Star Cakes

I was so excited to take this quilt off the quilting frames.  It took me awhile to get it quilted, and the whole time it was on the machine I was worried about how it would look.  Once I laid it out I was pleasantly surprised. 

I think it turned out great.  I love the colors in the Park Avenue line.  I made this for Material Girls and now that its done I'm anxious to get it back.  This pattern is a fun, easy pattern.  Just uses a layer cake and some background yardage.  Goes together so fast.  I believe Material Girls will have kits so go get one now!

Leftovers

I love a meal made completely from leftovers.   It was delicious!

Menu Mondays

Its a new Monday - I've already worked out today and I'm making new goals.  Working out at least 4 times a week, and I'm monitoring my calories.  I've gotta loose this weight!

Monday - Tri-tip w/ fruit and feta salad and bread
Tuesday - Chicken Curry
Wednesday - Spinach Quiche
Thursday - eat out
Friday - Chicken Salsa

Fruit and Feta Salad

What could be better then a fresh salad on a hot summer day?  One with lettuce all from your own garden.

                                       (OK my mom's garden not mine, but pretty close)

I got this recipe from my cousin Heidi who should open her own little lunch shop.  Everything she creates is wonderful!  Here is the recipe, not sure where she got it, but you've gotta try it!

FRUIT and FETA GREEN SALAD

8 cups assorted greens - I just did red leaf lettuce & I never measure that. Tonight I made it with spinach.
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1 (11-oz) can mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 cup dried cranberries or cherries
1 small red onion, chopped
1/2 cup toasted pecans or almonds
Dressing:

4 Tbsp. raspberry wine vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. pepper
dash of Tabasco sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
4Tbsp. sugar

Combine salad ingredients in large salad bowl. Mix together dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over salad just before serving.

ENJOY - so good!

Procrastination

I should be quilting this quilt....instead I decided to start my first coin quilt.

Using this tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew and 100% scraps I finished it all in about an hour.  The only problem now is I've got to find a way to match the cream to something in the store since those were scrap pieces also....wasn't thinking that far ahead.

Another quilt I started as I continued to procrastinate was this.

Its a twist on the disappearing nine patch pattern.  I used this tutorial.  I am loving how easy it is.

Make a nine patch like this...

Place the post color in the center of each 9 patch, and the sashing is the white.

Find the center of the post/sashing blocks, and cut both vertically and horizontally.

Flip your blocks so they are all going the same direction and there you have it.  A block quilt with sashing and posts.  WHAT COULD BE EASIER????

I used 12 Days of Christmas by Kate Spain and LOVE IT!  Kate Spain has done it again with another fun fun line!

Can't wait to get it done -- but I did get the Star Cakes quilt on the frames and I have started the quilting.   I'm sure I'll need a break here and there so I'll stop to make another block.  They take about 20 minutes is all.  Hopefully by the end of the weekend I'll have a quilt quilted and all my blocks ready to sew together.  I love a fun fast project!

12 Steps

Hello - my name is Abby and I have children.  SICK little children.  Shouldn't there be a 12 step program for mothers going through this?  I'm about ready to go crazy.  Between crying kids (which I feel really bad for, but it still wears on me) to NO sleep, I kind of want to crawl into bed and pull the covers over my eyes. 

Late Night

My parents always had a strict curfew set when I was growing up.  Something about nothing good happens after midnight or something like that....I beg to differ.

This is what I accomplished staying up a little bit past my curfew last night!

This morning I spent about 2 silent alone hours in my sewing room adding borders.  It was pure heaven.

Now I just need to figure out how to quilt it.  Any ideas?

4th of July Celebration

My family got together for our annual 4th of July BBQ.  I have to say the food was amazing.  My mom wanted to do something a little different.  We normally just grill up some hamburgers or steaks.  This year we did grilled salmon.  It was so good.  I got the recipe here  -- TRY IT, you won't be sorry.  We had cesar salad made by Melanie which was delicious.  She also brought a great bean/tomato/italiany chip dip that I will be getting the recipe for. 

Inspired by my cousin Marta, I decided to copy their family tradition and make a flag cake of my own.  I had never made a red velvet cake before, but I impressed myself.  I decided to go with a cream cheese frosting instead of the traditional red velvet frosting.  Love their idea of dying the coconut.  That Marta sure is clever.  

This year I bought some sparklers for Jake to try out.  He thought they were fun.  We'll have to do it again for the 24th.

We had our annual fireworks show put on by Tyler.  Its more fun for me to watch my kids these days then the actual fireworks.  Jake loved them and Sam didn't look away.

Whit and Jake watching the show

Sam crawling EVERYWHERE!

Can anyone tell me what Grama is doing behind Jake?  No idea....

Me smothering Sam

My 2 boys....aren't they the cutest?

Thanks mom and dad for a great night!

Project in the works

I have started this project and I'm loving how it is turning out!

I'm using this line and its turning out beautiful!

I have 2 stars down and 2 to go.  Need to have it completed - sewn, quilted, and bound by the 16th, so I'll be staying up some late nights this week.  I'll take pictures of the progress as I go. 

I love a new project!

4th of July

This holiday weekend has been a fun, family party filled event!  I have always loved the 4th of July for the fireworks and BBQ's.  Too bad I haven't seen any fireworks yet, but we've sure eaten a lot!

Saturday we spent the day in the pool with the kids.  Jake is turning into quite the swimmer and I'm happy to report that Sam is beginning to like the sun and was happy spending the day outside.

Saturday night we went to a BBQ with the Latimer family.  We all hadn't gotten together in awhile and it was fun to see everyone.  Jake had fun playing with the dogs and running around the big back yard.
The kids were so warn out when we got home they went straight to sleep.  Mike and I actually had time to watch a movie.  It's been awhile since we've done that!

Sunday we spent the day swimming and eating with Jason and Whitney.  They make the best guacamole and garden burgers.  The didn't sleep well all day cause they didn't want to miss out on any quality time with Whitney.  So they both went to sleep at 7:30 last night!  Mike and I actually watched another movie.  Twice in a weekend.....that is a new record.

We are off tonight for another BBQ at my family's house.  I've forgotten my camera all weekend I'll try to remember it tonight!

This is what the summer is all about...swimming, sun, food, and fun!