Warm Buddies

Warm Buddies!!

So, it's been very cold here in the Mountain West.  And when I say very I mean VERY!!  It's way below zero every night and around zero when I take the kids to school.  Last week it was -12 on Monday when I took them.  Brrrrrrrrrr!

We're pretty sure that our house has no insulation.  It's cold and drafty and I'm afraid it's going to be a very long winter!  We tried to put space heaters in the kid's rooms upstairs but being the quarky old house that it is, we blew the electrical circuits.  So, the space heater went back to the store and the kids put more blankets on their beds.

I've been feeling bad about how cold it is up there and then I had an idea.  For my birthday last month (happy birthday to me!) my mother-in-law gave me this cute little stuffed animal lamb that you put in the microwave and heat up.  I use it almost every night to keep my feet warm and toasty. I thought why not make some for the kids.

We tried it today and they were simple and fun to make.  The kids had a ball and now they have a little warm buddie to take to bed tonight.

Here' what you'll need to make them:

• A stuffed animal
• Corn or Rice
• Needle and Thread
• Plastic Eyes (maybe?)
• Essential Oil (optional)

That's all you need, really, that's it!  We went to a local thrift store and found some great stuffed animals for only 50 cents!  Can you believe it?  We took them home and gave them a good bath in the washing machine and dried them in the dryer.  They all come out looking fantastic.

The first step is to open up the back of the stuffed animal and take out the stuffing to the main body.  We left the head, arms, and legs stuffed with the regular stuffing.

This next step is REALLY important!  Check to make sure the eyes and nose are all plastic and not metal!  Sometimes the inside pieces of the eyes or nose are metal and you know metal and microwaves don't play well together!   If you got one that is metal, use pliers to remove that piece and replace it with a new plastic one.  Plastic eyes and noses can be found at craft stores.  I found some at my local craft store.  They cost $1 for 2 sets.  We were lucky and all of the animals we got had plastic eyes and noses!  Yah for us!

Next, stuff the animal with corn or rice.  I did some research online and found out that corn is supposed to stay warmer longer because of the oil content.  Don't know if it's true but we chose corn.  I got a 50 pound bag at the local feed store for $16.50.  I know, 50 pounds is a little much, right?!  That was the smallest bag they had so I think the birds will be well fed for the rest of the winter!

If you like aroma therapy you can put in a few drops of essential oil.  My kids didn't like the lavender smell of my lamb so they chose not to use any.  After heating them in the microwave I wish we had used some.  They smell like corn of course!  Not bad, but they could use a little something. 

The last step is to close the opening you made.  Just take a needle and thread and whip stitch or blind stitch it closed.  I used upholstery thread just because it is stronger.  You could use regular thread if that's what you have.

There you have it, a nice Warm Buddie to take to bed tonight!  Just heat them in the microwave for about a minute and snuggle up for the night! Hope you stay warm and snuggly this winter!!