Do you......Pin?

Pinterest. Isn't it everyone's new addiction? It is for me. I could spend(waste) hours rummaging through boards. It's great. Full of the most wonderful ideas. I like to think of myself as the creative type, but honestly, I could not have dreamed up half of the wonderfulness I have found on this site. I recommend everyone get an account right.a.way. If you need an invite, let me know.

I found these gems on there. Monkey pizza bread. Oh the yum! Just press pepperoni and a cube of mozzarella into pizza dough ball, close and bake the bunch. Oh.My.Gosh! Wonderful and filling. I didn't have the pizza dough laying around so I had to whip some up, but they were fast and yummy. Try them, today!! lol

I wasn't able to get a pic fresh out of the oven, mostly because they were awesome and everyone dug and and also because I forgot. That is my life. lol

Pinterest has also helped me find my knitting mojo again. Well, that and we are FINALLY having fall weather. It's all yucky and rainy today and I feel like doing a happy dance for it. Bring on the cold!! And the yummy, fibery goodness that is bound to come with it. I have been making cowls for the littles. One for Jay (not pictured, but red) and one for Miss M. She won't wear it, but wouldn't leave Jay's alone. Kids!! I'm working on a hat for Log right now and then on to the Monsteen.

We've moved. Again. It's totally a live altering move. I've had big plans and they have been....rearranged. I'm still me, though, so a lot of it will stay the same with a different location. You should keep your eyes open for what will be happening. So very much going on!

Have you seen that TLC show Extreme Couponing? Well, it has brought back a part of my life that I used to do many years ago. Couponing when you live in the middle of nowhere and you have exactly two stores to choose from and neither one are "down the street" makes it tiring and ridiculous. And not very productive. However, living here we have seven stores to choose from. Seven. This is really helping me to get hubby on board. I'm also learning how to do it right. Lots of work involved. It is important that I mention that how they do it on the show is not impossible, but really, really hard. And rare. And a lot of what happens there is regional based and done for the cameras. Anyone wanting to do this should keep realistic standards which is to save as much as possible and get as much for your money as you can. Don't cry or feel a failure if you don't get your whole cart for free. Here I go: ranting on when I had planned to just mention it. Well, that's enough for today. Within the next day or two I will post more on my methods and where I get my info. Stay tuned because that post will be PACKED with all sorts of goodness. Until then......

New Breakfast Ideas

Well, not my idea, but a Pinterest enabled idea. lol From Health-Bent, I did this wonderful bacon and eggs in the oven deal. In the oven?!? Yes, in the oven. I didn't have Canadian bacon, which is what was called for, but I did have regular bacon. First, I lined my muffin tins with aluminum foil. This was less for mess control and more for the yuck that is my very old muffin tin.

Although, this would be great for easy clean up; maybe even using those tin muffin cups would be good. Next, I cut the bacon slices in half because there

was just TOO much bacon in each with a full slice. Too much? That's right I said it, but don't tell hubby. : ) Now, since in the original recipe she used Canadian bacon, which is fully cooked, I had to add my own bit at this point. I cooked the bacon for about ten minutes first. Then I added the eggs and put it back in for another 8 to 10 minutes.

*What I Learned: Bacon is not round. Duh , right? Next time I'm going to cut the strips into fourths or even thirds. Then layer them in a pattern that makes a little cup. Cook for perhaps fifteen minutes (due to thickness of the bottom) then continue as before. Oh and I did add another five minutes, which made the egg yolks soft but not runny. I wanted them runny, but I get a little wigged out over runny whites so I cooked it longer.

Oh and sorry about the pics. They were so GOOD that no one let me (also read as I forgot to) take a picture before they were gobbled up. Maybe next time.

How did I forget this?!?

Somehow, in all the crazy, I missed put up one of the squares. I just needed to share this gem. It's so lovely. The deep red is really impressive. Enjoy!

And the first one is DONE!

I finally got the first blanket done for our Ravelmama who is having baby #2 on Thursday. I wish I wasn't cutting things so close, but such is life. This one is a 9 square blanket and I think it's lovely. The perfect crib size blanket and sooooooo soft. Miss Miranda has been carrying on about trying to get me to give it to her. I think I might need to make one for her.

Here's another one. I'm hoping that later I can get someone to hold it up for a pic for me. You really MUST see all of the beauty in this blanket. So much love from so many talented hands went into this special blanket. I am so proud to be a part of such a wonderful group of gals.

Here's another pic of one of the squares I received earlier. I just couldn't get a good pic of the beautiful red color of the yarn. It turns out I just needed some good light.
Here's a pic of a square I just received this week. Such a wonderful camel color. I joined the squares with a single crochet. It makes the front of the blanket have a raised edge around each square. It adds a bit of contrast and some nice texture. I finished it with a scalloped edge. I think it looks nice.

We have a lot going on around here and some days I feel like I'm just barely keeping up. This blanket really was such a joy to put together. I felt so honored that these women were sending me these beautiful squares. It was such a joy to open each and every one. I have one more blanket left to make and six squares to do it with. I may receive more. I may make more. We'll see what happens. I'll definitely be posting the finished project and sharing all the love and beauty that comes from being part of such an amazing group of ladies.

Trying to get back to it.......

...and sharing more squares......

..........and trying learn more! I have a very ambitious personality, but very little time to follow through with most of it. lol I'm working on it. I have wanted to learn to sew clothes for YEARS now. I mean that. Why? Well, because. I get a lot of, "it's cheaper to buy" and all the other jazz that other well-meaners have to say to me. However, have you seen what the big box stores (and some little box stores) want us to dress our young daughters in?!? I have and I not only disagree but I strongly disapprove. I have two daughters. Not to mention that they do not make clothes for moms. Have you noticed this? You either have to be itty bitty or a bigger gal. I fall somewhere in the middle, right now, and cannot find a thing that fits me. It makes me want to cry. Also the lack of maternity (which I no longer need, lol) and nursing (which I DO still need) at a reasonable price makes me want to scream. I am NOT paying fifty bucks for something just because it's easy to nurse in AND is cute. I'll just make it myself. So, without further ado, here are the girls' matching skirts.

I know, the house is a mess. And the white stuff is soap. She's an odd one, lol. This skirt is just SO cute on her. It goes below her knees....SHOCK!! Huh? lol

This one is a little fuzzy, but I really wanted to show the length.

And here is Miss A's. I know, her swimsuit is yucky. It needs to be scrubbed. She seems to think it is everyday, all day attire right now, ugh.

So there we have it. They were easy and turned out too cute. They have given me a little more confidence and a lot more motivation! I'm going to get this down. I mean it. ; )

Baby Squares

Well, me and the gals from one of my Ravelry groups are getting together to make a baby present for one of the other gals who is having her second baby in August. We decided on 12 inch squares. When all is said and done, I am thinking that we will have made enough squares for two baby blankets! See, knitters/crocheters are amazing and giving people!!










I'll post more as they come. And of course the finished product! It's so nice to be able to do things like this for people who are important to you, with people who are important to you.

the swing of things?

Is there really such a thing? Maybe. I seem to be a bit wishy washy (which is what I accuse hubby of, ahem). I pick things up and just as I get good at them and really happy, I just stop. Really? Why? Who knows. Well, I've done it with our budget and my grocery shopping and my house and and and and...... Well, we'll start with the budget and my grocery shopping. I'm using The Budget Kit because it has lots of great "forms" and lists and all that jazz.

I've also started a price book. I've meant to do this for years, but am just now getting to it. So I'm keeping track of the prices of things we normally buy at the stores we normally shop at. This way I know where the best prices are. I'm also tracking our spending on absolutely everything. Now, I know that there are lots of websites or software programs that do all this for you. Just enter and go. However, I like the old fashioned way of writing it all down. Plus it's all right there at arm's reach and easy for us all to understand. Wish me luck! lol

I've got more planted. I've got more started. I've just got more. lol And more to come in a couple of days.