Decorative Onsie for Baby Bryant

This is not an original idea (is there anything that hasn't been done, and blogged about?) but I saw it in a boutique and thought I can do that. Those thoughts come often and never come to fruition accept in this case!

A couple in my PA class is expecting (actually two couples are so there may be more of these in the making). This craft is for Baby Bryant.

All you need:

white onsie (mine was 0-3 months)
scrap of material
sewing machine and coordinating thread/ or fabric glue

It is super easy.

I freehand drew the tie on to the back of the fabric. Cut it out and pinned it on temporarilty.

shown here before I straight pinned it at the top and bottom.

Then I/We (the machine broke and I had to call in reinforcements) sewed it on using a zig zag stich. I am a little ashamed to say Mr. is actually the sewer in our house... I just get the projects ready. I am his sou-sewer! :( (I actually didn't realize he was so good at it until last night) He is sewing all my projects from now on!

When I whimsically asked him if we would do this for our kids, he quickly replied no! He said it was too much work.... Goodness!

I'm attempting to make Baby Bryant two more... watch for em.

Two Weeks off??

I have the next two weeks off. I don't normally do this but I haven't really give any thought to how I was going to spend it!

So far this is how I am spending it...
Catching up on my google reader, reading all of you guys' blogs (I see that as my way to 'visit' you and see what you are up to!) I slept in this am, cuddled up watching the Today show, with my coffee and a left over sticky bun, in my Pj's, Dillinger and Jo jo made it perfect by cuddling up with me (only Jo Jo couldn't fit in the picture!)

I plan to get things done. I want to do some crafts and some baking and entertaining. I hope to do some visiting of long lost friends. But this morning I am just basking in the joy of having no obligations for the day!

A Beautiful Wedding Weekend

I threw a Bachelorette shower for a dear friend who got married this weekend. The theme was Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue! I decorated cookies to match the theme.

Here is the beautiful Bachlorette.

The venue was a beautiful Vineyard and the perfect backdrop for the sweet night. There is something very special about weddings. After attending several with Mr. it is a solemn thing to listen to the vows. It is like being reminded of the promise we made almost a year ago. Somestimes life gets in the way of living out our love towards each other and listening to the vows of another couple starting the journey always realigns my vision. Very often recently I fall back into viewing the world as it applys to me not the two of us. This weekend was a wonderful weekend to remind me what marriage is about.

It was also a great time to get to see an old friend I haven't seen in a while!! I love you Jen.

One more pic with friends!

St. Patty's Day Cookie Tutorial

St. Patty's Day, Cookie Sandwich Tutorial

Start with (I use premade cookie dough, saves time!) tiny balls of cookie dough, Think smaller than you think althought you can make these regular size as well.

Bake at 350 for 5 minutes (if you are doing the bitesize version)

I keep *homemade icing onhand. Add green food coloring and stir! I don't have pastry decorating stuff so I use a Ziplock bag cut a corner approximately 3 mm across, spoon your icing in, close the bag and go to town put a dollop of icing on half of the cookies. Let them sit (about 15 minutes) so that the icing sets. Then add the top cookie.

Homemade icing:
Icing
1 pkg Cream Cheese (@ room temp)
1/2 c butter
1 lb powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

In stand mixer, cream the first two ingredients.

Gradually add sugar in. Then vanilla. For best results if using this immediately for icing let sit in the refridge or on the counter before icing.

This keeps in the refridgerator so most of the time I make a double batch so I will have leftovers for projects that strike me on a random wednesday afternoon like this one!

Lucky!

I have never thought of myself as a lucky person. I was never the one who won raffles or got the big breaks. I always felt like I had to work and plan and worry for my dreams to come to fruition. Driving in the car yesterday morning I heard this song and it made me realize I am so lucky.

I met my husband through a series of unfortunate events (to say the least). I am so lucky things didn't turn out how I planned they turned out so much better. I am lucky in love.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Weekend Getaway!

We had a spur of the moment weekend trip to Charleston to attending an elopment/wedding of Mr.'s cousin. It was a wonderful trip and chance to getaway and spend time together. Here are some of our pictures!

This is a picture of the two of us at Waterfront Park. It looked out into the harbor where the Civil War started. I had no idea there was so much beauty and history in Charleston!

This is a picture of Rainbow Row it was a beautiful collection of old houses that date back to like the 1600's. My favorite part of the trip was exploring the city and walking down streets just admiring the beautiful architecture and old south charm.

This was our lunch! Street hot dogs! Yum!

This is a picture of us out on Sullivan Island with Dillenger. I wanted to let her roam free in the surf but Mr. said no :)

We had a great trip. It was a wonderful break from reality!

Getting back in the saddle

The long and short of it is...

I asked Mr. if I could join him in his hobby of bike riding so we could get exercise and have together time.

I am so sore!! Parts of my rear I didn't know could hurt, do. and it is worse the next time I try to get back in the saddle.

Mr. lent me his bike pad but that is not enough. My next move is those dorky bike pad pants. Then I will be ready to join Lance on the Tour.

But seriously, I have loved the new experience, you can see alot and go alot faster and farther than running. I look forward to many more good times back in the saddle.

Pillow Making

This weekend My sis and Bro-n-law came to visit. The boys took the opportunity to catch up and have manly bonding (aka veg out in front of the game system). We ladies shopped, pedicured, ate, and ... crafted! I had some pillows I wanted to recover and a rose pillow I wanted to create.

Here is the first one we made. I love this pattern.

This is Mr. helping me fix the sewing machine.

Working on the rose pillow.

And the finished product

Special thanks to Lndz, Evan, and Mr.
Message or comment if you want tips or a how to on how to make the rose pillow!! I am simply too tired to write it out at the moment.

BBQ Pork Surprise

The surprise is that this recipe is super easy! All you need is time, no skill for this one! It is an adaptation of tons of other Crock Pot BBQ recipes out there but this is my version and it is super easy. I made it with this sauce that Mr. grew up eating with his family on their trips to South Carolina but you can make it with any BBQ sauce! I made it the first time for a family dinner over the holidays and it was a crowd pleaser. Serve with a bread, pickles, salad, potato salad, baked beans, or whatever your craving to round out the plate!

Pulled Pork BBQ
Cook time 10 hours and 20 minutes
Hands on time < 10 minutes :)
Difficulty: If you can measure water you have the skills for this one!

Ingredients:
1. Pork Shoulder any size my Kroger only has it in like 8 pound hunks so I cut that in half sometimes and freeze the other half.**
2. 1.5 cups water
3. .5-1 bottle BBQ sauce

Equipment:
Crock pot

1. Pour water into crock pot and add pork shoulder. Cook on low 8-10 hours.

2. After the 8-10 hour, drain the excess liquid. Attack it with two forks the meat will fall apart so this won't take too much time or effort.

3. Add your BBQ sauce and cook on low 20 minutes.

You are done!!


**You could also make it all at one time and put the left overs in ziplocs and freeze. I have not tried this as left overs go fast in my house, but I hear it works!

BOGO Chipotle Coupon

I love free food because it means I get the night off of cooking!

This is promoting a new show.


Watch the video and at the end it give you a coupon for Buy one get one free for chipotle…

It is legitimate. The offer is until 3/11.
We are using it tonight!

Don't cry over spilled... chicken

As you may have noticed, I am employing the use of my crock pot more often. I got up this am and put chicken with a little water to cook the chicken while I was a work. I am part of a meal registry for a friend who just had a baby and tonight is my night. I am making chicken spaghetti with pink sauce. So I wanted to have my chicken prepped beforehand to save with time. I came home and the chicken was perfect!! I took it out of the crock pot, shredded it, separated out bones and took the cutting board to pour the bones off. I turned -- holding the cutting board and -- (as if in slow motion) dropped all the chicken on the floor. AHHH panic, what to do. . .

I have a bag of chicken strips in the refridge left over from when my husband was here fending for himself while I was at Scott and White. So on with plan B; so much for preparation!

One meal has gone to the dogs... literally! They will eat well tonight.

Reflection:
So many times I feel like when I try to do things I want them to be ... perfect (stepford wives perfect). But it is not going to happen. I am me. Mr. will tell you I am the queen of making messes. Before something like this would have devastated me but this afternoon I rolled with the punches.
A triumph in the self improvement department. I still find it hard to shake that feeling that I need to be a stepford wife but today I am celebrating the small victories!

Does anyone else feel that pressure to be a stepford wife?? Please share your experiences and reflection on the subject.

Sweet Song

I was driving home today and I heard this beautiful song.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

I have some family medicine life goals. . . after having no free time on internal medicine and having copious time on family medicine I have life goals one of them that I am making some considerable headway in is finding awesome crock pot recipes to share with you!

Today's masterpiece: Chicken Tortilla Soup
1 14 ounce can of chicken broth
1 raw chicken leg and Thigh (that is what I had, you can use any piece of chicken)
1 cup medium salsa (I had three bean mild safeway onhand) be careful it is not too spicy!
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 minced cloves of garlic

Add all to the crock pot in the am before work. Put on low for 8-10 hours
Come home and shred the chicken and debone if you are using boned meat.

Serve with chips and shredded cheese as a garnish.
It is so yummy, made from things completely out of my refridge and quick! Just finished eating it and had to share it with you!