Frugal?

I hope that I come across as someone frugal, but sometimes I know that I am just plain cheap!

I am reminded of a presentation last year in CA at FCC about how to make room in a budget to support a missionary. It was a stretch for me to get up in front of a group of peers (who support us heavily so that we can live here) and discuss how to save money by possibly skipping a latte run or considering generic brands. I hoped to be informative, not too directive. It is amazing how those little things add up.

After the presentation a woman who was visiting, came and thanked me for my talk while pushing a $20 bill in my hand. I thanked her, but hoped I hadn't laid it on too thick.

For me all this scrimping and saving has come with the job title, a group known to be on a budget to say the least! But that is not what changed my mind and thinking in regards to money. It is living among the Mongolians who live in poverty or on a very tight budget. While there is generally enough to eat (meat and potatoes) and to clothe their families, there is no extra money. There is no money for fun and games or vacations. No money for refrigerators or electricity to run one. There is just no work here.

It fills me with gratitude. In this world where there is so much poverty, it is amazing to have any extra money. It makes me want to be wiser with what I have.

I talked about money with my language tutor today. We discussed saving, bartering, borrowing, loans and credit. An interesting subject to discuss and learn vocabulary about. It was a good discussion. Compared to her, I am no money manager. My friend and tutor does so much to make her tugric stretch.

Later, I was reminded of my frugality again as I sewed organizational bags for my luggage. We travel so reguarly and often that I feel sometimes my life is series of packing and unpacking. Finally in an effort to embrace this life, I packed a suitcase that never has to be unpacked. Now there are gallon sized ziplock bags filed with kits, one for each child, one for toiletries, one for kitchen supplies, etc.

Now I am sewing little bags to replace the ziplocks. Today I sewed a bag organizer for my "stationary kit." There is a pocket for paper, another pocket for pens and pencils and a final pocket for CD/plug adapters. I made it out of a scrap of fabric, labeled each section with a marker and added a handle to hang up and keep organized in any place I end up! I have looked into bag systems, but they aren't what I want and they cost a fortune.

It made me chuckle to see my finished product tucked into my $10 carryon from Walmart. That little bag has faithfully traveled tens of thousands of miles since 2001 when Peter was studying in Chicago. That bag confirms it, I am a cheapskate!

Halloween is coming...

Friday posts will be about projects....

Weston and Sierra have really been enjoying the Wall E movie. Weston LOVES Eva. He thinks she is so cool because she can fly AND she has a gun. Weston wants to be her for Halloween and he wants Sierra to be Wall E. I couldn't bring myself to tell Weston that Eva is a girl and Wall E is the boy, since it really doesn't matter! They are robots, right? So he WILL be Eva.

When Peter heard our plans he said, "It's a good thing you are starting three weeks early!"

Wall E is pretty easy, a painted box with triangular tracks on the side, and cool eyes. We put the eyes on Peter's old beany hat so that they wouldn't bug Sierra. I have to add the top of the box, to cover her shoulders and then Wall E will be done. Here is our rough draft---
Eve, is much more difficult. She is has tear drop shaped body and her head is egg shaped on top and flat on the bottom. So we used paper mache a big bowl for Eve's head shape--- any paper mache professionals out there that know why that was a BIG mistake?
The answer? It is STUCK on the bowl. I even put oil on the bowl before we started--- it didn't work. So today I peeled (and tore) it off. I will wait for that to dry and then paper mache on the top and inside again to strengthen it.

For the teardrop body, I designed the costume out of batting/stuffing and white fabric. Cross your fingers for me... it is NOT easy and Weston knows EXACTLY what he wants. :)

I designed a little light for his costume using a book light so that the green plant light will glow on Eva's tummy. He doesn't know about that. He will love it, if I can do it.

He says, "It MUST be tear dropped shaped, it MUST have wings, and the wings MUST be pointy."

I take it as a compliment that he thinks I can do this, we'll see. I don't know if my Singer and I can pull it off.

Well let me restate that, my Singer sewing machine can handle it, it's the seamstress that has NO IDEA what she is doing!

"A towel prom dress" ~Peter

(This is full sized for printing, moms)

I am on a sewing kick. I am making the kids a few Christmas gifts. They really like it when I make things for them. This age is so great, because they like everything I make!!!

I know a in a few more years they won't be so willing to play along with me! :)

While I was up with Sierra in the middle of the night, I thought of this design. I was trying to use the time and not be upset I wasn't sleeping!!! :)

I had made her a poncho cover up that was hideous and is now in the garbage!

I really like this style! So sassy.

I like the kids to have a coverup when they get out of the water. I don't like how towels always slip off or get stepped on while they are walking.

We are going to Thailand in Feb so I made this for Sierra.

Isn't she a doll?

This was super easy to make- I made it during two episodes of King of Queens. I just measured a shirt that fit her and cut the tube top part- I sewed it together and then added a bit of elastic at the top. Then I made the short skirt by gathering it and sewed it on to the tube top part. Then I hemmed the bottom.

I wanted it to slide right on- with no sleeves on wet little arms! So cute.

Next I am making Weston a army print flannel and fleece sleeping bag- I know he'll love it!

Figured out the Template and Creative Recycling

Yay... probably most of you were sleeping when my blog was caddy wompus today... it's fixed!

Since I am logging on to check if it is fixed, I thought I would show you one of my projects today.

Sierra had two stained shirts and a stained skirt and a dress that was too small. Weston had a pair of shorts that were too small. So I put them all together and made these:

The heart patch is from the stained shirt I made the frogs out of and it is covering a bad stain on the bottom of that skort! The second outfit is an old dress that was too short for Sierra, so I cut it apart and sewed the skirt on to Weston's old shorts. I made a patch to cover the stain on this shirt out of scraps from the shorts and dress. It really looks cute.

I got the ideas for this at http://makeitandloveit.blogspot.com/2009/07/twirly-jean-skirt.html

Snowy, Seasons Changing Saturday

We woke up this morning and opened the curtains to a THICK blanket of snow. I love snow, especially on Saturday when we are all here together. The children were so excited. We pulled out the winter coats, snow pants, and new boots. They ran outside and played!!! It was fun!

Then Peter and I decided to have a celebration of the first day of winter. We made doughnuts with sprinkles (and some maple bars for Peter... his fave.) The children came in with red, rosy cheeks and enjoyed our celebration with SUGAR!

Sierra's rosy cheeks... I love this picture. I was wrestling her and hugging her and taking the picture at the same time!

Later on they made a snowman with Peter! This is the first snowman we've ever made here. The snow is usually so dry, that it won't stick together but today it was perfect. Quarter sized snow flakes drifted down all day long! It was so beautiful. That nice white blanket makes everything look so clean and fresh.

Then I decided to make some frog beanbags. We've been reading about frogs and studying the letter "F." To top that off, one of Sierra's green shirts was in terrible need of recycling! I chopped it up and made two soft frogs. The kids enjoyed throwing them around. Weston made up a game. He put the frog on his head, and Sierra copied. Then they jumped and the frog flew up and they yelled, "jump." Funny!

I got the pattern for this idea at http://lilblueboo.blogspot.com/

Talk about a creative lady!

Sew Cute

Today I made bathrobes for the kids. I had a bee in my bonnet that they needed them! I had some old towels that had a hole in them, so I cut them up and made bathrobes.

The towels were solid blue in the middle and had a floral print on the edges. I used the solid for Weston's and the floral for Sierra's. I edged Weston's in green because he LOVES green.

I got some advice from some homeschoooling friends, because I have no idea what I am doing! I have never sewn clothes before. So after getting some good advice, I made a pattern by taping together some old school papers. I had Weston lay on the paper pattern to check that it was the right size and then I cut the towels and sewed them into bathrobes.

I am a terrible seamstress... I cannot sew well and I am always frustrated with my product. I was happy with today's work though! The kids like them too! They wore them today while they played. Yeah- three hips for mommy!