THE F.C.- THE BREAST CANCER BOX

Well a soggy early Saturday to you all. How are you doing today? I just woke up from another crazy dream and found my DH laughing hysterically at me. Don’t ask LOL… so anyway, how ya been? I see our friend Jean has resurfaced! WELCOME BACK JEAN… WE MISSED YOU! Hope you get to feeling better soon! I know how those knee injuries and surgeries are... and I feel for you! Mom and I were just talking about you the other day! Were your ears burning? LMAO…



Well Mom had another doctors appointment yesterday, so I got to come home early… so that’s what I did… SEW! LOL… I was inspired and had the time so I warned the DH (and the kids when they got home) to leave the room and leave me alone cause I had Fabric Fever! LMAO! I decided today was the day I was gonna conquer that small box with all the breast cancer fabric in it.



I started by making a couple of purse packages. This was the first one. It has the purse, photo album, calendar, coupon holder, eyeglass case, cell pouch, makeup bag, scrunchy, lapel pin, and tissue holder that I made and then all the extra goodies I did not make. Let me tell ya, these purse packages I make are actually very popular!



This is the second package I made. I absolutely love this breast cancer fabric. Again, its got all the handmade goodies and “store” goodies with it, with one exception. I had a TY beanie left and I threw it in with the gift set. I think it’s adorable!



Ok, I decided to start another project. I think I am up to like 4 or 5 now at once… seems like enough, right? Let’s see the Fabric Challenge, the Ronald McDonald crayon bags, the kitchen redecorating, Madison’s birthday party, Madison’s room redecorating, and now the Breast cancer quilt… yea that’s enough LMAO! 6 should do it LOL! Anyway, I found this white bandana in the Breast cancer box and I sat there for a few minutes going HMMMM… then I saw that I had a few squares that I must have cut from scraps from other projects. So what do you do?? OMG I GOT IT! A patchwork quilt! I will use the bandana as the center and then go around making rows and such of all the different squares of breast cancer fabrics I have! WOOHOO! This is an ongoing project but this is the start of it. (BTW, that’s Madison holding it up and hiding behind it for me LOL.) What do you think? I think it’s gonna be beautiful! I might auction it or something with the proceeds (minus material cost) going to the Susan Komen Foundation… not sure yet. I have this big problem see… I always want to keep everything I make because I like it so m uch. And so does everyone else LMAO!



So I cut up a few more pieces of BC fabric and put the squares in this clear plastic bag along with the start of my quilt. This is the quilt bag. Whenever I make a patchwork quilt, I always put the squares together in this bag so they don’t get lost and also so I can see the project and know what it is.



Then I made another scrub from some of the breast cancer fabric. I had quite a chunk of this fabric (about 5 or more yards I would say), so I thought I can make numerous things from this. Its got hints of blue and green and its adorable I think!



Then when I was reaching for something on the table, this fabric fell on me and I got rather annoyed. So, I decided to go ahead and use it up! This is the money fabric I found for when I have to be in uniform and take mom to the casino, remember? LOL! It was between this one and the card fabric… what do you think? Everybody sing the Donald Trump theme now… MONEY MONEY MONEY MONNNEY du du dut ta du MOOOONEEY! LMAO! (For some reason it just sounds better than it looks when you write it down LMAO!)



And with that, my friends, left me only a few smaller pieces of BC fabric left and some scraps… definitely NOT enough to justify putting it back in the box that’s for sure. SOOO I stuck what was left in the green crate and VOILA! THE PLASTIC BOX IS EMPTY!!!! YAY… One box of the Fabric challenge eliminated!!!!!!! WOOHOO! Everybody dance now! LMAO! The purple bolt of butterfly fabric and the bolt of the USA fabric (right under the butterflies) are both gone too! Man let me tell ya… I am making some headway! YAY for me!

So when I get home today I plan on doing lots more sewing. I also have tomorrow off, so I think I am going to take the kids berry picking (if it doesn’t rain) and then do some super sewing… not sure yet. I go one day at a time here lately! But isn’t that some great stuff? I’m really excited and quite proud of myself!

So, are you craftily inspired yet? I hope so LOL… crafting can be a wonderful thing. You can make great things, gifts, etc. You get a sense of pride and accomplishment, and it can even be very therapeutic. I am so thankful I had such a great mom to teach me how to do all different kinds of crafts! I enjoy it so much and even manage to make a few extra bucks sometimes LMAO… so THANKS MOM! Ok, now you need a craft idea for today, huh? Well… this one is inspired by my DAD actually… he asked if I can make some for him because he has a big head LMAO… ok don’t go taking it the wrong way LMAO. My father is a big man! He’s like 6 foot million, dunno how much he weighs, and he’s got hands that can… well let’s just say they are so big that he had to have his wedding band CUT OFF cause his hand got too big and his finger grew around the ring! Yea they are monsterous! I will try to get a picture if he will let me… (Dad, see me batting my eyes and going DAAADDYY I LUVVV YOUUUU LMAO!) Ok, back to the craft (man I am getting very distracted today huh LMAO)… I went on my sewing site and I found this pattern for a Doo Rag. Ever see the bikers wearing them on their heads? Yea they hold your hair back great. But Dad is right, and I have had the same problem, they make them kind of small, so they give you the cone head effect! I am gonna try making one for him and see if it works. Wish me luck!



Craft Idea of the Day: Biker Doo Rags

Visit the site for step by step instructions and pictures… You will surely enjoy it!

Ok time to eat people! PIZZA PIE TIME! Day 6… today’s people is for the “healthly pizza snob” as my kids call it LOL! They say each one of us has a little pizza snob in us. Cici’s features a spinach pizza, and it is actually pretty good (and me not being a big spinach freak, that says a lot!). So before you snub your nose, check this out and give it a shot… you might actually enjoy it LOL… I know my gang does!



Spinach Feta Pizza

Ingredients

3/4 cup water (70 to 80 degrees F)
2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
TOPPING:
1 garlic clove, minced
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1 small red onion, sliced and separated into rings
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Directions

In bread machine pan, place the first six ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed).

When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 1 minute. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes. Roll into a 12-in. circle. Transfer to a greased 12-in. pizza pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place until puffed, about 20 minutes.

Sprinkle with garlic and garlic salt. Top with the spinach, onion, mushrooms, cheeses and basil. Bake at 400 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

Ok kids, I am afraid I have to stop for the day. I need to jump in and grab a quick shower before I am out of here for the day. I tell you, it’s been real fun though and I think I’ll come back again tomorrow to share more exciting crafts and adventures LOL! Take care and I’ll see you tomorrow! HUGS!

MONDAY MAYHEM

Hi there everybody! How are you doing this early Monday morning? I am good. Had a nice day with my mom yesterday and a relaxing night when I went home. I crashed early and slept most of the night. However, I woke up to a horrible dream this morning that had me in tears. THEN when I check the Yahoo news, I noticed headlines that Lena Horne has died. R.I.P. Mrs. Horne! But what really put me over the top was that this morning I went out to check my garden and its all brown and burnt and gone… I have a few sticks left that have some produce on them, but it looks like I will have to start over. I’m not sure what did it in, but I have my suspicions. I harvested about 20 red cherry tomatoes though and put them in the fridge. It’s a sad day in my gardening history.

Ok, I have a small bone to pick today. A question was asked about why I haven’t done anything with the Fabric Challenge. Well I thought I handled the answer quite diplomatically. I politely expressed how since my mother went into the hospital the challenge was on hold but now that things are somewhat getting a little more stable, that I would start back in on it. And I have… one of the scrubs you will see in a sec completed another bolt being used up! I also received an email that quite frankly, was rude, insensitive, and uncalled for! I left it alone and did not respond. Then my mother posted a follow up which fueled the fire back up! MOM- you do NOT have to apologize for being ill, injured, etc.! Don’t let me catch you doing that again! A silly crate of fabric is of no priority when it comes to my mother and her well being!!! If anyone else has any more ugly emails, keep them to yourself please. There is no need for them! And finally… where are all my readers? The comments and emails have almost stopped. Am I boring you or gone astray somewhere? Let me know so I know what I am doing right or wrong. Interactiveness is what keeps this blog going strong and being fun!

Alright, so now that I have cleared the air, I have some pictures to share with you from the past few days… so lets have some fun and check these out!



Remember those peanuts I got for less than $1 at HEB a little while back? Well we threw them in the broccoli & beef stir-fry on Saturday night and it was absolutely wonderful! We put it over white rice and it was a great meal for little money!



This was the candy bouquet I made my mom. They are silk flowers so they don’t aggravate her allergies, a balloon that shouldn’t lose its air, and Sugar-Free candy so not to spike her sugars. Aren’t I the caring child?? LOL… hold on before you answer that!



A diabetics breakfast! LMAO! Chocolate covered strawberries with a side of insulin! OMG I was cracking up over this picture LMAO! Isn’t that so funny! NOW you see why I said hold that thought? LMAO I also brought the strawberries too! AND made her some Loaded Baked potato soup for lunch LOL!



Remember that soup I told you about yesterday? Well I made another pot of it at mom’s house so that they would have some in the freezer. The pot I made gave me 5 servings… 4 to freeze and one for lunch! YUM! This one pot of soup has over 240% of your daily vegetables! YUM! I also made a huge pot of Loaded Baked Potato soup which yielded 7 LARGE portions too!



Here is my daughter with the dry-erase sign she made me that was posted by my desk when I got home. She drew it just for me. Isn’t she sweet!

I also got to kick back in the nice and cold bedroom and just veg all night! Frank went and got me some of my favorite Chinese food for dinner and I laid in the bed and OMG yum! Wonton soup, chicken Lo Mein, eggrolls, Food Network, and air condition! Who can ask for anything more! LOL.



Now I want to show you some of the scrubs I have been making for my Home Health care I give mom everyday. I try to pick happy cheery colorful prints I know mom will like. Keeping something happy around the patient always seems to lift their spirits and help them heal better. So far I have made Kitties, Planet “Green”, Peace Signs and glittery butterflies (which eliminated one of those bolts in the fabric challenge!). I got a couple of other prints I want to make too. But you have to wait to see those LOL! Then of course, I have all my other scrubs I already had. But these were “in honor” of mom!

Now for those of you out there still crafting your little heart away, here is a recycle project that utilizes those snazzy jeans we may not be able to wear anymore. This is a no-sew project, but you could easily sew the bag for a sturdier purse (my preference). But I thought this would be a good starter craft for maybe some of the viewers children too!



Craft Idea of the Day: Bootie Bag Purse

Denim Jeans purses or booty bag patterns are all the rage right now with literally 100's of patterns on the market.

We decided to bring you this Booty Bag pattern for free!!!

This bag has the option of being a sewing project or a quick no sew bag by using glue. Glue is a great alternative for a quick kids craft thought it may not be as durable.

Low-rise or small jeans make a smaller bag, bigger or high-waist jeans make for a roomier bag.

Lay the jeans flat and cut off the legs.

Cut through the crotch, then straight across for an even edge.

Turn the jeans inside out and glue the bottom closed leaving about 1/2 inch of fabric (or an even edge). Let the glue dry or alternatively sew this section closed.

Turn inside the right way and check bottom for even edge.

Cut the inside seams from both pant legs and make handles from these. Glue or sew them on.

You can also glue or sew in a cheap bandanna as a lining & add embellishments to decorate the outside of the bag.

Velcro or magnetic closures can also be added.

For extra strength you can SEW this bag closed, but then of course it would not be a quick no sew bag for non sewers.

With craft glue this bag is suitable for carrying around lightweight items or as a overnight bag only.

If you see text for this pattern or images being sold online using the titles, of Booty bag, Bootie bag Pattern or Denim Jeans purse or Denim jeans tote. Please let us know as this is a direct infringement of copyright and why should people be scammed into buying it when we have it for FREE!!

Ok its time to talk food! Our trip to CiCi’s Pizza inspired me to think about all the different kinds of pizzas you can make… AT HOME! Save yourself a lot of money on delivery by making your favorites at home. Have a pizza night/party and let people top a basic homemade cheese pizza with all their favorite toppings! Here’s a unique pizza to start you off right! Maybe we should make this week "unique pizza week"? What do you think... is that something you would like to see?



BBQ Chicken Pizza

Ingredients

1 (12 inch) pre-baked pizza crust
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup diced grilled chicken
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

Place pizza crust on cookie sheet. Spread with barbecue sauce. Scatter chicken over top. Sprinkle evenly with red pepper, green pepper and onion. Cover with cheese.

Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Alright boys and girls, its time for me to bring this lovely writing to a close, get dressed, and head out to mom’s. I’ve had a great time with you today and I suggest we do it again tomorrow! LOL. Peace, Love, and lots of HUGS!