Soft and Chunky

So what do you think of when you hear those 2 words said together ? My youngest was talking about Applesauce, I think of peanut butter or the Nestle candy chunk bar, my husband on the other hand thinks of ME !! Yes, that's right, me. As we sat around the dinner table last night Reagan was talking about how she ate some applesauce and described it as soft and chunky, to which Marc replied "Like Mommy." Uhm excuse me ? He tried to wriggle out of it, spewing some crap about it being complimentary, uhm, no, those 2 words used to describe a person are not complimentary no matter how you look at it. Fast forward to tonight. I mentioned how I desperately needed to shower I had been sat in a hospital waiting room a good part of the day and felt gross, plus my legs were getting itchy because I hadn't shaved them in the last month, this past month has been full of Dr appts, sick kids and getting things ready for a family visit,shaving my legs has not been on the top of my priority list... it's Winter, not like anyone will see them, so what the heck right ? But they started getting itchy, so I mentioned to my dear sweet husband, that I was not only soft and chunky but hairy too, to which he responded "Well, you can take care of hairy." What the hell ?? Seriously.
I know that somewhere along the evolution chain I somehow evolved from the polar bear, that come Fall an extra layer of fat starts to form under my skin to keep me warm for the Winter. But soft and chunky ??? I don't think so. I'm thinking someone will be getting a stocking full of coal for Christmas this year.

Cyber Monday

I'm offering free worldwide shipping in the store today only. Valid on everything but pillows.
See you over there

All she wants for Christmas

Are her 2 front teeth.
After about the 5th time of asking if I could get a picture of her with her missing teeth this is what I got. My little toothless goof ball.

Pumpkin cheesecake

This is by far the best Pumpkin Cheesecake, ever. Personally I can't stand the taste of pumpkin and so when my friend Renee made it I was learey to try it, but one bite and I was hooked.
I made it yesterday for my wonderful play group Mommies for our annual Thanksgiving Brunch and I'll be making another next week for our Family Thanksgiving.
Give it a try, you won't be sorry.
Note: I garnished with big chocolate chips, my pecans had gone a little funky.



CRUST

3/4 C Graham cracker crumbs
1/2 C Finely chopped pecans
1/4 C Firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 C regular sugar
1/2 stick butter, melted and cooled

Combine everything into a buttered springform pan, raising the edges about 1/2 inch.
Chill for 1 hr

FILLING FOR PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

1 1/2 C solid packed pumpkin (NOT Pumpkin pie filling)
3 Lrg eggs
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Ground ginger
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 C Firmly packed light brown sugar
3 x 8 oz packages cream cheese cut into pieces and softened
1/2 C Granulated sugar
2 Tbs Heavy cream
1Tbs Cornstarch
1 tsp Vanilla
1 Tbs Bourbon (optional)

In a bowl whisk together 1st 7 ingrediants

In a seperate lrg bowl cream, cream cheese, gran sugar.

Beat in cream, cornstarch, vanilla, bourbon, and pumpkin mix until smooth

Pour onto crust

Bake in the middle of preheated 350 degree oven for 50 - 55 mins, or until center is just set. Let cool for 5 mins

TOPPING

2 C Sour cream
2Tbs regular sugar
1 Tbs bourbon

Whisk together, spread over top, bake for 5 mins. Cool on rack. Chill overnight. Garnish w/ pecans

Our week in pics

Ever sit back and think "Wow,what happened to the week ?"
Well here's what happened to part of ours and it was quite a mixed bag

Reagan lost her top front tooth


Ben decided to show the male folk that it's not only girls that can sew


We had lots of rain


And lots of wind


In the midst of the storm Reagan got Strep


Within 24 hrs she bounced back and became the healthiest sick person I know and requested we bake a pumpkin pie, she was still in the contagious stage so we weren't taking chances


Ben and I took a trip to Annapolis to see a cardiologist, but the highlight of his day was a trip to Borders, he could have spent the whole day in there


I got to finish up a couple of sewing projects.

A baby blanket for a friend



A new pillowcase for Reagan to use on Christmas Eve in which she can leave her letter for Santa and an extra fabric envelope in case he writes her back (Debating whether to add a couple to the store, thoughts ?)




We conclude the week with Reagan just losing that other top tooth but I'll spare you the photo, it's a bit of a bloody mess

Layla Grace blanket set giveaway

How incredibly sweet are these blankets. I can think of one special little someone who would look so snug in one of these when s/he arrives in February.
Have a special little someone in your life that you'd like to see wrapped up in one ? Then go on over to Grosgrain Fabulous, leave a comment and link up to this Giveaway, simple as that.

It just kept on growing

Ever started a project with a very basic idea in mind and then it just keeps growing and growing ? Well that happened to me today. My plan was to make a simple baby blanket, you know, one side plain the other side patterned, well that changed rapidly to 4 panels all different colors for the front, once that was done it looked cute, but it needed something more, enter the moon and a sprinkle of stars. Looking good. Back cut out and ready to stitch to the front, but wait something's missing, should I bind ? Nah, how about that yummy jumbo ric rac ? Perfect. Put them altogether and what do you get ? A super cute baby blanket that I can't post pics of, JIC. As I sat and looked at it and looked out the window at the rain that wouldn't let up today my fingers got itchy to do more, so a smaller version with a couple of tags was born and I've a feeling that before the weekend is here there will be a whole ensemble going on, providing Reagan is feeling better in the morning and goes to school. She went to bed tonight with chills, sore throat, itchy, watery eyes and a tummy ache. My sewing may actually be done for the week *SNIFF*

What to do do ?

This is what I see when I look outside today .. Blech, it's cold too


So I have deicided to spend some quality time with this


And tackle this


Any ideas what I'm making ? I'll update tomorrow with any and all finished projects.

Christmas is coming

Well now that Halloween is out of the way,Thanksgiving is just around the corner and before we know it it'll be Christmas. This year, just like last year I'm hoping to make it a Handmade Christmas or at least a mostly handmade Christmas, doesn't matter whether it's made by me or another Etsian, what I'm pretty sure of is that I don't want to keep throwing my money down the drain of the big corporate giants that are sucking the little person dry w/ their expensive shoddy and impersonal items.
I've been busy sewing and am gradually getting around to adding more items to my store on a daily basis.

I have my favorite oven mitts ever. Double handed, no more searching for the 2nd one,doesn't matter if you have little hands they work pefectly, no more bulk and the really nice thing ? They protect even your boobs from burns when you lift out your Thanksgiving turkey.
Here's a pair along with a co ordinating kitchen towel, just in time for Thanksgiving

My own personal favorites


Looking for something for the person that has everything ? Photo pillows, perfect gift for the Grandparents. Just email me a high resolution picture of what you want on your pillow or send me the original (I promise I'll return it)


Tissue cozies for the kids, send them off to school prepared this cold and flu season. They'll never lose or crumple up their tissues at the bottom of their book bag again.


And my ultimate favorite ? My very own "On The Go Cozy" A nifty little cozy to keep all of your essentials at your fingertips instead of rummaging around at the bottom of a purse, diaper bag or make up bag. Use it as a First Aid kit in the car, a compact make up bag. House hunting ? load it up with a notepad, pen, tape measure and Tylenol. I found mine most useful when going on a field trip w/ Reagan's school. She had to go potty and the only available bathroom was the nastiest porta potty I've ever seen. (Makes the bile rise up in my throat just thinking about it) BUT, I was equipped, I had my cozy with me and inside it were anti bacterial wipes... perfect to wipe the seat and door handle, hand sanitizer to squirt on our hands afterwards, tissues to cover our noses to hide the stench and Benadryl for when she got bitten by a mosquito while out playing, I also had bandaids, anibiotic ointment, sunscreen and a lollipop loaded up just in case.
The teachers on my list this year will all be receiving one.