tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208416802024-03-13T04:06:38.503-05:00Marla, Plain and SmallHere to share craft projects, family adventures, and my journey as a lifelong Bible studentUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger663125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-35198024729208599902023-01-05T10:21:00.001-06:002023-01-05T10:21:06.191-06:00What I Read in 2022<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokCK6z-L9KvEvK3qw9dcza9HPADNNNEzgeihvRzPTnq9X37_7S81h6-6eTg7pbSULvqjxhpuiUZ13qEi5NR1JYlCjSIH6dku80IE4IKAdZoYelobTFs6SyrfE3hJeb0IjHZoLNkBVXcT5941goPThe8gwShw9YcMwCBmfBp-7nw3o9GgWAQ/s3333/IMG_3991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3333" data-original-width="2666" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokCK6z-L9KvEvK3qw9dcza9HPADNNNEzgeihvRzPTnq9X37_7S81h6-6eTg7pbSULvqjxhpuiUZ13qEi5NR1JYlCjSIH6dku80IE4IKAdZoYelobTFs6SyrfE3hJeb0IjHZoLNkBVXcT5941goPThe8gwShw9YcMwCBmfBp-7nw3o9GgWAQ/w512-h640/IMG_3991.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It’s time for my annual roundup of the books I read in the previous year. 2022 had two themes: Bible studies and biographies. I read the most Bible study books I’ve ever read in a row. This was one of the busiest years of my life with two children, and I needed some help structuring and simplifying my Bible study time. I usually study on my own and reference commentaries as I go, but I needed to simplify my approach this year. Study books helped with that.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I also got into celebrity autobiographies, with a Jane Austen biography thrown in. There’s something about reading about other people’s lives that puts your own into perspective. You can read their stories and think, “wow, I have a normal life!” or think “wow, I want to reach goals like they did.” I have a few more celebrity autobiographies I’m wanting to check out for 2023. It’s interesting to read about the people we see on TV and in media. I’m okay with a boring life and will just read about other people’s drama!</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I didn’t read much fiction this year. I wanted to, but there were a few times I would start a fictional book and not be able to get into it. I don’t have a lot of time to read, so I decided not to force any reads I wasn’t interested in. Even if I was several chapters in, I gave myself permission to stop. I did that to three fictional books this year. I’ve also been on the waiting list at my library for several fictional books.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I read ebooks on my iPad more than ever before, mainly because that was how I could access free books from my library. I still prefer physical books, but I can’t say no to free.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I tried one audio book this year, another autobiography. I liked hearing Bruce Springsteen read about his life, but I just don’t jive with audiobooks. I felt like I could have read the book so much faster than listening to it. My mind also wanders with audiobooks. I gave up and decided to try to hunt down the physical book to finish it that way. I know some of you love your audiobooks, and I wish I could too, but my brain just doesn’t process in that way. I’m a visual learner and need to see words on a page.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I definitely could have read more in 2022, but sometimes I just wasn’t mentally in a place to read. I was too tired or too overwhelmed or working on our home remodel or reading to kids or do countless others things that I chose to do over reading. And that’s okay! That’s life!</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I haven’t set any reading goals yet for 2023. I think I’ll just take things as they come, which is what I did in 2022.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">What reading goals have you set for the New Year?</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI7HC6wtP8UKmq4XE2t84niCbNvkuoAPj1yfLAWNtx0rtJ1EPbMtlYvgOx6VN0VjvMWFrLB4SUZ6P51pR0splFCrQxapBTT4-QWgU-9tEMwYnVXLiRZ5N2iapyUTiS64wh5NWHxP-dQEUdYqD6Ct9AXUBaBDt6c3Q8dTPvwLrq7frIME9QA/s1892/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-04%20at%204.26.08%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1892" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI7HC6wtP8UKmq4XE2t84niCbNvkuoAPj1yfLAWNtx0rtJ1EPbMtlYvgOx6VN0VjvMWFrLB4SUZ6P51pR0splFCrQxapBTT4-QWgU-9tEMwYnVXLiRZ5N2iapyUTiS64wh5NWHxP-dQEUdYqD6Ct9AXUBaBDt6c3Q8dTPvwLrq7frIME9QA/w640-h382/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-04%20at%204.26.08%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Books I Read in 2022:</span></b></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics— <a href="https://amzn.to/3IoK2fH">https://amzn.to/3IoK2fH</a></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Amen: The Story of Scripture from Eden to Eternity— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ruth: Fields of Grace— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The God That Comes Near— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Knowledge of the Holy by Tozer— <a href="https://amzn.to/3GhkazR">https://amzn.to/3GhkazR</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Fruit of the Spirit— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini— <a href="https://amzn.to/3GH4rvo">https://amzn.to/3GH4rvo</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">James: The Steadfast Life— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Exalting Jesus in James by David Platt— <a href="https://amzn.to/3GgXqzY">https://amzn.to/3GgXqzY</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Secular Creed by Rebecca McLaughlin— <a href="https://amzn.to/3jGIHqc">https://amzn.to/3jGIHqc</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Open Book by Jessica Simpson— <a href="https://amzn.to/3QgRrPZ">https://amzn.to/3QgRrPZ</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Grace in the Wilderness: Study on 1 Peter— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Be Hopeful (1 Peter) by Warren Wiersbe— <a href="https://amzn.to/3CqJr9E">https://amzn.to/3CqJr9E</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Storyteller by Dave Grohl— <a href="https://amzn.to/3G9HQG0">https://amzn.to/3G9HQG0</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce— <a href="https://amzn.to/3Z5en97">https://amzn.to/3Z5en97</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield— <a href="https://amzn.to/3GDn5Ek">https://amzn.to/3GDn5Ek</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher— <a href="https://amzn.to/3CnPZ8G">https://amzn.to/3CnPZ8G</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Holier Than Thou by Jackie Hill Perry— <a href="https://amzn.to/3GflPG8">https://amzn.to/3GflPG8</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even If: A Study of Habakkuk— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Arise: A Study of Nehemiah— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Delight: Psalms 1-30— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wait: Psalms 31-60— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seek: Psalms 61-90— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Arkansas/Arkansaw: How Bear Hunters, Hillbillies, and Good Ol' Boys Defined a State by Brooks Blevins— <a href="https://amzn.to/3GCCiFE">https://amzn.to/3GCCiFE</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley— <a href="https://amzn.to/3GogEUq">https://amzn.to/3GogEUq</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Office BFFs </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444747;">by <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jenna-Fischer/e/B06ZYV361G?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1672872346&sr=1-1"><span style="color: #0a514b;">Jenna Fischer</span></a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Angela-Kinsey/e/B09QHFM1KQ?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1672872346&sr=1-1"><span style="color: #0a514b;">Angela Kinsey</span></a></span><span style="background-color: white;">— <a href="https://amzn.to/3QmItRy">https://amzn.to/3QmItRy</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy— <a href="https://amzn.to/3GEZ9At">https://amzn.to/3GEZ9At</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah— <a href="https://amzn.to/3X3rRjR">https://amzn.to/3X3rRjR</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Waiting for Hope: Malachi Study— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mercy in the Storm: A Study of Jonah— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #0a514b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Colossians: Rooted in Him— <a href="https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y">https://tinyurl.com/k3need8y</a></span></span></li></ul><div><span style="color: #0a514b;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(10, 81, 75);"><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbPTypbzS5cd5ywJ7LN0O4tdu-qgfD4uMkW2OlK-eo9O_b8RXRg16C6dFkr5USvS3mT5HbsYyfYEsT3-_3E6tdPOpYgKYaom0tAN94sumteFc-TdH0JIiPZML61By9QF1zZJatTlE0A_YcOC7u9tJ1qU9J-DxdX300xTTrO6an3bwnEOfcg/s3227/IMG_3989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3227" data-original-width="2581" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbPTypbzS5cd5ywJ7LN0O4tdu-qgfD4uMkW2OlK-eo9O_b8RXRg16C6dFkr5USvS3mT5HbsYyfYEsT3-_3E6tdPOpYgKYaom0tAN94sumteFc-TdH0JIiPZML61By9QF1zZJatTlE0A_YcOC7u9tJ1qU9J-DxdX300xTTrO6an3bwnEOfcg/w512-h640/IMG_3989.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-50421681176669011042022-08-02T11:04:00.000-05:002022-08-02T11:04:24.562-05:00Milkmaid/Dream Top Pattern from Lydia Naomi<p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgIru_BqpBO6EblbdqghxK7FwqZQ7NXyojISqmnJFooTEMk2MaWy0_157tHeHQiXP19dAMPZM1usAEoFJORqaxGU9Gg_H-C0--gw5X3aTqeN5jweNTMLQ-zF4dXdO0XCG7p7n77S1nks1mhAAQI5YFcW8fbuRznNfm8R4QyRlKLEJKNsqyw/s1800/290844344_5463899447003962_5489900784739516956_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgIru_BqpBO6EblbdqghxK7FwqZQ7NXyojISqmnJFooTEMk2MaWy0_157tHeHQiXP19dAMPZM1usAEoFJORqaxGU9Gg_H-C0--gw5X3aTqeN5jweNTMLQ-zF4dXdO0XCG7p7n77S1nks1mhAAQI5YFcW8fbuRznNfm8R4QyRlKLEJKNsqyw/w512-h640/290844344_5463899447003962_5489900784739516956_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pretending I’m writing poetry in a field…or milking a cow since this is a “milkmaid” top…but let’s go with the first scenario.</span></div><p></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 gl3lb2sf hhz5lgdu" style="display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This is the <a href="https://www.lydianaomi.com/shop-patterns/milkmaid-sewing-pattern-with-video-tutorial" target="_blank">Milkmaid/Dream top pattern from Lydia Naomi</a>. She offered it as a free download a year ago, and I finally got around to making it. Although it’s no longer free, it’s still available to download for an affordable price on her website. I’m going to make the dress version next! She also has a few videos on how to make the dress/shirt <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>and make size adjustments.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I did a separating zipper (like is on a jacket) at the back instead of an invisible zipper under the arm. You’ll probably need help zipping it up if you do the same, but I wanted to give it a try. I raised the neckline by a hair but will probably raise it even more the next time I make it. I’m constantly bending over to pick up a kid, so I’d like the top to come up a little higher. I also made the bottom ruffle a little longer so it wasn’t cropped length.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I really liked making this top and already have the fabric picked out for the dress version! The shirt fabric was given to me by a lady at church and is a screen printed linen. It’s such a nice fabric.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4603eihW6Dh8OlSEsfvxjE2Cqm5NOzlO-44D919UEsKptZNKB9cpT1muurULdjOE2d9l1ydS3TNJN9KAkQ1DDHyn213GvuVOVvUAz4kH2waGP8uys6Sx72zIErTzHNrmsiZsIWqVuAfzYvRC5g4MD4WEEjWVTAN_nCY8w5eiv5NTanEdqmw/s1800/290878946_5463899463670627_7378965146629807795_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4603eihW6Dh8OlSEsfvxjE2Cqm5NOzlO-44D919UEsKptZNKB9cpT1muurULdjOE2d9l1ydS3TNJN9KAkQ1DDHyn213GvuVOVvUAz4kH2waGP8uys6Sx72zIErTzHNrmsiZsIWqVuAfzYvRC5g4MD4WEEjWVTAN_nCY8w5eiv5NTanEdqmw/w512-h640/290878946_5463899463670627_7378965146629807795_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-18660203034296822932022-08-02T10:55:00.003-05:002022-08-02T10:55:31.384-05:00Toddler Dress and Bloomers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIrPpQD1cSPBTRLBdIURn-wfUNOkGbveP52WdeuaEqZ1Y_dYqcpxtCx99v48O3TD0H3QC-GxxGUi4QsMj6yM75mOXE9XCiGn-127qICJEeAeFdfiYqk7DdgPS4fC-Jign0GEX2agStcfGE9IazmgfdMZ9FWTYGGVIBlK2iLXpRxOa0Xq08w/s1440/291433388_5469127829814457_8849396344105966736_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIrPpQD1cSPBTRLBdIURn-wfUNOkGbveP52WdeuaEqZ1Y_dYqcpxtCx99v48O3TD0H3QC-GxxGUi4QsMj6yM75mOXE9XCiGn-127qICJEeAeFdfiYqk7DdgPS4fC-Jign0GEX2agStcfGE9IazmgfdMZ9FWTYGGVIBlK2iLXpRxOa0Xq08w/w640-h640/291433388_5469127829814457_8849396344105966736_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">When an outfit makes you feel goooood </span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 gl3lb2sf hhz5lgdu" style="display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="💁♀️" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t92/2/16/1f481_200d_2640.png" style="border: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="16" /></span></span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">My mom made the top and bloomers for Harlow when she was a toddler, and now Elodie is wearing the outfit. I made the headband when Harlow was little.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The outfit pattern is Simplicity 2375. I realized after the pictures that I should have ironed the top before she wore it, but oh well. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaOjy5hmo4lNLRXJfH11YNz2Sn1OSdMKg63ITDzEzfLAdA3BK8yvRe0Q4p1faU32iV68BpoCvb6Jn2OE1A__8nzF9tiDLvBpfw_R-f4wv-I1Uw2oOCNAIF3xeGSvs1pzpGj4jlwFaKotekarX67qzj3HMTZcwtKIThtlGsYVLIiMIjgQtmg/s1440/291048655_5469128023147771_4371826958201532248_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaOjy5hmo4lNLRXJfH11YNz2Sn1OSdMKg63ITDzEzfLAdA3BK8yvRe0Q4p1faU32iV68BpoCvb6Jn2OE1A__8nzF9tiDLvBpfw_R-f4wv-I1Uw2oOCNAIF3xeGSvs1pzpGj4jlwFaKotekarX67qzj3HMTZcwtKIThtlGsYVLIiMIjgQtmg/w200-h200/291048655_5469128023147771_4371826958201532248_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMO1Xi2ynVr9UwHu6CcJie7HmHan4SP0CO3nlD-V6TxqOwhD9YSNcAxGii3jQ_3SqyyUJDDjcC8JsJpwqs2Ry8CFkA56FFzU42E4njQQUSO5Wt0Z6wTi4v8akqi8LO6hylKC5RoJmzuGbvMKhYo2TBEw1t0rbk2MswtUKG_Jh5zobFXQFwg/s1440/291415654_5469128083147765_8925247039347465784_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMO1Xi2ynVr9UwHu6CcJie7HmHan4SP0CO3nlD-V6TxqOwhD9YSNcAxGii3jQ_3SqyyUJDDjcC8JsJpwqs2Ry8CFkA56FFzU42E4njQQUSO5Wt0Z6wTi4v8akqi8LO6hylKC5RoJmzuGbvMKhYo2TBEw1t0rbk2MswtUKG_Jh5zobFXQFwg/w200-h200/291415654_5469128083147765_8925247039347465784_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-50543704421636612582022-08-02T10:50:00.003-05:002022-08-02T10:50:35.485-05:00Travel Watercolors<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIN8g3UmarTpqXBlfS9evBuxpuZkMc2ljArRHXrZS41s5UsOplqZTSVpgHgeoaB1zX-DX-gbQzM9qEZ7SYDh-GLp-bsQiEJsEhatCJCme9jRFjataTAjC21xeicQY8CcmtFtQeH_slIc7H6yiU2TfTKTqyuc5Ej5JgQ6arpq3ibI1qbVeIpw/s2048/293058016_472362174699617_1881310268477841450_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIN8g3UmarTpqXBlfS9evBuxpuZkMc2ljArRHXrZS41s5UsOplqZTSVpgHgeoaB1zX-DX-gbQzM9qEZ7SYDh-GLp-bsQiEJsEhatCJCme9jRFjataTAjC21xeicQY8CcmtFtQeH_slIc7H6yiU2TfTKTqyuc5Ej5JgQ6arpq3ibI1qbVeIpw/w480-h640/293058016_472362174699617_1881310268477841450_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We went camping last week at Bull Shoals-White River State Park. When it was time to pack up, I told Colin I just needed 10 minutes to do something for myself. The trip was full of family time, which is why we went, but I’m trying to carve out time to also do some things I enjoy (by myself ;) </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">). I decided to start this practice on our last trip to Woolly Hollow State Park. </span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">At this current stage of parenting, I can’t really sit and read uninterrupted for any length of time. Our </span><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;" tabindex="-1"></a><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">youngest might wander off! But I can take 10 minutes to sketch and paint with watercolors while she naps or while I keep watch to make sure she doesn’t head for the water’s edge. </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I’ve had this watercolor kit for about a decade but it has been neglected for far too long. It’s compact and perfect for traveling. Water goes in the brush handle, so there’s no need for a cup of water. The paints are very pigmented and blend well. I sketch with a pencil then paint over it. I only have a few minutes to work, so I don’t strive for perfection (although, what does that even really mean in art?). I just strive for a minute to do something I enjoy and to capture a moment from our trip. I paint in my notebook where I log our trips.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The rainbow trout represents our time on the White River. The pennant I painted at Woolly Hollow is of the pennant I made from felt and vinyl for our girls’ last birthday party that’s hanging in our camper.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I encourage you to take a few minutes for yourself to do something you love, to try something new, to take in the moment, to show your kids that they can do the same.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I got the watercolor kit at @hobbylobby where you can sometimes catch it on sale. It’s also available on Amazon.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Kit I have: <a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 py34i1dx" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fa.co%2Fd%2FcaotW53%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0kQJS6IAqOGSg7Fabd56o6ypJgL8gxiki1j9SX_0uZ7Yq3ETc75Sa0JRM&h=AT1GVAHjXidlK3FSTTGN2QAK6WaGsPrkD8BIQmcPpFW3UAsy8lY4nEiqRF5qXPZG_5XXkA80pf7a_bGQS9BkvBERhFC4_h59v-kMY_8Fe4uURwbb7GiX72T4C7QbOC3Nisv8ug&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3QiW6kYfv-pMCvhrTd31OgM7iA9O4kCRmLojLL7-zQ98RWsJPFoyZHcj9Uc8rI8pXhbUT-flWMJj-LVWO5GoU0pG52swbEdOuYmnWXRHeyqCjIFmAtv-SUXdoHy4eZi6nUMNJiYCUpPPpGANIhtRDNmDEXgEBOvhBf4TKCn88xwPd0jzprTYnMSXAC-25Wg6jmR7jR" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--blue-link); cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://a.co/d/caotW53</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Kit with a different color palette: <a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 py34i1dx" href="https://amzn.to/3NZKjVo?fbclid=IwAR2mdsybU3loZiVVBkQ4bFJJcbROjXWRNxbDuu5iHoyucCx6kDGIzpOqUVc" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--blue-link); cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3NZKjVo</a></span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">What do you like to do when you have a moment to yourself?</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-84078176736198236282022-08-02T10:46:00.000-05:002022-08-02T10:46:58.268-05:00Open Back Tank Top<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzlvv8AXrxCwE6uMjUq39yZTpB6NnK-ZW21jdOO8PsSSyjTapoMaPCOtMhfMI3cqbQxzamUK1xKbty8vlKT8DCEmuQBeTNgYvpftGrZP52MqhNObvQRz0vCd-A7dWpR3BX7cJyUgAOAWPHYsvvSjyGXC2oIcELmCul7_y904_GKUp0IcjNA/s1800/293351647_473065851295916_5585895216216219630_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzlvv8AXrxCwE6uMjUq39yZTpB6NnK-ZW21jdOO8PsSSyjTapoMaPCOtMhfMI3cqbQxzamUK1xKbty8vlKT8DCEmuQBeTNgYvpftGrZP52MqhNObvQRz0vCd-A7dWpR3BX7cJyUgAOAWPHYsvvSjyGXC2oIcELmCul7_y904_GKUp0IcjNA/w512-h640/293351647_473065851295916_5585895216216219630_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I’ve been wanting to make a top with this hand-me-down fabric for awhile but couldn’t make up my mind on what to do. So I made my own pattern.</span></span></p><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Now, I know what you’re thinking, because it’s what I think when I see posts about self-drafted patterns— that doesn’t help me! How am I supposed to make that without any instructions or patterns? Well, if you want to make something similar, go check out Jenna Phipps’ YouTube video DIY Summer Dress. It has a similar look, can be made <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>into a shirt, and is a bit more simplified in that you don’t have to curve around your armpit or have buttons like I did. She’ll walk you through the process. It’s a good beginner project.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Back to what I did…. I wanted the top to be somewhat fitted at the bust, so that meant I needed a way to open it to put it on/take it off. I did buttons in the back. If you go with a looser fit, you can just slip it over your head and skip this. I didn’t have enough fabric to do a ruffle all the way around, so I did a ruffle in the front and left it flat in the back. I also left the back open, because it is really hot here and all the airflow is needed to keep cool. I didn’t do a lining, but I did use a serger to finish all the seams and edges.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I drafted a paper pattern for this so I could get the fit just right and use it for future projects. Making a pattern takes a little more time in the beginning but saves a lot of time in the end when you want to make more of the same top. Making adjustments and changes is easy when you have a base to start from. This garment is my wearable toile and will help me get the pattern just right for future garments. I think I want to do a front button top and no ruffle layer the next time.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeXwyID0tcmyTl3crLgNNqTx_Cpghl8p5cZlhUWcGmbKp-V-b2EdXTfPczdfl-qQcze-xNziLKxv1W5vnBS6E5OHw-75Hs1I9AIcA-4qDu86eHxNc0lw_eqIpH7EjF9f_SnJvEZDYDnV0aWu4tZnx9rVZTfA5UlAvb5g95N4IjVYUyK_wbA/s1800/293559571_473065631295938_8664871866793169110_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeXwyID0tcmyTl3crLgNNqTx_Cpghl8p5cZlhUWcGmbKp-V-b2EdXTfPczdfl-qQcze-xNziLKxv1W5vnBS6E5OHw-75Hs1I9AIcA-4qDu86eHxNc0lw_eqIpH7EjF9f_SnJvEZDYDnV0aWu4tZnx9rVZTfA5UlAvb5g95N4IjVYUyK_wbA/w512-h640/293559571_473065631295938_8664871866793169110_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pGquDyDll-4Ta2nWcstGgUllmzpr2Hi4jJXENw-pK0dV_2NMaV-Ddx3AZ7Wa3yOt1PwmvuJJ9wbMNZuH3qgyoDm0bEV61GcxXc71rNVOATufL72zxBEsbtwQEt-SwL-Ty68Tbx3Hk6_29PuQvJ-qF8nRd1-u-70m0IDp_xmqB55X1bq8Ow/s1800/293374033_473065777962590_4132126923416491362_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pGquDyDll-4Ta2nWcstGgUllmzpr2Hi4jJXENw-pK0dV_2NMaV-Ddx3AZ7Wa3yOt1PwmvuJJ9wbMNZuH3qgyoDm0bEV61GcxXc71rNVOATufL72zxBEsbtwQEt-SwL-Ty68Tbx3Hk6_29PuQvJ-qF8nRd1-u-70m0IDp_xmqB55X1bq8Ow/w160-h200/293374033_473065777962590_4132126923416491362_n.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhu0h1TJTk3CEWDGKwi6VYT3MBplF-nomV98AYVOL5-wiWtErdPn-v7ObaUC5HzxaOH34sKK_SnTYRo8geJyeOe0D9aPXmCS-0PT4jb9tagUqb6d05dzE2RYbvQyoi4IJioXn6sdLbpngfC1noBuiq_AL-NqlpptTNuxJiBTcwc6cZ8_hiA/s1800/293405934_473065861295915_8983491588667822918_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhu0h1TJTk3CEWDGKwi6VYT3MBplF-nomV98AYVOL5-wiWtErdPn-v7ObaUC5HzxaOH34sKK_SnTYRo8geJyeOe0D9aPXmCS-0PT4jb9tagUqb6d05dzE2RYbvQyoi4IJioXn6sdLbpngfC1noBuiq_AL-NqlpptTNuxJiBTcwc6cZ8_hiA/w160-h200/293405934_473065861295915_8983491588667822918_n.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii29w_JvGkmbPRdngqb0B42Z4uSw-00Q-LwWq9I0DjwR82eowKMuTRMI4LUDhiDdoYLFguVdLsOfDJR73foVL_G4qa6dcbtAKq9f_lO_BxIPoPGS3uSiqwwDRTSXjEtlKbF74jYbjmcJ1-PgAf-3tGHp-b0j8DmtH_5YKHqlaEP3ELcNNmCQ/s1800/293508914_473065794629255_6071628455853892502_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii29w_JvGkmbPRdngqb0B42Z4uSw-00Q-LwWq9I0DjwR82eowKMuTRMI4LUDhiDdoYLFguVdLsOfDJR73foVL_G4qa6dcbtAKq9f_lO_BxIPoPGS3uSiqwwDRTSXjEtlKbF74jYbjmcJ1-PgAf-3tGHp-b0j8DmtH_5YKHqlaEP3ELcNNmCQ/w160-h200/293508914_473065794629255_6071628455853892502_n.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-21361318302422319982022-08-02T10:34:00.001-05:002022-08-02T10:34:40.100-05:00Summer Craft: Shrinky Dinks<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBajdYYlDPuB8p1CC2CGwv48qAJkHIKdqmTP7FaAD9xKd7GVRahnMy9A2is8wLZ-JaVlgXvlcvaWOYrN3byxiN_S5DC8QCfKC8ckLpTsuCFEmRgovtPSmvphFKrwPoB0regobHbbUwGqA3QUOuPupmvx3Ufthr77atej_Eiukt5sRobPHZFA/s1800/293969449_473814337887734_1375458540674054071_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBajdYYlDPuB8p1CC2CGwv48qAJkHIKdqmTP7FaAD9xKd7GVRahnMy9A2is8wLZ-JaVlgXvlcvaWOYrN3byxiN_S5DC8QCfKC8ckLpTsuCFEmRgovtPSmvphFKrwPoB0regobHbbUwGqA3QUOuPupmvx3Ufthr77atej_Eiukt5sRobPHZFA/w512-h640/293969449_473814337887734_1375458540674054071_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">There’s a never ending heat wave and drought going on here, so we’ve been looking for indoor activities. Here’s one you may want to try!</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">About a month ago, I pulled out the shrinky dinks sheets that I’ve had for over a decade. Then, a couple weeks ago, we went to the library for a free activity where you could make shrinky dinks. It’s easy, good for any age (Elodie “helped” me with my rainbow), and addicting!</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It’s basically plastic sheets that you draw on, and then they shrink <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>down 10 times their size in the oven. They’re so fun!</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I got my sheets on sale at @hobbylobby ages ago. You can also grab kits on Amazon.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Have you ever made shrinky dinks?</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I can’t find them currently on Hobby Lobby’s site, but here are some Amazon links.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Clear sheets: <a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 py34i1dx" href="https://amzn.to/3O2SEaT?fbclid=IwAR2uUieOYBxN2re28pPtOUzkEVGZ1hnHms3pNaOQQEKswhW8Fgw58C60U10" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--blue-link); cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3O2SEaT</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Pre-drawn: <a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 py34i1dx" href="https://amzn.to/3P4sfej?fbclid=IwAR09cN7qO7U72JzPTuz6G7QxOb5vfuNaKuMSxzlJGboS3g93XoKxqcg9rYM" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--blue-link); cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3P4sfej</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Jewelry kit: <a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 py34i1dx" href="https://amzn.to/3P7rP70?fbclid=IwAR3M7zO17LmrkgKku---N_N9YhVYGPH4gTMM3APVUDCecWe1k9BWVbZWEhE" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--blue-link); cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3P7rP70</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Keychain kit: <a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 py34i1dx" href="https://amzn.to/3Iz0QPb?fbclid=IwAR16sw4_wA0bwLMxMoVfjO5odfNVA2wMQt4O9UhuKOfk4D3HmRVeB5jl4jk" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--blue-link); cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3Iz0QPb</a></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-83929118568670270492022-08-02T10:27:00.001-05:002022-08-02T10:27:39.218-05:00Learning to Crochet<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uRz4_9HooKzm0Lt1ejL2VGYoq7f50d4tr9jIjn_Otyd7iBzsVO0gAueSdHbKExzJiQNrk3PpBN-xX3i-Cu1UkpKiL9Xa1noDDZYYl9rtEnSfMZCSMxdyjC0ltl1k-DPIT7CcpYapJSnzwjk6MfwbtnzYQTx5FC1IfeoMx-H-hvjss_fKyA/s1800/295370436_479131880689313_1789393307436567923_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uRz4_9HooKzm0Lt1ejL2VGYoq7f50d4tr9jIjn_Otyd7iBzsVO0gAueSdHbKExzJiQNrk3PpBN-xX3i-Cu1UkpKiL9Xa1noDDZYYl9rtEnSfMZCSMxdyjC0ltl1k-DPIT7CcpYapJSnzwjk6MfwbtnzYQTx5FC1IfeoMx-H-hvjss_fKyA/w512-h640/295370436_479131880689313_1789393307436567923_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I was itching to learn something new. I needed to challenge myself but also have an outlet to relax and unwind. I hoped crocheting would tick those boxes.</span></span></p><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I watched two YouTube videos on how to crochet granny squares. I pulled out yarn that I’ve had for years that was always too thin for knitting projects I was working on. I had a crochet hook from middle school when a teacher taught a few of us to crochet a line (but I guess we never moved past that or I’ve forgotten). </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">For <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>a few weeks, I’ve been crocheting late at night after the girls are in bed, while riding in the car, and one last marathon session this past Sunday evening to finish my project. </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I decided to make a tank top. I had no pattern. I just drew on garment making knowledge to figure out measurements and construction. I crocheted a ton of granny squares of varying sizes and then joined them together. </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The final product is imperfect. It’s a bit too loose, a little wonky in places, and if you look closely, you’ll see I miscounted stitches in places. But I did it! I learned something new and actually turned it into something! You can do the same! You can learn new things. I squeezed in pockets of time to work on it. It took me way too many hours to complete, but I just bit it off a little at a time. I liked that once I learned the pattern of crocheting that particular granny square, it became like second nature and something that I could do to lull my brain at the end of the day. </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I keep hearing crafters call crocheted clothing summer attire, but I think since we’re setting heat records over here, this will be something I save for an Arkansas autumn!</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcO_br1p4hjxupmoAQ77_xsjf3YTYxAJ3bSqtcY2Lh2y1QzRr4Q1QPFePEzGFaAotd2FqBOUiQsPkhZz7kmTKmgdr1jmaltNRGms6E3EfPGJkDHP35JI2c2qIFdkZSSglWhFO-yASFabPBDZ36tJ54bI22W6hPcmJmyWd0OBBFfM-J2vwbA/s1800/294969897_479132237355944_940481542423832944_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcO_br1p4hjxupmoAQ77_xsjf3YTYxAJ3bSqtcY2Lh2y1QzRr4Q1QPFePEzGFaAotd2FqBOUiQsPkhZz7kmTKmgdr1jmaltNRGms6E3EfPGJkDHP35JI2c2qIFdkZSSglWhFO-yASFabPBDZ36tJ54bI22W6hPcmJmyWd0OBBFfM-J2vwbA/w160-h200/294969897_479132237355944_940481542423832944_n.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfPK9LVGlSZ0WUvOV4vj3En_4yKixC8QD7aaIT3zZrzvZGFSFDEYyPJyq2Etyztrkam4zTO8ybEBIKU7IQ0UuuhGTsZ15IcNjJrQjcPWvW_3z4AxmeBQUqydDQk7OWdrc8rLXR1HwyybDGE2T-rcVlg4L1eGjw6NX85cn4K47_14O7fw1bA/s1800/294984633_479132214022613_1379675475731152820_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfPK9LVGlSZ0WUvOV4vj3En_4yKixC8QD7aaIT3zZrzvZGFSFDEYyPJyq2Etyztrkam4zTO8ybEBIKU7IQ0UuuhGTsZ15IcNjJrQjcPWvW_3z4AxmeBQUqydDQk7OWdrc8rLXR1HwyybDGE2T-rcVlg4L1eGjw6NX85cn4K47_14O7fw1bA/w160-h200/294984633_479132214022613_1379675475731152820_n.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqItVKfBOMm9TAZd3qc1mMRI5u8A6reoxoWK8WTIsPIh9UjaWhyhmGWE-YBTiSn2nNm8y3XZ8VUfdW1YPoobWM-EsD-azYELy8Juvez1kWb_xBIaf-nWb0FFTp97_xwBn3strDVA45dsPlc7Z6V_DVXSY6NBblhVORo0sCdlPcL7DxC_RP7g/s1800/295021432_479132127355955_9178586877635186852_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqItVKfBOMm9TAZd3qc1mMRI5u8A6reoxoWK8WTIsPIh9UjaWhyhmGWE-YBTiSn2nNm8y3XZ8VUfdW1YPoobWM-EsD-azYELy8Juvez1kWb_xBIaf-nWb0FFTp97_xwBn3strDVA45dsPlc7Z6V_DVXSY6NBblhVORo0sCdlPcL7DxC_RP7g/w160-h200/295021432_479132127355955_9178586877635186852_n.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-49184572104006315002022-08-02T10:22:00.004-05:002022-08-02T10:22:50.610-05:00Core T-Shirt (Free Pattern)<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bzQCTkI2azWMv8eLD0Jutz7NVYIm5i8bnLy507o-v6HJTGoAxitF1-mHYmgK6XjBbB6olxs-LKltfHXw_rMF05213uljBnUyrwYWj9wrj2VWPW4PYd0E_Z9T_e4HK6kItEXj_jjcup-73PIKgsvwOdWbSBkYWovgEoVxX4O0-bQEEGxQcg/s1800/295649779_483692423566592_1608408016377176631_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bzQCTkI2azWMv8eLD0Jutz7NVYIm5i8bnLy507o-v6HJTGoAxitF1-mHYmgK6XjBbB6olxs-LKltfHXw_rMF05213uljBnUyrwYWj9wrj2VWPW4PYd0E_Z9T_e4HK6kItEXj_jjcup-73PIKgsvwOdWbSBkYWovgEoVxX4O0-bQEEGxQcg/w512-h640/295649779_483692423566592_1608408016377176631_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s a free sewing pattern! This is the <a href="https://closetcorepatterns.com/collections/sewing-patterns-all/products/core-t-shirt-free-pattern?variant=39577882263686" target="_blank">Core T-Shirt from </a></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="nc684nl6" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--accent); cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;"><a href="https://closetcorepatterns.com/collections/sewing-patterns-all/products/core-t-shirt-free-pattern?variant=39577882263686" target="_blank">Closet Core Patterns</a></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I made the shirt with linen fabric. The pattern calls for fabric with more stretch, but it worked just fine! The only thing I would change if I made it again with similar fabric is enlarging the neckline so it’s easier to slip on and off since the fabric doesn’t stretch. I also found that I had to cut the neckband on the bias. I made the pattern according to my measurements. It’s very flowy and a <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>bit boxy. I think I could size down, but it doesn’t feel too oversized as is.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I hemmed the bottom of the shirt and finished the sleeves using <a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 q66pz984 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/sweetredpoppy?__cft__[0]=AZVXO49Nd7lUuecBF5mVF_364CcD5kbZcc3dFpMpxnDJQOkiGD15-KG_vVeCnFgzNMvBQCVJCqrIBh0F62xEaZdWds4KedfnTBRv3M_P2BxkH9lonus2jzflpAAeicoBHEKWyG7EGWOs4cJLQO4h7nud6qD4EdRYMAFg9nbwjWalXA&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--accent); cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6" style="display: inline;">Sweet Red Poppy</span></a> serger technique from her free dolman shirt tutorial (which is on my list to make).</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This is a quick, satisfying project, and I would definitely make it again. It also comes with a cropped version and long sleeve version.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOa4qKI1jV2Q746qM_bXwt_wNddEhZAgiy9N_GFmCyN2qknrcvqMO3D97ZpRv5weIWuani8z-T11l4T8RFVxQ9WGUgwS3I_FyDLh38oKXtnefZorruBXrspO79bbphqX3zIy99sA3u5lUkIKgWdj535K56h8wv_tJr1VNPxHN1UK0CbVztQ/s1800/295695280_483692443566590_6466439283022534796_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOa4qKI1jV2Q746qM_bXwt_wNddEhZAgiy9N_GFmCyN2qknrcvqMO3D97ZpRv5weIWuani8z-T11l4T8RFVxQ9WGUgwS3I_FyDLh38oKXtnefZorruBXrspO79bbphqX3zIy99sA3u5lUkIKgWdj535K56h8wv_tJr1VNPxHN1UK0CbVztQ/w160-h200/295695280_483692443566590_6466439283022534796_n.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6Adu42vC0g8wxaU438TZ2Dl59QM8RO0QLm6FFHh33GUvaGJmd0NuJ0MBeczbTzsRPQtP8ThxJjmWCNGKwc1RnHkIAt2sH2Pqydk1IlFlJQgT4lRXu9Hjt63mFNojaE_2srqBF3uHbP6p45zkoI7WcO3gZZkCsssyK-ZyKRbJbhCZ80oRiw/s1800/295955768_483692430233258_3925674738599565540_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6Adu42vC0g8wxaU438TZ2Dl59QM8RO0QLm6FFHh33GUvaGJmd0NuJ0MBeczbTzsRPQtP8ThxJjmWCNGKwc1RnHkIAt2sH2Pqydk1IlFlJQgT4lRXu9Hjt63mFNojaE_2srqBF3uHbP6p45zkoI7WcO3gZZkCsssyK-ZyKRbJbhCZ80oRiw/w160-h200/295955768_483692430233258_3925674738599565540_n.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6J-MctruNTAuxDe3eF8ULyKKn6zVyQkq-57WN73dtnmr0Tn41uPnGnQY-0nDVzhb-UyLVczaz8xeoA6gbeeNmiA5eQZTksoNbP14GYi9B65POy7Kg65_kHgeji2T7P9LblJO4rDrcPWPtIqUwOm1otm7JGSXF2zyX8ajXK6gbKaENX8gtcg/s1800/296150412_483692453566589_6887414897868123009_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6J-MctruNTAuxDe3eF8ULyKKn6zVyQkq-57WN73dtnmr0Tn41uPnGnQY-0nDVzhb-UyLVczaz8xeoA6gbeeNmiA5eQZTksoNbP14GYi9B65POy7Kg65_kHgeji2T7P9LblJO4rDrcPWPtIqUwOm1otm7JGSXF2zyX8ajXK6gbKaENX8gtcg/w160-h200/296150412_483692453566589_6887414897868123009_n.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-34281391148363127032022-05-15T20:28:00.003-05:002022-05-15T20:28:49.366-05:00How to Clean and Shine Stainless Steel Cookware<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BxzZEYAuWJoT_ICZY5ZTnQtX5Wmd55u_gOkSgkLfOMDkc1TS6jrAgkf3PuFGDEo5V6bZmz88mnPrMrBTJpaNRtiTofOqRoCrAcE6XqBv_XWN1hFuzKNdcR-rVjfP5-8sdRYtHmD7dvCoPvF3SvvdPCpVvrrL0nrkAMkwRP3byIVqk_1mJw/s2016/ADK_0012.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1284" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BxzZEYAuWJoT_ICZY5ZTnQtX5Wmd55u_gOkSgkLfOMDkc1TS6jrAgkf3PuFGDEo5V6bZmz88mnPrMrBTJpaNRtiTofOqRoCrAcE6XqBv_XWN1hFuzKNdcR-rVjfP5-8sdRYtHmD7dvCoPvF3SvvdPCpVvrrL0nrkAMkwRP3byIVqk_1mJw/w408-h640/ADK_0012.JPG" width="408" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><ol>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Put enough water in your stainless steel pan or pot to cover the bottom.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Bring the water to boil.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Allow the water to boil until you see food lifting off the bottom of the pan. If you have put just a shallow amount of water in the pan, it shouldn’t boil over the sides of the pan. Let the water boil for several minutes, but do not let it boil to the point that the water evaporates. If the water evaporates, it will take you back to square one of food being stuck on.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Pour the water and released food out of the cooled pan into the garbage disposal or trash.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Use dish soap and a cloth or sponge to wash the pan. A small pan scraper is handy in helping to remove food.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">If you still have food stuck, sprinkle Bar Keeper’s Friend into the pan. Use a wet sponge or cloth to move the Bar Keeper’s Friend around the pan, lightly scrubbing. This will remove the rest of the food and shine your cookware. You can also use Bar Keeper’s Friend on the outside of the pan to bring shine back and make it look like new.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Give your cookware a final rinse and then dry.</span></li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Video of the process: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9YPX6s3uORA" target="_blank">Clean & Shine Stainless Steel Cookware</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-59147495797024366342022-05-05T08:37:00.002-05:002022-05-05T08:53:42.737-05:00Recipe: One Pan Bacon Cheddar Tots<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdfuYrWi2qTuuULpsqc4kXBN_D0sdBQIHaEUd37rqTj133K5r-EFZGvaoAyifdoVm9cGMDaobYG9yL0HMapoSwfrxVxMwjVgiISj2Ov8HU6-c6FlcG2o2LngXsjrBGwXOxHUAJsuocv1KBf3Lp5S5P8vZCjIWfiRyj7J5c_C-jok15_SopQ/s1280/IMG_6793.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1020" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdfuYrWi2qTuuULpsqc4kXBN_D0sdBQIHaEUd37rqTj133K5r-EFZGvaoAyifdoVm9cGMDaobYG9yL0HMapoSwfrxVxMwjVgiISj2Ov8HU6-c6FlcG2o2LngXsjrBGwXOxHUAJsuocv1KBf3Lp5S5P8vZCjIWfiRyj7J5c_C-jok15_SopQ/w319-h400/IMG_6793.JPG" width="319" /></a></div><p></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Bacon Cheddar Tots cooked on just one pan in the oven— yes, please!</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">My family applauded this dish! It’s so easy to make but is such a delicious treat. Make it for your Memorial Day gathering, family movie night, or take it to an outdoor party.</span></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Serve this as an indulgent meal or a side dish at a party! It's quick and easy, and you will only have to clean one pan!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Ingredients:</span></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">One package of bacon (around 16 oz.)</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">One package of tater tots (around 30 oz.)</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1 to 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Sour Cream, Ranch Dressing, Hot Sauce, or Buffalo Sauce for dipping</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Green Onion or Parsley for serving</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Salt and seasonings to taste</span></span></li></ul><p></p><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); white-space: pre-wrap;">Directions:</span></span></div><div><ol style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5rem; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Put the bacon on an oven safe pan. You can use a nonstick pan or put foil on a baking sheet or in a glass baking dish.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Use kitchen scissors to cut the bacon into smaller pieces to keep it from curling as it cooks.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Cook the bacon in the oven at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes or until your bacon is almost as crispy as you like. It will go back into the oven to crisp up more later.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">When the bacon is cooked, remove it from the pan and let it drain on a paper towel.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Place the tater tots on the pan. They will cook in the bacon grease, but you can drain any excess grease.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Bake the tots according to their package's directions.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Once the tots have baked, remove them from the oven. Top them with shredded cheddar cheese. Use anywhere from 1 to 2 cups of cheese depending on how cheesy you want the tots.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Then place the cooked bacon on top of the tots. You can tear the bacon into smaller pieces to make sure there's some in each bite.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Stick the bacon cheddar tots back into the oven until the cheese has melted and the bacon has crisped a bit more. You can broil them, but be sure to stand by and watch so the food doesn't burn.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Remove the tots from the oven and top with chopped green onion, dried chives, or parsley. Salt and season to taste.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Serve with sour cream, ranch, hot sauce, or even buffalo sauce!</span></li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: left; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Order these ingredients and more from <a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 oo9gr5id lrazzd5p" href="https://www.easybins.com/collections/one-pan-bacon-cheddar-tots?fbclid=IwAR2NaJJIkIoeyyr_ZYNGI_R_pBk0N03VzLOcSY_3PIoxmBn08c3K-I0TV4c" role="link" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--primary-text); cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">EasyBins</span></a>. Get free delivery and $15 off your order with code MARLA15 at checkout.</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; text-align: left; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It’s an easy dish, but the recipe link will let you in on all the details. And it will have the ingredients ready to add to your cart!</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Recipe link: <a href="https://www.easybins.com/collections/one-pan-bacon-cheddar-tots?fbclid=IwAR2NaJJIkIoeyyr_ZYNGI_R_pBk0N03VzLOcSY_3PIoxmBn08c3K-I0TV4c" target="_blank">Bacon Cheddar Tots</a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Video of me making the tots: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdKK08NAXgJ/" target="_blank">Instagram Reel</a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-35881089454019854362022-05-03T14:39:00.002-05:002022-05-03T14:39:22.651-05:00Recipe: Garlic Dill Chicken Salad<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It’s my goal in life to share as many chicken salad combinations as possible. 😋</span></span></p><br style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJKeYPhrKoJl5bEriMI5SjGXP4BBdZVgU1i9K_kCTx7gPwAxrCxEK6jULiQs_umWOzqCT_7ilIspssbx341lgyfpAehj43f_K-1g6WdcXN6f45xeAJeBbTOSJkmKHILg5QjXmvVdFQQgidx6rcPoVhs2exvNWy5eHZ-cV09EqzkcTqhD9NQ/s1091/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-03%20at%202.36.51%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="936" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJKeYPhrKoJl5bEriMI5SjGXP4BBdZVgU1i9K_kCTx7gPwAxrCxEK6jULiQs_umWOzqCT_7ilIspssbx341lgyfpAehj43f_K-1g6WdcXN6f45xeAJeBbTOSJkmKHILg5QjXmvVdFQQgidx6rcPoVhs2exvNWy5eHZ-cV09EqzkcTqhD9NQ/w344-h400/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-03%20at%202.36.51%20PM.png" width="344" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">This “recipe” doesn’t have exact measurements. You’ll need to listen to your heart. Or add the ingredients, take a bite, and see if you need more of each ingredient. You’ll see what I mean…</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">🧄Garlic Dill Chicken Salad 🍇 </div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">•Chicken</div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I usually boil chicken, but I also use leftover grilled, smoked, whatever chicken. You can use white or dark meat.</div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">•Mayonnaise</div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Add mayo a little at a time, making sure to coat each piece of chicken. I don’t like dry salad, so I sometimes add a bit more than I think is needed. The chicken will soak up some of the mayo as it sits.</div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">•Dried Dill</div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">This is where you have to start listening to your heart, er, tastebuds. I LOVE dill, so I go crazy with how much I use.</div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">•Lawry’s Garlic Salt with Parsley</div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The amount of this will also depend on your personal preference. I add quite a bit. I usually add the dill and garlic, stir it all about, take a taste, and decide if it needs more. If you’re watching your salt intake, you could salt to taste and then add garlic powder and dried parsley.</div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">•Grapes</div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I have made this a few times without grapes when we didn’t have any in the house. It’s still good, but it is not the same. You must have grapes! The sweet balances out the savory. I used black grapes this time but have also used red and purple grapes. I quarter each grape and add enough to have a sliver of grape in each bite.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been making this version of chicken salad for several months now, and I think it’s my family’s favorite. I hope your family enjoys it too!</div></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-31381700229905504012022-01-31T17:23:00.003-06:002022-01-31T17:25:23.481-06:0090s Pop Culture Valentine Sketches<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfBh7_eilN3A9WcSAwPiZAKg4qnCVERgvPTCwQs5Uvybo3Tl7rAgOebJsb0Qfy-1oc0hhhKfvSQAM9Rpo5E5hqx9kMkMNaPuUv89gn0wIL3hl7EhGFivqcsaW89A40NGEQ22UxooP5wA8UaPzT36fYU1rGI1DAShXYJPSQAzyuMWKKGpT8aA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfBh7_eilN3A9WcSAwPiZAKg4qnCVERgvPTCwQs5Uvybo3Tl7rAgOebJsb0Qfy-1oc0hhhKfvSQAM9Rpo5E5hqx9kMkMNaPuUv89gn0wIL3hl7EhGFivqcsaW89A40NGEQ22UxooP5wA8UaPzT36fYU1rGI1DAShXYJPSQAzyuMWKKGpT8aA=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who else was obsessed with the 1996 Romeo + Juliet movie? I was 11 when it came out but didn’t see it until I was around 12 and it was on VHS. My friends and I would watch the movie over and over at sleepovers. I had a small poster of Leo in my room and wanted to be Claire Danes. I picked the name Claire for my name in seventh grade French class. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">I picked a lyric from the song I’m Kissing You from the movie for this drawing. <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/100283502" target="_blank">Shop the design</a></span></span></p><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFfqz0yvTkX73yCpyBb7REvrD-7k1LubyfLbW69yX960VLMdcSYX0jRC5bNq5XULoVjzTi9GPozVYSDBTJB5loI20sBl0KqH9e22htkXY-paactiPkEDNmHqkoGsJunYdidDIGpmYC7eNyZY1pxT2N0mFHuu6FJG74UqAL2OGiBZhvyVRYZA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFfqz0yvTkX73yCpyBb7REvrD-7k1LubyfLbW69yX960VLMdcSYX0jRC5bNq5XULoVjzTi9GPozVYSDBTJB5loI20sBl0KqH9e22htkXY-paactiPkEDNmHqkoGsJunYdidDIGpmYC7eNyZY1pxT2N0mFHuu6FJG74UqAL2OGiBZhvyVRYZA=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Who else collected those small posters from teen magazines in the 90s? I would spend my time looking at Tiger Beat while my mom shopped for groceries at Brookshire’s and Piggly Wiggly. What celeb posters did you have hanging up in your room? I can remember my friends and I talking about JTT at recess and arguing over who had the biggest crush on him. One of my friends had more posters of him than anyone else, so she was the clear winner. <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/100180661" target="_blank">Shop the design</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA34sHcd-ycNK9H8Za_AEJA_DxhfiVMX1xCe0Y06NBE45Utug7jMAJUH4_kgG-G4cK25xfg416eUXu30xQhtYBZpCmEbMTB39Q0eCGV26SmasdhIN8f96nJ9IUVwGaDQ53JDMFgfmqtH0eosTiVPT8hhXbufhyzr6F8Tp_8F3ZMJbIuoN5rA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA34sHcd-ycNK9H8Za_AEJA_DxhfiVMX1xCe0Y06NBE45Utug7jMAJUH4_kgG-G4cK25xfg416eUXu30xQhtYBZpCmEbMTB39Q0eCGV26SmasdhIN8f96nJ9IUVwGaDQ53JDMFgfmqtH0eosTiVPT8hhXbufhyzr6F8Tp_8F3ZMJbIuoN5rA=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">When I was in the first grade, I had a New Kids on the Block poster hanging in my bedroom. I still have their cassette tape stashed away somewhere! </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Who was your NKOTB crush? Mine was definitely Joey. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">What was your favorite NKOTB song? Hanging Tough? Step by Step? You Got It? </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">It’s time to brush off my early-90s dance moves.</span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPTCYaF8NgUvDR5FW41hQgEiW84lT1Zh68Z7l-EZZeCMK8ksNuAHrwX9Oap5AOAeIClAN_lEGJUCD2pfVisHvOhviqDR351x-STkoJVQ8soHuxtUusb-E-2XF4ROWM2fJBB0UA-4UQz8ZJmFhBs0Jj7QKgA3vBA0aBCbBWW7iSxCbhNLcoAQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPTCYaF8NgUvDR5FW41hQgEiW84lT1Zh68Z7l-EZZeCMK8ksNuAHrwX9Oap5AOAeIClAN_lEGJUCD2pfVisHvOhviqDR351x-STkoJVQ8soHuxtUusb-E-2XF4ROWM2fJBB0UA-4UQz8ZJmFhBs0Jj7QKgA3vBA0aBCbBWW7iSxCbhNLcoAQ=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>When I was a kid in the early and mid-90s, I wanted to grow up to be Amy Grant. I wanted a perm so I could have her curly hair (thank goodness my mom always said no). I danced to her pop songs at home and sang her Christian songs at church. I had all her cassette tapes and CDs. I was her biggest fan. Well, here I am grown-up and I still have stick straight hair and never made it to the pop charts. <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/100100972" target="_blank">Shop the design</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiacOjD_vOSvVs8BMqWQvzcC1cCAo_uSiZim0Ky8owAiUGiLEPjB3_HAc3s7n3kGQSQcvgoclt6bZN-1NXUOZ-mhUVpSLI7ZIkw4NGxwwyHphL2uiYT_A2Fvg6GFihncspcZcxI7h73jiitizVQcaGN837mxHHEKi2D5Op5Xm5EfvoQYrauiw=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiacOjD_vOSvVs8BMqWQvzcC1cCAo_uSiZim0Ky8owAiUGiLEPjB3_HAc3s7n3kGQSQcvgoclt6bZN-1NXUOZ-mhUVpSLI7ZIkw4NGxwwyHphL2uiYT_A2Fvg6GFihncspcZcxI7h73jiitizVQcaGN837mxHHEKi2D5Op5Xm5EfvoQYrauiw=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We can’t be judged for childhood crushes, OKAY! </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">When I was five, my parents took us to see Days of Thunder in the theater for my brother’s birthday. We rarely went to the movies growing up, so this is a vivid memory for me. It was that day that I fell for Tom Cruise. Sadly, scientology has crushed my crush for Tom, or I’d probably still be a fan. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">This drawing is from Risky Business, which came out two years before I was born, but it’s one of the most iconic shots of him. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">What’s your favorite Tom Cruise movie? Colin and I will definitely be going to see the new Top Gun when it’s finally released. <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/99730793" target="_blank">Shop the design</a></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Bonus: This is a 1970s Pop Culture reference that I drew for my cousin Amy. <span style="background-color: white;">Her childhood crush was Donny Osmond! <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/99633916" target="_blank">Shop the design</a></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsv5-CW7TB8pHBWK-DJxuANvGr63cOyx3IpvG7I3xaNHVuP3q_oQuwDh8KVoLs3YudP-i5d8-zbqL1XCkQnTxbwMveCVmBhn2ARl8omRBP1BtPy5DxBAmjuvCl5_2q33XUuRdIDImcuFoK45iBIFFk8fXEv7INJloSO3SuKrWnMWzskJhMQA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsv5-CW7TB8pHBWK-DJxuANvGr63cOyx3IpvG7I3xaNHVuP3q_oQuwDh8KVoLs3YudP-i5d8-zbqL1XCkQnTxbwMveCVmBhn2ARl8omRBP1BtPy5DxBAmjuvCl5_2q33XUuRdIDImcuFoK45iBIFFk8fXEv7INJloSO3SuKrWnMWzskJhMQA=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div></span></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-18912403384719101532022-01-31T16:54:00.001-06:002022-01-31T16:54:50.446-06:00Inside Out Ding Dong Cake<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMRBtnxzcwltkgMES1GWyepcegP4bUfUuZG5RJXfzpN2GExRDW82ijxFq92ObI6sf0kL-0jXpg5ZFVoJu1BihiakTST4Ct_TNqDbBtGCcrUmJU5d3ZfbB9Txcg8aAX2ofocA5rEwNgL1iRDOR6bL_XTQOLLdqV_rPD1peiKT--o0E6O0xHNg=s3780" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMRBtnxzcwltkgMES1GWyepcegP4bUfUuZG5RJXfzpN2GExRDW82ijxFq92ObI6sf0kL-0jXpg5ZFVoJu1BihiakTST4Ct_TNqDbBtGCcrUmJU5d3ZfbB9Txcg8aAX2ofocA5rEwNgL1iRDOR6bL_XTQOLLdqV_rPD1peiKT--o0E6O0xHNg=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica;"><div style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I worked at a Hostess discount bakery for a few months in high school. Whenever the food was about to expire, we pulled it from the shelves and threw it into grocery carts. Farmers would come buy the food (usually just the bread) for their animals. You could buy a grocery cart amount of almost-expired food for just $10. One night I bought a cart amount of food and loaded it into the trunk of my car. I drove a </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVKDuEG0fgM" style="font-family: helvetica;" target="_blank">1977 Triumph Spitfire</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica;">, </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica;">and the trunk was smaller than the cart. I didn't anticipate that when I bought the food, but I made it work. I drove home and surprised my family with a trunk full of Hostess treats. Sadly, I don't remember snagging any Ding Dongs since those were popular sellers. I think we did have a lot of the orange cupcakes, though. Also, I'm pretty sure these processed desserts didn't expire as quickly as their date stated!</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">If you've never had a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ding_Dong" target="_blank">Ding Dong</a>, they are a round chocolate cake, covered in a chocolate frosting shell, filled with cream. This cake is what would happen if you turned a Ding Dong inside out-- chocolate in the middle, cream on the outside.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx2v5gkmtdNCmGH4jTCzKdlQgMPUPH90IhsD6t2bGReKwjIW0cVWxH3jWIz1clf52Vbv1481u3Ufs4aXLRIKXbghcgbMFzOaphAgqVFevlcuFcWpbycrhNbKcsn2miAvDtKj7TcFFIg0lmr9jT9GOz84T97eAShXP8KPJobHBGkfU-rwKHIQ=s3780" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx2v5gkmtdNCmGH4jTCzKdlQgMPUPH90IhsD6t2bGReKwjIW0cVWxH3jWIz1clf52Vbv1481u3Ufs4aXLRIKXbghcgbMFzOaphAgqVFevlcuFcWpbycrhNbKcsn2miAvDtKj7TcFFIg0lmr9jT9GOz84T97eAShXP8KPJobHBGkfU-rwKHIQ=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Inside Out Ding Dong Cake</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">There are three parts to this cake: the chocolate cake, the chocolate frosting for the filling/inside, the white frosting for the outside.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><u><b>Chocolate Cake:</b></u></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: justify;" /></span></p><ul style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: justify;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">2 cups sugar</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1 3/4 cups <a href="http://www.pamelasproducts.com/products/baking-mixes/artisan-flour-blend/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">f</a>lour (I used gluten-free one-for-one flour)</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">3/4 cup dutch processed cocoa</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1 teaspoon salt</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">2 eggs</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1 cup milk</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1/2 cup oil</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">2 teaspoons vanilla extract</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1 cup boiling water</span></li></ul><div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><ol><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9 inch round pans.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Stir in boiling water. Pour batter into pans.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes then remove from the pans to cool on wire racks. Cool completely before frosting.</span></li></ol></div><p><u><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Cream Frosting for the Outside of the Cake:</b></span></u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://thestayathomechef.com/7-minute-frosting/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Seven Minute Frosting Recipe</span></a></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><u><b>Milk Chocolate Frosting for the Filling:</b></u></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1/3 cup of dutch processed cocoa powder</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">3 cups of powdered sugar</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1/3 cup of milk</span></li></ul><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Using a hand mixer, combine the cocoa powder and softened butter.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Alternate adding the powdered sugar and milk.</span></li></ol></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">When the cake has cooled, frost one of the cake tops with the chocolate frosting, then set the other cake on top. Frost the entire outside of the cake with the cream frosting.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyCb9D5OLJbo7xBGNXTopDoK3np0FBBk0aDmEsr6fxNafgku-EBEzpMs1covSDaS4Ae6otz7pr4YgwjKU4Q8RqKMMT9gu51dKThunFtV-2CdBdTVX57Vc1F4sxVkj7RwPEcbNt_Yb5uPnHGhU-sjge93mH_yUEduD1XBZZe_0nfrsUkc_X3w=s3780" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyCb9D5OLJbo7xBGNXTopDoK3np0FBBk0aDmEsr6fxNafgku-EBEzpMs1covSDaS4Ae6otz7pr4YgwjKU4Q8RqKMMT9gu51dKThunFtV-2CdBdTVX57Vc1F4sxVkj7RwPEcbNt_Yb5uPnHGhU-sjge93mH_yUEduD1XBZZe_0nfrsUkc_X3w=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><a href="http://marlagrace.blogspot.com/2018/12/chocolate-cake-that-your-guests-wont.html" target="_blank">Check out my Death by Chocolate Cake recipe that inspired this cake!</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I poured some of the batter into two ramekins for my girls to have mini cakes!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">When I planned this cake, I had the intention of it tasting like an inside out Ding Dong, and it did not disappoint! I made mine with gluten free flour and plant based butter in case you want to attempt the same. It was hard for the four of us not to eat it in one sitting!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFAPLwPze_bV4M5k8so4h6XVjOdBONShDQc86S34T7FEXnRCSqmIQoFEPlI8m8g56ofSK_cLBH4qeOpTLeDiBg9-4pJuFsKhQ0zRigqjDIUm5nZy8UM4bedg9Ayxn3Yn6U2Eu58ywVEvo7vlItmAkZa0fN4LgqVIa3-r_dvNeBmn97c8h5hA=s3780" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFAPLwPze_bV4M5k8so4h6XVjOdBONShDQc86S34T7FEXnRCSqmIQoFEPlI8m8g56ofSK_cLBH4qeOpTLeDiBg9-4pJuFsKhQ0zRigqjDIUm5nZy8UM4bedg9Ayxn3Yn6U2Eu58ywVEvo7vlItmAkZa0fN4LgqVIa3-r_dvNeBmn97c8h5hA=s320" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA-z6AxNjfrtToSJb8a1NTN80LMlHfZymqnhIud8WZArY8wfSPILoEBu2FOXk-vpvp4H6uwN_4GmPawlg2o8KSUy159EbLX0LIsEwTPm1khXnkn1Pvnh6eMNPp1osY8NQngl5TrM12Ko0qqZLxQRY3bos4tPGT1OLJsre5bndx33Go0uy6Uw=s3780" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA-z6AxNjfrtToSJb8a1NTN80LMlHfZymqnhIud8WZArY8wfSPILoEBu2FOXk-vpvp4H6uwN_4GmPawlg2o8KSUy159EbLX0LIsEwTPm1khXnkn1Pvnh6eMNPp1osY8NQngl5TrM12Ko0qqZLxQRY3bos4tPGT1OLJsre5bndx33Go0uy6Uw=s320" width="256" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-42810506276487348512022-01-04T10:40:00.002-06:002022-01-04T10:57:29.413-06:00What I Read in 2021 + Not Meeting My Goal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFeGhu-vhxCdbzNU6NRUZASApDeQBRi3i6HOu_bD-3sHLuL1bd941BLLf9Wr3dEcSm0gocVOyB_goXzReUlRPMCsjMu10cU27NSGbXv5moFnl4lEcNXnLBg_yNP67nJNbFnP0Z9er5B7LcBSVvOySZ6MllBS05Qxp0d5eOQh3AiyATbaMzYw=s2739" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2739" data-original-width="2192" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFeGhu-vhxCdbzNU6NRUZASApDeQBRi3i6HOu_bD-3sHLuL1bd941BLLf9Wr3dEcSm0gocVOyB_goXzReUlRPMCsjMu10cU27NSGbXv5moFnl4lEcNXnLBg_yNP67nJNbFnP0Z9er5B7LcBSVvOySZ6MllBS05Qxp0d5eOQh3AiyATbaMzYw=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">At the end of 2020, I set a goal to read 24 books in 2021. I thought it was doable to read two books a month. I had read much more in past years and thought that would be an attainable goal. I forgot what it was like when babies start crawling and stop napping all day. I quickly realized my goal of 24 books would not be met. And I was good with that. I didn't have the time or the mental space to push myself. I read for a few minutes each day in the car line while I waited for my first grader and shushed a fussy baby who didn't want to sit in the car. When I wasn't too tired, I'd read a few minutes before bed. Those minutes slowly added up to completing a few books.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I also didn't go easy on the type of books I read. They needed concentration and sometimes had paragraphs that needed to be reread and contemplated to understand.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Before I list what I read, here's how I'm thinking I'll approach 2022-- no goal. As someone who loves goals and lists, I just don't have the motivation this year to put pressure on myself to reach a certain number. I just want to read when I can and read what I want. I have a stack of theological books to go through, but we'll see what I get to this year. I'm wanting to also add in some books that give me some mental breaks, make me laugh, and help me imagine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I use <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62296505-marla-stanton" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> to track my reading, so come say hi if you use the app!</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgNF1MIQ93JuGp630-id5fFRlkEM9weAwmJguhCfwFMj1LqF1kj3WMt5hMaw-Y9paO7OymFJXBLpsyBAb3K5QVpNUDreV2L1ZCvGt-XLeINfReZMbfHn7Z6smxOENaiNvUmx5Hrw_hjI77oTOAZHt4pcO_90A2tNnMM6Ov6KlW9yDxKIMiww=s1124" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1124" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgNF1MIQ93JuGp630-id5fFRlkEM9weAwmJguhCfwFMj1LqF1kj3WMt5hMaw-Y9paO7OymFJXBLpsyBAb3K5QVpNUDreV2L1ZCvGt-XLeINfReZMbfHn7Z6smxOENaiNvUmx5Hrw_hjI77oTOAZHt4pcO_90A2tNnMM6Ov6KlW9yDxKIMiww=w400-h368" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><u><br /></u></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Here is what I read in 2021:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3qMSyux" target="_blank">Steal Away Home</a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3zD84NP" target="_blank">Bound Together</a> 📚</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/31nI8ZA" target="_blank">Lost and Found</a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3mV00mk" target="_blank">Does God Care How We Worship?</a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3pSJftT" target="_blank">Ten Words to Live By</a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3mWqPqa" target="_blank">Praying with Paul</a> 📚</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3zooUzN" target="_blank">The Road Back to You</a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3tciOBB" target="_blank">Christmas in the Movies</a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3pUZYwK" target="_blank">The Daily Bible</a> 📚</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3FWUqHk" target="_blank">The Bible Recap</a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3pSCs3d" target="_blank">The Bible Handbook</a></span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">📚 Three favorite books of the year</span></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHpKd2DgnQCtuVINNbvQJQx1O_8DDFukL6Y-2utBMuVMBMoiEB2NE6kXcvEjWs8a5y47hJljIGMrCVrK4BIw_OPBgwCZ6pybTLTk75UxwCmaQ-l0x4ramhVotuBR-QtpRkIsWbpMx7vyrkZMf9Wtsd-ydlE3M-TTJueXCR9VmRakqqkCR39g=s3241" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3241" data-original-width="2593" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHpKd2DgnQCtuVINNbvQJQx1O_8DDFukL6Y-2utBMuVMBMoiEB2NE6kXcvEjWs8a5y47hJljIGMrCVrK4BIw_OPBgwCZ6pybTLTk75UxwCmaQ-l0x4ramhVotuBR-QtpRkIsWbpMx7vyrkZMf9Wtsd-ydlE3M-TTJueXCR9VmRakqqkCR39g=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-67896660319325245722021-12-17T08:47:00.000-06:002021-12-17T08:47:00.507-06:00How I Plan to Study the Bible in 2022 <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjknAaGZBvmZb7PcDSvXzz2KxFBvqipg0ADFeNxq8ELJ9neVNpfhugidPtQiCHmsxU5S_0MfxGXK30BCpMetVa5NWnXLJ8HPcxOIqi-A27cVBPzv0atpUZChBPpWVi6tr3jnZRu1ZMlXGEUkbalz6L9iCfQk8VCYqGniHwxMmis-ZGCVGTA-A=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjknAaGZBvmZb7PcDSvXzz2KxFBvqipg0ADFeNxq8ELJ9neVNpfhugidPtQiCHmsxU5S_0MfxGXK30BCpMetVa5NWnXLJ8HPcxOIqi-A27cVBPzv0atpUZChBPpWVi6tr3jnZRu1ZMlXGEUkbalz6L9iCfQk8VCYqGniHwxMmis-ZGCVGTA-A=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">I’ve been reading the Bible from cover to cover for the last several years. I read it in <a href="https://amzn.to/3yCpJoj" target="_blank">chronological order</a> this year and highly recommended that.</span><p></p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I’ve been wanting to dive deeper into what I’m reading but not get behind on a daily reading plan. I don’t have the time to do both as I’m in a phase of life where I don’t have a lot of study time. I know the day is coming when I will have that time again. So I decided to change up what I’m doing next year.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">For 2022 I’m planning to pause from reading the entire Bible in a year. I’m going to study books of the Bible and take however long it takes to really soak it in, no deadlines. I’m using a planner to take notes and keep track of what I’m reading. I think it will also help me make sure I don’t miss days of study since I won’t have a daily reading plan keeping me accountable.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I’ll be reading and studying on my own and then will reference commentaries and guides to learn as much as I can. I’ll share what I’m reading along the way. You can check out the Books story highlight on my profile to see what I recommend.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">If you’re trying to decide how to study the Bible in 2022, my first suggestion is to read the entire Bible if you’ve never done that. You can buy Bibles that have the daily readings lined out for you, or you can find free reading plans online. It’s a completely doable plan if you commit just a few minutes a day. If you miss a day, just find some extra time the next day to catch up. Miss a week? You can still catch up! We have the time; we just have to find it and prioritize it!</span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-6787830291452511742021-12-16T11:59:00.002-06:002021-12-16T11:59:53.760-06:00Book Ideas for Christmas Lists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj39or-tR0w9Gp6OwiR8zkuT383ghcaRKoN3NH7fQYhaHZtMVzFA7jxEF00CJnpIIz85_MQALP7zAMX25AdKK3qmT0cyyULi-b95_Ru8p1nfQ2-k30M8kP5-5bLw1SuvYRwWqQYdM8YXvd4T5suEUtVhZyPS9we_5hyC6Wx1jI1i_IcXILNQw=s1204" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj39or-tR0w9Gp6OwiR8zkuT383ghcaRKoN3NH7fQYhaHZtMVzFA7jxEF00CJnpIIz85_MQALP7zAMX25AdKK3qmT0cyyULi-b95_Ru8p1nfQ2-k30M8kP5-5bLw1SuvYRwWqQYdM8YXvd4T5suEUtVhZyPS9we_5hyC6Wx1jI1i_IcXILNQw=w338-h400" width="338" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Here are some book ideas for last minute Christmas gifts (for yourself even!): <a href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/marlaplainsmall" target="_blank">books + more</a></span></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-67352152134455365692021-11-29T14:41:00.004-06:002021-11-29T14:41:46.523-06:00Golden Girls<p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I drew these for my friends for Thanksgiving and wanted to also say thanks to all of you!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Shop thank you design: <span style="text-align: left;">https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/94648927</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Shop golden design: <span style="text-align: left;">https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/94650314</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOft6HS_vFpRJcAgsZdeOnHwf6Jatr6_ARy1tAXyjVQft_b0l0hNbo2p5BFps9pyKj4-wGPUDaJW9luLkEcJSV4_EQGMtFg7hpnAquSEja-iOpKsiZrnxyKIGI4tlcRMLL2OJK/s1440/261124480_4796373140423266_5495817789143650197_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOft6HS_vFpRJcAgsZdeOnHwf6Jatr6_ARy1tAXyjVQft_b0l0hNbo2p5BFps9pyKj4-wGPUDaJW9luLkEcJSV4_EQGMtFg7hpnAquSEja-iOpKsiZrnxyKIGI4tlcRMLL2OJK/w640-h640/261124480_4796373140423266_5495817789143650197_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcnxwacvAZ-SUT7v59HH6pgTI_Sssfh_HeG_XyVIy1DjLc9refoLGhBO_8lrPE6OpRFQfpKEPdX5AMzgG2OggxjvE2YN863xfcI79tG0tL2_Lo4DZAIN-nUoA7oLKNzyTltbq/s1440/261010468_4796373143756599_2100637927485391452_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcnxwacvAZ-SUT7v59HH6pgTI_Sssfh_HeG_XyVIy1DjLc9refoLGhBO_8lrPE6OpRFQfpKEPdX5AMzgG2OggxjvE2YN863xfcI79tG0tL2_Lo4DZAIN-nUoA7oLKNzyTltbq/w640-h640/261010468_4796373143756599_2100637927485391452_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-65158455962148179362021-11-29T14:37:00.001-06:002021-12-17T08:47:26.938-06:00Video: 3 Things to Do with Holiday Leftovers<p style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ph6a0S4wsEs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Recipes:</span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;">・<a href="https://marlagrace.blogspot.com/2021/11/biscuit-board.html" target="_blank">Biscuit Board</a></div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;">・<a href="https://marlagrace.blogspot.com/2021/11/jalapeno-cranberry-relish.html" target="_blank">Jalapeno Cranberry Relish</a></div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;">・<a href="https://marlagrace.blogspot.com/2021/11/turkey-salad-sandwiches.html" target="_blank">Turkey Salad Sandwiches</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;">---------------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">I you live in an EasyBins delivery area, shop the ingredients:
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">・<a href="https://www.easybins.com/collections/turkey-salad-sandwiches?fbclid=IwAR2J9yE4z5ui0dBxvUn7j1-msbj9fbYyiEygdb9xj-IvXpVtVGnOL4-Gg2M" target="_blank">Turkey Salad</a></div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;">・<a href="https://www.easybins.com/collections/jalapeno-cranberry-relish-for-croissant-sandwiches?fbclid=IwAR2OzY7qspjDuETv62AeqYM64kBvx5wqovPZs-c7QTpT55LnUThU2xMnId0" target="_blank">Jalapeno Cranberry Relish</a></div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;">・<a href="https://www.easybins.com/collections/biscuit-board?fbclid=IwAR2OzY7qspjDuETv62AeqYM64kBvx5wqovPZs-c7QTpT55LnUThU2xMnId0" target="_blank">Biscuit Board</a></div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(13, 13, 13); color: #0d0d0d; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;">・Use code MARLA5 at checkout for $5 off your EasyBins order.
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">・Get $10 off your first order with this link: http://easybins.refr.cc/marlastanton</div></span></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="text-align: start;" /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-91796352360512928742021-11-21T20:38:00.000-06:002021-11-21T20:38:00.354-06:00Haynes Sisters<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">You had to know this drawing was coming after my "<a href="https://marlagrace.blogspot.com/2021/11/bing.html" target="_blank">Bing Bong</a>" post! It's hard to beat the dynamic duo of Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen in White Christmas. What's your favorite song and dance from the movie?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Shop the blue fan design <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/94527600" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Shop the black and white design <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/94526714" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPADTaMGi9vYyg8lfe2E8HjibP87jDWpXKO_iKcR_FWNaFm84PWflZwoQ5HVEOr5cMx4ILfgpFMtr0LFhlT2naVsSG-2U8Z61Cdyqu42IxdzlfTHis6FM1ozFW9Nigr9BUvWDU/s2048/253683857_4772941946099719_2752906878801267134_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPADTaMGi9vYyg8lfe2E8HjibP87jDWpXKO_iKcR_FWNaFm84PWflZwoQ5HVEOr5cMx4ILfgpFMtr0LFhlT2naVsSG-2U8Z61Cdyqu42IxdzlfTHis6FM1ozFW9Nigr9BUvWDU/w400-h400/253683857_4772941946099719_2752906878801267134_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittaE9lWiGjSjOZm9pogPOfgt5w2kDyOk4_tBXyINt3-gBy8Y9g95RwfBjlQ9U73zep6zG3-CovQeGmw5qNUgzKUu1qNqp1W4twN8dCJ_2NyqAS0TL9mxRBppPwTmhjSWARhSh/s2048/255926994_4772942079433039_7717961552116786519_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittaE9lWiGjSjOZm9pogPOfgt5w2kDyOk4_tBXyINt3-gBy8Y9g95RwfBjlQ9U73zep6zG3-CovQeGmw5qNUgzKUu1qNqp1W4twN8dCJ_2NyqAS0TL9mxRBppPwTmhjSWARhSh/w400-h400/255926994_4772942079433039_7717961552116786519_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-1261601746390651112021-11-21T20:15:00.000-06:002021-11-21T20:15:03.121-06:00Turkey Salad Sandwiches<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvnfU9wXFGd1ksQISR-TWtsPGcaZNVkCxZmBuftWTYbfRDUy2yEeIA3r8_aojNHnIhXReZ8kXe2DFEfn2OMpvGUM4R9b_ojyfKsSoln26FpWl0RNOpNOIS5d4kMMg_xKodVOv/s2048/IMG_2403+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvnfU9wXFGd1ksQISR-TWtsPGcaZNVkCxZmBuftWTYbfRDUy2yEeIA3r8_aojNHnIhXReZ8kXe2DFEfn2OMpvGUM4R9b_ojyfKsSoln26FpWl0RNOpNOIS5d4kMMg_xKodVOv/w640-h360/IMG_2403+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I recently discovered turkey salad when a friend brought me some as a gift. Isn’t food always a great gift? It might be exaggerating to say it was life-changing, but I’ll say it anyway. It was life changing. If you find turkey bland and boring but still find it necessary to serve for the holidays, turkey salad is the answer to your leftover woes. We’re going to add white and dark meat to a food processor and pulse until it becomes finely shredded. Then we’ll stir in boiled eggs, mayonnaise, dill pickle relish, garlic powder, and salt. Spread it on whatever leftover bread or rolls you have or serve it as a dip with crackers. Top it with <a href="https://marlagrace.blogspot.com" target="_blank">jalapeño cranberry relish</a> if you want to punch up the flavor. And I won’t judge if you go hide in your room to eat it so you don’t have to share it with anyone else. It’ll be our little secret.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Turkey Salad Ingredients</span></b></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Croissants</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Butter Crackers (Ritz, Club, or Townhouse)</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Butter Lettuce or Living Lettuce, optional</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Turkey</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Mayo</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Dill Pickle Relish</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Liquid Smoke</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Eggs</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Garlic Powder</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Turkey Salad Recipe</span></b></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">4 Cups of Turkey</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1 cup of Mayonnaise </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">9 Tablespoons of Dill Pickle Relish</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">2 Hard Boiled Eggs</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1/2 Teaspoon of Salt</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Liquid Smoke to taste (* see recipe notes, optional)</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><ol>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Shred 4 cups of turkey. A food processor works great for this. I recommend blending to a pate consistency, but blend/chop to your desired consistency.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Chop 2 hard boiled eggs.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Combine 1 cup of mayo, 9 tablespoons of dill pickle relish, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and liquid smoke to taste* (optional, see note).</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Add the relish mixture to the turkey and eggs and stir until the turkey is evenly coated.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">You can serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Spread on bread with lettuce, or serve as a dip with butter crackers.</span></li>
</ol><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">*Note: If your turkey was smoked, you don’t need to add liquid smoke. If your turkey was roasted or fried, you may want to add the liquid smoke to amp up the flavor. How your turkey is cooked will affect how your turkey salad tastes. Each method of brining, seasoning, and cooking will give a unique flavor! I like using both dark and white meat to get the most flavor.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0J99zNWRAB5ZfpG8UWhDtWd1Ddy_imF2ztM6nVRiI0ytuFUcucUBHOBUR1MIhc0-v4NmlgtIRju66GVX0Yy-sBAvv8C9YUbrbmYieUYcwBjCWxWHMTfzOUTE5-9marTIxspzx/s2048/IMG_2409+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0J99zNWRAB5ZfpG8UWhDtWd1Ddy_imF2ztM6nVRiI0ytuFUcucUBHOBUR1MIhc0-v4NmlgtIRju66GVX0Yy-sBAvv8C9YUbrbmYieUYcwBjCWxWHMTfzOUTE5-9marTIxspzx/w480-h640/IMG_2409+copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-82726745964927780562021-11-21T20:10:00.001-06:002021-11-21T20:10:14.335-06:00Biscuit Board<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPVZ0p2vtS_jVBbBn4GCG6RqU-2X2DavUyoXjbUaOlkwIGkFZBV1DtP-7LjpMZVOt2FS4bbMHV-S3yuGgw9gBCFz3mK0btH9r5uBlsorxIOh2pGeQ3SrQfeu-FulOgLrRAxVU/s2048/IMG_2357+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPVZ0p2vtS_jVBbBn4GCG6RqU-2X2DavUyoXjbUaOlkwIGkFZBV1DtP-7LjpMZVOt2FS4bbMHV-S3yuGgw9gBCFz3mK0btH9r5uBlsorxIOh2pGeQ3SrQfeu-FulOgLrRAxVU/w640-h360/IMG_2357+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Maybe you have guests staying over for the holidays, and you need to have breakfast planned. Grab the leftover ham and turkey and make an eye-catching biscuit board. There’s almost nothing better than homemade biscuits, but we’re using frozen biscuits. Who wants to do more complicated cooking the day after a big feast? No one. Bring out sweet and savory toppings like butter, honey, cream cheese, cheese slices, whatever sounds like the perfect breakfast sandwich to you. You can add fruit and nuts to add visual interest and to snack on as you assemble your biscuit sandwiches. This is the time to pull out that charcuterie board and let everyone gather around and graze. If you don’t have a board, use plates or even a cookie sheet. But don’t stress about presentation. It’s all about how the food tastes anyway. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><u>Ingredients You May Want to Grab</u></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Pillsbury Frozen Biscuits</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Cheese Tray (Cracker Barrel or Great Value)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Cream Cheese Spread</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Honey</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Butter</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Fruit (pears, grapes, bananas, apples)</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Mixed Nuts</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Turkey</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Ham</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cerpIpVmJ1qAwPRJL5mAiS1ERXXrD_9m1Z6imbvc1a4yZhtpXZDjKLMgkmW5r83Ovr-kJCbtuSLtdzUP8Bitb2ru9RwnG08p-BnS7p-e5Z0q4plciqRqqtqmCza4yN4aJwlZ/s2048/IMG_2362+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cerpIpVmJ1qAwPRJL5mAiS1ERXXrD_9m1Z6imbvc1a4yZhtpXZDjKLMgkmW5r83Ovr-kJCbtuSLtdzUP8Bitb2ru9RwnG08p-BnS7p-e5Z0q4plciqRqqtqmCza4yN4aJwlZ/w640-h480/IMG_2362+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-27733431969469068142021-11-21T20:05:00.004-06:002021-11-21T20:10:36.026-06:00Jalapeno Cranberry Relish<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzC75kNaAh0P28wcGsE0X6hA-Er8Oaj-h6sqFq9YeWWzDr1JMWGmrKza2dHa0hUSieCPFqQsc8XlaZCdMZ7rjhCkh63Qsdw7XW_-3bZ8hCS4WCuDwkv54PKOcTxXzlWW82xng7/s2048/IMG_2383.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzC75kNaAh0P28wcGsE0X6hA-Er8Oaj-h6sqFq9YeWWzDr1JMWGmrKza2dHa0hUSieCPFqQsc8XlaZCdMZ7rjhCkh63Qsdw7XW_-3bZ8hCS4WCuDwkv54PKOcTxXzlWW82xng7/w640-h360/IMG_2383.heic" width="640" /></a></span></div><i style="font-family: helvetica;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Note: I originally posted this recipe a few years ago, but the recipe was "a little of this" and "a little of that." I've finally taken the time to measure out what I do so that you can exactly replicate how I make it!</i></p></i><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Every year I make a jalapeño cranberry relish for our holiday meals, but it’s really the star of the show when it comes to leftovers. It’s so easy to make, but it makes a big flavor punch. Slice a croissant and butter and toast it. Top it with turkey or ham and a dollop of jalapeño cranberry relish. Add cream cheese, toasted brie, or your favorite cheese slice, and you’ve just made a bistro-worthy sandwich. The relish also makes a great appetizer when served on top of room temperature cream cheese or toasted brie.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><u>Ingredients</u></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">12 oz. of Cranberries (about 4 cups)</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1 Jalapeño, seeds removed</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">2 cups of Fresh Cilantro </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1/2 Cup of Sugar (*see recipe note)</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">3 Teaspoons of Lime Juice (could also use lemon juice or a combination of the two)</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1/2 Teaspoon of Salt</span></p><ol>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Wash and dry the cranberries, jalapeño, and cilantro.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Cut open your jalapeño and remove the stem and seeds. If you want to have less spice, use only half of the jalapeño. Leave the seeds if you want a really spicy relish.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Remove the cilantro leaves from the stems. Discard the stems.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Put 4 cups of cranberries, one jalapeño, 2 cups of cilantro, 1/2 cup of sugar*, 3 teaspoons of lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a food processor. Pulse until you get your desired consistency.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Pour the relish into a bowl, and stir to evenly combine all the ingredients.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Cover and store it in the refrigerator overnight to let the flavors blend and develop.</span></li>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Serve as a side or use it to dress sandwiches. You can also pour it on top of a block of cream cheese or on top of warm brie to serve as an appetizer.</span></li></ol><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">*Note: This is a tart relish that is meant to complement sweet ham, creamy cheeses, and savory turkey or steak. If you want a sweeter relish, use 1 cup of sugar.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1awImXlANKJHhyEV2_9nfnIel5vH-lZSjKKFagIjXiJCyxlafzzAthL8tbiJ08zGz_qZQb8yGsLc9EdoBO-6kvfwXZ3oGyk5CQ9qC0PvO0qMY-rU0OaA4H-nDNCMTe8jdCZ9/s2048/IMG_2378.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1awImXlANKJHhyEV2_9nfnIel5vH-lZSjKKFagIjXiJCyxlafzzAthL8tbiJ08zGz_qZQb8yGsLc9EdoBO-6kvfwXZ3oGyk5CQ9qC0PvO0qMY-rU0OaA4H-nDNCMTe8jdCZ9/w640-h480/IMG_2378.heic" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-32169355561458375012021-11-16T08:44:00.003-06:002021-11-16T08:44:52.810-06:00Clothes from Scraps<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I had a maxi dress that needed to be hemmed. It was over a foot too long. When I finally got around to hemming it, I decided to make it midi-length, which gave me even more extra fabric. I also had to take it in at the sides. You can see the result of how my dress turned out in the last photo.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">With all the extra fabric, I decided to make matching outfits for my girls. I made my oldest a pencil skirt that I drafted from a Lutterloh pattern. I made my youngest a dress from a pattern that was my grandmother’s. No fabric went to waste, and my girls got new outfits without spending a dime!</span></div></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUR5iPZSYzpfodIz2ixysMtQVQEizB5N0q-7QJTOwWy-WXwOWK_5GQl6bRee6hmu3ImVRj2g-rpW2NJ05aoluj-nxKXbSgnnBvoF2HvnVIbAzgXphyphenhyphen-DyEwqjR72YzM4aeJks/s2048/257546497_4763423600384887_5700949562263830663_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUR5iPZSYzpfodIz2ixysMtQVQEizB5N0q-7QJTOwWy-WXwOWK_5GQl6bRee6hmu3ImVRj2g-rpW2NJ05aoluj-nxKXbSgnnBvoF2HvnVIbAzgXphyphenhyphen-DyEwqjR72YzM4aeJks/w512-h640/257546497_4763423600384887_5700949562263830663_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxRxTx2jChd0HjqZZQQ4Xn-V6PdGcF2o4LQ-v5GyZTs9Jl4cWC5i74jskFC2VzwZmw9Mq7x-YjmunykL-Y7jtujv8egVed1y9U69NZrcN7NEEFJ2xiJNOXToFs9_BqnPxK-j_/s2048/257681082_4763423740384873_7460698296826950578_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxRxTx2jChd0HjqZZQQ4Xn-V6PdGcF2o4LQ-v5GyZTs9Jl4cWC5i74jskFC2VzwZmw9Mq7x-YjmunykL-Y7jtujv8egVed1y9U69NZrcN7NEEFJ2xiJNOXToFs9_BqnPxK-j_/w160-h200/257681082_4763423740384873_7460698296826950578_n.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeRv-7WWhkbNT26zE2sA0gNIbHLTwGvOe2QXtevqsOYZa-CZuGwnI7q3Wvs6HcP_fH0xcuNwcDx_ifLCcoO4JVT8Gf_ZzQHfXYwNlGcoPA5W43-_mY5weADZR3ZYoJM_3aJ_D/s2048/257878605_4763423460384901_1377387311348136484_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeRv-7WWhkbNT26zE2sA0gNIbHLTwGvOe2QXtevqsOYZa-CZuGwnI7q3Wvs6HcP_fH0xcuNwcDx_ifLCcoO4JVT8Gf_ZzQHfXYwNlGcoPA5W43-_mY5weADZR3ZYoJM_3aJ_D/w160-h200/257878605_4763423460384901_1377387311348136484_n.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLPnr7wuWJYBw14mres7KBqpRNEbGO350ekwzAN8uCEontbq3yG47Q975gNakKsZQp6SwlpaFMvVSVMOExLXhoicnnCpsswGI7JMLsCeP5ak2R8VgeoqC1dCUcNmpBVJV6UvP/s960/257603122_4763422507051663_1130159546600246316_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLPnr7wuWJYBw14mres7KBqpRNEbGO350ekwzAN8uCEontbq3yG47Q975gNakKsZQp6SwlpaFMvVSVMOExLXhoicnnCpsswGI7JMLsCeP5ak2R8VgeoqC1dCUcNmpBVJV6UvP/w150-h200/257603122_4763422507051663_1130159546600246316_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-53391087383366744932021-11-16T08:36:00.002-06:002021-11-21T20:38:48.042-06:00Bing<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibprtXqW_NnU0OOVvELcsOHLnI26Q7BSoyR8oWRPFsfJXfezVf_HOYx-JnE2VbWfCDo9ZySbChFAM84dqBuP1yYTG4xDq-Kz53rx7m1KSp_GnkZv0JxNEgj72zQHJUtIN6jKyr/s2048/IMG_2104.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibprtXqW_NnU0OOVvELcsOHLnI26Q7BSoyR8oWRPFsfJXfezVf_HOYx-JnE2VbWfCDo9ZySbChFAM84dqBuP1yYTG4xDq-Kz53rx7m1KSp_GnkZv0JxNEgj72zQHJUtIN6jKyr/w640-h640/IMG_2104.PNG" width="640" /></a></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Who else is already listening to Christmas music?</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I know this is venturing off the path of my Leading Ladies series, but I just had to draw Bing Crosby. Harlow, my seven-year-old, loves Bing Bong, as she lovingly and mistakenly refers to him. She loves him in White Christmas, but she also loves to hear him sing. When a song he sings comes on the radio and it’s sung by someone else, she says, “Bing Bong sings it better.” That’s some serious loyalty. Bing is also a favorite of my husband, Colin, who grew up hearing Bing’s music at his grandmother’s house. I don’t have childhood memories of Bing Crosby, so I don’t have the attachment and fondness they have of him. Isn’t it interesting how our childhood forms lifelong loves? I might have to draw my childhood favorites and share those with you. Any guesses to who an 80’s baby/90’s kid loved?</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Now, back to the subject of Christmas music and if you are already listening to it or if you have a rule about when to start— let me know!</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; text-align: start;">Shop my Bing Crosby drawing: </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/94519448?fbclid=IwAR3Je-I4jRTgnqM95ekJW5VLpyzvQpA8FLs18wxr2kmFvVDhBk_NLANmFV4" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--blue-link); cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/94519448</a></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">See the Haynes sisters <a href="https://marlagrace.blogspot.com/2021/11/haynes-sisters.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p>
<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20841680.post-47002067763331654812021-11-15T10:30:00.000-06:002021-11-15T10:30:10.014-06:00Scheduling Adventure: Blue Mountain Lake<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-kl9YPP4wqE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">For Marla’s birthday in July, we went camped at Waveland Park on Blue Mountain Lake. The park website says the campground is near Havanna, Arkansas, but it really feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere! It’s a beautiful place to escape. You can swim in the lake and look up at Mount Magazine, the highest point in the state of Arkansas. If you’re looking to fish, not only is the lake a good place, but the dam spillway is just down the road, and we saw fish jumping as the water flowed there.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We did have quite the experience getting checked in at the campground. The check in station for Waveland Park was closed, so we had to check in at the gatehouse for the Outlet Area campground, which was right before our campground. There was nowhere to turn around at the gatehouse, so they told us to go down to the dump station area to try. When we got there, there was nowhere to turn around. We (ignorantly) thought we could keep driving into the river campground and loop back out. All campgrounds loop or have roads that loop, right? Nope. This was one road that dead ended. It was July 4, and the campground was full and packed with cars, campers, and people fishing. The road was tight, and we could barely drive through. Panic set in. We kept our cool as best as we could. We looked like amateurs, because, well, we were amateurs at this pulling-a-camper thing. Some nice people helped us maneuver and admitted this was an impossible park to turn around in. We finally got out and laughed about it…and kept laughing the rest of the trip when we remembered the pickle we had gotten ourselves into. To be fair, the gatehouse workers and the park ranger gave us ill advice that helped push us into the pickle.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Waveland Park has some beautiful camping spots and amazing scenery. Now that we are better prepared, we would go back!</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The video of our trip is now on Youtube. Click the link in our profile to watch. You can see the other issues that popped up and how our amateur-ness (that’s a word, right) kept the trip exciting.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Have you ever been to Blue Mountain Lake?</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for photos and more details about our trips: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/schedulingadventure/" target="_blank">Scheduling Adventure</a></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0