Ruby Slippers, Decor, and "Pinks and Cream" Quilt

I'd say the fabric pom-poms (previous post) won the vote by a landslide! Although I was initially more interested in the paper ones (maybe because I saw them first?), I've definitely reconsidered and plan to attempt the fabric ones for a few reasons. First, I think it's going to be easier to find fabric that matches the room decor than it would be to find crepe paper in the right shades. I also think the fluffier, less 'finished' look is really growing on me. And rolling up all those flowers for the paper type sounded pretty difficult. Anyway, it's a ways off, but I'll show the finished project whenever it gets done!! (Sidenote: I'm going to stick with paper lanterns as the base, only $1.10 for one, whereas the styrofoam balls are $18.99 a piece!?!?!)

Now on to another crafty endeavor....This is a little name sign I've been working on over the past few weeks. I probably invested about 6 hours in it (getting the stencil the right size took the longest amount of time.) Mark cut the blocks out of scraps we had in the garage, I painted the blocks 'cream', made stencils out of text I printed on cardstock, then stencil-painted the letters, followed by staining the edges....It's sitting on the mantel in our basement...which is another blog post entirely...I got/stole the entire idea from this blog post, on the Creative Crate (she used vinyl lettering--so popular right now--but also has stenciled other projects). I'm pleased with it and learned a LOT from this experience. I plan to make some more word/name blocks in the coming weeks.... :)

My first girly purchase for Baby Girl. I stopped by a garage sale last week and found these for $.25. I'm not always a 'bow' person, but thought they'd be cute for Christmas and Valentine's Day...so tiny and so cute! And I didn't feel too guilty spending only a quarter!

And finally....fabric for my baby quilt! My mom and I went shopping Monday with James (he was SO bored and ate through two different snacks and a cup of juice while 'waiting' for me to pick fabric). But I finally decided on a "pinks & cream" color scheme. It's soft and pretty and very feminine, I think, and fits the requirement that it 'go' with the taupe-ish walls in her nursery.

And here are the first two blocks...because my mom just couldn't wait to get started!

Time to "Think Pink"

20 weeks

Yesterday we found out we'll be having a GIRL in October! Yikes! I'm so excited! We were definitely thinking 'boy' all along so I had the technician check to make sure, and she was pretty certain. Yippee! I haven't wasted ANY time brainstorming ideas for the nursery. To be honest, I'd already bookmarked these two sites, just hoping some day I'd have a fun excuse to make one or the other. We're planning to transform our guest room into the Baby Girl nursery and hoping to avoid painting, so my plan is to add splashes of color (walls are a neutral taupe-ish) to girl-ify it.

Just curious...which pom-pom/flower ball do you prefer? Fabric or crepe paper? Here's the first option:

"Super Easy Fabric Pom-Poms"

OR

"Hanging flower balls", made with crepe paper (!)

I have to confess I'm leaning toward the crepe paper flowers, but not sure I can make them look that great. But I may be limited by color options with that, too.....Which do you prefer? Please "vote"! :)

Stuffed Pizza Rolls

I've got a new recipe to share....Stuffed Pizza Rolls! Here's a link to the recipe. They were really good! Ours were made with pepperoni and mozzarella. I think next time I make them, I'll use little chunks of mozzarella, as it would be easier to 'stuff' them. I used their recipe for pizza dough and started the dough about about two hours before I wanted to pop the rolls in the oven. I also had some of their garlic bread seasoning already mixed up in an old shaker in the fridge for the topping. That might have been Mark's favorite part! And (not pictured) I served it with my favorite pizza sauce for dipping (I omit anchovy paste and cayenne and use two small cans of tomato sauce).

A Visit from Annie

Just look at that face!

This past week Annie and Elizabeth were visiting. It was so fun to see Annie at 3 and a half months!

James got a hoot out of Annie, too. He liked holding her bottle up to her mouth (and eyes, and nose), hugging her and talking to her. It was fun to see cousins together again!

Crafting Update

Crafting update: I finished stenciling and painting James' second Big Brother t-shirt. I love how it turned out. Now we just have to wait for him to grow a little more to fit into them! They're a tad too big still...but he's been growing up too fast lately, so I'll wait a little while longer...

Baby Shower Food Details

It's been a long while since I've posted any recipes! During my first trimester I wasn't too adventurous with new foods and since my second trimester began, I've had Andrea's baby shower on my mind! Her shower was last weekend, hosted at my mom's house. For a few more non-food pictures, check out Andrea's blog.

My primary 'obsession' with the food and this shower was the dessert table. My friend Kristen has gotten me hooked on Amy Atlas' blog. Check out her site and click on 'eye candy' to see spread after spread of beautiful tables! She's a gal who specializes in gorgeous dessert tables (most likely for the rich and famous...I really wonder how much she charges...). So Ms. Atlas' dessert tables were my inspiration behind the photo above!

But first I'll mention lunch. Because that's what we ate first...and it's the order of my photos. We used my mom's chicken salad sandwich recipe on croissants and Jenny's strawberry-walnut salad. I had a few requests for the salad recipe...so here it is (Jenny, I hope you don't mind!):

Strawberry Walnut Salad

Dressing (blended in blender):

1 c. vegetable oil

3/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. red wine vinegar

2 cloves garlic minced

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. paprika

1/4 t. gr. white pepper

Salad:

1 head romaine

1 head boston (we used a pre-mixed spring mix)

1 pt. strawberries, sliced

1/2 c. walnuts (used sugared walnuts)

1 c. shredded monteray jack cheese

Along with the salad and sandwiches, we served my most recent shower standard: Bacon Leek Quiches! I love them almost more than dessert. I actually ate more of these rather than a cupcake. But it may just be what I'm craving....I love making them for showers/events because you prep and freeze them days or weeks ahead of time and then pop them straight from the freezer to the oven when it's hosting time! I'd be glad to share the recipe, but this blog post will be getting so long! Let me know in a comment below and I can email it your way!

And now for dessert. Sugar cookies...another one of Jenny's recipes. I enjoy her icing recipe because it's thin enough that you dip them (brilliant!) and thus end up with a really smooth cookie surface! I thought the tiny monogrammed ones were adorable! (Andrea's soon to be born daughter will be names Lauren).

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries. Need I say more? These were possibly the biggest hit--such a favorite--and took the least amount of time to prepare. AND strawberries were on sale. Win-win-win! Ladies just ooh and ahh over chocolate covered strawberries!

Another one of my new favorite pretty treats. Brownie pops. These are little balls of brownie on a stick, dipped in and drizzled with different colored melting chips (purchased at craft store). Cute and yummy!

Continuing with the pink and green theme (because Andrea's baby room/bedding is pink and green), we made Jenny's Spritz cookies. Well, Jenny made Jenny's Spritz cookies. I watched.

And the cupcakes. I did a lot of research on strawberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting prior to the shower. This is what I decided upon and had pretty good feedback! I used Paula Deen's cupcake recipe found here (but didn't use her cream cheese frosting). I wanted a cream cheese frosting that would pipe well and hold it's shape. I ended up using:
2 sticks butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
5 cups powdered sugar
3 heaping teaspoons of strawberry puree concentrate (cooked down)
It made a really delicious frosting!

That's all for now! If there are any recipes you're interested in that I didn't include here, let me know. Most of them are already typed up, I just didn't want this to be so lengthy!

Craft Alert and Baby Announcement

Here's my big crafty blogging baby announcement; we're expecting another baby! Here's a T-shirt I made (painted) for James tonight. Okay, so the news isn't so new. I was so exhausted the first trimester that I didn't get around to blogging about anything and have been so busy the past month that I haven't had time either! Baby #2 is due in October. Now, on to the craft....

Not sure why I'm so obsessed with this craft. Perhaps because it can be successfully accomplished in an hour or two? Maybe because my FIRST trial run actually worked? Or maybe because it's fairly cheap? So many great things about it! This is a variation of the craft we did at Andrea's Baby Shower (photos & recipes coming soon). See this and this website for some more in-depth instructions and tips.

My inspiration for this t-shirt design came from this. I had already purchased a red t-shirt at H*bby L*bby not long ago for $1.50, had the paint leftover from Andrea's shower, and borrowed the freezer paper, rotary mat, and knife from my mom and Jenny. (thanks!!) First, I goofed around in Microsoft Word, picked out a font, and designed my stencil. Then I printed it (above, left). Then I traced exactly what I printed on the freezer paper (above, right).

Then I cut it out with Jenny's craft knife. I will have to buy one, because she's leaving for Memphis tomorrow. :( I thought this step would take forever. It did take 20 minutes. That, of course, varies on your design!

Then...I ironed on my stencil. Freezer Paper (which, I believe you can buy in the grocery store or craft store) is 'plastic coated' on one side. So it sticks temporarily to the fabric! Brilliant! Who came up with this? IMPORTANT: Also iron a piece about the same size INSIDE the shirt, plastic side up, so that it guards the back of the shirt from paint. You could stick something like cardboard in there, too, but I like that this method is slip-proof.

Here's the paint I used. That brand and type was recommended. I used WAY more than that little dot of paint. Maybe that was partially due to the fact that I was painting yellow on dark red....

Mark was very patient with my craft time. I was extremely indecisive about the paint color choice....

Drying with a hair dryer. I did this only a minute or two before carefully peeling off the freezer paper, using the X-acto/craft knife to pry up the edges of the letters. I will let this dry the rest of the way over night and then iron it once more to 'set' the paint in the morning (with a piece of fabric between paint & iron, just in case).

Finished product! I think it's so cute! I have a blue shirt, too, and I'm already armed with a few ideas for another Big Brother shirt...Maybe I'll post a picture of it!

And one profile picture to finish things off...Here we are at 16 weeks. I'm fairly certain I wasn't this big til 20 or 22 weeks with James! I know, I know...you're supposed to show earlier with your second child. :) Had an appointment today and found out I will get another sonogram at 20 weeks and if Baby is cooperative we'll know the gender then! Can't wait!