Simple Stitches MOVED!

Hi!  I am officially moved over.  You can now find me over at:

www.simplestitchesbyshannon.com

I'd love to have you follow along on Facebook as well:

www.facebook.com/SimpleStitchesShannon

I hope to see you over there!  You'll get details on my sewing projects and find some that will be for you to buy and love on for years to come!

Updating!

I have been MIA on here for a little bit.  I have been busy sewing some REALLY cute things and now I am currently working on updating this blog to suit what I want to be doing a little better. (more on that later)  I am hoping to have it all finished and beautiful in the next couple weeks.  A new web address and all.  

I will keep you in the loop when it gets finished so you know where to find me!  :)  

Meal Plan Printable

One of the things I like the least that I have to do weekly is meal planning.  It takes me FOREVER.  

As part of being more organized this year, I decided I would make a weekly menu and make it cute!  That will make meal planning more fun, right? 

It helps me to have specific types of meals to plan for each day.   I also put a spot for breakfast and lunch because I base my grocery list off of the menu.  

Mine looks like this:

Mondays are crockpot meals.  (This is one of my busiest days so the crockpot makes it so I don't have to think about dinner prep!)  
Tuesdays are Soup/BBQ.  (Soup if it's cold-BBQ for warm days)
Wednesdays are brinner.  (Breakfast for dinner)
Thursday is Pinterest recipes (new or favorites-I usually try to pick a new one)
Friday is vegetarian meal. (makes the weekly grocery bill a little less expensive)
Saturdays are Pizza. (Usually homemade but not always)
Sunday we like to have a large super yummy dinner.  Almost holiday style, but not quite.  Just a time to gather around a super delicious meal and enjoy one another.

I have an extra box for extra things to make throughout the week.  Bread and chicken stock are typically here.  As well as special treats like cookies and what not.  :)

Here are some plain printables in lots of colors if you want them!  They don't have categories or anything so you can fill it out to your needs.  Enjoy!

Gray: Print it here.

Mint: Print it here.

Yellow: Print it here.

Do you have great meal planning tips??  Please share them with me!

Tracking Eggs! FREE Printable

I've been quiet on the ol blog for a little bit.  I've been busy sewing and keeping up with the kids.  But I can't wait to share my sewing project!  It's ADORABLE!  And a birthday pressie for Lil Bit.  Can't believe she is nearly THREE!  :(

In the meantime, the ladies (aka my chickens) have picked up on their egg laying.  FINALLY.  It's been pretty pathetic to get one or two eggs a week.  Then February came along and BAM!  Roughly two eggs a day.  So that's better.  Spring can't come quick enough and I'll be getting at least 4 a day!!  Hurry up Spring!!

I'm always curious how many eggs we get a month and I want to be able to see at the end of the year, what we provided ourselves with!  I made myself a chart of sorts.  I just keep it on the computer and it adds it all up for me.  (Thanks Hubs!) But if you like it and want to use it for your eggs, have at it!

Grab yours here.

I plan on making one shortly for our gardening things too.  What was planted and when and how much yield it produced.  

Looking forward to weather in the 60's this weekend!

Oil Washing (with Essential Oil)

I know we are quickly already into February.  I had one last use for lemon that I wanted to share before we moved on to a new oil.  :)

I have been washing my face using coconut oil for a month now.  I liked it alright.  It cleaned it well but I could never quite get rid of the loose dry skin that Colorado leaves you with in winter.  NO fun!

So looking up different natural ways to wash my face I came upon using lemon!  It was stated that lemon was really good at getting rid of those flakeys!  Well sign me up!  It's also really beneficial in other ways too.

I was hooked the first time I tried it.  SO refreshing and it really did take off the grossness. As I continued to look into this, I asked my friend who has an unbelievable amount of knowledge of essential oils, WHY is lemon so good for your skin?

Lemon Oil can:
open clogged pores (yep-totally does)

aids in cellular oxygenation and detoxification, therefore rejuvenation.  It does this both internally and externally.  

It aids in cellular regrowth. 

Topically, it breaks down oils and improves micro-circulation, thus enhancing healing and has a major constituent of limonene, "extensively studied in over 50 clinical studies for its ability to combat tumor growth" -Essential Oils Desk Reference book.

Basically, it is making your skin glow and super healthy!  Gotta love that!

Coconut oil happens to be a fantastic carrier oil for essential oils. Curious to know why?  I was too.  :)

It easily penetrates or absorbs into the skin, allowing the oils to seep in and be absorbed.  

It doesn't go rancid or let oils spoil because of its own properties. 

It does not alter the properties of essential oils.

And it's super healthy for you to begin with.  You can find SO MUCH health info on coconut oil, so I won't go way into it.

I was excited to put the lemon in my coconut oil to wash my face!

Let's do this!

Supplies:

Coconut Oil (we use this, but get it from Costco because it's a great deal there!)

Lemon Essential Oil (therapeutic grade)

That's all-I can read and KNOW what every ingredient is that I am putting on my face.

Put a good amount of coconut oil in a jar.  I probably put in about 3 or 4 tablespoons.  Cover jar and heat up in warm water so it melts. Coconut oil starts to liquify at about 75 degrees, so it doesn't take long to do this.  Add in your lemon oil.  I did about 8 drops.  Nothing super mathematical about it.  You don't need it super strong but enough to do its job.

*that white blob is just unmelted coconut oil*

Give it a good shake and it's all set.

To use it, I again, warm up the mixture so it's more liquid like.  Dip my fingers in and then just rub it on my face. Get a washcloth wet with nice and warm water and apply it your face.  I like to do it like a semi spa treatment and let it sit on my face for a minute or two.  Then gently rub so your face feels moisturized instead of oily.  If you're wearing make up, it should come off onto your washcloth.  It even takes off water proof mascara!  

I tell ya, my face has never felt so refreshed and clean!  I love it!  And I really like that I don't need a moisturizer after washing.  Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer!  

And that wraps up our month of Lemon Essential Oil!  

Here are 40 MORE uses for lemon oil:

1. Acidosis
2. Acne
3. Alkalosis
4. Anemia
5. Aneursm
6. Angina
7. Anorexia
8. Antibiotic reactions
9. Bladder infection
10. Blood clots
11. Blood platelets (low)
12. Confusion
13. Cushings disease (adrenal gland imbalance)
14. Depression
15. Diarrhea
16. Dysentery
17. Age related macular degeneration
18. Fatigue
19. Gallbladder infection
20. Gastritis
21. Gout
22. Hair and scalp problems
23. Dandruff
24. Halitosis ( bad breath)
25. Heartburn
26. Hematoma
27. Kidney disorders
28. Kidney stones
29. Liver disorders
30. Malaria
31. Mucus (excess)
32. Nails, finger/toe (brittle or weak)
33. Narcolepsy
34. Morning sickness
35. Dry nose
36. Postpartum depression
37. Poison oak and poison ivy
38. Snake bites
39. Throat infections (cough)(dry cough)(laryngitis)(sore throat)
40. Toxemia

Have you gotten your Lemon Oil yet? 

*You can order your therapeutic grade lemon oil from Young Living directly, or email me and I can get some shipped to you! (paterson.shannon@gmail.com)*

Valentine's Day Inspiration

Valentine's Day is Kelsey's FAVORITE holiday.  :)  The girl is all about the love.  

I thought this year we'd have some fun decorating for it.  Especially since Allie's birthday party will be Valentine themed.

Here are some of my favorite things I've printed out so far and decorations I plan on doing within the week!

This one I actually made myself.  :)  Easy, cute and quick.  Download and print it here. 

How cute is this one?  All the colors!  You can get it here.  She has it available in lots of color options!

I love the LOVE letters on the old window.  I have the perfect window for this!

*image from http://www.styledomaine.com/2013/01/valentine-decor/*

I love the hearts in the frame and the burlap bunting of this next one.  The sign is really cute too.  I don't think I will have time to make that though, but one could always try!

*image found here http://www.pinterest.com/pin/205617539209203473/*

This heart garland would be really easy to make as well.

*image from http://www.pinterest.com/pin/205617539208850526/*

What's on your list for Valentine's Day?

Kids Clothes Week!

*image from blog.kidsclothesweek.com*

Sheesh, this week of sewing has gone by fast!  My day three project continued into day four and is being posted for day five.  It took me longer to complete this because I made up the pattern as I went.  It's not complicated AT ALL. Seriously, ANYBODY could do it.  But I'm not so good at making it up as I go.  

I made a circle skirt apron.  I LOVE how it turned out.  Especially for my first go at it.  I took notes to change for future aprons, because there WILL be future aprons of this.  It came out so cute!

It has that 50's vibe that makes my heart melt!!  Oh love it!  

I got the lemon fabric at JoAnns FOREVER ago specifically for making an apron but never got around to it.  

She was pretty excited to have this apron made special just for her. :)

Not too bad for a first go of it!  I think now that I have it all figured out I could whip one out in less than an hour.

I think I will try to get one last thing finished before the end of the weekend!  Last day of Kids Clothes Week is Sunday!  Have you popped over there to see all the super cute things people are making? 

Go check out Day Five! And all the others while you're there.