American Girl on a Firefighter's Salary - Part 1

Poor Tink, she's doesn't know she's about to
be ditched for Megara!

Our oldest daughter got an 18 inch doll for Christmas.  A tradition that we have it to open a present before bed on Christmas Eve that always has pajamas in it - makes for good pictures on Christmas morning to have PJs where the tops and bottoms actually match.  D, also got a matching doll dress, which she assumed was for her 18" Tinkerbell.  Kinda big on her, but she was happy to have a matching set of PJs not matter what.  Luckily for her, Christmas morning she had an 18 inch doll waiting under the tree for her.  

I will be so glad when she gets out of
the squinty eye/squished nose phase!

Folded neatly, as we speak.
Time for summer PJs...

They two have been inseparable since.  Now, her doll is not an American Girl, it was Kohl's Dollie and Me version that I got for fifteen bucks on Black Friday because I am just not going to put that much money into a doll for a 6 year-old.  So sorry.  She does not know the difference and was just thrilled to have an American Girl like her friends at school.  Megara is just perfect for her!

Patiently waiting for D
 to come home

Lately, she has been very particular about tucking her into her sleeping bag right next to her.  We had a plastic baby doll bed that bit the dust and I thought it was time that I started looking for a bed for her girl.



And that was a bad case of sticker shock!  

HOLY WOW!  Who is going to pay that for poorly constructed knock-off furniture??  Clearly lots of people, but not this girl!  There are handmade beds available from John Q. Public, much better quality, but still $75+.  Still not paying that for a 7 year-old's birthday present!  

So I hit Pinterest, where else, to find some inspiration.  My first thought was My Froggy Stuff - find her on YouTube.  She does AMAZING things with hot glue, duct tape and card board.  I used some of her tutorials for Barbie pieces, but they did not withstand the wrath of babyzilla.  She maybe 5, she is still rough on toys.  Then I moved on to DIYs for wooden beds.  This was my first thought - super easy to do, based on the AG Farmhouse bed.  I kept looking until I found this one and fell in love.  I was not a fan of the balls and thought that the cross beams were a bit bulky, so there were some modifications.

It took 24 hours from start to finish.  The wood cost $20 - including the finials and decorative piece , the spray paint was $3.50, the fabric was on sale for $5 for a yard and the 2" chair pad that I used for mattress was $4.50 with my 40% off coupon.  $33 is not too shabby in my estimation.  Especially if you look at the version that $45 buys you in the stores. 

Finials instead of those monster balls on the original example.

For the Headboard - it is all in the details.

By the way, you can still get high from the fumes in the basement!  Spray paint - WHOA!  

Thanks to Elly @firewifeelly for the
suggestion to use some of the sheer
curtains I have laying around...

This is where last night left off.  Definitely looking like a bed!

Finials

Finished product!
My no-sew mattress and pillows - I'm still terrified of sewing
my fingers together!

Headboard.

So, that leaves me having to figure out how to make bedding - without sewing it.  I am also picking up a jewelry box from Craigslist to turn into an armoire for Megara.  Again, $60 is not worth it for us.  

WORST part of all of this - I have to wait ELEVEN DAYS to see her reaction!  I am going to sneak them into her bedroom before I go to bed, so that when she wakes up on her birthday they will be waiting for her.  And, I have to figure out where to stash this beast...I've kept her out of the back of basement (the path to the "library" goes through Daddy's workbench area.

Happy Wednesday.  My FF is on shift, keep his safety in his thoughts, as well as that of the Wayne-Westland FF family who lost their FF today.  Our prayers are with you as you find peace .

Pinterest DIY - Dishwasher edition

Okay, I am actually enjoying the satisfaction that comes with making some of these mundane items myself.  I am also okay with the fact that it is saving us a bit of money as we go.  So far the laundry detergent has worked beautifully.  It smells good and even with my muppets, the clothes have come clean.  Now, from the truth and accuracy department, I will probably still keep liquid on hand as a stain pre-treater, because I do still have the aforementioned muppets.

After the success with the laundry detergent, I decided to try my hand at dishwasher detergent.  I found another "recipe" that I thought looked good at Make It or Fix it Yourself.  I might have to peruse other posts, but I should probably wait until after I have all of my current projects taken care of.  Once ideas get into my head, they don't seem, to leave until I give them a shot. 

Ingredients:
2 cups of Borax 
2 cups of Baking Soda (there's about 1 1/2 cups in a box)
2 packets of unsweetened lemonade (I used pink lemonade because that was what I had on hand)
1/2 cup of Kosher Salt
1/2 cup of vinegar
ice cube trays (I used heart shaped silicone trays that I use for brownie bites and V-day crayons)
wax paper (optional)

I mixed the dry ingredients and then added the vinegar.  I think will do this with the Muppets because they would love the chemical reaction.  It almost has the consistency of wet sand that has begun to dry out, if that makes any sense.  It is what my mind imagines Moon Sand to feel like, but I have not verified that.  Although, I am most certain the kids would love to test out my hypothesis for me.

It really took no time at all.  After mixing it, I just kinda dumped it into the molds and then used wax paper to pack it in.  It was a bit messy, but nothing terrible.  Play-doh is much worse.  Hmmm, speaking of Play-doh, O would love to make her own.  Pinterest??  Nevermind.  Back to the the dishwasher...

Anyway, the original post set the trays in the sunlight to dry them out, thereby hardening them.  Sunlight here, has become a scarce commodity lately.  So, I thought I would be smart and put them under our growlights for the seedlings.  Unfortunately, our basement is too cool. So, after 24 hours we through the silicone trays into the oven at the warming setting for half an hour.  That was perfect.  They were nicely hardened and ready to go.  And, being in the silicone molds, they popped out oh, so nicely.  The dishwasher is running, I will let you know how they turn out.

It is Friday, enjoy it.  If your FFs are on shift, find something fun to do with your Muppets or your circle o' girls.  In wake of the craziness of the last few weeks, send a text letting them know you are thinking of them.  If they are sitting next to you, put my blog away and go cuddle up with them.  Nothing is guaranteed, share your love now.  Happy Friday! 

Idle Hands

I seem to do this every time I finish a project.  I start looking for what to do next.  I suppose, not entirely a bad thing, but sometimes I might be bordering on obsessive.  

I finished my camera bag on Sunday and now I am looking for something new.

 From http://www.brit.co/diy-chic-custom-camera-strap/

I think I have decided on making a camera strap.  But DANGIT, most of the tutorials require a sewing machine.  <sigh>  I may have to break down and just figure it out.  Overcome my fears.  Be brave.  Suck it up, Buttercup.  Insert chosen cliche of the day here.

Or, just rely on Mod Podge and Glitter, with some pretty stones for good measure like this one from http://fun.kyti.me/index.php/2011/10/fancy-camera-strap/.  That is ALWAYS a possibility!!!

Happy half way to Friday-day.  My FF is on shift - I can hit the DVR.  My muppets are going a bit stir crazy from the subzero weather.  My laundry is done - only two loads to fold.  Life is indeed good!  Kiss your FFs and tell them you love them.  Hug your muppets and LISTEN to them.