Free Fonts

I came across this handy dandy website called Fonts for Peas where you can submit your handwriting and they'll turn it into a font for free! OR... if you have semi-sloppy handwriting like me, you can just download other people's cute handwriting.
The website has really easy to follow instructions.
Beware! You may end up wasting more time on this website than you originally planned.

Heather Bailey Pincushion

I can't believe I claimed to be a girl who sews and I didn't even have a pincushion!

Well, that is no longer a problem because I finally made one. Yay!
I used this cute (and really easy) pattern by Heather Bailey.
(it's on her sidebar under 'Free Patterns' it's a pdf printout - I love that!)

Granted, mine is not nearly as cute as hers because she designs her own fabric and I used some
(fairly ugly and plain) scraps I had on hand. Maybe I'll get some cuter fabric one day
and make another. You can never have too many pincushions, right?

Here are some other pincushions that look fun:
Stickin' it to the pincushion by whipup.net
9-Square Pincushion by 100% Philistine made
Tiny Pincushion Tutorial by How About Orange
Offset Square Wrist Pincushion Tutorial by Planet June

Baskets Baskets Baskets

I found these awesome baskets at Dollar Tree (2 for $1)
They are the perfect square little size.
And my favorite- ORANGE!
They worked great for me because I don't have a toilet paper dispenser in my bathroom, so the toilet paper was just always sitting on the back of the toilet and looked ugly.
Now, it has a place to sit!

I used the spare one to store a few of my sewing supplies so they are close at hand.

Baskets are great for storing those spare items that don't really have a place to go, but look kind of messy just hanging out. Like remote controls for example!
(Don't laugh at the DVD collection. Those are just the most commonly used DVDs! Exercise videos and Home Improvement. We are so cool.)

Things I've Learned About Being a Mother (so far!)

1. You need to learn to chill out a little bit. The house gets dirty, they get dirty... oh well.
2. Just as soon as you get something figured out, it changes!
3. They can sense when you are finally having some 'you' time, and inevitably, they will demand that all your attention belongs to them.
4. Every baby is sooo different that while it's fun to share stories with other moms, it's a bad idea to compare your little kiddies!
5. Kids love other kids, being outside, and bubbles.
6. Baby giggles are the BEST sound in the whole wide world and Baby hugs and kisses are the BEST thing in the whole wide world!
7. For some strange reason, mom's mood directly affect baby's mood. When you shower her with lots of love and praise and smiles - she is a happier girl all day long. And the other way around. Mom's bad mood = crankier baby. The difference between us and them is they are still willing to smile if you try and make them smile.
8. You're always looking to the next stage (crawling, walking, etc.) but then when it arrives, you want to go back in time. How does stuff creep up on you so fast?
9. There are some pretty cool toys out there for kids. But they are so expensive! (I guess that's why mom's invented yard sales)
10. Being a mom is so worth it!

"If you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.

If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."

Thomas S. Monson, Finding Joy in the Journey, Ensign November 2008

New and Improved

Okay, so I have this weird routine thingy that I do. I'm like those old fashioned towels that gave each day a designated chore, do you know what I'm talking about?

Anyway... for me,
Monday is laundry day
Tuesday is hangout with my friends day
Wednesday is budget day (and I'm supposed to go to institute... but that doesn't always happen), Thursday is errand day
Friday is cleaning day
Saturday is free day
Sunday, of course is church day!

What I'm getting at is that being such a routine-driven individual makes me have this strange aversion to disorganization in the things that I do.
Meaning: my craft blog is driving me crazy. It's GOT to have some sort of method to it or I'm gonna go berserk. Not really, but I wanted to use that word.
Therefore, I am going to change up the format of this here blog.
Each weekday will have an 'assignment' as follows:

Monday: Mommyology (my take on family life and mommy-ing)
Tuesday: Tips (all about home and organization)
Wednesday: Projects, crafts and design (I couldn't think of a 'W' word for this one)
Thursday: Things that inspire Creativity and get the ideas a-flowin
Friday: Food Friday (including recipes, tips, food storage, etc.)

What this means for YOU is that each day you have some little tidbit to look forward to! Yay! Keep in mind that I am human and that some days I will be unable to get to the blogging world and other days I simply will not feel like doing it. BUT I really will try.

Recipe - Corn and Sweet Potato Soup

Corn & Sweet Potato Soup

If you have been looking for a yummy authentic Mexican tasting soup... Look no further! (Because I know that's all our deepest desire)
I got this recipe from my friend Amorette and it is simply awesome. And healthy too!
Thanks Amorette!

Ingredients:

1 tsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 small red chile, seeded and finely chopped (I usually use half of 1 serrano chile because they're easier to find. They're also very spicy.)

7 1/2 cups vegetable stock (Chicken broth works great too. I can't remember if I adjust the broth amount or not.)

2 tsp cumin

1 medium sweet potato, diced (I always double the amount of sweet potato to make the soup thicker.)

1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped

1 lb corn kernels (I just use frozen corn.)

salt & black pepper

lime wedges, to serve

1. Heat oil in a heavy pan and fry onion for 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and chili and fry for an additional 2 minutes.

2. Add 3 cups of the vegetable stock & simmer for about 5 minutes.

3. Add the cumin & diced potato to the stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Season and stir again.

4. Add the pepper, corn, and remaining stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Process half of the soup until smooth and stir into the chunky soup. Season and serve with lime wedges for squeezing over (the lime is a MUST! It makes the soup that much more delectable)

(You can also sprinkle broken-up tortilla chips, chopped avocado and cilantro on top of the soup.)

My Newest Fetish

Out of nowhere I started loving Owls and the color Orange. This adorable softie has both! I want to make one so bad. I found this little cutie Sew Mama Sew! And THEY got it off of My Tiny Star. She said she will post when the pattern is for sale. I might just have to splurge!