life is good...

So, I have to say that I am a huge fan of Instagram! There are times that I do love using my big DSLR. But my hands are usually full of blankets, baby, bags, iphone, sunglasses, sippy cups, keys {don't forget the keys} and more... So being able to snap pictures with my iphone is FABULOUS! Here is a peak at what we have been up to lately...{follow us on instagram! my user name is errsuz)

lots of running... I am signed up for the Wasatch Back Ragnar in June...yikes...

made this recipe the other day...its roasted cauliflower cheddar soup...so good, but I feel like next time I will add more kick. Maybe more garlic or cheddar.

we recently went on a really fun field trip with our homeschool co-op. it included a tour of the bakery and the kids got to make their own cookies and have lunch. 

i learned how to make marbled paper...we did this activity for mutual night with the youth at church. 

this is basically the technique we used...we used watered down craft paint, card stock and squeegees.

started a new knitting project with mustard yarn from this cute shop {will post pictures when it is finished}... if you are ever in Utah, you have to visit this cute little shopping center...it's called Historic Gardner Village in South Jordan.

stocked up my baby shower stash... I love to give these simple handmade burp clothes and receiving blankets... the how-to is here.

I reading diligently through my pile of books, but somehow new ones keep getting added:) My aunt wrote a book called Parenting with Spiritual Power...this one just got cutsies to the front of the line! So far it is chock full of parenting insight!

my new favorite lunch...quinoa, avocado, a little tomato and cilantro. really, quinoa with anything is wonderful!

IFA got baby chicks! we went to visit them!

a recent girls night consisted of wreath making...doesn't it always?! burlap wreath tutorial here.

life is good, wonderful, blessed, busy, stressful at times, but mostly happy. happy is always there when we look;) have a great weekend!

chenille burp cloths and stuff...

this is what my dining room table looks like right now. 

i don't have a "craft" room, so i keep all my crafting supplies in a huge closet, and when i feel like making something, I haul it all out. it's super fun;)

so since it takes some effort to get everything out and then put it away, i usually make a LOT of stuff.

 i usually have a running list going of all the projects i want to make, and when i get the inkling i start cranking them out:) 

so today... i made a few chenille burp cloths from home made happy!

they were pretty easy...

here's how to make them:

*Cut a generous rectangle of cotton quilting or flannel fabric.  About 20" x 15".

*Cut the same size from a patterned chenille.

*Then, pin them right sides together, and sew around the edges, leaving a 4-inch space for turning.

*Turn right side out, iron, and edgestitch.  

love them!! can't wait to wash them in dreft and put them to use! they will be so soft and smell so yummy:)

and who doesn't love a homemade gift?! they are the best!

also... we've had some sickies, poor babies. lots of sleeping going on...

which has given me more time to work on stuff, its sad, but productive:)

made these while i was sewing. they are from skinny taste.

Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Scones

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup cold buttermilk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup all purpose flour (Bob's Red Mill)
• 1 cup white whole wheat flour (Bob's Red Mill)
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp chilled butter (must be cold) cut into small pieces
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• cooking spray
• 1 large egg white, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 tbsp sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°. Combine the first four ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine flour, baking powder, salt, in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cut in chilled butter with a pastry blender, or you could use 2 knives, until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Gently fold in chocolate chips. Add milk mixture, stirring just until moist.
Place dough onto a floured surface and knead lightly four times with floured hands.Form dough into an 9-inch circle onto baking sheet, about 3/4" thick. Using a knife,cut dough into 12 wedges all the way through.

Brush egg white over dough and sprinkle evenly with sugar. Bake until golden, about 18-20 minutes, depending on your oven. Serve warm.

YUM!

keep checking back... more projects to come!

hex nut friendship bracelet tutorial

so... tonight is mutual for the young women in my ward, some activities had been switched around last minute and we didn't have anything planned!! so i needed to come up with a beehives class activity fast! i saw these hex nut bracelets on pinterest, and spent a few hours working them to perfection (at least i got to watch castle in the process;) so tonight we will be making these awesome friendship bracelets. each girl will get to make one for herself, and someone else:) after all, we are commanded to love one another:)

                         

you will need:

3 strands of twine or leather, each 1 yard 

18 small hex nuts {they come in silver or gold, recommend sizes 8-24 or 6-24, from home depot}

safety pin

scissors

measuring tape

{STEP 1}

line up all the ends of the 3 strands of twine or leather and tie a knot approximately 4 inches down

{STEP 2}

take your safety pin, push it through the knot and pin it onto something {couch, pant leg, whatever} this gives you some stability, and makes it easier and faster to braid.

{STEP 3}

start braiding:) stop after approximately 15 inches

{STEP 4}

slide on your first hex nut onto one strand, then cross the string over {as if still braiding}

then slide on the next hex nut and so forth until all 18 hex nuts are braided in. 

here they are all braided on

{STEP 5}

you will continue to braid as before until you have about 4 inches of your twine or leather left.

                         

{STEP 6}

tie another knot. you can clip the ends to make them even if you wish but make sure you leave enough of the strand to tie the bracelet.

                         

and... YOU'RE DONE!!:) this is a wrap bracelet, one size fits all. so wrap 2 or 3 times and tie:)

monogram mini tote tutorial

so going to church usually consisted of me carrying a bag with MY books and young womens stuff, a diaper bag, and my KID'S bag with snacks, coloring books, toys etc. so i decided to make new sunday/ church/quiet/busy bags for my kids, whatever you call them. this is what i came up with...
they are great! they carry all their necessities, and are small enough that they can carry them THEMSELVES! plus they are cute:) they could also double as a travel bag for those long trips in the car!

you will need:

blank tote bag {plain canvas 4-pack from hobby lobby, 11"x 8.5" x 3", $4.47 after 40% off coupon!}

letter stencil   {you can make your own, but i found these from happy together}

water soluble pen

fabric  {let your kids choose to make it more personal, this is a great way to use up scraps!}

wonder-under

iron

sewing machine

{STEP 1}

cut out stencil

{STEP 2}

take fabric, and using stencil, trace the letter onto the RIGHT side of the fabric, but DON'T cut it out yet! leave excess around the edge of the letter.

                         

{STEP 3}

take wonder-under {found at any fabric store; walmart, hobby lobby; it's on a bolt usually} and cut out a same size piece as your fabric so they stack up perfectly.

*CAREFUL! the wonder-under adheres to your fabric to make it sturdier and help it stay in place as you stitch. you don't want any excess wonder-under sticking out around the edges of your fabric or when you go to iron them together it will adhere to your iron! 

                         

                         

{STEP 4}

iron the wonder-under ROUGH side together with the BACK of fabric. RIGHT side fabric with the traced letter should be facing YOU on the top:) *make sure to read directions specific to your wonder-under for how long to hold the iron on it and what heat settings to use.

                         

{STEP 5}

using scissors, cut out the letter

                         

                         

{STEP 6}

peel off back of wonder-under. it should be paper you are peeling off and the webbing like adhesive should stay on the back of the fabric. if the webbing is peeling off with the paper, try the iron again for a little longer.

                         

{STEP 7}

take your bag and carefully place the letter on the bag where you want it, and then iron the letter onto the bag.

      

                       

                        

{STEP 8}

using your sewing machine, stitch around your letter about 1/8" in from the edge. this gives it a clean finished look and adds to the durability. GO SLOW to ensure precision.

                        

                       

{STEP 9} 

STUFF it with whatever you want!!! 

some ideas:

coloring/activity books

colored pencils

crayons

pencils

sketch book, blank paper pad

snacks

gum

books

scriptures

stickers...

                       

                       

healthy snack option over fruit snacks, candy... dried fruit, whole wheat crackers, cheerios

                       

viola!!

                       

packed for fun...and quiet;)

                       

beautiful! enjoy!! make LOTS! i did! you could even make one for yourself;)