Muffin Mix!

For our latest MOPS creative activity, each mom was able to customize some muffin mix for a quick and easy breakfast for the family.  The basic mix was:

1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar

You can add:
1/2 to 1 cup dried fruit and/or chocolate chips
1/4 to 2/3 cup of chopped nuts

To make the muffins:
Mix together 1/4 cup oil or melted butter
1 cup milk or vanilla yogurt
1 egg

Add one package of mix.  Combine.  Batter will be lumpy.  Spoon into greased or lined muffin tins. Bake at 400 for 20 to 25 minutes.

My family enjoy cranberry almond muffins yesterday and today.  I keep thinking of other great combinations:  apple walnut, cherry chocolate...the list could go on and on!

Folding Photo Book

This was the craft we did for our first MOPS meeting of the year. If you would like to make your own, here is the tutorial. Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Materials Needed:

2- 6x6 pieces of chipboard. I found chipboard in the scrapbook section at Joanns. If you can't find any, any heavy cardboard would work. It's purpose is to stablize the front and back of the book.

3 -12x12 pieces of paper

2 pieces of scrapbook paper to cover the chipboard. They can be any size, as long as the are bigger than 6x6

glue or double stick tape

scissors

Do the next three steps to each of the 12x12 sheets. Fold in half.

Now fold the paper in half the other direction.

Fold the paper diagonally.
Each of your 12x12's will look like this when you are done.
Glue or tape the three pieces of 12x12 paper together. Make sure the diagonal folds all face the same direction. You should be connecting on squares.

Take your colored paper and cut it a bit larger than the chipboard. There is no exact science to this. I didn't even worry if the cut was a straight line. Cut the corners off the paper as shown below.

Fold the paper over the chipboard and glue or tape in place.
Now for the trickest part...folding the book for the first time. Fold the diagonal fold in. The square should sit down on top of the fold.
Do the same to the other end of the three 12x12 papers.
Turn the 12x12 papers over and fold the last diagonal in.
Glue or tape your paper covered chipboard to the top of your folded paper. The other chipboard goes of the back of your book.

Decorate the outside of you book however you want. My four year old helped me decorate this for her to put her pictures in. She really wanted the pink circle on there. I don't know what it's purpose is. I just go with it!

I hope you enjoy making your own books! They would make great brag books for grandparents. Just fill the inside of the book with pictures of your choice!

A little rainbow

I've had the material for this shirt (based off of this post) for some time, but my wonder under had disappeared. I think my kids are hiding it from me! I finally went and bought some more, and Ali helped me make this super cute shirt. She loves it! I let her help me iron some of the rainbow. After these pictures were taken, I did stitch around the colors of the rainbow and the clouds, but Ali was so excited to wear it, she wouldn't let me do it right away.

The posing was her idea!

Also in the works in my home: A household notebook. I'm trying to streamline and organzie things so I get done what I need to and still take the time to read, craft, and do special things with the kids. I also want vital information in one place so that when Abi is born I can find things without thinking too hard! I've had the various pieces floating around, but I need to get it all together. Hopefully I'll have something to show you soon!

I'm also hoping to get an outfit made for my new niece before we go see her in August. I should have lots of time; I just need to decide what to make her!

Dropping off the face of the earth

At least that is what it feels like. We left after Easter for a two week trip. We started by spending a few days in Kansas with my family and then Jed and I left for a week long conference in St. Louis. The kids stayed with my sister and her family for the week. We've been home for a while now, but it still feels like I'm running in circles.

I've strongly hinted that I want Anna Maria Horner's new book for Mother's Day. We will see if the hint is taken. Besides making things for friends and family having babies, I think I'd like to make a few things for Baby 3, which should make his appearance in late October or early November. We will see.

I did manage to sew Ali's Easter Dress. I need to get a good picture of her in it. And, I did finally make it to Stonemountain and Daughter's fabric in Berkeley. We've lived here for almost two years, so it was about time. It was fun to visit. Ali and I really enjoyed looking at the fabrics. So many beautiful choices. Jed didn't quite get it, but that's okay, he humored me!

So, that's all for now...hopefully I won't ignore this blog for so long again.

Ups and Downs

This weekend I was able to go to a creative arts retreat that the church I go to MOPS at put on. It was great. I was able to complete several projects and try out my new machine (and Janome DC2010). Pictures of that are coming soon. But, I came home Sunday night and have been bummed ever since. Some things I can't talk about on here, but some I can. Like the dentist. I have an intense fear of the dentist. So much so that I did not go for about 10 years. Jed finally made an appointment for me, and I went. Well, I need a lot of work done. I have had a root canal, and I have 12 fillings that need to be done. I went in yesterday and had three done, and I'm supposed to go back on Thursday for some more. The biggest problem is that our dental insurance has a yearly cap on how much they pay. After one more filling, I've met that cap for this year. So, that means that we are either going to have to find a way to pay for the 8 fillings that insurance won't cover, or I have to wait until 2011 to get them done (which doesn't really seem like a good option either). I've been stressed about the dentist already because of my fear, and now I feel guilty on top of that because of all the money this is going to cost us. Money we don't really have. And, if I had just gone to the dentist at some point before now, money that we probably wouldn't of had to spend. I know I can't change the past, but I still feel bad.

So, very little of this post is about crafting, but really, it's my blog, I can write whatever I feel like writing about, right?

Things I'm excited about

1. I'm buying a new sewing machine. I think I'm going to pick it up tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to playing with it.
2. I'm going on a craft retreat this weekend. Three days, in a hotel, where I can craft to my little heart's content. I think I'm going to learn all about the aforementioned new sewing machine.
3. I have fabric and patterns for a new purse for me and a new dress for Ali.
4. A friend told me she had a bunch of fabric to give me. I can't wait to see what it is!
5. Anna Maria Horner's new book and the newest Sew U book come out soon.

There you go, five very happy things. Good night to all!

Breakfast

I love to cook. Clean-up isn't my favorite, but the act of cooking is quite peaceful. However, breakfast is the exception. I love breakfast food, but I'm not a morning person. That's probably putting it lightly. I really hate mornings, so often my family is forced to fend for themselves. Thank goodness cereal is loved by all.

For that exact reason, I was so glad when I learned through MyBlogSpark.com that General Mills is making a commitment of further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving, while increasing nutrients like calcium and Vitamin D, and providing whole grain.

Cereal is actually shown to be a top source of key nutrients in a child's diet. And even presweetened cereals only account for 5% of sugar in a child's diet.

So, I will feel better about the fact that I do buy Fruit Loops every once in a while for my family, and I'll continue to enjoy my Chocolate Cheerios. And thanks to General Mills, I was able to buy some cereal for my family...everyone got a choice, and I couldn't say no!

For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.

Right now if you visit here you will find a $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals.

Please note that the information on breakfast cereals as well as coupons for complimentary cereal was given to me by General Mills through myblogspark.com