Handmade Christmas 2011

I'm trying some new things this year.  Last year I had grand plans for all the things I was going to make.  I'm not sure what I was thinking, having a newborn and all that.  This year I've been able to get a few more things done. PJs are done for everyone, and I made these little dolls today.  Ashley's look amazing, mine are a bit simpler, but I think they will be loved.

I've got what I need to make the boy version as well...we'll see if they get done by Christmas!

Chicken and Black Bean Soup

This is the first recipe that I feel is really mine.  I'm sure I've seen several versions of this in cookbooks, but this one recipe I never look at a cookbook to make.  So, here it is (for me as much as anyone)

2 c. dried black beans
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can diced tomatoes
1 large can tomato sauce
1/2 onion, diced
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced (or more, to taste)
1 Tablespoon cumin
4 c. chicken stock
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bag frozen corn

Rinse and sort beans.
Saute onions and garlic is a bit of oil in a large pot.
Add broth, tomatoes, beans and cumin to the garlic and onion.
Bring to a boil.
 Turn the heat down, add chicken, and simmer for about two hours.
Take out chicken breasts and shred them.
  Add the chicken back to the pan, along with the frozen corn.
Turn off heat, cover, and let sit for a few minutes.
Serve with sour cream and cheese.

This easily makes enough for six.  Leftovers are just as good, and it freezes well.

Making veggie muffins the Anna Maschke way

Step One:  Find the interesting recipe you want to try (mine was this one)

Step Two:  Look at the recipe and decide it makes too many dirty dishes and think of a way to simplify it.

Step Three:  Grab the veggies from your fridge (leftover broccoli and carrots).  Dump them both in the food processor.  Throw in the bananas too.  Puree with the juice (I used apple) yogurt, vanilla and eggs  Decide to melt the butter and mix it in too.

Step Four:  Melt butter.

Step Five:  Mix sugar with other dry ingredients.

Step Six:  Dump the wet and dry together.  Mix.

Step Seven:  Have a almost three year old want to help.  Give him the job of putting the muffin liners into the pan.

Step Eight:  Pour the batter into the pans.  Take a mini loaf pan and let a very anxious help pour the last of the batter in it.

Step Nine: Put in oven and then realize the butter in still in the microwave.

Step Ten:  Watch veggie phobic son devour the leftover batter and smile.

Step Eleven:  Eat muffins.  Enjoy.

And Josiah ate the ENTIRE mini loaf the next day for breakfast.  He wouldn't share it at all.  A success in my book!

Curried Chicken Salad

This is as much for me to remember as it is to share...it was a hit among the curry lovers in this house.  Three hours later Jed walked up to me and said "Wow, I'm still thinking about how good that was"  So here we go:

Excuse the less than precise measurements...it's just how I roll.  All of them fall into the "ish" category

3 T. mayo
1 T. curry powder
cilantro, to taste
about 1/4 cup sliced almonds
a handful of golden raisins
1/2 small apple, cubed
about 12 oz. shredded chicken

Mix..Enjoy!

Genius!

These two blogs are genius.  Why?  They came up with this idea!


Because this guy gets ignored too often in my sewing and crafting.

So, for the next month, I will celebrate my boy and hopefully craft for him a bit too!

What I've been busy with...

This beautiful little girl!  

So, my crafting was momentarily suspended so that I could take care of Abigail Charis.  Who know having three kids four and under would be so much work!

Before Abi was born I was able to finish this Christmas present for Ali.  She currently loves all things Hello Kitty, so when I found this fabric, I knew she would love it.  The pink and yellow are all fabric scraps that I had.  I used some of the fabric to make a Hello Kitty face on the shirt, but Ali's hiding it!

I have a bunch of stuff cut out...I had the best of intentions for Christmas presents...hopefully in the next few months they will get done!

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

Advent

Since Ali is three this year, she really gets the idea of Christmas. I am really enjoying the wonder of Christmas this year since everything is new and wonderful to her. To help her understand Advent and help with the countdown to Christmas, we made an Advent calendar for our wall. Nothing fancy this year (although I love to make a permanent one for next year. We shall see). Here is what we did:Each number was written on an index card with glitter glue and a red or green circle was drawn around it. This card is taped to another card with our activity of the night on it. The activities include reading stories, cooking with Mom, and making crafts. Ali loves looking at the card each day and counts down the days to Christmas at least three times a day.

Some of our decoration include Ali's paper chains.

Ali and I working on a Christmas tree decoration. Ali was very excited about the glitter.




Here are some cards that Ali made to give to someone special. She worked very hard on them and was super excited to use my "special markers"; the scrapbook ones that sparkle.

Christmas sewing is underway!

Super Beckett cape for my nephew


Tinkerbell PJs for Ali.


Farm PJ's for Josiah.

Still to come: PJ pants for Jed and I, some purses and gift card holders, and some felt food and doll clothes.

Tinkerbell

My daughter knew, without a doubt, that she wanted to be Tinkerbell for Halloween. So, here she is, flying away.



I wish I could take credit for the great car Josiah is sitting in, but I had nothing to do with it. It's just cute.

I'm currently working on PJ's for the family for Christmas. I have a few other presents I want to make; we will see if they get done. And, if Ali had anything to do with it, I'd be making Princess costumes now also. She thinks she wants to be Snow White, Cinderella, or Belle. She told me I could make all the dresses, and then she could decide!

A little bit of my work...

A tutu a made a while ago for Ali. She had given one to a friend for her birthday and wanted her own.


Her doll and the clothes, diapers and bag I made for her. The baby's name is Curly, for reasons I still don't understand.

Ali in her "purple twirly dress". It's a bit short for a dress, so we wear pants under it. It's the Gracie pattern from Portabellopixie.

Neglecting

Not only have I been neglecting my blog, but my machine is feeling a bit lonely as well. I've started, but not finished a bunch of projects. My daughter is getting a new doll for her birthday next week, and I'm almost done with about a wardrobe of clothes for it (as well as some matching clothes for Ali). I'm also trying to figure out the crafts for the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) this year. I've got some ideas, but I'm trying to get myself all organized.

So, hopefully pictures will be up next week of the things I finish (before the birthday, I hope) and my sample projects for MOPS will show up as well, I'm sure. I also need to figure out what my almost one year old boy would like Mommy to make him for his birthday...and I've got a few dresses I would love to make for myself. We will see...

No Sewing...

My family and I went of vacation and since I got back I've been dealing with this:
about fifty pounds of peaches from the tree in our backyard. After lots of freezing, jam making and peach crisp baking, the peach situation is under control...until we pick the next thirty pounds still hanging on the tree.

To my poor, neglected blog...

I have been doing things, just haven't sat down to post. I suppose keeping up with my kids has something to do with that. I'm sure people understand.

So, what have I done...made skirts and dresses. Pictures? Here they are...
Three skirts for myself (Weekend Sewing Wrap Skirt, Favorite Things Bella Skirt, and self-drafted)
Two dresses for Ali: Weekend Sewing Flower Girl Dress and Portabellopixie pattern.

What other creative ventures have I had? They fall in the land of cooking. Anyone who has been to my house (or packed my house for a move) knows that I like cookbooks. I read them like books. They are interesting. I love them. I have lots of them. So, I decided that every week I'm going to pick a cookbook and cook five things from it. Week One was Yum-O: The Family Cookbook by Rachael Ray. Had good luck so far. I liked all five, Jed was neutral on only one.

I'm also trying to more cooking with Ali (my almost three year old). If you have a pre-reader who wants to cook and don't know about Pretend Soup and Salad People, go look them up right now. Ali loves them. The idea is great too. Both of these books (By Mollie Katzen) has the recipe not only in "normal" format (for the adults) but in pictures for the kids. Ali really feels like she is cooking and I am just helping. If you have a reader who wants to cook Katzen also has a cookbook called Honest Pretzels which is also great.

So, there you have it. That is what I've been doing. I'm now off to put together some puzzles (the 24 piece variety)