Uh oh...

Someone in our house has the crafty bug. Many visits to Joanns, late nights with chocolate, an invaded dining room table and a very patient husband and daughter.

Learning to quilt a tabletop runner. Want to make your own? Go here

Just need to finish the binding. I made this in one night! I love the harvest colors, they were a charm pack at Joanns named "Carnival" by Fabric Central. The squares were already cut out. I love quilting. Thanks mom for the great sewing machine! I love it.
Butterfly shoes for a newborn babe. I was hesitant to post these pics before they got their gift. But, I'm sure they are too busy snuggling with their baby to check my blog! It is supposed to look like a distressed edge butterfly on the shoe. It looks like that, right? Right? Oh dear, I may have stayed up too late these past nights. :)

My Scrapbook Hybrid. I DON'T scrap pictures into albums. I like to scrap into frames so people can actually enjoy my scrapping. This was a "Nocturne" Scrap Kit from Joanns also. Frames bought there too. I love those 40% off coupons.

Thanks for looking! It feels good to get creative again. I'd been just reading other's blogs and decided to get to it.

The fairy princess has landed.

I can't get over these cute pics of Aubrey. She is such our girly girl! A typical day for her is dress up, carrying things around in baskets and pushing her baby doll in her stoller.

We love her and her fire-engine-driving ways.

Aubrey and potty training...

Aubrey has really been expressing interest in the whole potty thing lately. Although I feel like we are very far away from actually GETTING her to use the potty, I thought I'd role play with her doll.

Her doll got a little potty awhile back and she was practicing putting the baby on the potty. Right before this video was taken, I got the amazing idea to grab some raisins and Ryan grabbed the camera.

Here is what unfolded..

Why we love having a girl!

5. Because watching her put eye shadow on her cheeks is too cute!

4. Because she cordinates her shopping purchases better than I do.

3. Because she's the best mommy to her little dolly.

2. Because a tutu goes with any toy.

and..

1. Because (despite being so stinking sweet and girly) she's not above eating dirt from outside!


We love you Aubrey.

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More swimming...

Gone swimming...

Some of you may be wondering where we've been. It's been a fun summer and after a small timeout from blogger, we are back! I couldn't get blogger to get our pics up, after 4 times I put it in timeout.

Aubrey is really growing fast. Her mind is grasping many concepts like animal sounds, and copying the words we say (like blueberry and applesauce). It's really cute. She is 16 months now and almost ready for nursery on sundays. We have taken her in a few times and she loves playing with the toys. Her favorite toys are baby dolls. She wraps them in blankets and holds them, giving them little pats on the back - just like we did with her. Sigh. She's so darn cute!

Oh, how I love food blogs...

Here is one thing most people do not know about me. I love food blogs. Love. Them.

I could spend hours reading recipes and drooling over pictures of French Breakfast Puffs, Caramel Walnut Upside-down Banana Cake, Onion Strings, Challah and The Best Chicken Pot Pie.

As I read, I go over the entire process in my mind and practically want to lick the computer screen!! I have tried many things. Whole wheat tortillas, Amazing BBQ Meatballs, Cowboy Beans, cakes, muffins, breads, cookies, soups, etc....it is all so good!

So I thought I would share my top five favorite recipes sites (not in any particular order).

1. www.thepioneerwoman.com/cooking - She is sassy, down-to-earth and cooks a lot of "cowboy food." The photo above is from her site. Thanks PW!

2. http://www.bakerella.com/ - She is an amazing artist with food and quite the cupcake and cake decorator.

3. http://www.smittenkitchen.com/ - I am new to her blog, but amazed by her photography. She uses more "uppity" ingredients and reads "gourmet"...and I love learning from her.

4. http://www.tammysrecipes.com/ - Simple, nourishing and good home-cooked recipes. Plus a few things you wouldn't expect (like homemade pepperoni)

5. www.passionatehomemaking.com/recipe-index - Some new ingredients, but almost all recipes are whole foods, or whole wheat based. Very healthy and the best Tortilla and Pizza dough recipes - ever!

There you have it. Now go devour your own creations.

Also: if you need a laugh, check out http://www.cakewrecks.com/. Some people should leave the decorating to a professional...oh, wait. They were....ouch.

A.