November 30, 2010

Tis the Season

Anyone put their christmas tree up yet? Growing up we always put the tree up and decorated it sometime during that long weekend after Thanksgiving, and it is another thing that I still do. Landon spent the day and night at Grandma and Grandpa's house helping my mom set up and decorate a tree (I say a tree, because she has about 3 more to go). I still had two little helpers to set up our tree and decorate it. When you have a three year old and a 18 month old doing most of the decorating, this is what you get. Not bad, and they love it as do I! Now if only I could get this advent garland (that I have envisioned in my head) sewed up before December 1st. I know that is not going to happen, but maybe by December 11th or 12th. At least there would still be some days left to use it this year and then it would be ready for years to come.
 Nice squat, that reminds me that I really need to start working out again...bad!
 Trevor trying to put some up "high"
 Always a ham for the camera!
 Brotherly decorating:)
 Trevor asked to put the star up as soon as I mentioned decorating the tree, can't believe he remembered it from last year!
 So proud!
 Trevor took over the picture taking duties. After this one, he laughs and says "I just got dad's head"
 Now he said, "I got all of you guys, even Ethan!"
I had no idea he snapped one of me vacuuming up the broken ornaments 
(18 month old with glass "ball" as he called it = a good deal of broken glass!)

November 27, 2010

Time.

Time, or lack there of. I have wanted to blog about all the things that I am thankful for and how amazing it is every year to be able to celebrate the holidays with all of our family, but I just can't seem to find the time. I know it has been there, but I passed it up to do something other than blog, I'm sure. Besides all of the overfilling, amazingly tasty foods I consumed, one of the highlights of my Thanksgiving day was getting to play cards against a 92 or 93 year old (young) woman. She is the mother of one of Ted's uncles and really the sweetest thing. Not only did I play cards against her (500 was the game), but she kicked my butt! I wish I would have had my camera on me(I always forget the camera on the holidays, WHY?!?!), because I kid you not, this woman looked so much better than I did! She was dressed beautifully, jewelry was all on (even drop/dangly earrings), hair was done perfectly, and if she didn't have makeup on I need to know her secret because her skin looked flawless. Oh, and I can't forget that she started out the night with an ice cold beer. Now, that is my kind of lady! I hope one day I can be half the woman that she is.

Of course there was a bit of crafting and sewing going on. I had a bridal shower yesterday and I made a casserole carrier. I didn't think ahead of time, and made the carrier and then went and bought the dish to go with it. I wanted to get the cute Paula Deen casserole dish, but this time I was thinking and brought the finished carrier into the store with me, turns out the cute one was a tad bit too long so I had to go with  a plan baking pan. Another shout out to Christina over at 2 Little Hooligans for her amazing tutorial on how to make this carrier (she is awesome, and I love her blog). Head over to her site if you want to make your own!

I just realized that I didn't show that the inside was a coordinating fabric. The inside it the same fabric as the handles and spoon holder.
Then, after the shower Ted needed to get a tractor moved and was going to go on his own. Until three little boys got wind of daddy leaving and daddy moving a tractor. We all packed up and drove to where the tractor was about 30 minutes away, I dropped Ted and Landon off at the tractor and drove to where he was dropping it off (Ethan and Trevor where fast asleep in their car seats). In that 30 minutes to get to the tractor and drop Ted and Landon off I crocheted this cute, chunky toddler scarf. I added the tassels and braided loop (to put one end through so the scarf stays put) once we got home. I love quick, easy, fun, projects and even more so when they turn out so cute!


The Girl CreativeFunky Junk's Sat Nite Special


November 24, 2010

Wordless Wednesday.

I just finished a diaper tote with goodies for a customer. Here's how it turned out (personally, I LOVE it). Thanks so much, Tiffany!!





 (a little something extra, I just can't resist throwing in something when I have the extra fabric!)
 Blanket, Burpies, & Washcloths 
 Look, it's reversible!
 All packaged up and ready to go!

Linked up at:
The Girl Creative

November 23, 2010

World's Best Lasagna

For Trevor's third birthday last Friday, we just stayed home and celebrated and I made the World's Best Lasagna. That really is it's name, and it is so good. Something you have to think of ahead of time, because the sauce takes a couple of hours to simmer. Yes, you make your own sauce. Is it really worth it? ABSOLUTELY! A million times better than anything you could buy in a jar!
World’s Best Lasagna
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
12 lasagna noodles
16 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
1. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed
tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon
salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain
noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2
teaspoon salt.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise
over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1
1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining
mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure
the foil does not touch the cheese.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before
serving.

November 22, 2010

Giveaways!

Who doesn't like a giveaway?! You don't really have to do anything and in return you could win something pretty cool. I am doing a few giveaways and if you want anything hand made by me, head on over to facebook and enter. I have reached that 100 fan mark and promised a giveaway on my fanpage. You have a chance to have two entries, one if you follow this blog and another if you are a facebook fan. Just leave two separate comments to get both entries. My fanpage giveaway will end this Sunday at 10pm (central), then I will have random org pick two numbers as the winners. One winner will get $30 store credit and another will get $15 store credit to be used on anything you want me to make. I will announce the winners next Monday!

Then, over on Baby Makin(g) Machine I am participating in her "Flash Giveaway"! She is doing a huge giveaway for reaching 2000 fans...WOW! Bigger wow is that there is over $1200 worth in prizes and 38 people are going to be able to win!

Since I never win these things, I might as well be the one giving away!

November 20, 2010

Reversible Headband

I have not sewed since Monday! I was going through some withdrawals and made this headband up quick to get my sewing fix in. Now, time to clean. Headband, love. Cleaning, hate.




November 19, 2010

Three years ago.

My life changed forever, when little Trevor was born. He is an amazing little boy and I feel so blessed to be his mommy! He is so excited it is his birthday, and we have had a great morning so far. Ted didn't go to work until after Trevor was awake and had opened his presents, and we just finished a yummy breakfast of Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (recipe is in the recipe book on the right).

I posted earlier in the week the tent that I made Trevor for his special day, but I hadn't mentioned yet what Ted had made him. With how much Trevor loves to help me in the kitchen (it is very, very rare that I am making something in the kitchen and he isn't right by my side), I really wanted to get him a learning tower. I was all set to order it, but the price was really making me stop and then looking at it, I thought Ted could make it easily. I showed it to him, and he made it! Not only did he make it, but it cost us pretty much nothing as we had the wood and all of the materials already AND it is beautiful! The boys used it out this morning and I told Ted that I LOVE it and wished I had it four years ago!

Here is a peek at Trevor's birthday morning.










 Trevor's birthday cake and my first try with fondant.
(I will be doing a blog entry on the cake soon)