Baby Blanket All Tied Up

For the baby's blankie I wanted to do a tie style quilt. I have had this fabric for almost a year and have LOVED it, but couldn't decide what to do with it. It seemed only fitting that I would use it for my little girl's blankie.




Funny little story...I brought it upstairs to show Phil and I said, "I stitched her initials in it"...His response was, "what are her initials...I didn't know we had decided on a name!"

I looked at him with such a blank face because I was shocked. We had totally discussed and agreed on a name two weeks ago.

When I reminded him what her name is, he said, "oh yeah, I just didn't know you had decided that for sure."

Well now it is stitched in her blankie...that makes it pretty official:)

The Great Stroller Debate: SOLVED!!!

As most of you know, there was a lovely little stroller debate going on at my house recently. Part of the debate was between Phil and I, but most of it was a war in myself.

I really wanted to make sure I got the EXACT stroller I wanted with all the amenities I needed, but it felt that no matter what price I was willing to pay, I just couldn't find a stroller that had EVERYTHING on my wish list...

Then I found the Mecca of all strollers {it wasn't either of the two I had originally been debating}...

Baby Jogger: City Select

This thing had everything on my wish-list:
1. A single that turns into a double
2. Quick fold
3. A car seat attachment in the rear
4. Stadium seating
5. Locking wheels for a jogger

There are 16 different ways you can use this stroller:

This will be for the first 6 months, I'm sure

The good news is, that when we have a third kid:) you can put a glider on the back for them to stand on!

Every time I see someone with the same stroller {especially if they have two kids in it} I ask if they like their stroller. I can not believe the raves moms give this stroller. Every single one tells me how great it is and tries to sell me on it until I tell them I already bought it!

I could not be HAPPIER with my selection {and so far Emrie likes it too}!!!

It's What's For Dinner: Green Southwest Chicken Salad

In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day and everything green...here is a "green" salad.

As I have mentioned before, I have an affinity for Mexican food, as does my husband. But we have also been trying to eat somewhat healthy {he always has eaten healthy, I am just recently getting on board}.

For a REALLY quick dinner tonight I made my version of a Southwest Green Chicken Salad {I called it a 'Green' salad because just about everything in it was green}.

The weather has benn WONDERFUL for March {the 'Green' is therefore appropriate} so I actually went outside and grilled chicken that I threw on top {and everything taste fresher and 'springier' with cilantro}!!! By the way, I got the simple but delicious dressing recipe from my best friend Lesley and I just added the lime part...YUM!






Southwest Green Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

Bag of fresh greens
Cilantro
Green Onions
Avocado
Lemon juice
Tomato (I didn't add any because I was out, but it would be good)
Tortilla chips
Lime juice
Balsamic vinegar
Ranch dressing

Directions:

Simply cut and mix the greens, cilantro, green onion, avocado, and tomato in a bowl. Squeeze lemon juice on top. Crush tortilla chips on top. To make the dressing, mix one part balsamic vinegar and one part ranch dressing in a small bowl then squeeze lime juice in as well. Grill the chicken on the bar-b-que {I use Lawry's Season Salt to flavor mine}, cut and throw on top.

MMMMmmm....Good!

National Craft Month: DIY Easter Basket

My inspiration for this craft was, "anything I could find in my craft room"! The only thing I had to buy was a pink basket for $1.50.

While it isn't the cutest basket I could have made {I should have glued fabric over the pipe cleaner ears, and I wish I had different googlie eyes, made a cute bow that Emrie could wear to attach to the ear and write her name in glitter over the tail, all of which I still might do}, it was quick {less than 10 minutes} and cheap, cheap, cheap!






The best part was that everything in the basket cost around than $8 total because I bought everything last year right after Easter when it was all marked 75% off. I definitely recommend going shopping for next year's basket after Easter. Come next year you will be thankful that you did!


All sorts of little goodies...stickers, bunny chalk, lip gloss {I am going to hate myself for that one later}, headbands, fabric coloring egg and adorable bunny slippers!

National Craft Month: St. Patrick's Day Fabric Flower Clips

Everyone needs a little green for Saint Patrick's Day! Here is how Emrie and I will be showing our green!!!

There are a million different ways to make fabric flowers, but these are two that I used because they are so fast and simple.

Supplies:
2 types of fabric
Button or embellishment
Felt
Hot glue gun
Alligator clip

Directions for Four Leaf Clover:

Cut two different sized circles {5 of each size}...For one flower you only need two different size circles, but I was making one for me and one for Emrie so I had four.

Using one circle as the base, fold one circle in half...
Then fold it in half again so it is in a pie shape
Then glue the pie shape to the base circle
Do that with all four circles and they look like a clover
Repeat the process with the second fabric and glue on top of the first clover
Glue an embellishment to the center {I used a decorative button}
Glue a felt circle to the back for reinforcement
Glue the alligator clip to the back
Now you have a festive Saint Patrick's Day Clover Clip!

Directions for a simple Rosette:

Start with a strip of fabric

Glue it in half

Start at one end roll the fabric and glue it onto itself to start making a circle

Roll the fabric circle out as far as you want the flower size then roll the rest of it back onto itself and glue in the middle

Glue all flowers to a piece of felt

Glue the alligator clip on the back

Now you have St. Patrick's day hair clips for mother and daughter:)

Let's see how long Emrie keeps hers in her hair!

National Craft Month: Bird 'Print' Frame

This bird 'print' is so quick and easy.

Supplies:
Picture frame
Scrapbook paper
Ribbon
Hot glue gun

Directions:

Take scrapbook paper and cut it to fit the frame.

Then free hand draw a bird and cut it out and glued it to the paper. Then framed it.

Take some ribbon and tie a bow and hot glue it to the frame.

Put it on your mantel along with a couple of cute ceramic pieces {the bird is from Hobby Lobby and the owls are from Pier 1} and everything on your mantel is done for around $20.

National Craft Month: Stick Bouquets

Stick Bouquets are the second craft I made this month for my mantel. We had tons of sticks in the back yard due to wind and I love to decorate with sticks. You can use them for just about any season.

Supplies:
Sticks
Fake flowers
Vase
Hot glue gun

Directions:

Collect your sticks:)

Put them in a vase

Hot glue the flowers to the sticks

Put them on your mantel

You can do all kinds of things with the stick branches...hang eggs, hang candles, tie ribbons, hang ornaments...the possibilities are endless!