Thunder & Lightning

We had the most amazing thunder storm last night. I woke up around 3 am and the house was shaking. I was wondering if my kiddo's would wake up and sure enough the fast pitter patter of feet were coming down the hall. We had all 5 of us in the bed last night. Thank goodness it didn't last to long. My kids are taking up alot more room than they used to!
We went to the Abuelo's last night to help clean out a room and my abuela was going to give her viking sewing machine to the Goodwill! I inherited it and am so excited! It's an oldie but I will be able to go where my cheapie singer could never take me! No more jamming and borrowing my friends machine to sew through anything thick! I also picked up a used serger and I am set! Now I just need to actually finish some projects! I did finish a wedding present well sort of.. I needed a little thinking of you for a couple I know from church. I decided to make a napkin set(handmade pledge!) which is fine but the matching case I found a tutorial for on sewmamasew.com
is so cute and I did not have time to make it! Cute gift idea you can find it under their tutorial contest winners on their blog!
My friend Amber saw these cute earrings at Urban Outfitters and made some (and then sweetly gave them to me!!)! Are they not the coolest little earrings ever! Love it!!
I also had my nephew over this weekend! Of course it was Rockband night and pancakes with dragon spit (buttermilk syrup) the next morning! We are excited to see him again in September when we hit San Fransisco!
Oh Tia! Lookie what I have for you!

Lunch Alone..... Again!

The kids have been in school for a few weeks now and I have to admit I am having a harder time this year than last. I think it's because I had the kids half day for part of the year and then my husband was home when they went full day as he was 2nd shift. Now it's just me. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty to do and crafting ADD is in full force. I have projects partly done and thoughts all over the place . There is just something about making myself lunch and sitting there eating by myself that is taking some getting used to. I need to get used to it. This will be my life for a long time. As far as my inability to focus on my sewing projects, I did finish a few. I whipped up a couple headbands, one for a friend and one for a gift. I wear these all the time because they are wide and look good with short or long hair. Speaking of long hair, thought of you Becca P. You need one of these cuties so I will whip you up one! I also finished a matching shoe and bib set for a friend of mine and I did this decorative stitch around the edge and it was a baseball print fabric and I forgot to take a picture!
A Few Of My Favorite Things:
*I have not had TV for over a year now and do not regret my decision. I have been able to catch the few just can't miss shows (Lost), on the major networks websites. ABC, NBC, and FOX all show current full episodes. Bravo on the other does not! So, I have missed Project Runway... until now! Yeah! neolimmik83 on Youtube show all the current episodes and you can even view them on high quality. It's broken onto 4 segments but who cares.. no commercials!
*Friend who dreads school skate parties as much as I do so we ditched and took the kids to the pool! Had a great time!
*My new fabrics! I was talked into the Floral and Polka-Dot combo. It's really growing on me! I'm thinking maybe a little scripture or notebook tote.When I saw the scooter I thought of my friend Darbs! Hmmm...
*The dresser I picked up from a neighbors front yard who was donating it. I had to push it down the street on a dolly (sp) with a flat tire in 180 degree weather. But it will be worth it when I paint it white and add some funky knobs! My little girl will love it!
*I love these bars! They are fiber candy bars. My grocery store has had them on sale for a few weeks for $1 a box. Do you think if the world was coming to an end I could survive on these? I sure am stocking up like I could! *My husband found this website pandora.com and it is a site that will stream music for free. You pick a few of your favorite bands or songs and it will create a station for you based on your choices. You can add more variety, mark if you do or do not like a song. I don't have an ipod yet so I just have this playing on my laptop or computer and there are no advertisements! Love It!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things....

You know how there are just little things in your week that make you smile...well, here are a few of mine since the last time I've blogged.
The first day of school. Yes, it's a beautiful thing...not just for me but for them they were definitely needing a change of pace. I know in about a week I'm going to miss them a bit but I must say I have really been loving the past few days.

Don't they look thrilled? Of course this is the only one where everyone is clear. I don't know if I just take crappy photos or if I had changed the setting on my camera inadvertently.
The MAC Pro my husband picked up on craig's list. She is beautiful and she has photoshop cs. Sigh..now I just need to learn how to use her. My husband has not been able to do anything else he has fully converted to the MAC side. I will take the plunge soon,watch the tutorials and will be a MAC user before long.(ichatting with my sister really made me smile, I have not seen her for awhile, now she is just a click away.)

Having friends over for dinner and having a great time! I tried a new recipe Amazing Brown Rice Salad Yum! If you double the recipe just use 1 1/2 cups of the balsamic vinaigrette. I'm thinking next time I will add some pecans or pine nuts.

Little thinking of you just because. Love the button!
Given a subscription to Family Fun magazine. Tons of cute crafty ideas!

Perfect No Bake Cookie for breakfast! Sometimes these turn out dry, or they don't set up depending on if you got the boiling time just right. they were perfect this batch. Love dessert with breakfast. (Not around my kids of course!)

I rarely buy movies, but I love this one and saw it in a bargain bin so I had to buy it! I finally had a chance to watch it again and if you haven't seen it you should check it out! Hopefully you will enjoy it!
Last only because it happened today. Spending a whole day hanging out with a gf and going from Goodwill to Anthropolgie (which just opened up by my house).Major visual stimulation. So much fun!

I Can Do This!! And The Recipe For Cookie Dough Brownies

Today I went to a gf's house with the kids for a play date which was great since I had not seen this friend in awhile do to her many travels. So we are chatting and I notice she is a little more glowy if there is such a word ( not that kind of glowy) and it's not her new fab hair color either. Then I found out why. She has taken the leap. The mostly raw fruits and vegetables, whole grain leap. The leap that has been nagging me for quite some time. So now what? How do I hang out with a glowing healthy getting thinner gf and justify the fabulous toxic food that has been weighing me down? I don't think I can. I may just have to take this leap and join the good side. She has inspired me as she snacked on her whole raw almonds. I do believe for the sanity of my family I will leap when school has started for the kids. That gives me a few days to mentally and physically prepare and then the kids won't have to tolerate my crankiness as much as I chew on my veggies. That said I did receive a request for a recipe. So here is the recipe for yummy Cookie Dough Brownies ( if you haven't leaped yet these are good!)

Cookie Dough Brownies

2 c. sugar 1 c. vegetable oil
1 1/2 c. flour 4 eggs
1/2 c. cocoa (baking) 2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Filling:
1/2 c. softened butter 2 Tbsp. milk
1/2 c. packed brown sugar 1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. sugar 1 c. flour

Glaze:
1 c. chocolate chips 3/4 c. nuts (optional)
1 Tbsp. shortening

In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour, cocoa and salt. Add oil, eggs and vanilla and beat at a medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in walnuts. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Cool completely.
For filling: Cream butter and sugars in a mixing bowl. Add milk and vanilla and mix well. Beat in flour and spread over brownies. Chill until firm.
For glaze: Melt chocolate chips and shortening in a saucepan, stirring until smooth. Spread over filling. Immediately sprinkle with nuts.

Vacation @ Home!

I was on vacation last week. My husband says it's not really a vacation , more like just some days off since we stayed home. It was our first non vacation and it was great. I had read an article in a magazine about a family that stayed home, hired a housekeeper for the week, had in home massages, daily activities but the comfort of their own beds. I did not have the luxury of hiring a housekeeper or getting a massage but I did have the comfort of my own bed, catnaps, and fun activities with the family.
We had a BBQ with friends, X-Box marathon, finished some much needed projects,caught a movie. We took the kids to a local pool and they loved it.

We also hit the Science Center for their Grossology Exhibit. All about the gross things our bodies do.
There were lovely things to smell...
Yes, grown adults were partcipating not to mention my son..
So, as you can imagine the kids had a great time and actually learned a thing or two. We decided not to camp and just take a day trip up to the water hole again. We swam and fished for crawdads. Grandma and Grandpa came and even rode in the van with us. They quickly took up our offer to let them drive home and we sit in the back with the kids. Good Times!

School starts in a few days and my crafty project list is getting long. Will miss the kiddo's but looking forward to a crafty thing or two or three. If you don't see a blog posted for a bit or the phone is not being answered after the kids go to bed it's because this has arrived:
A book I know I will like.