Pumpkin Time Again!

One of the reasons I love fall is because I love pumpkins! There is so much you can do with a pumpkin and they just look fun.

What do I do with pumpkins? Let me see. I make pumpkin puree which gets used in soap, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin face masks. I have enough left over in the freezer, it will probably get fed to Hayden when he is older. I roast the seeds. Oh, I love pumpkin seeds, they are so delicious and easy to make. I also love how you can make them any flavor you want, although plain salted is my favorite. Of course, we can't forget that age old tradition of carving pumpkins!

My Honu Pumpkin!

This year I got two pie pumpkins from the farmer's market I participated in. They were perfect! I have so much puree from them (read about making your own here), I don't think I'll have a shortage this next year. We got our carving pumpkins from a local farm that has a petting zoo, pony rides, and other activities for kids. Hayden was much too small to enjoy any of that, but we had fun and we got some cute pictures of him with the pumpkins.

My favorite pumpkin

What do you like to do with pumpkins? Do you have a special recipe that you use?

Soap and Baby

So, I knew that it would be hard to get much done with a newborn, I just wasn't prepared for how often he would need something. At first it was pretty much constant. By the time I got done feeding him and changing him, he'd take a 30 min nap and want to eat again. At about 4 weeks, we got into a pretty good schedule. I'd feed him, we'd play until he got fussy, then he'd go down for a nap and I'd feed him every 3 hours. It is still working, although he's playing longer and sleeping less.

Little Hayden

Considering how often I was taking care of him, I didn't think I would get anything done, but I figured out a system for my soapmaking. Right after he goes to sleep I get started. I make my lye first, since that takes so long to cool. Then I melt my oils, line my mold, and get all my extras ready. He usually starts waking before I'm finished with this, but his pacifier keeps him happy until dinner time. Then, I take a break and feed him. When he goes back to sleep I finish making the soap and clean up. I usually finish just in time for him to eat again. So, it is taking longer to finish a batch of soap, but I'm glad I get to do it. I love caring for Hayden, but getting to make soap is a welcome change to the day. I haven't tried making any balms yet, but we'll get to it.

Chocolate Mint Milk Soap

My first craft show is November 12th, so I'd better get busy. The rest of my soaps will be made in my crock pot, but they'll be wonderful just the same.

Organized

Last month a hardware store was selling some awesome shelves for half the price. I bought one set to help organize my workroom and after I got them together, I loved them so much, I went and bought another set. I got my workroom organized and it is so much easier to find the stuff I need. I have all of my containers together on one shelf. On the other, I put my products, molds, and other odds and ends.

Of course, I did this all before little Hayden got here. In fact I finished it the day before he was born! I'm glad I got it done then because I surely wouldn't have gotten it done after he came. I have recently managed to make two batches of soap though.

So, that's one more thing off my list!

My Angel

My sweet angel arrived on 9-9-10. He was 9 lbs 7 oz and 19 inches long. I'm so incredibly happy, but needless to say I'm not getting much done. I'm okay with that for now and if I seem to be missing long than I was right before he came, I have a great reason.

My angel and I

Car Seat Cover

I've been having sew (punny) much fun on my borrowed sewing machine lately! I guess one good point to being unemployed is that I have LOTS of time to get stuff done (I'm trying really hard to find the positive points here, please understand). My house is cleaner than it has been in forever. I've gotten so many projects done. I organized my soap room (pictures to come!). I've had some genius creative ideas. AND I've gotten to spend lots of time browsing the internet looking for crafty projects. Oh, and I've applied for so many jobs I can't keep up anymore.

I made my nursing cover and now I've made a car seat cover! I love it, it straps on the the carrier handle and it is fitted perfectly for the seat. So, I don't have to worry about him pulling a blanket off, a blanket being too big and hanging on the ground, or any other little problems. The biggest bonus? I picked out the material and it is exactly what we wanted! I also grabbed some other material that I couldn't resist, it has little blue and brown elephants on it and so I might make another.

Car seat cover closed. I followed the tutorial from Make it Do. I love her tutorials because she has sooo many pics to help.

What do you think, not bad for my first try!

Cover open, I like the brighter pattern on the inside for him to look enjoy.

Soap Class!

I taught my very first soap class to two very fun women. Thanks to Deidre and Jory for coming over and letting me teach you about soapmaking! We had so much fun and they were full of great questions. It was really nice to get to share information and talk soap. Most people aren't that interested in the soap making process. They may love my soap, but they don't really want to know how I did it.

My students were just awesome and their soap looks so good! I'm delivering it to them tomorrow and I hope they are as excited as I am. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures, but we had lots of fun and I hope they take what they learned and make lots of fun soap!

One Track Mind

I'll admit it; lately, I've had a completely one track mind! I just can't stop myself. I made a list of all the things I just HAVE to get done for my little Stoney gets here and the list IS NOT GETTING SHORTER.

Of course, that couldn't be because I keep thinking of things to add, but that is beside the point.

Apparently, this is completely normal and is called nesting. You know, when people tell you about nesting, this is not what I imagined. My house is definitely cleaner and I thought it would end there, but apparently not. I've also insisted that we repaint our bedroom and both the bathrooms, I've gone through the ENTIRE house and send loads of stuff to Goodwill, I've rearranged the garage, and starting making stuff for the baby (and planning stuff for me)! This was not in any of the pregnancy books.

Nursing cover I made from a pattern I found @ Prudent Baby. I love the little peek-a-boo feature at the top!

The plus side for my business is that I've done a lot of work on stuff for baby. I have a lotion, powder, balm, massage oil, and diaper spray. I'm just waiting on my last few labels and then it will be released! On the down side, that is about all I've gotten done. Oh well, I will come to learn balance.

So, the biggest news...if little Stoney doesn't get here sooner, he will be here Thursday! So, if I thought I had a one track mind before, I wonder what it will be like after. Probably sleepy!