Here is a picture of the first ever bonnet I made. I think it turned out really well.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Another apron and my first bonnet
This is the front and back of an apron I made for a Birthday gift. It isn't one of my favorite aprons, but I did take a picture of it before giving it, so I figured I would go ahead and post it.
Here is a picture of the first ever bonnet I made. I think it turned out really well.
Here is a picture of the first ever bonnet I made. I think it turned out really well.
Sew Crazy
The title is totally cliche, I know. It is however, totally appropriate.
Last year I became the proud owner of a sewing machine. I never could figure the thing out. It frustrated me to no end. I put it in the basement and never really thought about it again until a month or so ago when I decided I wanted to sew some aprons. As I've said before, I have a great love for toile fabric. In fact, a couple of years ago I was looking for some when I was in Colorado, and I asked the friendly fabric woman at the local Wal-Mart to direct me to some by properly pronouncing it as "twall" and she had no idea what I was referring to. I finally found it, and when I took it to her, she said "ooooohhh, you mean 'toylee'. Sure. :) I always wonder, what is the appropriate response in a situation like that? Should I sound like a snob and correct her? If not, and I refer to it again, do I call it "toylee"? Awkward. I think I just smiled and shut up.
Anyway, back in the summer, my gargantuan super Wal-Mart decided to replace it's fabric area with the more popular "party center". All fabric was reduced to 50% off it's lowest price. I bought all the toile they had left. Now, I had no idea what I was going to do with said fabric, but I liked it, and I brought it home and stuffed it into the cabinet with the sewing machine. Fast forward to November. I had the fabric and a sewing machine that I am incapable of using, and since unemployment can only be stretched so far, I thought it would be a fantastic idea to sew up some aprons...or maybe find a kind soul to do it for me. I posted to the homeschool group and one mom volunteered to make them...to the tune of $30 an apron. She also provided the option of teaching me to sew, but that was going to be $25 per hour. Neither of these options really fit into the budget so I decided to scrap the whole idea. Then, through a series of conversations, a lady at church volunteered to come to my home and teach me how to sew aprons. She came over three nights and I have been a sewing fool ever since.
I have made 15 or so reversible aprons for Christmas gifts. Then I decided I would really like to have a nicer sewing machine, and maybe even one that could embroider. Grandma sent me my Christmas money, and I used that...as well as some of Michael's :) to purchase a sewing/embroidery machine. It's totally awesome because, let's be honest, who DOESN'T like to have their name or initials stitched on things? Run down to the dollar store and buy a package of cloth napkins, put them in the embroidery machine, and for $1 you have a cool gift! Then, I also decided last weekend, that I wanted to make the girls some Little House on the Prairie type outfits with matching outfits for their dolls...all before Christmas! Everything was going according to plan, and I was totally pleased with the two bonnets I had completed, when the sewing machine started to malfunction. Good times. It doesn't look like I will get everything completed before Christmas, but I am so excited that I have developed a new skill.
Here are a couple of pictures of Madeline modeling one side of the apron, and Meghan the other. The side that isn't toile is made from old pillow shams I saved, just because I thought they were cool. See...it pays to save e-v-e-r-ything. Once I ran out of fabric, I started looking for old sheets and curtains at thrift stores. I like the vintage-y look and it's so much cheaper than fabric...especially if you go on half price day. As soon as I locate my camera, I'll post some pictures of the bonnet. It's adorable.
Last year I became the proud owner of a sewing machine. I never could figure the thing out. It frustrated me to no end. I put it in the basement and never really thought about it again until a month or so ago when I decided I wanted to sew some aprons. As I've said before, I have a great love for toile fabric. In fact, a couple of years ago I was looking for some when I was in Colorado, and I asked the friendly fabric woman at the local Wal-Mart to direct me to some by properly pronouncing it as "twall" and she had no idea what I was referring to. I finally found it, and when I took it to her, she said "ooooohhh, you mean 'toylee'. Sure. :) I always wonder, what is the appropriate response in a situation like that? Should I sound like a snob and correct her? If not, and I refer to it again, do I call it "toylee"? Awkward. I think I just smiled and shut up.
Anyway, back in the summer, my gargantuan super Wal-Mart decided to replace it's fabric area with the more popular "party center". All fabric was reduced to 50% off it's lowest price. I bought all the toile they had left. Now, I had no idea what I was going to do with said fabric, but I liked it, and I brought it home and stuffed it into the cabinet with the sewing machine. Fast forward to November. I had the fabric and a sewing machine that I am incapable of using, and since unemployment can only be stretched so far, I thought it would be a fantastic idea to sew up some aprons...or maybe find a kind soul to do it for me. I posted to the homeschool group and one mom volunteered to make them...to the tune of $30 an apron. She also provided the option of teaching me to sew, but that was going to be $25 per hour. Neither of these options really fit into the budget so I decided to scrap the whole idea. Then, through a series of conversations, a lady at church volunteered to come to my home and teach me how to sew aprons. She came over three nights and I have been a sewing fool ever since.
I have made 15 or so reversible aprons for Christmas gifts. Then I decided I would really like to have a nicer sewing machine, and maybe even one that could embroider. Grandma sent me my Christmas money, and I used that...as well as some of Michael's :) to purchase a sewing/embroidery machine. It's totally awesome because, let's be honest, who DOESN'T like to have their name or initials stitched on things? Run down to the dollar store and buy a package of cloth napkins, put them in the embroidery machine, and for $1 you have a cool gift! Then, I also decided last weekend, that I wanted to make the girls some Little House on the Prairie type outfits with matching outfits for their dolls...all before Christmas! Everything was going according to plan, and I was totally pleased with the two bonnets I had completed, when the sewing machine started to malfunction. Good times. It doesn't look like I will get everything completed before Christmas, but I am so excited that I have developed a new skill.
Here are a couple of pictures of Madeline modeling one side of the apron, and Meghan the other. The side that isn't toile is made from old pillow shams I saved, just because I thought they were cool. See...it pays to save e-v-e-r-ything. Once I ran out of fabric, I started looking for old sheets and curtains at thrift stores. I like the vintage-y look and it's so much cheaper than fabric...especially if you go on half price day. As soon as I locate my camera, I'll post some pictures of the bonnet. It's adorable.
Friday, December 12, 2008
OAMC
The freezer is nearly empty so it's time for Once a Month Cooking! OAMC is a real sanity saver because for a month I don't have to think about what I am going to prepare for dinner. It's a real money saver also because with food in the freezer ready to go, I am not tempted to spend money on fast food.
My Mom is the OAMC queen. She has rotating menus with corresponding grocery lists already prepared, so each month she only has to choose one and she is ready to go to the grocery store. I, on the other hand, like to come up with new meals so I never use the same menu twice. While OAMC seems overwhelming to a lot of people, it really isn't. For years, I had purchased ground beef in bulk and then prepared it all at once, seasoned it, and used some for dinner and froze the rest. It was just easier that way. OAMC just goes a step or two further. Now instead of cooking 5 lbs. of ground beef, I cook 20!
There are dozens of OAMC recipes online, and I have found quite a few at Recipezaar. The easiest way to do OAMC is to choose 15 or so meals, and then make two of each. I don't like repitition so I usually come up with closer to 25 meals and then double a few. Here is our list for today:
Dinner-
Awesomely Special Cheesesteaks
North Woods Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Taco Chicken Nuggets
Philly Cheese Steak Soup
Decadent Sausage and Cheese Quiche (and pancakes)
Beef Mushroom Stroganoff
Homemade Pizza
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Turkey Casserole
Chicken Alfredo
Mexican Pizza
Chicken and Cheese Rice Bake
Chicken Bruschetta Casserole
Best Shepherds Pie
Chicken Nuggets
Perfect Chili
Best Lasagna
Beef Taquitos
Juicy Hamburgers
Cheese Potato and Smoked Sausage Casserole
Spicy Meat and Cheese Stromboli
Meatball Sub Casserole
Cheeseburger and Fries Casserole
Pork Steak Major
Mushroom Alfredo Lasagna
Fajita Mac-N-Cheese
Supreme Pizza Pasta
Hanky Pankies
Snacks-
Pint-Size PB and J Muffins
Banana Push-Ups
Frozen Chocolate Bananas
Lemon-Blueberry Twist Pops
Frozen Fruit Cups
Mini Cinnamon Twists
Sides-
Homemade Bread
Salad
Corn Casserole
Cheese Biscuits
Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Last month my menu was totally different. This is also the first time I have added snacks or sides. I usually don't plan for lunches because we almost always eat leftovers. On the days we don't eat leftovers we have something like "Ramen Noodle Soup" or "Easy Potato Soup" both my creations to cook with what's in the cupboard, super quick and simple. Last month I spent $604 on groceries. That provided three meals a day, and I made them October 24. We still have 5 meals left in the freezer, so we were able to stretch the menu to about six or seven weeks. Not bad!
Last night I went to Aldi's for the first time. I know frugal folks swear by Aldi's but my Mom shopped there when I was a kid, and back then it was dirty and nasty. I just haven't been able to bring myself to shop there. I was pleasantly surprised though at the selection, and especially, the price. The meat looked fresh and the store was very clean. I left with 20 lbs. of ground beef, 18 lbs. of chicken, three lbs. of roast, three quarters of butter, 2 gallons of milk, 34 bananas, and a plethora of other things and my bill was only $175!!!! All told, this month's menu will run me under $500. That's way less than $1/meal/person...and that makes me happy.
(If you have questions about OAMC, or if you live by me and would like to start OAMC, I am happy to help you. I'll even help you cook!)
My Mom is the OAMC queen. She has rotating menus with corresponding grocery lists already prepared, so each month she only has to choose one and she is ready to go to the grocery store. I, on the other hand, like to come up with new meals so I never use the same menu twice. While OAMC seems overwhelming to a lot of people, it really isn't. For years, I had purchased ground beef in bulk and then prepared it all at once, seasoned it, and used some for dinner and froze the rest. It was just easier that way. OAMC just goes a step or two further. Now instead of cooking 5 lbs. of ground beef, I cook 20!
There are dozens of OAMC recipes online, and I have found quite a few at Recipezaar. The easiest way to do OAMC is to choose 15 or so meals, and then make two of each. I don't like repitition so I usually come up with closer to 25 meals and then double a few. Here is our list for today:
Dinner-
Awesomely Special Cheesesteaks
North Woods Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Taco Chicken Nuggets
Philly Cheese Steak Soup
Decadent Sausage and Cheese Quiche (and pancakes)
Beef Mushroom Stroganoff
Homemade Pizza
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Turkey Casserole
Chicken Alfredo
Mexican Pizza
Chicken and Cheese Rice Bake
Chicken Bruschetta Casserole
Best Shepherds Pie
Chicken Nuggets
Perfect Chili
Best Lasagna
Beef Taquitos
Juicy Hamburgers
Cheese Potato and Smoked Sausage Casserole
Spicy Meat and Cheese Stromboli
Meatball Sub Casserole
Cheeseburger and Fries Casserole
Pork Steak Major
Mushroom Alfredo Lasagna
Fajita Mac-N-Cheese
Supreme Pizza Pasta
Hanky Pankies
Snacks-
Pint-Size PB and J Muffins
Banana Push-Ups
Frozen Chocolate Bananas
Lemon-Blueberry Twist Pops
Frozen Fruit Cups
Mini Cinnamon Twists
Sides-
Homemade Bread
Salad
Corn Casserole
Cheese Biscuits
Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Last month my menu was totally different. This is also the first time I have added snacks or sides. I usually don't plan for lunches because we almost always eat leftovers. On the days we don't eat leftovers we have something like "Ramen Noodle Soup" or "Easy Potato Soup" both my creations to cook with what's in the cupboard, super quick and simple. Last month I spent $604 on groceries. That provided three meals a day, and I made them October 24. We still have 5 meals left in the freezer, so we were able to stretch the menu to about six or seven weeks. Not bad!
Last night I went to Aldi's for the first time. I know frugal folks swear by Aldi's but my Mom shopped there when I was a kid, and back then it was dirty and nasty. I just haven't been able to bring myself to shop there. I was pleasantly surprised though at the selection, and especially, the price. The meat looked fresh and the store was very clean. I left with 20 lbs. of ground beef, 18 lbs. of chicken, three lbs. of roast, three quarters of butter, 2 gallons of milk, 34 bananas, and a plethora of other things and my bill was only $175!!!! All told, this month's menu will run me under $500. That's way less than $1/meal/person...and that makes me happy.
(If you have questions about OAMC, or if you live by me and would like to start OAMC, I am happy to help you. I'll even help you cook!)
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