DIY Naptime Project--- White flare ankle pants to skinnies

Naptime is sooo wonderful when both kids cooperate! Recently I was able to take that time and convert some white flare ankle pants from GAP into skinnies.

If you would like to make some of your own, grab some pants and follow along. 

The other day, I tried the pants on and decided I wanted to keep them, if they were updated. 

Inside out view. They are a stretch denim. 

I really liked this split side a few years ago. 

I layed them down making sure they were very smooth (inside out) and grabbed a pair of skinnies that I own and like the fit of. I placed the already skinnies on top of the flares and got my fabric chalk (you could use a pencil, or fabric marker, or pen- if you dare). I traced the line of the pant and pinned them so the jean wouldn't move. Then I sewed. 

After I sewed them skinny, I tried them on and adjusted where I wanted them a bit smaller (which happened to be right above the knee). I sewed the adjustment and tried them on again. And then, only then, did I cut off the excess. To finish off the inside seam I chose a zigzag-type stitch and went over the raw edge of jean that I had just created. And WHA-LA, new white skinnies!!!

FYI- you will want to decide what line of the pant you want to sew on. The inside seam of this pair was the fancy seam, so I had to sew the outside seam and remove the flap. But on other pairs you might have to sew the inside seam (or maybe both, depending on how flared your pant is). 

Now go and make yourself some new skinny pants, for FREE!!!!!

DIY Goldfish Crackers

In the last few months it has become all too noticeable, the affect that sugar has on J.  With even the slightest intake- she becomes irritable, irrational, unable to listen (more so than the average 2 yr old), crazy, and just down right difficult. Thus I have been on a mission to cut it out of her diet. It started with taking away all juices (even the 20/80 juice/water blend we used to give her), all fruit snacks (even our nice organic ones), all flavored rice milk drinks, and all crackers and chips (except on special occasions), etc. It was a rough first few days, but she has gotten used to it and mommy has greatly appreciated the results.

Now I'm on a mission to find fun snacks for her to eat that are both healthy, yummy, and easy to make at home. 

A little bit ago, I pinned the recipe for homemade goldfish crackers from Tasty Kitchen. 

These are a winner because they use only 5 ingredients (which I pretty much always have on hand), are very simple to make, and best of all--- J has put her stamp of approval on them. She looooves her homemade goldfish crackers. *Though if your child is used to Goldfishes, he/she may not like them as much. Our play date wasn't as thrilled. And I can't offer my opinion, as my dairy allergy won't let me eat them*

My first try looked something like this:

I had the dough all rolled out and started cutting out my "fishie" shapes with my homemade fishie cutter, fashioned from an old soda can. 

Here they are all organized on the lined cookie sheet, waiting to go in the oven.

After baking, they were a bit puffier, the thinner the dough, the crispier the cracker

As you can see, I got a bit lazy and finished the DOUBLE BATCH by just cutting diamonds.
So I guess they kind of morphed into homemade cheese-its? 

The result was a container of healthy-ish goldfish crackers, that I can give to J without worrying. 

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you would like to make your own crackers, this is what you will need. 

Ingredients

8 oz cheddar cheese, grated

4 Tbsp butter, cubed

1 cup flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 Tbsp cold water

How to

Add everything (minus the water) into a blender and pulse until the consistency of "coarse sand".

Take your water and add that 1 Tbsp at a time, while continuing to pulse. 

(You may need a bit more water if you live in a very dry place like me)

Remove dough, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes (if you leave it too long, it is hard to work with.... just take my advice)

After dough is chilled, remove and roll out.

Cut desired shapes out and bake on a lined cookie sheet at 350 F for approx 15 minutes, or until crispy. 

Remove from oven, let cool and ENJOY!!!!

Let me know if you make the crackers, and how they turn out for you!!! 

It's Grease Lightnin'!

A friend of mine was asking on Tuesday if anyone had any poodle skirts available to borrow. I have one at my parents house (don't you?) that I used a few times for themed events... But that sure wouldn't help.

Come to find out, her neighbor (a SR in High School), is in Grease and needed a poodle skirt. Apparently, she has a main part... and APPARENTLY needed it by Wednesday afternoon. Ha! I remember trying to gather all these last minute "details" for concerts, performances, etc..... glad I don't have to worry about that anymore. She couldn't find one already available, so I offered my needle services.

Thus, on Wednesday morning I gathered the kiddos and off to "town" we went. (Yes, we live in an area where we have to go to "town" to shop at any major or semi-well known stores.) A 20 minute drive later and we arrived at Joann Fabrics where we shopped til we dropped. (Oh, wait- we did hit the drive through Starbucks first... Mama needed some energy). And when we got back in the car, I literally dropped in my seat.

This mama was once again reminded why going to the fabric store (former pleasure) is currently on hold (because it becomes a current disaster!!!).

You see, being that we have to go to "town" to get to the fabric store... the children's "sit still" and "don't touch that" limit is already half used by the time we actually GET THERE! So, the first 20 minutes are great. One child singing, the other child happily looking around at everything. BUT, is 20 minutes enough time in a sewing heaven when you only get to go every 2 months? NO!!!!!! Thus, the break downs begin because mama still has things to do. Snacks suffice for a small amount of time and diversions/ songs another small amount and then.... then..... THEN comes the grabbing of everything in sight, the pushing of the sissy, the "NO, mommy, I say NO!!!!", the wiggling, the climbing out of the cart while it is moving, the unwinding of ribbons, the throwing and dropping of threads and buttons, the dumping of fabrics.... Oh, and the screaming child who wants to nurse every 10 minutes because she is teething.  Need I go on? I didn't think so.

But don't fret, because we all came out alive (and surprisingly happy). And we got some adorable new Easter decorations (A little late, you say? Right on time, I say. 70% off on time, I say!),  fabrics and embellishments to boot. Oh, plus the reason we went---- to get everything needed to make a 50's style poodle skirt.

The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to comfort a teething 7month old (who will not sleep and is not happy on the ground or with her paci) while sewing a poodle skirt. Most of it was done while Little J was napping (Thank the LORD for a long nap!) but the rest was finished up quickly after she awoke.

This being my first poodle skirt, made without using a tutorial or pattern, I was quite pleased with the results.  I hope hope HOPE it fit the girl it was made for and that she likes it!

See for yourself.... Purple is apparently the new red when it comes to poodle skirts. 

Hanging view

I think it looks cool all flat

Free-handed poodle from a picture

I love the string of black pearls for a leash 

side closure of velcro and button

Side closure  

All folded and ready to go! 

Kind of makes me want to watch Grease on DVD---- but only kind of.

Happy Mothers Day to Me!

Mother's Day this year was very nice. I felt very loved and special. Yay!  Hubby and I celebrated on Thursday as he found out that he would have to leave on a work trip for Sunday night. We had steak dinner, he brought me a dozen roses, and Starbucks!!! It was a very nice relaxing night! Then Friday night his brother (in the airforce) happened to be picking up and flying an aerobatic plane across the country for a friend and was able to land in town and surprise his mom. So we had a great weekend of family fun. I ALMOST got my first aerobatic ride, but the plane stalled right before we look off. We were literally at the end of the runway about to go up. HA! Glad it did the stalling on take-off and not the landing. (Apparently the engine was complaining about the mix of low RPMs, heat, and high altitude.... but don't worry it got all worked out later) And then Sunday was a relaxing day filled with sleeping in, skipping church (eeeeeekk!!!!), hemming some pants for Robert to take on his trip, playing outside and putting together my mother's day gift...... A Garden!!!! Or rather, a box to put my garden in! I was/am super duper excited about it! We are renting a house with a rock backyard, so my garden has been non-existant. SO SAD!!!! But now! NOW I get to plant my veggies and hopefully see some fruits (or veggies rather) of our labors! And the best part? When we move (hopefully in July.... another story for another time), we can take this box apart very easily. 

Go ahead, take a look at my garden box.... soon it will have all sorts of goodness coming out of it!

What an adorable gardener in the making! 

I hope your Mother's Day was as good as mine!

Daddys Gift to the Littles

He didn't know it when we bought this shirt, and I can't say I knew it either.... That one day his old work shirt would be transformed and grace our daughters closet as "new" dresses!

Daddy's shirt has recently taken on a new role, and I must say it has taken quite nicely to it.

Here are the outcomes, which look adorable with their little navy leggings!


Another tunic top for Little J

Front, complete with oversized pocket. Every child's dream

And back. 

And another dress for Little R

Back

Front

Sigh--- I love turning something old into new. ISH. 

Firsts....

First cart ride at Costco side by side.

This was before the pushing started. But we lasted a good 30 minutes... I call it a success.

Luau Anyone?

I was given some Hawaiian fabric at least a year ago. And to be honest, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. That is, until the other night when inspiration hit. Or was it that cup of coffee?

Either way, these adorable little outfits for Little J and Little R were the outcome. And I am glad for it. 

Little R ended up with a little sun dress and diaper cover. Sorry about the blur. 

Front

Back

Back

 And Little J got this tunic top. Yes, it was supposed to be a dress but ended up too short. Ha. But it looks cute with her little yellow leggings.

OH!!! And apparently hubby's work is having a dinner next month which is Luau themed. Dare I say, PERFECT timing! 

Now let's go cook a pig!