Inspired Spotlight -

It's Thursday, so you know what that means!  It's Hanna from  bouffe e bambini!

Hello Patchwork Cronicles readers!!! 

I'm so honored to be guest blogging today on Beth's blog. My name is Hanna and I have a blog called bouffe e bambini, which very roughly translates to "food and babies." I named my blog that because those are the two things I enjoy the most. I started a blog during my pregnancy with my first baby because a friend suggested I might enjoy it. I hardly even knew what a blog was let alone how to write one. I kept up that blog for about a year and I loved it but it was geared more towards family only so I decided to start another blog where I could share recipes and highlight handmade shops that I loved. 

So bouffe e bambini was born. I currently only feature handmade on my blog. All my sponsors and giveaways are handmade only! Even though I don't have a shop myself, I am passionate about protecting the handmade trade! 

I feature lots of recipes on bouffe e bambini. I love to cook and I find that the blog helps to keep me motivated and eager to try new things. My husband and I both love to cook and eat. In fact, that's how we plan our vacations, around where we would like to eat. We planned out entire honeymoon around food and went to Italy! It was the most amazing culinary experience I've ever had! 

I have two children. Little Milton is 16 months and Ginger is just 7 weeks. I have my hands full:) I am also a nurse by trade and am going to be going back to work next month.

Today I am going to share a recipe for Potato Leek soup. 

Because I have two small children, I find that one pot meals work the best for me. So I am always on the hunt for new and exciting ideas. I came up with this one last week and thought it turned out GREAT! I hope you enjoy!!

Potato Leek Soup

Ingredients:

1 package of bacon

3 leeks, thinnly sliced

3 carrots, peeled and diced

2 celery Stalks, diced

1 onion, diced

4 toes of garlic, pressed in garlic press

5-8 russet or yukon gold potatoes peeled and chopped

3 quarts of chicken stock

1 tsp. cayenne

1 pint cream

Garnish: 

sour cream

fresh chives

Recipe:

In a large pot cook entire package of bacon until crisp. Remove and chop for garnish. Set aside. Now saute leeks, carrots, celery, onion and garlic in the bacon drippings for about 15-20 minuets or until carrots are soft and leeks are falling apart. Next pour in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add potatoes and simmer until potatoes are soft (about 15 min). Now add cream, cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste. 

Garnish with fresh chives, sour cream, and bacon bits.

I also made blue corn jalepeno muffins to serve on the side. I made them from a box that I found at Whole Foods but you could just as easily use a box of Jiffy Corn Bread mix! 

easy and oh so delicious!

I can not wait to try this recipe!  I tired leeks for the first time this last Thanksgiving and I am in LOVE!!  Thanks Hanna for sharing with us!  You really should go check out her awesome, amazing blog!!  She has some yummy recipes on it -- and her kids are ADORABLE!

Joy of Luck – Day 1

Prompt: What inanimate object/thing/concept is something that you take for granted on a daily basis?  What would someone who is not as fortunate as you are say about your “luck” to have such a thing in  your life?  Think about your blessings today – (don’t focus on people for this one…that will come later)…focus on opportunity/experience/something you have/do EVERYDAY that is an unforeseen blessing in your life.

According to statistics, only 30% of mommas are able to stay home and care for their young children.  That is not a very high number.  It seems to me that the number has been rising over the past few years, but it is still very low.  I am one of those stay at home moms.

I don’t show my thankfulness for this near enough!  Seriously!  My hubby works his tush off trying to provide for our family just so that I can enjoy being home with my children.  Does he ever want me to go back to work?  Nope….

That is something I should REALLY be thankful for!

It’s easy to get stuck in the day to day with all the baths, homework, discipline, dirty toilets, and slamming doors.  But would I rather be somewhere else letting someone else raise my children?

Not at all!

Do I tell my hubby often enough how much “I LOVE HIM AND THANK HIM?”

Absolutely NOT!

Today I am reminding myself that I need to be more thankful for the joy that he gives me in allowing me to be at stay at home momma AND also to find the joy in the everyday mundane tasks that come with it.

What is your joy that you take for granted on a daily basis?

Join Willette Designs to take part in her series on the “Joy of Luck”.  For 17 days she will email you a photo/blog prompt and then you will blog, write, meditate about it.

Mmmm…mmmm…Good!

This is my hubby’s favorite breakfast right now.

I “think” this could be what “Huevos Rancheros” are.  Please don’t hold me to that though.  I’m don’t have a lick of Mexican background to support that thinking :)

They are DELICIOUS!  I know it doesn’t look appetizing in the pics, but this is one time you must TRUST ME!

Simple ingredients:  Corn tortillas, onion, eggs, salt and pepper.  Chop your tortillas.

 

Fry them in a little oil until they are crispy.  Soggy tortillas aren’t good :(

 

Add the onions and cook until they are translucent.

  

Add the eggs and scramble it all together.

Simple as that!!

How much you use depends on how many you are feeding.  I always just eyeball it and just when I think I am going to have leftovers, I NEVER DO!  That’s just how good they are.  As a general rule, I use about 6 corn tortillas, one small onion, and about 6 eggs.

Try it!  You’ll like it!

My “Hoopster”

James and his buddy, Jackson, participated in a basketball clinic a couple weeks ago. 

Yep, I’m late in posting.  ‘Tis my life.

Back to the story.

They had a blast!

 

PRICELESS!

They can’t wait until third grade when they can actually play on a basketball team!

Pay it Forward 2011

I came across this awesome “Blog Party” going on over at A Woman's Haven although I found it through a blog I follow at Liberty Original.  Follow that?

Here's how it works:

• Be one of the first five people to comment on this post

• You will receive something handmade from me within the next few months

• Post about Pay it Forward on your blog/social media site of choice, and send something handmade to the first five people who comment on your post before 2011 is over. Keep the craftiness going!

• You can send anything, big or small, it just must be handmade.

Pretty cool, huh?.  I have of a couple rules I want to add though.  If you know me, then you know I am guilty of being forgetful.  With that being said, I am going to get my handmade items sent to everyone within one month of you commenting.  Also when you comment, please leave a preference as far as favorite colors.  I’m not sure what I am going to be creating yet as I have a lot of ideas but this will help me create something that you will enjoy.

Will you Pay It Forward?

I Get Hacked ALOT!

Do you know my husband?

He really is “funny”!  At least he thinks he is most of the time.

Case in point – he likes to hack my Facebook account!

I can only imagine what people that don’t have a clue who he is think about him {or me for that matter}.

Don’t think he is onery and down right irritating sometimes?  Here are some of his “hacks” from the past month.

I'm sitting on the couch eating bon bons watching Judge Judy and I realize how lucky I am to have such a hot sexy husband Brian Eaton. He's the bee's knee's!!!!

I sure can't wait for my handsome and smart husband to bred me!!!! he has big muscles too. well back on the chain to make breakfast and do the dishes.

I think im gonna watch an all my children marathon. I'll just make Brian Eaton, my very good looking husband do the laundry and dishes today. he usually does anyway im a lucky girl!!!

you would think that she'd learn not to keep her facebook open when i'm around. duh

I guess I don’t learn.

I really should have posted all the comments to these statuses but I really didn’t think you had all day to sit and read those.  There really could get an award for the funniest and most lengthy ever, I think.

He thinks he’s so funny.  It’s amazing how the things that you fell in love with become the things that irritate you the longer you have been together.  His oneryness is to much to handle sometimes.  Through all of that I still love him though.  He keeps me laughing and smiling for sure!

By the way, we are not doing anymore “breeding”.  I am done! 

I Need This Reminder Today

Today, I need this reminder.

Let them be little!

Stained carpets, messy rooms, fingerprinted walls...

Little white lies, hiding from trouble,  dishonesty...

I must remember that these are all parts of growing up....

Let them be little...for they won't be like this for long!

I love my kiddos.  I don't think they always "feel" it though.

Time For My Stillness

“People who find time for stillness are people who have the energy and perspective to stay on top of their hectic ‘outer’ lives.”

By the way – this is the BEST WINE I have ever tasted.  And yep – it’s a twist top.   I’m cheap!

But it’s sooooo good!

Inspired Spotlight -

It's time for my Inspired Spotlight Thursday!  Welcome Ashley from Ashley's Crafts.

Hi, I'm Ashley and I was so flattered when Beth asked me if I'd be a part of her Inspired Spotlight Thursdays! I'm excited to be here with you all today. My husband and I have been together for just over 5 years (married just over 4). He goes to school and works, while I stay at home with our beautiful, opinionated, almost 3 year old daughter.

Just like many other mommy bloggers out there, crafting is a release for me. It helps keep me sane. I like to consider myself a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. So you'll find a little bit of everything on my blog, from cards and sewing (including refashions), to recipes and some holiday decor.

Beth asked me to share why I started blogging. This is actually a story I haven't shared. When I created my blog it was called "Ashley's Stamps". I was a new demonstrator for a rubber stamp company and needed somewhere to showcase current promos and cards I had created. Well I failed miserably at being a sales(wo)man. So when my family blog became bombarded with all of my crafty creations (I'm great at making stuff, just not selling it) I decided to switch my stamp blog over to a craft blog and I love it. Blogging is my little guilty pleasure..well, that and chocolate.

I thought I would share with you all a little tutorial. I haven't written many tutorials, so bare with me! Let's talk bridesmaid dresses. Most of us have at least one (or 5) hanging in the closet. I only have 1 dress that was casual enough that I would wear it again (and I have) but I have several that just sit there taking up space. Which is unfortunate given how much they can cost. So I decided to use up some of that nice expensive fabric!

Here is what the dress looked like originally (it went all the way down to the floor).

First, I found a skirt that I liked the fit of and pinned the fabric around it. If you don't have a skirt that you can use as a template, you can measure around the widest part of your hips and cut the whole thing that width.

You'll want to decide how long you want it and add about 6 inches. Here it is cut out, make sure you leave enough room for a seam allowance. Now sew along the pins. At this point, I would try it on and see if you need to take it in or let it out at all.

I don't have pictures for this next part, but it is pretty straight forward. Make a casing at the top for the elastic waistband. I like to serge the top edge so that I only have to fold the fabric over once, but you could do a traditional casing (fold over about 1/4 inch and then another 1/2-1 inch depending on the width of your elastic). Insert the elastic.

Now you'll need to cut 6 pieces of narrow elastic to the length that you want the finished skirt to be (for me that was 20 inches). Find the half way point on the length of your skirt (for me - around 12 inches) along with the half way point of your elastic.

Pin together along the side seams.

Starting right above the bottom hem (I used the existing hem) sew the elastic to the skirt with just a few stitches.

Since your elastic is much shorter than your skirt fabric, you'll need to stretch the elastic as you sew. Just pull it until it lays even with the fabric.

Before pulling the elastic.

While pulling the elastic.

Now you should have two pieces of elastic sewn to your skirt. Next you'll add two more pieces to the front and two to the back. Just measure the distance between your side seams (18 inches) and divide by three (6 inches) so you know how far apart to space the other two pieces of elastic. I know I took pictures of this process, but they have somehow disappeared.

That's it! You should now have a skirt that looks something like this.

And if you have enough scraps left over, you can even make a matching one for a small person in your life.

Thanks, Beth, for having me here today!
---------------
Thank you for being with me today, Ashley!
Make sure you stop by her blog HERE and say "hi".

Fabric Swap Link-Up

Hey ladies - if you participated in my fabric swap it's time to link up all those wonderful goodies that you got!

Here what I need from:

1.  Create a blog post about the Fabric Swap Party.

2.  Come back here and add your actual blog post {not your main blog} to the linky party so everyone can see what you got.

3.  Then you're done!

EASY PEASY!!

I can't wait to see what everyone shares!  Leave me a comment if you enjoyed this and want to participate in another swap party and what you would like it to be!

Hoo Are You!

Night Owl Crafting is hosting a “Hoo Are You” again!

Here are this week's questions!

1. Do you make a budget and keep it, or just fly by the seat of your pants?

2. Do you do spring cleaning and if so which month?

3. Are you a yard sale lover and do you have them and go to them?

4. What do you take when you have a headache?

5. Name 3 things that you feel lucky to have in your life!

My Answers!

1.  Psshhttt….I wish we made a budget and stuck to it!  We really do try but it always flies out the window.  I know there is so much more we could do if I could just stick to a budget but it’s just so dang hard.

2.  I do “some” spring cleaning but it isn’t really scheduled.  Just whenever the day hits me and I feel “in the mood” to clean.  I am typically a “tosser” when it comes to cleaning too.  I get tired of having clutter around and will toss lots of stuff when I’m in cleaning mode.  Sometimes to my dismay, a few weeks later I wish I hadn’t.

3.  I love yard sales.  I rarely find good stuff that I want to buy though.  It still doesn’t stop me from browsing though.  I DON’T have garage sales!  They are too much work for not any money really.  Not for what I have anyways.  Remember I like to throw stuff away.  People would be better off coming and going through my trash cans and getting some cool stuff for free.  Or going to Goodwill on the days I drop off.

4.  I used to take Tylenol or Motrin.  Then when it was determined that I suffered from migraines I took a prescription medication.  Now, thanks to my chiropractor, I DON’T TAKE ANYTHING!  That is something for me to give praises to the Lord about! 

5.  I am thankful that my hubby allows me to be a stay at home momma and wife.  I don’t show him near enough how much I appreciate that!  TODAY, I am thankful for the sunshine!  We have had such a crazy winter and I am so ready for spring and warmer weather. 

Want to link up to “Hoo Are You”?  Go to NIGHT OWL CRAFTING.

I’m Feeling A Little “Green”

St. Patty’s Day will be here before we know it.  I usually don’t do ANY decorating for the holiday but this year I decided, “What the heck?”

I’m not Irish, I didn’t grow up going all out celebrating St. Patty’s Day, so I just don’t do it with my kids.  The most that we usually do the holiday is making some green food.  Growing up my mother always made me green Cream of Wheat!  I loved that stuff!!

Back to the decor – I’ve seen these vases on candlesticks all over and so I decided to throw some of my own together.  I’m glad I did!  They are going to be sooo versatile!  I can already think of stuff I want to do with them for some other upcoming holidays.

I stayed cheap on this, just because that’s how we roll.  Better yet, that’s how my hubby says, “I better roll!”  I already had the candlesticks.  I purchased two vases, a sheet of Patty’s Day window clings, and two shimmery wire garlands. 

$5 TOTAL!

I have to admit, I have NEVER thought of using window clings on vases!  I’m liking that it!