Benny Turns 2

I like birthday crafts.  The cheesy matchy matchy stuff is just so cute, but only acceptable for birthdays.  I made everything the day of his party (because I NEVER wait till the last minute). 

 The cake was yummy marshmallow fondant.  There is a little squirrel on the top and Benny would not leave it alone.  He must have tried to snatch it three or four times.

I didn't have enough time to put his name on his shirt, but the shirt is a very easy project.  There is this double sided iron on fusible stuff that is amazing.  You iron it onto the back of your fabric, cut out your shirt, then iron it onto whatever you want.  I do a zigzag stitch around the shape/letter/number.   The cape is a soft velour and stays on with velcro.

Austin

Not much time for craftiness the last two months.  I have some longies that have been on the needles for what seems like forever.  I need to finish them up and make the boys each a couple of pairs of shorties. 

I haven't taken any pictures, but I've been juicing.  I'm not hard core or doing it for weight loss.  I just really don't like my vegetables and I need to sneak them into my drink. I've made some pretty colored yummy juices, however, I've also made some sewage looking stuff that I have to chug and not think about how bad it tastes.  I don't think anyone should be fooled and you should know green juice is somewhat disgusting.  I put apples and/or pears in, but there is no hiding the taste of spinach, lettuce, parsley, tomato, carrot, beat, ginger, and anything else that isn't sweet.  So, I just chug it down and think about all the energy I'm going to have.

I've also been baking bread.  It's slightly amazing for two reasons.  First, I actually baked something and it didn't burn or was under baked. Secondly, it's so GOOD.  I can't believe I baked something that tasted that good.  Seriously.  It's like something in the Austin water has made me capable of baking.  If you don't own the book Healthy Bread in 5 Minutes a Day you need to really consider getting it if you want delicious and fresh bread as a part of your diet. I think Brandon likes it.  He is hard to impress and wasn't really excited.

Speaking of Brandon...

In the 4 years that I've known Brandon I have seen him through failing at teaching, quitting teaching, finding a new job, having a car break down on the GW on a Friday during rush hour on a three day weekend, sleep deprivation, swine flu, stomach bugs, more sleep deprivation, quitting coffee, and driving across the country.   The man handles stress well and totally balances me out.  He is so calm about it all and just does what needs to be done without complaining or being grumpy.  Between all we have been through there are on two times where I have seen Brandon totally not be himself.  The first time was dealing with CT's DMV and then this morning when there was no milk.  Seriously, make sure the man always has breakfast.  I mean we have dealt with way worse than no milk, we all got quick kisses and "I love yous" and he grumpily went to work.  Benny acts the same way when we run out of milk - at least I know where he gets it from.  For the record, there was a huge box of oatmeal... (Brandon... love you)

And my newest project is seeing how cheap I can get organic food.  I'm pretty pleased with Austin's grocery stores and their competition to have lowest prices.  We are blessed that we don't HAVE to have a tight food budget, but it's still not an excuse to get the best possible deal.  So, I'm going to look at my fliers, figure out the deals, and menu plan around what is on sale. 

We went to Newflower Farmer's Market this morning (which was perfect because it's raining and we needed to go do something) and I got $0.99 pineapples, chicken breast for $1.67 lb, milk for $2.49 a gallon, and some other things on my list.   I forgot to get ground beef.  We may go back after naptime... it's $1.88lb.

I also have things to get from Sprout's, Randall's, and HEB.  For the longest time I thought WHY would I go to 4 different stores just to save a few bucks.  Well, today I saved almost $24.  It's also significantly easier to go into one store and grab just a few items with the boys.  I only have a few things on my list so we are in and out and that keeps everyone happy.

I'll be back to making awesome things soon. Stay posted.  

Crafts for me!

You get the idea.  I get to cover my head and don't have to deal with hat hair or my hat thief son. I just kind of put those pictures together super fast and I'm only now noticing my super nursing boobs in that first picture.  Goodness -  motherhood has changed my body.

I don't know if it's too old lady or not. Not that I really care.  I'm married and a mom - so who do I have to impress.  I should just gets points for showering and not having sweat pants on. Brandon said it's okay if I wear it with my sweaterboots... which I wear constantly.  I've made several really awesome purchases in the last few months and those were one of them.

Anyways, I used a size N crochet hook. Chain 115 (I think). I just worked in the round alternating between a double crochet stitch and a single crochet stitch.  When I would start another row I would work the DC into the SC of the previous row. It's about 2 feet tall. It took maybe 4 hours, but I have plenty of distractions so that can be a totally bogus guess.

I'm working on an infinity scarf, but with tunisian crochet.

Daddy Crafts Too

That would be the sewing machine and the serger.  Benny was content sitting in the high chair and watching. 

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He spent the weekend tailoring his shirts.  My mom asked why I didn't do it for him.  If you know Brandon at all you know HIS way is the best possible most correct way to do anything.  He fixed like 10 shirts.  I think he is going to go on a crazy Goodwill shopping spree now that he knows he can make any dress shirt fit him how he wants. 

The last of 2009

Tunisian longies.  That had to be some of the softest yarn I have ever worked with.

It's like 4,000 different colors. I want to use up what I had and I certainly did.

I'm working on longies for Benny now with this yarn.  Blackberry Ridge is so soft.  I hope I have enough to make him a hat.

"Failed Dusk"  there is a colorway I just love and I tried to do my version of it... didn't quite happen. I still love what we have.  My in-laws got the yarn in Australia.  It is a nice light weight and matches a ton of Benny's clothes.  He seriously wears them like 3 times a week.

 

Hudson Hat. I bought the pattern because I'm so new to knitting that I don't know how to write my own patterns yet.  I have enough scraps to make another... I think.