Initiating Quilt Mode

A few years ago, I found this fun patchwork robot fabric on clearance for a ridiculously cheap price. I think I paid about five bucks for the entire remnant.  I had originally planned to make Aidan a little bath robe with it; but, I never really could find a pattern I liked that would be lined and also, not a giant pain.  So,  it has been in my stash for quite a while.

On Sunday, I decided it would be a super great idea to make a blanket for Aidan's upcoming birthday.  He'll be seven on Saturday.  Monday, I headed to Joann's just before closing (along with five-hundred other shoppers) to take advantage of their Columbus day sale.  I found this super soft turquoise blue fabric that reminded me of the old vellux blankets.  I knew my snuggly Buddy would LOVE it.  I, of course, also purchased several other fabrics to fill the soon-to-be-developing hole in my stash.

I had intended to make this a really quick project.  I wasn't planning to make a quilt.  I was thinking I would just make a small, quick blanket, wrong-sides-together, turn it, stitch is closed and be done. BUT, I just couldn't resist giving the quilt a go.  I did still have four sewing days until the party.  I didn't really have any sort of a plan, the right materials, know-how or a clue.  But... I had a dream and that's really all a girl and her Bernina needs, right?

The project actually went surprisingly well.  After I cut my fabric, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to fit it all through my machine.  So, I only stitched the vertical stripes in the quilt.  I'm not sure I  could have actually fit enough of the quilt under my machine to manage all of the horizontal stripes AND I forgot to buy thread so I was trying to conserve my two tiny spools.

I cheated on the binding and just did some folding and tucking in the corners.  I'm not sure if that was wise.  If anyone can identify an improperly-mitered corner, I'm sure Aidan can... and will. All of that puffy, fluffy backing was a bit of a headache to stuff through my machine. (Thank goodness for my Jeans Foot impulse buy a few years ago when I thought I would hem jeans because you know how often I need to shorten my pants.) The fluffy backing was wonderful for hiding mistakes and crooked lines and all sorts of other mishaps, though.

I'm really happy with the results and I think Aidan will love it.  Matt said Aidan's going to still have it on his couch when he's in his thirties.  I said I'm sure his wife will be ecstatic.

Monday Meal Plan (A Day Late)

This weekend, my mom and I went away for a girl's shopping trip.  I spent yesterday getting the house together and catching up on laundry... so, I'm just getting around to our meal plans today.  I've actually got a pretty easy week in the kitchen.

Tonight, I'm making Beef & Mushrooms over Brown Rice to use up some leftovers.  We'll have Steamed Broccoli, Biscuits and a Pumpkin Roll for dessert.

Wednesday, we're having Chicken Noodle Soup, Grilled Cheese and Fresh Fruit.

Thursday, we're headed to a cookout and bonfire so I'm off the clock.

On Friday, I'm making Fried "Uncle Bill" Fish, Carrots and a Tomato Basil Salad.

Saturday,  we're making DIY Homemade Pizzas, a Salad, and maybe some Cupcakes if I've got it in me.

Sunday, for "Fancy Dinner", we're having Lobsters,  Brussels Sprouts and some sort of Butternut Squash and Quinoa Gratin (recipe TBD???) and Apple Dumplings for dessert.

I don't have much of anything exciting planned for breakfasts and lunches this week, just the usual, I guess!  Saturday, there is lots happening all day at the farm market so we might just get breakfast and lunch while we're there!

What are you cooking this week???  Let me know in the comments below! I'm always looking for inspiration!

Monday Meal Plans...

I'm trying to get back into meal planning around here now that all the summer fun has passed.  We're busy with school, church, cub scouts and music lessons and dinner seems to creep up quickly without a plan.  I started up our Door to Door subscription again for the fall; and, I want to make sure that I take advantage of all the goodies in our boxes... it definitely takes some planning to use all that kale!

So... here's my plan for the week:

Monday:  Pulled Pork Tacos with Corn Salsa (I just put a dry-rubbed pork shoulder in the Crock Pot and made some salsa with all our leftover odds and ends from the weekend:  corn, tomatoes, red onions, cilantro and lime.  I've got corn tortillas, cheese and plain yogurt to go with.  Matt's in charge of dinner on Monday nights while I take Aidan to CCD.  I try to at least have a plan for him and a few things started.  For dessert, I made a yummy Chocolate Ganache Raspberry Tart.  We had tons of raspberries left from our picking this weekend and I already had the tart dough in the freezer so it seemed like just the right choice!

Tuesday:  Dinner Out

Wednesday:  Spaghetti and Meatballs, Steamed Broccoli, Garlic Bread and a Salad.  We have four different activities Wednesday evening; so, I wanted something quick and easy.

Thursday:  Beef Brisket Sandwiches with Homemade Rolls and Green Beans... I may make some French Fries for Ads so she won't suffer too greatly.

Friday:  Baked Chicken, Buttered Noodles and Broccoli and Carrots (I'm headed out of town for the weekend so I'm planning to make big batches of everything all week so that Matt and the kids will have plenty to eat!  Little Caesar's is pretty close though, so I think they'll be just fine!)

For lunches this week, I'm planning to make Stir Fried Veggies and Rice, Turkey Noodle Soup (with leftovers from last night's "Fancy Dinner") and some Kale Chips.  The other days we'll fill in with leftovers.  Nothing super exciting on the breakfast front; but, I do want to make biscuits one morning to have with the Crock Pot Apple Butter I made last night.  It is delicious!  I was a little worried that it made such a huge batch; but, now that I've tasted it, I think we will have no problems polishing it off!

If you are looking for recipes, I pin most of my weekly recipes and inspirations here.

Pickin' and a Grinnin'

This weekend we made our annual family apple picking pilgrimage.  Eight years ago, Matt asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday and I chose apple picking.  It's now become our yearly birthday tradition and I really look forward to it.  We've picked in all sorts of weather over the last eight years; but, this year, we really lucked out and had awesome weather and an awesome day.  As usual, we picked WAY TOO MANY APPLES!  I think we ended up with two bushels plus eight quarts of raspberries.  There was still a little room under our feet on the way home so we stopped and bought 10 pumpkins and a giant bag of corn... what more could a girl want for her birthday?!?

I have ALWAYS got the notion!

This week's Iron Craft Challenge (#9) was "I've Got A Notion".  We were supposed to use materials from the notions aisle and highlight them in our project.  I had some fun cowboy buttons that I'd been saving up for a project as well as some cool new burlap ribbon that I wanted to try.

I decided to make these fun Cowboy Hair Clips for the girls.  I used leftover fabric from a dress that I made for Addie over the weekend.  Annalise has a little shirt in the same fabric; but, I'm not quite finished with it yet.  I crafted some fabric flowers and then attached a cowboy themed button to the center of each.  I wrapped some giant snap clips in wide burlap ribbon and attached my homemade flowers.  

Addie had hers on at the crack of dawn this morning so I guess it's a crafty win!

Monday's Sunday Supper Plans

I'm a day late on my menu planning for the week.  I was forced to spend all weekend locked away in a river front house crafting with friends AND then we had dinner out last night.  I know what you're thinking, and, yes, it was all just as terrible as it sounds.

The pics are from last week's "Mexican Night"; or, if you prefer the unabridged format: "AGHGHGGHH, There Is Shredded Cheese Everywhere,  I Swear This Is THE LAST TIME I Am Making Mexican Night".

This Week I'm planning...

Monday:  Roast Chicken with Carrots, Macaroni and Cheese and Zucchini Cake for dessert.

Tuesday:  Lentil Rogan Josh, Curried Rice and Naan.  (We're studying India this week so I thought the kids could help with this dinner prep -not certain how much help they'll be with the actual eating; but, sometimes they surprise me!).

Wednesday:  T-Ball Night, so it's the ever popular "Bowl of Noodles" at 4:30 dinner.

Thursday:  Black Bean and Spinach Enchiladas with DIY Tostadas (Shredded cheese is on the list, I am clearly unable to heed my own warning.)

Friday:  Berbere Chicken and Rice (Berbere seasoning was the freebie at Penzey's this month so I'm trying a recipe I found in their catalog.  I'm thinking it is probably pretty hot, so I'll make plain chicken for my lovelies.

For lunches, I'm planning to make Chicken Coconut Curry Soup, Homemade Pretzels and the Quinoa Salad with Sugar Snap Peas that was on last week's menu.  We didn't get around to it last week; but, not to worry, it was substituted for an equally healthy lunch of Hot and Ready's, Crazy Bread and Dilly Bars.  We did have strawberries to balance things out!

No menu plans for the weekend.  We're headed to Ohio to celebrate Annalise's birthday!  She turns the big 0-2 on Friday!

Sunday Supper Plans...

Last week, I posted my meal plan for the week and it really helped to keep me on track.  My favorite recipe from last week was the Blackened Chicken with Quinoa.  It was heavenly!! I thought I'd go for it again this week!

Monday:  Tostadas, Spanish Rice and Chips and Salsa

Tuesday:  Chicken Shawarma, Middle Eastern Zucchini Cakes and Fattoush Salad

Wednesday:  Pasta and Meatballs and Salad
I'm also planning to make this yummy looking Quinoa and Sugar Snap Pea Salad for lunch!

Thursday:  Tuna Melts (Grandma Bell's Recipe!) Mac N Cheese (I'm actually going to make the same recipe I did last week; but, I'll substitute a different kind of pasta.  It was really good and I have plenty of leftovers cheeses that I hate to waste) and steamed broccoli.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday:  I'm headed out of town for a crafty girls weekend!  I've got burgers, chicken and shrimp for Matt and the kids so they can decide what they feel like each night.

You can check out my Weekly Menu board here.