Leave Your Winter Blahs - It's a Carnival!!!

Check it out! It's a Giveaway!

There is a Bloggy Giveaways Carnival and I have decided to participate. I spent lots of time (okay only about 30 minutes on and off while being interrupted by a 2 and 1/2 year old) trying to figure out what I would giveaway and decided to stay with my apron theme.

I will be giving away a Fabulous Friday Night Apron!

I have one already made up that is almost exactly like the one pictured above. (Check out the slide show for some of the other ones I made during the holidays.) I also have some great "Elvis" fabric and some adorable pink striped spring fabric that would look terrific made up into an apron. The winner can take their pick of the pre-made apron above or tell me what their favorite color combination or theme is and let me get to work.

I will take comments until Friday night at midnight (MST) and the winner will be drawn (from a knitted beanie) Saturday at 8am (MST) and posted shortly thereafter or as soon as we finish breakfast; whichever comes first.

Make sure to include your email address in your comment if it doesn't link directly to your blog or website so I have a way to contact the winner.

Happy contest giveaway perusing! And make sure to check out the bloggy carnival for lots more giveaways!!

It's a Keeper - Cake Mix Extender

Have you ever had this experience? Once in a while you stumble upon something that is so simple and you wish you'd found years ago? I had such an 'Aha! moment a few months ago while looking for recipes on the Internet. I've often made cakes that didn't quite fill the pan or made cupcakes that are a smidgen small. I've also wished I had 1-2 extras for hungry little ones. (my kiddos are always clamoring for cupcakes that I'm taking to school or church and sadly disappointed when they find out there's none for them.)

Here's a simple solution I found: A way to make a bigger and better cake mix. Makes a 13x9 pan come out very high and moist and makes 2-3 extra cupcakes.

Cake Mix Extender Recipe

3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup oil
1 egg

Mix all together. Add to your already mixed cake mix batter. Bake per directions but may need and additional 5-10 minutes longer to become done.

For more fun tips on everything from organization and recipes to cleaning - check out a fun blog Rocks In My Dryer. It's "Works For Me Wednesday" over there and you might just find something you've been wishing you'd find for years!

Clap your hands...Tink is back!

They opened a Disney Store a couple of weeks ago at a mall near us. Guess who hadn't been until a couple of days ago? Guess who was only to happy to take their sweet little 2-year-old-princess-loving-sweetie in to check out the Disney Wonderland? Guess who got sucked into the Disney Princess Vortex? Guess who was only to happy to shell out $40+ for a brand spankin' new (albeit on clearance) 'coscume' (that's costume for those of you unfamiliar with 2-year old language) of Tinkerbell and shoes and a crown! I have to say all the sparkle, pink, Disney Musak playing in the background and the friendly customer service put me into some kind of Mickey Mouse stupor! I don't know how to act..."take me to your coscumes"! I swear I think they pipe pixie dust into the air ducts - Disney crack if you will! I tried to show my sweetie all the cute, less than $10 items she could take home but it was all about the 'coscumes'. She really wanted the Cinderella 'coscume' displayed in front but since that was full-price (heaven forbid) I was able to convince her that the Tinker Bell, frilly, green, tutu was a much better alternative. She was so happy with the purchase and hugged the bag out to the car and couldn't wait to get home and try it on. I was almost as giddy as she was waiting to see what it would look like....precious!...adorable!!!...cute!...stinkin' cute even! and then these immortal words utter forth from the mouth of my now freshly adorned and minted Tinker Bell..."Where's My Wings?"...

Ack! For $40+ couldn't the Disney powers-that-make-princesses-to-be include the wings!? Nope, obviously not! It included the tights and the fabulous Tinker Bell cameo pin and all the glitter and fairy dust on the tutu but no wings. I bought the shoes and crown but didn't think to get wings. Oh well...Not going back...you know as well as I do what will happen...we'd leave with a Cinderella 'coscume' next time!

She has continued to 'mention' to everyone who passes by and sees her costume that 'I have no wings' - sad isn't it!? I pulled some wings from a different costume but she's no dummy and while she tried them on, probably for my sake, they just didn't 'fit' and they were removed after a couple of minutes. Not the right color or size I'm sure.

The Big Easy may have had an 'eye popping' moment over the price but there was no denying the cuteness factor or her face lighting up when she wears her 'coscume' and prances around the house. It is the first thing she puts on in the morning and we have to practically peel it off of her at night. I love it! I am enjoying every minute of my baby girl being a full-fledged, card-carrying member of the prissy princess club! Dress it up baby Tinker Bell!

They're making a comeback...Apron's that is!

I made 12 of them for Christmas, that's right....12!!! Actually a few more if you count the 3 I made for the kiddos out of the IKEA Christmas kitchen towels - okay, I was a smokin' hot apron maker for the holidays. Most were made using the Vanilla House Designs "Friday Night Apron" or "Sunday Dinner Apron" patterns. Very easy to use, both of them - but I prefer the sexy, sassy look of the Friday Night one (see one lucky recipient sassin' it out in hers in the slide show). I think aprons are making a revival (nah, I KNOW they are!). I wish I had more and I wish I had some antique and retro ones that I know we played around with as girls that belonged to mom, Granny and Granny C. Who would have known!?

There is a cool site devoted to the apron and all things apron'y' (is that a word?). They are having a giveaway of a cool book about aprons. If you go to their site and make a comment you can be entered in the give away. Check it out: http://www.apronista.blogspot.com/ Hmmm...all those aprons and not one for me - there's a problem with that. I've got some sassy "Elvis print' fabric that needs to be made into an apron and picked up some adorable striped fabric on our anniversary trip. I think it's time for me to get a new Friday Night Apron. Whatcha think?

8:00 am and all's well

Yep, 8:00 am on New Year's Eve and I'm awake to verify that all's well in the computer kingdom and at least in Lehi, Utah. We were able to ring in the New Year last night at my brother's house...the first time every one of us made it to midnight! It was a Christmas Miracle! Everyone was so tired and the kids were getting their second winds running around like loons with balloons after a round of attempted balloon animal making gone awry. The two, 2-year olds, surprisingly were the best behaved of the bunch and about 11:45pm it was all about the 'poppers'. Big Easy had purchased some of those little poppers and sadly, that was the highlight of their evening. We had to take 'baby steps' to midnight...staving them off with Dick Clark's "New Years Rockin' Eve". Poor Dick needs to retire, he looks like an animatronic from Disneyland.

After a long commercial for the new season of "Lost" the show came back on and it was suddenly 11:58pm. The vP's threw on their coats and shoes (so we could leave as soon as the festivities were over), watched the ball drop in Times Square - none of the kids realized it was pre-recorded and headed out for the total of 3-minutes it took to pull all the poppers and litter the front porch and snow with confetti. It was so freezing cold it was hard for the kids to enjoy it. My littlest refused to even consider holding one or pulling the rip cord. We piled in the car and headed for home watching neighborhood fireworks the whole 1/2 mile home. All vP kiddos were in bed by 12:10 am. BE and I took a bit longer to unload the car, clean, pick up, transfer laundry and finally collapse around 1:00 am. We had a good night - too much good food: homemade buffalo wings, dips, hamburgers, freshly made french fries, Martinellis, chocolates, egg nog and assorted snacks.

2007 was a good year! 2008 will only be better. Topping the resolution list for all is to lose 30 lbs by the family reunion in August. D, T, BE, Nana, Pops and I are all 'in' on this one. If we pull together it can be done. Gotta 'de junk' the house. I pray all challenges can be met with my backpack full of emotional and mental tools at the ready and if my bag is empty I will be able to find friends and family behind me with bags full. My wish for all of you is the same and more. The hills and valleys will come - may we have our heads up to see them! TTFN!

The Shouting is Over!

Christmas came in a blizzard...luckily Santa drives a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer otherwise he may not have made it! We were blessed, yet again, with an abundance of gifts, good food and time together with family. The favorite gifts were a kitchen for the littlest chef in our house, a trampoline that won't be set up until our yard is thawed and uncovered in the spring and "We got a Wii!"

I felt misty eyed and teary at two special gifts - the first from The Big Easy, a huge picture frame that held 30 photos. He had taken the time to find, print and display some of our favorite Disneyland pictures from our many trips over the years. I knew he had been working on something but couldn't figure out what he was doing...it was his 'handmade' item and it was indeed heartfelt and special. It is a treasure I will place in my craft room or the family room so we can admire and remember.

The second gift was from my parents and something they got for each of their children and their families. It was a complete set of the family genealogy and temple work that had been done thus far. It is a treasure. Tucked in the front cover is a letter from my mom that I haven't read yet. I saw it and knew that I would need a Kleenex and some 'alone time' to do it justice - not amid the wrapping paper toss and shouting that was happening. I will have to shovel out some time today so I can read it. It also includes some other special thoughts from Dad and Mom - what a lot of work and something that has no price tag.

I felt a lot of satisfaction in making a lot of my gifts this year. I think next year I will try harder to find things I can do for the kids as well. I plan on doing the 'handmade holiday thing' again. Whether it was received in the same spirit it was given, I may never know...but I enjoyed it! I am a little 'let down' to not have a pile of things to be working on, but D'Artagnan has requested a robe for his Birthday (that's today!) Got to get sewing...

Snow!

It is C-O-L-D here! We got a major rain-turned-snow storm over the weekend. Why does snow have to look so soft and fluffy - like I want to lay down in it and roll around it??? NOT! It sure is pretty to look at when it's falling and when everything is newly white. However...I have the hardest time getting warm (must be my Arizona native blood). It does help with the Christmas spirit though. Monday night we made sugar cookies from a new recipe taken from Pioneer Woman Cooks website http://www.thepioneerwomancooks.com/- super yummy!

I'm still cranking out the gifts for Christmas - finished up two aprons for the kids' teachers using the Sunday Dinner Apron pattern by Vanilla House Designs. That brings my total apron count to 10...2 from this pattern and 8 from the Friday Night Apron pattern. I love the aprons - they are so easy to make and turn out so cute! I have had a terrific time finding fabrics to suit each person's personality and the sassier the fabrics the cuter the apron.

I found a set of dish towels at IKEA (3 for 1.99) that I turned into aprons for the kids to use while making Christmas sugar cookies. Will post pics of them here soon. They are super excited to have their very own aprons and my son wanted his right away to wear to dinner. I explained that it wasn't necessarily an over-sized bib but for cooking/baking purposes but then again...why not!? My oldest daughter and I made a sock snowman tonight based on the advent activities found on the Bella Dia activity advent site: http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/christmas_book_activity_advent/index.html. She named him "Oatmeal" - the 'cast off' name from Frosty the Snowman. He is adorable and we had a great time. Wish there were more hours in the day to do all the crafty activities available for the holidays!

I sent off all my out-of-town packages this week and the 'hand-made' items for my brothers and brother-in-law was a spice mix a la "Emeril Lagasse". I put the mix in little glass jars found at IKEA and wrapped in fabric remnants. It wasn't quite as labor intensive as the aprons but since most of them enjoy BBQ'ing and have turned out to be excellent cooks I think it'll be well received.

I have a couple more aprons left to make for Mom and one SIL and need to find a cutesy tootsie pattern or make up one for my little one. She will most likely get a kitchen from Santa (SHHH!) and I found some adorable pink fabric that would make a perfect kitchen apron to go with it! A new robe is the latest request from my son - perfect for the birthday bear to bring him (his birthday is the 26th). Anyone have a great robe pattern or tutorial???...

Holiday Recipes

I've been in such a sewing and creating mood lately that I've almost neglected my cooking and baking. I love the smells of the holiday season - especially those tried and true recipes that can catapult me back to time spent with my brothers and sister growing up. Chocolate gravy is one of those, eaten every Christmas morning and often again on New Year's morning. Another is cheese balls that my grandma and mom would make to give away on a tray surrounded by crackers. We always looked forward to the extra (odd ball, cheese ball) that would be left for us to snack on as we waited for Santa.

Cheese boats are another 'family recipe' that not many people have heard of. I come from a small town in Arizona, Globe. I grew up with everyone making them and knowing what they were - we made them for fundraisers and sold them! My mom tended to make them only at the holidays and for the last several years The Big Easy and I have made lots of them and given them away to our friends and neighbors. The kids would help with scooping out the bread and enjoy either eating it, throwing it or saving it for the ducks and birds. We would put 6-8 in a freezer bag and attach instructions for how to heat and eat. We've gotten lots of compliments, requests for recipes and "You're making cheese boats again this year, aren't you?" Sadly, since moving to Utah we haven't made them but maybe next year we'll get back in the 'boat' making mode. Thought you may like to try them this holiday season or any time during the year you need to try something new!

Chocolate Gravy

1 Can Evaporated Milk
1/2 Square Semi-Sweet Chocolate (Baker's Chocolate)
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Heaping Tbsp Corn Starch
1/2 Can Water (Use the Milk Can)

In a double boiler or a pan that will not burn easily - mix milk, water and square of chocolate. Stir often until chocolate is thoroughly melted. (To prevent burning, be sure to stir continually if not in a double boiler) In a separate bowl mix sugar and corn starch together. Add just enough water to make a thick mixture. Bring chocolate mixture to a boil and when it is boiling add in the sugar mixture. Continue lightly boiling and stirring until it thickens. (Hint: if it is not thick enough, to a pudding like consistency, you can mix a little more corn starch with water and add to the chocolate). Serve over baking powder biscuits. (We always just follow the recipe on the Bisquick box!). Split the biscuit in half, top with a pat of butter and pour on the gravy, enjoy!! Yum, Yum! Makes a small recipe enough for about 2-4 people.



Cheese Ball

2 - 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
2 Cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp pimento
1 Tbsp finely chopped green pepper
1 Tbsp grated onion
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp lemon juice
dash of salt
few drops of Tabasco
1 1/2 - 2 cups of finely chopped pecans



Mix all ingredients together. Divide into two and form into balls. Roll each ball into the pecans until coated. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill. Serve with crackers and enjoy!



Cheese Boats

1 lb. Longhorn/Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 small can tomato sauce
1 small can El Pato tomato sauce (hot tomato sauce) if you can't find- use 2 cans regular
1 small jar diced pimentos
4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped fine
1 large can diced green chilies
1/2 Cup olives, chopped fine
1 bunch green onion, chopped
4 tsp. vinegar
1/2 Cup vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 and 1/2 dozen french rolls (you want a nice crispy crust so they'll hold their shape)



Combine all ingredients, except rolls, in a large bowl. Take the rolls and slice off their tops so you have a nice 'lid'. Use a spoon or fork to scoop out the insides leaving a thin shell all the way around, leaving the sides intact. (Save the bread you take out for bread pudding, croutons or bread crumbs). Carefully fill each roll with the cheese mixture. Place the 'lids' back on each roll and wrap in a square of aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees until heated through and cheese is melted (approx 20 minutes). *NOTE* These can be frozen before heating and then heated for a longer period of time when ready to eat.

* I often remove them from the foil and place on a cookie sheet before cooking to crisp up the bread. If you like crispy outer shells this is just the thing for you!

Handcrafter's Holidays Meme

Well in case you are wondering - it DID snow over the weekend, Friday night to be exact! We had a breakfast with Santa Saturday morning so it was just a perfect intro to him riding in on his sleight. Our youngest did not enjoy meeting Santa and was terrified of the whole experience - a duplicate photo of last year's crying snapshot. It's a keeper!

I did finish two the Amy Butler bags for Morgane and her sister but the package to France has not been sent off. We are still in search of something unique for her brother - what do you send a French young man in his early 20's??? We'll have to track down something asap! I spent all day today decorating the inside of the house - putting up two trees this year (one upstairs and one downstairs). The upstairs in a noble fir and smells so good. It is decorated with hand-made ornaments and traditional colors and breakable (but cheap) glass bulbs. The downstairs is our artifical tree and full of our 10-year collection of ornaments. It was so fun to pull them all out this morning and reminisce the beginnings of each one. How far we've come and yet how far we still have to go. (The Big Easy and I will celebrate our 10-year anniversary this month!) My sweet little 2-year old was very eager to help place ornaments and did an excellent job - didn't break a one. She tenderly grouped like items together in low spots on the tree and didn't complain when mommy rearranged a few of them to other spots. The other two came home after school to a 'decorated' house and it was heart warming to hear their 'oohs' and 'aaahs' as they ran around re-discovering all their beloved ornaments, stockings, favorite Christmas books, stuffed animals and knick knacks. It made every maddening moment of decorating worth it. We decorated a pre-packaged gingerbread house kit (our first ever). Went smoother than planned despite a caved in roof. Hope it's still standing in the morning.

I love the website "Sew, Mama, Sew" and thought I'd get to answering the questions for their Handcrafter's Holidays Meme:

Do you have a favorite gift that you love to give?
Every year Santa puts a toothbrush in our children's stocking and a Lifesavers Book (just like he did when I was a little girl!)

If you’re making gifts this year, what are you making?
(See the photos)

Name one thing on your personal wish list.
A Clover bias tape maker and a gift certificate to Broadbents (a 100-year old department store here that has the most fantastic assortment of quilting fabric not to mention tons of other odds and ends.)

Do you make and sell things that would make fantastic gifts?
Not yet - maybe next year if things go over well this year LOL

What is your favorite family holiday tradition?
We always have a family talent show on Christmas Eve. The kids often showcase their instruments and singing abilities. The adults do some goofy things like lip synching and playing kid-sized trumpets and pianos. My dad always reads Luke 2 and my mom always closes by singing "O Holy Night".

Have you started any new traditions with your family that you didn’t practice growing up?
Wrapping gifts - Santa never wrapped our gifts when I was a kid, they were always just laid out when we went in the room. I think it's more fun to have them wrapped.

What do you love most about the holiday season?
Doing things together as a family whether it's just the 5 of us or with our extended family and friends. We are so lucky!

What do you like least about the holiday season?
When I feel stressed about getting 'bigger and better' and allow myself to get too materialistic

Anyone close to your heart that you’ll be missing this year?
Just those family members in Texas and Arizona that we won't physically be with - but in spirit we will!

What is your favorite holiday food?
Chocolate gravy. We have it every Christmas morning. People think it's weird but we've never had anyone that tried it, not like it. Think warm chocolate pudding on baking powder biscuits. We make the biscuits from scratch - split them in half, top with a pat of real butter and pour on the chocolate gravy. Served with a slice or two of ham and a glass of milk. YUM! It's a family tradition that's been done as long as I can remember and I'm going to be 41!

Santa's Workshop

It's going to snow today - hopefully (said with fingers crossed). I can only remember one, maybe two, white Christmases in Arizona growing up but I always wished for them. I have my craft room filled with projects I'm working on for Christmas and I've gladly dubbed it "Santa's Workshop". Goodies for extended family, kids, mom, dad and the Big Easy. I have many of them completed and hanging in the closet. I hope to post pictures soon. I have to get off a package to France by Monday. I decided to work on some "Stash and Dash" bags by Amy Butler for Morgane and her Sister, Aubrey. I figure even French girls need stylish little bags to hold their makeup and essentials in. I found a darling little cowboy print at Broadbents last Saturday and fell in love with "Olivia Pig" prints in black and red. Got to get to work...

Sew, Mama, Sew! blog has been posting tons of tutorials (one a day for the month of November) on things to sew for the holidays. I can't keep up with all the fun things I'd like to sew. If I can get these things done that need to be mailed - then I can spend time on the projects for those can be worked on up until the last minute. The house is still not decorated and the tree needs to be put up - probably Saturday. I'm 'de-briefing' from Thanksgiving and the dissapointment from getting B.E.'s test results on Saturday. There is lots of unsurety in the future of what to do regarding pharmacy school (or not). Luckily, crafting makes me relax and brings a happy air to my soul. The Big Easy needs a hobby! smile!

Like a Lemming

Not wanting to be left out of the current trends (albeit quite a late joiner) I think I'll actually post to the blog I set up over a year and a half ago. It seems the thing to do...

Wher am I now? It's almost 7:00 pm - an hour to go until the kiddos bed time (not that I'm counting down or anyting). The Big Easy is gone to class - where he is every night straight after work. Luckily, I'm not bitter or resentful (hah!) and I handle being a single parent at night with such finesse and grace (double hah!) Truth be told, I'm hiding out in the computer room to catch my breath and sanity while my kids tear up the other room. It's either that or someone's going down - better me than them. At least the walls are still standing. No one's crying yet...at least not me :D.

Where have I been today?

Costco for the mundane: toilet paper, facial cleanser and the outrageously cute princess costume that kiddo #3 (aka spoiled rotten) did NOT need but I purchased anyway for $30 and now have buyers remorse. Should I take it back? She's only 2 1/2 once!? And she's my last one - my last girl - she's really into Princesses! What if she hates them next year like her older sister? and all I'm stuck with is a pirate/ninja/ghoul? Okay who am I kidding, I want to keep the costume - just wish it came in my size and it was really okay for a 40-year-old to parade around in it all day like a 2-year old. It's not so cute when a grown woman wears it all week is it? You can see why the little girls like it, can't you? (of course the Disney marketing gurus are brilliant) but the magic of it all is spellbinding. Back in the day when I still believed in my somedays...oh yeah where was I?

On to the dentist for 'color matching' on the crowns that will be cemented in a week or so (holding my breath for that day - did Cinderella every go to the dentist?) Got impressions for the bleach whitening trays for my teeth - oooohhh hope everyone has had that experience! It's so very much fun having that goop slopped and shoved all over your mouth! Not to mention feeling like all your teeth are being slowly yanked out when they remove it. However, I have visions of white (okay, whit'er') sparkly, Princess-like teeth after I get the trays, bleach every night, gag and finish after a few weeks). The price of beauty.

Macy's to return a 'tampered with' foundation to the Estee Lauder counter. Yesterday, I opened my brand-new bottle of foundation to find it full of a floral scented lotion and then further down in the bottle (yes, I dug in with Q-tips to see what was under the lotion) was the foundation mixed with lotion. DISGUSTING! And to boot had to go show up to church 5 minutes late, sans foundation! Fortunately, for her, the saleswoman was very pleasant, apologetic and helpful. I got a 2nd 'free gift' and went on my merry way (take heart - there really are some responsible customer service people out there!). The kids get out early from school on Mondays - ugh! WHY MONDAYS!!!! But after homework it was on to dinner, clean up and here I sit.

Where am I going tomorrow? More of the same with the kids: making lunches in the morning, it is picture day so everyone's hair and clothes must be clean and in order, kids are driven so scoottering won't muss the hair, breakfast, Yo Gabba Gabba (a very annoying new kids show for the little Princess) so I can hopefully shower and get makeupped (with my new and completely untampered with foundation) by 10:00am - that's my goal. Kiddo #1 has a new sculpture class starting tomorrow that she is dying with anticipation - we are all dying for her to start so we can stop hearing about it starting! I am hoping to start book #3 in the Twilight series "Eclipse" - Edward and Bella are waiting for me. I'm almost hesitant to start it because I know it's the last one for a while. The other two I read in the past 4 days. After this book is done - don't know where my next literary escape will be. I'm open for suggestions.

This entry was very 'surface' and skin deep - I'll probably be able to dig deeper when I'm less concerned about the walls and the chaos happening in the next room. TTFN!