Sneaky peek

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> :). Almost done!!
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My first pattern!

I finally bit the bullet and tried a pattern.  I only had to read the thing 1347384 times and look up most of the lingo but I DID IT! 

Addy needs to wear a uniform for school and finding uniforms for a 2T are hard and can get expensive so I decided to try and make one myself.  I chose this pattern for my first time.  It looks uniformy to me.

Simplicity It's So Easy 2511 at the local WallyMart for a nice $3.00.

I picked up some nice durable twill khaki fabric for $1.50 a yard!  I <3 my local Walmart. 

And here's the result.

That is ONE LONG SKIRT!  I had to take that part up a bit but if she has a ginormous growth spurt this year we are covered. 

I'm quite pleased that I was able to finish and learned a ton..like how to use the zipper foot and put in a zipper.  The lingo and directions threw me off and the pattern symbols look like chinese but I used online websites like http://www.threadsmagazine.com/ for helpful tutorials on how to do crap.  I'm so thankful for the internet.

 I plan on making some more skirts and maybe another jumper so Addy's school wardrobe this year will be set...all for under $20!

Now if I could just figure out how to sew a polo shirt...

Conversations with Addy...

Addy:  Mommy!  I watch Dinosaurs??  Pweeeeze?  ::insert sweet Addy voice here::

Me:  We will- but first we have to brush our teeth and get ready for bed.

Addy:  NOOOOOOOoooos!  Don't wanna brush teef and ready for bed.  Watch DINOSAURS MOMMY!!!

Me:  Addy, I said we WILL but you have to be patient.  Do you know what patient means?

Addy:  Yup!

Me:  Oh really?  What does it mean?

Addy:  Dinosaurs!!!



Fine.  Dinosaurs wins. 

Low fat chicken salad recipe

Ok my dieting friends, I made up this recipe last night and it's actually pretty tasty so I thought I'd share.

 I've cleaned up my diet a LOT and have omitted processed foods and even *gasp* cheese.  For anyone that knows me, cheese is a staple in my life and always has been.  I thought I would never survive without it, but amazingly...I feel GREAT eating like this.   I hadn't realized that diet had such an effect on mental well being.  I can't even begin to describe how my moods have evened out, I have so much more energy, and I just feel good.  Eating cleaner has really changed how I look at food.  Here's a reference if you are interested:  http://www.eatcleandiet.com/


Anyway- here's the recipe.  Enjoy!

  

2 chicken breasts (about 6 oz a piece) 

1/4 cup celery- diced

1/4 cup pecans- chopped

2 TBS of reduced fat olive oil mayo

2 TBS of non fat plain yogurt
Salt, pepper to taste

Cook your chicken with Pam and coarsely chop or put in the handy chopper

dice your celery and pecans and add to chicken

add rest of ingredients

mix it all up and season to taste!
Makes 4 servings

Nutrition per serving
Calories  217

Fat  7.5g

Sat Fat 1.1g

Cholesterol  43.9mg

Sodium  152.6

Potassium  355.5

Carbs  19.8g

Fiber  1.8g

Sugars  13.7g

Protein  18.7g


No pics because I ated it.  :)

It was good!  I paired it with a low carb pita pocket and spinach and it's very fulfilling!

I really think I'm going to experiment with this next time and sub Greek yogurt and remove the mayo completely.   

Latest project...

This is my first attempt at making a baby toy.  The little boy who will be here soon has parents who are huge Star Wars fans and have decorated his room in stars, moons, and rockets...so I decided to try my hand at making a plush baby taggy toy in the shape of a rocket! 

I set off to Hobby Lobby land and found some great fabric that matched the colors of his room and then went off to find (or pray to find) and online tutorial of sorts...you know...since I have no blasted idea what I'm doing. 

Wouldn't you know it?  I found a GREAT tutorial!!  The Long Thread is a wonderful site full of cool and interesting projects so I used the easy to follow tute and came out with this:

 I have a super cool neighbor who loves sewing as much as I do and has WAY more experience, so I bribed her with some wine and she helped me construct this thing.  We used minky and fleece as well as felt and cotton and then attached taggie ribbons on the bottom.  I'm so excited about this little toy!  At the last minute I decided it needed more fun so I ripped one of Addy's old jingly toys, stole the jingly, and stuffed it inside.  I then decided to make a moon, sun, and star to match.  I didn't have a pattern for that...as you can see from that wonky star...I'm not sure what happened there.  :)

I was so excited when the mommy-to-be opened it and loved it!  And we had so much fun at my impromptu sewing party, that I'm pretty sure it's going to become a regular event.  The husband will have to get over it.  haha.

For my next trick I'm for real going to try sewing from a pattern.  Addy needs some uniforms for school and finding a uniform for a toddler that is cute as well as cheap isn't the easiest task... so I'm gonna make it myself.  Hmph.  :)

Happy Birthday dear Husband! Happy Birthday to you!

Someone turned the big 4-0 this year.  He's not a fan of surprises so I planned a family BBQ with friends and family. 

He does forty well doesn't he?

We had a great time, and I had a great time preparing TWINKIE and OREO cupcakes!!!  YUM.  Complete with filling!  They went pretty darn fast too. 

I promised no tacky over the hill decor so all I had was this little cake topper.

 The food table!

Frozen tropical lemonade for the adults...

Now it's a real party! 

I think the kids had the most fun.  LOL.

Oh.My.Goodness.

I really suck at keeping up the blog.  So.  Let's start with the most pressing piece of information that has happened in July. 

I GOT A JOB!!  YIPEE!  Not that I didn't love love love spending time with Miss SassyPants, but I'm much better as a working mom.  For some reason, I'm just way more efficient with a forty hour a week job added to my plate.  The problem I faced staying at home was that the days I spent accomplishing my list of ToDos- A was left to watch TV and color and pretty much just hang out so I felt miserable guilty for not stimulating her better.  And then the days that I devoted the day to Addy- I felt horribly guilty for not being able to keep up with the normal day to day things.  It was weird.  I had soo much time on my hands, but I didn't know how to use it efficiently.  The time I got to spend with Addy is so precious to me.  Losing that job I hated and that company I won't name was the best thing to ever happen to me this year.

And now I have a great job with a fabulous growing company doing something I love.  Life is good. 

Now if I can just get the blogging down.  :)  Next up:  Hubs' birthday bash and our trip to the beach!!

We've had a great summer.