I have come to the conclusion that Sunday is a crappy day for a yard sale! Saturday went pretty well and we made $25ish dollars on junk we had stuffed in boxes in the closet. It was kinda like finding $25 dollars in the pocket of a jacket you haven't worn in awhile. Except, it's too hot for jackets in California this time of year. And now we have more room in our closet.
Other random thoughts:
Why is it that you won't see a single fly in a 10 mile radius, but as soon as you open the door for 10 seconds... you have 100 flies in the house?!
Babies should come in a standard size so that baby clothes can come in a standard size too. How can two onesies be polar opposites in size, yet both are labled as "3-6 months"? I don't get it.
Lindt Lindor Truffles are godly and Hershey's tastes like dirt. If I still had a gallbladder and no fear of an ever increasing waist-line, I would eat a bag of Lindor Truffles every. single. bloody. day. And now they have a new flavor! Oh my... don't get me started.
Father's Day is just around the corner and I can't think of a nice and simple gift for Pops. What do you get the man in your life that hates everything? Pops might be a bust, but Husband should be fairly easy...
I almost need a whole new wardrobe. My pre-pregnancy clothes are a bit too small and my maternity clothes are either A)too baggy or B)look ridiculous without a huge bump. My mother recently found me some ribbed tanks and tees and they hide the post-pregnancy flab and breast-pads... any better ideas? I'd like to ingeniously hide any evidence of baby weight until I can loose it which might not be anytime soon (refer back to truffle comment).
Hope you don't mind my babbling. Have a great 3-day weekend!
May 30, 2010
May 28, 2010
Felt Alphabet Soup
I got "abc" blocks awhile back for the Camster, but I thought something a little more travel friendly was in order. Thirty-five wooden blocks don't compact well... not as well as felt! I think the more you read this blog, the more you will understand my love-affair with felt. No hems, no unraveling as you hand sew, you can find it just about anywhere, and it's soft. <3 <--- that's a heart by the way...
Wanna make your own felt letters? Well you're in luck folks! I just happened to put together a little tutorial for ya!
Wanna make your own felt letters? Well you're in luck folks! I just happened to put together a little tutorial for ya!
First, print out the whole alphabet in a bold 3 inch sized font. I even printed mine out in orange as to conserve my precious black ink. Cut them out and arrange them on the felt so there is a 1/4 inch gap between them for cutting.
Sorry if it's hard to see (crappy indoor camera shots), but next outline the letters with a pen. I used a regular ball point pen because it will be covered up later with fancy pantsy embroidery, but you should probably use a sewing pen with washable ink.
Then sew along your pen line, but leave a gap so you can stuff it later. Don't forget the inside of your "O"!
Cut your letter out with a small small small seam allowance so your stitches don't bust. Don't forget the inside of your "O"!
Stuff it, sew the gap left for stuffing closed, and VOILA! Pretty felt letters! It might also be a good idea to make doubles of the commonly used letters or extra letters you need to spell your child's name. Have fun!
May 26, 2010
Good Eats
Husband and I tried a recipe from this food blog and it was FABULOUS! I am in the process of reading all of the archives to find more yummy recipes to make my husband cook for me (*wink*).
Here it goes:
Spinach and Cheese Strata
From Smitten Kitchen and Adapted from Gourmet (sniffle), February 2003
Serves 6 to 8
1 (10 ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed, squeeze of all excess liquid, and chopped
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion (1 large)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
8 cups cubed French or Italian bread in 1-inch cubes (1/2 lb)
6 ounces coarsely grated Gruyère (2 cups)
2 ounces finely grated parmesan (1 cup)
2 3/4 cups milk
9 large eggs
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Sauté onion in butter in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and nutmeg and continue cooking for one minute. Stir in spinach, remove from heat and set aside.
Spread one third of the bread cubes in a well-buttered 3-quart gratin dish or other ceramic baking dish. Top with one-third of bread cubes,one-third of spinach mixture and one-third of each cheese. Repeat layering twice with remaining bread, spinach and cheese.
Whisk eggs, milk, mustard and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together in a large bowl and pour evenly over strata. Cover with plastic wrap and chill strata for eat least 8 hours or up to a day.
The next day, let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 350°F. Bake strata, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed, golden brown, and cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Here it goes:
Spinach and Cheese Strata
From Smitten Kitchen and Adapted from Gourmet (sniffle), February 2003
Serves 6 to 8
1 (10 ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed, squeeze of all excess liquid, and chopped
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion (1 large)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
8 cups cubed French or Italian bread in 1-inch cubes (1/2 lb)
6 ounces coarsely grated Gruyère (2 cups)
2 ounces finely grated parmesan (1 cup)
2 3/4 cups milk
9 large eggs
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Sauté onion in butter in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and nutmeg and continue cooking for one minute. Stir in spinach, remove from heat and set aside.
Spread one third of the bread cubes in a well-buttered 3-quart gratin dish or other ceramic baking dish. Top with one-third of bread cubes,one-third of spinach mixture and one-third of each cheese. Repeat layering twice with remaining bread, spinach and cheese.
Whisk eggs, milk, mustard and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together in a large bowl and pour evenly over strata. Cover with plastic wrap and chill strata for eat least 8 hours or up to a day.
The next day, let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 350°F. Bake strata, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed, golden brown, and cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
May 23, 2010
Compilation of the Last Few Days
I haven't had enough to blog about the past couple days to warrant a full post (and I'd hate to be chintzy) so I'll cram it all together and fluff it up a bit like I used to to with essays in high school... here it goes:
Thursday:
My mother is an art teacher at a local elementary school and every year for "Open House" she compiles (common theme here or what?) all the kid's art from the year and hangs it up -art gallery style- as an art show.
It took me and Camster a few days earlier in the week to weed through what work was done and what wasn't, so Thursday it came down to hanging it all up. This isn't a very large school mind you, but there is A LOT of artwork by the end of the year! My grandmother (aka: G3) came up to join the long day's task of taping and hanging. I would have gotten a picture of the four generations preparing an art show, but again... we were busy preparing an art show. I will note however that the Camster was very well behaved in her "Small Paul" monkey front pack and let me work away most of the day without complaint (not counting regular feedings of course).
Friday:
All the Camster and I did was go over to my mom's class to torture help keep an eye on the lemmings kids as they worked on some busy work free draw. It is the end of the year of course.
Saturday:
Husband, Camster, and I all trucked it over to Columbia State Park. Well... maybe not "trucked it"... we Chevy Cavaliered it over to Columbia. For anyone who has never been to Columbia, California, you must go! I think in a week or two they are having some sort of "tent town". I'm not sure exactly what it entails, but it is something along the lines of a frontier town in the middle of the park with vendors and performers and such. Add them to your Facebook for details. Don't have Facebook? Then you stink!
Anyhoo- we Cavaliered it over to Columbia State Park. Our first stop is always the Columbia Candle & Soap Works shop. If you don't stop in to take in the aromas... then go in to meet Bubba. He is a very famous candle shop cat. We said our hellos to Bubba and sniffed out the goodies. Husband picked out a little Nag Champa candle to test out in our living room. Again, I would have taken a picture, but it's already half way burned and it wouldn't do the candle justise.
Then we walked over to the only other thing I'm interested in.... the candy shop! The Columbia Candy Kitchen!!! Oh. Dear. God. Yum. Don't go to the Candy Kitchen unless you don't mind gaining a few pounds. They didn't have my favorite-- milk chocolate turtles, but it did force me to try something new. I got the pecan log (something yummy and sweet and creamy covered in carmel and toasted? pecans) and Husband got the milk chocolate covered peanut butter square. I didn't try his because I hate that combination, and he didn't try mine because he hates nuts. Fine with me. Then the two and a half of us walked around the streets for a little while (Camster in the monkey pack), looked at the blacksmith shop, and said hello to the chickens on our way out. It was too windy for us. AGAIN, I would have taken pictures, but Husband forgot the camera in the car. I tried.
Sunday:
We did nothing today but sit around in our pj's watching scary movies and drumming. We figure we have a few more months to enjoy our beloved horror films before they are replaced with other horrors: Care Bears, Barney, Sesame Street, Dora the Exploasomething. Do they even make Care Bears anymore? Shows what I know...
Thursday:
My mother is an art teacher at a local elementary school and every year for "Open House" she compiles (common theme here or what?) all the kid's art from the year and hangs it up -art gallery style- as an art show.
It took me and Camster a few days earlier in the week to weed through what work was done and what wasn't, so Thursday it came down to hanging it all up. This isn't a very large school mind you, but there is A LOT of artwork by the end of the year! My grandmother (aka: G3) came up to join the long day's task of taping and hanging. I would have gotten a picture of the four generations preparing an art show, but again... we were busy preparing an art show. I will note however that the Camster was very well behaved in her "Small Paul" monkey front pack and let me work away most of the day without complaint (not counting regular feedings of course).
Friday:
All the Camster and I did was go over to my mom's class to torture help keep an eye on the lemmings kids as they worked on some busy work free draw. It is the end of the year of course.
Saturday:
Husband, Camster, and I all trucked it over to Columbia State Park. Well... maybe not "trucked it"... we Chevy Cavaliered it over to Columbia. For anyone who has never been to Columbia, California, you must go! I think in a week or two they are having some sort of "tent town". I'm not sure exactly what it entails, but it is something along the lines of a frontier town in the middle of the park with vendors and performers and such. Add them to your Facebook for details. Don't have Facebook? Then you stink!
Anyhoo- we Cavaliered it over to Columbia State Park. Our first stop is always the Columbia Candle & Soap Works shop. If you don't stop in to take in the aromas... then go in to meet Bubba. He is a very famous candle shop cat. We said our hellos to Bubba and sniffed out the goodies. Husband picked out a little Nag Champa candle to test out in our living room. Again, I would have taken a picture, but it's already half way burned and it wouldn't do the candle justise.
Then we walked over to the only other thing I'm interested in.... the candy shop! The Columbia Candy Kitchen!!! Oh. Dear. God. Yum. Don't go to the Candy Kitchen unless you don't mind gaining a few pounds. They didn't have my favorite-- milk chocolate turtles, but it did force me to try something new. I got the pecan log (something yummy and sweet and creamy covered in carmel and toasted? pecans) and Husband got the milk chocolate covered peanut butter square. I didn't try his because I hate that combination, and he didn't try mine because he hates nuts. Fine with me. Then the two and a half of us walked around the streets for a little while (Camster in the monkey pack), looked at the blacksmith shop, and said hello to the chickens on our way out. It was too windy for us. AGAIN, I would have taken pictures, but Husband forgot the camera in the car. I tried.
Sunday:
We did nothing today but sit around in our pj's watching scary movies and drumming. We figure we have a few more months to enjoy our beloved horror films before they are replaced with other horrors: Care Bears, Barney, Sesame Street, Dora the Exploasomething. Do they even make Care Bears anymore? Shows what I know...
May 20, 2010
DIY Teepee
UPDATE September 2011: Because of the mass interest in a DIY teepee I have recently created a tutorial on how I made my own 6 foot tall teepee. Just follow this link: http://sweetpeaandme.blogspot.com/2011/07/diy-teepee.html
I was perusing the internet this morning... as usual... and found this cute idea! I've seen kids teepees before, but this one has a modern look to it. I thought I would make a larger scale one this summer for Camster and all four of her cousins to play in. Five little girls would warrant a much more girly design.
Luckily this pattern is very adjustable and should give you a good idea of where to start. I think I'll make mine out of canvas (I can buy it by the yard at the local variety store) and pvc pipe (OSH Supply). I will be sure to upload pictures of my version once I make it next month sometime.
I was perusing the internet this morning... as usual... and found this cute idea! I've seen kids teepees before, but this one has a modern look to it. I thought I would make a larger scale one this summer for Camster and all four of her cousins to play in. Five little girls would warrant a much more girly design.
Luckily this pattern is very adjustable and should give you a good idea of where to start. I think I'll make mine out of canvas (I can buy it by the yard at the local variety store) and pvc pipe (OSH Supply). I will be sure to upload pictures of my version once I make it next month sometime.
Happy teepee-ing!
May 18, 2010
Mom-Talk Etiquette
Yesterday myself, my husband, and Camster went over to my parents house for dinner. My aunt also joined us for kabobs (I know... we seem like big kabob eaters now). But when my aunt arrived, it seemed like the only thing I had to talk about was Camster. Does this happen to anyone else? Granted- I have only been a stay-at-home mom for a little over three months, but all I do is play with a baby. It's not like I lead a very exciting life otherwise.
I just feel awkward. Maybe because I always hated when mothers had nothing better to talk about than their children. Now that I am a mother, I know why. There is nothing else going on! Every single thing I do throughout the day involves my baby in one way or another.
When people ask you 'What's new?', are they asking knowing that the answer will inevitably involve some story about how your kid gave you her first wink or had really explosive diarrhea at a restaurant? I can never tell if people are sincerely curious about what we've been up to or if they are just being polite. I'm having trouble finding a happy medium in conversations.
Is there an etiquette for mom talk? Perhaps a 20 or 30 second time limit? Maybe a certain mom-talk to adult-talk ratio? Or restraints on content? If so, someone needs to fill me in.
I just feel awkward. Maybe because I always hated when mothers had nothing better to talk about than their children. Now that I am a mother, I know why. There is nothing else going on! Every single thing I do throughout the day involves my baby in one way or another.
When people ask you 'What's new?', are they asking knowing that the answer will inevitably involve some story about how your kid gave you her first wink or had really explosive diarrhea at a restaurant? I can never tell if people are sincerely curious about what we've been up to or if they are just being polite. I'm having trouble finding a happy medium in conversations.
Is there an etiquette for mom talk? Perhaps a 20 or 30 second time limit? Maybe a certain mom-talk to adult-talk ratio? Or restraints on content? If so, someone needs to fill me in.
May 17, 2010
DIYODS Play Kitchen: part III
DIYODS "Do It Your Own Damn Self" Play Kitchen: part III
Remember on the part II post where I said that hinges are evil? Well I further proved that point when I worked on the play kitchen yesterday. It turns out that trying to attach hinged doors to beveled corners is the cause of all my tears. I suppose that is a direct result of me trying to convert a desk into something with doors instead of drawers. ARG!
On to part III:
Remember on the part II post where I said that hinges are evil? Well I further proved that point when I worked on the play kitchen yesterday. It turns out that trying to attach hinged doors to beveled corners is the cause of all my tears. I suppose that is a direct result of me trying to convert a desk into something with doors instead of drawers. ARG!
On to part III:
Yay! The silicone caulking worked! I was actually surprised since the plexi-glass piece was smaller than the hole by about 1/8 of an inch all the way around (oops). The silicone held it in remarkably well so we scraped the excess off the plexi-glass and attached some hinges.
It wasn't easy, but we managed to turn the beveled edge into 90-ish degree angle with the help of some paint sticks. The door doesn't open all the way so next time I will attach the chain I bought in order to stabilize the door against rough use.
The oven door is a bit more secure with a magnetic closure in place.
Now go take a walk...
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