Here are some cute wee Doodle Frames for your projects. Just cut them out, fill them out and stick them down! You can use them as labels and journaling tags.

Download Blue Doodle Frames

There are six matching Doodle Frames, so they’ll suit a theme, either for a series of photos or thoughts.

Maybe you want lines to journal with? Here they are:

Download Blue Doodle Frames – Lined

Journal tags are a nice way to categorise and organize your thoughts or pictures. They break up a page in an interesting way and draw attention to themselves just by their visual nature.

Use journal tags for snippets of information – the main points of your topic. A lot of times they are the only thing that is needed to spark memories or feelings about things or events that maybe you didn’t want to expand on by writing lots about.

Just cut, write and glue!

Happy Crafting!

Design by Mina Keenan

If you want to grow healthy plants, then you’re going to need healthy soil. While many plants have differing needs, most plants like a rich, friable, crumbly soil- one that’s not too sandy and not too heavy with clay.  Annual plants, like vegetables, are especially hungry and thirsty plants, so it’s important that your soil can also provide food and water for successful crops.

A “good” soil is known in the horticultural trade as “loam.”  You can tell if it’s good by using some sensory tests, your own five senses will determine if it’s okay.

 The Sensory Test

1. Look

First have a look at your soil. It should be a dark brown colour to indicate that there’s plenty of humus in it.  Humus is the end product of decomposed compost and organic material.  This is the life and the food for your plants to feed on. If it looks pale then there’s not enough life in your soil.

 2. Smell

Now smell your soil.  It should have a good clean earthy smell, not sour or stale.  If you soil smells off and repulsive then it’s a good sign that it’s gone anaerobic, lacking any oxygen.  This is usually because the soil is too wet, indicating that you have a drainage problem.

Your soil should have good water holding capacity while allowing any excess water from heavy rains to drain away quickly.  Puddles of water in the garden that don’t drain away quickly will be a sign of poor drainage.  You’ll need to address drainage problems like this with some landscaping techniques or start to improve your soil quality.

 3. Feel & Sound

How does it feel?  Your soil should crumble easily when rubbed through your fingers, yet it should also form a firm (but not sticky) ball in the palm of your hand if you squeeze it together. Wet clay soil will often sound squelchy when squeezed.  If it feels gritty, then you have a sandy soil and it may have trouble holding water long enough to irrigate plants successfully.

 4. Taste

Next is a taste test. No, I’m not expecting you to taste your soil! But worms will.  Worms love good soil and will feed on any organic material that’s in it.  So, if you see worms in your soil then it’s a definite sign that you’ve got good soil.

Photo credit to Horia Varlan of Flickr Creative Commons

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2006, 70% of mothers worked outside the home. Are they actually costing the family money?

The median salary for women in the United States, in full-time, all-year jobs, is $28,000, according to the 2000 census. Of course, many women make more than this, depending on their career. The median salary for men in the United States, in full-time, all-year jobs is $38,000. On average, a two-income home in the United States earns $66,000. Yet what are the hidden costs of the second income?

Working Moms and Child Care

When a mother holds a job outside the home, the primary concern is child care. According to Cost Helper, the average cost of childcare in the United States is $611 per child per month, or $7,332 per child per year. There are many variables in considering the cost of child care. Of course the first consideration is the safety and well-being of the child. All families are willing to pay a premium for quality childcare.

Whether the family prefers a daycare home or a day care center also affects the cost of childcare. Other factors are distance from home and work, hours of operation, and ratio of staff to child. Nevertheless, out of the average mother’s salary, between taxes and childcare, she loses $11,932.50 off the top. It is much more if there are more children.

Working Moms Need a Second Car

A second income usually means a second vehicle. The 2004 Bureau of Labor statistics regarding automobile expenses are astounding. The average annual vehicle purchase costs, which do not include finance charges, are $3,397/year. The annual finance charges on vehicle loans are $323/year. Gasoline, motor oil, annual maintenance and repair expenses come to $2,250 per year.

Average annual car insurance expenses come to $964 per year, and additional licenses and other fees can come to as much as $426/year. This works out to a cost of $7,360 every year for a mother to own a car to work outside the home. Added to the $4,412 in taxes, and $7,332 childcare costs, she is now spending $19,292 to hold a full-time job.

Working Moms Commute, Too!

Another cost of working is commuting. If a woman lives 20 miles from her place of employment, and the cost of commuting is $.25/mile times a 40 mile round trip, that is $10 per day. If she makes that trip 5 days per week, for 50 weeks out of the year, she could spend as much as $2,500 a year.

The Hidden Costs of Being a Working Mom

Many jobs require a specific wardrobe, and on average, clothing costs for working women is $100/month, or $1,200 per year. More hidden costs include eating out, convenience foods at home, office gifts or professional fees. According to Pre-K Smarties, these hidden costs can add up to $1,500 every year.

When the $19,292 per year for taxes, childcare expenses and transportation expenses are added to commuting costs, wardrobe and other hidden costs, the total cost of a woman working outside the home could be as much as $24,492! That leaves $3,508 PER YEAR profit for a working mother!!!

Working Moms May be Paying to Work

Based on the aforementioned annual averages of $28,000/year for women and $38,000 for men, the average household brings in $66,000 gross per year. After subtracting the previously mentioned expenses, totaling $41,514 (remember, most expenses will be double if there are two jobs), the total household income, with both parents working, is $24,486.

If the lesser income is forfeited, there is a tax savings, and childcare, commuting, wardrobe, transportation and other hidden expenses are eliminated from the household budget. This works out to a net family income, with only the male working, of $21,028.

The difference of one income versus two incomes is only $3,458, if the couple has only one child in daycare. Divide this out based on a 40 hour work week, and the woman’s hourly salary is $1.66. In addition, if the couple has two children in daycare, the second job not only does not add to the family income but it actually has a huge negative impact! The family will have $3,874 less income per year – in effect, paying to have a job! With a mother staying at home, she is also in a position to implement previously impossible cost cutting measures, not to mention the benefits to the children and family of having mother there every day.

Obviously, these averages will vary from state to state, job to job, and family circumstances. Nevertheless, it is certainly worth looking at the numbers to be certain a second income is really beneficial.

Sources:

The Money Alert

Cost Helper

2004 Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pre-K Smarties

Grab your scissors! – this is an easy one! Download and print these Kids’ Valentine Mini Cards for the children to hand out at school or preschool.

Perfect for teachers, coaches, family and friends.

Download Kids’ Valentine Mini Cards Patterned

Just print and cut. These were designed for children, but they would go well in scrapbooking pages, or to use as gift or journaling tags.

Download Kids’ Valentine Mini Cards Pastel

There is room to write who it is to, and who it is from on the back. Add the year and/or a message.

Download Kids’ Valentine Mini Cards Plain

A range of cards for variety, they are suitable for boys or girls. Have fun with these, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Crafting!

Design by Mina Keenan

Traditional Thai Massage

Traditional Thai massage is a healing art and a spiritual practice. While variations of Thai massage have become popular in the West, the traditional Nuad Phaen Boran is one part of the traditional Thai medical system and it was once practiced mainly in temples and hospitals. Today it is still used in Thailand to treat and prevent illnesses.

What is Thai Traditional Massage?

It is believed that Nuad Phaen Boran originated in India approximately 2500 years ago. Its founder, Shivaga Komarpaj (Jivaka Kumarabhacca) was a contemporary to the Buddha and reputedly his personal physician. The massage probably arrived in Thailand together with Buddhism.

Thai massage is based on the idea that a network of energy lines (sen) run through the body, just like the meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Blockages in the energy flow are believed to cause physical, mental or emotional illnesses. The job of the massage therapist is to remove blockages and stimulate energy flow in the body. The therapist uses a variety of techniques: pressure on specific points along the energy lines, manipulations and assisted stretching. The stretches have often been compared to yoga stretches, and there are many similarities between the assisted stretches in Thai massage and certain yoga postures.

In traditional Nuad Phaen Boran, the recipient is always fully clothed and usually lies on a mat on the floor. The therapist uses his or her hands, elbows, forearms and even feet to manipulate, to stretch and to apply deep pressure along the energy channels.

The Benefits of Traditional Thai Massage

According to Jan Chaithavuthi and Kanchanoo Muangsiri: Thai Massage the Thai Way (Thai Massage Book Press, 2005), this healing practice can

• relieve muscle tension
• relieve pain, sprains and inflammation in muscles, tendons and joints
• increase muscle strength
• increase joint flexibility, reduce stiffness and improve mobility
• remove toxins from muscles
• strengthen the immune system
• prevent or relieve headaches
• prevent or relieve menstrual cramps
• improve blood circulation
• improve lymph flow and reduce swelling
• stimulate and improve the nervous system
• improve the function of internal organs
• prevent or relieve constipation and indigestion
• prevent or relieve stress
• encourage deep breathing
• encourage relaxation
• maintain the health and wellness of the recipient
• balance life energy

A genuine Thai full body massage can last three hours – a completely different experience from the 30-minute or one hour massages you sometimes see advertised in the West and in Thailand. If you ever have an opportunity to get a 3-hour Thai massage, take it: there are few treatments that are so deeply relaxing and that work on so many levels.

Photo: Marcin Bober

The holiday season seemed to fly by this past year, and shortly after New Year’s I discovered that I hadn’t done something that normally is second nature to me: I hadn’t planned a menu for over two months! Christmas preparations interrupted my meal preparations, and it was painfully obvious in our grocery bill. The price of food has risen quite a bit in the past few months, and it didn’t help that I wasn’t shopping the sales or using coupons to keep our budget under control.

Maybe this has happened to you, too! So what to do when you’ve fallen off what I like to call the “menu planning bandwagon“? How do you reclaim your grocery budget when you take one look at the random ingredients in your cupboard and just want to forget it? Let me share with you some tips on how to pull yourself up and where to start bringing your food bill under control once again.

 Take Inventory

Take a look in your pantry, cupboards, fridge and freezer and make a list of what food items you have and how much of each. This might take awhile the first time you do it but it will most definitely help you as you create your  menu. It will certainly help you save money because you won’t be buying so many new ingredients!

Make Meals with the Food You Have on Hand

If you discover you already have a reasonable amount and variety of food, create a week’s worth of menus utilizing only that food. Even a couple of days’ worth of meals is good, giving you time to prepare and shop for your upcoming week. If you’re out of creative juice (or just feeling lazy, like me!), use a website like All Recipes to come up with meal ideas. You can enter up to four ingredients on the website and it will generate a list of recipes based on your input.

Check the Grocery Store Sales and Plan a Menu

Once you’re armed with your inventory list, check your local store flyers to find out what food is on sale. Using your family, favorite cookbooks or All Recipes, create meals based on your food inventory combined with any desirable sale items. If possible, check for any coupons you may have found that can be stacked with sale items for additional savings. Remember also to account for breakfast and snacks.

Try to use as much of your inventory as possible, substituting recipe ingredients if needed. Many ingredients can be swapped with others in a favorite meal and still taste great! Start by planning a week’s worth of meals at a time if that makes the transition to full-time menu planning easier. Remember, it’s what works for you!

Restock Your Fridge and Pantry

Hopefully you can find an opportunity to go to the store by yourself, but if not, there are ways to survive grocery shopping with your children! While you’re at the store, don’t forget to restock pantry and fridge staples like milk, eggs and bread.

It may take some time, but it’s definitely possible to get back into the swing of menu planning – at least, until next Christmas!

photo credit

Photo by Swanksalot

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) basically falls into one of two categories; Italian (flat) or French (curly). While they’re both hardy biennials, meaning they flower and go to seed every other year, like many herbs and vegetables, they’re usually grown as annuals.

The general feeling among gardeners is that the French curly parsley is planted for decorating culinary dishes, while the strong-flavored, Italian flat parsley (P. crispum var. neapolitanum) is grown for flavor, although the curly parsley is useful for cooking, as well. Both types deserve a place in the kitchen garden as there aren’t many dishes that won’t be enhanced by this pungent herb. Parsley finds its way into sauces, rice, vegetable dishes, stews, eggs, cheese spreads, fish dishes, and more.

Hamburg parsley (var. tuberosum) is a third parsley variety that’s not nearly as popular as its cousins. While its greens are certainly used in cooking, it’s the Hamburg’s roots that take center stage. The root of Hamburg parsley is used as a winter vegetable much like parsnips – and it resembles them, too. Its flavor is described as a cross between celery and parsley. Which shouldn’t come as a surprise as all parsley and celery are family — along with carrots. The word “petroselinum” is Greek for “rock celery”.

Photo by wikioticslan

Nutritional Benefits

Parsley may fancy-up dishes, but it isn’t just another pretty face; its benefits go way beyond the palate. Historically and today, parsley is heralded for its nutritional value:

• Flavinoids in which some are anti-oxidants that neutralize free-radicals. Some of these have been shown to prevent (or slow) development of certain cancers.
• Diuretic and stimulator of the kidneys which help clear toxic compounds from the body.
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Histamine inhibitors
• Iron
• Great source of vitamin A
• Parsley contains three times the amount of vitamin C as oranges do (pound for pound). Although, the flat-leaved carries more than the curly-leafed variety.
• Properties that freshen breath

Parsley in the Garden

Parsley is at its best when grown fresh every year. But the stubborn seeds are notoriously slow to germinate. In fact, in 1883, it was said that parsley “has to go to the devil and back again before it will sprout” or “parsley has to go to the devil nine times and often forgets to come back.”

Photo by digipam

In any case, due to the long germination period, gardeners very often choose to start them indoors 4 – 6 weeks before the last frost. This way, by the time the soil has warmed up, they’re already little baby parsleys ready to transplant into their permanent bed. If you’re not into starting plants early indoors, no worries; they can be seeded directly in the garden in the early spring. Depending on the variety, parsley will grow anywhere from 6″ to 3′ tall.

To help things along, soak the seeds for 24 hours before they’re planted. Another tip for speeding up germination is to pour boiling water over the soil or soil-less medium. These tiny seeds can be sprinkled sparsely and covered by only 1/4 inch or soil. Ideally, the soil should be at about 70 degrees or higher and uniformly moist. While parsley is actively growing in your garden, it likes soil that falls a little on the acidic side. It prefers full sun where climates are cool, but tolerates light shade in hot areas.

Harvesting

Parsley leaves can be picked or cut from the plant whenever they’re needed in the kitchen. After harvesting, it can be kept placed into air-tight baggies and frozen, or be dried and stored. For gardeners with limited space, it takes well to life in pots on porches, as well as indoors in sunny windowsills.

Photo by Howard O. Young

“I wanted my boyfriend to wear the shirt I gave him last Christmas but his mom insists on him wearing the polo that she bought for him”

“I came home one afternoon and found my mother-in-law on her knees, furiously scrubbing the bathroom floor. I just finished cleaning it up earlier that day.”

“My husband’s not feeling well and I wanted to bring him to the doctor for a check-up. His mom says there’s no need for it because she’s already given him some herbal medicines she herself had concocted.”

We’ve all heard of those horror stories about girlfriends, brides, and wives going crazy because of their mothers-in-law. Though this may not be the case for all women, most of us have felt, in one way or another, the need to live up to their so-called “perfect” standards in caring for their “baby boys.” After all, they were the first women in their lives and, definitely, they probably know their sons well enough after years and years of caring for them.

But as you and your guy continue to level up in your relationship, ultimately deciding to spend the rest of your life with each other, this issue cannot just be ignored. As small as this concern may initially be, leaving it uncared for may lead to unnecessary rifts between family members.

So what should you do then? Here are a few simple tips to make it a “happily ever after” for you, your husband, and your new mom.

1. Acknowledge that what your mother-in-law is feeling is pretty normal.

She carried your husband in her womb for more or less nine months, rocked him gently on sleepless nights, and loved him dearly from Day One, so it’s pretty much normal for her to be protective of him (sometimes extremely) and care for his welfare at all times. Try to imagine yourself in her shoes, thinking about how much you love your own children and you’ll understand how she might be feeling. If you don’t have kids of your own yet, remember how doting your parents have been to you and you’ll get the picture.

2. Establish you and your husband’s own standards for managing your own household.

You and your husband grew up in two different homes, with different cultures, practices, and traditions. The moment the two of you decide to get married, on top of planning for your wedding, start listing down the new set of rules you’ll be having for your new home and family. Doing so will show not only his mother, but all of your parents that you are responsible adults who are capable of managing your own household and that there is very little, if any, need for any of them to implement their own practices.

3. Do your part.

Once you and your husband have formulated your own house rules and your corresponding respective duties and responsibilities to meet those goals, make sure that you do your part and perform all of those in timely fashion. This is very important, particularly for the “basics” of being a wife – cooking, cleaning, caring for your husband and the kids, because these are the simplest and yet the most noticeable ones.  Show your mother-in-law that her son made the right choice in marrying you and that she has no reason to worry.

4. Be polite at all times.

No woman (or man!) feels comfortable being made to look incompetent inside her own home. No matter how bad your mother-in-law makes you feel, consciously or unconsciously, always be polite. NEVER EVER be rude or raise your voice at her. It will only make matters worse and tell a lot about your character, and even how your parents raised you (and she can just as easily imagine how you treat her son and raise her grandchildren!). Keep your calm, ask to be excused if you feel the need to, and walk away quietly to cool things down.

5. Befriend you mother-in-law.

Every mother has this fear of being replaced as the Number One Woman in her son’s life. Make it clear that you do not intend to do so by befriending her and treating her not just as “your husband’s mom” but as your mother too. Consult her for some housekeeping tips. Work together on a project for your home. Ask her to share some of their family’s well-loved recipes. This will make her feel that you don’t plan on taking her place in her son’s life but serve as a complement.

6. Agree to differ.

No matter how hard you work on it, there will always be things that you and your mother-in-law won’t agree on, for one reason or another. Accept these and move on. No different from you and your husband, your own parents, or even friends not agreeing on some things at certain times. Varying views and opinions are what make the world a colorful place to live in, so just enjoy them.

Photo Credit: valencia84, Flickr

You ordered the new vinyl siding, the installer did the work, and now it looks wonderful. But once the contractor leaves, that vinyl siding is in your hands. What happens if something goes wrong? It is important to fix vinyl siding problems quickly to prevent further damage. But that’s hard to do when you don’t know where to begin.

Replacing vinyl siding. Image credit: DIYNetwork

When vinyl siding has a big ‘oops’

These common vinyl siding problems could happen to you. Fortunately, there are easy do-it-yourself solutions to fix them. You will need to keep the following items handy:

1. Extra pieces of siding (your contractor will likely leave several pieces for you when the job is done)
2. Siding “zip” tool
3. Claw hammer
4. Pry bar
5. Tin snips
6. Galvanized nails

Though the procedure will be different depending upon the type of siding and the way it locks together, these tools will likely come in handy. For exact instructions to remove siding pieces, consult the manufacturer. There are often manuals online that will explain how to install a particular type of siding.

These directions are very general, but will give you an idea of what you are getting into with the three most common types of repair:

Water Damage

Sometimes water gets blown underneath vinyl siding, often after a series of fierce storms. Sometimes water will drip from an area of the roof and gradually seep underneath the siding, or there might be a defect in the installation that allows water in. Unfortunately, when you notice water damage on your vinyl siding, chances are the problem is significant underneath.

Start by removing the sections of vinyl siding that are damaged and inspect the underside. In the case of water damage, it is usually only the last few rows that have the problem. Before you replace the siding, it is vital to find the source of the leak; otherwise, you are simply patching over an area that will cause further issues. If the house underneath the siding has water damage, then it is time to call in an expert.

Impact Damage

This is much easier to fix and can often be done in just a few minutes. Start by removing the damaged piece of vinyl siding. Use one of your extra pieces, cut to the proper length, to fill in the gap. The removal can be done with a zip tool to detach the siding from the pieces around it, and the claw hammer can remove the nails that hold it in place. Replacing the piece is a matter of nailing it down in the same spot and using the zip tool to lock the pieces together. Remember to check your manufacturer’s information in order to install the new piece in the proper manner.

Mold and discoloration

This issue might not require removing the siding, but it will require a thorough cleaning. Mold can often grow on areas that don’t get much sunlight, and can leave your siding looking green and sickly. A good scrubbing with a bleach solution can often fix the problem, as can some commercial cleaners made for this very problem.

Vinyl siding colors will sometimes fade, but they should fade rather evenly. Discoloration is another story, as it is usually only a few pieces. Discoloration might be resolved by replacing the piece; however, keep in mind that the discoloration might be on a larger section than you think, and that new piece might stand out like a sore thumb. In that case, you might want to consider replacing all the siding on that end of the house in order to get a more uniform look.

Walk around your house once a month or so to check the condition of your vinyl siding. Look for cracks, discoloration, signs of water damage and other issues that could mean a problem with the siding. Be especially careful to check the siding after heavy storms that include wind and hail.

If you find that you can’t repair the siding on your own, don’t hesitate to call the contractor who handled your vinyl siding installation. Though there will be an additional cost for their time and labor, it could be a small price to pay to have your house looking great again.

Making bath and beauty treatments from scratch is a great way to save money and cut back on potentially harmful chemicals found in some store-bought products.

There are many recipes and variations for making “DIY” bath and beauty products-  everything from homemade deodorant, shampoo, conditioners, facial masks and scrubs or even cleansers.

But almost all of these items have certain ingredients in common, and most of the products used in the mixes are available right in the kitchen pantry or refrigerator.

Fruits in Homemade Beauty Treatments

Fruit is a popular ingredient in many natural facials, skin treatments and bath product recipes for a wide variety of reasons. Fruit is usually high in vitamins, especially C and A, which can nourish and moisturize the skin. Fruit also often has amino acids, healthy fats and oils or other components that seem to be beneficial for the skin or hair. These fruits are commonly seen in home beauty recipes.

• Avocado – High in healthy fats that build skin and nourish dry, wrinkle-prone skin. It’s no wonder this is a favorite choice for masks designed to moisturize the skin.
• Bananas – Bananas have lots of vitamins and minerals and are thought to help relax tense muscles as well as providing moisture to the skin. They are also less likely to cause irritation than some of the citrus fruits, and are easy to mash into a paste, so they are common for thick skin masks as well.
• Other fruits include citrus fruits like oranges and lemons; grapes; berries like blueberry, raspberry and strawberry; and tropical fruits like papaya and mango.

Vegetables for Making Bath and Beauty Products

How often is the picture of cucumber slices on the eyes associated with relaxation and beauty-enchancing spa treatments? There is a good reason for that since many homemade spa treatments include vegetables in them.

Cucumbers, tomatoes, onion and others are used to cool, tone and firm the skin as needed.

Mineral-Based Spa Treatment Ingredients

Many ingredients used in spa treatments and homemade recipes are naturally occurring minerals. These include salt, clay, muds and other sediments, usually in powder form. Each has unique properties and composition although all are thought to provide minerals to the body through absorption into the skin, often in heated masks, wraps, packs or baths.

Grains and Nuts for Homemade Powders

A variety of grains and nuts is often ground for use in homemade bath and body products. There are variations on how fine or coarse to grind the powders depending on desired effect.

Commonly used ingredients from the grains and nuts category include walnuts, pecans, corn, wheat, oats, rice, bran, barley and just about any other type of grain or nut you can imagine. Often they are mixed with liquids of some kind in order to create a paste or scrub, but sometimes they are left dry to create homemade body powders.

Read more details on commonly used ingredients, and basic tips for creating homemade bath and beauty products including allergy cautions.

Do you make any of your own homemade facials or scrubs? What are your favorite ingredients?