Sweet Pickles Closet

Sweet Pickle has the biggest closet in the house.  So, naturally, it became a quick dumping ground for everyone's clothes that needed to be stored somewhere.  Luckily, it's garage sale season so I had the perfect opportunity to clean out the closet and drawers for selling!!!  After a little weeding out I decided I needed to get things in order.  If there is a good sale or clearance rack, I will pick up a few things here and there for both kids.  Well, I needed to organize them somehow.  So.  I did.

And now, for your view pleasure...PICTURES.  Aaaaaah!!! (insert angels singing)

So, when I went to TCS (short for The Container Store-get down with my lingo), I found these 'Garment Organizers'.  You get a set of 12 for $10.  Steep?  Yes.  Can you make your own?  Yes.  BUT, you can reuse these over and over again, so I thought the price was worth it.  I've tried making these before but they weren't perfect enough for it not to slide off to one side.  It was annoying.  But hey, I tried.  And of course, my Washi Tape paired with my lovely label maker (sigh, I love these things).  Moving on...

The garment organizers came with these pre-made labels.  Sure, they're good if you want to organize it their way...which I didn't.  BUT, they would come in handy for guidance in the closet organizing department.  They even have it in Spanish! 

Took me a few minutes to find tape that I liked and wanted to use in Sweet Pickles closet.

I, of course, covered the top with the polka dot tape...and then...

YAY!!!  Added my label to both sides.  I really can't express my love for a good Washi Tape/Label combo. 

And here's the final product!  All of the clothes that are either new or too big for her to wear, stay hung up until she's ready/in need of wearing them.  Whatever doesn't get worn, gets returned.  That's why we take the tags off as we need them.  The clothes she currently wears go into the drawer unit that's in her closet, here's a reminder:

I've had pretty good experience with returns from Kohls.  Target has the ABSOLUTE WORST return policy.  But, Carter's has THE BEST one - lifetime as long as you have the receipt and tags on it.  Love that place!!!  Walmart isn't too shabby with their policy, but haven't had too much experience with them...just their amazingly awful carts.  I could write an entire post on this.  Get with the Target program Walmart!!!  Plastic carts is where it's at!!!

I had to share my great find from yesterday at Target:

I purchased all 5 of these items from Target for $10.50.  Yes, you read that right.  I purchased a 4T size in all for Sweet Pickle for 2014-2015 fall/winter.  I was thrilled.  So, hurry to your local Target and hit up the clearance racks!!!  Every store is different, but still!!!  Tons of cute baby stuff as well...need to buy a gift?

Side note:  I want to thank everyone that entered to win my first giveaway gift!!!  I want to reassure everyone that I would NEVER use your personal email address for anything other than choosing a winner.  Nor would I give or sell it to anyone - honestly, it's a lot like a social security number - if I got a hold of it, I wouldn't even know what to do with it!!!  Thanks again for participating, it was fun to do!!!

Have a most wonderful FRIDAY!!!  Until next week...

Teacher Gift

Aaaaaahhhh...do you hear that?!?!  Lawn mowers, sprinklers, kids having fun...it's summer.  Which also means end of the school year...which also means (in our house) your child moving to a different daycare room.  Sniffle.  I have posted before how I just LOVE to give gifts.  I LOVE buying gifts for people.  It's just fun and just makes me happy.  I love (you getting sick of me using that word yet?) putting together gift bowls/baskets/bins/boxes full of fun stuff.  Adding in a homemade something makes it even better!!!  I however didn't do that this time, I let Peanutty and Sweet Pickle do their magic when it came to picking out these gifts...granted, I did have a wee bit-o-influence on what they chose, but they still did the bulk of it.

Here's what we came up with for Peanutty's kindergarten teacher:

• Tazo chai - word on the street was that Mrs. Kindergarten Teacher loves tea.  Peanutty actually thought she may like what I drink so, she's getting a carton.
• Mini notebook
• Notepad
• Sunglasses
• Sharpie pen (the no-bleed kind that I LOVE)
• Mason jar mug
• Extra fun straws for the mug
• Bowl
• Homemade card from Peanutty
• Thank you card from me and Hubs

Here's what Sweet Pickle came up with for her two teachers:

• Serving tray in the shape of a surf board
• 4 dinner plates
• 4 bowls
• Set of paper cups
• Set of paper napkins
• Matching towel
• A fiber optic dragon fly (this was a must according to S.P.)
• Tub
• Birthday Boy card (I picked that out, who doesn't love dinosaurs?!?!  Wink. Wink. - the other teacher is getting a graduation card.)

There is no written rule that you must give a gift at the end of the school year.  What I can say is this:  the teachers we had this past year did a stellar job of educating and taking care of my two wee ones.  They will be missed...so much so, that I cried during Sweet Pickles conference because I was sad to see her switch to different teachers...just sayin'.  Judge all you want.  :)

Now, for a little DIY!!!  With.................WASHI TAPE!!!  LOVE THIS!!!  My sweet friend LF, gave me this idea and I finally had a use for it!!!

You'll need:

• Washi tape
• Scissors
• Crafting wire

All you do is press a couple pieces of cut wire between two pieces of Washi Tape and you have a custom made twisty tie!!!  I used a 32 gauge wire and it wasn't quite thick enough, but it worked.  I'd recommend using something thicker.  This is SUPER easy and adds a little something to the package.  It took me all of 3 minutes to make and I think it's darling!  I'll do it for the other two gifts as well as soon as Sweet Pickle writes in the cards, and I can wrap them up!!! 



NOW...I am doing my very first giveaway!  In celebration of all my awesome readers, I thought I'd give this a try!!!  All you have to do is send me an e-mail at: 

arethesemygoodsweatpants@gmail.com

On Friday morning, I will randomly choose a winner out of the pool of emails that I receive. I will then contact you to get your mailing address for this little prize:

I hope you have a most wonderful Tuesday!!  Until Friday...

Easy Recipe

Happy Friday!!!  Ok, so I'm not very good at tricking you.  It's Saturday and I will be 100% honest - I was SO busy yesterday that I didn't have time to turn on my computer.  Between running errands for 3 hours in the morning, attending Peanutty's field day at school, playing outside, and hitting up my nephew's (Tater Tot) t-ball game...life was busy!!!  Ok, enough of the excuses.  I thought I'd share a super simple recipe for everyone! 

Here's what you'll need:

1-2 lbs. ground beef  - FYI, Fareway is having a sale on 80%, $1.99/lb. if you get it in the 10lb. tube - I got 5 yesterday and am going back today for more!!!
Carrots - Aldi ALWAYS has a steal on carrots.  Don't buy the baby carrots just because they're easier, go the extra mile and get the good "old fashioned" carrots.  Peel them and cut them yourself.  They are way sweeter!!!
Potatoes - these are usually pretty inexpensive.  Fareway has red potatoes for $.99/lb - I got a few for my pot roast tonight!
Onion - love onions, that's all on this one
Cheese - would you believe that we are down to only 3 bags of cheese!?!?!  We did an inventory last night and I have decided we need to purchase a smaller deep freeze to hold the cheese, veggies and butter so I can keep a better eye on them.  Hubby thinks I'm kidding, but I plan on looking on Craigslist today to see if I can snag one up!!!
Seasonings - the one's I use are the "basics":  garlic powder & salt, onion powder & salt, pepper
Butter - you only need a little bit
Worcestershire Sauce -  adds extra flavor and kick
Foil

You're going to mash up your ground beef with your seasonings and sauce.  I recommend over seasoning them a tinge because it will kind of "melt" out as it's cooking and help season the other stuff.

Make patties out of your beef.  We made 6 out of 2 lbs.  Peanutty can eat 2 patties by himself and Sweet Pickle loves the carrots.

Peel, cut, slice your onion (we were out so I didn't use it but I think it adds flavor and moisture to the meat), carrots and potatoes.

Rip off 6 sheets of foil (or however many you're making).  Then you simply start piling it on.  Here's the order we do:
Couple pats of butter
Onion
Potatoes
Meat patty
Carrots
Seasoning - we add on a little more to the very top so that everything gets that yummy flavor!

Wrap them all up into little foil packets and then you can either grill for about 30-40 minutes on a medium heat or you can also bake them for about an hour on 350.  We grilled them this time.  When they're done you can crack open a side of the foil pack and drain off the grease (there will be some from the butter and meat).  Open it up and sprinkle some cheese on the top, it melts and you get this:

Sorry, I had already started eating when I remembered to take the picture.  It's simple and like a wee little pot roast meal in a foil pack for a week night.  The longest part of this is the assembly.  I had a great helper, who was also my photographer, the Hubs. 

Also, as a side dish I also had whipped up a pasta salad.  It's really simple.  You boil some pasta, cut up any veggies you have on hand (we did black olives, green peppers, broccoli and carrots) and put it all in a bowl.  Top it off with Italian dressing.  It's delish!!!

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!!!  I add a little extra Italian dressing...I love the tang!!! 

Sorry this is a day late, but better late than never!!!  Have a great holiday weekend, and remember those who are no longer with us!!!  Happy Memorial Day!!!  Until Tuesday...I hope.

*I am not proof reading...ain't nobody got time for that!*

Baby Gift DIY

ANOTHER DIY!?!?!   I love posting about my organizing madness...but lately, I have not had time to tackle the projects I have in mind.  I'm hoping with a long weekend ahead that I'll get a chance to do a couple of those projects.  So, until I get my organizing time, you'll have to enjoy my DIY'ing!!!  I LOVE a good DIY.  I have a Pinterest account to prove it.  This was a bit different though...I winged it.  A sweet friend of mine was having a baby shower and I wanted to give a fun homemade gift (amongst a few of Hubby and my favorite things for baby).  Well, in comes that sweet remnants bin at the local store.  I have GOT to tell you though, I've been to JoAnn Fabric AND Hobby Lobby scavenging for a good deal on a remnant here and there but have YET to find one worth purchasing.  The remnants are expensive and slim pickin's.  I'm sure that it's hit or miss everywhere you go but I've had amazing luck at Hancock Fabrics.  And surprisingly Walmart has a very nice selection of fabric (not necessarily remnants), as well (Side note:  IF you brave Walmart, make sure to pack your own grease and driving gloves - their carts are just AWFUL).

Here are the steps I took to make some burp cloths and a cute little tag snuggle blanket:

Here are the fabrics that I snagged at the store.  This project was for a little baby boy so I went with the cute blue fabrics, and I'll be using the pink for another baby gift that I'll be making soon as well.  The white and cream were what I used for the backing of the burp cloths.  It is some kind of cotton fabric that will do just the trick for a burp cloth.  The cream was a fleece fabric that I didn't use.  I wasn't sure how that would work so I just left it out - I'm sure I'll find another project to use it for sometime!  The patterned fabric are all flannel and super soft!!!

The one bad thing about remnant fabrics is you can't choose your size.  BUT, you can work with what you have.  I made the burp cloths about 14 inches tall and 9 inches wide.  Cut out both the patterned fabric and the white cotton fabric.  Pinned the the pretty sides together and sewed.  It's not rocket science but man was I happy with the outcome. 

I made a total of 5 burp cloths.  I sewed three sides together, turned it right side out and then sewed it shut.  The iron is a huge help in all this process, so I encourage you to use it!  I also put a stitch about 2 inches in on each side (long way) to help it keep its shape.  They were soft and I hope the baby I made them for says "boy, these sure are awesome!"...because that's what babies say.

Next up:  Tag snuggle blanket (I call it this because I didn't make one that's big enough to cover a child, just big enough to carry around and rub your face all over it.  Because that's precisely what I did with the soft fleece fabric I purchased:

I'm sure you've all seen this kind of fabric.  It's so soft and it's just wonderful.  A neighbor of ours (DC IF you read this, Sweet Pickle LOVES hers) made one when Sweet Pickle was born.  I chose a darker gray color because as we all know, babies puke, poop and pee.  Well, I didn't want this to get all yucky and have the stains show, so that's why the gray.  It's super soft, and can be pricey but I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby for $3.99 for 1/2 yard.

I used to be HUGE into scrap booking...but along came kids...I said goodbye to free time...and sold MOST of it.  BUT, I did hang onto my ribbon.  Thank goodness for that because for the tag snuggle, I didn't have to purchase any.  I found 6 different ribbon's that I liked, cut them to a length that I thought would be good, and then folded it and pinned it onto the blanket.  For the blanket, I cut out a nice square piece of both the flannel pattern and gray fleece, pinned the pretty sides together and THEN went through and pinned my ribbon.  I pinned A LOT.  The gray fleece was VERY slick when sewing so the more pins, the better.

Side note:  a sweet friend of mine gave me a complete beginners sewing kit a year ago for my birthday.  She included these flat flower topped pins and I adore them.  I think they're MUCH easier to use than the pins with the balls on it or the pins without anything on it.  They seem sharper too.  Thank you DB, its the gift that keeps on giving!!!

This is the final product.  I really stink at taking step-by-step pics because I get so excited for my sewing projects!!!  One thing I can tell you is that I sewed over each ribbon 3 times to make sure that sucker wasn't going anywhere.  The last thing I want is for the baby to be gnawing on it and choking on the ribbon so keep that in mind when making this!!!

So there you have it.  Now, I calculate that in total, I spent $10 on 5 burp cloths and 1 tag snuggle blanket.  If you want to get down to the nitty gritty (ribbon pieces, thread) MAYBE $11.  It was inexpensive, easy to make, and so much fun!!!

Friday will probably be another DIY of some sort...what?  Who knows.  Or perhaps some recipes...hmmm...the blogging options are endless!!!  Until Friday!