And the Winner is...

I used Random.org to select a winner of the fabric scrap bag. And the winner is Kristen!

Congratulations Kristen! Please contact me with your mailing address and I will get it sent out to you!

Double Stitching

Here's a nice little piece on how to sew with a double needle, something I've never done but that I've wanted to try. Now I now how. From Bolt Neighborhood, via Craft.

Scrap Bag Giveaway!

Spring means spring cleaning, and that means a giveaway! I've got a bag of fabric scraps to give away. Some of them are very small scraps, others are a bit bigger. You can play around with a bunch of new fabrics and have some fun!  I don't have a very large audience for my blog, so if you want it, you have a great chance of getting it. Just leave me a comment and I'll randomly choose a winner next Friday. And if you are the only one who leaves a comment, well hey, it's yours!

And here are some ideas of what you can make with scraps:

(from Heather Bailey)

(from Anna Maria Horner)

(button earrings, ponytails, bobbypins, hairclips, etc. from Blue Manatee)

(pee pee teepees from Bippity Boppity Baby)

(burp cloths, bibs, onesie appliques from So Bright Designs)

(fabric camera strap from Made by Megz)

(ties for your little guy from Mellon Monkeys)

The possibilities are endless. What would you make?

Recipe Share: Jerk Chicken with Rice, Black Beans, and Pineapple

This recipe is from Real Simple. Ryan and I both quite liked it.

Ingredients:

1 c long-grain white rice

1/4 c cider vinegar

1/4 c spiced rum or orange juice

2 Tbsp jerk sauce (such as Pickapeppa Sauce)

1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger

4 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts

kosher salt & pepper

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

8 oz fresh pineaplle, cut into 1-inch pieces (don't even think about using canned pineapple, come on!)

1 bunch scallions, sliced

Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, combine the vinegar, rum, jerk sauce, and ginger in a small bowl; set aside. Pound the chicken to an even thickness. Season it with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned, about 4 minutes per side. Remove from heat and add the vinegar mixture. Return the skillet to low heat and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 2 minutes. Divide the chicken and sauce among plates. Stir the beans into the rice. In a medium bowl, combine the pineapple and scallions. Serve both with the chicken.

(Tip: the jerk sauce shouldn't overwhelm the other ingredients. Taste yours before adding it--if it's too spicy, cut the amount you use in half.)

Sweet Sushi

For Ryan's birthday we went out for sushi--yum! And then we came home and had this sushi for dessert! Can't get enough sushi, what can I say? It's made of rice krispie treats, gummy worms, swedish fish and fruit roll-ups. Happy birthday, Ryan!

Sorry About the Absence

Sorry I haven't posted anything for so long! I made a little dress last week for Ava, so once I can get a decent photo I will post it, hopefully before the end of the week. I've been spending my few free moments to train for an upcoming biking event. Sorry for the creative drought!