Operation Kitchen - Part 1 Wash Cloths

George and I dated for six months and were engaged for three weeks! When you know... you know! :) Because we got married to fast we were only able to have a few showers but we are fine with that because we had every thing we needed! We are so blessed!

This year I have noticed that our kitchen towels, wash clothes, and hot pads have seen better days. Most of our towels were brought into our marriage from our college days and it is time to up grade. After my last blog I realized that these are things that I could save us money on as well. I have crocheted a few wash clothes in the past and have found that they hold up better then the kind you buy. Plus, you can give them a lot of personality!

So started "Operation Kitchen".

This project will take a long time because I am not going to try to do it all at once. I have other projects going that are on a time frame so I need to give them more attention.

My plan is three fold.

Part 1 - Wash clothes
Part 2 - Kitchen towels
Part 3 - Pot holders/hot pads

I am going to be silly and keep the colors matching what I have in my living-room and kitchen. To me that will add to its personality. However, each item will look different.

I can't hardly wait to have a closet full of nice towels and wash clothes!!!

Ways to Save

George and I started reading Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey this week. Like most Americans we have bills. What we don't want is for our bills to have us. So, we are starting now and trying to find ways to save money and to pay off our bills.

As I was reflecting on what we had read I started to wonder how Crochet could help us and possibly others to save money in the long run. Then it hit me...

We use a Swiffer Wet Jet to clean our floors. Each time we mop we have to throw away the cleaning pad because it gets dirty. Because of our pets we could easily go through one pack of the swiffer pads in a month. Do you know how much we are spending?!?!

According to Google refills cost - $7.29 for a 12 pack or $23.81 for a 24 pack
(I am sure you could get them cheaper at the dollar store but I am just going by what I saw online.)

Over 12 months you are spending - $87.48 for the 12 packs and $285.72 for the 24 packs. Of course it depends on how many you use in a month... but still!!

I have a solution! It is called a Swiffer Cardi! The Swiffer Cardi is just like the cleaning pad except it is washable and reusable!


As for George and I, I will be going to the store tomorrow and getting us the yarn it takes to make a few so that we can save money. As soon as I make one I will post a picture.

Snaps and Buttons

I've been looking cute patterns for winter clothes and I have picked out a few sweaters that are on my list to make before it gets cold. With cute clothes comes cute buttons and as I have found... snaps!

Last week I ran to hobby lobby to find snaps for a baby out fit that I am making. I know what snaps are but I had never brought them before. I had a blonde moment in the store. I was looking at the package thinking... the top part is missing... before I realized what I was doing I had snapped the top part of the snap off and it went flying across the store! Don't worry! I found it!! :) But the whole time I was in the store was snapping the snaps on and off. It was as fun as clicking your pen over and over again! :)

Along with the snaps the baby outfit called for decorative buttons... I am still on the hunt for cute baby buttons but Hobby Lobby didn't have anything that I liked. Yestorday I ran into Wal-mart with my Sister and her two kids. I had my nephew with me and I let him pick out his birthday gift from Aunt Beshie and Uncle George. After we were done we ran over to the yarn section and found a few cute buttons. None for my baby outfit but I think they will look cute on a sweater that I am going to make next! I can't wait to make it!!

Natalie, my sister, and I also ebayed glass buttons. We found some really cute buttons but I want to shop some more before I order any. I will say though that the glass buttons that we looked at were very cute! I would love to learn how to make them.

Where do you find cute buttons??

Iris and Ivan's Toddler Blankets

After A LOT of thought, I decided to give my family members their blanket as I finish them. Why? Well...

1) Why keep them under my bed until Christmas when they can enjoy them now?
2) It took me two months for two small blankets and I know I will not have every one's done by Christmas.
3) I just really wanted to :)
4) I would like to make myself some winter clothes and if I am on a time schedule I won't allow myself to stop and make a sweater or two.

George and I made a quick trip to Memphis this past week. We left on Wednesday and as soon as we arrived I went to my sister's house and gave Iris and Ivan their toddler blankets. I realize that they are too young to really treasure and appreciate the blankets but I was amazed to find how much they loved them! I am so excited and can hardly wait until everyone has their own blanket! If a picture can say 1,000 words... check out how cute they are!!! I hope one day they look at their blanket and know how much Aunt Beshie loves them!

Our time in Memphis was very quick! I wish we could turn back time and have those days again. At the same time I would not trade a moment... well, other then the fact that George hit my sister's small brick wall at the end of their drive way, knocked it over, and scratched my car. Or the fact that I broke her shower knob the next morning... :) but we are laughing about it because what can you do?!? Momma said their would be days like that...

For the Love

I have a new love for colors! Every where I go I see different colors and they inspire me! In our previous apartment, every day they would put two or three balloons on their signs out side and I was amazed at how good the colors would blend. I am so glad that we don't live in a world of black and white!

I have started a baby blanket for a friend who is having her first baby. Usually I sew the squares together as I go but I am trying to come up with as many different color schemes as I can first. I love seeing the way that the squares look together! I can hardly wait to see the blanket when it is done!

New Month... New Projects!

More then anything I wish I could show you pictures of the blankets that I have made so far for my family. But since they are Christmas gifts I will just say that they are awesome!! I can hardly wait to give them to everyone! Since my family knows that I am making them -Here is my list:

My nephew - Ivan: Done! (Colors- Red, Navy Blue, Light Blue, Brown, Tan, Green)
My Niece - Iris: Almost done!! ( Colors - Off White, Pink, Light Blue, Green)
My Sister and Brother in Law - Natalie and Ian: Started (Colors: Brown and Tan)
My Niece - Lili : Planned but not started - (Colors: Hot Pink, Light Pink, Brown, Lime Green)
My Brother and Sister in Law - Ben and Missy : Up for debate
My Brother - Josh : Up for debate
My Parents - Earl and Terri : Up for debate
My Husband - George : Up for debate

This is just the beginning of my list! I want to make a blanket for George's side of our family but I am not sure if everything will be finished by Christmas. Another thing I am debating is if I should give the blanket to everyone as I am finished instead of waiting until Christmas... What do you think??

I am also starting a baby blanket for my friend. She is having her first baby and I want to make her something special... If I have time I would also like to make baby clothes! The picture above is the color yarn that I am using on her baby blanket. It is going to look great!

On a different note - I have a list of Crochet books that I would like to own. When I make hobby lobby runs I look at the ones that they have there but I can never imagine paying 20 dollars for a book that I can find cheaper! Good news!! The three books that I wanted the most I found for 2-3 dollars each!!! I love bargain shopping!

Isn't it fun being addicted to something that you love?

Month of Change

This has been a month of change in the Jackson House Hold. We are finally moved into our new home! We are still unpacking but it is coming together nicely!!

This was Shiloh's first move and she has not handled it very well. She freaks out when George and I leave the house together, she has been sick to her stomach and she has been clingy.

Louie has handled it well. He hid for a few hours but then he started exploring. He seems to like it a lot!

The differences between the apt and the duplex are amazing! In the apt you could hear every noise coming from the people above us. When our neighbors walked - it sounded like they were running or stomping their feet. When their TV was on it sounded like we were in a horrible storm. When they peed... well we could hear that clearly!!! :( We had people who would get into fist fights at 2 in the morning right out side our door, people who would stand out side your bedroom window late at night talking and laughing... my list could go on. Don't get me wrong... We enjoyed our 2 years in the Apt but we are so thankful for where we are now!

The duplex is quiet! The man beside us works with George and we can never hear him. It feels more like a home! We have painted (I will post pictures soon) and it feels bigger and more homey. Yes, it is an older home but we are enjoying it.

However, we have decided that we can not move ever again! :) When George and I got married and moved into our 'shack' we welcomed Louie into our lives! He is my baby! Six or seven months later we moved into the Apt and we welcomed Shiloh into our lives. She was George's baby but she is becoming more and more attached to me too. Yesterday we welcomed Madison (we call her Madi - Madison comes from the name of the church that George and I got married in) into our lives! She is our kitten. She is eight weeks old and such a loving little girl. Despite the joy we get from our babies we can not afford any more pets so here we shall live until we die! :) haha!!!

Shiloh has handled another animal in our home with pure love and joy. She treats Madi like she is her baby. When Madi walks around you can know that Shi is only one step behind to make sure that she will be okay. Shi can't seem to get enough of Madi. It is so fun to watch! I hope to get some cute pictures!!

Louie on the other hand, has not been thrilled with Madi. He comes into the room where Madi is but you can tell in his eyes that he is not happy. There have been hisses but so far nothing major! Hopefully, in time Louie and Madi will be the best of friends.

I hope this weekend holds many special memories and a house that is box-less!!


Picture #1 - Louie - trying to figure out why we allowed another cat in the house.
Picture #2 - Shiloh, Madi, and George. Shiloh is already showing us that Madi is her baby.
Picture #3 - I just had to share this picture even though I look horrible. She was nuzzling up against my neck! It was so sweet!!!
Picture #4 - Madi, Shi, and I were on the floor playing and Madi must have gotten tired because she jumped up and laid down on George's back. I love this picture!!