Paid: The fruits of my labor

Something remarkable happened last month. Someone, a good friend actually, paid my to make them some baby gifts for two of her friends. What!?! Me, you want to give me money to do something I like to do!! Um...yes please! So to the store I went. I have to admit the stress for picking fabrics was a bit more challenging. I mean I had no idea who these people really were. One  I met briefly but  I can hardly say that I nailed her taste of fabrics in an hour encounter over 4 years ago. But I loved what I picked and got the "OK" from my employer. And this is what I created...

Boy

Girl

 

I just loved these fabrics. Had I even known how cute the fabrics at my local quilt shop were  I would have just made my own baby crib set for my son. As much as I love target it just isn't that specific to our taste or his personality! But live and learn, next time I'll be sure to make something extra special for ourselves as well.

Who doesn't love polka dots!

Chicken Tikka Masala = YUM

Can I make a small confession? We are broke! Yup, who isn't at this stage of life. A spouse full-time in school, raising small children, trying to have somewhat of a normal 20 something social life and still trying to embody the things you believe all while being prudent! Not you, ehh! But perhaps one of my greatest struggles is paying for medioccur food that I coul probably make better at home. Now, let me say that this is not a food I can make "better" at home. But I can make it, free of cost (almost) and it tastes just as good....well it's more than good enough.

We love Indian food! Who doesn't. So to really test my cooking skills I decided to make Chicken Tikka Masala. Now Garam Masala really is just a combo of some normal spices. If you wanted to be thrify you could attemp to make it. But I figure I want to get the right portions. So I splurged and bought a few spices. Let's be honest, it was a pretty penny...like $15 for about 4 different spices but I figure now I can make some indian dishes at least a dozen times. I found a great recipe that was so simple and not too messy.

The results we're this...

( Photo: Served with plain basmati rice.)

DOesn't this photo just make you salvatate all over your keyboard!! Head the call of that grumbling stomach and try it. I'm a bit lazy today so to find the recipe check out the Pioneer Women. Enough said right! You know it will be great!

For a vegetarian version just gently steam (grill, boil etc) some potatoes and cauliflower and substitute it for the chicken. We cook every week with some youg women from church and they are vegitatirans and still loved it. It will be your Aloo Gobi Masala!!

Note: If possible, season the veggies as you would the chicken to give it extra flavor. I think on the grill, boiling or saute would be best!

Break-FAST

I'm convinces that somewhere some time long ago women came up with this word Why? Because if you want a break when you a mother it better be quick!

So here is my attempt at getting in that much needed meal...

I'm assuming no recipe is needed!  ;o)

Riley Blake... "Oh how I love thee!"

If you have never heard of or seen the Riley Blake collection you must be living under a boulder. It is the best. I love the fresh colors and patterns and collections that go together like chocolate in my mouth. And lets just try and see you pick a favorite collection. Much harder than it sounds but I think I'll have to go with...

Summer Song

What can I say. Those greens and oranges just steel my heart!!

B is for Bride

So for my church I have this semi-made up calling as the shower thrower. I just love to plan parties and make events special for people. So for this shower I wanted to make a topper cake. So after a bit of research I had a hunch that the bride loved purple and I was right. Not only that she said this cake actually looked almost exactly like what she picked out for the wedding. So kudos to me. I just wish I could have been there to enjoy the festivities. But as events happened I couldn't. But I'm glad to know there were good laughs, good food and great company!

So Congratulations to Melinda and Mark!! You're one lucky fella.  Oh and in this case B was for Bride and the initial for her new last name!

Cake: Dark chocolate 

Frosting: Cream Cheese Butter cream

Details: Fondant  (No tylose, not too difficult)

Bake, Bake, Bake Senora: Zucchini Bread

And i know what you're thinking but I'm not the only one in this world with a LOVE for butter!

So a few weeks ago I got into a baking kick. I just had to have fresh loaves or bread, cupcakes and yummy treats at any given moment. But perhaps one of my favorite treats, and a healthy one at that, is my Zucchini Bread recipe. I received it from a dear friend from my last church I attended. If it wasn't enough all she taught me I scored a delicious recipe too!

Hope you enjoy!

1 C. sugar

1 C. brown sugar

3 eggs, beaten

1 C. salad oil (I used veg. oil)

2 C. shredded Zucchini

1 Tbsp. vanilla

3 C. Flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1Tbsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 C. nuts ( I never use them)

Combine sugars, oil and eggs till well blended.

Add Zucchini and vanilla.

Add flour, salt, soda, cinnamon and baking powder till well mixed.

(Note: I sift all the dry stuff together to make sure its pretty evenly mixed)

Pour in two buttered and floured pans and bake 1 hour at 325 degrees.

Add a nice coat of butter and enjoy!!

SEW ELATED

Remember how I had been banished from the kitchen table, well...I kinda pulled a fast one on the hub and snuck out the machine!! "How could you?" right? What could have been so important that you would go against your promise to your husband, this...

Not the girl silly, although she is cute! But how about the darling champagne

BOLERO!!!

Yes! I made it! I cannot even believe it myself. And to add to the aww and splendor of it all it's even lined!!! So, not that I'm a tutorial pro or have even done one before I took a couple photos to document my journey.

Step 1: Pattern- The patterns on the internet weren't too great and I wasn't about to pay for one. So I measured myself and took an old church shirt...

and turned it into this...

Step 2: The Fabric- This was a remnant from the skirts my bridesmaid wore at our wedding. So it was only so much fabric and a certain length to work with. But its 100% silk and I just couldn't part with it. 

Step 3: Prep- The fabric had half pleats that I decided to just sew  it down and give it a more polished look.

BEFORE

 

AFTER

Step 4: Sewing the pattern together loosely, hand-stitched, to make sure the fit is flattering.

Step 5: Cutting- You, and by you I meant me, get one shot here. I only had this limited fabric piece for this project so I needed to be very precise. Measurements are ideal!! ;o) 

Note: I cut out two of each piece, one of the silk and one of the lining.

Step 6: Sewing- Enough said! But I did switch my needle to a thinner needle to prevent snagging int he silk.

Step 7: Ruffles- I got lucky and remembered I had the original belt from this skirt which was approximately 5 feet long. I simply sewed about  a 1/2 inch from the edge and gathered it to my desired length.

Step 8: Pinning- Very important to give that polished and neat look.

Step 9: More sewing- One last stitch around the edge of the bolero to close up my seems.

Step 10: Gloating!!!- And lots of it. "I did it  I did it!!" Oh and how about my adorable little apprentice tailor!

"Sew" there you have it... my adorable new bolero, which I so graciously have parted with temporarily to the cute model above. This entire project came from the fact that she had the perfect dress to wear for her best friends wedding. She is the Best Man! Cute right!?! Anyhow, there was a need and I thought " Bring it on"! The best part is I still have one of the original skirts from the wedding in its full length. Something tells me I'll be getting myself and adorable campaign silk dress soon!