Ergo Baby Carrier

So with the arrival of Baby Girl comes the opportunity to nurse her and hold her. Unfortunately, sometimes I have other things to do besides nurse and hold Baby Girl. So I started looking for a carrier I can use that won't kill my back, is comfortable for Baby Girl and I can nurse in.

I have a Moby Wrap from Little Pumpkin, but I can't comfortably nurse with it-I know, some women can, but I was struggling.

I have a couple of other carriers-one is for older children and one is for infants-but Baby Girl doesn't care for it, it kills my back, and I can't nurse her in it.

I was able to discreetly nurse for this photo.

Then I found the Ergo....what a wonderful carrier! Fits all 3 of my needs and more! With the infant insert Ergo can carry a baby as small as 7 lbs. up to 15 lbs., then you take out the insert and you can carry up to a 45 lb. child. It is a bit pricey, but totally worth it! After I bought mine I checked ebay and found out they are WAY cheaper there! As low as $75 New In Box!!!

The shoulder straps are SUPER padded. The carrier material is really strong and durable. It comes with a hood, and it is super easy to modestly nurse-no one can tell when I am nursing! The Ergo comes in a variety of colors, I have an olive green one and a khaki colored one.

I bought 2-one for Baby Girl and one for Little Pumpkin.

I can carry Little Pumpkin on my back AND Baby Girl in front---oh my!

Little Pumpkin and Baby Girl both love it! I carried Baby Girl 3 hours while shipping last week-no problem, she ate, slept and smiled...then repeated! When we were done my mom asked if Baby Girl needed to eat, I told her she already did-twice! I told you no one can tell!

So go on over to ebay and buy one-they make a great shower gift too!

If you can't find what you want there check out all the choices at the Ergo website---SWOON!

Frugal Tip

Want to learn to sew, crochet, cook or anything else for free? Go to youtube, there are so many free tutorials. Learn from people who have been doing these things forever!

We Love Lucy!

About a week and a half ago we got a new family addition....

Lucy! What a little cutie!

Repurposing Rags

The Artist and I have been making rag rugs. We simply use old ripped sheets, t-shirts, etc. Really anything that isn't in good enough shape to donate. If you don't have rags buy sheets from the thrift store, or yard sales. You simply cut the old cloth into 1.5 inch strips and connect them together to make long strips. To connect them snip little holes on each end of your strip, then weave them together. Then crochet your long strip into a circular or oval rug.

These are perfect and durable enough for entry ways or mud rooms, and are pretty enough to add rustic charm to any room. They are works of art that are super easy to make! This would be a great craft project for younger children as well. Simply wash and hang dry.

Canvas Painters Drop Cloth Part 2

So what did I do with that canvas drop cloth? Well first I took the two 12' x 4' pieces and cut them in half making four 6' x 4' pieces.

Then they were ironed and seems sewn all around, making a 4" drapery rod pocket on the top of each piece.

Then we dyed the fabric Navy Blue in the washing machine.

Little Pumpkin was quite concerned to see the blue color in the washing machine! When they were dry I ironed them and looked at them for about a week....They were more purple than blue and since these were for my sons room, purple wouldn't do!

So....

 

Back  into the washer they went! They came out more blue/gray, but looked better.

While I ironed the now darker drapes Handsome Husband hung the old/new curtain rod. I had bought this curtain rod about 5 years ago and it sat in the basement unused.

Finally! Time to hang the new drapes! OH MY GOSH! They shrunk and are now too short! This simple and fun project was now really dragging out!

So I looked online and decided I would lengthen them with a contrasting fabric, I was bummed to have to wait yet another day to finish these curtains.

So I went to my resident artist (my daughter) and asked her what color would look good, well she said black right away. I had just bought Thoughtful Son a new duvet cover for his bed and wouldn't you know it, it had come with 2 long black pillow cases! Ha! What are the chances? They had been washed and were sitting in the linen closet just waiting!
 

So w pulled them out and cut them in half length ways.

 I was happy to have mt rotary tool---I can't cut a straight line that well. Ha ha.

Out with the old seems and in with the new!

They turned out AMAZING! if I do say so myself. I love, love, love them. They really tie in his black duvet cover!

 

I got him a new dresser I am planning to refinish....so you'll have to come back to see the finished room! This will give him time to clean it too!

Easy Cleaning Tip

Put a layer of newspaper in the bottom of your trashcan, it will absorb any liquids that might accumulate!

Don't have newspaper? Use your junk mail!

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Buy vanilla beans, cut them down the middle (I bought mine on Amazon)...

Buy cheap vodka...

 Put vanilla beans into cheap vodka...

Set aside for 1 month and get the best vanilla extract on the cheap!

 This Vanilla Extract will keep for years, only getting stronger with time. It makes a great gift, just put it in a pretty jar!