My Craft Evolution

Another Tea Party

2012-01-27T06:25:00.000-08:00

I was beginning to think that maybe my girls were getting to big for tea parties. When they mentioned having on the other day I must admit I was not all that fired up about it. A tea party? Really? I was just thinking about all the work it takes to set up and put away for 10 minutes of "oh how cute".

But then I thought, hey why don't you do it. (Novel idea, I know)

Usually I make plates of little sandwiches with fruit and something sweet. This time they did it all on their own. Well, not completely on their own. Once I saw they were into it I got into it too and decided to make cookies.

I bought a box of sugar cookie mix at Costco for Christmas and now I'm down to 4 more batches. Luckily they are not my favorite so I'm not to tempted to eat all the leftovers.

But how can you not love fun shaped food like squirrels and hedgehogs and clouds?

So we had another successful tea party, crown and all. And something tells me that this will not be our last one. A that makes me happy.

Hugs and Kisses Valentine Garland

2012-01-22T15:15:00.000-08:00

We have very few, if any Valentines decorations. I've been in a crafty mood lately and felt we needed a little something festive for the upcoming holiday so I pulled out supplies I had on hand, paper, yarn and a heart punch and this is what I came up with. My Hugs and Kisses Valentine Garland.

To make your own...

Find a font you like, select outline and enlarge to the size you want (I used Lucida Calligraphy sized to 250 pt). If you squint you might be able to see the xoxo on the white paper below. If you don't see them trust me they are there.

Print on card stock and use a ruler to mark for holes along the top so they'll hang evenly. You don't need to make exact measurements but if you mark now you won't have to guess where to put the holes later.

I recommend using an Xacto knife to cut out the letters but you could use scissors if you don't have an Xacto on hand.

Punch or hand cut hearts. I used 18, 1.5 inch hearts for my garland. A also punched small holes at the top of my hearts so they would be easier to string.

Finally, I used a needle and some pink lace weight yarn to string it all together.

There you go. A simple, and practically free, Valentine decoration. Now go make your own garland and let me know how it comes out.

Housewarming Gift

2012-01-21T15:14:00.000-08:00

I got this gift in the mail a few days ago so now I can write about it.

I made these potholders as a (belated) housewarming gift for my brother. Well, I guess more for my sister-in-law. I've made them before (here) using Amanda from Soule Mama's pattern in Handmade Home. This time I altered it a little and used a new method for the binding tape. Amy Karol put together a clever little video, no swearing bias tape method, that worked like a charm. Thank you Amy.

It requires a little extra sewing but it is so worth it.

I'm pretty happy with how they came out. I may have to make a few more for myself.

Why I Don't Read More

2012-01-18T06:53:00.000-08:00

This is what my house looks like when I'm in the middle of a good book. School lunch boxes left out all weekend, flowers that are loosing the their petals and need to go out, eating at Peter Piper Pizza... that is a whole other story. Yes, I picked up The Hunger Games.

Fortunately the chore chart system has really been working so Monday the girls and I blitzed the house in one hour, my sanity returned then I was right back on the couch reading the second book in the series. I told myself that I would not pick up the third until after I went to the grocery store.

What was that about Peter Piper Pizza, you ask. Ava and Erin had back to back parties there on Sunday so we were there from 11:00 until 3:30. I got to spend the day nearly being run over by Girl Scouts, soccer teams and kids from around 20 birthday parties. Sounds like a nightmare but I did my best to enjoy spending the time with my girls.

No game or prize could compete with 'the ride' Ava got to ride alone but Erin needed to ride with an adult so I got to spin around in with the lights and the loud music about four times. Honestly, I can't say it was all that bad. The delight on their faces got me on 'the ride' four times. I was there about 2, okay 3 hours, more than I would have liked but we did have a good time. I don't think I'll need to go back for awhile.

Dinner Fail

2012-01-15T18:14:00.000-08:00

Several years ago I wanted to boost up my cooking skills so I set a goal to add one new favorite dinner recipe per month. I was pretty good about sticking to it and after one year I ended up with 10 awesome recipes. I still use most of these on a regular basis.

There are a few guidelines. Easy. Healthy. Delicious.

One of my favorite winter meals is lentil soup with warm bread and an arugula salad. I always buy canned soup but when I saw this recipe for mushroom and lentil soup in Everyday magazine I decided to make my own.

Easy. Yes. Very few ingredients but I had to make a few substitutions. I could not find red lentils so I substituted green. I also had no fresh thyme so I used dry.

Healthy. Yes. I love finding new meals that are vegetable based.

Delicious. No. The lentils did not get soft enough even after 1 hour of cooking (the recipe said 25 minutes). I bet this would have been better if I let it simmer all day. Instead of trying it again I think I'll do some keep my eyes out for another recipe.

It is such a bummer when you make a mess in the kitchen and have nothing to show for it. They can't all be winners though.

Do you have any good soup recipes to share?

A Very Domestic Day

2012-01-10T19:54:00.000-08:00

Well today started with a BIG pot of red sauce right after I walked the girls to school. It seems like it has been forever since I have had something simmering on the stove. I guess with all the warm weather we have had the past few weeks I kind of forget it is winter. I need to simmer soups and use my oven more before we start to really warm up.

After that I cleaned up the kitchen and sorted through some mail before the service man came to clean our heater. I was not sure how long he was going to be here so I decided to tackle my list of little things that I tend to put off.

One of them was sewing on girl scout badges. Can you see how my day was headed. I really felt like a 50's housewife when I called my husband at work to let him know I was about to add a big expense to our credit card. It is not like I needed his permission to fix a few parts on the heater, I was just letting him know, still I felt like June Cleaver.

Then, I got over it and decided to let my domestic side run wild. I finished a gift I had been working on. I can't show the full project yet but (sister-in-law Julie may be reading) but I'll write about it soon. So pleased with the results. I always forget how gratifying sewing can be.

I am happy to report that the day ended with dinner on the table, freshly scrubbed kids, homework completed and bedtime stories. Now I get to decide if I'm going to pick up my knitting...

or start this series I've heard so much about.

Either way ending with a blog post has transported me back to the 21st century.

Chore Charts

2012-01-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about how to start a chore system at our house. I wanted something simple, nothing fancy or complicated. Basically I wanted chores to get done without a lot of extra work for me.

I like the idea of earning allowance but we have tried this in the past and it just doesn't work for us. I'm inconsistent with paying them and the cash is not really all that meaningful to my kids. Toys on the other hand, toys they get. I came across this vides (here) at Power of Moms on teaching kids about working to earn something they wanted. Bingo! This looked perfect.

Last week the girls and I searched online for something they wanted to work toward. Ava really liked the horses she got for Christmas and wanted another one. Erin choose a Littlest Pet Shop set. We already have more than we need but she was really excited about it so I agreed. Now I'm not thrilled with the 'more stuff' part of this system but I think in the long run the girls will have a deeper understanding of the value of their things.

After they picked out what they wanted I printed a picture and created a chart based on the dollar amount (Ava $36, Erin $20). Each rectangle is one dollar, which is then divided into 4 squares.

One job = one square.

Empty the dishwasher. Color a square.
Set the table. Color a square.
Fold a basket of laundry. Color a square.

How simple is that? No nagging. No rotating. The more work they do the sooner they get their toy. Now they don't earn squares for every little thing they do. They still have to pick up after themselves and help with small things like feed the dog. But now instead of just clearing their dishes from the table I expect them to clear all the dishes and clean up the kitchen after dinner (one square). I'm there to help with things that are hot, heavy or sharp but they are doing the scraping, rinsing and loading on their own.

To get things started I told them that they could earn an extra square each time they learned a new job. This way they know what is expected of them and they are kind of excited about learning new things... like cleaning the bathroom.

I was about to set the table the other night and I had to stop myself because I knew one of the girls would be happy to do it. Now I just have to ask "who wants to vacuum?" and I immediately get volunteers.

To be sure I lived up to my end of the deal I have already purchased the toys just incase they were no longer available when they were earned. So far I think the girls understand that it going to take a lot of work and a long time but they are so excited about earning their reward. I'll keep you posted as we get closer to finishing our charts.

Do you have any good tips on getting kids to help out around the house?

Good Mom / Bad Mom

2012-01-06T12:58:00.000-08:00

I'm a good mom because I actually wear the jewelry that my girls make for me. The pride in their eyes when they see me put it on does more for their self esteem than words ever could.

I am a bad mom because there is a secret part of me that gets excited when the school nurse calls to report my kid is sick and needs to be picked up. What's that? You mean I have to drop what I'm doing and leave work so I can have an unexpected day off. Well, I guess.

For the record, Ava threw up at school but has no signs of fever so I think it may have just been an upset stomach and not the flu. Sweet!

Actually I kinda like taking care of sick kids, not throwing up kids, but kids who need their mom. Setting up a bed on the couch, letting them watch their favorite shows all day and bringing beverages in fancy cups to make them feel special. This brings back such clear memories of my mom doing the same for me. Nothing makes me feel more like a mom than checking in on a sick girl. We won't talk about taking care of sick husbands because that is a totally different story.

Also for the record, Ava watched Walking with Monsters: Before the Dinosaurs. Not what I would choose but hey to each his own.

While I had the camera out I snapped a picture of our streaky window. Why so streaky? Well check back tomorrow to read about our new chore system. It is the bomb.

update: It was the flu and I take it all back. Taking care of a sick kid stinks (literally).

Make Today Fun

2012-01-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

I love the fresh start a new year brings. There are many dreams and plans floating around in my head but I have not had quiet time to reflect so I'm making a simple resolution for the year.

Make Today Fun

It is not as easy as it might sound. Fun can take effort somedays. It is really about slowing down to enjoy the moment.

Today I'm making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the girls and their friends then I'm taking them to see the Muppets. Before I go I wanted to share these cute little dolls Erin made. A nice paper and sticker project that kept her for awhile. I love the diversity.

She taped them to wooden blocks so they would stand. Nice work little crafter.

Happy New Year. What are your plans for 2012?

Crafting Update

2011-12-30T14:45:00.000-08:00

I finally made it back into the craft room but before I show you what I made lets take a look back at what those girls were up to before Christmas.

I got a heart shaped rainbow pendant. Love it.

Jeff's mom received one of the notecard sets and a butterfly pendant. So cute.

Jeff got a notecard set too. They used the flower as a tire. I can't think of the last time Jeff used a notecard so he'll have to get creative too to think of an occasions to use these.

There were a lot of bookmarks going back and forth. Can you tell who's is who's?

Now on to my latest project. I started a (late) house warming gift for my brother but didn't have all the supplies I needed. It has been so long since I've been on the sewing machine so I had to find another quick project to keep my momentum going.

Laptop Sleeve!

I used a combo of these two tutorials I found on Pinterest (here and here). I was going to make a sash but it is such a sung fit that I won't need it.

I love bright colors as lining. This was my fist attempt at quilting something...

...it wasn't pretty.

But all in all I am so happy with how it came out and even more happy that I am finally back in the craft room.

Simple Holiday Decorations

2011-12-28T07:56:00.000-08:00

Every year I try to add a couple holiday decorations and get rid of one or two that I'm not attached to. This year I decorated my craft room with a few things I bought at Michaels for less than $5.00 and some craft supplies I had on hand.

Mini ornaments. Simple and festive.

(notice the dust on my craft table)

I gave the bookshelf a little detail but adding ribbon trim.

Finally a pom pom garland. All I needed was a needle, thread, packaged pom poms and about 3 minutes. I picked up the stockings as an impulse buy at a after Christmas Target sale a few years ago.

There you have it. I think maybe we'll make some snowflakes for the next month or two then it will be time for pastel and flowers. I'm so happy with this Ikea green, very versatile.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-26T21:37:00.000-08:00

The past week has been a blur. I had a cold the week before Christmas so I was not feeling very festive. I tried everything I could to get in the Christmas spirit, from hot baths and peppermint tea to red wine and chocolate, ultimately I just had to wait it out. I scrambled to make cookies on the 23rd and was wrapping gifts up until church but in the end I got it all done.

Both sets of grandparents joined us for presents and yummy food on Christmas morning. Everyone was happy.

I received a fancy new laptop. She is slim and elegant, I think I'll name her Audrey. I have been playing around with my photos today, hence the 60's vibe. I'm new to Macs but I've had a great time getting familiar with it the past two days in my pajamas on the couch (sorry no photos, well there are photos but they're not pretty).

The girls gifts were pretty simple, clothes and little toys.

Ava has a new love of horses. There were horses big and small.

Oh it was a very horsey Christmas.

I did some Christmas crafting that I haven't had a chance to post yet. I also made a few things that were sent off and never photographed, oh well. Now that I'm feeling better Audrey and I will have more stories to share.

Gift Giving for Kids

2011-12-20T11:32:00.000-08:00

After my girls made gifts for their teachers I started thinkin... it sure would be nice if they could make ME a gift. I love their play-doe cookies and all but it's also nice for kids to make things that aren't going to crumble or mold up on you.

I spent a little time the other day preparing some handmade gifts for them to make (well decorate I guess). I punched and glued and stamped but after that I let them take over. This was a great way to use up stored craft supplies I had plus I made a lot so they could make gifts for grandparents and each other.

I made more sets of note cards, gift tags, bookmarks (lame, but easy), pendants, pins, magnets and ornaments.

I geeked out a little (okay, a lot) and set the crafts up like a little store. Then I got out the colored pencils, sharpies, paints, markers etc. and let them have at it. They were SO excited to make gifts for everyone. I'm not sure the guys in the family will be quite as excited about what they made but really it is the thought that counts. I'm glad they see that giving is an important part of Christmas too and it's not all about presents with their names on it under the tree.

I'm hoping I get a set of note cards or maybe a pendant. We'll see. I'm looking forward to the surprise whatever it is.

Teacher Gifts

2011-12-15T20:52:00.000-08:00

I honestly cannot remember the last project I did in the craft room. But the Kurtin girls have finally returned and could not be more excited about a two week break just around the corner. Tonight we got busy on some last minute gifts for the teachers.

I don't know why I wait until the night before the last day of school to make something but somehow gifts for school always sneak up on me. I wanted the girls to make something themselves to give as gifts. I pulled out some blank cards and stamps and went to clean the kitchen.

By the time I was done I got a whole stack of these...

Not exactly what I had in mind.

I gently reminded them that sometimes less is more and showed them how to use the edge of the paper to line up the stamps. That was all it took for their creativity to take off. They got busy on a new set of stationary.

Here is what Erin made for her teacher. A matching set of orange blossoms.

Ava went with a variety of flowers. We had a hard time deciding which one to put on top.

The girls really had fun making these and are so excited to wrap them and bring them to school tomorrow. I hope the teachers enjoy them. I know I love getting things the kids make themselves (especially ones you don't feel like you have to hold on to forever).

With Every Christmas Card I Write...

2011-12-12T20:09:00.000-08:00

I admit that sending Christmas cards use to be one more thing on my to do list, but after reading Kelle's post I realized that I am missing out on some holiday cheer.

Why not take some time and really send good wishes to friends and loved ones. So that is just what I did. Sunday night, after everyone was tucked in bed, I sat in front of the tree with Pandora's Christmas station playing through my earphones and had my own little card stuffing party. I remembered good times spent with people who now live far away as Frank belted out White Christmas. This handwritten and decorating evening will be added to my list of new December traditions.

So from my family to yours...Merry Christmas.

Deck the Halls

2011-12-11T17:34:00.001-08:00

Tree trimming day. One of the best day's of the year. We opened a few boxes on the first so the girls could start the advent calendar but we get a real tree so we don't put it up too early.

I love that the girls now remember all their special ornaments. They treasure the handmade reindeer and trees Jeff and I made as kids and the little ones students have made for me too. Every time Erin pulled one out of the box she'd ask "is this breakable?" as she headed looking for a safe branch.

At times it was a team effort. Only Christmas carols and excitement were in the air, no bickering. Awesome. My role has shifted from teacher to observer like so many things these days.

They still need a boost to hang the star though.

Soooooft Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-12-06T18:45:00.001-08:00

When it comes to sweets chocolate chip cookies are at the top of my list. The softer and gooier the better. Last weekend the girls and I were baking cookies and I realized I did not have the devil's food cake mix needed for a recipe so I substituted yellow cake mix. The result: my new favorite cookie.

Sooooft Chocolate Chip Cookies
(adapted from Betty Crocker's Double-Chocolate Chip Cookies)

1 package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 Cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat half of the dry cake mix, the butter, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl on medium speed until smooth (or mix with a spoon). Stir in remaining cake mix and chocolate chips. Drop teaspoon sized cookies on a ungreased cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Makes between 3-4 dozen.

Playdate

2011-12-04T14:21:00.001-08:00

Playdate

by me

Toys are everywhere

How can four girls be so loud

Exhausting, but fun

Happy December

2011-12-01T05:24:00.001-08:00

Now that it is December we finally turned our heat on here in Arizona. We may even get a little wintery weather this weekend and I am so ready for it. Bring on the cozy, snuggly temps.

I have started waking the girls up with Christmas music in the morning. It was an instant hit which I'll carry on through December and for years to come. Why hello there Frank, care for a cup of coffee?

And if you give a kid a Christmas carol she's bound to sing and dance. Oh December, I love you already.

Leftovers

2011-11-29T20:08:00.001-08:00

Time has been flying by. A lot of it filled with warm, family memories but also a lot of work. Too much work if you ask me. I feel like I've been gripping a lot about work lately (and believe me I want to complain more than I do) but this has been one tough year. A challenge, is how I choose to look at it. So I don't have any photos of all the paperwork I've been busy filling out but I do have a few "leftover" pics from Thanksgiving.

More turkey anyone?

I didn't get much of a chance to write about our holiday weekend. One reason is because I don't have a laptop or ipad but also because I was too busy loving on these little guys. There was also LOTS and LOTS of eating, knitting, games and a few movies.

It was a full house and I was a little worried that it would be four days of action and no relaxation but that wasn't the case. Our family has got a pretty good routine down. Someone always volunteers to cook, clear the table, feed the kids and make the coffee. I feel so blessed that we all, truly, get along. It was a lot of fun and I still got the relaxation I was hoping for.

One more thing about our trips to the Mountains, I love the drive. I mostly love the drive home because we leave in the morning. I get to look at the pretty view, talk to my honey and knit. Four wonderful hours.

This odd little green thing is a scarf. I f-i-n-a-l-l-y finished my tea leaves sweater. It has a few tiny quirks but I love it. Photos to come.

Happy Turkey Day.

2011-11-24T08:48:00.001-08:00

Scarfts, mittens and sweaters oh my!

2011-11-22T18:24:00.001-08:00

I am almost done with my tea leaves sweater. So so close. Just one last button band to sew and then I need to weave in the loose ends. I could be wearing it right now had I not spent an hour searching through books for my next project. It is so easy to get lost in the possibilities.

I want to be wearing these mittens right now. No, we don't wear mittens like this in Arizona but they look so warm and cozy.

I think I started this sweater in green. I'll have to go through my stash.

Light weight sweater? Okay. Time to put the books away and get back to work. I've got a sweater to finish.

Tooth Fairy and Christmas Cards

2011-11-20T20:40:00.001-08:00

Erin lost another tooth this week, popped right out when she was eating a bagel.

What does the Tooth Fairy do with all those tiny teeth. Maybe she accidentally leaves it in her pocket then thinks about how big those girls are getting all day long (then puts it in the waste basket - which feels weird but seriously what else do you do with them).

Teeth are both kinda cute and creepy don't ya think?

It gets harder to post in November. Not just because life is busy but mostly because it is dark so much earlier. I'm going to try a little harder to get that camera out and not let so many little moments slip by.

Today though was a different story. My camera and I were ready. Yep, Christmas card photo time. I don't think I've ever taken pictures before Thanksgiving but this may be the year when all those holiday notes pay off and we all enjoy a stress free Christmas. No promises but it's looking good so far.

I still have to go through all the pictures but there are a few good ones from the 200 I took. Sometimes I love the not so great ones just as much. Do they look excited or what. "Come on girls, say Merry Christmas".

1 pound 12 ounces

2011-11-17T07:41:00.001-08:00

Today I get to remember once again just how lucky we are. March of Dimes has named November 17th Prematurity Day. Visit here to read more.

We are so thankful and blessed to raise such a special little girl. Our heart goes out to all those who were not as fortunate.

We love you Ava.

To read more about our little preemie click here.

Peace and Quiet

2011-11-13T17:04:00.001-08:00

The four of us (and Wrigley) went up to the mountains for Veterans weekend. Three of the best days I've had in a loooong time. I read by the fire, played games with the girls, nearly finished knitting my sweater (this tea leaves, again), oh and Jeff and I had a Harry Potter marathon. I drank wine and ate yummy but really easy meals. So cozy. So relaxing. Simply the best.

The most work I did was make salsa from these beauties. I didn't have the recipe with me but pretty much followed the same one I made last year (here).

Okay, so it is not the prettiest but boy oh boy was it delicious. With one bite I was reminded why I garden. Satisfying on so many levels.

So now that we are home there is laundry to do and homework to finish but these task are almost enjoyable after a stress free weekend. Bring on the work week, I'm ready.

Garden Update

2011-11-10T06:17:00.001-08:00

Our peppers are ready. Looks like we'll be watching football with some homemade salsa this weekend.

The lettuce seeds went in a few weeks ago and I'm just about ready to thin them.

Finally my favorite. The rainbow chard never fails.

On a side note I think I have climbed my pile of paperwork at school and I can finally see the other side of the mountain. Whew. Also, Ava's teacher situation has finally been resolved (thankfully) and I've started a blog for other classroom parents who are looking for ways they can help their child at home. This long Veterans Day weekend could not have come at a better time. Hello knitting. Hello book. Hello kitchen and clean laundry.

Down Time

2011-11-06T13:38:00.000-08:00

Ava is away at Girl Scout camp so I've been Erin's buddy this weekend. We spent a good chunk of the morning playing board games. I sipped my coffee and enjoyed the slow pace of her turn taking. It's hard sometimes not to rush the game by saying things like "okay", "it's your turn", "go Erin".

That smile on her face is a simple reminder that it is all about spending time together, not really the game.

This is her face when she won. I think she was disappointed because she truly did not want the game to be over.

Instead of starting over we decided to put in a movie and snuggle. Knitting and watching Despicable Me with a girl in my lap is down right awesome. After the movie we took a break to go grocery shopping and now we are going to hit the craft room. I think we'll finish the day with hot showers and toe nail polish. One-on-one time together is great but I think we are all looking forward to Ava getting home. I can't wait to hear about her trip.

Happy Halloween

2011-11-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

Carving Pumpkins

2011-10-30T20:10:00.000-07:00

It feels good to be a little silly after a long week. Family time is just what I needed to reduce a little stress.

Three Years Apart

2011-10-27T22:29:00.000-07:00

My girls are three years apart by about three weeks. My camera is in the shop (boo) so I decided to look back to see what we were up to three years ago. Here is Ava back in Oct of 2008 and Erin today. Same missing tooth. Isn't that crazy.

This picture of Ava below was taken exactly three years ago today.

Here is a picture from Ava's first grade trip to the pumpkin farm. Erin's class went this week but I didn't get to go.

I love going back through old photos. It always amazes me how much kids change over just a few years. Oh those little legs.

I love remembering things like this super cute haircut. I really must talk her into this one again.

And pictures like these remind me how much I've grown too. My first set of dresses and our pre-garden bed garden. I just passed the little dress down to a friend and now I think Erin can wear the bigger one.

Was this really only three years ago?

I remember this day so clearly. I picked her up from school and we walked home (maybe 3/4 of a mile). It seemed like it took forever. She just wanted to run and spin in the grass while I was thinking about getting dinner on the table. This picture shows me how strongly my girls just want to play and have fun. She couldn't care less about what was for dinner.

It won't be long before this one is asking about wearing real make-up.

Okay, enough. I could look back through pictures for hours but for now it's time for bed.

My Mountain Man

2011-10-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

Tonight, as I was walking to pick up Erin from Girl Scouts, I saw an elderly couple walking down the street holding hands. Life does not get any better than that. It made me think about my life forty years from now and there is nothing I want more.

I also realized that, right now, I am living my happily ever after.

We have been together more years than we have been apart (21!). He is my life and I can't begin to imagine what I would do without him.

Enough of all that mushy stuff let me show you one of the reasons why I love him.

Jeff loves the outdoors. He rides his mountain bike every weekend and goes on cool trips to places like Moab and Park City.

When he returned from his biking adventure guess what he brought us? Erin got gem stones, Ava got dinosaur fossils and I got a bottle of whiskey. How awesome is that!

I love him. That is all I wanted to say. No happy birthday. No happy anniversary. Just that I'm lucky to have someone I love to hold my hand.

Introducing - My Freezer

2011-10-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

I'm changing my strategy of meal planning, shopping and cooking. It all revolves around this.

Our new little freezer. (Our kitchen freezer is tall, narrow and hard to open. Good but not very functional)

Isn't she cute. I think I'll name her Judy. After doing a little research I opted for the Sunpentown Compact Freezer (from here). It is 3.0 cu ft freezer which is small enough to fit in our pantry/closet. I love that is has four removable baskets instead of shelves.

Why am I excited about a freezer you ask? Let me show you.

Currently the top baskets holds approximately 15 bags of pre-cooked chicken ready for lunch/dinner. What makes me extra happy about this basket is that I payed about $20 for all that meat. I'm not one of those extreme shoppers but I do like to take advantage of a good deal. A few posts ago I wrote about the chicken sale at my grocery store ($1.77 @ Sunflower Market). Here is what I do with it.

Chicken grosses me out by the way so if I only have to prepare it once that is another bonus.

I took three packages and marinated them in Italian dressing from Costco (less than $4 for the gallon). I think 1 gallon would probably make about 4 batches like this. And yes, I actually finished that whole container of dressing.

The other package of chicken goes into the crock pot. I fill it with water and add seasoning. For this batch I added about a teaspoon of salt, garlic powder, onion powder and a half teaspoon of pepper and red pepper flakes. This is one of those things you can add what ever you have on hand.

Prep work: 15 minutes

I let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator while the crock pot works it's magic. I cooked the chicken on high for 5 hours (low 8-9) then I grilled the marinated chicken and let the crock pot chicken cool.

Cook time: 5 hours crockpot/45 minues (grilled chicken)

Finally when it was all cooked and cooled I chopped, shredded and bagged into meal sized amounts. This will very per family size but most recipes I use call for 1-2 cups cooked chicken which is roughly 1/2 quart sized bag. I shred the chicken from the crock pot (4 bags) chop 2/3 of the grilled (8 bags) slice 1/3 grilled (3 bags).

Cut and package and clean up = 1.5 hours (not fun but I'm done for awhile)

So now my little freezer is stocked with 15 dinners that are half way started. I'll be posting how I use these bags of chicken in the freezer meals button on the left (or click here).

Sorry for the super boring post about freezers and chicken. To make up for it here is a cool tutorial I found on Pinterest. (click on the photo)

Now go make chicken and some cute garland.

At The Park

2011-10-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

I am such a homebody but I'm making it my new goal to get outdoors more often. We are still in the upper 90's here but the evenings are spectacular. Before I picked the girls up from school I went home, made dinner and left cooking directions for Jeff. My only regret was I had not planned a picnic instead.

Erin made a friend within 2 minutes of being at the park and Ava climbed a little higher on the tree than she has before. I pulled my phone out to take a picture but then quickly tucked it away again and picked up my knitting instead. A perfect end to a regular old day.

Fabric Stamps

2011-10-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I purchased some fabric stamp pads after seeing this skirt. I used one to make this bag for a friend and could not wait to try another project. There was a little boy in Erin's class who had a birthday party over the weekend so I whipped up another bag and filled it with a travel game, notepad and pencils. It was no where near as exciting as the pile of Legos and Transformers but at least I know he does not have a travel bag like this.

I gotta say, I love how the applique came out.

The fabric stamps are from VersaCraft. I had to order them online because I could not find them in town. I bought 5 of the 1" pads (these + white) and a full sized black.

While making the applique I played around with some other stamps and colors. The small ink pads worked fine even though the stamps were bigger than 1 inch. I just sort of rubbed the pad over the top (like you would a marker) instead of pushing down on the pad. (By the way I tried doing the same thing with fabric markers and they didn't work as well, dried too quickly).

These stamps on fabric have so much crafty potential. I have not made much for my Etsy shop lately but I'm thinking of adding some bags with these appliques or just the appliques themselves. Have you tried any new crafty techniques lately?

The Creative Habit

2011-10-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

I spotting this book at the library the other day and I threw it in my pile to check out. I remember it being referenced several times and after just a few pages I understood why. I did not know Twyla Tharp before picking up this book so if you don't either she is a big time choreographer. What I love this book is she gives unique exercises to inspire creative thinkers regardless of your medium. There are so many great ideas that I'm having a hard time thinking of any off the top of my head. This is the kind of book you want to highlight and take notes in the margins. I think I'll start looking for a copy of my own.

No Candy Apples This Year

2011-10-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

Ava just had an expander put in her mouth Tuesday and we were back at the dentist on Thursday to have two teeth pulled. Poor kid, it has not been a fun week. I'd love to say it went well but honestly I think they had a hard time getting the teeth out. I was down the hall in the waiting room and I could hear her cry when they were pulled. I sat there with my stomach in knots, wanting to be with her. Finally, I was able to go in and see her, hold hand, drive her home and get her set up on the couch with a movie. I thought the worst was behind us until she woke me up at 12:30 a.m. covered in blood. One side opened back up and bled for two hours. At about 2:30 she threw up and then felt perfectly normal. Seriously, she said "can I play a game on your phone?" like nothing had happened. When they say "kids are tough" it's true, she has been fine ever since. Needless to say we had a quiet day. I love quiet days. More than anything I'm glad it's over.

This one has also been losing teeth. One top tooth is out and the other is not far behind. I think the tooth fairy needs her own bed at our house.

Halloween Banners

2011-10-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

I'm not big on the whole scary Halloween thing but I love how Sarah from Clover Lane used photos to dress up her window. Bloody zombies - not so much. Kids in cute costumes - you bet!

I printed enough to make two banners, garlands, whatever you call them. They are just glued to cardstock and tied together with floss.

I realized when I went looking for pictures that I never take enough on Halloween. I think we spend so much time getting ready and pulling out the candy that one or two snaps of the camera and I call it good. This year I hope to do a little better than that.

I mean come on, how could I only have one photo of this adorable little puppy. I'm feeling the need to go back and read about Halloweens past. If you'd like to join me click away (here) (here) (here) (here).

Random Home Stuff

2011-10-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

I know I have been talking about sewing a lot recently however we are on day 3 of the Kids Clothes Week Challenge and I have other things on my mind. I fixed a shirt on day 1 and yesterday I made a nightgown for Ava but today it felt like a chore and that is really not what this challenge is about. I was excited because I love seeing what people make and participating in something creative that brings people together but all together I am just not feeling it.

I know I will sew for my kids again but right now they need me in other ways. What I want more than cute dresses is to get dinner on the table without being stressed and to help with homework and read stories and not have my mind drift off to my to do list. They are getting big so fast and they want me, not more clothes. I've also come to accept that sewing for my kids is on the downhill slope. I'm not sure how many nine year olds want their mom to make their pants. Pajamas is one thing but sewing a wardrobe for my girls just might be behind me.

Can you tell I've had more on my mind lately?

First of all Ava had an expander put in yesterday. If you are not familiar with this torture device it is a large piece of metal that sits across the roof of your mouth. I get the pleasure of cranking the wheel in it once a day to expand the width of her jaw. Fun times.

Here she is showing it to Erin this morning. I took this picture because I was hoping to post a shot of the nightgown I made yesterday but this was the best I got.

Food, books and knitting is where my brain is. You can tell by my poorly lite photo that I am no food blogger but I wanted to write about it so I could reference it later. This is one of the best "batch" cooking days I've had yet.

I started with 6 lbs of chicken. (My grocery store has natural chicken on sale for $1.77/lb every once in a while and today I was in luck. I need to start tracking when they have this price, I'm thinking it is every other month or so. If I plan it right I can buy enough to get us through until the sale again.)

Cook 6 lbs of chicken in a Crock Pot filled with water and salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and garlic powder to taste (4-5 hours on high or 8-10 on low).

Remove and shred.

I added 1/2 bottle of bbq sauce to 1/4 of the chicken for sandwiches tomorrow night. Yea! One meal done.

With the remaining 3/4 I added:
2 cans black beans
1 can of corn
1 1/2 lbs of shredded pepper Jack cheese (more or less depending on how much cheese you like)
1 bunch of green onions chopped
3 teaspoons of cumin

Mix all the ingredients then separate into three dinners.

To prepare the enchiladas pour a thin layer of enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Cover with 2 tortillas and 1/3 of the mix. Repeat two more times and top with extra cheese and green onions. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes and serve.

One hour of kitchen time and I made 4 dinners plus leftovers. Awesome.

KCWC: Day 1

2011-10-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a different approach this year to the Kids Clothes Week Challenge. Practical. The past couple of times I participated I went all out with tons of clothes and new (to me) techniques. This time around I really want to just focus on what they need. Plus they've got to want to wear it.

Today was easy. Erin has this cute gap t-shirt that she loves but it is getting too little. Target t-shirt to the rescue. I used some Heat-n-Bond Lite to make the applique then stitched around the edges.

I'm so happy because a) it is cute b) I know she'll wear it c) it took me less than 1 hour. The less than 1 hour part was important because I had other projects I wanted to accomplish today in addition to sewing.

Meatballs.

I'm on my fall break this week so I thought I make some extra meals for the freezer. Ground beef was on sale so I tripled this recipe from allrecipies.com (minus the onion, I didn't have any). Three pounds made about 30 tennis ball sized meatballs (plus the one that I ate). I'm going to add them to this red sauce that I made last week. Nothing fancy, but again, practical.

Pumpkin Time

2011-10-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

Yep. It's that time again. Fall. Family. Seasonal traditions.

There is a crispness in the air and what better way to celebrate October than a trip to the farm. Last night we met some friends down at Aqua Linda Farm about 45 minutes outside Tucson. This was the first night of their Fall Festival activities that included a hay bail maze, petting zoo, tractor rides and some good old tire swinging.

We all had a great time. It was relaxing and simple and fun. You could practically see the childhood memories being created right before your eyes. Although we all had our favorite moments mine was the movie under the trees.

What movie? Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin of course.

I can see this trip becoming a new family tradition. How do you celebrate the change in season?

Message: Do What You Love

2011-10-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

I have see this poster on Esty/Pinterest many many times and it makes me happy every time I come across it. Although I could create my own version I like to support people who make things for a living so I bought myself a set of these cards. So I have 4 mini reminders to spread around. The first card I framed and put on my girl's desk. I hope they see this everyday and that maybe, unknowingly, the messages becomes part of who they are. Do we want nothing more than for our kids to grow up and be happy?

I plan to bring one to work and maybe stick one up in the kitchen. I'm not sure yet but I hope they sink in with me too how important it is to Do What You Love.

Poster/cards found here.

An Attempt at a Toy Bag

2011-10-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

Last week a ~~good~~ great friend of mine asked me to make birthday gifts for some little people in her family. Girls are easy but boys, boys are tough. I've been wanting to make some cozy toy bags for awhile so this was the perfect opportunity to give it a try.

I used an Amy Butler pattern, one that I've used before, but I guess I didn't totally understand the construction because it came out two sided instead of corduroy on the outside and flannel on the inside. It is a good thing that my sewing mistakes can make me laugh.

It is still a cute toy bag. I like to think of it as unique.

My favorite part was the handstamped name I added using my new fabric ink pad. Oh Boy! These ink pads are cool. Step aside iron-on patches, rubber stamps are my new favorite detail.

My Joy

2011-10-02T18:14:00.000-07:00

When my kids clean their room. I mean really clean their room...

and Cocoa Puffs.

I'm embarrassed to admit it but I still love these. It's true. I never buy them but the girls were shopping with me last week and I caved. After the room cleaning these were the perfect tasty reward. For all of us.

Yep. It was one of those kinda mornings where we pull out the lost socks from under the bed.

A clean room was a terrific opportunity to dump out the drawers and clean out the closet. We sorted threw everything and bagged the clothes and shoes that are ready to pass on. Plus, now I have a better idea of what they need for next weeks KCWC. We are pretty set at the moment so they might get a dress or two and some new pajamas.

One of these days I'll let you peek in those drawers and in the closet.

How was your weekend? Did you do something you enjoy?