To save on disposable cardboard cup sleeves, the new fad now is to invest in a cute, stylish reusable sleeve. A few months ago, I saw patterns and instructions for one of these on Cut out and Keep. I thought, “Oh, how cute,” and bookmarked it. I still haven’t made one, even though I have just the right fabric.

Lucky for me, I discovered I can buy one online for a reasonable price. And there are all kinds of them available: knitted, embroidered, quilted, fabric, etc…. (more…)

Do you have wild currants growing in your yard?

If you are like me you’ve watched them grow, ripen, and get picked off by birds year after year. If you’ve got kids with an interest in gardening and a nice sized bucket, then this quick recipe for syrup may be one for your family to try.

Everyone looooved this sauce on their pancakes. This is the first time we’ve done anything with our currants and it was a rousing success.

We were so glad we decided to use them this year. Next we will learn to make jam. (more…)

My husband says this is better than real ice cream, but we think that’s going a bit too far. It is super rich, creamy and delicious!

While this recipe does contain milk, it’s in the form of yogurt, so it will work for those who cannot have liquid milk, but who can have yogurt and cheese.

To make this frozen yogurt, you’ll need an ice cream machine. I have the Cuisinart electric ice cream and frozen yogurt maker. (more…)

When I heard there was a new choice in frozen treats for those of us who don’t eat/drink dairy products, boy was I excited. After all, this is National Ice Cream Month. I already make my own coconut milk frozen yogurt, but to be able to purchase already made coconut milk ice cream is a terrific option, and it’s even made with an alternative sugar — agave nectar. Pure Decadence is not rich — a characteristic you’ll either find “light and refreshing” or you may wish it were richer and creamier.

Our family celebrated National Ice Cream day by running a mini taste test on the new line of Pure Decadence non-dairy coconut ice creams. We looked at four flavors over two days: Coconut, Cookie Dough, Vanilla, and Chocolate. If you haven’t yet tried this brand, you may want to, it is a good alternative to soy and rice creams. (more…)

The 2nd annual International Babywearing Conference is coming up! It will be held June 25-28, 2008 at DePaul University in Chicago, IL, USA. The Babywearing Conference includes not just terrific shopping opportunities for all types of baby carriers, but also workshops on how to use different carriers, holds, and workshops on the business of making and or selling carriers.

There will be a keynote speech by Jeni Norton, the founder of the largest babywearing online community, thebabywearer.com. Organizers have also put together a fashion show and a panel discussion on the history of baby wearing. There is a raffle scheduled for interested participants. Check out the conference website and their long list of exhibitors for more information visit: Babywearing Conference.

While many moms decide to forgo jewelry rather than let Junior pull on it, dentist Dr. Helen Bloom decided to solve that problem, while also giving baby a healthy choice for teething on.

Her unique selection of silicone jewelry includes bangle bracelets, pendants and backpack charms.

Check this website to see more of the chewable jewelry.

When you’re on a restricted diet, you’ve got built in limits. For those of us who are gluten-free, alternative flours are an expensive fact of life.

I’ve tried both store bought and homemade flour mixes. I like quinoa flour, brown rice flour, and almond meal for various purposes.

But there’s another flour I really like for baking that you might not find at your local health food store: coconut flour. (more…)

If you are looking for something different, here’s a quick and easy way to cook sweet potatoes that’s not the same old mashed, or Thanksgiving sweet. (more…)

Want to sew your own sling type baby carrier, but don’t know where to start? Concerned that your home sewn sling will meet safety standards? (more…)

A friend with young twins recently asked me about how to use a sling style baby carrier. She said with two babies, she just didn’t have enough hands.

I told her you can actually carry two babies at the same time, using two slings, but she said, “I’ll start with one, thanks!”

Talking with her about my favorite sling, and how to use it, I was reminded of how much I like sharing with other moms about the benefits sling use has brought to our family.

So maybe you’ve heard of this term, baby wearing? Or maybe you just want some help wading through the explosion of baby carrying products that are out there now. Well, I’m here to help. (more…)