macaroni & cheese

Sewing: Yoga Mat Bag!

2012-01-25T13:45:00.000-06:00

Finally! I've been doing yoga forever, taught yoga for a while, never had a yoga mat bag or more than one pair of yoga pants at a time. Now, I have two pairs of yoga pants, and a bag for my mat! FANCY!!

I used this pattern, McCall's 4261. I've had this a while and have used the pants pattern to make pj pants for gifts, and I made a yoga mat bag for my sister in law several years ago from it.

I got this indoor outdoor canvas at JoAnn on clearance.

A velcro closure on the pocket.

drawstring top

My fav feature is this gigantic pocket. It's big enough for a half liter of water, plus my wallet, phone and keys. it's like a purse for the gym.

I used a length of webbing for the strap but I think I would have preferred a self-fabric strap. It went together super quickly, the canvas was easy to sew and there are only three pattern pieces. I'm pretty happy with it and can't wait to use it.

A little bit of sewing...

2012-01-22T17:37:00.001-06:00

Nothing exciting, just some stuff in my pile that needed to be done. and, one of the items isn't sewing at all.

this thing is just hideous. My husband wears a small but was IN LOVE with this thermal plaid thing he got as a hand me down from his friend who wears a large. yeah. when he wore it (entirely too often) he looked like he was wearing a plaid thermal nightgown. So cute! Even tho I considered making a matching nightcap, I didn't. Instead I took this shirt apart, cut it down to a size small and sewed it back together.(very fast and easy w/ the serger...I left the collar and cuffs on) So, now it fits perfectly. But, it's still ugly.

I'm cheating on you...

2012-01-15T17:42:00.001-06:00

with my other blog!!

ha ha, this image is called Running Grandma.

I'm limiting this one to crafts, and sewing, and the occasional conventional recipe (baked goods, canning, etc) and all of my daily menus and exercise are over on my new tumblr blog. I don't share a whole heck of a lot of recipes, but if you want to follow my daily menu and exercise routines, check it out!

My Fitness 2012 (catchy name, huh? ha ha)

See ya over there!

this pic is really me...

Sewing: Pajama Eaters!!

2012-01-11T21:02:00.001-06:00

I downloaded Sew Fearless' Pajama Eater pattern before Christmas but didn't have time to make any.The boys really needed pajama bags tho, esp since they can't fold them...they just sort of wad them up on the end of their bed.

I did finally whip some up the other day, tho, of stuff from my scrap bin, tho, last week! and, I **love them**. so does Aldous. He absolutely adores this thing and carries it around and snuggles it while he sleeps.

Christmas Gift: The King of Bollywood!!!

2012-01-06T18:11:00.000-06:00

One of my friends is THE most devout fan of Bollywood films ever, and her true love (second to her hubby, of course) is Shahrukh Khan.

So, I whipped up a pillow cover for her, and stenciled on her The King of Bollywood.

Christmas Gift: Magnetic Play Tray...Salvador Dali-Style

2012-01-02T13:18:00.002-06:00

I set out to make a magnet play tray set thinking it would be a breeze. It totally wasn't. It was the hardest gift I made, thanks to Mod Podge. I hate that stuff! I can't make anything look good with it, but I accomplished this, I think. After a lot of work and re-doing. I got the idea HERE

I started off with a desert back ground from Saudi Aramco World magazine. I don't know if you've ever seen it but it has such beautiful pictures.

Christmas Gift: Pretty Napkins

2012-01-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

When I saw this fabric, I **knew** what I wanted to do with it, and saved it JUST for these. I am sad, a bit, that I didn't have enough to make a set for myself, but really, I have plenty of cloth napkins...we use them every day.

So I made a couple of sets with these birds and plants. The print was sort of like a colored wood-block print. Neat!

Christmas Crackers..nearly a tutorial

2011-12-31T07:00:00.000-06:00

I make these every year! they're so fun!

William is 5, and the DMA

2011-12-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

This month, my sweet William had his 5th birthday! We celebrated with Vanilla Chai Cupcakes, with Vanilla

Buttercream frosting.

Super yummy!

Big Boys at the Park: Riding Bikes, Swinging and Other Adventures

2011-12-29T17:03:00.000-06:00

So, William's been using a Skuut for a couple of years, since he was 2, and over the summer got too large for it. He just had his 5th birthday. We got him a bike that was the right size for his height, but he was intimidated by it and didn't like to try to ride it. He had great balance and steering skills, but he was too afraid of the bike. I took him out on it a couple of times but he was too scared to ride it without me holding on. Fast forward to Christmas: we bought him a bike that's too small for him, the same size as his wooden Skuut (which met an untimely demise under the wheels of the Jeep)

Doug took him out on the new bike and he just pedaled away! As if he'd been riding all along. Now I feel a bit guilty for not getting him this transitional bike earlier...I knew he was ready to ride over the summer.. Once his leg muscles build up, we'll put him back on the appropriately sized bike. No training wheels needed, here. Pedaling is super easy: the hard part is the steering and balancing, but he learned all that on the Skuut. Anyone who can walk is capable of pedaling.

Holiday Activities Day 16: Dallas Arboretum

2011-12-28T16:04:00.000-06:00

What's funny about Texas is that the seasons all seem to come 6 wks to 2 months after everyone elses...so, for day 16 of our holiday fun we spent some time enjoying the autumn, at the Arboretum. They did have some holiday stuff but the boys weren't interested so we looked at some other things instead. Plenty to do there!

It was super cloudy and misted a bit while were were there. By the time we left it was actually raining on and off. We decided to explore a newly opened area of the Arboretum...Maple Ridge. We went thru this porch actually before we got to the path. You can see the lake in the back ground if you look closely but it's so gray out that it looks like the sky.

Countdown Calendar Activity: Day 7,, Trains at Northpark!

2011-12-20T21:25:00.000-06:00

One of the fun activities we did, on day 7, was to go see the trains at Northpark Center. We had never been before and we really enjoyed it! It was fantastic!!

Here they are with their tickets!!

Before and After Pics: Warning- Graphic Content

2011-12-18T18:38:00.000-06:00

I've been on a diet for a while. I tried South Beach Diet, slowly morphed toward Paleo until I was taken down by acidosis quickly followed by a nasty bought of diverticulitis (the last had me in bed for a week!). So after a bunch of doctor visits, I revamped my diet. I lost weight, my strength and energy are back, and my super long list of miserable symptoms have gone. Thank goodness! Now, I'm vegan.

A Monday Recipe: Black Bean Hummus

2011-12-06T16:47:00.001-06:00

O.M.G. This is unbelievably good. SO YUMMY!

Yes, I know it's not Monday, but I don't really have Tuesday recipes, so it's going to be a Monday Recipe anyway.

Sewing: Christmas Countdown Calendar

2011-12-02T21:21:00.040-06:00

I call it an Advent Calendar, but I suppose it's really a countdown calendar...there is nothing religious about it. We're celebrating each day as it passes on it's way to Christmas!

Here it is all finished! I got some of the ideas for the pockets HERE..The main piece is wool felt, and most of the pockets are wool felt (except the green). The majority of the applique pieces are wool felt, too. I only used acrylic if I didn't have a specific color because I was trying to not buy much to make this.

Running and Sewing: What I've been up to lately

2011-11-29T22:21:00.001-06:00

I had SUCH a busy Thanksgiving! My daughter Emily came to visit and have dinner with us, and my daughter Terah and her family joined us, too!

The adults in the back row (from left to right) are me, Emily, Terah, and my son-in-law Mike. The kids are William, Aldous, Rosemary and Audrey.

A Monday Recipe: Roxy's Vegan Pumpkin Pie

2011-11-28T12:34:00.001-06:00

One of my friends really enjoyed my pumpkin pie (recipe here) but needed a vegan version of it for vegan family members on Thanksgivings. I didn't quite get that experiment done in time, but here it is for future reference. Please note that this is not a *healthy* recipe, it's just vegan. Ok for a once in a while treat, but def not a staple!!

A Monday Recipe: Apple Pie Filling (more apples!)

2011-11-14T21:50:00.001-06:00

So, I finally used up all of my apples. Made a ton of applesauce, some of which I've used already!
When my Clear Jel arrived in the mail, it was SHOWTIME!!

I asked some friends about making pie filling and heard some pros and cons of various recipes out there, and using that info, decided to go with this one! There were a couple things wrong with the recipe, like it didn't call for enough apples for a quart jar, plus there was no detailed method for cooking the gel part of the filling. And, I added more nutmeg than she called for. Mine don't look as great as the recipe author's, but they taste fantastic!

Maybe the next batch will be prettier...practice makes perfect!!

Sewing: Appliqued Pajama Bag and Pajamas

2011-11-09T07:30:00.000-06:00

For a recent birthday gift, I sewed up this envelope-style pajama bag with an appliqued monogram, and a set of pajamas to go in it! I thought of this because I've had pajama bags on the brain for a while now. The boys have at least two pairs of pajamas to wear each week, so the pairs get worn more than once. In between wearings they are just tossed willy-nilly on the bed. Pretty!

I added some red piping, too.

Envelope opening on the back!

The applique.

Here are a pair of pirate pajamas, in flannel.

With a drawstring elastic waist. Tutorial for that here

And all finished! With the pajamas folded inside, this makes a little pillow and keep the pajamas neatly on the bed until the next bedtime!

These are relatively easy to sew up and make awesome gifts, and I'll have a tutorial up soon to share! I'm going to make the boys each one for Christmas, altho they won't need new pajamas until the Rapture.

A Monday Recipe: Applesauce for Canning!

2011-11-07T10:35:00.000-06:00

My boys eat applesauce weekly, PLUS I use it a lot in baking, and we EAT a ton of apples....because of this Doug suggested we get a whole case of apples from Bountiful Baskets. 40lbs. Yep. 40lbs of apples!!

Sewing: Halloween Costumes, 2011. The Earth and The Cowboy.

2011-11-02T18:37:00.001-06:00

This year got off to a rough start, costume-wise. I wanted to dress the boys and my grand-daughters as the band Kiss. However, as the two middle kids became more and more uncooperative, I realized how miserable it would be for us all trying to get them to pose for pics, trick-or-treat, etc. I decided just to let them pick their costumes. That worked well until William picked Spider-man. Spider-man? really? I just bought a costume. The thought of actually making that costume was just so.....depressing. But, I didn't really like it and thought I'd have to make a hood and paint his face instead of using the mask because we didn't like wearing the mask AND his face wouldn't show for the pictures we had planned. meh. Besides, he knows nothing about Spider-man, or any super heroes for that matter.... It was so random.

Less than a week before Halloween, William approached me and said "I don't want to be Spider-man, I want to be the Earth." and I lept for joy! WOOT! The explained to me how he wanted it to work, so I put it together. Fleece over a gigantic paper lantern!

A Monday Recipe: Yankee Living In Dallas Gumbo

2011-10-31T07:30:00.000-06:00

All wrong! But, it's SO GOOD!!!

My sister brought me two huge bags of okra she had frozen from her garden, so I went in search of an okra recipe that would work for our house. As usual, I got a lot of ideas, but no specific recipe. No matter. I made my own and it was FANTASTIC!!! I'm gonna make it again THIS week! I may have mentioned that I usually make a big batch of some kind of soup at the beginning of each week to have every day for my lunches. I do like them to be packed with veggies and have a good savory broth. This would be fantastic with greens added to it, too.

A word about smoked paprika. ok, lots of words. OMG!! it smells like bacon and barbecue sauce all rolled into one! Where has this been all of my life? I've seen it in recipes and just used regular paprika instead. What the heck was wrong with me??? Smoked paprika is THE BEST SPICE ON THE PLANET. really.

A Monday Recipe: Chocolate Oatmeal Muffins! I know, I know....more muffins...

2011-10-24T15:10:00.000-05:00

William takes mini-muffins in his lunch every week, just one or two, so every couple of weeks, I'm making more muffins! and, I get tired of making the same thing over and over, or I have some ingredients I need to use up so I have to try something else.

Sewing: Free Pants For Aldous

2011-10-20T15:19:00.002-05:00

I know, I know, I just cleaned my sewing room. But, I didn't mess it up for these!! (and, it's not really all that clean, just emptier)

When I went through the boys clothes, none of Aldous' pants from last year fit, and the pants that William outgrew were a lot of sizes too big. I don't save clothes that long, because I really just don't have room here to store stuff. I make so many of their clothes and save so much money, that's it not really a big deal to not hang onto every scrap of clothing that William outgrows.

I had a stack of pants that were in decent shape and were destined for the donation pile. I managed to get these together right around the same time that I found out I needed some pants for Aldous, so I saved them to use to make Aldous'!

A Monday Recipe: Coconut Squash and Kale

2011-10-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

This recipe is really versatile. You can use sweet potatoes or squash, kale or chard (or other greens) and it's still delicious! I think I'm gonna make some right now, actually...yum!

Look what I did!

2011-10-14T15:59:00.000-05:00

My first attempt at upholstery! We've had this tiny footstool forever...it's about one foot square...very small. The fabric on it was dated, and the wood was a dark cherry. You know, late 80's fab.

I used spray paint to change the color...I love spray paint. This is Krylon Ocean Blue indoor/outdoor gloss. I was totally blown away by how many and how fabulous colors available for spray paint, now! I used to have to buy floral spray (lots of colors, but flat) and then spray over with clear shiny spray. No more!!

I have never upholstered anything, not even something so simple. As I took the cover off I paid close attention to the way it was put together. Lots of staples!

all the gross old pieces taken apart.

I used a piece of fabric from my newly organized stash. Actually, I didn't know I had this fabric, and when I saw, I wanted to put it on that stool.

I used the old piece to figure out how bit to cut the new piece of fabric. I used a staple gun and did the corners first, just like the one I took apart!

After I finished the corners, I did two opposite sides.

Everything all stapled down.

I reused this lining stuff. I turned it over, tho, so the faded side was toward the board.

I remeasured my fabric before I refolded it, and relabeled.

I used glue and the existing screws to reattach the seat to the legs.

Viola! I've been bitten by the fix-up bug, so hopefully I'll get to do something else soon.

I cannot believe the colors of spray paint available now! what's the last thing you spray painted? Did you use a fab color?

The Pumpkin Channel: All Pumpkin, All the Time

2011-10-13T10:14:00.005-05:00

It's October and the most frequently requested info is how to make pumpkin puree, how to cook a pumpkin, and what to make with pumpkin! No kidding!

So, here, in ONE blog post, are the links you need....

First, how to cook your pumpkin for use in other recipes, The Green Pumpkin Award, or How to Cook Your Pumpkin. Included are how to cook the pumpkin and prepare it for frozen storage for use in your favorite recipes.

Sewing: No, it's not; it's my neatly-stored FABRIC!

2011-10-11T16:36:00.000-05:00

So, I spent the last couple of weeks working on culling the herd, so to speak. Donated a bunch of fabric, threw away a bunch of way too small scraps, and folded all the rest onto 11x7 cardboards marked with their width and length. WHEW!! 334 yards!! Check this out! (this is the before, last year)

A Monday Recipe: Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes w/ Fontina and Thyme

2011-10-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

Omg, this was SO good! I've been able to get some beautiful and delicious organic heirloom tomatoes lately and couldn't WAIT to try this dish. It did NOT disappoint.

A Monday Recipe: Purple Birthday Cake

2011-10-03T07:30:00.000-05:00

Ok, only the frosting is purple, and it's not a special recipe or anything. Regular ol' buttercream with violet gel color mixed it. We were celebrating Aldous' 3rd birthday but since both boys had bad colds, we did it just as a family...no guests! You can tell they're both a little under the weather.(not too sick for cake, though!)

Not so much sewing....

2011-09-30T16:11:00.000-05:00

more like, getting ready to sew! Costume-making and Santa's Workshop time are nearly upon us! I decided since I haven't had much luck getting to sew lately I'd work on organizing my fabric. Before I began organizing, I started off by wrapping up small "bolts" of fabric.

A Monday Recipe: Baked Butternut Squash

2011-09-26T07:30:00.002-05:00

This is SO good!
I got two small butternut squash in my produce co-op last week and couldn't wait to eat them! I usually try to eat the more perishable items first, but I love squash! I don't have as many recipes for it as I'd like, though. I'll be happy to take any suggestions!

Sewing: (finally) White Polo Shirt

2011-09-23T07:30:00.000-05:00

goofy kid

What a Stay-At-Home Mom Does All Day, Wednesday edition

2011-09-22T07:30:00.000-05:00

I read a blog entry by another stay-at-home mother the other day, and it saddened me to see it spread all of over Facebook as *THE* way a stay-at-home mother spends her day. Her entry read as if she was chronically overwhelmed by her daily tasks. Ok, so maybe her day IS like that, every single day. Friend, may I suggest Confessions of an Organized Homemaker? Hopefully, you can find some time to read it.

Read more »

A Monday Recipe: Layered Gelatin Dessert!

2011-09-19T07:30:00.001-05:00

Sewing: Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza!

2011-09-13T07:30:00.000-05:00

New ballet class outfit for Aldous. He's been wearing a 2T toddler pant (two inches too short) and a white undershirt to ballet, so this has been a long time coming.

A Monday Recipe: Poblano, Chayote, and Potato Gratin

2011-09-12T07:30:00.000-05:00

Sewing: Aldous Fancy Pants

2011-09-09T11:43:00.001-05:00

Doug's been coaching him on his modeling.

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Sewing: More Stash Game Pants, Modeled!

2011-09-08T07:30:00.000-05:00

Yes, again, here are more pants. Do I only sew boys' pants? It sure seems like it!

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Sewing: Uniform Pants for Stash Game

2011-09-06T07:30:00.001-05:00

Ahh, stash game...will my dear readers never tire of the endless posts of stash game offerings?

Here's a pair of uniform pants for William, who starts Pre-K this week! His school requires uniforms and while he had three pair from last year, one pair was not willing to be let out to long enough. Oops!

This is the Fishsticks Inside or Out Pocket Pants.

A Monday Recipe: Birthday "Meat"balls!

2011-09-05T20:54:00.000-05:00

For my birthday celebration dinner, I made these delicious meatballs for the main dish. EVERYONE loved them! They were so delicious, as were the leftovers for the next two days. This recipe makes a lot, but they're leftovers you don't mind having.

I would have loved a meatball sandwich, but they didn't last long enough for me to get some rolls.

From the September 2011 Vegetarian Times, my changes are in parentheses.

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Sewing: Loads of Pjs! Stash Game stuff!

2011-09-03T17:42:00.001-05:00

It's September and it's Stash Game time over at Sewing Mamas! Aldous cannot contain his enthusiasm.

Sewing: A Clothespin Bag

2011-08-30T07:30:00.001-05:00

A Monday Recipe: Poppy Seed Pound Cake with Pluot Compote

2011-08-29T07:30:00.001-05:00

A Friday Field Trip: BEACHES!

2011-08-26T07:30:00.009-05:00

Most of the time we were in CA we went to Tamarack Beach because it was closest. However, we don't have as many pics of it because I went running while Doug and the kids played.

These first are from Tamarack Beach. It was never very crowded when we went. I don't know if they had bathrooms or showers b/c we didn't need them. We parked for free on the street, and went down some steps to the beach. It was very clean and nice, and there was a sidewalk down close to the beach AND up on the street, so my run was interesting and varied (plus the running on the sand near the water)

Sewing: More Napkins, some for kids, and RAGS!

2011-08-23T07:30:00.003-05:00

I had a few more fabrics in my napkin-fabric pile, but they required pink thread and weren't sewn the same day as the first batch.

Also, when I was packing the boys' school lunches this week, and I stuck in a paper napkin, it occurred to me I should make some kid-sized napkins. As soon as that thought popped into my head, I KNEW which fabric I should use: a hot pink Jay Jay The Jet Plane fabric!

William LOVES this show, and I picked this fabric up to make him "something", a toy, a pillow, a bag...I don't know, but it was in my stash for at least two years. The boys were plenty excited when I added these to our stack of napkins! I got 12 of these, about 10" square.

A Monday Recipe: Grilled Marinated Tofu

2011-08-22T07:30:00.004-05:00

sounds so exciting, huh? It *IS* exciting and so yummy! Even my kids liked it!

I got the recipe HERE, but I was missing some of the ingredients and had to make substitutions.

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A Friday Field Trip: Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari, NM

2011-08-19T07:30:00.002-05:00

This was part of our drive home from California this summer. We spent the first night in Flagstaff, which was horrid, but the next night was wonderful!

The Blue Swallow Motel is on historic Route 66, in Tucumcari, NM.

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How To Eat More Veggies

2011-08-18T11:55:00.004-05:00

" On any given day more than half the US population eats no fruit or vegetables." John Hendrickson, in From Asparagus to Zucchini.

I've heard a lot of people saying they wanted to eat more vegetables, but had various reasons that they weren't. That's cool. The hard truth is you get one life. ONE. Who wants to spend their one life in poor health, overweight, and then end it early? NOT ME!!! Besides, vegetables are good!

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Sewing: a few napkins

2011-08-16T16:03:00.002-05:00

I've had napkins on my to-do list for a while, and since I didn't have any major sewing planned, I decided today was as good a day as any to get some done!

I decided on a 15 x 15 size...I cut two a bit smaller at first, and decided they could be a LITTLE bit larger. I used the rolled hem on my machine. I chose the fabrics by their colors, so I could do them all without changing the thread in the serger.

I cut these all out this morning, while the boys were in a Little Einstein's-induced-coma.

A Monday Recipe: Phat Beets

2011-08-15T22:59:00.001-05:00

The late edition! Phat Beets! YUMMY!

About 11 days ago, I whipped up these Phat Beets. I tasted them today, although I'm supposed to wait 2 weeks. They are still just a bit TOO strong, but very tasty!! And, aren't they beautiful??

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COSTUMES Galore!! (from back in 2009)

2011-08-11T11:13:00.002-05:00

I made seven costumes during the first couple of weeks of October!!! My friend Elizabeth Boyce did a "fairies and elves" photo shoot and these are some I snapped while waiting. I made my boys elf costumes, plus my friend Alison's 2 y/o Reid.

Road Trip: Imperial Sand Dunes

2011-08-11T07:30:00.001-05:00

In CA, just outside of Yuma, AZ there is a large erg (field of sand dunes, duh!) called Imperial Sand Dunes. It's also called a few other things: I mostly called it Soul-Exterminatingly-Hot. Really. I have never felt that kind of heat in my life. It took my breath away. I couldn't get a good cell signal, so the closest guess of the temp was 108 or 109, which didn't seem accurate. We had just come from Dallas, where the temps were 108 or so and this felt much, much hotter. The heat in the air scorched your skin so that you felt sunburned even in the shade. It was amazing.

Here's entering CA, from Yuma.

Road Trip: Arizona Rest Stop

2011-08-09T17:33:00.001-05:00

Warning: CA road trip pics are out of order.

We left Las Cruces, NM at 4am, and made it to this rest stop by around 6:30am. It was just beautiful!

A Monday Recipe: Strawberry Vanilla Jam

2011-08-08T07:30:00.005-05:00

wow, this is so good!! and, EASY!! try it!

in pic: cardamom grape, strawberry vanilla, red pepper.

My latest estate sale finds.

2011-08-07T14:15:00.001-05:00

I have some cool stuff to share that I found at an estate sale recently. My friend's family had a HUGE estate sale with a ton of fabric. Really, a ton. More than I could even wrap my head around. In addition to that was an astounding number of craft supplies, like crates of stuff, in bulk, for making multiples of things. It truly was overwhelming, and I'm thankful that the majority of the fabrics were NOT apparel fabrics. WHEW! Although, I'm still worried about not buying any of the faux furs...there were so many I couldn't concentrate and I know I'm going to be kicking myself forever for not choosing some.

Here's what I *did* get...the prices were fantastic, too! You could buy a whole giant plastic bin of fabric for $8 or so. I didn't buy a plastic bin, although I was really tempted!!

I bought a bag of fabric for $2. On the top of the bag was the white with navy polka dots out of a heavy brushed cotton. It's very nice. There were about three yards of that in the bag. I also really liked the brown floral, of which there were also three yards. There are 3 yards of the floral panel I thought would make great shopping bags, or napkins, both of which I really need. A scrap of solid pink there, too. maybe a yard.

Vacation Crazy Post: Cookie Monster Catastrophe

2011-08-05T22:37:00.001-05:00

This is so ridiculous! at Stater Bros Grocery in Carlsbad!

William was on my back in the ergo and he said "is that Cookie Monster?"

How To Use a Pineapple Slicer

2011-08-03T07:30:00.002-05:00

I found this cool pineapple slicer in the clearance section of Aldi for $5. I kind of hate cutting up pineapples, so for $5 I thought I could give it a try. I photographed the entire experience of slicing my first pineapple with the gadget and it went pretty well, I thought.

Oh, yeah, and this is really a lot like the one at Williams-Sonoma

A Monday Recipe: Watermelon Chiffon Pie

2011-08-01T07:30:00.012-05:00

Perfect summer pie! No baking, and it's so cool, light and refreshing! it's a brilliant idea!

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A Friday Field Trip: Fritz Park and Petting Farm

2011-07-29T10:09:00.001-05:00

Our field trip is to Fritz Park and Petting Farm in Irving, TX. It's a bit of haul from Dallas, but the boys were up for it.

But, first, they had to get hair cuts. Their haircut prizes were these sticky hands on wands. Delightful. William was totally disgusted with the sticky hand (and the stuff that stuck to it...blerg...) but he enjoyed the stick after I took the hand off of it.

Sewing: Tights for Dancing Legs

2011-07-27T18:13:00.001-05:00

I had a few adult knee socks hanging around from the ill-fated sock monkey project. I made one, it sucked to make, never made another one. So, these two fancy socks didn't match. They're black and silver glittery stuff, from Rue 21 a couple of years ago.

I saw this neat idea on Choose to Thrive, to use knee socks to make toddler tights, and decided Audrey needed a pair (this is not Audrey, this is Aldous...my fantastic model)

A Monday Recipe: Fruit-Scented Play Clay!

2011-07-25T07:30:00.006-05:00

A Friday Field Trip: It's A Grind Storytime

2011-07-22T10:45:00.001-05:00

Free story time!! I found out about this place in the spring but we had obligations on Tuesdays so we couldn't go to this. I was so glad when summer rolled around so we could try it out.

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A Monday Recipe: Colorado Peach Cream Pie

2011-07-18T07:30:00.002-05:00

This is the year of the pie.

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Sewing: To-Do List: Chair, and Zipper Bags.

2011-07-13T19:54:00.002-05:00

I've been wanting to make some zippered pouches for sorting toys for a while. We have some gigantic ziplocks, but the kids have a hard time opening and closing them by themselves. I want to make some that are large, like the two-gallon ziplocks, out of fabric but with a vinyl window in front, so they could see what's inside.

If I didn't have a huge hoard of fabric, I could make them out of fabric to match the toys insides: cars, trains, blocks, puzzle, dolls, dinosaurs, hats, kitchen stuff, etc. That would be super cute!

I'll most likely be using the fabric I have, and maybe, if I'm motivated, I could do an applique on one side, and the vinyl window on the other. Maybe. The problem with me and with projects that could be super cute is that I have a tendency to be more utilitarian, and less cute. My priority is never cute, it's always function. (we're talking craft sewing here, folks)

In any case, here are some neat ideas.

A zippered pouch with one side out of vinyl. Nifty! This is over at Crazy Mom Quilts

A Monday Recipe: Can you stand another muffin? Pumpkin

2011-07-10T20:26:00.001-05:00

I usually make a batch of some kind of muffins for school and picnic lunches, and snacks, and it just so happens that the chapter I'm working from in my Amish cookbook has a ton of quick bread (i.e. muffins) recipes. Any of these can be made, and indeed are written for, loafs.

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A Friday Field Trip: Road Trip to NJ and DE (funny pics only)

2011-07-08T09:00:00.001-05:00

Ok, so it took more than just one day for this field trip, but I'm only showing some funny pics from this trip. These are only **my** funny pics. Terah has a lot more!

We left super early so this is well into our first day on the road. it's probably Arkansas or something.

Sewing: Drawstring Dress from Burdastyle

2011-07-05T07:30:00.004-05:00

A Monday Recipe: Cinnamon Applesauce Loaf (or Muffins)

2011-07-04T07:30:00.005-05:00

Happy Independence Day!!

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Sewing: Shrugs from tees in 30 minutes (or less!)

2011-06-28T08:23:00.002-05:00

These are so easy. I've needed a shrug for my sundress for a while. I like it, but I'm outside a lot in the heat, so most of the time air-conditioning feels too cold to me. Because I didn't have a shrug for this dress, I hadn't worn it much, altho I love it.

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Sewing: New Pants! Burda 8341

2011-06-21T09:48:00.001-05:00

A Monday Recipe: Country Cheese Spoon Bread

2011-06-20T07:30:00.002-05:00

So, this recipe in my Amish cookbook intrigued me. I had heard of spoon breads, but only heard them mentioned, not described. I sort of assumed it was cornbread with cheese and corn in it, or something. As I was making it though, it was apparent that this is not the case. It's could be considered a cornmeal and cheese souffle, the way it's constructed. The batter is very light. I'm certain I wouldn't serve this as a "bread" with a meal, but more as the entree, with a crisp salad.
And, unless baking powder has gluten in it, this is GLUTEN FREE!

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Fun Summer Dress Idea: Anthropolgie Inspired

2011-06-18T07:30:00.003-05:00

A Friday Field Trip: Crow Asian Art Collection

2011-06-17T15:45:00.001-05:00

Sewing: Tie-Front Bolero , Butterick 4396

2011-06-16T07:30:00.007-05:00

This has been, for some reason, in my UFO pile for months. It's the most ridiculously easy pattern ever. Two pattern pieces, three pieces of fabric. Crazy easy.

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Tutorial: Beach Towel Poncho, M&C Style.

2011-06-14T07:30:00.011-05:00

A Monday Recipe: Oatmeal Bread

2011-06-13T07:30:00.002-05:00

Another from my Amish cookbook. I think this is very liberally titled, as it's CALLED oatmeal bread, but it's really wheat bread with a little bit of oatmeal in it. Still good though!

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A Friday Field Trip: Lakewood Park and recent fun trip highlights.

2011-06-10T07:30:00.002-05:00

A couple weeks ago when I had taken the boys to play at the lake, we passed by this large park with a nice playground and made a vow to return, and we did! It's Lakewood Park, 7142 Williamson, Dallas. It has a drinking fountain, but no bathroom or port-a-potty. The bathroom area of White Rock Lake is right down the street tho.

It's below street level a bit, and both places to park require a bit of a (pleasant) walk to the play area and tables.

Sewing: Pattern File

2011-06-07T07:30:00.002-05:00

Ok, it's not about sewing. It's about sewing patterns, of which I have 300+ of the little envelopes is various boxes and cabinets in a major disarray. When I feel like sewing, I can spend HOURS going thru the patterns picking what I want. It doesn't have to take hours, though, and I can't wait for them to be properly organized.

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A Monday Recipe: Cinnamon Monkey Bread

2011-06-06T07:30:00.003-05:00

Recipe #2 from my Amish cookbook. This recipe was submitted by Carolyn DeeAnn Yoder, one of the women on the cookbook committee from Westphalia, KS.

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A Friday Field Trip: Museum of Nature and Science, Chinasaurs!

2011-06-03T07:30:00.002-05:00

The Museum of Nature and Science has a new exhibit called Chinasaurs, (dinosaurs from China) so we headed out last week to see it! These women with trains of toddlers cracked me up, and made me feel thankful I just had my two to contend with.

Sewing: Two Pairs of Shorts from Women's Jeans, Plus one more.

2011-05-31T07:30:00.003-05:00

Finally I finished making all the shorts the boys need (shirts are next!). These next pairs are made from a pair of women's denim pants, and a scrap of black denim left over from other clothing I made last year.

A Monday Recipe: Honey Oatmeal Muffins

2011-05-30T13:59:00.002-05:00

I've been so inspired by the incessant showing of Julie and Julia on Starz lately that I've decided to feature the baked goods section of my Amish cook book. I'm not going to do EVERY recipe, because it's one of those fund-raising cookbooks where everyone submits their favorites recipes leading to many repetitions or only slight variations of popular recipes. So, to spare you and I the monotony of doing every recipe, I vow to do only MOST recipes.
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Sewing: Three pairs of shorts from one denim skirt.

2011-05-24T07:30:00.003-05:00

Ok, it was a really big skirt, from a denim teacher dress in a very large size. It really was a teacher dress, with apples and letter blocks on the faux vest. It was the most hideous dress ever. I bought it at a garage sale for $1 for the sole purpose of using the skirt at yardage. However, I've had it a couple of years, so I'm gonna call it free now.

A Friday Field Trip: Trinity River Audubon Center, Dallas.

2011-05-20T07:00:00.002-05:00

Aldous asked this week to go see the "dinosaur museum" but the Museum of Nature and Science is between dino exhibits, and the only other option I knew of was Dinosaur Valley, and to be honest, I wasn't up for a road trip. THEN I remembered it was free day at Trinity River Audubon Center. I had read about this place online but hadn't been there. Also, their website doesn't have a heck of a lot of info on it. It was about 15 minutes away, driving.

The main building is very beautiful!!

A Monday Recipe: Papaya-Ginger Jam (or preserves? I dunno)

2011-05-18T07:30:00.005-05:00

Omg, this is so good! I bought this ENORMOUS papaya for $1 and couldn't decide what to do with it. William and Doug don't eat much so there would have been a LOT of papaya for Aldous and I to eat!

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Easy $1 Stenciled Drum Set Tee: Fast Tutorial

2011-05-17T08:43:00.001-05:00

When I was at my local 99 Cents Only store, I picked up this gray-green shirt.They had 5 million of them but only in size 2-4T. What's funny is they frequently have colored tees but all in the same size. Like, they had a royal blue, only in size 6.

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A Monday Recipe: Cream of Spinach Soup

2011-05-16T13:00:00.003-05:00

A desperate attempt to find something my poor sick tummy can eat and feeling a bit of panic about the produce that needed to be used up RIGHT AWAY, I put together this yummy soup! I hope you love it!

Here's what I had: a bit of yellow onion, a bit of red, one green onion and some minced garlic (always have this) , half a bag of baby spinach, a bunch of regular spinach, and some half and half. I always have spices and some kind of broth (homemade, powder, cubes...whatever)

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Random Wednesday Sick Bed Post: Dance Planet and Arts District Dallas

2011-05-13T20:49:00.000-05:00

So, after a horrible bought of diverticulitis, I spent last night and today resting, so while I was just sitting here,
I edited a bunch, just for your entertainment! I didn't get one done for Tuesday like I usually do, because I was at PrimaCare writhing around in pain. Man, that was a BAD day! Anyway, today I'm better, but still in bed, resting.

In April we went to a dance events held in the Arts District of Dallas. The downtown attractions map shows walking distances from One Arts Plaza VERY clearly. We've been to a billion things there, and it's really nice. Also, it's walking distance from the McKinney Avenue Trolley (free trolley, picks up at City Place Dart Rail Station, takes you all the way to the Dallas Museum of Art).

Tutorial: How to Use Elastic Thread on a Peasant Blouse (or, anywhere really)

2011-05-13T16:50:00.001-05:00

With summer fast approaching, it's a good time to make some cool and comfy peasant tops or dresses for your little one or for you! There are gazillion peasant top patterns out there for women, so I won't bore you with those. Just sew as directed, or follow my directions below.
Aldous was happy to model this baby dress for me, altho, it's a top on someone this big. Featured is the free baby peasant top/dress from HERE. It's easy enough for a beginner to sew, and I'll explain an easy technique for gathering the neckline and sleeves.

A Monday Recipe: Red Pepper Jelly and THE Best Sandwich EVER!

2011-05-09T08:00:00.006-05:00

A couple weeks ago, I tasted this FABULOUS sandwich that I couldn't stop thinking about! I vowed to make it for myself, but it had a pepper jelly on it, and neither of the stores I frequent carried any. Boo to you! Anyway, figuring it couldn't be hard, and my own would probably be better anyway, I scoured the Internets to check out the ingredients.

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A Friday Fieldtrip: or not. Cinco de Mayo fun!

2011-05-06T08:00:00.007-05:00

I apologize in advance for my family's mockery-making of Mexican culture with our pitiful crafts!

A Monday Recipe: Sister Mary's Zesty Carrots

2011-05-02T06:00:00.002-05:00

I don't know who the heck Sister Mary is, but she can rock some carrots!! These are my favorite and I can eat a whole batch all by myself. Doug will eat his usual three or four and call it a serving. He says he likes carrots, which means he can tolerate those three or four? tee hee

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A Friday Field Trip: Longhorn Cavern, Burnet, TX

2011-04-29T12:36:00.002-05:00

Last week when we visited the Nature Building at the Museum of Nature and Science, we REALLY liked their cave exhibit, and I was reminded that Texas has a bunch of neat caves to visit! William and I decided that this week we would go see a cave! Most are about 3 or more hours away from Dallas, and as I was viewing the websites for various caves, I was beginning to despair...super long tours and two toddler boys is not a good combination. Then I saw some reviews for Longhorn Cavern State Park. While it wasn't touted as the most beautiful cave in Texas, it was mentioned that it was perfect for strollers! There are a set of steps initially, but once in the cave, it's no big deal to push a stroller. So, we located our cheapy umbrella stroller, and hit the road!

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Easter Egg Dying Fiasco 2011

2011-04-26T09:00:00.011-05:00

To be honest, I've never had an egg dying fiasco before. I have five children. The oldest is 24. We have dyed a hundred dozen eggs, I'm sure.No fiasco. No problem. No incident that either Terah (the 24 y/o) or I could recall.

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A Monday Recipe: Garlic Biscuits (Basic Biscuits PLUS!)

2011-04-25T09:05:00.002-05:00

I have a basic biscuit recipe that I use for so many things: pigs in a blanket, mini-pizza crusts, and, of course, BISCUITS!! The cool thing about a good biscuit recipe is that you can change it up to suite your mood or your meal!!

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A Friday Field Trip: Museum of Nature and Science, Nature Building.

2011-04-22T15:35:00.001-05:00

This week, we thought we were going to the zoo, but it was very rainy, and the boys were a bit too squirmy to manage (I thought) on the DART rail. So, after refueling the trusty Jeep with gas, and driving off with the nozzle still in the tank (which, it turns out, isn't a big deal, just embarrassing), we headed to Fair Park AGAIN, this time to go the Nature Building, which the boys call "The Dinosaur Museum".

Since we were going to the "Dinosaur Museum", William thought he might need this clip-on light on his shirt pocket. **sigh**

A Monday Recipe: Orange Scones

2011-04-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

This biscuit-like quick bread is great for breakfast or brunch, served with orange butter, or as a slightly sweet complement to a savory main dish.

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Bluebonnets and Spring Shirts from Ottobre

2011-04-17T18:21:00.001-05:00

My favorite boy shirt pattern, by far, is the Ottobre Shirt pattern, which is a pattern that can be bought separately from the magazine. When I subscribed to Ottobre I was offered on free pattern, so I chose the shirt, even tho William wasn't quite big enough to fit in the pattern. A couple years later, I'm using it for both boys! Wow, time flies!

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A Friday Field Trip: Snip-Its, Snider Plaza

2011-04-15T15:07:00.001-05:00