DIY: The Perfect Baby Shower Gift Basket

Baby showers, we’ve all been to one. I’ve planned some, and even had one of my own. We never had one for my little guy because they were so close together (15 months apart), it felt downright rude to expect a bunch of family & friends to gather again so soon and shower us with gifts... Again. Also, we didn’t need anything! I learned something after my first rodeo, most registries look exactly the same. Something you may have learned as well, a lot of that stuff isn’t necessary. I found myself surrounded by friends and family suggesting tons of different registry “must-haves.” Yet it’s filled with stuff you either don’t need right away, or will mostly likely not work and never be used anyway.

It seems the moment you get pregnant everyone has advice for you, but that’s another post for another day.

I found that every time I went to a baby shower I wasn’t sure what to get for the mom-to-be. After learning about the true necessities in early motherhood, I vowed never again to shower someone with useless items whether it’s on their registry or not. There’s no need to feel confined to only buying from the registry by the way. Most of the awesome gifts I received and could not live without, were not on my registry.  So when one of our beloved friends announced they were expecting, I couldn’t wait to shower them with all the pearls of wisdom from my experience. Perhaps that’s what was happening when I was receiving tons of advice, I suppose motherhood is much like anything else, a very personal experience. No two situations are exactly alike. I digress.

So I decided to put together a DIY Baby Shower Basket of my own! One that reflected all of the basic necessities and thoughtful gestures I wish I had been privy to in my pregnancy.

Now, these are all ideas that can be used as a single gift for someone who you may not know very well, or as a whole basket for close friends or family that you love.

Either way –  these items are thoughtful and functional all at once! They are perfect gifts for the experienced “Crunchy” mom in your life, or the mom who is interested in a more natural approach to parenting but not quite sure where / how to get started.

Diapers: Let’s be honest, who doesn’t need diapers? This is ALWAYS a welcomed gift, in fact it’s even requested on some invitations! I’m a cloth diaper advocate, no secret about that if you’ve read my Cloth Diaper Confessional. Cloth diapers are an awesome gift to give, but not quite functional for the mom who doesn't know how to put them to use. So in this case there are alternatives – Biodegradable Diapers! It's the next best option next to traditional disposable diapers. The Honest Company has gift bundles online that you can purchase in monthly increments. Obviously the more you buy the better the price. In this case I was able to provide a month’s worth of these stylish diapers with wipes. Indeed, this is gift enough for most showers. If you’re interested in “upping the ante”, then keep reading!

Baby Wrap: I'm pretty passionate about baby wearing, I wish I knew more about it when my oldest was born. I had an Ergo carrier and loved it, although even with the newborn insert it didn't quite fit right until he was at least 5-6 months old. For this reason wraps work great for smaller babies. The benefits of baby wearing have long been studied and there is plenty of research pointing to the positive hormonal effects it has as well as the increase in lactation for the mother. The Solly Baby Wrap has long been on my radar as one of the most stylish and comfortable baby wraps around. Their adorable patterns and soft lightweight material make it perfect for South Florida weather.

Nursing Cover: A good nursing scarf is a great gift for the breastfeeding mom. The Nuroo Baby scarf is by far the most innovative and stylish scarf I've come across to date. It's unique  snap enclosures allow for multiple ways to wear this and make it optimal for discreet nursing in public. 

Maternity/Newborn Photo Session: What better way to celebrate a new bundle of joy than giving the gift of memories. A Maternity or Newborn photo session is on the "to do" list for most new parents these days. The miracle of pregnancy and the celebration of life is something we want to look back on and remember with detail. For this basket the highly talented Jennifer Reina Photography offers a unique baby shower gift certificate good for one maternity or newborn session. She presents it beautifully in a complimentary picture frame with details on scheduling and a free print. This is a wonderful gift for anyone who is expecting.

Photo Props: It doesn't hurt to throw in an adorable little striped crochet elf hat to include in their newborn shoot. Couldn't help myself!

Blankie Pillow: This cuddle pillow was featured in my MOABS Recap, and for good reason! If your babies suffer from acid reflux or silent reflux, then you know what a necessity a pillow like Blankie Pillow is. This comfortable pillow is ideal for propping baby up after feeding to avoid any spit up. It also converts into a toddler pillow as your baby grows! I wish I had one of these in my early days of motherhood! It comes stuffed in this awesome little sack. As a rule I pass this one along to all expecting mommy's I know!

Onesies: What new mom doesn't need onesies? These aren't just any onesies, The Little Boss has the cutest selection of newborn / infant and toddler necessities for your new "little boss in training".

Rattle: This montessori inspired hand crafted wooden baby rattle from Essential Montessori is an awesome addition to this basket. Baby's first rattle is sealed with a custom beeswax/olive oil blend and tinted with all natural homemade dye that's safe to the touch. Perfect for baby's first grip and safe for teething.

Baby Moccasins: These are just plain adorable! Although they do serve a purpose as they are great for keeping those teeny toes clean and comfy while they take their first steps. They are also thin and very natural to the touch  so as to keep babies feet firmly planted on the ground.

Gift Cards: Gift Certificates to be redeemed at a later date are an awesome shower gift for expecting parents. It gives them a gift to be excited about after the baby has arrived. In this case I presented them with a gift certificate to Budsies, one of my new favorite companies. I first featured this company in my Ultimate Mom's Night Out article, for their ability to foster creativity and bring it to life. They will print a physical doll from your baby's first drawings!

Protection: Once the baby arrives, there will be no shortage of well meaning family members wanting to come and meet the newest addition to the family. Unfortunately, they bring with them a host of germs, allergens or any outside carcinogens that are picked up by the average adult in every day life. However, the new little bundle is not yet equipped to fight off such pathogens. The Kuddle Coat is the perfect gift for the overprotective parents or germophobe in your life! It keeps any harmful chemicals or harsh perfumes from coming in direct contact with the adorable bundle of joy.

Relief: I first learned about Motherlove all natural organic salve with my second son. This absolutely saved my life! It really helps aid in healing and is completely safe for ingestion so there is no need to wash in between nursing.

Books: Books are a wonderful gift for any occasion, especially baby showers! This particular shower requested a book on the invitation, this is a growing trend. It's a great way to get a good start on a wide reading selection and encourage a love for reading. You can never start reading to your children too soon, I started at about 3 months old and I have two boys who would rather sit and listen to me read a book than watch television. I first got this idea from my friend and fellow blogger Lindsay from You Are The Roots, she bought this book for her son Ethan and decided to have all the teachers he has over the years sign the book at the end of each term. This way he has wonderful memories to look back on highlighting his educational career and how far he's come. It's a sweet tradition and makes for an amazing gift!

I decided to deliver these gifts in a canvas basket instead of gift bags or wrapping the presents separately, ensuring they could also use as storage or a baby hamper. I hope that this DIY Gift Basket has given you some helpful suggestions on some functional necessities for a new "mommy-in-training." It sure made this mom to be happy!

Essentially Yours,

Erika

DIY: Our Homemade Halloween Costumes

Most of our home life is homemade. We skip boxed, canned or frozen foods of any kind for the most part, I bake mostly everything from scratch and I usually rehab old furniture around the house.

I have fond memories of sitting in my grandmothers home and watching her sew and mend everything on her old fashioned black antique Singer sewing machine. That room always seemed magical to me as a kid, the possibilities were endless. It didn't matter what was torn, worn or just beat up she could fix it. I always dreamed of having a craft room of my own to store all of my fabric swatches, hot glue sticks, card stock, yarn and thread. For now, my husband puts up with the constant clutter on our computer desk and storage boxes filled with scrapbooks chronicling our lives. I've been on the hunt for one of these Singer sewing machines on my many thrift store hauls for quite some time now, maybe "Santa" will bring me one this year (hint, hint).

I've wanted to make the boys Halloween costumes for a while now, but always assumed I would need a sewing machine to create them. Until this year.. Until Pinterest! I'd had it with the over priced cheesy commercialized polyester get-ups offered in costume stores and was desperate for a new creative outlet in this area. Sadly, it seems even the children's female costumes have been effected and followed in the footsteps of the cliche` sexy women's costumes (Sexy Sesame Street, Really?!?!?). We'll save that for another post.

I always ask and somehow let the boys decide what they want to wear each year, obviously this year was the easiest as they are now able to communicate their wants much more effectively. It was a hard yes on the train costume, but they had already worn a store-bought conductor costume in the past. So we scoured the internet for some inspiration. As soon as I clicked on the DIY Thomas the Train costume, their faces lit up with joy and excitement. Now THAT is the reaction I was looking for. Not only could we create memories making it together, but they would enjoy it and love the costumes all the more. SOLD! To the lady with the hot glue gun!

Off to the craft store we went! It was like a neat scavenger hunt for the few key materials we would need. Not that it was all roses and rainbows. Have you ever tried navigating the narrow aisles of Michael's with two boys under the age of five, sans naps? I do not recommend. But we made it, multiple trips until we had the proper adhesives and box scraps needed. 

Another element of "Project Railway" (this is where my construction background comes in, doesn't every former Project Manager need a title for their craft projects?) is the amount of imagination it required. Pondering over which everyday items we could use to shape different aspects of the train makeup, e.g. toilet paper rolls became smoke stacks, painted yo-yo's became buffers, oatmeal canisters were sprayed to look like barrels, etc... It was great to watch the light go off in their head when we would find a material that fit the description. This was quickly becoming more of an experience than just pointing at an item in the crowded store among screaming kids, frustrated parents and paying for it at the register.

Not to mention a great way of keeping costs down seeing as how all we needed was a few Office Depot boxes (free), old shoe boxes from my "shoe farm", some paint, tape and glue! The priciest part was probably the Velcro needed to secure the straps. All in all the project was still under the $20 mark, #ThriftyMom score!

I wouldn't recommend waiting until the day before or day of to attempt this costume, but it's good to know it was possible (I've been insanely busy these days, don't judge me)! It's probably for the best, who knows how many add-ons would have occurred if I had more time to stew on it. I can just see it now, a homemade track built around the neighborhood so the kids can puff along the tracks merrily!

Any opportunity where they could help and assist in building the costumes was a plus, of course once all the adhesives dried and it was safe for them to touch the materials. But I will never forget the anticipation in their eyes while we were painting alongside each other, the pride that came when we were finally finished or the excitement when they first were able to wear them. Those memories created will stay with me forever, and I'm hoping the same for them.

Needless to say, this will be our family tradition for as long as the boys will participate. Hopefully one day I will be able to continue this tradition with our grandchildren. Perhaps they too will have fond memories of their grandmother sitting at a sewing machine in her craft room filled with magic and wonder where anything was possible.

Off they go!

Thomas The Train Pinterest Tutorial

Essentially yours,

Erika

DIY: Dish Soap

I've finally found a dish soap recipe that works! I loved the smell of the Seventh Generation dish soap I've been using the past few years, but I found it more cost effective to buy a large bottle of my favorite Dr. Bronner's Castile soap since I can use it in so many of my other homemade recipes.

So here it is!

You will need:

2 cups of unscented castile soap

20 drops of Lime essential oil

8 drops of Lemon essential oil

6 drops of DoTerra's Citrus Bliss essential oil

I threw in a few drops of OnGuard for good measure! The anti-bacterial properties are incredible!

Fill a large, clean glass container with Castile soap; dilute according to instructions if using concentrate.

Tip: When adding any citrus oils you must use glass containers.

Add the oils, and shake before each use.

That's it! How simple is that?

I'm in love! This smells fresh and works really well at cutting through any grease. 

I'm so happy to be adding this recipe to my collection.

What homemade cleaning recipe can't you live without?

Essentially Yours,

Erika

Homemade: Deodorant!

Lots of DIY all natural stuff around here lately. I've been making a lot of this for a while, so I'm just getting you all caught up! (In other words, deal with it!) Ha ha!

Deodorant... We all need it, we all use it..(right???) 

On our "all natural, chemical free" journey I've tried a few brands. Only to find out that there were still some traces of aluminum to be found.

Although, the aluminum argument in homemade deodorants have since been de-bunked on account of there being aluminum found in BAKING POWDER, not BAKING SODA, which is the active ingredient in homemade deodorants. (Don't believe me?? Check out www.crunchybetty.com for research and references). To be sure, you can purchase Bob's Red Mill "Aluminum Free" baking soda to make yourself feel better.

So here it is:

1/4 baking soda

1/4 arrowroot powder

3-5 tbsp of coconut oil

15 drops of essential oil (I used doTerra's Purify blend which is magnificent!)

1 empty deodorant container

Combine baking soda, arrowroot and essential oil into a bowl. 

Add coconut oil with other ingredients one tbsp at a time until it reaches desired consistency.

Press firmly into an empty deodorant container. Let sit until coconut oil solidifies.

Voilà! Homemade deodorant! This not only smells better than any of the store bought brands, but it also works better than most I've tried! I even had enough left over to add to my roll on bottle!

I'm officially in love and plan on never paying for deodorant again! 

Essentially yours,

Erika

DIY: Floor Cleaner!

Ive recently received a ton of questions about all of my DIY cleaners, so I'm posting all of the recipes! 

I've been holding out on sharing with you all because I wanted to be able to add HTML codes and insert links to where I originally found all of these recipes.

Seeing as how I'm working mostly from an extremely uncooperative laptop, and I cannot insert links from my phone, I'm just posting these recipes from my memory. (I've tweaked them over time anyhow)

Here it goes!

Floor Cleaner:

1/2 cup of vinegar

10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil (depends on my mood, I use lemon when I need a pick me up, and lavender when I need a soothing scent)

Fill a 64oz glass bottle with warm water

Mix and let sit for about an hour before you use so all the ingredients have had a chance to incorporate.

Hope you enjoy the savings! I sure have! Not to mention, yet another batch of chemicals we can avoid in our home.

*Toddler Approved*

Essentially yours, 

Erika

DIY: Kitchen Cabinets

When I heard the news that our entire first floor would be re-tiled, my DIY wheels started spinning! 

I just couldn't see new tile laying next to the old 80's style wood cabinets we had in our "country style" kitchen. (That's what I convinced myself was the motif)

(Excuse the DIY mess)

I wanted to take advantage of the fact that our entire first floor was tucked away in our Totschool area and I could do as I pleased...

Sooooooo, I decided once again a can of paint is all they needed. Off to Home Depot I went! 

I started by removing all cabinet doors/ hinges. I then scrubbed them down and primed them with Gripper. 

(Ewwww chemicals I know!!) 

I sprayed the old rusted hardware an oil rubbed bronze color from Rustoleum and set them out to dry for 24 hours.

This is one area of our life that I haven't been able to eliminate all chemicals. I'm on the job and starting to research all natural alternatives to DIY. I'll keep you posted!

I then applied what felt like 5 million coats of fresh white paint annnnnnnnd...

Voila! It feels like a new kitchen! 

(No toddlers were hurt in the making of this post)

We are now leaning closer to our "country kitchen / shabby chic" vibe. 

One problem though.. 

Now I feel like our kitchen table isn't fancy enough for our bright and airy kitchen. 

I'm in love with farm tables, so let's see what I can pull off! 

(My husband may kill me) 

Essentially yours,

Erika

DIY: May as well be my middle name!!

Admittedly, I am a bit of a DIY freak!! I'm a big believer in a can of paint, it can fix just about anything in my book. Sometimes my ever so frugal hubby loves it, sometimes he wishes I would just let him buy something new already. But I can't help myself, I was born this way! When we need more storage, I don't buy a console table or hutch, I find an antique four drawer dresser for $25 and show it some love! 

Dresser before..

Dresser after!

Beat up old dining room table?? 

Nothing a 220 grid sanding sponge and a can of furniture paint won't cure! 

Dining chairs just needed a little sprucing with some paint and new fabric! 

Desk looking haggard???

(Are you noticing a pattern yet?)

Desk before...

Desk After!

You can give your entire house a little facelift with a little bit of creativity and a lot of patience from your spouse! Personally I love keeping pieces in my house that have history, what's the fun in having your personal space look like a Target catalog? They don't make furniture like they used to anyway.

My DIY addiction also happens to feed my thrifting addiction.. BONUS!! 

I'm sure I will have plenty more to share on my DIY journey! As always...

Essentially yours, 

Erika