Link Roundup - Little Mermaid Edition

Today I'm sharing the joys of the Little Mermaid with Goose. Except instead of utilizing the time to get things done, I watched it with her. Good times! We had a brief glimpse of spring here with beautiful temperatures that melted almost all our snow. We're back to winter again, though, and I'm sure it'll stick around for a while yet. You may have noticed that I'm way behind on links again. So let's get to it -

MAKE
Upon reading the post at MADE about Understanding Bias and Making Bias Tape, I was quick to confirm that my mother-in-law indeed has bias tape makers in varying sizes. Yup, I married well! :>)

I am so in love with this idea to make DIY Fabric Wall Decals at Frugal Family Fun Blog! The comments are great, too - one suggests adhering flannel to the wall for a felt board. Of course, I'm going to have to wait until we have a new house without plaster bumpy walls, but I'm tucking the idea away for sure. Also at FFFB is this Easy Icicle Craft with few supplies and little mess.

These DIY Eye Spy Books at No Time For Flash Cards are a great & inexpensive idea for keeping little ones occupied. Similarly, here is an I Spy Mat from I can teach my child!

I am cracking up over this Bunny Bowling with The Long Thread tutorial found at Etsy. I don't have a hallway for it, but seriously, how fun!

Since Goose loves all things rainbow, I know she'd be a fan of this Rainbow Crochet Zipped Coin Purse Tutorial from Sparkle Petal. Oh, and I think it goes without saying that she's also a fan of money. :>)

Creative Jewish Mom has a fun tutorial on Weaving Fun Summer Placemats with T-Shirt Yarn (yup, I'm missing summer today!)

This Toddler Poncho Tutorial from An Apple and a Tree seriously is making me want to snuggle in somewhere.

Hmm, I'm not sure if the line from my now-defunct retractable clothesline would work for this, but regardless I love the look of Yarn Love at Family Chic.

If you want to purchase some sewn bean bags, let me know. Otherwise, check out these No Sew Duct Tape Beanbags from Frugal Fun 4 Boys. (Somewhere I have a post on bean bag games, but I guess it'll have to wait.)

How fun are these Rockstar Toddler Suspenders at Danielle Daniels? It's a good thing I didn't have the page up when Hubs walked by a minute ago or I'm pretty sure I'd be making him a pair...

EAT
When I lived in Colorado Springs, I had a friend named Margaret that made amazing butternut squash soup and I never got the recipe from her. I feel a little like a lost soul, wandering around trying to find "the one" :>) - maybe this Amazing Butternut Squash Bisque from Hallee the Homemaker will be it?

Laura at Heavenly Homemakers (who in a coincidental side note left Colo Springs about the time I moved there and now lives a few counties away here in Nebraska!) is teaching us How to Stretch a Chicken to Make Six Meals. She also explains how to make Homemade Tater Tots that freeze and reheat well!

It's not too often that I make a recipe before posting about it, but that happened this time with Our Lady of Lourdes Chicken Soup and Dumplings from Catholic Cuisine and let me tell you... it is GREAT!

Only the disappointing numbers on the scale have kept me from making this Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Pie for which I just *happen* to have all the ingredients... (my rear end does NOT thank you for reposting this, Amy @ Finer Things!)

DO
The Artful Parent shows us how to do a Rubber Cement and Watercolors Resist for young artists.

We're still chugging away with "Goose and Mama" preschool here at our house, so I bookmarked this Doctor and Nurses Preschool Pack from Homeschool Creations. (Note to self - click around over there and see what else is to be found!)

More natural cold remedies at Naturally Knocked Up - Staying Healthy or Getting Over the Goobers Quicker. (I'm full of parentheses and side notes today, sorry, but with this breath of spring, is anybody else having spring-like allergy flare-ups? Goose and Hubs and I are all snuffly and sneezy but thankfully not coming down with anything...)

Very interesting kitchen cabinet update project - using fabric to cover the doors! (@ Tres Chic Veronique)

This Monthly Fun Pack as seen at Chasing Cheerios would be a fun and easy way to nudge myself into doing those fun projects that I always mean to get to but don't seem to make the time for.

Here's a great roundup of audiobooks for kids at Faith & Family Live: Book Listening.

Admittedly I'm still focused on how to prevent spilling, but I really like this Salt Box Tactile Penmanship Practice at Mama Jenn.

I think I posted this before, but I had forgotten about it, so maybe you did, too? It's Quiet Time 1, 2, 3! from No Time For Flash Cards. Goose has done pretty well transitioning from nap to quiet time, and I even shoot for 90 minutes. I know many other mamas are not so lucky, though, and this is a great thing to try.

Another fun magic trick (anybody remember the toothpick star?) from How Does She?

PRAY & PONDER
With Lent coming up (which seems to be a difficult time for me during the Liturgical Year), I appreciated this post by Elizabeth Foss on the Cheerful Pursuit of Joy.

Also from Elizabeth, I would do well to apply this filter to my thoughts, words, and actions: Is it True, Kind, Necessary?

A great post by Kate Wicker at Faith & Family Live - Empty Yourself and let God fill you up.

Happy clicking! (thirty-some links down... fifty-some to go!)

Link Roundup - Holy Cow, It's COLD Edition

I just checked the outside temperature, and it's five degrees. And dropping. And very windy. And snowing. Guess what has two thumbs and a sore neck and rescheduled a much needed chiropractor appointment for today to stay curled up next to the corn stove? That's right, this girl.

So, let's peruse some links and dream of spring, eh?

MAKE
I'm tempted to get one of these Helping Towers at Ana White made for Goose in the kitchen, considering she fell off her chair THREE times the other day (messing around, sigh). Best of all - they fold flat for storage!

Hubs' t-shirt drawer is stuffed to overflowing, so perhaps I could do something like these T-Shirt Yarn Braided Coasters from homework with the rejects.

So I'm a bit late in posting this, but I like the looks of these Sailors Knot Bracelets as seen in a tutorial on Etsy.

These Beaded Picture Hangers at Inside BruCrew Life are so pretty.

rhythm of the home has instructions on how to make some very sweet No Sew Rag Dolls.

Perhaps it's the current winter storm warning that has me intrigued, but I like the looks of this How To Make an Oil Lamp tutorial at Down To Earth.

Can't you almost smell this Candy Cane Playdough from Artful Parent through your screen? From the same site, check out Rubber Cement and Watercolors.

The possibilities are really and truly endless with this Craft Foam Bath Murals found at Filth Wizardry. Though I'll admit I don't even really let Goose kneel in the tub too much, let alone stand up!

Check out My Kind of Baking over at Frugal Family Fun Blog for a neat suggestion on pretend baking with felt. Looks like a lot of fun!

I love this Bread Making Kit from Saltwater Kids as a very useful gift.

EAT
There happens to be a double batch of this Quick and Easy Crockpot Caramel Apple Cider from A Year of Slow Cooking on my stove right now (didn't feel like dragging out the crockpot). I must say, the cinnamon seems to form a sludge in the bottom, but maybe that's because it needs to cook and be stirred longer? Still, it's delicious.

These Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites from Two Peas and Their Pod have been calling my name since I found the link.

Head over to Kitchen Stewardship for a great post on Katie's Basic Bread Baking Techniques (or Lack Thereof). :>) Lots of excellent info there, plus more in the comments.

I can't think of lemon anything without thinking of one of bubbly little niece saying "I can't belive Uncle [Hubs] doesn't like this... it's sooo-ooo good!" :>) Smile about that as you check out this recipe for Whole Wheat Lemon Pound Cake from Heavenly Homemakers.

DO
There is plenty of humor and a lot of truth in 10 Ways to Be a Lazy Housewife at The Crimson Covered Farm Life.

I am certain that Goose would eat more marshmallows than she'd stick together, but it would still be fun to try Boredom Buster: Marshmallows & Toothpicks as seen at Under the Sycamore.

Catholic Icing explains how to find religious items among a Dollar Store Haul. (and that post led me to another on Make a Giant Rosary - love it!)

We're starting to think a bit more about building a house someday, so I love to find things like 10 Lessons Learned from Building a Kitchen at Centsational Girl.

I'm betting it'll be cold enough tomorrow to try this Fun With Weather trick as seen at Faith & Family Live.

If you have an "older" Amazon.com account (I don't know how that is defined), please check out an article from Wired about an Amazon Password Problem. I logged in, changed mine, and then changed it back - since that makes it a "new" password, it is now better protected.

Not sure how Goose would react, but I'm kind of intrigued to find out what she would do with Hole Inspiration from the Artful Parent.

Ugh, I had forgotten that I intended to do this - How to Clean Your Dishwasher, from Apartment Therapy. I think Hubs' love for a ton of cocoa mix in his coffee (or just a nice cup of cocoa) has led to an overflow of cocoa powder in our dishwasher and it looks yucky. Guess I'd better get to work!

PRAY & PONDER
St. Francis de Sales is one of my favorite saints, and I learned several new things about him from A Friend in St. Francis de Sales at Catholic News Agency.

Happy clicking!

Link Roundup - Missed Party Edition

Poor Goose. She got invited to her first friend birthday party for a girl from our tiny preschool co-op, and we didn't go. The weather was supposed to be pretty questionable, and I know from prior experience that Hubs is not happy when he has to pull me out of the ditch, especially when I went off to do something he finds frivolous.

Also, Goose was up waaaay too early this morning (6AM) on top of a week's worth of suspected sleep-deprived crankiness, and I decided I didn't want to be THAT mom with the melting down kid ruining some other poor kid's birthday party. Maybe next time... (And let's hear it for early bedtime!!! Clapclapclapclapclap clapclap)

[Update - bedtime was not early. Sigh. If Papa goes ice fishing tomorrow, it's going to be a long day.]

I really shoulda' done a roundup last weekend so I could stay caught up, but I decided to do all sorts of fun things (or something) and just plain didn't get it done. Let's see how many I can get in here before Goose finishes her bath - ready, set, GO!

MAKE
The textures in this Feel Quiet Book at 4 Leaf Clover are really inspiring - love the idea.

So it sounds like the cash outlay for all the hardware is a bit more significant than one might think, but this Make Your Own Nuts and Bolts Chess Set is a rockin' idea.

I'm going to wait until Goose is old enough to appreciate the science aspect of it, but how fun would it be to make your own Rock Candy?!?

You know by now that I love all things farm animals, and I love all things quiet books - put the two together, and I'm swooning. Handmade Baby Book at Homemade Holiday Gifts. {And I've not spent any time clicking around over there, but I'm thinking I might have to do so!}

We've seen something similar at Filth Wizardry, but just in case you missed it, check out Plastic Bag Iron Ons (for t-shirts and whatnot) at Homemade Mamas.

Ohhh, I am diggin' this Rain Drop Sun Catcher at homework - and I also now know why I hang onto random pieces of plastic like that. :>)

Admittedly I've thought about making Goose a set of sandpaper letters a la Montessori and ... I haven't. But these Kid-Made "Sandpaper" Letter Set from Frugal Family Fun Blog is something I think Goose could make all by herself as well as enjoy using. She'd also enjoy Shiny Snowflake Mosaics, also at FFFB.

Though I don't have felted sweaters lying around, these Nature Walk Pouches from Kleas inspired me to make something similar for a birthday gift.

I'm in knock-off HEAVEN over at Knock Off Decor! Something tells me I could waste a lot of time in those archives...

Of course the bracelets are adorable, but I really dig the button ornaments at Cute as a Button at La de la de da.

It's the perfect time of year to make Get Crafty: Ice Ornaments, as found at Red Ted Art.

This Faux Stained Glass at Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom is really lovely.

Perfect for little ones, this No Slip Baby Doll Blanket Tutorial from The Little Appleseed represents some good thinking.

This would have to wait until we live at the farm and it could be placed far enough from the house, but I'm loving this Banging Wall found at Soule Mama.

The banging wall ranks right up there with this Backyard Melody Maker as seen at Family Fun.

Patchwork Possee tells us how to Handmade-ify a Store Bought Blanket. It's kind of like the How to Make a No-Sew Blanket with Yarn Fringe that I linked to forever ago.

EAT
Ahhh, Monkey Bread. Eighteen kinds. At Tipnut. I bookmarked his for my hubs - also at Tipnut - Amish Friendship Bread recipes and starter both.

And flipping to the other end of the spectrum making transition difficult, The Farm Chicks has a yummy looking Black Bean Burgers recipe.

I haven't ever tried kale to know if I even like it, but I *want* to like it... and you can figure out How To Cook Kale at The Local Cook.

Thanks to Sarah for tweeting the link to How To Make the Best Buttermilk Biscuits From Scratch, at Pinch My Salt.

It's not like I need to make cakes, but I am trying to collect recipes to make them without a mix - and this Yellow Butter Cake with Chocolate Frosting at The Farm Girl Recipes fits the bill.

Another post where I gained five pounds just reading it, check out these Homemade Oreos at Smitten Kitchen. I think I'd try subbing coconut oil for the shortening, though.

Thanks to Kim for pointing out these Cheesy Nibbles as found at Attic 24. (I'd use butter, too, Kim.)

DO
I've at least heard of giving paperwhites before as holiday gifts (they're a flower), and this Homemade Holidays post at Adventures of One CrAzY LaDy makes it seem do-able.

Goose would really enjoy making bird feeders as found at This One's For the Birds at Chalk in My Pocket.

This Making a Sensory Box at In The Mom Zone is a different way than I've seen before - neat idea!

Just in time for the upcoming holiday, lots of good ideas on for St. Valentine's Day on Let Me Count The Ways. [Along those lines, check out the Love Dice at Shabby Chic Crafts.] {And the Paper Baking Cup Flower Valentines at Skip to My Lou.}

Here's something I need to learn: Sewing Buttonholes and Buttons at MADE. I also bet this How to Make a Knit Waistband from The Mother Huddle would really come in handy.

Jeans have not been my friend since I was preggers with Goose, and I was not a fashionista before that anyway. Regardless, I laughed my "mama tushie" off at Mom Jeans and Dreaded Long Butt at Grasping for Objectivity.

Shared by a Colorado reader (hi!), there's some interesting tips in Common Household Products with Uncommon Uses via AOL.

PRAY & PONDER
Ordinary Time feels kind of like a letdown sometimes after big seasons like Christmas and Lent, but Simcha Fisher explains it well in a guest post at Conversion Diary.

Well, that gets me to halfway caught up on links, sigh. We'll see if I can get another roundup in this week. I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you guys, though. :>) Happy clicking!

Link Roundup - Cabin Fever Edition

Remember how we barely have any snow? Not anymore. Since Saturday, about 12-14" of snow has fallen, and the temperature is really starting to drop.

Goose and I bundled up and braved temperatures in the teens plus a stiff breeze to walk to the post office and scoop the walks this afternoon. The main reason for going out is because it's going to be worse tomorrow, with a high in the single digits - Wednesday, too. Scooping wouldn't have been nearly so bad if Goose hadn't have kept commenting that flopping around in the snow sure was "hard work!" :>)

I don't think I've mentioned here that I quit my job proofreading the newspaper. I miss it already, but right now I'm quite happy to not have to go anywhere. So, let's get out of the house via the interwebs.

MAKE
These Indoor No-Mess Snowballs at Frugal Fun For Boys is still making me laugh! I'm going to have to keep an eye out for white tights at the thrift shop.

Two cool tutorials from Obsessively Stitching: Squishy Rubik's Cubes Tutorial and I-Spy Blocks/Storytelling Dice.

I gotta admit, when I was a kid, I couldn't figure out an optical illusion my Grandma had hanging in her kitchen. See how to make your own J E S U S Optical Illusion at Catholic Icing - I love the sun catcher twist, too.

Hmm, this How-To Fabric Produce Bag Free PDF Pattern at Daisy Janie has me thinking ahead to next Christmas already. I love how they roll up! What do you think, sisters-in-law?

Oh, she *always* does this... Valerie at Frugal Family Fun Blog does something similar to what I've done but WAY cuter! This time, it's a First Sewing Basket - I made one for my youngest niece but stuck it in a repurposed plastic storage box (BORING). Guess I need to start channeling Valerie to see if I can come up with these simple but awesome tweaks! Also check out these Friendship Necklace Kits and the Printable Bird House Play Set while you're there.

Wow, this Christmas Tree Ornament Mobile at not martha is STUNNING! (Also see the How-To which makes it look not terribly difficult.)

Another wow, these Woven Cookie Star Ornaments at The Crafty Crow are really neat, and I think they could work even for preschoolers. [Note to self - do NOT start digging through the archives over there... I'll never get out!] [OK, just one - Stained Glass Poinsettia Ornaments.]

EAT
I predict Hubs will not be impressed, but I'm seriously interested in trying to make my own Wheat Meat as explained at Wise Antics of Life.

Oooh - I just realized I have all the ingredients in my fridge to make Penne with Cream Sauce from Skip to My Lou... but I don't have any pasta. Hmm. There may be some noodle making in my near future.

We're studying the letter D right now and what better timing to find a bunch of recipes for Dirt Cakes and Desserts at Tipnut! Hey, there is also a roundup of Dump Cakes, too; something of which I am a big fan as well. There are even a few recipes that include from-scratch cake instead of a mix and I will definitely be checking those out. And while we're gaining weight just looking at the screen, Lemon Cakes and Oven Baked Macaroni & Cheese.

Recommended for the January 4th feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, this Colonial Brown Bread at Catholic Cuisine looks simple and sounds delicious.

I'm thinking Sarah's Empanadas at heartland Renaissance are going to make it on our snowed-in menu rotation in short order.

Several super yummy things all rolled into one dish for this Cauliflower Cheese Pie with Potato Crust at Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks.

I've posted about homemade yogurt before, but Katie at Kitchen Stewardship has pulled together links to all her variation posts plus a few more tips and updates in this week's Monday Mission: You Can Make Homemade Yogurt! She even debunks some of your common arguments against making your own. :>) (Mine is that since I don't really like plain yogurt so I don't really know what it's supposed to taste like and thus I don't know if I did it right or not.) Katie is also Seeking the Perfect Homemade Whole Wheat Bread, and you can see the first recipe she tried at that link. Lots more to come, it sounds like.

This reminded me, it's been too long since I've made Spaetzle, this recipe from Skip To My Lou. Also check out What To Do With Leftover Candy Canes, of which there would not be any if Goose had her way. I especially love the hearts! (And I know Goose would, too.)

DO
Check out what Jen at Conversion Diary considered the 12 Best Links of 2010.

One more Tipnut link, this time 20 Things You Can Use Twice Before Tossing.

I'm not sure that I'd actually want to see the results of this, but it's an interesting concept: A Day In the Life Of... at Simply Rebekah, where you take a photo every hour of your day of what you are doing at that moment. Blog about it, then link up on February 1.

Though I've heard good things about Lakeshore Learning, I've not spent any time checking out their site until I learned there are some Free Resources including lesson plans, projects & activities, and lots of printables.

PRAY & PONDER
This Resolution Prayer at Faith & Family Live sounds like something I'd do well to consider and reconsider. (As an aside, my "resolution word" is the same as it was last year - Discipline. Wish me luck.)

Though I hope and pray that I don't need this sort of thing, I try to pay special attention to things like Baby Loss Comfort post because it's so hard to find the words when you need them. (@ Doula Patti Ramos)

Stomach bugs in little ones are never fun, but Amy at Finer Things makes some very good points in The Tyrant. It amazes me how God's grace is always there, if I only ask for it, look for it, take it.

And that's it! Can you believe it, I'm finally caught up!?! Happy clicking, friends - hope you're staying warm!

Link Roundup - Seriously? Edition

I have yet another cold. I think I had about 10 days to two weeks where I wasn't coughing all the time, and now I'm back to it. Sigh. This winter can't be over soon enough in that regard.

So let's get to some links since they don't make my ribs hurt.

MAKE
I'm loving the simplicity of this Felt Board Tutorial from jchandmade. [Click "next" at the top left to move through the photos. Took me a while to find it. :>)]

I've never seen anything quite like this Peyote Stitch Tutorial, from Uzume's Crafty Goodness.

Cheap, pretty, functional - what's not to love about these Ten Dollar Ledges from Ana White.

I am totally enamored with this How To Make an Argyle Fleece Throw at CraftStylish.

What an awesome idea - a No Sew Felt Playhouse Tutorial at Sew Can Do.

These Cinnamon Hot Pads from My Paper Crane sound really cool, though I'm not sure how they'd smell with, say, chicken. :>)

I'm quite sure I could drop 10 years of my life browsing the archives at That Artist Woman (note: school kid crafts!)

Love finding a new twist on old favorites - Monogram Taggie at Twelve Crafts Till Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, I'm tucking away these Beaded Snowflake Ornaments from Naturally Educational for Goose to make next year.

EAT
I can't look at these Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Cupcakes without cracking up, from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.

Healthy Cream Cheese Frosting? Yup, or as healthy as it gets anyway, especially coming from Laura at Heavenly Homemakers.

Rendering Lard - in a crockpot no less! - is totally fascinating to me, though I'm not sure I have the backbone to try it just yet. (@ A Moderate Life)

I love caramels, and I love gingerbread. I'm not quite sure about these Gingerbread Caramels from Martha Stewart, but if anybody wants to make them, I'll volunteer to be a taste tester.

You're about to see a trend here: Peppermint Fudge Cupcake Jars from Our Best Bites, Peppermint Caramels (Polkagriskola) from Lindsay Cooks, Peppermint Magic Shell from The Family Kitchen - which is REAL FOOD and also pretty easily adaptable for other flavors, I think, aaaand Peppermint Rimmed Hot Cocoa at How Does She?

It would be seriously detrimental to any diet hopes I have for the new year, but I can't stop thinking about these Brownie Covered Oreos at Polka Dots and Pizza.

As an attempt to get me back on track, let's shift focus to these Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls with Buttermilk Cream Cheese Icing at heartland Renaissance.

I like the looks of this French Toast Frittata from Kelly the Kitchen Kop.

And just in case you weren't hungry enough, check out these Vanilla Muffins with Cinnamon Crumb Topping at Heavenly Homemakers.

DO
Each of these 8 Gifts for Playful Children are great ideas, from Kaboom.

I was very moved reading the story about El Refugio over at Chasing Cheerios. I was blessed to have a wonderful (and safe!) visit to Guatemala about ten years ago and I'm not sure I would want to go back, but I do carry a piece of it in my heart.

These Reindeer Games at Little Wonders Days cracked me up. What a great way to celebrate Advent! Sure, it's secular, but It would be a great combination with watching the old Rudolph movie.

PRAY & PONDER
After reading the article You Cannot Steal My Joy at Faith & Family Live, I have made a conscious effort to hold my voice down when I need to deal with Goose. She is my God-given source of joy, and I need to be reminded of it sometimes.

Even with my 40 Bags in 40 Days of Lent decluttering spree, I still have a ways to go. Thankfully I run across things like this Junk or Treasure? post at Making Country Memories, my friend Maxine's blog.

I'm off to codine cough syrup land - happy clicking!

Link Roundup - Cousin Chaos Edition

We're currently at my parents' house where Goose is enjoying the pandemonium that is her four cousins aged 11-3. Good times are being had by all, I assure you.

Lots of links today! I suspect I'm double posting some of these, and I apologize. I've been trying to search my blog to see what's been posted and what hasn't, and it's starting to make me crazy, plus I'll never get this posted otherwise. So please accept my apologies if (when) I mess up!

MAKE
So easy, it's hardly a "make" - Straws, Beads, and Pipe Cleaner Stars from Chasing Cheerios.

No Time For Flash Cards explains how to make your own Lacing Cards in different shapes - the best part for me was the tip to tie your yarn on one corner of the card. Brilliant!

I tried these Velcro Blocks for one of my nieces as a Christmas gift, and it didn't work so well for us. For one, my velcro wasn't as wide as the blocks, it was difficult to glue on (well, to stay glued on) and yes, it takes FOREVER to cut and glue velcro. But, feel free to check it out. :>) (@ Chasing Cheerios)

This DIY Wine Bottle Light from Wit and Whistle is so pretty!

Since the necklaces for my sisters-in-law didn't work out (neither of the TWO designs, sigh), I went with Beaded Wine Charms as seen at DJAjewels.

The tutorial for how to make a Potluck Dish Cozy From an Old Sweater at Craftzine looks so easy that even I could do it...

"Sweet" is about the only way I can describe this Pillowcase to Doll Blanket Tutorial at MADE.

Also at MADE, but considerably more time-consuming than the above, is this Faux Chenille Blanket Tutorial.

Not sure why I am such a big sucker for stuff like this Framed Fabric Monogram (this one at Somewhat Simple), but I guess as long as they keep catching my eye, I'll keep linking to them.

I've long been looking for a homemade wedding gift, and I may have found a go-to one in these Homemade Photo Flip Books complete with 31 Days of Prayer for Your Husband, at Better Life Bags.

This Recycled Cardboard Kitty Pad at Design*Sponge makes me a bit nostalgic for my nephew-kitty who used to use one.

I might have to get my crochet hook out to make this Kitten Toy from Craftbits.

EAT
Admittedly I'm not much of a cake baker, but I like the idea of baking a cake from scratch. This Cinnamon Vanilla Cake at Catholic Cuisine sounds great, though I'm not too sure about the Mexican Hot Chocolate Buttercream Frosting - to each her own, though!

Easy and it sounds delicious - Honey Trail Mix at Catholic Cuisine.

I freely admit that pie crusts scare me, but Sarah at heartland Renaissance (which I never spell correctly on the first try) makes Perfect Pastry seem easy.

A very fun idea for next year's St. Nicholas day - Golden Santa Bread from Taste of Home. You can change up the Santa hat to a Bishop's miter, of course.

I can personally attest that this Cauliflower Cheese with Broccoli and Bacon from The Life and Times of the 21st Century Housewife is SUPER YUMMY! Though I'd cut back a bit on the onion next time, that didn't stop me from eating it in about two or three sittings.

Even with the fat-and-sugar frenzy of this past week or two, I can't stop looking at these Homemade Doughnuts at Pretty Lil' Posies.

And the opposite end of the sugar spectrum would be this Spinach Soup with Gruyere from The Pioneer Woman.

At this point, all "real food" is sounding good (once I begin to want to eat again, that is), especially this Broccoli Cheese Casserole from Kelly the Kitchen Kop.

DO
This Fishers of Men - Celebrating St. Andrew treat at Catholic Cuisine sounds very easy and super FUN!

I never knew the story behind writing S.A.G. on letters to ensure their safe delivery until now - check it out at St. Anthony Guide at Catholicism.org.

See what Katy Says is The Best Abdominal Exercise You're Not Doing. (note to self: start doing it!)

Lots of lovely Vintage Christmas Postcard Printables as found on Flickr.

Another bit of brilliance from Sarah at heartland Renaissance is this tutorial on Canning Stock for the Pantry. What an awesome idea!

Happy clicking, and happy new year, too!

Link Roundup - Happy Anniversary Hubs Edition

[Edit: just realized this never got published. Oops.] Today (um, October 18) is our seventh wedding anniversary. You can read last year's anniversary post here. Just add a year. :>) I feel like I can see the bottom of my links folder! Well, almost... (yeah, it's full again.)

MAKE
I am extremely enamored with these Erasable Activity Books at From Blank Pages.

My domestic nerdiness is showing through, but I got a huge kick out of these Lame But Awesome Couch Leg Covers. Awesome indeed!

This is a super idea for bleach free Homemade Clorox Wipes, from Live Renewed.

Wish I'd have seen this before getting rid of all my scraps from making applesauce and dried cinnamon apples - How To Make Fruit Scrap Vinegar from The Nourishing Cook.

If cold, dreary fall weather is getting to you, you might consider making an Indoor Leaf Pile a la Frugal Family Fun Blog.

EAT
Not sure that I have the cajones yet, but I'm tucking away this recipe for Homemade Raw Cheddar Cheese from GNOWFGLINS.

Yup, still looking for the best recipe, and this one promises to deliver: Best Ever Homemade Pizza at Kelly's Favorite Recipes.

DO
Not sure if this is "Do" or "Don't Eat!" - Kelly the Kitchen Kop wrote a Got Petroleum post highlighting an experiment with how plant growth is affected by food dye and aspartame. Very, very interesting.

No Time For Flash Cards rounded up Halloween Math Activities.

I need to print this off and refer to it - HTML Cheat Sheet For Bloggers from Blogging Your Way.

This method of Homeschool: Reviewing for a Test at kellicrowe is a great idea.

Link Roundup - No Snow Edition

(Written Friday night) Last year, it snowed here the first week of December. Not only did that snow stick around, but we kept getting MORE snow, and it was well into January before I was able to get the frozen-down-and-snow-covered orange blobs off my porch. And we had plenty more snow after that! This year, we've scarcely seen a flake, and we've not yet had any measurable snow. I keep hearing that we're in the area predicted to have a white Christmas, but I'm not seeing it. (Update Saturday) Um, it snowed today. Not really much at all, but the ground is still covered. I doubt it'll hang around until Saturday but it was nice to see.

So, let's let's dig out this snowbank of links. (heh.)

This ought to go under Pray & Ponder, but oh, friends, if you only click through to one link in this roundup, make it this one: Seeing Past What It Seems at Brave Girls Club. I can't even come up with a description to do it justice. Go read.

MAKE
Very cute and recycling something that would otherwise be tossed, check out these Homemade Christmas Gift Tags at Skip to My Lou.

These Nativity Blocks at Helping Little Hands are adorable, and very small child friendly.

Gluesticks shows us her family's Favorite Nativity Set. I checked out Oriental Trading to see if they still sold it and couldn't find it. I bet it's out there somewhere, though.

Also kid friendly is this Clay Pot Nativity at Kids on the Grand.

There are frequently deals at Money Saving Mom on photo books, which I've pretty much ignored because I am not really into that. However, Saving & Giving has a great post on Five Educational Uses for All Those Photo Book Deals that sound like a lot of fun, especially for little ones.

I've never seen anything like these Discovery Bottles for very little ones, at No Time For Flash Cards. I'm tempted to give it a try with Goose anyway.

This Repurposing Long Sleeved Tee into Ruffled Dress at Make It and Love It is very cute!

Lots of Diaper Sewing Tips over at Sew, Mama, Sew.

I've been obsessively checking back for a tutorial for this amazingly cute Barnyard Bag playset, though thanks to the pictures, I think I might be able to figure it out. (@ The Crafty Cupboard)

Thanks to Christy for directing me to this Pillow Buddy Tutorial at Twelve Crafts Till Christmas, and I'm still snickering over her likening hers to roadkill. (You did a great job, though, Christy!)

EAT
It's probably been mentioned here before that I'm a fan of taffy, and this Homemade Molasses Taffy from Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker sounds yummy.

Can't say that I've ever even tried Brussels sprouts, but these "Crunchy Creamy Vegetable Balls" at Gluten Free A-Z sound ... well, interesting, anyway.

Green Bean Casserole with Homemade Crispy Shoestring Onions - including homemade mushroom gravy! - at Kelly The Kitchen Kop. Because who doesn't love green bean casserole?

Continuing the healthy theme, I know three people in this house that would love Healthy Homemade Poptarts as found at Heavenly Homemakers.

I think this Homemade Apple Cider from gimmie some oven sounds delicious and like something I could do.

Surely it's a coincidence, but I just happen to have some apples in my fridge that would pair perfectly with this Homemade Honey Caramel Apple Dip or Ice Cream Topping at Kelly The Kitchen Kop. Unfortunately the dip would not pair well with my hips...

I haven't tried it yet, but I'm interested in this post on How to Make Cultured Butter and Buttermilk from riddlelove.

Thanks to my friend Sarah at heartland Renaissance for pointing me toward these 3 Tasty Drinks to Warm Kiddos' Bones.

A fun twist on "puppy chow" is Poppy Chow, as seen at The Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen Blog.

DO
Simple but stunning is the way I'd describe these Hole Punch Snowflakes at No Time For Flash Cards.

This post is being typed around my sweet calico that is between me and the keyboard, so it feels especially fitting to include this Pet Hair Cleanup Tips and Tricks post from Tipnut.

I love stuff like these Simple Sick Solutions by Katie at Kitchen Stewardship (though some are in an article on another site, they're worth the extra click) - most or all of them include things you likely already have on hand.

PRAY & PONDER
Especially for my sweet cousin with a baby brewin' in her belly, here are 250 Positive Birth Stories from Pregnancy, Birth and Babies. As I neared the end of my pregnancy with Goose, I loved to read birth stories and felt that it really helped me prepare, at least mentally.

At Praying for Grace, Barbara gives us The Million Dollar Answer as to why Catholics get to Jesus through Mary.

Happy clicking!

Link Roundup - Catch Up Edition

Um, so I have some links left over from months ago. It seems kinda weird to be posting them, but let's pretend I just found them, 'k?

MAKE
How cute are these Loopy Flowers from Happy Together??

I died of cuteness at this Complete Cow Costume at A Jennuine Life. Hoof mittens? Ear tag? Perfect.

Looks like fun but I'm still not brave enough to pull the trigger - How To Make Moon Sand at Couturier Mommy.

EAT
Although Hubs does not care for pretty much any of the ingredients of Thousand Island Dressing individually, put them together and he loves the stuff. I don't love the funky stuff in commercial versions, though, and I'd really like to try this recipe from Kelly the Kitchen Kop.

Everything but the kitchen sink, also known as Applesauce Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins from 16 Balls in the Air.

Cooks Illustrated is a great resource for the best techniques, gadgets, and how to get the best version of a recipe. So I took notice when I found this info on Garlic Tips and Techniques. Especially since cooking with fresh garlic still intimidates me... I like the stuff in the jar.

Along those lines, I like to cook with onion but am not a fan of chopping them so I found this Herb Seasoning Salt from Pink Bites very interesting. (and yummy sounding!)

Just like you shouldn't shop when you're hungry, I really shouldn't write about things like Laura's Healthy Caramel Frosting at Heavenly Homemakers. That post also links to how to make homemade sucanat powdered sugar. Along those lines, Laura's Easy Alfredo Sauce. That handful of Candy Cane Kisses I just put down should help my tummy a little...

Dishrag Diaries tells us how to Make Peanut Butter with lots of tips and explanations.

Fascinating. Are Acorns Edible? Yes, they are!

If a recipe consists primarily of apples, it must be healthy, right? That's how I'm going to try to justify polishing off a huge pile of Apple Nachos at gimmie some oven.

DO
This Fall Leaf Craft from Heart of the Matter is really stunning - even the four year old's is beautiful!

Confession time - I've already used this tip from Family Hacks on How to Retrieve Something From Down the Drain Without a Wrench. Hint - cover the hose of your shop vac with pantyhose. When Goose dumped the items from my vanity in the sink - and turned on the water! - this tip pulled a pair of earrings right up.

Find a bunch of Free Audio Books for Kids at Budget Saving Mom.

Admittedly I haven't clicked around over here, but there are a ton of Household Science - Homemade Tips at Gomestic.

Hubs is a skeptic, I think, but I can't help reading stuff like this bulletin on How to Tap Maple Trees and Make Maple Syrup from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Lots of Sewing Helper: Tips & Resources at Tipnut.

It's been a sickly winter so far at our house, and I've been wondering about taking Fermented Cod Liver Oil as an immune booster. Katie at Kitchen Stewardship tells us that the answer to pretty much all our questions about CLO is "yes". :>) She also follows up with an interview of the owner of the only producer of fermented CLO - which is located not too far from Nettacow-land! However, Food Renegade asks Should You Take Fish Oil?

PRAY & PONDER
Paths That Cross at Faith & Family Live is just a bit more proof of Divine Providence, I think.

Hmm, I think that's enough for now. Happy clicking, friends!

Link Roundup - Christmas Tree Edition

Blessed Gaudete Sunday to all - and it is a time to rejoice, for the birth of our Savior is near. Lina at For Where E'er We Go wrote a very thought provoking post, Gaudete, on how Liturgical life and real life do not always match up. I have definitely been praying for the family she wrote about.

MAKE
Tuck this away for next year if you still need an Advent calendar; this one at Mom Endeavors is a Muffin Tin Advent Calendar.

Or you could make this Magnetic Nativity Advent using stickers at A Little Tipsy - and she even provided the scripture references here.

Since Goose is all about all things candy cane, I think she's love this Easy Christmas Craft at a girl and a glue gun.

Not just because I'm hungry right now, this S'mores In A Jar Gift at MoneySavingMom.com looks really good, easy, and quick.

Save your berry baskets next summer, and next Christmas you could make Glittery Snowflakes as seen at AlphaMom.

This Family Memories Game is going to be my contribution to the cousin gift swap this year (so sisters-in-law, don't click through!). You can see how one family put theirs together here, and there is a pdf cheat sheet here courtesy of Family Fun magazine (an excellent publication, by the way!).

This Grocery List Tear Off Pad is a cool idea for yourself, and a great gift idea, too! (@ Infarrantly Creative)

Very fun gift idea for little people - these On The Go Felt Storyboards at The Felt Mouse.

Tee hee, I've never tried making Homemade Cat Treats from Homemade Mamas.

EAT
I think my sister-in-law has already made these Ginger Spice Softies from MADE, hopefully she'll let us know how they turned out.

Hopefully I'll make a milk run this week and can make hubs some of this Eggnog with the cream, as found at Naturally Knocked Up.

Here is a recipe that I bet is very well received - Homemade Irish Cream from Kitchen Stewardship. Especially helpful is the recipe for homemade sweetened condensed milk, also included in the post.

DO
I don't care that it's already the third week of Advent, tonight we will sing the song found in the Advent Activities post found at Little Flower Bugs when we light our Advent candles.

We have already tried something similar to this Winter Window Display from Frugal Family Fun Blog and have been enjoying it. There was an unfortunate incident between the cat and one snowflake that resulted in some tears but it was remedied with tape and all is well again. This Pine Forest Playscape from FFFB is super cute, too.

Ooh! I *just* found and fell in love with these Nativity Printables at Activity Village, along with coloring pages and more.

PRAY & PONDER
A beautiful, beautiful Advent poem by Lynn Wehner is over at Faith & Family Live - Help Me Say "Yes".

If you feel like you never have enough time, read what Fallible Blogma says you might be missing.

Happy clicking!

Link Roundup - Advent Edition

We are truly enjoying this season of waiting for baby Jesus's birthday and thankfully not getting too wrapped up in the craziness that sometimes goes along with the holidays. I am almost done with my handmade gifts for the year (no clicking through to that, sisters-in-law!) and am looking forward celebrating the holiday season.

I'm still pretty backlogged on links, but I tried to pull out the Christmas and Advent oriented ones to get them up.

MAKE
Very cute Spool Advent Calendar Kits at Just Something I Made.

Oooh, this DIY Chest Rub (like Vicks!) sounds wonderful.

I'm loving this M&M Nativity Story and treats as shown at My Computer Is My Canvas.

There aren't specific instructions, but I am totally in love with this Nativity Advent Calendar at barefoot in the kitchen, also seen on Flickr by sahm3.

Another fun idea to consider for next year are these Advent Boxes at I can teach my child.

I am loving the beautiful simplicity of these Christmas Star Ornaments at little dear tracks.

EAT
One of my favorite things - Peppermint Bark - and five different ways to make it, at Tipnut.

Ooh this sounds so good... La Tire de Ste. Catherine, a yummy taffy.

DO
Cauldrons and Crockpots has some interesting background information on elderberries.

Katie at Kitchen Stewardship is over at Green Your Way telling us 4 Ways to Knock Out Your Cold With Things You Already Have.

Feel free to tuck this away for next year since I'm a bit behind in posting it, but Jennifer at Conversion Diary has a great post on Baby Steps for Celebrating Advent: 24 Super Simple Ideas.

See what Jessica at Shower of Roses has for Links for Advent Planning from her archives. (Hint - tons of awesome stuff.)

This is not only Do but Don't Do, courtesy of A Slob Comes Clean: Vacuuming the Christmas Tree and Other Dos and Don'ts for Storing Christmas Decorations.

There is a roundup of Christmas Crafts at No Time For Flash Cards. I'm totally eyeing the ice cream cone Christmas trees...

Yes, I know last year I linked to Liturgical Gift Giving at For Where E'er We Go, but I still love it and think it's a super idea.

An old post with a great idea on how to gradually put out your Nativity Set at Just Another Day in Paradise.

Jessica at Shower of Roses linked to a Free Printable Paper Nativity Set and Free Downloadable 3-D Nativity Sets. I also want to make sure and make some St. Nicholas Chocolate Coins next year to put in Goose's shoe. (Let's not kid ourselves - Mama's shoe will be right next to hers!) Finally, you can also see what is in Jessica's Advent and Christmas Book Baskets.

Obviously I have lots more links, but I want to get the Advent ones out there. Happy clicking, and I hope to have another post up before too much longer. :>)

Link Roundup - Post Thankful Edition

Yup, still thankful. :>) I'm writing at least part of this immediately after publishing the last one, but I am not intending to publish until Saturday to not shock you poor hanger-oners too much. Let's get down to business!

MAKE
After having heard that Tangles is a super-great movie, I bet interest in things like these Rapunzel: Dresses & Tresses from ikat bag will be high.

This post is over a year old, but I still love the pattern on these Fabric Styrofoam Balls from Knitty Gritty Thoughts.

About.com has a tutorial on How to Cover Cording to Create Your Own Piping.

Straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak, check out the craft section at Crayola.com.

I'm loving this Low Mess Color Collage at Frugal Family Fun Blog.

This Mini Accordion File Folder from Scor-Pal.com is admittedly beyond my non-scrapbooking capabilities, but very cute nonetheless.

And Hubs wonders why I don't throw anything away - check out how to use pieces of travel wipes packages to make Peek-a-boo Learning to make interactive flash cards.

This is an AWESOME resource, so bookmark it! Valerie at Frugal Family Fun Blog provided us with a Suggested Supply List of things for tons of frugal fun, AND she linked her posts that use those items, so you can get more mileage from your supplies, too!

Neat gift idea alert - Handmade Bath Salt Pouches for the Shower OR Bath from The Mother Huddle.

EAT
This flies in the face of most of what I have read about making biscuits, but I like the ideas in this How to Make Fluffy, Flaky Biscuits from Cooking During Stolen Moments.

Cinnamon? Check. Pancakes? Check. Cinnamon Bun Pancakes from How Does She? might increase the size of my buns, but I'm pretty sure it'd totally be worth it.

Really, doesn't adding Oreos make anything better? Check out this Mini Pumpkin Oreo Cheesecakes from Inside BruCrew Life. Mmm!

Speaking of pumpkin, I love to eat but have never tried making pumpkin seeds myself. (I haven't carved a pumpkin in years - I just leave them on the porch until they aren't good for anything but cattle feed.) Katie at Kitchen Stewardship explains How to Make Crispy (Soaked) Pumpkin Seeds.

As a huge fan of pretty much all things fondue, I was intrigued by this recipe for Pumpkin Fondue at Chica and Jo.

Ooh, these Whole Wheat Sourdough Cheese Rolls as seen on Kelly The Kitchen Kop sound delicious.

DO
We've managed to get rid of most of the stragglers, but next fall I plan to try out this eHow method of How to Kill House Flies without Chemicals.

This goes with the several posts in the last Link Roundup on natural health remedies - Katie from KS also tells us how to use Garlic to Make the Sick Bugs Go Away.

An update to the link from a few weeks ago, Donielle at Naturally Knocked Up has some Tips for Making Elderberry Syrup.

No Time for Flash Cards has a fun activity on Ice Fishing and Color Mixing.

I have made some raw Apple Cider Vinegar (fruit scrap vinegar) and admittedly I'm a little afraid to eat it. There are several other uses for raw ACV listed here at Kelly the Kitchen Kop.

I was very blessed to to win a copy of "In The Kitchen: Real Food Basics" - if you'd like to learn more about this ebook, you can read Sarah's review here at heartland Renaissance.

Learn how to use strawberry baskets and more to make bubbles in this post at Parent Hacks.

Though I have printed this out, I haven't tried the moves shown in You Don't Know Squat at Katy Says to help strengthen your pelvic floor and more.

PRAY & PONDER
Admittedly, this article on Outsourcing by Danielle Bean at InsideCatholic wasn't what I expected but it sure made me laugh.

Jen at Conversion Diary is mother to four children under six years old. She tells us My Answer to "Do You Want More Children?"

Happy clicking!

Link Roundup - Thankful Edition

I hope everyone is having a blessed Thanksgiving weekend! We are visiting my parents where Hubs has been hunting with my dad, brother, cousins, and uncles; Goose has been playing with her cousins; I got to sleep in this morning and managed to get caught up on our bookkeeping.

I really appreciate the e-mails that I have gotten asking how things are going and how my father-in-law is doing (he was diagnosed a few months ago with Lou Gehrig's Disease). I know many of you are praying for us and it means so much more than I can articulate. Hubs's dad is doing pretty well, all things considering. The aspect for which I am most thankful is his attitude - he is pretty happy and enjoying life as much as he can. That is a huge blessing in of itself.

So, let's talk about some other happy things like links! Um, there are over 130 items in my folder to share... so much for getting caught up, I guess. :>) As always, they are set to open in the same window because I hate having a million windows open. If you prefer to keep this page, you can either right click and choose "open in new tab" or hold down the Control key and click for the same result.

MAKE
Ooh, this How To Make Leaf Skeletons at The Idea Room has a stunning finished product.

Yesterday during post-dinner visiting, I made Sacrifice Beads as shown at The Little Ways to give to our Bible study group. I will be incorporating them in the St. Andrew Novena - that ought to be a separate post, I think.

These Fleece Alphabet Pillows from Crafty Nest are indeed a cute gift idea for a tween.

Sisters-in-law, please pass by this Spool Picture Holder from Crafts and Sutch.

One of my favorite things is to stitch love and prayers into a baby gift, and I'll add this Recycled Mooshy Belly Bunny from Chez Beeper Bebe.

I had no idea you could Make Real Oilcloth using cotton duck, canvas, or linen, as seen at Curbly.

Need something to corral a little one's projects and treasures? Try this Ruler Clip Art Rail from Ana White.

EAT
I made something similar to this Creamy Pesto Fettuccine with Mushrooms and Tomatoes from This Week For Dinner and I assure you it was *splendid*.

Just in case you turn out something you don't want to eat, check out this list of reasons Why a Cake Fails at Tipnut.

An interesting Real Food alternative, here is a recipe for Black Strap Molasses Candy Apples from Our Family's Journey to a Healthier Life.

GNOWFGLINS has settled it: here are The Best Homemade Tortilla Chips Ever.

I'm drooling just looking at the picture of Cinnamon Blondies from Two Peas and Their Pod.

Something tells me my rice cooker isn't quite this fast, but here is a Rice Cooker Oatmeal recipe from Cooking With My Kid.

These Homemade Polka Dot Fruit Roll Ups are almost too pretty to eat. Almost. (@ Fix Me a Snack)

Though I'm currently stuffed enough to not be all that interested in eating ever again, I will eventually snap out of it and I think this Italian Herb and Cheese Wheat Bread from Food: Cooking and Capturing should be near the top of my list.

DO
Hmm, I think I need to dig around the other posts in this series, but I'll point out Before You Hit Publish: Me, My and I at Vanderbilt Wife.

If you are considering a Wii this year, you might want to read this post from Want Not that clarifies the differences in Wii packages and just all around provides some info on what to purchase.

This is on my list of activities to consider for our pre-school co-op - Wrecking Ball Science from No Time For Flash Cards.

These days, I strap Goose on my back in an Ergo, but that didn't diminish my interest in this You Tube video of Tying a Rebozo Slip Knot.

Modern Alternative Mama has some great suggestions on Preventing Colds and Flu This Winter.

Along those lines, Katie from Kitchen Stewardship hopped over to Simple Organic to tell us 5 Foods Everyone Should Eat More Often For Optimal Health and Avoiding the Flu.

I'm not sure I have the guts to try this Cold Kicker Remedy from Keeper of the Home, but I don't have much of a doubt that it works.

And finally, I need to spend some time clicking around this Home Remedies Carnival of Ideas, Recipes, and Resources to Help You Stay Healthy Naturally also at Keeper of the Home.

Though I haven't incorporated it into our Goose and Mama Preschool, I love this Catholic ABCs Classroom Script from Catholic Icing.

Here are 10 Tips for Profile Pics that will help you come up with something you don't hate, from Faith & Family Live.

I am loving this Toddler Art Autumn Tree Painting (as well as the sweet little painter!) at Frugal Family Fun Blog.

PRAY & PONDER
In The Long Thank You, Jen at Conversion Diary explains why we go to Mass even when we might not feel like it, and how she explained it to her 6 year old.

Elizabeth Foss, who has known her share of suffering, wrote a moving article To Suffer and Shine Like Gold.

Happy clicking!

Link Roundup - No Toys Edition

Goose has been going through a spell lately where she refuses to pick up her toys at the end of the day. I make sure that it isn't too overwhelming by helping her with the teeny stuff, directing her, etc. She did well for quite a while, but it's been a struggle lately. So I made a new rule that if she refused to pick up and mama had to do it, that stuff would get put away.

At first, it was just gone until the next day, and I didn't have to take things away every day. Then I started making her go two days until she got it back, and she got worse at picking up her toys. So I switched it up to keeping them until she decides to help pick up, then the next morning she gets one item or group of things back. Yesterday was her first day getting something back, today was her second. Tonight, I had to take away both those things plus some random stuffed animals. Wow, three is a good time.

Let's talk about things that won't make us gnash our teeth.

MAKE
So easy even I could do it :>) - Circle Skirt Tutorial at MADE.

no big dill shows us how to make a CD or DVD Envelope when you want to give them as gifts or just pretty them up.

I'm still a sucker for quiet books, and this one at Oopsey Daisy is no exception.

At first I wasn't sure about these Pipe Cleaner Covers from Pony Tails & Fish Scales, but they are really quickly growing on me. Lots of possibilities!

Rhythm of the Home has a quick and easy tutorial on turning a Sweater into a Scarf - wow!

Very cute - this Mini Purse and Toddler Wallet at seven thirty three is a very fun idea.

Pondered in My Heart has a tutorial on How To Make a Lace Chapel Veil.

Martha Stewart makes me twitchy, but these Pipe Cleaner Creatures are awfully cute.

I'm still cracking up over this Super Easy Monster Hand Puppet at Frugal Family Fun Blog. [My subtitle: This is what happens when a little one sneaks into craft supplies.]

EAT
I haven't poked around much, but the theory itself is interesting: Make 5 Dinners in 1 Hour. (It's a subscription thing, but you can check it out.)

Cheap, healthy, and delicious. Why don't I eat more of this stuff? Katie at Kitchen Stewardship is encouraging us to Try Some Squash.

Natural Health Goodies is talking about Water Kefir. I'm intrigued and afraid, especially since an IRL friend recently told me about how hers crashed and burned and resulted in everything in an entire cupboard being thrown out. Eew.

While I don't mind kneading bread, I like to have tips like this in my arsenal - How To Shape a Baguette/No Knead Bread Hack at the kitchn.

I'm glad we're still getting tomatoes out of the garden because I forgot I had this recipe for Candied Tomatoes from The Splendid Table.

Oh, mercy, can you imagine slices of this Parmesan Reggiano Bread from A Kat's Life with a delicious plate of spaghetti?

I wouldn't know fennel if it walked up to me and punched me in the nose, but these Roasted Winter Vegetables from Kitchen Stewardship sound yummy.

I wasn't so sure about this Roasted Vegetable Minestrone from The Pioneer Woman; by the end, I knew what I'll be doing with the rind of Parmesan cheese I have in the freezer right now.

Ooh, English muffins are definitely on my list of things to try making, and these Sourdough English Muffins at GNOWFGLINS.

We were not a fan of black bean brownies (Hubs said "uh, are these organic or something?") but holy wow the rest of these Special Brownies at A Whisk and A Prayer.

Two ingredients. "The Bread". The Pioneer Woman.

Yet another bread recipe, this time No Knead Dinner Rolls from Salt and Chocolate.

I think Hubs would be a big fan of this Honey Cake from Delshad Duo.

Chilly weather is just around the corner, and I'm going to give this Slow Cooker Lentil Brown Rice Casserole a try.

DO
Here is the latest installment of Alphabet Coloring Pages at Pondered in My Heart. I've linked to previous ones before - I will be using these with Goose's preschooling; they are awesome!

Keeper of the Home tells us how to Preserve Summer's Bounty by canning, dehydrating, freezing, lacto-fermentation and more.

Yard sale season is nearly over here, so I'm tucking away the ideas from Teach Mama's What You Need From Your Local Yard Sales.

PRAY & PONDER
Lots of food for thought in Seeking Simplicity - Child's Play is a Job Well Done at Kitchen Stewardship.

Whew - if I can get just ONE more roundup in this week, I'll be caught up. Whoo! Happy clicking, friends!

Link Roundup - 125th Anniversary Edition

No, not the 125th anniversary of my blog, or even 125 posts (I blew past that long ago...). Our parish is celebrating its 125th anniversary. I have had a lot of fun helping out with the celebration and am looking forward to a fun time tomorrow. As noted yesterday, I have lots of links to post, so without further ado...

MAKE

This DIY Pencil Sketches by Naptime Crafter guest posting at Blue Cricket Design is pretty easy for a neat result.

Frugal Family Fun Blog goodies: Autumn Window Display and Around The Web - Pumpkin Crafts.

I love this Snow White - New Take on an Old Favorite at Crafterhours. (and I love the blog name!) I'm hanging onto this for when the thrifted dress-up version of Snow White I found for a couple bucks falls apart in five minutes...

This How To Crochet Ric Rac at Foxs Lane is making me want to get out my crochet hooks!

EAT
Not your typical "eat" link, I have some dried elder berries en route to me to make some Elderberry Syrup, as seen at heartland Renaissance. (You can read about it at Naturally Knocked Up, too.) (And at Passionate Homemaking's Natural Medicine Cabinet Essentials.)

Goose and I can both personally verify that this Critter Crunch, found at Bless Us O Lord, is amazingly delicious. It's very versatile since you can swap out whatever you have for critters, cereals, etc.

Basic Jerky - Not So Tough at GNOWFGLINS sounds yummy, and I'm not even that big of a fan of meat. :>)

Life As Mom is talking Breakfast Freezer Cooking.

Got apples? Amy at The Finer Things has LOTS of Apple Recipes for you.

You know how I gain five pounds just reading some recipes? This is one of them: Oreo Cheesecake Slow Cooker Recipe at A Year of Slow Cooking. (and it's gluten free for those of you who need such things; just use regular oreos if your family doesn't need to go that way.)

Along those lines, Katie at Kitchen Stewardship has compiled some FAQs on the Grain Free Lifestyle that has done wonders for digestive problems in her family.

Cardamom's Pod has a yummy sounding 10 Step Homemade Granola With Soaked Oats that is making my tummy rumble.

I'm liking the looks of this Sourdough Whole Grain Flatbread from riddlelove.

Yup, I'm still searching for a good bread recipe (it would help if I'd get to trying them more often... I'm thinking this winter when it's cold outside is a good time to get moving!) another one to try is Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread from Foodwhirl.

Another recipe that is not going to be good for my (ahem) bottom line - Homemade Marshmallow Cream with NO Corn Syrup at From Apples to Zucchini.

DO
Clover Lane posted about Waxing Leaves - very pretty!

Chasing Cheerios put together a easy and fun On The Go Nature Collage, and I also like this Catching A Rainbow Science Experiment there.

This Taco Seasoning Recipe at Christian Home Keeper has a great tip on how to make your own dried minced onion, onion powder, and garlic powder.

I love these 7 "Secret" Home Remedies at How Does She? They sound awesome for helping your little one feel better in a more natural way.

While Life As Mom tells us about 3 Classic Board Games To Love, there are also many suggestions in the comments for board game nuts like me.

Goose is a bit big for many of these, but for those of you with toddlers, check out Teeny Tiny Tot School at Confessions of a Homeschooler. It has a TON of info! (And, by the way, I'm looking hard at the ABCs and 123s for Goose, along with a handful of other sites.)

How fun is this Stroller Scavenger Hunt at Fowl Single File???

PRAY & PONDER
Jen at Conversion Diary is encouraging us to find out What Does God Want Me To Pray For? Jen also gives great perspective in Fancy Meeting You Here!, a post that starts with "A priest friend of a friend once commented, `I could be a saint if it weren’t for the people!'" Hee hee.

Thinking about homeschooling? Read Simcha Fisher's Simple School at Faith & Family Live.

Happy clicking!

Link Roundup - Blink Edition

Man, time is flying. Harvest is in full swing here, Goose is enjoying preschool, I've added another part-time job, and the links are piling up. :>) Let's get to them!

MAKE
Decorating on the cheap - one of my favorite things! This time, it's Glazed Wall Art at Every Crafty Endeavor.

Another favorite thing, recycled crafts - Recycled Napkin Rings From Saran Wrap Tubes from Merriment Design.

I'm loving this homemade Chalk Paint from Mom's Crafty Space.

You know I still love Frugal Family Fun Blog, here are some of the reasons why: Outdoor Streamers, Painting...With Feet!, Pretend Car Wash, and Quick Craft - Leaf Necklace.

Skip to My Lou tells us how to make Recycled Pillow Box Favors.

This Rocket Mobile Chandelier from How Does She? is adorable in its own right, but you could change it up to any theme that tickles your child's fancy.

Hold On To Your Headbands - at Salty Pineapple, you can see this cool headband holder tutorial.

Also at Salty Pineapple, learn how to finger knit a Yarn Lei.

So many great ideas - Se7en Things To Do With a Pillow Case at Se7en.

Oh, mercy, I don't know if my fingers can take this much clicking - The Ultimate Handmade Holidays Master List 2009, with links to 2008 and 2007, too. (Want to see what I'm making? Check out my Handmade Christmas 2010... unless you are one of my sisters-in-law!)

We'll need to start working on learning how to tell time sooner or later, and I'm loving this Tick Tock I Made a Clock post at Two Shades of Pink.

Tipnut has a great roundup on Homemade Goodies for Baby.

EAT
I'm still on the hunt for a good and quick pizza crust recipe, and The Train To Crazy might have it with Pizza. Yum. (By the way, have you seen the new Pizza Crust Yeast? Apparently there are dough relaxers involved. Though I don't know what those are exactly...)

These Breakfast Rounds sound DELICIOUS, but please, please, please use butter instead of margarine! (from AllRecipies.com)

This is seriously making me hungry - Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta from Heavenly Homemakers.

DO
This year's garden is still limping along, but I'm still interested in How To Plant Just About Everything For Next Year at Kitchen Stewardship.

Lots of fun (and educational) Play Dough Activities at No Time For Flash Cards.

Oh, this could come in handy, especially with Christmas coming up - a reader tip on Money Saving Mom tells us how to Track Product Prices on Amazon.com.

Very fun idea, Someday Crafts! I love this Carnival Birthday Party.

I was really interested in this article at The Simple Dollar on Cultivating Domain Knowledge and Hobbies for Fun and Profit. The comments on ethics are also interesting.

So we all know that baking soda and vinegar make a volcano. But, Chasing Cheerios' Volcano Fun adds color and location (including sand).

I'm really interested in but kind of scared about growing garlic, though this post on Growing and Storing a Year of Garlic at A Way To Garden.

Speaking of gardens, lots of great Tomato Sauce Tips at Home Joys. I'll admit, though, I'm curious to know how much flavor (if any) is lost in that water. But really, I love being able to break food storage processing into a few days worth of work.

PRAY & PONDER
Like many parents, I struggle with finding the proper balance of discipline for Goose. She's a great kid, but she's still a kid and needs training to stay on the proper path. I need to spend more time reading about these Positive Discipline Cards from Single Dad Brad.

I'm on the thumbs down side, but there are lots of opinions on trampolines at Faith & Family Live's Go Ahead and Jump?

I'm not sure that this is my problem with being so crazy WARM at night, but I was really interested in this How To Cure Hypothyroidism Naturally at The Health Wyze Report.

Awesome. Only 91 left to go...