tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30102852760662144072024-03-05T23:34:22.102-06:00Two Tiny BirdsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-24969434613120715142011-12-16T10:08:00.002-06:002011-12-16T10:08:22.938-06:00Holiday Wishes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Merry Christmas from my family to yours! I'm taking a brief winter vacation from the blog to relax and enjoy the holiday season with my family, but Two Tiny Birds will be back in 2012 with plenty of new recipes, quilts, and crafts. Happy Holidays!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-38310598611137885892011-12-01T13:03:00.001-06:002011-12-01T13:41:51.883-06:00Tis the Season!It's December...let the holiday crafting begin! Hooray!<br />
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What better way to kick of the Christmas season than with a homemade Advent calendar? I finished this baby about 30 minutes ago, giving me an hour to spare before I need to leave to pick Bailey up from preschool. Yep, that's right. I'm proud to say that I have perfected the fine art of procrastination. I do some of my best work under pressure. :)<br />
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At first I had planned to only have the countdown cards as part of the calendar, but then I came across this foam countdown tree at Target for only $5. I attached the tree to a piece of foam board (also from Target - $3) with hot glue. Even though the foam ornaments were sticky-backed, they got a shot of hot glue too. <br />
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The tree has a cute little peg that you move along the string of lights as you count down the days until Christmas. Bailey will get a kick out of it.<br />
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Each colorful card is simply a piece of sturdy cardstock from my stash with scrapbook sticker numbers on the front and a cute sticker on the back. As we count down a day, we'll turn the card around to display the sticker. I hot glued four strands of Christmas ribbon from my hairbow-making supplies across the bottom of the board and used tiny binder clips to attach the cards. <br />
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Each card contains a slip of paper with a fun holiday activity written on it. I wanted the flexibility of being able to switch around the activities as needed and to use the calendar again in the future.<br />
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Our list of activities includes...<br />
writing a letter to Santa<br />
choosing a new ornament for the tree<br />
going to a performance of the Nutcracker ballet <br />
making a gingerbread house<br />
buying gifts for the Angel Tree and DFW Pug Rescue<br />
reading a Christmas book<br />
drinking hot chocolate while watching a Christmas movie<br />
learning a new Christmas song<br />
baking a treat for your teacher<br />
having a picnic in front of the Christmas tree<br />
making reindeer food<br />
baking cookies for Santa<br />
making a snowman pizza<br />
visiting Santa's Village<br />
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When Bailey gets home from school today, she'll open the first card and discover that tonight after dinner, we get to go shopping for new ornaments. I can't wait to see what she chooses for herself, and she'll most likely have a hand in choosing Jake's too!<br />
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Happy holidays!<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-66102886317859281092011-11-22T10:37:00.001-06:002011-11-22T11:12:14.158-06:00Thanksgiving Recipe RoundupIt seems that I have lost my blogging mojo lately. My entire household has been sick since Halloween, so it's been difficult to find the time to do any sewing or crafting, let alone blog about it. But with Thanksgiving only two days away, I wanted to share a few recipes that would be perfect to add to your holiday table.<br />
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<a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/11/pw_dinner_rolls_-_no_kneading_required/"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2035567395_95d5d714db.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/11/pw_dinner_rolls_-_no_kneading_required/">The Pioneer Woman's Dinner Rolls</a> - I made these for Christmas Eve dinner with the in-laws last year and they received rave reviews! I'll be making a batch to take over to my sister's house for dinner on Saturday.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2008/11/22/pumpkin-crunch-cake/"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/pumpkin-crunch-cake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2008/11/22/pumpkin-crunch-cake/">Pumpkin Crunch Cake by Cara at The Picky Apple</a> - This custardy pumpkin cake will be another of my contributions to our Thanksgiving dinner. I cannot wait to dig into this dessert!<br />
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<a href="http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2010/01/18/melissas-brussels-sprouts/"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Melissas-Brussels-Sprouts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2010/01/18/melissas-brussels-sprouts/">Melissa's Brussels Sprouts</a>
- Having eaten these too many times to count while pregnant with Jake, I
can vouch for this amazing brussels sprouts recipe, also from The Picky
Apple. I may need to make a pan of these to bring along to our family
dinner too. They are delicious!<br />
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<a href="http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2010/11/17/stuffed-sweet-potatoes/"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://sweetpeaskitchen.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/stuffed-sweet-potatoes.jpg?w=500&h=500" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2010/11/17/stuffed-sweet-potatoes/">Stuffed Sweet Potatoes by Sweet Pea's Kitchen</a> - A new twist on the traditional sweet potato casserole, these individual stuffed sweet potatoes would make a great side dish for your holiday turkey or ham.<br />
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And finally, a little crafting for the kiddos...<br />
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<a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/11/flower-turkeys/"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.ourbestbites.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Flower-turkeys-with-beaks-and-eyes.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/11/flower-turkeys/">Flower Turkeys by Our Best Bites</a> - These adorable little turkeys make from artificial flowers would be a great project to keep the kids busy while you're in the kitchen. I think these little guys are too cute and would make a great table decoration or napkin ring.<br />
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I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families and friends!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-88815239174088120542011-11-09T16:27:00.000-06:002011-11-09T16:27:06.640-06:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-16313678179414660752011-10-31T09:38:00.001-05:002011-10-31T09:38:39.665-05:00Trick or Treat!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-58567175896796598872011-10-28T10:47:00.002-05:002011-10-28T10:47:53.248-05:00The Bat CaveOur house has become a bat cave!<br />
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Just like the <a href="http://twotinybirds.blogspot.com/2011/10/spooky-spider-web.html">Spooky Spider Web</a>, this idea is courtesy of Dana at <a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/2010/10/bats.html">MADE</a>. And just like the Spooky Spider Web, this project is simple, inexpensive, and makes a big impression. <br />
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Last night, using black cardstock leftover from my days of stamping and card-making,
and the bat template (found <a href="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/data/bat.pdf">here</a>), I spent about 30 minutes cutting out the bats while watching Mad Men (a recent discovery via Netflix...love it!). This morning Bailey helped me hang them up in the living room. Our bats are flying in through the window above the front door. <br />
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Spooktacular! Bailey loves them because they are spooky, but not scary. After Halloween, it'll be a piece of cake to take them down and save them for next year. Only 3 days until Halloween...are you ready?<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-27411351481882696022011-10-27T12:43:00.001-05:002011-10-27T12:43:31.378-05:00Silly Slime<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Slime, goo, flubber...whatever you call it, this stuff is just plain fun! As soon as I saw <a href="http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2011/10/02/slime/">this post</a> over at The Picky Apple, I knew Bailey would love to make some slime. Boy did she ever! In the past month we've made three batches for her...yellow, pink, and green. She can't get enough of the stuff! <br />
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All you need to make your own slime is glue, Borax, water, and food coloring. Borax can be found in the laundry aisle of just about any grocery store. Dissolve a few tablespoons of Borax in a small cup of water. Pour the glue into a bowl and thin with a bit of water. Add your food coloring to the glue and mix well. Now it's time to make the slime! Add in a bit of the Borax mixture and stir with a spoon. The glue mixture will immediately turn into a gooey blob. I continue to add in the Borax mixture until all of my glue is "blobby." You can always pour off the excess water after you're finished mixing.<br />
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At this point I give the blob to Bailey and as she plays with it, it begins to dry out and gets oozy and stretchy. When she's finished playing with the slime, I put it in a Ziploc baggie and save it for another day. It seems to keep indefinitely.<br />
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When I asked Bailey what kind of treat she wanted to take to her
Halloween party at preschool, she immediately said "Slime!" So this
morning I mixed up a big batch of orange slime for her to share with her
friends at school. I packaged the slime in small 1/2 cup plastic containers and added some stick-on googly eyes. I hope her classmates enjoy the Silly Slime as much as she does!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-2010081055478651902011-10-26T13:40:00.001-05:002011-10-26T13:40:24.506-05:00Boo! Wreath - Part Deux<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My younger sister recently moved back to Texas after living in California for a few years. I decided she needed a feathery Halloween wreath just like mine for the front door of her new house. Jake and I made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby and found a wire wreath form, a black feather boa, a small wooden Boo! sign, and a package of glittery purple spiders. This time around I used small pieces of black pipe cleaners to twist-tie the boa to the wreath form. They blend right into the feathers and you can't even see them. I used a few dabs of hot glue to attach the Boo!, the spiders, and a few of the glittery black bats leftover from my wreath. I thought about attaching a big black gingham bow at the top, but couldn't get it to look right, so this wreath is ribbon-less. <br />
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I'm still finding tiny black feathers all over my kitchen, including inside my toaster! But my sister loved the wreath and it looks great on her front door, so this one goes down as a crafty success.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-89529957850342966982011-10-24T14:59:00.002-05:002011-10-24T14:59:46.674-05:00Beware!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have wicked pipe cleaner craft skills. Oh yeah!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-4754706296652717542011-10-21T10:25:00.000-05:002011-10-21T10:25:29.768-05:00Halloween TreatsThere are so many cute Halloween themed snacks and treats floating around Pinterest, I couldn't resist sharing them with you all this week. All images are courtesy of the original idea source, via Pinterest.<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/238583922/"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/238583922_oLpOkSHX_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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How cute are these <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/238583922/">Spider Krispy Treats</a>? I'm thinking about making them to send with Bailey for her Halloween party at school. The kids would love them! <br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/240258974/"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/240258974_DHaHyvI3_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have only attempted meringue cookies once before, with disastrous results, but these adorable little <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/240258974/">Meringue Ghosts</a> make me want to give it another try!<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/350758017/"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/350758017_MTx3ilpI_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Or maybe I'll just stick to making these <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/350758017/">Frightfully Easy Ghost Cookies</a>. With only three ingredients, even I can't mess these up! <br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/346237687/"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/346237687_wp7Tv0QD_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cheese pizza is one of Bailey's favorite foods, and she loves black olives, so she will get a kick out of these <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/346237687/">Mummy Pizzas</a>. I have a feeling we'll be making these for lunch a few times next week!<br />
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I hope your little ghouls and goblins enjoy these Halloween treats!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-72968597061612074912011-10-19T13:25:00.002-05:002011-10-24T15:02:10.329-05:00Boo! WreathWhen it comes to holiday decorating of any sort, I take a minimalist approach, which is really just a fancy way to say that I stick a few pumpkins by the front door and call it Halloween. But last year I decided that I wanted to make a Halloween wreath to along with the pumpkins, so I worked my magic with a wire wreath form, a feather boa, and some twist ties and this is what I came up with... <br />
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They are impossible to see, but hidden amongst the black feathers are little glittery black bats. I promise they really are there. And there is also a sheer black ribbon tied into a bow above the word "Boo." <br />
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Trust me, it's much more impressive in person! ha! When I put it up last year just a few days before Halloween, I promised myself that I would tweak it and give it some more personality before the next Halloween rolled around. Hey, I've still got a few weeks, right? I'm thinking of recovering the bats with some bright purple glitter (if I can find the right color) and giving the wreath a new bow, maybe something black and white like gingham or a damask print. More than likely it'll still look exactly the same this time next year, but we'll see!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-61087855385463661082011-10-18T13:39:00.000-05:002011-10-18T13:39:25.223-05:00Quilt in Progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_xPr8Oh3K5qX0c3Yh_r2SAdMcKUlvFvmhja8iOv6fC_XzNVFJeJ14gikB4D1kVJMMB53pj2a2oVBxhwjp1Ks9jg1SH53UYlAMxR0btackW6pIKrjTpQ-EaDqRr15J-oCKfjsIvdkOO4/s1600/CarolQuilting1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_xPr8Oh3K5qX0c3Yh_r2SAdMcKUlvFvmhja8iOv6fC_XzNVFJeJ14gikB4D1kVJMMB53pj2a2oVBxhwjp1Ks9jg1SH53UYlAMxR0btackW6pIKrjTpQ-EaDqRr15J-oCKfjsIvdkOO4/s640/CarolQuilting1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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My goal for this week is to finish quilting and binding this quilt (and then maybe organize that green basket in the back corner). I'm about 3/4 of the way finished already, so in theory this should be an attainable goal. I started by straight line quilting the length of the quilt, both vertically and horizontally, a quarter of an inch from the outside edges of the large squares, creating a large grid pattern. I've already "stitched-in-the-ditch" around the small inner squares, so now all that's left is to stitch the inside edge of the larger squares (also stitch-in-the-ditch). I have an entire jelly roll of these 2 1/2 inch strips leftover that will make the perfect scrappy binding. If my darling son isn't feeling very cooperative at naptime, I may find myself burning the midnight oil to get this one finished, but I am determined to finish it this week! <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-81061897286791807842011-10-17T11:43:00.000-05:002011-10-17T11:43:25.305-05:00Spooky Spider Web<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Spooky, isn't it? I love crafts that are quick and easy, and not to mention inexpensive. Believe it or not, this spider web only took 10 minutes to make. All you need is yarn (we used a dark charcoal gray) and tape. Following<a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/2011/10/tutorial-10-min-yarn-spider-web.html"> this tutorial</a> on the MADE blog (one of my favorites!), Bailey and I taped the yarn in a criss-cross all the way across our big kitchen window to make the foundation for our web. Then, starting from the outer edges and working our way in to the middle, we looped the yarn around each piece of the criss-cross, forming the rings of the web. Each time we completed a ring, we tied it off and started a new one a bit further in toward the middle, making 6 rings in all. </div>
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There really is no way to mess this up. The crazier and more crooked it is, the better! Bailey had a great time helping me create the web and now she's looking forward to making a few spiders to put on it. Spooky!</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-56006707467024360902011-10-14T10:53:00.001-05:002011-10-14T10:53:35.136-05:00Friday FavoritesPumpkin patches are popping up left and right, and the leaves on the maple tree in my front yard are showing the slightest hint of orange. That's about as close to fall as we get here in Dallas. Sometimes I daydream about living in a place that has a great fall season, with beautiful changing leaves and crisp, cool weather that requires sweaters and boots instead of short sleeves and flip flops. A girl can dream, right? <br />
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It's the end of the week and time to share some more great recipes! Thanks to <a href="http://pinterest.com/all/">Pinterest</a>, I've been batting a thousand this week in the dinner department. Each one of these recipes is a winner. All images are courtesy of the original recipe source. <br />
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<a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/10/white-bean-with-bacon-soup/"><img border="0" height="386" src="http://c497280.r80.cf2.rackcdn.com/2011/10/white-bean-with-bacon-soup-in-bowl_thumb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Creamy bean soup with bacon...what's not to love? This <a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/10/white-bean-with-bacon-soup/">White Bean with Bacon Soup</a> by Centsational Girl was just as delicious as the photo makes it look. I used canned beans instead of dried, so this soup came together in no time at all. My husband and I loved this soup. My daughter gobbled it up. My son threw the bacon on the floor and squished the beans in his hair, but he's only 15 months old, so I expected as much. In time I'm sure he'll learn to appreciate the awesomeness of bacon.<br />
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<a href="http://fullbellies.blogspot.com/2011/05/homemade-olive-garden-bread-sticks.html"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2169/5734687503_f21e789c58_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I believe that no bowl of soup would be complete without a warm, delicious piece of bread on the side. These <a href="http://fullbellies.blogspot.com/2011/05/homemade-olive-garden-bread-sticks.html">Homemade Olive Garden Breadsticks</a> by Full Bellies, Happy Kids were the perfect sidekick for the White Bean with Bacon Soup. Making yeast bread from scratch can be messy and time consuming, but this recipe was relatively quick and was definitely easy. I mixed the dough in my Kitchenaid mixer, then formed the breadsticks and let them rise while the soup simmered. After rising for about 45 minutes, I popped them in the oven and 15 minutes later we were enjoying a delicious meal. I cut the amount of garlic butter topping in half (even less than half the salt) and it was perfect. We enjoyed these so much that I'm making them again this week!<br />
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<a href="http://www.plainchicken.com/2010/10/no-boil-baked.html"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2uEcVYv_voaJBJEphpeASlrneAdeqBiA5f6Tlt7OpB36GKBfYqI6_hmu8BGWFWg73pKykLLO5UbdrUSQyy2LS_5RasXMR6u7O79m5DnZmo332Tvg1enb5Lhyphenhyphen4__S-AR2UCroAnY2XRwu/s400/IMG_1691.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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On Monday afternoons, my daughter goes to ballet/tap dance lessons at the community center. Her class ends at 5:15, which means that when we arrive home at 5:30 I am really squeezed for time when it comes to making dinner. This recipe for <a href="http://www.plainchicken.com/2010/10/no-boil-baked.html">No Boil Baked Penne</a> by Plain Chicken is perfect for those nights when you want a great meal without a ton of prep time. I had half a pound of leftover cooked ground beef seasoned with garlic
from a previous recipe, so the prep time for me was nearly zero. Mix everything together while the oven is preheating, pour it in casserole dish, cover and cook for one hour. I had my doubts about not cooking the pasta first, but after one hour in the oven the penne was cooked perfectly and had the taste of lasagna without all of the fuss. And this is a great excuse to finish off the homemade breadsticks from earlier in the week!<br />
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<a href="http://www.plainchicken.com/2010/04/7up-biscuits.html"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MKMelhrx-kNEofYP-mcXGgLrXt1eIkeULKcCPtDe13_uMH4gPb-4zRiPW_MISjvDNIzvyCn8lUJAJ1DuY2IK3yszFUEMfUQThfGVJmfDzYXQm1xggKmXQ2OvxuRNGNYW0onlizWhhlg/s400/DSCN6698.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It seems like at least once a week we have breakfast for dinner..."brinner." Brinner usually consists of eggs, bacon, and either pancakes or biscuits. I have tried to make biscuits from scratch in the past with less than stellar results, so I usually fall back on frozen Grands biscuits, but this week I decided to give homemade biscuits another try using this recipe for <a href="http://www.plainchicken.com/2010/04/7up-biscuits.html">7UP Biscuits</a> from Plain Chicken. The combination of 7UP, sour cream, and Bisquick sounds crazy, but it seriously makes some of the best biscuits I've ever eaten. Give it a try...you won't be disappointed.<br />
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Have a great weekend! :)<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-8534478198074385932011-10-13T11:51:00.000-05:002011-10-13T11:51:03.538-05:00The Easiest Dress You'll Ever Make<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5epJrQk07YWM2X0MGthcIELPbiMwnFxf2lMly4_Z6azi9CDpaFKuumQiSyk1Ovc3rK0LohyTLhyphenhyphenlO8vIY_qqmG5O3o92sL-5Mhz3ZFSFBRqiRRWgUEBZg8o6bGCritMEV2jbNR1V4oBQ/s1600/Pillowcasedress1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5epJrQk07YWM2X0MGthcIELPbiMwnFxf2lMly4_Z6azi9CDpaFKuumQiSyk1Ovc3rK0LohyTLhyphenhyphenlO8vIY_qqmG5O3o92sL-5Mhz3ZFSFBRqiRRWgUEBZg8o6bGCritMEV2jbNR1V4oBQ/s400/Pillowcasedress1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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This little dress is known around the craft and sewing world as "the pillowcase dress." Pillowcase dresses are very popular at the moment and now I know why. This is hands down the easiest piece of clothing I've ever made and since it uses less than one yard of fabric, it's also one of the cheapest. <br />
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<a href="http://littlebiggirlstudio.blogspot.com/2009/02/pillowcase-dress-tutorial-dress-girl.html"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwc-ux1d3grJCAkZ7gxoHqTsXDVT_-3UiUfHmvpuE1v6EE5MjIj0hi-NUhvgp9HmrLQ5TybRRKgV3vmZWXyCt53i02t3jBentutoGzFDy1IoTYTPRd7iGwadaCww1fiEK4nDXk7aA-0bg/s400/bothdresseswithtext.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I threw this one together for Bailey during one of Jake's afternoon naps using <a href="http://littlebiggirlstudio.blogspot.com/2009/02/pillowcase-dress-tutorial-dress-girl.html">this pattern and photo tutorial</a> at Little Big Girl Studio for reference. Next time I'll cut the armholes just a smidge bigger. I used a piece of orange ribbon for the tie, but I have plans to switch it out for a hot pink ribbon as soon as Halloween is over. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SMRdV1w-2GzJeeQLVElf9BovszLlWp52-TR7pDHBAFnbnIdvIwKI7QXr8cV2taE3eRsAsjiOos1VCzaUJZmIW5DyKp4Yh_50RQDSgTN2nTalDxN0qLmUM4-sd33YoWR9tNlgufCmqIw/s1600/pillowcasedress2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SMRdV1w-2GzJeeQLVElf9BovszLlWp52-TR7pDHBAFnbnIdvIwKI7QXr8cV2taE3eRsAsjiOos1VCzaUJZmIW5DyKp4Yh_50RQDSgTN2nTalDxN0qLmUM4-sd33YoWR9tNlgufCmqIw/s320/pillowcasedress2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-46456225328052041232011-10-11T11:42:00.000-05:002011-10-11T11:42:04.468-05:00Beach Towel Bath RobesBefore we left for our Florida vacation, I promised to give more details about the beach towel robes I made for the kiddos. Better late than never, right? <br />
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<a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/2011/06/beach-robe-pattern-is-here.html"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jARX21ziwEo/Tfmgn49zZOI/AAAAAAAArfw/EJbX_MEyJ5Q/s400/a1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As soon as I saw <a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/2011/06/beach-robe-pattern-is-here.html">this pattern</a> for beach robes on <a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/">MADE</a>, I knew I wanted to buy it and make one for each of my kids to use after swimming. Now that summer has passed, we still use them for drying off after bath time. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcU5gUgTkUSU3uj33ZT3ZJ-BWyo4V6o6H4UblbqJOdz5T2bQ0iE2RXl3RFk3KRZuPy2JcwkqIgyJqHkmanW0eWxOzBR6Df926TI7oSV_hjatiareHY7vVXKNIA7HM__K1dWbqksr7JmM/s1600/BeachRobeSupplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcU5gUgTkUSU3uj33ZT3ZJ-BWyo4V6o6H4UblbqJOdz5T2bQ0iE2RXl3RFk3KRZuPy2JcwkqIgyJqHkmanW0eWxOzBR6Df926TI7oSV_hjatiareHY7vVXKNIA7HM__K1dWbqksr7JmM/s400/BeachRobeSupplies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I purchased two beach towels at Target for less than $5 each. These thin towels were the perfect thickness to work with, not too bulky at all. Ignore the single fold bias tape you see in the photo. I had never used store-bought bias tape before and didn't realize until after the fact that what I really needed was extra-wide double fold tape. Lesson learned.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjalHLNaIUJontwp58o8eXYYCfYk6Ac4CES2QR_v2ceBUHaCJnn4hleN-Kf5bqpIMaQ21smDmbJEuuRVkSkuAzv_3CkhdKb5c9OIvI2yMsgiV9XrxoSzgSDvyHr3nXpukU8iLyrsxDwO4/s1600/BaileyRobe3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjalHLNaIUJontwp58o8eXYYCfYk6Ac4CES2QR_v2ceBUHaCJnn4hleN-Kf5bqpIMaQ21smDmbJEuuRVkSkuAzv_3CkhdKb5c9OIvI2yMsgiV9XrxoSzgSDvyHr3nXpukU8iLyrsxDwO4/s320/BaileyRobe3.jpg" width="207" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN_-Qy4h2cPgGIZNCdmCDafTHxDHZgOl_Gz_yvjoXciMoL0K-J93Af7Lka2ecdAAiV1TjhsUDmCCw-TVEcH5tlNv7gSV8JGcy9aCg2jgswPeKOAeOR4DsgJaXFiWlB9F3AHEuI5TiWd0/s1600/BaileyRobe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN_-Qy4h2cPgGIZNCdmCDafTHxDHZgOl_Gz_yvjoXciMoL0K-J93Af7Lka2ecdAAiV1TjhsUDmCCw-TVEcH5tlNv7gSV8JGcy9aCg2jgswPeKOAeOR4DsgJaXFiWlB9F3AHEuI5TiWd0/s320/BaileyRobe2.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I have to say, the $8 I spent on this pattern was money well spent! The pattern comes in three sizes (9-18 month, 18 month-3T, and 3T-4T). I made Jake's robe using the 9-18 month size, and Bailey's is 3T-4T. The pattern includes detailed instructions and step-by-step photos for many different options...short sleeves or long sleeves, partial ties or full ties, lined hood, or no hood at all. I chose to make my robes with short sleeves, unlined hoods, and partial ties (meaning they are sewn into the sides of the robe instead of wrapping all the way around through loops like a belt). My towels were large enough that I only needed to use one towel for each robe, but I barely squeaked by on Bailey's. Had I decided to go with long sleeves or the full tie, I definitely would have needed a second towel. This is such an easy, versatile, and affordable pattern...I would recommend it to anyone! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ1rpi_vmAM_YdJIYGGx7C8AVvr36aS3e1uqW_vJCOI5COejAMuhoZJSOVdaN6jhAFYJSW6WIAZ680lB3HeM90rsg7ojLJowshGvZWgCYO3oe8KTg0-Xg4O8idnIm9f81mFhSIQe6bWc/s1600/BaileyRobe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ1rpi_vmAM_YdJIYGGx7C8AVvr36aS3e1uqW_vJCOI5COejAMuhoZJSOVdaN6jhAFYJSW6WIAZ680lB3HeM90rsg7ojLJowshGvZWgCYO3oe8KTg0-Xg4O8idnIm9f81mFhSIQe6bWc/s320/BaileyRobe1.jpg" width="246" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzUoARV4O0lPD_yH1eBpvwnsxpssF_LjeAjP2zrBIicnBDYmIMC0Sj4gcYtETjRampduyvdWNZMb_PbUogOqXRHIEGublzTDNCaFJ79h_Gz0Nxzdrh0JNavq2iz8wiyQS7b89BDLAbmQ/s1600/DSC07677a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzUoARV4O0lPD_yH1eBpvwnsxpssF_LjeAjP2zrBIicnBDYmIMC0Sj4gcYtETjRampduyvdWNZMb_PbUogOqXRHIEGublzTDNCaFJ79h_Gz0Nxzdrh0JNavq2iz8wiyQS7b89BDLAbmQ/s320/DSC07677a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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My kids love their bath robes! I'm thinking of using a version of this pattern (no hood and long sleeves) to make some snuggly fleece robes for the wintertime, maybe as Christmas gifts. I will be keeping an eye out for more great patterns from <a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/">MADE</a>!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-72591080225764816912011-10-06T11:20:00.000-05:002011-10-06T11:20:01.695-05:00T-shirt Refashion<br />
One day while strolling through the kids' clothing section at Target I saw this dress...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tPu0KNZh9ilT68Wk0o4hJmt20bgHKbV9UVGXu5tD1imR8kyAcb454yDGKxCCC6Cr353ZMt89X8acNW9uR94R-Ge2imyaajmJ9pUwOr_WtTJzJLVQlKLnl7XRjEvXON-SzMuIFAbQOn8/s1600/13522858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tPu0KNZh9ilT68Wk0o4hJmt20bgHKbV9UVGXu5tD1imR8kyAcb454yDGKxCCC6Cr353ZMt89X8acNW9uR94R-Ge2imyaajmJ9pUwOr_WtTJzJLVQlKLnl7XRjEvXON-SzMuIFAbQOn8/s400/13522858.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This adorable little sweater dress cost $15. Not a fortune, but more than I wanted to spend at the time. Besides, the dress is so simple that my first thought was "I bet I could make that."<br />
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Later that day I had a brief flash of brilliance. I found this t-shirt hanging in my closet...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJ-Y_qSqSu7LC11F1KpLCj5vFxmGNM5dhGD_4k1PmlVIMwNjRvFCV2zusWLUDc4GaFzV5eQkVPpJAqOOmdwoLclaQhune8AbYHA_tabVwl6tvUbj1PhDa6GjXLWxi02c8DXfzI5q6sW4/s1600/DSC08109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJ-Y_qSqSu7LC11F1KpLCj5vFxmGNM5dhGD_4k1PmlVIMwNjRvFCV2zusWLUDc4GaFzV5eQkVPpJAqOOmdwoLclaQhune8AbYHA_tabVwl6tvUbj1PhDa6GjXLWxi02c8DXfzI5q6sW4/s400/DSC08109.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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It was light brown and had a similar gathering along the neckline as the little sweater dress. The idea was that I could refashion it into a dress for Bailey that would look pretty darn close to the sweater dress in Target. I hadn't worn the shirt in a good while, so I was willing to sacrifice it for the sake of preschool fashion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwLBZcEegLmbTAuMcymYWWlxyFkYtjwIAfg4fJ3s-J5HAmabz0sz8UR6jmi-fC-aHODhnT8G9I8aBYcF5PbMm1dS5e8Rm7uiMC-UYfrCkp8n61relLXlSCVbr6iK-LuwVM5bpGp2BxJM/s1600/DSC08114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwLBZcEegLmbTAuMcymYWWlxyFkYtjwIAfg4fJ3s-J5HAmabz0sz8UR6jmi-fC-aHODhnT8G9I8aBYcF5PbMm1dS5e8Rm7uiMC-UYfrCkp8n61relLXlSCVbr6iK-LuwVM5bpGp2BxJM/s400/DSC08114.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My plan was to keep the original neckline, hemline, and sleeves so those parts would look "finished." Using one of Bailey's summer dresses as a guide, I cut the t-shirt up each side the entire length of the shirt, removing the sleeves. I carefully trimmed the excess material from each sleeve and set them aside to use later. Then I adjusted the neckline and length of the dress by sewing a new shoulder seam. I reattached the sleeves, then sewed down each side of the dress and it was finished!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjGDTneEVeGlaygIM8PoO3Hc09t7wxbxZjvxoeL0bJgjJkel2LtkBMPC1k42b3wEeGlOuhaTDuvNzNk_U0W5ryEOx5AHGYMvWvoIgEMhcn5r3wfVsBDEwBppwr99nEgQCk3ybZWAbELQ/s1600/DSC08116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjGDTneEVeGlaygIM8PoO3Hc09t7wxbxZjvxoeL0bJgjJkel2LtkBMPC1k42b3wEeGlOuhaTDuvNzNk_U0W5ryEOx5AHGYMvWvoIgEMhcn5r3wfVsBDEwBppwr99nEgQCk3ybZWAbELQ/s320/DSC08116.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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It's not exactly the same as the sweater dress from Target, but it's still cute. And it was free...bonus! I experimented with putting elastic in the sleeves, but then decided against it. The pink flower is actually a hair clip that I just clipped on for the photo. I need to make a pink fabric flower pin using <a href="http://jonesdesigncompany.com/tutorial/flower-pin-tutorial/">this tutorial</a> so the flower can be removed before washing.<br />
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Someone with more experience sewing clothing probably could have finished this in a half hour. It took me nearly all day...yet another reason why I wouldn't last a day on Project Runway. Sewing clothes (especially those made of stretchy t-shirt material) is so much harder than sewing quilts! All in all I am pretty satisfied with it, although next time I will probably just buy the Target dress. My little supermodel loves it, so that makes me happy! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-76889104422643716362011-10-05T15:52:00.001-05:002011-10-05T15:52:18.617-05:00Recipe Round-upOver the past few weeks, we've tried a number of new recipes that are definitely worth sharing! Of course, I never think to take photos until after the fact, so all photos are courtesy of the original sites where I discovered the recipes.<br />
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<a href="http://realmomkitchen.com/8343/eclair-pie/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+realmomkitchen%2FJNcN+%28Real+Mom+Kitchen%29&utm_content=Google+Reader"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://realmomkitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Eclair-Pie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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First up is a fantastic dessert recipe called <a href="http://realmomkitchen.com/8343/eclair-pie/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+realmomkitchen%2FJNcN+%28Real+Mom+Kitchen%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">Eclair Pie</a> from Real Mom Kitchen. I made this for a cookout at my sister's house a few weekends ago. It got rave reviews from everyone who tried it! Graham crackers, vanilla pudding, chocolate frosting...all the flavors of a chocolate eclair in one simple, delicious dessert. What's not to love?<br />
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<a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/09/frito-chili-pie/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pwcooks+%28The+Pioneer+Woman+Cooks%21%29&utm_content=Google+Reader"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6182814771_cf95f6f7d8_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My family loves NFL football. To us, there is nothing better than watching some Colts or Cowboys football on a chilly fall day while chowing down on a big bowl of chili. During this year's preseason football, I had decided that this would be the year that I would find "the perfect chili." I started compiling a list of recipes to try every other Sunday throughout the NFL season until I found one that my family loved. Well, it's only the end of Week 4 and my search is complete. <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/09/frito-chili-pie/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pwcooks+%28The+Pioneer+Woman+Cooks%21%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">This chili recipe</a> by the Pioneer Woman is now the official football-Sunday chili in our household. My husband enjoys his with crackers, while Bailey and I prefer Frito Chili Pie. Leftovers get mixed with mac and cheese a day or so later for some yummy Chili Mac. The Colts may go 0-16 this year, but at least we'll have great chili!<br />
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<a href="http://cassiecraves.blogspot.com/2011/07/saturdays-with-rachael-ray-egg-tostada.html"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWh_8U_RGj0fPGEfvYcN2LPNOWY9m8K9l0SWPHfpIxwlw0LkKnNx6N5o46c-CUojNTgKLcN1l5WqC-nDZvR5TgTn_6M6g8Jk96_CWNx6Wj1fONbse5q0JW-hIoWL7KjWamOEctJrlEA5M9/s400/egg+tostada+frittata.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>
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This <a href="http://cassiecraves.blogspot.com/2011/07/saturdays-with-rachael-ray-egg-tostada.html">Egg Tostada Frittata</a> from Cassie Craves has become one of my go-to meals for a busy weeknight when I find I'm running short on time. This is a great alternative to plain old bacon and scrambled eggs that I typically serve for "brinner" (breakfast for dinner). The bacon and green chiles cooking together smell amazing and this is a great way to use up the last of a bag of Fritos when all of your delicious chili is gone. I usually serve my refried beans on the side. I was doubtful about the egg and bean combo, but it's actually really tasty.<br />
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Ok, all of this talk about food has made me hungry. Time to go heat up some leftover chili!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-19591198360916491942011-09-30T12:40:00.001-05:002011-09-30T12:40:11.948-05:00Adventures in WonderlandIt finally happened. I have fallen into the rabbit hole known as <a href="http://pinterest.com/all/">Pinterest</a> and cannot get out. I've been creating boards and pinning things to them for about a week now and I have to admit, I'm completely addicted! For those of you unfamiliar with Pinterest, it's a virtual bulletin board for your ideas, a place for you to "pin" the things you want to save for later, such as recipes, craft and sewing tutorials, home design inspiration, fashion finds, etc. Anything goes. If you find it on the web, you can pin it. <br />
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Here is just a tiny sampling of the things I've "pinned" this week...<br />
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You can view the rest of my boards and pins <a href="http://pinterest.com/rickiw/">HERE</a>. You can browse Pinterest until the cows come home without actually joining the site, but you need an invitation to start pinning things to your own boards. If you would like an invitation, feel free to leave your email address in the comments section or send it to me in an email at twotinybirds@live.com and I will send you an invitation. **Disclaimer - I am not responsible for the many, many hours you will waste away pinning ideas! ha!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-8782429752981659482011-09-23T11:23:00.001-05:002011-09-23T11:23:53.376-05:00Friday FindsI spend way too much time window shopping on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/?ref=si_home">Etsy</a>. If there is a limit for the favorites list, I have no doubt that I'm quickly approaching it. The best (or worst) part is that my sister is in my Etsy circle, so I see everything see adds to her favorites list too. Of course, I feel compelled to check out her picks, which leads me to new shops with new items to add to MY list, and so on and so on. It's like a huge snowball rolling down a hill. A gigantic crafty snowball.<br />
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Today isn't just any Friday. It's the first day of fall y'all! So in celebration of the official end of summer in Texas, I thought I would share a few of my recent Etsy finds with you today.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_944810129" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.197298188.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_944810129">via </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_944810129">tomdesign</a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/63102798/olivia-mum-earrings-white-chrysanthemum"><br /></a></td></tr>
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I love <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/63102798/olivia-mum-earrings-white-chrysanthemum">these earrings</a> by tomdesign. But I also love <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/76227190/brooklyn-vintage-turquoise-flower-clamp">this bracelet</a>, and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/63021522/gracie-mum-necklace-gray-chrysanthemum">this necklace</a>, and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/63102897/olivia-rose-bud-necklace-white-rose-with">this necklace</a>, and the list goes on and on. I think it's safe to say that this entire shop is one of my favorites.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/71351169/ceramic-owl-figurine-choose-your-color" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.240383876.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/71351169/ceramic-owl-figurine-choose-your-color">claylicious</a></td></tr>
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Owls are very popular right now, and these <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/71351169/ceramic-owl-figurine-choose-your-color">ceramic owls</a> from claylicious are adorable! I especially love the little turquoise guy in the back. He would look great on my bookshelf.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/82074782/bright-boy-animal-fabric-alphabet-soup" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.265048836.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/82074782/bright-boy-animal-fabric-alphabet-soup">RaspberryCreekFabric</a></td></tr>
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This <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/82074782/bright-boy-animal-fabric-alphabet-soup">fabric bundle</a> by RaspeberryCreekFabric is sitting in my cart at this very moment. It would be perfect for a quilt for a baby boy. Now I just need to decide if I should buy fat quarters or half yard cuts?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/81648969/new-urban-zoologie-and-remix-fabric-by" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.270475683.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/81648969/new-urban-zoologie-and-remix-fabric-by">fabricshoppe</a></td></tr>
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This <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/81648969/new-urban-zoologie-and-remix-fabric-by">collection of fat quarters</a> by fabricshoppe is screaming "Oh Ricki...buy me, buy me, buy me!" It would be rude to ignore it, right?<br />
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Have a great weekend!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-55350129956126728742011-09-22T12:02:00.001-05:002011-09-22T12:09:17.486-05:00The Great Costume DebateIt's hard to believe that I'm already thinking about Halloween costumes for my kiddos. Bailey is having a tough time deciding on a costume. One minute she wants to be a cowgirl, then the next she wants to be Foofa from Yo Gabba Gabba. Just in the last week she's also mentioned possibly being a kitty cat, Tinkerbell, or a robot ninja. Decisions, decisions!<br />
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In the past, she's been a ballerina, a bumblebee, a cheerleader, and Ming-Ming the duck from the Wonderpets.<br />
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Jake, on the other hand, is still at the mercy of his Mama. Last year he was only 3 months old, so he wore a little cow print jumper and matching hat. This year, I have so many ideas for his costume (a gnome, Yoda, Dwight from The Office, DJ Lance from Yo Gabba Gabba), but I have a feeling he will veto anything that involves glasses or a beard. He'll most likely be the bumblebee, just like Bailey was at the same age. Whatever he dresses up as, it'll be adorable!<br />
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Since Halloween is just around the corner, I've added a few Halloween themed bib and burp cloth sets to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TwoTinyBirds?ref=si_shop">my Etsy shop</a>! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-38372046786724196562011-09-21T13:51:00.000-05:002011-09-21T13:51:59.783-05:0010 Down, 10 More to Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My little guy developed a sinus infection last week and as a result, his naps were short and sporadic. He only wanted one thing all week...attention from Mama. So I didn't finish the entire quilt top like I had hoped, but I did complete 10 blocks. Now I only need to make 10 more to have enough for a nice sized lap quilt. I think it's coming along quite nicely. I'm still trying to decide whether to add 2 1/2" white sashing between the blocks. I'm leaning toward yes...any thoughts or suggestions? <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-16825380544371884332011-09-20T10:46:00.001-05:002011-09-20T10:46:22.086-05:00Mmm, Mmm Good!It may still be 90 degrees here in Dallas, but it's beginning to feel more like fall. Fall is my favorite time of year. I love everything about it, but I especially love Sundays filled with football and good home cooking. These chicken and dumplings definitely fit the bill as a perfect Sunday dinner. I am notorious for altering recipes with a little dash of this and a little bit of that, and <a href="http://www.bubblecrumb.com/2010/02/14/crock-pot-chicken-and-dumplings-recipe/">this</a> is a great basic recipe that you can use as a starting point in creating your own fantastic bowl of yumminess. The original recipe uses a crock-pot, but I didn't get mine started early enough in the day, so I cooked them in a large soup pot on the stove instead.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chicken and Dumplings</b></span><br />
<i>adapted from</i> <a href="http://www.bubblecrumb.com/2010/02/14/crock-pot-chicken-and-dumplings-recipe/">Bubble Crumb</a><br />
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3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts <br />2 tablespoons butter <br />2 cans cream of chicken soup <br />4 cups chicken broth <br />1 tablespoon dried parsley <br />
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning<br />
1/4 tsp black pepper <br />
1 cup frozen peas and carrots<br />
1 tube Grands buttermilk refrigerator biscuits, cut into bite sized pieces<br />
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Add chicken, butter, chicken soup, chicken broth, and seasonings to a large soup pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 30-45 minutes. Remove chicken, shred with a fork, and return to the broth. Add frozen veggies and return to a boil. Add biscuit pieces, cover, and continue to cook until dumplings are cooked through, about 15 minutes. Ladle into a bowl and enjoy!<br />
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To make this recipe in your crock-pot, simply add all ingredients except for the biscuits and cook on high 4-6 hours or until the chicken is tender. Shred the chicken with a fork and return to the broth. Add biscuits pieces and cook an additional 30 minutes or until the dumplings are cooked through. Depending on the size of your crock-pot, you may need to reduce the amount of dumplings. The dumplings are my family's favorite part of this dish, so I always use the largest dish in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R8A1OK/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=twotinybirds-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B000R8A1OK&adid=14R014G5EM3ADW09AP5H">my crock-pot</a> so we can enjoy every bite of dumpling goodness!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMHoeVVwJYI2Rj6eOmC1VmnMWxGutApawLhrkvrwyfUX8maLs7uvDKDI4QhUjkGst6p8hFS9mXHFr3aTDaUaxdjdMaeWfhtQIaI3YKvDU6m0c5H-hOqTkA8Dr9UgqwlRONJPQJnP3Dt0/s1600/baileydumplings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMHoeVVwJYI2Rj6eOmC1VmnMWxGutApawLhrkvrwyfUX8maLs7uvDKDI4QhUjkGst6p8hFS9mXHFr3aTDaUaxdjdMaeWfhtQIaI3YKvDU6m0c5H-hOqTkA8Dr9UgqwlRONJPQJnP3Dt0/s400/baileydumplings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As you can see, this recipe is kid tested and approved! Enjoy! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-44802792302798465752011-09-15T11:10:00.000-05:002011-09-15T11:12:38.430-05:00Photography Challenge - Week 7 & 8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://astepinthejourney.blogspot.com/2011/07/photography-challenge.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdSj9TdYtqsVWveDti4d8hxTY0vL73YT9NoPZMy_U_jxSGWkVc3Qi85rPEjPemKetshZapgaLMal_W8oTRtR8-H9GATWdhYQ1GXSwamJuvtpSadbpe1JJZRHgpJvk84nFVcC_unISBFk/s1600/photo+challenge+button_2.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's time for another update in the Photography Challenge at <a href="http://astepinthejourney.blogspot.com/">A Step in the Journey</a>. Last week I posted my photo to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40338435@N04/">Flickr</a>, but never got around to blogging about it. Last week's topic was "what are you wearing today?"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAm75FFe4nZsj850UJojCmMOolMjb2NFg-E_sBR8V_Q7pfPXVOlGCbxp_vwzLMrX3wPhS6LahLdq7IDWAwuCrwEQVXB5B2cWxTGdSguXYyXBVh4ERUDuivRPy4Y7H2Jb03vG43qEv3Qk/s1600/DSC07936a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAm75FFe4nZsj850UJojCmMOolMjb2NFg-E_sBR8V_Q7pfPXVOlGCbxp_vwzLMrX3wPhS6LahLdq7IDWAwuCrwEQVXB5B2cWxTGdSguXYyXBVh4ERUDuivRPy4Y7H2Jb03vG43qEv3Qk/s400/DSC07936a.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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On the particular day this photo was snapped, I was ready for some football! Even though I live in the heart of Cowboys country, I am a Colts fan. I truly believe that Peyton Manning is the smartest quarterback to ever play the game. Hopefully he'll recover quickly and get back into the game this season. Go Colts!<br />
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This week of the challenge focused on black and white photography. Now this is where I decided that the guidelines of the challenge are pretty flexible. I didn't actually take this week's photos, but instead decided to use Picnik to edit two of my favorite family photos. Both were taken in 1977, three years before I was born. My mom will probably want to strangle me for putting these on my blog for all of the world to see, but they are so great that I can't resist sharing them. Sorry mom!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFkT_MKZJpn9rkXfXjEhC1juIitQ67aUsI4GOhIVcxGqkbQy4aKk4OrTtnjPHa6ZD192uAfF3bG2m4gYPbCCeN1T4krn5uuHnmiGlaCcxlnC_i9Me2F-7_EqBi2V8mHdmgAgLpJVN5gc/s1600/Kaylean_Rodeo+%252777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFkT_MKZJpn9rkXfXjEhC1juIitQ67aUsI4GOhIVcxGqkbQy4aKk4OrTtnjPHa6ZD192uAfF3bG2m4gYPbCCeN1T4krn5uuHnmiGlaCcxlnC_i9Me2F-7_EqBi2V8mHdmgAgLpJVN5gc/s640/Kaylean_Rodeo+%252777.jpg" width="528" /></a></div>
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This is my mom. Back in the day, she was a bullrider, and she's got the trophies and belt buckles to prove it. I believe she was 17 when this photo was taken in 1977. I have always been fascinated by this photo. The original was in color and a bit larger, so I cropped it, switched it to black and white, and adjusted the exposure, sharpness, and clarity. I think I love it even more now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxjQLTFcdwoMIz9dvbJ5RAIcunDRtma5CS9Yz8_CM28VtfFvXl0fPEiiy3TJxtiWzZSYWvgyYbsv3qcLs03fI_hyHzAtMjLA1GTi-XoASawCipexnE_e8YDZaSqy5x2lH0bz041CV704/s1600/Kaylean%2526Donnie_Rodeo+%252777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxjQLTFcdwoMIz9dvbJ5RAIcunDRtma5CS9Yz8_CM28VtfFvXl0fPEiiy3TJxtiWzZSYWvgyYbsv3qcLs03fI_hyHzAtMjLA1GTi-XoASawCipexnE_e8YDZaSqy5x2lH0bz041CV704/s640/Kaylean%2526Donnie_Rodeo+%252777.jpg" width="515" /></a></div>
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This is one of my all-time favorite photos. Also taken in 1977, this photo shows my mom and dad at the rodeo. Such a cute couple! This one was already black and white, but I adjusted the sharpness and clarity just to make it a little crisper. Don't you love the clothes?<br />
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Next week's theme...a mess. With two small kids, a husband, and dog, that one should be easy! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010285276066214407.post-2042109572519700822011-09-14T10:30:00.000-05:002011-09-14T10:30:09.227-05:00Work in Progress WednesdayMy daughter started back to preschool last week, and even though my (now walking/running/climbing) son is a handful and a half, I still manage to squeeze in a few minutes of sewing every day during his naptime. My to-do list is about ten miles long. It reminds me of a scene from an old cartoon where a little kid is reading to Santa from his little wish list, and just when Santa thinks he's finished the rest of the paper unrolls and you see that the list is reeeeally long. Yep, it's like that. It's time to kick the sewing machine into over drive.<br />
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At the moment I'm working on turning this set of strips...<br />
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into this...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31H6HWqldraDUshTBJYXbx-3l373a50Z1qMHkOwePs991bBbMn5nSVZt6JjKfjd9YjnsMiiDKxLp43XS99mQv8RAWdJjlgRvuBs7H5xszBKElsNrLOHj2WEFx6qAgynK9rE8f2g_eVr8/s1600/Carol2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31H6HWqldraDUshTBJYXbx-3l373a50Z1qMHkOwePs991bBbMn5nSVZt6JjKfjd9YjnsMiiDKxLp43XS99mQv8RAWdJjlgRvuBs7H5xszBKElsNrLOHj2WEFx6qAgynK9rE8f2g_eVr8/s400/Carol2.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiStiC3QSaH065lSj61-zMaCFsQXJwtE_uz2QjlflwFPQuZuomBmxxHcA7B6mL7KsfSz95c1wjNcVy1ajLS5ug9BNdMk8FBCwjI48L14qX7uisvuVxra_WMGq6RrV4UT17N9HKosFGOgM/s1600/Carol1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiStiC3QSaH065lSj61-zMaCFsQXJwtE_uz2QjlflwFPQuZuomBmxxHcA7B6mL7KsfSz95c1wjNcVy1ajLS5ug9BNdMk8FBCwjI48L14qX7uisvuVxra_WMGq6RrV4UT17N9HKosFGOgM/s400/Carol1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The 2 1/2" strips are from a jellyroll that I bought at JoAnn's. Cutting fabric is my least favorite part of the quilting process, so I love buying pre-cut sets of fabric like charm packs, fat quarter bundles, and jellyrolls. Plus, I am very indecisive and spend way too much time trying to figure out which fabrics look best together, so it's an added bonus that the fabric are already coordinated for me. I'm sure this particular block has a name, but I have no idea what it is. I'm just making it up as I go along, trying to make the most efficient use of my jellyroll fabric. The end product will be a quilt for a family friend who has been recently diagnosed with cancer. Hopefully I can crank out all of the blocks this week and share a picture of the completed quilt top next week.<br />
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Have a great week!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4