my medicine cabinet. :)

Another reader/friend, Kim, made the World's Greatest Dad art for her husband, too. With three kids, it worked well to have one for each letter, but it was definitely a challenge to get good pictures of all three of them!

Nevertheless, I think it turned out GREAT!

If you have something you'd like me to share, leave a comment or send me an email!

Planking

2011-08-10T09:21:00.006-05:00

Apparently, it's all the rage.

My brother

(Photo stolen from Karl Effertz via Facebook.)

Isaac

Adam

Sharing at:
Pinke Post
Live and Love Out Loud
Dagmar's Momsense

Turkey Tuesday: Food, Inc.

2011-08-09T09:39:00.001-05:00

I finally watched it.

And then I read the American Agriwomen's response.

And in a facebook conversation about the movie and article I read, I was asked, "How do you know what to believe?"

Here is my reply:
I know what you mean. There's info coming from everywhere. I feel comfortable in my beliefs and choices because I've seen many parts of the "food system" firsthand. I've met many of farmers and seen their farms, I've met the vets, researchers, government decision/policy makers, local and national ag leaders, and the board members from the processing plant where our turkey goes. These are all real people, who really feed their families the same food that I do. They are doing what they do because they believe in it, not because it's a quick way to get rich (trust me, it's NOT.) They make decisions taking a LOT of things into consideration, but the main goal is a safe, affordable, abundant food supply. I completely support food choice - you can buy and feed your family whatever you'd like - but I do NOT think that our current "food system" is bad.

Real Farmwives

2011-08-08T10:37:00.002-05:00

I'm showcasing some of my favorite projects over at Real Farmwives of America today.

The Real Farmwives website is FULL of recipes from cooks that are much better than me, so go check them out!

Wordless Wednesday: No bootable device

2011-08-03T09:21:00.001-05:00

I've been told this means that my harddrive has crashed.

Rats.

Pinterest Project #7: The Zoo

2011-08-02T05:09:00.001-05:00

I had been looking for a fun way to store and display Adam’s “friends” when I saw this on pinterest:

Source: littlezookeepers.com via Katie on Pinterest

I used this old, narrow bookshelf behind Adam’s door to make a zoo for all of his animals.

(The wood splintered on the bottom side of the shelves…not really sure how to avoid that. Anyone know? Also, I used a 1/2 inch drill bit and 1/2 in dowels, and then used my dustbuster as a makeshift mallet to hammer the dowels in. I would DEFINITELY make a larger hole next time as these were a really tight fit. The cage “bars” were 5 inches apart, except for the middle two, which were 4. This distance seems to work pretty well so far.)

We had a great time gathering the friends from around Adam’s room and reminiscing about each one as he found a “cage” for each of them.
Now all we need is a little “Zoo” sign (so it doesn’t look like we put his Cabbage Patch Kid in jail.)

Shared at:
Everything But the Kitchen Sink

Pinterest Project #6: Tripod Lamp

2011-08-01T09:47:00.002-05:00

Five or six years ago, I bought this tripod at the Salvation Army for $6.

Bart helped me convert it to a lamp using one of these kits from Lowes.

But we never actually used it in our décor. The chrome and teal, while very cool and retro, just didn’t fit. We never had a good place for it, so we used it as a work light in whichever room we were remodeling.

But after seeing many tripod lamps on Pinterest, I decided to make it work for me! I painted the hardware glossy cream, and then brushed a peach color on the legs and “trunk.” Finally, I watered down some Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint in Old White and used it as a wash on top of the peach. The shade came from Walmart.

I love it in the living room. It adds interest and texture, but doesn’t scream LOOK AT ME (like that metal A does…thinking I should move it.)

(Don’t you love how Adam saw the camera come out and decided to pose for it?)

And now, the Pinspiration:

Source: thepaintedhive.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

The music stand lamp comes from one of my favorite blogs: The Painted Hive. And here’s another DIY version:

Source: dailyimprint.blogspot.com via Sarah-Jane on Pinterest

Tomorrow is the big Pinterest Party and I’ve got one more GREAT project to reveal then!

Shared at:
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Dittle Dattle/Amaze Me Monday
Farmhouse Friday

Pinterest Project #5

2011-07-31T03:59:00.000-05:00

I’m sharing another book related storage solution over at Silly Eagle Books today!

Here’s a little teaser…

Pretty easy project that keeps those wonderful picture books in line!

Pinterest Project #4: Quick Kids Ideas

2011-07-30T14:51:00.001-05:00

These are so quick and easy that they can’t really be considered “projects.” But I thought they were both great ideas!

1. Use a muffin cup to catch popsicle drips.

(See Adam’s thumb? He was trying to cover the lens. He was tired of the picture taking.)

Source: realsimple.com via Katie on Pinterest

2. Make SPONGEBALLS. These would be really fun outside, but it’s too darn hot out there. Plus, my kids needed a bath.

I just cut up some cheap sponges and tied the pieces together. They make great loofahs.

Isn’t that baby adorable? Four months old already!

Source: houseofhepworths.com via Katie on Pinterest

Now, would someone PLEASE pin “Katie, go clean your house” so that maybe I would do it? Notice I said “maybe.” I don’t do things that require too much effort.

Tomorrow my Pinterest Project will be at Silly Eagle Books – a children’s book blog. See you there!

Pinterest Project #3: World’s Greatest Dad

2011-07-29T09:44:00.001-05:00

I made this:

After I pinned this:

Source: father.tipjunkie.com via Katie on Pinterest

I cut the letters out of barnwood from my Great Grandpa’s barn, using a jigsaw. Then, I took thousands (literally) of pictures of my boys, trying to get good ones. I don’t think the ones I got are fabulous, but they’ll do. Daddy was happy, and that’s all that matters!

I used Storybook Creator Plus to design my layout, and Memory Manager to edit the photos.

I also helped my friends, Kim, Anna and Katie, make this for their husbands, too! They turned out adorably! Here is Anna’s:

She said her husband loves black and white pictures, and doing the spot color was a great way to zero in on the letters, instead of the colorful toys in the sand box. The spot color is VERY easy in Memory Manager.

Keep this one in mind for next Father’s Day!

Shared at:

Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge

Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming

Pinterest Project #2: Because it makes me smile

2011-07-28T13:27:00.002-05:00

I organized my bookshelves like this:

After pinning these:

Source: ishandchi.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Katie on Pinterest

This works because:
a) I’m a pretty visual person. How many times do you look for a book based on what color the cover is? Really, name a children’s book, and I bet I can tell you what color to look for on my school bookshelves. Mr. Popper’s Penguins? Blue. Laura Ingalls Wilder set? Light yellow. That book about the 6+ Traits of Writing? Dark, purplish navy.

.
b) I don’t have a meeellion books. I DO think this could work in my classroom, but probably not a real library.

c) We aren’t using these books constantly. I don’t think I could organize Adam’s books this way because those are constantly coming off the shelf and being put back on. These books sit still.

The shelves are in our upstairs hallway, so you can see our railing in some of the pictures.

They are actually antique colonnades that were probably used as room dividers and had columns on top and doors on the front. See the dark square on top where the column would have been? I got them both for $50.

We actually used them to divide our living and dining room in our first house. The back has gorgeous paneling/trim, but we have no where to display them (showing both sides) in this house.

And one last scary picture – we took the trim off this window this week to get a really accurate measurement. The window has been ordered and as soon as it comes in, it will be replaced and the siding will begin! In my dreams, this window will be a doorway to our two story addition.

Want to join in on the Pinterest fun? Let me know and I’ll send you an invitation!
Shared at:
Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple
Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge
Dittle Dattle/Amaze Me Monday
Farmhouse Friday

What (p)Inspires you?

2011-07-27T16:11:00.001-05:00

Have you heard about the Pinterest Challenge? I am so excited!!!

Basically, find something that inspires you on Pinterest, copy it and link it up next Tuesday!

The challenge was issued by Sherry of YoungHouseLove, Katie from Bower Power, EMILY HENDERSON, winner of Design Star on HGTV and host of Secrets of a Stylist, and Lana from Making a House A Home.

In honor of this challenge, I will be posting a Pinterest Project EVERYDAY until next Tuesday! I’ve already completed a few of them, and I have a couple more in the works.

Pinterest Project #1:

I pinned this:

Source: learning-to-b-me.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

And then built this (and look! Someone pinned it, too!)

Source: onthebanksofsquawcreek.blogspot.com via Tara on Pinterest

For more details on my pull-out pantry, click here.

Happy Pinning!

Turkey Tuesday: Grilling Recipe from A Latte with Ott, A

2011-07-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

This week’s Turkey Tuesday comes from A Latte with Ott, A. Amy is super knowledgeable about turkeys…she has a degree in Poultry Science! But that’s not all, she can cook them, too.

Over on Amy’s blog, you can check out her Iron Chef Challenges, and I’m really looking forward to Canning Week, which she hosts with Jen, from Mess Hall to Bistro. I might, maybe, if my garden ever produces something (other than weeds) try to join them in canning something this year!

(Jen also guest posted a turkey recipe for me. These girls know what they’re doing! That’s why I have THEM doing the recipe posts instead of me.)

Without further ado, here’s Amy:

We spend a lot of time outside in the summer months and therefore eat outside a lot too. It's not uncommon for us to fix our entire evening meal on the grill. We start with the meat and a vegetable and then end up with fruit. It taste great and allows us to enjoy the outdoors even more. This past weekend I was at the grocery store picking up some supplies and had this great idea to try grilling Turkey Breast. While we grill a lot of different varieties of meat around here; we had never grilled Turkey. I picked out a 1 pound package of sliced Turkey Breast that were about a half inch thick. I then thought of flavors that paired well with turkey and of course thanksgiving side dishes such as stuffing and cranberries came to mind. By the time I got home from the store my mind was already swirling with the ingredients I wanted to use to make a marinade for this Turkey.

To start with I used a large ziplock bag and put my meat inside. Then in a small mixing bowl I mixed together the other ingredients. I then poured the ingredients over the meat, sealed the bag and let it sit in the refrigerator for 4-8 hours.

(Here is a handy recipe card for you to click on and print out for yourself.)

When I was ready to grill I took the meat out of the ziplock bag and placed on my preheated grill. As the meat cooked I continued to baste the meat with the remaining marinade.

My husband, Ott, E, really liked how easy the Turkey cooked on the grill (in fact he liked cooking it better than chicken breast because the slices of breast meat cooked evenly throughout.) I liked the way the ginger, cinnamon and onion powder complimented the cranberries and blended in nicely with the subtle natural flavors of the turkey.

So the next time you're looking for something hOTT off the grill; try Turkey Breast as I think your family will like this new dinner option.

Shared with:

Mess Hall to Bistro for Made From Scratch Tuesday

Dr. Laura’s Tasty Tuesday at Who Is Laura?

Delectable Tuesday at Home Sweet Farm

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace

Sale! Sale! Sale!!

2011-07-25T10:59:00.001-05:00

Creative Memories is having an awesome sale right now!

Digital customers – see that $10 off hardcover storybooks? It includes product credits! So even if you aren’t ready to print your book right away, buy the product credit at a discount and use it when you’re ready. (The product credit is like pre-paying for your book.)

And see that Tag maker? It’s like, my favorite thing ever. I also ordered the circle punch so I can make one of these:

Source: etsy.com via Katie on Pinterest

Happy Shopping!

Julie’s Place: A Garden Tour

2011-07-24T16:29:00.002-05:00

My friend Julie is pretty awesome. I’ve known her for 4 years, and she’s really been a mentor to me over that time. She’s given me advice on everything from teaching, parenting, scrapbooking, gardening, marriage and just life in general. We even took a trip together last summer.

The other day, I was at her house, and as I drove down the lane, I decided I HAD to take some pictures to show you. Julie didn’t know I was going to do it, so you get a real life glimpse of her yard as it might look on the hottest day of the summer.
After miles of seeing this…

…you are greeted by this lane. Sigh. I can’t believe places like this exist in real life!

It reminds me of Anne of Green Gables, when Anne and Matthew are driving through the apple blossoms. Or Boone Hall Plantation.

You would think that’s as storybook-like as it comes, and then you see the geese crossing the lane to cool off in the pond.

Finally, through the trees, you can see this border

and then the house.

The beds surrounding the house are full of cozy little places to sit. No matter what time of day, you can find a shady spot to relax.

To the north of the house is the “shop.” It used to be a gift shop, but is now home to Julie’s Creative Memories business. It is, essentially a big craft studio/office.

Beyond that, a working farm!

And a working farmer…

To the south, a fenced in area for Julie’s twin grandsons. These are some lucky 4 year olds! Who would want to leave Grandma’s with a set-up like this?

And plenty of room for Julie to sit and watch them play.

Farther to the south, the farm pond:

And the lane is equally as beautiful driving from the house as driving towards it.

Hope you enjoyed Julie’s garden tour! I always do!

Shared at:
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle, Dattle
Farmhouse Friday

(P)Inspiration Station

2011-07-23T12:40:00.001-05:00

Via Pinterest

Source: mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: melledesign.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: urbanoutfitters.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: lucyina.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: thepeartreecottage.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: southernliving.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Visit me today

2011-07-21T23:00:00.001-05:00

at The Mustard Ceiling!

Elizabeth is hosting a series called The Summer Side of Life and I am so excited to be a part of it! I posted about our small town’s annual festival that we ~~survived~~ enjoyed last Saturday.

And if you don’t care to see pictures of my sweet boys, at least go over and see pictures of Elizabeth’s home. Don’t you love how romantic and dramatic this bedroom is? I love dark colors in bedrooms – so cozy!

Although she’s changed it since this picture was taken, I love the dining room like this. The giraffe print is so unexpected and fun.

And the “cloffice” is another of my favorite areas. (oh, how I wish I had decent closets, let alone an extra one to use as an office!)

But my absolute favorite part of her blog is Bam or Slam! Each week, she posts an inspiration photo or group of photos with something in common and we get to give our opinions. Last week, it was industrial style. (Which is a BAM! in my book!)

So head on over, say hi, and stay cool this weekend! Happy Friday!

Fruit Fly Death Traps

2011-07-21T08:01:00.000-05:00

Come on, fess up, please. I KNOW I’m not the only one with a fruit fly problem, right?

Here’s an easy, chemical free way to get rid of them.

Step 1: Remove their food sources. In my case, this means “clean the kitchen.” ugh. That’s definitely the worst part of this whole process.

Step 2: Put something sweet in a cup. Fruit flies like fruit (duh) but wine and spaghetti sauce also works.

Step 3: Saran wrap the top. Seal it tightly with a rubber band.

Step 4: POKE SOME HOLES. Little ones. With a toothpick or fork. The fruit flies will be able to get in, but not out.

Within 10 minutes, I’d caught my first victim. The next morning, the cups were full of fruit flies. I still have a few flying around the kitchen, so I sent those cups out with the trash and made a couple new ones.

If you have company coming over, put the cup in a pretty container way up high on top of your cabinets, and they’ll never know that you have a fruit-fly-death-trap in your kitchen.

If you’re kind of mean, like I am, you can use microwavable cups and kill the nasty bugs after you catch them. But they will get cooked to the side of your cup, possibly ruining it, so don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Shared at:

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Stories of AtoZ

Brotherly Love

2011-07-20T07:28:00.001-05:00

Linking up to Pinke Post for Wordless Wednesday!

Turkey Tuesday: Blast from Turkeys’ Past

2011-07-19T09:41:00.001-05:00

My husband’s family began raising turkeys in 1959. Fifty years later, we built our personal farm in 2009. I think it’s fascinating to see what has changed and what has stayed the same.

Feb. 67: The turkeys were brown.

Now: Our poults are yellow, and white as adults.

August 68 – the whole family working in the brooder.

Now - We still use cardboard rings to keep the poults close to the heat source, and we often do chores as a family, too! The stoves are still very similar and you can see the feeders that would be lowered when the turkeys got bigger.

June 1969- Grandpa’s turkeys were “on range.” For the first few weeks, they raised them in a shed, and then moved them out. They started 1,000 birds at a time, and only raised two flocks per year. They hoped to get all the turkeys to market before the first snow.

Now- We raise our turkeys in climate controlled barns. They are heated in the winter, and we do our best to cool them in the summer. We raise almost 6 flocks of 20,000 per year.

Here are some more old pictures, just for fun.

Grandpa Bob and his horse, Peg

Bob, 1949

Bart’s Dad, Dave on the wagon, and his uncle Brent in the window

The original house on Grandpa Bob’s farm. This is where my screen door came from.

Summer 1974 on Grandpa’s farm

Empathy: The Empathy Reflex

2011-07-17T09:20:00.001-05:00

Last week, I wrote about the importance of empathy and asked how you show or encourage empathy. Today I want to share with you a concept that serves two purposes:

1. It diffuses the situation at hand.

2. It helps children learn about their emotions.

John Medina, author of Brain Rules and Brain Rules for Baby, calls it the Empathy Reflex and says that it should be your first response to any emotional situation. This is how it works:

1. Describe the emotions you see in the other person.

2. Guess why they are feeling that way.

I’ve tried this with varying degrees of success. I think it takes some practice, at least for me. I tend to be a little judgemental/critical (people who know me know that might be an understatement) so this is definitely NOT a “reflex” for me yet. But an emotional 3 year old at home has given me plenty of opportunities to practice.

Adam: Mom, will you play gominoes with me?

Me: Sure, when I’m done feeding Isaac.

Adam cries or pouts.

Me: Oooh, You’re sad. Are you sad?

Adam: Uh-huh. (still crying.)

Me: I think you’re feeling jealous. Jealous is the feeling when you want Mommy or Daddy to play with you, but we’re taking care of Isaac. Are you feeling jealous?

Adam: Uh-huh. (starts to calm down a bit.)

At this point, I can try distracting him or suggesting something for him to do while he waits.

Although the empathy reflex does not always calm him, it certainly helps. I’ve used it with Adam, my husband and my students. It worked really well with one of my 6th graders.

But possibly even more important in the long run, Adam has just learned a label for his emotion. The first step to understanding others’ emotions is understanding your own. So helping children recognize their own disappointment, frustration, anger, excitement, fear and other strong emotions sets them up to identify the same emotions in others.

Try it and see what you think. Then come back and tell me how it worked. Did it work better with different people? Different emotions? Did it feel awkward or do you already react with some version of the empathy reflex?

Storage Solution: Children’s Books

2011-07-14T13:41:00.003-05:00

Well, it took almost a full year, but Adam’s dresser has gone from this:

to this:

I spent a good part of last summer/fall spray painting it and decided that I hate spray painting furniture. I also stained the top. And it’s been like that since February.
Then, I saw Ikea spice rack bookshelves all over the blogosphere and decided that I MUST HAVE SOME. So, I had my Karen pick up 10 before she came to visit.

They are only $4, but not available online. I saw them on ebay for the ridiculous price of $12. Karen just graduated from grad school, and I think she should get a part time job selling Ikea merchandise at an incredible markup on ebay, to help pay off her student loans. Don’t you think that’s a great idea?
Anyway, Karen snapped them together so quickly that I couldn’t even get a picture, and then I spray painted them to match the dresser.

And then came the hanging.
I decided to put them on the dresser because I’m a chronic furniture rearranger, so I didn’t want to do anything permanent on the walls, especially since I knew these wouldn’t be the easiest things to install.
So, I made a mark at 12 inch intervals up the side of the dresser. A foot seemed to be a good distance between the shelves. Almost all the books fit that way, and the ones that are a bit too tall are on the top shelf.
Then, it got tricky. The second screw had to be in exactly the right spot, or it wouldn’t work. After redoing 3 of the 4 shelves on one side, I got smart.
I measured the distance between the two hangers.

And marked it on my level with a piece of tape. (side note: it doesn’t do a lot of good to use a level when the front legs of the dresser are on the rug and the back legs are not. Oops.)

Then, I made the mark for the 2nd screw.
Next, I predrilled holes, using a drill bit that was slightly smaller than my screws. I used the 3/32nd one. And I used #6 1” wood screws (The #8s had too big of a head, FYI.)

Finally, I inserted the screws so they were still sticking out a bit and then popped the shelves on!

These 8 shelves don’t even hold half our books, but it makes it really easy for me to rotate them in and out, and Adam can find what he’s looking for really easily!

To see the whole transformation of the dresser from start to finish read:

Having Trouble

Never Again

Almost Done (that was in Feb.)

And for most posts on Adam’s room, click here.

Any other creative ideas for the other kazillion books we have? Please share!

Linking up at:
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell
Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Fridays
Perfectly Imperfect for All Things Furniture
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Fridays
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Fridays
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Fridays
The Shabby Nest for Frugal Friday
A Little Knick Knack for Everything but the Kitchen Sink
Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Remodelaholic for Remodelaholic’s Anonymous
Under the Table and Dreaming for Showcase Sunday
Primitive and Proper for Piece of Work Wednesday
Inspiration Board

This kid…

2011-07-13T13:29:00.001-05:00

yells “Cockadoodledoo!” when he wants to get out of bed.

has a smile that always cheers me up.

has a long list of delay tactics at bedtime.

is a loving, responsible brother.

knows all his capital letters.

loves to sing, but not for an audience.

has logical arguments for everything.

is shy in large groups.

yells, “It’s not fair!” “It’s not your fault!” “I’m uh owe kid (an old kid)” and “Today is a special day!” when he doesn’t get what he wants.

can be bribed with books.

made up his own swear word: benga.

doesn’t eat much meat.

won’t poop on the potty.

loves peanut butter sandwiches.

buckles the top of his seatbelt himself.

takes showers instead of baths.

has the most beautiful brown eyes.

would read 17 books at bedtime if we let him.

eats a lot of “shaky cheese” noodles.

is very particular about his socks matching his outfit.

tells us what to say. “Mom, say, ‘What am I doing?’”

answers a lot of questions with “pretty good.”

plays out realistic situations with his tractors, trucks and trains.

loves Pizza Ranch.

learned to count to 6 in Spanish from Dora and Diego.

asks “Why?” and “Why not?” a thousand times a day.

knows how to start the feed and water lines himself in the brooder house.

kisses toads.

dresses himself.

can sing most of the Iowa State Fight song.

skips j and k when singing the ABCs.

wears me out everyday.

makes me laugh everyday.

is 3 years old today!

This one’s for the birds!

2011-07-11T10:48:00.001-05:00

I witnessed a new phenomenon in my parents’ and inlaws’ backyards this spring – oranges.

Oranges don’t grow in Iowa.

And these weren’t whole oranges, anyway.

They were cut in half and most of the fruit was missing from the peel.

I asked my mother in law about it and she said she put them out there to attract orioles.

(source)

A few days later, I went over to my parents’ and my dad was on the computer googling “oriole feeder.”

Yep, my in laws and my parents were BOTH trying to attract orioles to their yards.

Then, as fate would have it, I got the opportunity to choose one free item from Perky Pet Feeders and I knew exactly what I wanted – an oriole feeder!

I chose the Opus Oriole Feeder for my dad for Father’s Day and he loved it!

If you would like to win a Copper Triple Tube Bird Feeder from Perky Pet Feeders, head over to the Real Farmwives of America & Friends Blog and sign up for the giveaway!

Perky Pet did provide me with this product to review, however the thoughts and opinions shared about this product on this blog are my own.

Intention

2011-07-08T08:23:00.001-05:00

Source: flickr.com via Katie on Pinterest

I intend to: eat better, finish projects, follow Adam’s schedule instead of trying to get him to follow mine, be more loving and less critical, clean more, do more.

The End (or The Beginning.)