Amy Butler Domestic Goddess Half Apron

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This weekend I made myself the Amy Butler Domestic Goddess half apron.  I've been wanting one since I made these as Christmas gifts.

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Cutting out the pattern pieces:
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Pockets are pinned on and ready for sewing:
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Sewing on the pockets:
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Pockets are done & waistband is attached:
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All finished:
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I hung the apron up to try and get a better shot of it and for some reason it looks ridiculously wide when hanging!

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Here's the apron in action:
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This is a fun and easy sewing pattern and has neat details.  I especially like the pleats at the center of the apron.  I'm a slow sewer and this only took me a few hours to make.

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Hope everyone had a great weekend!  I saw my two best friends this weekend and went bridesmaid dress shopping for my friend Ann's wedding.  Lots of fun! 

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I'm linking up to:

Making the World Cuter

Make it Yours Day @ My Backyard Eden

We Did it Wednesday  @ Sew Much Ado

Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple

Back to Reality. . .

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View of Trunk Bay, St. John, U.S.V.I.

Just a quick post to say that I am back from vacation and back to the real world.  I've got lots of catching up to do at home and at work but hopefully I'll be back blogging sometime soon.
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I'm so glad it's March - Spring is on it's way!
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Leaving on a Jet Plane. . .

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My Mom, sister, and I are off on vaction to St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.  We will be celebrating my Mom's 60th Birhtday.  I can't wait to escape the cold, snowy Winter and soak up the sun.  This will be a computer-free vacaton, so I won't be in blogland for awhile.  I'm looking forward to not being attached to my 'puter!
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Last year at this time, we were in Cabo.  Here are a few pictures from that trip:
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Me, World's Cutest Brother, and Baby Sister:
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See you in March!
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Best Granola in the Whole Wide World

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I love this granola.  It's good - very good.  It's delicious with milk, but it's also great on yogurt.  And the recipe couldn't be simpler.
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Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 cup turbinado sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 2 cups of any combination of dried fruit (I used dried cherries & golden raisins)
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First, heat oven to 325 degrees.  Have two large rimmed baking sheets ready to spread out the mixture.
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In a saucepan, over medium-low heat, combine oil, honey, sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Stir frequently, until the sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes.
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When the sugar is dissolved, the mixture will look like this:

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In a large bowl, combine the oats and almonds.
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Add the warm honey mixture to the oats and stir until entire mixture is coated.

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Spread the mixture evenly on the baking sheets.  Bake for 25 minutes, stirring a few times.
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Remove from oven and cool completely. 

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Once cool, place granola in large bowl and add dried fruit.

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Granola is finished. . .enjoy!

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Granola will keep in an airtight container for a couple of weeks.
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Granola recipe come from my Mom who found it in the Grand Rapids Press a few years ago.
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And now, a side note on my favorite vanilla extract.
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Several years ago I worked on a few projects out in the Berkshires of Massachusetts.  I had to travel there several times over a two year period.  I fell in love with a shop called Charles H. Baldwin & Sons.  They have been making vanilla since 1888!  Their vanilla is so strong and flavorful, and so much different then anything I had bought before.  I also have their almond and lemon extracts, both of which are also very good.  They have an online shop, so even thought I don't have to travel to the Berkshires anymore, I can still enjoy their amazing vanilla.  I highly recommend a visit to their shop if you are ever in West Stockbridge, Mass.

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Neck Pillows

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Finally - a new post!  I had to travel this week for work and it really interfered with my blogging and blog stalking this week!
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I made these neck pillows last weekend for my Mom and sister for Valentine's Day.  They are filled with rice and can be warmed up in the microwave and feel really nice and cozy around your neck on a cold, Winters night.
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Supplies:
- Fabric (12" x 34" piece for each pillow)
- Rice (approx. 48 oz.)
- Lavender (optional)
- Coordinating thread for sewing
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Place fabric right sides together, pin, and sew along edges.  Leave an 2" opening on one end.
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Turn right-side out.
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Fill with rice:
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(*I ran out of rice and added flax seed to fill out the pillows.  Originally, I thought that one 32 oz. bag of rice for each pillow would be enough)
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And then with lavender (I used approx. 1 cup of lavender per pillow):
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Slip stitch the opening:

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After I finished the slip stitch I decided to add two seams to the pillows so that the rice and lavender wouldn't all fall to one end.  By doing this you create 3 separate compartments and the rice and lavender will be evenly distributed.
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Here's what the finished pillow looks like:
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I folded it up into thirds and tied with a ribbon:
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A perfect little gift!
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Microwave 2-3 minutes and the neck pillow will be nice and toasty and warm you up on a cold, winters day!
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There is a salon in town that gives these to you to use while you are there.  I've been meaning to make these for a really long time.  I'm glad I finally did - now I just need to make one for myself!
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I'm linking up here:
Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tatertots & Jello
SNS @ Funky Junk Interiors
Making the World Cuter Monday

Hearts Aflutter. . .

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I got the idea for this project this week after seeing it on Ali Edwards blog.  It's such a cute, easy project and practically free!

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Here's what you need:

- Frame (mine came from Target a few years ago for $2.50; I just knew I'd use it at some point!)

- Heart punch

- Scrapbook paper

- Adhesive dots (The ones I used are 1/4" x 1/16" thick)

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Punch out hearts using a variety of patterned paper and line up on a sheet of background paper.
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Attach hearts with adhesive dots and frame.  That's it!
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The adhesive dots add a nice amount of depth, so make sure you use a frame with a double mat so that there is enough room for the hearts.
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Isn't this the cutest little project?  I like how it works for Valentine's Day but doesn't scream Valentine's Day.  I also think this would look lovely in a little girls room or a nursery.  It would also be fun to make using other punches - maybe butterflies, leaves, or flowers.  I haven't hung this yet, but I think it might find a permanent home in my craft room.

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I was having so much fun punching out hearts that I kept on punching and made Valentine's Day cards using the same technique.

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I am linking up here:
Remodelaholic's Anonymous @ Remodelaholic
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Finished for Friday @ Lit for Laundry
SNS @ Funky Junk Interiors
Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tatertots & Jello
We Did it Wednesday @ Sew Much Ado
Make it Yours Day @ My Backyard Eden

33

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Today is my 33rd birthday.

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Wow. . .33, how did that happen? If you had asked me 10 years ago, I would have told you that 33 was old. But you know what? It's not. I don't feel old at all. This isn't what I pictured my life to be like at 33, but it's still a pretty darn good life. I like the sounds of 33. . .I think it's going to be a pretty great year.
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