sweaters and sneakers

The other day, Izzy laid in bed with me and watched Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. I was glad to have an excuse to watch it and the boys never would have watched for so long or with such intensity.

God, it was cheesy. But I couldn't stop smiling...not for even one second. I loved a lot of shows as a kid. I think maybe Captain Kangaroo and Pee Wee's Playhouse ranked right up there as well but Mr Rogers was the best. And still is.

I can't think of any other show that was so gentle. That taught respect and a desire for knowledge and neighborliness in such a thoughtful way.

The one we watched though had a Big Bird mention...how could I have watched so many episodes of MRN and never noticed the Sesame Street Crossover?

My Fred Rogers love renewed, I just added this to my reading list. I think everyone should read it :)

So, it's been almost exactly a year since I updated this thing.

A lot has changed. Even more has stayed the same.

I've been thinking for awhile about coming back to it. Composing posts in my head but never putting pen to paper as it were.

Then today, as I went about my day, I had this overwhelming sense of deja vu. I popped over to the blog and it all made sense looking at my last post. So, it was obvious to me that this would be the day that I made an attempt to revive some semi-regular updating.

LAUNDRY...NEVER ENDING | RAKING LEAVES | WORK MUSIC

THE LONG AWAITED RELEASE (WHICH WAS READ AFTER SCHOOL COVER TO COVER) | WAITING FOR SCHOOL TO LET OUT
DINNER...YUP | SILLY IZZY IN THE BATH | PENSIVE IZZY IN THE BATH
POTTY TRAINING | CHECKING HOMEWORK FOLDERS | THE NIGHTLY RITUAL

Maybe it was the gorgeous fall day; far too lovely for early to mid November. Maybe it was the pinch as blisters set into my hands. Maybe it's because a couple of weeks ago, I picked up that brown sweater that I'd started last fall (intent on finishing AND wearing this Thanksgiving!)

Whatever it was, nostalgia brought me back. And all of the coincidences that led me back, also made me decide immediately that DQ for dinner was an absolute.

Maybe tomorrow, I'll think about updating that banner, huh?

saturday in pictures

I so rock at this blogging thing.

• a couple of people asked about how I made these fabric pinwheels
  for Izzy's birthday. seriously, they were so half-assed but it's cute fabric and a pinwheel - how could I go wrong? I was going to try to cobble together some sort of tutorial but I haven't had the sewing machine out once since the party soooo, I stumbled on this tutorial and I haven't looked at it but I'm positive it's 1000% more thorough than anything I could come up with so check it out if you're interested!
• YAY. I bookmarked her work forever ago and even made my own yarn wreath last year...this year though, it'll be much better thanks to this tutorial!
• and if I make one of those, I'm going to need one of these
  as well.
• I bookmarked this tutorial
  awhile ago and want to make it badly but I still haven't figured out where to put it. If I have to, I'll put it in the damn laundry room.
• I made this recipe that Rebecca shared. Make it. Now. So delicious. I just made sauteed onions and brown rice rather than the green rice and we wrapped it all in a tortilla. YUM.
• I'm obsessed over this blog. I keep going back and studying all the details. So cool.
• Halloween was a success even though I completely wussed out on the preparations...store-bought costumes, no pumpkin carving (though we did make it to the pumpkin patch in mid-October) and no decorations. The kids could not possibly have cared less about all the stuff I *didn't* do though. Star Wars costumes + candy out the ears makes them happy. Izzy and I shared a box of Nerds while C took the boys out.

OK, there was more but I started this post more than 24 hours ago so that's all you get for now :p

Peace.

september 29: made me happy this morning :)

september 25: having a baby girl flipped my long forgotten estrogen switch

september 24: fuzzy fo

september 22: quiet time

september 21: hanging by a thread

september 16: fourteen months and counting

september 11: rockstar in the making

september 8: no first day jitters for these two

september 6: still infatuated with the mario brothers

september 2: late summer beach trip

an impromptu (hence the phone picture) trip to the beach on a gorgeous late summer day :)

september 1: new specs

making stuff...the party edition

Izzy had a party a couple of weeks ago dontcha know?

So, I knit her this hat.


Because I needed a good picture for this invitation. (her middle name is walker but I shortened isabella to "izzy b" awhile ago and it stuck :)


And I have a sewing machine that is begging to be used so I made this banner to hang some pictures from for a display of her first year in photos.


And then for favors, I made some fun pinwheels and clipped them to some brown paper lunch sacks that I sewed shut with my sewing machine. That thing is proving to come in handy.


I made this little cake too. My first buttercream frosting ever. And it was good. And buttery. And way pinker than I intended. But I never used a gel color before. Lesson learned.


She seemed to be fine with it though :)

making stuff...the patriotic edition

One day, I took Zack to Hobby lobby. And while we were checking out, he asked if he could have one of the bandanas at the check out. They were orange afterall. And, they had red as well. So, I could satisfy both boys and their color preferences for the rock-bottom price of 99 cents each. And, there was a third color - blue. So, of course miss Izzy could have her own color.

But why not get 2?


And turn it into the simplest little dress EVER.


Hem the bottom.


Create a pocket on top for the eyelet lace ribbon.


Seam the sides and voila! (note, I did not type "viola!" because that is a stringed instrument not an exclamation synonymous with "check it out!")

making stuff...the gastronomic edition

So I went out of town for a few days. I had good intentions of setting up a few blog posts ahead of time to post while I was gone but although I started 5, yes FIVE, new posts, none of them were completed and ready to go. I have a good start on them though so I should be able to get on a good roll this week :)

For this one, just a quickie. Another recipe that we really enjoy. I think I got it from allrecipes but I can't remember for sure! I realize it doesn't look like much in the photo but trust me - seriously delicious (as long as you like just a bit of heat.) I add some toasted sesame seeds on top and serve it over brown rice. Usually with some steamed broccoli (which hadn't made it to the plate when I took the photo.)


Orange Garlic Beef

• cloves minced garlic (you know me by now, right? yes, add more)
• 1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 lb boneless sirloin steak cut into strips
• 1/2 t grated orange rind
• 1/4 C orange juice
• 1 T cornstarch
• 2 T soy sauce
• 1 t sesame oil
• 3/4 C sliced green onions

1. Combine garlic, pepper and beef tossing well.
2. Whisk together rind, juice, cornstarch and soy sauce.
3. Heat oil in a large nonstick pan over medium high heat. Add beef mixture and onions - saute about 2 minutes.
4. Add juice mixture and cook until sauce thickens (about 2 minutes) stirring frequently.
5. Enjoy!

And, a few link shares:

love this jewelry collection

we don't really buy bottled water anymore but how pretty is this diy project?

how fast could I go broke on $25 hooded onesies? FAST. Especially Dandy Lions. And mmmh, Delicious. And Pillow Fight. And Be Cool. And. And. And.

making stuff...the notalgic edition

This is a blanket I finished a few months ago.

It's not really a pattern I would typically choose.

But my grandma was a knitter and taught me how years and years ago. She knit me countless sweaters and slippers and blankets. This is all I have left though. And, it has a hole in it.

I quit for more than 20 years and had to be re-taught. I wanted to knit something to connect me to my grandma and preserve the last gift she gave to me in some small way.

So, I found the stitch pattern she had used for the blanket, chose a yarn and set to work.

And now, it's done. And even though it was kind of monotonous, I'm glad I did it. Izzy sleeps with it now. And she seems to like it. That's all the validation I need.