Feathers in Our Nest

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Silk Dyed Easter Eggs

March 27, 2018 by Aliesha

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our NestToday we made some beautiful silk dyed Easter eggs, so I thought I’d do a quick post about the process!

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our Nest

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our NestYou’ll need some old silk ties you don’t care about anymore! I found a bunch at Goodwill for just $.50 each. They need to be 100% silk to work for this project!Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our Nest

You’ll also need some white fabric, such as an old pillowcase or an old flour sack towel. Finally, you’ll need some twist ties (or twine), fabric scissors, and 1/4 cup white vinegar.

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our NestStart by cutting your ties open and cutting a square for each egg.

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our NestWrap your eggs (straight out of the fridge, not already boiled) in the silk with the right side of the fabric touching the egg. Pull it around tightly! Secure with a twist tie it piece of twine. Repeat with all eggs.

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our NestNext, wrap all the eggs the same way, but this time in white fabric to help prevent colors from bleeding. Secure with a twist tie or piece of twine.

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our NestPlace eggs in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to the pot. Bring to a boil, then set a timer for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, place eggs (still wrapped) in a colander to cool.

When cool, unwrap your eggs and be surprised at how cool they look!

Some ties will result in more vibrant eggs, and some will result in pastel/watercolor eggs! You won’t know until you try!

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our Nest

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our Nest

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our Nest

Let us know if you try making these!

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs | Feathers in Our Nest

Original idea and directions came from Our Best Bites!

Filed Under: crafts, holidays

A Day in Our Life

February 17, 2018 by Aliesha

I’ve had so many people asking me lately about my schedule… what our homeschool day looks like, how I homeschool with a baby and a toddler, when I work on my book business, etc. so I thought I’d do a post giving you a glimpse into one of our days. (This might also give you an idea why blogging has taken a back-burner lately!)

This was just an average day in our week. Of course none of my days look exactly the same, as I’m sure yours don’t either! We certainly have a rhythm to our days, particularly our homeschooling days, but each day does hold different plans and activities.

I love reading other people’s Day in the Life posts, and it’s been a LONG time since I did my last one! Hope you enjoy reading it!

A Day in February 2018

5:55AM Tad gives me a kiss before leaving the house (he’s leaving early today to meet with someone before work). I fall back asleep.

6:40AM I wake up and get out of bed. I exercise, drink water, eat breakfast (leftover sweet potato hash & a fried egg), and make a cup of Chai tea.

7:20AM I do some Usborne Books & More work at the dining room table. Around 7:30 the older kids start waking up. At 7:50 the girls begin making breakfast.

8:10AM The kids eat their breakfast and I turn on some Bach to listen to while we start our day. I put my makeup on, take my vitamins, and strip the sheets off the bed. I wash the sheets and towels, then lay out the girls’ seat work (math, handwriting, etc.).

8:30AM Felicity nurses, and I read my Bible. The girls begin their seat work at 8:45.

9:00AM Cordelia comes in and reads to Felicity. She’s just taken off in her reading and she loves to read to her little sister, who is a captive audience!

9:10AM I check Cordelia and Vera’s seat work and I help Vera with a writing assignment. I put the laundry into the dryer and get Felicity dressed. During this time, the boys are playing with Duplos.

9:40AM Vera does her reading aloud to the other children. We sit together and sing a hymn, then do Bible, Scripture memory, poetry, world history, and science. Nothing glamorous… just reading together and learning about our world! (Here’s the curriculum we used last year and this year.)

10:20AM Jude reads with me. Cordelia practices writing her numbers, and Vera writes down some notes from our lessons (this is something she wanted to do, not something I make her do). Theodore colors at the kitchen table. Or colors the kitchen table. You decide.

10:30AM Felicity goes down for her morning nap. I make snack for the kids (pink lady apples and baked oatmeal), finally get to the breakfast dishes, and sweep the kitchen. (I try to wash the breakfast dishes right after breakfast, but some mornings that doesn’t happen and I have to do them later.)

11:05AM I do a few quick UBAM work things. I don’t normally work at this time of day, but there was a minor crisis I had to resolve (the auto-scheduler I use for Facebook posts stopped working, so I had to post some things manually). The kids play with each other (lots of pretending… something about a lab and some dinosaurs).

11:40AM We go outside for a bit of sunshine. We play on our new swing set and enjoy the gorgeous weather! Yay for pretty winter days!

12:00PM I make lunch (grilled cheese sandwiches, broccoli, and hummus, with chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies for dessert). I also fold and put away some laundry and check the mail. Our utility bill that arrived was staggering!! The kids pick up the house before they eat lunch.

12:25PM The kids eat lunch and I wake up Felicity and nurse her. I call Tad on his lunch break to hear about his day.

12:55PM We clean up from lunch, the kids clean their rooms, and I eat lunch (lentils, roasted red pepper hummus, broccoli, and feta cheese). I unpack and put away an Amazon order. The kids watch an episode of Daniel Tiger.

1:30PM I nurse Felicity.

2:00PM Everyone is down for rest time (the older kids read or play, and the youngest two nap). I work on my UBAM business while drinking a cup of decaf Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee coffee.

3:15PM I pour another cup of coffee, grab a piece of chocolate, and sit down to read. I’m reading this one right now (along with a few others… I’m rarely only reading one book at a time). I text a few friends to check in.

3:50PM I start prepping a few things for dinner and I set the table.

4:00PM MiMi (my mom) calls to read books to the kids. While she’s reading to them, I make dinner.

4:30PM The soup is finished, and I make the bed with the clean sheets. I read some books to Theodore and wake up Felicity.

4:40PM I nurse Felicity and read a bit of the latest Magnolia Journal. Theodore sits next to me and reads the Food Network Magazine. (He’s such a foodie.)

5:10PM The kids finish their story time with MiMi. Tad is on his way home, and I freshen up (ya know, put on lipstick, and all that jazz).

5:15PM I make biscuits to go with dinner, light candles, and turn on some music (we’re listening to so much more music since we got Alexa).

5:40PM Tad arrives home and I finish up the last few things for dinner.

6:00PM We sit down to eat dinner (tumeric & kale white bean soup and biscuits). We do our family devotions (this book) and our catechism questions (this) with the children.

6:30PM The kids clear the table and I put the food away and wash dishes. Tad vacuums the dining room. I pack Tad’s lunch.

6:50PM I start a small load of laundry (kitchen towels and cloth napkins). The kids are playing.

6:55PM We straighten up the boys’ room as it had gotten quite messy during rest time (#worthit).

7:10PM I nurse Felicity. Tad reads books to the children. We sing a hymn together before bed (see this).

7:30PM We put the boys to bed, I nurse Felicity again (“I’m hungry, mother! I truly am!”), and the girls have “big girl time.” Tad and I talk about our days.

8:00PM I take a shower and Tad holds Felicity. (She doesn’t love being set down at this time of night.) Tad tucks the girls into bed.

8:25PM I fold the final load of laundry, do another quick pick up of the house, and sweep the kitchen.

8:30PM Tad and I hang out. (Felicity is still awake during this time.)

10:00PM Felicity has her final nurse before bed.

10:40PM I put Felicity to bed, wash my face, and brush my teeth.

11:00PM Now normally, I’d be heading to bed, BUT tonight I have a west coast Usborne Books & More party, so I throw that party! (This was my first west coast party… usually my parties are at 8:30 or 9:00PM EST.) So thankful for online book parties where I can party in my PJs! Tad goes to sleep.

11:55PM Book party is over and I’ve finished answering questions and giving book recommendations.

12:00AM Tumble into bed!

So aside from the late night (and the special story time with MiMi), I’d say many things about that day are very typical! My day is spent on lots of the ordinary household and mothering tasks I’m sure your days are filled with as well.

Not pictured: lots of diaper changes, spitting up (the baby, not me), correcting bad attitudes (mine, but also the kids’!), and cleaning up spills/messes (I’ll probably never know who did it… I’ve stopped trying to figure out).

I’m in the trenches, just like you, mama! We’re in this together, and by God’s grace we can be faithful to our calling each day!!

This post contains affiliate links.

Filed Under: everyday, family, homeschooling

Simple Christmas Cookies Recipe Round-Up

December 18, 2017 by Aliesha

Simple Christmas Cookies Recipe Round Up | Feathers in Our NestI love baking cookies at Christmas time, but I have learned how to do it in a way that fits into this season of life with little ones (so that I’m not stressed out doing it)!

My number one tip is to make your dough one day and bake another day! And if you’re icing the sugar cookies (last recipe), do that step on a third day! So much simpler than trying to do it all in one day! Plus, cookie dough bakes up so much nicer after it’s chilled for a while. Full disclosure: I made most of these cookies without help from my kids. They did help roll some in balls, and Cordelia made the fudge, but for the most part I worked during rest time.

You can even make your doughs weeks ahead of time and freeze them! Whether you’re storing them in the fridge or freezer, be sure to label them!

My second tip is at the bottom of this post, after the recipes!

Here are some of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes that I made this year!

Simple Christmas Cookies Recipes Round Up | Feathers in Our NestGinger Crinkles

Why I love it: These are delicious and chewy, with prominent ginger flavor, but they are simpler to make than cutout gingerbread cookies.

Recipe here

Simple Christmas Cookies Recipes Round Up | Feathers in Our NestDark Chocolate Sea Salt Toffee

Why I love it: It’s amazingly delicious and tastes very gourmet, but it just uses a few ingredients and doesn’t require a candy thermometer.

Recipe here

Simple Christmas Cookies Recipes Round Up | Feathers in Our NestDouble Decker Fudge

Why I love it: Easy, easy! You can’t mess up this fudge! Like I said, my five-year-old made it this year!

Tip: Make it as written, or double each “half” of the recipe (peanut butter or chocolate) and make separately to add more variety to your cookie platter.

Recipe here

Simple Christmas Cookies Recipe Round Up | Feathers in Our Nest

image via Baker by Nature

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Why I love it: So pretty on a cookie tray (and looks fancy), but only requires five ingredients!

Tip: Dough is sticky, so refrigerate and use my method for shaping listed at the end of this post. Also works best when baked on a silicone mat or parchment paper.

Recipe here

Simple Christmas Cookies Recipes Round Up | Feathers in Our Nest

Image via The Pinning Mama

Snickerdoodles

Why I love it: This recipe makes a chewy cookie that’s just perfect!

Tip: Slightly underbake these!

Recipe here

Simple Christmas Cookies Recipes Round Up | Feathers in Our Nest

Image via Flippin Delicious

Chewy Chocolate Crinkles / Chocolate Peppermint Crinkles

Why I love it: They are gluten free, plus you can use this recipe to make two varieties of cookies. One: roll in powdered sugar and omit peppermint pieces. Two: Add 1/4 tsp. peppermint extract when you add the wet ingredients, roll dough balls in powdered sugar, then add a Candy Cane Kiss to the center of the cookies after baking!

Tip: Dough is quite sticky, so refrigerate before shaping. DEFINITELY make these on a silicone baking mat or parchment paper and allow to cool before removing!

Recipe here

Simple Christmas Cookies Recipe Round Up | Feathers in Our Nest

Image via The Domestic Rebel

Kris Kringle Cookies

Why I love it: These have the tangy flavor of cranberry combined with sweet white chocolate, plus they look so pretty!

Tip: Swap out the mix-ins in half of the dough for another variety of cookie! Christmas M&M’s would be cute!

Recipe here

Simple Christmas Cookies Recipe Round Up | Feathers in Our Nest

Image via Chew Out Loud

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Why I love it: Who doesn’t like these? Haha! This recipe is gluten-free and just uses a few ingredients.

Tip: Unwrap your Kisses while the cookies are baking so you’ll be ready when they come out! I usually wait 1 minute before adding the kisses. Add them too soon and they’ll melt completely; add them too late and they won’t stick!

Recipe here

Simple Christmas Cookies Round Up | Feathers in Our NestSugar Cookies

Why I love it: This recipe is SO easy and I love the flavor the almond extract adds (I use imitation).

Tip: Make this ahead of time and let chill before rolling out!

Recipe here

Method for easy cookie shaping

Make dough as directed. Place on a large piece of plastic wrap and shape into a rough square. Fold plastic wrap over. Label. Chill dough. When ready to bake, unwrap dough and place on a cutting board. Using a large chef’s knife, cut dough into even squares. Roll each square into a ball, roll in sugar if directed, and bake as the recipe states. Super fast!!

Happy cookie baking!!

Filed Under: Christmas, cookies, desserts

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This blog shares our family's story and our journey from newlyweds to a family of seven. We share milestones, we share struggles, we share sweet memories, and we share about our Savior. Keep reading...

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