Sunflower table runner Finished and shipped.

 Well I finished the latest sunflower table runner.  I really like it.

 Again I was trying to be more creative with the backs of these.

 Something fun that I was doing was that I used one top color on the sunflower squares and then I used a yellow on the rest of the runner.  It made for a really cute table runner.

I did leaves on the binding in the rust colored thread.  All in all I think it is very cute.  My mother in law bought these before they were even finished.

Cars 2!!

 My daughter's favorite movie is Cars.  She loves to watch that movie.  She has two car's t-shirts and absolutely loves Mater.  She has a Lightning McQueen car that she plays with.

Saturday night after my husband got off work we took the girls to see the new "Car's 2" movie.  Yana was quiet the entire movie...she even fell asleep.  She isn't really into movies yet and we did go to the 7pm movie.  Sarah was wide awake eating her bag of popcorn the entire movie. 

We all loved it.  My husband and I also both loved it.  It was very cute.  I struggle watching a lot of sequel movies because they don't ever seem to be as good as the first but this one was just as good.  I can definitely see us buying it when it comes out.

If you have children who like "Cars" this is a good movie to take them to.  I hope that you all like it too.

Some finished projects.

Well this weekend I got quite a bit done.  I'm not all caught up yet but getting much closer.  I finished a birthday present but still need to get another one done.  I have finished 2 table runners and have 1 left.  I wanted to share my pictures of my 4th of July runners that I have finished.

 This is a table runner that I made with some really fun material.

 Here is an up close picture.

 I have been trying to be more creative with the back sides of my runners.  So I took the blue and the red and did this one that way.

 If you look closely you can see the pattern I chose.

 This is the second runner I made.  I wanted it to kind of look like a flag so on the one end there is flags on it.  It was also a lot of fun to make.

 I was trying to made the back of this really creative.

I finished them and have a sunflower runner to bind.  That is what I will finish today.  I just have to sew on the binding and it is done.  I'll share pictures of it tomorrow.

An awesome night on the lake

We have a lot of wonderful friends here in Oklahoma and last night two of our friends took us out on the lake in their boat.  It was so much fun.  We had dinner on the boat while waiting for the wind to calm down.  It was a wonderful salad.  I am going to have to get that recipe.  We were still talking about that salad this morning.  They had given us a quick tour of some of the stuff around the lake which was cool.  There is Will Rogers birthplace and we could see it from the water.

After we ate I got a life jacket on and hopped in the water.  I was given two skis and away we went.  It was awesome.  I almost forgot how much fun it was to ski.  I didn't drop one.  I figured that the first time out I would be better off on two skis besides the water was still a little rough.  Josh keyboarded and then Josh pulled our friend so he could ski.

I then skied as far as I could on the way back to the loading dock.  It was so fun to visit with good friends and have fun on the lake. 

I am so grateful to have such good friends.

Cleaning up a mess.

Today is Friday as you all know.  I have spent all morning long cleaning and organizing and I am no where near being done.  I have vacuumed, done the dishes and the laundry.  I have had the pest control over to spray for those pesky spiders and roaches.  I have gone through my daughter's baby blankets and decided that we have WAY to many of them.

There is one room I have yet to start on.  The Sewing Room.  It is such a mess.  I have so many projects just piling up in there.  It has been a busy couple of weeks and I haven't had as much time to sew as I would like.  I finally got back in there yesterday and got some more swing done.  I have two more skirts to sew for the youth conference here and I need to get them done by tomorrow morning or tonight so I can drop them off to be sized tomorrow.  I have hats to make, table runners to sew and presents to finish.  I have scrapbook stuff everywhere and stuff that I was going to donate to Joplin before we were asked to send only food and water.  I have toys that need patched and Christmas presents picked out that need started.

My husband will also have to work the next couple of weekends as well as work late at night.  I use the nights to spend time with my husband but in order to get caught up on everything I think I will have to barricade myself into my sewing room as soon as the girls go to sleep and just sew.

I will not be taking on any more projects for a while.  I have 7 that need to be finished and 5 mailed by Monday in order to make it on time. 

What a mess....it should be fun to clean.  I'd take a picture and share it with you but I'm too embarrassed at how it looks to actually share it with you.  Use your imagination and I'm sure you'll be close.

Wednesday Recipe - Easy Tortellini Toss +

I am sending out a request.  I need some new recipes to try but also to share with all my readers.  If you have a recipe that you would like to share please let me know.  I didn't try a new recipe this week.  I made zucchini bread though and it was yummy.  The recipe I am sharing today I actually got from a friend here in Oklahoma. 

Easy Tortellini Toss

3 Tbsp butter

3 Tbsp flour

1 garlic clove pressed

1 C 2% milk

5 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated

1 8oz slice deli ham 1/2 inch thick chopped into smallish cubes

1/2 tsp pepper

1 bag (16 oz) frozen cheese filled tortellini

1 Can (14.5 oz) chicken broth

1 bag (6 oz) baby spinach leaves

In a small sauce pan you melt the butter and then add the flour.

Once mixed slowly add the milk while whisking. (I have used 1% and 2% milk)

Add garlic, pepper and shredded cheese.

In bigger pot bring chicken broth to a boil.

Add spinach, ham and frozen tortellini.

Cook for 3-5 minutes and then add the cheese mixture.

Cook over medium heat until thickened.

Pour into a cake pan and cook another 5-10 minutes at 350.

I have altered the original recipe slightly.  I have tried with both 1% and 2 % milk and it tasted great.  Originally you would put half the cheese in the mix and then sprinkle the other half over top before cooking in the oven.  I also struggle to get it to thicken on the stove without cooking it for what seems like forever so I cook for about 10 minutes on the stove and then about another 10 minutes in the stove and then it is a little thicker for me.  It might cook differently at different altitudes.  If you try it and find new ways please share.  We really like this recipe.  The leftovers taste good too.

Sleep and losing weight

I know that there has been a lot of study out there about the affect sleep can have on our weight.  I know personally that if I don't get good sleep then I don't seem to lose very much if anything at all.  I thought I would share my own experience with this.

I am doing a Biggest Loser challenge with my family and I'm struggling a little to stay on track on the weekends.  So I'll do great during the week and lose a little bit of weight each day and then on the weekend I tend to gain it all back.  

Here is what I do.  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday I run in the mornings.  I have to get up during the week by 5:30 in order to do this.  Tuesday's and Friday's I have set as my biking days.  I also do this in the morning so long as it isn't storming outside. :)

I try to go to bed no later than 10.  I'm not getting a full 8 hours of sleep though.  So last night I was bound and determined to be in bed and sleeping by 10.  I said good night to my husband and went to bed.  My alarm was set and I was going to get up and ride my bike for 20-30 minutes but around 11 pm I was woken up by a lightning storm.  I was up for a few minutes and then went back to bed listening to the rain just pouring down.  I didn't turn the alarm off but didn't have hopes of going for a bike ride.

My alarm went off and I just turned it off.  After that storm I didn't even check outside to see if it was dry enough to ride.  I was also really tired.  I'm still trying to get caught up after last weekend.  I slept until 8:24.  So I got roughly 10 hours of sleep which doesn't happen hardly ever but I was down 2 pounds.  Usually I only lose a few ounces with my 7 hours of sleep.

I noticed this the last time I was losing weight.  When I went to bed early enough to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep I lost more weight faster.

Our bodies just need the sleep.  So if you are trying to lose weight and struggling with it check out your sleeping patterns.  If you aren't getting very much sleep than maybe you need to get a couple more hours.  What will it hurt to try it for a week.  You might see a huge difference in how much weight you lose.

Severe Thunderstorm Alert!!!

Ok so I am from Idaho.  Born and raised.  I lived there for the first 21 years of my life and have since been basically around the world.  Now I live in Oklahoma with my husband and two beautiful daughters.  The weather here is nothing like what I grew up with.  For instance...there is a tornado season!  That should say it all.

Everyone said that May was the worst month in the spring and then it got bad again in the fall for about a month.  So May came and went with only a couple really good scares and here we are almost at the end of June.  We have had 2 tornado warnings this week.  Last night we were getting warnings of SEVERE THUNDERSTORM'S coming our way.  10 o'clock came and I went to bed and it was still fairly quite outside.  So thought it would be ok.  I didn't move my tomato plant to safety figuring it would be ok.  So my husband came to bed a little while later.  I was in and out of sleep while he was talking to me and then I was out again.  I woke up like 10 minutes or so later and he was gone, as was his pillow and it was like fireworks going off outside.  The lightning storm was right over top of us.  It was raining so hard. 

Ok so those of you who know me...I tend to kill plants...and I have managed to keep my tomatoes alive for a few months now...so my first thought was "this better not hurt my tomatoes".  My husband just laughs at me. 

The other thing that we do that is fairly odd I suppose is.... you know how they say to move away from the windows ....ya well we go straight for the windows.  That is the best seat in the house.

Needless to say my planter with the carrots and onions was tipped over and so was the BBQ er but my tomato plant....was the only thing upright when all was said and done. 

I loved lightning storms in Idaho but here they are a little nerve wracking because they could be accompanied by a tornado.

The worst of the storm passed and we went back to bed.

What did I get myself into?

As you know my family is doing a Biggest Loser contest for our family.  It started June 1st and ends August 1st.  We are all looking for new ways to exercise and to lose weight.  I consider myself a runner and am trying to train for a half marathon later this year.  I run 4 times a week.

My sister in law has hurt her shins and can not run for a while but she does like to ride bikes.  So I had this crazy idea.  At the end of July she will be graduating with her Associates degree and the whole family will be coming to see her graduate.  She lives in Idaho.  Our grandfather lives in Island Park and we love to go there.  So my crazy idea....to ride bikes from the cabin to West Yellowstone.  It is about 32 miles away.  The road is in the mountains so there will be ups and downs and traffic.  Thankfully most of the road is 4 lanes so cars can go around us.

Right now I can ride a 6 minute mile pretty steady.  I can ride a 4 minute mile but I don't know how steady.  So we are going to train.  I will now be riding a bike probably 3-4 times a week in preparation and the closer it gets probably more often.  I have a month or so to train.  I have no idea how to train for such an event other than to ride a bike and get my rear end used to sitting.

Any suggestions for those of you who bike a lot?  I could use all the advice I can get.

A good weekend.

Last week was quite the week.  I didn't realize it would take so long to get back on track.  I think I'm back on track now.  My husband didn't have to go into work Friday so we had a good day.  We went swimming at the pool and took our 6 month old.  She loves the tub and she seemed to really like the swimming pool.  Sarah had a blast.

Then Friday evening we went to a friends house for a BBQ which was delicious.  After dinner our girls ran through the sprinkler.

Saturday started with a jog and then we went a looked at a boat.  We would like to buy one but aren't in a hurry.  It wasn't the one for us.  When we got home I sewed.  I actually got a lot done.  I have 3 table runners sandwiched and the top of the 4th one ready to sandwich.  The three that are sandwiched are already sold.

Sunday after church I sewed some more and got 2 table runners ready for binding and the third is almost ready for binding.

We did some video chats with family and called all the men and wished them a Happy Father's day.  It was all in all a very good weekend.

This week is looking pretty busy just because I have so many projects I have to get done this week.

I also think that Yana is teething.  We shall see.  I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend and have a wonderful week planned out.

Getting back into the swing of things....

I apologize for not blogging more this week.  Last week I was away at camp and it seems to be taking me longer to get back into the swing of things than I thought it would. 

Tuesday we went to the Library and got some new books to read here at the house.  We are one library visit and two books short of achieving all the requirements for the prizes for the summer reading program. 

Wednesday I had intentions of sharing a recipe with you but didn't get it done.  As far as the Biggest Loser family weigh in.  I had to lose the 2 pounds that I gained at camp and then I lost an additional .2 pounds.  So in two weeks I had lost 2.2 pounds.  Not bad but I want to lose more than that.  So my goal is to lose 2 pounds a week.  I know I can do this because that is what I did before when I was losing weight after having my daughter Sarah.  I also would like to try and lose an additional pound a week.  I have about 6 weeks left so that means if I can lose 3 pounds a week then I will lose a total of 18 pounds more than I have already lost.  That would be 20.2 pounds.  I would love that.  I would only have about another 20 to go to get my goal weight.

Thursday...today....well we cleaned a lot this morning.  We did laundry, we vacuumed, we organized, we cleaned out the fridge, took out the trash, exercised and other such things.  It has been a good day.  I am hoping that I can go for a jog this evening since I wasn't able to this morning.

Well I need to spend some time in my sewing room.  I have a bunch of projects to get done and my youngest is taking her nap.  Talk to ya'll later.  Thanks for your patience.

Girls Camp was AWESOME!!!!

Last week I closed up my shop and stopped texting in order to go to the Young Women's (YW) girl's camp.  It ran from Monday to Friday.  This has been planned all year long.  It was a Stake girl's camp.  It was the Tulsa Oklahoma East Stake.  I was partnered up with the YW's president from our ward.  First we were in charge of making sure all of our own girls made it to camp as well as their totes.  So I picked up the YW President's trailer and we loaded all the totes onto it.  She had to be to camp with the 4th year girls by 9 in the morning.  I had to be there with the Young Women Leaders (YCL's) from my ward. 

Once at camp we were in charge of half of the third year girls from our stake.  There were 10 cabins built back in the 30's.  They are pretty plain.  There are 3 bunk beds on each side of the cabin so it will fit 12 girls on beds.  Lucky us we had 12 girls and then us.  So we slept on the floor.  We took air mattresses.

 The sign says Welcome Castaways.  Our cabin was the S.S. Minnow from "Gilligan's Island"  Our theme song.....was the theme song from "Gilligan's Island"
This year at camp the theme was "The Gospel is My Anchor" so each cabin had a name and a theme song.

We decorated our cabin Monday so it would be done and welcoming for the girls who would be arriving on Tuesday morning.  Later Monday evening we (leaders) went on the hike that we would be taking our girls on on Wednesday.  We needed to know where it started and where it should stop as well as what we could talk about.  It was cool.  I had seen one Tic in my entire life until Monday.  There were so many Tics.  Luckily they didn't seem to like me.

Tuesday the girls got there in the morning and we welcomed them to our cabin and helped them get settled in.  Then the busy schedule began.  Every day we had a Workshop, a Craft, and Certification.  They each lasted an hour.  Wednesday morning we went for a hike in the morning while it was still cool outside.

 There were quite a few of us.  It was very pretty.  It isn't a hard hike.  It is supposed to be about 1.5 miles but it doesn't seem like it is even a mile so who knows.

 Half way through the hike there is "Lookout Point"  It is pretty cool.  These pictures are the view from that point.

 These two pictures are of the creek below our cabin a short distance.  There a couple really small waterfalls.  It is so pretty down there.  We ended up going back down on Thursday with grocery sacks to pick up the garbage that had been left there by other people.  It is amazing how much garbage was down there.  We found diapers and bottles and cigarettes.  It was much prettier when we got done.

It was a good week.  Wednesday after the hike the girls were allowed to swim at the pool and then again on Thursday they could go swimming.

Throughout the week we saw raccoons and armadillos. We played games, walked a lot, and had lots of fun.  We learned so much.  I missed going to girl's camp.  I am so glad that I could go.  I would love to go again next year.

I hope that you all had a good week.  Thanks for checking back throughout the week.  I'll let you know how things go with me getting into the swing of things.

What a day.

Today has been....well an interesting day.  My husband spent the day in Joplin, MS helping clean up trees that landed where they weren't supposed to.  He said that they were 4 feet in diameter and were pulled right out of the ground and dropped in other peoples yards and homes.  He is exhausted.

We had a good day here.  We went to the park with our friends and had a good time.  Then later we got together with our friends again and made cards.  It was such a good idea and my daughter had her first experience with scissors.  It was kind of funny.  She didn't quite get it that she was to keep cutting through the paper.  She was just taking a cut and moving the scissors and making another cut.  Basically she was making confetti.  Then again later my daughter went and stayed with those friends so I could get my jog in for the day. 

I have such a wonderful friend.  I'm so glad that we ended up in the same place for a while.  We met them in Idaho while we were going to school in Rexburg.  Then they went back home to Vermont and we moved here after my husband graduated.   So cool that we ended up in the same area for a while.  They have three little girls and my daughters just love them.

It has been an overall good day.  Just interesting.  I am going to go start gathering my camp stuff.  I am so excited for girls camp.  I will not be posting next week.  I don't know yet if I will be posting Saturday...we will see how tired I am and what my family is doing.  It will definitely be different not seeing my husband and girls everyday.  My mother in law is so wonderful to come take care of them so I could go to camp.

FRIDAY!!!!

Normally I would be ecstatic that it is Friday.  In fact I have spent most of the day in my pajamas with my children.  I did lunges around the house while doing the laundry and I have painted my daughter's finger and toe nails blue.  However, today is different than most Fridays.  Tonight when my husband gets home he will eat and immediately leave again for Joplin, MS.  They are going to help with clean up.

So we are going to have a girls night.  I don't know yet what we are going to do but we will do something fun.  I hope that everyone has had a good Friday.  I will blog again tomorrow and then you wont hear from me for a week because I will be going to Girl's Camp for a week.

Have a good weekend and a good week next week.

Holy Cow it is already Thursday

Man this week is flying so fast.  Granted it didn't really start until Tuesday.  Yesterday was a good day.  We got lots done...none of it sewing.  We went to Walmart to get our groceries and then in the afternoon my friend watched my kids so I could get a jog in for the day.

Later in the evening I went to Mutual and had a great time.  Last night was basically dedicated to the graduating laurels.  A while ago I made some purses for them. 

This isn't the greatest picture I know but it was the only one I had.  We filled these bags with odds and ends.  Things like:  Measuring cup, towel, cute pens, journals, recipe cards, cake and cookie mixes and so forth. 

We presented them with the bags and a journal/scrapbook page and then we asked them for their advice to the younger girls.  They each gave wonderful advice. 
Things like :not waiting til their senior years to get their Personal Progress done.
Be best friends with your mom.
Be kind to your parents and listen to them.
Don't lie to your parents....they always find out the truth.
Be yourself
Find yourself now instead of waiting til later.
Work hard and don't give up.

There was lots of advice given and I didn't write it all down.  It was awesome.  Then we watched an awesome short video that one of our leaders put together.  It was really good.  Then they swam in the pool.

It was so nice to spend time with our youth and see them have fun together no matter their age.

While I was at the young women meeting my husband took our oldest daughter to the pool.  They had a blast.  Sarah loves to swim.  She is our little fishy.

The Biggest Loser

Let the Biggest Loser Begin....

My husband's family is doing a Biggest Loser challenge.  We are putting so much money in per person to participate.  We start today and it will go through August 1st.  There will be a weekly weigh-in every Wednesday.  The person who loses the most weight wins the money.

There will be weakly challenges.  This weeks challenge is to drink 64 ounces of water every day of the week.  For me that isn't much of a challenge because I try for 12 glasses instead of 8 but I know for my husband it is.  It will be good for him to get more water in his system.  There will be different challenges that will challenge some but may not challenge all.  All will be there to help us.

We are going to help each other by sharing recipes, exercises that we like and so forth.

It should be a lot of fun.

I will keep you all posted as we go.

Wednesday's Recipe - Chocolate Chip cookie pizzas.

I was in a hurry the other day and wanted to make some cookies but didn't want to have to bake so many batches.  I was looking through one of my recipe books and found this recipe for the Chocolate Chip Cookie pizzas.  It turned out really yummy.

Chocolate Chip Cookie - Pizzas

1/2 C Shortening

1/2 C Butter, softened

1 C Packed brown sugar

1/2 C granulated sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 C flour

Chocolate chips

Walnuts

You mix everything except the chocolate chips and walnuts.  If you have a pizza pan then that is what you use.

You place half the batter on the pizzas pan.

Spread out thin.

Then spread half the chocolate chips and walnuts on top and press lightly into batter.

Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.  Repeat with the other half of the dough.

K are you ready for what I did.

I didn't use shortening and I only used the 1/2 C butter.  I'm finding that most cookie recipes don't need all the butter.

I don't have a pizza pan so I used my small cookie sheet.

I didn't split it in half.  I put the whole thing on the sheet and spread it out and pushed the chips and walnuts in.

I've done this twice.  The first time like above and the second one I used 3/4 C brown sugar and 3/4 sugar. 

They both tasted good but the second one was a little sweeter.