Make It New: Pajama Stockings

As you now know, I make lists before I buy anything. A Christmas stocking for Siena tops my latest list. By some mind trick, instead of that retail therapy high I used to get from buying things, I now get a rush from finding ways to NOT buy things.    Joe jokingly said I should just use some of her old baby clothes piled up in the garage to make a stocking.  An excellent idea, hubs!

I took a brown receiving blanket, an Aiden and Anais swaddle blanket, and an outgrown terrycloth pajama, hacked them up, and then created this little Mary Jane stocking.

 

Sidenotes:

1) I really like the idea of "upcycling", but I think it will get some getting used to.  Cutting up those blankets and pajamas just felt so wrong, kinda like hacking into raw meat for the first time.  Sometimes destruction is necessary to make something useful again. 

2) I suck at machine sewing!  My goodness, I cannot sew a straight line for the life of me.  It feels like walking an untrained dog and getting pulled every which way. At one point, I just switched to hand-stitching because it was faster and less frustrating.  Wish grown-up Kristin could tell high school Kristin to forgo cheerleading and take sewing instead. Now, does anyone know of any good online sewing classes? 

3)  I cried as I made this stocking.  I remember just months ago wrapping her up like a little burrito with the blankets.  I could have fit tiny newborn Sisi in that stocking completely, but next Christmas she'll be able to wear it like a knee sock. 

In conclusion, I'm not big on the color combo, it doesn't match our traditional Christmas decor at all, and the stitching is completely amateur, but I love this little stocking because it's made of memories.  And here's where I offer you some wine with my cheese.  :)

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On The Subject of $$

Joe and I have a dream, and that is to be completely debt free.  Maybe that doesn't sound exciting or even slightly glamorous, but just the thought of it brings me to tears.  Just imagine owing nothing. Owning the car you drive, the house you live in and even the degree you received. What freedom!!!   I love Dave Ramsey's catch phrase and repeat it to myself everyday: "Debt is dumb, cash is king, and the paid off home mortgage has taken the place of the BMW as the status symbol of choice." 

Every dream requires sacrifice.  The more we sacrifice, the faster the dream will come.  We have a budget, and this budget includes a humble weekly "allowance" that we can use for whatever we want.  I mean, you HAVE to have a little wiggle room to buy some iced coffee and some earrings, or you'll go nuts.  We also have a "gift" allowance so we can be generous (but not tooooo generous) with others. Any leftover money we have at the end of the month gets thrown to the student loan wolves.  Now, I can proudly say that my student loan and our home mortgage are all the debt we have left. :)

We have good and bad months. When Sisi was a newborn I bought all sorts of presents for myself to give me comfort.  But, like with dieting or cleaning or any other discipline, all that really matters is that you pick up and keep going.  One step back, two steps forward.  Sorry, lots of cliches in the post.  

Here are 3 simple-but-really-hard things that have completely changed the way we handle our money:

1.  NO MORE CREDIT CARDS.  We paid them off and then destroyed them. We didn't close our accounts for the sake of our credit, but we completely pretend like our credit cards don't exist.  We only use our debit card.  Even though we paid our cards in full every month, I find that, psychologically, I'm likely to buy more stuff on a credit card (a seemingly vast supply of magical money) than on a debit card, which links directly to our own little pile of money.  If we spend too much and our checking balance is running dangerously low, it leaves more of a sting.

2.  MAKE A LIST, THEN WAIT.  When I find myself thinking of all the stuff I absolutely need right this minute(even very practical, non-extravagent things) I stop, and write it all out.  Here is my most recent list:

• dish soap and hand soap
• tea diffuser
• shoes for Siena
• toy box for Siena
• a few new dog toys 
• new kitchen broom
• fabrics for the etsy shop
• rainbow sandals 
• black leggings
• panties (gross Pesto likes to steal mine and eat them.)

I wait two weeks, then write it all down again, from memory. 

• dish soap and hand soap --> used a bottle of Dr. Bronner's we have under the sink.
• tea diffuser-->made a makeshift one out of a coffee filter, string, and chopsticks.
• shoes for Siena-->heck, shoes never stay on her.  what's the point?
• toy box for Siena-->used a decorative wooden box from my old florist days I found in the garage
• a few new dog toys ---> water bottles and pine cones.
• new kitchen broom
• black leggings --> I will probably receive clothing gift certificates for Christmas, so I'll wait. 
  
• panties (gross Pesto likes to steal my favorites and eat them.)
• hmmm what else?  couldn't remember... obviously wasn't that important.  

I could have easily spent hundreds of dollars on these items, but turns out the only things I cannot make myself are a broom and panties. (Props to anyone who can make their own panties, though!)


3. LIMIT THE EYE CANDY.  Oyy veh, this is a hard one. It was even harder when I was smack dab in the middle of the wedding industry. ,But yeah, still hard for a twenty something like me who creates fashion accessories, has very stylish friends,  and lives in one of the wealthiest towns in the country. But I do try to limit what I take in.  For this reason, I'm holding off on Pinterest (although the temptation is growing), I don't watch TV, and I stopped subscribing to fashion mags (except Vogue for business purposes :)).  I've also pared down my blog list to the cream of the crop.  Hopefully, I'll get to the point of contentment where simply seeing something does not equal NEEDING it, but I'm not there yet.  



***Readers, I'd love to hear your money-saving tips, especially related to gift-giving!  That's where I'm stumped.***

Because every blog post needs a picture, let me introduce you to Chico, the tiny 5 inch tall snowman, built by Angel on a trip we took to Yosemite.  Little Chico has a dream.  He wants to be debt free, and by golly, he will get there someday...

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FREE SHIPPING!

FREE SHIPPING (domestic only) on all Petal and Thorn products, now through the January 1!  

Stop by the shop!

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10 Months Old

I can't believe her first birthday is just 2 months away.  Is it normal to burst into tears at the thought?

 

Siena at a glance:

• Has perfected her crab walk (crawling on hands and feet with legs straight) and cruising.
• Does crawling donuts (crawls in a circle over and over)
• Constantly humming little ditties.
• Able to eat bits of meat, like chicken, beef and pork.
• If Sisi sees, Sisi wants! I must eat my own treats around the corner, like when I used to sneak cookies as a sugar-addicted child. 
• The "mo mo mo" thing was a phase, and I was probably reading into it too much.  Her official first word is "da da".  Pretty standard!
• Is really into immitating us- she claps, drums, waves, pats her own head, and makes a "down" motion to the dogs.  She makes a raaaarrrr sound when she sees her lion.  
• When I'm brushing with my sonicare, she puts her cheek against it to feel it jiggle.
• Nursing 4 times a day (plus 1 night time feeding most days), and napping 2x.  Night sleep is a bit whack.  Let's change the subject :)
• Opens every closet and empties it's contents.   Forces me to keep clutter under control!
• The mini-tantrums have begun!

Her headband was inspired by the flower mart flower bundles that they wrap with newspaper and tie with twine. It's available here, at the Petal and Thorn etsy shop, along with the newly listed boba headband. Also, how much did Joe rock it out with these pictures?  The window one may be my favorite Sisi picture EVER.  Thanks hubby! 

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Flowers for Rachel

My good friend Rachel married her Jr. High School sweetheart on 9.10.11.   It was a lively, colorful and cozy affair, so fitting of the couple.  Rachel DIYed most of the decor, so I offered to do the personals.  Fresh flowers are the hardest thing for a bride to do herself; I know this from personal experience.  She took me up on the offer, and I was honored to be even a small part of such a cleverly-crafted wedding.  I had no plan really, I just headed to the mart early with a rough recipe, and tried  to pick whatever seemed Rachel-esque.  Gorgeous photos by Fresh in Love.

 Joe and I had such a wonderful evening eating tacos, gobbling Rachel's homemade cookies, and dancing under the stars.  They were such hospitable hosts. Rachel had to pick and choose what details  to focus on, as all brides do, and the ones they chose happened to be the ones guests care about most- tasty food, great DJ, yummy cocktails, and enough desserts to satisfy even me. Some brides buy a $6000.00 dress and $2000.00 shoes, but serve cold costco appetizers, because "it's MY day".  This wasn't one of those weddings!

See all the planning that went into this wedding on Rachel's blog Heart of Light, and 100 Layer Cake. 

*In case you're wondering, the paleo diet goes out the window at weddings and parties, and I'm ok with that!
*Also, I have nothing against Costco appetizers.  

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The Making of a Cocktail Hat

Pick out fabrics and form. 

Fleece it, then cover with silk dupioni (this takes some patience and perhaps bloody fingers.)

 Adorn with a veil poof and hand-singed roses in the prettiest anenome shades. 

Add the finishing touches.

Don't forget your signature!

Find a willing model.  Tres chic!

P.S. Thank you for your patience with my very rudimentary picture taking.  I'm a very many things, but photographer is not one of them!

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Paleo Breakfast Frittata

Joe and I switch off cooking breakfast every other day so that it doesn't become too much of a burden.  My go-to breakfast is a paleo frittata.  It's fast to make, uses up all the random vegies and meat in the fridge, and only requires one pan. I love my hubby's breakfasts, but he always manages to use every pan and utensil in the house to cook it.

KRISTIN'S PALEO FRITTATA  

(illustrated with crappy cell phone pictures)

*serves 3-4 people, although my husband could probably polish off the whole thing.*

Ingredients: 
1/2 small onion, cut into bits
4 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces (Trader Joe's sells "bacon ends n' pieces" if you don't feel like manhandling bacon)
1/2 pound other meat of your choice (we do ground lamb, ground beef, or chorizo sausage-whatever is in the fridge)
2 cups of random chopped vegetables (anything you might put in an omelette)
10-12 large cage free eggs
salt, pepper, mixed herbs to taste (we use Trader Joe's "Everyday Seasoning")
1/3 cup cheese, grated (raw or grassfed is most nutritious!)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400*
• In an oven proof pan, cook onion and bacon together until onions are translucent. 
• Add meat, sprinkle salt, pepper, and seasonings, and brown (about 2 minutes).  
• Add vegetables, and saute with the meat (about 2 minutes).
• With a spatula, smoosh down the mixture so it forms an even layer on the bottom of the pan.
• In a separate bowl, whisk eggs together with salt, pepper, and herbs.  Pour the egg mixture evenly over the meat mixture. Sprinkle grated cheese over the eggs.
• Put the entire pan in the oven, and bake for 10-15 minutes, until eggs are fluffy and cheese is crispy. 

 You will have no desire to snack before or after lunch, if you can even eat lunch!  Joe is down to two meals a day.  HUGE breakfast, and HUGE dinner, thus cutting down on our "eating out" budget so we can pay for things like grassfed beef and cage free eggs.  It all evens out in the end!

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