A little sewing.

I'm not the best seamstress in the world and I'm not the worst.  I'd place my sewing skills squarely in the middle--not a novice at all but by no means an expert.  I am self-taught and have found that I'm pretty good at figuring things out.  And I'm loving this current bloggy craft movement where you can find a tutorial online for just about anything.  There are so many projects I want to try!

But last week I didn't attempt anything new.  I made some embellished burpers and a minky blanket for friends to give as gifts to new babies in their families.  I sometimes sell these on Etsy in my "shop" but I haven't listed anything in forever.  Maybe someday....

 

The burpers are just embellished with quilting cotton and ribbon at the bottom and I add a handcut applique over the machine-embroidered name (I have a small embroidery sewing machine which is fun).  The blanket is so snuggly.  I use super plush dot minky on one side and coordinating quilting cotton on the other.  I have yet to figure out the trick to working with minky!!!  It slips so much--and I even use a walking foot.  It always ends up a bit wonky but I think I'm the only one who can tell.  Please pass along any tips if you have them. 

I hope to do more sewing as the school year picks up.  It's one of my favorite things to do during any down time.  But right now, after the boys are in bed, I am tackling rooms and closets in the house on an organizing mission.  The older boys pretty much wrecked any systems I had in place before summer.  I love that they are getting to be so independent in getting out toys and craft supplies, but sheesh!  It comes at a price.  A messy, stacked-bins-defying-gravity price.  I am saving my craft room for last because it is the room that needs the most work--I let them loose in there to make some cards and now there are bits of this and that everywhere.  I plan to post "after" pictures.  And if I can stomach showing its current blitzed state, I'll even post "before" pictures...but I wouldn't count on it!

The family balancing act.

 

When I was still working, I remember thinking that when I finally stayed home, I'd have all the time in the world to get things done--so no prioritizing would be needed.  Ha!  Rather, I've discovered that the kitchen is like a diner and the house gets wrecked every few hours instead of just on the weekends (when I was working, the older boys were in daycare so by the time we got home and had dinner, it was time for bedtime routines. The only time the toys came out in mass quantities, really, was on the weekends).  Plus, I'm a bit adrift without my standing Wednesday admin day where I closed my door and ate lunch at my desk and paid all the bills, updated the family calendar, etc.  The truth is, I'm busier than ever even though "I'm home"--and it's kind of shocked me.

For most of us, I think, our goals are to be a great mom and wife (and daughter/sister/friend/neighbor, etc.), keep a nice home, and also take care of ourselves--right?  I used to think that I should do those things only in that order of priority.  And of course, I still think that cultivating my relationship with my family is the most important and that it trumps all of my other duties.  But I've come to realize that I can only do that to the best of my ability when I also take time to work on the other areas of my life.

Flip Flops and Applesauce had a great post the other day where she described those areas as: responsibilities; relationships; rest--and I think she's spot on.  As I have been trying to recast the new balancing act of my stay-at-home self for some time, her post helped me better define things in my mind. My best days are those when I gain at least a little bit in each area.

Because the pantry I'd really, really love to organize again?  I'd feel crummy if I spent three hours to straighten it instead of doing something with the boys.  But I also know my Type-A-self well enough to realize that I'd also feel crummy if I planned all-day outings three days in a row and ignored housework.  I need clean spaces in my home.  I am also the kind of girl who starts checking her pockets like she's forgotten something if I don't work out regularly--it's like, "oh yeah, I didn't forget anything...I just didn't sweat today."  So instead of trying to do it all, my new outlook is to do a little of "it all" each day.  So I'm off to continue practicing this new philosophy--it's been working for me lately (except the admin part.  Still stink at finding time for that.  Just realized "next week's" open house night at Max's school is actually tonight.  Oops--off to find a sitter).  Hope you find balance in your day too! 

 

Beginner blogging finds.

Although I am in no way qualified to give my own tips on how to add some neat touches to your blog, I can point you to a few resources that I recently discovered and found helpful (from a complete newbie perspective).

Shabby Blogs has some great tips on how to add swanky design elements to your blog, like post dividers, grab buttons--you know, the stuff I don't have yet but want.  Her entry on how to add a signature to your posts, which pointed me here, made creating a personal signature super easy.  So easy, in fact, that now I have one.  Yay for me.

Also, although I've seen information on how to use LinkWithin on blogging platforms such as Wordpress, Blogger, and Typepad, I couldn't find anything on how to use it on Squarespace (which is my platform).  If you are in the same spot, here's what worked for me (you first need to go to LinkWithin and follow their steps to generate and copy the code for their widget) : 

• Go to your journal page and switch to 'structure' editing mode 
• Create a page footer
• Switch to HTML
• Post the code you copied from LinkWithin there 

Although I do not have much content yet (and so the suggested posts keep repeating), I still think it's a nice feature. 

*I know I'm probably late to the party on these things but in case it saves anyone some time and frustration I thought I'd put it out there.

Lolli-flop.

Well, as promised, I made Luxirare's pies-on-a-stick.  Hers looked amazing.  And delicious.  Mine?  Not so much.

I read her post carefully and was very happy to see edits with tips--and follow those tips I did.  But I still could not master a good filling-to-crust ratio (unless you count all the filling that escaped their little pie-pop homes, which I'm pretty sure you cannot).  I used fresh strawberries mixed with homemade jam, a combo that has faithfully worked for me in hand-pies.  Of course now that I stop and think about it, I am not surprised that the filling seeped everywhere when I attempted this here.  The hand-pies I make are rustic and hearty, with a folded side-seam to match, whereas these were supposed to be delicate gems balanced on a stick.  So now I know.

I think when I try again (because they are just too cute to end the story here) I will:  a)  use a thicker filling with cooked fruit (my fresh strawberry chunks were way too big so of course they let off a lot of juice) and b) use a sweeter crust--Martha's Pate Sucree or any other basic sweet crust that does not need to be prebaked should work nicely.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I've already eaten pate sucree straight up and thought to myself, "fruit?  Who needs fruit with this"--just in case my ratio is off yet again and I'm left with a dough-pop. 

Good luck if you give it a go--and I sure hope you do--and please, please pass along your tips and triumphs.  It obviously can be done and in fact done quite well, as Luxirare shows on her blog so beautifully.  Go there to be inspired.  Look below to be amused. 

 

Cheers,

Beach Brownies.

When we go away for vacation, we prefer renting a house for the extra elbow room. But quite often, we end up sacrificing space for location, cramming the five of us into some tight quarters just to be able to walk to the beach.

These, shall we say, "quaint" accommodations usually have an efficiency-style kitchen without a full sized fridge.  This is otherwise known as my worst nightmare as I still like to cook while away.  And to make it crazier, I also like to bake on vacation.  I can’t help it and yes, I know I need help.

Since Max has been such a trooper this week as he adjusts to first grade, I decided to bake something for him that might remind him of our summer trips.  It’s one of those so-called cheater recipes that start with a box mix, something I call Beach Brownies.  I like it because there are just 3 main ingredients, so you don’t have to fool around with eggs or oil or any of that other nonsense that won't fit in the mini fridge anyway.  As a side note, I feel the need to go on record saying I don’t have a huge thing, either for or against, box mixes (though I do know that some folks swear by them while just as many turn their noses waaay up at them).  Me?  I'm sort of like, meh.  Obviously, they are great for the convenience factor but because I try to avoid preservatives when possible, I make up a big batch of my own “mix” to store in the fridge and use for all of my quickie recipes when I’m home.  But that won't work on vacation so I don't hesitate to use a box mix.

The true beauty of this recipe is that you can play around with the flavors.  Below is the brownie version.  It produces a moist, slightly cakey, brownie that gets fudgier as it sits.  I think they're perfect for packing in picnic lunches because they don't disintegrate into melted chocolate goo.  Another variation we like is using a yellow cake mix and lemon flavored pudding.

Beach Brownies

• 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
• milk, amount as indicated in pudding directions
• 1 (18 ounce) box chocolate cake mix
• 1-2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or other mix-in (optional)

Directions

1. Prepare pudding according to package directions.
2. Stir in cake mix, careful not to overbeat or incorporate too much air.
3. Stir in chocolate chips or other mix-in.
4. Pour into a greased 13x9 baking pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 to 35 minutes or until the top springs back when lightly touched.
6. Chow down.

Recycled windsock.

Today's "keeping it summer" craft was making a recycled waterproof windsock, courtesy of Valerie over on Frugal Family Fun Blog.  I love her ideas!  She also has a post on garden stones that we have planned for later--hopefully this weekend.

The windsock couldn't be simpler to make--and I'm sure you have everything on hand--so it's perfect for an after school craft.  First, check your recycling bin for something plastic that you can cut into rounds to use as the base.  We used a yogurt cup.  Then, cut up several plastic bags into long strips.  The more colorful the better, though our selection was pretty sad (we're down to the last few since we don't accumulate them like we did before switching to reusable bags).  Next, loop your strips around your base, attach a handle, and hang outside. 

I had to help our four-year old as he couldn't quite master the ends-through-the-loop technique.  Our windsock is destined for the boys' new clubhouse that my husband built this summer.  But first, Leo needed to test it out indoors. 

Next up are pie pops from Luxirare (found via Bakerella)--as soon as I can get my act together and make up a batch of pie dough that is.  Have you seen these?  Individual pie servings.  On a stick.  Um, yes please.

Back to school and ice cream in a bag.

Today was Max's first day of first grade.  I have no idea how that happened.  Not in a, "hey, wait, it's only the beginning of August?" kind of way--I know how that happened (he goes to a year-round school so his summer is only six weeks long).  No.  More in a, "how on earth can you be six??!  Six!  And starting grade school?  Where they don't have snacks in the morning or bathrooms in the rooms?" kind of way.  It's killing me.  And although I was more of a mess on his first day of kindergarten last year, I still managed to puddle things up a bit.  Okay, a lot.

Now, I should say that I actually like the year-round format of our elementary school.  It's very nice to have a few weeks off in the fall and spring, as well as an extra couple of weeks during the holidays.  But the end of summer break is hard--especially when most of Max's play friends have another month before their summers end.

So I have some activities lined up for August that will hopefully keep summer alive and well around here.  Today's project (and treat) was making ice cream in a bag.  You will need some milk or half and half, sugar, vanilla, ice, two quart-sized ziplocs, one gallon-sized ziploc, rock salt and any mix-ins you'd like--unless your kids are straight vanilla types like mine (are you shaking your head in wonder?  Because I don't get how they can love every candy on earth as long as it is NOT in their ice cream).  Oh, and mittens or other means to keep little fingers warm.

I scribbled down the instructions for this at the start of summer--I think from Family Fun magazine but I'm not 100% sure.  We made two batches which was enough to serve four.  We must not have used enough ice as the ice cream never set up much past soft serve.  I just stuck it in the freezer for a little bit (like 30 min) and it was perfect.  But don't take my word for it.  Take the word of a first grader.  Sniff.

Ice Cream in a Bag (adapted from Family Fun Magazine)

Click to read more ...

Blueberries.

We are CSA members to a farm and try to make it there a few times during the season to pick fruit.  We recently went for blueberries and managed to pick quite a haul.  Will, who usually does more quality control tasting than picking, even managed to pick a nice amount. 

I love blueberries and often bake them up in muffins, scones, and pies.  But I wanted to try a new blueberry recipe so turned to one of my favorite food blogs, Smitten Kitchen.  Her post on Blueberry Boy Bait made my day (I love recipes with a story!) and the single-layer cake the recipe turned out made my boys smack their lips and ask if we picked enough to make it again and again and again.  Trying to be funny, I casually said, "oh, like to infinity?" which, of course, led to a dozen questions and my feeble attempt to explain the concept of an unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity to a four and six-year old--yea, that was a fun one.  I should have just left it at "it's what Buzz Lightyear says" because when I tried to simplify it by telling them "you can never get to infinity.  It's as big as you can get," they responded, "then what's infinity plus one?"  I made them be quiet with seconds.              

I'm linking to the recipe rather than reprinting here because the only modification I made is adding in at least twice the amount of blueberries (so a generous full cup).  I'll be trying it with other fruit soon. 

Enjoy! 

  

Pajama party.

Last month I posted the sugar cookie recipe that I always use.  And this weekend, I cajoled my friend into letting me make them as favors for her daughters' birthday party--see, I really, really like to make them and won't let anyone else do them (though this does not apply to you--you should indeed make them.  Unless you invite me to your party, in which case I will).  Her girls had a pajama party and it was really fun.  Look at these super cute invites (how-to here:  Parents Magazine).            

    

The guests were asked to show up in pjs and there was a craft where the kids decorated pillow cases to take home:                 

And just look at these cupcakes (yes, from that cupcake book again).  I have to make these soon.  I've seen a version with little teddy graham crackers tucked in as lovies--too cute, right?

I could not find a pajama cookie cutter anywhere.  But discovered that in a pinch, headless gingermen work just fine--oh, and for the nightgowns, I cut off the footsies and smooshed the legs together.  For the cookie recipe and a rather wordy explanation complicating my simple tip for decorating (dipping vice frosting the cookies), see this post. 

And if you are considering hosting a pajama birthday party, I need to add that the most genius part of it is you don't have to get dressed the day of the party--assuming you have cute enough pjs like my friend. This is huge for me as I never seem to leave enough time during pre-party preps to personally get ready. Sadly my guests will often find a nicely staged room but a hostess dressed in her crafting clothes (you save your college tees for painting/moving/gardening?  I save 'em for crafting). 

Beach trip.

We went to the beach for a few days and had a great time.  And by a great time, I simply mean that in the end, the effort and pain of packing, sitting in traffic, trying to convince two older kids that they can hold it, unpacking, shush shushing so the baby can nap, hauling 5 beach bags, 3 kids, and a stroller 3 blocks to the beach, constantly finger-swiping mouthfuls of sand, promising to scotch-tape broken shells to avoid meltdowns, refereeing who got which bucket, shovel, toy, etc. even though there were plenty to share, having a side of grit with every bite because little sand covered hands could not keep out of the snacks--then repeating everything a la Groundhog Day until it was time to reverse the order and head home--was worth it. 

Because Will got his first beach trip.  

And Leo, who would not let his bare feet touch sand a year ago, is evidently over that quirk.

And Max spent hours lost in a sandcastle mission and his first try at boogieboarding.

And the older ones laughed and smiled, screamed and hooted like we've never seen on an assortment of amusement rides.  

Oh, and I'm pretty sure that eating french fries and ice cream every single night helped color my memory of the trip a bit, too.  Hope you are having a wonderful summer.