A Garden to Grow In

by Stephanie
My darling friend emailed me a few weeks back with a pic of her daughter wearing this darling gap dress…with paint on it.  Oh no.  She is a great mom that provides a wonderful environment that fosters creativity.  But creativity can be messy.  As we see.  She asked if I could help her “save” the dress. 

Why yes.   And in the meantime she was fostering my creativity.  Thanks Jami.  I sent here some ideas and she liked this one.  Me too!  I really loved that little bird.  And it comes with the pattern.  Hooray!  And I already had enough scrap fabric, so it was FREE!! 

I did need to adapt a bit since the paint was bigger than the flower patterns provided.  I removed the crystals that already made “flowers” on the top bodice.  I wanted some fabric flowers to tie into what we were doing on the bottom. 
I used her pattern for the center of the flower, the smallest flower and the peddle.  Then I just used that flower and cut it about 1/2” bigger once and then again.  For the three layers of flowers.  Then I just cut down the other two flower patterns for the flowers on the upper bodice.
Then I used a spray adhesive for fabrics and quilting and sprayed between each piece so it would stay. 

Then I just did a small zig zag stitch to keep it all in place and so the edges wouldn’t fray.  You can do a small regular stitch about 1/4” inside if you want the frayed too too.  About an hour later…all done! 

My daughter tried it on so I could take a pic.  I hope she loves it!  I still love that birdie….

Technorati Tags: applique tutorial,applique,flower applique,dress redo,redo,girls dress redo

NEW PANS!!

By Stephanie
It’s like Christmas….but in April.  Ok actually it IS my Christmas present…just early.  That’s okay.  Fine by me.  My mother-in-law came to visit and attempted to make scrambled eggs in my once non-stick pan.  She put in four eggs and got out about two.  She decided that new pans might be a good idea.  She said it was my early Christmas present if I wanted them….yep…I want them.  Badly. 
So…here they are….red…to match my mixer.  But really I wouldn’t have cared what color they were.    But the red does look nice.  My mother-in-laws initials are PD.  My pans have PD on the bottom.  Funny.  Yep, they are Paula Deen.  I love her.  And from all the butter I use, you should have determined who I cook like…..

Y’all are jealous…I can tell…..(did you hear my southern accent as I said that..)

Technorati Tags: paula deen,paula deen pans,new pans,red pans non stick skillet

Chicken Salad

by Stephanie

When my last kido was born, we weren’t suppose to take her out for a few months.  So, trying not to loose my mind in a house full of kids we started the “Finer Things Club”.  If you watch “The Office”, you might remember that episode.  Any way, it was a lunch with girl food….and adult conversation….and it kept me sane.  Mostly.  So every time we moved I have continued the tradition.  We get together and rotate houses.  When it’s your “turn” you host us, make the lunch for us and something simple for the kids.  I always make corndogs, cause my kids never get corndogs.  They think it is special.  Whatever makes you happy.  And I get to make things normally I don’t.  Because I am on the only one who will eat it.  Chicken salad is one of those things.  So it was my turn and I made chicken salad. 

Chicken Salad

Makes enough for 6-8

2 chicken breasts cooked and cubed.  (I put it in the oven at 350 degrees-frozen- with salt,  and lemon pepper for 45 minutes or until it reaches 165 degrees inside)

4 oz cream cheese

1 cup sour cream

2-3 green onions chopped

1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans

salt and pepper

I like to mix the cream cheese, sour cream and onions together.  Add in the warm chicken and stir.  Salt and pepper to taste. Add in the nuts right before serving.  I love this on the thin buns or in a pita with sprouts and sliced tomato. 

Technorati Tags: chicken salad,recipe,girl food,finer things club

Goodreads

by Stephanie

I love to read.  Now that my kids are old enough that I can read for about an hour at a time instead of waiting just until they are down for a nap or bed for the night!  But it needs to be worth my time.  I don’t like investing hours into a book to not really enjoy it. 

I have a friend on Goodreads.com that is a librarian.  She reads A LOT!  She and I have similar tastes.  There is one series that we both like that isn’t for everyone.  So I know when she gives it four stars, it will be worth my time.  She is a great resource and Goodreads.com makes it easy for me to see what she likes and doesn’t like.  (And NO I am NOT being paid to tell you that.)

I have a few favorite authors, but I was in the mood to find a new series to read.  My 12 year old kido is a great reader too so I kept seeing this collection when I would go to the YA section at my library. 

My library is NOT well stocked.  Not like in Las Vegas.  Were they co-op with all the surrounding libraries and will transfer it…for free.  It was awesome.  And I could get just about any book I was looking for.  Here…not so much.  But the pictures on the covers were…interesting.  Not “Oh that looks like a good book” interesting.  More like “I am not sure about that one” interesting.

See….

 

 

But my friend on Goodreads.com had marked it with four stars and I was hungry for a good book.   So I got the first one.  The Luxe by Anna Godbersen.  I WAS HOOKED!  The only problem was that the second was checked out by someone that works for the library.  Apparently you get the book for like 6 months when you work for them.  Sssssooooo, I was impatiently waiting.  And waiting.  And waiting.  I told Jenny (younger sister) about it.  She went and bought all four.  But she is two states away from me.  BUT…..my parents were coming to visit.  And they brought book two and three (since Jenny had just finished book three).  That only left book four which I am still on hold for, but only for a few more weeks!  I REALLY like this series.  And since it is YA, there is a bit of scandal, but it isn’t the kind described in any detail.  You know what happened, we don’t need all the description.  It’s nice when an author lets you use your imagination too.  I love some scandal.  I am hoping book four wraps it up nicely.  I can see how it could go either way…I am also a sucker for a happy ending.  So here’s hoping!   Or maybe you could find out for yourself…If you would like a good book, or four.

Technorati Tags: books,luxe,recommended books,goodreads

Banana Peanut Butter Muffins

By Stephanie
Or cupcakes….if you want your kids to feel like they are having something they shouldn’t snack or for breakfast.
My kids eat a lot of fruit.  I mean a LOT of fruit.  But once in a while they just stop….and then I am left with a ton of apples or grapes, or in this case…bananas.  So, what to do with bananas? 
Here is my first suggestion.  Cupcakes, or muffins.  However you want to spin it.  I don’t like to wait until the bananas are too brown to use.  Just when they start to get freckles.  That is when they are perfect.  

Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Muffins
Makes 24
In large mixing bowl combine:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup quick oats
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
(if you want a more “cake like” texture, you can put this in the blender).
In another large mixing bowl combine:
1/2 cup butter softened
1/2 cup peanut butter (any kind)
3-4 ripe mashed bananas (about a cup)
2 eggs beaten
1/2 cup milk or for cupcakes buttermilk (they will rise a bit more)
Combine wet with dry and pour into cupcake liners or muffin tin.  Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes.  When cool frost with: 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1 Tbsp honey, 2 cups powdered sugar and 1-2 Tbsp milk.  OR…my new fav, with Nutella!  And no I am NOT being paid to say that.  But it is super yummy. 
Enjoy!!

WE HAVE A BUTTON!!

by Stephanie

Actually we had the button last week.  I just couldn’t figure out how to get it so you could see it and grab it!!  But Amy found this awesome tutorial.  She have everything!  PLUS it’s in ENGLISH…not computerese…..So I followed her links and whoot whoot…we have a button!!  If it doesn't work when you paste it…let me know….I will keep working on it.

I also love this link to a conversion site to make it so you see your address NOT your button she gave for the scroll box…SO EASY..really! 

Technorati Tags: button tutorial,how to make a button

Paula Deen Cheesecake Recipe

by Stephanie

Okay, if you are dieting….do not proceed

if you are on a low carb diet…do not proceed

if you plan on wearing a swimsuit in the next three months…do not proceed

You get the hint…

this is SUPER non-low fat…

I don’t even dare calculate the calories in this thing..

But OOOOHHHH…….

I don’t usually like cheesecake.  I ate it once in my early 20’s and then got the flu…REALLY bad!  So it isn’t ever something I order.  But me and my soon to be eight year old kido were watching the Food Network episodes and we saw Paula Deen make this amazing cheesecake  She turned to me and said “that is what I want you to make for my birthday”.   Um…okay. 

So here it goes, with the changes I made.  All of which are recommended on the reviews from her site.

First layer…I actually used chocolate graham crackers instead of the regular it calls for.  

Second layer…fudge brownie like, just did what it said.

Third layer…I used my own chocolate chip cookie dough (1/2 of the regular recipe, I will post it later) and baked it for 10 minutes before going on. 

Fourth layer… Cheesecake.  I baked this for 1 hour and 30 minutes at 300 degrees and it was still a bit under done.  I would do it again at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 30 minutes. 

Fifth layer…chocolate ganache and I used 6 tablespoons of cream instead of the 4 it calls for.

Now chill for 24 hours.  Not kidding.  Serve with fresh strawberries.  You actually really need them to cut the richness of the chocolate. 

Now go into diabetic coma….