Spring clothes ambition

I'm trying to organize my head around making some spring clothes for the kids. Not too crazy, but a few staple items that they will enjoy wearing, and I'll enjoy seeing on them. (I say this now, but I will end up with an unmanageable list in the end)

Some sailboat pants for both of them would be nice. I already made a pair for Clover a while ago, I think in the Fall, but I want to make the real cropped version for Springtime. Crazily enough, I haven't made a sailboat top yet but I would like to make at least one for each of the girls.

Source: oliverands.com via Jaclyn on Pinterest

Also, I want to make some more Claire dresses - one for each of them. I'd like to see what it looks like without the neck ruffle, as much as I like it on this dress.

And at least a Maggie Mae tunic for Violet even if I don't get another one done for Clover right away

I still have a Violet version of this skirt to make too

I've got fabric laying about for a matching Clover version of this coat, but I haven't gotten to it yet

My list is already getting too long....

I've also got some old knit cotton shirt and thrifted items sitting here that can be made into sweats or shirts for the girls.

I was also hoping to get another pair of skinny jeans made, but we'll see when that happens o_0

Having said all that, I am on the hunt for a few special fabrics to use on some of my spring clothes. My mind is craving some cream and aqua together. I've fallen prey to the chevron craze too....at first I resisted but it got me in the end. I'll be on the hunt for a nice twill or something like it for making pants with. As tempting as all the awesome prints out there are, it would be good to have a solid semi-neutral color to have as an outfit base that I can pair with a variety of prints.

stuffing rice mashup

I'm sure this has been done before, but I came up with something for dinner last night that I think was pretty yummy - I call it "stuffing rice"

     Source: marthastewart.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

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                                                                                   Source: soozs.blogspot.com via Bianca on Pinterest

it smells like Thanksgiving! I sauteed some celery and shallots in butter while my brown rice was cooking. Then chopped up some dried apricots, and pulled out some raisins. After the rice was done, I threw the dried fruit and sauteed veg into the rice pan and put the lid back on to let the fruit steam a bit. 

Then I mixed a big ole blob of butter into the pan and stirred everything up together. Added salt and pepper to taste. I had reheated a chicken in my crock pot from the day before, and dished out some tender chicken on top of the rice. Before serving, I spooned some of the delicious, salty chicken juices and oils on top of everything for the extra good nutrients in the broth. Too bad I didn't have any sage on hand. That would have gone really well in it. 

I'm definitely going to make it again! On the side I served some raw carrots with homemade garlic yogurt sauce. Pretty prettyyyy tasty. 

balloon birthday photo ASSAULT

my birthday girl turned 3 today. what follows is a ridiculous amount of photos from today.

 

violet is so cute, I can't help but include some shots of her 

she was really digging the exciting vibes from today

 

i'm pretty sure Clover was contemplating the implications of another year past in her life, and her goals going forward. 

 

you can really tell that she's excited about her birthday. no really, she WAS. just not in front of the camera, the little poop.

 

ok, now she's getting loosened up

 

we got a dozen balloons from party city. I'd never been there before. Clover pooped while we were there, and a lady near us smelled like pee. the party store probably smelled pretty similar to the pet store next door at that point. come to think of it, maybe the pee lady worked at the pet store...

  

I got her a dozen balloons -  a mixture of pale aqua, rose pink, and pearlized white

 

I haven't been feeding clover gluten or much sugar lately, so I made her a flourless chocolate cake with sucanat, and a light glaze of a chocolate sauce I made with maple syrup from my farmer. It's "iced" with grassfed whipped cream

I made the little balloons to go along with her balloon theme birthday. Origami paper, floral wire, glue. I wrapped the ends with wax paper since I wasn't sure about jamming raw floral wire into our cake. It was the best craft ever. Both kids were in bed and I did it in front of Downton

 

she needed a button down sweater of some kind, and I was planning on making one, but lazed out and got one today at Target. I hyped it up as her special "birthday sweater" and she got jazzed. I somehow ended up with an adorable mustard yellow and cream cardigan in my size as I was checking out. The kids must have put it in the cart....or something. BTW, there were SO many adorable dresses, coats, and things at Target during this trip, for really great prices, that I questioned why I even sew for my child. Of course, I forgot all about that once I left the store.

we kept busy outside until Daddy came home to have a birthday party with us. Clover was dying a slow painful death all day over the anticipation. She had to go shopping with me for cake ingredients, watch me make it, hear all about it being her birthday, and not be able to eat any cake or open any gifts. 

 

I love how Clover is in some pre teen awkward phase. Lol. 

 

BALLOON GLEE!!!!

 

the girls were freaking out in the balloons together, and Clover had some mad static electricity surging through her head

 

the muppet movie soundtrack on vinyl. the girls were both stoked. 

 

this was Violet's shock and awe face when she realized that the Rainbow Connection song was starting up from the record player. her eyes got really wide at first, and then her jaw dropped and she looked at me with this shell shocked face, before saying "Kermit" in the most hilarious voice. LOL. 

 

Clover's gifts came wheeled in on an awesome grocery cart from her grandparents

 

SHE doesn't know that this shirt is from the thrift store

 

Scooter is sitting in the shopping cart in the background. hahaha. 

 

Clover is taking her dolly shopping at Trader Joe's . 

 

"happy birthday to you...."

 

daddy saves us all from a fiery death, with one puff of breath

 

we all had cake and some organic ice cream from a local creamery. the girls are topping off the evening by watching "Up". Tim briefly stuck the balloons on the dollhouse. haha. perfect. 

It was a wonderful, busy day. Clover felt special.