{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

The Family Heart

In lieu of this weeks how to, I decided to write about a little handmade project I did for the husband this past Christmas.  It's called The Family Heart and the idea was taken directly from"Handmade Home" by Amanda Blake Soule.  She is the creator of Soulemama, a very widely read blog.

I came across her blog sometime shortly after Plum was born.  I have been a devout reader and admirer happily ever after.  I then bought both of her books.  And now I've made this little heart.  If you decide you'd like to make this, go get out right now (or order online) her book.  It's full of things I hope to make someday.

So back to this past Christmas...

I wanted to make a few handmade gifts for my family.  I wanted whatever I made for my husband, who occasionally has to leave town for business trips, something simple and sweet that would remind him of home.  (Secretly I wanted him to cry because he was so touched.)  He can be a sentimental guy like that, but shhhh, don't tell anyone.

It's a simple little stuffed heart with a small pocket sewn onto the front.  I placed a little note for him in the pocket.  It reads:

"This is The Family Heart.  It is meant to be a small reminder of the love and connection we share as a family.  When one of us is away, they can take this on their trip or adventure with them.  The pocket can hold love notes, pictures or tokens to help them feel closer to home."

Needless to say, I believe that this may have squeezed a tear or two out of him.  But remember, its our secret.

Building an indoor fort is a must.

Here in northeast Oklahoma we have recently received a small share of snow.  I like to take Plum outdoors when this occurs but unfortunately sickness prevented this.  So we focused on the indoors.  I thought it was high time that she get her first taste of the warmth of a fire and the joy of building an indoor fort, tent, playhouse or whatever you like to call it.

Building these indoor playhouses out of whatever we had on hand (sheets, blankets, pillows, chairs etc...) are apart of some of my fondest childhood memories of playing with my younger sister.  Between that, dress-up and "baptizing" each other in the outside metal tub we had some good times.

Now that I'm a parent of a young child I think about my childhood quite frequently.  I think about all the imaginative play and the fun we had outdoors.  I think about the ordinary things around the house that we "pretended" into something that wasn't so ordinary.  In the age of technology (and I do think it has its place and I myself am a user) I don't want my child to miss out on these things.  My hope is that one day she will look back at her childhood with fondness and hope for these times for her little girl or boy.

 We started with a fire...

 Then showed the Miss her makeshift playhouse...

She took right to it...

 Even flashed us a smile...

 Then she thought maybe she was missing out on something...

 Daddy tried to see if she was taking visitors...

 She was NOT.

I'd say she had a pretty good time though.

(I apologize that this was not my best photography due to I was having too much fun playing...)

I could be musical. And because I can't sing.

Today's listmania is inspired by the above video that was shared with me by Birch Street Bliss .  I'm in love...with the kazoo.

I've never learned to play an instrument but have always secretly and not so secretly longed to.  I have visions of myself rocking out in a band in front of all the people I know and they all just adore and wonder at the sight and sound of me.  Unfortunately that bass guitar still sits forlornly in the corner of my studio (see Fig. 1 below).

Fig. 1

The bass guitar aside, I also have a yearning to learn to play something that is maybe not so conventional.  Enter today's list...

Top 5 Weird Instruments I'd Like to Play

5.  Um, the kazoo.  (See above video)

4.  Toy piano.  Maybe Molly will share with me when I get her one of these someday.

3.  The key-tar.  Because I would be the life of an 80's party.

2.  A turntable.  Okay maybe not technically an instrument (or is it?) but I would look so cool as a chick DJ.

1.  Accordion.  This could happen people.

Home Economics Tip O' the Week

Make a weekly menu...

and make your grocery list accordingly.  This can save you time and money.

Monday inspiration

I may need to make something along the lines of this nightgown  for those warm nights this summer.

I think this curtain is adorable but its in a long line of projects so it will have to wait a bit.

I think we all know how I feel about this.

My OB/Gyn's office is getting a special sweet treat when I pay them a visit this week.  (No, I'm not pregnant.)  I never got around to sending them a thank you after Molly was born.  Go figure.

I may have found a hat pattern for Molly's next winter:

 

Finding inspiration in this song right now.  I love the string of lights she hangs in the video.

Tell me what's inspiring you right now?  I would love to hear...

And a Happy Birthday to my lovely husband!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

A Pleasant Distraction

This has been a trying couple of days for this little family.  With two out of the three sick, it can be rough.  But honestly, I don't really want nor feel the need to complain.  Because honestly, things could be worse.  We all might be a little harried and tired but we have everything we need, including each other.

So with that said, I would like to think of happier things than snot, fever, dog seizures, and did I mention snot?

Such as...dun dun da dun duuuhhhh....

GNOMES!!!

(I bet you weren't expecting that were you.)

Well, its true.  I'm currently obsessed with gnomes.  I probably have been since I first watched Amelie.  Which come to think of it, I think I will watch that tomorrow if the little one is feeling like letting me. 

But anyway, I'm really obsessed now.  Yesterday, the husband rewound the DVR to show me the trailer to the new upcoming animated (Oh to my delight!!) Gnome movie!  Shriek!  I'm so excited...
AAAAAAND...guess what its called!?

Gnomeo and Juliet

That's right!  I am so in love with the idea of gnomes AND Shakespeare!  It couldn't get any better!

Now, with that excitement out of the way I would like to take the opportunity to show off and brag on my lovable, talented father aka Daddy, aka Granddaddy, aka G.

After throwing a giant hint that I would LOVE a gnome painting for Molly's room, guess what this wonderful Pop of mine did?!  He painted the most awesome gnome painting for Molly for Christmas!  And he did it in just one afternoon.  He's so awesome.  And so is the painting.

Thanks again Dad! 

List day: Calling in Sick

The two loves of my life are sick.  Thank God I'm well and able to help them cope.  I feel so bad for them.  The hubby powered through and went off to work today.  Plum and I went to see the Dr after fever and snot finally took their toll.

Now we're armed with medicine and good old-fashioned home remedies to help her through.

So here is today's To Do List aimed at helping her through feeling like poo.

1.  Hold her and cuddle her as much as she wants.

2.  Freshly laundered sheets on the bed with an assortment of snuggly blankets.

3.  Tater tots.  Because she loves them.

4.  Perhaps a fire in the fireplace.  For warmth.  Well, this might be more for me than her.

5.  Lots of rest and relaxation.

6.  If she were capable of asking for a pony I'd probably give it to her.  Even if it means violating our neighborhood covenants.

7.  And of course, lots of good Mama-love.

Hope everyone has a good and HEALTHY rest of the day!

Monday, monday

To tell you the truth, I didn't feel like posting today.  But I must power through.  Not that I don't love all of you, but something about the weather, my husband being home off of work and all that makes me just want to hibernate.  There was plenty I probably SHOULD have been doing today but instead I chose to knit, sit by the fire in the fireplace and build my daughter's first fort in the living room.  Ahhhh, what a day.

So here is what is currently inspiring me...enjoy and enjoy the rest of your Monday...

-Thinking of making this for Plum after I finish the red dress I'm knitting her up right now.

-On an oatmeal kick right now.  Must be winter.

-These look gooooood.  Thinking of making them this week.

-Would like to make myself something pretty from this book soon.

-Thinking about more knitting, more fires in the fireplace and more snuggling with my girl who currently smells fresh-out-of-the-bath delicious.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

How to: My Momma's Casserole

For this weeks how to I bring you something of the tasty variety.  For many reasons...

1.  Because I love all of you.
2.  Because you will love me back when you taste this.
3.  Because it's whats for dinner at my house tonight and you're not invited (only because I want more for me.)
4.  Because I have about a million other crafty projects going on but none are finished at the moment (I have a baby).
5.  Because you really should make this for yourself (you'll have more for you and you can make me jealous).
6.  Because I think my Dad would be fine eating this every night.
7,  Because I adore Pioneer Woman (thepioneerwoman.com) and I'm imitating how she does her recipe posts.

HAPPY EATING!

Ingredients:
2# ground beef
2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 white onion
1 25oz can of whole tomatoes
3 decent sized russet or yukon gold potatoes
dash of salt

1st:  Don cute apron and perhaps cute house-shoes if you want to scoff at going barefoot in the kitchen and avoid unsolicited jokes from the husband.

Next:  Preheat oven to 450 degrees and don't look at my dirty oven.

I said DON'T LOOK!
Next:  Peel and slice thin your potatoes and line your casserole dish with them.  Sprinkle with salt.

Next:  Slice thinly half of your onion.  Or all of it if you like things very oniony.

Then throw the onions in with your ground beef and brown it all while ignoring again the dirty stove.

Continue until meat is thoroughly browned and the onions are glistening and slightly translucent.

Transfer meat and onion mixture to casserole dish atop potatoes.

Then this part is very important.  Sprinkle Worcestershire sauce all over the casserole while saying Worcestershire sauce 3 times fast.

Then take your big can of tomatoes...

and squish (highly technical cooking term) them all over the top.

It should look something like this:

Cover with foil or an oven safe lid and cook for approx 45 minutes or until potatoes are done.
Note:  Mine was done in 45 minutes but it all depends on your casserole dish.  My mom uses a much deeper dish and has to cook hers for 1 1/2 hours.

Next:  Put your pretty feet up while the oven cooks it for you.  You deserve it.  Ignore my dirty house (again I have a tot).

That's my dogs head, not some weird growth.

When your timer beeps at you, pull out your savory casserole and feed yo family!!
Oh and take a picture and send it to me so my mouth will water.

ENJOY!!!

Gratitude

–noun  
the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful

There are so many things to be grateful for.

Ode to Yumminess

As you now know if you've been following my blog, Tuesday is list day here at Plum Haus.

So this is what I've been giving thought to today.  If you know me, this shouldn't surprise you.


Top 5 Things to Pair With Nutella

5.  Toast.  It makes your toast feel special.  Just ask it.

4.  Pretzels.  Just tried this tonight.  For those of you who like to have sweet with your salty.

3.  Apples.  I think it makes them healthier.

2.  Your finger.  Yep.  Straight outta the jar.  This will make you think twice before stealing my Nutella when you come over.

1.  Bacon.  Yeah, you read that right.

Home Economics Tip O' the Week

To sharpen your can opener blade, try running it over a piece of aluminum foil.  It's cheap, it;s easy.  And you won't have to go out and buy a new one!

Weekly Inspiration

I'm so ready for this book to come out:

I've got a whole fryer chicken just begging to be put into this recipe.

Loving this bathroom.

I would really like a cool couch.  Like this one.

Which would look fantastic with this quilt thrown over it.

My kitchen would be exponentially cuter with this little towel.

These take me back to my younger years.

I took these pictures because I would like to make something like these.  I'm enamored with the green one.

I'm loving this album.  This particular song has been running through my head for days.  Now its in yours.  Ha!

These are just a few things that are inspiring me this week.  Our first snow this year is beckoning to me and Plum to get out in it and feed some birds and ducks!

I'll be back later with a Home Ecomonics tip of the week....Til then...

Vintage Finds

I went vintage/antique shopping recently in nearby Collinsville.  I hadn't done this in a while so I decided it was time.  I then remembered how much fun it is.  I poored through a few antique stores on Main St. and when I stepped into Lynn's Antique Shop I was met warmly by the shop owner.  Then lo and behold right in the center of the store I heard the heavens open up and light shine down on a vintage fabric mecca. 
So after chatting with Lynn and spending probably more than I should have, I left with these goodies and a few others (check out the yellow vintage baby scale they are placed on for $10!!!)

I already have an idea for the faux patchwork fabric but the verdict is still out on the rest...

I would love to have your input, recommendations and/or special requests for the rest of this fabric!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Weekly Project: Baby Legwarmers!

For my first How-To I thought I would just keep it simple.  Plus I wanted to pick a project that even the most beginning of sewers could accomplish without too much gnashing of teeth and expletives thrown about.  Plus I know I'm a bit ADD with projects and can be easily distracted and lured into something else cool.  You could say I have a wandering creative eye.  With these though, I can have instant gratification and my babe looks cute to boot.
But first I must give credit where credit is due.  I first saw this project at Prudent Baby and immediately knew I had to make some (as is the case with most of their projects).  I love their stuff sooooo much.  They are some of my crafty idols.
Anyhoo, here's the tutorial so you can get your wee one's legs warm pronto!

First assemble your supplies:
Sewing machine, a pair of ladies knee socks, coordinating thread, bobbin that fits your machine, fabric scissors.

Second:
Cut off the bottom part of the sock at the ankle.

Third:

Fold the cut edge under however much you want.  I did mine like maybe a 1/2 inch or so.
Set your machine to the zig-zag stitch and sew around and hem that edge.

Trim the excess thread.  Now do the other leg.

Notice the Sonic cup.  I prefer to snack whilst I craft.

Now adorn your cute baby's legs with new legwarmers immediately!

 

Ummmmmm CUTE!