still easter ....

for easter weekend, i did go home. i was able to swap shifts with someone on thursday, and leave work 3 hrs. earlier than i would normally. this made a HUGE difference in the weekend overall.

we kept things very simple for easter. we had a honey ham, and decided "no cooking". sandwiches it was! ham, yeast rolls, mixed fruit & yogurt, and some deviled eggs (okay, minimal cooking).

and for dessert?

easter cookies!


i got this kit for the decorative tools from williams-sonoma. and, as of today, this kit is not on their website anymore! hello, it's only 'easter monday' ?!

the kit included a recipe for the cookie dough, 4 cookie cutters, 6 stamps, and 4 rollers.

i think everything is represented here, except for the easter basket cutter. (and the pan they're sitting in ... a wilton's heart shaped cookie pan ... NOT part of the williams-sonoma kit).

as i was following the recipe (so i thought), i realized my 'dough' was not dough, but instead was quite flakey. mom says, "did you use the egg?". and then she says (as i'm watching the food network in the kitchen) ... "you are NOT an iron chef!".

crappers! the egg was still sitting on the counter. WHOOPS!

otherwise, the kit & recipe are perfect!

the day before, we were doing some last minute shopping at the local small town walmart. i tell you what, i will never pass up on a walmart experience the day (or hours) before a holiday. the easter section was crazy-at-best.

it was destroyed! and crowded! and funny!

but, i did find this:


i had not seen this pan at my local "big town" walmart. but, perhaps i missed it because it was in the easter section vs. the baking section. though, i've also learned, not all walmarts carry the same stock.

i am a sucker for nordic ware. i am especially enamored with their bundt style pans, and bakeware that makes cool shapes/things. and this one ... makes easter eggs! i cannot use it this year, as i was already doing the cookies, but you better believe there will be egg-cakes next year.

easter and monsters

they are HOME ...

dear olivia ...

because i spend so much time doing things like this:


i don't have time for things like this:


though, the dishes ARE pretty! look at all that fabulous pyrex ;)

so the top photo is of the monster making i've been doing. i already knitted my swap partner a monster, but then i saw someone's version of a sewn one (seen here), and decided i wanted to sew some too.

i'm not modifying the pattern as of yet, but am sticking to the pattern to sew Max, just as the pattern is designed. the pattern can be found here.

in the picture up above, there are 2 max's (maxes, max-i, max x 2, maxie ?). when i was laying out the pattern pieces on the wee piece of 1/4 yard x full width of 45" fabric, i realized i could get 2 small monsters from such a small cut. so, i'm making 2.

sewing is way faster than knitting, though i've done an excellent job of stalling. i did manage to do my first machine applique ever.


my next step is to put the eyes on. i wanted to use safety eyes, but didn't have any friggin' frackin' fray check. one quick trip to the fabric store before closing time saved the day. so, i have added a dab of fray check to where each eye will go, and later i will make the 'snip' and add the safety eyes. i'll probably also reinforce with something else that won't tear, as i don't trust the cotton fabric.

the cotton fabric, by the way, is from the kaffe fassett collection. this particular pattern is called "paperweight". i made a trade with a quilter a couple of years ago, and she sent me some of her stash ... including some cuts of these rowan fabrics.

yesterday morning, while i was out, i made a mad dash to the williams-sonoma store. i adore that store. they have the best & coolest stuff for baking. i had read lots of reviews online, and decided i "needed" these star wars cookie cutters!


they also have a set for the "vehicles", but i didn't see them in my store. i guess i'll be satisfied with making little yodas, boba fetts, darth vaders, and stormtroppers. what's nice with the bakeware you buy there, these cutters, cake pans, etc, always include a recipe. and from what i've read, the recipe with these cutters works wonderfully.

and of course, some of the easter stuff was already discounted. i really wanted this kit:


it includes 4 cutters, 6 stamps, and 4 rollers. the cutters mostly say "easter", but most of the stamps and all of the rollers can be used outside of the holiday.

so, olivia, are you happy now? will you keep reading my blog(s)?

(off to enjoy something unhealthy now ... burger & fries ... i have a friend that wants to show off his new motorcycle)

new fish!

sadly, my last betta died 2 days ago. and, though i fear i'm not the best betta-mom, i do love having a betta in the house.

i was out & about today, doing some sunday chores (ie: grocery shopping to cook for the week). my one stop shopping was the local wally world. because this wally world is not 'old school', it does not have a 'full' pet section. but, it does have, on a shelf ... wee cups of poor betta fish.

and, i needed one .....

this time, i picked on different from my last ... and he's really pretty! i haven't seen one like this before ... light body and dark fins.

i'm going home in a couple of weeks ... i can get him a feeder and leave here, or he can travel home with me. i'm thinking 'feeder'. it's hard to travel with a fish, but it's actually much easier than a dog or cat.

the weather had been making me think of summer already.



... looks small enough to prop on the side of your cocktail, but ... it's wide enough (8') to prop up in the sand this summer!

last weekend

... last weekend, i bought these carnations ... maybe it was last weekend, it might be a bit longer .....

but, i'm amazed at how $4 can last and look beautiful! i know i've had them for a week to 10 days, and they still look good.

saturday(s)

last weekend was super warm. so warm, that i had to spend the afternoon on the porch. but, my ghetto porch furniture needed a "face lift". i had a home depot gift card, and used it to buy the two chair cushions (mid-back).

the cushions i bought, and the pillows ... not SO much. i do have the pillows, but i DID make some progress.

i bought some outdoor canvas fabric from the local (chain) fabric store. i wasn't sure how much i needed. so i "guess-sti-mated". i bought 1 1/4 yards of 54" width. from that , i got enough fabric to make 2 zippered covers for two 18" pillows. AND, i do have enough for at least 1 smaller pillow.

mile marker 97

CRAP

... at 70 mph. just glad i didn't "flinch".

merry christmas to me

i had some cash from christmas, and christmas past, and today it was burning a hole in my wallet! i decided to reward myself with something pretty ... for my bracelet.

off to the mall i went to visit the Pandora store. i got 5 new "charms" ... a snowflake, an enameled flower, a log of roses, an egg, and a barrel of daisies (well, that's what i call it).











and ... for my snowman i got for my birthday ... a SNOWFLAKE.

happy birthday to me

awesome cake pan set from williams-sonoma.

how time flies ....

this past weekend, it actually SNOWED! not much, but it was so pretty coming down. and, it's been so cold since then, it's not all melted away. instead, it's all ice.


in getting things together for christmas, mom and i made some christmas light balls during the thanksgiving holiday. we made the chicken wire balls at her house, and then i brought mine home to wrap the lights and hang.


they are crazy beautiful when i come around the corner at night, and they glow on the porch.


this one is my favorite. i did 2 solids and a multi, and i'm surprised how much more i like the multi colored ball.

when i went to the hardware store for the cords to plug them into, i got the wrong cords. i thought i was buying a cord with multiple plugs in intervals, but instead, i bought a 'value pack' of two 9' cords and one 6' cord. but, as it turned out, that ended up being better. so, happy mistakes!