Menu Mondays

Updated Menu - I decided to change things around a bit after I bought a chicken at Costco.  So this week there is gonna be a lot of chicken


Monday -  Chicken Orzo and left over strawberry/avocado salad
Tuesday - Southewest Chicken Stacks
Wednesday - Steak yams and salad
Thursday - Chicken tacos
Friday - Tortellini
Saturday - Soup

Happy Mother's Day

What the heart of a mother gives away is never gone.  It is kept in the hearts of her children.

                                           -- J.R. Downing 

The moment Jake was born this feeling, an overwhelming feeling of the need to protect, the feeling of love, the worry, the joy.... the feeling of motherhood.  This feeling is one that cannot be described.  You can try, but it has to be felt.  I am sure fathers have similar feelings, but I am certain it isn't as intense as the feeling we mothers get. 

Life has never been the same since that day.  

Motherhood has taught me to appreciate mothers in general more.  Being a mother is the hardest job in the world.  Full of joys and fun, but also full of fears and heart break.  I have learned in my 2 1/2 short years as a mother that most mothers are doing the best they can, and we all should go easy on each other. 

I was raised by a wonderful mother.  She has taught me many things about life.  She was always our cheerleader, telling all of us kids we could accomplish anything we wanted.  She made us believe we could be successful with our dreams.  She made us feel loved.  I remember nights when I was little in my red and white bedroom saying prayers and being sung to sleep (something she now does with my own kids).  I remember shopping trips, and late night talks.  We worked together for years and shared lunches, and stories, and tears. 

Holidays, especially Christmas were always made fun and special by mom.  I can still hear mom singing along with Barbra Streisand Christmas carols as mom would turn our house into a magical place.  Two Christmas trees, garland, mantels being redone, the whole house looked new. 

I spent years with my mom at sporting events for my brothers.  She was always supportive and cheering us on at everything we tried to do.   Always running to give us rides, or running to meet us at a game, or running to get us a drink. 

My mom was always available if we needed her.  A pep talk, a gossip session, if I needed a good laugh or a good cry.  I've learned a lot from my mom, but the biggest lesson I learned was unconditional love.  I know no matter what life brings my mom will be there loving me and cheering me on. 

I am so grateful I have such a wonderful mom.  Now she is bringing her fun and wisdom to my boys as she plays with them 3 days a week.  Another lesson I've learned since becoming a mother is it takes a village.  I am so lucky that my mom is part of the village helping me raise my boys.  It has brought me so much joy to see the fun relationship she has with them.  She and Jake have their own little language.  They sing songs and have cute little names they call each other.  I am lucky to have such a loving grandma to watch over my kids.

I am surrounded by great women.  My mother, my mother-in-law, my sister, and sister-in-laws, cousins, aunts, friends.  I also had the two greatest grandmothers anyone could ask for.  I have been blessed in life to be around such brave, strong, independent women.  They have taught me a lot, molding me into the person I am today.  Loved me, laughed with me, cried with me, were always there for me.  On this Mother's Day I celebrate all of them.  As it was all of them who have made me into the mother I am today.

             Mother-in-law with Jake

 
                 Mother-in-law with Sam

                  Whit with Jake

                  Sister-in-law Mel with Sam

       Cousin Marta with her nieces.


Happy Mother's Day!

Dresden Plates

Nadine over at Material Girls has gotten me on a Dresden plate making kick. 

I'm no perfectionist by any means, but I'm trying really hard to perfect these plates.  I've made 2 1/2 now.  Still trying to get them just right.

This was my first attempt.  I think it turned out pretty good.  The circle isn't the perfect circle and I've got to work on attaching everything, but for my first try I was happy.

My second attempt.  My sister and I decided to whip this up for her mother-in-law.  I found when quilting all the way around the Dresden, it no longer lays flat.  But I still love how it turned out.  Again, I need to work on making the circles, well more circular.

I've decided anything made out of Verna turns out cute!  Love this line.

Progress

Border on and quilted, I'm making progress.  Just need to bind it now, I'm thinking of the hot pink fabric....

I love how it turned out.  I have enough stripes left for another one too!

Menu Mondays

Monday - Grilled chicken w/roasted veggies
Tuesday - Crispy Chicken wraps
Wednesday - fish tacos
Thursday - steak w/spinach avocado and strawberry salad
Friday - Southwest Soup

To Quilt

Going through my quilting closet tonight I found a few loves I had forgotten about.  They are currently laying on my floor now so I will remember to quilt them. 

Using the My 3 Stars Buggy Barn pattern I made a smaller version.  I made this before Jake was born.  Almost 3 years ago.  Time to quilt it?  Its still one of my favorite quilts.  I love the Shangri la line which is of course 3 Sisters from Moda.  I've debated on if I should add a thicker border.  What do you think?

This little wall hanging? Table Topper?  I created myself.  Yes can you believe it?  I know its a flag, not rocket science, but I do love it.  I think its the fabrics.  Prairie Paisley by Minick and Simpson for Moda.  I have bins of this.  I dream about it at night.  Have some ideas to use it as its getting closer to the 4th of July, so stay tuned. 

Goal is to do these right after the one client quilt I've had for the last couple of weeks.  Gotta get that one out first!  So glad I found these, they have inspired me to clean out my closet.  All the quilts hanging waiting to be quilted are mine....isn't that why I bought the machine in the first place?

VERNA - my new love

I love the line Verna by Kate Spain.  I wasn't a fame at first, but every quilt I've seen out of it is beautiful.  So I jumped on the bandwagon and I'm hooked.  I can't get enough of it.  My recent finish is this quilt top.  Still need to add the borders, but boy am I loving it.

I know the lighting isn't great, but I'm rarely home during the day to catch the light.  I'll take a better shot once I get the borders on.  Can't wait - heading to Material Girls this weekend to get border and backing.  Hopefully I'll get it quilted soon!