Foaming Hand Soap Refill Recipe

We love to get the foaming hand soap. The kids wash their hands a lot more with it. Don't ask me why. I think it has to do with the love of bubbles. With a large family, it seems to disappear quickly. To fill it again so we don't have to keep buying more dispensers, here is what we do:

1. Pour one tablespoon of liquid hand soap into an empty foaming soap dispenser.
2. Fill the rest of the dispenser with water (leaving a little space at the top of the container).
3. Screw on the lid and shake.

Tips:

1. Warm water works best.
2. Pump the dispenser a few times to get the foaming started.

What You Need

• Liquid hand soap
• Water
• Empty foaming soap dispenser

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Sickies for a Week

The first part of March, we had a houseful of sick people. Everyone except me, was sick. It was so tiring. And not just for me. The kids basically watched movies, slept, and read.



When we finally started getting everyone well, there was major catch up that needed done.

For starters, laundry and dishes had piled up.


Even with the new washer and dryer it took two whole days.
And the rest of the house needed major help.
Bathrooms scrubbed.
Sheets changed.
Windows washed.
Floors vacuumed or mopped.
Dusting and just some major picking up.

So after I was exhausted from taking care of the sickies, I was exhausted from cleaning the house.
And I sure felt bad for everyone who was sick, and am very grateful to have escaped the illness.
I can't wait until the coughing stops. And until the littlest Misses sleep all through the night.

But we did get some snow, and that sure makes me happy. And Master J, too.


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French Toast Sticks (And Stuffed French Toast)

We like to have French Toast for dinner sometimes.
This last week we made French Toast sticks and stuffed French Toast.

So, to start with,
Beat 3 eggs with one cup or more of milk.
Add 1 tsp of Vanilla and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
Mix well.


I use Texas Toast.
Cut the pieces of bread in one inch wide sticks.


Now dip them into the egg milk mixture coating all sides.
Place on a 350 degree griddle.
Cook on all sides until golden brown.


Serve with syrup and powdered sugar.

For the stuffed French Toast, spread jam on one piece of bread, and cream cheese on the other.
Put together like a sandwich.
Dip in the egg mixture and cook on the griddle along with the French Toast sticks.

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Minky Applique

I have always wanted to applique Minky onto t-shirts or something. So when the mystery quilt I 'm working on had this as one of the blocks, I was super excited.

Now, I usually use the iron on heat and bond. Since the minky will melt with an iron, this just wouldn't work.
So what to do??
Well, Here is what you do: First of all, cut out the shape.


Then smear Elmer's glue stick (the purple disappearing kind) on the back of the minky.


Then position the piece onto the block (or t-shirt) where you want it.


Now take it to the sewing machine and stitch around the outside using a blanket or zig-zag stitch.


Since these are chicks, I used zig-zag.


Now trim your threads.
And you are done!!
Super excited! Can't wait to try this on a t-shirt!

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Keeping Children Safe

Spring is on it's way. This means that the kids will be playing outside more. It also means that we need to empower them so they can be safe.

I read this book earlier this month.


I'm not sure why this story touched me so much, but it did.
It might be because I remember this being on the news.
I remember how horrible it was and I was just a kid.

Our family started taking measures to keep us safe.
One thing we did as a family is have a secret password.
It was one that we were all familiar with.
"Peanut Butter"
This is how the password worked:
If my mom sent someone else to pick us up and we didn't have prior knowledge, they would have the password.
It helped to make sure we were only picked up by someone who was asked by our parents.
The trick that this helped to alleviate was if someone told us that our mom was hurt and they were sent by her to get us from school or sports or a friend's house.
The password was never needed, but we had it, just in case.

This year I have had to be more aware of what dangers are around.
We have a 13 year old, 8, almost 6, and two almost 4.
I think the main reason I have been more worried is because the 8 year old is now going places on his own. This wasn't done before. He is more of a home body.
It has been great to start talking more about personal safety with them. (Kinda scares me about the littlest)

A few tips we give the kids is:

• Stay on the sidewalk. If an adult stops and asks you a question from their car, stay on the sidewalk. Do Not go over to the car.

• Travel in packs. If you are walking someplace, go with friends. Stick together. Keep each other safe.
• If you are riding your bike, keep a good hold on it. If someone stops and is talking to you, don't get off your bike. It is harder for someone to take you if they have to carry your bike too.
• If someone does try to take you, kick and scream and hit and bite. Do what ever you can to get away from them. Yell that they are not your mom or dad. Call for help.

Here are some website that I have used to teach the kids how to stay safe:
http://www.kidpower.org/resources/articles/safety-tips-kidnapping.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504744_162-20092333-10391703.html
http://childcare.about.com/od/childsafet1/qt/strangerdanger.htm

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