new years resolutions..

So I made some new years resolutions this year. It's been going pretty good so far. My favorite challenge that I issued to myself was to make a treat just for the Mr. each week. So on Monday's Lil Bit and I drop the kids off at school, then we head to the grocery store for the weekly shopping, then we get home unpack and put our aprons on. I have also been making my own granola bars and muffins each week for the kids to have in their lunches as a side item or snack. These are fairly healthy, containing pumpkin, flax and dried fruit. The granola bars have been a huge hit, and not just because I generously drizzle them with melted chocolate chips.  For just under $12, everyone in our family can have a granola bar a day (the Mr. takes two because some times he doesn't get to eat any lunch) They are just as tasty as cliff bars, and as I have packed them with seeds (but not nuts so they are school safe) whole grains, flax and oats I feel pretty good about feeding them to my kids. I chop them all up and put them in the fridge for the week.. Yum!

The Mr.'s treat each week is not healthy. It has been designed to sate his 8:00 craving for an entire bag of chips, or not-been-cooled muddie buddies, or entire pound of m&m's. This challenge has been great for me. So far I have enjoyed setting aside some time each week to do something specifically for him. Thus far I have done simple chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels, the first week, last week an oreo crust peanut butter chocolate pie.. and this week straight from pinterest...
SLUTTY BROWNIES..

http://www.thelondoner.me/2011/06/slutty-brownies.html
Umm I just tried one , you know to sample.. DELISH, probably you are drooling just looking at them.
In case you are wondering they are called slutty because they are so EASY, and everybody wants them.

I just bought all the ingredients at ALDI (where I shop now because I am trying to get our budget under wraps before the big fall change*) I baked some for the family to enjoy in little individual silicone muffin cups (available at dollar store) (Costco eat your heart out) and then made 1/2 a pan for The Mr. to have all to himself. (you too can own a 1/2 brownie pan for $1 at the dollar store).

So if you are not on pinterest yet.. I highly suggest checking it out, although it is something of Craft Porn and mildly addictive.. it has opened up a whole new world of ideas possibilities and deliciousness.

*big fall change.. for the first time in 7 years I will not be coaching a fall sport. While I look forward EAGERLY to all those free afternoons with the kids, I will be missing the paycheck that used to accompany that sacrifice. So we need to trim $601 from our monthly budget. Totally doable right?

We'll see!

some things i never said as a kid

So Miss H came home from school and told me this funny story..

"I was sitting in class today and I was reading my Guardians of Gahoole The Journey book, and it was getting very interesting, and then I tapped the page but it didn't turn." Here she giggled a little bit and then finished, "I forgot I was reading a book not a Kindle! Isn't that the funniest thing, how can you forget you are not reading a kindle?"

She is quite hilarious and her sense of humor is developing, but it got me thinking about all the things that have changed since I was kid.

ear rats grazy horse

After Miss H gave us a detailed account of the life of Grazy Horse, a great Native American she learned about while watching the history channel. Cubby chimed in, "Umm I think you have too much ear rats, his name is CRAZY horse."
I couldn't resist... "Umm I think you have serious troubles if you have Ear Rats.. the rest of us are just having ear WAX."

he looked stunned.

a long jacket..

So, no big whoop that I make things, and sew things and craft and mod podge. I am blessed with so many opportunities to be creative and have in my basement crafting lair a myriad of supplies and inspiration. What I lack really is not opportunity, but motivation (and funding). From time to time.. the PERFECT combination of time, inspiration, attention and gift cards all come together and viola....

but the very very best part (although this is possibly the most awesome thing I've sewn in a while, and is giving me just the little nudge I need to get started on Easter) was Miss H saying she loved it. "It is warm and perfect and I love it.)

That was the best.
Better than it coming out looking handmade, not homemade... better than completely lined with adorable black with fuschia flowers.

She loved it.
Big time.

and that has made all the difference..

So obviously she needs some cute headbands or a scarf.. I'll just have to get right on that.
but my mind is drifting now to Easter.. several years ago I made this.. for Miss H, and I did actually crown it "THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER MADE"

It's "Penny" by Wendy Schoen in white linen with madeira applique in baby pink with hand embroidery on the bodice. Thes best part being of course this adorable cut out in the back..

 I am thinking of making it again for Miss H in her current size, and having Lil Bit wear the original. And with only needing to make one Easter dress, couldn't I whip out a few capelets like these?  just saying.... I'm all sewing motivated now that I've been met with a little success and gratitude.