New Blog Discovery (249:365)

I just discovered this creative and modern blog called Made By Joel that has tons of great kid craft/ toy ideas with lots of printables too! You MUST check it out. You will thank me.

Can't wait to try out these ideas:

Cereal Box Marble Run

Pipe Cleaner Ring Toss

Blow Fish

Printable Paper City

...just to name a few...

Visiting Sunbeam (248:365)

Cryptic sounding, isn't it?

Actually it's a cute story.

We are visiting Scott's family right now and at church today little Dee was super brave and went to her sunday school class all by herself and wasn't sad! She is such a big girl! She even told us about how fun it was. When I was her age I was super shy (still am a little) and was not brave enough to do things on my own. Good thing my little sis came along only 3 years later so she could help me out.

Story time:

When I was 10 or so I wanted my ears pierced and me, my mom, and my 7 year old sister went to Claire's to get it done (still not sure why my sister got to do everything I did 3 years younger...). I was too scared to go first, so I made my sister do it first. She was crying, or course, so I took off. I wasn't about to suffer that pain! My mom came and got me and forced me to do it too since I made my baby sister go first. I'm glad she did, but why do we suffer so for beauty?

I also always made my sister call people on the phone for me and ask for the free cookies at Albertson's because I was too shy.

Thank goodness I've grown out of that phase.

Bravo to Dee for never going through it!

Persuasion and The Terks (247:365)

Today I went to an adapted version of Jane Austen's Persuasion at BYU with my sister-in-laws, mother-in-law, 2 nieces and my sister. It was really fun! The adaptation was interesting. There were flashbacks/ memories on stage, that Anne and Captain Wentworth kept experiencing throughout the play.
It was really fun to spend time with family again and to go to a play. I haven't seen a play in years!

Then, Scott and I went to see our friend Christian's band, The Terks, for the first time. It was kind of a wild scene, but a fun show. We don't go do scary/ fun stuff enough anymore. Bands in clubs. Fun people watching times.

Better Diagnosis (245:365)

I wasn't too impressed with our experience yesterday at the urgent care clinic, so I went to a real doctor today to get checked out.

Good thing I did.

I too have an ear infection (my first!), and bronchitis (first time!). We have been sad sick puppies around here this week.

Urgent Care Clinic (244:365)

Good times were had at the urgent care clinic today. Nothing major, I just don't have a doctor so I went in to get checked out since Goose has and ear infection and a bad cough, and Dee's been sick with the similar stuff, and now I'm feelin' it too...

First time at the urgent care clinic.

Hooray!

Patterns for Japan (243:365)

I've been eyeing a couple of patterns over at the fabulous blog MADE, one of my latest blog stalking obsessions. She is also LDS and is taking the opportunity to match all her pattern sale proceeds, from now until Sunday, and donate the money to the LDS Humanitarian fund, which will be 100% used to aid to Japan. I was so excited about this that I bought 2 patterns. 

Japan is in our prayers... 

First Earache in our House (242:365)

Of both our little ladies, Goose is the first to get an earache. Poor baby. She is not a sickly kid, but she does get more sick then Dee ever did and I'm sad to report on her little red ear. She's starting her first antibiotic (Dee's never had one either) and hopefully she'll be better soon!

Easy Saint Patrick's Day Earrings and Hair Clips (241:365)

I was at Micheal's recently and saw some green buttons for $1 a pack. I grabbed two packs, hoping to find some cute buttons inside.

I lucked out in the cute department and made some hair clips for myself and the little ladies, and a pair of emerald green earrings for myself and some clip-ons for Dee.

No one will be getting pinched around here on Thursday!

Chinese Market (240:365)

I went to a local Chinese Grocery store with my friend Kuei who is from Taiwan. She showed me the good and the not so good. It was nice to have a tour guide while discovering new food!

Exit Through The Gift Shop (239:365)

Scott convinced me to watch this movie (he muted the 4 bad words for me) and I am glad he did!

If you have any interest at all in art, or more specifically, in street art, this movie is for you. Enjoy it, then talk to me about it. The Art History part of my brain was reawakened and rejuvenated.

Here is a link to a good review from EW magazine.

My New Running Record (238:365)

Today I ran the longest I've ever done in my life!

25 minutes!

I did walk for a couple of minutes in the middle, but I ran for 25, my new record.

I am very proud of myself and am feeling tough and strong.

Trader Joe's Snacks (237:365)

I got a ton of new snacks from TJ's today. I'm in desperate need to some low fat, highly crunchy yummies, so we are trying out all of their rice crackers. 

Today's culinary adventure:

Multiseed With Soy Sauce

Verdict: 

They are satisfyingly crunchy.

Serving size is a plentiful 35 crackers, which only pack 110 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, and 200mg Sodium (which is not bad considering they are Soy Sauce Flavored). 

They taste like they are dusted with soy sauce juice. Not too over powering, so they are enjoyable.

Bonus:

They have 240mg of ALA Omega-3 in each serving.

Negative:

I just had a REALLY bad one which makes me want to eat an entire cake to get rid of the taste in my mouth. I'm going to blame the flax seeds because this recently happened to me with another TJ chip I tried a while ago that had flax seeds in them. Mostly, each chip was good, then now and then I'd hit a really foul tasting one...hmmm...at this point, I'm not sure the risk is worth it...

My First Coupon Commotion (236:365)

I am a valued customer at Jo-Ann's fabric store. (I spend too much $ there!) So, I get coupons mailed to me each month. This month was "Coupon Commotion" so that means I got to use like 15 coupons in 1 transaction! I bought some iron-on vinyl that I can't wait to use to make some water resistant bibs with any fabric I please! I'm thinking I need to buy some of these cute fabrics for it.

Anyone else go crazy at Jo-Ann's this week? What did you buy?

Presents (235:365)

Making some of these for someone special (and for myself).

Easy and way cute...may add some to my shop.

Best Strawberry Shortcake in the World (234:365)

That may sound presumptuous, but it's true.

Now, I know this isn't new to me, but it's new to you (and the Goose - if we are being technical today) and you NEED to know this recipe. 

I always use the recipe from my trusty Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.

Strawberry Shortcake

• shortcake
• 3-4 cups sugared sliced strawberries
• 1 cup whipping cream, whipped (add around a tsp vanilla - just eyeball it, and a few shakes of powdered sugar. I prefer mine less sweet, just do it to taste.)

To make the shortcake:

• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2/3 cup milk

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter until mixture resembles course crumbs. Mix in egg and milk; stir just enough to moisten.

Spread dough in greased 8 inch round or square pan. Bake at 450 degrees for 15-18 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool for 5 minutes. Cut in squares and serve with strawberries and whipped cream.

OR!

This is what I do. Make 8 mounds on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown on the little bumps. Then eat up! These also make amazing biscuits, if you don't mind all the extra (calories) deliciousness inside. Enjoy!

Baby Bootie (233:365)

I completed only 1 baby bootie today. It is for a friend who just had a baby that is adorable!

I'll post pics once both are done and ready to ship!

Apron Progress (232:365)

I am working on my almost free apron. Total cost, seriously, is $0.99. Unless you are going to be a stickler and count the topstiching thread, which I bought, not specifially having a project for, but finding a use for it here...then it's like the $1.10 apron. 

I am hoping to have it done soon.

More details to come...

Fixing My Necklace (231:365)

I bought this really cute necklace from Forever 21 two months ago and after wearing it once two of the strands broke!

Yes, two months passed before I fixed it.

But I finally did it, today.

Hooray!

Unearthing My Creative Space (230:365)

My creative space has succumbed to an avalanche of chaos and I spent my "free" time unearthing it today. Kind of a bummer job, but it helped me feel a little more motivated to start getting on some more projects.

I also made a giant list of all the projects I want to work on.

Giant.

Here's to motivation and focus!

And, today Dee read "sat" and "am". Woohoo!

New Snacks (229:365)

Goose and I had a short break today while Dee was at preschool so we made a quick run over to lovely Trader Joe's. There I found a few new fun things. 

First, Lavender Triple Milled Soap. 

  Used it in the shower and the entire bathroom smelled like lavender for hours! 

It was a lovely experience.

Orange Air Therapy Spray. It smells lovely. It doesn't last very long, but just one squirt transforms the air into a spring day in Mesa, walking in an orange grove. Yes, it smells that good. And there's nothing funky in it, so breath it in! Over, and over, and over...

 

And finally, Veggie Sticks. Made from potato flour, these lowish fat/ lowish calorie snacks are salty and super crunchy. Just what the diet doctor ordered! These little crunchies barely made it through the day at our house. They didn't meet a mouth here that didn't like them. 

 

Goose was ADORABLE eating them.

I know, I'm a bad mom for feeding my baby fried chip things. Justification, they have spinach and tomato powder in them too. So, they have to be at least a little bit good for you. Tomato powder has got to have some vitamins.