A Blur

This past week has been a blur!

I have so many crafting projects stuck mid way to completion, the laundry needs to be done, I can't stay ahead of the toy mess, and the list goes on and on.

I feel as though it's been forever (even though it's only been a few days) since I last checked in so I thought I would say a short hello between play groups and sewing.

I'm making a birthday cake this weekend for a little girl's 3rd birthday! so that is also going to take up some time over the next few days. I can't wait to show a picture of the finished product! It should be super cute (provided everything works the way I want it to!).

And since a post is not complete without a picture...

(I don't see him like this very often anymore... so sweet!)

Happy Thursday!

Musical Monday: Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues

I love Johnny Cash.

Pipe-cleaner Jewelry

Zac loves to craft!

I bought some pipe-cleaners and beads the other day and he had the time of his life making jewelry!

I tried to encourage him to make a bracelet, but he insisted on a necklace... it's a good thing his neck wasn't any bigger!!

He was pretty proud of his creation!

A Gentleman's Tea Party

My boys love a good tea party.

They have a little friend, a girl, who has a tea set and whenever we go over to her house they can almost always be found in the kitchen seated together having a little party of their own.

It kind of mortifies my mister...

So when Zac asked to have a tea party the other day the hubs man'd up the occasion.

They dressed up in suits and ties and I believe Zac was pretending to serve beer, not tea.

It was too cute!

(complete with tatoos of course)

They had a great time!

Knitting

When I was little my grandmother taught me how to knit.

Every summer growing up my brothers and I would each take an individual vacation to my grandparents for a week of fun and goodies with our grandma & pa all to ourselves.

They would always try to cater our visits so that we did things each of us liked that we wouldn't necessarily get to do if the entire family had come along.

We'd go to the wave pool, the museum... grandma and I would bake... and I remember one year I asked her to teach me to knit.

I'm not quite sure what happened, but somewhere along life's way since then I put down the knitting needles and never picked them up again... until now that is!

Trouble is... I couldn't remember a thing about knitting!

Taking the advice of some friends I sat down with my knitting needles, yarn and YouTube and am back on track!

Seriously, what did we ever do without YouTube?!?

I have a couple of friends that are facing the same dilemma of knitting forgetfulness so I thought I'd share the video I found most helpful.

I'd probably stop watching around 2 1/2 minutes in, it gets a little boring after that... but the first part is really clear and, so far, the best instructions I've been able to find online.

or if you'd rather read the instructions, go here!

I also found this site which is full of free videos that are pretty helpful.

I have so many projects planned in my head now for my little knitting needles!

Time to practice, practice, practice!!

Homemade Mac & Cheese

Homemade Mac and Cheese is one of my all time favourite meals.

It's one of those meals though, that is never as good when you make it for yourself as it is when someone makes it for you.

I decided to try my hand at it again (after many failed attempts) a little while ago and I was so happy with the outcome!

I've been thinking about it ever since!

Homemade Mac & Cheese

8oz macaroni

2-3 tbsp butter

1/4 cups flour

2 cups milk

2 cups grated cheese (I used half cheddar and half mozzarella)

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs

1/2 tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup grated cheese

Preheat oven to 350 & grease your baking dish (mine was 1.4L).

Cook the macaroni until just underdone or "al dente" if you want to get fancy!

Melt the butter in a saucepan and stir in the flour, cook about 1-2 minutes then slowly whisk in milk until there are no lumps. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and add first amount of grated cheese, stir until the cheese is completely melted. Add your macaroni to the cheese sauce and season to your liking with salt and pepper.

Pour the cheese covered pasta into your baking dish.

Combine the bread crumbs, olive oil and second amount of grated cheese and sprinkle on top of the pasta.

Bake for 10 minutes or so until the topping is all crunchy and delicious looking.

DIG IN!!!

Musical Monday: Sesame Street!!

I'm lightening the mood today with a little Sesame Street!!

And before you explode from excitement I feel I should warn you that I've included not one, but TWO songs for your viewing pleasure today!

Happy Monday!