Blog has moved!

I have consolidated all my stuff to one website. So please join us over at All Things Granola! My latest posting was on scheduling our busy lives.

Homemade Lye

Try Something New Friday, my first, is all about making homemade lye this week. When I had my dairy goats (and am anxiously awaiting my new dairy goats) I saved some goats milk for soap making. Lye was easier to buy back then, but it can be hard to find now due to its use in drug making. So in preparation of upcoming soap making days, my husband has been saving all his ashes from the BBQ pit. But how exactly do you make lye - the old-fashioned way?

So I went internet searching! I found many websites on the topic and I wanted to share with you my favorites. The first one I am going to start with explained the process well at Journey to Forever. It didn't have any pictures, but I appreciated its detail. So for pictures check out Steve's Art Stuff. He didn't offer a lot of detail, but it did show each step in pictures!

Now for the nuts and bolts. You have read about the process and seen some pictures, but how do you pull it off . . . and safely? Wiki-How had step-by-step instructions for building a lye making device. It's really simple, but I just need someone to lay out the details for me. And for the visual learners out there I found a cool video on You Tube showing the "old-time" equipment and an authentic character telling the story about how they used to do it. The audio is poor, but listen carefully and you will get it all. And for those of you that like nifty inventions, End Times Report set up a rain water collection system for making lye.

Now for the safety of the matter. Lye can be dangerous, but it can be dealt with safely. I found a website that not only describes each step in detail on how to make a lye solution safely, but also offered a video!

After all that, you decide you would rather buy lye than make it here is a list of online suppliers. Although it is difficult to buy lye in the store, it can be ordered from soap making companies. But what's the fun in that? I dare you to try making your own lye for soap making and then tell me all about it! I will most definitely be posting pictures of our endeavors.

All Things Granola Re-organization

As my business is taking off and I am settled enough to have some fun with it, I am beginning a new life with my ATG blog! So here is the plan:

Each week of the month will have a theme as follows:

Week 1 - Kitchen Fun (everything and anything that would have to do with the kitchen)

Week 2 - Inside or Out (Beautifying your home, inside or out)

Week 3 - Homesteadin' (Animals, farming, gardening, etc)

Week 4 - Mommy-hood (babies, education, etc)

Week 5 - Wild Card (whatever I am in the mood for!)

Then postings will happen on Tuesday and Friday every week. On "Tip Tuesdays" I will offer quick tips and ideas for whichever theme and on "Try Something New Friday" will be my chance to challenge you to try new recipes, crafts, or products.

Stay tuned as things will start rolling this Friday with Homesteadin'. Please feel free to facebook or email me or comment here with ideas of topics that you would like to read about.

Until Friday . . .

Boba Carrier Review

Ok, I have had the all-new organic Boba baby carrier for a few weeks now, so I felt I needed to offer a consumer review. As most of you know I have worn my 4th child in a Sleepy Wrap since she was 1 week old. And since she is now 17 months old and quite mobile, I tried out the Boba carrier.

I want to start with I LOVE THE SLEEPY WRAP! That being said, the Boba has its perks! But let me start with the Sleepy Wrap. This style of a wrap is awesome. It gives me plenty of back support, is adjustable to the

person and the baby, and is easy to carry around with me. The method of criss crossing the wrap across my back really offers a lot of back support.

By tightening the wrap lifts the baby higher and the higher the baby is the better your back will feel. If you wear the baby too low, your back won't like you very much! And the allowance for

a wide shoulder strap takes all that weight and evenly distributes it. And because you wrap it around you, it fits your body! Same goes for the baby. This is really stretchy jersey-type material and the baby can fit snuggly in there no matter the size of the baby. Shoot, I have put my 6-year-old in there just to prove she would fit! And the

sleepy wraps comes with a handy little drawstring bag that you can pack your wrap with you wherever you go. So those are my top 3 biggest points for the Sleepy Wrap.

Looking at the Boba I was a little skeptical because it was set-up like a b

ack pack carrier. The straps were narrow, even though well padded. But here we go . . . The Boba has a nifty feature not found in other back pack type carriers - a waist table (I made that name up!). There is a stiff piece about 5-6in tall around your wa

ist. All the baby weight sits on that and there is very little pressure on your shoulders. The back-pack style comes in handy because it is relatively quick to put on. So when you have a bouncy kid that wants up and down, this would be quick to put on. But it does require someone to help you most of the time. There is a hard to reach closure behind your back. I did do it by myself, but it was challenging and required a patient toddler. But I'm sure I will get the hang of it. My toddler LOVES the

Boba, just as much as she loves the Sleepy Wrap. It is a little more bulky to pack around with

you than the Sleepy Wrap, but the guys are gonna much more excited about this one than the Sleepy Wrap. The Boba is also much more compatible for on the back than the Sleepy, which the guys like.

I will definitely be using both carriers. They each have their purpose. But if you can only afford one, I would highly suggest the Sleepy Wrap! You can't use the Boba with an infant, but you can use the Sleepy for both infants and toddlers. The Sleepy is much more affordable and very durable. I have washed mine many times. But if you are already past the infant stage and need something that dad and mom can use, go with the Boba.

I don't have the Boba's up on the website yet, but email me for details.

Eat from the Pantry Challenge!

Buying groceries is something we must do every month! As mothers, we care for our families by shopping for food and providing healthy meals. But sometimes we wish we had more money to spend or could eat at restaurants more often or have that special dessert. Not that those things are bad, but sometimes we need to change our perspective. Having a grocery store down the street (or in the next town over :)) is a privilege of living in this great country! God has called us to be good stewards of our resources and providing good meals at minimal cost is part of that calling. Cooking from scratch is how I have managed to feed our family of 6 on $200-$300/month. (Of course that is an average, sometimes it is more, sometimes it is less.)

Check out Money Saving Mom for details on her Eat from the Pantry challenge, but read on here to see what All Things Granola will be doing as part of this challenge. I just love this idea!

Since we lived on $100 for the month of Dec, I feel I can meet this challenge in January!

Since I am getting started a little late, I have already done my shopping for January, and since we depleted most of our pantry in Dec, I did a little stocking up, but I know that I won't be shopping again for the remainder of the month!

So here are our family's goals for the Eat From The Pantry Challenge:

1) No more shopping for the month of January. This is our choice because I have no more grocery budget left. I don't recommend this for your family as having fresh produce, milk and eggs is a good thing. :)

2) Create delicious, original meals with what is already in my pantry.

3) Do NOT complain to my husband or children about not having the luxury to run to the grocery store.

4) Teach my kids about families in other countries and how they provide for their families.

Would you like to join us? Please do! You may use the logo above and post on your blog page and share with us in your post about your January Eat from the Pantry Challenge. Then go back to Money Saving Mom and fill in your Mr. Linky so that others can read about your challenge.

Frugal Living Support

I am now offering a new service . . . with a twist! I have helped many people over the years adjust to living on one income or work their way thru debt or just learn to live a little more frugal, that I thought I would add it to All Things Granola.

But here is the twist. Families that need help with their budget or making frugal choices don't have money to pay somebody to help them thru it! So what I would like to do is offer my services for barter. Now what does that mean exactly?

For local people, there is a myriad of things to barter with. Anything really. From mowing to books to babysitting to cleaning help! If you live off, as most of you do, bartering is still a great option! I'm always up for good books and they mail cheaply. Maybe you know how to use HTML better than me - I could always use help with that! Advertising is always a great way to help out a small business owner. So you see there are many ways to make this work.

This service is a lot better than finding ideas online just because I can give you advice specific to your situation without you having to do the research and trial and error! My credentials are experience! We have lived on one income for 10 years. Our family began with only three mouths to feed, but we are now up to 6! We have lived under many conditions and have managed to barely float at times to thrive at other times. The Lord called us to be good stewards of our money. Whether we have a lot or a little money, He has entrusted that amount to us. We need to learn to do the best we can with what we have. And what an adventure that can be!

So if you are struggling on your one income and want some advice from someone who has been doing it for 10 years now, lets help each other out!

It's a new year!

2010 hopefully has a lot great things for All Things Granola!

Over the next two years we are bringing Dad home. This is the goal and hopefully will be attainable. We are following the Lord and will do as He leads. We are very excited about this change as it not only allows us to spend more time with Dad, but will make All Things Granola grow!

We will be adding more homespun and "granola" products and services. Some of the things already in the works are honey, goats milk soaps and lotions, eggs, and homespun yarn. The goal is to have All Things Granola supporting us in two years so that Dad can come home and stay home! I am also currently working on putting my cooking classes into E-books so that those that don't live nearby can enjoy them too!

So please bear with us thru January as we are re-doing the website and blog page, making long-term goals and implementing them, and just getting thru the after-holiday slump!

I apologize for being so hit and miss in the past, but looking forward to a productive new year!

Virtual Cookie Exchange

Please join me as I participate in Hillbilly Housewife's Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange. What a fun way to get lots of awesome cookie recipes that have been tried and tested by real moms!

My contribution is Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies.

1/2 c nonfat milk

1/4 - 1/2 cup butter (or coconut oil)

2 oz unsweetened chocolate

1/2 cup honey

1 t vanilla

1/4 -1/2 cup dry milk powder

3 cups rolled oats

Heat milk, butter, and chocolate over low heat until melted. Remove from heat. Mix in remaining ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper. Chill until firm. Store in fridge.

They don't last long!

Update on Bradley Training and Midwifery School

Thank you to all who support me!

I am so excited. I leave in 6 days to attend Bradley Childbirth Instructor training in California! This is a long awaited event for me. I am very excited to offer Childbirth Education as part of All Things Granola.

God has opened some "BIG" doors and I am in the process of applying for midwifery college. As soon as the application is processed I will begin school! The birth of my fourth child has changed my life in so many ways. After three hospital births, I decided to have our fourth child at home with a midwife. What a life changing event for our whole family. You can read that story here.

I couldn't have done that without the Lord leading us to Bradley Childbirth Classes. And now I would love to share that with others on their journey of childbirth.

Then the opportunity arrived where I could get financial aid to a midwifery college. Wow what an exciting opportunity! The Lord also put a wonderful Christian midwife in my life just as we had moved to a new state. She has agreed to teach me and do my clinical. I'm so excited!!

And of course this does take money, time and dedication. So please pray for us as we adjust to my new schedule. Pray that I will be able to balance all my duties, especially after my hubby leaves for deployment. Pray that all the finances will be taken care of and our families needs will be met. And thank God for all the blessings he has shown us!

And the winner is:

The winner of our Sleepy Wrap Giveaway is Chelsea from Oklahoma! Thanks to all who entered and helped spread the word about All Things Granola.

Remember to become a fan of All Things Granola on Facebook so you can keep up with all the latest tips, contests, and updates.

Latest update is that I will be offering Bradley Childbirth Classes here in Colorado Springs next year (that's only a month away!). I will also be a certified Bradley Doula should you need my services. And when I am finished with Midwifery College will be able to add that to All Things Granola!

Another Contest - Woo Hoo

I just love a good bloggy give-away! Over at Hobo mamas she is giving away a homemade Baby Carrier! But hurry her contest ends Nov 20!

And don't forget to enter our contest for a free sleepy wrap. Ours closes Nov 24.

Both contests in time for Christmas wrapping!

Turkey Pot Pie

What to do with all the leftover turkey?

Turkey Pot Pie is one of my favorites because it has endless possibilities.

Chop how ever much turkey you want to use - 2 cups is a good amount for a deep dish pie plate.

Put the turkey and your selection of veggies into the pie plate. I use a combination of frozen peas, frozen corn, diced potatoes, chopped carrots, and frozen broccoli (or whatever I happen to have in the freezer).

Cover the meat and veggies with cream of chicken soup. If you are using canned, use two cans and some milk. If you make your own you don't need to add the milk.

If you want to make it cheesy add shredded cheddar to the mix.

Cover your pie with drop biscuits and bake according to your biscuit recipe.


Cream of Chicken Soup

In saucepan melt 3T butter.
Add 2 T arrowroot powder and whisk.
Add 2 cups milk and stir constantly on med-high heat.
Add 1 T Chicken base or powdered bouillon. (If you have leftover turkey or chicken you can add it in too.)
Add a little salt and pepper. Stir until thick.

For cream of mushroom I add 1 can of mushrooms.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

I would like to start now and blog about what to do with that leftover turkey (or anything else for that matter). So join in! I will be posting recipes of what we do with our leftovers, please comment and leave your own ideas.

Turkey Tettrazinni

1 pkg spaghetti noodles (~12 oz)
1 1/2 - 2 c cooked turkey meat
1/4 c chopped bell pepper
1 can cream of mushroom soup (or make your own like I do)
1/2 c turkey broth (I use chicken base and water)
1/8 t celery seed
1/8 t salt
1/2 chopped onion
1 1/2 c shredded cheese

Cook spaghetti until almost done. Drain. Add remaining ingredients except 1/2 c cheese and toss. Pour into casserole dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 45 min.

Yum!

Get in on the Fun!!

Spread of mouth is the best advertising, right? So I'm gonna use you guys to help, but to motivate such loyal support I am giving away a sleepy wrap! You heard right! There are a several ways to enter to win. Directions following.

If you are chosen as the winner, you will be able to pick the color of wrap out of what I have on stock which is currently red, purple, tan and light blue.

To enter:

Spread the word! You may do this by:

1. Posting a blog with a link to my website: www.allthingsgranola.com

2. Post a link on your facebook or myspace.

Then comment here with a link to your page so that I can make sure you did post something.

You can earn extra entries by referring people. If someone orders something and mentions your name, you both get entered in the contest.

This is a $48 value ($38 wrap + tax and shipping)! Contest ends Nov. 24. Just in time for the Holidays. Wraps are great gifts for new mothers and vanilla makes a great Christmas gift!

Bradley Childbirth Instructor Training

I'm so excited to announce that I will be attending the Bradley Childbirth Instructor training Dec 10-13 in Anaheim, CA! This is an investment of time and money, as any course of education would be. It takes about 9 months to complete the training. I have a lot of studying and work cut out for me, but I couldn't be more excited about it. When I complete the training I will be a Childbirth Instructor and a Bradley Doula. Both fields are very exciting to me. Sorry if I use that word (excited) repeatedly but it describes my feelings perfectly.

The Lord has provided (again) and has opened this door for me. Praise the Lord! Although I don't have all the funds raised yet, most of them have already been provided for. You can watch the thermometer on the right as I save money for my training.

To learn more about Bradley Childbirth please visit www.bradleybirth.com.

And don't forget you can follow All Things Granola on facebook.

Giveaway

I love giveaways. And I wanted to share with you a really cool one!!

Go to Homeschool Notebooking and check out their boys and girls school planners. Who doesn't need a little help with keeping control on their school work?!?!

While you are there check out all the other cool products they offer for the notebooking mama!

A burn Healed!

We had a terrible scare last month when my oldest daughter was cooking and splashed her face with hot oil. The burns covered the right side of her lips, chin and right cheek. It was quickly evident that it was 2nd degree burns as it began to turn gray and then black. After a visit to the ER, we were told that she would scar because they couldn't give her burn medicine that close to her mouth.

While it finished oozing and was stil an open wound we just put Bacitracin on it, but as soon as it closed up I gave my daughter a stick of Young Living's Lavender lip balm. She applied the lip balm on her burns as needed. A week later the burn spots were almost not noticable. Two weeks later and no one knows she got burned! It was a great example how God uses the things he gave us to heal!

Homemade Baby Wipe Solution

Since using cloth diapers tends to lead to more bacteria build-up and yeast infections, I have found a wipe solution that wards that off! I have made my own wipes from flannel material and I use the flannel/hemp wipes sold here. I prefer the wipes sold here, but when on a tight budget the flannel homemade ones work too!




In a air tight container add:



1/2 cup distilled water

1 t Dr. Bronner's Lavender Castile Liquid Soap

6 drops of Young Living Tea Tree (Melaleuca) Oil



Mix and add your cloth wipes. This recipe also works if you are making disposable wipes from paper towels.



The Lavender smells good and kills bacteria. The Tea Tree is anti-fungal and kills the yeast. It works great!

Blanco Lavender Festival

Come check out the fun at the Blanco Lavender Festival this summer.

I will be doing a cooking demonstration 10:00 Saturday morning, June 13 at the Blanco River Lavender Company.

If you are in the area, this is a fun event. There is much to do and see. Come join us.

The New Sleepy Wrap!

I'm so excited to introduce you to the new organic Sleepy Wrap. They are available in Natural and Khaki. So for all those going "all natural" you can enjoy the comforts of an organic Sleepy Wrap!

Check out the assortment of colors here.