Attention! Please Visit the New Cozy House Blog!

Attention! Please Visit the New Cozy House Blog!

It’s been a LONG time coming…

But I think I’m about ready to make the jump to the new blog.

(Squeal!!)

It’s not quite 100% where I want it yet, but it’s getting hard to work on two blogs at once, so I think the time has come to stop blogging here and start blogging there.

The new site:

littlecozyhouse.com

I’m trying to figure out how to link the two and automatically direct traffic to the new site, but since I’m a newbie at all this website stuff, I haven’t quite mastered how to do that yet.

SO…if you’d like to stay up to date on new posts at the new site, PLEASE subscribe to that blog, because I probably won’t be posting here very much.

I hope you’ll follow me to the Little Cozy House blog! :)

Baby Product Review: The Baby Bullet

Baby Product Review: The Baby Bullet

I was dying for Abby to start solids, because it meant FINALLY being able to try out the Baby Bullet.

Unpacking it was the most exciting day I’ve had in a long time. (That may be a little pitiful.  But so true. ;) )

Tresia, Bev and Lori bought it for us as a baby shower gift, and I’d never heard of it before then.  But ever since we got it, I’ve seen lots of infomercials for it on tv, and let me just say, it is 100% as wonderful as the infomercials make it out to be.

It’s great for that transitional period when your child goes from eating socks…

…to solids.  (When she’s 18, she’ll be mortified that I posted these pictures.  But I couldn’t resist.  She’s such a character.  I love her.)

So.  Here’s what is included.  (Totally sorry about the blurry pics.  Realized too late that my ISO was set way too low, and sadly, Photoshop doesn’t have a fix for blurry pictures.  ;) )

It comes with a big batch bowl, two smaller batch bowls, the blender base, two different blades, 6 little serving containers (and a tray to hold them in the fridge), a silicone tray for freezing 12 servings, and a little spatula.  (Not sure why the silicone tray isn’t in the pic, but it is included.)  Oh, and you get a full-color handy-dandy manual and recipe book, which helps you figure out which foods to prepare and how much to give to baby each month.  I didn’t get much specific info from the doctor about a feeding schedule, so for me, the book was very, very helpful.

I tried bananas first.  All you do is slice up a banana, put it in one of the small batch bowls, add a little water, and turn it on.

It literally takes 10 seconds to puree, and VOILA!   Banana baby food.

At first I was concerned that it wouldn’t be pureed enough for Abby, but the blender gets it liquid-smooth.  I was very impressed.  I made a whole batch, and froze a bunch to use later.

It literally took 10 minutes and 5 bananas, and we ended up with enough food to last a couple of weeks.  (We’re only doing one or two servings of solid food a day for the time being.)

I made a big batch of applesauce for her, too.  That took a little longer just because you have to peel/slice the apples and steam them, but it still probably only took 15 minutes of actual prep time (steam time not included).  Love it.  Super cheap, too.  I think making baby food is going to save us a bundle.

You can even make your own rice cereal with the Bullet!  Yay!  I didn’t realize that at first so I bought a box at the store…but as soon as it’s used up, I’ll be making that with the Baby Bullet, too.

I’m sure a regular blender would work, but I love all the little accessories that are included with the Baby Bullet.  Plus, it’s stinking adorable.  I mean, come on.  Too cute.  I am totally about all the cuteness.

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

I love this week simply for it’s ordinariness. Life is good, and for that I am thankful.

81. Last-minute babysitters.

82. Money to pay bills.

83. Reliable vehicles.

84. A snug, warm, toasty house.

85. Sunny days that allow me to line dry laundry even though it’s November.

86. Crafts that turn out the way I actually envision them.

87. Coffee. Nice, hot coffee.

88. Sunrises.

89. Mornings when baby sleeps in.

90. My wonderful, wonderful hubby.

Sneak Peak at Craft Fair Goodies

Sneak Peak at Craft Fair Goodies

Tresia and I talked ourselves into having a booth at our local craft fair once again.

The craft fair is next weekend, so we’ve been busy little worker bees trying to get things done.

We’re going a different route this year…no sewing. I have decided that I love sewing, but I hate sewing for craft fairs. And Tresia hates sewing period, despite my attempts to nudge her into being a little seamstress. So this year we’re attempting lots of little woodworking projects. It’s been big fun! Here’s a sneak peak of a few of them.

Fabric covered cork boards (the green one makes me swoon – love it!)

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Chicken wire memo boards (can’t get over my urge to just keep both of these):

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Crate shelf:

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We’re also hoping to have some picture frames, some signs, and who knows what else. Stay tuned!

How to Avoid Freak Out Mode

How to Avoid Freak Out Mode

My Monday is getting away from me.  I haven’t had a chance to write a truly inspired blog post, so I will leave you with this little nugget of a story.

As you all know, a few months ago, my laptop pooped out.

As some of you may know, my miracle-working brother-in-law revived it and made my life complete once again.

One would assume that I would have learned my lesson to back up, back up, back up my photos and documents after that disastrous event.

Ahem.

Alas, backing up my laptop didn’t even cross my mind until last night.

When the laptop suddenly, out of the blue, died once again.

No warning, no notice, no anything.  I was in the midst of typing up a few blog posts when…BAM. Black screen.  Nothing. As my brother would say, it was D-E-D…dead. AGAIN.

So I threw it aside in frustration and moved to the desktop computer that we got after the last laptop malfunction. And I immediately copied all the photos on my camera to the desktop AND the external hard drive to avoid future loss of memories.  And I then played “Bejeweled” for approximately an 79 minutes straight.

It wasn’t until I went to unplug and put the laptop away for good in the “electronics that no longer work” corner of the basement that I realized it was already unplugged…thus leading me to the realization that it had indeed died…FROM A DEAD BATTERY.

Sigh.  Relief.  Jubilation!

Task #1 for today: BACK UP THE LAPTOP.

The end.

 

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

Umm, so lately I have been all about food. I’ve just been in the mode of cooking and eating, cooking and eating, cooking and eating. Maybe it’s because it’s getting colder out, and cold weather inspires me to fire up the oven. Or maybe it’s because I’m just a little piggly wiggly. Don’t know, but I’m enjoying the fruits of my labor. So in honor of my horrendous diet of the past few days, here is a thankful Thursday post that pays homage to some comfort foods that have recently found their way into the cozy house.

71. Mashed potatoes with mounds of butter.

72. Beef and noodles….Grandma T’s recipe!

73. Homemade mac and cheese….Grandma G’s recipe!

74. Pot roast and carrots in the crock pot.

75. Chocolate chip walnut banana bread.

76. Runzas…Sue’s recipe!

77. Homemade noodles.

78. Cheesy potato soup.

79. Rice crispy treats.

80. Caramel apple dip.