A Mom's Free Time: 2013

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup milk
1 cup miniature chocolate chips
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup white chocolate chips
1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl beat the sugars, oil and eggs until creamy. Add the pumpkin and beat again. Sift together the baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and flour. Add to the pumpkin mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in the mini chocolate chips by hand.
2. Spread the batter in a greased 9X5 loaf pan. Bake at 350* for 60-70 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then flip out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Place the chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Stir and heat again for 15-20 seconds. Set aside and repeat with the white chocolate chips and remaining shortening. Spoon the melted white chips into a plastic baggie with one tip cut off.
4. Spoon the melted chocolate chips on the top of the bread. Go to the edge, but be careful not to push the chocolate over. Immediately drizzle the white chocolate from side to side. Use a toothpick to draw lines from end to end. Work quickly before the chocolate sets up. Makes 1 loaf (I separated it into two smaller loaves and worked just fine)

Website

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 1 loaf - 12 slices per loaf

Pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and chocolate topping is a great way to enjoy the fall season.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 1 loaf - 12 slices per loaf

Pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and chocolate topping is a great way to enjoy the fall season.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 1 loaf - 12 slices per loaf

Pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and chocolate topping is a great way to enjoy the fall season.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 1 loaf - 12 slices per loaf

Pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and chocolate topping is a great way to enjoy the fall season.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 1 loaf - 12 slices per loaf

Pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and chocolate topping is a great way to enjoy the fall season.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 1 loaf - 12 slices per loaf

Pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and chocolate topping is a great way to enjoy the fall season.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 1 loaf - 12 slices per loaf

Pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and chocolate topping is a great way to enjoy the fall season.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

See Fun JELL-O Halloween Treats

Instructions

In a mixing bowl beat the sugars, oil, and eggs until creamy. Add the pumpkin and beat again. Sift together the baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and flour. Add to the pumpkin mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in the mini chocolate chips by hand.
Spread the batter in a greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake at 350* for 60-70 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then flip out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Place the chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Stir and heat again for 15-20 seconds. Set aside and repeat with the white chips and remaining shortening. Spoon the melted white chips into a plastic baggie with one tip cut off.
Spoon the melted chocolate chips on the top of the bread. Go to the edge, but be careful to not push the chocolate over. Immediately drizzle the white chocolate from side to side. Use a toothpick to draw lines from end to end. Work quickly before the chocolate sets up. Makes 1 loaf.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 1 loaf - 12 slices per loaf

Pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and chocolate topping is a great way to enjoy the fall season.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

See Fun JELL-O Halloween Treats

Instructions

In a mixing bowl beat the sugars, oil, and eggs until creamy. Add the pumpkin and beat again. Sift together the baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and flour. Add to the pumpkin mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in the mini chocolate chips by hand.
Spread the batter in a greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake at 350* for 60-70 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then flip out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Place the chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Stir and heat again for 15-20 seconds. Set aside and repeat with the white chips and remaining shortening. Spoon the melted white chips into a plastic baggie with one tip cut off.
Spoon the melted chocolate chips on the top of the bread. Go to the edge, but be careful to not push the chocolate over. Immediately drizzle the white chocolate from side to side. Use a toothpick to draw lines from end to end. Work quickly before the chocolate sets up. Makes 1 loaf.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 1 loaf - 12 slices per loaf

Pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and chocolate topping is a great way to enjoy the fall season.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

See Fun JELL-O Halloween Treats

Instructions

In a mixing bowl beat the sugars, oil, and eggs until creamy. Add the pumpkin and beat again. Sift together the baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and flour. Add to the pumpkin mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in the mini chocolate chips by hand.
Spread the batter in a greased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake at 350* for 60-70 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then flip out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Place the chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Stir and heat again for 15-20 seconds. Set aside and repeat with the white chips and remaining shortening. Spoon the melted white chips into a plastic baggie with one tip cut off.
Spoon the melted chocolate chips on the top of the bread. Go to the edge, but be careful to not push the chocolate over. Immediately drizzle the white chocolate from side to side. Use a toothpick to draw lines from end to end. Work quickly before the chocolate sets up. Makes 1 loaf.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Tokens

Token can be earned, spent, and lost. How?
How to earn tokens:
1 shoes put away
1 coats hung up
1 back pack, lunch pack, papers put away
1 dishes cleared after meals without asking
1 folder brought home
1 hairbows put away, or not lost at the end of the day
1 using a napkin at the dinner table
1 using your manner words
1 (isaac) telling us that you need a diaper change
1 cleaning up your crumbs after snacks
1 staying at the table to eat your snacks
1 listening the first time
1 setting your clothes out for the next day
1 following instructions
1 being kind to your siblings
1 washing your hands after you eat
1 bringing in belongings from the car
1 if mom or dad don’t clean up after ourselves and you catch it and have to do it for us
1 mom or dad speaking unkindly to you when it is not an appropriate thing to get upset about
2 listening and sitting reverently during fhe
2 (stella) taking your dance bag to dance
2 homework done before play time
2 eating all of your food without complaining
3 being reverent during sacrament meeting
3 morning routine done without asking
3 evening routine done without asking
3 extra jobs without complaining
3 good behavior at a store
5 ½ hour playtime outside
5 ½ hour art project
5 ½ hour reading
5 ½ hour quiet time
5 100% spelling test
5 a good report from school
15 (jex) finishing a chapter book
How to Lose Tokens:
1 leave your shoes out
1 socks on the floor
1 coat laying on the floor
1 pajamas not put away
1 clothes laying on the floor
1 making messes at the dinner table
1 arguing
1 wiping your fingers on furniture
1 bothering parents while on the phone
1 not listening
1 not clearing your plate
1 leaving belongings in the car
1 fighting with your sibling
1 anything left laying around that I have to pick up
2 not bringing your folder home from school
2 losing a hair bow
2 tattling
2 getting in to things that you are not supposed to
3 complaining or gagging at the dinner table
3 poor behavior at church
3 poor behavior at a store
10 if I have to clean up your room or playroom at the end of the day
How to spend tokens:
1 package of fruit snacks
2 cookie, or treat(bedtime snacks will be given on special occasions)
2 ½ educational computer time (approved by parent)
2 ½ hour educational television program (approved by parent)
3 popcorn
3 extra story at bedtime(must be paid by all listeners)
5 ½ hour computer time, television, or a full movie
(family movies are free, but designated by parents)
5 extra 15 minutes at bedtime
100 $10 to spend on something you would like
Disclaimers:
Fruit and yogurt and crackers do not cost anything
Mom and dad have the right to add to this list at anytime
Tokens can be handed out randomly for special things and good behavior
You must ask mom and dad before putting tokens in your jar.

This list hangs on our laundry room door. We can refer to it at anytime.

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Mother's Little Secrets

I have been trying to find new ways to keep calm and not damage my kids. I came across this blog and it helped me. I wanted to put in here so I don't forget the things.

The ten things that help me find the magic in motherhood. Being a mother is not an easy job, but it is the most rewarding job I have ever had. When I do these things, I find more peace in our home, and more time to just BE with our children.

1. I try not to go to bed with a dirty house. Well, let me rephrase that. I try to go to bed with a straightened house. I love waking up to a house where things are put away. In order to do this, I enlist the kids to make sure the house is all put together before we lay our heads down on our pillows.

2. How do I enlist the kids? my best tidying up secret; stations. Each one of our kids is responsible for a station in our house. They are responsible to make sure their rooms are clean, and their station is clean. Stations consist of; den, playroom, dining room, and family room. Each child has a room, and I pair the older kids up with a younger child to make sure they know what to do.

Their station needs to look like we would want it to look if a visitor was coming over. That means every pillow needs to be put back on the couch and toys picked up. We do stations just before bed time, and while they work on theirs, I work on mine. I tidy the kitchen, wipe off the table and chairs, and clorox wipe the bathrooms. It takes us between 10 to 15 minutes, and then we go to bed with a clean house.

3. Bedtime routine, and two thumbs up. Every night, rain or shine we join together as a family. This is the most important time in our family’s day. We start our time together by talking about what is happening in our family. We discuss anything that might be important to remember or something we have going on. This is also an opportunity for the kids to tell us important points about their day.

Then we do one of my favorite things as a family. Jonathan or I pick someone to receive “two thumbs up.” Two thumbs up is a way to reward someone in our house for doing something awesome. For example, “Isaac you get two thumbs up for being reverent in church, or Tess ate all of her dinner tonight.” It is the perfect opportunity to point out the kind of behavior that we like to see.

I remember a friend telling me that her daughters self esteem grew when she started riding horses and receiving awards. She had never gotten an award before. I believe that kids grow when we acknowledge their successes. In our family one of our kids gets an award every night. Someone is always a winner. When him or her receive two thumbs up, we give them an actual two thumbs up, we clap for them, and they receive 3 extra tokens(I will share this secret in a minute.) After our two thumbs up ritual we end the night with family prayer. I believe this routine to be one of the greatest things we do as a family.

4. Ok, tokens. We have been doing this in our family for a couple of years now. We are still doing it, because it works and our kids respond to it. I did a post on this a few years back. Go here, if you want to read more about it.

sidenote: I am a little more relaxed with the tokens and what we give and take away for, then I was in the beginning. If you choose to do this, find what works for your family.

Tokens are our way of rewarding our children for chores, good behavior, and good choices. We also take them away for the opposite. Tokens can be redeemed for money, or used to spend on computer, tv, or other special rewards. We love the token system. Our kids cash them in every Monday night.

5. Plan out your week. I have a beautiful calendar. Which I absolutely love. I bought it here. I sit down with it every Sunday.

I use it to plan out my week, and make sure we are all on the same page around here. I write everything down that I want to accomplish in the week as well. Once I have done that, I fill in the days with my kids stuff, hubby’s stuff, and my stuff. That way I make sure I accomplish things that are important to me as well. A mom that does for herself, is a happy mom.

Included in my list, I have clean the house, laundry, and exercise. I figure out which day that week those will squeeze in the best and plan accordingly. I also plan when and what I will exercise for the week. If I want to do it, I have to have a plan.

6. Lay out their clothes. I lay out my kids clothes every night before bed. It is so helpful, and saves so much time. When clothes, sock, and shoes are already out, then there is no rushing around looking for them in the morning. I even lay out the bows that I will have the girls wear in their hair. Saves me so much time, and brain power. My brain doesn’t think so well in the morning when I have just crawled out of bed. I have to say this is one of my greatest mommy secrets.

7. Enlist your kids to help. I have heard my friends say that they don’t have their kids do chores. My kids do chores every day.

In the morning, they are responsible to : make their bed, put away pj’s, brush teeth, say prayers, eat breakfast, get dressed, comb hair(with mom’s help), and clear breakfast dishes. At bed time: put their pj’s on, put away clothes for the day, brush teeth, say prayers, and do their stations.

I also enlist my kids to help me when I need it. They help clean bathrooms, load and unload the dishwasher, and wash windows. Even Tess has chores that she can do. It is so important that kids learn to be helpful. My kids have always helped, and they rarely complain because they just know that is what we do.

My favorite times are when we are working on it together. We turn up the music, and crank out a clean and tidy house in about 30 minutes. 5 or 6 people working together is so much easier than 1 person doing it alone.

8. If something isn’t working, fix it. If there are little problems in your house, work together to find a solution.

For example, after school at our house was making me crazy. We just recently came up with a solution so my brain didn’t explode from over stimulation. The kids all wanted to talk at once, or have me sign this, or read this. With 3 school age kids coming at me, I found myself wanting to crawl in a hole and hide. So… this is what we came up with:

Once they get home, they pick a snack from the snack basket and take it outside to eat. This gives me five minutes to tie up any loose ends from what I have been working on, and also allows them five minutes to decompress. After snack, they work on their homework, and when they are ready they call for an FM. FM stands for five minutes. Each child gets their own five minutes where no one can interrupt them. We discuss what went on that day, we talk about what might be coming up, and I look over homework and any papers that came home and might need to be signed. I love this because this allows me to talk to the kids one on one. I also find out important bits of information that they might not have shared with me when everyone else is around. This is a solution we came up with together. If something isn’t working, come together to find a solution.

9. Calm equals power. I have recently figured this out, and I am still working on it every.single.day. Staying clam does give you so much power. Try it. Instead of freaking out. Just try staying calm. You will be amazed at how much better the situation turns out. Now, if I could just remember to do this every time.

10. Be assertive, not passive. Mothers who are passive, rarely accomplish what it is that they want with their family.

It is so important to be assertive with your family. Set the limits, and enforce them. Set the tone, and try to live by it. Find time to assert some fun. Be assertive with love and understanding. Be assertive with rules.

When we let too many things go, we never accomplish what it is we want to do, or who we want to become.

Limit your passive moments to only things that really don’t matter, like a battle over shoes. Be assertive in moments that matter like, respect of others, or others property. Even if it is your property, you don’t want them to think that it is ok to do that to others things. When we are assertive, we show are children that we love them.

I know I said 10, but number 11 is my most important secret.

11. Laugh. Take the time to have fun. STOP!! what you are doing and be with your children. Laughter changes your mood. These moments will pass, and if you don’t have any fun while you are in them; you will regret it.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Baked French Toast

Ingredient Checklist:
1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)
1 cup brown sugar
1 loaf Texas toast
4 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Directions:
1. Melt butter in microwave & add brown sugar....stir till mixed.
2. Pour butter/sugar mix into bottom of 9 x 13 pan....spread around
3. Beat eggs, milk, & vanilla
4. Lay single layer of Texas Toast in pan
5. Spoon 1/2 of egg mixture on bread layer
6. Add 2nd layer of Texas Toast
7. Spoon on remaining egg mixture
8. Cover & chill in fridge overnight
9. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes (covered for the first 30 minutes)
10. Sprinkle with powdered sugar
11. Serve with warm maple syrup

Really yummy!!
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Monday, June 10, 2013

Maple Bars..Baked

Maple Bars1 1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup shortening (I used butter flavored Crisco)
4 Tablespoons granulated Sugar
2 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup lukewarm water

2 (1/4 ounce) envelopes yeast
2 large eggs, beaten
5 cups flour (might need a bit more)
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Maple Icing
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons mapleine (found by the flavor extracts and seasonings) or maple extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

For the dough:
In a medium saucepan scald milk; add shortening, 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar, and salt. Stir to combine and set aside to cool to lukewarm.

In a large mixer bowl, add the lukewarm water and the yeast (remember the water should be just lukewarm, too hot and it will kill the yeast) Add the remaining 1 Tablespoon of sugar to the yeast and water and whisk to combine. Let sit for about 5 minutes until it starts to bubble and become foamy.

After the yeast is foamy and the milk mixture is luke warm. Add the eggs to the yeast and stir to combine, then add the milk mixture to the yeast mixture. Whisk the cinnamon into the flour and gradually add to the yeast mixture. You may need to add more, you want the dough slightly sticky but not too sticky. Knead for 3 to 5 minutes. I let my kitchen aid do the kneading for about 5 minutes.
Spray another large bowl with non-stick spray, place dough in the bowl and let raise for an hour or until double in size.

Punch down and roll out into a large rectangle about 1 inch thick.

Cut into rectangles, I cut the rectangle in half, and then each half into 6 pieces to make 12 bars, then place on a greased baking sheet. Let raise for about 30 minutes.

While bars are raising, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Bake the bars for 7 to 8 minutes or until light golden brown, Watch carefully. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before icing.

Make the icing while the bars are raising:

In a small saucepan mix butter, brown sugar and milk. Bring to boil for medium heat and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 15 minutes. Add the mapleine, salt and powdered sugar and blend well with a hand mixer. Add a little more powdered sugar if needed (I added about 1/4 cup more)

Spread on maple bars and enjoy!

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Friday, May 10, 2013

Cinnamon Sugar Breadsticks with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cinnamon Sugar Breadstick with Cream Cheese Drizzle

2 1/4 tsp yeast
1/4 C sugar, divided
1 C warm water, divided
1 1/2 Tbsp oil
1 egg
1 /2 tsp salt
2 1/4 C flour
1/4 C butter, melted
Cinnamon Sugar mixture: 6 Tbsp sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon

In mixer dissolve yeast, 1/2 Tbsp sugar and 1/2 C warm water. Allow yeast to proof. Add in oil, egg salt, 1 1/2 C flour and remaining sugar and water. Mix until smooth. Stir in remaining flour to form a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic. Place into a greased bowl and cover. Let rise in a warm place for about 40 minutes or until doubled.
Punch down the dough and put onto floured counter. Roll into a 8 x 14 rectangle. Using your pizza cutter cut into about 10 pieces. Roll each strip like a snake. Then hang the dough over your finger in the middle and twist the two ends together. Place on a greased cookie sheet and allow to rise for another 20 minutes or until doubled.
Preheat oven to 400 and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Drizzle with cream cheese glaze (see below)

Cream Cheese Drizzle:
4 ounces cream cheese
1 1/4 C powdered sugar
1 – 2 Tbsp whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla
Soften cream cheese and mix everything together. Beat until a good consistency for drizzling. Place in a ziploc bag and snip off the corner. Drizzle over warm breadsticks.

I struggled with how she rolled it out, but practice makes perfect.

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Thursday, April 4, 2013

Playdate skirt tutorial

Pick Your Fabric and Cut Out Your Pieces

For the waistband fabric, you need something stretchy. I used jersey knit. Your skirt fabric can be whatever you want. I love the softness of jersey knit fabric so two out of the three skirts I made were 100% made from that.

My measurements were for an 17 lb, 8 month old girl. You probably need to adjust your measurements depending on the size of the baby. For example, if I were making this for a 3 month old, I’d shorten the waist to 14×6 and the skirt to 13×31 or something like that. The most accurate way to make sure it fits is to measure your baby. I got my measurements simply by wrapping the fabric around her waist.

Assemble Your Waistband

Fold your waistband fabric in half (hotdog style), and then in half again (hamburger style). Sew a simple stitch down the side with the raw edges.

Create the Ruffles

If you’re a perfectionist, you aren’t going to like my directions. But the beauty of making ruffles is that they are very forgiving.

Fold your skirt fabric in half (hotdog style) and start at one end of the waist with your pinning. As you can see in the picture below, simply take about 1/2 to 1 inch of your fabric and fold it over itself and pin it down. Continue to do this the entire length of the waist. I made my folds about an inch apart.

You need to make sure you didn’t get too ambitious with your ruffling and use up too much fabric. Double check by folding your skirt in half like it will eventually be sewn. Line up your waist band with the waist of your skirt. Are they pretty close to lining up? One isn’t way longer or shorter than the other?

If you find that your skirt doesn’t line up well with your waist band, adjust your ruffle folds accordingly. So, if your skirt is smaller than your waist, you need to shorten some of your folds to allow for more fabric. If your skirt is too big, then make your ruffle folds a little bigger.

Assemble Your Skirt

With your skirt fabric folded in half, sew the raw edges of your skirt together. Just leave the pins in the waist while you do this. When your seam is done, flip the skirt right side out. (Your seam should be on the inside of your skirt now.)

Attach Your Waistband

The first time I made one of these, I got it backwards so pay close attention! Your skirt should be RIGHT side out. In other words, it has the pretty side facing you. No ugly seam should be visible.
Your waistband should be WRONG side out. You should see the seam. Line up your seams and then slip your waist band over the top of your skirt and pin in place. This takes a little finagling to get it in place but do your best to line up those seams and pin.

Set your machine to a zig zag stitch. This stitch allows for a little extra stretch so that your little gal won’t bust a seam with a full belly.

Now just sew along the top, being sure to back stitch when you start and finish. When your done, flip up your waistband and admire your new, adorable skirt!

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Baby Shoes

SUPPLIES:

1/4 Yard of heavy home dec cotton or quilters weight cotton fabric

1 /4 Yard lining fabric wool felt or soft cotton

Interfacing~ Iron on fusible

1" of 1/2" Velcro

Step 1...

Print out the pattern pieces and cut out from fabric.

You should have 16 pieces:

Top shoe pattern: 2 Interfacing, 2 Lining, 2 Fabric Print

Sole: 2 Interfacing, 2 Lining, 2 Print Fabric

Strap: 2 Interfacing, 2 Print Fabric

*Interfacing not show in below photo

(I didn't use interfacing)

Step 2...

Iron the interfacing pieces to the back of each of the printed fabric pieces.

Step 3...

Sew The Straps.

FIRST add a strip of velcro to the correct side so you do not see the stitching

Then....

Pin the right sides together and sew leaving one of the short sides open.

Turn right side out and press with the iron.

Step 4...

Sew the lining onto the wrong side of the sole of the shoe.

Step 5...

Now your ready to sew the top of the shoe.

Place the printed fabric piece down *Right side up

Place the strap (use the guide on the pattern to determine where)

Place the liner, pin, and sew the inside of the "U" but NOT the outside

(make sure the velcro is up so it will strap down correctly)

Step 6...

Press the seams open.

Step 7...

Open the "U" and pin the right sides of the printed fabric and right sides of the lining fabric together. Sew along the back of the heel.

Step 8...

Turn right sides out and press seams with the iron. Topstitch the top of the shoe ( I have done this here in blue thread so you can see but a coordinating thread is best)

Step 9...

Pin the right side of the sole to the right side of the top of the shoe. Sew. Turn right side out and press the seams. Attach the velcro to the strap and to the shoe.

Step 10...

Wear your shoes out on the town!

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Cream Cheese Chicken

What you need:

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 ounces softened cream cheese

1 tablespoon of chopped parsley

1 tablespoon of onion, minced

2 teaspoons of lemon juice
1/4 cup flour

1/2 teapoon garlic salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup corn flake crumbs
(I halfed this portion and it was perfect)

Pre-heat oven to 350. Place chicken breasts between sheets of wax paper. Use a rolling pin, flatten to around 1/4 inch thick.In a bowl, beat cream cheese, parsley, onion, garlic salt and pepper and lemon juice until blended. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture on each piece of chicken. Roll chicken. Coat rolls with flour, dip in egg mixture, then roll in corn flakes. Drizzle some olive oil in a large skillet. Cook over medium heat. Make sure to brown on all sides. Place chicken rolls in a baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes or until chicken is fork tender and juices run clear.

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