I Used To Be a Morning Person

I used to be a morning person, that is before Cream decided that waking her momma up multiple times a night would be a fun pastime to take up. I can vaguely remember the days where  I would wake up and tackle a do to list with pleasure. Days where I would have energy and a desire to see what I could all accomplish. Now, I usually call it a good day if the girls and I are all up, dressed, and wearing clean clothes when Mr. Cherry makes it home from work. I feel as if I am back to that newborn stage with her. I am about ready to see if the moms group that I belong to is willing to start bringing meals again like they did when Cream was born. Actually I think that she slept better when she was a few weeks old than she has been the last month.
We still swaddle. That magical wrap that was such a blessing at the beginning is now a bit of a curse. She still does really well in the swaddle. It keeps her hands away from her face and pacifier when she is trying to fall asleep. However, she has become quite the Houdini, able to escape pretty much whatever swaddle we throw at her. Upon her escape, she acts as if it certainly must be morning. We hear her chatting away in the Pack and Play batting at the screen walls with her free hands and arms. I know that it is time to break the swaddle habit, but I am just too tired.
Did you catch that she is still in the Pack and Play which means that she is still in our closet. I think she would probably sleep better if she were down in her crib in her sister's room. I think that, but am too tired to try it for fear of having to run up and down the stairs all night long. And for fear that she would ruin her sister's good sleeping habits.
Last night, or maybe early this morning, I allowed her to cry for a bit because frankly I had just collapsed back into bed from the second trip to her "room" in five minutes time. She cried for less than three minutes and then was quiet. That girl is seven months old and is playing us. She knows that if she cries mom will come and take care of her and if mom comes to take care of her enough she might even earn a trip to the comfy cozy location known as mom and dad's bed. And sometimes if she is really lucky she earns a nice night cap of warm milk. Oh yeah, the girl knows how to play her cards.
I am longing for a solid night of sleep. At this point I would settle for 6 hours. That would be great.

SMILE

Here is a bright and sunny smile to start off your day! 

I figure it just isn't fair of me to keep them all to myself.

Double Sided Fabric Headbands

Check out this great headband tutorial over at Happy Together. They are just too much fun to make. Unfortunately they don't look all that great with my current short hairstyle, but not to worry I have plenty of friends to give them to. :o)
Here are some that I recently made for my friend Becky as a birthday gift. Rest assured, she can rock them!

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

Baby Boy Gifts

Remember that Harley baby shower I wrote about a few weeks back? Well, here is the fun gift that I made for little Owen.

2 bibs, 2 burp cloths, monthly onesie picture kit, 4 pee pee tee pees, and 1 pacifier holder. I  made it all from 4 different 1/3 cut fabrics, and 1 yard of flannel with various other items.

I made the bibs using this great tutorial and pattern from Lots of Pink Here. I used flannel for the backing and a fusible batting for the middle layer. Instead of adding velcro, I used a loop of elastic cord and a button. The center is embellished with ric rac.

For the monthly onesie picture kit, I packaged up 4 different sized plain onesies, 12 month stickers that I designed on Publisher and printed on sticker paper, and a sticker holder with an elastic loop and button closure.

The pacifier clip is made using a mitten clip on one end of a strip of fabric and an elastic loop on the other end. The burp cloths are just a rectangle of fabric with flannel backing. I made them into "cupcakes" using a printable I purchased at KdBuggie Boutique on Etsy. I followed the tutorial on Saturday Mornings for the PeePee TeePees.

I wrapped it all up in a box, which of course I didn't take a picture of, but you can see it on the left side of the picture above. 

I think I will be making lots of these fun baby kits as baby presents. They are fun and easy to put together and I can't think of a new mom who wouldn't appreciate some homemade baby goods.

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

Foodie Friday: Chocolate Cherry Truffle Cake

Yesterday was a big baking day here at the Bowl of Cherrys. My faithful assistant and chief taste tester, Peachy, and I hammered out a delicious and lovely birthday cake AND a super cute St. Patrick's Day treat. The later is still awaiting assembly, so you will have to wait on that one, but the cake has been enjoyed and I am ready to share.

I found the recipe on the Pillsbury website. I will send you there for the directions, but here are a few tips:
1) I had problems with my filling seizing on me. I would maybe omit the almond extract to see if that helps.
2) Instead of flouring the cake pan, I used cocoa powder. This accomplishes the same thing as flour, but doesn't leave the white residue behind.
3) When working with the glaze, I did not add the milk for fear of it seizing as well. It worked out fine for me without the milk.
4) Instead of decorating mine with the chocolate shavings and cherries, I glues ribbon to toothpicks. I recently saw this idea on one of those project cards at Joann Fabrics. It was a super cute and easy way to finish off the cake.

So, if you are looking for a showstopper of a cake that is rich and decadent, this is it. However, you must love chocolate.

PS Sorry if this post has left you craving chocolate. Especially for breakfast.
PPS I may know from experience that a piece of this cake does taste really good for breakfast.


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

Preschool at Home: Dyed Noodles

(You can read other Preschool at Home posts here, here and here.)

Here is a great activity for you try try at home with your toddlers, preschoolers, and younger elementary schoolers.

 I did it recently in connection with studying the letter N, but Peachy is still enjoying playing with the noodles.

I followed the direction on dying noodles from eHow. I bought everything that I needed at the dollar store, except the food coloring which I had on hand. Depending on their age, your children can lend a hand in the dying process as well. Peachy helped me pour the noodles into the bags and helped me count the drops of food coloring.

I got out measuring cups, spoons, muffin tins, and bowls to play with the noodles. The kids enjoyed pouring, measuring, and sorting the noodles. We also made noodle necklaces.

I find that using something new, noodles, in addition to something from around the house, measuring cups, muffin tins, etc., can really bring about great play. I keep the noodles stored away and only bring them out every so often. That way they are new and exciting each time.

St Patty's Day Tees

You can bet that many Irish eyes will be smiling when they land on these adorable St Patty's Day T-Shirts. I just can't help myself when it comes to making my girls holiday themed shirts.

 I had this idea rolling around in my head for a little while and hammered it out this weekend. Funny thing is that I saw a shirt with a very similar concept on another blog last week. Just goes to show you that there really is nothing new under the sun.

Lately I have been adding fun appliques to the back off the shirts I have been making. It is the fun little details that can really make a project unique and your own.

I can't wait to hit our local St. Patrick's Day festivities with my two little lasses in their St Patty's Day tees.

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

Foodie Friday: Calzone Rolls

This recipe was inspired by a post at Disney Family. It was listed in a group of recipes titled: 15 Dinners Under $1.50. To be honest, the price wasn't what attracted me, but the yummy looking picture. This recipe is a winner and I will be making it again. I also love that it can be changed a little bit for a completely different flavor.

Calzone Rolls
inspired by recipe by Anne Coleman (aka short order mom) for Disney Family


-Basic Dough Recipe (you could always use another dough recipe or frozen bread dough)
Dough Ingredients:
1 pkg yeast
1 c hot water
1 T sugar
1 t oil
1/4 t salt
2 1/2 c flour (start with 1 1/2 c and add more until you get desired consistency)

Directions for dough:

Dissolve yeast in water in large mixing bowl. (I used my Kitchen Aid with the dough hook.) Add sugar, oil, salt and 1 1/2 c flour. Mix. Gradually add in more flour until a dough ball forms. Turn out onto floured surface, cover, and let rest 10 minutes.

Calzone Ingredients:

1/4 pound sliced ham

1/4 pound sliced salami

1 c shredded mozzarella

1/4 chopped onion

1/4 c banana pepper rings

Directions for calzone:

1. Roll out dough into an 8 in by 12 in rectangle.

2. Layer ham and salami down center of each rectangle lengthwise. 

3. Top meats with onion, cheese, and peppers.

4. Fold short ends of rectangle in about 1/2 inch and seal. Roll from the long sides and pinch well to seal the entire loaf. You should have a long roll.

5. Bake, seam side down on a greased baking sheet in a 375 degree F oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

6. Cut roll into 8 slices and serve with marinara for dipping.

Pink Poodles and Bows Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Leigh Ann from Sew Blessed. She is the winner of the Pink Poodles and Bows giveaway!! And thanks to Pink Poodles and Bows for offering the giveaway!

Baby Cream: 6 Months

Somehow the little girl that we just welcomed into our family is already 6 months old. It really does feel as if I just had her one or two months ago and here she is half of a year old. For some reason 6 months is a big milestone in my mind. There is something about the 6 month mark that means you really don't have a newborn anymore. That your little baby is really growing up. Just imagine what 16 years will mean for me.

We were at the doctor this morning for her 6 month check-up and aside from having to go back on antibiotics for her ears, she is doing really well. She also handled the visit like a champ, a bit of a change from her four month appointment.
Little Cream is now:
16 pounds and 9 ounces (58%)
26 and one half inches long (74%)
and has a head circumference of 44 centimeters (86%)

We are still giving her some solids. So far we have done rice cereal, squash, avocado, and banana. Sometimes she will eat a decent amount and then there are other times where she just isn't all that interested. I also gave her a Mum Mum this weekend as her first finger food. She did very well with that. This isn't a surprise as she brings everything to her mouth. We got her the Chico 360 clip on high chair this month and she is a big fan of sitting at the table with us. It is still a little big for her so it looks like she is sitting in a hole or burrow. It is pretty cute.

She still just rolls from back to front. It is pretty amusing how quickly she gets herself flipped over when you put her down. Sometimes she will hang out on her tummy for a long time and sometimes she instantly gets mad at the injustice of being on her tummy.
Lately she has been amazing me with her eye-hand coordination. She really works hard at grasping anything that gets her attention. She also will sit there playing with her hands and examining them and what they can all do.

Peachy is her number one source of amusement and fascination. Her big sister's antics always capture her attention and quite often bring a giggle and a smile. It is so much fun watching the girls relate more and more to each other everyday.
Cream is still residing in our closet. I am in no hurry to get her down into her room downstairs. For now it is so much more convenient to have her a few steps away for pacifier reinsertion and night time feedings. Although she is really stretching out how long she can go without needing to be nursed. Lately it has been around 10 hours during the night. She is also on more of a predictable daytime routine as well with usually 3 naps a day.
Our little Cream still has a sunny and smiley disposition. She loves being able to take it all in and watch the action. You can almost sense that she can't wait to be a part of it all.