tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29364904099835031862024-03-13T18:30:42.432-04:00chez zeroI do stuff and sometimes I talk about it.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-53938630172944990652013-03-03T01:00:00.000-05:002013-03-03T01:00:04.697-05:00Jellybean-a-ThonHey there! So today is my day to play along in Thomas's Jellybean-a-thon! I know, you don't know who I am or why the hell you're even looking at this sad old blog. That's OK. Don't fight it, baby, just go with it.
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Thomas sent all 10 colorways of the Jellybean print and asked for a project that incorporated them all. I knew I wanted to make a quilt, and I knew that wonky and improv-y was about all I could handle. So I started making some arrows and I love the way it came out. 9 on front, and the 10th print is in a little arrow on the back. And then I just randomly grabbed a few for the binding.
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I call this quilt "Which way did he go?" and I keep imagining the scarecrow from Wizard of Oz with his arms tangled and pointing both ways.
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These prints are so great. The color combinations are dissonant, and yet somehow they end up really reading as solids. It's basically magic. Thomas is so smart and so cool. Don't tell him I said that, though, we don't need him getting too big for his britches. Oh, hi Thomas -- please don't read that last sentence!
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Make sure to check out everyone else's posts, too!
<br />Feb 25: <a href="http://www.thomasknauersews.com/blog/">Thomas Knauer</a>
<br />Feb 26: <a href="http://www.sewallegorical.com/">Allegory Lanham</a>
<br />Feb 27: <a href="http://www.3littlebrds.com/">Tracy Mooney</a>
<br />Feb 28: <a href="http://www.sewsweetness.com/">Sara Lawson</a>
<br />March 1: <a href="http://imaginegnats.blogspot.com/">Rachael Gander</a>
<br />March 2: <a href="http://www.iheartlinen.typepad.com/">Rashida Coleman-Hale</a>
<br />March 3: Me! Here!
<br />March 4: <a href="http://blueisbleu.blogspot.com/">Audrie Bidwell</a>
<br />March 5: <a href="http://gogokim.blogspot.com/">Kim Niedzwiecki</a><br />
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<br />Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-88449816908946580402013-02-06T15:35:00.002-05:002013-02-06T15:35:49.161-05:00February!What? February? How did that happen?
OK, so this month for <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/alovelyyearoffinishes/">A Lovely Year of Finishes</a> I'l be actually quilting and binding my arrow quilt that I pieced in January. It will certainly be a challenge, but I promised that I would, so here I go!Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-83753624064547149042013-01-28T08:48:00.001-05:002013-01-28T08:48:03.656-05:00Finished arrow top!Awful picture, but at least I got it done! I'm not gonna lie, I had my doubts. :) <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r6T6eif9LTk/UQaBkr5r5RI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/VI06Ifg1LZ8/s640/blogger-image-648577131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r6T6eif9LTk/UQaBkr5r5RI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/VI06Ifg1LZ8/s640/blogger-image-648577131.jpg" /></a></div>Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-63314906920660007942013-01-08T08:25:00.000-05:002013-01-08T08:26:24.596-05:00Lovely Year of FinishesSo I linked up with this great group A Lovely Year of Finishes. Each month we all post a goal for something we want to finish that month, and then at the end of the month these crazy broads expect us to have actually finished it! Their optimism is so adorable.
<p><p>This month I need to finish up a quilt top, with all these wonky improv arrows. Game on!
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Anyway. Last August I was down in NYC for the Quilters Take Manhattan event, hosted by <a href="http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/">The Alliance for American Quilts</a>. (side note: Just found out <a href="http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/support/events.php">they're doing it again this year</a>, whee!) At the main even, I was sitting with my girl Jonesie (otherwise known as <a href="http://www.oliveandollie.com/">Heather Jones of Olive and Ollie</a> fame) and (be still my heart!) <a href="http://katespain.com/landingpage.html">Kate Spain</a>. Kate showed us a copy of a book she'd just gotten, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Color-Moves-Fashion-Sonia-Delaunay/dp/0910503842/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329760051&sr=8-1">this book from the Cooper-Hewitt from the Sonia Delaunay retrospective</a> they held last year. Delaunay's work is amazingly modern and graphic, and so much of it lends itself to translation into a quilt. I think I actually ordered my copy of the book right then and there from my phone. And as soon as it arrived I started marking pages for different works and designs that I wanted to turn into quilts.
<p>This was the first one I worked on:
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It's a gouache on wallpaper, mounted on cardboard, that was a design for a rug.
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And this is my wall-hanging sized quilt, with vertical straight line quilting:
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Here's a close-up of the quilting. I did insanely dense quilting over the colored sections, since the original was so sketchy and had lots of white breaking through:
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Here was my next pick. This is another gouache on paper, and is less yellowy than this picture:
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Here is my quilt interpretation. The dimensions are sort of unusual for a quilt, narrower than normal, because I was following the painting pretty closely. More straight-line quilting too, horizontal this time to echo the horizontal pattern. (More accurately, it is quilted "in the style of straight line," as I am constantly proving that I am completely incapable of actually sewing a straight line.)
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Here's the back, with just a little bit of piecing with some leftovers:
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Josh would clearly like you all to note his support for and dedication to rock 'n roll. :)
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I sleep with this book next to my bed and look at it almost every day. I am mildly obsessed. I have fabric for another quilt, and have started graphing out a fourth. Stay tuned!Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-91096505918129971482011-03-10T10:54:00.003-05:002011-03-10T11:07:24.668-05:00CEiMB: Aromatic Beef Stew with Butternut SquashToday's <a href="http://cravingellieinmybelly.blogspot.com/">Craving Ellie in my Belly</a> recipe is Aromatic Beef Stew with Butternut Squash, hosted by Kayte of <a href="http://www.grandmaskitchentable.typepad.com/">Grandma's Kitchen Table</a>.<br /><br />I had to make just a few subs to make this dish vegetarian. I used a meat substitue that I haven't used before, from a company in NY that I order all sorts of un-meat stuff from. I wasn't crazy about it, which is a drag because I LOVED this stew. And I used veggie broth instead of beef, and forgot to add the sliced almonds, but other than that I made the recipe as written. Oh, and I didn't bother with the parsley. And I didn't have pepper flakes so I added a bit of cayenne. So, um, I guess not quite exactly as written. I will most definitely try it again with a different meat substitute that we like more -- I can see this one becoming a regular winter meal. <br /><br />I did not take a picture because I made this in a frenzy after work last night and we were a little late getting dinner on the table, so it just got dished out (to Josh and me) and gobbled in a flash. Delma has gotten very good about trying new things, and actually asked me to give her some of this to try. She liked it, but not enough to ask for more than a taste. But still, good girl!<br /><br />This was a great pick, thanks Kayte! Please visit Kayte's blog for the recipe.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-8709259165156358542011-02-05T14:50:00.003-05:002011-02-05T15:05:59.241-05:00I heart scones<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TU2sXuPZWgI/AAAAAAAAAwI/oQiXIja3gu4/s1600/DSC_0007.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TU2sXuPZWgI/AAAAAAAAAwI/oQiXIja3gu4/s400/DSC_0007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570297837676747266" /></a><br /><br />Back in December I saw <a href="http://accomplishedyounglady.com/2010/12/proper-british-scones/">Beth's post on Proper British Scones</a> and printed out the recipe. The Hattonettes aren't into overly sweet breakfasts, and have tried scones before and liked them (though the slightly sweeter ones you get in coffee shops here in the US), so I really wanted to try these. Last weekend I finally did, and I am hooked. We all loved them. They really aren't sweet at all, and are delicious by themselves or with butter or with a little fancy jam. There's nothing we've tried on them that has not been delicious.<br /><br />This morning I used a small heart cookie cutter to make some little cuties (the one in the pic has some Bonne Mama blueberry preserves in the middle, nom nom nom). We also have yet to try a shape that isn't completely delicious. Next time we will try flowers or stars, and I suspect that they, too, will be awesome.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-12408889511462596822011-01-28T07:07:00.005-05:002011-01-28T07:57:14.673-05:00CEiMB: Fettuccine with Creamy Red Pepper-Feta SauceToday's <a href="http://cravingellieinmybelly.blogspot.com/">Craving Ellie in my Belly</a> recipe is<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/fettuccine-with-creamy-red-pepper-feta-sauce-recipe/index.html"> Fettuccine with Creamy Red Pepper-Feta Sauce</a>, hosted by Jessica of <a href="http://learningtolovevegetables.blogspot.com/">Learning to Love Vegetables</a>. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TUKxmgb17ZI/AAAAAAAAAv8/1VhGsd0Nai0/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TUKxmgb17ZI/AAAAAAAAAv8/1VhGsd0Nai0/s400/DSC_0003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567207364483214738" /></a><br /><br />This was so insanely simple and so yummy. I loved it. Definitely one of my favorite Ellie recipes. It makes a lot of sauce, and I knew the kids wouldn't try it, so I only mixed 2 servings of pasta with the sauce for our dinner last night and put the rest of the sauce in the freezer. I hope it will freeze well. Thanks for a really great pick, Jessica!Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-62702172145743394272011-01-24T21:59:00.002-05:002011-01-25T22:24:54.553-05:00Baby GiftsA good friend and his wifey had their first wee babe a few months ago, and so I had to bust out some baby gifts. My old stand-by is burp cloths. My favorite way to do these is to buy those nice thick flannel cloth diapers, and just sew fabric to size, flip it inside out and topstitch all around. I always have some on-hand so I can sew some up in a pinch if I need a baby gift. Not complicated, but very cute. It's nice to feel somewhat fancy when someone is vomiting on you in public.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0p15YImhI/AAAAAAAAAuM/WsPlaVdH8CQ/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0p15YImhI/AAAAAAAAAuM/WsPlaVdH8CQ/s400/DSC_0003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552139921529543186" /></a><br /><br />And I made a patchwork baby blanket, with minky on the back. Oh, minky is the worst to work with! Cripes, it's awful, but is is so lovely and cuddly-cozy, so, what are you gonna do?<br /><br />I used a charm pack of Amy Butler stuff, and stamped on some linen squares. I picked an exerpt from favorite poem from one of our Mother Goose books. I think it's maybe called I Had a Little Nut Tree:<br /><br />I skipped over water<br />I danced over sea<br />And all the birds in the air<br />Couldn't catch me<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0p1oAes9I/AAAAAAAAAuE/fHY6bGxsAtw/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0p1oAes9I/AAAAAAAAAuE/fHY6bGxsAtw/s400/DSC_0004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552139916866925522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0p1SwUXsI/AAAAAAAAAt8/7BpLhr-2XqE/s1600/DSC_0006.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0p1SwUXsI/AAAAAAAAAt8/7BpLhr-2XqE/s400/DSC_0006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552139911161994946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0hNhhrLxI/AAAAAAAAAt0/sR3osYA15AE/s1600/DSC_0007.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0hNhhrLxI/AAAAAAAAAt0/sR3osYA15AE/s400/DSC_0007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552130431839317778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0hNOm_E1I/AAAAAAAAAts/nTTv5ApqZjM/s1600/DSC_0008.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0hNOm_E1I/AAAAAAAAAts/nTTv5ApqZjM/s400/DSC_0008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552130426761319250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0hM7yZkXI/AAAAAAAAAtk/g9DNVpHNiyA/s1600/DSC_0009.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0hM7yZkXI/AAAAAAAAAtk/g9DNVpHNiyA/s400/DSC_0009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552130421708919154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0hMhXCjkI/AAAAAAAAAtc/0kq83t76koM/s1600/DSC_0010.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0hMhXCjkI/AAAAAAAAAtc/0kq83t76koM/s400/DSC_0010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552130414614842946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0hMJwfZ_I/AAAAAAAAAtU/1FA-ah_uMWM/s1600/DSC_0011.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TQ0hMJwfZ_I/AAAAAAAAAtU/1FA-ah_uMWM/s400/DSC_0011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552130408279140338" /></a><br /><br />These blankets are great. They're cuddly for the babes, and they can be used for a play mat, and then kids can use them for baby dolls... I'm hoping wee Sylvia will love and use it for many years.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-30231912460839436132011-01-16T07:05:00.000-05:002011-01-16T07:59:53.798-05:00CEIMB: Walnut and Dried Cherry BarsHey CEiMP-ers -- forgive me PLEASE for this late posting. This has pretty much been one of the worst weeks of my life. I was incredibly ill and have barely been able to move for days. Total nightmare. But the antibiotics are kicking in and I almost feel human again.<br /><br />So! This past week was my turn to host over at <a href="http://cravingellieinmybelly.blogspot.com/">Craving Ellie in my Belly</a>. My pick was the Walnut and Dried Cherry Bars, on p. 40 of So Easy (recipe at end of post).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TR0sXq5fonI/AAAAAAAAAvo/tIXQFOmf34U/s1600/DSC_0002.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TR0sXq5fonI/AAAAAAAAAvo/tIXQFOmf34U/s400/DSC_0002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556646300409111154" /></a><br /><br />I did not love these. I see that a lot of people really did, so maybe I should try them again. They were a little too soft for me, I'd try baking them a little longer next time, and maybe try a different kind of preserves. I feel badly picking a recipe and then not digging it, but oh well, they can't all be keepers. <br /><br />I'm looking forward to reading through everyone else's posts (when I can look at the computer for more than 2 minutes without feeling like puking! Bon apetit!). <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Walnut and Dried Cherry Bars</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ingredients</span><br />1 cup quick-cooking oats<br />3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour or regular whole-wheat flour<br />1/4 cup toasted wheat germ<br />1 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />1/4 teaspoon salt<br />1/2 cup honey<br />1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce<br />1/4 cup canola oil<br />1 egg, beaten to mix<br />1 egg white<br />3/4 cup chopped dried tart cherries<br />1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts<br />Cooking spray<br />1/4 cup "fruit only" apricot preserves<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Directions</span><br />Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, wheat germ, cinnamon and salt.<br /><br />In another bowl, whisk together the honey, applesauce, oil, egg and egg white until well combined. Stir in the oatmeal mixture until well combined. Add the dried cherries and walnuts.<br /><br />Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out<br /><br />clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Put the preserves in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. As soon as the bars come out of the oven, brush with the preserves. Cool completely and cut into 12 bars, about 4 by1 1/2 inches each.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-21902239534032607442011-01-10T20:52:00.003-05:002011-01-10T21:03:01.383-05:00Home ProjectI read Bonnie's post tonight: <a href="http://cribchronicles.com/2011/01/10/the-home-project/">The Home Project</a>. Go check it out, it's a great idea. It's easy to let time in a marriage just by so quickly, to take it for granted in these days of life with wee ones and all the craziness they bring. She plans to chronicle her marriage through photos, weekly, and I am thinking of playing along.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TSu45BY2bGI/AAAAAAAAAvw/HLMbbFcUx4o/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TSu45BY2bGI/AAAAAAAAAvw/HLMbbFcUx4o/s400/DSC_0001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560741454683728994" /></a><br /><br />This is part of the mayhem on our bathroom counter right now as Josh packs for tomorrow's business trip that will keep him away from home for 5 days. HGe travels regularly, but the trips aren't usually this long. And on top of the general stress that comes along with him being away, Delma is sick, I am sick, and we are expecting a huge snow storm. Oy.<br /><br />But, the glasses... After Josh and I got married, we went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. When we were flying out, I looked over at him at one point and he had fallen asleep reading, with his glasses on. I took his glasses off of his face and carefully stashed them. And then I was struck with that one small act. That this man and I would be doing big things and also these smallest things for each other for the rest of our lives. That there's someone to take my glasses off of me when I fall asleep reading. For people who have grown up feeling attended to and cared for, this may be nothing. To me, it is everything.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-12094874615730833212011-01-06T22:45:00.001-05:002011-01-07T10:53:56.750-05:00CEIMB: Mushroom Barley SoupToday's <a href="http://cravingellieinmybelly.blogspot.com/">Craving Ellie in my Belly</a> recipe is Mushroom Barley Soup, hosted by Jennifer of <a href="http://therookiebaker.wordpress.com/">The Rookie Baker</a>. <br /><br />The recipe as written is actually Beef Mushroom Barley Soup, but since we're veg I left out the beef. If I were going to make this again I'd replace the beef with a meat alternative or with beans, but this time around I just left it out altogether. It was good, it was hearty and satisfying. It was also super-easy to throw together. But it wasn't particularly exciting, probably because it was missing so much flavor that the beef would have provided. <br /><br />I didn't take any pitures, because I made it so late the other night that it wasn't ready in time for dinner. So I just packed it up for lunches, and soup in a take-out container on my office desk does not make for an appealing photo.<br /><br />Check out Jennifer's <a href="http://therookiebaker.wordpress.com/">blog </a>for the recipe.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-18475698428505672282010-12-30T20:04:00.005-05:002010-12-30T21:28:07.302-05:00CEIMB: White (Turkey) Chili<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TR0sL4yfvBI/AAAAAAAAAvg/UX_Vo7frXdE/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TR0sL4yfvBI/AAAAAAAAAvg/UX_Vo7frXdE/s400/DSC_0004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556646097979423762" /></a><br /><br />Today's <a href="http://cravingellieinmybelly.blogspot.com/">Craving Ellie in my Belly</a> recipe is White Turkey Chili, hosted by Leslie of <a href="http://lethallydelicious.blogspot.com/">Lethally Delicious</a>. <br /><br />As we're vegetarian, I replaced the turkey with TVP. I couldn't find poblano peppers, so since I wasn't sure what a good replacement would be, I just skipped the peppers altogether. And then when I was dishing it up tonight I forgot the sour cream. I liked this chili, and Josh liked it a lot. I think I'll like it more when I have it for lunch tomorrow and remember the sour cream.<br /><br />For me, "real" chili is and always will be red with tomatos, since that's what I grew up on. But this really is a nice change from the norm, and came together quickly and easily (I chopped the onion and celery this morning so I could just throw it all together tonight). It would make a good winter weekend lunch, served up with some crusty bread. And hominy, hello? This was my first foray into the world of hominy and I would rate it a success.<br /><br />Check out Leslie's blog for the recipe. In the timeless words of Yo Gabba Gabba, "Try it, you'll like it!" Thanks, for a great pick, Leslie!Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-40639304740863005052010-12-25T08:56:00.003-05:002010-12-25T09:07:49.996-05:00Popover MorningOh, these Hattonettes. They wake up ready to GO and it is exhausting. They do not appreciate my need to ease into my morning. <br /><br />Exhibit A. Picture taken around 6:45 this morning, after getting up at 6:30 and making a bee-line for the Halloween face paints. Do the math.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TRX43EOrY7I/AAAAAAAAAu8/cSH2s_Xc6iw/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TRX43EOrY7I/AAAAAAAAAu8/cSH2s_Xc6iw/s400/DSC_0001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554619340343174066" /></a><br /><br />So, there's that. And 2 minutes later she demanded I take it off, and I had to rub her face raw with baby wipes to get (most of) it off.<br /><br />Then I decided it was a popover morning, and thankfully I had printed out the recipe from the Parents Magazine web site ages ago, because now the link to it is dead. I do not get a dozen, as the recipe says, but they sure are tasty. They are very eggy, much more-so than I recall from making them before, and the girls did not dig them. But at least they tried them, which made me happy. And of course the best part was using the sifter to make the sugar snow on them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TRX43etpPYI/AAAAAAAAAvE/SxTKSThjeUA/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TRX43etpPYI/AAAAAAAAAvE/SxTKSThjeUA/s400/DSC_0001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554619347452378498" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TRX43oIHRWI/AAAAAAAAAvM/ICkduxNAm3U/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TRX43oIHRWI/AAAAAAAAAvM/ICkduxNAm3U/s400/DSC_0004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554619349979317602" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TRX43mN9aWI/AAAAAAAAAvU/-y47BNWIxUg/s1600/DSC_0005.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TRX43mN9aWI/AAAAAAAAAvU/-y47BNWIxUg/s400/DSC_0005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554619349466966370" /></a>Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-49942886264596983022010-12-04T08:34:00.004-05:002010-12-04T08:42:09.844-05:00Sufganiyot!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPpEg3zOUoI/AAAAAAAAAtM/-93rEYechPo/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPpEg3zOUoI/AAAAAAAAAtM/-93rEYechPo/s400/DSC_0003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546821222585488002" /></a><br />I decided to try my hand at sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and picked <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/glittered-sufganiyot">Martha Stewart's Glittered Sufganiyot</a>. They're little, the size of D&D Munchkins. I didn't end up using all of the dough, because I knew we would not eat a kajillion of them. And mine do NOT look like Martha's, but, I'm not going to lie, they are delicious.<br /><br />I filled half of them with strawberry jam, and left the other half empty. I'm glad I finally had the guts to try this, it will be a great Hanukkah tradition now that I know how easy they are.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-11220004359551028392010-12-02T06:35:00.005-05:002010-12-02T09:02:39.486-05:00Handmade HanukkahAs usual, I went overboard on gifts for the girls. It's a good thing they're spread out over 8 nights. We mostly bought stuff, but I wanted to make sure to get some handmade gifts in, too. <br /><br />Monogram pillows for the girls. I think they came out cute, the only think I don't like is that the spray adhesive I used to put the paper template onto the fabric when making the applique sort of stained the fabric and makes it look like there are wet spots. Oh well, we can live with that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPeFaKo5U-I/AAAAAAAAAsk/NSntle2kMtc/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPeFaKo5U-I/AAAAAAAAAsk/NSntle2kMtc/s400/DSC_0001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546048150709031906" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPeFb_uvNUI/AAAAAAAAAss/xnVXdCycPpw/s1600/DSC_0002.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPeFb_uvNUI/AAAAAAAAAss/xnVXdCycPpw/s400/DSC_0002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546048182140482882" /></a><br /><br />I made the pillow cases with an envelope closure, so I can easily take them off for washing and can swap them out when I eventually get off my butt and make them different covers for holidays. I used chenille for the back, and instead of just hemming it on the side that overlaps, I used pieces of the front fabric to bind it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPeGo8Xs_CI/AAAAAAAAAtE/k839F99Yg_c/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPeGo8Xs_CI/AAAAAAAAAtE/k839F99Yg_c/s400/DSC_0001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546049504088488994" /></a><br /><br /><br />And I made them the set of <a href="http://modkidboutique.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html">Patty Young Potty Girls</a>, and dresses for them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPeFcHnWFoI/AAAAAAAAAs0/K0umLRYNyDk/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPeFcHnWFoI/AAAAAAAAAs0/K0umLRYNyDk/s400/DSC_0004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546048184256960130" /></a><br /><br />I don't know if it's because I have a low-end machine or what, but I could NOT hem these dresses. The knit fabric with the tiny hem would literally just get sucked down into the machine by my feed dogs every time, no matter what I did. I could have tried the serger, but didn't bother. I just sewed them at the shoulders and up the sides and left all the hems unfinished. I'm sure after a while they'll get ratty looking though, so I'll have to figure something out.<br /><br />The girls are really into their baby dolls these days, so I wasn't sure whether they'd be very impressed with these dolls. Well, they were, and the whole sharing situation got a bit hairy. But this year they're getting quite a few gifts that are for both of them together, so they'll just have to learn to deal with it.<br /><br />I got each of the girls a gift to give to each other, baby doll-related paraphenalia, and they were very sweet about thanking each other and telling each other how much they liked their gifts. So precious. They are such good little sisters. Last week Delma did something to upset Mimi, and Mimi said, "Delma is not my friend!" Delly just shrugged it off and said, "Well, I'm always going to be your sister." Heart.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-4215741957969102082010-12-01T20:20:00.003-05:002010-12-01T22:08:57.958-05:00Hanukkah Sameach!First night of Hanukkah! It's been hard to get into the spirit of the wintery festivities when we just had Thanksgiving and some days it's still warm enough to be outside without a jacket. That freaking lunar calender is whack. Anyhoo! Hanukkah is here, ready or not.<br /><br />We had a lovely first night, complete with light and music and gifts and good food and tantrums and unwillingness to share aforementioned gifts. Sigh.<br /><br />Also since we interrupted a coloring session with dinner, there was lots of "Put down the crayons and eat your dinner." Again, sigh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPb0kfFzHtI/AAAAAAAAAsU/B6QIKz8JcxU/s1600/DSC_0010.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPb0kfFzHtI/AAAAAAAAAsU/B6QIKz8JcxU/s400/DSC_0010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545888898811633362" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPb0iz0DTaI/AAAAAAAAAsM/45FRMuccOgU/s1600/DSC_0006.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPb0iz0DTaI/AAAAAAAAAsM/45FRMuccOgU/s400/DSC_0006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545888870014602658" /></a><br /><br />That there husband of mine is all about the latkes, we try different recipes every year. Tonight were some potato and onion ones with mustard seeds, and a batch of some apple and potato latkes. Both vegan (we're not vegan, it just worked out that way), and both DELISH. Of couse, I'm sure just about anything would be delicious if you fried it up and drowned it in sour cream and apple sauce.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPb0iwPZvYI/AAAAAAAAAsE/XAvkXcs5mQg/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPb0iwPZvYI/AAAAAAAAAsE/XAvkXcs5mQg/s400/DSC_0003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545888869055577474" /></a><br /><br />Nom nom nom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPb0kvVaKTI/AAAAAAAAAsc/aKmMHZxUmIo/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TPb0kvVaKTI/AAAAAAAAAsc/aKmMHZxUmIo/s400/DSC_0013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545888903172073778" /></a><br /><br />Happy Hanukkah!Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-67335012169960170562010-11-16T21:34:00.002-05:002010-11-16T21:43:32.808-05:0030 Days of Happy: Day 16How the hell is it 9:30? Crap, I need some sleep. I wanted to start sewing together the sweet patchwork baby blanket I'm making, but the night got away from me. After the girls went to bed tonight I had some un-fun chores to do, and my time just got sucked into some black hole. <br /><br />I also have spent far too much time searching online for Snoopy stuffed animals, books, various accessories. Did you know it's like impossible to just find a cute, reasonably priced stuffed Snoopy? What gives? The girls have just discovered SNoopy this year and both love him. We pretend to cry like Snoopy, and it cracks them up. But, we are certainly well past his hay-day. I had a stuffed Snoopy when I was little, and they used to make outfits for him and stuff... But no more. Hmpf. The search continues.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-92180096066491450002010-11-15T20:07:00.000-05:002010-11-16T21:34:09.523-05:0030 Days of Happy: Day 15Josh is out of town for a few days, so between the morning hustle, craziness at work, and the evening hustle, I am pooped. Tonight I decided to pull out the past few years' worth of MS Living and special supplemental issues. I don't have tons of people to do gifts for, but I really do need to buckle down and make a plan. Plus, Hanukkah is quite literally right around the corner, which is totally messing with my head. So many great recipes and projects, I need to narrow down the list.<br /><br />Oy, my commitment to this NaBloPoMo is so lame. Oh well. Though I may not be reporting much here, and may not have an awful lot to show for myself, this idea of doing or focusing on something that makes me happy every day has been really good for me. It's forcing me out of my usual slump of just parking myself on the couch until bedtime every night. I'm still doing quite a bit of that, frankly, but I'm also a bit more alert and engaged at night, spending some time on projects etc. So maybe this month isn't shaping up to be a particularly successful month of blogging per se, but it is helping me personally. So, hurray! But, I still have another half a month to go. Stay tuned.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-65673133591368109332010-11-14T20:34:00.003-05:002010-11-15T18:00:25.882-05:0030 Days of Happy: Day 14Delly and I have been talking about making a gingerbread house, and I intended to make one from scratch, but then I saw pre-made Wilton houses for $9 and figured we could just do that. Delma is only interested in decorating it anyway, so who cares. And it was just staring at her this morning, taunting her with it's potential fun and mess, and she HAD to make it. So I was frosting a gingerbread house before 8 am. Oy. It did come out pretty cute, though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TOCOUVa3ILI/AAAAAAAAAqM/mtVT3eyekNc/s1600/DSC_0002.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TOCOUVa3ILI/AAAAAAAAAqM/mtVT3eyekNc/s400/DSC_0002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539584021664047282" /></a>Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-71389825514799541232010-11-13T23:13:00.004-05:002010-11-13T23:24:56.001-05:0030 Days of Happy: Day 13So, weird day today. I had to have my cat Blau put to sleep. She was 15 years old, a total whackadoo, and was a scrappy, feisty little bugger up to the end. RIP, Blau.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TN9j0bsZenI/AAAAAAAAAqE/A8PKezafPZU/s1600/DSC_0012.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TN9j0bsZenI/AAAAAAAAAqE/A8PKezafPZU/s400/DSC_0012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539255819127323250" /></a><br /><br />Josh is out playing a gig tonight, and I thankfully had made plans for myself. A good friend came over after dinner to hang out, have a beer and snackies and do some crafting. I got basically nothing done except figuring out the layout of a patchwork baby blanket I'm making. So, I guess that's better than nothing? And it was lovely having some nice chillaxing lady time, especially after the surreal day I had.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-68716398001849238312010-11-12T18:05:00.000-05:002010-11-13T08:13:38.444-05:0030 Days of Happy: Day 12Crazy work day, followed by frantic scrambling to pick up kids, clean house, get showered and dressed and prepare for dinner guests.<br /><br />So, in place of my usual drivel, please amuse yourself by going to youtube and looking at videos of funny cats and dogs.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-63926311379660841272010-11-11T17:03:00.003-05:002010-11-11T17:18:28.828-05:0030 Days of Happy: CEIMB / Day 11Today's <a href="http://cravingellieinmybelly.blogspot.com/">Craving Ellie in my Belly</a> recipe was<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/whole-wheat-pasta-salad-with-walnuts-and-feta-cheese-recipe/index.html"> Whole-wheat Pasta Salad with Walnuts and Feta Cheese</a>, hosted by Kayte of <a href="http://www.grandmaskitchentable.typepad.com/">Grandma's Kitchen Table</a>. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TNxpo68utXI/AAAAAAAAAp8/fkC-ded0U4k/s1600/DSC_0007.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TNxpo68utXI/AAAAAAAAAp8/fkC-ded0U4k/s400/DSC_0007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538417793498527090" /></a><br /><br />I don't super-love whole wheat pasta, but I buy it in bulk at Costco and the kids thankfully never complain about it, so it's what we use most of the time these days. I made this when we had some friends over for lunch last weekend, and it was simple to throw together and tasted great. I will definitely make this one again, and I bet it would be even better if it were made in advance so the flavors had time to meld. Great pick, Kayte!Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-71616632919558397932010-11-10T21:56:00.002-05:002010-11-10T22:00:41.681-05:0030 Days of Happy: Day 10<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TNtcGoXXjuI/AAAAAAAAAp0/UlyqSyRl_iY/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TNtcGoXXjuI/AAAAAAAAAp0/UlyqSyRl_iY/s400/DSC_0001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538121435766558434" /></a><br />Tonight I started work on a gift for a new little girly bundle of joy. It involves fabric stamping, patchwork, and most likely -- lordy, I can't believe I'm about to say this -- minky. That minky crap drives me batty, it is an absolute nightmare to sew and sends pounds of fluff into your eyes and nose in a most horrific fashion. But it makes for great baby gifty stuff, it really does. Send prayers.Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936490409983503186.post-68502593749836273142010-11-09T20:57:00.004-05:002010-11-09T21:21:45.245-05:0030 Days of Happy: Day 9Tonight I took the girls out for their first Olive Garden experience. I had mentioned the breadsticks to Delma once, and she's been wanting to go there and see them for herself, these magical breadsticks. And she *loves* eating in restaurants, it's become this weird obsession with her, she begs and pleads and cries to go out to eat. Which, now that I'm thinking about it, I guess should maybe be insulting? Though she does praise me for my pasta-boiling skills, so maybe I shouldn't read too much into it.<br /><br />Anyway, the breadsticks were a hit. Mimi kept calling them "hot dogs" and they both left with half a breadstick clenched in their paws, carrying them like treasures.<br /><br />Then we hit Michaels to score some Halloween stuff on sale. I got tons of cookie cutters for next to nothing. I also got some nice glittery paper to make a Hanukkah decoration.<br /><br />And now I get to relax with this little treasure of my own, who arrived in the mail today.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TNoA-txfXfI/AAAAAAAAAps/vobZXOlLNu8/s1600/32510_119992828036831_119992741370173_96183_2508765_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2aqwpGFZh3o/TNoA-txfXfI/AAAAAAAAAps/vobZXOlLNu8/s400/32510_119992828036831_119992741370173_96183_2508765_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537739769244507634" /></a><br /><br />Isn't she lovely? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Girls-Big-Style-Boutique/dp/1607051885/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289354057&sr=8-1">Little Girls, Big Style</a> by the fab Craft Addict herself, <a href="http://confessionsofacraftaddict.com/">Mary Abreu</a>. I just thumbed through it and LOVE it. She has it brilliantly divided into 4 basic pieces: bodice top, peasant top, pants, and skirt. And then there are scads of variations on each piece for endless combos. And full-size patterns, to boot. Come on, what's not to love?Heidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06847584061949133228noreply@blogger.com1