Pinterest Challenge: Days 7 & 8

How did I let a whole week go by without blogging about the Pinterest Challenge? I got wrapped up in bow orders and getting ready to go out of town... And chasing a very active 1 year old!

DAY 7: Olivia and I made these banana and marshmallow snacks after school one day. The Pinterest version shows it dipped in chocolate, but I thought that was too much sweetness. So, we did peanut butter instead, which also made it more of a stick-to-your-ribs snack.

Not the prettiest photo, but it did taste good!

DAY 8: I finished the yarn-wrapped letter. This took a bit of time, so I'm counting it for two days!

I'm going to delay the rest of this challenge until I get back from my trip. There are several things I want to make based on Pins and need time and mental space to get them done.

What have you been making lately?

Pinterest Challenge: Days 4, 5, and 6

I'm moving along with the Pinterest Challenge I set out to accomplish last week. Some days, it's a little challenging to fit in a project. But the goal is keeping me motivated!

Day 4: Vanilla Candle with Coffee Beans = Vanilla Latte Scent!

This project cost only a few dollars to make. That included having to buy all the components. The jar was $1 at Jo-Ann Fabrics. The candle was on sale for around $.75. And the coffee beans were from a $5.99 bag that I only partially ground at Trader Joe's (did get some strange looks when I did that!).

DAY 5: Yarn-Wrapped Letter

Again, this project is very cost effective! I had the yarn on hand (Cascade 220 Worsted in a heather grey). The letter came from Jo-Ann Fabrics and cost around $3.50 on sale.

As you can see, this is still in progress. I'll show the final result when it's finished.

DAY 6: Potato Soup

Last night, I needed an easy dinner recipe. This one proved to be just that! I modified by doubling the recipe, adding more veggies (peas and carrots), and added a little milk in addition to the evaporated milk to make it more soup-like. Served with corn bread. Yummy!

Pinterest Challenge: Days 2 & 3

Here are the fun things I tried on days 2 & 3 of my Pinterest Challenge:

DAY 2: Olivia and I made No Bake Granola Bars.

While they did turn out delicious, they are pretty much a glorified cookie with all the butter and sugar. But, oh, well. They were fun to make together! Olivia especially enjoyed crushing the pretzels.

We ended up using M&Ms instead of chocolate chips because we had a partial bag of Christmas ones left over. So, they turned out looking a little bit like December... the kids didn't seem to mind, though.

DAY 3: We had Pineapple Crock Pot Chicken for dinner.

Instead of adding just pineapple juice, I put a whole large can of pineapples in the slow cooker. It turned out delicious! 

We served it with rice and broccoli. The kids tolerated it, which, in my book, makes it a hit!

Back soon with what we made yesterday and what we're working on today! Feel free to link to things you're making from Pinterest. 

The Pinterest Challenge: Day 1

If you're like me, you spend way more time Repinning than you do actually Trying the ideas you find on Pinterest. Full of good intentions, I really want to incorporate the Pins into my life but have not been intentional about doing so. Until now.

For the next two weeks, I'm issuing a challenge to myself to do one Pinterest idea a day. From recipes to hair styles to home DIY to Valentine's Day crafts - it's all game. I'm already dreaming about all the fun new things I'm going to try!

I will blog about my journey here. To be honest, I may not blog every single day - but I'll do some catch up posts if life gets in the way and show a few days at a time.

Will you join me? Feel free to blog about your Pinterest ventures over the next two weeks and put a link in the comments box.

For Day 1, I started simple and tried a new hair style - A Modern Bun. Basically, it's a bun that you flip from top to bottom, instead of tucking it under the ponytail holder.

It's really meant to be sleeker for a formal up-do, but I made it messy (unintentionally at first - Ellie was hanging on my leg). Now I think I like the tousled look - more every day.

Taking a photo of myself in the bathroom mirror was, well, weird! And kind of awkward. :)

So, there you have it! Day 1 complete. I am excited to report about the coming days. What will you make?

An Idea for Next Year

When Olivia and I were at Macy's shopping for Christmas gifts, we ran into this awesome tree decorated with yarn ornaments!

From a distance, they look like any other ornament. But, when we got closer, we realized they were yarn balls!

Olivia took this close-up so we could remember how to craft them. I think we could use a foam ball as the base and wrap worsted-weight yarn around until it's covered. The loop could be attached with a simple knot... or maybe threaded in with a large needle? Next year, I think we will have a yarn tree!

On this Christmas Eve, I want to thank all of you for reading my blog and for your continued support and encouragement through comments and emails. Merry Christmas to you and your family! May it be the best one yet!

So Much to Say

So much to catch you up on! Here's what's been going on in my life...

1. This December, I vended at two local craft shows. I spent a tremendous amount of time preparing, and I am really proud of the final displays!

2. We attended our area downtown Christmas tree lighting. Olivia was thrilled to discover they offered free carousel rides to children! Isn't she beautiful!?

3. Spunky Ellie is saying "shoe," "sissy," "good girl," and - just to spite me - "dada" when I prompt her to say "mama."

4. Bill and I visited our college - Eastern Michigan University - for the day. He was a guest speaker in one of our favorite professor's poli sci classes on elections. Here I am in front of my old - literally OLD (can't believe the place is still standing!) - dorm room. Good times!

5. We chopped down our family Christmas tree in the new old fashioned way. Here I am with my girls - the tree we chose is behind us.

6. And finally, after two years of being in business, I've decided to close down my fabric shop. There are many reasons but mostly it's because I've decided to focus on my hair accessory business. It's all good! Check out the shop sale - I'll continue to do mark downs over the next few weeks. :)

Merry Christmas to you and your families!

Fall Finish - Ribbed Baby Jacket

I finished a sweater for Ellie this fall - the Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss. Unfortunately, Ellie was not as excited to be photographed in it as I was to have completed the project.

The photo shoot started out positive and fun.... Watch as the story unfolds, as told by her perspective. :)

See mom, here's my eye!

Okay, I've been cute long enough. I'm done here.

Alright, alright. I'll get back in my chair. But just one more picture, okay?

I said one more more picture. It's been, like, fifteen! Seriously!

I can't take anymore! I just. Can't. Take it!

Being an adorable model is too stressful...

I refuse to listen to your silly antics trying to get me to smile. Forget it!

Ooh, there's my toy. I'm happy again! 

Trying to photograph our kids in something we made them is a little bit ridiculous from their perceptive, right? It's so important to us to document the item and how adorable they look in it, but they clearly have much better things to do. Like play with their toys. It's hard to argue with that. :)