D.I.Y. Handmade Exchange!

I have an idea and a goal. I want to introduce the idea of a Do It Yourself Handmade Exchange. There is only one rule; make something, trade it with someone else for something they made.

That's it.

Now, I want to suggest some guidelines, but not rules.  I would recommend that you establish a price range. My pieces either cost around $10 or would retail for about that amount.  Your pieces should be about the same if you're going to trade with me, I'd prefer if everyone who participates keeps a $10 minimum just to keep it fair.  I will make you something of my choice (maybe give you some input options) if you promise to send or make me something too.  

All you have to do is leave a comment with a way to contact you and I will follow up to exchange shipping info. with you via email.  

If you are local to the Phoenix area I might meet up with you to do a real life exchange.

If you conduct a D.I.Y. Handmade Exchange party please link up photos and ideas. This is my new project and I will revisit the idea and project frequently.  If you make something, anything share it with the people you know and love.

Use this button if you'd like to share the idea or concept, link back here and tell me about your successes. You don't have to directly participate with me, here, to be a part of this concept.  My goal is to get the idea out about sharing handmade items or foods with your community.  If you want it, here's the HTML for the button:

</p><p><a border="0" href="http://diycupcake.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-handmade-exchange.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoColMM2e4ObdHN_FzlubVT1ry6zfkow7TYum3FQHfNAdw0Rm5UIPJH7rTgtRMtgs1zs-pFcIThqN5emx68WEU94lHNfkzCzMmygf2XMEkHTKCBvj3k1a806omRWMgWprLWxcCL2KiDSWz/s1600/14342212406.jpg"/></a></p><p>

Happy D.I.Y. Handmade Exchanging!

Add your link below:

Momma Monday no. 41

I gave Sonja some Roasted Garlic Hummus on Monday!  She loved it!  I was shocked because she NEVER lets me put mushy food in her mouth. But she did and she let me give it to her a few times. 

Naked butt!

She also slept in her playpen while I baked.  I couldn't believe that she feel back asleep after a little fuss.  It was amazing to watch her sleep but still be able to work on things.  She's crawling now, so I can't leave her alone on our bed during naps anymore- very challenging!

Blackberries!

Tuesday she was 8 months old. As an update, I'll share some common milestones she's completed.
1. Crawling, she has been doing this for some time now! She started around 6 months old and is super fast, a little too fast for my taste.  But it keeps me busy :)
2. Manipulating Toys, she can pick up, reach for, throw and play with all her toys well now.  She likes knocking over towers of blocks (and tries saying block, "blooah")
3. Pincer Grasp, she has been picking up and reaching for things with her thumb and index finger for a while but now she's getting pretty good at it.
4. Naps, she naps 3 times a day, morning, lunch and dinner, and sleeps about 10-12 hours a night.
5. Food. She loves milk, but is starting to try more foods.  We don't have her eat those cereals (even though our parents keep asking) since they're SO processed, but she likes cucumbers, guacamole, hummus and blackberries- those are the newest ones we've introduced this week.
6. Mom.  She knows and says mamamamama all day long, if she's hungry or wants to be held.  She prefers me to be holding her a lot of the time and will try to climb up me if I'm not holding her (for instance while I pee or eat), something her Naturopath mentioned would happen around 9 months.

This baby doesn't know how to sit still!

Wednesday Day, we went to the Midwives Rising open hours and hung out with little miss lily (my midwife's daughter) and ate some amazing left over lunch that Shell whipped together.  She also cut up some mango and rubbed pepper (jalapeños maybe?) on them, the sweet and spicy was yummy.  Sonja had a great time playing with the leftover sound makers and parade props from the grand opening.  I'm so happy I found a midwife who cares about her community.  I love that other mamas and babies just show up and we all hang out.  It's a great experience and I'm so lucky to be a part of it!

Midwives Rising, soon to be home and gallery of my photography work!

Wednesday night, Hubs let me cook dinner!  I love cooking, but while I was pregnant he took over the task and hasn't really let me cook much since then.  Anyway, I made some stuffed 8 ball zucchinis and they were delicious!

Thursday, Cupcake full on walked!  Friday of last week and a few times this week she made transfers between furniture with a single step, but Thursday, while I was at work :(, she took 2 steps outside with her Aunt Emily!

Friday, or sometime this week, Aunt Emily asked Sonja for a kiss and she gave it to her! She now gives besos (kisses) to anyone she knows, when asked.  It's the cutest thing! She even will mimic the sound, even if she does open mouth suck on your cheek.

Saturday Mornings are a special time for our family.  Usually, our dogs will run into the room as soon as I open the door.  We all cuddle and hang out before heading to the farmer's market.  This Saturday, Sonja discovered Lola also has nipples.  Her's, however, do not make milk.

Lola Tummy.

Saturday Morning.

This weekend, not including the holiday (today), was a sweet one. Not that Monday was bad, it's just not over yet, and will be included with next weeks reflection :)

Naked Time!

I don't think there is anything sweeter than a baby bum.  This little girl hardly used a diaper all weekend long.

Sunday Morning, Cupcake discovered the toilet paper roll...

During nap time on Sunday, I was able to paint a lot of my latest watercolor pieces.  I've been trying to perfect my outline and watercolor skills during nap time, since that's when the house is calm and especially on the weekends when daddy can sit in bed or nap with her. 

Works in Progress.

Sunday evening we went to Husband's parents house.  We ate some yummy food and caught up with some family friends.  Sonja even gave her Grandpa a kiss!  Something major, considering that the past few months she's cried almost every time he's seen her :(

After dinner we went swimming, well sort of... I got Cupcake into her uber cute swimsuit and we put our feet in.  It was a lot cooler once the sun was setting so we didn't full on swim like I wanted but she did enjoy the water!  Also, a big deal, seeing as every time we try and bathe with her she fusses.  She's a strictly shower baby, but hopefully not for long.  Here's to swimming all summer long!

I think those are all the interesting and semi interesting things to happen this past week.

Hope you all have a Happy Memorial Momma Monday!  

Don't Forget about my Giveaway!

click here to enter!

Featured Friday!

I've been featured with a natural parenting write up over at Nitty Gritty! Check it out HERE.

Stuffed 8 Ball Zucchini (VEGAN)

I found a recipe about a year ago for 8 ball zucchini but I couldn't find the little guys anywhere, until last weekend at the Farmer's Market!

The original recipe was much different, but I used it as a loose guide...

What you'll need:

6 8 ball zucchini

2 garlic cloves

2 ORGANIC bell pepper

1 ORGANIC tomato

1 onion

5-10 basil leaves

5-10 oregano leaves

5-10 rosemary leaves

1 cup uncooked quinoa (I've been spelling it wrong not quEnoa, opps)

1 cup uncooked white rice

salt and pepper to taste 

Sauté the bell peppers first since they take the longest, then add onion and tomato

Start boiling 4 cups water for the rice and quinoa mixture.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Remove the tops, save for garnish

Scoop out the insides and add it to the veggie sauté mixture.

Prep. 8 balls while the veggies are sautéing.

Mix rice and quinoa into boiling water and allow to cook, stirring only occasionally.

Keep covered and turn to medium heat.

Make sure rice and quinoa mixture is not sticking to the bottom of the pan :)

Mix the veggies into the rice/quinoa.

Add the herbs now and salt and pepper.

Stuff the 8 balls full and bake for 12 minutes covered at 350 degrees F

You will have Rice/Veggie mixture left over, save it to serve on the side.

Remove from oven and remove tin foil, bake for another 15 minutes at 400 degrees F

Done.

Sorry if the directions are confusing, since they're following each individual photo, but I like cooking by pictures as opposed to words, good luck!

If you don't have something for the ingredients just add something else, make it up and link me to it if it turns out well.  

Happy Zucchini Stuffing!

Links I Like

I'm in between computers right now, so I thought I'd save some of my favorites in a place I (and everyone else) can access.

Modern Stationary I think I'll make OR if I ever have enough money I might buy.

Crafty ideas and round up by Say Yes to Hoboken

Maybe I'll make these for Sonja's first birthday?

I think VBACs are the most inspiring thing EVER!  If you've had a Cesarean Section and been told you HAVE to have another, DO YOUR RESEARCH, and check this group out!

okay. It's a short but sweet list, I'm sure I'll have more to add to a later post!

My daughter pees in the toilet and other reasons I get weird looks.

What's it really like being a crunchy, earthy mama?  Well usually, it just consists of me whipping out my boob in public and sometimes it's me getting my 8 month old to the bathroom so she can use IT instead of her diaper.

From the moment I told people we were having a home birth, I've been battling "the stare".  It's not so much a smile as it is a forced non frown.   "Oh... that sounds... interesting." They always say. Usually, followed by a hundred questions about what could go wrong in labor.  All of which I answered without hesitation. After the questions is the "fact" I wouldn't be able to do it all natural, and why should I?  The medication makes it so much more convenient, but I don't know anyone who signed up for parenting because it's convenient.  My entire pregnancy felt like a physiology internship.  I was always explaining my choices and my body.

Now that my little bug is 8 and a half months old, I'm continuing with the Q&A.  But in a more friendly and curious way. 

"She pees in the toilet?!" "How is that possible?" 

It's possible, because, I hold her over it, I say.  I've been using Elimination Communication (a fancy way of saying infant potty training) since my daughter was 3 months old.  You can find out more about it here, here and here.

Not only are we potty training, but I'm also still breastfeeding.  People are starting to ask us when I'll be giving her real food.  Then, when I give her real food, as in uncut up and unpureed food, they ask; "Can she eat that?!"  

Its been a fun adventure doing things against the grain, I've had some great conversations with mamas online and in real life about the choices we're making for our daughter and the life we want her to live. 

Momma Monday no. 41

Monday, I went grocery shopping as is my usual routine.  I came home and cooked and baked.  I made some couscous, so good! and some granola bars, also delicious. 

I also ironed, yes. Ironed Cupcake's shirt.

Tuesday was Husband's day to hang out with Cupcake while I taught art, he ended up getting home a little early.  I was just returning from a friends house when we both pulled into the driveway.  I thought since he was home early we'd get to enjoy lunch together, our dog on the other hand thought we should spend the time cleaning up poop.  yeah, poop.  As if I don't have enough of that to clean up from a baby... One of the dogs pooped on our living room rug, and instead of eating lunch we took it outback and sprayed it off.  I'm so sick of poop...

Thankfully, we got some rain on Tuesday though. :)

Sonja and I played out back for a bit while it sprinkled.

She loves playing with my sigg

and she just discovered the rocks in our backyard.

Thousands of choking hazards!

Wednesday night we met some friends for some vegan food from Green. The chef catered our wedding, that's how much I love his food.

Soy-namis (like tsunami) in the parking lot.

Thursday, Sonja and I were playing in the livingroom in our pajamas when we got a pleasant surprise... 

My aunt showed up with a sweet gift!

I've been wanting a GLASS drink dispenser with metal spout for years now!

She is amazing and thoughful and sweet and bought me one!

Thanks Jenny!!

During nap time, I got some paintings done...

 They're small, just 3.5x5 in.

I left the spaces blank for now, going to list some of these little guys on my etsy shop.

Friday night, we went to a few art showings.  The first was at After Hours Gallery and there were some amazing cupcakes and food (obviously the art was great too).  After the first stop we went to the Hive where Katie had a few pieces.

After Hours Gallery

Papa and Cupcake hanging out while I snacked on these: 

Cupcakes by Ashley's Cupcakes and More.

Later at the Hive...

I was testing out my manual skills on my SLR but it took me a while to get it how I wanted it... 

This huge circular light was so intesting and I LOVE how it looked at night.

When I checked my facebook on Friday night, I saw several of my friends had posted this media coverage about home births.  That's my midwife and my friend Jamie they intrviewed!  Take a look :)

Saturday, I had a small yard sale in the morning to get rid of a few items and get some extra cash for future furniture projects.  I made $53 (my goal was $50) from 2 TV.s, a bag of flip flops, and an old dresser. After the sucessful yard sale; we went to our midwives grand opening of their new community space.  If you're not familiar with Midwives Rising, check out their blog here! 

My setup.

I did some facepainting for the kiddos there.

Tammy Coe and MJ Bread donated some sweet pasteries!

Babies!

Some wonderful music.

Shell and some of her babes

Lovely Little Duck I painted.

an owl I painted on Mani

Getting ready for the kid parade!

Sunday was a lazy day we relaxed at home with some root beer floats and enjoyed some family time.

Happy Momma Monday! Hope your week is off to a grat start!