How do I look?

How do I look?  It's a question us women ask a lot. We want to know if we look beautiful.  I made this sign to go in the closet or next to the make-up table.  Just a sweet reminder that we're beautiful and wonderfully created by God. If you see yourself as precious in God's sight then that beauty will be even more radiant in your outward beauty.  Don't forget- you look beautiful!

Tape labels

I love using my turquoise tape to label my home items!

Baby Security Blankets

These are my best sellers. They are a little baby security blankets. They measure 14.5" square. They are knit fabric on the front, soft dimple fabric on the back and have satin binding around the edge. You can find out more information on them at my Etsy shop: www.simplyerin.etsy.com

Couponing

So happy to be back into couponing.  I took a break for a while. I've also made new tabs for my coupon book. New inspiration to save money!

It's the Simple Things

We were out at my parents' house celebrating my dad's birthday just a few days ago. While we were on the back patio my son kept himself thoroughly entertained with a water hose and some solar path lights. I love this little guy. It's fun seeing him discover new things and have fun being a boy!

Exploring is fun!

Sunday: Our Day of Rest

^"8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹ for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
Exodus 20:8-11 KJV

I have grown up in a Christian home my whole life. Sundays have always been the day that we go to church. But one thing they haven't been is a day of rest. I feel like this is one Biblical principal that I've heard a lot about but have never applied it.
God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. Do your work in six days and on the seventh day rest- Exodus 23:12. And here are a few verses on rest:

Psalms 55:6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!  I would fly away and be at rest 

Isaiah 14:3-4 When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: ”How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased!

Genesis 8:4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. 

I know that Saturday is also considered the 7th day. And a few books I've read strongly encourage the Saturday Sabbath. But, to me I think Sunday is our day for rest. We go to church on Sunday. Lots of businesses are closed on Sunday. And it's a  nice and relaxing start to a new week. (Luckily I don't work full time anymore so I don't have to worry about a Monday-Friday job)

What does a day of rest look like for me? Relaxing! Sleep in (as late as I can to get to church on time). Don't do house work. This one is so hard! I find myself wanting to do dishes, laundry, pick up, vacuum... but it is so nice to just put it off. Sometimes I will straighten and clean the house up on Saturday just so it's all clean for Sunday. Isn't it easier to relax in a tidy home? I also try not to grocery shop. It's work going to the grocery store. And minimal cooking. I enjoy cooking but it takes time and creates dirty dishes. If I was in school I would try to do my homework earlier so I didn't have to do it on Sunday. 

Sundays are the perfect day to get outside. My son and I enjoyed a walk today. It's so refreshing to be outside in God's creation. And it's the perfect day to cuddle up with your family and watch a movie or spend time doing whatever your family enjoys doing together.

Would you consider trying to make Sunday a day of rest?

Enjoying the Evening

It was such a nice evening out that we just had to get out into our back yard and enjoy it. 

Levi loves watching the dogs run around the back yard.

And the quilt he's sitting on is his special outdoor rag rug quilt that I made him for his birthday. 

I love that it is almost Fall- my favorite time of year!

Say cheese!

Can't believe my little boy is 13 months old!

40 Ways to Save Money

I posted this list on my old blog site back in November of 2009. Already 4 years ago! It's always nice to save money.

Here are a few ways I've learned to save money. I love to not spend money, especially since doing so helps us to put money away for a rainy day and for when we have kids and I stay home with them.-not for a couple years though. :-)




40 Ways to Save Money:

1. Turn off the lights when you’re not in a room.

2. Pay extra principal on your mortgage every month.

3. Pay off your credit card balance every month.

4. Get a credit card that earns points.

5. Pay your bills online to save on postage.

6. Pay your bills on time to avoid late fees.

7. Carry cash instead of credit/debit cards. It’s harder for us to part with “real” money.

8. Buy generic, in most cases it tastes just as good as the name brand.

9. Make a list for the grocery store, and stick to it.

10. Don’t buy junk food. It’s not benefiting your health anyways.

11. Buy in bulk when you know it won’t go bad before it expires.

12. Clip coupons.

13. Cancel unused magazine prescriptions.

14. Plan a sensible route for your errands and avoid going out for just one thing.

15. Shop at consignment or second hand stores. Some stores have really cute clothes!

16. Rent books, movies, and CD’s from the library. Don’t buy them, especially if you only read them once.

17. Cancel your internet service if you don’t use it much and can get by using your work or library’s internet.

18. Hand-me-downs. I loved getting clothes from my sister.

19. Eat at home instead of eating out.

20. When you do eat out, split a meal.

21. Stop smoking, drinking and chewing. It only hurts your health.

22. Make your own laundry soap.

23. Carpool to work or group activities.

24. Opt for public school instead of private. It can be just as good.

25. Encourage your high schooler to apply for scholarships for college.

26. Open an interest bearing account at the bank, like a CD or Money Market.

27. Don’t run the water while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving your legs in the shower.

28. Ride your bike or walk places if you can.

29. Go to the movies during the week. Around here it’s only $5.

30. Don’t get a gym membership. Run outside (or on the dusty treadmill in the basement) and rent exercise videos from the library.

31. Buy used items. Check out Craigslist.com.

32. Make your own gifts, if you’re crafty.

33. Shop the sales rack of stores.

34. Reconsider whether you really, really need that new pair of shoes.

35. Go to garage sales. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

36. Try to fix things yourself before you hire some help.

37. Wash laundry when you have a full load.

38. Cancel your cable subscription. Spend your time doing other things.

39. Don't impulse buy. Put it back on the shelf and wait a few days or even a month, then decide if you still want it.

40. Stay home and have a family game night instead of going out.

Salmon Patties and Sweet Potatoes

Yummy, healthy and filling! We could hardly clean our plates. :D These salmon patties are great, and have a lot of good stuff in them. I actually got this recipe from the cookbook: The Everything Meals on a Budget Cookbook. So they get the credit, but I'm giving it a thumbs up.

Salmon Patties:1/3 cup brown rice
2/3 cup water
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup shredded carrot
1/4 cup ground almonds
2 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp sour cream
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 egg
1/2 (14-oz) can salmon, drained
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp butter

1. In small saucepan, combine rice and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until rice is tender and liuid is absorbed.

2. In large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and carrot; cook and stir for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and combine with almonds, flour, sour cream, salt, pepper, and egg in a medium bowl. Stir in cooked rice, then add salmon and stir gently. Add cheese and mix.

3. Form mixture into four patties. Wipe out large saucepan and melt butter over medium heat. Add patties and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, turning once, until patties are crisp and brown (cooked min longer to make sure they were done). Serve immediately.

Freeze leftover fish: place fish in a freezer bag or container, seal, label and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in refrigerator overnight.

For sweet potatoes, clean skins, poke holes with a fork, wrap with aluminum foil and cook in a 450 degree oven for 40-50 minutes or 350 degree oven for 70-80 minutes.

12 Month Old Potty Sign Language

        My son just turned one year old. We've been using the potty with him since he was 3 1/2 months old. Over the past couple of months he's gotten a lot better at communicating with us that he needs to go potty. From the beginning we've given  him communication cues such as the ASL for potty: make a fist and place your thumb between your index and middle finger and move your hand back and forth bending at the elbow. We also make a pss pss sound which Levi will sometimes imitate. We also say potty and Levi will say pa pa if he needs to go. I just thought I'd share some video of Levi doing his signs today.

     When he does a sign we take him either to the potty insert on the big toilet or his little potty on the ground in his bedroom. (My husband likes the one in the bedroom more because we can sit in front of him and look at books or play with toys.)

     Sometimes we won't even have to ask him and he will look at us and shake his hand. If you don't know what you're looking for it's easy to miss.

     We just got done with lunch here. If he refuses to eat I know he's got to go. Sometimes he doesn't do the sign or make the pss pss sound but here he's telling me seriously that he need something. And right after this he had his bm for the day.

     Just chillin on the potty. It's just a typical part of his day. (Daddy got him this toy for his birthday.)

Simply Erin Custom Orders

I welcome custom orders! I'd love to create a beautiful finished product with what you provide to me. It could be fabric to make coordinating baby items or a quilt top needing quilted and bound. I'm willing to work with you on any of your sewing needs. The only exceptions are that I do not do apparel alterations or creation and I will not piece a quilt. (I do provide quilting and binding services though!)
Place your order by September 1st to receive it at my current price of $10/hour. This is an amazing price for the quality of work. I love to sew and take great care in every project that I complete.
Listed below are some ideas of possible projects. If you have any additional ideas, like purses or pillow shams, please contact me. I'm willing to work from patterns as well. I list custom order items and their fabric amounts on my Custom Orders tab at the top of the page. If you would like me to help calculate the fabric total I'd be glad to do that. Also, since these are personal items I prefer to have you purchase the fabric. This way you can get exactly the print you want.

Custom Order Items

Chenille blanket

Tummy time/lap quilt

Security blanket

Diaper changing pad

Burp Cloth

Nursing Cover

Ring sling baby carrier
...

 

Quilting Services

I can help you finish your quilt tops. I can do as much, or as little as you would like. The following services are available:

• Laying out and pinning layers of the quilt
• Quilting the layers
• Cutting, sewing and ironing together binding strips
• Sewing binding onto quilt
• Hand sewing binding to back of the quilt (pictured above)

*The only batting I will work with is compact batting such as Warm and Natural. I will not do any work with the puffier white batting.

The following pictures are some of the custom orders I've done this year.

Chenille blanket

Diaper changing pads

Burp cloth and nursing cover set

Monogrammed burp cloths

Wet bags/ Zipper pouches

Quilt

Please let me know if you have any questions. I'd love to work on a project for you!