Real Life: Live & Unscripted

McCall's 4432 & Butterick 5335

McCall's 4432

Fabric: Cotton
  Pattern Description: Loose fitting, above ankle dress has raised waist, dirndl skirt and front button closure Pattern Sizing: 7-12
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes only shorter.
Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn't use them.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Really quick and simple. Loved it.
Fabric Used: Cotton
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I made the dress shorter because at the pattern length it made Kayla look frumpy lol. Instead of four buttons I only used three. My daughter picked the biggest most sparkly buttons she could find. She loved it lol.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I highly recommend this pattern. I had no problems with it and made it in a couple hours last night.
Conclusion: Great pattern!!!

Butterick 5335

Pattern Description: Close-fitting top B has raglan sleeves and stitched hems.
Pattern Sizing: 16-22
 Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? yes
Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn't use them.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love this top. Very simple.
Fabric Used: A polo type knit. I don't know how else to describe it lol.
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: None. I will say that this top IS VERY CLOSE FITTING. I normally make a 14 top and had to make the 18! My bust is a 38.5 and the finished measurements for the 18 was a 39.5 I don't like anything really, really fitted aka TIGHT on me so I'm glad I made the size I did.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? This will become a TNT top. Conclusion: Quick easy top. Love it.

PATTERN GONE WRONG! LOL
Vogue 8587

The skirt I'm wearing was a pattern gone wrong.
This was wrong on SO many levels. SO not a flattering style on me. AT ALL LOL. I almost didn't show the picture, but it is what it is lol.  Anyway, instead of trashing it like I was going to, a good, good, good friend of mine talked me into making a skirt ;) . I LOVED the fabric and couldn't find anymore of it, so I made a simple elastic waist skirt.

They can't all be winners lol. I did learn that this STYLE anything does NOT look good on me. AT ALL lol.

Toodles!

Thank you!!!

Thanks ladies for the following awards:

From Andrea, and
Mocha Style

The Gratefulness Award From Mahogany Stylist and Opal.

Enjoy your Sunday!!!

Scrap, scrap, SCRAPPIES!!!!!!!!!!!

I am FINALLY posting these layouts lol.






And there you have it LOL.  See I do still scrap! LOL. Now let me pick up my knitting and beads! LOL

Y'all have a great Saturday! lol

Toodles!

TGIFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!! lol

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww sookie sookie nah lol

How about more randomness...lol

Let's start with memorial day stuff....

Tony and I cooked and had friends over...

 

It started to rain but that didn't stop the grilling...just grab an umbrealla :-)

 

The spread....

 

I love to cook y'all. Seriously. There was enough food for everyone to take home for a COUPLE of days and have lunch lol. We ate GOOD lol.

 

I got Jaelyn to snap a quick pic while I was putting the icing on...this cake was OFF THE CHAINS. Recipe to come soon lol. I gotta catch up with the old stuff first lol.

 

The chocolate cake wasn't so good, but it was my fault. I got distracted and let it cook too long. I will make this one again.

THe KEY to all this baking is to do it when people are coming over so you don't keep any of it lol. Oh, that's what I do lol.

 

Tyler ate EVERYBODY strawberries lol

No matter WHAT we eat at my house....the itis is coming lol

 

Once you hit the sofa....its OVER.

 

Tony and Aj cut grass...

 

Train up a child lol...

My herbs are looking SUPERB. I broke some off the other day. Can't wait to use them. I'm so proud!
 

GO ME! LOL

My lily is also doing wonderfully!
 

This is HUGE for me lol. I don't do green living stuff well! LOL

 

I found a new ironing board cover. Yes I know I can just make one, but I didn't wanna lol. Besides, this one was only 4 bucks lol.

 

Love my little pin cushion lol.

 

I picked up some really cute cotton knits to make the girls some elastic waist shorts. Gonna keep it simple. I let them pick what they wanted lol. THAT was funny!

Ok that is ALL for me! Y'all have a great Friday!

Stay safe!

Toodles!

Calypso Chicken

 

I started off taking all these pics....trying to document the entire process...umm nerp lol. That got old quick. KUDOS to all you food photographers!!! LOL Here is the finished dish lol

And the Recipe lol

Ingredients:
1 large oven bag
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 can (15 ounce size) pineapple chunks in juice, undrained
1 package (8 ounce size) black bean-rice mix (I don't like pre-packaged food like this because it has soooo much sodium in it, so I soaked my black beans over night, and added the rice to the mix)
1 can (10 1/2 ounce size) condensed chicken broth (I use my own chicken broth)
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
4 bone-in chicken breasts, skinned

(I also added a few extra seasonings lol, just some stuff that I like lol)

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 F. Place oven bag in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Add flour; twist end of oven bag, and shake.

Add pineapple and next 4 ingredients to oven bag; squeeze bag to blend ingredients. Arrange chicken in an even layer over rice mixture. Close oven bag with nylon tie; cut 6 (1/2-inch) slits in top of bag. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. (I didn't use a bag lol)

Everyone LOVED it!!!!!! I made this back in JANUARY so that tells you how far behind I am lol.

If you try it and like it let me know lol. If you try it and DON'T like it...everything ain't for everybody lol.

Toodles!

Hump Day Random pics.....

I have a ton of pics I haven't posted so ummm yeah...here we go lol...

We had a gathering at our house to celebrate Patrick's life. I normally cook when everyone comes over...but this time I couldn't.





Why is it that death and food seem to go so well together? Can someone explain that one to me? LOL

After we viewed his body, we all went out again....TO EAT...Keep in mind, the gathering at my house was on a Thursday, we viewed the body on a Friday lol.....




Kayla took this pic! Didn't she do a good job lol.

Here is one I love of all the guys...

One of Tony, his mom and 2 sisters....

Saturday after the funeral we SLEPT. Everybody.

But LATE Saturday night guess what we did? LOL Yep, went out to eat lol

we KEEP our phones in our hands lol

Kids table! LOL
 
Jaelyn was bored lol

And that was the first week of May lol. Hmm how behind AM I? LOL

Toodles!

In Memory of Uncle Pat

My kids have had a hard time dealing with Pat's death.  Well, we all have but it has been REALLY hard for them.

Some of you emailed me some great suggestions on ways to help them cope.

Yesterday we went to Lowe's to pick out a flower for Uncle Pat.
 

It was important to Tony and I that the kids picked everything.
 

So they did....down to the flower pot.
 

We came home and had to plant it REALLY fast because it was about to rain.

We managed to get it done JUST in time for a REALLY good watering lol. Rain that is lol.

 

Aj picked out the flower pot, Jaelyn picked out the Kim's Knee High Coneflowers, and Kayla picked out Garden Spice Carnations.

Tony paid for it lol.

We got perennials so HOPEFULLY they will come back every year lol. IF NOT, we will plant flowers for Patrick every Memorial day. Y'all KNOW I'm not good with living green stuff lol.

I caught the kids peeking out at the flowers all evening. Then Aj said he is always gonna be with us, and he smiled and went upstairs.

That made my heart smile.

So thanks to you all for the great suggestions. I would have never came up with it.

You guys are great!

Toodles

Kwik Sew 3592.....A review.

Kwik Sew 3592

Big ups to Jaelyn for taking my picture for me :-) We literally took the pic then RAN back up the driveway trying to beat the rain lol. It stopped for like 6 minutes lol.

This was my very first time using a Kwik Sew Pattern. BABBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBY let me tell you it will NOT be my last!!!! I already have a couple more lined up lol.

I LOVE the weight of the paper!!
Question...those of you who have made their patterns before do you trace them or just cut them out!??! I just cut mine out.

I had to make SOMETHING out of a knit lol. Y'all know that's my favorite fabric lol. Don't worry....more wovens are coming soon lol.

Pattern Description:
Misses' Empire Waist Tops

Pattern Sizing:
XS-XL


Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes Very. With something this simple I normally wouldn't even glance at the directions, but since this was my first Kwiksew pattern I decided to read each step.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I LOVE this entire pattern. No dislikes.

Fabric Used:
Jersey from my stash.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
None.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
If I need another strapless top, I will make this my "go-to" pattern!

Conclusion:
LOVE this top! Super easy to make!!!

Ok, ya'll have a GREAT day!
Toodles!

Butterick 5363.....A Review

First I gotta thank my lil photographer Jaelyn who took my pics....SHE LOVES MY 20D! LOL

My mojo has been flowing something major! I hope to post another review tomorrow. I have a few of them lol.

Butterick 5363


Pattern Description:
Loose-fitting, unlined jackets A, B, sleeveless or have below elbow length sleeves, front and back band. Pullover, loose-fitting tunic C or A-line dress D, below mid-knee, cut-away armholes, raised waist seam with casing and drawstring. Pull-on, straight-legged, above ankle pants E has elastic casing. All garments have stitched narrow hems. Purchased tops.

I made the dress

Pattern Sizing:
8-14

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
YES

Were the instructions easy to follow?
I didn't even use the directions

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
This dress is super cute! I LOVED it when it first came out!!!

Fabric Used:
Cotton

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
None.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I do believe I will make this again in a solid.

This pattern is so easy and it's SO comfy!!! I finished this dress in about an hour. The only thing that took a long time was making the drawstring:

and working with the bias tape on the neckline and the armhole edges:

Conclusion:
This is REALLY a great pattern and I can't wait to make it again in a solid.

Y'all have a great Saturday!

Toodles!

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Y'all already know!

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbayyyyyyyyyyyyy lol

Yeah it's been a minute since I heard that lol.

What do y'all have planned for the weekend??

Mine will be JAMMED PACKED!!! Starting today lol. It's my "errand day" so umm yeah Imma be hella busy.

All the kids have bday parties  Saturday so umm YEAH lol. Tony said he would take Jaelyn. FINE WITH ME LOL.

I have been sewing my behind off! I had a DISASTER. LOL BEAUTIFUL fabric, sucky pattern lol. I have wonderful friends who talked me out of throwing the dress away and saving the fabric and making an elastic waist skirt lol. More on this later.

That's it or this is gonna turn into a rambling post! LOL

Hope y'all have a great weekend!! Stay SAFE!!!

Toodles!

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

OMG, talk about good!

Another one I made during the holidays. This is THE BEST CREAM CHEESE POUND CAKE EVER! My mom raved and raved and raved about this one. Said it tasted JUST like the one Ma'phine (my great aunts name was Josephine) used to make. ANYTHING you make that tastes ANYTHING like what Ma'phine used to make is off da chains! LOL

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups butter
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 3 cups white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 6 eggs
• 3 cups cake flour

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease one 10 inch tube pan.
2. Cream together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar until light. Stir in the vanilla and the almond extracts. Add the flour and the eggs alternately, beginning and ending with the flour. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Try it out! Lemme know how you like it! LOL

Toodles!

Hump Day Ramblings.....

• Cookbooks without pictures are STUPID. Seriously. Got excited about a new cookbook and it doesn't have not NAN picture in it.

• Even if I am at home, I twitter and facebook from my blackberry lol. Just easier lol.

• My gravity feed iron AND the gallon of water that is three feet above it fell on my back today. Don't ask what I was doing. I won't tell.

• I am having an EXCELLENT mail week! LOVE getting stuff in the mail! LOL

• My kids love Alvin and the chimpmunks. I'm actually sick of them.

• I started following a bunch of local folks on twitter just to see what is going on around the city. So far so good. Might actually like this lol.

• I had a fit to get a foot spa, looked all over town and FINALLY found one. Haven't used it YET.

• 21 days as of today. WOOOOHOOOOOO. Can't wait to tell ya'll why Im counting down. Then I'll have TWO more countdowns to put up lol. Imma have a SUPERB summer. Oh I mean the family and I lol.

• I have gotten SO MUCH BETTER AT SAYING NO! y'all don't have a clue.

• I need to go buy a flower pot and some potting soil to replant this peace lilly that Patrick mom gave me. Im going to do my BEST to take care of it. Y'all know I don't do living green stuff in my house right?

• Did y'allk now crush is STILL alive!?

• I can not function without a list. I've been like a chicken with my head cut off ALL DAY LONG.

• Jaelyn got all her little privileges taken away. PROBABLY until school is out. She messed up BIG TIME. lol.

• I tried to re-open communication with someone who I felt did me wrong. You know giving them the benefit of the doubt. AGAIN. Age doesn't equal maturity. So oh well lol.

• He makes my heart do flip flops after all these years. I love him so much.

• I got some new bras and the chocolate colored one makes my back itch.

• Someone who normally isn't up on the weekends until after 10 called me at 7am. Scared the mess out of me but turns out I was just on their mind. awwwww love you :-)

• Ummmm, I do NOT feel like going to church today. I highly doubt if I go.

• The kids want to make chocolate chip cookies. Who makes a request like that at 8am? LOL OH, KIDS!

• Tony and I saw Wolverine last night. It was GOOD! LOVE HUGH JACKMAN!

• I'd rather be honest about whatever it is, than lie about it to make you feel better. Sorry. Life is too short.

• I am regretting my decision to start knitting this tank lol. Ummm yeah lol. I'm better than the pattern though lol. Oh wait...I haven't actually STARTED YET LOL

• Band Geeks is the episode that made me LOVE Sponge Bob lol. It's on now lol.

• My kids all got up this morning the FIRST time I told them. WOW. Maybe that's why its 40 outside this morning lol.

• As many pictures as I take, I don't take enough. I need to take one pic a month of each person in the house that is a serious pic. Not like SERIOUS SERIOUS, but one that is reflective of who they are. Just not a goofy picture.

• I need to work on my Bahama pictures. I think that will be a great project to start in the coming weeks.

Ok that's it for today!!

Toodles!

Butterfinger Cake

Yummmmyyy

Ok, this was made during the Christmas Holidays 2008. Jaelyn made one for a baking contest at school and I had to make one for home lol.

RECIPE

• 1 box German Chocolate Cake Mix (baked according to package
• directions
• 5 Butterfinger candy bars
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• Cool Whip for topping

Instructions

Bake the cake according to package directions and in a 13 x 9 inch

pan. When it's done, and while it's still hot, punch holes in the

cake and pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top making sure

some of it sinks in the holes.

Sprinkle on some of the broken candy pieces.

When it's cool, spread the Cool Whip topping on the top, and then

sprinkle the rest of the broken bars. 

This is about one of the only times I will use a box cake mix and cool whip. I normally just make my own. This cake is SO GOOD. Seriously. 

If y'all make it let me know. I'd love to know how you like it!

Toodles!

TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Say whattttttttttt!?!?!
How long has it been since you have heard THIS!? LOL

I am SO glad it's Friday!!! What do you guys have planned??

I hope to dabble in a little bit of this and a little bit of that lol.

Thanks for all the great compliments on my dress! I really love it! I think I am going to take the hem up just a little bit so that it is right above my knee. MAYBE, I do think it will look a tad bit better that way lol.

I had a really hard day yesterday. Just crying out of the blue. Once I cried I was ok, but there was still a lingering heaviness in my heart still. I guess that's normal? I dunno.

Please get ready to see some food post pop up. I have a TON of stuff saved in my drafts so yeah. ALL the cakes and stuff were made during the holiday season unless otherwise noted lol. Just be warned lol. I did a LOT of baking lol.

Ok, that's all I have!

Y'all have a great day, a fabulous weekend and stay safe!

Toodles!

McCall's 5716 A Review...

I was out somewhere and I saw this dress....

I totally fell in love with it! I think I took this picture back in March...

Zebra/Animal print is EVERYWHERE.

Of course I had to work a little with this trend ;-)
 

McCalls 5716

 

 

I ADORE this dress.

Fabric:

100% Cotton

Notions:

22" Zipper, Hooks and Eyes

Thread

Total cost to make: $8.00 (seriously just the cost of the fabric, everything else I had in my stash!!!) I am going to try and keep up with how much I spend sewing. Should be interesting. LOL

Pattern Description:

MISSES’ LINED JACKET AND DRESS, FLOWER AND PANTS: Jacket A has front darts, princess seams, back vent, two-piece sleeves with buttoned vent, collar with built-in buttonhole on neck, hidden button closure and topstitch trim, fabric flower included; dress B has front and back darts, back slit, back zipper and topstitch trim, length is mid-knee; pants C have front and back darts, contoured self-faced yokes and back zipper; purchased top.

I made the dress, view B

Pattern sizing:

8-14 I made the 14

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing it?

Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes, very

What did you like or dislike about the pattern?

LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE this pattern.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made?

Instead of sewing interfacing on the inside of the dress, I used a contrasting fabric and sewed it to the outside of the dress to break up the print, so that it looked similar to my inspiration piece. I also did NOT line the dress. I didn't have enough fabric to line it and I wasn't going out to get any lol. I didn't have any problems with it though.

I don't know if you can see it but where the bottom of the zipper is, it kinda pokes out. How do I fix that? I've not had that problem before. Thanks for any info/tips.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

There are so many dresses I want to make, I doubt if I make this one again but I highly recommend it.

Conclusion:

Great pattern, super easy and I love it!

Y'all have a great day!

Toodles!

Hump Day Ramblings.....

• I don't know how I feel about this new typepad format. They are always changing stuff.

• Why is it that people with vanity plates that say stuff like QTPIE, or Cute1 always look a HOT mess!?

• I am LOVING my BB 8900.

• I have worked everyday for the past week and a half. Well except Saturday and Sunday. I feel like I have a REAL job lol.

• I took some tylenol pm the other day and just SLEPT. It was a good sleep.

• Aj went fishing with my dad and came back with a rash and a gazillion bug bites.

• I need a cleaning service to come in and help me catch up. I didn't do crap I didn't HAVE to do all last week.

• I slept SO late this morning. I gotta go to bed earlier.

• Tony is still sleeping but I refuse to wake him. He hasn't rested much at all.

• I am slacking concerning my kids summer plans. Gotta handle that TODAY.

• I am learning that I don't know how to grieve. AT ALL.

• All of a sudden my hours at work aren't "working out" ummmm hmmmm. Can't wait to see what comes of this.

• I was sick as a dog today...then Kayla threw up EVERYWHERE. ugh. SO Glad my closet door was closed and she didn't get my shoes.

• I cut out a pattern and balled up one of the pieces before I finished cutting it out. OOPS. Had to iron that bad boy.

• Kayla just threw up on the floor. UGH. Glad my fabric was out of the way.

• Just finished cutting out another dress and getting it ready to sew tomorrow. I am loving my wovens. Don't worry. SOMETHING in a knit has to come up soon lol.

• My mom left her gravity feed iron on for THREE DAYS. Said she forgot it was on O_o. Don't burn the house down Donna lol.

• Budget billing is GOOD during the winter months. Not so much during the summer.

• There is a BIG difference between a 36C and a 38B. I'm just sayin lol.

• Evernote  is my most favorite app on my phone ever. Well next to Viigo OHHHH and Uber Twitter is SUPERB!!! BETTER than twitterberry!!! lol

That's all I got! Y'all have a good one!

My baby....

Is growing up. We were in church one Sunday and he told me he wanted to be baptized because God want's everyone to be baptized and love Him.

He was baptized on May 3rd.

They grow up so fast. I just want to teach them the right things so they are ready to go into the world when the time comes.

Toodles.

It's a new day.....

I have been sooooooooooooo stuck on this song... just beautiful.

Greateful by Hezekiah Walker

I'm trying to get back into some type of normal routine. Soooooo here is a little peek of a dress I have been working on...

 

And look what I pulled out last night! LOL

Yep, you are seeing what you THINK you are seeing lol.

Gotta love yarn cakes...but this pattern is ummmm. Hmmmm lol.

What is LRinc? Lifted right increase!?!?

Y'all know I'm a tight knitter so the THOUGHT of a k3tog scares me lol.

It did say if that is too tedious to try a Sl 1, k2tog, psso. That sounds better. We will see lol.

Ok, that's all I have for today. See y'all next time!

Toodles!

Thank you....

There are not many words right now that can express how thankful our family is for your kind, kind words.

This is probably the first time that I haven't replied to all my comments, but I just can't. Tony and I read each and every one of them.

THank you for all the emails, text messages, cards and phone calls. It really meant a lot to us.

Even though the funeral is over, it's still hard to believe. I don't know. We have never lost anyone that was THIS close to us. This is still hard and we still miss Pat and love him dearly.

The services yesterday were just beautiful. Simply beautiful!

Anyway, I have a lot to share so hopefully I will get on the ball soon with my blogging lol.

Who knew, there could be so much love in internet land. You guys are great.

Thanks again.

Toodles!

It hurts so bad....

The pain in my heart just cant be described. I talk about Patrick on here ALL THE TIME because he is such a part of my family.  He was killed in a car accident early Saturday morning. He was 33 years old.

This is so hard for our family. Patrick was like a brother to me and my husband. He and Tony had been friends since they were like two. 

Patrick was a friend to many folks. The type that never met a stranger. EVER. A kind, gentle soul. Just a great guy. crazy as hell but a wonderful man lol.

 

The kids would put an old sheet on the table and call it the nixon restaurant lol. Patrick always had dinner with us. When I cooked...I cooked enough for Pat and he could EAT.  His birthday was the other day and we were gonna have a gathering for him at our house this afternoon. My heart hurts.

 

See Pat was MORE than a friend. THe kind of friend that everyone isn't blessed enough to know.  He was our family.
 

He LOVED the kids.He was Uncle Pat! Didn't get any better than that lol.  They are REALLY taking it hard. Pray for my babies.  They haven't had anyone that was THIS close to them die. Kayla is really going through trying to understand. It's hard.
 

I miss him so much. My husband misses him so much.
 

We love him SO MUCH. This just hurts.

This is the way I will remember Pat. CRAZY as hell. Happy and FULL of life.

Pray for his family. His son who is too young to understand. His parents who have to bury him. His younger brother and his sister. His friends.

I keep saying I love him because I do. Very much.

Pray for Tony. They were together right before it happened. Tony had to leave early because he had to be at work at 4am Saturday morning.  He saw the accident on the interstate on his way to work but had NO clue it was Patrick.

Just pray for us all.