Crafty Wednesday - Bow, Clippy, and Necklace Holder

Another one of Kahlen's birthday presents this year...
I used to just have all her bows and clippys on ribbons on the wall, which worked pretty well too, but not nearly as cute. (Forgot to take a picture, darn it)

Got this idea from several friends and several different online tutorials, which I didn't really follow :)

Forgot to take pictures during the process too, but you'll get the idea.
I bought a plain wood frame from Hobby Lobby and Mod Podged butterfly scrapbook paper to the entire front of it. If the frame you picked doesn't come with hangers, you'll want to get some of those too :)
Then I used a hot glue gun and a staple gun to attach ribbon going both ways. I bought some small hooks from Ace Hardware and screwed them into the bottom for necklaces. I should have drilled pilot holes, but I just muscled them in.

Here's what it looks like full:

If you like the super-cute flower clips, you can purchase them from my friend Robin here


Kahlen wanted me to take her picture too :)

Now to get her to WANT to wear these cute things, instead of me begging her!

~S

Tasty Tuesday - Bacon and Egg Soup

Tasty Tuesday

Bacon and Egg Soup

Courtesy of Food Network

Today's tasty recipe came from the Food Network Magazine, which I have been thoroughly enjoying since I got a subscription this summer. They have a ton of recipes in each issue, and most of them are not beginner recipes which is exactly what I needed.

Tim looked on skeptically as I made this soup for dinner, but he is currently consuming his second (or third) bowl, so it must be okay :) Enjoy!

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound slab or thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 4 slices rustic Italian bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed
• 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 1/4 cups grated parmesan cheese, plus 1 small piece rind
• 4 tablespoons torn fresh parsley
• 4 large eggs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375. Cook the bacon in a medium pot over medium heat until crisp, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, then discard all but 2 tablespoons drippings from the pot. While the bacon cooks, toss the bread cubes with the olive oil on a baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden and crisp, about 8 minutes.

Add the garlic to the bacon drippings and cook until slightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broth, 1 1/2 cups water, the parmesan rind and 2 tablespoons parsley; season with salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook 10 minutes.

Adjust the heat so the broth is barely boiling. One at a time, crack each egg into a small bowl and gently slip into the broth. Poach until just set, about 2 minutes. Transfer the eggs with a slotted spoon to individual soup bowls. Stir 1 cup parmesan and the remaining 2 tablespoons parsley into the broth and season with salt and pepper. Ladle the broth into the bowls and top with the croutons, bacon and the remaining 1/4 cup parmesan. 

Here's the link to the original recipe if you would prefer.

~S

Mommy Monday - Nathanael's eating solids! plus Christmas present joys

Today is Monday, and the first installment of Mommy Monday. I love my kids and they crack me up and keep me going. I want to remember the moments, and what better way than to write them down?

Nathanael started eating solids last week on his 6-month-day. He thought that eating rice cereal was a good game the first day, and thought it was a terrible idea the second day.

On the third day, his Buela (my mom) bought him an avocado. Man, I wish I had pictures, it was hilarious! He thought it was the best thing ever invented. He was trying to grab the spoon from me and shove it in his mouth, and got really mad when it was all gone. He ate about half an avocado on his first try and ate the other half the next day.

This picture is what Kahlen thought of avocados. More evidence that kids are so different. Makes me all the more curious to see what Nate's personality will be like.

Kahlen got some great presents for her birthday and Christmas. I am very grateful to the fam for their thoughtfulness and generosity.

Here's her new easel from Aunt Stefanie and Rob, complete with paint cups and apron from Grampa and Grammy.

Mommy (me) got her a dolly stroller, which she's a little obsessed with. She pushes her kitty around everywhere.

Daddy got her a bed tent like he used to have as a kid.

We also got her Candyland for her birthday, which she ist just old enough to play. For the most part, she gets it and thinks it's fantastic.

Nana and Papa got her bristle blocks for her birthday, although I'm not sure who likes them more, her or daddy.

Being the second child, Nathanael just doesn't need that much stuff, but he did get a few toys. Here's the taggie cups that he got from Nana and Papa.











More on the hilarity of being a mom next Monday!

~S

Thankful Thursday: Christmas

Today I am thankful for Christmas. I am thankful that Jesus Christ was born as a baby in a low station and can empathize with anything I go through here on this earth. I am thankful that so many people celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus as a man, even if they don't believe everything I do about the significance of that. 

I do believe that God came to earth, as a baby, to die on a cross, and save the world from their sins. And that baby was the hope of a world that long sat shackled, prisoner to sin. And that is why I celebrate. Merry Messiah Sent!

~S

PS Here's a message from my pastor regarding the lowly state of Jesus at his birth and why that is significant. Enjoy!

Crafty Wednesday - Princess Tutu

Here's another great craft idea to make for your darling daughters.

Link in case you can't play the video here:
Video tutorial for simple no-sew tutu


I made one for Kahlen's birthday. Because this was the second one I've made, it only took me about 45 minutes start to finish!









I also made one for her halloween costume. This one took me about two hours, but it had a lot more tulle strips on it AND it took me a little while to figure it out since I didn't have this cool video to watch :)










Just a note to the wise: wait until tulle goes on sale! It goes on sale frequently at JoAnns for 50% off. That would have brought my cost down to way less than $10.

~S

Tasty Tuesdays - Choco-Coco Cookies

Today I got inspired to blog about one recipe every week, so here's the first installment:

My Kids' Favorite Cookies Recipe | Taste of Home Recipes

These tasty cookies were a hit in my house, although my husband liked them a lot more than my daughter. They were pretty easy to make, and the coconut added a nice flavor without being overpowering (which is good since Tim doesn't like coconut) Also, Kahlen loved helping with the squishing of the chocolate bars. Sorry, I don't have any pictures, you'll have to go look at the recipe for that :)
I'm going to call them Choco-Coco Cookies, since I don't like their name of "My Kid's Favorite Cookies"

{Ingredients}

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 5 milk chocolate candy bars (1.55 ounces each)

{Directions}

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Beat in oats and coconut.
• Roll into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets; flatten slightly. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Break each candy bar into 12 pieces; press a chocolate piece into the center of each warm cookie. Remove to wire racks. Yield: 5 dozen.

~S

Happy Birthday, Kahlen!

Happy Third Birthday, darling girl!

We had a great time at the zoo today














and playing with some of your birthday presents (like Candy Land)





Here's the video for Kahlen's third year for those of you who missed it:



Now that you're three, you don't need your paci anymore. You can get dressed by yourself. You know four bible verses. You are kind and sharing to your family and your friends. We love you and can't wait to see what more amazing things you learn in the next year!

Hooded Towels Tutorial

I decided to make my kiddos coordinating hooded towels for Christmas, and thought someone else might like to know how too. Thanks to Kayt for showing me how to make these cute towels for my kiddos. This is the second one I’ve made for Kahlen, the first was before she was born so I thought it might be time for a new one.

• Materials:
• Full size bath towel
• Washcloth in matching (or not) color
• 3 yards 1”-1.5” wide ribbon

Step 1 – Take the washcloth and sew ribbon to front (side without tag) where there’s a valley in the fabric. If there isn’t one, sew about 1.5” from top edge.

Step 2 – Do the same on the towel, sewing one on each short side of the towel.

Step 3 – Find the middle of the towel and the middle of the washcloth. Pin the edges together with the NON-ribbon sides facing each other

.

Step 4 – Fold the washcloth out and pin ribbon over seam.

Step 5 – Sew ribbon in place. NOTE: This is the hardest seam to sew, my machine had a heckuva time with it!

Step 6 – Fold the whole thing inside out so the ribbon is together. Sew the top of the washcloth shut.

Tada! You now have a cute, custom, hooded towel! I plan on getting my kids’ names embroidered on them, but probably not before Christmas :)

~S

My new built-in shelves AKA My husband rocks!

A couple months ago, Tim told me he was going to build me a huge built-in shelf for all my craft stuff. I got excited, but as time went by, I let it slip from my mind. I didn't want to nag him about it or be disappointed if they didn't get built.

I had resigned myself to my stuff always being all over and looking more like this:
(This is just part of my junk, mind you)

Well, they're built and they're awesome! The unit takes up the entire west wall of the main room in the basement.

They hold all my stuff plus two bookcases worth of books plus all the office supplies and games.





Bookcase is on the far right. Each shelf is reinforced for extra strength. Next is adjustable shelves that hold games and office supplies.









Far left is all my crafting bins for scrapbooking, jewelry making, crosstitch and more. Middle is storage for my Cricut and 16 paper shelves for my scrapbooking paper and project boxes.







I also want to say thanks to Greg for helping, he's the one with all the tools










Hey, I even got my husband to use power tools :)



Thanks, hubby, you rock! Now to find the time to use all my well organized stuff...

Wow, they grow fast!

Where does the time go? Really, almost three months since I posted anything? And that wasn't even pictures of my kids!
Right, well, not even sure if anyone's reading this anyway (except for you, dad).
Ah well, here goes nothing :)

Nathanael is growing so fast! (sniff, sniff) He's already almost six months old. He is learning to sit up; he does much better wearing a cloth diaper than a disposable, but he's getting better. He's a social boy, would much rather be in the middle of things than sleeping. We call it FOMO, Fear of Missing Out. He barely slept on Thanksgiving because there were so many people around and he didn't want to miss anything.
Here's a short video of him on the first day I realized he could sit unassisted (okay, maybe not)



My darling daughter will be three (3??) next Monday. She's a joy and a wonder. We are still doing preschool and loving it. Here's her playing with some colored noodles we made.









Every month, we put different things in her bin like styrofoam peanuts along with things to play with them like a muffin tin, tongs from the dollar store, yogurt containers, plastic spoons, etc. Great for keeping her occupied for long stretches of time. Today she played with her noodles for over an hour. (Got the idea from Hubbard's Cupboard, which is where I'm getting most of her curriculum from now)

We're excited for Christmas this year because Kahlen is old enough to start understanding why we celebrate Christmas. We had a birthday party for Jesus with some friends last week, and the kids loved it! This picture is them singing "Happy Birthday, Jesus" So sweet!










Hopefully, more posts to come soon. I've got some great ideas in my head, let's just see if they make it out of there :) If not, Merry Christmas all!!

~S