So - as you can see, I've been playing around with making a few changes to the design of the blog. Please tell me what you think... Do you like the new design? Find the photo too distracting? I'm interested in feedback, as I'm still working upon on all of this!
-bf
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
She's Crafty!
I. love. to. sew. It all started a few years back when I became frustrated. I mean REALLY REALLY frustrated with the price of clothes when I was shopping. I just needed a few skirts. I couldn't really find anything I liked - and the skirts that I did like -- were upwards of $60 - $80. For a skirt! An A-line skirt!
So, I thought to myself... "Self. How hard can it be to make a skirt? You should just buy a sewing machine and make your OWN skirts." And so I did. And so began my love for sewing.
I've made quite a few skirts. Some I'm proud of. Some I'm not so proud of. I've also completed projects other than skirts... I made my Lovey a tie. Out of corduroy. Pink corduroy. It turned out VERY COOL. Lovey loves it -- he just doesn't have much reason to wear a tie.
I also made myself a sundress... that looked like a giant moo moo. I'm not sure that I'm spelling "moo moo" right - but in this context the spelling of the word works -- because that is indeed what I looked like. A giant hot pink cow. Lovey wouldn't let me wear the sundress out of the house. Or in the house. It went to Goodwill. Now someone is the proud owner of a dress that I slaved over... I hope it looks fantastic on someone a bit more "large and in charge" than me.
I made Lovey a pair of pajama pants. They were a bit small. But, he wears them every now and again just to make me feel like the effort was worth it. I'm not sure if it's the size of the pants or the style -- it always looks like he has the pants on backwards - even when he puts them on the right way. Good thing they are pj pants and he mostly wears them in the dark. God Bless Lovey for loving me so much that he'll wear those horrible pants just to make me feel better. He's a keeper.
After the epic fails at clothing that needs to "fit" -- I decided that I should stick to items that were non-clothing - until I can figure out how to make the appropriate changes to ensure proper garment fit. So, I've stuck to baby receiving blankets, tote bags, etc. I'm still trying to figure out my "fit" problems. But goodness! I do love fabric and sewing. I'm addicted!
Of course, all of these projects were done before Sweet Pea came on the scene. It's been a bit difficult to fit much "me" time into my life with a cuddly little guy... but lately I've been able to get a bit more time for some fun projects. Sweet Pea heads off to bed sometime around 7:00 or 8:00 which gives me a bit of time to work on projects... It's taking me longer to get my projects done. Gone are the days of "busting out a skirt" in one sitting - but I'm learning to slow down and enjoy the process.
And there are some nights that I work a bit later into the evening to get something done... because I just can't put down the fabric and back away from the machine.... but who needs sleep? Right?
In the past month, I've completed two kid's aprons - one for a little girl and one for a little boy... and a simple blanket/ tie quilt for Sweet Pea's birthday - it's done WAAAAY early... but like Sweet Pea will even remember. He's not even one!!!
I've included a few photos for those that are interested... sorry they aren't the best angles/ images... I promise to work on my photography skills. You know, in all my free time ;-)
Here is the little boy's apron. It's reversible. I can't take credit for this pattern... I found a free pattern for the apron here.... kid sized chef's apron I made the apron to fit a 3 year old. Sorry I don't have a photo of it ON a three year old... but the three year old does not belong to me ;-)
This is the little girl's apron. I designed the pattern myself. It was a bit of a pain... but in the end, I was happy with the result... I learned quite a bit... and was able to take out my aggression by continually ripping out my mistakes and staring over... and over... and over. The apron was a gift for a family member - she's four. Sorry that it isn't actually displayed ON a four year old. I don't own one of those, either.
Finally, here are a couple of photos of Sweet Pea's quilt. Finished last night. I don't know if he will love it, but I really love it. Finished size is about 44x57 or 58, I think. I haven't actually measured it. It was very, very simple to do... almost TOO easy. I'm excited to try my hand a something a bit more complicated sometime in the future.
So - thanks for letting me share a few projects with you. I'm having fun getting back into the sewing groove. I've got projects stacked up on the sewing table and in my head. I can't wait to start getting more creative!! In the future I'll share some of my favorite books for projects... and the projects that I've playing with, too.
Any of you getting crafty these days? I can't wait to hear more about the things you love to do!
--bf
So, I thought to myself... "Self. How hard can it be to make a skirt? You should just buy a sewing machine and make your OWN skirts." And so I did. And so began my love for sewing.
I've made quite a few skirts. Some I'm proud of. Some I'm not so proud of. I've also completed projects other than skirts... I made my Lovey a tie. Out of corduroy. Pink corduroy. It turned out VERY COOL. Lovey loves it -- he just doesn't have much reason to wear a tie.
I also made myself a sundress... that looked like a giant moo moo. I'm not sure that I'm spelling "moo moo" right - but in this context the spelling of the word works -- because that is indeed what I looked like. A giant hot pink cow. Lovey wouldn't let me wear the sundress out of the house. Or in the house. It went to Goodwill. Now someone is the proud owner of a dress that I slaved over... I hope it looks fantastic on someone a bit more "large and in charge" than me.
I made Lovey a pair of pajama pants. They were a bit small. But, he wears them every now and again just to make me feel like the effort was worth it. I'm not sure if it's the size of the pants or the style -- it always looks like he has the pants on backwards - even when he puts them on the right way. Good thing they are pj pants and he mostly wears them in the dark. God Bless Lovey for loving me so much that he'll wear those horrible pants just to make me feel better. He's a keeper.
After the epic fails at clothing that needs to "fit" -- I decided that I should stick to items that were non-clothing - until I can figure out how to make the appropriate changes to ensure proper garment fit. So, I've stuck to baby receiving blankets, tote bags, etc. I'm still trying to figure out my "fit" problems. But goodness! I do love fabric and sewing. I'm addicted!
Of course, all of these projects were done before Sweet Pea came on the scene. It's been a bit difficult to fit much "me" time into my life with a cuddly little guy... but lately I've been able to get a bit more time for some fun projects. Sweet Pea heads off to bed sometime around 7:00 or 8:00 which gives me a bit of time to work on projects... It's taking me longer to get my projects done. Gone are the days of "busting out a skirt" in one sitting - but I'm learning to slow down and enjoy the process.
And there are some nights that I work a bit later into the evening to get something done... because I just can't put down the fabric and back away from the machine.... but who needs sleep? Right?
In the past month, I've completed two kid's aprons - one for a little girl and one for a little boy... and a simple blanket/ tie quilt for Sweet Pea's birthday - it's done WAAAAY early... but like Sweet Pea will even remember. He's not even one!!!
I've included a few photos for those that are interested... sorry they aren't the best angles/ images... I promise to work on my photography skills. You know, in all my free time ;-)
Here is the little boy's apron. It's reversible. I can't take credit for this pattern... I found a free pattern for the apron here.... kid sized chef's apron I made the apron to fit a 3 year old. Sorry I don't have a photo of it ON a three year old... but the three year old does not belong to me ;-)
This is the little girl's apron. I designed the pattern myself. It was a bit of a pain... but in the end, I was happy with the result... I learned quite a bit... and was able to take out my aggression by continually ripping out my mistakes and staring over... and over... and over. The apron was a gift for a family member - she's four. Sorry that it isn't actually displayed ON a four year old. I don't own one of those, either.
Finally, here are a couple of photos of Sweet Pea's quilt. Finished last night. I don't know if he will love it, but I really love it. Finished size is about 44x57 or 58, I think. I haven't actually measured it. It was very, very simple to do... almost TOO easy. I'm excited to try my hand a something a bit more complicated sometime in the future.
So - thanks for letting me share a few projects with you. I'm having fun getting back into the sewing groove. I've got projects stacked up on the sewing table and in my head. I can't wait to start getting more creative!! In the future I'll share some of my favorite books for projects... and the projects that I've playing with, too.
Any of you getting crafty these days? I can't wait to hear more about the things you love to do!
--bf
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Hazards of Nursing
Sweet Pea turned 10 months old today. I can't believe how quickly the time is flying. As the "one year" mark quickly approaches - I'm anticipating that sometime in the next 2 - 6 months, my little guy will be done breast feeding... this makes me think back on the last 10 months and reflect on some of my experiences.
Some of my most memorable experiences have come at the hands of other people's children. When Sweet Pea gets hungry or whiny in the company of friends and strangers, I try to disreetly move myself to a quieter location in the house so that he can eat in peace and quiet - and so I don't have to flash my world to everyone present. I've noticed that little boys really pay no attention. They pay me and Sweet Pea no heed. They don't notice me leave - and if they enter into the room I'm in, they don't even notice I'm there, usually they are too busy playing and making a commotion. The same cannot be said for little girls.
The little girls that I have experienced seem to 1. really LOVE babies and 2. be very curious about what is going on underneath my shirt/ Sweet Pea's blanket. On more than one occasion, I've had little girls follow me to whatever location in the house I choose. IT'S A BABY PARTY -- WE'RE COMING WITH YOU!!! And then the barrage of questions begin.
"What are you doing?"
"What's he doing under that blanket?"
"Can I see?"
And when I try to just keep the answers vague... such as "I'm feeding the baby" or "he's eating" - the girls just aren't satisfied.
"What's he eating?"
"Where is his bottle?"
"How are you feeding him?"
"Can I see?"
Suddenly, I'm in charge of teaching these 4 - 6 year old girls about the biology of feeding a baby. I'm not sure how I suddenly get to be the poster child for breast feeding - but it's an awkward position to be in to have to teach someone else's kid about biology. A little help here!!
So I have to attempt to talk about how the baby is drinking milk... from me. Common responses have included
"How did you get the milk in there?" to -- you guessed it "Can I see?"
So much trying to be discreet --Now I'm having to flash myself to young children - all in an effort to allow them to see that nursing a baby is natural, and normal, and not something to be embarrassed about - all while I am DYING inside that I am having to have this conversation with someone else's kid.
One friend's curious kid - even looked at me - asked several questions -- wanted to see (of course) -- and then looked me in the eye and responded "GROSS!" quickly followed by -- "Can I see, again?"
Ah, the joys of mothterhood. By the time Sweet Pea is 4 - 6, I'm guessing I'll have a better way to answer the questions about nursing - but for right now, I'm just making it up as I go along - and hoping that the parents to these children aren't too mad at me for opening a can of worms I never wanted to open in the first place.
Of course, none of this makes me regret my choice to nurse my child. It's better for him, he's healthier than formula fed kiddos, and it's been a great way to connect and bond with my Sweet Pea. And while a part of me is looking forward to the freedom of him no longer needing to nurse - a part of me will miss the time snuggling, too. So while the end may be near, I'm glad it's not quite here, yet.
-bg
Some of my most memorable experiences have come at the hands of other people's children. When Sweet Pea gets hungry or whiny in the company of friends and strangers, I try to disreetly move myself to a quieter location in the house so that he can eat in peace and quiet - and so I don't have to flash my world to everyone present. I've noticed that little boys really pay no attention. They pay me and Sweet Pea no heed. They don't notice me leave - and if they enter into the room I'm in, they don't even notice I'm there, usually they are too busy playing and making a commotion. The same cannot be said for little girls.
The little girls that I have experienced seem to 1. really LOVE babies and 2. be very curious about what is going on underneath my shirt/ Sweet Pea's blanket. On more than one occasion, I've had little girls follow me to whatever location in the house I choose. IT'S A BABY PARTY -- WE'RE COMING WITH YOU!!! And then the barrage of questions begin.
"What are you doing?"
"What's he doing under that blanket?"
"Can I see?"
And when I try to just keep the answers vague... such as "I'm feeding the baby" or "he's eating" - the girls just aren't satisfied.
"What's he eating?"
"Where is his bottle?"
"How are you feeding him?"
"Can I see?"
Suddenly, I'm in charge of teaching these 4 - 6 year old girls about the biology of feeding a baby. I'm not sure how I suddenly get to be the poster child for breast feeding - but it's an awkward position to be in to have to teach someone else's kid about biology. A little help here!!
So I have to attempt to talk about how the baby is drinking milk... from me. Common responses have included
"How did you get the milk in there?" to -- you guessed it "Can I see?"
So much trying to be discreet --Now I'm having to flash myself to young children - all in an effort to allow them to see that nursing a baby is natural, and normal, and not something to be embarrassed about - all while I am DYING inside that I am having to have this conversation with someone else's kid.
One friend's curious kid - even looked at me - asked several questions -- wanted to see (of course) -- and then looked me in the eye and responded "GROSS!" quickly followed by -- "Can I see, again?"
Ah, the joys of mothterhood. By the time Sweet Pea is 4 - 6, I'm guessing I'll have a better way to answer the questions about nursing - but for right now, I'm just making it up as I go along - and hoping that the parents to these children aren't too mad at me for opening a can of worms I never wanted to open in the first place.
Of course, none of this makes me regret my choice to nurse my child. It's better for him, he's healthier than formula fed kiddos, and it's been a great way to connect and bond with my Sweet Pea. And while a part of me is looking forward to the freedom of him no longer needing to nurse - a part of me will miss the time snuggling, too. So while the end may be near, I'm glad it's not quite here, yet.
-bg
Friday, February 4, 2011
Observations from a Sick Mama
So... turns out we've taught Sweet Pea how to be a good sharer. He came down with a cold sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday - and promptly shared it with both Lovey and me. It is fun times in our house. Lovey's cold seems to be hanging out in his chest... Sweet Pea has a runny nose and a goopy cough. Mine? Hanging out in my sinuses. Awesome. My already ridiculously nasal Midwestern accent just went to a new level of annoying. Foods have no flavor. I can't hear correctly... And I'm off my mom game.
It's near impossible to smell a poopy diaper with my sniffer in its current condition. I have put Sweet Pea to bed twice tonight in a diaper filled with poo. This NEVER happens! Good thing the kid is a clear communicator and screams bloody murder to let me know I'm slacking on my duties as super-mom.
Sweet Pea likes to share everything. Well, everything that belongs to me. He doesn't want to eat his food - but if it's going in my mouth - it must be good. He's a little insulted today that I don't want to share my food - well, mostly my germs with him. I've been getting stink-eye all night.
Having a nasty cold and having a child that is nursing brings a new level of torture to being sick. Actually, this cold wouldn't be so nasty if I could take some drugs - Advil Cold and Sinus, Tylenol Cold and Sinus, Sudafed -- turns out there really isn't anything you can take for medication - except Tylenol. And it just isn't cutting the mustard.
Well - those are about all the observations I have - other than sick mamas should get sleep when they can - as much as they can when their baby is sleeping... because you don't know how often the kiddo is going to wake up throughout the night when they aren't feeling well. So, that said - I'm going to take my own advice and get some rest. Cross your fingers that Sweet Pea sleeps through the night.
And if anyone has some sage advice on how make the sinus pressure go away without medicine. I'm all ears.
--bf
It's near impossible to smell a poopy diaper with my sniffer in its current condition. I have put Sweet Pea to bed twice tonight in a diaper filled with poo. This NEVER happens! Good thing the kid is a clear communicator and screams bloody murder to let me know I'm slacking on my duties as super-mom.
Sweet Pea likes to share everything. Well, everything that belongs to me. He doesn't want to eat his food - but if it's going in my mouth - it must be good. He's a little insulted today that I don't want to share my food - well, mostly my germs with him. I've been getting stink-eye all night.
Having a nasty cold and having a child that is nursing brings a new level of torture to being sick. Actually, this cold wouldn't be so nasty if I could take some drugs - Advil Cold and Sinus, Tylenol Cold and Sinus, Sudafed -- turns out there really isn't anything you can take for medication - except Tylenol. And it just isn't cutting the mustard.
Well - those are about all the observations I have - other than sick mamas should get sleep when they can - as much as they can when their baby is sleeping... because you don't know how often the kiddo is going to wake up throughout the night when they aren't feeling well. So, that said - I'm going to take my own advice and get some rest. Cross your fingers that Sweet Pea sleeps through the night.
And if anyone has some sage advice on how make the sinus pressure go away without medicine. I'm all ears.
--bf
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Update to Tuesday Adventures
So - thanks to my friend Blaine, I may have actually "found" the machine I am looking for... on ebay of all places. YAY. It's not under the name I remember, of course. And it doesn't look the same as I remember... but now that I see it, I'm pretty convinced that it might just be the same type we had when i was a kid. Oh, how the aging mind plays tricks on me!
i seem to remember our machine making six donuts at a time - but this one makes two. The box that the machine comes in looks oh, so, very familiar - so I think I'm on the right track. Thank you Blaine!!
The best part of all this searching - is that I think I found the recipe that comes with the machine. So - now I'm thinking that I might be able to use the pans I purchased and just use the recipe to make the donuts in my oven. I can't think that the machine is going to cook them much different than my oven would - any thoughts or suggestions on this?
I'm thinking that I'll preheat the oven to 350 - and add either oil or butter to the recipe to keep the donuts from sticking to the pan and to (hopefully) give them a crispy outside. AAAAAND if that doesn't work - maybe I'll have to break down and just purchase the machine. The price on the darn machine is a steal - I just have issues with paying more for shipping than I do the price of the item... guess that makes me a cheap-skate!!
So... for all of you that are wanting to try the recipe along with me - I've decided to share... here it is! Please let me know if you try it and what you think!
-
i seem to remember our machine making six donuts at a time - but this one makes two. The box that the machine comes in looks oh, so, very familiar - so I think I'm on the right track. Thank you Blaine!!
The best part of all this searching - is that I think I found the recipe that comes with the machine. So - now I'm thinking that I might be able to use the pans I purchased and just use the recipe to make the donuts in my oven. I can't think that the machine is going to cook them much different than my oven would - any thoughts or suggestions on this?
I'm thinking that I'll preheat the oven to 350 - and add either oil or butter to the recipe to keep the donuts from sticking to the pan and to (hopefully) give them a crispy outside. AAAAAND if that doesn't work - maybe I'll have to break down and just purchase the machine. The price on the darn machine is a steal - I just have issues with paying more for shipping than I do the price of the item... guess that makes me a cheap-skate!!
So... for all of you that are wanting to try the recipe along with me - I've decided to share... here it is! Please let me know if you try it and what you think!
-
Plain Donut recipe from the childhood memories of brookefrances
1 cup sifted all purpose flour
1/2 cup plus 1 level tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon double acting baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup cooking oil
Flavoring: vanilla, lemon, orange, or almond extract. Cinnamon or nutmeg (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) according to taste.
Combine and sift together dry ingredients. Beat egg and milk together and then add the cooking oil. Mix thoroughly into dry ingredients using an electric mixer. Preheat machine for 10 minutes; pour in batter, then add 1/2 teaspoon of oil into each circular cavity at top of unit within first 2 minutes of baking. Bake for 5 minutes or, for crisper donuts, bake until oil no longer bubbles from hole in top of lid. Makes 10 donuts.
Tuesday Adventures
Sweet Pea and I spent the day at home today - the weather has been a bit brisk here (-32 with the windchill). Since Denver Public Schools were closed, Sweet Pea's daycare was closed, too. So I worked from home and Sweet Pea and I hung out...
Before I started making phone calls and responding to emails, I decided that today would be a home-made donut day. A few weekends back I picked up some "donut pans" at Sur La Table and I've been itching to try them out... today was the day. Cold weather, hot coffee, and home-made donuts. What could be more perfect?
The recipe included called for cake flour, buttermilk, milk, butter, nutmeg, eggs, baking powder. The donuts tasted OK... but I'm kindof feeling that they weren't much different from a muffin, save for the shape of the pan. I guess I was hoping for.... more.
When I was a kid, my mom had this donut machine. A Mr. Donut machine - just plug it in and fill up the indentations with the batter... (sure wish I had THAT batter recipe). One the machine was filled... just shut the lid and a few minutes later there were these warm, fabulous, donuts. I can still smell and taste them... they were so... WONDERFUL. I called my mom several days ago to see if she still had that machine - somewhere in the basement, perhaps stashed away up in the attic. Unfortunately, she's not one to hang on to things - so someone else is the proud owner of my childhood donut machine. Lucky Bastard.
And I'm left with a buttermilk flavored, nutmeg infused muffin in the shape of a donut. I kindof feel cheated.
I've got to find a better donut recipe. Or track down one of those Mr. Donut machines. Thing is - like all good things from my past - the donut machine doesn't seem to be in production any more. Even trusty Amazon.com - the seller of all random things - does not seem to have anything even close... unless you want to count the machine that makes muffins in under 8 minutes... hey... wait a minute... that might work for the recipe I currently have in my hot little hands... but it's not. exactly. what I'm going for.
So... the quest continues... new recipe for donuts and/ or a donut machine that comes close to flavors and texture of my childhood memories.
Anyone have any leads? In the meantime I guess I'll be snacking on some buttermilk flavored nutmeg infused donut shaped muffins. Oh, yum.
Before I started making phone calls and responding to emails, I decided that today would be a home-made donut day. A few weekends back I picked up some "donut pans" at Sur La Table and I've been itching to try them out... today was the day. Cold weather, hot coffee, and home-made donuts. What could be more perfect?
The recipe included called for cake flour, buttermilk, milk, butter, nutmeg, eggs, baking powder. The donuts tasted OK... but I'm kindof feeling that they weren't much different from a muffin, save for the shape of the pan. I guess I was hoping for.... more.
When I was a kid, my mom had this donut machine. A Mr. Donut machine - just plug it in and fill up the indentations with the batter... (sure wish I had THAT batter recipe). One the machine was filled... just shut the lid and a few minutes later there were these warm, fabulous, donuts. I can still smell and taste them... they were so... WONDERFUL. I called my mom several days ago to see if she still had that machine - somewhere in the basement, perhaps stashed away up in the attic. Unfortunately, she's not one to hang on to things - so someone else is the proud owner of my childhood donut machine. Lucky Bastard.
And I'm left with a buttermilk flavored, nutmeg infused muffin in the shape of a donut. I kindof feel cheated.
I've got to find a better donut recipe. Or track down one of those Mr. Donut machines. Thing is - like all good things from my past - the donut machine doesn't seem to be in production any more. Even trusty Amazon.com - the seller of all random things - does not seem to have anything even close... unless you want to count the machine that makes muffins in under 8 minutes... hey... wait a minute... that might work for the recipe I currently have in my hot little hands... but it's not. exactly. what I'm going for.
So... the quest continues... new recipe for donuts and/ or a donut machine that comes close to flavors and texture of my childhood memories.
Anyone have any leads? In the meantime I guess I'll be snacking on some buttermilk flavored nutmeg infused donut shaped muffins. Oh, yum.
Monday, January 31, 2011
I. Have. Been. Wussified.
Looks like I am working from home tomorrow - provided that they actually keep the campus open. So far, it's business as usual, even though all the school districts have closed down due to extreme cold. And Sweet Pea's daycare is on the same schedule as the school district -- if the schools are closed - the daycare is closed, too.
Thank You Sweet Pea! I'll be staying warm instead of having my boogers freeze inside my nose on my way to work tomorrow.
It's supposed to be -30 here (with windchill) tomorrow. Thinking of the colder temps reminds me of my childhood and college days when this weather would be considered "balmy" by Wisconsin winter standards. Heck in this temp back home, we'd be out building snowmen and snow forts. All bundled up and excited to hit the sledding hills: the colder the snow -- the faster you go!
I seem to also remember many a cold, cold winter night when my college roomies and I would not only head out to the local bars - we'd head out WALKING without a coat - because we didn't want to carry our coats along with us (or have them smell like smoke -- back in the day before smoke-free public places.)
And now - here I am in Colorado - thanking my lucky stars that I don't have to freeze my face off tomorrow in -30 weather. It might be safe to say that I have been wussified by the Colorado climate. It also might be safe to say that -30 is damn cold - no matter where you live.
-bf
Thank You Sweet Pea! I'll be staying warm instead of having my boogers freeze inside my nose on my way to work tomorrow.
It's supposed to be -30 here (with windchill) tomorrow. Thinking of the colder temps reminds me of my childhood and college days when this weather would be considered "balmy" by Wisconsin winter standards. Heck in this temp back home, we'd be out building snowmen and snow forts. All bundled up and excited to hit the sledding hills: the colder the snow -- the faster you go!
I seem to also remember many a cold, cold winter night when my college roomies and I would not only head out to the local bars - we'd head out WALKING without a coat - because we didn't want to carry our coats along with us (or have them smell like smoke -- back in the day before smoke-free public places.)
And now - here I am in Colorado - thanking my lucky stars that I don't have to freeze my face off tomorrow in -30 weather. It might be safe to say that I have been wussified by the Colorado climate. It also might be safe to say that -30 is damn cold - no matter where you live.
-bf
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