New Sewing Project

Not the best picture but you get the idea. This was fun to make! I have a lot of birthdays coming up for little ones and I think these would make great gifts! Especially with custom coloring books from here!

The Deodorant Trials

I decided I was going to try and make my own deodorant. I found a recipe online and it was a good recipe but I decided I needed to tweak it a bit. Of course. :o)


Right now I am on day 3 of using my homemade deodorant and so far I love it!
I totally don't stink. Of course, we will wait and see once it warms up if that changes.
Here's my tweaked recipe if you want to give it a go!
1/4 cup corn starch
1/4 cup baking soda
3 tbls. coconut oil
2 tbls. shea butter
1 tbls. jojoba oil
lavender essential oil to desired scent
I melted the oils and shea butter down to liquid and then added the liquid to the dry ingredients. I whipped it with a fork while adding the essential oil. Once it was smooth I poured it into my clean glass jar. I refrigerated it for about an hour to bring it back to a semi-solid state. When finished it's like a grainy cream.
Let me know if you make it! I would love to hear how it works or doesn't!

Promises....

I know that I promised sourdough recipes and my sewing project pictures.......I am working on it. My sourdough starter was a big FLOP. I don't know if it's our strange weather (it's yo-yoing on a daily basis between sun and snow) or if it's just me. I threw it out and I am starting it again.
Here's a recipe to try if yours was successfull!
Sourdough Flapjacks
1 cup sourdough starter
1 cup organic flour
1/2 cup water
Mix starter, flour and water. Let stand overnight (about 12 hours), covered with a cloth in a warm place. Stir mixture well and carefully ladle onto a lightly greased griddle. Flip flapjacks after bubbles form and tops have lost their sheen.
I got this recipe from Mary Jane's Ideabook. My flapjacks tasted like kindergarten paste but this was my second flop using my starter so I am quite certain that it was my starter that was the problem. So try it out and let me know if you succeed.
I will post a bread and biscuit recipe and tomorrow I will finally post pics of my project.

What I Wore Wednesday

This whole process is very humbling, daunting but actually very helpful! Somedays I look at the picture and say "Hmm, maybe I should change!" I also like having these as a reference so I can look back at outfits that work! :o) Have a great day everybody!

Again, I need to leave early, when I come back I will list sources and explanations!

Work day, taking girls to dance, and library!

Pants, T, and sweater all Old Navy.

Flats, Etnies a hand me down from my sister.

Volunteering in the morning and work in the pm.

Jeans from Target.

White T from Old Navy.

Orange tank from local surf shop.

Brown flats from Gottschalks.

Really really super cool sun bracelet hand made for me by my Aunt Mary Jane.

There are no weekend pictures and this is why..........I look scary when I am working outside!

Work day and take the kids out to ice cream after work!

Tanks and cardigan from Old Navy.

Jeans and flats from Target.

Posies from the Pleated Poppy.

Work and errand day!

Dress from a local boutique called Weekend in Paris.

Leggings and flats from Target.

A quick note: I wear a necklace from Lisa Leonard everyday!
Another note, after looking at some other WIWW posts I realized that my "work wear" seemed really casual. I figured I better explain what I do. :o) I work in an RSP classroom with special needs kids. I push wheelchairs, get many boogery hugs, and get to love on 12 amazing kidos! Hence the casual and comfort level of my work clothes. I have the most rewarding job on the planet and I truly truly love what I do. That's a whole other post in itself. Maybe I will include that in my next weeks WIWW, since it's our last week of school.

New

I will be getting a new look and a new name! I can't wait! In the meantime you can check out Key Lime Blog Designs for some fun stuff. Oh and in a few hours I will do my "What I Wore Wednesday" linked in blog! :o)

The Most Delicious Cherry Cobbler Ever!

This recipe came from my cousin Anna and it truly is the best cobbler recipe ever!
1- because it's so delicious and 2- because it's soooo easy.
Fruit Cobbler
Line the bottom of a 13x9 inch pan with fruit.
With a fork mix together 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp. baking powder, and 1 egg. Mix until crumbly. Sprinkle on fruit and pour on 1 cube melted butter. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes until golden brown on top.
Enjoy! It's especially good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Farm Work Fun

My cute workers and my farm sized compost bin!

Thanks for your help Scott.

Whose having more fun?? Boys and their toys!

When your out on a ridge, terraced planting is the only way to go.

Some really cute little girls and my amazing new veggie beds!
Can I just say that my husband is amazing!

Nature at it's finest

Could not believe this, but while working in my garden this weekend we witnessed a ladybug laying her eggs!!!!!!!! It was amazing. My kids were screaming in excitement.

Wow this was a little scary for me! I am still undecided about looking at myself like this but I enjoy seeing what other people wear so I decided to join in!

I have to go to work early this am so when I get back this afternoon I will add more to my post!

For now, here it is!

This was field trip day for my special needs first graders! We went to the zoo.

The capris, white tank and black sweater are from Old Navy.

The gray ruffled tank is from a local boutique.

Necklaces from Lisa Leonard.

Another work day!

White T, flowered cardigan, and flats are from Old Navy.

Ancient Levi's are from ???

They are so old I can't remember.

Not Pretty! Working on the Farm day!

Does it really matter where this monstrosity came from? :o)

Headed to a Farmgirl Sisterhood meeting!
Shorts, top and flats all from Target!
Necklaces from Lisa Leonard!
Posy from Pleated Poppy!


Another exciting work day!
Skirt, T and flip flops from Target!
Necklace from Lisa Leonard.
Posies from Pleated Poppy.


Check out all the other brave ladies at The Pleated Poppy!

The Side of my Refrigerator

Magnetic chore chart from Target helps to keep my little girls on track. All the little stars are magnetic! I love it!

Magnetic and dry erase weekly menu organizer from Target. It even includes a shopping list! It's great for me or my kids to jot down things when we run out.

I also have a dry erase phone list, that includes all our neighbors, dr's, and family members.
The kids put up the school lunch calendar, even though they rarely eat a school lunch.

Monday Night Roast Dinner

My Roasted Chicken
1 whole chicken
5 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 lemons
2 tbls. minced garlic
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup broth (chicken or veggie)
5 slices of bacon
sea salt and pepper

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and pat chicken dry. Use fingers to lift skin and insert 2 whole sprigs of rosemary, and 1 tbls. garlic between skin and breast meat. Coat entire chicken with salt and pepper. Insert 3 sprigs rosemary, 1 tbls. garlic and 1 sliced lemon into the cavity. Position chicken in roasting pan and place 1 sliced lemon on top. Lay 5 slices of bacon over the top of lemons draping over chicken. Add broth and wine to the bottom of the pan and lay remaining lemons (quartered) in liquid. Roast in the oven for 1 hour, remove bacon and return to oven. Roast an additional 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 170 degrees. Let chicken stand 10 minutes before carving.


Roasted Spring Veggies

Heat oven to 425 degrees. I used 1 bunch asparagus, 1 pound fingerling potatoes, 1 pound green beans, 2 bunches spring onions. (You can use any veggies that are in season.) Cut veggies into pieces and place on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Give the veggies a quick toss and pop into oven. Roast for 30-45 minutes, turning once halfway through. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Yes, Sourdough is Easy!

You can do it too!
Sourdough Starter
2 cups organic whole wheat bread flour
1 1/2 cups water

Place flour and water in a clean glass jar or bowl and stir with a wooden spoon. Cover with a cloth and keep it handy on your kitchen counter. Each day, mix in an additional 1/4 cup water and 1/3 cup whole wheat flour. This needs to be done for six days. On the seventh day, the starter will be ready. It should have bubbles and small pleasantly sour, like stout beer.

In a few days I will post some amazing recipes for your sourdough starter! Give it a try.

Happy Mother's Day

What a wonderful Mother's Day! My dear family surprised me with a new sewing machine. Can you see the mess I have already made?? Oh sew much fun! I already finished my first project. I will post a pic of it soon.

Field Trip

I couldn't imagine a better way to start my week than a Monday field trip! Even better, it was a hike and tide pooling at Point Lobos nature reserve. 94 6th graders and chaperones enjoyed a beautiful day on the California coast! I love that our little mountain school does things like this for our kids!

Farmer's Market Fun

Macy, ready to spend some money!

The bags are big enough to hold a baby! :o)

Emma's Room handmade bags! They are $25.00 each and there is still some left! Send me a message if you want one! They are handmade by my good friend Shauna!

Baylee, ready to work in my booth!

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported me and our community! You all ROCK!!!!