First off, I want to show you the completed place mats. It's good to start on a positive note, right?

After I completed the appliques, I made a quilt sandwich with the top, batting, and the backing fabric. I put a couple pins in and quilted the place mats in a random straight line fashion. I used my walking foot.

Then I made some bias tape. I decided to do them in the same color to unify them. If you're unsure about making your own bias tape google it and give it a try. Its so easy and prettier too.


Finally, I attached the binding and hand stitched it on the back. I always attach my binding this way. Im just not good at doing it with my machine. It doesn't take tooooo long. I use an invisible stitch.

Did you know April is over and May is almost over already? I feel like I need another month or two year or two to focus on my family dinner challenge. I haven't completed most of the projects I had planned for this month. Ah.....life! It is important to me so I am going to bore you with talking about it until I get it down.

I just realized I started this post on April 17th. Where do the days go?!

Seriously, I want my days back.

Hello Terrific Threes??  The threes are blissful and easy, right? I hope so because that cutie down there has been a bear lately. In fact, he is darn lucky he is so adorable or I might actually get angry with him. Instead, (almost) everything he does just makes me laugh. I guess that also goes with him not being my first baby to throw fits and tantrums and pee on things. Plus, he has been generally easy going until these last few weeks. He just will not stay in time out. He thinks it is hillarious to get up one thousand times. My old trick of putting him in the bunk with no ladder doesn't work anymore either because he just climb/jumps off. Or, he'll throw fistfuls of little legos up into the air like confetti to land everywhere-windowsills, slightly ajar drawers, heating vents...such a joy to clean up! What has worked is forbidding napping of any sort. No car naps. No cat naps. Nothing. When he falls asleep in the car I use all my mom-powers to keep that boy awake so he will be able to go to sleep at a reasonable bedtime.

So, mommy confession: I did something that I never do. I didn't really plan anything for his birthday. I didn't stress out about it. Of course I got him balloons (we have a tradition of balloons=age of child), gifts, and made super breakfast sprinkle pancakes-which is actually just regular pancakes with a sprinkle filled confectioners sugar frosting. Do your kids eat sprinkles straight out of the jar when then need a quick fix or is it just mine?

but I didn't plan any themed extravaganza. Bad mommy? He doesn't have any family in the area at all and he doesn't really have any friends his age other than the Corcorans so we just kept it low key. I figure next year, when he is in preschool, we can go all out. Get this-I even let Christian have full control over the design, baking, and decorating of the cake! I just (gasp) went to bed and didn't think about it.

Actually, Sawyer's only birthday request was an ice cream cake and candles so mission accomplished! Here is Christian's ice cream cone cake. It is an ice cream roll in the base of the cone with fondant on top. Then, more ice cream roll with ice cream molded around it for the scoop part. He done good.

Even though we didn't throw a big party it was still an eventful day. Travis broke out in hives from eating mango at breakfast. We had a tee ball game and lunch at Five Guys. Opened some gifts. Bbqd some dinner. Christian and the boys are at the drive-in right now seeing the Avengers while I catch up on some blog posts and drink a glass (or two) of wine. Happy Birthday to my little man. I love you and I cannot believe you are three today!

Mommy's Day. Just the most important holiday of the year. In my unbiased opinion. Here are some of my very favorite diy projects from some very crafty people. There is still time to get your craft on sons and daughters. Unless your mamas live far away (like mine!) Then you're screwed, procrastinator. You can do these projects pretty quickly if you are crafty.

P.S. I know you're the only one who reads our blog so far, mom. Thank you and I love you!



1. hands  2. silhouettes  3. mason jar soap dispenser
4. planters  5. tiny Polaroid magnets   6. sewing kit
7. lemon scrub  8. herb markers  9. mosaic garden stone

This post  is local {tacoma to be exact} but Bountiful Baskets are available in 16 states so check to see if there is one by you here.


What is it? It is a web based food co-op. Baskets are generally half fruit and half veggies. They cost $15. You can add various breads, tortillas, veggies, granola, or make your basket all organic for additional charges. Selection varies every week and by location. Because co-op participants pay for their produce in advance the buyers can get better deals for the items.

You have a limited time (about a day) to sign up and pay for your basket. This is called contributing. Then, later that week, you pick up your fruits/veggies. Unfortunately, my pick up time is at 7am on Saturday morning and so far it has been cold and raining most days. I keep doing it though, so it must not be too bad! Although they do not seem to keep track, they ask that you volunteer about once for every 8 times your contribute. This involves arriving one hour early to set up and assist contributors.

Here is my haul today:

Among the obvious things are a plantain, a jicama, 2 artichokes, a bunch of beets, 7 key limes, 3 mangos, 6 kiwis, 4 dozen tortillas, a bunch  of mint, 2 vanilla beans, and 2 loaves of 9 grain bread.

I contributed for a regular basket plus tortillas and a tropical add on. Sokunn bought a basket plus the bread so we swapped tortillas for bread. I payed $38 total. We eat a ton of fruits and veggies. Even if I haven't used it before I will experiment so I know that not much will be wasted. If you don't enjoy a wide variety and planning your meals around unexpected ingredients this might not be for you, however. All of my produce is fresh and good looking. Not everything (bananas) are ripe which is fine with me. Most things are from Washington and California. Some, like the bananas and mangos, are not. Obviously. So it is not a local co-op. For now though, this is providing us with lots of fresh fruits and veggies in addition to what I buy at the store each week.

Hope that was helpful if you have been curious about trying bountiful baskets or something similar.

I wonder how many white people around the internet are posting a guacamole recipe today.....Add me to the list. I love it. When I was a little girl my dad offered me money to try the disgusting, repulsive green stuff at a Mexican restaurant once. I did not bite. Crazy, foolish little girl!


This my go to method for delicious guacamole. I don't know where I found it originally. Its pretty basic but oh so good. If you are Christian and I, it serves two. If you are a normal person, probably 6!

Ingredients
3 ripe avocados
1 roma tomato, very finely diced
1/4 red onion, very finely diced
1/4 bunch of celery, chopped
juice of one lime
1/2 t. kosher salt

What to do
Scoop out avocados into a medium bowl. Mash with a fork until nicely broken down. Squeeze juice of lime into avocado. Add tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and stir to combine. Add salt, tasting to adjust to your tastes.

Recipe for Pizza Crust (Adapted from America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Book)
yields 2 12" pizzas

1 3/4 C. all purpose flour
1 C. cake flour
2 t. sugar
1 1/2 t. salt
1 1/4 t. raid rise yeast
1 C. warm water

In the bowl of a stand mixture add dry ingredients. Mix together. Add water slowly and mix for 1 minute. Add additional all purpose flour, by the tablespoon until the dough scrapes clean from the sides of the bowl.Turn the dough into a ball and place in an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in size.

Punch dough down and separate into two portions. Top as you wish!

Technique for Cheesy Garlic Bread (because its not really a recipe, right?)

Preheat oven to 490 with pizza stone on low rack in the oven. Preheat stone for 30 minutes.
Roll one ball of dough onto parchment paper.
Brush 2 T. melted, unsalted butter on top of crust.
Sprinkle 2 cloves finely minced garlic over crust.
Sprinkle course salt on top.
Cover with a generous amount of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
Transfer pizza to pizza stone.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, keeping a close eye on it toward the end so it is bubbly and browned but not burnt.

Serve with home made all purpose pizza sauce recipe.

roll your dough onto parchment paper to insure it doesn't stick. if you don't have parchment use a generous amount of cornmeal

if your dough is elasticy and hard to roll let it rest for a few minutes and try it again

if you don't have a pizza stone use a baking sheet, upside down

to rise your dough faster let your oven warm up for just a minute and put your dough in there. just don't forget that its in there when you preheat it later!!!

Its like desert. For breakfast. Needless to say, kids love them. I do too. Im actually eating one as I write this.  My original recipe (from Mel's Kitchen Cafe) stated that the recipe made more than 24 muffins but mine made exactly that many. Maybe that was because Sawyer helped and dropped some on the counter, his foot, and in his mouth?? Have some milk on hand.

INGREDIENTS:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup light or regular sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup lowfat milk
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, chocolate chips and salt. Toss to combine. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream, water (or juice), milk, oil and vanilla. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir in the wet mixture, stirring just until moistened.

Line muffins cups with paper liners and fill the cups 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake for 16-18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove the muffins to a wire rack to let cool completely.

(the felt badge variety of swapping, that is)


So, one of the very first crafty community sites I ever frequented was the amazing site craftster. Way back then (5 years ago maybe) it was such an invaluable resource to me for advice, inspiration, and countless ideas. It was a huge forum, and still is, filled with people willing to share their projects, photos, critiques, and techniques. I haven't visited the site very often over the past few years, but on a whim I decided to check it out earlier this month. For some reason I "felt" inspired to sign up for a felt badge swap-because I certainly don't have enough projects to keep me busy. wink wink

It was fun, and I had never made a felt badge before. Now I want to make a bunch of them. Not that they serve any real purpose. Its one of those cute things but to be honest it will probably just sit in my sewing drawer. The kids want me to make them some too, of course! Up above is the badge that I sent to my partner in California. She mentioned she was into drawing, nature, sewing, painting, and animals. We like a lot of the same things so I'm hoping she likes the little notebook paper and pencil badge I sewed for her. Its about 2.5 inches square so those are some teeny tiny little stitches.

Here is the badge from my swap partner:

So cute!
Swaps can be a lot of fun for crafty people (like you!). If you've never participated I highly encourage it. You can find them on craftster here. Or, just search for a particular craft, i.e. felt badges and "craft swap". You're bound to find someone to swap with. A lot of bloggers do organized swaps. Just be sure to follow the directions, communicate with your partner and your organizer, and get your craft goodies out on time. I got mine out just in the nick of time, they were due in the mail by today...phew!

Here is a little gallery of felt badge inspiration courtesy of Lupin at Bugs and Fishes. She sells the felt broaches as well as patterns and felt squares in her Etsy Shop Lupin Handmade. I love the birds.

Just imagine that you have attended your first creative blogging conference. {SNAP!} You have been inspired by the likes of Shelley Smith from the House of Smiths (sweet and an amazing speaker) and Ana White (adorable and inspirational) and Amy Anderson of Mod Podge Rocks!. (so smart and from the Pacific Northwest).  I could go on and on with this blog-name dropping but you get the idea.


You have been refreshed from a weekend with your bestie and no kids! You actually slept. The weather was beautiful and you even got to drive a golf cart around a tulip garden!



Then you get home and find out that your boyfriend has cancelled cable and INTERNET. What!!? What am I supposed to do with all of the fresh inspiration and ideas for my blog, Christian? Can you tell I'm annoyed? Yes, I can still tether internet off of his phone in the evenings but it is no solace. This is ridiculous.

I am ripe with ideas and thoughts of changing things up around here. I know I shouldn't get ahead of myself but sometimes I get so angry with myself for not jumping into my ideas when I have them. Most of the successful bloggers we met have only been doing this for four years or so and I have been (thinking) about doing what they have done for that long. I have the ideas, I just need to make things happen. This goes for blogging and other ideas I have brewing in my head......evil laugh. What I need is someone to crack the whip and make me do the things I dream up.


Back to SNAP! It was three days of workshops, craftiness, networking, note-taking, swag getting, and reflection. Sokunn and I (Laurel) were among some AMAZING women who were so inspiring to me because they actually made something-their wildly popular blogs- happen. Most of their blogs grew, organically, into a success because they were passionate to share something they loved and were determined enough to work hard at it even though there was no guarantee they would have anything to show for it in the end.