Making My Own Bias Tape

Ambitious, I know, right?!

It freaked me out a lot, but a project I'm working on requires self made bias tape.

So fancy.

So I bit the bullet and just did it!
Dana over at MADE helped me out a lot too, with all her lovely photos and clear directions. Thank goodness for awesome tutorial makers!

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...

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!

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!

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?

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.

New Music (228:365)

My sister just introduced me to some new tunes, 
that honestly, seem ethereal.

Mindy Gledhill

Check her out.

You can thank me later.

And if you speak Spanish, or just wish you did, here is the Spanish version. And, yes, she has an excelente accent.

Have any awesome music you want to share with me?

Sporting New Boots! (227:365)

My mom bought me some cute (clearance!) clothes yesterday, including this preppy dress and snazzy boots.

I've never owned any boots before, because of 
A. I've never been able to fit into any off the rack, 
B. I didn't have the guts to wear them, and 
C. I didn't want to pay $50+ for them.

Good news, we found those on clearance for $10!

We got the next, can I say-SEXY boots for only $13! 
My outfit here cost under $30. 

Hooray for clearance shopping, of which this year has been amazing!

(Thanks again, mom!)

Skinny Jeans for $5! (226:365)

I FINALLY bought into the trend.

(I'm a late bloomer.)

I got my first pair of skinny jeans since 1986 today from Target for only $5!

Luckily, I also just got some boots to wear over them...

Don't plan on seeing me wear them without the boots any time soon!

Pictures tomorrow...

(Thanks mom for taking me shopping!)

First Mile With No Side Ache! (224:365)

Today I ran 1.15 miles without getting a side ache! I felt really pretty good and would have get going a little longer except Dee's preschool was getting out right then. Anyhoo, once I stopped I felt a little tiny dizzy, but not bad really. I feel proud of my body and my mind for accomplishing that! Can't wait to bet back on the tredmill and see how much farther I can go next time.

Joslyn Art Museum (223:365)

Scott got home today from his conference trip and after I picked him up from the airport we went on a date. First we went out to lunch and tried some new food at Wheatfields in Omaha, then went to a cool vinyl store and found some great band shirts.

Then we went to the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, for the first time.

Ah! It was so NICE and fun to go to an art museum. I haven't been to one for sooo long. I was an Art History minor in college, so I really miss art and studying up about it, so I was in my element and loving it.

They had a really great exhibit called The Glory of Ukraine, featuring tons of beautiful byzantine religious icons and artifacts.

Their permanent collection was also amazing. Scott was able to see his first Monet, Degas, Pollock, among others.

We had a really great time walking around together talking about art and being alone.

And the best part, we got in for free because there was less than 1 hour until it closed!

Basketball and the "Runza Wrap" (222:365)

Today I went to my first UNL Women's Basketball game with the young women from our church for our weekly activity. It was really fun to go and see some basketball! I haven't been to anything like that for a long time.

Lame part, for half time they had people do a "Runza Wrap" challenge where they had to wrap and box the local favorite snack, the "runza". Boo. They are gross. But everyone here LOVES them.

I've been told that the Cheese Runza dipped in Aus Jus is amazing. We'll see...

Dee's First Letter "m" (221:365)

Yesterday Dee and I started "playing school", or rather,started her reading lessons. We are both really excited about it and are enjoying the lessons.

Today she successfully wrote her first legible letter "m"!

We are on our way to literary freedom!

Running and a Migraine (218:365)

I had a super great workout this morning. I ran for 15 1/2 minutes without stopping, the longest I've done in like 15 years, 

Image from here.

and then did some weights for about an hour. I felt really good!

Soon after I came home my vision began to have a blurry spot which I realized was actually a blind spot. I used to get migraines when I was in middle and high school so I knew what was potentially about to hit me. I used to get tunnel vision or see stars, but this was the first time that I had a major blind spot. When I was looking in the mirror at my face and couldn't see the entire right side of my face I realized something scary was maybe about to happen. I sent Scott to the store to get me some migraine medicine and he ran off and returned quickly. I took it and felt okay, and the blind spot cleared up, so I went with Dee to lunch with some friends. On the way I started to regret it, but kept driving anyway. We sat with our friends for about 10 minute before I decided I shouldn't have gone and told Dee we needed to leave right then. We left, I drove quickly, and about 2 minutes after walking in the door I threw up (good timing, right?!). I did feel a little better after that, but a dull headache was coming on, so, luckily, Scott was able to be home today and I got to sleep the headache off. Thanks honey!

Ever since, I've been on a caffeine buzz, since the migraine medication had as much as a cup of coffee! I don't drink caffeine so it really hopped me up. It's just now starting to wear off, 11 hours later.

So, today was a day of physical triumphs! First big long run and first migraine of the decade. Hooray!

Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies (216:365)

I'm so over Toll House.

Their Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe makes flat and greasy cookies which are always disappointing. 

I found a recipe on the back of my Gold Medal Flour bag the other day (which I bought for $1.68 on sale and then used a coupon from the bag, a "pealy" to buy 4 bags of chocolate chips for $0.75 each!) for Chocolate Chip Cookies and hoped it was better than Toll House.

Image from here.

Well, they sure are! Less greasy, less flat and chewier. Yum!

I made 2 additions to the recipe.

I added 1 tsp Vanilla and 1 small box instant Vanilla Pudding mix.

Hope you like them as much as we do!

Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4	cup granulated sugar
3/4	cup packed brown sugar
1	cup butter or margarine, softened
1	egg
2 1/4	cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1	teaspoon baking soda
1/2	teaspoon salt
1	cup coarsely chopped nuts
1	package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

Heat oven to 375ºF. Mix sugars, butter and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt (dough will be stiff). Stir in nuts and chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown (centers will be soft). Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.  (I cooked them for 11 minutes and should have done 10. I tend to overcook my cookies fearing rawness...I need to get over that fear!) Let me know if you like them too!