Sew It Yourself Nursing (Boppy) Pillow

Maybe it was the “girls online” discussing their many recent sewing projects that made me feel guilty, but I have caught the sewing bug again. Yes, my hobbies rotate quite frequently, but it keeps life interesting. So when I came across this free pattern for a “boppy”-style nursing pillow, I thought “why not?”. I have been meaning to make or buy one for this baby anyway, and the only reason I hadn’t done so already is because I really didn’t feel like shelling out $20 some dollars for a pillow!

Really, you should make one of these if you have a baby on the way, are nursing, or just learning to sew. They make great gifts for new and expecting mothers, and the best thing is it’s so cheap to sew your own! I made mine from some fabric I already had lying around. My only regret is not stuffing it a little more, which would be an easy fix.

Puppy Chow Snack Mix

I thought I would share another little recipe from our gluten-free adventure. Since starting this new diet, I found out that Rice Chex are now gluten-free. You can find a whole page of gluten-free recipes on their website. Something I have indulged in as a child is what I call “puppy chow”. Other’s might know this as Muddy Buddies or Monkey Munch. I thought it’d be a fun treat for me to throw together this week on our diet adventure.. and I even got little man to pose with his “chocolate” as he so excitedly exclaims!

Ingredients:

9	cups Rice Chex® cereal (gluten free)
1	cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2	cup peanut butter
1/4	cup butter or margarine
1	teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2	cups powdered sugar

Preparation Directions:

1.	Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
2.	In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
3.	Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

In an attempt to figure out what is causing our son’s digestive problems and iron deficiency, my husband and I have put him on a gluten-free diet for the moment. I have taken hold of this challenge and consider it a new life experience and an opportunity to acquire new skills in preparing food. I hope to share some of my gluten-free findings with you on my blog. First off, I’d like to share a great peanut butter cookie recipe that is just slightly crunchier than the flour variety, and super easy. Enjoy!

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

(Recipe from Gluten Free Girl)

One cup creamy peanut butter
One cup white sugar
One teaspoon baking powder
One egg

Preheat the oven to 350°.

Cream the peanut butter and sugar in a bowl. (As much as I love my KitchenAid, I have found that this is a hand-stirring job). Beat in the baking powder. Add the egg. Mix until it is all well combined.

The dough will be sticky, so be prepared to get your hands messy. Roll some dough into a ball. (How big? That depends on you. I have found, however, that the smaller these cookies are, the better they hold together. Eat two instead of one!) Roll the ball into white sugar. Line a baking sheet, covered in parchment paper, with sugary balls of dough. Press down with fork.

Bake in the oven for about ten minutes. You will know the cookies are done when they feel coherent, but still a little soft. Take the tray out of the oven and let the cookies rest for at least five minutes. Afterwards, carefully transfer them to a cooling rack. After ten minutes or so, they will have hardened and be glistening with sugar.

Eat them.

Makes ten to twelve cookies.

God says Give NOW

Although I am a regular reader of The Simple Dollar blog, I must disagree with his recent article concerning our giving to charity. Here are a few quotes from his article:

Many people argue on behalf of giving money now. I disagree – one should never give money to charity if it endangers their long term financial future.

My belief is largely this: give time now, give money later.

Although a largely popular world-view, I believe that we as Christians are taught differently in the Bible, and must be careful what financial advice we follow outside of the Bible. My comments to The Simple Dollar:

As a regular reader of your blog, I must heartily disagree. I think explaining away that you should not give money to charity if it will put you at “financial risk” shows a big lack of faith in God to take care of your financial and physical needs. There, I said it, lol. That is, of course, if you are a Christian who has faith in God. And if you are a Christian who has faith in God, I think that it’s only our duty to give from our hearts to those in need and to the church, and not purely from the protection of our own wallets.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

1 Corinthians 16:2
“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”

2 Corinthians 8:11-14
“But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,”

What are your thoughts?

The Cheapest Fruits and Vegetables Month-By-Month

Before you head to the store this week, plan your meals around fresh fruits and vegetables that are currently in season, and get the best deals.

An easy way to save on fruits and vegetables is to buy what’s in season. Here’s a guide to help you identify the best produce deals month-by-month:

January

oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, tangelos, lemons, papayas, cabbages: red, white and green; leeks, broccoli, cauliflower

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February

oranges, tanelos, grapefruit, lemons, papayas, broccoli, cauliflower

March

pineapples, mangoes, broccoli. lettuce

April

pineapples, mangoes, zucchini, rhubarb, artichokes, asparagus, spring peas, broccoli, lettuce

May

cherries, pineapples, apricots, okra, zucchini, rhubarb, artichokes, asparagus, spring peas, broccoli, lettuce

June

watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, cherries, blueberries, peaches, apricots, corn, lettuce

July

watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, blueberries, peaches, apricots, kiwi, raspberries, plums, cucumbers, tomatoes, summer squash, corn, green beans, lettuce

August

watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, blueberries, peaches, apricots, kiwi, raspberries, plums, cucumbers, corn, eggplant, tomatoes, summer squash, green beans, lettuce

September

grapes, pomegranates, persimmons,eggplants, pumpkins, tomatoes, spinach, lettuce

October

cranberries, apples, pomegranates, grapes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash, broccoli, spinach, lettuce