Mom's Fun Life

How to Use a Chicken Saddle - Free Pattern

2018-09-05T13:33:00.000-06:00

Denim Chicken Saddle

This week I am undertaking a much needed project - sewing chicken saddles for our hens! The kids are all in school and the semester hasn't started for myself yet so I have two weeks of free time. I was also blessed to get a nice sewing cabinet for free a few weeks. Now is the perfect time to set it up and try it out!

For those of you who don't know what a chicken saddle or chicken apron is, they are to cover the backs of hens. This helps protect them from aggressive roosters and other hens pecking at them. You can wind up with a barebacked chicken with enough pecking. The chicken saddle helps the feathers grow back.

I looked around online and found a chicken saddle pattern that looked appropriately sized. Instead of using two layers of fabric and interfacing, I used old jeans instead since we have a bunch to cut up. This meant the edges just needed serged instead of sewn together, flipped, and stitched again. Very fast and easy! Check out the video below to see how to fit the chicken saddle onto a hen.

Here is quick step-by-step rundown of how the chicken saddles were made:

1. Print pattern.
2. Pin pattern to jeans. This cuts two saddles out at once.
3. Serge around edges of each saddle.
4. Fold over top edge of saddle just enough to leave room for elastic after seam is sewn.
5. Sew one edge of elastic to the top right corn.
6. Slide elastic through look created by folding top edge over.
7. Sew other end of elastic to the top left corner.
8. All done!

If you aren't wanting to sew a chicken saddle but need one, they can also be purchased online in varying sizes. A few options are listed below.

Water Gardening for Kids

2017-05-09T11:06:00.001-06:00

It's that time of year again - gardening season. Everyone is prepping the ground and planting the veggies. Gardening is a fun activity for all ages. For kids, though, planting a full garden is a lot of work! Don't worry, though, your garden buddy can start their own fun little indoor garden with these fun ideas. Make a fun family night out of it and reap the rewards for months to come.

Green Onions

Thank you to homemadeserenity.blogspot.com for this idea. Green onions are a piece of cake for kids to grow in a glass. Instead of throwing out the roots of green onions, put them in a glass of water or Ball quart wide mouth jar and place in a sunny windowsill. Add a cup of water and keep onions hydrated. The green onions will grow and you can trim and use as needed. She does state she pulls the roots out every so often and rinses them. If you want to make them look decorative, too, do several cups along the windowsill.

Celery

Yup, you can regrow celery the same way, too. Just save the ends of the celery, put it in a glass with water, and place on your windowsill.

Romaine Lettuce

This one was surprising for me. I had no idea you could regrow lettuce indoors. Like green onions and celery, Top Inspired states all you need is a container and some water. Old sour cream containers or a wider bowl will work well. Put the romaine heart in about 1/2" of water in the container and water every few days. When the leaves are big enough, you can trim them to eat and keep growing the plant. Top Inspired also have several other fun ideas for veggies to regrow if you are interested.

School Supply Sale at OfficeMax and Office Depot.

2016-07-13T12:31:00.001-06:00

The stores are trying to rip my summer away from me already. Is it just me or do the school supply sales start earlier every year? Nonetheless, my money mind knows it's better to buy now than pay full price later.

Here are this week's deals at OfficeMax and OfficeDepot. I asked all of this for $5.66 with tax. Office Max does put a limit of three on each big discount item.

Big Deals:

Crayons $.25
Sharpie Markers $.25 each
Highlighters $.25
Pencils $.01
Pencil Boxes $.01
Staplers $.01
Erasers $1.00
Paper Punch $1.00

The kicker here is you must have a minimum purchase of $5.00. Hence, the paper punch and erasers, both which we will need anyway.

Now that sales have started, check the ads every week as each will feature other really good deals to help save on the budget.

Free Kindle eBooks for Thursday, November 5th

2015-11-05T09:09:00.001-07:00

Remember to always check the price says $0.00 to get the Kindle eBooks for free.

Free Kindle eBook Titles

A Lady in Defiance (Romance in the Rockies): Romance in the Rockies Book 1

Emma Had A Little Turkey (Emma Books)

Superfoods Cookbook: Over 75 Quick & Easy Gluten Free Low Cholesterol Whole Foods Recipes full of Antioxidants & Phytochemicals (Natural Weight Loss Transformation Book 29)

Coconut Oil Bible: (Boxed Set): Benefits, Remedies and Tips for Beauty and Wight Loss

Browned Butter Frosting Recipe

2015-11-05T08:46:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Bars with Browned Butter Frosting by Taste of Home

Last weekend one of the kids asked for pumpkin bars for a treat. I LOVE pumpkin so I was more than happy to oblige. The only problem was I knew we didn't have any cream cheese and going to the store wasn't an option.

So what does any good baker do? Hit the internet looking for recipes that don't require cream cheese but will still taste good on pumpkin bars! I'd already made the bars by Paula Deen so only needed a frosting recipe. I found this Browned Butter Frosting Recipe by Taste of Home that is absolutely delicious. Keep in mind you will want to spread this thinly as the taste can overpower the pumpkin bars if you use too much or the bars are thinner.

We made the bars in a jelly roll panand used Paula Deen's recipe which was just a little shy of batter for a good thick pumpkin bar. I decided next time to try a different recipe as there wasn't lots of flavor either. Although, I love a lot of spice so I may not be the best judge. Hence, I am only including the Browned Butter Frosting Recipe which we did love. This ia VERY sweet frosting recipe with a nice caramel flavor to it.

BROWNED BUTTER FROSTING INGREDIENTS:

2/3 cup butter, cubed
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspon vanilla extract
4 to 6 teaspoons 2% milk (we used 4)

COOKING DIRECTIONS:

In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until golden brown, stirring continually. We used unsalted butter but you could use either. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and gradually beat in confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk to reach desired consistency. Using a spatula, spread frosting over bars and let cool until set.

COOKING UTENSILS NEEDED:

Gather all of your cooking supplies beforehand for a super fast frosting recipe. Cooking implements needed are a large jelly roll pan, mixing bowl, small saucepan, spatulas for cooking and spreading, measuring cups and measuring spoons. Need some new items? Listed below are items that are similar to what we used to make the Browned Butter Frosting Recipe by Taste of Home.

Singer 7256 Fashion Mate Sewing Machine

2015-09-21T11:03:00.001-06:00

SINGER 7256 Fashion Mate

SINGER 7256 Fashion Mate 70-Stitch Computerized Free-Arm Sewing Machine with Automatic Needle Threader

I'll admit I am definitely not a fabulous seamstress even though both my mother and grandmother are. They tried and I did pick up a some skills just watching them. But, sometimes as kids we have other things we want to do. And I'll admit, I was not the most patient kid to teach anything.

Fast forward to getting married and wanting to beautify our home. I pulled out my nice sturdy Bernette sewing machine and got to work. I tried lots of different things. However, what I achieved most with that sewing machine was lots of frustration. Turns out my sturdy Bernette was a solid piece of junk.

Move on another 15 years or so and I finally decided I wanted to start sewing again. I bought a very basic $50 Christmas sale machine from Walmart and discovered how much fun sewing can be again! We also enrolled a few kids in basic sewing classes so they could learn some skills.

Once I got going with sewing, I wanted a few extra features after awhile. Fortunately for me I found another great Walmart sale on a Brother machine with threader, drop in bottom and a whole bunch of stitches. NOW we are having lots of fun! Why do a plain border when you can do a decorative one, right? I'll admit my girls and I now have much more fun sewing now!

Which brings me to YOU. Ready to move up to something a little funner but don't want to break the bank? Try this Amazon Deal of the Day out!

SINGER 7256 Fashion Mate - Sale Price $99.99

Amazon.com says the list price is $259.99 and it is only sale for only $99.99 with free shipping! That's a killer deal - or is it? I wanted to be sure so I checked WalMart, the low price store for the most part. Walmart lists the Singer 7256 Fashion Mate for $154.56. So, yes, $99.99 is definitely a good buy for the Singer sewing maching then. And, it's a SINGER!

If you are looking for a few extra goodies, this one has it. So, hop on over to SINGER 7256 Fashion Mate and get it today before it is gone!

70 Stitch Sewing Machine with 5 Presser Feet & Instructional DVD is Perfect For Crafting, Sewing and Quilting
Easy Threading System with Automatic Needle Threader
LED Display Screen with Automatic Stitch Length and Width
Easy-to-Load Top Drop-In Bobbin System with Clear Cover
6 Fully Automatic 1-Step Buttonholes provide a professional finish. 110 volt machine designed for United States and Canadian use only

FREE Kindle eBooks for Monday, September 21st

2015-09-21T10:07:00.000-06:00

Remember to double check that the price says $0.00 before downloading. Prices subject to change at any time buy seller's.

Free Kindle eBook titles

Katie's Redemption (Brides of Amish Country Book 1)

Summer of the Midnight Sun (Alaskan Quest Book #1)

City of Angels (The Trials of Kit Shannon #1)

Mental Strength: Mental Training Skills to Develop Courage, Confidence and Commitment

The Chef's Mail Order Bride: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Wild West Frontier Brides Book 1)

Ketogenic Diet: Rapid Weight Loss Breakfasts VOLUME 2: Lose Up To 30 Lbs. In 30 Days (Free eBook with Download) (Ketogenic Diet Rapid Weight Loss Breakfasts)

Summer is OVER. Hallelujah!

2015-09-02T13:19:00.003-06:00

Summer is finally over. I'm pretty sure we spent more time away from home than at home. I am so glad to be back to "normal" every day life! While we all love our summer freedom, if the fun lasts forever, it starts to wear on you some, right?

So what now? Kids are back in school, homework starts and a hectic life of sports starts once again. Parents breath a sigh of relief as they head off to work not wondering what their kids are doing today. Kids get to hang out with friends once again (we live in the country so daily play dates don't happen) and stay-at-home moms either send kids off in tears or shout for joy.

For me this year, I was really excited to send my teenage boys back to school. They need the stability. The girls are glad to see friends again and they both love school. And my little buddy, well, he is loving having mommy and the house all to himself. The house is quieter once again and stays cleaner for part of the day. (I'm sure his enthusiasm for quiet and a break from teasing/loving siblings will wear off in a little while.) This year is definitely a "Hallelujah! School has started!" type of year.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up:
The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

BUY ONLINE HERE

What's the plan now, though? If you are needing an idea of how to entertain yourself and fill up all your new free time (because parents are NEVER busy, right?), here's my plan - KONMARI. Every heard of it? The organizing method is based on the best selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. We are going to organize all the crap out of this house, literally, and only keep the things we love. This is a different kind of organizing than I've previously learned. Instead of going room by room we are sorting by category and only sparking those items that spark "joy". Why spend time shuffling and organizing stuff you "might" need someday instead of just enjoying today?

We've got two years left until oldest leaves and I intend to make the most of it. Obviously my previous methods didn't work because I am STILL finding things to get rid of even after starting this process two years ago. Albeit, not much yet as we are only on clothes so far. Why? Because I was holding onto things either "just in case" or because I couldn't bear to part with them yet but knew I didn't use items. It has taken me a few cycles to get rid of a lot of these. Not anymore. I'm ready to let it all go! Fortunately, my previous efforts will aid me and we have seen a big difference already, which meant lots of extra play time this summer.

Theoretically, there shouldn't be a lot left to get rid of in the house. The garage and outside, well that is another matter. Hubby hasn't had time to help outside and he has been working on a Master's Degree for a few years. Now he is finally done!!! So, I know he'll love having a nice organized garage if I can just get him started in on it.

So, it's time to celebrate in my little buddy that loves to help mommy, spark some serious joy and get organized! If your wanting to join in, check out the KonMari Adventures Facebook page with over 20,000 members and click to get Marie Kondo's book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, get reading and get moving. It's going to be fun and I'm so excited to make the most of the school day and just play with my kids after. Here we go to a great and productive school year for everyone!

Free Kindle eBooks for Monday, May 11th

2015-05-11T10:41:00.002-06:00

Remember to always double check that the price still says $0.00 before purchasing free Kindle eBooks online.

If you don't have a Kindle device, you can download the Kindle app for free on any handheld device. Once you have set up an amazon.com account, you can easily purchase or download Kindle books and they will automatically load to your chosen device.

Free Kindle eBook Titles

In Between (A Katie Parker Production, Book 1)

Candle in the Darkness (Refiner's Fire, Book 1)

The Centurion's Wife (Acts of Faith Book #1)

An Untamed Land (Red River of the North Book #1)

The Happiness Mindset: 12 Strategies for Happiness & Success I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Younger

Free Kindle eBooks for Thursday, May 7th

2015-05-07T11:57:00.001-06:00

Today books are centered around the domestic homemaker theme. Whether you work or stay-at-home full time, these books can teach us all something new for ourselves or our families. Simply click on the link to download the free Kindle eBooks of your choice.

Free Kindle eBook Titles

Off The Grid Living: The, Prepper's Guide, To Caring, Feeding & Facilities For, Raising, Organic, Chickens, At Home (Coops,Breeds, Working & Raising Poultry, ... Guide To Off The Grid Survival Book 2)

Delicious Traditional Amish Cooking: Learn How To Cook The Amish Way

One-Day Crochet: Projects: Easy Crochet Projects You Can Complete in One Day

Frugal Living The Guide To Minimalism: 3 Books In 1 Boxed Set

Free Kindle eBooks for Tuesday, May 5th

2015-05-05T13:18:00.000-06:00

Remember to always check the price says $0.00 to download Kindle eBooks for free!

Free Kindle eBooks Titles

Slow Cooker: Weight Loss: 32 Easy Weight Loss Recipe Meals - Healthy and Delicious Weight Loss Recipes for Your Crock Pot (Slow Cooker Recipes by Arianna Brooks)

The Bobbsey Twins Or, Merry Days Indoors and Out

In Grandma's Attic (Grandma's Attic Series Book 1)

Discover The Jungle With Bangle The Lion!: A Fun, Informative Story About Animals And Making Friends

Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family

Success Without a College Degree: Dissolving the Roadblocks Between You and Success

Free Kindle eBooks for Monday, May 4th

2015-05-04T10:51:00.002-06:00

Looking for something new to read today? Hands down, my favorite free Kindle eBook today is Dawn's Prelude by Tracie Peterson. I have read ALL of her books and love this particular series so I snatched it up immediately! For those wanting a little more adventurous fare or for youth, try Sword Bearer.

Remember to make sure the price says $0.00 before purchasing as prices are subject to change at any time. Also, please feel free to share and join Mom's Fun Life's Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages for more fun ideas and free items.

Free Kindle eBook Titles

Dawn's Prelude (Song of Alaska Book #1)

Self esteem for women: The Ultimate Guide on how to Boost your Self Esteem and Confidence for Women (improve self esteem, low self esteem, improve your ... (Self Esteem, Self esteem for women)

Sword Bearer (Return of the Dragons Book 1)

Rabbit Care: How to Care for a Rabbit

The Choice (Lancaster County Secrets Book #1): A Novel

Free Kindle eBooks for Tuesday, March 31st

2015-03-31T13:19:00.000-06:00

Here's a list of my favorite free Kindle eBooks for the day. Make sure to always double check that the price says $0.00 before purchasing as these deals don't last long! To purchase free eBooks with your Kindle account, simply click on "Shop now" and then click "Buy now with 1-click" and you are all done.

Free Kindle eBook Titles

How to Declutter Your Home for Simple Living: Decluttering Tips and Closet Organization Ideas for Creating Your Own Personal Oasis

Your Guide to Aromatherapy and Essential Oils for Healing: Naturally treat everything from headaches to wounds to anxiety with these incredible oils (Emotions ... (Essential Oils for Beginners Book 2)

50 Lessons I Learned From The World's #1 Goal Achiever

A Personal Mission Statement: Your Road Map to Happiness

Fast and Easy Clean Eating Cookbook: Ultimate fast and delicious Clean Eating Recipes! (Clean Eating Made Simple Book 5)

The Prize: Tales From a Revolution - Vermont

Minecraft: Diary Of A Little Enderman

Fun Easter Crafts and Lessons

2015-03-30T11:39:00.000-06:00

My girls are very excited for Easter later this week. To ramp up the fun and bring out the true meaning of Easter, I went online searching for some fun crafts and family home evening lessons we can do together. Every year I want to put more Christ into Easter and less of the commercial stuff. Obviously I haven't gotten really good at that yet so it is a work in progress. I'd discovered that over the years our Easter celebrations had a lot less to do with Christ than the Easter Bunny. This year I am determined to make it a Christ centered week!

I'd like to give a special thanks to the other bloggers and Pinterest posters for these fun Easter crafts and lessons. Hopefully you will all find something you love and have a special Easter week, too!

1. Easter Scripture Egg Activity

If your kids are used to the Easter Bunny visitng, Your Homebased Mom has a fun idea for sharing scriptures about Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday using plastic Easter eggs in a basket. Take 12 eggs and number each egg, put a scripture in each egg along with it's corresponding object item. On Easter Sunday, take turns around the table opening each egg, in order, and reading scriptures about Christ and the atonement and discussing it's object lesson.

Your Homebased Mom also has a Easter Egg Scripture PDF available online of the scriptures her family uses.

2. General Conference Easter Egg

I love this LDS General Conference activity page for kids! A Little Tipsy ties in spring and Easter to her General Conference activity page for some extra whimsy. Add a box of crayons or markers, and your elementary age kids are ready for some "egg"stra fun during General Conference this week.

To print, just click on the image at right for a larger version. For younger kids who can't read yet, she has a basket and picture eggs they can color on her blog.

3. Easter Garden Tutorial

I found this Eastern Garden Tomb tutorial on Pinterest from The Frugal Homemaker. While Frugal Homemaker used moss she found around her property, I've also seen it done using wheat grass grown at home with basic wheat grain. While your are making your Eastern Garden Tomb display, discuss the atonement and sacrifice of Christ.

Wheat kernels are very easy to sprout. Watch a video on home to sprout them below.

4. JESUS Easter Egg Table Decoration

Here is a pretty way to add a remembrance of Christ to your table. Take decorative eggs and add white sticker letters to six eggs spelling "JESUS!". Purchase a narrow basket and dry faux grass at the dollar store to place the eggs in. All done! An easy and fast craft for kids to do. Thanks to Catholic Icing blog for the idea!

5. Elegant Easter Egg Decorations

I found this online through Good Housekeeping. These gorgeous glitter eggs are super easy to make! All you'll need are hard boiled eggs, dye, glue, a paint brush and glitter.

Boil and dye the eggs the color you desire. Paint the eggs with the white glue or use a spray glue and roll in glitter. Lay on wax paper or a tray to try. All done!

6. DIY Paint Chip Egg Garland

If you happen to have a lot of paint chips around your house, here is a great way to use them up. Simply cut the chips in half and cut an egg shape. Punch two holes in the top using an extra small hole punch or needle. Modern Parents Messy Kids used waxed cotton to thread hers, which helped prevent slipping. If you don't have waxed cotton then you can use scotch tape on the back of the eggs to hold them in place. You could also write your favorite Easter scriptures on the eggs as well.

Free Kindle eBooks for Saturday, February 28th

2015-02-28T11:53:00.001-07:00

Here are a few free Kindle eBooks for today. Get them before they are gone and always double check that the price is still listed as $0.00.

Free Kindle eBook Titles

100 CASSEROLES And Main Dish Recipes From Church And Community Cookbooks (Church And Community Cookbook Series 2)

The Greatest Amish Recipes In History: Fast, Easy & Delicious Amish Recipes You Will Love (Recipes From a Simpler Life)

Organize Your Home: Declutter Your Home Destress Your Life

50 Habits Of Happy People : Daily Habits That Will Make You Happier (Many Ways to Turn Happiness Into An Advantage)

Orangey the Goldfish (Book 1)

Free Kindle eBooks for Monday, January 19th

2015-01-19T11:35:00.001-07:00

Ready to do some cleaning and organizing? I am! January is obviously a popular time for people to make changes to their routines and getting more organizing is a goal lots of people pick. So, hopefully this will help you out! As a mom of five, I'm all for anything that will stream line things that need done around here.

For the man in my life, well, he's a girl scout cookie lover so I couldn't resist the cookbook "9 Types of Copycat Girl Scout Cookies"! As always, check that the price is still listed as $0.00 before downloading.

Free eBooks Title List

DIY HouseHold Hacks: 155 Hacks and Strategies: Clean Your Home Like a Pro: Your Guide On How To Save Massive Time, Energy and Money & Make Life Easier ... (Do It Yourself!) (The Best Lifehacks)

Cleaning and Organizing for Busy People - A Rapid Speed Cleaning Guide for Busy People To Clean Up Their House FAST! (Cleaning And Organizing, Rapid Speed ... Cleaning And Organizing, diy hacks)

9 Types of Copycat Girl Scout Cookies: Your Favorite Copycat Girl Scout Cookie Flavors

Special on Victorio Grain Mill and Cast Iron Corn Grinder

2014-12-29T20:02:00.002-07:00

Victorio Hand Grain Mill

I'm part of a prepper group on Facebook and found some great deals today on Amazon for a grain mill and grinder. If you are in the market, I personally have the Victorio Grain Mill and love it! The grain mill is super easy to use and my kids think it is great fun to watch it grind up wheat. They've even started using it to grind wheat by hand so they don't have to use our noisy electric one.

I also like have easy it is to setup, use and clean. (It does have tiny parts to it, though, that can easily get lost if you aren't careful.) The grain mill does have a precision stainless steel milling cone and makes a very fine flour. You can grind wheat, barley, rice and other small, hard grains with the mill. I give it a high five and think the Victorio Grain Mill is very nice to have in the event of an emergency or just for every day use. Product dimensions area 5.5 x 2.5 x 13 inches.

The regular price of the Victorio Grain Mill is $89.94 and it is on sale for $52.05, that's a savings of $38! I don't know how long these savings will last so I wouldn't delay if you are wanting one!

Premium Quality Cast Iron
Corn Grinder by Great
Northern Popcorn Company

The other kitchen appliance I found is the premium quality cast iron corn grinder by the Great Northern Popcorn Company. This grinder can also be used for wheat and nuts and is good for an emergency preparedness or every day item. The listed regular price is $99.95 and it is listed for sale for $24.88 so you save $75.00!

The corn grinder has a 10-inch wooden handle and can grind at the rate of 1 pound per minute. Like the Victorio Grain Mill, it also can clamp to a table or bar for use. If you have a table that has a curved edge, you will want to use a flat board on the table and clamp both together. The Great Northern Popcorn Company Grinder is 10 x 8 x 16 inches.

FREE Kindle eBooks for Friday, November 7th

2014-11-07T11:27:00.001-07:00

Always double check that the price is still listed as $0.00 before downloading if you would like the eBook for free!

Free Kindle eBooks

Free Kindle eBook Titles

Kick Chemicals To The Curb!: How To Make Natural, Healthy Cleaners For Your Home

Organize Yourself Starting Today! 63 Effective Strategies that Actually Work and Help You Immediately Take Control of Your Life, Your Mind and Your Future ... Your Mind, Organize Your Life Book 1)

Low Carb Recipes: Low Carb Meals for One: 30 Quick and Easy Recipes for Your Low-Carb Diet

Do Herbal Antibiotics and Antivirals Actually Work? The Truth About How to Naturally Heal and Protect Yourself with the Use of Herbal Remedies: Herbal ... and Antiviral for Beginners Book 1)

The Playlist for Life: If You Wake Up to the Right Song, How Can You Not Succeed?

James and the Big Battle: A Children's Book about Allergies

Vanilla Wafers Recipe

2014-11-07T11:11:00.002-07:00

Now that I've tried cinnamon graham crackers with success, I am ready to try another fun snack recipe - vanilla wafers! My kids love these almost as much as I do! I LOVE a plain little cookie. My kids laugh because the plain shortbread cookies found in the stores during the holidays are my favorite. They are my ultimate holiday treat splurge. Vanilla wafers are right up there with them. To me these aren't a snack, they are a delicious cookie.

Thanks to Weelicious for this vanilla wafers recipe and we'll be trying it out later this weekend. We will let you know exactly how delicious these vanilla wafers are - and about how long they lasted.

Homemade Cinnamon Graham Crackers

2014-11-07T10:45:00.003-07:00

Mmmm, we love graham crackers at my house. My kids love to dunk them in a glass of milk or smear frosting all over them. Okay, mom loves them, too. They don't last long at our house, have absolutely no nutritional value and then the kids sneak them and won't eat real food. Hence, I don't buy them often. And the store bought variety takes a lot to feel like you've really eaten anything.

I've been trying to make more baked goods and foods at home so we can eat healthier and save the pocket book. Having gone to a friend's house where Buddy got to eat pretzels for a snack, I decided to go home and try making a normally store bought snack food for him. Two-year olds are picky eaters and this little guy takes the cake out of all my kids. Plus, I love to bake and decided if it was homemade it would at least be somewhat real food, right? (Okay, homemade graham crackers aren't really healthy, either, but at least I know what is in them and they are delicious!)

So I hit Pinterest to see what I could find for graham cracker recipes. The recipe had to fit two criteria - it had to be easy and I obviously had to have everything on hand. I perused through a few recipes that either looked like too much work or had items like graham flour in them. Umm, yeah, somehow in my little existence I'd never thought about what graham crackers were made of and how they got their name. I'd actually never heard of graham flour before but it was a nice, "well, duh!" moment for me.

Thanks to servingjoyfully.com, I found one that looked promising both in the recipe and by the look of the picture. I'm a visual girl so the example had to look yummy, too. At first glance I thought the graham cracker would be too dense as her recipe calls for all whole wheat flour and no white. While she used white wheat I only have hard red wheat on hand so I decided to do half red wheat and half regular store bought white flour. After the cookie was all done, though, I can see why she used all hard white wheat. My second attempt later with more white flour, no cinnamon and less hard red what was awful and the texture was much closer to a real graham cracker with more fresh ground wheat.

After some alterations here is the recipe I decided I liked best. And oh my, store bought graham crackers will never be the same. I LOVED these! Hubby really liked them, too, which is saying something because he's not a big baked goods fan.

Homemade Cinnamon Graham Crackers

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup white flour

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup melted butter

1/2 cup honey

1 tsp. vanilla

Cinnamon Graham Cracker recipe ingredients

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix together dry ingredients in smaller bowl and wet ingredients in larger bowl. Blend dry ingredients into wet ingredients. I found the graham crackers to be sweeter than store bought brands. If you would like them less sweet, omit 1/8 cup of honey and add a few tablespoons of water to help dough stick together. Pictured below is the consistency the dough will need to be.

Cinnamon Graham Cracker recipe ingredients mixed together.

Using a jelly roll pan or large cookie sheet with sides, roll dough out until it fills the whole pan. I used a 13 x 18 pan and didn't roll all the way out to the edges. As you can see, my graham crackers turned out a little thicker. So for true graham cracker thickness, roll very thin and all the way to the edges of the pan. I did end up using a big cup to finish up as my rolling pan wouldn't work with a jelly roll pan. I think one of these rolling pins without handles would be good to have. This isn't the only time I've needed one.

Doesn't look like a lot, does it?

Cut dough into graham cracker sized pieces and pierce with a fork. I did cut mine again after baking was done but you may be able to break them like a traditional cracker, too. Here is what mine looked like after they were baked and still it the pan. Yup, I've learned to go all the way to the edges of the pan.

Graham crackers baked and ready to cut -
make sure to roll yours out all the way to the edges!

Bake approximately 9 minutes or until edges start browning. (Servingjoyfully.com recommended 10 minutes but that would have made mine too crisp.) After removing from oven, slice graham crackers again while still somewhat warm.

Cinnamon Graham Crackers - all done! Wahoo!

Grab a glass of milk and enjoy or let cool and spread with your favorite frosting. Store leftovers (if any) in a plastic ziploc bag or container. This does make a fair amount so we had leftovers. And, my oldest taught himself how to make frosting just so he could spread it on his crackers. Enjoy!

FREE Kindle eBooks for Thursday, November 6th

2014-11-06T10:57:00.001-07:00

Ooo, there are lots of fun free eBooks today! I need to figure out if I can do subject folders on my Kindle as I am getting so many great books on the app. As always, remember to double check that the price is listed as $0.00 before downloading if you would like the eBook for free.

My favorite two today - DIY Toothpaste (in honor of my husband who thinks plain baking soda is great - blech!) an "My Name Is Not Isabella" for my niece, Bella that I am missing as they have moved cross country. Love you, Bells!

But, I guess I need to add in Frances Hodgson Burnett's Three Pack as a favorite as well. I LOVE her books "The Little Princess" and "The Secret Garden". Admittedly both copies I have of those books are threadbare and falling apart. Now I can get rid of them, clear some space on the shelf, and still enjoy them!

Free Kindle eBooks

Free Kindle eBook Titles

Facebook Marketing: A Step by Step Guide to Guaranteed Results

How to Make Bath Melts & Bath Bombs

Fermentation: 49 Awesome Fermented Food Recipes Rich In Probiotics, Enzymes, Vitamins, And Minerals-Learn About Health Benefits Of Fermentation And How ... And Preserving, Fermentation For Beginners)

Frances Hodgson Burnett Three Pack - The Secret Garden, A Little Princess and Little Lord Fauntleroy (Illustrated, Audio Links and More)

DIY Holiday Gifts: 30 Best-Kept-Secret Homemade Holiday Gifts To Make On a Budget!

Juicing Recipes Bible: 50 Of The Best Juicing Recipes and Green Smoothie Recipes

DIY Toothpaste: Teach Me Everything I Need To Know About Homemade Toothpaste In 30 Minutes (Natural Toothpaste - Home Remedies - Dental - DIY Cures)

The Insulin Resistance Diet Concept: Control Your Blood Sugar & Reverse Insulin Resistance

My Name Is Not Alexander

My Name Is Not Isabella

FREE Kindle eBooks for Tuesday, November 4th

2014-11-04T14:09:00.004-07:00

Remember to always double check that the price is listed as $0.00 to get the ebooks for free.

Free Kindle eBooks

Titles

Preschooler's Busy Book for Beginners: The Best Inexpensive Creative Games & Activities For Your Children To Keep Busy (Preschoolers, Toddlers, Games, ... Games, Toddler Activities, Toddler Books)

Essential Oils for Healing: Discover all of the Benefits of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy for Healing yourself Naturally without Prescriptions

Healthy n' Wholesome Everyday Recipes: Wholesome Recipes with Non-Refined Food Ingredients

Coconut Oil: Coconut Oil Recipes - Easy Homemade Coconut Oil Recipes For Weight Loss, Health And Beauty (Coconut Oil Recipes, Weight Loss, Hair Loss, Anti-Aging)

Whispering Tides

A Drop in the Night: The Life and Secret Mission of a World War II Airman

The Power Of Thought: Discover The Potential Of Your Mind (Self-help, think positively, turn negative thoughts to positive)

FREE Kindle eBooks for Thursday, October 30th

2014-10-30T11:47:00.002-06:00

You may how noticed that I didn't post any free books yesterday. Some days the selection is ho-hum or downright just not what I would normally share. If you are into Halloween horrors, yesterday was a great day! Other days, the free eBook offerings are excellent. Today is one of the latter days and I decided so split the eBooks for free list into two groups - self help & home and kids & fiction. Be sure to check both and as always, remember to check that the price is listed as $0.00 before purchasing and downloading if you would like the eBook for free.

Free Self Help and Home eBooks

Free Self Help and Home eBook Titles

Pressure Cooker Cookbook: No Time To Slow Cook? 45 Easy And Rewarding Pressure Cooker Recipes That Will Take Your Meat From Tough To Tender In a Fraction ... Cooking, Make Ahead Meals, Freezer Meals)

Kids & Their Clutter: Practical Minimalism for Challenging Messes (Practical Minimalism Book Series 3)

Ginger: Teach Me Everything I Need To Know About Ginger In 30 Minutes (Ginger - Herbs - Herbal Remedies - Healing - Holistic Medicine)

How to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally with Essential Oil: What Hypertension Is, Causes of High Pressure Symptoms and Fast Remedies

Feng Shui:Complete Guide to Mastering The Art of Feng Shui: Learn How to Create Balance, Harmony, and Energy Flow To Optimize Your Home and Office (Interior ... Happiness Success Secrets Attraction)

SEO Basics: How to use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to take your business to the next level of success (SEO, Search Engine Optimization, make money ... marketing, internet marketing, success)

Work From Home: 3 Easy And Proven Strategies For Beginners To Make Money Online Starting Today!

Free Kids & Fiction eBooks

Free Kids & Fiction eBook Titles

Mystic Mountain: The Crystals of Once Upon a Time

Burke and the Bedouin: - His Majesty's Confidential Agent >br />
Minecraft Beginner's Guide: Survive the Night: Minecraft Crafting, Mining & Survival Guide Book

The Three Lost Kids & The Death of the Sugar Fairy

Dream Big, Little Pig!

FREE Kindle eBooks for Tuesday, October 28th

2014-10-28T12:32:00.002-06:00

I was really excited to see a Janette Oke and Warriors ebooks for free on Kindle today! My daughter LOVES the Warriors series. I've read several of Janette Oke's and have enjoyed them all. Remember to always check that the price is listed as $0.00 before purchasing.

Don't have a Kindle? Download the app for free on any smartphone or handheld device.

Free Kindle eBooks

Titles

From The Wreckage

Once Upon a Summer (Seasons of the Heart Book #1)

Warriors #1: Into the Wild (Warriors: The Prophecies Begin)

Children's Books: HOW TO PICK A PUMPKIN (Very Cute, Rhyming Bedtime Story/Picture Book for Beginner Readers About Halloween and Choices, Ages 2-8)

NutriBullet Recipe Book Bible: 100+ Declicious Smoothies for Life Long Health (Easy to Make Under 3 Minutes) (Nutribullet Natural Healing Foods Recipes Series)

Organic Eating On A Budget: How To Buy Affordable Organic Foods To Achieve A Healthier Diet And Lifestyle (Healthy Living Book 5)

Thou Shalt Not Diet: Important Behavioral Changes that Will Significantly Improve Your Health and Well Being (Healthy Living series Book 1)

DIY Household Hacks for Beginners: Smart Tips and Shortcuts to Clean and Organize your House: (Increase Productivity, Organize your House and Office, DIY Household Hacks)

FREE Kindle eBooks for Sunday, October 26th

2014-10-26T09:34:00.001-06:00

Alphabet All Stars is free until October 30th. Remember to double check the price is $0.00 if you would like the Kindle ebooks for free. Join the e-mail list on the side for future updates.

Free Kindle eBooks

Titles

Beginner's Guide to Sustainable Homesteading: A Simple Plan From Buying Property To Succeeding Long Term

Doggie Love! Why we love dogs so much.

Diabetes: Reverse Your Diabetes NOW! How To Take Control of Your Blood Sugar Easy and Fast!: Reverse Diabetes Forever (Type 2 Diabetes Cure Book 1)

Declutter: A Simple 21 Day Guide to Managing Your Time, Being Productive and Enjoying a Clutter Free Life: Declutter Your Life, Declutter Your Home, Decluttering ... And Clean (Cleaning, Clutter, Organize)

A Christmas Castle

Alphabet All-Stars Animal Pack: Volume One