My favorite dinner and memories...

The love of memories is often coupled with a good, homemade meal.  At least it is for a true Southerner :).  There is something about the smell, the sight, and the taste that can just take you back!  For me, this simple dinner does it!  We always called them "hobo" dinners- usually had around a campfire, but an oven or grill works just dandy too!  Here's the simpleness:

some ground beef- whatever type and fat  your preference is: we love angus, low fat

some onions

maybe some carrots, not in my photos

and spices- could be just salt and pepper, or fancy- I use McCormicks Steak Seasoning when I'm in a hurry :)

Break up the hamburger and chop the onion.  When using carrots, I leave mini carrots whole, but chop larger carrots in smaller pieces.  Put all in foil and heap on the spices!

Wrap tightly with foil and place on hot grill/oven till meat is cooked.  The veggies will be done by default ;).  Open and devour, SLOWLY, enjoying every bit and morsel of yumminess!  Makes good memories, you can count on it!

Can't. Contain. The. Cute. Ness!

Oh my stars in the morning!  Have you seen the cuteness Madame Samm is up to??  Here's something to make you go- oh my stars too:

A fluffy, puffy, gussety coin purse hop!  In November!  Now to be patient enough for November!!  This may be hard!  EEEKKKKK!

End of Summer Heaven

At least once every summer, I treat myself.  To what you may ask??  Well, the answer may seem silly, but it's been part of my summer as long as I can remember!  I grew up in the South, the Deep South, where tomatoes are deep red, juicy, all the way down your chin, and you eat them like apples!  Ahhh, the good ole days :)  Now I live in the West, the dry, not "Southern" tomato West.  Yes, they grow tomatoes here, but they are NOT the same.  Every once in a blue moon though, I find a dear someone who grows tomatoes CLOSE to the ones like home :).  I found that this week, and this was my treat...

Bread.

Mayo, just a titch.

Salt, a titch and a bit.

Pepper, load it on, baby!

And,,,,

big, huge, gigantic slices (as in, at least an inch wide) of 

TOMATOES!!  (as close to "southern" as you can find)!

Serious heaven, I tell ya!  Doesn't get any better- see, half the sandwich is already gone before I could even snap the photo :)  YUMMY!  That's good eatin'---  hmmm, maybe I can eat an early lunch today ;)

Pattern Testing

I love me some paper piecing!!  When I actually find some time- if you find any, let me know and I'll gladly pay you for it ;)- I want to design my own patterns!  Well, one of my friends designs her own patterns, and she is awesome!  She asked me to test one for her before we left on our hu-gun-gous camping trip.  She's Diane from Blank Pages and she has quite a few patterns available.  

The new pattern I tested was a Wonky log cabin block- a nice wonky feeling, but exactly perfect each time :).  Instead of rotating the block in each coordinate, I switched around some colors to give it a more symmetrical feel.  The blocks are large- 8" square each, so this set of 4 is 16" square- it will be perfect for a pillow on my bed ;).  

Here's how it turned out...

 (a shot of each corner- or block)

 and then all purtty in the sunshine :)

Fun, fun!  Thanks for letting me try out the new pattern, Diane.  It's a great one, and a very fast make!

Herbal Ice Cream??!!?

Ok, we found the most yummiest Mexican place around last week!  Oh my tastiness!  It is absolutely incredible!  It's in an industrial part of town so being a gourmet restaurant makes it pretty unique.  What a fun atmosphere and great feeling though!  I had a chili stuffed with all sorts of goodness- pork, nuts, sauce, more walnut sauce on top, then some pomegranate seeds to give it some zing :).  There was also some asparagus and spinach dyed cilantro rice- ouuuu, yumm!  I don't often splurge, but that night was an exception.  

The thing that surprised me was the dessert.  I had narrowed it down to two and couldn't decide so I asked the table next to us- they had tried several (it was a bigger group).  They said, hands down, what their favorite was, so we ordered that.  Why not be adventurous, especially since it sounded so unusual and wasn't even on our narrowed down list?!  :)  I didn't get a photo because it was gone so quickly! hehe!  Talk about wonderful!  Here's what it was...

A strawberry rolled cake with a cream filling, next to some cream sauce, and BASIL ice cream, yes, as in green basil!!!  It sounded so bizarre and wasn't too tasty alone, but mix a taste of each thing on the plate, and you had a mouthful of heaven!  Moral of the story- even though it may sound odd- if you are ever at a gourmet Mexican restaurant, in an industrial part of town, order the basil ice cream and strawberry cake for dessert.  You won't be disappointed!!  The end. :)

The Donut Lady...

Yup, that's what I am this year :)  Probably the next few, actually.  My kiddos school as one day a month when the students can bring a parent, 30 minutes before school, have donuts, and read books together.  It's a great program and I am so excited that I get to be over the activity!  The past few years have been very dull and plain, but that's just not how I work!  So for the past few months, I have been scheming and planning and purchasing :).  

I got some of the most darling aqua gingham fabric to make a table cloth for the donut table I sit at :)  Think pinked edges- just darling!!  

I also found this printable online and enlarged it, covered it with felt that was close to the design, and will have the perfect welcome sign!  I love how 3-D felt makes things look.  The kiddos at school will love it too, I am sure!  

Then for me, I looked everywhere, online and in brick and mortar shops for donut fabric to make an apron.  Nothing spoke to me or had the colors I was going for!  So I bought a precious apron from Hobby Lobby, using the 40% off coupon of course, and designed my own "logo".  Then I pulled out my embroidery thread and got to work :).  I just ADORE how it turned out!!  The ruffle is so me, and the design is even more me!!!  

I also found some hot pink melamine trays at Hobby Lobby too, with coupons of course, to set up the donuts on.  

And then I needed something to give the kiddos that wouldn't be eaten in two seconds, and since they are reading with their parent, I thought of bookmarks.  I tried designing one, but without a great editing program on my computer, and not being able to figure out how to draw on the picmonkey program, I was not sure it would work.  Then I walked in Walmart a few days ago and saw a cart of school supplies on clearance.  Yup, the coolest bookmarks around, in packs of 25- hot dog :)!!  Buying the ton

I needed was still way cheaper than printing out my own- score! Now I just need an orange container for the bookmarks :). 

So beings my first year as "The Donut Lady"!  I am so excited and feel mostly ready to make this activity even more fun and looked forward to than it is :)  Ready or not, here I come!!

Back in the Saddle...

Well, after two and a half weeks of glorious, wonderful camping with my wild bunch- yes we love it!!- I am back around!  It was a blast- we went to six different areas of the West and even saw Mount Rushmore!!  It was such a great time away and such a terrific thing for our family!  Honest to goodness adventures and we love every minute of it :)  Here's a typical evening that we enjoy---

I'll be checking in soon with some projects I've been working on (before I left) :).  til then---