Sew Done

I have been doing quite a few sewing projects for Alexa and her big move, as I mentioned here . I made a quilt, all on my own, for the first time. It turned out pretty good! I bought the fabrics almost two years ago, along with a pattern for a queen size for Alexa's room. That all went out the window since it took me so long to make! I found a tutorial online and made a twin size for her to take to her dorm.

 It was a really easy pattern for zig zags/chevrons that used all square cuts, no triangles! I think it is so striking on the black background.

Here is a close up to see the beautiful purple quilting, and my not so beautiful machine binding with faux piping.

I have also now finished all of my summer Sew-N-Go class kits. The whole summer series was travel items. Alexa chose the Eiffel tower and purple fabrics for hers. (Sorry about the poor pictures. Bad lighting +no flash and slow shutter speed made them a little blurry!)

 All the finished projects.

 Passport wallet, coin purse, MacBook cover, jewelry roll-up.

 Make up case with brush storage flap/lid, tissue case, mini notebook/calculator cover, mirror, mini case with Q-Tips.

 Pencil case, mini clutch, luggage tags, travel pouch with clear vinyl front for air travel carry on items.

And the final project, a large bag with exterior and interior pockets and ultra-suede bottom with "feet". This bag is large enough for her computer and books.

And just to brag, Sophie has been bitten by the sewing bug. After her successful kids sewing class....:

 

 she had been bugging me to do another project. All on her own she Googled "easy dog shirt instructions" and found a mini PDF pattern. After helping her enlarge it to fit Sadie she chose fabric and tulle, cut out her pieces, sewed them, sewed on the tulle skirt, ALL ON HER OWN! I mentioned she needed to hem the arm and neck holes. She said she wished we had bias tape (like what is on her apron) because that is easier. So I ironed some wide grosgrain ribbon in half and she sewed that around the raw edges. And here it is as modeled by Sadie:

 

School Lunch Drama

I don't know if it's just me, but my kids' school lunches have always caused drama. We pack our lunches as TPA does not have a school lunch program, and although Ward does, the food is HORRIBLE! {Think the worst, store brand, TV dinner, well these are worse than that!}

Last year was a fail. Neither girl likes sandwiches a whole lot, and Celeste down right refuses to eat them. So most days they took an Uncrustable and snacks (granola bars, apple sauce, CheezIts, Pudding cups, cookies, etc). See what I mean? FAIL!

I am determined to make this year better. I want my kids to eat REAL food. So where did I start? Pinterest of course! We got some ideas and a good place to start: square freezable lunch boxes and sectioned containers. 

This makes it easy to give them a variety of good foods.

Here is what week one consisted of:

Main dishes: -homemade tri color pasta salad with red peppers, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, feta, and Trader Joes "Soycatosh" (soybeans, corn, red peppers).

-Toothpicks with rolls of Boarshead roast beef and Muenster cheese 

-Mini English muffin pizzas

Sides: -Home made banana bread made with applesauce in place of butter

-Smoothies made with bananas, mango, pineapple, apple juice and plain Greek yogurt (frozen, so by lunch time they are still a little slushy!)

 

-Chips and Salsa

Drink: Frozen Capri Sun (the worst part of their entire lunch!)

And guess what? They ate it and LOVED it! Success!

This week we are repeating the pasta salad, roast beef, chips and salsa, pizzas and smoothies. We are making pumpkin, raisin bread instead of banana, adding hummus and cucumber slices, Cuties, and Sophie is going to try mini whole wheat bagel sandwiches. 

Sophie's lunch

Celeste's lunch

Wish me luck in keeping up with this new routine!

(Un)Finished Projects

Does anyone else have bags of items bought for projects that you've never gotten around to? Piles of fabrics intended for greatness? Just me? Well this weekend was the time for finishing those unfinished projects!

And man does it feel good!

The girls were inspired by a super cute monkey quilt at my work and really wanted one. My answer was "no way, how about a pillow?" Celeste ran with that idea, changed it up to be a sock monkey, found a drawing to use as a pattern, chose fabric, and came up with this:

 Of course Sophie needed one too:

Anyone remember Celeste's  Minky monkey blanket and Pillow?

I have also made Alexa and all black Minky pillow, so of course Sophie needed one, too. She chose some remnant Minky from my work, and we made this:

 Another half finished project was a ruffled circle skirt Celeste chose the fabric for about 2 years ago. She said she did not want it anymore, so I finished it up for Sophie:

 I have finished all of my collected Sew-N-Go projects of travel items(8 so far, I think?) for Alexa to take to college with her. I will post those later when I get her quilt back from the quilter(made with fabric I got almost 2 years ago, sheesh!). That's right, I made a quilt all on my own, for the first time!

And because we were not busy enough, we did a Pinterest Sunday project, Moscato Cupcakes. My favorite wine in yummy cupcake form:

 I must say I am feeling quite accomplished, if not a little burned out! Now we are off to pick up Alexa's graduation thank you cards from the printer, another item checked off the list!

 

20 years

I can't believe it has been nearly a month since I've posted. It's been busy since Lexi's graduation now that the kids are all home from school. Earlier this month I traveled to Nebraska to meet up with my boys who were working in Iowa. It was a fast trip full of antique shops, visiting family, and meeting a precious new grand-niece. My intention was to drive home with Tony but we stayed too long, so I flew home with the boys. Due to a missed connection we were put up in a beautiful embassy suites for the night and bumped to first class for the return the next day. Michael says he wants to travel that way from now on as he can fit in the seats!

 Then, last Friday Tony and I celebrated our 20th anniversary! Hard to believe, I know. We went to one of my favorite places to eat for lunch, House of Tricks, in downtown Tempe. Then to a movie. Boring, we're old, whatever. 

But, that evening we went for a family bike ride on our new beach cruisers. I am happy to say that we have only missed one night of riding in more that a week. It has been so nice, and that has been with all 6 of us (plus friends most nights, too). I hope we can keep it up a while longer, however the boys are back to work this week, so we'll see. 

So here's to more family bike rides and another 20 years!

Alexa's Graduation

It seems like just yesterday we celebrated Michael's graduation and now Alexa is graduated! Time really flies!

I made a display for Alexa with all her school pictures preschool through Senior, her 3 awards from TPA for her senior year, a book of the senior photos we took, and her acceptance letter to Scripps College. 

My grad

 With her proud parents

 All six of us.

We celebrated with catered Mexican food and the best carrot cake in the world from Hollie's Hot Cakes before heading to the graduation.

 The commencement ceremony itself was really nice. The best part was, with only 52 graduates, it was over in 1 hour 7 minutes! So different from Michael's with over 300 graduates!

 Alexa receiving her diploma from Headmaster/Mayor Hugh Hallman.

 I did it!

 With her cute friend, and alphabetical neighbor, Annie Ortiz.

Proud parents again

 My joys, love these people!

 

 Big brother could not be prouder, such a good man!

 My sister Sandra, her gorgeous kiddos and hubby. So glad they could be there!

 Proud Grandparents!

 And here it is, in all it's glory, Alexa's high school diploma. Also, her cap and silver cord for graduating Magna Cum Laude.

And to think in 4 years Celeste will be graduating, the same year as Alexa will be graduating from College. Can we slow this down, pretty please?

 

Home Run

I know it has been all about Alexa lately, but I just had to share this. Alexa hit a home run, over the fence! They ended up winning this game 7 to 6, to the team ranked #3 in our division. You can't see the ball at all, but you can see Alexa raising her arms, fist pump style, as she rounds second and realizes it's over the fence and a cute little boy in white baseball pants run down the hill to get her ball.

PS, watch it with your volume down, someone was screaming like a crazy person...

Senior Photo Shoot

I've been spending my day off editing Alexa's senior photos. She was resistant to having a professional do them, so she and I trekked out to a park in Glendale (thanks Lindsey!) and took some shots. I am really pleased with them. A line from a country song keeps running through my mind as I look through these "she don't know she's beautiful". I wish she did 'cuz, man that hair, that skin, those eyes, stunning. And that booty, damn (hehe)! 

Here are a few of my favorites:

 Yes, she is intentionally out of focus!

 Beautiful!

 And a little fun with Photoshop and a fake sun flare...why not?

I still can't believe she will be a high school grad in just over a month!