Disheveled Mommy

Fives, Counting To and Counting By

2012-01-16T13:30:00.000-08:00

This week The Princess and I have been working on the number 5, as well as planting some basil for our kitchen window. We combined these two for a fun activity she loved. We're counting and learning about plants!

We went into the pantry, and grabbed some beans.

We used some pintos, chick peas, white beans, red beans, black beans and lentils. We also grabbed 3 paper towels and 6 snack-sized zip-lock bags. We cut the paper towels in half and the width was perfect for the bags. Folded into fourths, we lightly wet them and tucked them into the bags.

We counted together 5 of each bean, and put each group in a bag. We counted as we took them out of the container, into the bag, and as we lined them up in the bag. That was a lot of counting to 5.

Then, we hung them up and counted them in their bags- BY five. We talked about how each group of 5 added up to thirty, and how we saved time counting in fives.

We're also counting as we check them for sprouts and discuss how they are growing and the parts of the plant. This activity will last us weeks!


Lentils


Red beans


White beans


Chick peas


Pintos

Freezing Bacon

2012-01-12T14:16:00.000-08:00

Mmmmm.....bacon. Bacon on sale? DOUBLE Mmmm! A lot of the bacon we eat is chopped and used to flavor dishes, but we do enjoy the occasional fry up. I just snagged myself a 10 pound box of sliced bacon at 14.99. I didn't mind that some of it would probably end up ends and bits since we use a lot of that anyways. Even if it was 5 lbs of it, we would gladly use every bit! Many people avoid buying bacon in bulk because putting it up is such a hassle. You can't just throw the box into the freezer, it would be one giant clump. Here is how I put up our box of bacon.

First, you will need a box of waxed paper, your bacon, and about 15 minutes.
Start unrolling your waxed paper on a table or counter, fold over about 6-8 inches now, it will be a pain later.

Unroll a sizable amount, but do not tear off.

Start laying out slices of bacon at the crease. They don't have to be terribly far apart, but not touching.

When you get close to the roll of paper, you can begin folding, which will turn into rolling. Fold the flap you created earlier over those first couple slices. Fold the first slice over the second, and then fold again, then it will start to roll in on itself.

As you roll it up, unroll some fresh paper, keeping a continuous roll o'bacon. When you have rolled all your bacon, roll it in some more paper before you tear it off, tuck the ends (they'll kind of cover themselves...)and toss in the freezer. You can now use as little, or as much bacon as you wish from the roll. And hopefully, save money!

I also froze the bits and pieces, (NOT half the box surprisingly!)

I cut them up into bits with kitchen shears, and divided them up into snack-sized zip bags that I put into a labeled freezer bag. I also got a few bags of lovely snow-white fat to render. I see some bacon biscuits and cornbread in my near future! Yum!

Another Cute Find + a Mini Giveaway

2012-01-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

Remember when I blogged about finding some super cute shaped ice cube trays at Halloween time? This week I found another cute tray at Dollar General. Just in time for Valentine's day!

I got three...two for making ice...and one for crafts. They were a buck each, niiiice.

My first craft.....

Crayons!

I used my microwave to melt my crayon bits since I'm not really sure these cheapy trays are really silicone....I'd hate to melt them!

Each little "set" has a reds-pinks heart, an oranges-yellows heart, a greens heart, a blues heart, and a purples heart. They're a big hit at my house, and I can't wait to see what else I can make! (I'm thinking soaps!)

Followers of the Disheveled Mommy Facebook page may have noticed a new tab on the page. "Top Fans". Just a cute little way to acknowledge all the little comments and love you leave. This week, since I have an extra set of little heart crayons, I'm gonna pass them on! I'll check the "Top Fans" tab Saturday evening, and the follower who's sitting at #1 will be sent the set! (So, you must be following us on FB to participate...)

My Solution: Mini Glitter Jars

2012-01-04T19:03:00.000-08:00

My preschooler LOVES glitter. She also loves to glue glitter to paper. It's gorgeous, but because I don't want 7 jars of glitter on my floor, I have to dump it into piles of a manageable size for her. She hates that. She wants to shake it. I do not blame her.
Soooooo...I finally came up with a solution! Remember those make up jars I mentioned in the previous post? The ones I used for little watercolor pots? They were PERFECT for a bit of each colored glitter! And even better, they stacked up nicely in a little star-shaped bowl I had, so she can grab and put away this activity as needed. (Like when I'm cooking! Or scrubbing!) I put a little snap-shut container for glue in the bottom, that she can open, but it still shuts tight. The glue can be painted on the paper with a little brush, or q-tip. Now I'm thinking of other activities that can fit inside these bowls for her.

Homemade Fun: Watercolors

2012-01-02T21:43:00.000-08:00

She CAN blend!

Lately out little artist has fallen in love with watercolor painting. So, naturally, I googled to see if there was a way to make our own! TONS and TONS of hits. The most repeated recipe seems to be this one:

3 Tablespoons of baking soda
3 Tablespoons of corn starch
1 1/2 teaspoons corn syrup
3 Tablespoons white vinegar
Several drops of food coloring for each color made

Mix all but the coloring together. Wait for the fizzing to stop, and stir thoroughly. Poor into your chosen containers. I saw everything from ice cube trays, to plastic baby food cups, and craft-store mixing pallets. I chose to re-purpose some little jars I have washed for re-use that are from mineral make up I previously pressed into pallets. I've got several uses for these I'll be sharing as I remember to photograph them!

Next, have a little fun mixing in your colors. I noticed as mine dried that I should have taken into consideration that my containers were smaller than most others...and my extra drops of color rose to the top and impeded drying. I panicked for a quick moment, then ran and grabbed a few cotton balls. I barely touched them to the excess, and the wicked it right up! WHEW!

Let dry overnight, and enjoy.

And they even have handy lids! =-)

Freebie!: Red Bull 4 Pack

2012-01-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

Check out this link and fill out a couple forms (Declare your new years resolutions...) to get your free 4 pack of sugar free Red Bull. (YuM!)

Holidays on a Budget: Green and Frugal Wrappings

2011-12-13T10:30:00.000-08:00

Sometimes being frugal also means being green. When wrapping gifts this year, why not consider these eco and budget friendly ideas?

Newspapers. The old stand by. Black and white pages are chic, and comics are cute.
Maps. A great bonus if you use this colorful idea on a gift for someone you've traveled with. Those free maps at state welcome centers are great for this.
Scarves. Look in thrift stores and sales racks for a wrapping that will give twice.
Tote bags. They're totally cute and fashionable now-a-days, and the recipient gets a double-gift.
Paper bags. Unfold and use as-is, or get creative. The paper is a great canvas for stamps, paints, or even ink drawings.
Fabric. Same idea and wrapping style as the scarves, and thrift stores often have piles of it. What a cute way to wrap a gift for the crafter or seamstress in your life.

Holidays on a Budget: The Perfect Salt Dough

2011-12-12T13:50:00.000-08:00

Salt dough ornaments are great not only from a frugal standpoint, but they are a great activity for the kids.
There are many salt dough recipes out there, but this simple one, with no "weird" stuff added works wonders. The secret to a nice, smooth dough is remembering to knead it. Just because it isn't a dough you will be eating, many people overlook this step.

Mix together:

2 cups flour
1 cup table salt
1 cup (give or take a bit as needed) water

Knead until smooth an pliable. Cover and let sit for at least 10 minutes or until ready to use.

Roll to about 1/4th of an inch thick and cut with cookie cutters.

Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a 200 degree oven (lowest setting) for a few hours or until dry.

Paint, let dry, and glue hangers to the back.

Holidays on a Budget: Holiday Card Holder

2011-12-11T13:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a simple wreath for displaying your holiday cards. You only need a few items to make it, and it makes a great busy project for an older kid.

Begin with cutting an eleven-inch circle from some sturdy cardboard. You will also need a five-inch hole out of the center.

Next, cover this in some wrapping paper. Be sure to cut slits or notches in around the edges of the paper so it will cover the curves nicely.

Next, you can paint your clothespins, or cover them with the same paper. A coordinating paper would be nice too. To cover the pins cleanly, apply your glue, and press to the backside of your paper. You'll want to use a piece of paper bigger than your clothespins, and let them dry thoroughly before trimming the paper down. You can also coat with some Modge-Podge or similar coating for protection.

Arrange your 12 clothespins around your wreath. Secure with hot glue. You can also add some ribbon to the center to make it more wreath-like. (We did...) By the time your pins are filled with cards around the outer edge, the ribbon in the middle will be a nice touch.

Holidays on a Budget: Bauble Snow-Globes (Anthro-Inspired)

2011-12-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Silver-filled artsy snow-globes are all the rage this year. Simple but blingy, and can be used year-round. Ours don't feature jewelry, but instead good-quality silver spray paint gives trinkets a quirky touch.

First, you'll want to find a jar to use, size and shape is completely up to you. Just be sure to wash thoroughly and remove all traces of label. Don't forget the lid! I also spray painted the inside of the lid- but it was a waste of time, you cannot see it!

Gather your goodies. I saw some globes that had a bit of lace in them, so cute! I sprayed my lace with some clear coat to keep it stiff and in place under the water.I also used some mini-balls, a painted marble, a painted chess piece, and some painted twigs.

Start arranging your baubles on the inside of your lid. I used hot glue. Be sure to secure the bottoms and the tops of your balls so they stay in place when you add them to the jar. Especially the ones you "hang" from the twigs.

Fill your jar almost all the way with water, add a couple drops of glycerine, (optional, but it is supposed to make your glitter float better...) and your glitter of choice. Carefully lower your goodie-covered lid onto the jar. Glue with a waterproof glue before you screw it all the way on. Let cure. (I used a Goop-brand glue)

They even look cute upside down!

You can also cover the lid with some ribbon, it looks super-cute!

One thing is for sure, I need practice photographing them, but they are beautiful in real-life!

Holidays on a Budget: Saltine Toffee

2011-12-09T15:43:00.001-08:00

Here is another simple candy to share this Holiday Season.

Only 4 simple ingredients And you can find them all in your pantry, or on hand.

You will need:

a little more than 1 sleeve of saltine crackers
1 and 1/2 sticks of butter
1 and 1/2 cups of packed brown sugar
1 package chocolate chips

Line a half-sheet pan with foil and non-stick spray. I also like to add parchment paper, but I keep the foil to protect the sides of the pan. I just got a shiny new pan. I'd like it to stay that way. ;-)

Preheat your oven to 350.

Lay out your crackers.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt together the butter and the brown sugar. Let come to a boil.

Pour over your crackers and smooth out with a spatula.

Bake for 5-7 minutes until the whole thing is bubbling like crazy throughout.

Remove from the oven and let sit for about a minute. Sprinkle with the chips and let sit for another minute.

Spread with an offset spatula.

Chill in your fridge for about 45 minutes or until set. Break into chunks.

Holidays on a Budget: No Fail "Fudge"

2011-12-08T15:52:00.001-08:00

This is seriously the EASIEST candy recipe you will ever see. So tasty, and perfect for a choco-craving or a holiday gift.I like to toss a few pieces in my cookie tin gifts.

You will need

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk!)
splash of vanilla
4 Tablespoons butter
any mix-ins you wish (Nuts, marshmallows, fruits, etc...)

Grease a square glass pan. Have all your ingredients ready. I like to have my butter chopped in little teeny-tiny cubes. I even dump the vanilla with it so it is ready to toss in.

In a double boiler or very carefully in a microwave, melt together the chips and the milk.

Stir in the vanilla, and the bits of butter.

Quickly fold in your mix-ins: I like WELL DRAINED halved maraschino cherries, marshmallows, and chopped almonds- Rocky Road! (What I have pictured is pecans, so my little nut-sensitive one can have some. She doesn't react to pecans =-)

Spread out into your prepared pan, chill until set, and EAT!

Holidays on a Budget: Christmas Popcorn Balls

2011-12-07T12:52:00.001-08:00

These are an easy, but cheery treat for the Holidays.

Take 1 cup of light corn syrup and 1/2 cup of sugar, bring to hard boil. Add to this 1 small (3 oz.) box of dry Jello powder, in any flavor that is red. Mix very well. Pour over 5 quarts of popped pop corn. This mixture will be VERY VERY HOT. Let cool slightly. After greasing your hands, form balls the size you like, then wrap each one in saran wrap to keep fresh and soft.

Try experimenting with different colors...make some red and green ones...make some blue-raspberry ones for Hanukkah...the possibilities are endless- and yummy!

Holidays on a Budget: DIY Plastic Wreaths

2011-12-06T15:12:00.001-08:00

Looking for an easy, but time consuming craft to keep the kids busy? Or maybe just one that's durable? Then grab a wire clothes hanger, a couple of white trash bags and some scissors.

Bend (or is it unbend?) your hanger into a circle. Some people like to leave the hook on for hanging, but I clip that sucker off. I also covered the part where I twisted it back together with a little tape so no one would get scratched. I also totally forgot to take a picture of this.

Next, fold your trash bag(s) in half lengthwise until you have a controllable width to cut. Cut into inch-ish sections.

That paint in my thumbnail will just NOT go away!

Then, cut each strip into pieces about six inches long. (I got 8 with each strip.)

Now we'll tie our strips to our wire form. A billion hitch knots... I believe this one is called a Cow Hitch. I'm not sure exactly what words can describe this best, so yay pictures!
Make a U shape, lay under the wire. (You can do this holding it, but I can't hold it and take pictures.)

Bring your tails up over the wire, and through the loop.

Pull taught, and repeat. Fill your form.

Add some decorations, (yay hot glue!) and you're done. Simple for all your kiddos to do, but will keep them ridiculously busy all afternoon. Lovely.

I'm thinking about trying it with a green cheapy vinyl tablecloth for a green one!

Holidays on a Budget: Two Easy Bows

2011-12-05T15:07:00.001-08:00

Here are my two go-to bows for decorating everything from hair accessories, to wreaths, to just for hanging on the wall.

First, grab some ribbon, wired or unwired (but wired is easier for your first few...), about 4 times as long as you wish your bow to be. Fold it into fourths to mark or you can eyeball it, and trim the ends up later. Lay your ribbon top-side-down, there should be 3 marks, splitting your ribbon in fourths. Fold the two on the ends to the middle. Glue with a tiny amount of glue. Tacky glue, or if you're very light handed, a glue gun works best.

When you turn it over, it should look like this...

Flip it back over and adjust your tails.

Holding your bow lengthwise, fold the edges to meet in the center-back.

Then back forward, gathering the center. Pinch and sparingly glue in place.

Take a couple inches of your ribbon and fold the edges in to meet in the middle.

Use this to cover the center of the bow. (Propping up on your glue gun is optional...)

To make an easy double bow, grab some ribbon, and fold into thirds- but not evenly. The top bow will be the smallest, using the ribbon in the middle, then a bigger bow an inch or so bigger, then the ends will be about the same as the first bow. I'm sure there is some sort of math for figuring out how much ribbon you'll need for what size bow, but this isn't the place to go if you want math. I just eyeball it.

Repeat the fold-to-the-middle like with the bow above, but repeat!

Pinch and wrap the middle, puff your bow, and there you go!

Holidays on a Budget: Children's Clay Menorah

2011-12-04T13:05:00.001-08:00

Your children will love this craft project. They get to play with dough, and have their own little menorah that uses inexpensive birthday candles.

First, you'll want to make some salt dough. (Equal part salt and flour, slowly add boiling water until it is the right consistency. Knead until smooth.) We knew ours was going to be blue, so we tinted our dough so we wouldn't have to use as many coats of paint. Totally optional.

Grab a half-mommy-sized handful, or a kiddo-sized handful of dough. Tear off about a thumb-sized piece and roll into a smooth ball. Press your ball into a stone-like shape. Set aside.

Take the rest of your dough and roll into a smooth snake, about six to eight inches long. We rounded our edges.

Carefully attach your stone shape to the middle. Then start laying out your holes. We started with the middle, then evenly spaced them working our way out. I marked the holes with a skewer, then widened them perfectly with a candle. (One in the center for the shamash, and four on each side.)

Let dry several days. We tried speeding it up with a low oven, but these pieces are so thick that they crack a little, use discretion.

Paint your little menorahs, and enjoy! I thought they looked a little like stone, very nice!

Holidays on a Budget: Cinnamon Votives

2011-12-03T12:17:00.001-08:00

I think I may be a little cinnamon-crazy this year. =-)

I've seen all sorts of stick-covered vases around the blog-world lately. Also little twig-covered votive holders. SO CUTE. But why not do that with cinnamon sticks? They're cheap if you grab a bag from the right section in the store. I got mine from the section with Mexican foods & spices, Tampico brand, but there are many brands. They were almost a dollar each, not too shabby. I grabbed two, but then I decided to cut my sticks in half so they'd lay flatter and release a lot of scent. So I ended up using one bag. Hmmmm...what to do with the other? (Cocoa?)

I gathered my supplies first so I wouldn't be running around with the hot glue gun plugged in. I had an audience, I didn't want curious hands to be tempted.

First, I trimmed the sticks to the right height with a small serrated knife. Hold firmly with your thumb, those suckers want to splinter. Save your splinters and ends to fill in any gaps.

I found the best way to halve the sticks was to slowly stab and prod down the length of them. On a magazine to protect your table, of course....

You don't have to halve them, but I liked the way they fitted. Plus it made my kitchen smell fantastic....

Start gluing and placing...

Oh no, a gap....

Gap?

If you get a little extra hanging on the bottom....or leave a lot to take a picture to show extra hanging on the bottom.... kitchen shears make easy work of trimming it.

Add a little ribbon, and clean up the extra glue....


Oops! missed some glue!

Holidays on a Budget: EASY Cardboard Snowflakes

2011-12-02T12:37:00.001-08:00

Cutting toilette paper tubes into rings is a quick and simple way for kids of all ages to whip up some quilling-like snowflakes for wall art or tree decoration. The finished product can be as simple, or as elaborate as you want.

Little ones can easily glue together some six-ringed flakes that are cute-as-a-button.

Try cutting the rings in half and bending them to make more interesting designs.

Glue them to the spaces between....

A little paint, maybe some glitter...and voila!

Holidays on a Budget: Cinnamon Ornaments

2011-12-01T11:28:00.000-08:00

Cinnamon ornaments are a classic Christmas activity. We've all made them in school, and I love making them at home. They fill the whole house with a seasonal scent even while kids are rolling and cutting out their precious works of art. If you use an oven to dry them out, even better!

To make the dough, start with a hefty amount of cinnamon. The 2 for $1.00 jars work great ;-)
Mix in spoonfuls of apple sauce until the dough is smooth, and thick enough to hold its shape. It should be a but firmer than cookie dough, kind of like pie dough.

Roll your dough out to 1/4 inch thick, and cut with cookie cutters.
Some helpful tips:

Dust with cinnamon to roll out, especially if a little sticky. Flour will lighten your ornaments/leave weird spots.
Lay down as many cutters as you can/will fit. Then use a spatula to help you transfer them to a cookie sheet to dry. This helps them keep their shape.

Too thick and they will take years to dry, too thin and they'll break like nothing. 1/4 inch seems to be just right.
You can dry in a VERY mild oven (lowest setting, or until your oven on light pops on), or air dry for a couple days.
If poking a hole in the top to hang, remember to do it before they start to dry!
Even though gingerpeople are the common shape for these because of their color and scent, other shapes are super cute too. We like stars too.

Let dry in the manner you prefer. Turn as needed, but try not to handle TOO much.
Decorate with white puffy paint "icing".

We like to glue our hangers on the back, rather than a ribbon through a hole. Both wire hangers and ribbons work nicely.

Holidays on a Budget: Advent Paper Chain

2011-11-30T11:20:00.001-08:00

Advent calendars are used in many households. I remember my Grandma bringing one candy-filled, beautifully illustrated calendar for each of us every year. She always bought them at the Exchange, and they were filled with tiny, delicious German chocolates. Mmmmmm.

Having a little one around, we've opted for a more visual countdown to Christmas, a paper chain. Easy to make, colorful, and economical. You can have each of the children make a chain for themselves, or like us, have one larger chain displayed. This year, instead of stapling our chain to the wall, I've made it look more like an intentional decoration. I whipped together an adorable "holder", that the chains can be hung on year after year, and gives them a bit of a more finished look.

First, I cut 3 bell shapes out of some thin cardboard. I used an empty cereal box. Recycling! Then I spray painted them with some gold paint. I only did the edges of the back two, and only just in case they peeked from behind the top layer. You can paint the brown, papery side for a flocked looking bell, and the smooth side that was the outside of the box for a shinier bell.
Then, I simply glued the layers together. Three seemed to be the perfect strength, as well as gave me the perfect arrangement for my ribbons. I hung one shorter length between the bottom and middle layers at the top. This was my hanging ribbon. Then, between the middle and the top layers, at the bottom, I glued a longer ribbon that the last link in the paper can be thread through before stapling shut. Placing the ribbons on different layers kept the cardboard from having a big gap, or big bulges.

Pecan Pie

2011-11-22T17:38:00.000-08:00

Recipe time again. Tonight I'm going to share with you our pecan pie, a favorite for Thanksgiving and any other special occasions. I've even been asked to make this instead of a birthday cake!

You will need:

3 eggs
1 C brown sugar. (The secret to a rich, crusty pie.)
1 C corn syrup. (The kind of corn syrup you use in your kitchen is not the same thing as HFCS, calm down. ;-) )
2 Tablespoons butter, melted. (NOT margarine, pie is not a time to count calories!)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 C total pecans, I like pieces because it will cut neater, but feel free to use whole for presentation if you wish.

Pre-heat oven to 350.
In a large mixing bowl, beat your 3 eggs. Then, mix in- in this order, the sugar, corn syrup, butter, vanilla, salt.
Fold in 1 1/2 C of pecans. Dump into your crust. TOP with the remaining 1/2 C pecans.

Bake for 1 hour, or until the center is juuuust set. If you need to, cover the edges of the crust with foil if they brown too fast.

That's it, super easy, super delicious pecan pie!

Daughter moves to "big city"

2011-11-22T16:47:00.001-08:00

Guest post written by my buddy Aldo Mays
My daughter is moving into the big city. Well, the South’s big city. Being from the rural part of Georgia, Atlanta feels like the biggest city in the world. Obviously there are a lot of bigger cities, but this is the biggest one close to my family. I am surprised she wanted to move there. In the country, there is always a feeling of peace and I have never felt in danger. The city seems like a completely different feel. I am worried about my daughter’s Atlanta Home Security. I worry about her house getting broken into or her coming home and someone being in the house. I am not a fan of this move and I am losing sleep over it. My little girl means the world to me and even though she is a grown adult and can make her own decisions, she will always be my little girl. I have always been there to protect her and now I am far away and helpless. I just wish she would not move there and I just wish she would stay close to home.

Liven Things Up With Houseplants

2011-11-21T11:34:00.001-08:00

Like so many homes during this gloomy-weather time of year, the Disheveled Household needs some livening up. What better way to brighten a room, or a whole house, than with house plants? A house plant can keep a little green, or a bit of color in your house when the skies outside are grey. The wind has ripped all the colorful leaves off the trees here already, so I was thinking bringing some colored plants inside would be nice. It'd also be a great way to keep your green thumb in shape while there's no plant tending to be done outside.

When choosing a houseplant, It is important to consider a lot of the same things you would when choosing a plant that will go outside. Your watering, location in the home you will put the plant, light, etc. You should always consult the plant's tagged information, the nursery/store employees, or do some research online, with an online plant guide. That is especially helpful if you live rural, like me, and are planning on possibly buying your plants online. I love the online option, not only for the convenience, but the wider variety it offers me. Many times you can find some very interesting plants that will thrive in your house that you just won't see locally.

Shout-Out Saturday: The Mama of Mojo

2011-11-19T17:36:00.001-08:00

This week, hop on over and visit my dear friend Kayla at The Mama of Mojo. From her make-up posts, to her updates on her ADORABLE boys, Kayla rocks my socks!

Thawing Out Your Turkey

2011-11-17T12:25:00.001-08:00

Here's a handy chart for approximate thawing times for turkey, by pound.
This is just a jumping off point, every bird, and refrigerator is different, and your times may slightly vary.


Times approximate

Remember to always store/thaw your raw meats on the bottom-most shelf, and in a protective container to prevent cross-contamination.