Sunnybrook Farm Designs

DIY: polo shirt --> halter top

2013-05-16T18:20:00.000-05:00

My younger daughter joined a choir this past fall, and just after buying all of her uniform pieces, they had to close. All members were invited to join another choir, which worked out wonderfully, but I was stuck with a few brand new obsolete clothing pieces.

The piece in question for this tutorial was a red polo shirt embroidered with the choir logo, which I recycled into a summery halter top.

The bottom edges were basically equal in length, so I didn't have to alter the hemline.

Here's a closer shot to see the cutting lines. I cut more sparingly at first, and then tweaked it until it looked about right.

8. Finish by sewing closed 30-36" length of 12" double fold bias tape & thrad through the top edge casing. I happened to have red bias tape with white polka dots, which added a cute touch.

I did a similar upcycle with a pink strawberry long sleeved top. It had holes in the arms, so I cut those off & turned the fabric from the arms into finger-formed ruffles for the chest embellishment.

You could do this top in any size, adult or infant or anything in between.

Obviously, the bias tape length would need to be adjusted for the size.

Hot Shredded Wheat

2013-04-24T08:53:00.000-05:00

I grew up eating hot shredded wheat on cold days. For me, it is a comfort food because it is a taste of my childhood, as well as my beloved grandfather who passed the idea on to my mom and then to me.

Wheat gets a bad rap these days, but I tend to be more middle of the road about it. We eat it whole (not white) and interspersed through our diet with a variety of other grains (oats, rice, quinoa, etc.) We don't have digestive issues that require avoiding it, so I consider small amounts healthy.

And while you see a tiny bit of butter & sugar on this, you'll also notice the larger amounts of almonds & apples. You can add berries, other nuts, whatever suits your fancy. My daughter loves this one, too.

Hot Shredded Wheat Bowl

Press 1 large Shredded Wheat biscuit into a bowl, crushing it.
Pour 1/4 c. vanilla almond milk over the biscuit.
Spread 1 tsp. butter or Smart Balance on top of the biscuit.
Sprinkle on 1 tsp. dark brown sugar, 1 Tbsp. chopped almonds, 2-3 Tbsp. chopped apples.

Put the bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute on 80% power.
You know it's done when it's steaming and the biscuit is soft & collapsed.

When made with Smart Balance, this is a 200 calorie bowl.

Yogurt Parfait

2013-04-22T12:35:00.001-05:00

I met a friend at a coffeehouse recently when I happened to be hungry, but didn't want to blow it with a big carb load, i.e., muffin. I picked out a yogurt parfait, which is not usually my thing, but to my surprise I enjoyed it!

Of course, being my mother's daughter, I thought, "I could totally make this!"

Yogurt Parfait

2/3 c. vanilla Greek yogurt (I used Oikos)
1/4 c. mixed frozen berries
2 Tbsp. granola (I used Quaker)

Layer in a cup.

I like to stir it up and let it sit for just a bit so the granola softens & berries thaw.

If you want to make a few at one time to be prepared for the munchies later in the week, use 1 c. volume containers with lids (as you can see, I did this at the same time, too).

One parfait is 200 calories.

Making it healthier

2013-04-12T09:13:00.003-05:00

I have a recipe for a delicious egg bake that I adore, but it is full of butter and cheese. The fat content plus the quantity that's large enough for a crowd makes it unsuited for every day breakfast.

So I came up with my own one-serving version.

Saute 1 Tbsp. finely chopped onion & 1 Tbsp. finely chopped red pepper in a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray over medium heat.

Mix 1 egg with 2 Tbsp. lowfat cottage cheese. Reduce heat to medium/low, pour the egg mixture in over the red peppers & onion. Roll pan to spread egg out into a circle. Cooking too hot will burn the cheese.

When the omelette is about half-set, sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. shredded cheddar cheese and use a spatula to fold in half.

Cook until fully set.

With the ingredients I used, this is 175 calories and tastes so much like the other egg bake that I may not ever need that old recipe again.

My little kitchen helper

2013-03-27T20:08:00.001-05:00

Jelly jar + baking soda + circle of lace fabric + lid ring or rubber band =

Pretty enough to keep by your sink, packs a powerful punch!

The baking soda will dispense, shaker style, out through the lace.

Baking soda is a fabulous, inexpensive, natural kitchen helper:
- absorbs oil on greasy dishes
- makes a paste to help scrub gunk away
- as a soft scrubbing powder, it will make your sink shine
- if you used baking stoneware or cast iron cookware, baking soda is a perfect alternative to cleaning since you shouldn't use soap on these surfaces
- absorbs odors just while it's sitting there!

Resurrection Mantle

2013-03-25T22:33:00.001-05:00

I finished my Resurrection/Easter mantle decorating today. I did a quick and easy bunting project that added just the right finishing touch, and I'm very pleased with how it all turned out.

Here's a quick rundown on the bunting craft...
Supplies:
- muslin or other basic solid fabric
- jute cord
- black craft paint (I actually used leftover chalkboard paint!)
- printout of the letters H, E, I, S, R & N, in a font you like (I used Lemon Chicken sized at 175 in MSWord)

Tear the muslin into a couple of 6" wide strips, then tear those into 4" wide pieces, to get 9 total flags. I wanted the rough look, but if you want a clean look for whatever fabric you are using, cut nine 6x4" rectangles.

Iron the flags and sew or glue down (with fabric glue) a 1/2" casing at the top of each one.

Cut out the letters from the paper they are printed on to make stencils. I did have to cut in from the sides on some of them to reach the odd angles, so I just taped the outlines back together.

Center each stencil on the flag, and gently paint with the black paint. I used a Q-tip as my paintbrush, it allowed me to tap gently and get the soft, mottled look I wanted. It's better to start light, then add more to build the color until you like the amount, instead of doing too much and having it leak or make dark blobs.

Put a safety pin on one end of the jute (measured & cut to fit the space where you want to hang). Use the safety pin to push the jute through the flags in order.

Hang, adjust the spacing of the flags, done!

I am deeply thankful for the reminder I need and receive every year on Resurrection weekend, of God's faithfulness, Jesus' sacrifice, and the Spirit's renewal.

Tutorial for the crown of thorns is here, and the empty tomb tutorial is here.

Kids Can Do It - Acid/Base Science Test

2013-03-24T10:55:00.000-05:00

The Empty Tomb - a craft tutorial

2013-03-15T18:28:00.000-05:00

In a post last week, I mentioned that I have been working on a Resurrection theme mantle display. One item I really wanted was an empty tomb.

Turns out, empty tombs sculputres aren't really made. Not that I could find, anyway. Hmmm.

I decided to take matters into my own hands. I googled for pictures of the real thing, as well as some plaster molding directions, then headed to the kitchen armed with some plaster of Paris to see what I could come up with.

This project was not very difficult, but required me to put aside my perfectionistic tendencies, because it is not an exact science. If you decide to make this, I'm sure you'll find a better way to do some of these steps... in fact, if you do, come back & leave a comment to help out your fellow crafters.

The first thing I need to stress is that plaster of Paris cannot, repeat cannot, be rinsed down the drain. It will solidify down there and create a cement-like clog. So please, please, please use disposable products for working with the plaster, and paper towels to clean up. Dampened paper towels work very well to remove plaster from hands and tools, and then you can throw the towels out without sending anything down the drain.

Supplies:
- dry Plaster of Paris for mixing
- a container you can throw away for mixing the plaster (empty milk jug with the top cut off, anyone?)
- a paint stirring stick from the hardware store, or another tool that can be thrown away
- a small cardboard/paperboard box for creating a mold your tomb (I used the box from a Swiffer Dusters starter kit, 7.5" x 5" x 2.5")
- a very small box for the "empty tomb" opening (I used a 1 3/4" box that 4 batteries came in)
- a small plastic circular container for a mold for the stone - the goal is to find something that has fairly straight sides & a flat bottom, that will result in a stone that can cover the "empty tomb" opening created by the very small box (I used a Ziploc 1 cup storage container - you could use a tuna can, the bottom of a plastic drink bottle, etc.)
- tape
- aluminum foil
- black paint (poster, chalkboard, latex - something water based) - brown paint (again, water based - I used kids' watercolor paint... yes, really!)
- a clear sealer, I used Varathane polyurethane in matte, because I wanted both a water-based product and a matte finish (there weren't any shiny rocks on that hillside!)
- knife
- small paintbrush
- paper towels

Step One: Building the mold for the tomb and stone

Cut the side or top off of the box to be used for the tomb mold (shown in the photo above supplies list). Use tape to position the very small box where you want it, to be the form for the tomb opening (shown in the above photo).

Using a large piece of foil, line the inside of the tomb mold. I formed the foil over the very small box first, then worked outward to the edges of the larger box. You must be very careful not to puncture or tear the foil as you work it around the very small box, or you'll end up with plaster leaking through the tears.

I did not smooth out the foil too much - this is what creates the natural variations in the casting that look like real stone.

Notice that at the corners of what will be the top side of the tomb, I did not work the foil into the corners, but left it rounded.

Fold the excess foil to the outside of the box, to get it out of your way.

Next, form another piece of foil to the inside of the round container, to make the mold for the stone.

Whew, that was probably the hardest part (and it wasn't too hard, was it?)

Step Two: Casting the plaster figures

Using some sort of large container that is disposable, mix 2 parts plaster of Paris to 1 part cool water. I did 1 c. water, 2 c. plaster. Stir gently with the wood paint stick, don't mix vigorously or you'll end up with lots of bubbles that can show up in your final casting.

Next, add some black paint to the plaster mix, to get it good and grey. I mixed in paint three times before I got it dark enough for my tastes. You could add brown instead, to get a more earthy looking rock color.

Now it's time to pour! I poured plaster into the tomb stone mold first, to be about 1/2-3/4" thick. Then I poured the rest into the tomb mold.

Gently tap the molds on the counter or table top you are using to encourage any tiny air bubbles to rise to the surface and pop.

Now you get to let it cure. Overnight is best, to be sure it is good and dry.

Remember to clean up with damp paper towels, no rinsing anything down the drain.

Tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock ding! It's tomorrow, time for the next step!

Step Three: Unmold and smooth

Here is the exhilarating, terrifying moment when you turn the plaster pieces upside down on your hand, remove the box/container with the other hand, then peel the foil off...

Put both figures on a cutting board that you can clean with damp paper towels later. Using a knife, start smoothing the outer edges of the tomb figure, cutting away any jagged places that became too shaped by the foil. Don't be afraid to really go at it. I didn't want a very crinkly look on the sides, so I kept shaving plaster away.

For the tomb stone, notice in the picture above that I basically carved away all of the rough edges all the way around, to recreate a stone that could be rolled. I also flattened out an area to create a side that it would rest on for display without rolling around.

Throw all of your shavings away, wipe the knife and carving area off with damp paper towels.

Step Four: Paint

This part is completely up to your preference for how you want your finished tomb to look. If you prefer more brown for your paint, use brown instead of black for the main stone area.

I started with black and painted the inside of the tomb opening. I was having fun, so I kept going and added paint to some of the larger crinkle-cracks (as I like to call them). I rubbed the paint around with a dampened paper towel to work it in and remove the excess. If you do this, only work in a small section at a time, because the paint absorbs quickly into the plaster.

Just keep working on it until you like how it looks. I probably removed more paint with the paper towels than what actually stayed on, I didn't want it too dark.

Repeat this on the tomb stone face. However, I did not put any paint on the smoothed, round sides of the stone, for a more realistic, carved-stone look.

Next, I applied a wash of the brown watercolor paint. I actually did the small cracks more heavily, to enhance the natural stone look some more. This paint also absorbs easily, so keep an eye on how you apply it, don't go too heavy until you're ready.

I let the whole thing dry overnight, and then I did the final step,

Step Five: Sealing

I laid my figures on another sheet of foil before I did this, to catch the drips. A plastic mat or something would work well, too.

Brush on several coats of sealer. Be sure to seal the side that the figures will stand on, to keep plaster from sticking to its resting place. I went ahead and sealed the entire thing, front, back, and all around.

Water-based is great, because you can rinse the brush off easily, and clean up is a snap.

Let the sealer cure at least overnight.

Give or take 24 hours later, you're done!

Keep in mind that a plaster casting is still somewhat soft, meaning this is not hard as a rock. It should be protected in storage from bumps and pressure, and probably will not hold up well if played with. Did you try this tutorial? I'd love to hear how it went for you!

Get the scoop on squash

2013-03-13T15:17:00.001-05:00

If you've ever prepared a squash for cooking or baking, you know that removing the pulpy insides is a sticky job.

Recipes say to "scoop out" the insides. Sounds easy, doesn't it?

First, try a spoon, and find that the edge is not sharp enough for the dense squash skin. Next, try a knife, only to find this is impossible because it doesn't follow the inside curves very well. What about a cookie scoop? Still not sharp enough. Now what?

Last night, I finally found my answer.

I used the melon baller end of this handy tool, and had the insides pf the entire squash cleanly scooped out in about 2 minutes.

The magic combination is the thin, rounded, and sharp edge of this melon baller combined with the hole in the back, which allowed the scooped squash to slide through as I went along. The tool is called the Core & More, and it's from The Pampered Chef.

This is one of those tools that I have found numerous uses for, beyond melons and strawberries, such as removing core bits from apple slices and taking out potato eyes. As far as I am concerned, this is a kitchen essential.

By the way, here is what I made for dinner -
Roasted Tomato & Butternut Squash Pasta

It's the only way I've found so far that my kids will eat squash. The secret is roasting the squash, which mellows the flavor and brings out its natural sweetness. I made it easier with canned fire roasted tomatoes, and healthier with olive oil instead of butter, whole wheat pasta instead of white.

Bonus - it's a vegetarian entree if you are doing one meatless meal a week.

Recycled Can Pen Holders

2013-03-12T12:36:00.001-05:00

It's Spring Break, and this year I thought I'd find some fun things for us to do. Here is the craft the girls did yesterday, along with a friend, recycling cans into pen/pencil holders. Not only did they all enjoy it, but their friend said it was the "funnest craft I've ever done!"

What you need:

- clean cans with labels removed (soup, fruit & vegetables, coffee, etc... the large one in the picture is actually a big hot cocoa container, the kind with cardboard sides & metal bottom/top rim)

- Mod Podge (I prefer the matte finish variety)

- 1" foam brush

- assorted paper - construction paper, typing paper, scrapbook paper, magazine pages, paper candy wrappers, old book pages, whatever kind of paper your child will find creative!

- other flat embellishments such as ribbons, lace, buttons, paper doilies, etc. - again, the sky is the limit, be creative!

- craft scissors

- plastic placemat, plastic tablecloth, or some other way to protect your table from the glue

Here's how we did it:

Cut or tear paper to fit the cans. You can use one piece to wrap the whole way around the can, or you can cover just a part of the can at a time with different papers.

** Note: If you want to write something on your paper, it needs to be done before you glue it to your can, and you need to use colored pencils (pens & markers will smudge & run when they get wet with the Mod Podge)

Paint the back of the paper with Mod Podge, getting glue all the way to the edges of the paper.

Lay the paper on the can where you want it, then gently smooth it to remove any air bubbles. If an edge or corner does not lay down, add more Mod Podge underneath.

Cut or tear smaller pieces of paper into shapes, strips, or whatever you'd like to add as embellishments on top of the first paper layer.

Paint embellishments with Mod Podge in the same way, and stick on.

Repeat this process for any ribbons, lace, candy wrappers, and so forth. Three dimensional embellishments such as buttons can be added after all the other items are added.

Paint over all of your artwork with a generous coating of Mod Podge, to seal and finish. Don't worry, it will dry clear!

This is a house of girls, so our cans turned out mostly feminine. However, boys would love this craft too, using magazine pages & colored papers to their tastes, perhaps with twine, shoelaces, candy wrappers... what can they find that is flat and can be glued?

crown of thorns

2013-03-07T11:53:00.000-06:00

A few years back, I became disenchanted with Easter and the traditions that often go with it.

My kids, interestingly enough, had never really cared about egg hunts.

When we tried to color Easter eggs, they didn't really like it and would disappear soon after we had started, leaving me with most of the work.

And as cute as they are, this is not really what Easter is all about...

What truly bothered me was when I was introduced to the pagan origins of Easter itself. Consider searching this out and reading about it, if you are interested. I had always wondered why baby animals and flowers were associated with this holiday, and now that I knew why, I couldn't bring myself to get into it anymore.

The holiday that I really cared about, I realized, was holy day of Resurrection.

Finding ways to incorporate the death and resurrection of Christ during what is the Jewish season of Passover seemed far more relevent to our family life. So I threw out my bunny decorations and began seeking out ideas to unite our activities around the Resurrection. Let me tell you, my kids didn't miss the old Easter stuff at all, they didn't even ask about it.

Last year, I read an article about this very topic, which suggested decorating your home's mantle with items pointing to the Resurrection, much like setting out a nativity scene. I went on a hunt for such items, only to find very little.

I have been collecting and making things here and there since last year, though, and this year I feel I have come up with a good collection. Here are a few ideas for you:

palm branches
donkey figure
cross
plaque or sign with a message about the Resurrection
wooden goblet (for the Last Supper)
empty tomb figurine (tutorial for mine, shown in the mantle shot above, coming soon!)
crown of thorns

I made this crown from branches cut from a very scary looking wild bush we have here in Texas. I have no idea what it's called, probably because it is not often used in landscaping! My brave husband went on a hike with my kids and brought back a bunch of branches for me to use.

I soaked them in a bathtub full of water for a couple of days to soften the wood. Last night, I got to work, forming them into a wreath.

I had planned to take more photos as I went along, but this process proved to be very prickly, as I suppose should be expected. I have several painful scratches today on my hands. It was rather sobering, actually, thinking about how this is nothing compared to what Christ endured.

If you want to dare to try this yourself, I used the weaving techniques used for making a grapevine wreath. You can find basic directions for this here. I did some trimming when I was done with the shaping to remove excess buds and tiny branches.

Let me challenge you to find some new ways to focus on the Resurrection this year. There are a lot of creative ways out there to do this, they are just not as easy to find as hollow plastic eggs at the grocery store. But I promise it is far more satisfying than giving your kids a basket of pastel candies (which we still do, by the way!)

Pumpkin Bread

2013-03-06T12:19:00.001-06:00

I've heard you can add pumpkin in place of oil/butter in baked goods to reduce the fat and calories while increasing the nutrition. Why then, I wondered, was there so much oil in my pumpkin bread recipe??

Yesterday I tried it with more pumpkin instead of the oil, along with a few other tweaks. Here's what I came up with:

Dense yet crumby, full of flavor, delicious!

Pumpkin Bread
makes one loaf

1 3/4 c. white wheat flour
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. allspice
1 1/2 c. pumpkin puree (either fresh or from a can - not the pumpkin pie filling in a can)
1/4 c. water
2 eggs, lightly beaten>
1/4 c. chopped pecans for topping (optional)

Stir together the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Make a well in the center, add the pumpkin, eggs & water. Mix thoroughly.

Pour into a loaf pan sprayed with nonstick spray. Sprinkle with chopped pecans, press them down lightly.

Bake for 50-60 minutes at 350°, until cake tester comes out clean.

Cool in pan for at least 10 minutes.

12 slices, each slice contains: 159 calories, 2.7g fat, 32g carbs, 3g fiber, 4g protein

bright birthday

2013-02-03T15:50:00.000-06:00

Nicole's 13th birthday was yesterday. She asked for a white cake with lime green frosting. Not being a cake artist, I decided to find some other fun ways to make her cake more creative! After all, you only turn 13 once.

She's a fan of bright, fun colors right now, so here's what I did:

To do this, I cut the 2 baked layers in half like a bagel, using a long bread knife.

I dyed about 1 cup of the white frosting aqua (using mostly blue coloring with a hint of green coloring), and 1 cup I dyed bright pink (with red coloring.)

I used 2/3 of the blue between the bottom layers, then 2/3 of the pink between the next layers.

I then mixed the remaining blue and pink together in one bowl, which made the purple color!

Finally, I did the rest of the frosting with mostly green and a hint of yellow to get bright lime, or at least the best I could get it. I used a spoon to create the swirl pattern after I had frosted the cake, which is a hint I found on Pinterest.

Happy 13 to our amazing Nicole!

Thyme Tea

2013-01-17T13:10:00.000-06:00

Infuse a small handful of fresh thyme stalks in 2-3 cups boiling water.
In a mug, pour 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1/2-1 Tbsp. honey to taste.
Now finish filling the mug with the thyme infusion.
Stir & enjoy.

I came up with this thyme tea after spending the last two weeks researching & trying an endless parade of things for this chest congestion I've been fighting.

Thyme is supposed to be very good for the respiratory system, helping maintain clear breathing, actually helping accelerate the reabsorption of mucus out of the lungs.

Well folks, that is exactly what I needed. I have been drinking this tea for two days, and have noticed a marked improvement! Up until then, my improvement was marginal each day.

I love this tea infusing tea pot I found at Ikea! So much easier to use than those little tea infuser balls...

Make It Yourself - photo/card hanger

2012-11-19T15:43:00.000-06:00

You can use an old window frame (minus the glass) like I did, or you could also use any empty photo frame of any size, painted whatever color you'd like!

other supplies:
- metal screw eyes, I used , you can use fewer or more
- jute cording
- hammer & nail slightly smaller than the width of the thread of the screw eyes
- 1 3/4" craft clothes pins

Turn the frame around, back side facing you, and lean it against a wall or other support.

Using the hammer & nail, tap pilot holes at random intervals into the side of the frame. I put the pilot holes in the part behind where the glass would have rested, so that the screw eyes are partly hidden from view. (When screwed in, the screw eyes will be parallel to the wall and the frame - hope this makes sense!)

Turn frame so the other side is down, repeat pilot hole process, spacing these holes so they are staggered between the holes you just created on the opposite side.

Insert the eyes into the holes and screw in. I used blunt-nose pliers some of the time when there was resistance in the wood, otherwise my fingers would have been sore!

Begin threading the jute cording back and forth through the eyes, starting at the top or bottom, until you have created a zigzag pattern across the whole frame.

Tie the jute with a secure knot around the last screw eye. Starting at this end, begin gently tightening the jute from one eye to the next. You don't want it to sag when you attach things! When you reach the other end, secure it with another knot around the last screw eye. Trim the jute by both knotted ends to 1-2" long.

Use clothes pins to clip items to the jute. Use it year round by clipping seasonal items on for added fun!

Stand the frame on a piece of furniture against the wall for display, or hang on the wall.

2012-07-04T11:57:00.002-05:00

As some of you may already know from my announcement on Facebook, I will no longer be designing children's clothing.

This has been a wonderful eight-year journey, many aspects of which I am thankful for. One of those "thankfuls" is all the wonderful people I have met all around the world, without even leaving my home!

To all my customers & readers, I want to say thank you. Thank you for looking, for reading this blog, for shopping my store, for your kindnesses. And for letting me into your life just a little bit.

I have some great new ideas for what I will be doing for my business, and when it is all sorted out, I will be announcing it! For this reason, I will be keeping this blog, my Facebook page, and my Etsy shop will remain open.

In the meantime, I am selling most of my fabric stash! This is no small feat, let me tell you :) If you or someone you know sews or crafts, please have a look and share, I have lots of great treasures in store...

mime

2012-03-26T22:02:00.003-05:00

This series was a fun try at something new for me, that started out as part of the SPC challenge theme, "Walls".

I finished it with a sense of satisfaction and challenge - I really enjoyed the mime persona, and might find new ways to use it in the future.

a Sunday morning walk

2012-03-25T11:21:00.004-05:00

I love going for walks early on Sunday mornings - it is so quiet, so peaceful, so fresh.

this reminded me of the very best scene from Pride & Prejudice 2005 version

these thorny trees fascinate me - they are such lovely trees yet have such enormously scary spikes...

It was a beautiful morning... next time, perhaps you'll join me?

Self Portrait Challenge { space 2 }

2012-02-24T17:25:00.002-06:00

By Your Side by Lifehouse

All I want now is to be with you
Cause you know I've been everywhere else
Looking back at what you got me through
You knew me better than I knew myself

When I feel lost and I can't find my way
When words are at a loss I can hear you say
I'll be by your side, when all hope has died
I will still be around oh and I, I'm still on your side

When everything's wrong, I will still be around
By your side
Fighting my way back to where you are
The only place I ever felt at home
Stumbling backwards through the dark

I know how it feels to be alone
And where we go is where I wanna be
And in the silence I hear you say to me
I'll be by your side, when all hope has died

I will still be around, oh and I, I'm still on your side
When everything's wrong, I will still be around
I can't wait another day to show my space between
Your heart and mine, and you're all that I need

You say I
I'll be by your side, when all hope has died
I will still be around, oh and I, I'm still on your side

When everything's wrong, I will still be around
By your side, by your side, by your side, by your side, by your side

have a listen if you want...

Self Portrait Challenge { space }

2012-02-14T22:05:00.000-06:00

There is space in my heart just for you...

Happy Valentine's Day!

for Self Portrait Challenge's February theme - Space.

cookies & cream

2012-02-14T16:35:00.001-06:00

Every year when my girls' birthdays roll around, I remind them that I am not a cake decorator, so they better choose their cake based on flavor, not appearance. For instance, one year, one of them asked for a rainbow on their cake - I used rows of colored M&M's to create said rainbow atop her cake. That's as good as it gets here, people.

This year, Claire asked for Cookies & Cream Cake, with Cookies & Cream ice cream on the side. Be still my heart.

I love this cake! It is easy to make, tastes fantastic, and if I may say so, it is a showstopper - my best looking cake that I make. And here I am, sharing it with you, so that if you're a non-decorator like me, you can still WOW them!

Cookies & Cream Cake

1 pkg. Oreo cookies
1 pkg. white cake mix
1 c. water
1/2 c. oil
3 eggs
2 cups whipping cream OR 1 12oz. tub of Cool Whip

Reserve 16 Oreos in a bag or container where your kids won't get to them and eat them. Process the remaining cookies in the food processor to make medium/coarse crumbs.

Preheat the oven to 350.

Mix the cake mix, water, oil & eggs with an electric mixer for 30 seconds, scrape the bowl, then 2 min. on medium. Stir in ONE cup of the Oreo crumbs. Divide between 2 9-inch cake pans, bake for 28 to 32 minutes (until toothpick comes out clean). Cool 10 minutes, remove from pans, cool completely.

In a chilled bowl, beat the whipping cream for 2 1/2-3 minutes, until stiff peaks form. (Of course, skip this if you're using Cool Whip, move on to the next step). Gently fold in the rest of the Oreo crumbs, chill until the cake has cooled completely.

Fill & frost the cake with the whipped cream. Garnish with the 16 reserved cookies. Store this cake in the refrigerator.

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spinach garlic whole wheat pasta

2012-01-31T09:06:00.003-06:00

I've been watching my calories for the last few weeks, using a great app (myfitnesspal) and paying attention to my eating habits. I've learned a LOT. I am feeling better, too.

I've had friends ask me why I'm doing this, "you look great, you don't need to lose weight, why?" The answer is that I just plain didn't feel good. I didn't feel hungry at mealtimes (nothing sounded good to me), and between meals I was constantly snacking.

My wonderful husband gave me a tablet for Christmas, and while perusing apps for it, I ran across the myfitnesspal app. I installed it on a whim. Turns out God leads us even in our whims. This has answered my prayer for Him to help me discover what was going on with me.

Sooooooo, here's what I had for dinner last night: Chicken Parmesan (made with a Tyson Chicken Tenderloin), and the following pasta dish that I created (total = 505 calories). This dish has all the things I was in the mood for last night! It's not spicy, so you may wish to add spices or extra salt & pepper. Kids & husband really liked it - bonus!

2 cups (dry) whole wheat rotini
3 Tbsp. olive oil
5-6 garlic cloves (minced or pressed)
1 thin slice of onion, finely chopped
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
toasted pine nuts (optional)

Bring water to boil in medium pot & cook rotini according to package directions.

While pasta is boiling, in a large skillet warm the olive oil on a low temperature with the garlic and onion. The point is to impart flavor into the oil, not to cook the garlic & onion quickly. About 2 minutes before the pasta will be finished, turn the heat up to medium, to turn the garlic & onion golden.

Drain the pasta, add the the olive oil, and toss in the spinach. Keep the heat on medium, and stir for 1-2 minutes until everything is mixed and warmed through.

Serve onto plates, add 1 teaspoon pine nuts on top of each serving.

Self Portrait Challenge { Flashback 1 }

2012-01-13T09:47:00.003-06:00

It's "Flashback" time again at Self Portrait Challenge! This means we try to include at least 2 of the themes from the previous year in a new photo. Not always as easy as it sounds, but always fun!

themes from last year:

Literature -
Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.
- Stanley Horowitz

The Seven Dwarfs - Sleepy

Fears - As you can see, I am afraid of being chilled to the bone in the morning, as that would not be a good start to my day!

And finally, a quick "Wow - Thanks!" to my dear Aunt Cathy, who surprised me with this gorgeous lap quilt in colors that are perfectly me :)

Pink Giveaway!

2012-01-11T20:08:00.003-06:00

Whose little girl would love a pink ruffle skirt?
**What about a FREE hair flower?**

I have a goal to make 6 skirts, to support my friend Stephanie's running in the Marathon for a Cure.

100% of the purchase price will go to Stephanie's fundraising for her run.

Over the rest of January, every purchase of the Pink For a Cure Ruffle Skirt will be entered into a **giveaway** for the hairflower seen on the model in the listing. Stephanie made it, and let me tell you, it's gorgeous!

The Pink For a Cure Ruffle Skirt is perfect for Valentine's Day, as well as this upcoming spring!

Thank you for your support!

hoping and waiting

2012-01-07T19:34:00.005-06:00

Every year we hope to see snow, but we can never be certain
that it will make an appearance on our winter stage.

So we decided to take matters into our own hands and make our own.

Knowing snowflakes have 6 sides, I have always had a nagging issue in the back of my mind with the standard eight-sided folded snowflake. However, recently I found this pattern for creating 6-sided snowflakes in an old kid's arts & crafts book:

It takes practice (especially for the kids - lots of assistance was needed), but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you have created scientifically correct, six-sided flakes.

We filled up this window, as well as another the same size. There were tons of tiny paper clippings all over the table and floor when we were finished! Once we had it all cleaned up, this project took up a whole afternoon - yay!

Final tip: iron the opened up flakes on a low setting to flatten them out before hanging.

Have fun!