Yawwwwwn!

What a nice weekend! I got some cool new stuff, I hung out with my love and my Babydog, and I got some work done! That is all I ask for a great weekend.



Because I am on a new kick of cooking and planning meals, I have been tirelessly searching food blogs for ideas. I stumbled upon this fabulous site Tammysrecipes.com It has a little bit of everything, but I love how she writes things out and all that. When I was planning my meals for the week, I decided that I was going to have homemade rolls for dinner with my eggplant pasta and then bread for our sandwiches and for our blackbean burgers this week.



Tammy had some easy-looking recipes, and I have been DYING to try out the dough hook on my Kitchenaid.



So, I made her garlic knots recipe for my pasta tonight. It turned out amazing. The bread was soft and tasty and the garlic butter on the top made it super extra special.



I also made the wheat bread recipe. I will let you know how that turns out tomorrow! It is going to be awesome if I am now a bread baker. I hate spending $5 on a loaf of bread if I can make it myself at home! And it is so much fun for me to bake too. I usually don't even mind the cleanup.



As far as working goes, I got another shirt done, with the black and white pattern. I also cut out another shirt which I will work on this week. They are both the bow pattern minus the bows. Again, the easiest pattern in the universe. it is seriously 4 pieces(6 if you count the lining) and like under 10 steps. Amazing and adorable.



Oh and I saw the funniest thing today! I always seem to forget that I live in a tourist city. It is scenes like these, people checking the map in my little neighborhood that reminds me that I live in an extra neat place that people want to visit. I shouldn't have to be reminded cause I like being here too!

Friday Night and I am feeling alright!

Hey there! Happy Friday! I hope all is well! I am having a great day! I am having a good hair day, my workout felt good and I am now waiting for Ryan to come home so we can get PIZZA! I have lots of fun things planned for myself for the weekend and I even have some planning done for the week! Like Meals!



And I am not joking when I say that this working out business is giving me all sorts of new motivations and energy. I have been cooking up a storm and sewing up a storm and filled with ideas of things to do! It is great and it feels great. It is weird. I always love to work out when I am working out, but for some reason the periods of my life that I do not work out I can't be motivated to do it. EVEN though it feels so great! So heres to keeping on riding this way of energy and motivation and getting things done!

Borrriiiinnnngggg

I was going to have a post of a new shirt for this week, but the stuff I sewed on the weekend I threw out and then the second thing I had cut out I didn't feel like sewing during the week. Which is no fun, cause usually if I just MAKE myself, I can work. But I couldn't make myself this week.



What I did do was scour cooking sites, cook amazing things and work out a bunch. Tonight I am taking a night off of working out to have a friend over and have him cook us dinner. Yum. I hope we have sandwiches. Cause I am easy like that. Easy like Sunday morning. Or something like that. Back to working out tomorrow and Saturday now that I am skipping today. I do vow to make TWO shirts this weekend and find something new to watch on Netflix now that I have exhausted 8 seasons of That '70s show...

Slow work week

Hey there! I have not been that lazy so far this week, but I also have nothing to show for my hard working sew-a-thon on Saturday. I bought this pattern and fabric and I hate the results. I might try again with a solid color fabric that is really sturdy. I just do not usually have luck with patterns for some reason. I think this particular one was too light for me. Honestly, almost my entire wardrobe is solid colors.



I will try with this lovely fabric here. I think a good step out of solid for me can be black and white. You can't really go wrong with black and white. This is going to be my bow shirt, minus the bows. It is seriously the easiest pattern ever, perfect for a beginner I think. But I am saying that with a few years of sewing under my belt where I have learned things such as: when you think "What? Why would I do it like that? That makes no sense" that in the long run, it will make sense and you should USUALLY do it the way its written. Even though it is confusing and doesn't make sense at the time. I have learned also to take sewing 1 step at a time. 1. Cut out pattern pieces. 2. Cut out fabric. 3. follow instructions STEP by STEP! It will pay off. And also to make sure that you read the finished garment measurements on the package. They count. And to pay attention to seem allowances. They are important. You don't want to swim in your pretty new clothes!



I still have a lot to learn. But that is the fun part about sewing. Always something new and fun to push yourself with.

Bows!

So I finished my shirt! I love this wardrobe bump its giving me to know how to sew!



It all started with this pattern and these supplies! The pattern is McCalls 5851.



It came out a little big, but all in all I really like it. I think a good wash and it will be smaller and fit better. If not, I can throw some darts in the back.



I really enjoyed making all of the bows. They are all hand sewn on the shirt. I think it is a really nice detail, but it makes it bulky to wear with a sweater because the bows go all the way around. I am going to try this pattern again and leave off the bows so I have the two different effects.

Now on to the next pattern on my list!

Riding the wave of Productivity

I am really working hard over here! I finished up the bows for my bow shirt, and I should have pics of it tomorrow! This was a fun pattern to work with, but it turned out that my directions were missing a page. I am going to be stealth and try and look at the directions when I go to the fabric store this weekend. I really want to make the yo yo shirt as well but without the directions I am at a loss. I don't even know how to make a yo yo!



I also cut out the bird and sewed it up, but I am not happy with how the wings came out, so I am going to re sew them bigger and cuter. I have some more fabric to cut out and then I have to decide which pattern I am going to focus on this weekend! I don't know if I want to cut out a dress or another shirt. I really need to utilize all this creative energy! Which I am also attributing to my workout(going on 4 days woo hoo!)

Plush Love

Hello there! I am so glad to say I have some cutie pie stuff listed on etsy. It is always fun to get inspired for different seasons! What I listed were these little snuggle bunnies and lambs!



I also have been working on a bird for my sister best friend in-law(is that what you call your best friend's sister?) who is having a little baby girl in the not too far off future. So I drew something out, and I think I am going to make some for the shop too! I am going to work on that tonight. Designing toys is so much fun for me, I love coming up with an idea, drawing it out and making it come to life. I feel the same way after I make something for myself as well. I love the feeling of making something with my own two hands and being able to use my creativity every day. It is something that I had to train myself to do, and something I know that ebbs and flows so I have to eat up the times that I am feeling super creative. Tonight I am going to try and finish up the bows for my new shirt so I can wear it on Friday!

I am feeling so good tonight after a really fun, good workout with my Billy Blanks Taebo(This is Tae Bo). It doesn't keep you on anything too long that you are like "oh this is so boring and long" It is good for my ADD. I don't actually think I have ADD, but Ryan does and sometimes I think that I have picked up some of his habits of not having an attention span. But anyways what I want to say is that it is fun and great cardio. I am learning about changing my habits too. Choosing to do well and choosing to make my body and health better. I just have to tell myself that every day!

Sweaty Workout Head

Here is my sweaty workout face! Hopefully soon it will be skinnier. I have started a journey in my life to eat better food for my body, things that are closer to what they started out as (read fresher veggies, less fake meat) and to exercise what I have if only to be in good shape so I can go up and down these hills of San Francisco and not be out of breath.

I also am a little vain, and want to look my best. Especially for my sister's wedding pictures! It is coming quick(yeah I know it is 4 months away, but still, that is a blink of the eye!)

Also, my birthday is coming up, my 30th! It is true! I want to be in good shape for that too. I want to be healthy! So, less bread, less potatoes, less fried food(try hardly any because I NEVER feel good after deep fried food, yuck) and more good veggies and baked items. One thing I don't think I can give up, but will cut back on a little is cheese. I LOVE cheese. To a fault, sometimes.

So I have also added a workout to my day, and my goal is to work out Monday through Friday and take the weekends off. So far so good, but I really wanted to work out in the mornings and I am having a really hard time pulling myself out of my bed! I think it will motivate me more on Friday so I can get myself up and going so I don't have to workout at night. I really like to get my workout done and out of the way, but that bed is just SO enticing sometimes!

Its all about what you want though. I really believe that the motivation to do things lies within you and all you have to do is call it up and really believe in yourself. You make all of your own choices and if you choose to be healthy and work hard you will accomplish those things. That is not to say I am perfect(obviously!) but I want to do these things and I am trying for the power of the mind, you know!

Ahhh.

I love the weekends. I always get so much sewing done! Ryan and I, as I have mentioned before, always try to use Sundays to our advantage and work all day. We didn't quite work ALL day, but we worked and we worked hard. I am working on a really fun pattern, McCall's 5851. It is "crafty" or something like that. I think that just means the shirt I am making has bows on it.



Or you can make it with yoyos on it too. Whatever it is, its really adorable and easy to sew. I am not finished yet, but I am getting close. I have the shirt completed, it just needs the bows on it. Well, I have to finish the bows first and then sew them on the shirt.



I also finished my spring plushies. Chocolate bunnies a la the advertisements of my youth(my bunnies were never hollow shout out to Baker's Chocolates in Cleveland Ohio! what what!!) I just always liked the looks of the hollow bunnies!



And little, snuggly lambs to cuddle up with!



They will be going in the shop sometime this week. I am trying to live up this time change, I already failed this morning when my alarm told me to abandon my bed and workout, I silenced it and slept for an additional hour. But to be fair I am going to try and work out tonight after dinner. That and finish up the bows!

Saturday...

Saturdays are one of my very favorite times. I get a day to myself to do whatever! First I take Babydog for a walk in the park! I love our time together, especially on a beautiful day!



I also like to take a little road trip to a city south of us and shop a little! (after I jam to some tunes hahah this weekend was Goldfinger and Green Day) On this Saturday, I went to Target!(woo hoo so boring!) I picked up a new book and a new work out video! I am trying to get into a little routine on weekday mornings where I do some cardio!!



Then I went to Jo Ann's and get fabric. I LOVE shopping for fabric. This time I had a good coupon! I got some pretty fabric to make another thing from my summer list!



Then I came home, finished up my Spring time plushies, and made some vanilla extract! I used this recipe... It was easy and I can't wait to use it in a month or so!

Friday!

I hope you had a good day today! Mine was great! I didn't get hit by a terrible Tsunami(did you hear about that? it skipped San Francisco, thank goodness) I was lovingly woken out of sleep at 4am, 5am, 5:30am, and then had to get up at 6am for work. I appreciate it though! I would rather be tired and loved then unloved, well slept and dead. If you know what I mean!



I really didn't want a Tsunami, especially since I really wanted to wear my new shirt today! And if I was water-ed out, i would not be able to strut my stuff. Yes that is a blurry bathroom shot at work and yes that is my but in the background mirror. I do what I can with what I have...But look how cute the shirt is! I mean come on, an empire waist and a boat neck. Please. I don't think it looks exactly like the picture, and I am ok with that. I like it better than the picture. It is:



I have also been pretty productive this week. I guess I have had enough "Bejeweled Blitz" to last a lifetime and a half so when I am sitting at home, my idle hands are sewing up a toy instead of scooting flashy jewels around...I think that is good. Here are some of the lamb-ys I have been working on whilst rotting my brain with Netflix. Aren't they cute?



This weekend feels productive. I am going fabric shopping tomorrow for a new clothing project and hopefully I will work on my bow shirt on Sunday. Have a good Friday night kids!

Last night, I made butter!

I can't believe it either! It was magically simple and amazing. I had some cream that was going to go bad in a few days sitting in the fridge so I decided to try it. I had seen this tutorial in the past and it seemed simple enough...



I got out the kitchenaid, poured it in, wrapped it in plastic wrap to prevent splashing cream/buttermilk and started it up. It was neat to watch and only took about 20 minutes in all.

When I was done, I had butter! Real, yummy, cream-y butter!



On Toast! Yummmmmm.



Make some too. You will NOT regret it. Well maybe your thighs will...

Happy Wednesday!

Hello there! Today was a good day. I am not sure why, it just felt good! I woke up in a good mood, I had a good day at work, and now I am home and feeling like sewing. That is always a good day. I love feeling positive at the end of the day.



I did want to show you my chocolate bunnies that I am working on! I had the idea of this and the sheep for my spring time plushies. The are both so snuggly and I love them!



I also can't wait to wear this shirt. It looks so 60'sish on. I will take a pic when I wear it on Friday so you can see how cute it is on too! I have another shirt cut out, the one with the bows.

I added twitter to my blog too! I am having a love affair with it right now, add me!

Hey There!

I hope your weekend was fun! I had a good time working on lots of projects! I made a shirt, which I will have pictures of later this week, when I can find some better light! But I got a lot done with the help of That 70's Show! I am officially down one item on my summer sewing list! I can't wait to share the pic. It is a good shape with a boatneck and an empire waist. It is really 60's and cute.



I also started work on one of my two spring time little plushies. I am making chocolate bunnies and little lambs. I finished up a lamb yesterday and am working now on my chocolate bunny today.



I love it so much! I just want to cuddle it! Ryan and i had a really good day yesterday working on art/crafts. I really love that time we have together creating. It really makes our bond strong. It is funny though because he was listening to records and I was watching TV on my computer with one headphone in so I could listen to records and the show. I love the distraction.

In other news, I have to buy a new sewing machine. It seems my trusty old one is on its last leg. I don't even like typing that in case it curses me. I need it to hang on for at least another week!

Spring/summer wardrobe

downsize.jpg, originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys.

So, I have a bunch of patterns that I have been buying up with my summer wardrobe in mind. These are my favorites right now and I am going to start working on them this weekend. I have the boatneck cut out and fabric for the bow shirt. I can't wait to show them to you!

I am loving on sewing, I think I just need to remember to SLOW DOWN and focus when I am sewing. Sometimes I get so frustrated. That is when I need to shift my focus to something else. Things don't need to nebe done in one day.

I love having handmade pieces be a part of my wardrobe!

quickie

Just a quick post to say hello! I am working on a bunch of chocolate bunnies. I should have them sewn up by this weekend. I am really loving on hand sewing. Here is hoping for lots of productivity this weekend!



It should work out though, I am good about sewing if stuff is already cut out. That is also why I cut out some shirt patterns last weekend. To try and get some work done in that realm this weekend too. I hope its sunny! Maybe Baby and I will get some sunshine hang out time done too!