Wedding cards

We were the happy recipients of a ton of wedding cards, and even though I'm not a very sentimental gal, I couldn't bear to throw them out.  So I turned them into a book to look through years down the road when I want to remember our big day.

I used some craft glue and a stack of heavy books to compress and glue the "spine" of the book together.  Just make sure you get all of the cards to the edge, and and you really slather that glue on.  I used two thick layers of glue.


Then, I used a piece of scrap fabric from my apron, cut and folded to the size of the spine, and glued it on to make it look a little more like a book.  The hard part of this was not using so much glue that it soaked through the fabric and would look like a kindergarten art project.  I think I managed it though.  Voila!  A card book to remember!

Thrift store finds

I took a trip today to the DMV and the Social Security Office to (finally) start getting this name of mine officially changed over from the wedding.  It was a surprisingly quick trip. After the Social Security office, I discovered a goodwill store across the street!  Finally, I found some great thrift store goodies to hopefully keep my little underemployed self occupied for a few more days.

Hmm, what's that I see?  A huge men's sweater that is begging to be turned into a cute cardigan?  And a vintage looking box that is the perfect size to hold sewing supplies?  That's a swell find for the day!

Thin Mints

I made cookies today:  homemade thin mints.  I would highly recommend this recipe if you would like to give mint thins a try.  I documented my journey:




The dough was supposed to "resemble small pebbles".  Mine didn't.  Mine was very soft.  I think it was because my butter was too warm.











You put it on wax paper and roll it into a cylinder, then chill for awhile so it will cut.  Doesn't it look like a giant, minty tootsie roll?

Maybe our refrigerator isn't cold enough, because the dough didn't seem to firm up much.  Slice it up, bake them (on my favorite--parchment paper!).  Then they look like this:

Enlist a little help to frost.  Then wait for little fairies to come and eat them all up!

I think I know how I'll be enjoying the weekend.  You?

Potato chip bag

I finally finished this project for my dear husband.  Every day he brings a sandwich and a bag of chips to work with him.  I already made him a reusable sandwich wrap for Christmas last year, so I thought I would make him a reusable bag for his potato chips as well.
 I followed a tutorial to fuse three target bags together (although it didn't seem to do much fusing.  Maybe it's our iron) and then used some lettering from a plastic Wal-Mart bag for the wording.  Over the top, I put a cut up ziploc bag because it is food quality (and hasn't been melted from the fusing).  I used some stash fabric and came up with this: 

It took me forever to finally get around to putting on the velcro.  I thought it was going to be a big project, but it turns out that the stuff I bought was self-adhesive.  This means that no matter how hard you try to sew it on for industrial-strength reinforcement, your needle will get so gummed up that you can't sew.  So I let the adhesive do its thing.  Ta Da!  Done!

Back from camping

We're back!  We survived the strong winds in the area on Friday, horrific mosquito bites, and not-so-hot ability to build a fire and managed to have a wonderful time, as well.  Our campsite was so adorable that I had to take a couple of photos: 

The tea kettle Jamie brought from a thrift store ( a $.25 find) was one of my favorite campsite necessities.

 

 We also used candles set in jars instead of a lantern.  Take this as a lesson, all those of you out there like our campground neighbors who have a battery lantern that will shine brighter than the sun into other people's campsites: candles can light the way in a slightly less harsh manner (and in a way that won't make your neighbors want to throw rocks at you)

We had a wonderful time with friends and I don't even think D minded that they were MY friends from high school.  What a good bunch.

Checking out

D and I are going camping this weekend with some of my friends.  When I was a little girl and my family went camping, we had a rule that no one could wear a watch.  You just ate when you were hungry, slept when you were tired-- no rules.  My updated version of this (since it's not 1990 anymore) is a "no cell phone" rule.  So we are unplugged for the weekend, and I love it.  I'll tell you about it when we get back!

New apron

I made the most successful sewing project I've ever completed.  While making it, I discovered that I am in love with sewing and my new sewing machine.  My project was this beautiful blue and grey apron.  I followed THIS tutorial (of course I couldn't do it myself), with a few modifications due to not buying enough fabric and not having a giant snap press.

I decided to use a button from my button jar instead of a snap.  Thus, I made my first buttonhole.  It's super easy, for any of you who haven't tried one yet.  And it looks super professional and makes me feel awesome about my sewing skills. 

I don't think I'll be using my apron for dirty jobs for awhile.  Maybe just flour or something until the newness wears out and it gets its first stain.  Wouldn't it be cute with a little adorable dusting of flour in all the right places like in a movie?  Unfortunately, this isn't a movie.

Tomato Canning Day

I canned tomatoes today.  What an adventure!  I really enjoyed peeling off the skins... sounds gross... is pretty gross in reality but it's just so squishy and fun.

See how the skins are all saggy-baggy and  ready to be peeled off?  That's the result one minute of boiling water.  Who knew? 

And this is the result.  Seven of these, actually.  I have no idea what to do with them now, or if they will give us botulism (it was my first attempt, after all).  I'm sure I'll let you know though!

Fresh foods!

What could be better than some yummy fresh foods to put on my first blog posting?  My husband used to work on a farm when he was younger, so we stopped by for a visit the other day and came back home with tomatoes, corn, peaches, and raspberries (picked ourselves!).

I was feeling pretty ambitious, and so far I've made raspberry jam and frozen the corn, using this tutorial since I've never done it before.  All that is left is to wait for the tomatoes to get a bit redder and then I'll can some of those as well! 

I can't wait for the winter; these will taste so good!  Next year I'll have to get my own canner.  And remember to keep my wrists away from molten soon-to-be-raspberry-jam.