Last week when I was on the phone with Jo and she told me that she had thought that Valentine's Day was only a few days away. I laughed and told her she must simply be on Pinterest time, because not only is my pinterest stream full of Valentine's ideas but Saint Patrick's Day and Easter. I am sure in a few months it will be on to 4th of July stuff.
The fun thing about Jo's confusion is that we have been able to share with you our Valentine's day posts in Pinterest time. (Did you miss Jo's cute food? Here is the link for her heart carrots, pretzels and flat bread).
Time to let the cat out of the bag, I LOVE Breakfast! Last week when we were out and about, Slim Jim asked if we wanted to go to the Prepared Pantry before we went home. I eagerly agreed. I was in baking heaven, but I tried to limit my wish list to the near basics. I came out of there with some bright pink gel food coloring, clearjel (which is a serious cornstarch for making homemade syrups), strawberry baking chips and heart pancake molds.
Boston lately seems to have problems with dairy so I decided to make our favorite pancake recipe into a dairy free recipe. In my opinion it was not quite as amazing as usual but all the pancakes got devoured so I guess we will give it a 1.85 thumbs up (not quite 2). Slim Jim said that if I wouldn't have told him it was dairy free he wouldn't have known.


Here is my favorite recipe regular Buttermilk Pancakes that I got from Our Best Bites, that they got from Allrecipes.com if you don't need dairy free this is a really good one.

Dairy Free Taste like Almost like Buttermilk Pancakes
by Shaffer Sisters
3 c. all-purpose flour
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
3 1/2 c. vanilla soy milk
3 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs, separated
1/3 c. canola oil
Combine dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt), add vanilla soy milk, vanilla and egg yokes. Mix until combined. Heat skillet to medium-high. Take a ladle and pour batter on skillet. Flip pancake when top is mostly covered in bubbles. Cook till brown on both sides.

The only thing that this recipe for me was missing was the butter flavor so in the future I would probably add in 1 1/2 tsp of McCormick butter flavoring (brand is very important in this case, cheaper versions are not valid substitutes. Don't curse me when you look at the price difference, just either skip out on the butter flavoring or pay the extra to get the good stuff).

Strawberry variation
I put a few strawberry chips (really it is pureed strawberry bits) on the top of pancake immediately after I poured my batter. I had tried mixing the bits into the dough it didn't combine evenly, and sunk to the bottom. 

Heart Shaped Pancakes

A little more cooked than this because you don't want your batter to run.

For this I used the pancake molds linked above. I only used half a ladle amount of batter (half the size of my other ones). I found that I had the best success when I waited until it was starting to cook around the edges and then took a butter knife to separate it from the mold. When I got it out of the mold I then flipped it on my skillet.

Balance is a word I have had on my mind a lot lately. As I try to balance my roles as a stay at home mom (all that involves, with cooking, cleaning, etc.), wife, sister, aunt, friend, church member, and blogger.
Last week when I woke up for the day, to complete darkness, with a cold house, I suddenly realized that the power was out and had been for a while (because of how cold it was in our apartment). I scrambled to get light so that I could feed and care for the kids. Within a few minutes I had a candle for all of the common areas of the house. I then tried to find something easy to serve to the kids. Not knowing when the power would come back on I began to think what I would be able to serve for lunch or dinner that night if the power had not come back on? Ooops. It hit me like a rock..... months ago I had the impression that I needed to prepare for power outages and I had set it aside. Now I didn't have the tools I needed.

When the sun finally came up I opened the blinds and cuddled underneath the blankets. I opened a  book called the "Art of Homemaking" (if you are a reader of Simple Simon & Co. I know you have heard of this book before). As I read through the introduction, I was hit by Facet 10, of an Ideal Homemaker:

An ideal homemaker's activities are well balanced. Though she may be noted for a specialty and devote a major part of her time to one particular phase she doesn't spend all of her time to one particular phase, she doesn't spend all of her time cook, nor does she concentrate just on sewing, or on cleaning or reading, or on outside interests. She reaches out to include in her life stimulating projects which serve as an incentive to her. This gives her a beautiful cut. (pg. 3, Chapter: The Ideal Homemaker, "The Art of Homemaking")

At that moment I suddenly realized that I needed to figure out a way to schedule my day so I didn't leave anything behind. This process has been an imperfect one for sure. Since then I have been trying to remind myself every day. Which means I have been trying to be wise about how much time I send at my computer or at my sewing machine. It has been so freeing, though I am far from perfect yet. The best I can do today is to give you a little inspiration and ask for your help in suggestions for how to find a balanced life. Please let your comments be inspiring to us and your fellow readers.

{Free Printable}

The other day, I had all of the big boys quietly reading in their rooms, and both of the littles napping.  As I was cleaning up around the house, my heart stopped.  "Oh no", I thought, "Its Valentines day in 2 days.  What should I do?"
So, I started to think over all of the pinterest ideas that I had seen, having to do with heart shaped food- I felt inspired.



There was a I am momma hear me roar's (not heart shaped) post on pretzel making, that she found from Just get off your butt and bake!  I figured I could probably adapt that to heart shapes.  So, I just went from memory, having skimmed through it the night before.  I made my own bread dough recipe, that I love!

Jo's standard bread recipe
2 1/4 tsp of yeast
2 tbsp of honey or three or four-I just give the honey bottle a good long squeeze!
1 1/3 c warm water
stir it together until the yeast is dissolved, bubbly, and my kids say "stinky"
Then mix in 1 beaten egg, 3 1/4 of whole wheat flour (this is the kind I use), 2 tbsp of oil, and 1 tsp of salt.

I put all of this in the bread maker and set it to the dough setting. (1 hour and 30 minutes)

When it was finished mixing and rising, I took it out and rolled it really thin- "pizza dough crust thin".  I used my heart shape cookie cutter, and cut out some flat bread.
Then I rolled it pizza crust thin again and sliced it in to long thin strips-think egg noodle width.
I then shaped those in the shape of a heart pretzel.  On the stove top, I had a pot about 3 inches deep with boiling water.  I threw the pretzel hearts in there and when they started to float, I took them out and sprinkled them with coarse sea salt.
I baked them for about 10 minutes.  at 350 degrees.


As for the flat bread, I let it rise for about 20 minutes and then I baked them for about 12 minutes again at 350, I took them out when they looked done.  I could tell, because they were puffy.  Cut in half, these were perfect for pb&j sandwiches!


 I hope you are wondering whether or not I realized that it wasn't actually 2 days until Valentines Day, but in fact it was actually January 14th.  Yah, thats how I roll.   I realized it, about 3/4 of the way through making these yummy breads.  So, my V-day scare has morphed in to Valentines month around here.  An entire month to wear pink and think about love.  I am driving the boys nuts!  Haha- my one soul purpose in life!
-With Love,
Jo

As we share our experiences, we hope that you will feel our encouragement in your life. We seek to plant a seed of inspiration in your mind. We aspire to uplift your soul to greater joy.  We will facilitate an environment of creativity, as we grow with you.
With Love,
The Shaffer Sisters

What made you fall in love with Bubba?
That is an interesting question!!  No I'm kidding!  The first time I met Bubba I thought he was a nice guy and had a great sense of humor! But as I got to know him more and more I fell in love with him for his unfailing kindness and love for others. As well as his gift for not judging someone.  Those to me represented great qualities.  I have to say it but he had one of those smiles. :)




Who is the most influential person in your life that shaped who you are today? Explain.
 The most influential person in my life would have to be my dad!!  He has been a thriving example of someone I would like to be like.  He is always honest, kind, a person to talk to or someone who just listens, he gives great advice.  But most of all he has taught me lesson in my life whether I agreed with him or not, that I have taken to heart and applied them to my life and am now teaching my family. He has always been there for me when I needed it that most!!

Where is your most favorite place in the world (that you have actually been to and brings peace to your soul) and why?
My favorite place in the whole world is the canyon where I grew up!!  And the reason why is because it does bring me peace and joy.  There are places that I would hike to and just sit and meditate because it was quiet and peaceful.  I also like it because there was so much to do swim , hike, explore, and be with those I loved and grew up with.  I still to this day love to go up there and take a walk and meditate!

What is your favorite snack any time of the day?
My favorite snack is a peanut butter and honey sandwich with bananas in the middle!!  I can eat those at any time. They are so good!!


What is your default meal to make when you have people over (include the recipe)?
Bubba, would say that I make salad all the time.  But I think the meal that I refer back to most of all is Homemade hamburgers and homemade french fries!  Hmmm!! So good!!  The recipe is to:
*Thaw about 1 pound of hamburger( I can get about three hamburgers in one pound)  It really just depends on how big you want the hamburger.
*For hamburger to stick together you can use an egg and a few crackers.
*Then you can use any seasoning you would like!  I like to use onion powder, seasoning salt, and garlic powder.
* Cook on grill till the fluid coming from the hamburger
Fries:
*Fill pot or deep fry pan with oil about 2in deep and turn on med heat
*Cut potato's into thin or thick slices
*place one int he pot and if it bubbles and floats then the oil is ready
*place fries in oil and cook till golden brown and serve!!
*you can season fries however you would like as well!!
What is your greatest challenge as a new mother of a seven year old?
The greatest challenge of being a mother of a seven year old is discipline.  Knowing what to do in situations that come up. There are so many people that will say, "well I am going to do this with my kids,"  but in reality it is so different then if we don't have kids.

What is the best approach for someone to get to know you and become your friend?
The best way to get to know me is to spend time with me and questions.  I am a rather shy person but I am working on being open and expressing myself.  So the best way to spend time with my in environments that open me up!


Tell us a funny story about what it was like to grow up with only brothers.
A funny story! Growing up my family lived up in the country where we were able to run a hot springs, a dry farm and 2 green houses full of tomato's and cucumbers.  Ok so there's the background but here's the story:  My brothers and I would always be on a summer swim team and one weekend we were up at Jackson hole at a swim meet and on the way home my brothers called my name from the back seat.  Well as I turned around I was blue darted in the face.  If you don't know what a blue dart is, it is where someone farts into a flame and the flame flies out!  Well this blue dart of was huge enough to singe my eyebrows.  Now that I look back on it I just say oh their just boys and laugh.  But back then I was furious!!!  Needless to say each day was an adventure with my brothers!!   

What has been the biggest adjustment marrying into a family that has 3 sisters?
Well coming from a family of all boys and marrying into a family of sisters, the biggest adjustment is the fact that I can talk to them and they understand me!!  I only had my mom and now I have 3 sisters that I can talk to!!!  It is a good adjustment!

What is your favorite movie to curl up on the couch with a warm blanket?
Well my movies have changed over the years.  When I was younger I would curl up with good ole Anne of Green Gables.  As a teenager it was I curled up to the Mummy series.  Now I would curl up to a good musical, Harry Potter, or a good mystery movie!

Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
No I do not! I slide my shoes off unless they are to tight!

What is the first thing that you notice about people?
The first think I notice about people are their moods and expressions. You can tell if someone is happy or not or approachable or not just by that.

Do you think that you are strong?
I would like to think I am strong in all aspects.  But I think I am more strong physically and enduring pain than I am mentally.

What is your favorite recipe?
My favorite recipe is a No Bake Cookie recipe of my moms that have failed to get from her but the second best recipes are the ones that you can make from scratch.

If you were a crayon what color would you be?
I would be Rainforest Green.  The name just sounds majestic and I would like to go there someday.

 
First of all, I would like to give a huge thanks to the community of Project Run and Play and the support that was shown last week. It helped me decide to find time to sew along this week even though I had been totally stumped. So stripes and polka dots huh? I have to admit this was really hard for me. I know it's  high in fashion, but they just seem an extreme in contrast even for me.


I had a navy and white polka dot maxi polyester dress with a collar and 3 buttons up the center of the bodice that I refashioned for the bodice. The plan was to use the buttons in the front and add one more to make the bodice a little longer. I made my own pattern for the bodice and the sleeve. This was a new experience and took a while. I used white bias tape (that I made from white on white polka dot cotton fabric.) to finish the edges.

 


Shared at:

The 36th Avenue

Here are the answers to the questions that Jo asked me.

1.If you could use 1 3 word  words to describe yourself, what would it be?
"Just not funny."
Kidding, I think it's a close tie between assertive and exact (maybe that makes me intense). I have always been bolder when it comes to voicing my opinion. My friends may not know this about me quite as well, but my family definitely does. This combination may have been what made Dad say to his twelve year-old daugher, "Al, you're just not funny." This torchured me for over 10 years and just in the last year I found out that Dad was only joking  all along (apparently it was a line from the movie A River Runs Through It). I would say my intense personality either drives people crazy or makes them laugh.


2. What is your favorite Artistic medium?
I really love to sketch and always have for as long as I can remember. Now I mostly do it for projects I need to design, but I would love to get back into the habit of one 10 minute sketch each day to improve that ability. I'm not sure if quilts count as well, but I love to make them and they inspire me. Not only that but they serve a purpose beyond just aesthetics.


3.  What does your husband do, that makes you feel giddy?
Power Shoes is incredibly supportive and involved. Whenever I am working on a project, I love when he either jumps in along side of me, or asks questions about what I'm working on and why I'm doing something. Last night's conversation was about bias tape and making button holes (I was trying to finish Ty's Madame Principal: Striped Polka Dot Bubble Dress for PR&P). Someday I'm sure he will be a good little assistant because he knows so much. Just like I hope all of Power Shoes' conversations of welding will give me a good foundation to learn it someday. This question has given me the perfect opportunity to pull one of my blog posts from the unfinished drafts pile to the actually used pile. This is written for Power Shoes in honor of his assistance on the Design Studio and always standing by me.

I just wanted to thank you for your incredibly supportive and all encompassing love for my crazy hippy-ish ways. Last year you didn't even object in the slightest when we started taking a hypnotic/meditative childbirth class; which was a completely foreign concept to you. You proudly wore Heber in public in the baby wrap as much as me because that was what he needed and was easiest.
And now as I am re-purposing this crib, you are encouraging me, letting me run with my ideas, and sacrificing your time, money, and precious sleep. Last night as I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep, it hit me how really fabulous you are (I've always thought you were great, but now I know you are so much more).
I am writing this letter to you for two purposes. The first is so you can know the extent of my gratitude. The second reason is so that I can never forget how amazing you really are on those hard days when my stupid pride gets in the way. Thank you for all the nights we stayed up 3 hours later than we had planned so that we could finish all of the crib re-purpose projects. Thanks for standing beside me as I spent precious money to do this project.
And most especially thank for telling me near the end of a very long week (when I was feeling guilty that I may have forced you into free labor), "Al, thank you for letting me help you with your projects. I've had a lot of fun planning and building with you. We work well together and I look forward to us getting to build more things together." This melted my heart deeper than any gratitude you've ever spoken before.

4.  Who is your favorite ancestor and why?
Honestly I don't know that much of our ancestors. I was going to say Grandma Twila, but I looked up what ancestor was in the dictionary, and it is typically at least one more remote than grandparent. As far as ancestors I actually knew, it is a tie between Great Grandma Lucille and Great Grandpa Shaffer (since they are all I have). Both used their skills and long lives to bless others. Grandma Lucille served in any way she could her entire life. Just before she died (at 92 years-old) she was still volunteering as a pink lady at the hospital to push people around in wheel chairs. It was truly a life filled with service. Grandpa Shaffer is special as well because he was a master craftsman. He could do amazing things with the work of his hands. Besides the homes and churches he built rock by rock, he was also an incredible wood carver. I don't think there's anything he couldn't make. He was even able to make a wood chain out of a single toothpick (can you imagine working on something so intricate?). The combination explains a lot of where some of my inherent desires come from. I love to serve others even if there is not always enough to serve myself, and there is an indescribable satisfaction that comes from creating something beautiful that forces my sewing machine to be out 100% of the time and my silhouette to be out 75% of the time.


5. Tell us one childhood memory, that has shaped who you are today.
From before kindergarten through the end of second grade  Tyler was my very best friend(then he moved away and we had to be friends from a distance). Even to this day I consider him one of the best friends a person could ask for. He was always proud to be my friend (as a little kid I was not as confident as I should have been) and despite only getting to see each other once a year or two, we have always stayed friends. When we were little kids I always felt like I belonged to the land of misfit girls with my very short and very curly hair in a town where all the girls had long flowing locks. That never even phased him despite all the girls in our class having little crushes on him. As a first grader Tyler and his dad were watching the Miss America Pageant. While watching it Tyler asked his dad if girls with curly hair could win the Miss America Pageant too? His dad told him yes. His response was really excited, "Sweet, I'm going to go tell Allison that she could win the Miss America Pageant someday." (Obviously I wasn't there for this, but Tyler's dad told my mom the story when we were little and it has stuck with me forever since). I learned that instead of looking at our differences as curses, we need to think of them as unique opportunities to bless others life. Knowing that I was a Child of God and reminding me that He made me perfect just the way I am was the best gift a friend could give. I was able learn that whatever I dreamed could be possible. That is the gift that I hope to give to my children and all that are near me.

6. What books are you reading, right now?
Hmm, well this last week I just read The Candy Shop War: Arcade Catastrophe and The Outsiders (read it with my 12 year-old brother-in-law).
And I am in the middle of reading many books but my main focus is Les Miserables and the Book of Mormon (Black List, Animal Farm, How to Win Friends and Influence People, The Hobbit, The Magician's Nephew, Stargirl are just another handful on the list of someday when I don't have such fun people around). I want to know the later by every  means possible. This is one of those books that after I read it, I will never actually be done.

7.  What has been your life's biggest challenge, and how have you overcome it?
Patience, and having the calm and faith that should accompany it. This is something I didn't have to learn as much of as a kid, but I have learned time by leaps and bounds as I've been married and begun to raise a family. I've seen my patience grow as we've played the waiting game for moving onto something bigger and better in the last 6 months. The calm and faith was learned from months of stressing, searching, praying, and waiting. In those moments of greatest doubt and uncertainty we were not left alone. I had some really wonderful opportunities to feel peace and comfort, and most importantly Heavenly Father's desire for what was best for me and his all encompassing love. Since one of those more profound moments, we have just trusted that it will be okay and kept swimming along (paying tithing, trying to make ends meet, finding ways to serve those that most need it, and finding joy in the journey) as best as we could.


8. Do you look like your mom or your dad?
 Haha. Funny question. Mom and Dad are complete opposites. Dad has straight, black hair, olive skin complection, and dark chocolate eyes. Mom has blond, curly hair, sky blue eyes, and ivory completion. Besides both of them having tall-ish builds, they are polar opposites when it comes to appearances and personality so naturally all of us kids are a melting pot of Mom and Dad. Therefore you wouldn't know we were siblings unless you know our mannerisms. I would have to say, I think I look more like my dad. I have dark brown hair, nearly black eyes, and an incredible tan when I get out in the sun. There is one thing I definitely got from Mom though, and that is my crazy curly hair.
What do you think?


9. What is your greatest blogging weakness?
Pictures; I do lots of really cool projects, but those usually involve messes especially when you add in keeping 2 kids content while trying to be efficient. So I don't usually get a final picture taken in that moment. Further down the road the same opportunity may not present itself. I also stink at photography in comparison to Scary (I know, there's only one way to get better). Luckily Scary found a pretty easy but amazing, free photo editing program called Picasa.

10.  What is your greatest blogging strength?
 I'm not sure that I've been a hardcore blogger long enough to know for sure. I guess the good thing about my posts, is that I only write things that are significant to me, so don't write filler posts. If I'm writing a post it is because it matters to me and it may bring a perspective into someone's life. and I try to be as real, honest, and quirky as I really am (hence the awesome track).

11. Plan your ideal romantic date, detail-by-detail and share it with us. 
 Honestly the thought of a romantic date stumps me. I used to have an endless supply of date ideas running through my head (oh the single days, when there was time to daydream) and now the typical date is ordering Chinese, picking a movie, and curling up on the couch with my husband. It is fairly cheap, doesn't require babysitters, and you can never be late.
When we move into the Chicago area (2 more weeks-yikes :P), I think it would be fun to go to some musicals and museums; in order to do this, I would have to have a babysitter for the kids. I don't know what else is there, but since we will be there in the winter, it would be fun to get some warm roasted nuts as we walk safely back to our mode of transportation to take us home. As we are waiting for the tram to arrive, I wouldn't mind Power Shoes sneaking in a few kisses.


Questions for Nae:
What made you fall in love with Bubba?
Who is the most influential person in your life that shaped who you are today? Explain.
Where is your most favorite place in the world (that you have actually been to and brings peace to your soul) and why?
What is your favorite snack any time of the day?
What is your default meal to make when you have people over (include the recipe)?
What is your greatest challenge as a new mother of a seven year old?
What is the best approach for someone to get to know you and become your friend?
Tell us a funny story about what it was like to grow up with only brothers.
What has been the biggest adjustment marrying into a family that has 3 sisters?
What is your favorite movie to curl up on the couch with a warm blanket?
Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
What is the first thing that you notice about people?
Do you think that you are strong?
What is your favorite recipe?
If you were a crayon what color would you be?

*EDIT: Six months later these are fitting a little better. I would say the pattern is more like a 2T pattern.
 

When Project Run and Play announced the themes, Week 2 for me was a must sew week. I knew I wanted to make a peplum top with large pieced stripes but I was not sure what to put on bottom that wouldn't read too loud. A few weeks ago, I was at Joann's looking through the remnant fabric and found some jegging material, ding ding! We have a winner!
I had it!  Hand painted random pok-a-dot jeggings!
Boston, what do you think of that idea?

I think she is daydreaming about playing outside in summer weather Or maybe that is just me!

Striped Peplum

From a Navy T-Shirt, I cut:
(4) 12"x 4"
(2) 24"x3.5" (I used the bottom hem of the shirt. If you don't have this, cut it longer, taking in account for seam allowances and hem)

From a White T-Shirt, I cut:
(4) 12"x4"
Gray Flat-Fold Elastic
(2) 10 inch
(1) 9 inch

1. I pieced together the shirt alternating the 12x4 strips of the navy and white. I serged them so that they would continue to stretch.   The same could be done with a double needle/zig zag stitch if you don't have a serger. I always try to use my serger, because last year I convinced Slim Jim that it was necessary. So I feel guilty not using it, you understand right? 2. Then I gathered the 24x3.5" strip and adjusted the gather until I thought it gave me the look that I wanted (probably ended up using 19-20 inches). And then I serged it on (again double needle or zig-zag stitch could do the trick).
3. Next, I cut out my neckhole and 4. serged the shoulder seams together.
5. I sewed my 9" strip of flat fold elastic together and finger pressed the seam open. Then I pinned it to the neckline by finding half and quarter marks, folding the elastic around the unfinished edge. I attached it by using a double needle.
I knew the arm holes needed to have 5" height on each side (by measuring her arm hole on another shirt) and that I wanted to finish them before I finished my side seams. I found the middle point of a 10 inch strip of elastic and pinned it to the shoulder seam folding the elastic over the edge. I then pinned the ends of the elastic at 5 1/4'" from the shoulder seam and then pinned toward the shoulder seam. I used a double needle maintaining its ability to stretch.
6. I took a 5/8" seam from the bottom to the top (where the sleeve starts). Instead of easing the seam out I turned 90 degrees and sewed off the fabric to give it a defined sleeve.

Jeggings

Get Pattern Pieces 
Using my self drafted pattern, (which you can see in the line above) I cut my stretch denim out. Then I applied a freezer paper stencil with a random poka-dot-pattern to my cut fabric pieces. Using a piece of foam, I applied arcilic paint mixed with a fabric paint medium (but if you were super cool and had fabric paint you could just use that).

Then I bathed the kids while I waited for it to dry. Once it was dry, I heat set the dots on.

Next I serged my front tops together and my front backs together (5/8" seam). Then I put the Front and Back together starting with the crotch seam (5/8"). Then using a double needle I put a 1/2" hem in the bottom of the pants.
Next I serged the outside seams. I cut a 18 inch piece of 1" wide elastic, I then did a 3/8" seam to connect the two ends together and then finger pressed it open. Then I attached the elastic directly to the top of the leggings with my serger (though again you wouldn't need a serger to do this it could be done with a sewing machine). One finishing detail I did that I liked that you wouldn't have to do is to sew down your outside side seam using a double needle. I did this so that they would have more of the appearance of a store bought jeans.
 Then I rolled the elastic and using my sewing machine with a double needle I sewed the elastic down. And they were all done! Whoot Whoot!

I think that when she starts walking it is going to be even more adorable. I can see her playing in this outfit in the upcoming spring.

Hopefully we will be ditching the chair soon as a photo prop lately she has been more consecrated on teeth then taking steps

How about a sibling outtake picture to finish things off!

Last week, I was super bummed that I miss out on last week's sew along challenge. Though Al did a great job representing our blog! Did you see her dress? Pretty amazing right?


I today have been working diligently on my submission for Project Run & Play, among the playing with the kids and making meals. The Theme for this week is stripes and dots. My personal challenge for this week, do stripes and dots to the best of your skill level. From to time to time I feel myself being lazy in my sewing and taking shortcuts (ones others wouldn't notice but I would know were there) this week I am not doing that I want to start sewing the best pieces of my life and helping others learn more about sewing as well.

This week I have taken the time to draft my own patterns and put everything together in a relaxed and polished way. I have been so pleased with the results. But the extra time to make it perfect, paired with the nasty flu bug in our home, I am not able to share the completed results (on my little un-toddling toddler) with you first thing this morning. But I will promise you that I will have it published by 11 am MST. Along with some fun little 1 year old pictures of Boston. I was stuck in bed feeling like I was dying on her birthday, so it will be nice to have an excuse to capture this age.

Feel free to come back by at 11 am MST, and see what surprises I have for you.

Here are a few clues about my project(s):
- Gray, Navy and White
- Calculated and Random
- Subtle and Loud
- Round and Straight
- Form and Function