Make your own boo-boo packs
Posted by: shortcakecreations on: August 23, 2010
Boo-boo packs are great for your little one’s everyday scratches, scrapes and bruises, and couldn’t be easier to make. These also make great gifts!
Cold/ Heating Pad Directions:
- No pattern is necessary, simply cut two pieces of cloth in the size/shape you wish your bag to be. Make sure to leave a seam allowance for yourself (about 1/2″).
Some prefer regular square shape bags, others prefer tubes or more rectangular shapes. The one I made is 5″ x 5″ and is the perfect size for my kids, but I plan on make some bigger ones to use on my back and shoulders.
Filler Options
- Uncooked rice (this is what I used, do not use preboiled/minute rice)
- Feed corn
- Buckwheat hulls
- Beans
- Flax seed
- Cherry pits
You can also add the following to the above for a soothing fragrant heating pad: Spices, herbs, essential oils.
- Ideas: lavender, rose petals, ground cloves, nutmeg, ginger, rosemary, cinnamon, peppermint oil, crushed mint
- If using: Mix herbs, spices and essential oil with choice heating pad filler (such as rice) and let sit in a sealed container for a few days (occasionally stirring). This will help set and distribute the fragrance a bit.
For mine I made the inner bag with a muslin fabric and made a cover/sleeve out of flannel “strawberry shortcake” fabric (my daughter picked this out). This is a great way to use up extra fabric you have, you can use anything…old pillow cases, sheets, tableclothes….be imaginative!
Here is my finished product———->
Happy Sewing!
My fabulous 5
Posted by: shortcakecreations on: August 22, 2010
The most mouthwatering food combinations ever:
1) Beef stew w/homemade herb bread
2) Turkey chili w/cornbread
3) Pizza w/frosty mug of beer
4) Homemade chocolate cookies w/milk
5) Meatloaf w/garlic mashed potatoes
The many uses of baking soda
Posted by: shortcakecreations on: August 20, 2010
Go Green with Baking Soda (and save a little money too)
Baking soda is a great multi-use item. It’s CHEAP, non toxic and can be used for just about everything. Here are some great tips/ideas to ditch those expensive cleaners and go green in YOUR house.
Safety:
One of the more important uses for baking soda: Keep a box of baking soda near the stove. In case of a grease fire, you can sprinkle baking soda on the fire to extinguish the flames. This will not damage counter tops or the pans. It is safe for use on electrical fires
Cleaning/Everyday use:
1. One of the most popular uses for baking soda is to deodorize your refrigerator. Just place an open container inside, stir every couple of weeks, replace it every couple of months.
2. Use it in your laundry to remove odors. Use ¼ to ½ Cup with each load.
3. Place in chests (such as coolers and lunch pails) to absorb odors.
4. Stuffed toys that get old and have a stale smell can be refreshed by simply giving them a dusting of baking soda let them sit for 10-15 minutes. Pat the baking soda off and you have a fresh smelling stuffed toy again. It is safe for children and the stuffed toy as well.
5. You can keep your sinks smelling fresh by putting a few Tablespoons of baking soda down them, and then running the hot water. Baking soda can even unclog a slow running sink, especially when you add a little vinegar and plenty of hot water. It’s good preventative maintenance to do this with regularity.
6. Sprinkle soda in tennis shoes, socks, boots and slippers to eliminate odor.
7. To remove burned-on food from a pan: let the pan soak in soda and water for 10 minutes before washing. O
r scrub the pot with dry soda and a moist scouring pad.
8. Add a sprinkle of baking soda when you soak dried beans it will help them cook quicker and make them more digestible
9. Clean formica counter tops with baking soda on a damp sponge.
10. Soda absorbs kitty litter odors. Cover the bottom of the kitty box with 1 part soda; then add a layer of 3 parts kitty litter on top.
11. To polish silverware sprinkle dry baking soda on a damp cloth rub, rinse, dry and enjoy.
12. Uses for baking soda and babies: To help clean baby bottles, wash the bottles with water and baking soda. Then rinse well with hot water.
13. Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to keep them fresh
14. Use baking soda in your dishwasher. Run the dishwasher through a cycle with the baking instead of soap. Tang is also good to keep your dishwasher clean and smelling good.
15. For stainless steel and chrome, use a moist cloth and dry baking soda to make it shine like new. Rinse and dry. On stainless steel, rub in the direction of the grain.
Outdoors:
1. To maintain proper pool alkalinity, add 3/4 lb. of baking soda for ever
y 5,000 gallons of water. This will raise the total alkalinity by 10 ppm (parts per million). Most pools require alkalinity in the 80-150 ppm range. Proper pool alkalinity level is vital for minimizing changes in pH or when basic pool chemicals or contaminants are introduced into the water.
2. Give your deck a weathered look by adding two cups of baking soda to one gallon of water. Use a stiff brush to spread onto the surface area. Work in the direction of the grain. Let it sit for an hour then rinse with cool water.
3. Ant and roach control mix equal parts of baking soda with sugar and spread over the infested area, they love the sugar the baking soda loves them to death.
4. Weeds growing in the cracks of your driveway, sidewalks and patio? A good safe way to help prevent them from growing is to put baking soda on them. Add a handful, then sweep it into the cracks. The added sodium will help make it more hostile to the weeds growing there. It’s safe for pets and children as well.
Health/Beauty:
1. Add 1/2 cup or more of baking soda to your bath water to soften your skin.
2. Putting 2 tbsp. of baking soda in your baby’s bath water will help relieve diaper rash irritations.
3. You can give yourself a facial scrub by mixing it 3 to 1 with water. 
4. Add it to your shampoo, and it will remove built up residue in your hair from shampoos and conditioners.
5. Take 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water to relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.
6. For sunburn use a paste of baking soda and water it will help relive the burning and will help you from peeling as bad.
7. Minimize the “oh gross” factor by cleaning and freshening retainers and mouth-guards with baking soda. Soak after every use in a solution of 2 teaspoons baking soda and warm water. Every so often, brush them clean with a paste of baking soda. That’ll keep everyone smiling
8. Chlorine from the swimming pool can turn your hair green. To prevent this, after swimming rinse your hair with lemon juice and a 1/4 cup of baking soda. Rinse and shampoo as you normally do.
Felt Food part 1…Strawberries
Posted by: shortcakecreations on: August 20, 2010
Felt Strawberry Tutorial:
1. Trace circle onto red felt
2. Cut out circle, then fold in half and cut again, giving you two semicircles. Each semicircle makes one strawberry. Make a circle roughly 3 or 4 inches wide with tiny seeds around strawberry.
3. Fold one semicircle in half again and stitch down straight side leaving 1/8” seam. (I’m using green thread for demonstration purposes and I prefer to machine stitch this edge but you can hand sew it too)
4. Now flip right side out (so seam is on the inside of the cone) and beginning at seam edge baste all around circumference. I prefer to hand stitch this.)
5. Stuff and draw basting stitches to gather top. Secure with French knot. Don’t cut thread.
6. Do a criss-cross stitch across the top pulling in the gathers so the stuffing doesn’t show. Secure with a French knot but still don’t cut thread.
7. Using green felt cut strawberry top shape. I like mine to be irregular so I cut them freehand.
8. Attach top to strawberry using previous thread. I do a series of crisscross stitches in the middle, then secure the leaves by slip stitching halfway through the green felt in a1/4” circumference from the center. Secure with a french knot and bury thread in side of strawberry. Pull and cut thread.
9. Lastly, using two strands of yellow embroidery floss stitch
My fabulous 5…inspirational movies
Posted by: shortcakecreations on: August 12, 2010
My fabulous 5 favorate inspirational movies:
1)Rudy
2)Private Benjamin
3)Gladiator
4)Mr. Smith goes to Washington
5)Braveheart
You know your a mom when…
Posted by: shortcakecreations on: August 10, 2010
You know you’re a mom when…
Your child starts to spit something out and your instinct is to put out your hand to catch it.
You see something brown on your childs clothes and you know it’s a 50/50 shot of being chocolate or poop and you smell it anyway.
You stopped closing the bathroom door (you know your child will be in there the second you sit down to ask you to tie her shoe or read her a book).
YOUR car has cherrios, broken crayons and old sip cups everywhere and your husbands is clean as a whistle.
The holidays mean staying up late to make dozens of cookies for class parties.
You feel like beating up other 6 year olds for being mean to your kid.
You get excited about things like pooping in the potty, eating with a fork, and wiggly teeth.
By noon you’re ready for a nap.
You know all the theme songs to your kids favorite shows, and you hum them when out in public without even realizing it.
Your refridgerator is covered in paintings, pictures and PTA reminders.
More to come…
Craft project of the week: Crayon Roll-up
Posted by: shortcakecreations on: August 8, 2010
Crayon Roll-up Instructions (if you follow the directions it will fit 16 crayons, I didn’t measure quite right on mine so I ended up with only 14 pockets for crayons, oh well…live and learn)
Materials Needed:
3 – 13 x 5 inch pieces of coordinating fabric (one for the back, one for the front, one for the pocket)
1 – 24 inch piece of coordinating ribbon
Step 1) Fold and iron the pocket piece in half wrong sides together.
Step 2) Place the pocket piece on the right side of the front piece matching the bottom and side edges having the fold of the pocket piece right in the middle of the front piece. Mark the sewing lines by measuring in 1 1/4 inch from the left edge then every 3/4 inch until you have 15 parallel lines. The last line should also be 1 1/4 inch away from the edge. I didn’t measure on mine so I ended up with 14 pockets for crayons and about 1/2 inch extra on each side.
Step 3) Sew on these lines making sure to backstitch at the top and bottom of each. Fold the ribbon in half. Sew the folded edge of ribbon to the right side of the crayon roll.
Step 4) Place the back piece onto the front piece right sides together. Sew around the edges using a 1/4 inch seam allowance making sure to leave an opening somewhere to turn it right side out. I leave my opening on the other short end that doesn’t have the ribbon sewn to it. Turn right side out and press.
Step 5) Top stitch all the way around 1/8 inch from the edge making sure to close the opening.
Step #6: Fill with crayons and your roll-up is ready to go!
This is a great gift idea. It’s also perfect for traveling, this keeps kids busy and your car stays neat and tidy.
My fabulous 5
Posted by: shortcakecreations on: August 7, 2010
My all time fabulous 5 favorite summer foods:
1) fresh picked blueberries
2) corn on the cob
3) salmon on the grill (anything on the grill is good though)
4) asparagus
5) salsa (preferably with tomatoes from and herbs from the garden)
#6 would be cold beer (however it’s not a food so I couldn’t count it)
How to…throw a kids birthday party
Posted by: shortcakecreations on: August 6, 2010
So we’re planning my daughters 6th birthday party. My husband and I are talking over the plans and it hits me…he and I are NOT on the same page.
All of us moms know, there is a birthday invite protocol. You invite people who’s party you’ve been invited to in the past, good friends of yours and your kids.
So, the question is…who else do you invite? My husband says, invite everyone and see who comes. I say…no, no..that’s not how it goes. Follow the birthday party ettiquette and only invite the close friends.
Well, I’m throwing caution to the wind and inviting everyone. I figure we spend way too much time as adults (especially as moms) trying to follow some type of unwritten rules. We tell our kids to be brave, to make friends and not to care what others think of you, yet it’s hard to follow that guideline ourselves.
This is my how to guide on throwing a kids birthday party:
1) Invite everyone…friends, relatives, kids from school and anyone else your child wants (after all it’s their party).
2) Go with a theme or keep it simple. Alot of people do themes (carnival, princess party..etc..)this is a great idea to keep kids entertained. I prefer to keep it simple…bouncy house, a couple crafts and maybe a egg toss or something easy.
3) Keep food kid friendly. Bowl of gold fish, fresh fruit kabobs, lots of veggies and plenty of juice boxes to keep kids hydrated.
4) Take a lot of pictures. It’s great to look back on all the fun your child has had at their birthday parties.
5) Keep track of which present came from which guest. It’s nice to send out a thank you card to your guests thanking them for their particular gift.
6) Cut cost by making your own cake and going simple with decorations. I save money on some of the minor things so that I can spend more money on the food and goodie bags for my childs friends.
7) Don’t follow a time line too strictly. Enjoy the moment and let your kids have fun. Keep things moving but don’t try to rush anyone.
8)Remember, this is their day not yours…make sure their having a good time.
Good luck in your next party!
How to…survive the football season
Posted by: shortcakecreations on: August 2, 2010
So, it’s football season again in our house. My son (who’s 8 1/2) loves football! He also loves every other sport for that matter, but now we turn our attention to football.
We start out with 2-3 weeks of conditioning…5:30-8pm every night. Then it’s onto the regular practice schedule of 3 nights a week (same times) and a game on Sunday (10-12am) and they like to have them there an hour before hand.
So, I am officially saying good-bye to my social life or any other interest that I’ve tried to keep on the side.
This is our 2nd year as a football family. I say “football family” because it’s an all hands on deck effort around here. The first year was a mess, I always felt like I was late or forgetting something of serious importance for practice (was it our turns for the orange slices again?). I thought I would share a guide on how to get through the season without a glitch.
How to…Survive the football season:
1) Stock pile gatorade and always keeps some in a cooler in the car.
2) Buy a bunch of subrolls and their favorite meats and make them a sandwich before they play. We try to stay away from anything heavy for dinner and often are on a time crunch so we eat in the car. My son eats 1/2 the sub before he plays and 1/2 after. He also eats a banana before hand to help keep the cramping at a minimum.
3) Make friends with the other parents. Now this can be difficult at first because, frankly the other parents seem a little bit nuts, but it’s great to be able to swap out which parent picks up and drops off. This helps us out alot since our oldest daughter also has soccer during the same times.
5) Bring a book, craft, knitting or anything to occupy your time. These 2 1/2 hour practices can be alot to sit through but if you have anything you need to work on it’s a perfect opportunity to get things done. I usually make my grocery list or update my daily planner.
6) Don’t take things personal. Your son will act a little different at first. He’ll look at you like you don’t know anything, after all you’re just a “girl”. Just wait until he can’t untie his strings and almost pees in his pants one day…he’ll quickly learn that mom’s are all knowing and can be a great asset.
7) Here’s a checklist of what to have in the car just in case: bug spray, sunblock, handwarmers, water bottles, folding chairs, a blanket, a towel (to wipe off wet bleachers), umbrella, extra snacks for after a game or practice (PB crackers, granola bars, yogurt raisens and/or pretzels are our favorites).
Good luck and have a fun season! 
