Wool Dryer Balls- 1 year review

I purchased these wool dryer balls just over a year ago and have been using them ever since. They are fantastic! This is truly a product that is worth the money. I know that it's easy, sometimes, to get sucked into purchasing something when you "think" that it will be great. Only later to find out that it's not so great. You put it up into a cabinet and never use it again. Then it ends up in a garage sale where someone buys it for $0.50.

I use mine on a daily basis and they have held up fabulously. These dryer balls do not disappoint!So here's the break down:
1 set of wool dryer balls (6 total): $29.95
Dyer sheets for our family for a year: $35.56

Savings: $6 + no chemicals + shorter drying time = Priceless!

Farmgirl Gift Guide

Here's my farmgirl gift guide. My inspiration? The apron below.

Red Checkered Farmgirl Apron

Mason Jar Solar Light

Set of 4 FARMGIRL Notecards

Pink John Deere Bottlecap Necklace

8 Oz Jar Of Organic Blueberry Juice Concentrate

Charming elegant skirt

Tall Quilt Pattern Ball Mason Jar with Reproduction Zinc Lid Soap Dispenser

Tired Tractor - 8x12 Metallic Photo Print

Red Country Roses and Gingham Check Apron

Tiered... Repurposed... Western... Cowgirl... Country... Jean Skirt

Creamy Carrot Complexion Soap

Wooden Rolling Pin with Red Handles

Farm Fresh 8 x 12 Fine Art Print

Ruffled Apron Dress

Eco Friendly Penny the Farm Girl Coffee Cuff

It's a blessing!

My sweet husband bought me the Homestead Blessings pack of videos for Mother's Day and I love them! If you love homesteading and have the basic skills down, then these videos are great for you. My personal favorites so far are the Art of Gardening, the Art of Herbs and the Art of Bread Making. This is the first year that I designated a place in the garden for just herbs and the herb video was super encouraging!
I got an email this morning sharing that the entire series is on sale now! 10 videos for $99. The set includes the newest video, the Art of Quilting. My set did not include that video but I think I can pass on that one, I've got a couple quilts under my belt. *wink*

I'm not affiliated with this company at all but I just wanted to share the blessing that it has been to me and hope that it would be the same for you!

Pink Fawn Designs

The coaster giveaway worked out better than I had expected! As you may know, since Heather never responded, I chose a new winner, The Pink Fawn (a.k.a. Nancy.) Nancy responded and the coasters will soon be on their way to Ontario! I checked out Nancy's website this morning and was pleasantly surprised with what I saw, cute handcrafted items, soaps, lovely fabric and....... AN APRON! I loved a bunch of items on her site (but I loved the apron the best.) Here are a few other of my favorites!

Yummy soap!

A super cute tote!

And fabric....oh, the fabric! Look at the hollyhocks (my personal favorite in the flower department) on this Heather Ross print! Each picture is linked so you can click on the photo and go right to the item in her shop.

Thanks for letting me share Nancy and congrats again on the coasters!

2 extra

I ordered this cute little apron for Timber from Moda Home. It's their Dairy Fresh Apron. The catch though was that I had to order 3. Before I listed it for sale elsewhere, I thought I'd ask you if you'd like to buy my overstock. This is a child sized apron. The wholesale on these was $5.50 for each apron. I then paid some paypal fees and shipping on top of that. So, if you'd like one, I'll be glad to sell them for $6 each. The shipping will depend on where you live- probably only $2-3 if you're in the US and I ship it First Class.
The other 2 aprons are not exactly like this one. The print is slightly different. It still has the same milk theme but each little milk label isn't exactly the same. They're all really cute though! If you have any questions feel free to comment or email me. Thanks! :)

Here and here is the apron retail.

Good reads

I don't read as much as I'd like to. Mostly just due to time constraints! But I do pick up a book every now and then and try to read as much of it as possible in the evening after the kids are to bed!

First, Chemical Free Kids:

I've had this book for a while now but I refer to it all the time. If you have kids, it is a "must have" book to have in your library. I try and re-read it every 6 months or so just to refresh my memory on everything. There is a follow up to this book that I am very interested to read as well.


Second, Nourishing Traditions:

This book is a fabulous wealth of knowledge. If you never once used a recipe from this book it would still be worth owning just for all the added information on each and every page!

Last, The Encyclopedia of Country Living:

All around great information written by a woman who was a great homesteader. This book is also one I often refer back to.

Hope that you enjoy these as much as I do!

a little random

1. I'm making our usual sourdough bread today but instead of the milk I'm trying raw cultured buttermilk. Should be interesting to see how it turns out.

2. I can not wait to start the hand stitching process of binding my quilts.......if I ever get a free moment today (besides this one.)

3. For all of you who have been praying, Karen (our pastor's wife) is doing better! Praise God! She just move out of ICU today into a regular room. She is now talking (whispering) and has some arm movements. She is starting PT this week too. The Dr.'s now think that the tumor was NOT cancerous and we'll find out for sure tomorrow! She has a long road of recovery ahead of her so keep praying!

4. I scored a sewing machine at the second hand store today but I'm not sure I want it. The guy said they couldn't figure out how to thread it so I could take it and if I got it to work I could bring them back $5. I'll have to look at it closely.

5. It's so nice to have Wyatt home from school today.

6. Leftover lasagna for dinner tonight.

7. I so want this for Mother's Day.

8. Remodeling is so NOT fun. Unless you're an almost 2 year old with a power drill.

9. I want to make a new apron. I'm going to use this pattern that I purchased.

10. I also just bought this skirt. How cute is that?

11. I'm on Facebook now......finally! Wanna be my friend?



That's it for today folks! :)

and the award goes to...

A huge thank you to Leslie who nominated me to be part of the list of blogs that she thought should get a lemonade stand award. It is to be awarded to bloggers that show great attitude and gratitude.
Now I get to nominate my favorite 10 blogs! These are the rules of accepting the award.

•Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.
•Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
•Link the nominees within your post.
•Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
•Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

1. Carly of Quiltville (because Carly always has the cutest quilts!)
2. Fish Fam (because Jerilyn has fun stuff to read every Friday!)
3. Jabez Farm (because Kim has a fantastic sense of humor in her writing!)
4. Making More with Less (because how could you not love a blog that tries to live up to it's title?)
5. Quilting on Turtle Hill (because Cathy is on of the most generous quilters I know!)
6. Thistle Cove Farm (because Sandra is just a downhome sweetheart!)
7. Why Not Sew? (because Erin is wonderful and super creative!)
8. Life with 4! (because Lisa is one of my greatest "internet friends!")
9. Jo's Prairie (because Bobbie Jo's kids are adorable and she's a sweetie!)
10. Cluck Cluck Sew (because Allison is a quilting mom that blows my mind with the things she gets done!)

Now these blogs were both easy and hard to choose. I have a very few select blogs that I actually follow. I'm kinda picky and really don't want to waste my time filling up my list of followed blogs with stuff that doesn't interest me or things I don't really read. So from the list of blogs I do enjoy, I selected these as my top 10! Check them out- I hope that you enjoy them too! :)

i found it!

I'm still on the lookout for a little flannel fabric from the Goodnight Monkey collection (for some border fabric) but I found this the other day and ordered it! Thank you Stitchin' Post!!

Also, I received my caramels that I talked about here and I am in awe!! Beth at Have It Sweet is AMAZING!!! (yes, that did require all capital letters because it's that good) She even sent a sample with my order of her chocolate caramels. So then I went ahead and ordered these and these and these. If you order any from her please be warned that you will be hooked and will never want to buy caramel from anywhere else......ever!!!
Oh, and the caramels never made it to the muffins, they were gone long before I could actually whip up a batch.

finds.....kid style

I bought this for my children the other day and today in the mail- there it was! Both of my little ones love it and I have to say that I am SUPER impressed with Margaret's work. These things are perfect!! She has done an amazing job crafting them!

Now I only wish she did an extensive line of felt food because I would buy her out! :) Here's her shop link to view other items.

Here's the next item I'm lusting over...

I'm hoping to buy the kids a wooden kitchen for their Christmas present and this toaster would compliment it perfectly!

peas and carrots anyone?

Um, guess what I just found?? Peas and Carrots yardage from American Jane for $3.99 a yard! Wholy guacamole! I can't believe my luck. I don't know exactly how much they have and hopefully I didn't just buy everything so that when you go to look it's all sold out. (No, really I didn't, there should be some left!) But here is the link just in case you're as much of an American Jane junkie as I am and you can't resist good fabric on clearance. :)

on it's way!

No, no, not the baby- not yet at least! ;) But I did just order these this morning from haveitconfections on Etsy. Autumn Spice Caramel!

I want to make those caramel apple muffins again......and again and again and again because they are soooooooo good and I'd much rather have some nice homemade caramel then the stuff I buy at the store. Can't wait for it to get here!

what a find!

Judi owns a little online quilt shop called Green Fairy Quilts. She is currently having a sale on all of her honey buns. For those of you who don't know what a honey bun is (what, do you live under a rock???? o.k., sorry, I realize that not everyone is a fabric freaks like myself) it's a roll of precut fabric that's put out by Moda. The fabric is in strips 1 1/2" wide. Great for easy quilting or any other sewing project! Anyway, her honey buns are on sale right now for $11.95 each! I know, I know- your mouth just dropped open when I said that price! But it's true. Check out her site to find out more.

wool dryer balls- a review

I've had these wool dryer balls now for about 2-3 weeks. I have to say that I am so impressed by them! And I am very pleased that I purchased them after seeing them in Mary Jane's Farm Magazine.

Here are the pros:
1. NO chemicals in your clothes!
2. Easier on your dryer since there are no chemicals
3. It really does reduce the drying time as their website claims.
4. You just re-use them. That's it. There's nothing to it. I just leave them in the dryer and toss another load in!
5. Reduces lint in the lint trap (at least it has for me.)
6. Overall it is cheaper than purchasing dyer sheets. It's kinda like cloth diapering. You do spend the big money up front but in the long run it saves you tons!
7. Buying them supports a work at home mom! :)

Here are the cons:
1. Our towels aren't as soft as they used to be- but they are perfectly usable.
2. Since most of the kid's PJs are made of polyester (yuck, I know- but I have a hard time finding good cotton PJs) it causes static cling when I dry them (but only with the polyester.) If I leave them in the dryer though and allow the clothes to cool then the static is greatly reduced.

So there you have it. 7 pros, 2 cons. Overall I'd give them 4 our to 5 stars and absolutely buy them again (if I ever needed to) and a couple of you may be getting them for Christmas this year- so keep an eye out! :)

thanks a lot etsy

Look what was on the front page at 6:02pm this evening; right before a pregnant lady is getting ready to eat dinner and is hungry.......

That is just so not right. My thighs are thanking you Etsy (not.)

If your will power is as strong as mine, which is non existent, then here is where you can get your own!

oh yummmmmmmmmmmmmm

Lookie what came today from our friendly UPS man.
Cute little boy fabrics.

Scrumptious reproduction fabrics.

Patterns!

The patterns actually came yesterday. I got them on sale from Fat Quarter Quilters- thanks Laurie! Now, that's a good thing and a really bad thing. See, the bad thing is that I've been eyeing that Rings of Diamonds pattern that Emily created for months now. Since I found it on sale, I gave into buying it. But that then lead to buying fabric for it. Here's the thing; I usually like to take patterns and then use my own choice of fabrics on them. But, Emily's choice of Moda's Cotton Blossoms is just too perfect. So I broke down and bought the fabric. Um, for 2 quilts. And for the brown and aqua quilt, I bought enough to turn it into a king size quilt instead of the 60"x60" quilt that the pattern allows. I did only buy the red and cream though for a lap size. I hope I like creating the quilt because I have now committed myself to making them. My humble quilting bank account won't let me forget it either!

And last but not least (well, actually it is least because I hate it.) Here's the Snippets Pinwheel Quilt.

I don't like how it went together at all. I'm not a perfectionist but I like for my quilts to be well made. I tried on this one. Really, I did. But me and pinwheels just don't get along. I just don't feel as though it is of the level it should be. As soon as it's quilted it will be in my shop for a "seconds quilt" price.

curse "Back to Nature"

Ugh, that darn company (who I secretly love) has made a cookie that is so stinkin' good that I want to eat an entire box!

Our health food store here in Po-Dunk doesn't carry them but the huge health food store in Eureka does. And I travel through Eureka about once every 5 weeks to go see my midwife. Thank heavens the store is an hour and a half away because otherwise I'd seriously have a problem.
These cookies taste just like the Girl Scout Thin Mints except there is no hydrogenated oils and no HFCS!! Yep, just normal ingredients. So please, do not try them. Because then you'll blame me for the extra 5 lbs around your waist! :)

how cute are these?

In case you don't read the Sew Mama Sew blog (and you live under a rock) then you may have missed the tutorial today that shows you how to make these fantastic quilted nesting boxes! The tutorial comes in PDF form and is available, for free, here. Enjoy!

oh.my.gosh.

I think I may have just found my secret twin.....the one my parents forgot to tell me that they had when I was born and gave up for adoption! (O.k., no, that really didn't happen) But while I was browsing the wonderful blogs that are participating in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway I came upon one that had a little thingamajigger (I use that word often now) on the right column that said "Praying for Stellan" with a photo of a sweet little baby boy.
Of course, I was currious. Maybe I could help to pray for a little boy in need. So I clicked and was magically whisked away to a blog titled, "My Charming Kids" and as I read I thought, "No, this can't be true? Is there really another woman out there that is just like me?" I mean really just like me- as she puts it, "... my cloth diapering, babywearing, organic eating, acrylic painting, woods dwelling, fast talking, vaccination delaying, color obsessing, Frozen Tundra residing, nose piercing, amateur gardening, baby food making, photograph taking, faraway traveling, baby making, high school swimming, tattoo designing, medical detail memorizing, non-circumcising, lakeside living, college soccer playing, small government believing, pro-life advocating, television abandoning, extended breastfeeding, German speaking, deep thinking, former art teaching and baby cosleeping ways." Well, you know, less the German speaking, nose piercing, tattoo designing, college soccer playing, etc.
O.k. so maybe we're not exactly twins but as I read through her blog and the things she believes and practices with her family, I just felt myself shouting (inwardly of course, because Timber was napping) "AMEN SISTER!!!!!!!" Plus, she and her family love the Lord and drink RAW milk! Can I get another Amen??? Needless to say, I will now be following her blog, which seems to be quite popular, and will enjoy reading her thoughts. If you get a chance, check it out, pray for her little one and have a blessed day!

The Ten Commandments- Southern Style

Gavin's grandma sent me this in an email this morning and I thought it was too perfect not to share with all of you:


"This is cute! And much easier to remember!!"

The Ten Commandments

(1) Just one God

(2) Put nothin' before God

(3) Watch yer mouth

(4) Git yourself to Sunday meetin'

(5) Honor yer Ma & Pa

(6) No killin'

(7) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal

(8) Don't take what ain't yers

(9) No tellin' tales or gossipin'

(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

Now that's plain an' simple. Y'all have a nice day.