Warm and Fuzzy

I'm in love with these darling mittens from Oeuf. It would be so sweet to be walking about with your little one holding your gloved hand and keeping warm in more ways than one. A mitten within a mitten. Sweet.

Carseat Canopy #2

So I managed to sneak in making a new carseat canopy for Ava this week. This one matches her carseat better and is more gender-neutral for possible future use. The fabric is by Riley Blake, from Material Girls.I did orange stitching just for fun.Oops, how did this cute little girl get in here? Obviously I just can't get enough of her!

Baby A's Pillowcase Top

Baby {A} finally fits in another one of her skirts, but on Saturday I realized she had no shirt to match. So in 15 minutes, and with some leftover material, I made her this top. It's a basic Pillowcase Dress shortened to be a shirt. Only I measured wrong and it ended up way to skinny and barely fit around her tummy! She still needs a few months before she can stand up to model her clothes for us.

Recipe Share: Zuppa Toscana

Here's a savory soup recipe to keep you warm during this cold winter. This is an imitation of the Olive Garden soup, and it's quite delicious.

Super-Delicious Zuppa Toscana

1 lb. bulk mild Italian Sausage
1 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 large onion, diced
1 Tbsp minced garlic
5 (13.75 oz) cans chicken broth
6 potatoes, thinly sliced*
1 c heavy cream
1/4 bunch fresh kale, torn up, tough stems removed

Cook the Italian sausage and red pepper flakes over medium-high heat until crumbly, browned, and no longer pink (10-15 min.). Drain, but leave a little oil in the pan and set aside.
Cook onions and garlic in same pan with drippings. Cook until onions are soft and transluscent, about 5 minutes.
Pour the chicken broth into the pot with the onions; bring to a boil over high heat. Add the potatoes and boil until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and stir in the heavy cream and the cooked sausage and the kale; heat through.

*I use a food processor to slice the potatoes (with skins on) very thin like the restaurant does

Watercolor Portrait Tutorial

I saw this tutorial on Craftster and I think I'm going to have to make one. It would be great to do family portraits like this, one of me, one of my hubby and one of little {A}. And oh so easy. I might have to buy new masking fluid though, mine is prettttty old.

Happy New Year!

Yeah, yeah, I'm a few days late on this. Happy New Year all the same!

I love making goals/resolutions, and lists, and self-improvement in all it's many manifestations. I like to write my NY Resolutions in categories to help myself be well balance and not overwhelmed. My resolutions include specific improvements in the following areas: Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Social, Emotional, Family. For example in the physical arena my goal is to complete a century ride (100 mile road bike race) and participate in the Ragnar/Wasatch Back relay (running).

Anyone have any resolutions they want to share? I always find people's resolutions so inspiring!

Ava's Blessing Dress

We blessed {A} on Sunday, so I made this little dress for her. I used a pattern for the top bodice part, but modified the sleeve so it wasn't puffy. The rest I made up.