Toadstools

I love finding inspiration on walks! In fact, a lot of the crafts I've been working on this fall were either found in or inspired by nature. Here are some little toadstools I found begging to be re-created...somehow, someway (clay, felt?)! In the meantime, I'm sure they served as some comfy seats for fairies along the way. At least, that's what I told my girls!

Craft Shows!

I've been craft showing lately! Here's a bio I just posted for THIS upcoming craft show that I am really excied about:

http://www.notyourgrandmascraftfair.org/

Hi! My name is Melanie, and I have been crafting ever since I was allowed to hold scissors. I'm a hand-sewer and painter. I'm currently obsessed with heirloom quilts (some made with vintage fabrics and velvets!), stuffed owls and birds, felted acorns, and getting back into painting. Having two babies of my own (2 and 1), I'm focusing on items they enjoy as well, such as jingle blocks. I'm also making pine cone people for the holiday season. My crafts are reasonably priced...hey, I sell to support my crafting habit! I create what I want and would buy and what inspires me. I blog at The Magic Nest (http://themagicnest.blogspot.com/), and will hopefully be getting some tutorials up soon.
My biggest challenge now is getting the owls and bunnies out of the house without being seen...my girls practicallly tackle me for them! I'm so glad to be back in the crafting world, and looking forwward to meeting you all soon!

Me:

And some of my crafts:

Mocha-licious

Maybe you are like me, and addicted to a special caffeinated drink from a certain place...

Its a rare treat, but whats not fun about it? Paying almost $5 a pop. So, I make my mochas at home! It's crazy easy. Brew up a pot of strong coffee, and add a generous scoop of hot chocolate to the bottom of your mug. Pour in hot coffee and stir, stir, stir. Add some milk and you're done. Not QUITE as nice as someone making it for you...but close.

Oh, and you can skip all of that and pour some chocolate milk in if pressed for time, and/or lazy like me in the morning.

Recipe: Texas Caviar

This is my favorite party recipe. It's also incredibly handy to make a big batch when the power may go out as its very forgiving and delicious at room temperature (hello, Irene). Plus, the dressing...I use it ALL THE TIME on my salads its so good (oh, and easy!). This salad is also AWESOME to make a big batch of and take for healthy and easy “work lunches” during the week. You can't go wrong!

TEXAS CAVIAR

Ingredients:

1 can of black beans

2 cans of black eyed peas

1 bag of frozen corn

2 chopped red peppers

1 chopped red onion

1 bunch of scallions, chopped

1 container of baby spinach, finely chopped

Dressing: ½ of a jar of hot pepper jelly, and ½ cup of apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and a couple tablespoons of sugar (to taste).

Make dressing: whisk jam and apple cider vinegar together, salt, pepper and sugar to taste.

Defrost corn. Combine all and enjoy with tortilla chips

Optional ingredients: chopped cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, chopped avocado or whatever you have on hand!

Laundry Soap

Laundry...not exactly one of my favorite chores. The washing part is okay, its the folding that gets me every time! I've been know to leave a basket (or two) sitting arund for days before I can get to it. Then, it has to get put away. Then, the whole process starts again - I get tired just thinking about it. And really, I probably spend more time thinking: oh man, time to fold the laundry AGAIN than it actually takes to do it. Well, one thing that makes laundry a lot easier to take, is saving a bundle by making your own detergent. I saw this recipe and thought, no way...point the way to the laundry aisle. But after looking at the increasing cost, I bit the bullet and gave this a shot. It was WAY easier than I thought it would be and...it actually WORKS! Just like its supposed to. The first batch I made was over 3 months ago, and I just made another today. Give it a try...the supplies are literally enough to last you for a couple of years of laundry detergent or more!

Recipe for Making Your Own Laundry Detergent:

1 cup soap flakes *
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

Mix the soap flakes in a pan with 3 pints of water (6 cups) over medium heat, until it all dissolves, roughly 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the washing soda and Borax. Mix until everything thickens, another 3 minutes or so, then remove from heat. Put 1 quart (4 cups) of hot water in a 2 gallon bucket, then add the soap mixture you just made. Mix well.

Now fill the bucket with the mixture with cold water. Stir until well blended. It will thicken and separate as it cools. Now add some perfumes and/or essential oils (my favorite combo: peppermint and rosemary). Stir or shake well before using. Use 1/2 cup for each load, or more for very dirty items.

Finding Time

Why is finding time so difficult? I tell myself to blog, and I know I NEED to blog, but yet...finding the time to do this can be such a challenge. I have a lot to say, and just getting it out there is how I need to start. The challenge of being at home is that i never know exactly how my day is going to go. Just getting on the computer requires an intricate dance of sippy cups, bottles, diaper changes, puzzles, and my favorite, Elmo! The small freedoms Elmo has given me is a whole complete post unto itself. Back from vacation to New York, I feel renewed, I feel ready, and I WILL do this! Okay, here we go...

Why Blog?

The sordid world of infertility brought me to blogging. Sharing my story in person, outside of a few close friends, was just too damn painful, but I found a real deep felt heart to the stories I read online. There was so much respect, so much honesty, and here I was: a shameless lurker.
I didn't even know where to begin with my own behemouth of a story. I was too shy, and it just hurt too badly to share. Infertility is a temporary condition and has a definite end and resolution, one way or the other. The tough part for me was the not knowing...not knowing if I would ever have my own child, and not knowing when. I bottled all of those awful feelings up inside (yep, I was a ton of fun at parties!), and reading blogs became one of my only outlets. What we went through haunts me still...and add that to the fact that we would love more children, but I don't know if my body is up for it. I hope it is. Mentally, it is.
But the ladies that shared their stories inspired me endlessly, and I learned a lot on the way. I don't know if who I am or what I have to say makes this worthwhile, but I feel I have to. I feel I need to. I feel I OWE it to the blogging community to share who I am. I owe it to myself. And, I also OWE it to y'all to be more upbeat and happy in upcoming posts!