Banana and Macadamia Nut Topped Bagel

I went to Hawaii in June and while I was there created this delicious breakfast, which can be enjoyed anytime you need a tropical start to your day.

Start with a plain bagel (although a fruity or cinnamon flavored would be tasty too). Toast until desired doneness.

Spread on whipped cream cheese. Then top with sliced apple bananas. 

These are apple bananas:

(source)

Top the bananas with sliced macadamia nuts and drizzle with honey. I used Mac Nut brand honey, purchased at the local farmers' market and honey roasted macadamia nuts. 

Enjoy! And if you can't enjoy your tropical breakfast with a view, here's mine :)

 Aloha! 

Waterproofing Matches

Remember when I said I'd post something about waterproofing your matches and I still haven't? Well, surprise! That's what today's post is about. We waterproofed matched because they were going to be next to food and I didn't want anything to taste weird or the matches be impacted either. This is also good for a summer post since grilling out and camping trips that happen in the summer typically require fire. It's rather easy to waterproof your matches.
You need a candle or wax and matches.
 Let the candle burn for a while so you have plenty of melted wax to work with. Or melt wax in a small dish. This doesn't have to be very deep. We used a tea candle.

Then dip the match's tip into the melted wax. Make sure you coat all of the tip. I got some of the stick to just to make sure it was coated completely. The dip in the wax doesn't need to last too long either and one coat works just fine. Make sure you don't ignite the match while dipping in the candle.

Then let dry. My mom and I stuck them in holes we had punched in a graham cracker box so they would dry rounded and undamaged. Since it's wax, they dry and cool very quickly.

And you're done. See, told you it was super easy.

Low Calorie Wrap

I LOVE this wrap. It's super yummy and quick to make. AND it's only around 200 calories! Yes, 200 calories people.
Ingredients:
Flour Tortilla
Lite Ranch Dressing
Feta
Turkey
Lettuce


Starting with a flour tortilla (120 calories) add some lite ranch dressing (half a serving is 40 calories and plenty of dressing). Spread that around.

In the center of the tortilla, add some feta. A full serving is 80 calories and is a tablespoon; I halved that since feta is a strong flavor and it was just enough.

Next, layer on some turkey (30 calories) or other lunch meat like roast beef or ham which are both yummy in this wrap, too.

On top of that, add some lettuce (2 calories...if that!)

Now roll it up and enjoy your delicious wrap!

Sauteed Veggies

One of my favorite ways to prepare veggies is to saute them. It's pretty easy. I like to get a mixed bunch of vegetables. I typically get broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and snow peas. It works best if you  have pan with a nice fitting lid. This will help trap in the moisture. On medium heat, add some olive oil to the pan. Then throw in your veggies. Make sure the vegetables get coated in the olive oil. You can add more oil on top of them as well. I found wooden spoons to help in mixing up the veggies the best. I like to add a touch of garlic or garlic salt. It enhances the flavors but don't put too much in that it over powers tastes. Add some regular salt as well. Stir every once in a while. It really depends on how much you're cooking as too how long you need to saute the veggies. Make sure you keep the lid on as much as possible. When the veggies have turned a brighter green (minus the cauliflower) then they are ready to go!

*The broccoli is what turns the brightest green. I usually gauge if they're done or not by the color of the broccoli. And yes, that's homemade fried chicken as well :)

The 30-minute, $5 Shrug shrug

(Yes, shrug shrug.)

Next month, I'll have the honor of presenting one of the 2011 Whitney Awards. I have a dress I really like, but it's sleeveless and a little too low in the back (we don't do sleeveless!). In the past, I've worn a beautiful pashmina-style scarf, but it's just a little too big for this event, and I really love the top and waist detail of the dress, which tend to get lost with a big coverup.

So I decided to sew a shrug. I looked for the easiest pattern I could find, and I came across Modest Prom's 30-minute, $5 shrug pattern. It's very easy (easier than it sounds from the description, or at least to me!) to sew, and it really did come together in 30 minutes or less. (Since I used a medium weight fashion knit, I didn't bother with hemming the edge.)

To make the shrug, you get 1/2 yard of 45" fabric, and sew the short ends together, right sides in (of course). Then you move that seam to the middle of the fabric "tube" and sew one long side together, starting and stopping 6" from either end. For added style, fold that last seam open and run a straight perpendicular line of gathering stitches in the middle of the last seam.

See? Sounds complicated, but it's really easy--I only had to sew 4 straight lines to make this! (There are also drawings on the pattern page that might help you.)

So why do I call it the "shrug shrug"? Because I can't really decide if I want to wear it. The sleeves are a little looser than I'd like, and the back covers up the waist detail I love so much. And I like the fabric--but I'm not sure I like it with this dress.

What to do?

What's your favorite way to stay modest?

Bow Brooch

A while ago I saw this really cute blouse on Pinterest. Pinterest tells me a while ago = 20 weeks:

Source: harrods.com via Jaime on Pinterest

I loved it! I decided that it's just a black tee with a big bow brooch. I thought, "I can make that" What can I say, I'm Wayward?

But this craft is easy. Really easy.

Materials:
36" x 6" of fabric
Matching thread

Tools: 
Scissors
Sewing Machine
Iron

Here's my fabric, recognize it?

First, fold your fabric length wise (hot dog) with the wrong side facing out. Then press the fold. You don't have to do it this way, but I like to because then I don't need to use pins when sewing.

 

Sew a seam along the edge of the fabric (but don't do it in the dark like I did...or my camera makes it look like I did)

 

Pull inside out, hem the bottoms of the tube you've just made. Iron again. Tie in a bow. Adhere a pin back to the back like this one

Total it took about 15 minutes from start to finish (I'm guessing, I got distracted)

Next time I think I'll make it even bigger!

PS Happy Birthday to my best friend, BLBP. She is the recipient of the lovely Blue Pigs quilt by my mom from last fall.

Pillow Case Dress

Jaime is being featured on Love Sweet Love today! Be sure to check out her guest post!

Tonight at a church activity we made pillow case dresses to donate to a foundation that distributes dresses and other clothing to less fortunate children. One of the greatest ways to spread the holiday cheer other than singing loud for all to hear is serving others. What better way to serve others than providing clothing for children all over the world who need it. The dresses were pretty easy and something I thought would be nice to share here!
The website has the directions to make the dress. A whole bunch of ladies in our local congregation created an assembly line so we could make the dresses faster. It was a great experience (minus the part where I messed up and got the bobbin thread stuck, that wasn't so fun.) Here are a few of the finished dresses!

I will post pictures of the ones I need to finish up tomorrow. You can easily add pockets, bows or other embellishments to these dresses as well!

Mother's Day Cards for Kids, 2 pop-up cards for children to make.

Here are 2 more cards for children to make for Mother's Day--- or any other day!

First, you will need two pieces of paper the same size. They can be the same color or coordinating colors.  You will also need scraps of printed paper, markers, and scissors.

First: Fold one of the pieces of paper in half hamburger style. Fold in one corner on the fold as shown below..

 

Open the card and refold the triangle as shown.

Write your message on the inside of the card. Then, cut out a shape that you like. (The heart is shown below.) Carefully tape or glue it on the center foldline. You will want to make sure it will lie flat when you close the card. You may need to reposition it. (I did several times.)

Close the care and apply glue on the outside of the card, both top and bottom. Fold the remaining piece of paper in half and put it over the first card. (It will be a cover.)

Decorate the outside and you are all set!

PopUp Card 2

(I learned this on EnchantedLearning.com and used it in my classroom, too.)

First, you will need two pieces of paper the same size. They can be the same color or coordinating colors.  You will also need scraps of printed paper, markers, and scissors.

First: Fold one of the pieces of paper in half hamburger style. Make two cuts (about 1 1/2" long) on the folded edge of the card.

 I have darkened the lines for easier viewing.I have also drawn dotted lines to show where to fold, but you don't need to draw lines. Fold down the two cut sides. Open the card and push the folded flaps to the inside.

From the outside, it will look like this:

Now, make 2 more cuts and folds as shown. Your popups will have a stairstep effect.

Study the photo above to see which flaps come forward and which go back. (I learn better from photos than words.)

Now it is time to decorate your card.  For this garden motif, cut flowers and stems and glue them as shown,. I thought animals or jewels might also be nice.

Finally, you are going to glue the second piece of paper on the outside, just like card 1.

Enjoy!