A Stitch in Time...

When I was a kid, my mother taught me how 

to needlepoint and embroider...  

She must have needed to find a way to keep me busy, 

sans computer games 

and endless videos of A.N.T. Farm...  

I loved sewing up the simple beginner kits...  

I loved the plethora of colored floss, 

the tiny stitches that made flowers and vines...  

I loved the small embroidery hoop 

that stretched my tapestry imaginations...  

She must have been so patient to teach me 

the different stitches that my clumsy, little hands tried to master...  

Luckily for me, my kids want to learn to stitch, too... 

Unfortunately for me, my kids want to learn to stitch, too...  

 Their attention spans rival that of a gnat...  

Their hands are as nimble as a bull in a china shop...  

Their patience wears thin in a micro second...  

 My children usually decide they want to be crafty 

just as I am about to embark
on some major project of my own, 

like making a meatloaf, 

mopping the floor or paying the taxes...  

They want me to break out the sewing machine, STAT!

and my own chores be damned...  

And while there are times when I must 

prohibit the desire to craft, 

like when we are five minutes from leaving 

for school in the morning, 

there are instances where I just stop what I am doing, 

no matter how important to me, 

and I let their creative juices spew forth...  

If I keep saying no, then, at some point, 

they will stop asking... 

And that would be bad...  

Crafting is messy and the old adage of "Clean up as you go...", 

while mantra to me, is lost on them...  

So I clean up as they go, picking up scraps of felt, 

errant strings of thread, 

open scissors on the floor, 

Sharpies on the couch....  

But, it is worth the flotsam and jetsam
to see their cute hands flying, 

needle and thread in the air...

I love to see the artistic wheels turning, 

as the home made Ugly Doll takes shape...  

Where will the mouth go?  

Which button to make the eye? 

It's my modern day Little House on the Prairie, 

Ugly Doll style...  

Speaking of stitching, I have had my own project 

that I found in Country Living Magazine a year ago, 

that I have been wanting to complete...  

There just never seemed the time 

to sit down and make it happen... 

This portraiture project is so simple and easy...  

It makes a wonderful holiday gift, too...  

You can find the tutorial here...  

These are the basics:  

1.  Print out a head and shoulders photo of a loved one...  

Make sure to enlarge the photo 

so that it almost fills the 81/2 x 11" page...

These are the two photos I chose...

2.  Tape the photo to midweight 11 x 15" watercolor paper... 

3.  With a pin, poke small holes around the perimeter 

or outline of the person's hair, 

facial features, neck and shoulders...  

Simply highlight the simplest features; 

the ones that are signature to the person...  

Remember, the more lines you make, 

the more you have to sew...  

4.  With embroidery floss in the color of your choice,

and with a sharp-ish embroidery needle, 

sew the lines you have created with the pin...  

Make longer lines for the hair and body, 

smaller stitches for the facial features, 

being careful not to tear a hole in the paper, 

especially around the eyes...

I used a dark brown Sharpie 

to fill in the tiny white showing 

through in Kate's eyes...

It's ok to cheat a little...

5.  Find an inexpensive mat and frame 

at the craft store for your masterpiece!

The project took about 2.5 hours, per image,  

from printing the photo to completing the stitching... 

I would say the supplies cost approximately $20.00 

for everything, using a 40% off coupon...
  

A very satisfying endeavor!

While, the kids kept me jumping this morning, 

fetching this, helping sew on that, 

at least they weren't glued to the XBox 

or fighting with each other...  

They were honing their needlework 

and stretching their brains...  

And that, to me, is awesome...

Brace Yourself...

 Best laid plans...  

As a planner, it's my worst nightmare 

when things don't go according to plan...  

I have a hard time adjusting 

to alternatives when forced to... 

Not that I am inflexible...

Did I just hear my husband snort?

It takes me a few minutes of panicked thinking, 

"Now what am I going to do?!" ,

 until reality, realization and acceptance kicks in....   

Two weeks ago, my day was rolling along well, according to plan, 

when I received a noontime call from the school 

that my daughter was throwing up in the girl's bathroom...  

Sigh, there went the rest of the day...  

I scooped her up and salvaged some of my planned chores

while she recuperated 

from her suspicious stomach ailment...  

Funny how your tummy feels SO much better 

once you are on the couch...

Late last week, Kate fell while at gymnastics 

and twisted her ankle, 

but it seemed like more than the usual sprain...  

Remembering my own ankle mishaps as a gangly, uncoordinated kid, 

I sympathized as she hopped around 

on her good foot the next morning...  

Missing the half day of school Friday, 

I took her to the urgent care 

for a check up and resulting X-Ray...  

On the way to radiology, I realized my poor, gimpy girl 

could not make the walk to the third floor, 

so the nurse put her in a wheelchair....  

Wow!  "Now this was real service and attention 

and a cool ride!", Kate was clearly thinking 

as I pushed her down the halls...  

After a normal X-Ray, the doctor fitted Kate 

with a soft foot brace to give her a little extra support, 

and boy, was it ever miraculous 

how she could instantly walk with ease!  

It was the prop she had been looking for 

ever since her schoolmate broke her ankle 

and got a cast on her foot...  

Oh, the attention she was going to get 

the second she hobbled onto the playground next week!  

Oh, the sympathy and free pass from gym!  

This was awesome! 

She kept Freudian slipping 

and called her brace a "cast"...

My BS detector starting beeping in my ear...

There is a sprain there and she does have some pain, 

but when she hopped over to me this morning 

on her good foot again, 

I decided some emotional warfare was in order...  

I was getting a little tired of this charade, 

and given the five day school break, 

I was in no mood for continued milking of the injury...  

"Gee, Kate, I was hoping to take you to see a movie today, 

like "Wreck It Ralph."  But since that you can't walk very far, 

I don't see how you can walk through the parking garage 

or even to the theater with your ankle hurting so much today.  

Guess we will have to stay home."  

It was truly amazing how much better her ankle felt 

at that moment and how her walk improved...  

It was as if the angels came, from above,  

to rescue this poor soul with pigtails 

and  they healed her ankle right then and there...
  

Mothers are allowed a fair amount of mental gamery and deceit 

to make the world function properly...  

Oh, and that thing about knowing EVERYTHING 

that is going on, along with eyes in the back of our heads 

is totally true...

That superpower appears 

around the fifth month of gestation...

Just sayin'...

Otherwise there would be anarchy 

and the world would slip off its axis...

Kate had also planned to visit her grandparents this weekend, 

but Grandpa fell ill 

and we rain checked that event for another day...  

Kate needed to be distracted from her disappointment 

as well as her real/fake injury, 

so I scrambled for a quick craft...  

Once again, Pinterest to the rescue!  

This is a GREAT rainy day activity 

and it is SO easy....  

Sharpie Tie Dye...  

Here is the link to the original idea...  

Gather some plain white T Shirts, 

Sharpies in a variety of colors, 

rubbing alcohol, 

rubber bands, 

plastic cups, 

medicine dropper, 

blow dryer or iron 

and some iron on appliques (optional)  

1.  Stretch a section of the front of the T Shirt 

over a plastic cup 

and secure tightly with a rubber band. 

2. Design your T with the Sharpies in the tight circle.  

I find small circles of color, close together, 

make the coolest designs, 

but this is where your little one can be very creative. 

3.  Fill the dropper with the alcohol 

and let them drip, drip drip it 

over their design and watch the colors run.  

4. When it has stopped running, 

gently blow dry the image.  

5. Then move the cup to another section of the T Shirt 

until you have decided you are finished.  

6. Toss the T Shirt into the dryer to set the ink.  

Then I ironed on some appliques from Jo Ann Fabrics 

to add a little extra something...  

That's it!  

It's great for old Tees that have stains on them...  

Kate had a blast 

and it cost me about $4.00 

for the appliques....

I need to appreciate the days 

when things do go according to plan...

  

And really, sometimes the alternative plan 

is as fun as the original anyway...

The Pinterest Challenge...

Okay, so this is nothing like "Julia, Julia", 

where the author cooks every single recipe from Julia Child's, 

"Mastering the Art of French Cooking"...  

But I like a challenge now and then...  

As long as I don't sweat, 

strain any muscles or have to do math...  

While I was meal planning this morning, 

I decided that all of the dinners for next week 

would be pulled from Pinterest...  

Pinteresters rave about recipes they have found 

from this site and I have to admit 

I have dished up some keepers, too... 

Starting Monday through the following Sunday, 

almost every dinner meal will incorporate 

a Pinterest dish... 

With the exception of Tuesday 

which is traditionally 

"Breakfast for Dinner Night"... 

Can't mess with CCD Night, 

which typically consists of scrambled eggs, 

bacon and toaster waffles...  

So, here is the plan, barring any unforeseen crap 

that throws a wrench into things 

and sends us to Taco Bell...

Disclaimer:  These meals are not gluten free, 

dairy free, vegan or clean.  

They are not part of the Zone or Atkins diets, either.  

If you are looking to drop a few lbs...
 this ain't the list for you...

However, pre-diabetic Paula, Ree and Trisha would approve...

You also might notice a preponderance of cheese...

Pure coincidence, Friends...

Okay, now back to the fun!

Monday:  Crispy Cheddar Chicken, 

Green Beans, 

Applesauce

Tuesday:  Breakfast 4 Dinner

Wednesday:  Balsamic Roast Beef Sandwiches, 

 

French Fries, Grapes

 Chocolate Pie

Thursday:  Parmesan Tilapia, 

 

Asparagus, Roasted Potatoes

Friday:  Country Club Chicken,

Broccoli, Applesauce,  

Salted Caramel Butter Bars

Saturday:  Million Dollar Spaghetti, 

 

Olive Garden Salad, 

Garlic Bread, Brownies

Sunday:  Roast Chicken, 

 

Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes,  

Banana Boats

Time to hit the Aldi for groceries 

and to psyche up for the Pinterest Challenge!  

If you have any Pinterest recipes you love, 

please share them!

My Favorite Things 2012

Not to be confused with the Christmas Gift List 2012 

(coming later...), 

this list is purely self indulgent...  

Kind of, but not really like those 

"Can't Live Without" lists of celebrities 

you read in the Tribune or in national magazines...  

I figure if I love it, you might, too...  

Why not share things that bring a little happiness?  

So here goes:

Giada's Fusilli con Buco  

This twisty pasta is exotic...  

It makes the most humdrum pasta dish 

seem more sublime...  

At $2.99 a box, it's a mini luxury...  

You can find it at Target...

Essie Base Coat and Top Coat nail polishes

 

As someone who can afford manicures 

about as often as presidential elections, 

I need a good base and top coat that will last.  

Sally Hansen base coats cause my polish to peel off 

within twenty four hours of application.  

Considering that it takes me weeks 

to find the time to even do my own nails, 

the polish better stick!  

This stuff does the trick even though I give my hands a beating...

St. John black pants: 

Okay, these are not inexpensive...  

In fact, they are quite pricey, 

but they are the ultimate in investment dressing... 

St. John pants last for many years, 

never wrinkle and you always look FABULOUS in them...  

When I worked for St. John nearly twenty years ago, 

we had to wear their line to work... 

My decades old pants died last year...  

I miss them dearly, hint, family, hint....Size M...:)

Secola Frizzante:  

At $4.99 a bottle, you can purchase a case 

without guilt and you will be ready for holiday entertaining 

or for yourself!  

This fizzy prosecco is delicious 

and tastes especially lovely while I cook dinner 

to the background of kids screaming...

Coconut Oil: 

  

Pinterest Friends, you already know how great this stuff is...  

$5.99 will get you the softest, 

most Farrah Fawcet-like tresses possible...  

A mushy handful of coconut oil 

is kneaded into your dry locks... 

Let it work its magic for about fifteen minutes 

(or overnight, if you can stand it) 

and then wash it out two times...  

I gotta tell ya, it's super restorative!

Felix Doolittle:

 

Have you met Felix yet?  

Gosh, let me introduce you to some seriously cool people 

with outrageous illustrative talent...  

If you are in need of a small, yet satisfying indulgence or gift

this is the site to see...  

Amazingly beautiful address labels, 

book plates and paperweights to name just a few 

of the spectacularly unique items they carry...  

Oh, how I love them...

Papa Charlie's Italian Style Beef:

For sure, nothing is better 

than your own mama's Italian beef...  

But who has the time to slow cook 

her traditional recipe?  

I swear, Papa Charlie's is a tasty alternative, 

and you can find it at Aldi's... 

If you want to amp them up a bit, 

get some nice crusty sandwich rolls, 

smear them with crushed garlic 

and olive oil and give them a toasting... 

Saute some peppers and onions 

if you want to gild the lily...  

"Papa" comes through in a pinch...

Thievery Corporation: 

Tommy is my music explorer

 and he found these guys via Rhapsody 

a few years ago... 

All I have to hear is "Lebanese Blonde" and the stress falls away...  

Check them out online....  

Great lounge-y tracks for cocktails and cooking...  

Kindle Fire:   

This was a Christmas gift last year 

and it is my savior... 

For years I did not read books because, 

A: Hardbacks are ridiculously expensive 

and B: People with little kids rarely 

have time to read or shower, for that matter.  

Now that the kids can swim in the pool 

without hanging on to me for dear life in the shallow end, 

I can enjoy "Gone Girl" or Tina Fey's memoir without guilt.  

And, no, I have not read 

that book about the color grey yet.....

Skype: 

 

Remember when we were kids 

and we would speculate about inventions in the future?  

Most of us imagined phones with TV screens, right?  

What a revolution to be able to see 

who you are talking to!  

I love calling my mom or T$ 

and seeing their smiles as we connect...  

It really is the best, especially for the grandparents...  

Heck, last night I talked with an old friend, 

who lives in New Zealand, for an hour!  

Now how cool is that?

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Stars:

 

Oh man, these little cookie treasures 

only appear on the shelves during the holidays...

 At my local store, if you don't fill your cart upon first sighting, 

you are out of luck until next year...  

I am already on the look out for these babies...  

The best things in life are free 

and surely with all the pain and tragedy 

the world dishes up on a daily basis, 

we understand family, health 

and love are what matters...  

These little indulgences are the icing on the cake...  

Excuse me now, I am going to cuddle up with my Kindle, 

a glass of Secola 

and a few star cookies....

Getting Leafy...

It was a girl's weekend of sorts...  

Tom and Jack were invited to a Bulls game Saturday night
and they left early Sunday morning
for a full day of hunting...  

Dad was going to teach his boy
to properly use a 22 gauge shotgun...  

Oh joy... 

To all my friends who come over for play dates....

There are NO FIREARMS in this house...

Had to say that...

So Kate and I were left to fend for ourselves
and we did quite well, thank you...  

I decided about noonish that Kate
needed a little fresh air...  (I did, too)  

We wandered outside to see what we could find
and she picked up a nice collection of leaves...  

While we walked and stooped and oohed over leaves,
I racked my brain for some leaf-type of activity
to keep her from returning to the TV...

First thing we did was to sandwich the leaves
between sheets of wax paper...  

We ironed the leaves and noticed
how the wax merged with the leaf structure.....

yawn...!  

Then we broke out the colored pencils
and made bright rubbings of the leaves... 

That generated some excitement... 

Finally, I decided that glitter would be the icing on the cake,
so we zschoosh'ed those leaves up... 

Note:  Waxed leaves do not like glue...  

It pools off them like oil and water...  

Another Note:  The finer the glitter,
the better the adhesion. 

I like Martha's glitter...

The leaves are beautiful, regardless,
and we hung them in the dining room
with filament line... 

They look like they are floating gently down,
with a Vegas style sparkle!  

 We killed about two hours,
sans boob tube...  

Mission accomplished...

The school bake sale is tomorrow...
 
My contribution is Banana Bread 

and Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread...

The kitchen smells heavenly this morning...