WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE SUMMERTIME WHEN ALL THE WORLD IS GREEN ...

Whenever I talk to my friend CiCi she asks me, "What are you looking forward to?" I've found making lists of things I am looking forward to can help me get through a rough patch (and honestly, the last 10 months have KICKED MY BUTTOCKS).

I saw this over at Eighteen25 earlier in the month and knew this crafty was a better way to display my summer plans, instead of a page in my planner ... haha!

("Planner" makes it sound like I PLAN stuff!)

I finally finished mine up. I didn't follow her craft exactly. For one thing, I DON'T HAVE A COSTCO (thanks for asking) to get fabulous prints but I had clearance paper from the WalMarche that matched the list topper so I just cut strips and glued them on. I wrote on the paper, not the glass.

And I'm planning on updating this in the "Fall" which comes around in January, with winter things to do, too.

So, that's a few of our summer plans (and yes, I even put on the stuff we've already done, as soon as I find my dry erase markers, I'll mark them off.

Because I do like to check things off. Me and Franklin Planners used to be REAL TIGHT.

Oh, and by way of warning, go to Eighteen25 at your own risk. They have TONS of cute stuff!

BIKE BASKET FOR THE LITTLES

This is Joseph's. Matthew's has an orange top and inside.

I saw this tutorial and thought - that is so for me! Little cost. Little time. Little boys. Perfect!

I made it, and this is what I think ...

It looks great on the outside but the inside? Bleck.

The problem is in the double sided heat fusible interfacing. I just cant get the corners and bottom of the fabric hot enough from my iron barely reaching to make it fuse. So the inside is all sloppy.

That said, it went together fast. It holds a water bottle, a water gun, and light saber so my boys are hooked up. Best of all - it cost $2. For the velcro.

I'VE SEEN THAT SMILE SOMEWHERE BEFORE

One year ago I stumbled across some amazing embroidery patterns from AllSorts. I knew instantly what I wanted to do!

I decided to make quilts for my daughters using these as the center of the blocks!

I finally got around to it. I had my girls pick their favorite twelve, out of eighteen patterns and I embroidered the girls from different countries on white cotton over the winter.

Last month when my mom came to visit she brought me some stuff from her basement. Among some treasured vintage sheets was this:

I started to laugh. I had COMPLETELY forgotten that 33 years ago I had done a similar project!

Here's another one:

I can't believe that I basically made the same quilt for myself! Looks like my mom had my great idea years ago! I remember working on these blocks and I think I even painted some in our white camp trailer with the orange stripe down the side.

Any ideas for Rachel's quilt?

Anyone recognize the song in my title?

TOLD YA I WAS KNOCKING THEM OUT

I made this table runner from my beloved and protected Hunky Dory by Chez Moi stash.

The only thing that would make it better is if I painted that table. Or stained. Or something. I am so over orange oak.

I not only LOVE the name Hunky Dory, as it turns out, the fabric like butta.

I asked Sari to take a picture of the runner and here's what she did. Always an artist's eye, that one.

AMY BUTLER BIRDIE SLINGS

I made four of these Amy Butler Birdie Sling bags for my graduating Laurels.

Then I realized I had THREE graduating Laurels.

I took Math 97 FIVE times in order to graduate from BYU.

Anyway, I did my own thing on the inside. Like a key loopy above the slide in pockets. (Large enough to hold an assortment of pens, because REALLY, I need at least 4 colors of pens to function.

On the other side I put a LARGE zipper pocket (because sometimes you have a secret) and a cell phone pocket.

Looking at these pictures, I realize I need to iron the bag.

More to come! I am knocking off projects at an astonishing rate.

AND ANOTHER ONE

Shenandoah Elementary is having a fund raiser and every class has to make a basket that they are auctioning off.

This apron is going to Matthew's teacher's LSU basket.

I hate hate HATE the pattern! It is made by the Apron Lady and I have to say, stay away from it! The pieces don't match, the instructions are not clear, and basically, I think it was a big waste of money.

APRON

I have been needing another apron like another whole in my head.

Also, I had a yard each of this fabric because I was going to make a nursing cover for my friend's daughter. (Sorry Allison and Jan) The baby is close to a year old so I decided to make an apron with it instead.

It's the Emmeline apron by Sew Liberated. And brace yourself, it is REVERSIBLE!

And this is the other side.

Yes, it's pretty much turquoise and red and pink, my three favorite colors for about 2 years now. Thank goodness the fabric is getting easier to find. (Which probably means I'll be changing my mind soon - haha!)

I just remembered that I made one for my sister from another Mister (Utah) about two years ago. You can see it here.

BACON POTATO SOUP

This is from my friend, Julie Grover, in Spokane. And this recipe has become my go-to meal for winter wonderfulness.

3 - 14 1/2 oz chicken broth
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 brick Cream Cheese cut up
Crumbled bacon (I use the kind that comes in a big bag from either Hormel or Kirkland (for you lucky ducks with a Costco) and it is already cooked and crumbled. I just add what looks good.
1/3 cup chopped onion (I use onion powdered because we don't like the way onions feel when you bite them but we like the taste.)
8 cps. potatoes, peeled and cubed (I fill my crockpot up - it nearly fits a 10 lb bag and I double everything else.)

Put it in the crockpot all day, on high. Stir it occasionally. It will look really bad - chunky yuck - that means it's not done, when it's all creamy, it is done.

We like it with my friend Elizabeth's Fast Rolls:

I just took the sticky note she wrote the directions on and stuck it on the cupboard next to my mixer. You don't want to know how many times a week we make these!

And I love that I see my dear friend's handwriting!

It reminds me of when we were missionaries and she put little quotes and inspirational thoughts up all over.

So cook some up - the way I make the dinner makes it SUPER THICK. If you like soupier soups, for sure only put in about 8 cups of potatoes.

Enjoy!

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

and I could use some comfort food.

Here's the recipe. (It comes from my dear friend Sue Wilson (private blog) who is kicking it up in Salem, Utah. If you are in Salt Lake City you can see her amazing 12 year old daughter Maddie sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Natalie Cole at Christmas time.)

Oh yeah, recipe.

4 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups oil or thin applesauce
6 eggs
1 large can pumpkin
1 pkg chocolate chips

Mix the dry. Add everything else. Bake at 350* for 18 minutes if you are making mini-muffins, 1 hour for a loaf pan, and 30 minutes for cupcake size muffins.

I totally recommend the mini-muffins.

They make the world a better place. Try them. You'll see!

PUMPKIN PANCAKES AND HOT APPLE CIDER SYRUP

I'm no Pioneer Woman, so excuse the lame pictures.

We have friends from Spokane named Joe and Amy Lee. This is her recipe. Her blog is private, otherwise, I'd send you there.

Nothing says (or smells) like Fall like these!

Pumpkin Puff Pancakes (which I make into waffles because we like waffles better than pancakes)

2 (8) eggs
1 (4) cup buttermilk
1/2 (2)cup cooked pumpkin (I use the Libby's can)
1 1/2 (6) cups Bisquick
1/4 (1) cup oil
pinch of salt
2 (8) TBSP sugar
1 (4) tsp soda
1/2 (2) tsp cinnamon
1/2 (2) tsp nutmeg
1/2 (2) tsp ginger

(I quadruple the recipe and leave the left overs in the frig to eat at will - like when the kids are in school and I can take my time enjoying the delight.) Beat the eggs until they are pale yellow and foamy. Stir in the remaining ingredients. (I leave it all in my kitchenaid and just add the ingredients.) Pour onto ungreased griddle. Flip. OR pour into waffle iron. Flip. Open. See:

MMMMMMMM... that steam smells delicious!

Serve with this syrup:

Apple Cider Syrup

2 TBSP cornstarch
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 cups apple CIDER (not juice - VERY IMPORTANT!)
2 TBSP lemon juice
1/4 cup butter, melted
sugar to sweeten

In saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir in lemon juice and mix the cornstarch good. Add apple CIDER. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in butter. Make about 2 1/2 cups syrup.

Now, here's my notes. Check your cider. Usually the cider in Spokane was sweet. Here it is not (or hasn't been) so I've had to add as much as a cup of sugar. I double this recipe.

You are welcome!

UTAH'S CHICKEN SALAD

As in Utah's. As in Kristina, my dear friend. Her blog is private, or I would refer you to it.

This is her salad. It is divine. Nothing says spring or summer to me like this salad, although it is delicious any time. It makes a HUGE bowl (like a Tupperware thatsabowl) and my family can eat in a day. In a meal. It's that good. I actually double the recipe to get a full day's use out of it.

I am posting it now for Amy, my oldest friend (not the same Amy as the one who makes the pumpkin pancakes). Ahhh, we had such good times back in the day....

UTAH'S CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
4 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups pineapple tidbits
1 - 2 cups salted cashew halves
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 bag Rotini noodles, cooked and cooled (we like the tricolored ones)
1 bag Bowtie noodles, cooked and cooled
3 cups green apples, cubed, skins on
1 bunch of red grapes, halved (I use a ton of grapes - so pretty and so tasty!
2 cans water chestnuts, drained

Mix it all together, except the cashews.

For the dressing: Mix 2 cups mayonnaise and 2 cups LIGHTHOUSE brand Coleslaw dressing (it won't be as good if it's not Lighthouse brand). Stir it into the schtuff in the bowl. Chill for several hours. Right before serving add the cashews.

SKIRTS!

My mom taught Rachel and Sari to sew. I have helped Rachel make pajama pants before and Sari has sewn little things, but my mom really taught them the good stuff. She even made their pattern!

I love my oldest!

Sari (is my) love!

The finished product. This is Rachel's half body shot.

This is Sari's finished skirt. The zebra stripes are SO SO SO Sari!

WE MAKE SWEATSHOP

Sew 45 dress. Back nex week.

MY FAVORITE BAG

Because my house is a wreck, the laundry out of control, I am behind on hula sewing, and the kids played behind the couch and knocked down my fabric bins (I can't push my couch back to the wall right now), I have bookclub at my house tonight, and I have to leave at 5 a.m. tomorrow morning for Baton Rouge (let's pause a moment to give props to Mom and Dad Sant who came up last minute like to stay with the kids), I decided to sew a tote for the trip:

This is hands down my FAVORITE tote of all time. I love love LOVE it! It is huge, but not too huge and it has four outside pockets. I added a zipper pocket to the inside, I so LOVE sewing inside zipper pockets! I also love the fabric - can you see the little birds on the background fabric? So cute!

SANT SWEATSHOP UP AND RUNNING

It's starting to be crunch time for hula sewing. No matter what I do or say, every year it is March before I have fabric and costume/pattern ideas cemented and I can get started. (The luau is the last Saturday in June.)

This year I have a lot of sewing to do. I have to make 9 (or 10 if "Uncle Gene" persuades Kuulei to count Molokini as an island) holokus to make. (Formal fitted mu'umu'us.) These are going into Kuulei's collection and are partial "payment" for my daughters taking hula. Kuueli is making her Luau this year a Lei Day celebration and so she will have a queen and princess representing each island (different colors) and one for the Queen in white. The king will need a large cape and the standard bearers will need smaller capes.

For the ladies who hire me to sew for them, I am making new awana (modern hula dances) dresses for them. We are roughly using this pattern:

If you look closely at the back you can see that it will be a bit tricky to add the sleeves that the ladies so desperately want. I think that I will be making 10 to 15 of these.

The ones who still need their ancient costumes will get peasant tops, pau skirts, pantaloons, and large sashes that drape across the body. I just will have 3 to 5 of those to do.

The keikis will wear kekepas that are painted like the tapa cloth that the ladies wear. I am NOT painting anyone else's tapa cloth. It takes ALL day to paint one. In any case, I think I will be making about 12 of those.

I may also sew for her Couer d'Alene students. Kuulei has about 40 or 45 dancers this year.

I will also be gone for more than two weeks in April and I was recently suckered into teaching a class at the Stake Family History Seminar in April.

In the meantime:

I sewed Sari a new pau practice skirt. She outgrew hers from 4 years ago. Go figure.