Pumpkin Mini Muffins

This was an easy recipe and turned out really good!

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/pumpkin-cake-doughnuts-recipe

No Mount, No Sew, Manual Roll Up Window Shades

So when I moved into my apartment in St. Joe, I loved that I had these huge windows and high ceilings. I quickly found out that the street lamps are left on every night and the blinds that were in the window were now exactly light blocking! I decided that I wanted to keep a little more light out and add some color since I can't paint. I went through quite a few ideas but settled on manual roll-up shades so that I didn't have to ask for anything to be mounted in the windows. They are just on tension rods.

I decided on one patterned window and two red ones.

I decided to use fusible interfacing to give the shades some stiffness along with some more darkening ability.

So first step was cutting everything to the window dimensions. I definitely remembered my measurements incorrectly when I was working on these at my parents house. Luckily, it ended up giving me the necessity of having a cute border on each shade.

Then, I had to iron everything together. The first time, I actually followed the interfacing directions and used a damp cloth but then slowly proceeded to get to the point where I just directly ironed on the fabric because it went so much quicker!

Next, I aligned the border and ribbon. This is what I did to fix the measurement mistake :) After I ironed the borders on, I just flipped and used fabric glue to secure the edges.

I knew I had originally seen a button tutorial on Pinterest but never thought I would use it. I bought the little kit from JoAnn and made what I consider to be completely easy and acceptable buttons. This was the only sewing portion of my project though, and I definitely stabbed my finger.

I used fabric glue again to stick a dowel rod in the bottom of the shade to give it some weight and then again to make a loop in the top to put my tension rods through.

These are the 3 mostly finished products without buttons yet.

I knew that I wanted some way of keeping the shades rolled up if I actually wanted light in my apartment, so that is where these strips and the buttons came into play. I just used my leftover fabric and cut them to a length that would wrap around the shade when it was mostly rolled up. I used the interfacing and fabric glue again. So simple! I did make slits on both ends of the strips and sew buttons back to back on the shades to make for easy moving.

So this is the final product! I love the pattern and colors. There is a nice strip of window at the top because I am not tall enough to shove the tension rods up that high, so I am pretty excited for Max to visit and fix them so I can unroll the bottom and block out the stupid streetlights!

Canvas Leftovers Became My Wall Art

So when I made the canvas for my mom, I used a silver vinyl so that I could keep the letters for myself :)

Provo Craft 29-0-0457 Cricut Cuttables Adhesive-Backed Vinyl 12 x 24 InchSheets (Google Affiliate Ad)

Table for my mama

Purdue Blanket for Friend's Graduation

This is the blanket that I finished for a friend who graduated in August. His mom was my advisor in ME. I searched all of the yarn websites to find the color that most represented Purdue Gold. It was pretty tough to settle on one (Coats - Yarn 67311 Red Heart Super Saver Yarn-Gold ), but ultimately this was the best!

 

I got to learn how to cross stitch in a double crochet... It definitely could have been prettier.

I was asked to put my name and the name of a mutual friend that we lost right before graduation. Molly was originally supposed to make the blanket.

I loved the way the blanket ultimately turned out, but there was no shortage of tears throughout the process.

You are my sunshine canvas

Mom's birthday present

Cricut Cabinet Decorations

Chalkboard table :)

Shopping deals

Two pairs of tennis, a pair of sandals, and a scarf for €15! Very exciting day :-)

Hotel, Dublin

Travel buddies

Chocolate marbled cheesecake

Adapted from moms who think and food network!

Happy belated anniversary mom and dad!

Adapted from the same lion brand pattern as the last!

Multicolored peppers and mushroom risotto

Adapted from The Pioneer Woman's red pepper risotto

Granny square blanket #2

inspiration from:
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90545AD.html

had to alter it a little, though

Strawberry fro-yo

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/a-frozen-yogurt-recipe-to-rival-pinkberrys-recipe.html

I used one container of non-greek yogurt and a little less sugar. It turned out SOOOOO good

Corner granny squares -- progress since Friday

Basil pesto and roasted red pepper quinoa.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pesto-quinoa/detail.aspx
I just substituted the roasted red peppers for the tomatoes. Yummy side for the girls dinner :-)

Yummy enchiladas

These turned out so well and were so easy! I used the crock pot and a quick dip in the oven (mostly quick BC our oven sucks)
Ingredients:
Three chicken breasts
One can chicken and mushroom condensed soup
One can rotel tomatoes and peppers
One can sweet corn
One green pepper
One yellow pepper
One onion
(Veggies diced)
One-ish tsp of chili powder and garlic powder each or to taste
All of these go in a crock pot for six to eight hours. Then take the chicken out and dice or shred. Add one cup of (light) sour cream and let the chicken absorb some more juice in the crock pot. When the consistency is thick enough, spray a 9x13 pan and get out about 10-12 tortillas. Spread some refried beans on each tortilla and add some of the mixture and cheese if you wish. Roll and start stacking these horizontally in the pan. After using all of the mixture, take a can of condensed tomato soup and add some chili powder then spread over enchiladas. Add as much cheese as you please and put in 325 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted (since all ingredients are already cooked)
Enjoy!

Finished blanket!

First blanket. Excited to try things other than granny squares

Addition to the granny squares

Start of a granny square blanket!