Snow!

We saw our first snow today. I love this time of year!

Headband tutorial....finally!

Here are quick and easy to understand instructions for making a headband. Sorry it has taken me so long to post this. If you end up making one, let me know how it goes. At the bottom of the page, I included the website that I got this tutorial from. Have fun!!!!

• Main Piece: Cut 1 rectangle from your fabric as shown in Diagram 1. The width range of 4.5" (11 cm) to 12.5" (32 cm) results in finished headband widths ranging from 2" (51 mm) to 6" (15 cm), respectively. Multiply your desired finished headband width by two and add 0.5" (13 mm) to determine the exact fabric width to cut.
• Connector Piece: Cut 1 rectangle from your fabric as shown in Diagram 1.

Note: Any grainline orientation should be fine, but laying the long sides of the rectangles crosswise (i.e., perpendicular to the selvage) will use the least fabric yardage.



Diagram 1

Sewing

1. Fold the short sides of the main piece in half with right sides together and, using a 0.25" (6 mm) seam allowance, sew the long raw edges together to create a tube as shown in Diagram 2. Repeat with the connector piece.



Diagram 2

2. Turn the main piece right side out and press so that the seam is positioned at center back (CB). Repeat with the connector piece. Use a safety pin or loop turner to turn the pieces right side out if needed.
3. Insert the elastic inside the connector piece using a safety pin or loop turner.
4. Sew the elastic and connector piece together at one end with a 0.25" (6 mm) seam allowance as shown in Diagram 3. (On the other end, just leave the end of the elastic sticking out for now; you can pin the end of the connector piece to the elastic to keep it in place if needed).



Diagram 3

1. Mark the short ends of the main piece about 0.375" (10 mm) away from each long (folded) edge as shown in Diagram 4. In between the markings on each end, make pleats as needed so that the width in between the markings matches the width of the connector piece, which in this case is 0.625" (16 mm). If your main piece is on the narrow side, try one knife pleat in the center; if it's on the wide side, try multiple knife pleats. You can also try an inverted or box pleat as shown in Diagram 4. Pin o r baste stitch the pleats to secure them.

Diagram 4

1. Lay the main piece down with the front side facing up (i.e., CB seam facing down). On top of the main piece, lay the connector piece down with the back side facing up (i.e., CB seam facing up), aligning the edge of the connector piece that is sewn to the elastic with one of the ends of the main piece. The connector piece should be laying on top of the pleated portion of the main piece and should fit just within the markings you made on the main piece. Fold the short sides of the main piece 0.375" over the connector piece (the folded sides will overlap), and sew all layers togethe r with a 0.25" (6 mm) seam allowance as shown in Diagram 5.

Diagram 5

1. Turn the headband right side out and test the fit by trying on the headband while stretching the elastic to the unattached end of th e main piece. Cut elastic to desired length.
2. Repeat Step 4 with the other ends of the elastic an d connector piece.
3. Repeat Step 6 with the other ends of the connector piece and main piece.
4. Turn the headband right side out.

**www.alteredcloth.com/blog/2007/07/how-to-make-a-h ead band-version-2-the-wide-headband.php

Beware...some major transparency

***I hope that whoever reads this is challenged and encouraged to trust in God's ways. He loves us so much and knows what is best. His timing is perfect. This is a testimony of how God is teaching me this invaluable lesson. He is so good!

Ever since I was a young girl, I dreamed of getting married to prince charming, having a handful of kids and living happily ever after. Being a homemaker and mommy has been a desire of mine for as long as I can remember. Well, I married my prince charming 11 years ago and had a son 5 years ago. My dreams and hopes seemed to be coming true.

For the past 3 years, I have experienced some of the hardest challenges I have ever faced regarding my desires. At this point, a future of having more children doesn't seem to be in God's plan for my life and family. It seems my Lord has other plans....plans that are beyond my control and plans that I don't fully understand. In the midst of this inner battle, Jesus has given me peace and direction. I read an incredible book and it helped me to understand that if life isn't going exactly the way "I want it to", trust God to lead me in the way He wants me to go. Set new goals and pray about them. Deep down I wondered if I even had other goals. If so, what were they? How could I figure them out? I really believe that God has given me the desires that I have but He also knows what is best for me in His time and in His way. He made me and He deserves my devotion and trust.

I have prayed over this so much and the Lord has reminded me of a few things. First, I have a husband and a son that I love very much. I need to invest my life in their lives and be thankful for what the Lord has already given me. He gave them to me and I need to treasure them. Second, I don't need to focus on what I don't have but what I do have. Third, I believe that God has given me a love for babies for a reason. I may not be able to use it directly in my personal life but I can share that love in other ways. As a result of this love and passion I am pursuing the realm of nursing. Now I dream of one day being able to put my love for babies and mommies to work and help them during a very life-changing time. (As well as loving my growing 5 year old miracle baby ;) I am excited about my new journey and looking forward to the things God is going to teach me. I don't know what the future holds, but God does and that should be enough for me. I still have days that I struggle with my biological clock and emotions but I rest in God's peace. He knows and understands how I feel. I am SO thankful for His hope. I choose to focus on Jesus and the things that He has planned for me. Sometimes those plans are not always what we plan or even dream of. This life is not my own, it belongs to the God I serve. What greater privilege do I have than this?

It's that time of year

It's that wonderful time of year where the weather is getting cooler, the leaves are falling, and germs are spreading. I am always interested in learning new remedies that are natural AND effective for curing different ailments. A few weeks ago, Stephen started getting some sinus yuckiness so he started eating pieces of raw garlic. It seemed to work very well. He noticed a big difference in a short amount of time. So I decided to try it. I started getting a sore throat today so I made some garlic lemonade and ate a couple of garlic pieces. (Watch out world!) Immediately I can tell a difference. I am going to keep eating it this evening to see how it goes. If that works....hallelujah!

Some benefits of garlic:

High in Antioxidants
Good for healthy cells
Decongestant
A natural antibiotic
A wart fighter
Helps with high blood pressure
Can help get rid of poison ivy

So I encourage you to look into the benefits of garlic. If you find some cool things, let me know!

.

Presenting......Cocoa Crackles!

This is a fun recipe to do with kiddos. They are pretty healthy too which is a definite plus. I got this recipe out of a cookbook Jubal got for his birthday. The book is called Yummy Cookies by Sesame Street.
If you are looking for something fun to do today with your kids, this is a great activity to try. What a fun way to bond with the little ones in your life.

Cocoa Crackles

3/4 Cup all-purpose unbleached flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated or cane sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease to cookie sheets.
Stir together both flours, cocoa, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla until well blended. Add flour mixture and beat until blended.
Place powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll heaping tablespoons of the dough into balls. Roll balls of dough in the sugar until they are coated. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
Bake for abou11-13 minutes or until cookies are set. Cool cookies on sheets for a couple minutes and transfer to cooling rack.

Cozy Ginger Scones

I found a great recipe on Organic Valley's website. It is fairly easy and the result is fantastic! If you like ginger, this is the way to go for a yummy breakfast/brunch food.

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon lemon peel (grated)***
11 tablespoons Organic Valley European-style Cultured Butter (cut into bits)
3/4 cup Organic Valley Heavy Whipping Cream
2 tablespoons Organic Valley Heavy Whipping Cream
2/3 cup crystallized ginger, coarsely chopped
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

***I increased the lemon peel to about 1 1/2 Tbsp. for a more lemony flavor.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly butter baking sheet. Blend flour, sugar, baking powder and lemon peel in a food processor. Add butter and cut in (using "pulse" button) until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Make well in center; add 3/4 cup cream. Using fork, stir until just moist. Mix in ginger and cinnamon. Transfer dough to floured surface and gently knead until smooth, about 8 turns. Divide dough in half; pat each portion into 3/4-inch-thick round. Cut each round into 6 wedges and transfer to prepared baking sheet, spacing 1 inch apart. Brush tops with remaining 2 tablespoons cream. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Coconut Rice and Beans recipe

I am really excited about this recipe. I got it off of 5 dollar dinners.com. I love beans and I LOVE coconut so this recipe sounds so good. I haven't tried it yet but I will be soon. I will let you know how it goes. If you try it, let me know what you think!

1 15 oz. can of lite coconut milk
About 1/3 cup of pineapple juice from a can of pineapple
1/2 cup of water
1 cup uncooked white rice
Salt/Pepper, to taste
2 cups cooked pinto beans
4 carrot sticks, peeled and cut into circles
Honey drizzles
2 broccoli heads

Directions
(1/2. Cook about 1 cup of pinto beans in 6 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium high. Cover and cook for 1.5 -2 hours, or until beans are soft. Remove from heat, drain liquid.)
1. In medium saucepan, bring coconut milk, pineapple juice and water to a rolling boil. Add 1 cup of rice and return to boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium low and cook for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and let stand for 5 more minutes (do not uncover!). Fluff with fork before adding the beans.
2. Combine beans and rice in saucepan.
3. Steam carrots in steamer, or cook in 1/2 cup of water in small saucepan. Drizzle with honey to sweeten them up a smidge!
4. Steam broccoli.
5. Serve Coconut Rice and Beans with Honey Sweetened Carrots and Steamed Broccoli!