Simple Skirts!

OK....long story short..I bought this super cute pale pink and yellow eyelet material to make smocked sundresses for the girls.....well standing at the cutting counter I notice how thin it is, grab some muslin to back it with and off I go to sew with some girlfriends.... well BAD choice.. I don't know if it was the 2 fabrics or my machine or what but PROJECT FAIL!  I should have gone with a plain thicker cotton and so now I still had this fabric which I loved and couldn't just let it sit.......so I had seen this tutorial on MADE and thought why not?!? 

I ran into a local fabric store grabbed elastic (and wicked cute cotton fabrics for the smocked sundresses too) and put these together in an afternoon..super simple (even for me!?!?)! The part that took the longest was feeding the elastic through the waistband, other than that super quick and the girls love them since they have "just the right amount of twirl" to quote my oldest!

BONUS - you get to see my gorgeous forsythia bushes in bloom out front! LOVE them & this is by the far the best they have been since planting them. I got all 3 for less than $10 total on the end of season clearance at Lowes, they looked like dead sticks in buckets but now check it out!

Stay tuned for the sundresses once I get brave enough to try it again I will post pics! Wish me luck!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

My dad would have turned 59 today! I miss him everyday & wish more than anything he was around to know me all grown up, my husband because I know they would get along amazingly & most of all to know my girls and my girls to know their grandpa.  These are my wishes on his birthday.  I miss and love you dad!

Dug through some old photos and found these, one when I was little & we still lived in Missouri and not sure what birthday we were celebrating in the other photo but thought it was great to have a birthday cake picture today!

Friday FAB finds!

5 minute Headbands  & Boutique headbands

How fun are these? Take cheapo headbands and make them super cute with scraps!

IShareCrafts
Maybe I am the last one to know about this but I just found it this week & am hooked..its like all these blogs I stalk follow rolled into 1 site! WOOOHOOOO!

Strawberry Limeade
YUMMY - this looks like the perfect refreshing drink, now if I could only figure out how Sonic makes their ice into tiny little balls I would be set!

Dish Towel Tote Bag
So fun & looks simple (those are usually my famous last words!)

Happy Spring...finally!

Finally getting some sunshine & warmer weather here in CNY!

~Susan G Komen Race for the Cure~

As you already know I am participating in the Race for the Cure next month.  I am a member of a team called "Al's Rack Pack" we have close to 50 people supporting our good friend Allison Enders who recently put the smack down on breast cancer!  She is an amazing woman who many people love and admire and I am lucky enough to call a friend! 

I am proud to announce I have met {and exceeded} my fundraising goal of $250!! Our team has raised over $4500!!  I would LOVE to raise more so feel free to keep donating folks! ;)  19 more days to go till the big race day!

My honor roll of donors!

My mom Debbie Brown - $100

My in-laws Bill & Caroline Barilla - $50

My sister Michele Sutton - $25

My sister-in-law Heather Barilla  - $25

My garage sale partner/neighbor Janine English - $25

My BFF Vanessa Apodaca - $20

My MOMS Club pal Julie Brown - $20

My good friend Karen Ezzo - $10

A HUGE thank you to everyone above, I truly appreciate you all & your donation is helping fund research that we desperately need so we can find the CURE!!!  If you have not donated and would like to please go to my personal page.  Better yet, if you are local sign up to join our team on May 14!

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1  Steak Frites & tossed salad
Meal #2 Chicken Alfredo pasta bake w/ breadsticks & tossed salad
Meal #3 Kielbasa on the grill w/ green beans & rice pilaf
Meal #4 Chicken & Cheesy Rice Casserole w/ cantaloupe & carrots
Meal #5 Sour Cream Noodle Bake w/ garlic bread & tossed salad

Things to try:

Lemon Bread
Butterfinger cookies 1 of Dave's favorite candy bars so this is a must try for sure!

Happy Easter!

Wishing you a very Happy Easter & hoping you all spend this day with those who are closest to your hearts!  While Easter is a fun holiday with the big bunny, eggs & candy lets also try to remember the real reason behind the holiday.  While I am not the most religious person out there I was raised with my beliefs & hope to pass those to my girls as well.

 Luke 24:1-12
(1) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, (3) but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. (5) And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, (7) that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (8) And they remembered his words, (9) and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. (10) Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, (11) but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. (12) But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

The Easter Story

This is nice story to share with kids to let them know the true meaning of Easter.