Star Pancakes

Have you ever tried to make shape pancakes before?  I can honestly say that I have attempted many times, but have never been too successful.  When I try to free-hand it things get sloppy, and all my cookie cutters are plastic so they melt in the pan.  What is a girl to do?  I love celebrating the holidays and birthdays with fun breakfast ideas, but the pancakes make me so angry!

Well, the other morning I was determined to make some star pancakes to celebrate the 4th.  DUH!!!  It hit me.  Make a regular pancake, but just before you are ready to take it off the griddle, push a cookie cutter into the pancake just enough to make the shape without cutting into the entire thing.  Ta Da!  It worked just splendidly.  Little miss was so excited to get star pancakes, and I was so proud that I wasn't handing her a heap of messy pancakes that didn't turn out.  This would be so easy for any holiday!  I have 150 cookie cutters, so the possibilities are endless!!

Potato Bacon Stir Fry

So, occasionally I get so wrapped up in a project I don't realize it is even time to get dinner ready until the hubs walks through the door and asks what we are having.  Sigh.  I don't know!  Well, last night I do what I do best and grabbed some stuff out of the fridge, threw it in a pan, and made some homemade deliciousness!  I can honestly say of all the things I have thrown together to make a meal, this is by far my favorite, and it will be part of our regular dinner rotation from now on.  Want to know how to make it?

Potato Bacon Stir Fry

5 Medium Potatoes

1 cup sliced carrots

1-2 chicken breasts

3 slices of bacon

1/2 cup chopped asparagus

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 Tbs. butter

Directions:
Wash and cut potatoes and carrots into small pieces.  Place in a pot and boil for about 9 minutes (or until mostly tender with a fork.  Don't overcook them--it will make the end product mushy).  In the meantime, cube chicken and bacon and place in frying pan.  Cook over medium heat until the chicken is lightly browned and the bacon is cooked.  TIP: if you stick the slices of bacon in the freezer for a few minutes before you start, it will be much easier to cut into small pieces.  Slice the asparagus and add it to the chicken and bacon.  Drain the water from the potatoes and carrots, and add them to the frying pan.  Add the butter to the pan and stir all ingredients together.  Stir constantly until the butter is melted and the potatoes are a little bit crispy on the outside--about three minutes.  Empty this pure deliciousness onto the plates and sprinkle with cheese.  Super yummy for the tummy.  Enjoy!

Star Hair

So I decided it was time to get creative with the hair dos for little miss.  She is almost two, and her hair is getting long.  I hate to leave it down because she hates having it in her face.  I wasn't sure I could pull off the star, but it worked great!  Again, I forgot to take some step-by-step pictures, but I can tell you how I did it ;)

First, separate the top of the hair into three sections and tie off.  These will be called the "top piggies".  Make the middle section the biggest as you will need two braids.  Now divide the bottom half into two sections (like pig tails).  Start back up at the top with braids.  Divide the middle pony into two sections.  Braid one half and leave the other half for the time being.  Take the braid and add it into the corresponding bottom piggy tail (I just add elastics as I go).  Repeat with the other top braid.  The hair should have 4 piggies left and a ^ shape in the braids so far.

Next, braid the bottom piggies and add them to the opposite sides of the top left and right piggies as to make the crossing part of the star.  Now take the right, top piggy and separate it into two sections.  Leave one section hanging as the piggy and braid the other.  Take the braid straight across to the other top left piggy and tie it in.  Now you should have a star with two side piggies left over!  Clear as mud?  Next time I'll take more pictures.  Enjoy!

My Old Skirt Refashioned

 Have you ever gone through your closet only to find clothes from five years ago that you haven't worn in forever?  I do that constantly.  I used to convince myself that certain clothes would be worth hanging on to because I would eventually wear it.  You all know how that goes...you never end up wearing it!  Well, lately I have been taking those clothes that I couldn't part with and making them into clothes for the little miss.  She loves, loves, loves dresses so this turned out to be a big hit.  I am a dork, however, and forgot to take pictures during the process.  Oopsie!

 Basically I cut out one side of the skirt, but made sure to keep the zipper so I could use it for the back of the dress.  I used the scraps to make some easy sleeves.  I then attached some lace that I had to make a sash (every princess dress needs a sash, right?).  When I held the dress up to little miss, I realized it was a bit long.  What is a girl to do?  Ah... gather!  I simply took small chunks of the dress on the inside and sewed them together to create the gathered effect on the outside of the dress.

Don't I have the cutest model ever?!  Now I can sleep at night knowing the skirt is being used :)

A New Blog For a New Beginning

I have a blog that I post refashions, crafts, and things I do to update my house on a budget, but it is also the blog that I write all about my family and the things we are up to.  I decided it was time to separate the two sides of my world so that readers interested in making stuff wouldn't have to read about how excited my toddler was to see fireworks.  As a bonus, now my family and close friends don't have to look at how I turned my old skirt into a princess dress for my little girl.  I figure this is a win-win situation for everyone--I just hope I can keep up on all the things I want to post!