A purse/wallet set and birthday dress

I made my niece's second birthday dress. She's obsessed with Minnie Mouse, and this dress took a TON of work. So you can imagine that I was SUPER excited to hear that it fit (they don't live near here!) and that she loved it.

In addition to the dress, I had my little sister a wallet and purse set. She graduated this year, and I had no idea what to do for her. Thankfully she loved the gift, and brags to everyone about it. These sets will be the main focus at my new store (opening at the end of next week!)

Day 3: The kitchen sink is made to be empty?

If you're like us, you just have a hard time keeping up with the dishes. Its a constant flow of things, and I hate that they can't ever all be clean. Plus, there are days when I just don't want to do them! So sometimes they sit out... which is actually worse, because then they're harder to clean. And I have to say that my dear husband is amazing, and usually does the dishes. Anyway, one of the goals should be to make sure that at the end of the day the kitchen sink is empty! Or at least, make sure you've done some dishes before the day is over.

In addition to doing your dishes, pick up the living room (which I'm sure is dirty again) and straighten up the dining area. Part of this is about creating good habits!

Day 2: The kitchen table is for eating!

I know I'm not the only one who has this problem with the table. Its automatically a catch-all. My family very rarely eats dinner at the kitchen table (partially because my husband isn't comfortable with it, and partially because it's always cluttered) but just because we don't use it for eating doesn't mean its okay to be messy. Someday my daughter will be big enough to sit in a chair at the table, and I want her to get into the healthy habit of eating in a room designed specifically for that purpose. I don't want her to run around with food, or sit on the couch or in front of the TV. Lunch time is devoted to eating and calming down. So, day two is about cleaning off the kitchen table (and the surrounding area). I'm feeling a little bit tired, but I'm still going to plow through it!

As always, when you pick something up put it away. Don't lay it down to clutter another area, because that defeats the purpose. C'mon, we can do this!

Before:

After:

Don't forget to pick up the living room again once you're through! Push through it, you can do it. I know there are things you'd rather be doing, but this is rewarding!

Day 1: The living room floor is for furniture!

Do you ever look around and just feel discouraged? You feel like no matter how much you work, your house will never be clean? Ah, so is the life of a parent! I hear you, because I often feel the same way. Some nights I go to bed thinking "did I even clean today?" I know, sometimes you don't have time to clean. Sometimes the laundry has to take a backseat to everything else. Sometimes dishes do sit in the sink for two days, and yes, sometimes the vacuum doesn't get run for a week (or two). You are not alone! Together we can beat this monster! Join me?

Cleaning Day One: The Living Room Floor Is For Furniture!
Today will simply consist of one thing: pick up everything off the living room floor. Make a list of things that should be on the floor, and then eliminate everything else. My list is as follows:

• Couches
• Telivision stand
• Baby exersaucer
• Baby jumperoo
• Xbox

Everything else should be picked up and stored elsewhere. The key here is not to move the random misplaced things to another part of the house, but to really be put away. I know its tempting to pick up the scissors and random papers and just set them on the table instead, but really, the goal is to put it away. Can't find a place? Stack everything neatly in one pile (or in a box) and google ways to store those certain items.
Before:

After:
TADA! I know, it looked awful before, right? But I bet my husband will be so happy to see it when he gets home from work tonight!

And I do have to add that I made a little pile in front of Abby's door of stuff to put away after she wakes up from her nap.

Lunch Boxes

I've been thinking about selling these, but I'm still a little intimidated. Anyway, here's the first
one I made:

Homemade Poptarts

I made homemade poptarts! Its still a little bit of a work in progress... but you can find the recipe here . I think I'll put about 1/4 cup of sugar in the dough next time, because I didn't frost them. I also tripled the recipe so I had enough to freeze. The original only makes enough for 5 or 6. So if you want to make them one morning for breakfast, then its perfect. But I wanted to freeze them and pop them in Matthew's lunches. Anyway, the recipe was SUPER easy to follow. Its just a basic pie crust recipe. I put Strawberry preserves in mine, but now I'm wanting to be creative. Chocolate fudge sauce...Nutella....cinnamon sugar... the possibilities are endless!

What I'll Be Selling

This could be the beginning of something beautiful.
...Or I could fail miserably. But I'm going to try it anyway!
First up: the snack bags (these were my first attempt, and I have waterproof fabric coming in, so the liner will not be cotton)

I'm working on making matching lunch boxes/bags and you can buy them separate or as a set. These ones are drawstring with yarn, but I could also put ribbon in place of the yarn, or velcro on the top instead.
The corners are rounded instead of square, so pesky little crumbs don't get stuck down there! And, of course, they are machine washable.

I'm also thinking of trying to make reusable trash bags/can for the car. It would hang on the backseat, and be stiff enough to stay open without struggling to get your garbage in there. And it would be easily removed, so you could empty it an a jiffy. And, like everything else, have a waterproof liner just in case!

Quick Chicken-Parmesan

So I made this "recipe" up a few nights ago, and have used it three times in the past week! Its quick, easy, and it makes my husband happy. So here ya go!
3 boneless chicken breasts
1/2c bread crumbs (I use crushed saltine crackers)
1c Parmesan cheese
1 1/2t onion flakes (or minced onions)
2t garlic powder
2t cumin
3t oregano
3t tarragon leaves
2 eggs
3-4T milk (I used lactose-free)
2T oil (for frying)

Mix together first six ingredients (all the dry ingredients) in small bowl with fork or fingers.
In separate bowl whisk together eggs and milk.
Cut up chicken breasts in small bite-sized pieces and place on plate.
Dip chicken first in egg, and then in crumb mixture, pressing the breading firmly into the chicken. Fry in skillet over medium heat, until a dark brown color and cooked through! I had to cut into a few pieces to make sure they were done all the way. As I'm sure most of you know, you'll need to adjust your heat to fit your stove. Also, I have to add a couple more tablespoons of oil partially through. Keep in mind you don't want to deep fry them! Just put enough oil in to barely cover the bottom of your skillet.
Serve with rice, and steamed vegetable of your choice! We actually had raw carrots with it tonight, because its what I had on hand.
And, as always, enjoy!

I forgot to add the Easter dress!

I used Simplicity Pattern #2425. I think I got it on sale for a $1 at the time. And the fabric? Also on sale for a $1 at Hancocks. So really, her Easter dress cost me $2. And you just can't beat that! Plus, its so freakin' cute, and I am so proud of myself!

Free Crochet Egg Pattern

Easter has inspired me! I'm nearly finished with Abby's Easter dress, I just need to hem it. Anyway... we have almost no decorations though, and this IS my favorite holiday. There are some really cute fabric Easter egg tutorials out there, but I have a TON of yarn to use up! So here we go...
I used a C hook, and just regular ol' Red Heart yarn.
I also use the "invisible decrease" stitch method. You can find it here
Using the "magic circle" (found here) single crochet 5 stitches.
Round 1: 2sc in each stitch around (10 st)
Round 2: *1sc in first st, 2 sc in next st-repeat from *around (15 st)
Round 3: *2sc in first two st, 2 sc in next st-repeat from * across (20 st)
Round 4:*3sc in first three st, 2 sc in next st-repeat from * across (25 st)
Round 5-10: sc in each st across (25 st)
Round 11: *sc in first three stitches, sc2tog-repeat from * across (20 st)
Round 12: *sc in first two st, sc2t0g-repeat from * across (15 st)
Round 13: *sc in first st, sc2tog-repeat from *across (10 st)
STUFF HERE! *It works better to use small pieces of stuffing instead of one large piece. This way your egg isn't so lumpy.
Round 14: sc in ea st across (10 st)
Round 15: sc2tog four times (6 st) I slip stitch into the first st again, and then finish off. Weave in the end. Tada!

A few more Sewing Things

So I was gone for two weeks on a mini "vacation". Anyway... because I was gone I dropped the ball on the whole cleaning thing. I should start it up again. Maybe on the first (which is Friday) but I'm also doing a sew-along type thing. So once a week (hopefully!) I'll be blogging about something I've sewn. Plus! I'm going to a sewing-get-together on Monday with some new friends. Oh it should be pretty fun, if Abigail behaves and plays quietly, that is.

Anywho! Here's what a made in the past few days (plus a throw pillow, but it doesn't have the buttons yet, so no picture for you):
First up is the dress. I fell in love with this fabric, but originally wanted the flower border to be at the bottom of the dress. But alas, I was about 1/4 yard short, and of course my Hancocks sold out of it! So I improvised, and made my own pattern. After a few dozen seams being ripped out, and completely changing the bottom half, I have something that I'm at least partially happy with.

I also whipped up a couple hot pads during nap time. I think the batting I used was too thin, but at least they're cute, right? I've had that fabric sitting around a few years... I've always loved it but I never knew what to do with it.

Tada! Hope you enjoy, ladies!

21 Day Cleaning Challenge: Day 3

So I woke up this morning ready to tackle the rest of the house. My wonderful baby girl slept in until almost 9:00 am! She's usually up around 7:00, so that was just a huge blessing for me. And my husband cleaned the kitchen for me (although I did have to do the sweeping and mopping). So all that was left for me was the rest of the laundry, the bathrooms, and the most dreaded room of all: the master. But its all done! Okay, so the master bedroom was kind of half-assed. But hey, Abby was fussing and my husband had to get to work!
Day Three: Bathrooms/Master Bedroom
Okay so the first bathroom is actually the "guest" bathroom. Its also where I give Abby her baths. So things automatically clutter there, because apparently my daughter doesn't like to be left naked. The second bathroom is the "master" bathroom, and things get cluttered there because Matthew and I are messy. Plus, because he's military he shaves before work every day. The problem is that he refuses to rinse out the sink after he's finished! So he leaves gross, nasty facial-hair-shavings everywhere. The third and final picture is our master bedroom. And its pretty much always a disaster. I walk in here and don't even know where to get started. Its overwhelming and embarrassing, and I hate even being in the room. Its not relaxing for me at all, because I'm always trying to figure out how to get away from the "clutter".

Before:

After:
And I realized after uploading this picture, just how much still needs to be cleaned. I guess I could at least make the bed, huh? Off I go again, to continue to unclutter!

21 Day Cleaning Challenge: Day 2

Today has been emotional and overwhelming. Lets just say I'll be glad to have my mommy here tomorrow!
Day Two: Part One: Dining Room and Entryway
I forgot to take a before picture of the dining room, but I just want you to know that it was pretty bad. My child likes to fling food all over the place! And smear it on any surface within reach... that combined with all the clutter (because everyone knows that the kitchen table is a catch-all). It was a disaster.
Oh and the entryway was mostly just cluttered with shoes, hats, gloves, and miscellaneous things we would drop as soon as we got in the door. I didn't sweep or mop it (yet) but I was still proud of myself for at least putting the footwear away!

After:

Part Two (if I can get the energy to do it) is tackling the laundry/hall. Its an eyesore! I mean, I literally have to walk around and over clean clothes. How awful is that? Not to mention the two (count them, TWO) baskets of clean clothes that have been sitting in our bedroom for weeks. Laundry is my dreaded chore. More than cloth diaper laundry, more than dishes, and more than mopping. I hate the laundry. So here I go, now, off to tackle another project today! Hello, new, productive, Amy!

Before:After:

21 Day Cleaning Challenge: Day 1

I found a post about "clutter" and the overwhelming feeling of raising a child, being a wife, AND cleaning the house. A fellow mom came up with an idea to do this 21 Day Cleaning Challenge, and I'm jumping on board. I'll spend about 20 minutes each day cleaning one area of the house that is in need of some TLC. The clutter in my house is overwhelming, and embarrassing. I want to have people over without apologizing. I want to walk in my house and not think "look at all of this stuff I have to do!" I want to be proud of my home, and I want to take good care of it. Lets face it, I'm a stay at home mom, and how the house looks reflects on how well I'm doing my job. So here we go!

Day One: The Living Room
We spend probably 85% of our time in this room. My husband watches TV, plays Black Ops, and goofs off with Abby in this room. Its where most of her "play time" occurs, and where nearly all of our family time takes place. Because of this, there is always a random array of things cluttering up the couches, floors, and any surface.
Before pictures:

After picture:(excuse the vacuum, but it IS proof that I cleaned the floors!)

All Those Baby Dresses!

Oh goodness, have I been busy with my sewing machine! I've started sewing up a storm for my little girl. Here are a few of the dresses:
This one was my first try at a zipper (and has a wonderful paisley print!)


These are a few tie-top dresses that were very simple and quick to whip up! The brown and pink one is actually from an upcycled pillow sham.
There are two more dresses that have been sewn up, but I don't have pictures of them just yet. And here is the set of blocks I made (my first sewing adventure ever):