My handmade reusable grocery bags...ode to Earth Day!

So, I bought this PDF pattern a few days ago from Keykalou on etsy..super cute and easy (so I thought!) After a few rounds with the seam ripper and a big prick to my thumb (good thing the fabric is red!) I figured out how to make the bag ...yeah! I just finished another one...these are fun and a nice change from all the aprons and skirts I've been making!





I've finished these two and have plans to do at least 2 to 3 more.



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Skirts and aprons...

I was busily sewing my little heart out recently...making skirts for Abigail (which I forced her to wear and made sure she told eveyone that her mommy made them!) and aprons for my nieces and nephews. They were suppossed to be Easter gifts...clearly I didn't make that deadline.

However, it's not my fault! My cheapo sewing machine has decided to be difficult...screwing up the tension constantly and skipping stitches grrr.............my seam ripper and I are new best friends!


So instead of doing more productive things with my time, I've been driving my husband crazy and waisting ridiculous amounts of time researching sewing machines online. I think I've finally decided on one...maybe....my budget is pretty small (ok, let's face it, it's non existent) but I will perservere! I'm almost ready to make a decision and buy one! Just one more trip to explore another option and then I'm getting a new machine.




In the mean time, here are a few of the things I was able to finish before my machine took a dive.....

First day of Soccer!

My little girl started soccer today! She was so excited...and as a bonus she wore socks for the first time in months and months AND let me put her (very small amount of) hair in a ponytail! YEAHHH!

She looked so cute running around...I almost forgot what a stinker she can be!

On a side note...I've been busy sewing, sewing, sewing and will soon be posting pics of what I've done!

One woman sweat shop...

So I've decided to join in the Raw(e) fun over at Sami's blog http://sailorandcompany.blogspot.com/ The theme for the week is distractions...take a picture of what distracts you and post a pic...unedited of course!

So my (current) distraction is sewing....hence my picture of fabric. Lately, I spend lots of time sewing...my husband has called me a "one woman sweat shop"...hahaha! I also spend lots of time looking at and buying fabric as well as learning patterns, etc...

I try to do most of it at night when the kiddos are sleeping, but that is not always the case. My new love of sewing has distracted me from many things...cleaning my house, playing with my kids, finishing my other projects, etc, etc... So my distraction (currently) is sewing....I'm sure next month it will be something else as I tend to be somewhat ADD.

Best Salad...... EVER!!!

Well in my humble opinion anyways. So a few weeks ago, Chris and I went on a (GASP) date...which is exceedingly rare seeing as we live nowhere near relatives and don't do the babysitter route much. Anyway...we went to a regional chain restaurant and I had this AMAZING salad for dinner. It was really really good and incredibly simple so yesterday for dinner (and today for lunch) I created it in my own kitchen. For much less $$. Minus the babysitter. And the long drive the blowing and drifting snow.

Ingredients:
Head of iceburg lettuce
shredded carrots
chopped celery
crumbled blue cheese
boneless chicken breasts
favorite bbq sauce
Flat pita bread

Combine lettuce, carrots, celery and blue cheese, cook chicken breasts, coat with bbq sauce and add to salad. Lightly warm/toast pita in the oven and cut into wedges.

I guess you'd call it a boneless wing salad. I call it YUMMMY!

Kitchen Inspiration....

I'm in the middle of a mini kitchen update...

1. Paint the walls...
2. Beadboard backsplash
3. New light fixtures
4. New dishwasher and cooktop and hood
5. New sink skirt and curtains


This is the color I choose for the bottom cabintes....The Nester http://www.thenester.com/ painted her tv armoire and other pieces in her house this color and inspired me to paint my kitchen cabinets!




I've made a burlap sink skirt and plan on making a curtain for the backdoor with a ruffle...similar to this fabulous table runner



I plan on making a large chalkboard....




When everything is done (hopefully before the in-laws come in 3 weeks) I will post pics!

New Design and New name??

So I've decided that I want to rename my blog and find a new header...unfortunately my computer skills are seriously lacking and my attention span is short. However, I plan to try. And even though noone reads my blog, it can be a place for me to post my "to-do" lists and accomplishments.

Now I am off to try and learn how to change my header to something fun...and think of a new blog name. Any suggestions?

What is this mark on my photo and who put it there??

Here's what I've been up to.......

Chasing this little guy...

Beautifying my home...

and NOT practicing my photography skills (or lack there of!)

some more pics

My attempt at a fall "photo shoot"

Help...I need some feedback on these photos..

Pictures for Skylar and Lydia!

Here are some pictures for you!

Attempt at photoshop

Okay so I spent waaaayy to long trying to use photoshop today. Seriously, can it really be that hard or am I just not the brightest bulb? Anyway, here are my attempts at photoshop. The top pics are the photoshopped ones..ugh..what a time sucker!

I hate shopping...for myself that is.

Seriously, it's really no fun at all. I'm not sure what is more difficult..parting with my money (I've become incredibly cheap er frugal that is) or being forced to look at myself in those awful dressing room mirrors.

I went to Old Navy to replenish my supply of t-shirts. Every year the material gets thinner and thinner. Seriously, pretty soon I'll have to layer like 3 of them!

I then went to the mall and found an amazing purse at Macy's--I'm in love, but unfortunately it's a bit $$$. I'm thinking of returning everything else and getting this purse. THen I'll have a kick-a$$ purse but nothing to wear. I'm really think I'm due for a new purse though...my current purse is a 50 cent find a church rummage sale! Oh well, I'll keep dreaming.

Of course when I got home, I began to have second thoughts about my purchases and in true Jamie fashion, half of them will be returned!

Happy Birthday to you...and you!

Today is Skylar's 11th birthday (oh crap she's almost a teenager!!!) and cousin Ally's 8th birthday. Happy Birthday Girls!!

Mother of FOUR!

This photo was taken a week ago. It took 3 weeks to get all my kids together so I could take their picture. Being a mom to four kids really hit home after seeing the four of them smooshed together on the couch.

4 weeks old already....

Today Ethan is 4 weeks old! I can't believe it..time goes by so fast. The last month has flown by and my memories of it are vague..must be lack of sleep!

still more photos....

MOre photos...trying to decide which ones to use for a birth announcement. #1 and #3 are almost identical, except for the focus...I have a bunch of B&W photos as well.