I want to...

So, I'm in the middle of a time in my life where I am wanting to do EVERYTHING.  i just turned 30 so I'm sure this is a normal thing but I just can't seem to focus on one thing.  I want to continue my work as a programmer, I want to get married, I want to have babies, I want to be a stay at home mom, I want to be a blogger, I want to have a huge house with a massive craft room, I want to be rich (who doesn't)...I could go on forever.

In the midst of all of this 'I want to...' talk I was researching the possibility of taking some sort of online degree/certificate for sewing.  I really want to be able to make real things and possibly do some tailoring on the side.  I know I can do the construction part, the sewing part, the following directions part...I am logical, this part comes easy.  My problem is the design part. The right side of the brain part.  So I thought just learning skills, and not necessarily signing up to DESIGN, would be fun.

I have looked at Penn Foster Career School and at Stratford Career Institute.  They both seem like they would get me pointed in the right directions but it is very nerve racking to sign up for distance learning when I don't really know anyone that has completed the courses.

Then I stumbled upon Craftsy.  They have so many classes that you can choose from, and the prices seem more reasonable for me at this time.

So I did it.

I signed up for two classes.

Sew Ready: Garment Basics & Sewing with Knits.

I am so excited to start on this adventure in sewing and really hope to start learning things that will be valuable down the road.

While we are talking sewing, below are some of my favorite sewing blogs (in no particular order) that have some wonderful tutorials!  And by no means are these ALL the blogs I follow...just a few of my favorites.  If you have any you follow let me know! I always enjoy adding to the reading collection...

1. A girl and a glue gun

2. Crazy Little Projects

3. noodlehead

4. Simple Simon and Company

5. The Cottage Mama

Mexican + Super Bowl

Hey! How was your weekend?  Mine went by WAY to fast as usual.

My old roommate came back in town for the weekend so Saturday night we tried a new dinner spot called The Fold.  She was in the mood for Mexican and this place hit that spot!  We ordered a Blood Orange margarita (or 3) and tried out their 3 Taco plate.  I went with one shrimp, one fish, and one pork.  All were delish but my favorite was by far the pork one.  It reminded me of my Carnita tacos that my boyf just absolutely LOVES!  I'd say mine were better because avocado is involved, and when avocado is involved how is it not the best thing you've ever put in your mouth?!  I'll have to make them soon so that I can share the recipe!

Of course we stayed out late so the next day was spent sleeping and resting up for the Super Bowl fun Sunday evening.  We headed to a friends house and I cooked 4 different things!!  I absolutely LOVE making party foods so any reason to do so puts me in an amazing mood.  The boyf played video games so any reason he gets to do that puts HIM in a good mood...so all was well with the world.

When party food is needed I always head over to one of my most favorite recipe blogs to see what she has and of course I found 2 amazing recipes.  I found another on Pinterest and the last one is a staple that is courtesy of one of my friends.

Before I call it a day, I'll share with you the 4 lucky recipes I chose and were a hit at the party:

1. French Onion Dip!

It was amazing.  Only problem is I have so much left over!!

2.  Mini Corn Dog Muffins!

What an amazing little finger food.  They were a huge hit and we were afraid of getting full just on these!  Only issue I had was the the recommended 1tbs of batter per muffin was a little much.  You couldn't see the little hot dogs in the middle so they just looked like Cornbread muffins.

3. Pizza Pull Apart Bread

What a great idea.  However, mine didn't cook all the way through.  It was really good along the outside edges but the middle was still extremely raw.  I have made a version of this before but it TOOK FOR EVER to prep.  You actually roll up a cube of mozzarella and a pepperoni into each piece of bread.  It turned out amazing but I just didn't have the time yesterday to do that.  I think if I ever do this again I will just take the time...it was worth the end product.

4.  Corn Dip

This is always the star of every show.  It never makes it home.  This is a recipe that one of my friends gave to me and it is the one and only thing the boyf takes to potlucks.  It's amazing and easy enough for him to do.

1 can corn

1 can mexi corn

1 small can green chilies

1 can rotel

1 package cream chese

1 tsp of cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1tsp garlic powder

Just combine it all and heat in the microwave until cream cheese is melted.

Serve with favorite dip chip

Favorite Finds

Favorite Finds from this week that are worth sharing!

Enjoy!

Crafting:
I am always looking for things to go on the walls. If you walked into my house right now you'd think I was a bachelor.  Plain.  Bare.  Boring.  THIS would be a fun easy way to add things to the walls...if I could get myself to commit!

This would be so much fun.  Paint the random colors, let dry, use painters tape to make chevron, paint over everything with white, then remove the tape! Tad-dah!

Home:
Who doesn't need more room to store things?!? What a great way to re-purpose something you may throw away.

I would LOVE to make something like this...I just need to buy the tools (and then not hurt myself trying to use them!)

Sewing:
THIS awesome circle tree skirt would be so much fun to make and so much easier to go with Christmas themes they trying to FIND on that sort of matches (maybe I had this problem last year.  I can't wait to try this one out!

I am so excited to make this bag...I can see an amazing Gym bag in my future!

Cooking:

A good burger is always top of my list.  I will pass on a 'plain burger' any day...but if you add character to it I will be first in line!

Any thing with the word Cheese in it will be pinned by me in .2 seconds!! These Cheesy Corn Cakes look like a wonderful addition to my lunch rotation!

Weddings:
This amazing wedding dress that has everything I would want.  Sleeves, empire waste, a little bling, and flows perfectly.

Babies Breath. Period. I want it everywhere.

Healthy Living:
Dr. Oz's 3 Day Cleanse.  I do not know the specific details about this cleanse, only what I found on a The Happy Homemaker.  But she made it sound so easy and I am in need of a major reset.  I will be trying this real soon.

The Zone Diet.  I am an avid cross fitter...I love it.  I have always been active so this is a way for me to use my athletic ability to stay fit and to continue to compete in a way that pushes me to do my best.  This diet is something that is popular among the cross fit communities and I try and follow it as much as possible.

Antique Crafting

source

A few weeks ago I was able to find some time in my Sunday to hang with my Daddy at the Antique roadshow they held about 30 miles from my house.  My Dad's mother was always into antiques, and my Dad used to help her man their booth when she couldn't attend.  After she passed my dad couldn't get rid of her things and for about 7 or so years now he has been holding on to them in their basement (along with the things that so magically keep showing up from ebay that my dad swears he will sell one day).  This past year he and my mom jokingly talked about how they were going to have to move out of the hosue before the antiques started pushing them out...and decided it was time for Dad to actually sell some things.  So, long story short, he entered the Antique show and I went and visited.  I had an absolute blast turning a scheduled 1 hour trip into 4.5 hours of people watching and walking laps around and around the open building looking at all the treasures.  My mind was on Pinterest overload and I HAD to buy something.  Well, I ended up with an old antique window and some 1940's flash cards.

Left Brain says "Yo, Right Brain, what the heck are you going to do with these? We all know they are going to sit propped up against a wall or in a pile on the table no attempt at doing anything crafty...you just don't have it in you."

Right Brain says "Watch and learn!"

And with that I created a chalkboard creation for my kitchen along with 6 pieces of wall art to hang throughout the house (please ignore the photo quality they are from my phone and sometimes it doesn't like to cooperate).

I think they turned out pretty well after a few hickups.  I think I am going to try and find some thing to go on either side of the chalkboard because it seems a tad random just hanging up there all alone.

And the wall art IS sitting in a pile on the table because I haven't yet figured out how to use them.  Do I put them all together on one wall, not really saying much, but just looking cool?  Do I find photos to go with each word and hang them through out the house?

Input is very welcome!!

Once I finally pull the trigger and drill holes in the wall I'll post some updated pictures.