Friday Finds! Get Your Knit On!

Do you knit or crochet?  Do you know someone who does? If so, please join me in a bit of charity knitting!

I made a resolution to do some charity knitting each month this year, whether it is a baby hat for the local hospital, a prayer shawl for a friend in need, or a dishcloth for our Threads of Hope ministry at church.  Sometimes, I get so excited about a project for myself (or my sweet babies) that I forget to share this wonderful gift with others.  However, my resolution has made this year different and I have enjoyed each project (not to mention it is a fabulous way to use up stash yarn!)  So I am asking you to join me in this challenge!

Click for Babies is working to inspire knitters and crocheters to come together to make sweet little purple hats for babies as part of an awareness program that addresses The Period of Purple Crying.  The hope is that new parents will be sent home with information to help them cope with this stressful period of infancy along with a handmade purple hat.

My personal goal is to knit at least 5 purple hats to donate (I donated 5 in 2010, as well).  One of my favorite local yarn shops is collecting hats to be donated until October 15.  Won't you join me in knitting or crocheting a few hats for this wonderful project?  Need some inspiration?  Check out my Five Friday Finds this week--Links to Five FREE hat patterns to get you started!

Baby Berry Hat

Little Sister Hat

Preemie Hats for Charity

Perfect Fit Baby Hat

Lazy Daisy Turban

And if you need more inspiration, check out Ravelry for more patterns than you could ever dream of! 

Specifics about the hats being collected can be found on the Click for Babies page, along with information about where to send finished hats. You can also follow The Period of Purple Crying on Facebook!

Have a Fabulous Weekend and Happy Knitting!

Friday Finds! Chill Out!!

10 months ago, I changed a diaper that would change my life forever.  You see, that was the first time that I noticed evidence of a milk intolerance in The Little Guy.  He was nine weeks old and things were clicking along just fine.  Breastfeeding was good, he was growing well and he seemed like a happy go lucky little man.  However, on that fateful night, I stopped in my tracks and had to start all over again.  After freaking out over what I found, I called the nurse helpline and started researching milk protein intolerance.  The easiest fix? Totally eliminate dairy from the mother's diet.

Whoa.  Wait a minute.  I was the Cheese Queen--Cheddar, Munster, Swiss, Blue--we were tight.  I used BUTTER--the real thing, not imitation.  I had never met an ice cream that I didn't fall in love with.  Greek Yogurt was my partner on a long afternoon at work.  Dairy Queen?  Yes.  But it had to change, and right away.  You see, I would rather make that sacrifice and continue breastfeeding than to keep eating dairy and switch to formula.  So I did.  It was a sacrifice.  A big one in my book.  Think about all of the things you consume each day that contain dairy.  Now think of all the other things you ate and you can bet that about half of those had dairy hidden in them, too.  Baked goods, steamed veggies with butter, CHOCOLATE. . . you got it.  I was convinced that I would be miserable.

Over time I have learned to live without dairy, rather happily, I might add.  I have found many acceptable and tasty substitutes that I enjoy each day--almond milk, coconut creamer, coconut milk ice cream. . . .I have even found Chocolate that is dairy-free!  I feel better, eat better, and look better (it is the best weight loss plan EVER) and I really don't miss it. . . much.

Now that The Little Guy is older, I am able to add back a bit of dairy at a time, if I wish.  I do add a little feta to my quinoa at lunch and sneak a bite of cake now and then.  But for the most part, I am happy to live like "a vegan that eats meat" as the hubby says.

So that leads me to my Friday Finds this week.  I was a big ice cream lover, but have found many yummy substitutes--my current favorite being sorbet.  So here you have it 5 Friday Finds--Dairy-free treats for all!!

Watermelon Sorbet from a sweet pea chef
I made this last week and it is heavenly!

Meyer Lemon Sorbet

Blueberry Sorbet
Wonder if I have enough berries left for this?

Pina Colada Pops!
Hello weekend!

Chocolate Sorbet. . . . Hello, Lover
I'm going to make this RIGHT NOW!  I have all the ingredients in the house!

Happy Weekend!

Friday Finds!

It is a hot Carolina summer.  Today our temperatures will flirt with the century mark and people everywhere are seeking out relief from the heat.  As I looked back over my blog, I realized that I hadn't posted any Friday Finds in a while.  Honestly, they are the least visited pages in my history, so I didn't feel pressured to keep it up each week.  However, today I wanted to find something to bring out the positive in this dreadful weather.


I searched the web for fun ways to cool off in the heat, pictures of cold drinks, bathing suit ideas. . . nothing seemed appropriate. 


I realized that what I was looking for wasn't a way to cool off or avoid the heat, but a way to recognize the goodness of the Earth and what is provided for us. Then I remembered a line from one of my favorite childhood movies: "If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with."  In all my complaining about the heat, I neglected to recognize the goodness of our ever changing seasons and the bounty that we collect as God oversees nature doing its job.


So here you have it. . . Five Friday Finds straight out of my own backyard! (and I have blistered feet and a sweat soaked tank top to prove it!) 

A basket full of zucchini and yellow squash

Remember my rant last week about negative productivity and the weeds winning?  Well, they are still winning, kind of, BUT my little plants are producing!  I picked 3 more after this picture was taken!  This is my second year starting everything from seed and I love seeing the progress!

Chicken love

Despite the heat, our girls are still laying heavily and providing us with lunch each day! We keep them extra hydrated and treat them with watermelon and tomatoes!

The Reporter was happy to note that the zinnias are finally showing their beautiful faces around her cottage. . .

First beans of the season

I decided to plant both green and purple beans this year for some variety.  I only picked a few today, but my plants are covered in blooms.

fresh blueberries

Our blueberry bushes that we planted two years ago have made a tremendous showing this year.  The birds are sharing our joy since it has been a little hot to pick!  The Little Guy loves these and so does his big sister!  She picked a whole bowl last week and only half made it inside the house!  

So, I may still complain about the heat, but I will do it with a happy heart and a full tummy.  

God is good to us--even when we are sweaty.

Have a wonderful weekend!  New projects and posts coming. . .

Friday Finds!--Fun Fourth Finds

Happy, happy Friday!!!  For some, this Friday brings a long, holiday weekend.  For us, it brings a birthday celebration for the Little Guy (yay!) and a weekend of working for the hubby (boo).  However, we will take time out on Monday to celebrate Independence Day.  Here are some easy, inexpensive, fun finds to consider for your celebration!

Start your day with a yummy breakfast!

Fancy up your table with some inexpensive beans!

Deck out the kiddos in some cuteness!  Tutorial here

Dip into some edible sparklers! Courtesy of Martha

Light up the path to your celebration with these!

 How do you plan to celebrate?

Happy Weekend!

Friday Finds!

Happy, Happy Friday!  Here are a few Fun Friday Finds to inspire your weekend plans!  Did you know that Saturday night is the Great American Backyard Campout!?  We are headed west with a pack of friends to celebrate the great outdoors with our little ones!

So grab your sleeping bag and grilling fork and GET OUTSIDE!!

www.loveitalot.com 

pinterest.com

http://crepesofwrath.net/2008/08/21/smore-cookie-bars/

http://www.positivelysplendid.com

From theberry.com

Happy Weekending! 

Friday Finds!

As I have mentioned previously, I love the internet!  I get some of my best ideas from the World Wide Web!  Here are some great Friday Finds to inspire you, too! Some of these great ideas will be making their appearance at my house, SOON. . . .

Fun things to make:

Glow-stick Bowling from Parents.com!

Sprinkler made from PVC!  I am SO making this for the Reporter to drive her bike through!

Glow Paint in Jars for Summer Evening Fun!

Fun things to eat and drink:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies? Yes, please!

Frozen Hot Chocolate!

Strawberry-Margarita Popsicles. . . yum!

Summer vacation has officially begun around here and we are going to make the most of it!  How about you?