Another Gluten Free Contest

My friend Kim is having another contest for gluten free food/products!

take a stroll on over and check it out!

http://glutenfreeislife.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/product-review-fiber-one-50-calorie-yogurt/#comment-1411

crossing my fingers - I love freebies!

Awesome Contest for Great Food!!!

So, my friend is having a contest on her blog. She writes articles on Gluten Free food, eats Gluten Free and is all about the Gluten Free!!

Check out her blog and her contest!

http://glutenfreeislife.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/product-review-natures-path-cereals-2/

Actually, I'm glad I got the push to add her to my blog roll. I finally figured out how to do it!

Special Request from an almost 3 year old

So, when I have time, I really do make these cute little things. I made Julia some turtle sandwiches (same idea, but I used ritz crackers and a little turtle shape).  So, now she's been asking for them.

Mom - can you make me butterfly today? How can I say no?

Mel likes them, too. I think I used to do these for her. I think I made them with real sandwiches, with bigger shapes.

The only drawback is it is a bit of a food waster. But, they love it. And I love seeing the look on her face - she is so impressed - if she only knew how simple it is.

proof is in the rays

proof that the sun does shine in NJ

i see you

the sun finally peeked
out!

httpp://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2009/06/bizarro_june_what_happened_to.html

My mind begins to wander

I can't keep up with the quilt along I'm supposed to be doing. It isn't a big deal - just one 9 patch every day. I'm so behind. I think by at least 3 weeks. It started April 21....ugh. I have 15  -9 patch squares done. I did order some fabric from Etsy, so I have pieces to work with, but I think they are 5 inch squares- that doesn't help me. They are supposed to be 2.5 in squares......I guess I'll have to order more!!!

I made a bib for Julia last night at class. She does not like to wear blue or green or red, only pink or purple so I whipped up a cute little bib and she was happy it was pink! She is (somewhat) easy to please. Very flimsy - just two pieces of fabric, no toweling, or fleece or vinyl - just cotton - you can practically see through it, but it works. 

So, I promised my SIL a scrapbook of our trip to NYC. I am determined!!! I will do one. I'll make two - one for me, one for her (or, them - the three of them, I'm sure, would like it).

So, tonight, I'm going to start!!!!

or, maybe tomorrow.....

:)

Another stolen creation

http://the6oclockstitch.blogspot.com/2009/05/goodnight-lucy-tutorial.html

While Joey was sleeping, I thought I'd try this out. I had some scrap fabric I got from Joann's (from one of those bins). I didn't follow it exactly, and the edges could be a bit tidier, but it works (and it motivated the girls to clean up their mess of play dough).

I used some batting as the mattress filler, since the poly fill stuff made it  a little bulky. I sewed the blanket all the way around, so now it is like a sleeping bag. 

The girls love it!

FW: What we did this weekend

FW: What we did this weekend, originally uploaded by meandmythreemjj.

We went into NYC - strolled through the 7th ave street fair, and walked through Central Park. Can't believe we were there JUST married 13 years ago! It turned out to be a perfect day.

Finished Play Mat

Here is the finished play mat. Mel helped with all the ideas - the shimmering waves on the pond - that was her - isn't that a neat idea?

She loves playing with it. So does her sister. You can see the slight changes from one scene to the next (the 'hula hoop, the care bear in the house, the pet shop turned from its side).

It was a lot of fun making this. We'll be sure to make more!

I can't take credit

I can't take credit for this idea - I got it here:

http://the6oclockstitch.blogspot.com/2009/04/versatile-playscape-tutorial-part-1_23.html

I started it today, just before Joey woke up from his nap. Mel and Jules were with me - they both helped me sew (Julia was on my lap helping me guide the piece through). Mel manned the pedal. 

I liked getting ideas from Mel - the 'dock' and what to put in the garden - the green blobs are 'cabbage'. I had to hand sew them together, then hand sew them onto the garden. 

Work in progress, but Mel thought it was the most amazing thing!

.....and after

Our porch is done! It looks so much better - so glad we had that done! We're waiting for the guy to come back with an estimate for the deck - why do these guys flake out at the end? Esp when a job is waiting for them? We'll give him the benefit of the doubt......

So, you saw the before - here is a refresher. The first shot - this was below the stucco - this is what was supporting the porch! Most of these supports were rotten - the wood was soft and would just mush apart with my finger tip. Scary!

This is the final product - we ended up getting new downspouts, and new metal pieces along the gutters in the front. The photo above (with the blue ladder in the shot), shows the one corner they raised up two inches. 

3 down, 2 to go

Yesterday, as promised, I made three pieces of the quilt I'm supposed to have finished by sometime in May. So, I still have Thursday and Friday to finish for the week.

Here are the three I made.

Quilting

I'm going to try a stab at making a quilt. I'm joining a quilt a long. The point is to join a bunch of other sewers/quilters/crafters and make a section a day. 

I have a lot of scraps down there in the basement, begging to be a part of something, so this is the kick in the pants I need to actually make a quilt.

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2009/04/one-day-quilt-along.html

So, I'm going to head down and start cutting. I guess I need to make 4 tonight? Yikes!!!!

wish me luck

Earth Day! Did you Do Your Part?

So, today is Earth Day. I drove Mel to school - half-way. Then saw some friends with their kids (her friends) and she jumped out and walked the rest of the way with them - phew! Normally, Chuck takes her to school, but he had to take an early train today (I guess he did his part!).

I didn't do a very good job on this rainy earth day, though. I got a coffee from Starbucks and I didn't use my own mug (I'm kind of surprised they weren't selling them half-off, or have them displayed on the counter). Then, I felt even more guilty when I grabbed a coffee sleeve.......I suppose I should make one of these http://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/womens/Fabric-Coffee-Cozy-Sleeve-Tutorial.htm. An amazing site - especially if you are one of those instant gratification people!!!  You can purchase, then download and get to work!

So....I suppose I should stop procrastinating and move to the basement to start sewing.....

(posted from gmail)

'Gardening'

We don't have a huge spot to plant (er - garden), but we are going to try. The girls and Chuck planted carrots, broccoli, cucumbers and green beans. We'll see how they grow. 

The construction on the porch is finally done! Well, a few touch-up things, but mostly done! It looks much better - it was starting to look tired and old and now it looks refreshed!

What's that, I hear? What is next? The roof and the deck. We've put off doing the deck for a long time. I'd rather have it done this year, since the girls are constantly going up and down. I'd like to prevent splinters this summer! We'll see. I'd like to get the steps lowered a bit - make them a bit easier to get up and down.

We had a great visit with Grandpop yesterday. He got to put the girls to bed, which was so much fun for them! 

where did the words go

blah blah blah

This is what is going on around here. Yes - more construction. The closest support is where the porch was sinking. We decided to get it fixed. They raised up the porch two full inches! Of course, now that things are shaping up, the rest of the porch is looking tired and old......the old can of worms has been opened.

It looks much better - lost of rotted wood, though.....

Thank goodness, this has been work outside -nothing like having our kitchen redone - oh - never again - NEVER again!!!!