Notebook Holders

Looking for a quick and easy sewing project that makes an awesome gift? I have been whipping these pen and notebook holders up lately and loving how they have been turning out. The pattern is from This and That and is called "Just a Note." The intention is to make a patchwork top out of a charm pack. I changed the pattern a bit and just used one piece of fabric for the top. Instead of using a charm pack, I used fabric from my stash.

When I make the inside small pocket,  I stitch a spot for a pen. Or in some cases spots for crayons or colored pencils.

I bought the notebooks from Target, but also recently spotted them at Sam's Club. I also purchased a pack of ball point pens from Target.

These are such a fun project. I just love putting together sets from my scraps and watching them come together. And I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy receiving something so cute and practical. They really are as much fun to give as to receive.


I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter
The Sweet Talk Shop

It Could Be Worse

Image Source

I have been telling myself this a lot this last week. Not that things were all that bad, it just was a string of little things that made for a kind of bad week. So, I just kept on telling myself, "It Could Be Worse." Yes, it could be a whole lot worse.
It started last Saturday evening into Sunday when Peachy had a really rough night. Imagine Mr Cherry or I running down to her room when we heard her crying very hard. Now imagine that scene again every hour of the night. She couldn't pinpoint that anything was wrong. When we asked her the next morning she said she just wanted us to come down. Ah yes, it could have been worse.
Throughout the day on Monday it was pretty apparent that Cream had developed the cold that Peachy and I had been battling. She was a stuffed up little girl. Throughout the day on Monday and into Tuesday she started a nasty cough to go along with it.
Tuesday, after spilling my cup of coffee all over the laptop, I made the decision to take both girls to the walk-in clinic. At that point Cream was only sleeping when being held or in her swing and Peachy was complaining of an ear ache.
At the clinic we found out that Peachy had a double ear infection and I received the peace of mind that Cream only had a cold. (That is after paying two co-pays. Gone are the days of the family doctor who will happily see your whole family for the cost of one visit.) We picked up antibiotics for Peachy and were able to celebrate a low-key Valentine's dinner at home.
Now Mr. Cherry says that he is starting to feel sick. So, when Cream was up most of the night, I was up with her. Throughout the next several days we experienced the four P's of parenting messes. Poop, pee, puke, and phlegm. I wanted to take Cream back into the doctor after another sleepless night, but we decided to wait until Friday. On Thursday morning Mr Cherry woke up with a fever and felt pretty crummy so he decided to stay home from work and rest. (As much as one can in a house with two kids under three.)
So we headed to the doctor on Friday morning and found out that now Cream had a double ear infection as well. Thankfully by this point Peachy was responding nicely to the medicine and feeling much better. It took Cream a while to bounce back. She ended up throwing up her first two doses of antibiotics. She also would get hacking so much that she threw up on me several nights in a row. She slept in a car seat by our bed for a couple of nights just to get her draining and to help me get some sleep.
Finally by Sunday Cream was responding to the meds and keeping them down. (We ended up breaking up the dosage and giving it to her four times a day instead of twice a day. Don't know if this is recommended by the medical field, but it worked for us.) Saturday night she actually slept in her own bed and was only up a handful of times throughout the night.
I enjoyed my cuddle time with my girls. I had just remarked to Mr Cherry that I missed the days Cream would just snuggle in with me for a few hours. Now she always wants to sit up and be part of the action. This last week I have loved holding her and watching her sweet face in her sleep. I did not enjoy seeing her so sick, though. I can't imagine what parents go through when they have children who are extremely sick. Once again, it could have been worse.
So, now I am thanking the Lord that he brought us through a rough week. We truly are blessed in spite of a sick winter.

Motorcycle Baby Shower

Our playgroup did it again and hosted another baby shower. (You can read all about shower #1 here and shower #2 here.) This time we waited to throw the shower until after the baby's arrival. Therefore we knew that it was a boy. Since his parent's are both Harley owners, a motorcycle theme seemed perfect. Lori, the hostess with the mostest, party planner extraordinaire!!, came up with lots of the fun ideas and got us all organized to do our part.
Here are some highlights of the day:
Decor-
We hosted the event in the momma baby's basement which is already Harley themed. Perfect! In addition to what was already there, these touches finished it off:

 Check out the awesome motorcycle diaper "cake."

 Lori had me make the onesies and she made the clothes pins to use them as decor.

Becky made this cool word art for Owen.
Food-
Of course we served pigs in a blanket and pulled pork. Along with punch, cupcakes, fruit, veggies, and chips.

Favors-
Janet crafted these chocolate motorcycles for favors.

And the lovely family!

Congrats Momma Lisa and Big Sis Annabel! Welcome Owen!!

I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter
The Sweet Talk Shop

A Great Combo

Salt and Pepper
Bread and Butter
Ham and Cheese
And of course, Peanut Butter and Chocolate

Look who got together over Valentine's Day here at our house! Don't they make a cute couple? Now I am not going to tell you that pairing Chocolate Cheerios with the new Peanut Butter Cheerios tastes exactly like biting into a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, but it is a whole lot more exceptable as a breakfast food. And you know I am all about sneaking chocolate into my breakfast.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Scrappy Valentine Runner

I have lots of fabric. I have big pieces of fabric and little pieces of fabric. Yet I still go out and buy more fabric. Lately I have been attempting to use more of my stash for projects rather than falling prey to the siren call of the fabric stores. Recently I made this runner using only supplies that I already had. Isn't that why we have stashes in the first place?

After searching my scrap boxes for pink and red fabrics, I started by cutting 4.5 inch squares that I then cut in half to make triangles. I sewed pairs of triangles together to make squares again. (Isn't quilting funny sometimes? We cut apart only to sew back together.) There is a certain freedom in using only scraps.I really was just winging this project. I didn't plan how big the runner would be in the end. I didn't count how many triangles or squares I would need. I just went for it.
Once I had what I deemed to be enough squares, I laid them out and started sewing them together in diagonal strips. I used triangles for two of the corners. (At first I started to play around with the pattern. In the end I decided that it was a scrappy project and I could sit there and putz with it all the live ling day or I could just start sewing.)
In an effort to finish off the project in an easy way, I decided to skip binding. Why make this more complicated than it has to be? I did however put some red ric rac between the layers, because I am a firm believer that ric rac makes everything better.

A little simple quilting and I was done. And while this really didn't even begin to make a dent in my scrap collection, I am thrilled with the results. And I can't wait to try some more scrap busting projects.
The printable can be found here. The jars the candy is in were intended to be transformed into apothicary jars. I have the wood and paint, just need to time to do it. Stay tuned to see if they get finished or just get added to the stash of crafting supplies.

I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter
The Sweet Talk Shop

Foodie Friday: Creole Black Beans and Sausage

I received a new Crock Pot as a Christmas gift and I have been putting it to good use. Yesterday I fired it up at lunch with this yummy recipe that we thoroughly enjoyed last night for supper. This recipe is perfect for a cold winter day and would make a super Fat Tuesday dinner.

photo from Taste of Home

Creole Black Beans and Sausage
adapted from Taste of Home
Ingredients:

• 2 pounds smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch slices
• 3 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1-1/2 cups each chopped onion, celery and green pepper
• 1 cup water
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• Hot cooked rice

Directions:

• In a large skillet, brown sausage over medium heat; drain. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker.
• In a large bowl, combine the beans, onion, celery, green pepper, water, tomato sauce, garlic, thyme, bouillon, white pepper, cayenne and bay leaves; pour over sausage. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaves. Serve with rice.

Randomness

*We are all rocking various stages of colds right now. I feel like we have been sicker this winter than any in the past 5 years. It all started when Peachy was sick for Cream's baptism and it feels like we haven't gone much over a week without one of us being sick since then. Oh well. I should look at it on the bright side, we have just had colds and stomach flu nothing that even required antibiotics. I am not a super germ nazi, maybe I should get out the sanitizer more often.
*I have told myself that I am going to use this month to really organize the house. (I think I am just a month late on a resolution here.) So far I have gotten our closet organized, boxed up my maternity clothes, organized a bathroom closet, and worked on the downstairs toy area. I still have lots I would like to accomplish. Maybe I will get it done now that I have told you about it!
*Peachy and I worked on Valentine's together today. Really I made the Valentine's and she played with paper, glue, punches, scissors, and ribbon. I am so happy with how everything turned out and so it she. She calls it her project.
*I would like to join a gym. (Perhaps another late resolution?) We even have some Christmas money to put toward it. I am hoping to get in and visit a few in the next couple of weeks. Ideally it would have a daycare and would allow me to go on a month to month basis. That way when the weather warms up we can stop going to the gym and spend time outside instead.
*I just released Peachy from her room. She has been on a non-napping streak. I still make her rest in her bed and hope that she will actually sleep. The last three days she hasn't. Oh well.
*I am smelling the yumminess of supper in the CrockPot. I will make it Foodie Friday tomorrow if it turns out as good as it smells. :o)
*Well, since both girlies are up and since I promised myself I would try to get some organizing down today, I will leave off here. Hope you are having a good Thursday!

Baby Cream: 5 Months

Our little cutie turned 5 months old at the end of last month.

This has been a big month for Cream. She has learned how to roll over from back to front, she has tried cereal and avocado, and she is almost sitting up on her own. She is a smiley little one most of the time and loves interacting with people. We are still swaddling for sleep as she just can't keep her hands from bothering her if she isn't.

She loves to talk and make all sorts of noises. She has even perfected the scream and screech.

Her feet are always in motion. It is hard to keep socks on her because she moves her feet back and forth until she gets them off. We still don't have any teeth poking through. I thought for sure we would by now with the amount that she drools and chews, but not yet.
It is such a joy to watch our little girl grow before our eyes.

PS I Love You

This year I have been excitedly gathering Valentine's Day decorating ideas. There is always something sad about packing up all of the Christmas decorations and having a bare house staring back at you. While I still have a few projects I would like to get done, this is one that I finished and have been enjoying for a few weeks now. I saw this idea online somewhere. Unfortunately I didn't pin it and can't remember where I first saw it. If you know, please send the info my way so that I can give credit where credit is due.
I got all of the supplies from Hobby Lobby. I left the P, I, and U as I bought them. I covered the chipboard S with scrapbook paper and the heart is actually a foam heart that I also covered with scrapbook paper. I simply put them up on our mirror ledge in the entryway and had instant Valentine Art.

I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter
The Sweet Talk Shop