Doing some cooking

I have been trying to do some cooking. I want to post my favorites and things that I do to save money for my family.

My kids like to eat crepes. I have a sourdough recipe that I usually make for them. I'm eating gluten-free right now. I hope to be able to eat gluten again, but for now I don't. The recipe I used came from Gnowfglins, a whole food, prepper blog.

Sourdough starter, eggs, melted butter, and a splash of milk is all it takes. I make them one at a time in my cast iron skillet so it is a bit time consuming, especially with the kids at my elbows waiting for me to pull one off! Tonight I doubled it with plans to freeze them. I started after dinner so nobody was hungry. I like to flash freeze food to keep it from sticking in the package. I stacked the crepes with parchment paper between them. The paper was an odd size so I cut it into rough circles to fit into the bag in the freezer. Hopefully, they will last longer in the freezer. The kids can pull a couple out for a meal instead of eating them all just because they are there.

I can't wait to see how well they reheat. I plan on just heating them in the same cast iron pan I cooked them in tonight. And, because I am trying to put pictures in my posts I took a picture of the nicely stacked crepes waiting to go in the freezer.

From Family '14

100 Days of Exercise: Day 6

I have not felt like exercising in a bit. Way too cold!

I did some moving around tonight while waiting to pick up E from her babysitting gig.

I did a minute each of the cat pose, hundreds, single-leg stretches, high and low scissors, and ab curl toe tap. I picked some core exercises to do. I also threw in a minute of KB swings.

100 Days of Exercise: Days 4 and 5

Sunday, Jan. 12, I walked 2.2 miles with the Run-Walk ministry at our church. It's very low key, and usually it's a lot of fun. There are serious runners and serious non-runners. That would be me. I hang out in the back. The kids usually go and run, walk, or pick dandelions.

Today, I did several exercises:
30 jumping jacks
10 kettle bell single arm rows with each arm
4 steps up using a knee-high bench
10 squats
20 kettle bell swings

100 Days of Exercise: Days 2 and 3

Sometimes I exercise late at night when the kids are sleeping (no witness of my weakness), so I forget to enter the info. I need to find a way to get all the dates entered.

Sun., 1/5/14 
More kettle bell exercises. I'm working up to a full minute of basic swings.

Wed., 1/8/14
Up and down steps. No weights.
30 jumping jacks
10 crunches
Tried to hang from the chin-up bar.

Walking and running start back up Sunday. That will count. I usually go for a walk on Thursdays when the kids are in their co-op classes. Depends on how cold it is tomorrow.

97 more days to go.

100 days of exercise: Day 1

I've decided to commit to exercising for 100 days this year. Walking or some other form of exercise that gets me moving will count. I'm never sure how much I really exercise, and I want to keep a log of it all. Maybe my body shape will change and I will be more fit.

I did a short, 5 minute workout with a kettle bell tonight. Five minutes is long enough for me with the kettle bell. It's work. Fast, intense moving beats nasty aerobics for 30 minutes. My strength and endurance should improve over time.

What I sewed in 2013

I managed to sew up 62.11 yards of fabric. That's the most since 2010.

This is a list of all the items I sewed plus one piece donated.

1. little blanket/quilt for I's stuffed puppy dog Black Spots
2. pink ruffle fabric skirt for H
3. floral ruffle fabric skirt for E
4. purple ruffle fabric skirt for O
5. purple ruffle fabric skirt for Charis
6. floral circle skirt for O
7. I's shorts, wadder
8. O's dress muslin
9. O's birthday dress, Simplicity 1815
10. little blanket/quilt for O's stuffed puppy dog 
11. knit scrap for NL 6122 muslin
12. NL 6122
13. floral knit from Barbara F. Sew What You Love Go-to dress for E
14. black print, sling for Melissa F.
15. scrap for altering L's green t-shirt with overlapping circles
16. green, pre-shirred dress for E from Joann fabric
17. scrap knit for Vogue 8827 muslin
18. pre-shirred, pink/yellow/orange dress for H
19. Vogue 8870, pink dot fabric for E
20.  pre-shirred, pink/yellow dress for L
21.  McCall's 5431for me; red floral print from Mom's stash
22.  green and cream floral prints, Anything But Boring purse by E
23.  misc. coordinating scraps for checkerboard/tic-tac-toe game for Mrs. Jean
24.  Simplicity 1723 for L birthday dress in yellow floral print
25.  Amy Butler nap pillow for H, started in 2007 (!!)
26.  donated fabric
27.  pre-shirred, purple/blue dress for O
28. Simplicity 4206 (oop) for O, started in 2006? for E
29.  mystery floral scrap for Pilgrim costume
30.  blue stripe fleece for 2 infinity scarfs
31.  mystery floral, 2 skirts for OCC boxes
32.  mystery floral muslin EL Christmas dress top
33. Sis Boom “Molly” H Christmas dress
34. Sis Boom “Meghan” L Christmas dress
35. Sis Boom “Meghan” E Christmas dress
36. Sis Boom “Molly” O Christmas dress
37. various bits for L to make hair bows
38. Scientific Seamstress 9 I's Christmas vest
39. blue border print fleece from Gram for Scott's blanket from Lottie
40. modern trees fabric, from O's 2013 dress for napkins for Frashers

I bought 44.47 yards of fabric. That was mostly birthday and Christmas fabric, so I don't mind too much. My main goal is to use up more fabric than I buy. I would like to sew up twice as much fabric as I buy, but I'm ok as long as I'm not just adding more fabric to the stash.





This year I plan to concentrate on sewing for myself. I really hate having to make alterations for fit, but buying clothes in the store is not any better. Those clothes are not flattering or cheap.