While cleaning out my craft tote I found a bag of beans. A few years ago we had a church appreciation activity where the theme was "feed my sheep." I made a bunch of sheep bean bags for each teacher to use in their classroom. I wish I would have saved the pattern, because they were cuties.

Anyway, I found the bag of leftover beans and decided I needed to make my son some cute bean bags to play with. Homemade by Jill had some basic patterns for an elephant and an alligator, although she used them as stuffed animals. They were a snap to sew and my little man loves chewing on them and throwing them around the room.

Tune in for more, because I found an awesome craft book at the library with ideas for an octopus and a frog.

There is nothing cooler than making your kid stuff . . .

Mandy's Apron Reveal

Mandy's custom apron is complete! Her cute daughter picked my classic design apron in pink and lime. Mom Mandy wanted something to match, but in a more grown up style. I worked with Mandy to create a fun, custom fit. The neckline is a halter with gathers and rick rack in the center. The 2 inch sash is long enough to tie in the front or the back. The higher waisted skirt gives the whole apron a baby doll feel. The ruffle across the bottom completes the look.

I love it!

Making cookies just got a whole lot more fun at Mandy's house!

Apple Crisp

This is so delicious I made it twice in the last month! The topping is crunchy and the apples are perfectly soft. Scoop some ice cream over the warm apple crisp and you're in heaven! This tastes as good as an apple pie, but half the effort. This only made an 8x8 pan full, so double if you are feeding a crowd. I used apples that had been sitting in my fruit basket for too long and needed to be used, so they were a variety of types. Granny smith will give you that sour flavor, but any kind is good here.

Husband Rating: 5 stars

3 apples
3/4 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Peel and slice apples. Preheat oven to 375 and grease your 8x8 pan. Spread apples in the bottom of the pan. In a bowl stir together brown sugar, flour, oats, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Sprinkle over apples. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whip cream.

Notebook Cozy Tutorial

I caught my sister-in-law complaining that she needed something quiet and simple for her children to color and draw with at church.

I had to whip up these 2 adorably Notebook Cozies with scrap fabric. Crayon slots and a mini notebook, velcro strap and their initials on the front = perfect!!

You will need:
2 matching fabrics
Diaper flannel
5 crayons, 1 pencil
1 4x6 notebook (46 cents at the grocery store)
Velcro

Fat quarters are easy for this project. Buy 2 of a matching fabric, then buy 1 for the coordinating color you want for the pockets and front initial. Fat quarters are always $1 at Walmart, and yes they have surprisingly cute colors. They are also 30% off this week at Joann's, making them 90 cents. You can whip up this whole baby for under $4!


Procedures:

1. Cut 2 16x10 pieces of fabric and 1 of diaper flannel. Out of the contrasting fabric cut your pockets at 5x3.5 and 5x7. Cut a strip of about 2x4 to fold and sew for your strap. Cut out your initial for the front in contrasting fabric. I free-handed mine (obviously) but you could trace for a sharper look.

2. Center and stitch your initial on to the front. I folded mine in half and created a crease so I knew where the center would be. Center and stitch down your pockets on the inside.
(ignore my ugly ironing board:)

3. Place your inside and outside layers together, with the diaper flannel between. Make sure nothing is upside down! Carefully turn under the edges and top stitch all the way around. Attach your strap, stick on velcro.

4. Fill with crayons and pencil and slide in the back cardboard page of your notebook. You're done!

Linking up with Made By You Mondays!




Linking up with Tot Tuesdays!

Blame it on spring!

I'm just gonna have to blame spring break! All my loyal readers must be vacationing somewhere exotic and avoiding the blog world. Thanks for those who entered, I will be contacting you to find out what color you want!

Chance to Win for my Loyal Readers

To say thanks to all my loyal readers, I'm giving some goodies away!!

Introducing, the Camille's Casa exclusive and best seller, the Towel Topper

{Click on the image for clearer view}

The clever kitchen idea from Camille's Casa is perfect for your cute kitchen! I'm giving away 3 towel toppers in your choice of color. Choose from Chocolate Teal, Red Polka Dot or Black Damask, my 3 best sellers. The best part of a towel topper is the convenient loop that allows the towel to slip out when you're ready to wash. Simply slide in another towel and you're back in business.

The topper is hand crocheted in a smoke-free, pet-free home. The cotton hand towel is stitched with coordinating fabric color.

Here are the giveaway details:

- You must be a follower to win. If you are, sweet, if you're not, simply click follow on the side!

-To enter, leave a comment telling me one meal or dish that you've always wanted to learn how to make

-You can enter up to 3 times per person, just leave 3 separate comments

-I will number the entries and choose a winner exactly one week from today - Thursday March 25th.

-After the 3 winners are announced, choose your color and I will ship the toppers to you. I will only ship in the U.S.

Easy enough? Thanks loyal readers, you make it fun!

One Pan Pork Chop Skillet

I so very much love a dinner where I can dump it all in one skillet. This meal has it all, the tender pork chops, potatoes, carrots, onions and I even threw in some asparagus for good luck! If nothing else, this meal made my house smell delicious. There will be plenty of yummy drippings in the bottom of the pan. I just drizzled them over the plate, but you could easily add a little flour and end up with a nice gravy. Perfect for a cold, snowy day!

Husband Rating: 5 stars

4 pork chops
1/2 cup beef broth
3 potatoes
10 baby carrots (or 2 regular, cut into 3 inch pieces)
1/2 onion
8 asparagus spears
1 tsp. Ranch Seasoning Mix
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp. parsley flakes

Spray cooking spray in a skillet heated over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, set in pork chops. Brown for 3 minutes on each side. Add beef broth, diced potatoes, carrots, diced onion and asparagus. Sprinkle with Ranch seasoning. Heat to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and parsley and serve.

And don't forget to stop by Tempt My Tummy Tuesday for a yummy blog party!

Old Orchard Juice for 9 cents

So, this week while my mom was mixing up a can of Old Orchard 100% Juice I asked if she got them for 9 cents, answer no. Did she get them for 29 cents? Answer, no.

Ok mommy, it's possible this week at Albertsons, follow along.

First, go here and print the $1 off 4 Orchard frozen juice concentrates. Hit your back button and print it twice, you can print 2 per computer.

Next, head to Albertsons for their Just Chill deal. The deal says if you buy 10 items included in the promo, you get $10 back to use on your next purchase. Read the tags carefully because only certain flavors are included in the deal.

Choose your 10 cans of juice, regular price $1.29 - total $12.90

Hand over 2 $1/4 coupons - total $10.90

Pay $10.90 - receive two $5.00 catalinas

Total: 90 cents for 10 cans of juice!!

I love Old Orchard for my baby, because it's 100% juice I don't mind putting it in his sippy cup. Husband loves them too, and since the containers are plastic you can microwave them to thaw if you forget to take it out before dinner. I usually stock up at Winco, where they are 98 cents. I could buy 10 for that much!!!!

Clutter Wins

Well, remember my great goal to eliminate clutter? I did great for 2 days, then the baby got sick, then the real kicker - I slipped 3 discs in my back. I know right? I'm 25, what am I doing having back problems?

So, not only is my table cluttered, the hutch is a disaster, my sink is full of dirty dishes, all the garbages need to be emptied and the laundry pile is almost taller than me. I am so sore I can barely walk, baby is mad because I won't hold him and husband gets to cook dinner again.

Phew!

But, the good news is, I have lots of time to browse my favorite blogs and keep working on my quiet book. So, until I make dinner again and post a new recipe, enjoy some blog ideas.

Kari, my friend since like 5th grade, started a cutie craft blog called Craft-a-doodle. Here are some of my favorites that she's done:

This nasty looking couch became a comfy lookin' sofa

This hutch is just to die for:

And I love her idea to put her little boy's hand and foot print on the wall, precious memories!

Clutter Confessions

I really do like a clean house, but lately the clutter is inching in. There are two spots in my house that for some reason can't stay clean; the hutch and the kitchen table. It's just too easy to clutter them up, the table is right there when you come in from the garage. When I clean off the table for a meal, all I really do is take everything from the table and put it on the hutch. After the hutch gets the mail, it's long gone.

So, here's my blogging challenge - keep my table and hutch clutter free for the next 21 days. That's how long it takes to make a new habit right?

And here's the embarrassing proof - the before photos.

The kitchen table, not very inviting aye?

And the hutch. At least you can see a little bit of space right?

If I put something away every time I walk by and spend even just 3 minutes every night I should be able to maintain.

Ugh, what did I get myself in to?

So, what are you hot spots around the house that attract clutter?

Sneak Peak

Mandy had her final fitting last week and I am one step away from completing her custom apron. She purchased a small apron for her 3 year old daughter, and wanted one in matching colors for her. Mandy is tall and I adjusted the pattern to fit her. After her first fitting I realized that I would have to make a whole new bottom to fit those long legs. It turned out adorable and here is a little sneak peak: