Stretch knit, and snaps... Heaven help me.

Do you ever feel like you're king of the world? That was me last night! I haven't felt the thrill of accomplishment like this in quite some time! I couldn't get the goofy smile off my face! Let me elaborate. I seem to ignore making my little boys clothes just because, Well, One, If I'm taking the time to make something, little girls clothes are much cuter, So, I'd rather spend my time on those. But I decided that I needed to man up and make something for Brent. And I decided that I needed to challenge myself and learn to sew better on a stretch knit. Now, I've made a few skirts/dresses for myself out of knits, but Never anything so tiny, And definitely nothing with teeny tiny sleeves. But Katy, over at No Big Dill   {Take some time to look at her site, Holy amazing mom of 6 and PHENOMENAL seamstress!} inspired me to try something new with this post.
Stretch knit, and snaps... Heaven help me. It was a frustrating few days. I messed this thing up so many times it's not even funny, But alas, I am thoroughly pleased with the outcome, and confident in my new found abilities. See what happens when you stretch yourself and push yourself to do things you're scared of?!? Now, I feel like I am a snap expert, {Thanks to MANY trial and errors} And I also am confident in my abilities to make pretty much anything out of knit. It's really not so bad.
And as a side note, You remember my theory on not buying cheap crap, just wait until you can save enough to purchase quality things? I should have listened to myself. A while back I bought a cheap singer at Costco instead of waiting and saving for my bernina. And well folks, You get what you pay for. It lasted me a total of 6 months. When we move, {Because I can't spend ANYTHING until we close on the house,} I will be buying that Bernina to be the crowning jewel in my new fortress of sew-itude. {That's what I've decided to name my office, You know like superman has his fortress of solitude? Mike and I are both huge superman freaks} But For now, I've stolen my moms machine.

In between this is when I get to sew... My life is pretty wonderful. 

 Attempt one at a picture...

Isn't he a cutie patootie in his new outfit?

Slow cooker Chicken cordon bleu

Oh boy oh boy, Do I have a recipe for you to try! 

I don't know why But I cant find the page that this is linked to!~ Oh NO! It's from chef in training.

Ingredients

• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup milk
• 4 ounces sliced ham
• 4 ounces sliced Swiss cheese
• 1 (8 ounce) package herbed dry bread stuffing mix
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions

1. Mix together the cream of chicken soup and milk in a small bowl. Pour enough of the soup into a slow cooker to cover the bottom. Layer chicken breasts over the sauce. Cover with slices of ham and then Swiss cheese. Pour the remaining soup over the layers, stirring a little to distribute between layers. Sprinkle the stuffing on top, and drizzle butter over stuffing. Cover, and cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours, or 2 to 3 hours on High. 

HEAVENS TO BETSY IT"S GOOOOD! We had it last night, I made it organic using a few of my favorites... 

 I cut the ham (Canadian bacon) into small pieces, Just so it was easier for the kiddos to eat. Holy moly, I think I could have eaten the whole pot!

Mexican lasagna

Didn't I tell you things would change again? Yep, Hasn't even been 48 hours and I've thought of at least ten more things to change on the forever house.
Today I spent the day helping my mom go through her closet and purge a bunch of stuff. That was a win win... She gained more space and gave away things she no longer needed, and I got some new outfits and some clothing pieces to re-purpose into some kiddos clothing.

Any how, I am fiercely loyal to my moms recipe for chicken enchiladas, But I have to say, these were a close second! Okay, maybe they were tied... But they are two totally different tastes. Very yummy! Try them!

Verde Chicken Mexican Lasagna {By girlsinaprons.blogspot.com}
1 pound chicken, cooked and shredded
1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 ½ cups green salsa
1 ½ cups frozen corn, thawed and drained
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped cilantro (plus additional for garnishing)
12 soft taco size flour tortillas
1 (8-ounce) package shredded Mexican blend cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
 
Mix chicken, sour cream, black beans, salsa, corn, cilantro and spices in a large bowl. Taste and adjust
seasonings to your preference. Cut tortillas in half with kitchen shears.
 
In a 9×13 dish, scoop 1/3 of the chicken mixture into bottom of pan. Spread evenly. Place one layer of cut tortillas (about 4 tortillas) on chicken mixture to cover. Top with 1/3 of the amount of shredded cheese. Repeat with chicken mixture, tortillas, shredded cheese two more times. There should be three layers total.
 
Bake in oven for 20 – 25 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and casserole is warmed through. Serve with sour cream and additional chopped cilantro. {You can't have too much cilantro on these!!}

I used corn tortillas because that's what I had. And I also used green enchilada sauce instead of green salsa because that's what I had on hand.

This house is making me insane...

I keep telling myself... It will all be worth it...

 This is my kitchen... I'm in love... 

However.... This place makes me want to choke someone....

Building a house is stressful.... And I will never do it again... They will have to drag my cold dead body out of this house....

We were at the design center yesterday. {Yeah, The "fun part".... little did I know.}

I've never been through so many emotions in such a small amount of time. I went from excitement and elation.... to overwhelmed.... To wanting to punch someone.

Mike was slightly boggled as to how I could go from knowing exactly what I wanted to asking opinions and asking for advice. Let me first say that I am Extremely controlling and particular about how I want this house. {I'm going to live and die in it after all!} I have every detail planned. Just reference "The Binder." The problem I ran into yesterday is that once you get into the design center, The price goes up... with every choice you make... And Michael will NOT budge on price.

AND, You only get the choices that they have! GRRRRR.... Well, I wasn't okay with that... {Has this guy {The builder} not met me? Doesn't he know that I get what I want?} We went over bathroom vanities granite and tile about a bazillion times and I hated them every time! I was almost to the point of tears. I HATED HATED HATED it. I finally found a combination that I could live with (Did not love) but to just stain the builder grade crap cabinet they wanted $400 to stain EACH cabinet! Plus $1,000 for granite counters on each vanity! Plus the oil rubbed bronze faucets were more $$$ on top of that! I CAN BUY A GORGEOUS NEW VANITY WITH EVERYTHING INCLUDED $300 AT COSTCO!!!!

UGLY... Not what I want.

Perfection...

AND THEY ARE THE SAME PRICE! 

So, We are now having to put in cheap pedestal sinks at no additional cost, and having to tear them out and put the vanities we want in after we close. But doing it that way, It's cheaper, And we get what we {I} want. Michael could care less. He just wants to make me happy, and for me to have what I want. Yes it's more hassle, but I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off that way. The only down side is that we have to pay for it out of pocket.

And we are also going to have to replace the door levers, We were being charged $25 a piece, and I found them online {The exact same oil rubbed bronze ones} Online for $14. It may sound like I am being cheap... And we may be, But you multiply that by 25 and that's a $275 savings... That I am not paying interest on for 15 years. That's a big deal.

We also have to add a wall in our mud room/ food storage room because it's right off of the garage and by code, they can't do it... Whatever.

So, Those are just a few of the issues we have run into {there are more}.... and I'm sure we will run into a whole lot more before its all said and done. But for now, I am happy and excited about the final product. And I am most grateful to Mike for being so wonderful and patient and fighting to the death to get me what I want... Have I mentioned that he is my knight in shining armor? I adore that man.

Smores cookies

I feel like the more and more I try recipes out from Pinterest, That my blog has just become a review for recipes instead of my own anymore! 

But hey, I'm okay with that, I've fount TONS of awesome new ones.

I saw this one, And literally went to the store an hour later and picked up the stuff to make them.

Seriously, I think these have quickly taken a top 3 spot on my list of favorites. Even Michael liked them! And that is really saying something! He NEVER eats sweets.

Here's the link...

I followed the recipe to a T, The only recommendation I have is to use miniature chips.

 The teeny tiny ones.

Gooey S’mores Cookies

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/3 cups flour
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (7 full graham cracker sheets)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Mini Hershey’s Kisses (or chocolate chips/chunks)
1 cup Jet Puffed Mallow Bits

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat for an additional 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, use a food processor or blender to crush 7 graham cracker sheets into 3/4 cup fine crumbs. In a separate bowl, whisk together the graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and mix on low speed until the dough just comes together. Add the chocolate and marshmallows and stir to combine.

Place 1.5 tablespoon sized scoops of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.

Crescent rolls

You need to try these. If you are new to making breads, this is the recipe to start with! I LOVE LOVE LOVE my grandmas recipes, But they are usually SO time consuming, I just don't have that kind of time on an everyday basis... But I want my kids to still remember growing up eating homemade everything! So, I have been scouring the internet for faster but still delicious recipes, that are a bit faster... And I came across this... 

Just click on the link and follow her recipe... The only thing I did differently was use 5 cups bread flour and 5 cups whole wheat flour. And used organic eggs, milk, and butter. 

Busy Busy Badger...

I have been a busy busy beaver or badger if you will... {my brother in law calls me badger, And now so do his girls. "Aunt badger," If you don't know the honey badgers personality traits, look them up and it will make perfect sense." 

Any how, 

As much as I love my blog, I love doing the things I write about more, And these days I just can't seem to find the time to write everyday... And still make, bake, play and adventure as much as much as I'd like. I'll work on that. {Maybe if prince charming will get me a new macbook I could blog in bed!} But oh heavens, Let me catch you up on a few projects I've been working on.

So you remember that stupendous birthday afternoon that was spent at the fabric store? I couldn't just let the fabric sit there... I had to get my hands on it immediately!  So, Project number one, A romper for Kynzi. I found pant rompers and fell in love with them! However, I wasn't in love with the $45 price tag. So I took 1/2 a yard of yard fabric, and about 2 hours, and made Kynzi this....

I wish I could have gotten a better picture, But she refused to hold still. 

I used Simplicity pattern 1903.

I also figured out how to switch the serger to and from a rolled hem!! 

It's the little things in life folks...

 

Next project, On the list is this, for Brent.

I avoid sewing on knits like the plague... I've made a few things with it, but it's stretchy and takes patience. And in the process of some research, I have decided I need a serger that also does a cover stitch. I think it'd get me to sew more on knits and start to make things of that nature more often. 

Gap wants $20 a piece for shortall rompers. No way. 

You can find the tutorial here.

In other news the girls had their check ups at the Dr. and the news for LaLa was perfect! Healthy in every way. She was so so brave during her shots. {Her shots so she can go to PRESCHOOL!!! Where has the time gone?} She set such a great example for her little sister!
On the other hand, I'm heart broken that the news wasn't so great for Kynzi. She failed her hearing test again. {The important follow up one we were hoping she'd pass} The inside of her right ear is scarred and disfigured, And I don't think she can hear out of that ear at all. I watched her face as they did the test, and when the music played in her left ear she smiled and giggled, when the music was played in her right ear, She didn't have any reaction. And since the bones in her ear are disfigured, a hearing aid wouldn't be any help, That's Michaels issue as well. So, on to the ENT... and speech therapy. Well, At least she has hearing in one ear. Tender mercies. What a merciful loving father in heaven we have.