A little something for the weekend. . .

It's Friday.  This week was a weird one for me.  In all honesty, I'm ready for it to be over.

It's weird not having a ton of stuff to do.  This was the first week in at least a month where NOTHING has been planned.  In that sense, it has been WONDERFUL!  Seriously.  I sat and built train tracks.  I jumped on trampolines at Skywalk.  I took food to a new mom.  I read magazines.  I started to read a book.  I took naps.  It really has been great.

Then there were other things. . . exciting and even a bit stressful. Maybe in some ways this been showing us how blessed we are or teaching us not to be comfortable.  We took down two of our trees in our front yard.  That was exciting... the boys thought it was the coolest.thing.ever!  I'd say free entertainment, but it really wasn't free.

Then, we found out that we needed to replace our AC.  Hello, California in the summer. . . can't really go without.  Apparently the cost to get a new coil to replace the damaged one is almost the same price as a entire new unit.  I am very thankful for a savings account.  But saying goodbye to some other of our plans. . .  Maybe next year?  Until then, we will be cool and content with what we are doing.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy these boys. . .

They make my heart sing. . . even when they are covered in mud and need a bath. . . desperately! 

So, I will leave you with this amazing bread that I made for our breakfast this week.  It was amazing!  I will definitely be making it again!  Plus, it worked wonderfully in my bread maker!  

Cinnamon Swirl Bread 

from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1/4 cup butter

4 cups bread flour

1/4 cup white sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

For filling:

softened butter

brown sugar

cinnamon

white sugar

raisins

nuts

Directions:

Place milk, eggs, butter, flour, sugar, salt, and yeast into bread machine according to your manufacturers directions.   Let it run on the dough cycle. 

Split into into 2 halves.  Roll out dough into a rectangle and spread butter over entire surface.  Sprinkle brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon over, plus any raisins or nuts you so desire (I made one of each).  Roll up from short side of rectangle and stick in loaf pan.  

Bake about 30 minutes at 350.  

For Baby {pink and grey}

The past 6 weeks have been plagued filled with showers (2 bridal and 2 baby).  That means there has been a lot of sewing going on in our house.  In fact, last night, I wasn't sewing and Jon made a remark about how weird it was that it wasn't going.  It was weird. . . but it's nice to have a break (and clean the incredibly LARGE mess I created while creating). This gift was for my dear friend, Bria.  Bria and her husband are in our small group Bible Study and she is just so much fun to be around.  Plus her husband likes to go to crazy things like Lucha Extreme (don't ask. . . but if you're brave, Google it!) with my husband, which means, I don't have to go (Thanks, Anthony!).  I wanted to make something special and this is what happened:

The elephant on the card is from a new stamp from Stampin' Up.  I love girly cards because I get to use girly embellishments (i.e. the pearl).  The printed paper is from my scrap pile. .  most likely from a stack at JoAnn's (purchased when they were 9.99).  I love the combo of orange, pink, and grey!

I put together another scrappy bib with chenile backing.  This time, I added two pink buttons.  I absolutely love the way it came out!  The floral print fabric was from my stash.  It had been a fat quarter that was on clearance at the Cotton Ball, one of my favorite quilt shops, located in Morro Bay.  I knew I wanted to use some of the chevron (call me an addict), from this gift and when I was digging around in my piles of fabric, I knew this was the one!  

I made two chenille lined burpies with the same fabric and added a girly accent. . . hair bows with felt rosettes glued on.  I love the way it came out!  I hope to see pictures someday of this cute little girl wearing them!

Until next time. . .

Operation: Slow Down

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Things are slowing down here.  When I say slow down, I mean it.  I said goodbye to MOPS a few weeks ago. . . that was bittersweet, but a huge weight off my shoulders.  I helped with a bridal shower for a friend this past weekend.  My husband is overjoyed.  I don't blame him.  He told me I shouldn't do anything craftsy for a month . . . it may be that way.  My brain needs a break (don't worry, there are lots of things blog about!).

I made a commitment to not commit to anything for the next year.  It's going to be awesome!

I hope.

I have been going nonstop for at least 4 years working on something.

It's going to be weird.

I want to be able to listen and hear God for the next step along the way.

I want to enjoy Ethan's first year of school (is it that time already?)

I want to meet my neighbors.

I want to make a quilt.  or two.  or three.

I want to start a modern quilting bee. . . . be on the lookout for signups this fall (for 2014).

I want to blog more. . . a lot more.

Speaking of that, I have been using the app/website Bloglovin' for my blog reading lately (my google reading friends. . . you have one month).  I highly recommend it.  Come follow me. You can even click over there on the right side of my blog.  How easy is that.  I am hoping they come out with an ipad app soon, but the iphone app is great and so is the website.  They also send me an email every night recapping my subscriptions.  It's very simple and pretty all at the same time.  Check it out to find out what I mean.

Be back later with something yummy. . . until then I am going to bed. . . before midnight.  The kids have forgotten how to sleep in. . .. or did they every really know how to?

For Baby {grey and yellow}

I love making baby gifts, but I usually find it hard to pick out fabric for a unisex gift. But, as soon as I heard that my friends Jen and Percy were waiting for until the baby was born to find out, I knew I wanted to do grey chevron with some sort of yellow fabric.  I had a picture in my mind. . . and headed out to my favorite local fabric store to do some shopping. 

I found the fabrics on the above bib and instantly knew it was going to be perfect!  My husband and friends call me a chevron addict (I thought I could keep it a secret. . . but it didn't last long!).

The burpies and bib are all backed with a super-soft chenile backing.  I love it! It's perfect to cuddle up with and I am seriously in love with how cute they turned out! 

Chevron Giraffe.  I think this is my favorite giraffe. ever.

And to end, a sweet card that happens to match the gift using the scraps from my scrap box.  Stamps, and button are Stampin' Up.  (I copied a layout I found on Pinterest. . . seriously the best place to find ideas for everything!)

What's your favorite baby gift to give?

Mother's Day {Ramblings & Instagram}

Mother's Day was celebrated yesterday (Monday).  It was seriously all I could have asked for.  A day, to slow down, and (in the words of my friend, Dorina) breathe.  It was a day filled with fun, quality time with my husband and boys combined with my love of all things beachy (including some amazing fish and chips).  I went to bed last night exhausted and full.

You see, things have been really busy around here.  I was in dire need of refueling.  Mother's Day itself was busy and filled with church and family obligations, and salad making.  I don't say this to complain, because I struggle with my "selfishness" when it comes to Mother's Day and despite how exhausting it is, it is a lot of fun. (Does anyone else out there struggle with Mother's Day in some way . . . I would love to hear that I am not the only one). I love the moms in my life, but yesterday was what I needed. . . and it was amazing.  I am so thankful for my husband for giving me this day (which apparently has been planned for a couple of weeks.  Seriously, he made no hints when I said, "Fish and Chips sound really good for Mother's Day," when there was no possibility of going because of our already full day.  He's a really good gift giver and secret keeper.  In fact, I was completely shocked because we had only been home a week from our most recent vacation.

I have been so blessed with 2 amazing boys that keep my on my toes.  My third (and final) year as MOPS coordinator just wrapped up.  Ethan will be starting school soon.  I am in the midst of change. . . it's weird, but I am embracing it. I have committed myself to saying no for the next year (that's going to be a challenge, but something I need).  I am looking forward to a year of quiet.  A year of researching grad school options, enjoying my family, growing myself, and waiting for God to tell me "what's next."  I am excited to relax and rest.  Although, I am a tad afraid I might go stir crazy not having a ton of stuff to do (however, I highly doubt that's going to be a problem.

This week:

Posting some fun things onto my blog (I can't wait to have time for this again!)

Playing with the boys. 

I am eating Chick-fil-A to raise money for our MOPS group (wanna join us?)

Making lots of paper flowers for an upcoming bridal shower

Staying out of the heat

Also, If you follow me, you can now follow me on BlogLOvin'.  I have been using it and I really enjoy it.  I think you will too!  Come follow me. . . 

The hubby turns 33 and cupcakes!

Last month, my husband had a birthday. . . it was a great excuse to whip up some cupcakes.  I made a cake, too. . . but that was a kitchen nightmare (seriously! Major kitchen disaster!).  But, the cupcakes came out so yummy.  My inspiration was these cupcakes that we often get from our local cupcake-ry.  Last year, Jon got all Cake Boss on me and made me make this, so I knew that I wanted to do something special for him and Boston Cream Pies are one of his favorite desserts. 

These were really good.  Plus, I love the ganache and whipping cream frosting combo.  It's my favorite sweet combo ever!

I love this guy!

"It's a Sweater!!!" He joined the rest of the 33rs in the family and got his really ugly sweater.


Now, I hope that this post makes sense. . . because I am incredibly sleep deprived due to the joys of motherhood. . .

Boston Cream Cupcakes

For the cupcakes you can go here to find the recipe. . .

Chocolate Ganache frosting: 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, heated up.  Then add 1 cup chocolate chips to heated cream.  Whisk together until a shiny brown.  Let sit for a couple of minutes and then drizzle over the top.

Filling: 1 box vanilla pudding, 1 cup milk.  Mix together and using a pastry bag, fill each cupcake with filling.

Whipping cream frosting:   1 cup cold heavy whipping cream, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, and 1-3 tbsp powdered sugar.  Using whisk attachment on your mixer, mix until soft and fluffy, with stiff peaks.

Grated white chocolate.

A speaking opportunity

Last month, I was given the daunting task of speaking to our MOPS group.  This is something I am finding I enjoy doing, but this was not on something as simple as incorporating literacy and art into your daily routine as a mom.  No, this time it took way more preparation and way more prayer.  I was asked to speak on Proverbs 31.  Now, if you've been visiting this blog for awhile, you may note. . . I am slightly obsessed with the subject.  It's a good obsession.  It's a good goal.

My incredible sense of nervousness stemmed from the many comments (and even websites) that that brought out people's discouragement and insecurities when reading the verse.  I have heard and read many things:
I'm too busy.
P31 is not for the modern woman/mom.
I'm not a 1950's housewife.
I don't have servants.
I can't do all those things.
My name is not Martha Stewart.

The more I dig into the life of this amazing woman, the more I want to strive for the same goals she set for herself.  I think all women should, single or married.  I came to the realization that if we believe that the Bible is God's Word, as in inspired by Him  or God-breathed  then we have to believe that this is something that God wants for us, as women.  I also feel that many women feel like overwhelmed when they read the words of P31, thinking that this woman did the impossible, never slept, always had a clean house, and accomplished everything everyday.  The reality is probably that she accomplished the many things that she did during the course of her life and not in one day, or week, or even one year.
That makes me breath easier. How about you?

I also began to think about the current state of marriage.  It's bad.  Over 50 percent of people who get married end up in divorce. Even worse, many people are opting just to co-habitate and not actually get married.  It's sad.  It effects our children in a horrible way.  The Proverbs 31 woman calls up to serve our husbands, to lift them up in prayer, and honor them.  She also challenges up to be trustworthy and faithful.  I wonder if a woman everywhere were to start following the Proverbs 31 example, if the divorce rate would decrease?  Just a thought.
The goal of my talk was to really encourage the ladies. . . to bring them hope that this was doable.  I have so much more that I can say on the subject, so you will probably hear more from me in the future.  But for now, nap time is almost over and there are still a few other things I need to do. And Ethan has been coloring for almost 3 hours and I am sure he's going to start going crazy soon!