i have to say...

of special girls and cute sweaters

We headed up to Boulder on Sunday to visit our daughter for her birthday.  I accidentally dressed as if it was supposed to be like the two previous days had been (60+ degrees) and froze the whole time, but other than that we have a lovely time.  It was great to see my girl settled, happy and doing quite well.

It is such an odd thing, letting go of your children. It's the thing we work towards for 18 years, but I tell you, it's an unnatural thing for a mommy to do.  My kids are such a huge part of my life and they take up a lot of room in my heart.

Is there anything wrong with wanting to buy about 50 acres and giving each kid a  part of it when they are 18?  And expecting them to live there for the rest of their lives with their families?

Yeah, I didn't think so!

I do love that my girl is only a little more than two hours from me.  Plus she lives in a place I love to be!

While we were visiting I spied a must-have-sweater (right side):

My bubble burst when I saw the $300 price tag, but I printed off my photograph and I fully intend to find a cheaper one at Forever 21, or some other store like that with tons to choose from and low prices.  The winter weather advisory in the forecast makes me want to dress spring-y, especially in something coral-y pink.

Am I the only one that has a wonderful group of guys to love, who tend to stand around like this when we shop:

Next time I think it needs to be just a "girl" day! 

Those boys can stay home and be manly. 

This is one time I may get in trouble for posting a picture, but just couldn't help it!

friday fun: a little about you and me

I was so surprised to find bright red berries in the store this week!  Even more surprised to find that they tasted great.  Makes me look forward to spring.....

Anyway, it's Friday!  Time for some fun.

I though I would reveal some things about myself. 

Just 5 things.

Things you may not know.

I am hoping you will reciprocate in the comments with at least one gem about yourself.

You can do it!

Here are mine:

1. I LOVE bacon.

2. I harbor a secret dream of being a roller-derby queen.

3. I have an almost-unibrow.  Or at least that is what I call it.  The problem is that I hate plucking and I hardly ever do it.  When the brows take over, you will find me in the bathroom with a pair of tweezers, with eyes watering.  People have told me I should do it everyday to keep up, but I just can't. I can't!

4. I have met Robert Smith of The Cure.  I was 16 and had a huge crush on him, and it was like a dream come true.  I still think it's kind of cool.

5. I love Chucks.  I own four pair: pink, brown, purple and blue.  My pink ones are pretty battered and I want to replace them with these.  Or these.  Or these. 

Well, there you have it.  A whole bunch of new information about me.

Your turn.  :)

my list of things-to-do is long!

My sewing list is huge and I absolutely can not start one more project.  Seriously, I put myself on a sewing project suspension.  No more until the pile shrinks.

First up, I have the Spicing Up the Kitchen Swap goodies to make.  The pile above is my starting point, although I am not quite sure what direction to take it.  A tablerunner and napkins are on the top of the list right now.

Next, I have a doll quilt to make.  So far I have done nothing, but am pretty sure that a small zig-zag quilt with linen and reds will be just the thing.  Both of these swaps are full of talented women (and a couple of men) so I feel the need to really make something wonderful.

My daughter's quilt is cut out.  Her birthday is the first week of February, so it will be a little late.  Probably the first week of March, but I know she will love it!:

I still have Aubry's Sherbet Pips quilt waiting for some attention. 

Three pillows are getting jealous for my time.

Some lovely thrifted fabric is feeling neglected too.

I have all of this goodness stacked and ready to go where I can not see it and get stressed over it. 
Out of sight, out of mind.  At least that is what I have heard

 

I have too much to do!

What about you?  How many projects do you have in the works?

my pillow + so many great links!

My pillow has arrived and I just love it!  I swapped with Laura for the Pillow Talk Swap and I am so impressed with all of the color and tiny pieces of fabric that she used.  Truly, this is a beauty!

Thank you, Laura!

I have come across so many great links this week!  You seriously need to check these out!

That Girl That Quilt shows how to get social and add buttons to your blog.

Dottie Angel's valentine garland is oh-so-cute!

Click here for some photo editing advice from the Etsy blog.

If you need a cover for your Ipad, One Shabby Chick shows you how to make one. 

I want a Heather Ross Surfboard!  Amber, I think you NEED one of these!

Paint the Moon is offering FREE facebook profile templates.  Very nice!

Prairie Points?  Sew Take a Hike shows you how!

You need to see the Keep-Calm-O-Matic!

So Happy shows how to make Cathedral Windows.  So pretty!

There is a Block Party over at Quilt Story!

That's it!  I hope you find something you enjoy.

Have a lovely day!

 

 

the recipe box swap--soups and stews

It's time for the Recipe Box Swap! This month's theme is Soups and Stews.

All you need to do is post a recipe on your blog, and then add your link URL and name to the links list at the bottom of this post. If you don't have a picture posted on your blog, don't worry.  You will have a choice of others to choose from (from your own blog). 

Please remember to link your blog post, as opposed to your blog (just click on the title of your post and the URL will be in the address bar at the top of the page.  Copy and paste that in the link list).

My recipe for this month is Chili Verde, also known as Green Chili Stew.  Here in Colorado this is a very popular dish and everyone has their very own version.  Mine is simple and quick (as long as you don't count the simmering time) and it is oh-so-good!  Don't let the "chili" in the title scare you.  These chilies are more flavor than heat.  If someone still doesn't like the chili-ness, just add some sour cream to their bowl.  That always tones down hot foods.

CHILI VERDE: 2-1/2 pounds boneless pork chops, 2 cups chopped onion, 8 cloves garlic, one 16-oz can diced tomatoes, 4 large green chilies roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped (you could also use 2 small cans of Ortega chopped green chilies), 4 chicken boulillon cubes.

In a small amount of oil,brown the pork chops.  Add the onions and garlic and saute for 3 minutes.  Your house will smell great at this point!  Add the tomatoes, chilies, bouillon cubes and water to just barely cover everything.

Now you get to do the easy part: bring the pot to a low simmer (tiny bubbles at the most, no boiling) and leave it for about 2 hours while you do whatever you want.

All you need to do at this point is to take out the pork chops and shred them.  Put them back in the pot and salt and pepper to taste.  Serve with warm corn tortillas.

You can easily double or triple this recipe to freeze.  It only gets better with time.

Your family will love this one!

I look forward to checking out your recipes!

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i have those nifty code boxes now!

A serious "thank you" goes out to Jennifer who was kind enough to send me the code for these cool boxes.  She said she couldn't let me go on with the html splattered in my posts anymore.  :)

There is one code box for the post graphic (large photo) and one for the sidebar graphic (small photo).

Thanks so much, Jennifer!

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/" _mce_href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap.jpg" _mce_src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap.jpg" border="0" alt="swap blogpost"></a></center>

 

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/" _mce_href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap-1.jpg" _mce_src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap-1.jpg" border="0" alt="swap sidebar"></a></center>

cookies and milk hit the spot!

We had a rather boring weekend. 

Not really in a bad way, but in a highly unmotivated way. My kids were thinking that adults are boring for most of the weekend, but sometimes a nap seems like the right thing to do, you know?

On Sunday, after I had spent too many hours not doing anything (did I mention that yet?), Aubry asked me to bake cookies with her, to which I very nicely said "no" and that I was enjoying resting.  Being the sweetie that she is, she went quietly upstairs to figure out how to spend the rest of the boring day.

Well, my mommy-ness kicked in right away and I emerged from my doing-nothing-cacoon and made cookies with my kid. It felt great and tasted great!  Sometimes the cure for being really unmotivated is to get up and do something. 

Who would've thought?

What about you?  Was your weekend action-packed, or did you melt into the couch for most of the time?

blogger's pillow party

  It's a Pillow Party over at Rachel's place!

I wasn't sure that I could enter since I never got around to making something brand-new for this month, but it seems that I can enter my pillow from the Pillow Talk Swap.  Next month a new pillow will be entered, I promise!

This pillow was such fun to make.  The result is a quilt, on a very small scale.  So simple and quick.  Those are the projects that I just love.

This was a new color scheme for me and I was inspired by autumn leaves against a blue Colorado sky.  Yellow, green, blue and brown.

You can hop over to the pillow party to find more entries.  You will definitely be inspired!

just a reminder...

...about the Recipe Box Swap.

It's on Tuesday.

Soups and Stews in the theme.

Everyone is invited to post their favorite recipe on their own blog and then link up here to exchange the yumminess.

Here are the codes for the graphics ( I wish I knew how to post one of those nifty little code boxes!):

The code for the post graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap.jpg" border="0" alt="swap blogpost"></a>

The code for a sidebar graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap-1.jpg" border="0" alt="swap sidebar"></a>

I hope to see you here!

 

shop feature: crazy bag lady

Jodi at Crazy Bag Lady makes the cutest aprons, bags, blankets and more!  I love her use of bright, fun fabrics.

Jodi has this to say about her shop and Etsy:

"I think it's wonderful how you can dream it then create it. I adore bold colors, solid designs and usefullness. Etsy has really changed my perspective on the way I purchase items for my home and family. I'm so inspired by this movement toward unique, handcrafted items. So much of what you see in the big box stores is bland and cookie cutter. It's refreshing to see creativity coming back!"

She also says this about her mom:

"I credit every single item to my amazing mother for her love of ALL things creative (and infecting me with it). Without her none of this would be possible."

I love it!

Click here to check out Jodi's wonderful little shop!