How Does Your Garden Grow?

Remember this post I wrote awhile back about how I compost right in my garden? Well I have to say I think my garden is growing better than ever. Last year I had a lot of seeds that never sprouted and my pepper only produced one pepper the entire season. This year everything is looking healthy, growing quickly, and I already have three pepper starts on my plant.

{This was a little over a week ago and everything is even bigger now}

I would call that a success. Or more like a success with one slightly rather annoying, but somewhat amusing, exception.

See those short little, dark green plants between the two larger bean plants? Any idea what it is? I didn't have a clue either, but plants just like this were sprouting up in tight little clusters by the tens. In all honestly, I have probably pulled hundreds of these out by now. In an attempt to figure out what it was I let one grow a little more instead of pulling it out and it was all too obvious after it got bigger... they are squash plants.

Yay, right? I'm growing squash... umm, no. I didn't plant squash. But what I did do was bury HUNDREDS of squash seeds from all of the food I made Audrey over the winter. Check this post out. Yes, I know those are carrots, but I basically did the same thing with squash and threw all of the seeds from all of those squash into my garden. OOPS!!

Basically what I am saying here is that the compost is making my garden rock, you really should try it, but be careful what you compost because it may just come back to haunt you!

Custom Invitations Tutorial

A couple of weeks ago I shared the custom invitations I made for Audrey's birthday. I am slightly obsessed with bunting right now and love how these turned out. A few people have asked me how I did it, so I thought I would share a quick step-by-step. They are really simple to put together.

Here is what you'll need:
Scrapbook paper in an assortment of colors/designs (I used 7 different patterns)
Blank Cards
Glue
Sewing Machine with coordinating thread

If you are going to have any printing on your cards you need to do it first, you won't be able to print after you make the bunting. I printed the word celebrate on the outside and all of the party information on the inside. 

Start by cutting out small triangles from the scrapbook paper. I used my Silhouette to cut out the triangles, but you could also cut these by hand if you don't have that option. I only used one piece of each type of paper and had way more than enough triangles for ten cards.

Next, place a tiny bit of glue, I used a toothpick to apply it, to the top of a triangle and glue it down starting one on edge of the card. Continue by gluing the triangles side by side until you get to the other edge. You kind of just have to visualize how you want the strand to lay... a big curve, straight across, an angle downwards and place the triangles accordingly.

Note: If you are going to have two strands of bunting cross in the middle only glue one strand of triangles down, sew it, and then glue the top strand of triangles and sew it seperately.

After all of the triangles are glued down sew along the top of each strand of triangles. If you have cards that fold, like mine did, make sure your card is open so you don't sew the two layers together.

And that's it. Fun invitations, completely custom and super simple.

Posted at:

Made By You Monday on Skip To My Lou
Get Your Craft On on Today's Creative Blog

psst...

If there were a way to whisper while typing I am doing it, you know, as in just between you and me let's keep this on the DL. I'm really not sure if I should be bragging about this...

Remember when I mentioned this site awhile back about two lovely ladies setting the record straight on mean comments?!? Guess what they are talking about today???? Go look now! 

That's right... me and a comment that was left on the One Month To Win It site about the bag I made. I'm going to be honest, after the initial comment was made I felt bad for inadvertently hurting someone's feelings, after the second comment was made I had my feelings hurt a little, now after reading this post I am happy as a clam. A huge thank you to Viv and Mandi... you have started my weekend off on the right foot! And a huge thank you to all the anonymous commenters who were sticking up for me, many people didn't realize, but the only comment I ever made was the one apologizing... apparently the original commenter made a few other people mad along the way.

The Picnic Bag

Did you see the results of One Month To Win It? My picnic bag came in third place! I had a lot of fun participating this month. Some of the weeks were more challenging than others and I really enjoyed seeing what everyone else came up with, plus a little added drama in the end provided a lot of laughs for people around here.

Although the other entries this week were much more elaborate, I really do love this bag and how functional it is. I know it will get a lot of use this summer. 

And if you are wondering what a months worth of crafts and third place gets me... 

I won:

1 pattern from V and Co. 

$25 gift certificate to Stamped with Love

I am so excited to go shopping, although I will have a hard time choosing what to get.

Hope everyone has a nice and relaxing three day weekend!

Guest Post

I'm guest posting on Rain or Shine today!

My dear friend Kira and her husband are expecting their first baby and she asked me to write a guest post with advice. Head on over to Rain or Shine and check it out. Take a look around while you're there... her blog is always amusing. Plus she has a great giveaway going right now for her custom made headbands.

{Kira and I at my baby shower last spring}

Tasty Tuesday: Some Must Try New Recipes

We tried a few new recipes last week that were all delicious. I thought I would pass them along because they are all worth making and super easy. I'm looking forward to making them all again.

Flaky Mushroom and Gruyere Tarts from Real Simple

These tarts were incredibly delicious. I used sliced baby bellas because I couldn't find a mushroom blend. They would be great as little appetizers too. 

Orecchiette with Kale, Bacon, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes from Cooking Light

I wasn't able to find orecchiette pasta and the kale at the grocery store looked less than fresh so I used whole grain penne and chard. We all thought it was very tasty. I am looking forward to having it again.

Walnut-Breadcrumb Pasta with a Soft Egg from Cooking Light

I know this recipe may sound a bit strange, but it was incredible. I actually liked it best without the egg, but Bryce LOVED it with the egg. 

Korean-Style Beef Skewers with Rice Noodles from Cooking Light

I had no idea how good rice noodles were. They're delicious, as were the beef skewers. Fair warning though, this dish is spicy.

Go Vote!

It is the last week of One Month To Win It! The projects are amazing. Go here and vote now for your favorite. I have had so much fun participating. The winner will be announced on Friday.

Felt Play Mat

I made it to the finals of One Month To Win It! I am definitely a little surprised, but excited for one last week and one last challenge. 

This week we had to copy another blogger's project or use a tutorial. I saw this adorable play mat over at Cook Clean Craft and couldn't resist.

It even folds up into a cute little house to take with you wherever you would want to go. 

In all honesty it was fun to make, but sewing each piece down took a lot longer than expected. I have another one to make for another little friend, this time I know to start much earlier.

And see that amazing wooden toy car. My mom made that. She surprised Audrey with a set of two and bridges to go with them over Easter and they were just so adorable that I asked her to make a couple more to include with the play mats.

Posted at: 

Show and Tell on Blue Cricket Designs 

Whatever Goes Wednesday on Someday Crafts

We Did It! Wednesday on Sew Much Ado

Free Alphabet Printables

How absolutely amazing are these?

{source}

I mean, we are talking seriously adorable stuff here. I have been looking for something just like this for Audrey's room and now not only have I found it, but I found something that is FREE. What could be better? You can find them here.

{source}

Audrey's room has been embarrassingly sparse for the last year. Yet somehow in the last couple of weeks it is as though it has just come together on its own. Between the Footprint Shadowbox, a print from Bryce's grandma's house, these printables and a few other smaller items we have found a lot of great stuff to put in there. I am excited to get it all together and will make sure to share a picture when it's finished.

Kale

Have you tried kale? That dark green, leafy stuff next to all the other dark green, leafy things in the produce section. Most of the time I just walk right past that section not having any idea what to do with that kind of produce. But a few weeks ago I tried a pasta recipe with kale in it and now I am hooked. It is really good and doesn't get all mushy when cooked like spinach.

So far I have only sauteed it and used it in pastas, but I've heard that baking it to make kale chips is good too. I'm excited to find more ways to use it. And this week at the grocery store I bought chard, I'm really branching out in the dark green, leafy category.

p.s. See that lemon in the picture... that's from our lemon tree. Oh, how I love our lemon tree. Sadly, we are down to one last lemon. I'm already looking forward to the next crop.

Week 3

It's week 3 of One Month To Win It! 

This week's theme was to create something using another blogger's tutorial. Go here and vote for your favorite (hopefully it will be mine).

Audrey's Custom Invitations

Yay! I made it to week 3 of One Month To Win It. Did you guess that I made the birthday invitations? Audrey's birthday is fast approaching and I was so excited to make her some invitations. And custom invitations that cost less than $5? Yes please! 

I'm hard at work on my week 3 project. So far I am LOVING it. Be back on Monday with some fun new stuff! Have a great weekend.

Week 2

The projects are up over at One Month To Win It. It is amazing what people can create for less than $5.00. 

Go here and vote now if you haven't yet!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!



Photo by Erica Cunningham Photography

I hope you all are having a great day and getting pampered a little, I know I am.

Footprint Shadowbox

Did you guess which project was mine this week on One Month To Win It?

I made the footprint shadowbox to be able to remember Audrey's tiny little feet forever. It was actually really straightforward to put together and makes such an impact in her room. I love the 3D quality the butterflies give.

This is definitely one of my all time favorite projects. And I am excited to have made it to the second week of the competition.

Posted at: 

Made By You Mondays on Skip To My Lou

My New Toy

Bryce surprised me with the best Mother's Day gift ever (a few days early because he is working all day on Sunday and the kiddo and I will be out of town). A beautiful, shiny, new Silhouette SD.

Seriously, I am beyond excited. I am having so much fun playing around with it. This thing is amazing and can cut such intricate designs. The list of projects I will use it for just keeps growing.

p.s. Have you voted yet? Go here and vote now if you haven't!! 

Week 1

The week one projects are up over at

onemonthtowinit.blogspot.com

go vote!! 

I loved this weeks theme and the projects are all amazing. 

I will be lucky if I make it to week 2.