Going really green

Do you remember a while back when I told you I was trying to get back into shape?  Well, since I am pretty much at the top of the hill, getting ready to "go over it", I thought I'd take it one step further.

I have always tried to eat well and feed my family healthy foods.  I love to cook and try out new recipes.

I am somewhat of a food snob in that I like to buy organic and only eat certain types of meat.

I once did some research and found some pretty disgusting things out about what some animals eat while they are getting fattened up to be slaughtered.  If you want to be grossed out just google "rendering plants".

So on my quest to be fit at forty, I've sworn off the french fries and fried chicken and in turn I am having a whole lot of smoothies.

Looks gross? Oh my gosh, it's really good. My husband is loving these and one of my girls will drink it.

That makes me feel good because of all of the good stuff that's in it!!

I googled green smoothies and found some different recipes. They all had just about the same things in common. Pick some greens, add fruit, water and maybe a little ice, blend them up and drink 'em!
Here's what I've been putting in mine:

2 cups of greens (spinach or kale)

a little fresh parsley

3-4 large strawberries

1 large banana

If I am doing the kale, I like to add some cantaloupe.

Sometimes throw in some red grapes.

Put the greens in the blender first, cover with water, add fruit and ice, blend it up.

The sweetness of the fruit will take away any bitterness.  You can add any fruits you like, pears, oranges, etc.

I've been getting some really good sweet strawberries and cantaloupes, so that's what we've been using the most right now. 

So if I can keep up my exercising (which is going pretty well) and eating well, maybe I can stand on top of the hill for a bit and show off my biceps. :)

Ruffly Apron

I have been wanting to make a ruffly apron for quite some time.  I don't have a pattern, so I just had to wrap my head around the whole idea and get started.  I decided to make one for my mother in law for Mother's day.  She loves to cook and is a great baker.  I ended up using my pattern for the Nie Nie skirt for my guide.

Here is the finished product!  I love how it turned out and she liked it too.  I coupled it with a great cookbook with all cupcakes in it from Martha Stewart.  I am a sucker for cupcakes!

(the Nie Nie skirts)

Thanksgiving turkey cupcakes.

Easter bunny cupcakes.

Teacher Gifts

The last day of school is quickly approaching for my big girl, but my little petunia had her last day yesterday.

She was excited for a fun day, but seems to be even more excited to stay with me for the summer!

That sure puts a smile on my face and makes me feel loved.  It should be a fun summer, we have lots of ideas for things to fill our days.

I made up little goodie bags for her teachers at school.  I have been wanting to make these key fobs for a while and finally did a search on Etsy to find the supplies.  I ordered them from here.

There are directions included with the supplies that I ordered.  I think they turned out great!  I've even sold quite a few, so I will be ordering more supplies soon!  If you don't want to make your own, let me know, I can do a listing in my etsy shop.

I also found a tutorial for some homemade sugar scrub for your hands on another blog.  I am so sorry, I can't remember where I saw it, so if you are the one who did it, let me know so I can give you credit!!!

Anyway, I got these jars at WalMart, as recommended by said blogger, fill about 3/4 of the way with sugar, add soap, (I like to use Method hand get) and I put a tablespoon of olive oil as well.  Stir it up, add some ribbon and a tag and Voila!!   A nice teacher gift!!

Chitty Chitty BANG BANG!!

When we make trips to the local library we end up coming home with no less than about 10 books.

We always check out movies too.  A couple of weeks ago, we checked out an oldie, but goodie.

Remember this?

photo Amazon.com

Well, we watched this the first night.  I fell asleep on the couch and was awakened to my younger daughter doing the "doll on a music box" number over and over!  She wanted to keep on watching it.  Then both the girls were up pretending to be the doll.

I returned it to the library on Saturday.  I wake up each day with songs from this movie in my head.  Toot sweets, Choo-chi face, Chitty chitty bang bang, doll on a box, Truly Scrumptious.  When will it end??

I know, you are laughing at me.  It's crazy though, how those songs can get stuck in your head!

The little one was upset that we returned it and sweet Daddy told her we'd buy the movie for her.

Oh my gracious, what have we gotten ourselves into??

Pray for me.

Cutie Pie!

I have been so busy lately, I haven't had time to post all of the cute things I've been whipping up!

I've gotten some new patterns and made a few things from patterns I've had for a while.

This is the Maddie Bee apron top from Brassy Apple.  It is adorable and has many variations.  I decided to do my first one pretty simply, but I did make it reversible.

I plan to make many more of these cute little tops.  The pattern is a great one, pretty easy and the instructions are great! 

This is a little dress I made for a friend's little girl.  I used two different patterns and mixed a top from one and skirt from the other.  They are the Claire and Gracie patterns from Portabellopixie

I love how it turned out!  She is going to look adorable in it!

Have a great day!

.

It's a zoo around here

I always know when May comes around, it's such a busy time.  The end of school, dance recital prep, teacher gifts, the list goes on.  I have been so busy!  This morning I sat down and thought I'd just post a picture for a wordless Wednesday, but as I was looking for a particular picture, I came across some sweet and some funny pictures from almost two years ago! 

After Hurricane Ike hit, we were without power for about 10 days.  After about 3 or 4, we decided to hit the road and go on a little vacation.  A hurrication.  It was a blast.  We went to San Antonio and went to Sea World, a wildlife preserve you can drive through, and spent lots of time on the Riverwalk.

Here are some memories of the trip!

My husband wanted to put this on a Christmas card with some wise remark!  We laughed our heads off.  Apparently, the zebras don't get much to eat because they were hungry!!

She was not happy about the goats.  She was afraid they'd eat her skirt!!

Little no fear Nellie.

We were there for "National Pirate Day".  They people were walking around yelling "argh"!  They were so funny!

Forrest Gump was there too.

The tallest man.  That's just crazy!!

Last one, I promise, but how funny is this??  Put this child in the car and she'll go to sleep.  Still.  She's almost 7.  Maybe I need to adjust her bedtime?

What are your vacation plans for the summer?  I've got some big ones!

The cutest things I ever made

I always have some deep reflection when a day like Mother's Day comes around. 

I feel as if motherhood is my calling.  I enjoy my children so much.  I look at them and so often think, I can't believe you are my child!  My children have completed my life.  They make me smile, laugh and sometimes cry.  I can see why my mom had so many kids.  They are a true joy.

So here's to motherhood.

Thanks to my sweet girls for allowing me to celebrate a Mother's Day!

 I am so truly blessed with such a great mother.  I thank the Lord above that He chose my mom for me.  She is so sweet and loving and has taught me countless things in my lifetime.  We have become great friends and share interests like sewing and cooking.  She is a great example of what a mom should be.  My mom gave birth to and raised 10 great kids.  I am so proud to call all of my brothers and sisters family.  They are great people and my sisters have been great examples of what a mother should be also.

Happy Mother's Day mom!!

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful sisters!

Happy Mother's Day to you too!

A couple of "little" projects

I am recuperating from last week's fundraiser madness!  My house is in shambles, but I am such a junkie, that I have fabric and a pattern waiting for me on the table.  Shameless, I know.

I just thought I'd share a few of the projects I worked on last week.  I'll split it into a couple of posts!

So here is part one:

Meet Emma.  She is my daughter's American Girl.  She has was gracious enough to be my model!

This little sundress turned out so cute!  (in my humble opinion!)

I measured how long to make it and then measured the largest part of Emma for the width of the fabric and added 3 inches. 

Sew the fabric together to make a tube.

Hem the top and bottom.

Use elastic thread and shir about 6 rows at the top.

Cut 4 pieces of ribbon and sew in place for the straps.

Your "little" project is finished and your "little" model looks so cute!

This was the second dress I made for Emma.

This dress was made from scrap fabric.  I bought the ruffled trim since I ran out of scraps big enough and the skirt was waaaay to short.  I used some tissue and made a little pattern for the top by placing it on the doll and drawing where I wanted the dress to be.  I kind of wung it from there.  If anyone is interested in a tutorial, let me know, I will get one made up.

These two little dresses along with a small hairbow for each raised $30 for my daughter's school.  I thought they were cute and I am sure I will be making more.  Emma was sad to see them go.