DIY Butterfly Mobile

I knew that I wanted to make my little girls nursery unique, fun and bright, and what better way to achieve that than make your own decor.   I'm not someone that really likes the cookie cutter crap they sell in the big chain stores and I would much rather something different and personal, and I really wanted that for my baby's room too.  So I decides to make my own mobile instead of buying a mass produced one that everyone and their mother had in their nursery.

I was originally going to find a cool looking fallen down branch in the woods to hang the butterflies from but my mom had an extra embroidery hoop that needed mending lying around, so I used that instead.  You can be as creative in the process and tools to make it as you want to be and use whatever you have on hand.  This is what I used and how I made this adorable mobile to hang above the baby's crib.

Supplies:

• Embroidery hoop or any thing to suspend the butterflies from
• Fishing line
• Ribbon of your choice to wrap the embroidery hoop
• Hot glue gun
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Scrapbook paper of varying colors and prints
• Butterfly shaped paper punch or any shape punch you desire
• A thumb tack
• A hook to hang it from

I started out by hot gluing the ends of the embroidery hoop together again and then proceeded to hot glue the end of the ribbon to the backside of the hoop to hide where the seems are.  Then I wrapped the entire hoop with the ribbon and slightly overlapped the ribbon as I went to ensure proper coverage.  Once I came to the end, I simply hot glued the end of the ribbon to the back side so no one could see it.  This is what it looked like when I finished wrapping it.

Then I looped together three pieces of the same sized fishing line to make a loop for the mobile to be hung from, and then I tied them equally around the hoop so that the hoop is evenly suspended.  I cut out a bunch of butterflies using various printed and colored scrap paper to make a very colorful and fun mobile.  The printed paper was white on the back so I doubled the amount of those so that it would have the print on both sides.  Using varying lengths of fishing line I began to string the butterflies on the line making double or triple knots to hold the butterflies in place and a thumb tack to make a hole through the middle of the butterfly to be string the line through.  I knotted the top of the butterfly too just to keep it in its place.  For the printed butterflies I used a glue stick on the white side and stuck it to the fishing line and then overlapped the same print butterfly on top so that the print would show on both sides.  Once I had strung up 3 or 4 butterflies per line I tied them to the hoop and continued all the way around until it was full of floating butterflies. And that's all it took to make!  Super easy and cute.

After it's all put together, then I found the perfect spot over miss girls crib and hung it with a hook, and voila!! There you have it, a precious mobile for her to entertain herself in between sleep.    Here's the final product:

~Megan~

Yummy Egg Cups

Looking for a good way to use up all those extra eggs? Well look no further. This is a scrumptious way to use up all the extra eggs from your chickens and anything else that needs to be eaten before it spoils.

Our girls, even on these blustery cold winter days, have been still producing quite the amount of eggs and even with making eggs for breakfast and baking we still to have an abundance, which is a great problem to have really.  So I decided instead of giving them away, yeah sorry guys, I'd make something out of them to put in the freezer for when our little baby girl joins us next month and I won't be up for cooking much, we'll have something to pull out and heat up real quick.

In addition to the abundance of eggs, I also had some cheese and chives that needed to be eaten, so that's what I put in them in addition to some bacon. Who doesn't love bacon, well besides vegans and vegetarians, and we just happened to get some from the local farm, so why not?  But really you can add anything to them, they're super versatile and wicked easy to make. Here's how to make them:

Yummy Egg Cups
 
  Ingredients:

• A pound of bacon
• A dozen eggs
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup of milk
• A bunch of chives
• 3/4 cup or so of mozzarella or any cheese you have on hand
• Salt and Pepper

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 375.  Line a muffin tin with bacon to make little bacon nests, and bake  for 15 minutes or so.  That's what they look like when they come out. The bacon grease naturally helps to keep the egg mixture from sticking to the muffin pan but if you don't want to use the bacon for what ever reason, make sure to grease the pan or they will stick and your muffin pan will be a real B to clean.

While the bacon is cooking, crack open the dozen eggs into a bowl, I used my large Pyrex measuring cup so it was easier to pour into the muffin tin.  Then snip the chives into the eggs using kitchen scissors, add milk, salt and pepper and the cheese.  Beat until combined.

Then pour mixture into bacon nest lined muffin tins to the brim, like so:

Bake for another 10 minutes or so until they are cooked through and puffed up nicely

As you can see I just cooked them through, to retain as much moisture as possible because I plan to freeze them, but if you like your eggs cooked more by all means bake them till they are golden brown on top.  Let them cool a bit before trying to take them out of the pan and be sure to loosen the sides and bottom by running a butter knife around the edges to loosen and make it easier to remove from the pan.

That's all there is to it.  They're yummy right out of the oven and can easily be stored in the fridge or freezer, just pop them out and heat up when you're on the go.  They will last in the freezer for about 3 months or so, but I doubt they'll make it that long.  As I said these yummy egg cups can really be made with many variations of ingredients and what ever left overs you've got on hand, so mix it up and try something different.

But most of all, Enjoy!!

~Megan~

Zuppa Tuscana

What could be better on a cold winters day when the snowflakes are flurrying, than a bowl of some hearty soup?  Nothing, I'd say.  I have been craving this soup since 2006 when I found out I had to go gluten free and could no longer get my fix at the local Olive Garden.  After all this time, I finally got to making a pot of this yummy northern Italian inspired soup, and it is exactly how I remember it being, or maybe even better if I want to toot my own horn.  Not sure what extras Olive Garden is putting in theirs to make it not gluten free but this recipe couldn't be any easier and is completely free of the gluten. It's rich and creamy filled with hearty potatoes, Italian sausage, and kale, which makes me feel good about getting in my greens too.  Okay Okay enough talk, here's how to make it:

Zuppa Tuscana Ingredients:

• Italian Sausage links casings removed, make sure it's labeled gluten free (I used mild but you could also use spicy if you like it hot)
• 2 onions chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic
• a bunch of kale, stems removed and chopped
• 6 smaller sized potatoes chopped
• 1 quart chicken stock or turkey stock,  (I had a ton of turkey stock in the freezer from thanksgiving so that's what I used), what ever you have on hand
• 1 quart of milk
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• A pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes, for a little spice

Recipe:

Brown the Italian sausage meat until brown and crispy.  Remove browned sausage from the pot leaving the majority of the fat in the pan.  Add the chopped onion, garlic, kale and liberally salt and pepper.  Cook over medium heat until the onions are translucent and the kale is wilted.  Then add potatoes, cooked sausage, crushed red pepper flakes, stock, and milk. Simmer on medium-low heat for a good hour or so.  Check for seasoning, if it's all good, serve it up!! Enjoy with a hunk of gluten free toasted bread or on it's own, it's hearty and delicious either way. Buon appetito!!

~Megan~

15 Things That Helped Me Survive My Pregnancy

As natural and amazing as pregnancy is, every woman that has been pregnant knows that it's not without its drawbacks.  Some lucky woman out there are just glowing and happy and have no issues or pregnancy symptoms but for most pregnant woman that just isn't the case.  Pregnancy can be pure misery, filled with many ups and downs, not to scare off woman about having a baby, but there are some things that I've found to really help me out over the last 8 months of my pregnancy.  

I was not one of those blessed woman that never got morning sickness, I felt like I had the stomach flu for about the first 3 months of my pregnancy and I have spent the last 2 months on modified bed rest due to a fall down a flight of stairs that resulted in me getting symphysis pubis dysfunction, which is not very pleasant and really limits my activities, so for me finding things to make the pregnancy experience more comfortable was a must.

Here is a list of 15 Things That Helped Me Survive My Pregnancy

Image source: www.largerfamilylife.com

1. Sea bands:   I could have absolutely never survived the first trimester without these!! They really helped ease my morning sickness so that I was at least able to leave the bathroom, for the most part anyways, and my home.  
2.  Ginger Ale:   I know a lot of people swear by ginger in general to help sooth an upset stomach and most pregnancy sites suggest ginger chews, gum or mints but I found them to be too strong and they upset my stomach even more.  For me ginger ale was just enough ginger flavor without overwhelming my already very upset tummy.
3. Plain Foods:  When reading about what foods settle the stomach on most sites they suggest saltine crackers and for me having Celiac Disease they are just out of the question.  So I had to find gluten free alternatives that I could stomach.  The foods I tolerated best where plain air popped salted popcorn, Snyder's gluten free pretzels, Plain potato chips, yes I was very surprised to find out just how much I could handle them too, and Crunch Masters Sea Salt crackers with Sharp cheddar when the morning sickness wasn't as strong and  mashed potatoes and plain or lightly seasoned chicken or steak.  
    
   
   
   
   
    4.  Pops and hard candies:   I know for the health conscious this one's a though one, but it really works quell the nausea, especially sour flavored candies.  I opted for the organic pops mostly but from time to time I would suck on Preggie pop drops or pops, Jolly Ranchers and occasionally eat Starbursts or Sour Patch kids. Something about the citric acid or tanginess of these candies really helped curb the nausea and at least put something in my tummy, while boosting my blood sugar which would dip very low quite often.
   
   
   5.  Fruit pops and sorbets:  I was in my first trimester in the middle of summer which only adds to the nausea in my opinion due to the heat and humidity, so fruit pops and sorbet were a must.  There were days that I couldn't stomach any solid food and pretty much lived off of ginger ale, water, smart water, popsicles and sorbet.  Not only are they easy going down, and back up, but they help to cool you down when pregnancy hormones and the heat of summer seem to make your blood boil. 
   
   
   
   6. Smoothies:   I would make myself some version of a fruit and veggie smoothie every day so that at least I knew I was getting my vitamins in and having something healthy. I add chia seeds and coconut oil to help keep things moving regularly too, which is a problem for a lot of pregnant woman, including myself. Although I couldn't really continue doing it after a few too many times of throwing them up and had to wait till my second trimester, when the morning sickness went away, to continue having smoothies for breakfast and I still can't do the berry smoothie that made a reappearance one too many times.
   
   
   7. Chiropractic Care:   This one is a big one for me, it has helped me in numerous ways and with different things throughout my pregnancy.  It really helped with morning sickness in the first trimester and at the beginning of my second trimester I literally had a killer headache everyday for about a month and me not wanting to take anything for it, even though they say Tylenol is safe I just didn't want to take it, so chiropractic care was super helpful for me in revealing my headaches.  Also pretty much through the entire pregnancy, although the further along you get the worse it gets, low back pain is a common complaint and having regular adjustments really helps with that.  
   
   
   
   
   
   8. Supplements:  Everyone pretty much knows that a good prenatal vitamin is essential for pregnancy and optimizes you and your baby's health but there are also a few supplements that you can take in addition to your prenatal, or if you're having a hard time stomaching yours, that you can take to alleviate some issues.  I found when morning sickness was at its worse I couldn't handle my prenatal and that taking a good quality B-multivitamin really helped me to get the essential folic acid for baby's growth and development and also the B6 really helped with the nausea.  For me a good quality magnesium and calcium supplement really helps to keep me regular, reduce heartburn and without it I'm not sure what I would do.  I also couldn't really handle the iron in my prenatal vitamin, it really upset my stomach, and had to find one that didn't have it in it, which isn't all that easy I've found, and ended up finding one on Amazon after many attempts at the natural food stores.
   
   
   9.  Tea:  I particularly couldn't live without my Green tea and Red Raspberry Leaf tea.  I really needed the energy boost that the green tea gives to jump start my day.  I for almost the whole of my pregnancy suffered from just being tired all the time, to complete exhaustion, hey making a baby is hard work after all, and I really needed the boost of caffeine to get me through my semester at school and work.  I would brew one bag of my favorite green tea blend and one bag of Red Raspberry leaf tea, for it's amazing reproductive health properties, everyday.  Red Raspberry Leaf tea is great for all woman to take but especially pregnant woman, it strengthens the uterine walls,  helps prevent miscarriage and hemorrhage, helps ease morning sickness, reduces pain during and after birth, and assists in the production of breast milk, although astringency may counter it in some women, and it is rich in many vitamins and minerals.  The caffeine also helped with the headaches too.
   
   
   
   10. Pregnancy Pillow:   Honestly this is an absolute must have for me.  I know many woman say they can live without it, and their partners will surely complain about it, but for me I can't sleep without it and will continue to use it even far after my pregnancy is over.  It is just amazing and I won't go any where without it.  The one I have is shaped like a big u and surrounds my whole body so that when I roll over in the middle of the night my belly and legs are supported no matter what side I end up on.  It really helps to reset everything and ensure proper alinement through the night and is a god send for my symphysis pubis dysfunction, it almost always, no matter how much pain I am in the night before I go to bed, when I wake up things are all reset and relatively pain free, which is amazing and usually doesn't last that long for me but feels great for the time being.
   
   
   11.  Coconut Oil:  I tried recently to go without using coconut oil for a couple nights while I stayed at my mothers to look after my grandmother and I was miserable.  Every night I slather it all over my belly, boobs, hips and butt to reduce itchiness and prevent stretch marks, which I have yet to get any and that is pretty remarkable seems how when I hit puberty I got a ton on my butt, hips and thighs.    I also have been putting in my nose to prevent bloody noses which I never got before getting pregnant, but apparently all the extra blood flow can cause bloody noses for some woman and I guess I am one of them.  Just recently I have also been applying it to my perineum  to help soften the area and help reduce tearing when D-Day comes along.  I also add a spoonful of coconut oil to my bath water with some lavender oil and Epsom salts when I want a hydrating and relaxing bath to ease my achy body.
   
   
   
   
   
   12.  Prenatal Massage and Yoga:  I can't really do many of the yoga poses since my accident but yoga really has helped me throughout my pregnancy just as a form of relaxation and a way to stretch and strengthen.  I have also made prenatal massage a priority as well trying to get at least one a month.  They both have really helped to relieve overall tension, including lower back pain and headaches but they also help to align the baby and make sure that they are in proper position preparing the body for birth.    
   
   
   13.  Maternity Pants:  I know this is another one that some woman don't feel is necessary and just get away with using one of the bands and their normal pants but let me just tell you how amazingly comfortable they are.  There is nothing digging into you, they never contrict your belly and make you feel uncomfortable, and you never again will have that embarrassing moment of showing your butt crack when you sit down or bend over.  I honestly don't think I will ever go back to normal jeans and pants again, I am in love.
   
   
   14. Hot and Cold Packs:  Both hot and cold packs have helped me in differing ways throughout my pregnancy.  Hot packs ease any aches or early on cramps you may have and also help to lessen the pain of contractions and just overall relax you and your straining muscles.  Ice packs have also been great to help reduce swelling from my fall and when I over exert myself doing too much and my pubic and pelvic pain really flares up.  Ice really helped with the headaches too. I would put ice packs on my neck and my partner got me one that goes over your eyes too which really helped to ease the throbbing pain I would have along with the crazy tension like headaches.
   
   
   15.  Heartburn Medication:   This is one road I just couldn't go down naturally. Nothing that I have tried even before becoming pregnant helped with my acid reflux and would keep it in check. But now in pregnancy the heartburn that was once under control with a prescription is now flaring up again.   Starting towards the second half of the second trimester I would get heartburn again at night.  It's just something that a lot of pregnant woman get do to the lack of room in the stomach and the loosening and relaxing of the muscles making digestion slower.  So Tums, and magnesium and calcium supplements in addition to my prescription heartburn medication are musts in the second half of my pregnancy for me.  I don't think I would have a esophagus by now without them.  But please by all means do try some of the natural heartburn remedies first if it is not something that you already struggle with.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Well that concludes my top pregnancy must haves. Hope that it helps some of you ladies out there suffering like I did.
   
   
   xoxo   
   
   
   Megan
   
   
   
   

Nesting

So usually this time of the year, as the seed catalogs start coming in and the holidays are over, my thoughts turn to spring and what and where I plan to plant things and what I am going to add to the garden in the coming months when the thaw of winter sets in.  I normally can't wait to crack open the glistening covers to see the all of the food porn in the pages, circling and highlighting all of the varieties that strike my fancy, and narrowing down my selections to what is usually way too many types, but who doesn't love variety? It's the spice of life isn't it?

This year though, I haven't even turned the page to any of the beautifully put together seed catalogs, they are sitting unopened under numerous pregnancy and parenting magazines and books waiting for me to open them.  My thoughts are instead focused on the little seed that is growing bigger everyday in my belly getting ready to be cultivated sometime next month.  I can't help but to read, plan and get as ready as I can be to welcome my little seedling into the world.

I'm trying so hard to prepare for what, I know, is something that you are never truly ever prepared for, but I am in full on nesting mode trying to get ready for our little girl as best I can.  Between cleaning, as much one can on bed rest anyways, and getting last minute projects and crafts done for the nursery, to reading all that I can about breastfeeding, and what to expect on D-Day, which seems to me somewhat pointless because every birth is so different, and finding out all about cloth diapering, yes I said cloth diapering, and which system will work best for us, (or should I say me because I am sure that I will be the one dealing with the poo mostly), among other things.

So needless to say the garden and cultivating those seeds have taken the backseat for now.  Being consumed with everything baby and pretty busy trying very hard not to let everyone's opinions or horror stories cloud my hopes and aspirations to bring my little one into this world naturally and holistically and make her living environment as non-toxic and healthy as possible.  Even though apparently I am crazy or too earthy crunchy for even desiring to do any of those things, according to many people, but these things are very important to me and I can't help but want to research and gear up for this new adventure. 

Over the next few weeks I hope to share as much of what I am learning with you all as I can, along with all the trials and errors that I'm sure will pop up along the way, as well as all of my DIY projects for the nursery and tips that helped me through this whole experience.  Thanks for reading my ramblings and hope you check out my future posts.

~Megan~