Maizie Happenings

Well the Christmas dress just didn't happen this year. I wasn't heart broken at all. There are plenty of Christmas's in the future. Right now I'm trying to work out a 1st birthday party outfit. One of the biggest problems I have right now with making M little clothes is that she is so slender so most patterns end up being quite big. But we're working on it, and I'm sure we'll have an outfit for her birthday party in February.

Jared and I took her to see Santa Claus. I'm not convinced that next year's pic will look any different.

Yesterday we went to Cabela's and we took Maizie around to look at the different animals and fish. She liked the fish tank best. The one fish was looking straight out so it made for a cute picture.

Some PJ Pants

Since I'm obsessed with sewing projects right now, the neices got some PJ pants along with their gift cards for Christmas. My cute niece Haley who lives in TX got the blue zebra stripe pair. I love the fabric for the cuff. But it was popular at a little fabric store by my house that I only got enough for the cuffs. I would love to have made Maizie a summer top out of it.

My other cute neice Paige got a pair that matched Maizie's pj pants since I had some leftover fabric and it's colder here than in TX. These were made out of the same flannel I used to M's.

Both pants were a hit and had a few requests to make others. Good thing Valentine's Day is coming up.

Plan B and C

Remember this? It just wasn't meant to be. I had the first fabric snafu and then when I ordered other fabric for the jacket when it arrived it just wasn't right. So I've moved on. If Maizie gets a homemade Christmas dress this year it will be our Christmas miracle. But I have hope! So we moved on to The Claire Dress seen here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85989443/the-claire-topdress-pdf-pattern-sizes-6m?ref=sr_gallery_13&ga_search_query=the+claire+top&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=

I loved the striped tights with the polks dots. I found these tights today online. They're called Peppermint Stripe. I've got some vacation days from work coming up so here's to hoping that Maizie will take some substantial naps so that I can spend some time in my basement.

Finished PJs for Maizie

Last week I finished the top to Maizie's PJ for Christmas. I don't know who thought the sizing on the pattern was accurate but I ended up having to cut like 6 inches total from the sides of the garment. I know Maizie is skinny and tall but I was surprised at how big her size really would have been with no alterations. Anyway, here's the front and back of the top. Turned out really cute. She can open this on Christmas Eve. And the reason my pics are yellow is because I just use my cell phone.

My Calendar is Marked for January 8, 2012

I'm getting so excited for this. I'm a complete nerd and LOVE Materpiece Classic series that starts in the winter on PBS. And I'm looking forward to this coming back for round 2. Who's with me?

Maizie gets some PJs

I finished the bottoms to Maizie's PJs last night. I got this pattern off of a blog I read called Made by Rae. I love her patterns. This pattern is called Big Butt Baby Pants and I love the back panel. I'm currently putting the top together which could prove to be interesting because I think I'm going to have to cinch it up quite a bit since I have a little string bean for a daughter instead of a potato. :) I absolutely love this flannel fabric too. I could shop and buy coordinating fabric all day.

More Holiday Reading

I'm blogging about this book and I haven't even finished it yet. This book is definitely not for everyone but I am loving it. It's definitely in my top 3 reads of the year. (HA! My list of books I've read this year is NO WHERE near the kinds of lists I was pulling years ago. So 3 books is almost 40% of my reading list.)

If you have an imagination and you like beautifully written books, pick this one up. This is the author's first book. I am definitely keeping my eye on her future books. Even the cover is amazing to me. You have to look past covers all the time but this definitely made me want to see what it was about. Glad it did.

Plan B - Maizie's Christmas Dress

Remember this photo of the fabric I wanted? I must be color blind becuase in this photo the fabric looks teal and silver to me. NOPE. When I got it last week it was EMERALD GREEN and GOLD! Needless to say I was NOT a happy camper at all. I also made a mistake and didn't see that the listing said it was bright green with gold feather and flowers. But bright green? What kind of green? The seller should have said it was EMERALD because I wouldn't have bought it. Good news is the seller agreed to let me return it. So now I'm on to plan B with my fabric choice. Haven't recieved my pattern in the mail yet but I'm hoping it comes soon.

My Christmas sewing is on schedule. I'm 90% done with the first gift I was doing. Second gift is a pair of PJs for Maizie. I'll post some pics as I get those going.

Mizz MaiZie CaKes

If I ever get a bakery someday(which I won't but if I did . . . .) I would call it that. So no stealing my name. Ok? I realized I hadn't put up pictures lately of the cutie. I always just post to FB thinking everyone will just see them there.

I gave M a pear slice one day and she gnawed on it with her little bottom teeth, but she was right on my lap. Her cheeks pretty much always have that rosey color all the time. I'm sure it's a teething thing.

We went to the park one Saturday and we were literally the only ones there. It was a little chilly but the weater was really perfect. She gets tired of being strapped in her car seat or stroller. So I was handing her toy after toy.

Isn't this hat the BEST? This was a gift from Aunt Crystal in TX. It actually has a big flower on it but I'm not sure you can tell it's that by the picture. She smiled at just the perfect time. Another pic in the car seat unfortunately but those are the easiest since she can't crawl away from me.

This picture here makes me laugh. We were pretending she was a big girl and sleeping in a big girl bed. I put her in my bed and made her all cozy in the sheets. One funny thing about her wearing a bib is sometimes Jared will swing her in the air and call her 'Superbaby who wears her cape on the front'. He comes up with the best things.

M is just the sweetest girl and we love her more and more everyday. She literally NEVER cries. And she sleeps 12 hours through the night? I have no idea what I did to deserve this little button.

Recommended Holiday Reading

These 2 books will probably be my favorite books of 2011 unless I read something amazing within the last month and a half of the year. These books had a lot of action and storyline. I couldn't put them down. Shanghai Girls is book 1 and then Dreams of Joy was the follow up book. Both were just super good. So take a load off and sit your laziness down and take in some words during your holiday breaks.

Salsa Corn Dip

I don't have a picture of this but chip dips don't really photo all that great anyway. But this dip was super good and I just made it last night to go with our chicken toquitos. It's a pillsbury recipe and so easy because its just microwaved. Who doesn't love the microwave?

Ok my link is pasting. Seems like I have the hardest times posting links on blogger. Anyway, I'll type it out for you

8 oz cream cheese cubed
1 can mexicorn
1 cup pace's salsa
1 packet taco seasoning

Mix all together in a microwaveable casserole dish and microwave for 3 minutes on high. Stir and then microwave another 3 minutes.

Viole! I had some leftover today at lunch. It was still yummy.

Maizie's Christmas Dress

Oh no my mind is going again on what Maizie is going to wear to church the Sunday of Christmas. I've been making her clothes for the special occassions and I did make her a top that she'll wear on Thanksgiving. I haven't blogged that yet and I haven't even put it on her so I don't even know if it will fit her properly but she'll be wearing it regardless! :)

Anyway, I picked this pattern up today from amazon. I hate how the pictures on the pattern envelope look so outdated. But I used my imagination as to what Dress A and Coat E could look like in some great fabric. I'm fabric shopping right now on Etsy. I like fabric on Etsy because sometimes you can find pieces that are harder to find on the big fabric sites. One thing I do know, is that the coat is going to be made in a brocade. Gorgeous! And I'm leaning toward something teal or turquiose like this beautiful textile. Just looking at it just makes me think winter and snow and ice. Brrr! Not sure what the dress will be made out of. A solid, that's for sure. But what kind of solid, still working on that.

I do have other projects I have to make for Christmas time. So am I biting off more than I can chew? Probably. But we sure are going to try and make this happen anyway.

Updates coming as I make a little more progress.

Halloween Table Runner

I don't have a kitchen table anymore. We gave it away to my parents since we only used it as a catch all in my kitchen. And now I need a chair to put a high chair on and I don't have one. Smart right? So what do I do? I make a Halloween table runner. Except this table runner will sit on my piece of furniture below my TV. We'll set the candy bowl on it.

It turned out really cute and it was really easy to make. And it didn't take super long. I just bought 5 fat quarters of quilting cotton and cut them down to the size I wanted.

I also put a back on it and then made my own bias tape. I got a vertical stripe cotton and then cut on the bias so that my bias tape would have diagonal stripes. I think it turned out pretty cute even though it's homemade.

Houston Party Outfit

So I posted about the bloomers I made for Maizie. Here is the rest of the outfit. The first pic I took of her she was crying. But this was another pic we took a little later. Since Jared is holding her it's hard to see the whole thing but it turned out really cute. One thing, the top was a little too long. I had measured Maizie but when I put it on her the neck was too low. The size was 6-12 months but the dress pattern definitely leaned more toward 12 months so that was the problem. But with sewing it's a constant learning activity. She'll still be able to fit into a few months down the road and I could put a cardigan with it. But we'll definitely be wearing this to church in the near future.

Here is the link to the pattern I bought. By the way I'm totally addicted to etsy with all the cute baby and girl patterns.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62306217/new-noodles-and-milk-sewing-pattern?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=noodles+and+milk&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

Goin' on a Jet Plane

Maizie's first plane ride was on a Continental jet headed to Houston. I was really nervous about how she would do because whining and crying babies are not my forte in the least. I was actually really impressed but how well she did. We were flying right during her nap time so I was hoping she would just settled in my arms and sleep but she's not one to sleep on the go. She's used to getting planned naps the same time everyday in her crib or her pack n' play. She whined a little bit and then finally gave it up and only slept for 30 minutes. We had some unruly smaller children behind us. My poor sister kept getting kicked and the mom wasn't telling her child to stop kicking the seat. Anyway, the only times that Maizie was really bothered was the take off and landing with the changes in cabin pressure. Just writing this out I can feel my ear popping! So I would fly again but don't want to for awhile. And Maizie did look adorable because I bought her a special flying outfit. Not to mention the HUGE bow! But we were headed to TX so the bow was only appropriate.

The latest obsession

A few years ago all my spare time was consumed by reading. It was literally all I used to do. Let's just say the dishes and laundry would sometimes suffer. I got to a point where it kind of burned me out. Then I had Maizie and my time started to get spread a little thinner, not to mention that I was still working 24 hours a week. And as of June, I recently added another hobby to my list and this one has already started to snowball and railroad other activities. Of course Maizie still takes priority but once 7 PM rolls around and she goes to bed for the night I get 3 hours of me time. And that me time gets quickly taken up by some sewing project I've decided to do. And let's say I already have a file box organized of patterns, projects, and online sewing tutes that I've stored for the future. I kind of have an obsessive personality.

Ok so here are a few pics of a pair of bloomers I made for Maizie. I just barely finished the top dress this week and it turned out super cute. I'll unvail the picture of Maizie in it next week because she's going to be wearing this outfit for a party we are having at my brother's house down in Houston.

But there are just too many fun projects I'm finding online and I'm a little obsessed with buying fabric because there are so many gorgeous designs that I feel like I have to have them. Let's say I frequent fabric.com and craftersvision.com all the time. And if you are a fabric buyer then let me tell you that I find it the cheapest on crafter's vision more often. However, they don't offer free shipping if you spend $35 but you can choose how much you want to pay for shipping depending on how fast you want it. And let me add that fabric.com is warehoused in GA so it takes my orders a full week to get to my house whereas I get my crafter's vision orders in the same week I order them. Not bad.

Next project after I get home from Houston will be a table runner for my piece of furniture that sits below my TV. I'm going to make it out of Halloween fabric. Should be fun. Here's the tutorial I'm using if you are interested. I'm adjusting the measurements to fit my furniture appropriately. http://craftingagreenworld.com/2011/07/19/diy-home-make-a-table-runner-from-scrap-fabric/

Updated Maizie Pics

It's been a little while since I've posted. I get a little lazy with the blog because it's my least favorite thing to do out of my hobbies. It being behind reading and sewing. Yes sewing, that's another blog post. Here's some updated pics of the Amazing Maizie baby. She is such a little treat. Just the sweetest baby ever. She even sleeps 12 hours through the night I'm proud to say.

Asparagus and Crepes

Recently my mom brought over some Taste of Home magazines. I've always been a little biased because the Pillsbury recipe books at the check stand always look better than the Taste of Home ones do but I have to admit that lately I have found some amazing recipes from ToH. Two that I have made recently will definitely get remade in the near future. They are below. Enjoy!

Asparagus and Parmesan Cream Pastry

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/RWOP-Finalist--Asparagus---Parmesan-Cream-Pastry

Hubby's Favorite Crepes (not my hubby, Jared hasn't tried these yet) The picture is so dumb. This pic is rotated wrong. I guess that's what I get for using my phone instead of my other camera. You get the idea though.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Hubby-s-Favorite-Crepes

Catching Up!

Wow - how pathetic am I? Over 4 months and no post. Well I do have an excuse (see item #1). Since it's been so long we'll do a list of things that have been on the forefront lately. Warning, this is kind of long.

1. Had a baby on 2/4/11 at 8:25 PM after 21 hours of labor. Thank you Mr. Anesthesiologist, my epidural made all the difference. I just love this little Maizie baby. She is the cutest thing ever. A favorite thing right now is the HUGE smiles we get in the morning after we get her out of her crib. And no - she is not sleeping through the night yet. :)

2. Post pregnancy body is not the best and my schedule doesn't allow for a lot of working out. So I have been buying some tops that hide the 'tire'. My favorite place, although somewhat pricey, is Lucky Brand at the gateway. Seriously, almost all my shirts come from there. There's also an outlet up in Park City and they have taken plenty of cash from me. I'm also a big ebayer so I watch for tops there too.

3. Favorite place I went and had lunch at recently - Les Madeleines located in downtown Salt Lake City. This is not to be confused with my favorite place in TX called Le Madeleine. I had the turkey avocado sandwich and a kouing aman. DELISH. Will be going back very soon.

4. Ok for those of you that know me, know that I used to be this CRAZY reader. I used to read upwards of 70 books a year. Yeah, now we're lucky if I finish one a month. Reason - see item #1. However, I am trying to be better. I have made my Summer reading wish list. 3 of the books on that list are: The Heretic's Daughter, Russian Winter, and The Wild Rose (this is a series that I got way sucked into). Hoping to read at least 1 1/2 books a month.

5. Since I have the post pregnancy 'tire' I have been trying to make meals out of our cooking light book. Boy have I found some delicious recipes out of there. One of the recipes that both Jared and I have enjoyed is a Shredded Turkey Alfredo Pizza. See, I have a husband who would have alfredo sauce running through his veins instead of blood if he had his druthers. You can find the recipe here. http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/turkey-alfredo-pizza-10000000521632/. Very easy and doable on a weeknight. P.S. if you can't find Fontina cheese you can use Gruyere.

6. Went back to work part time and it's the BEST schedule ever! I work Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I got very lucky that I was able to work this out. Love my 3 day weekends.

7. I have a serious addiction to sour watermelons lately. I discovered they had a 5 lb bag of these at Dick's grocery store. NO . . . I did NOT purchase them.

8. Highlight of my Sunday night is Masterpiece Theatre. When Maizie goes down for her short 40 minute naps on my days off, this is what I am catching up on instead of doing laundry and cleaning my house. Love the Classic lineup they do for Winter/Spring. Still waiting to see what Summer/Fall schedule is.

9. Survivor - yes I am still one of those people that watches this show after being on for 100 years. I can't help but laugh at how ridiculous the cast is most of the time.

10. I LOVE my life. I have so many wonderful people and things that I am so grateful for. I have the best husband who is my best friend and honestly the most kind guy in the world. I have the most amazing friends who help me out and add so much happiness. My family is the best and they have been so great to us and Maizie. So many things that I have to be thankful for.