The Jello of Sleepy Hollow

Okay, I totally had to share this! Without a doubt this is what I'd call blog worthy!

So we had a Chili Cook-Off and Jello Mold-Off at church tonight.

I've never won anything before....well unless you count the Finding Nemo towel our family won from Disney.com or the Bag of weird groceries we won from Smith's grocery store....but I'm not counting those because those were totally random and this I/we (my husband and I) won because someone liked what we did and that's never happened to me before!!!! Ever!!!

We live in Utah so of course Jello molds are a part of our culture right ;), you must have heard about green jello with shredded carrots before, or jello is its own food group, or jello with marshmallows, jello with ice cream, or jello with whipped cream, or jello with everything.

A friend even told me in her mom's old neighborhood cook book a recipe for jello called for whipped cream but said mayonnaise could be substituted for the cream.

Nasty!

Anyway, poking fun at our own culture there was a jello mold-off.

and

WE WON!

So the plan was to hollow out a pumpkin, fill it with yellow jello, then when it was set carve the pumpkin, it would look kind of like a pumpkin with a light inside.

What really happened.

The pumpkin was big - it took 4 large boxes of Jello (16 cups of water).

The jello never really became firm.

The pumpkin was super dry and stringy.

When I carved the face the jello started coming out of the mouth.

So we taped and plastic wrapped the mouth back in place to transport it to church.

Then when we got to church we took out the mouth and let the guts spill out onto a tray.

It was pretty stinkin' awesome if I do say so myself.

and

It totally helped that this pumpkin was dry and stringy because the stringy bits totally completed the look.

They judged the jello and then let people dig in.

When people dished up the jello they were taking it from the mouth it gave me a chuckle.

So the family got in on giving this jello a title.

I liked:

The Jello of Sleepy Hollow

But we also came up with:

Jell-o-Lantern

Jello Jack

Jack-o-Jello

(From 11 year old son) Pumpkin Barf.....yeah I know, he's 11.

I'm already coming up with ideas for next year!

Can't wait!

Living Room Curtains and Computers

I know, I know, enough with my living room already!
But I'm just so excited with how it turned out!
I know I've said this before I am NOT a decorator.
It's taken me over 2 years since purchasing our home to get over the "I'm just renting this place, I can't do much to it" way of thinking.
But here we are and I think I can honestly say.....I'm over it.
I should have been over it a long, long time ago!

So here's a little tour of my front living room and where everything came from.

I made the curtains.
 I'd picked my paint color and I had an idea of what I wanted for the curtains but I wasn't set in stone for the fabric. I wasn't even sure I wanted to sew my own curtains.

Then one day I walked into Hancock Fabric and I saw this fabric smiling at me from across the room.
It was simple and unique, just what I was looking for.
Bonus!
It was their anniversary sale and so I got a really, really good deal on the fabric.
I ordered 10 yards to make my 4 panels.
Unfortunately,
I didn't measure the fabric before I left the store (I trusted them) ended up they shorted me 6 inches!
Not having that 6 inches made me mad first of all and almost did me in on being able to make my curtains because I didn't realize I was 6 inches short until I was measuring and cutting my 4th and last panel.
Fortunately,
I'd purchased an extra yard separate from my 10 yards for pillows. I was able to piece together on the extra few inches on the bottom hem.
The seam is in the back and if you don't look at the back bottom hem of all of my curtains you'll never know it's there on one of them.

I purchase the bay window curtain rod at Lowe's home improvement store. It worked perfectly in my window.

The chairs I found through an online classifieds web site. I love their simple lines. I added the little (I'm not even sure what to call it) fabric cover on the backs.

I'm still not sure if I love the fabric things on the back and I'll probably switch them out for something different but I do like how it ties in a little bit of the orange-ish-red-ish that's also in the hutch that is in the entrance way right behind me.

(just looked for a pic and I guess I need to take one)

Above the couch is my photo wall.
By far my most favorite part of the room.
I love seeing my kids there smiling at me....how could I not love it....they are absolutely the most beautiful children on the planet.....right?

I'm not crazy about the lamp and I'm looking to replace it, I just think it will take time to find what I want and have it fit my budget....but that's okay...I can wait.

Finally, here's my computer hutch/armoire/thingy. Remember this?
Yes, my computer space is in my living room but with our nice armoire you'd never know it.
Perfect!

I guess this room isn't all of the way completed.
I still want to get a large mirror to put over my piano for function and beauty. My daughter is a singer, her voice teacher wants her to look in the mirror as she practices (I think it cuts down on the pulling of weird faces while you sing thing)
When I get it up I'll share.

I like to look for rainbows

It was a very big day around here a couple of weekends ago.
Our son was Baptized.
And then we hosted a dinner for our family (on both sides) at our house.
We had about 45 guests.
Like I said it was a very big day!

So how do you decorate when you're hosting a party and the guest of honor is a boy but you still want it to be fun and not just blue plus inexpensive and easy but fabulous and did I mention for a boy?

Question....ponder...wonder......
Call a friend.....
Get a great suggestion and then let the good times roll!

I called my friend Shonda (amazing photographer, creative genius) who said she'd seen a cute rainbow party on a blog somewhere....
Then she reminded me of this song the kids sing at church.

Rainbows! Perfect!

So I used the words from the song and made these two printables. If you're interested in the 8.5x11 printable above you can find it in my Etsy shop here

I decorated with balloons and crepe paper in rainbow colors.

Each table was covered with a tablecloth one color in the rainbow.

The smaller printable was in the center of the table with pictures of our boy around it.

My daughter helped me make these fabulous cupcakes, (recipe here)

image source OurBestBites.com

Which we proudly displayed on a cupcake stand with one of the small printables I made on top.

My boy loved it.

I loved it.

and guess who didn't get a single picture!

Yep, too busy with everything else and forgot the pictures.

That's okay.

This way you can imagine it as amazing and colorful as you want and I'll just say, "you bet, that's exactly what it looked like!"

Easy, Easy, Easy, Fabric Headband Pattern and Tutorial

There's a story to how this pattern came to be.
I have two friends, Natalie and Jodi, who live next to each other. One evening Natalie and Jodi were out and the husbands were holding down the forts. Natalie's 3 year old daughter and Jodi's 4 year old daughter were playing together and decided to cut each other's hair. It was not just a little snip here and there but each had huge chunks of hair cut almost to the scalp.
Both moms were devastated.
That night Natalie sat down, designed and sewed these headbands in all kinds of colors to help hide the scalp and chunky layers of her little girl.
But they turned out so-so-SO cute that Natalie started wearing them too. And she got lots of people asking her where she got her headbands.
She was nice enough to share her pattern and teach the ladies at church too so they could make their own headbands.
She also gave me permission to write a tutorial on this blog.
So thank you so much Natalie, crafter, chef, mother, hairstylist, friend extraordinaire for sharing!

In the tutorial I will show you two options for embellishing your headband.
Option #1 has a gathered rosette and Option #2 has gathered/pleated coordinating fabric on top.
Both headbands have frayed edges.
Natalie came up with the rosette and I came up with the gather/pleats.

Supplies
3 coordinating fabrics at least 36 inches x 4 inches (I bought 1/4 yard each of three fabrics and have easily been able to make 6 headbands).
straight pins
fabric scissors
thread
sewing machine
Pattern Here

Option 1 rosette embelished
Method
Print and cut-out pattern.
Pattern piece #1 you will need to overlap at the line and tape together. Your finished pattern piece should measure about 17 inches long.

Lay pattern piece #1 on fabric 1 with the edge indicated on the fold.
Pin and cut out fabric. When cut you should have a strip of fabric approximately 34 inches long.

Pattern Piece #2 - lay it on fabric 2 with the edge indicated on the fold. Cut out fabric.

Cut one of the circle pattern for the flower on fabric 3.

Find the center of each strip of fabric by folding in half and marking with a pin.

Match centers and layer fabric piece 2 on top of fabric piece 1 you will have a little over 1/4 inch of fabric 1 showing on each side of the top fabric.

Pin the pieces together.
Sew around piece 2 about 1/4 inch in from the raw edge all of the way around. This will attach the two pieces together.

This is what it will look like when you're done.

Do the same all the way around piece 1.

We will be leaving the edges raw and so this edge stitching will keep the fabric from unraveling completely.
I love the look of the frayed edge! I think it adds so much charm and character.

Now we get to embellish the headband with a whimsical rosette.
Just to one side of center lay your circle of fabric on the headband. (I have the center marked with a pin in this photo).

Start tucking and bunching the circle in toward the center to make a rosette.
Pin in place.
I try to keep the outline of the circle as I bunch the fabric.

Starting on the outside edge sew around the circle and spiral in toward the center as you sew.
Be careful not to sew any of the pins and feel free to fold and tuck fabric under the presser foot as you sew.
This really is a whimsical rosette so don't try to make it perfect.

This is what the back looks like after you're done.
See, not perfect at all, but full of character.

Option 2 gathered embellished:

 For option 2 cut out pattern piece 1 the same as option 1

When you cut out pattern piece 2 place the edge of the pattern that says "cut on fold" 9 inches from the fold.

To make this piece just a little easier to cut out
Grab the folded edge that is 9 inches away from the edge of the pattern and fold it in toward the patern.
The fold farthest away from the pattern will now be 4 1/2 inches from the pattern.

Next pin the fabric and pattern and cut out the pattern piece.
I eyeball it and cut from one folded side straight down the pattern piece and then down the other side.
Does that make sense?

Find and mark the center of piece 2.

This is what piece 2 should look like.

With the pattern piece still on top of the cut fabric lay out piece 1 with piece 2 on top. The edge of the pattern that says "cut on fold should be at the center point of piece one.
Smooth out the fabric and pin the fabric that is the farthest from the center point to the bottom fabric.
Pin the center point of both fabrics together.
And then using the pattern piece as a guide do the same for the other end of piece 2.

After you've pinned all three points your headband should look like this.
You should have a lot of extra fabric.
This is where you can get creative. You can fold in uniform tucks or gathers or you can just fold the fabric which ever way you want and let it look a little crazy. Either way it will be really cute.

Let's pause here for a look at what was sharing my craft table space with me.

It looks a little like Disney/Pixar Up meets G.I. Joe.

Moving on.

I decided to go for the hap-hazard pleated look.
Pin and then sew 1/4 from the edge of the top fabric all the way around.

It should look something like this when you're done.
Sew 1/4 in all the way around the outside edge of your headband and you're done!

I love these headbands because they're so comfortable and easy to adjust.
Simply tie to the size you need.

In fact....don't tell my extended family....but I'm making a bunch of these to use at our family Christmas Party White Elephant gift exchange and at another party where everyone is given play money and we have an auction with it for the white elephant gifts ( always so much fun!)
Oh, and Natalie says she's made a bunch for her 8 year old daughter to give to friends for Christmas. Brilliant!

Let me know if you have any questions!
Good luck and Enjoy!

I painted a basket

First of all let me apologize for the lack of posting the past few days.

Saturday was a really big day for my 8 year old and we celebrated big time.

We hosted a dinner for 45 at-our-house!

and it went off without a hitch!

After it was done my 8 and 11 year olds said, "Finally we don't have to be so worried about keeping our rooms spotless." 

You and me both guys!

On to painting a basket!

In my living room I keep a basket next to the piano to hold my children's sheet music and books. I want their music to be easy to grab when they get the urge to practice (are tired of me nagging them) and I don't want it all on the piano and our bench just isn't a great place to keep the music so I keep a basket.

As I've been rearranging and decorating this room the old basket just wasn't working in the space and it had gotten stepped on or something so it wasn't looking too hot.

I decided I needed a new more streamlined basket.

Lucky me! I found this one at the thrift store for $2.

(and just so you know our weather has been supper cloudy and dark and rainy the past few days so the lighting on these pics are B-A-D!)

Yes it's a little quirky, and has kind of a south American theme which I like, but it didn't go with my vision for the room but it was the perfect size and I liked the shape.

So I decided I could work with it.

I looked on the Internet to see if it was possible to spray paint baskets and discovered...

...why yes it is.

In fact here's a link to some very short instructions by Rust-oleum. 

I cleaned my basket thoroughly and let it dry and then I sprayed it with a 2 in 1 spray paint primer in grey.

I worked in phases.

Inside

outside right

outside left

bottom

and let each one dry 20 minutes in between.

It just made it easier to handle.

Then I let the whole thing dry for 2 hours.

Finally I watered down some white acrylic paint to make a white wash and painted it on with a sponge brush and wiped off most of it with a paper towel.

Leaving the white in the cracks.

After the white wash was dry...I mean really dry....not the I'm anxious to move on and get this done dry but the wait 24 hours dry I top coated with clear spray paint.

I really like how it turned out and I wish the lighting were better so you could see really what a big change it was.

Maybe when the weather gets a little better I can get a good picture of how it looks next to my piano.

It fits perfectly and I love the texture and uniqueness it brings to the room.

It probably won't get noticed much but I know it's there and it makes me happy.

Today I made

Really if you're going to make jam, freezer jam is the easiest and quickest way to go!
Today's flavor of choice was Raspberry-Peach.
My mouth is watering just writing that.
The raspberries came from our patch (having the summer heat extend into October has meant we've gotten bonus berries! Yipeee!) and the peaches from a local fruit stand. (Utah peaches are the best!)

I love sure-jell as far as pectin goes. I'm not paid by them but I'm certainly endorsing them.
Their instructions are clear and easy.

• Cut up and mash fruit.
• Measure fruit
• Measure sugar
• Combine fruit and sugar
• Let set 10 min.
• Combine water and pectin
• Let boil 1 min.
• Combine pectin and fruit
• Stir 3 minutes
• Pour into plastic containers
• Close 'em-up.
• 30 minutes at the most! You're done! Ta-Da!

Okay so they're a little more detailed than mine but you get the idea.

My tip is to follow the instruction precisely. When it says to stir the pectin into the fruit and sugar for 3 minutes really stir it for the 3 minutes.
At about 1:30 you will think, "Well, that looks like it's stirred in there. I think it's good. I'm going to stop."
Don't.....just keep stirring, just keep stirring, what do we do? we stir and stir......Do you get what I'm saying. Don't scrimp on the stirring of the pectin into the fruit.
Why?
Because if you don't the sugar may crystallize and then you have crunchy freezer jam and who wants that? I don't.

And just so you know....freezer jam makes a great last minute gift! Who doesn't like home made jam? and freezer jam tastes so fresh and yummy.

Good luck! Let me know if you try it!

When We Travel We Listen

We don't own a portable dvd player.

Part of traveling is seeing the country you're traveling through and hopefully/possibly absorbing it all.

So, instead of watching movies we listen to books on CD.

We've listened to the Series of Unfortunate Events, Charlotte's Web, Magic Tree house, Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter and various Lewis L'Amour  stories, to name a few.

On one of our road trips this summer we tried out a book middle son had been wanting to read.

It's called 100 Cupboards.

It's about a boy who is sent to live with his Aunt and Uncle in Kansas. He wakes up one morning to discover 99 cupboards on the wall in his bedroom. Eventually he discovers that each of these cupboards is a little window into another world....

We loved it. We enjoyed the author's imagery and we thought it had just enough action. In fact we enjoyed it so much that when we got home we looked it up online and discovered that it is in fact the first book in a trilogy and all three books have already been published!  (Score! That's the best time to start a trilogy - after they've all been published so you don't have to wait for the next one to come out). 

Anyway, we are now the proud owners of all three books. Well, my husband  is, he got them for Father's day. He was truly happy about it too. The hard part for me was waiting for him to finish the second book so I could read it. They were, after all, his books. But he was kind enough to not mind that I read the second book, well, and the third book at the same time as him. And, ummm, I may have ended up finishing them before him.

But the point is we've read them all. I have to say that the third book, Chestnut King, was my favorite.

And just so you know, the second and third books were too intense for our 7 year old so we didn't read them to him. He just has to vivid of an imagination, and I like my sleep and I knew if we read them to him we'd have more than a few sleepless nights.

So there you have it. My little travel recommendation and book review. 

Enjoy!