Merry Christmas to ME!

So for Christmas my hubby's 2 brothers chipped in and got me a breadmaker like I requested. YAY! Tonight I made my first loaf! I went simple, just plain white bread to make sure I couldn't screw it up. I really want to try some cinnamon raisin bread next ... yum! =)

Necktie Onesie

SO proud of this project =) I swear this took me half an hour tops, and I feel like that's only because I was stopping to check the directions and take pictures of my progress. How fun and simple! Ever since we found out we're having a boy I've been dying to make one of these Appliqued Tie Onesies from Crap I've Made. Here's how my first attempt turned out:

SO CUTE, right? So, I'm going to post my picture progress, but for the step by step directions please visit Crap I've Made's tutorial here. =) Enjoy!

My onesie, fabric, and stencil:

Fabric, Wonder Under and Template cut to size:

Tracing the tie on the fabric with the Wonder Under:

My pieces cut and ready to go:

Ironed on!

Finally, to reinforce with a quick straight stitch:

Ta da! Love it =)

Green Baby Bargains

Another bargain shopping site!

"Welcome to Green Baby Bargains, where we dish out one incredible, eco-friendly bargain per day!

As moms ourselves, we know moms (and dads!) want the safest and most natural options for their children, and better yet, we know moms LOVE bargains! So, we have combined the two into an entertaining and addicting place to shop!

At 12:00 pm EST, Monday-Friday, we bring you our latest "green" baby bargain, and you have until it's gone to scoop it up, and spread the word! And, then we do it all over again the next day!

We feature bargains for moms, dads, and children—babies up to age five! All the products are great for new baby and shower gift shopping!

And when we talk about bargains, we aren't joking! All of the products listed on Green Baby Bargains are high quality items from reputable, eco-conscious vendors, and will be available to you at a MINIMUM of 50% off the retail price.

Stop by on the weekends, and if we have any bargains leftover from the week, we'll give you another chance to scoop them up!

But, the best part is that all of the products listed on Green Baby Bargains are eco-friendly!

Jill & Jenn
Moms, Sisters, & Owners of GreenBabyBargains.com"

Tweet Tweet Tutorial

How exciting my first official tutorial!! I made this project a month ago, actually, but wasn't able to upload the images and pattern to the blog before my computer crashed. Luckily, the files were recovered but it's taken me a while to sit down and get it posted. Also, I made this before receiving my beautiful new Singer sewing machine for Christmas, so this was a hand-sewn project for me, but could easily be done on a machine, I'm sure. I made this "Tweet Tweet Bird" for my daughter:

First, you need to cut your fabric based on the template [linked at the end of this entry]. You'll also want to cut two pieces of batting following the same template. Then, stitch them together, fabric facing right side together, with the batting on the outside: [be sure to leave a gap where you can turn your bird right side out]

Turn the bird right side out and stuff with filling.

You'll need to do this two more times, scaled down, to make wings. For some reason I cannot find the pictures of those as I made them. Do the same as above, though. Face the fabric right side together [this time without the batting] and stitch together, leaving a slight gap. Stuff both the wings with filling. Sew shut.

Then, regardless if you've been using a machine you'll need to hand-sew the wings to the body of the bird.

Voilà!

Hope you and your little ones enjoy your "tweet tweet"!

Download the PDF pattern here.

*BLOG NAME CHANGE*

For completely no good reason, other than I wanted to, I have changed the name of my blog from "Mommy's Favorite Things" to "Pumpkins & Junebugs" =)

First Attempt: Cloth Blocks

Yay! My first attempt at cloth blocks =) While it's not 100% perfect, I'm quite pleased with both how well it turned out and how quickly I was finished! I based my project of Make It and Love It's Cloth Block tutorial, though I have to admit I was worked based on memory and was too lazy to jump back online to check the specifics. Had I followed it precisely [which I plan to next time!] I'm sure it'd be even more awesome! Have you made these before? How'd they turn out?

Tutorial spotlight: Make It and Love It

In my quest to find awesome new and free tutorials I'm constantly on blogger, checking out craft sites, and then you know you find one and you click on their links to find others, and so on and so on... Anyways, one I found that I just *love* is Make It and Love It

I cannot wait to get started on some baby blocks for our little boy!!

Sewing project: Netbook Case

This is a netbook case I made for my mom for Christmas. Let me say, I do not recommend novice sewers sew without a pattern. Disastrous. Normally I wouldn't have been so 'brave', if you will, but I could *not* find a pattern I was happy with, or that matched what I had envisioned. I really just wanted a sleeve, with a zipper closure. As you can see from the photo I ended up adding 2inch sides because my panels were too small once I began sewing all the batting and what not. I also broke a [few] needles on my [brand new] sewing machine. Like I said, not a novice project! So, I didn't make a pattern, I just have photos to share:

Sewing

Well, kids, I'm officially obsessed with sewing now! I'm on a constant hunt for cute patterns and projects I can make! I made my first free hand project the other week, and I'll upload pics soon. My computer reformatted and I lost EVERYTHING =( So I will have to scrounge to share pics ....

Life style changes

Things have been changing around our house! Last week my husband watched "Food Inc" and "Food Matters" and immediately made the decision to become a vegetarian. I already am a semi-vegetarian, have been since I was 12. I don't eat red meat, but I do eat chicken and fish. Now this was a condition placed on my becoming a vegetarian by my mother. Once I moved out I no longer ate these items. Once I married my husband, though, I began re-integrating these proteins into the recipes I made, simply so that I wouldn't have to cook multiple meals. Now, I'm excited by the prospect of natural, healthy (organic when possible) meals for my entire family!

I'm also getting into sewing a lot. I would love to one day be able to make a majority of the clothing for my children. For now, I'm keeping it simple with small patterns and crafts, but the prospects excite me!

Picky Sticky

I saw these today on Baby Steals [www.babysteals.com]. What a NEAT idea! If you're a mom like me, you LOVE to take pictures. I take a picture of my daughter EVERY month on the 21st to document her growth. Picky Sticky sells these awesome circular stickers that you just slap on baby's onesie and you'll never forget which month you photographed!

They have every month from 1-24 months, and even year and half year stickers for after that. They even sell belly stickers for the preggo mamas! Such an awesome product and not expensive at all! I =heart= this product!

Hairbow Holder

Ay! Sorry it's been so long since I posted. First thing I wanted to share was this hairbow holder I made. I got the idea off another blog, but it's been so long I don't remember which (sorry!).

Materials:

• canvas
• enough fabric to cover the canvas (be sure to allow a couple inches of slack on each side)
• 1 (or more) types of ribbon
• staple gun

This project is really quite simple. Cut your fabric to the size of the canvas, allowing an inch or two of slack to be stapled to the back side. Iron the fabric. On a clean, flat surface lay the fabric, print side down, with the canvas face down on top of it. Begin stapling the edges to the back of the canvas frame. Once you have the first side done, staple the opposite side. Be sure to pull the fabric taut, but don't stretch it to make your pattern askew. Then fold and staple the opposite sides. You may have to snip the corners in order to get them to lay flat.

Then, determine how many columns you want to make with your ribbons. (Perhaps using your child's bows to measure would be a good idea.) Cut the ribbon, again leaving slack for stapling, to the height of the canvas. Staple each piece at the top and bottom, to the back of the frame. Voila!

CPSC Recalls

I am so grateful for the CPSC notification list. I found out yesterday, the day of the news release, that my daughter's crib was recalled. No having to wait to hear by word of mouth or *maybe* from the corporation (or maybe not since the company is not in business anymore). I found out immediately and right away took her out of her crib.

We're returning it ASAP and getting her a new one! I am so happy to be signed up for these notifications and I encourage all parents to do so:

https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2010
Release #10-211 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908


Simplicity Cribs Recalled by Retailers; Mattress-Support Collapse Can Cause Suffocation and Strangulation
One Infant Death Reported
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing the recall of all Simplicity full-size cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames. This recall includes fixed-side and drop-side cribs. These cribs pose a risk of serious injury or death due to entrapment, strangulation, suffocation and fall hazards to infants and toddlers.

The crib's tubular metal mattress-support frame can bend or detach and cause part of the mattress to collapse, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged, entrapped or fall out of the crib.

CPSC has received a report of a one-year-old child from North Attleboro, Mass. who suffocated when he became entrapped between the crib mattress and the crib frame in April 2008. CPSC is aware of 13 additional incidents involving the recalled cribs collapsing due to the metal mattress- support frame bending or detaching, including one child entrapment that did not result in injury, and one child who suffered minor cuts to his head when his mattress collapsed and he fell out of the crib.

CPSC staff urges parents and caregivers to stop using these cribs immediately and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Do not attempt to fix these cribs.

Due to the fact that Simplicity and its successor, SFCA Inc., are no longer in business, CPSC has limited information about the number of cribs sold. All Simplicity drop-side cribs have previously been recalled for a hazard involving the drop side. Simplicity drop-side cribs could still be in use by parents or caregivers who are unaware of the recalls or by those who received a repair kit to immobilize the drop side from Simplicity when the firm was still in business. This recall involves ALL Simplicity cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames regardless of model number.

Crib Name Model Number
All Simplicity Cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames regardless of model number Model numbers unknown
Some of the known model numbers include:
Aspen 4-in-1 8755
Chelsea Deluxe 4-in-1 Convertible Sleep System 8324
Graco 4-in-1 Ultra Sleep System 4600
Graco Aspen 3-in-1 8740
Simplicity Crib and Changer Combo 8994
Simplicity Ellis Deluxe 4-in-1 Convertible Sleep System 8676
Simplicity Nursery-in-a-Box Convertible Crib 8910

Some model numbers are followed by letters, indicating the color or finish of the crib. The name "Simplicity Inc." or "Simplicity for Children" appears on a label on the crib's mattress-support frame and/or the crib's end panels. The cribs were manufactured in China.

The recalled cribs were sold at Walmart, Target, Babies R Us and other stores nationwide for between $150 and $300. Consumers should contact the store where the crib was purchased to receive a refund, replacement crib or store credit.

Accomplishments

Well I have some wonderful news to share. I am very proud to say that this week I finished my Master's degree in Educational Technology. I also earned straight As! Very excited to be finished and get some free time back. Hopefully I'll be able to post a lot more now =)

One of the things (there are many) I've decided to do with my free time is learn how to knit! I'm working on teaching myself using a variety of resources. I started with a few Howcast videos.

"Howcast empowers people with engaging, useful how-to information wherever, whenever they need to know how. Known for high-quality content, Howcast streams tens of millions of videos every month across its multi-platform distribution network. For those who want to know while on the go, Howcast offers the #1 mobile platform for instructional content in the world with over one million downloads of its iPhone app, and recently launched its Google Android app to critical acclaim."

The iPhone app has been so helpful when I needed to be observant of my mischevious 18 month old, yet wanted to learn how to "cast on".

Also nice is the Lion Brand iPhone app. Although I'm still learning and not yet ready to make anything, it's a nice starting resource for FREE patterns!

I'm really looking forward to getting to the point where I can actually create something =)

Tatefully Simple

I cannot believe I have not yet posted about Tastefully Simple!! I absolutely LOVE their products. If you don't know, Tastefully Simple is a home based business (like Tupperware) that sells easy to prepare food. All of their things only require 1-2 basic ingredients to be added and then you're cooking! It's SO wonderful. And, seriously, the food is SO yummy! Here are some of my top picks:

"Our signature bread mix is so simple to make - no kneading, no rising time, nothing to add but beer or any carbonated beverage. In a matter of minutes, your house will be filled with the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked bread. The perfect companion to our dips and soups. Kosher. (0g trans fat per serving)"

"Smooth, gooey warm dip with Cheddar cheese and a hint of chives. Just add cream cheese, heat gently, and enjoy with bread, crackers or chips. Also makes a deliciously cheesy topper for baked potatoes. Kosher. Each packet makes about 1 cup dip."

"Two flavor favorites come together! Just add mayonnaise and sour cream. Serve as a dip with chips and fresh veggies, or spread on chicken sandwiches, BLT wraps and grilled burgers. Also delicious stirred into crab or chicken salad for summer entertaining. Each packet makes about 1 cup dip."

Easy Chicken Cacciatore

I made this for dinner tonight, and true to its name, it is an easy recipe!

Ingredients:
1 chicken, cut up, skin removed *I used 1 boneless, skinless chicken tenderloin package from Costco
2 Tblsp. butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 Tsp salt
1 jar (16 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
3/4 cup carrots
1 cup elbow macaroni or rotini *I used bowtie pasta =)
3 Tblsp. chopped fresh parsley
Parmesan cheese

Preparation:
In a 10-inch skillet, sauté chicken in butter until golden brown. *At this point I also seasoned the chicken with seasoning salt, garlic salt, chicken bouillon and poultry seasoning. Add onions and continue cooking for 5 minutes. Drain off any excess fat; add salt, spaghetti sauce and water. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add carrots and pasta. Cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes longer, until carrots are tender and pasta is done. *At this point I added a little more of the previously mentioned salt and seasonings, to taste.
Garnish with parsley and parmesan cheese.

Serves 4-6

The Time Traveler's Wife

We watched this movie last night. I completely love Rachel McAdams and it was a great movie but there is SO much missing from the book. So, I am recommending the book! ♥ It's such a good story, and so unique!

"This clever and inventive tale works on three levels: as an intriguing science fiction concept, a realistic character study and a touching love story. Henry De Tamble is a Chicago librarian with "Chrono Displacement" disorder; at random times, he suddenly disappears without warning and finds himself in the past or future, usually at a time or place of importance in his life. This leads to some wonderful paradoxes. From his point of view, he first met his wife, Clare, when he was 28 and she was 20. She ran up to him exclaiming that she'd known him all her life. He, however, had never seen her before. But when he reaches his 40s, already married to Clare, he suddenly finds himself time travelling to Clare's childhood and meeting her as a 6-year-old. The book alternates between Henry and Clare's points of view, and so does the narration." Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

EcoBabyBuys

Got another bargain hunters website for ya! EcoBabyBuys only sells items from vendors that meet their strict criteria, including: "the use of non-toxic materials and dyes; the use of organic and/or recycled textiles and materials; the use of eco-friendly packaging; and a commitment and adherence to the standards of fair-trade." EcoBabyBuys.com offers a "'one deal a day' format (that) gives you all of the above for at least 40% off regular retail prices. Our deals go green at 9 am EST, but you have to be quick with your mouse (or smartphone) because it’s on a first come, first serve basis."

Kids Woot!

Another bargain site for all you web shoppers! Kids Woot, the children's version of woot.com, works just like the other woot.com branches. They "offer a new deal every night at midnight Central time, in limited quantities at a discounted price. Only one product is available at any given time. ... When it sells out, or the next midnight rolls around, that deal is gone. No backorders, no rainchecks, no do-overs." That's according to the website, but I do check it every day and I have occasionally seen repeats, but I wouldn't count on it! If you want it, buy it! =)

5 Ingredient Chicken Fingers

I got this recipe from my 5 ingredient recipe cookbook, which I LOVE! Super simple and super yummy!

Ingredients:
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2-4)
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup mashed potato flakes
1 egg*
olive oil

Flatten the chicken breasts and then cut into 1-inch strips. First roll the chicken in the egg or egg substitute [*I ran out of eggs so I actually used low fat ranch dressing, which turned out awesome!]. Then roll the strips in the bread crumb/potato flake mixture. Cook in the oil in a frying pan. Yum!

Mobile blogging?

So I found the Blogpress app for my iPhone and I'm pretty excited about the prospect of mobile blogging! I definitely think I might be able to post little posts more frequently! This one's my tester ;)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

McCormick Bag 'n Season

I always try to have a home cooked, heathly and well rounded meal on the table for my family- but I gotta tell ya, finding the time between chasing a toddler, grading and doing my own homework for grad school can be tough!! So, this post is going to sound like a commercial, but last night I made a chicken and rice dinner with a McCormick Bag 'n Season mix. SO easy!!! Especially if you're a lacking in the creativity when it comes to cooking. Anything else I can do, seriously, but if I don't have a recipe.... oy! Anyways, these things are great!

Mama Bargains

Another bargain hunter's dream! Mama Bargains has been around since May of '08 and offers "top notch parent, baby and kid items at the best prices you will find". I truly LOVE this site!