Let Them Eat Cake!...{pancakes, that is}

Pancakes of any kind are easy to freeze and easy to thaw {microwave or toaster}. Throw on some fresh blueberries or mashed strawberries and they'll sing your praises. {At least they should!}
Here are some of our Easy-Peasy Make-Ahead Pancake Recipes:

Basic Pancakes

Courtesy o' Natalie B. 

1 cup flour

1 egg

2 t baking powder

1/4 t salt

1 c milk

1 T sugar

2 T vegetable/canola oil

Mix until smooth and cook. 

Variations: 

Add 1 T of fruit preserves OR 1 tsp vanilla extract OR 1 c fresh mashed strawberries/blueberries OR mashed banana OR chocolate chips

Sweet Potato Pancakes
Courtesy of WholesomeBabyFood.com

2 T unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup cooked sweet potato, mashed

1 egg (or 2 egg yolks)

1/3 cup all purpose flour

1/2 t baking powder

1/4 cup milk

Mix sweet potatoes in a bowl with the egg. Stir in flour and add baking powder. Add up to 1/3 cup of milk while stirring. Stir in 1 T butter.The mixture should have the consistency of thick, lumpy sauce like an "instant" pancake mix. Place a skillet over medium heat and add 1/2 t butter. Spoon batter into skillet and cook until bubbles rise to the surface of the pancakes and break. Approx 1-2 mins. Flip and cook another 2 mins. 

Banana Pancakes
Courtesy of Wholesome Baby Food

1 or 2 ripe bananas (not overly ripe or mushy bananas)

Pancake Batter (try Hodgson Mills Buckwheat Pancake Mix)

Slice bananas thinly and coat with pancake batter. Lightly fry in pan until golden brown. Serve as finger food for snack or at breakfast time

 {You can do this with peeled, thinly sliced apples too.}

Applesauce Pancakes

I Can't Remember Where This Came From

1 cup flour

1/4 t salt

1 1/2 t baking powder

1 T melted butter

1/2 cup milk

1 beaten egg

1/2 t vanilla

1 1/4 cups applesauce 

Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a medium mixing bowl. Combine butter, milk and egg. Stire into dry ingredients. Add vanilla and applesauce; beat well. Spoon batter into a hot, well greased griddle, enough batter to make an approximately 4" diameter pancake.  

 

If making them from scratch isn't for you, Hodgson Mills sells several different pancake/waffle mixes that are easy to find in grocery stores. 

Cover It With... 

yogurt mixed with fruit puree OR pure fruit puree OR sliced fruit OR maple syrup OR CHoCoLaTE syrup

** Freeze individually or separate with wax paper to keep from sticking together. 

Minor Excitement!!

The railing is off, the rules have been set {don't get out of bed unless Mommy says it's okay}, and the oversized pillows are in place on the floor in case of a fall. CJ is taking his first nap in the big boy bed! 

Praise God for small victories!

{Make-Shift Luau}

I have been wanting to make coconut shrimp for a long time now and finally got to it once I saw this recipe from Katie Lee {note, not Kathy Lee}... So EaSY!! Of course, as usual, this was a last minute meal so I only had a few things on hand to make this work and this is what I came up with.

{photo credit}

Coconut Shrimp: You can watch Katie Lee make her recipe at the link above but if you prefer the written version...

24 large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tail left on
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup cornstarch
3 egg whites, beaten until slightly foamy
2 cups flaked coconut
Canola oil

Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Toss shrimp in cornstarch to coat, then dip in egg whites and dredge in coconut, pressing the coconut onto the shrimp. Preheat a couple inches of oil to 350 F. Fry shrimp until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes {time of cooking depending on temperature of oil.}

Dipping Sauce: Katie Lee recommends heating up orange marmalade but that is, alas, something I don't keep on hand. However, all was not lost! I had apricot preserves and pineapple slices so I chopped up a ring of pineapple, mixed it into 3 tbsp of preserves and heated it for 10 seconds at a time until it was the temperature and consistency I liked, about 30 seconds.

Pineapple and Green Pepper Rice: I didn't have the ingredients needed to make her rice recipe so I made my own recipe using a can of undrained pineapple slices, brown rice and green peppers...

1 small chopped green pepper
3/4 c pineapple juice from the can of slices
1/4 c water
White or Brown Minute Rice
3 rings of pineapple finely chopped

In a medium saucepan, saute green pepper until softened. Add pineapple juice and water and bring to a boil. Add 1 cup of rice, cover, and put on simmer for 5 minutes or take off the burner completely until all the liquid is absorbed. Garnish with more chopped pineapple. 

Now, if only I had a Pina Colada!

ApPliQue Pj SHiRtS

Though I was sure to include a ton of pictures, this is SuPeR easy and, depending on the amount of detail you include, SuPeR quick! The best part is, you can make just about anything!

What You'll Need: 

Paper with image of choice

Fabrics that you'll want for each part of the picture

Freezer Paper

Heat n Bond

Scissors

Writing Utensil{markers are best}

Medium piece of cardboard

OnE: Pick your picture and trace it onto paper. You can trace it directly onto freezer paper but if you ever want to duplicate your image it's easier to keep the original.

TwO: Trace each individual piece of your picture onto your freezer paper as shown below. Notice the cab of the truck. Even though the part of the cab behind the windshield will be covered, you want to cut out the whole cab piece. 

THrEe: Cut out shapes a little bigger than you've drawn them and, using the dry setting, iron them onto the front of the fabric you'd like to make them out of.

 FoUr: Cut the Heat N Bond large enough to cover your fabric pieces and, using a dry iron, iron it to the back of the fabric pieces. 

FiVe: Cut out your pieces and peel off all your paper

SiX: Get your shirt ready. Using a hard surface {I used a bamboo cutting board} lay your shirt down and place a piece of cardboard {or a magazine or something hard} between the layers of your shirt to prevent the Heat N Bond from leaking through to the back.

SeVeN: Iron down your background pieces. When using Heat N Bond, it is best to not move the iron around. Instead, place the iron onto your pieces and count "5-Mississippis", pick up the iron and repeat over another portion of the picture. You are going to repeat this process starting from the background and working to the foreground as shown below.

EiGHt: I highly recommend sewing down your edges. Sometimes, after lots and lots of love, the edges can fray. Since I expect these to be your kiddo's FaVOriTe shirts it's best to be preventative. {I fooled around with different lengths and widths of stitching as I went to get a funky affect.}

Lately, CJ's favorite character is none-other-than Elmo so I couldn't resist. 

Peasant Shirt... Dress? Tunic!

I found this pattern for a peasant shirt and tried it twice. I'm not gonna lie... I couldn't figure the darn thing out! After two "fails" I decided to scrap it and make my own pattern which I may or may not share down the road when I get it down to a science. 

 

{Of course Miss Mak smiles non-stop on a moment-to-moment basis but when the camera came out today this is what I had to work with. At least the dress is cute!}

Simple Ways to Show 'em You Love 'em

It is easy to get caught up in the daily routine and forget that sometimes "taking care" of your kiddos just means making sure they know you love them. I know that sometimes I get caught up in the daily grind and don't take advantage of my time with him. As good ol' DC Talk says it "Love is a Verb" so here are a few ideas for when you're in a dry spell of brilliant ways to tell your kids you love them without having to say it.

1. Go for a walk at their pace.
2. Sit down and read as many books as they want of their choosing.
3. Take them out for ice cream.
4. Set up a tent in the living room with blankets, chairs, pillows, whatever you have around.
5. Play with your kids. Don't just observe, get down on the floor with them.
6. Make a treasure hunt around the house or yard with a map and all.
7. Take them to the local petting zoo or pet store and explore the animals together.
8. Take them out on a date, just you and them.
9. Set aside and hour and head to the park.
10. Cook them their favorite meal.
11. Cook with them.
12. Sit down with them over cookies and milk and ask them how their day was.
13. Have their favorite snack out for them when they get home from school.
14. Hide notes in their lunch boxes {when they're young. This could be embarrassing for older kids who are just "too cool"}.
15. Turn off the TV, step away from the computer, mute your phone.
16. Go see {or rent} a movie of their choosing.
17. Write them a letter that tells them how proud you are of them.
18. Take pictures of them and keep their photo album updated.
19. Redecorate their room with or without their help.
20. Use a white board to put up daily notes to them.
21. Craft or paint with them. Create with them.
22. Ask their opinion when you can.
23. Mail them a letter in the mail.
24. Invite their closest friends over for a movie night.
25. Do their regular chore for them {every so often!}.
26. Give them a back rub.
27. Give your daughter a pedicure and manicure.

I could go on for a while but I'd love to know... what do you do with your little one to tell them you love them without words?

ToTE bAG BaSiCs

You'll Need:

Fabric A - 15" x 30"
Fabric B - 15" x 30"Pocket Fabric - 9" x 14" {2}
Fabric Yo-Yo {2} Fabric Applique Leaves {4}
Handles - 34" x 4" {4} you can alter the length based on your needsFusible Web/Heat n' Bond
Fusible Interfacing {optional} - 13" x 28"

The Method:
**Be sure to duplicate the steps to make two, identical sides**

OnE: {Pockets} Fold pocket fabric in half so you have a 9" x 7" rectangle, press the seam.

TwO: Stitch the three open sides with a 1/4" seam being sure to leave a 2" opening for turning. Turn and press seams flat. {There's no need to stitch the opening closed, you'll take care of that in the next few steps}. Repeat with second pocket.

THrEe: {Applique and Yo-Yo} If you are doing the applique flowers on the pockets, now's the time. Iron on the the applique leaves where you'd like {sew around the edges for a little extra "somthin'-something"} and sew the flower into place being sure to stitch through the center.

If you want to top stitch the pocket, go ahead and do that now about 1" below the top of the pocket.

FoUr: Fold your 15" x 30" fabric into a 15" x 15"square and press to create a crease on the folded edge. Open and lay on table.

FiVe: Lay your pocket piece into position. Measure 1/4" up from the bottom of the pocket and place a pin to mark your spot.

{top of the bag }

SiX: Using the bottom of the pocket as your pivot point, flip the pocket over. Pin the bottom of the pocket into place and sew using a 1/4" seam. Fold the pocket back into position and press to crease the bottom of the pocket. {This will ensure your pocket doesn't pucker in the next step.}

SeVeN: Stitch up both sides of the pocket and leave the top open. For this, I prefer to do a tight zig-zag stitch close to the top to reinforce the pocket so it doesn't peel off over time and a running stitch for the rest. {Oops! I forgot to take pictures for the next couple of steps. I'll improvise, hope it works!}

EiGhT: I decided to divide the pocket to make room specifically for a cell phone. {I HATE fishing around for mine in a big bag}. About 4" from one side of the pocket, stitch another line to create the divide.
NiNe: Once both pieces of fabric have their pockets sewn on, it is time to add the interfacing, if you'd like to use it for added stability. Place the interfacing, with the shiny side down, onto one of the 15" x 30" pieces an inch from all sides and iron into place. Now fold the two pieces of 15" x 30" fabric in half so they are 15" x 15" squares. Sew up the sides and leave the top open.

TeN: At the corners of the two 15" x 15" squares, make a point at the corners like shown below. Measure in 1 1/2" from the point and draw a line. Pin into place. Sew on the line. Then snip your corner about 1/2" from the seam. These will create a flat bottom for your bag.

EleVeN: {Handles} Take all four of your handle strips and do the following... Step 1: fold your strips in half lengthwise and press. Step 2: Unfold them and fold the sides in towards the crease and press. Step 3: Fold in half and press again so you have a long "v" shape.

TWelVe: Cut your fusible web into two strips that are the width of your handle minus 1/4" and the length of your handles minus 1". {Example: My handles, once folded and ironed were 1" x 34" so I cut two strips of fusible web to 3/4" x 33".} Iron them down the length of two of your handle pieces.

ThIrTeEn: This part is kind of hard to explain so check out the bottom right picture {above} for reference... Take one strip with webbing and one without. Lay the piece with the webbing down on the table with the "webbed" part facing up. Peel off the paper of the webbing. Place the strip without the webbing in position so that its opening is on the opposite side of the opening on the bottom piece. Using a hot, dry iron, press these to pieces together, doing your best to keep the two strips aligned. Repeat this to make your second handle.

FoUrTeEN: Sew down both sides of your handles 1/4" from the edges.

We're down to the final steps! Time to assemble!

FiFteEn: Turn one side of your bag inside out. Place the other bag inside so that the right sides are together.
SiXteEN: Stick your handles in between the two bags and position your handles 2" in from either seem and 2" exposed out of the bag like shown below. Pin into place.


SeVeNTeEn: Stitch 1/2" around the top of the bag leaving 3" to turn.

EiGhTeEn: Turn. Press. Top Stitch at 2-3 varying lengths to finish it off.

Whew! You are done! Enjoy!

HyPErTuFa POtS

Okay... so I haven't made these yet ...

but I will and wanted to share them with you in the meantime. I love how organic these look, as if they were carved out of stone. Martha Stewart was generous enough to give the world a video tutorial on making these. Thanks, as always, Martha! You can also find a written tutorial from 33 Shades of Green {where I snagged the above picture from since she made some beautiful pots}.

A friend of our family's, when I was growing up, made her own birdbaths out of over-sized hosta leaves and concrete like these.

These are definitely on my list.

These Aint Your Mamma's Yo-Yos

one: Etsy Pillow Cover two: Mobile three: Do It Yourself four: She's a Crafty One five: The Handy Hippie

Growing up I HATED these things. My mom learned how to make them and ended up making millions of them and put them on everything. They were always country looking and, needless to say, I wasn't a fan. However, I think when Miss Mak joined our family my outlook on all things girly changed. All that to say... these are cute, quick, easy, don't require a sewing machine and they can be used in fun new ways that aren't the usual country style.

You'll Need:
- Fabric, 1/4 of a yard or less will do
- Bowl/Plate or something round to trace
{Be sure it is DOUBLE the size of the Yo Yo you want to make}
- Needle & Thread
- Button {optional}

OnE: Trace the circle onto your fabric and cut out

TwO {A}: Stitch 1/4" all the way around the circle, as pictured
OR
TwO {B}: Fold the edge 1/4" in on the wrong side of the fabric, iron into place for easier stitching, and stitch all the way around {this will give you a finished center if you're not putting embellishments on your yo-yo}

THrEe: Once you get all the way around the circle, gently pull the thread and the yo-yo will begin to close down the center.

FoUr: Tie your ends off.

FiVe: Sew your button or other embellishments on.

Three Column Blog

You may have noticed that I recently updated to a 3-column layout. I have found that, when skimming other crafty blogs for brilliant inspiration, this format is a little easier on the eyes. That being said, I know NOTHING about html and how to change things so THANK YOU to the dear woman who posted this link.

{Homemade Butter}

I've wanted to try making my own butter for a while now and once I realized how easy it is I had no excuse not to. I mean it... this could not be easier! The only downside is that the butter is only good for a day or two so it's a great idea for dinner parties or big families.

Buy. Pour. Mix. Done.

FIrSt: You need cream. Paturized heavy cream {NOT ultra pasturized}. It needs to be room temperature so leave it out on the counter for an hour or so.
NeXT: Place the cream into a food processor or a stand mixer or a bowl and use a hand mixer or a jar with a tight lid.
THeN: Start processing or turn on the mixer or start shaking the jar.
NoW: Wait. The food processor will take about 6 minutes. The mixer a little longer. The jar method may take up to 20 minutes {The jar may take longer but what a great workout and it doesn't cost you any electricity AND if you have kids you can just make them do it!} While you wait, the cream goes through several stages. After a while it will thicken to the consistency of whipping cream. Keep going. Then it will get to the texture of cream cheese. It will stay at this stage for a while. Keep going. It will "break" and you'll know it when it does. This is when the butter separates into buttermilk and butter.
FiNaLlY: Drain off the buttermilk and save it for bisquits or waffles and if you have a cheesecloth handy, squeeze out as much of the buttermilk as you can. What you're left with is butter!

My Worst Fears

As any parent or spouse can attest, a regular {sometimes constant, sometimes nagging} concern is the fear of losing a child and/or spouse. It is a universal feeling and requires lots of "letting go and letting God" otherwise it can be consuming. Well, for the first time, I had a new and horrifying feeling/experience. Rather than envisioning CJ falling down the stairs, Miss Mak suffocating in her crib or Sweet Hubs getting into a car wreck... it was ME that was breathing my final breaths! This is something I was never warned about or prepared for. My mother never sat me down to tell me the "need-to-knows" of motherhood and my friends who had experienced this never gave me a heads-up about the angst of this experience. In trying to discover why I was never warned about such a thing, I came to discover that most woman feel as if they alone experienced this and that telling others would make them seem crazy. Well, crazy or not, I'm here to tell you...

This can happen! This is normal! This is terrifying!

I assume, as in all things, everyone's experience is different. For me, I was at home on the weekend and was playing with Miss Mak while Hubs was working out in the garden and CJ was sleeping. Out of no-where I felt as though I was physically taking my last breaths. That each single gulp of air I swallowed was one closer to my last. I thought of how I simply cannot die now because my kids are too young and when they grow older they won't remember me. I started to panic and think maybe this was the Lord preparing me so I ought to enjoy every single second I had, and at that time I was literally thinking minutes or even seconds. {I realize, at this moment, that most of the realizations I had that day were/are true but to face them head-on was bewildering!} I went out to the yard to tell Hubby that I was having strange morbid thoughts and that I wanted him to be prepared just in case. {I guess I now understand why people are afraid that telling others will make them seem crazy!} While giving him more details I started to tear up and didn't want Hubs to see me cry so I carried Miss Mak back into the house and stared at her for a while just in case it was my last chance to see her. Hubs, after questioning my mental stability, came in to check on me and saw me crying over Mak so he took her and started asking questions, trying to understand where this all came from. As we talked, I watched him play with Mak and felt as if I was on the outside looking in. I actually thought "This is what they'll look like when I'm not around. I hope he can find happiness without me. I know he'll take wonderful care of the kids without me." {Yeah, awful, I know!} None-the-less, I made it through that night and many nights after but that experience has lived with me. I don't think it was a call to feel as though every day is my last because there is no way one could live a sane life carrying around that kind of burden day in and day out! I believe it was a reminder that our moments are precious, don't sit on the computer all day when you could play with your kids. Don't watch TV when you could talk to your husband. Don't skip out on spending time with your friends because it's too much work to get out of the house. Do make sure your salvation is secure, don't put it off until tomorrow.

If you haven't experienced this and have no idea what I'm talking about, just write me off as a "nut-job" and come back soon for a good recipe or craft idea. If you have experienced this, YOU ARE NOT CRAZY and you're not alone. My mom had the same feelings too and said she figures it comes from realizing the weight of the responsibility you now face with a husband and/or kids. Before all of this, it was just you. You could do crazy things like jump out of planes and max out your speedometer. Now your life and your decisions affect others. You, my friend, are normal :)

{Stuffed Peppers : With a Twist}

This is a take on Paula Deen's Stuffed Red Peppers
This isn't the typical saucy stuffed peppers... it's got lots of flavor and cooks fairly quick compared to many of the recipes I've tried. *It's even better with peppers from the garden!

What You'll Need:
4 large peppers of any color
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cubes of beef bouillon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 c cooked rice
1/2 c shredded cheese {cheddar or mozzarella}
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 cup hot water

What To Do:
Preheat the oven to 350.

OnE: Cut peppers in half from top to bottom, keep the stem intact. Remove seeds and ribs.
TwO: Using a hot skillet, saute ground beef, onions, garlic cloves, 1 bouillon cube, salt, pepper, and garlic. Cook until onions are translucent. Drain off fat.
THrEe: Add rice, cheese, tomatoes and soy sauce.
FoUr: Stuff pepper halves and place them in a baking dish.
FiVe: In a small bowl, ix the hot water and the remaining bouillon and pour the mixture into the baking dish around the peppers.
SiX: Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
SeVeN: Remove the foil and spoon the juice from bottom of the dish of the casserole over the top of the peppers. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the peppers are soft.