New Tote Bag

I never make my self things, but in helping my sister out this week, we decided to make tote bags together! My mom, the amazing seamstress, taught us all the correct techniques for finishing the bag so it looks completely professional and flawless! I love my new summer bag!

We made them out of heavy canvas material and lined with a coordinating fabric. We also added pockets and reinforced the handles.

Grace Hester Designs

Check out this busy mom! I loved these prints for a play room or children's room. My husband lived in Japan for 2 years and speaks Japanese, so he teaches our daughter a little japanese, so I especially love these asian inspired prints! She has a fantastic sale going on. Check here out here.

Recipe- Great Green Salad

I don't have a picture of this one but it's one of my favorites. It's very simple but taste's great and very 'summery'. So happy 1st week of our Summer break!
Salad Ingredients:
Green Leaf Lettuce
Bacon Bits- Fry & Shred (optional)
Cherry Tomatoes
Swiss Cheese- Grated
Slivered Almonds- Toasted
Croutons

Dressing: (make several hours or the night before & chill in fridge)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 Clove of Garlic, pressed (fresh taste's best)
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3/4 C. Cannola Oil

Blend Together

Have you checked out Sewn yet?

What an awesome website!! It's called Sewn- www.sewn.net.au There are some amazing resources on this site, like a fabric matcher! It will help you match fabrics to quilt styles. There's a place to help you find fabrics you're looking for, free patterns, guest spots featuring some really creative people, and lots of great ideas. I'm loving this new site. It's one of my new favorites! It just launched and their offerring some cool new stuff.

Ozark Scents

Love candles? Me too! Check out fellow busy mom, Ozark Scents! www.Ozarkscentscandleco.etsy.com She's having a fantastic sale!

Recipe- My All Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies!

These are easy and by far the best Chocolate Chip Cookies out there. Try them for yourself. You'll throw all the other recipes away. I know I did. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 4 ounces milk chocolate, grated
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Measure oats into a blender or food processor, and then blend to a fine powder. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, oats, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir dry ingredients into creamed butter and sugar. Add chocolate chips, grated chocolate, and nuts.
3. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven.

**Very important- don't over cook. Take them out when they still look a little under. They will harden as they cool and then they will be perfect and crisp on the outside and soft in the middle.

Favorite Things Party and Latest Projects

This weeks projects have all been about having fun! I got a new custom pillowcase done for my Wed. trip to LA, sold another one (yeah!) and got ready for drop off, got lots of presents bought or made and wrapped ready for the trip to LA and the trip to SD this weekend. Then I got to put together a project for a Favorite Things Party! 2 of my friends put it on once or twice each year. It's kinda like Oprah's favorite things. Everyone makes/buys/brings a favorite thing(s), and you bring 5 of the sale thing to the party. The cost is supposed to be around $6 for each. Since I love to work out and eat I brought something for each. I brought my ultimate favorite workout socks (Addidas No Show Women's Performance Socks w/ Arch compression, Anti-microbial and Always Cool) and a box of Junior Mints (my favorite candy). I put them in little bags and made little tags. The party was so much fun! I loved everything that everyone brought and I got some adorable things (special almonds, shampoo/cond, in-n-out gift card, music cd's, bottled water, magazine, car air freshener). I loved the party!!

My finished "Favorite Things", all ready for the party

One of the cards for one of the many presents I got ready this week

My stash, all ready for our big trips to LA and SD this week!

The new recipe I tried out this week. I made Strawberry Balsamic Chicken (new), with Steamed Broccoli w/ Balsamic glaze and rice. It was pretty good. Not the greatest thing in the whole world, but very good and different. Definitely fun to have something new.

Bijoux Designs For You

www.bijouxdesignsforyou.etsy.com come check out this Busy Mom today! I want this bookmark. Perfect for all my summer reading :-)

Finger Puppets

Some adorable knitted items from today's featured Busy Mom. I liked her finger puppets and patterns. Check out her shop at www.huggermugger.etsy.com

Hair Bows

Besides cleaning my entire house from top to bottom (I was way over due), I got together with some friends to make hair bows. I haven't made many hair bows before now, so I was just getting the hang of it. I need some cuter ribbon and next time I'm going to do some flower clips, but these turned out cute and was a great break from my cleaning day! Thanks again ladies!

Recipe- Homemade Honey Wheat Bread

I haven't bought bread from the store in over *8 months*(Updated- now it's been over 2 years!) now. I make this once a week and it lasts all week. I do French Toast the last day and use up any leftovers. It stays good just on my shelf in ziplock bags. It holds together nicely for sandwiches. We love it and can't go back to the store bought stuff now. It's super easy, so try it! I got this recipe from my Sister-In-Law Jenni. She's made it into rolls before too and they tasted yummy that way as well. Good luck and let me know how it goes :-)

Whole Wheat Honey Bread

Put in Mixer:
3 C. warm water
2 T. yeast
1/3 C. Honey
5 C. flour (I use regular flour this time and whole wheat the next time just to be cheaper)
Mix. Let raise in mixer 30 minutes.

It's really important that you use warm water and mix with your yeast before putting into the mixer. This will make it so there's not lumps of yeast. Also, the water won't activate if it's cold and will kill it if it's too hot. Luke warm (room temp) water is best.
This is how it will look after this first group of ingredients. Leave it like this, and cover for 30 minutes to let it raise. It should raise up almost to the top of the bowl in that time.
The dough will puff up really pretty. See above picture.

Then just give it a quick pulse or two and start adding the following ingredients. I let it mix slowly as I add the flour little at a time.

Then add to your mixer and mix:
1/3 C. Honey
1T. Salt
3 T. Canola Oil
3 1/2 C. Whole Wheat Flour

Knead about 8-10 minutes ( I do it in the mixer, make sure you're using your dough hook and just let it knead the dough), Place dough in lightly oiled bowl.

Here it is after you've taken it out of the mixer and put into your oiled bowl.

Cover and let double in size.

Punch down, place in greased bread pans to raise. (about hour to hour and half)

This recipe makes 2 large loafs or 3 small loafs.

After Raising (about hour and half to two hours)

Bake 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Beautiful. Easy. Super Yummy.

Cool on cooling rack. Rub some butter on the tops right when they come out.

We're hooked!

Thank You Notes

Front

Got these Thank You notes finished up finally. They turned out cute. Probably sufficient for a 4 year old's bday party :-)

Inside

New Hope Beading

Check out New Hope Beading. She gives her profits away to support a fabulous organization. See here for her full interview. And I love this bracelet!