Cupcake Pincushion

Supplies needed:

2 pieces of felt (1 of each color)
Ribbed material
scrap felt for bottom
needle and thread
red pom pom
ribbon



Step 1: Fold each piece of felt in half lengthwise, and in half again.



Step 2: Layer one color on top of the other, leaving the bottom layer about a half inch longer.



Step 3: Tightly roll the two colors together and pin.



Step 4: Trim the excess off the side and trim the bottom so the cupcake sits flat.



Step 5: Measure the ribbed material around the felt and sew into a tube. It works best if you're able to double the material.

Step 6: Place the tube about a half inch from the top of the felt and loosely stitch in place.

Step 7: Turn ribbed material right side out and trim the excess off the bottom, leaving enough material to hot glue down.

Step 8: Hot glue a circle of scrap felt on the bottom.

Step 9: Accessorize with a cherry and some trim.

Tea Party

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I came across this picture and instantly fell in L-O-V-E.

I want to meet this crazy lady and join her secret tea party in the forest.

I wish I knew someone this eccentric.

Why do we all have to be so normal?

My Life On March 15, 2010

Outside my window... the sun is setting on a beautiful, sunny spring day. Granted, I was inside doing paperwork all day, but it looked beautiful through the window.

I am thinking... I work with some pretty amazing people. In the last couple of days two of my Managers and one of my Bosses have extended some kindnesses to me that touched my heart.

I am thankful for... words. Sometimes they can hurt, but sometimes they can be beautiful, loving, uplifting and downright entertaining.

I am wearing.... a yellow Nike sweatshirt and black exercise pants. I’d like to say it’s because I just worked out (which is true) but I’ve had this on all day. Oh, and argyle socks to really complete the look.

I am creating... I just printed some patterns for something top secret. Can’t wait!

I am going... to plan ahead and pack some healthy food for this trip.

I am reading...


I am hearing... The Office (aka The Best Show Ever).

On my mind... I can NOT believe who got kicked off of American Idol last week! I will miss you Lilly and Alex.

From the kitchen... steamed brown rice and low fat cottage cheese. Let’s not talk about this right now.

One of my favorite things... Popsecret Homestyle Popcorn. Not too buttery, not too salty. Just right!

The rest of the week... Headed back to Salt Lake tomorrow then Great Falls, MT on Friday.

Pondering these words... Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. Think only of the best, work only for the best and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side as long as you are true to the best that is in you.
- Christian D. Larson

A picture to share...



A view of Mt St Helens rising above the clouds (taken on a recent flight to Portland). Stunning.

Fashion Crushes

Spring is coming and I am ready to enjoy it! I am ready to get healthier and live purposefully and have a little bit more fun with my wardrobe this year. I have been scouring the internet looking at a multitude of fashion blogs and websites and thought I would share some of my favorite finds so far....

1. Socks with Dress Shoes - I am all over this one! Comfy and super cute? It's a no brainer!


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2. Bright Crochet Beanie - I am just seconds away from ordering this beauty.


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3. Peasant Dresses - I have already started collecting these but I need so many more!!!



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4. Ruffles - They are everywhere this year, but nothing beats these amazing shoes! Just gorgeous!


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5. Floral Hair Accessories - This barrett was made for me.


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6. Shabby Chic Necklaces - The name alone makes me want to buy it. These are a little pricey, but perhaps a copycat could be made? Sounds like a fun project to me!


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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
2 cups canned pumpkin (or a 15oz can)
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all ingredients together by hand.

Pour equal amounts into 2 loaf pans sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Now here's the most important part: Don't eat it until the next day! It's good the day it's baked, but it is phenomenal the day after. It gets dense and sticky and perfect!!!!

Living In Hotels

On the outside, having a career that requires frequent traveling sounds glamorous and exciting, but the truth is it's a whole lot of loneliness and boredom.

At first it did feel glamorous and exciting, but after the new wears off there's not much to do except watch TV and google your heart out. That's how I discovered blogs in the first place.

Here's kind of how my hotel nights go:
Check in.
Go to room to drop off my bag.
Lysol the bathroom, light switches, door handles and remote control.
Go to work for several hours.
Come back to hotel.
Eat popcorn while watching TV (Biggest Loser right now).
Blog (or read other people's blogs).
Talk on the phone for a little bit.
More TV, more computer, maybe a little paperwork mixed in.
Wash my face and brush my teeth.
Sleep.

Don't get me wrong. I love what I do, and I actually really enjoy traveling (most of the time). I get to see a lot of things I never would have seen otherwise, and I have met simply the most amazing people ever, but hotel rooms? Hotel rooms are soooooo boring.

My Life On March 8, 2010

Outside my window... It was nasty today. Cold, dark and damp.

I am thinking... I’ve been feeling rather melancholy lately and I’m tired of it. I need a surge of joy and energy. Maybe it’s because I gave up desserts. Sugar is the elixir of my life.

I am thankful for... sunlight. The winter here is almost over and we're about to say "so long" to these too short days. I'm really looking forward to early sunrises and late sunsets.

I am wearing.... black track pants, black t-shirt, and a striped hoodie.

I am creating... same stuff as last week.

I am going... to do something utterly enjoyable this week. Not sure what but I’ll think of something.

I am reading... same stuff as last week.

I am hoping... I have beautiful dreams tonight.

I am hearing... Pawn Stars. I heart Chumlee.

From the kitchen... Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread (recipe coming tomorrow)!

One of my favorite things... perfectly poached eggs.

The rest of the week... Two trips to Oregon this week.

Pondering these words...

If I had my life to live over...

I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
I'd relax, I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would perhaps have more actual troubles,
but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people
who live sensibly and sanely
hour after hour, day after day.

Oh, I've had my moments,
and if I had to do it over again,
I'd have more of them.

In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments,
one after another, instead of living so many
years ahead of each day.

I've been one of those persons who never goes
anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle,
a raincoat and a parachute.

If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot
earlier in the spring and stay that way
later in the fall.

I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.

-Nadine Stair

A picture to share...



Happy Birthday to my dear sweet Dad and Bub. Love and miss you both!!!

Sunday Advice

I Miss You Springfield

I miss you Charlotte Russe.

Sure I can shop online, but it's not the same. I can't try on your trendy clothes and listen to your awesome music.

And I can't stand and gawk at your wall of beauties.



I miss you Panera Bread.

There is no bakery like you. I used to eat your delectable food every Saturday morning before work and now you're hours and hours away from me.

Oh, how I miss your asiago bagels.



But the most agonizing hole in my Ozarkian heart is due to Nakatos Japanese Steakhouse.

Nakatos. Just the name makes my mouth water.



The soup and salad! That rice! Those noodles! That shrimp!!!!!!



Good gracious, I miss you!

A Family Tradition

These three pictures hang in the entry of my childhood home. They are painted portraits of me and my brothers, each wearing the same pair of denim overalls.

Each child in our family has a portrait taken in the same pair of overalls when they turn one year old.



These pictures are my nieces and nephews and they surround my mom's living room.



It's been a while since I've seen the overalls, but I know they are well worn and faded from years and years of usage. These overalls that symbolize so much unity in our family are now 38 years old.

I remember hearing my mom say a long time ago that if our home was threatened by fire, she would first make sure we were all safe, but the one material possession she would try to rescue would be these pictures of me and my brothers.



I wish everyone could feel the love our family feels for each other. These pictures are cute, and the tradition is sweet, but it's so much more than that. For me, these pictures represent the consistancy and unfailing bond we share. They represent the unshakable love my parents have for their children and grandchildren. They represent a closeness that can't be seperated by 1755 miles.

Sneak Peek

This is what covers my dining room table right now.

Project Runway + impressionable girl = big messy pile

The last time I made clothing was in 1994, and I had a teacher very nearby helping answer all my questions. Mrs. Phillips. She was awesome.

Now all I have are step by step instructions that don't make any sense at all.

"On wrong side, place pins at right angles to the broken lines. Stitch the neck dart from wide end to point and the waistline dart from middle of dart to one point then overlap stitching at middle and sew to the opposite point."

What?

This one may take a while.

Hotel Ironing

I am NOT a fan of ironing. My method of ironing involves throwing something back into the dryer and forgetting about it until 45 minutes later. It's inefficient, but who doesn't love putting on clothes straight from the dryer? It's one of life's great pleasures.

This morning I was just about to walk out the door of my hotel room to go to work when I happened to glance down and notice that my pants were all wrinkled. Normally I wouldn't care about a little wrinkling, but this was drastic. This would have caused people to point fingers at me and whisper behind my back.

I set my briefcase back down and grabbed the ironing board and iron. I plugged in the iron and took off my pants. Just as I was about to lay my pants across the board I noticed how wrinkled up the dang ironing board was.



How can you possibly get your clothes nice and smooth if the surface you're using to iron is wrinkled? So, what did I do? I tried to iron the ironing board cover, of course! It didn't work so I had to move forward and do the best I could.

In the end I think I looked decent from the front and a little like I slept in my pants from the back.

Bad Trends

First of all, I know I said Monday that I was going to try to post everyday this month and I've already blown it, but I will make it up to you somehow.

Anyway, I felt like having an early morning rant.

I know I can't be the only person who is frustrated at this baggy pants / show your underwear trend. Who's with me? I have gone through my own array of embarrassing trends so I can understand how these poor souls have gotten sucked into thinking they're cool while the rest of us shake our heads in dismay. I empathize with the embarrassment they will feel one day.

I will admit, with much shame, that I rocked the side ponytail. I had multiple pairs of stirrup stretch pants. I had monster bangs. I had bad perms. Heck, I even had MC Hammer and parachute pants.

Alright underwear boys, you do your thing. I hate it, but I understand.

My Life On March 1, 2010

6:30 am

Outside my window... It looks cold! There’s frost on the ground and it’s foggy. I caught a glimpse of a squirrel in my neighbor’s tree and watched it climb higher and higher then jump onto a nearby telephone pole. He almost fell three times as he made his way across the wire to the next pole.

I am thinking... My coffee is getting a little cold.

I am thankful for... becoming a morning person. Mornings are lovely and I’m glad my body decided to start enjoying them. I can’t wait until its warm enough to go outside and enjoy each new beginning.

I am wearing.... gray sweatpants worn so thin you can see through them and a red sweatshirt. Give me a break. It’s early.

I am creating... Currently (and have been for 2 weeks) in the process of making a dress. More on this later. Plus I have some way cute ideas for some Artsy stuff coming up this month!!!

I am going... to do my absolute very best to post something every single day this month. I have been super neglectful but I still love you internet!

I am reading...



I am hearing... Rhianna. Her videos are way hot.

On my mind... I think I want to do a vegetable garden this year. Two years ago I had a really pathetic one. Last year I didn’t do one at all. Maybe this is the year for me.

From the kitchen... Back on the health wagon starting today. Egg whites for breakfast and tuna for lunch.

One of my favorite things... Project Runway! I love you Heidi and Tim. This show rocks and totally inspires me to want to make my own clothes.

The rest of the week... Trip to Salt Lake City tomorrow.

Pondering these words...

'Tis the human touch in this world that counts,
The touch of your hand and mine,
Which means far more to the fainting heart
Than shelter, bread and wine;
For shelter is gone when the night is o'er,
And bread lasts only a day
But the touch of the hand and the sound of the voice
Sing on in the soul alway.

- Spencer Michael Free

A picture to share...


I loooooooove this outfit and will be actively looking for a copycat.

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