I will never buy Play-doh again!!

So I was feeling like supermom this morning and decided to try a batch of play-doh for the following reasons:

*Willem LOVES playdoh and plays with it alot
*Adi is wanting to play with playdoh, and I catch her eating it from time to time (if she's gonna get some in her mouth, I'd rather it be chemical free)
*Playdoh isn't cheap....and who doesn't like to save money?
*Willem loves to help bake & cook, so I figured he would love to make something that he could actually play with.

Seeing that I'd never done this before, I picked a recipe online, suprisingly that I could make with things I had in my pantry!

The recipe was pretty simple, easy to follow, and quick! And the result was impressive! It's not perfect...the only thing I would like to change is the grainy texture, and the fact that they reccommend storing in the fridge. The site I found this recipe on had several recipes, so I may try another next time!

This guy sure loves it! Especially since it makes so much...not just a little can full!


Here's the recipe, in case you're interested!

Cooked Playdough Recipe
2 cups flour
1 TBSP cooking oil
1 tsp. cream of tarter
2 cups of colored water
1 cup of salt

Directions:
Place all of the ingredients in a medium size pan. Stir well, then cook over medium heat until the dough thickens. Keps best in the fridge in a plastic container!

I'd love to hear your favorite dough recipe...I think I'll try a non-cooked one next time to compare!

New year.....new way

So I've had to face afew bigger decisions lately that will probably affect the future of 'Fresh Mom'. Which has brought me back to why I started Fresh Mom in the first place.

*I love to create things....with character, interest, and things that make people smile
*I wanted to set my own schedule, and spend more time with my kids, instead of being harnessed in by someone elses demands (should have thought about that one before having kids...LOL)
*I want to feel good about doing something for myself, and allow myself to live, create, and inspire through my designs.
*Of course, I want to make an income too....

But when I think about what I have been through in the first year of business, it has not all been as hearts, flowers, and sunshine as the romantic notion of a crafting business sounds. I feel burdened by deadlines and demands....the creative process has been smothered by mass production.

Along the way, I have learned SOOOO much, and do not regret nor would wish to change any part of it, but now that I have nearly a year under my belt, I can start to mold the business into the vision that I always had.

I LOVE all the support, feedback, encouragment, and appreciation I get for every order I am able to supply my wonderful customers with. It has kept me going!

I feel the need to put my very new business through some very big changes. Please stay tuned, and hang on for the ride!

Creativity in every form...

Being a crafter, I try to appreciate creativity in every form. My CD collection (yes, I still use CD's, even though I have an ipod) ranges from Selah, to Tim McGraw, to Black Eyed Peas, to Metalica. I can appreciate every one of them!
I am also trying to appreciate Willem's creativity....even though sometimes it's hard to let him make a mess...it's all in the name of creativity.

Here's afew things he's come up with lately that I just have to smile at.

This is the set-up that occurs almost every day. This day, it was a truck...the chair is the cab, the table the flat bed, and the boxes his 'load'. The set-up also doubles as a pirate ship!


He's also into Lego. He is always making interesting creations...such as this.


After I put him in bed the other night, I walked into the kitchen to find this little group of Playmobil people...he had arranged them nicely as they were having a conversion...about what, who knows?


He's a creativ little guy....I love every bit of it...don't even mind the clean-up(most days)