Adventures at the Beauty Academy

The girls were long overdue for haircuts, and despite my frugal nature, I have resolved to never EVER attempt to cut their hair myself. Too many horror stories, and I simply cannot bring myself to do it. That's not to say that salons are always perfect. One instance involving Emily's haircut a few years ago that ended in bangs despite my explicit request for NO BANGS comes to mind. You have no idea how long those took to grow out. It must have traumatized me because now every time she goes to get her hair cut I am overcome with the urge to scream "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND ALL THAT IS HOLY, NO BANGS! NO BANGS!!" while grabbing the hairdresser by the shoulders and violently shaking her.

Thankfully, I show great restraint during those moments, but make the seriousness of my request known by extending the length of the "no". As in, "Yes, a trim would be perfect. Chin length is great. (pause for effect) Noooooooo bangs!". Smile. "Thank you so much!"

So far, so good!

I realize I'm a control freak, but seriously, have you ever had a hairdresser not listen to you? Do you have any idea how frustrating that can be?? It's like your entire LIFE for the next 4 or 5 months is resting in their hands! Do they even realize the POWER they have???? It makes me tremble with fear, just thinking about it.

A friend of mine (Hi, Kim!) told me about a local beauty academy, and after seeing how awesome her new hair style looked, I just knew I had to give this place a try. For all three of us to get our hair cut, is no small feat. First, Mark needs to be there to supervise the girls while my hair is being cut. Someone needs to make sure no bangs are being cut. Lastly, someone needs to distract Clara during her FIRST haircut EVER so she doesn't whip her head around and get her eyes poked out with a pair of scissors.

We did quite well!

The beauty academy was fabulous (and very frugal)! When word got out that it was Clara's first hair cut, I thought they were going to fight over who got to cut her hair. She had two hairstylists working on her at the same time, while a third went to fetch an envelope to keep her hair trimmings in. So much attention for one little girl!

Ta da!!

Meanwhile....
Emily was thoroughly enjoying all this pampering! What a treat! Rachel did an amazing job with her haircut, and NO BANGS!! Hooray!!!!

Thank you, Alison, Rachel, and Samantha for our lovely new 'dos -- just in time for the holidays!

Handmade Holidays -- Easy Felted Ornaments

We spent some time with our sleeves rolled up and our hands in very warm soapy water to make these beautiful felted ornaments. I found the process to be calming, and we were both quite pleased with the results!

To make your own felted ornaments, you will need some wool roving and a dish of very warm soapy water. Dip a small amount of wool roving into the water and begin rolling it into a ball with the palms of your hands.

To make a larger ornament, just add a little more roving bit by bit until you have the size you want.

Allow to dry, and add a string. I tried to convince Emily to try some with different colors, but she wanted to make her ornaments all solid colors today. I love that they are not breakable!!

We're also keeping some of these just as balls for Clara to play with. To test if the ball is large enough to not be a choking hazard, see if it fits through a toilet paper tube. If it does, it is too small, so keep adding wool roving until it no longer fits in the tube.

We played with the felt and warm water until our fingers were all wrinkly! So much fun!!

[Update: I've received several emails asking where to find wool roving. I found it at JoAnn's, and it is usually near the yarn section. It looks a bit like cotton candy when it's dry. You can also purchase wool roving at Amazon. See below.]

And the winner is...

The winner of the YoBaby 3-in-1 Meals Prize Pack is Mama King from 4 Crazy Kings! Congratulations!!

Thank you to everyone who entered, and if you haven't done so already, be sure to get your entry in for a Melissa and Doug Play Grill Set Giveaway from AllChildrensFurniture.com.

Review and Giveaway -- YoBaby 3-in-1 Meals

Have you seen the new YoBaby 3-in-1 Meals from Stonyfield Farm? Clara is a big fan of them, and she gets super-excited whenever she sees the package! I knew they were going to be a big hit when she ate the first cup in record time and then cried when it was all gone.

Here's what I love about the new YoBaby 3-in-1 Meals:

• Protein-packed organic yogurt, fruit, and veggie puree all in one cup -- very convenient!
• Three great flavors -- Choose from Peach and Squash, Apple and Sweet Potato, Pear and Green Bean.
• Larger 6oz. size.
• The frugal side of me loves that for a limited time the 3-in-1 Meals feature a coupon on the lid for a "buy 2, get 1 free" deal.

Now the fun part -- 1 lucky reader will win a totally awesome YoBaby prize package! The prize package includes a reusable YoBaby tote bag, an organic YoBaby bib, an Eric Carle growth chart, 5 FREE YoBaby 3-in-1 coupons, and a travel YoBaby bowl with lid and utensils. Here's the photo...

To enter for your chance to win, leave a comment on this post and be sure to leave your email address in the comments field. Tweet/blog/facebook about this giveaway, and you're in for three more entries. (Just be sure to come back here and leave a comment that you tweeted/blogged/facebooked about it.) Follow Frugal Family Fun Blog on Twitter, subscribe to our feed, or follow in Blogger and you're in for three more entries. (Again, leave a comment that you follow or subscribe.)

Giveaway ends Wednesday, September 23rd @ 6:30pm EST and winner will be chosen by random.org.

Good luck!!

Sunday Snapshot -- Clara's First Pigtails!

A Special Baby Gift

A close friend of mine is expecting her first baby any day now.

[UPDATE: Just hours after publishing this post, she had a healthy baby boy! We are so happy for her!!!]

I will take any excuse to get crafty, but wanted to do something really special for her. I enlisted the help of our mutual friend, Maelee (pronounced MAY-Lee -- isn't that the prettiest name?), to help me put together a fabulous gift of handmade baby items!!

The only problem was Maelee didn't know how to sew. *gasp* The horror!! Well, we quickly resolved that issue! Here's Maelee learning to use the serger. She did quite well and it was so much fun!!

We made all sorts of baby items, and what I loved the most about this project was that almost everything was repurposed and made with love for the new baby. Maelee and I enjoyed some quality time together. Mark kept asking why we needed wine, chocolate, and latin music to do sewing. *Pffftt*

Here are the baby pants we made from these pillowcases. Sewing for babies is ideal for a beginner's sewing project. It uses such little fabric, and the seams are quite short. Baby pants are especially easy, since the seams are mostly straight or just slightly curved. I used a pair of Clara's pants as a pattern.

We also made flannel and fleece baby blankets using the serger.

We had to make some baby bibs from old jeans too. So cute!!

And my personal favorite -- burp clothes!

We wrapped everything up in tulle and used a bassinet basket.

Fun stuff -- If you don't know how to sew, but would like to learn I'm considering offering a free online workshop for beginners if there is enough interest. If that is something that would interest you, please leave a comment. I think everyone should learn how to sew! Come on, you can do this, and it will be so much fun!!!

Pretty in Peach

Here's a little sneak peek! This is what I made using some of this fabric and this pattern courtesy of the aptly named blog Make It and Love It. I did make it, and I do indeed LOVE it!! Ashley's patterns are always so delightfully simple and easy to understand. Mine was made from a bed sheet purchased at the thrift store for just $1, and there is plenty of fabric leftover! The minute I saw the bed sheet, I knew I wanted to use the decorative edge as a ruffle on a cute sundress.

The pattern is available for sizes 6-12 months all the way up to size 5T, so I'm planning a few more of these for Emily as well.

What about the other fabric, you ask? It is going towards a very special (and frugal) project, indeed! More on that soon.....

And.......there is a fun giveaway starting tomorrow, so be sure to check back!

And the winner is....

I won't keep you waiting anymore. I decided to pick 3 winners instead of just 1 for the Handmade Baby Bib giveaway! The three lucky people (chosen by random.org) are:

Stephanie Griffith from Sunny Side Up

Mamacakes (aka Jamie)

Mama (aka Sylvia)

Congratulations and thanks to everyone for entering this fun giveaway! Another giveaway starts soon.....

To see the tutorial on how you can make a baby bib from old jeans, click here.

Tutorial and Giveaway -- Baby Bib from Old Jeans

Photos for today's post are courtesy of Emily! Awhile ago, my father called to ask me if I had any use for a bunch of his old jeans. "Sure, pass them along! I'm sure I'll think of something... Hmmm...." Turns out it was a large box full of several different pairs of jeans, and the box sat around for a few months while I churned different ideas of what to do with them in the back of my mind for awhile. While I was in the middle of feeding Clara one afternoon, it came to me! Baby bibs!! And these are so easy to make! I can get about 1 dozen bibs from a single pair of jeans!

To make your own baby bibs from a pair of jeans, cut the legs off of the jeans, and cut next to the inseam as shown. This will give you a single layer of denim.

I made my own pattern from a bib that Clara already had. This one is the perfect size. If my scanner were working properly, I would upload a pattern for you to download, but sadly it is yelling at me... something about an incompatible ink cartridge. Blecchh! Anyway, pin your pattern to the denim and carefully cut it as shown.

Pin some ribbon along the bottom. I found several beautiful spools of ribbon at Big Lots for $1! Scraps of ribbon is really all you need to dress up the bib a bit. Once it is pinned in place, sew along both edges with a zig-zag stitch.

Flip the bib over, and trim any excess ribbon and thread.

Pin the bias tape along the outer edge of the bib as shown. Sew this with a straight stitch. Go slowly to prevent the bias tape from having any creases. I used wide single fold bias tape that I found on clearance at JoAnn for $0.97!

Cut a 24" length of bias tape and fold in half to find the mid-point. Attach the midpoint to the middle of the neckline of the bib. Pin in place as shown. Starting at one end of the bias tape, sew a straight stitch all along the edge of the tape, along the neckline of the bib, and down the length of the other side of the tape. Knot the ends of the bias tape to keep the edges from fraying.

Here's a close up of a finished bib.

I'll be making plenty of these for Clara, and for baby shower gifts!

Now the fun part, one lucky reader will win one of these adorable bibs! Leave a comment with your color preference (indicate for a boy or girl) and be sure to include your email for a chance to win this fun giveaway. Giveaway ends Wednesday, July 8th @ 6:30pm EST. Winner will be chosen by random.org.... Good luck!

Don't forget, tomorrow is the last day of the Caption Contest. Click here to submit your entry for a chance to win a $10 Barnes and Noble Gift Card!

And the winner is....

The winner of the YoBaby yogurt prize pack is Stephanie from My Frugal Lifestyle! Congratulations, Stephanie!

Another fun giveaway starts soon, so be sure to check back.

YoBaby Yogurt -- Review and Giveaway

I was delighted when Stonyfield Farms asked me to post a review of their YoBaby yogurt. Both of my girls are huge fans of their delicious, organic, healthy yogurt and it is a staple item in our refridgerator. Clara recognizes the containers now and starts rocking back and forth saying "Mmmmmmmmm...." in her high chair when she sees the stuff! It is that good, people!

We usually get the packages of vanilla and banana YoBaby, which works out quite nicely because Emily loves the vanilla, but not the banana, and Clara eats the banana flavored yogurt right up!

What I love about YoBaby yogurt:

1. All natural, certified organic.
2. Made with milk from cows fed organic feed, and not treated with antibiotics or growth hormones.
3. It is so yummy!!

Now the fun stuff -- One lucky reader will win a YoBaby prize pack including: a YoBaby bowl with Lid, an organic YoBaby bib, and a bundle of 5 YoBaby coupons for free yogurt!

To enter this fabulous giveaway, leave a comment on this post. Winner will be chosen by random.org. This giveaway ends Wednesday, June 17th @ 6:30 PM EST. Good luck!

Fun with Felt -- Baby Booties

I never thought I would be able to sew these cute baby booties, but this was my very first try and I'm quite pleased with how they turned out! If you would like to make your own, I highly recommend you follow the detailed directions and pattern found here. It seemed a bit intimidating at first, but I just took it one step at a time. Turning just $0.40 worth of felt, and some ribbon scraps into such cuteness seemed like magic to me. What a fabulous (and very inexpensive) handmade baby gift!

This pair is being sent to my blogging friend, MaryAnne from Thrifty Craft Mama. As many of you know, MaryAnne is expecting a baby girl this July. Congratulations, MaryAnne, and bests wishes for the little one! 

In other news, I will be offline all next week and without internet access -- GASP! But fear not, loyal reader, for I have scheduled several new and exciting posts to go out during the week. Hey, just because I am going through internet withdrawl, doesn't mean you have to. I'm scheduled to return back online Monday, June 15th (when I am also scheduled to appear on NBC's The 10! Show to demonstrate frugal paper crafts for kids)! 

There are lots of money saving tips, craft, and activity ideas ahead. You won't want to miss it. If you haven't already subscribed to the feed in a reader or by email, now would be a great time to do so. See you next week!

Cute and Frugal Monogramed Onesie

Emily was very excited to create something special for Clara this afternoon, and cardboard stencils made this project very easy! I found a set of cardboard alphabet and number stencils at Big Lots for just $1. Baby onesies are usually very inexpensive. This one came in a pack of 3 for $7.99 at Target. With just a little fabric paint, we were all set! Lay the onesie on a flat surface and place a piece of cardboard inside it to keep the paint from sticking it together. Lay your stencil on top and use masking tape to secure it to the onesie. Paint your stencil, let dry, and wash according to fabric paint's instructions. Enjoy! 

Raising baby green -- on a budget

Clara at 7 months old.

In most cases, being frugal is also good for the environment and vice versa.  However, raising baby green can sometimes be challenging for your budget since what is best for the environment may not always be the most frugal choice. Organic baby food, for instance, usually costs considerably more than regular baby food.  If you are planning to raise baby green, here are some tips to keep costs down.

1. Make Your Own Organic Baby Food -- Check with your pediatrician about making your own organic baby food. Organic carrots and sweet potatoes are some of the cheapest vegetables, and both last a very long time so stock up on these. Add a small amount of water and blend well in a food processor. Freeze in ice cube trays, and defrost as needed.
2. Apple Sauce -- Instead of buying several jars of organic apple baby food, try one large jar of organic apple sauce (with no sugar added).  
3. Cloth Diapers -- We have had great success with bumGenius cloth diapers. These adjust to fit your baby and will last from the infant stage all the way until potty-training. Try one or two cloth diapers to see how they work for your baby before purchasing a bunch of them. Over time, the cost savings of using cloth diapers is significant, and you will keep diapers out of the landfill (where they frequently take 100 years to decompose!).
4. Make Your Own Baby Wipes -- Since we use cloth diapers, it made sense to use cloth wipes too.  We use baby wash clothes as baby wipes, and I keep a spray bottle of watered down solution of baby wash on the diaper changing table.  Spray the wash cloth and you are good to go!
5. Save on Skin Care -- Before using tons of lotion or baby powder, check with your pediatrician.  Many times infants only need plain water or very little baby wash, so you can use it very sparingly.  
6. Learn to Knit -- This is my personal favorite. Learning to knit is a great hobby for stress relief, and can help save money. Organic cotton baby sweaters can be very expensive, but you can knit your own for a lot less!
7. Prioritize Organics -- If you cannot afford to buy all organic baby food, try focusing on the foods that are typically grown with the most pesticides and only buying these foods organic instead.  These include: apples, strawberries, raspberries, potatoes, peaches, pears, and cherries. 
8. Swap Clothing and Linens with a Friend -- Kids out-grow clothing at such a rapid rate.  Let friends know you are looking to swap children's clothes. Check craigslist or your local freecycle to help keep clothing out of the landfill.
9. Save on Paint -- Thinking of painting the nursery?  Shop and compare prices for no or low VOC paint.  To save money, be sure to measure the square footage of your project accurately so you do not buy more paint than you will really need. You may want to check the returned paint section -- you may find the perfect shade for 1/2 the price!

Clara models some baby booties I knitted for her.

Do you have a money-saving tip for raising baby green?  I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment and share your ideas with us!

Save Money on Baby

(Clara Sage at 4 months.  Isn't she cute??)

Let's face it, babies are expensive creatures.  Between the diapers, formula, baby food, and clothes, the cost of raising a child can really add up!  Here are some of my favorite ways to save money on babies:

1. Diapers:  Consider cloth diapers.  I know, I know, but before you turn your nose up at the idea, keep in mind that the average child will cost about $1600 for two years worth of disposable diapers.  The cloth diapers of today are vastly improved over the ones from just a few years ago.  Cloth diapers are not that much more effort, plus they are better for the environment.  For more information on cloth diapers, check out Diaper Jungle's Cloth Diaper Guide.  If you must use disposable diapers, a good way to stock up on these is to get them for free from CVS using Extra Care Bucks.  For more CVS tips, visit MoneySavingMom's CVS 101.  Also, generic store brands are often half the price of brand-name diapers, but work just about as well.
2. Formula:  If you cannot breast feed, try stocking up on samples.  Every time you take your baby to the pediatrician, ask for samples of formula.  Many times they keep several different varieties on hand.  If you start asking for samples from birth, you can accumulate a large collection of formulas for free.  For more formula samples, sign up for Enfamil's Family Beginnings.  When you receive $5 coupons good towards any formula, try to get the smallest container to maximize savings and pay the least out of pocket.
3. Baby Food:  Making your own baby food is simple and easy to do.  You can find more information on making your own baby food at WholesomeBabyFood.com.  To save on store-bought baby food, many people do not know that stage 1 baby food is the same as stage 2.  The only difference is the portion size.  Many times stage 2 baby food comes in a slightly larger bottle.  I like to purchase the stage 2 foods, pour some out into a bowl for a feeding and save the rest in the fridge to use the next day.
4. Clothing:  To save on clothing, it is important to realize that newborns outgrow clothes at a rapid rate.  Also, frequent spills, diaper leaks, and food stains make purchasing new clothes seem... well, pointless really.  Try shopping at a second hand store, consignment shop, or yard sale.  Also, buying clothes out of season can be a big money saver.
5. College Savings:  It is never too early to start saving for your baby's college education.  Consider starting a 529 plan and then automatically contribute a portion of your income.  uPromise is another great resource for college savings, and you can invite other friends or family to contribute to your child's fund by linking their store discount cards or credit cards to the account.

Have another great baby money-saving tip to share?  Leave a comment and tell us about it!