Ahhhh....Christmas

So it is now down to less than 3 weeks until Christmas.  And for the first time in several years, I am getting excited!  Since we purchased The Hartleton House, Dearest has been working really hard to fix it up and has done a superb job!  Considering all the work he has done, I thought it only fair to try to accent that effort by doing a bit more decorating this year than I have in the past few years.

But I didn't want to get in over my head so I decided to start with the tree.  Then, if things didn't work out for the rest of my plans, at least we would have that much. 

Here are some photos of our tree....step by step.

The Lit Tree

Adding some pretty ribbon

Adding velvet ribbon and some
berry garland and the star 

Closer picture of the previous activity.

White pontsettias and snowflake picks

Silver berries and swirly things

Silver ornaments and a fabric
 scrap tree skirt

Ta-Da!

Close Up of the Pretty snowflake ribbon
(Thanks Keith Phelps & Country Farm & Home!)

One of my favorite silver ornaments

Mission Accomplished

Now if I could just keep the cat out of it, all would be right with the world.  =)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

~Blessings~

November is Nearly Over?!?!?!

Wow!  How did a whole month fly by??? 

So here I am trying to remember what all happened in November, even though it isn't technically over yet. 

Friday Fun started - so there went most of my Friday nights
Spent lots of time planning and organizing the Craft Fair at my church.
Spent not as much time working on the BVCOB Women's Christmas Party.
I had a Thirty One party.....at my house!! (Yes, I allowed people in to see the chaos firsthand)
I attended a Miche party  (Now I'm torn between Thirty One and Miche.  Decisions, decisions)
# 3 broke his collar bone at Friday Fun
Thanksgiving
Black Friday Shopping (WOO HOO!  I love it!!!)
I participated in my first craft fair as a vendor.
Dearest and I spent the evening with a very dear friend of mine who is home on leave.  It was an awesome evening that ended before I was ready for it to end.  :/

Those were the highlights.  Of course there were lots of the daily humdrum of regular life. 

Oh yeah, I went  to a meeting.  I was totally frustrated with things that are far beyond my control.  I don't like feeling that way.  I just don't understand people in general.  Why are some content to allow others to take on more and more responsibility and then complain when things aren't exactly the way they want them or expect them??  I know it's the age old question and there isn't a good answer but one of these days I'm afraid I'm going to open my mouth and all this frustration is going to come tumbling out.  Woooo I hope that doesn't happen.  Pray for me to be able to hold my tongue. 

I am going to try harder to blog more consistently during the Advent Season which started Sunday by the way.  I know many people talk about what they are thankful for during November but I'm not one to conform to peer pressure so I'm going to think about what is important to me and why during December. 

Getting a head start....
~I am grateful for the family that I have.  My husband and my children.  My extended family.  Dearest's extended family.  I value the time I share with them. 

~I also value maturity....even though I don't always possess it.  :}  Maybe I should ask for that for Christmas??

~~Blessings and Merry Christmas~~

My Young'ens

So yesterday I told you that I would attempt to get some pictures of my young'ens in their costumes posted today. 

Lo and behold....it's going to happen!!!!
That will be about all that it is, but the pictures will be posted!

 #1  ~  The X-Ray  (Looks like someone was hungry!)

#2  ~  The T-Rex  (He was hiding his tail.)

 #3  ~  The Ghost-y  (What else can be said?)

 Brotherly Love  ~  Extremely Rare!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe evening! 

~Blessings~

Halloween.....

So today is Halloween.

I have to tell you that I really struggle with this "holiday".  The struggle comes from learning more about the history of Halloween and the types of things that happen on this day in particular.  I shudder at the thought. 

Long ago, well 8 years ago to be exact, I allowed my eldest (#1) to dress up for Halloween.  And by allowed I mean I stuck his chubby little 6 month old self in a cute little ducky costume and hauled him around to all the family members for them to oooohhhh and aaahhhh over.  And so the tradition continued and does to this very day.

So this year the boys decided what they wanted to be and to my surprise, none of them chose something that would be particularly difficult to make. 

# 1 wanted to be a skeleton.  *WHOA! Stop right there.  Now like I mentioned above, I struggle with this stuff so I say to #1 ~  Nope you can't be a skeleton.  I won't paint your face so it looks like it's inside out.  <Insert sad 8 yr. old boy face here> <And mom's heart breaking here> BUT! You can be an X-Ray.  Good compromise, right?? So once that was settled I moved on to #2.

#2 wanted to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex.  No shocker there.  This is the child who wants to be a palientologist when he grows up.  [Just what is the demand for that particular profession?  Anyone??]
Thinking back to last year's Pachycepholosaurus (yes, that is an actual dinosaur),
T Rex was a cinch!  So last but not least, #3.

#3 wanted to be a ghost.  *Ugh. Now what?!  Sort of similar to the skeleton but #1 was permitted to be a ghost last year and it is a simple costume to whip up.  I have to admit I was a little disappointed by his lack of creativity this year.  Last Halloween he wanted to be a .... are you ready for this? ... Baseball BAT.  Yep. A Baseball Bat.  And not a bat with a baseball jersey either.  The piece of equipment used to whack the ball. 

(Shout out to Dearest for cutting out all those little letters last year while I was at the kids retreat!!)

 
So the creating began.  I searched the web to look for ideas and found an awesome tutorial here for the "X-Ray".  I 'free-handed' the Pachycepholosaurus last year and wasn't sure I had the creativity or the time to do that again this year so I went on the search for a pattern and found one I could tweak enough to make it work. And lastly I raided the fabric cabinet to make my little ghost-y out of my 'under-pinnings' stash.  <That probably warrants more explanation but we'll save that for another post ;) >

I have to tell you that creating costumes for little boys is so much simpler than doing one for a little girl.  At least so far they have been. *Disclaimer - I haven't made a costume for a little girl but I know several and I don't think any of them would be satisfied to have a sweat suit as the base for their costume.* So I just gave it away.  I try to use sweats as the base for all the costumes if possible.  Last year's dino suit started as sweat pants and a zip up hoodie.  In previous years I used extra large sweat shirts to make their costumes.  I'll have to dig those pictures out.  #3 had l-o-n-g hair that year.  That's another post in itself too.

If you are interested in learning more about making any of the above mentioned or pictured costumes please feel free to ask.  I'd love to help you.  I know it's too late for this year but it's always good to plan ahead!

So Happy Halloween!  Please be safe if you Trick or Treat.  I will attempt to get this year's costumes posted tomorrow.......hopefully. 

Fabric Shower Curtain

Originally, The Hartleton House blog was intended to promote my home made all natural soap products.  I am finally discovering how much fun this blogging stuff can be so I thought I might expand my horizons and add some of the sewing projects I like to do.

One of my most recent projects has been making a shower curtain.  I am 100% certain it would have been cheaper and a whole lot faster to drive to walmart and buy a new shower curtain but that would have taken all the fun out of it.

We had an average run of the mill *white* shower curtain.  I am still trying to remember why I thought white was a good choice.  It had gotten to the point where I couldn't remove the dark brown dirt stains from along the edges where my 3 little lovelies would grab a-hold of it to enter the shower/bath.  I wish I would have had the presence of mind to take a before picture.  But like I mentioned before, I'm just learning how fun this blogging stuff can be.  But trust me, that shower curtain was not pretty.

So this is what I came up with that seems to be working out well for all involved. 

I used the top of the old white curtain so I wouldn't have to fight with/worry about making new button holes for the curtain rings.

Next I added a section of semi-sheer fabric that I previously used to make cafe' type curtains for the bathroom window. This section was all for the grown ups in the house.  We prefer lots of light and it was a given that a dark green shower curtain would not allow much light through.

Then I attached the green plaid homespun fabric to the bottom.

Considering that I didn't do much calculating, I am extremely happy with how this turned out.

Here is a close up view of the fabric.

I think I need something on the top now.  Maybe a valance.  Hmmm....I guess I'll ponder that while I work on the kids halloween costumes.  Where did the time go?  How can it be the end of October already??

Check back in a few days.  Perhaps I will add some pictures of the costumes in process.

Just Checking In

So I know it's been forever and a day since I posted and this really isn't going to count for much as a post either.  Just wanted to drop by and let everyone know that I am still mixing concoctions in the kitchen.  Trying to find the best product I can produce.  I still have my laundry soap and dishwasher powder at Koch's Country Store in Hartleton.  Every once in a while I get a surprise when I go over and they hand me money.  It really makes my day.  I like that someone is trying my items or is repeat buying which would make me even happier!

I am having a 31 party on November 5th at 6:30.  If anyone would like to join me or place an order, let me know.  Just putting that out there.  I love Thirty-One.  One of my very bestest friends in the whole wide world has become a consultant so I wanted to help her out and have a good time looking at totally fabulous bags, totes, and neat-o accessories for an hour or two.  ;)  It should seriously be a good time.

With that in mind.  I am going to prepare some samples for those who attend that evening.  So if you have been thinking that you might like to see what I've been up to in that wreck of a kitchen of mine, stop by and at least pick up your sample.  Dearest is working diligently on the walls in hopes that the kitchen will all be one color at the time of the party instead of Sage Green and Sunshine Yellow.  

Just for fun.....

                       Here are some pictures of what has become my kitchen when we first bought the house.

                                               Did you notice the Sunshine Yellow Ceiling???

 And the 1950's flooring??

  
                                        This is one of the new window and a little bit of progress.
                                                           (Look.......NO Ceiling!)

And this picture shows more closely what it looks like today....except we do have counter tops now. :)

(And #3's eyes don't usually glow in the dark.  wth?)

Well, it turned into more of a post than I thought it would.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Hello All! 

This is a confirmation that I have in fact gone "public".  My home-made all natural laundry soap and dishwasher detergent are now available at Koch's Country Store in Hartleton PA.  It is quite a lovely store.  If you've never been there, you should make it a point to stop in and browse around.  They have the most extensive selection of "penny candy" I know of in a tri-county area!  It is amazing! 

On a side note....my little family unit had the chance to escape for the weekend to my lovely sister's home in Virgina this weekend.  While I have had more pleasurable experiences than the car ride to our destination, the stay has been quite enjoyable.  It's fun to see the kids loving the beach and trying to behave the best they can for long periods of time.  The key word there is trying.  :)   We are planning on heading out to the ocean front once again today.  I think I love it as much as the kids do.  Dearest, on the other hand, is a different story....

Thank you Dearest for being a good sport and enduring something your family loves even if you aren't as thrilled as the rest of us!

Remember to stop in at Koch's Country Store and check out the candy selection and ask about the Hartleton House products! 

Going Public

It's time.

It's time to take the plunge.  And go public!

I spoke to a local shop owner and he agreed to put my products in his store!  YAY!!
I finished a batch of laundry soap last night.  I've been working on my labeling.  Hopefully I will have some products in his store by the weekend.  I am so excited!  I will certainly update everyone so those who are local can stop by and check out the items for themselves.  <Hint, Hint> 

I continue to ask God to lead me where he wants me to go.  I also continue to pray that this venture will be successful and benefit everyone who is touched by it.  I would appreciate it very much if you would join me in prayer for myself and my family.  This business is for my family's benefit.  Mostly the children.  Of course we all want to be able to give our kids what they desire.  Dearest and I want to show our kids how to work for what they desire and we think the best way for them to learn is by example.  Hopefully the kiddos are getting the message we are sending by having them participate in the creation of The Hartleton House products in our kitchen.  When they help, we talk about why mommy is making what we are working on.  They know that we are helping the environment by using fewer chemicals in our house and generating fewer items of trash.  They know that we make larger amounts than we need as a family so we can offer the products to others who will pay for the items because they want to be kinder to the environment and their families as well.  They also know that the money that comes in will help keep our youngest in a fine preschool/child care program because that is important.  They also know that we will all be able to share in the benefits of the sales because we work hard for what we need and use the rest responsibly for what we desire. 

The changes that our family has made over the past year or two is finally showing up in the attitudes of the children.  It is so rewarding when a small one notices the little things happening around them.  We recently started to share our goals with the children and that is when it seemed to really click for them.  :)  Those little munchkins make their momma proud. 

Totally random thought....I really need to start adding photos to jazz these posts up.  I'll work on that too. :) 


~Blessings~

Testing....Testing....

So over the weekend I was finally  inspired to concoct two batches of products.  Yay!  Now I'm looking for people who would like to test said products.  I guess I need to say what they are, huh?

Item #1 is Liquid Laundry Detergent.
Item #2 is Powdered Dishwasher Detergent

I really like the idea that I am able to make products in my home of all natural ingredients!  That makes the "Greenie" in me very happy.  But growing up in a culture where most things are purchased these days, I had to allow the appearance to grow on me.  I guess taking out all the chemical components decreases the suspension ability of detergent so it settles plus I had to get past that it wasn't some fluorescent color.  So if you think you want to test the Laundry Soap...remember to shake well before pouring!

I have personally used both products.  I have not been using them for years (which is why I need testers) but so far so good.  My research indicates that these products are safe for you and your family, your machines, and the environment as long as they are used as directed.  Also, the suggested amounts should be adjusted according to your individual results and needs.

If anyone would like to help me ensure quality products by trying them in your home and letting me know what you think, please comment with your email address and I will contact you for shipping information.  The samples will be supplied to you at no cost.

I am currently working on a Liquid Dishwasher Detergent as well as some household products such as All-Purpose Cleaner and some others.  If the current products don't appeal to you, maybe something coming up in the near future will suit your fancy!

~Blessings~

Welcome!

Here is a little bit of information about me and why I'm blogging.

I have decided that I am going to bite the bullet and dive into a home business venture.....again.  I have tried many things in the past.  I hesitate to say they failed....I like to think of it more as practice.  I am going to be producing and selling home and health products as well as some crafted items.  All of this while raising a family, fixing up a fixer-upper, starting an "urban" farm, and working outside the home.  Crazy? Yep.  Surprising? No.  Crazy is how I do things around here.

My Dearest and I recently purchased a house in a tiny community in rural Central Pennsylvania.  The Hartleton House needs work.  Lucky for me, Dearest is quite handy.  We are both "country" folks, not accustomed to this city livin'.  It has definitely been a challenge.  And it's only just begun.  My desire to start a home based business venture lies in my children.  Raising my kiddos is my most important job.  Throw a special need  in there and the situation becomes even more important.  In order to do and provide what my kids need, I need to expand the paycheck.  But how?  How do I help the family financially yet maintain the availability that is needed for a mom of young children?  Hopefully I've stumbled onto the answer.

Please know that I will not always be posting about my products.  There will be plenty of stories about living life at The Hartelton House.  Most days it feels more like the Big Top than the Family Home!  Every mom knows what I'm talking about.  

Thanks for stopping in and please check back soon for the first of the offered products!