Shopping at Costco is not for sissies, lol!

You all know that I love my children dearly, I mean I sacrifice my own wants, desires and sometimes needs so I can stay at home to raise them. And I wouldn't trade it! However, shopping with my dear children is not one of my favorite things to do! I try to avoid it at all costs, especially if I need to try anything on! But today, hubby needed me to bring him some tools to a job site in Provo (about 20 minutes from our house) where he was working. (My other job title besides mom is gopher, I go fer this and I go fer that, I'm pretty good at it.) So I thought I really need some things at Costco so I should just continue on into Orem since I'm already so close. What was I thinking? I usually make hubby go with me to carry all the giant, heavy boxes, but I figure, I can do this...On the way onto the freeway I hear from the backseat, "mom, I have to go to the bathroom!" (Mind you, we just left home where she just went), but when nature calls it's usually not a convenient moment. I say "can you hold it?" "Yep, she says. We drop needed stuff off to hubby and venture to the giant box store! Once we get scanned through the door we make a run for the potty, where my oldest gets herself locked in the stall. I almost had to crawl underneath to rescue her, so glad I didn't have to do that. She finally got the jammed lock to release. Now we are a baby in the front seat belt, 2 girls hanging off the sides of what they call "the Kalmar express", they pretend it's a train. With all the noises of course. And I don't know what provokes children to jump off the moving train trying to dodge the oncoming traffic, but it seems fun! With every isle the train gets loaded down heavier, and heavier. Should have eaten my Wheaties today! There are no lane restrictions or rights of way, it seems it's every man for himself! After answering no about a zillion times to "mom, can we get this", we are ready to check out. Of course there is a long line and my baby has had enough of the cart and is screaming, so I'm holding the cute little guy. Who is getting really heavy about now. I enlist the girls to help unload the cart, they are very good helpers! We made it through and that berry smoothie I get on the way out makes it all better. Yes, shopping at Costco with children is not for sissies!

Memorial Day

Yesterday was Memorial Day and as I drove through small towns on our way to the lake for a day of fishing I couldn't help but feel patriotic as I saw so many flying the red, white and blue. The flag is beautiful as she waves in the wind. Got me thinking of the many who have sacrificed their safety and lives to protect our great country. A memory came to mind of a funeral I attended of an old friend years ago. He was an elderly gentleman, who had served in the military in his youth. At his funeral there were other veterans present dressed in their finest uniforms. In their aged state still took so much pride in their opportunity to serve. I mention this funeral service because it left a lasting impression on me. I have never heard Taps played live on a real bugle. The tune was piercingly beautiful and the military rifle salute breathtaking. Every time I see the flag I think of this sweet experience and all those throughout history that have given so much to create the great nation we have today. I saw a Facebook post that stated something to the effect that Memorial Day is not just a day off to bbq, but that we should remember the true meaning. So as I was fishing with my family know that I have a true appreciation in my heart for those many veterans who have paid the price for our freedom.

Avengers!

So hubby and I went on a date last night, (first date in months, hallelujah!) It was fun to escape for a bit. We went to see the Avengers movie. I liked it, it was entertaining. Hubby loved it! Got me thinking, which member of the Avenger team is my favorite? Hmmm...Is it the old fashioned, clean cut, not a hair out of place, chivalrous, Captain America? Or maybe the ever self-centered, spoiled, technologically gifted, playboy Iron Man? How about the rugged and regal Thor? Or the out of control, raging green guy? I think my favorite might just be Natasha Romanov, that chick can kick booty! Wish I had those moves! All in all it was a fun movie worth seeing! I think my favorite part was definitely when the Hulk flips Loki around like a rag doll, that is funny stuff! So who is your favorite Avenger?

My Garden...One of my Happy Places!

They say Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, and I have been there, it's great, but I have lots of other places that make me happier. One of those places is just out my back door. My garden is a place I can connect with nature, appreciate the beautiful things in the world God created. Work my guts out trying to keep the weeds down while pondering the mysteries of life! Gain satisfaction from putting work into something and then reaping such bountiful rewards. Today as I was watering and doing a my daily inspection of my plants I saw that my beets had been really growing so I decided to thin them a little. I found some precious, little 1-2" beets that were screaming to be cooked up and eaten for lunch. So I picked them, parboiled and then sauteed them with some butter, garlic, mushrooms and the beet greens, served them over some simple creamy noodles. Mmmm! I love the fact that I can walk out my back door and find delicious, healthy food! When life gets hard go to your happy place!

Check out Cache Valley Dairy's winning contest recipes

I entered Cache Valley Dairy's Signature Recipe contest a few months ago. I heard about the recipe contest on the radio and thought it might be a fun challenge. And the winner got $5,000.00. They had to be original recipes that you came up with and I didn't already have one that contained the necessary ingredients which were their products, like cheese, butter etc. I had a week to come up with something original so I went to work! Tried lots of different things and I came up with what is basically a batter fried mashed potato puff with melted cheddar in the middle. My kids loved that one the best out of all that I created so we went with that entry. It ended up being one of the winning recipes to be featured in their Signature Recipe Cookbook which is now down loadable from their website or facebook page. I encourage you to check it out. I wasn't the big winner ( I got a smaller cash prize, but it was super fun and definitely worth the effort!) My recipe is featured on page 9. If you are a local to Utah/Idaho consider getting a recipe in next year's contest!! I posted a link to their website if anyone wants to down load the recipe book.

Cache Valley Dairy website

Shirred or Smocked Headband Tutorial

Instructions on how to make Smocked/Shirred Headbands:
Cut strip of fabric, I used a 4 X 44" strip, hemmed both edges using the rolled hem edge machine foot.

I did the smocking/shirring baste stitches down the length of the strip using the silver plate on my machine as my guide (to keep straight line), then when at the bottom I turned and went back up the strip with the baste stitch, using my previous stitch line as my guide this time, keeping the fabric pulled tight/flat as the machine stitches. I did 4 lines of stitches so there was space at the sides for a ruffled effect. When finished smocking stitches it looks like the ruffled piece above, then I used my spray bottle with water and hot iron to press it, then it tightens up quite a bit as shown below.

Then I stitched ends together (using regular thread, not elastic bobbin thread). I zigzagged the edges because I hate fraying. Then I folded hem to one side and stitched it down,so it would lay flat on the head and not be uncomfortable. Because all heads are different sizes before stitching your ends together measure the person's head whom you are making it for and trim to size if needed.



This is what you end up with.







Then I added a rosette flower using a 3" strip of fabric sewn with right sides together, with one end open and one end sewn closed.










Then using my "grabber tool" I turned it right side out, tied a knot in the end, and using hot glue I glued the end around the knot until I had a rosette. Then I added 3 pearls for embellishment and hot glued the rosette to the headband and wah-lah!





 

Smocked or Shirred Headbands, tutorial on it's way.

I love headbands on my little girls but from the time they were little my husband has called them "brain squeezers" and basically banned them, not really, but he would always remove them given the chance! He always thought they were too tight and uncomfortable for the girls. So my new favorite way to make headbands is using shirring or smocking. If you aren't familiar this technique, it's using regular top thread and elastic bobbin thread, on a baste stitch, to create stretchable gathers that make everything cute and comfy too! (I am not going to give a tutorial on smocking or shirring as I have seen many good ones already floating around the internet, so if you want to learn the technique, google it and then come back to this for how to do a cute headband using the technique.) I'm not into re-doing things that are already being done well somewhere else. Here is my cute daughter sporting one I made her. I must say they are darling and the first one they have not complained that they hurt their heads and they keep them on all day!