spring hydrangea flower tutorial

supplies-

*felt ( wool or eco your choice)

*some sort of marking device ( i used a water soluble pen)

*embroidery thread

*metal clip if using for a hair accessory

*template

here is one on a headband i made awhile back

print template out onto cardstock.cut your flowers out of felt. you can do all of the same colors, a few different colors, or a whole bunch of colors. i chose peach and teal. cut your leaves and the circle out of felt.

start by hand sewing a flower on the edge of the circle. you can add a bead here if you want. i usually sew up two or three times to make sure the flowers will stay put. keep sewing your flowers. i bunch the flowers up and keep squeezing them in. i like a full look though. i just keep overlapping the edges and tucking others in until i like what i see. keep going until your whole circle is filled in with your flowers. fluff up the ends, tucking in some and overlapping others. now would be a good time to get the edges wet where the marker still shows up.( i obviously didn't do that before i took the pictures) you can either hand sew or hot glue your leaves on. attach a metal clip and add it to a headband if you like. this particular bunch will be used for something else. come back next week to see what!

linking...

somewhat simple, craftaholics anonymous, tatertots and jello, blue cricket design ,my frugal family

things i love thursday

*i love the new jillian micheals yoga dvd. i have most of her workout videos and they rock. this one is no exception.

*this amazing in progress transformation that my friend megan is doing to her bedroom. i cannot wait to see it! in fact i need to get my hinney over there to check it out in person. don't you love her fabric choice?

*these t-shirts from american eagle...

they were on sale for $10 last week. i love the fit, they are so comfy too. LOVE!

*have you seen napolean dynamite? of course you have. i loved it and nacho libre also. but i think the funniest movie that jared and jerusha hess have written is gentlemen broncos.

*hilarious! go check it out. and while i'm suggesting offbeat movies, have you seen king of kongs? it is soooooooo great.

*this chicken- really this is one of the best recipes i have ever made. i am dying to make it again.

* the richard-centric episode of lost. i think it was my favorite episode ever. i have always liked richard, now i love him. the acting, the questions answered, the kick butt jacob, creepy fake locke, the scene where richard was talking to dead isabella... i swear he could see and feel her, ah so good! i feel like maybe the writers will be able to pull off the things i want to know in the next 8 episodes. there are so many questions that are unanswered but i think i'm ok with that. some things just aren't all that important anymore, you know? i need to watch this whole season again, especially the last episode. i think richard has replaced desmond as the number 2 man of lost. sawyer is of course number one. jack? he's pretty low. ( ha kem!)

* chipolte - i love it. their chips are really good. i love their fajita burrito too. i think right now i am over cafe rio.

*and lastly girls night with my friends at the yummy mandarin restaurant in bountiful!

stayed tuned for a tutorial tomorrow...

spicy chicken peanut noodles

you have got to try this recipe! i got it from my husbands cousin rose, she got it from tasty kitchen, a recipe collection from the pioneer woman that i hadn't heard of before but looks amazing. thanks rose, it is my new favorite. i love it so much i plan on making it for my church relief society class that i get to teach next month.
Spicy Chicken Peanut Noodles
Ingredients -
* 4 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 1 lb. raw/peeled/cleaned shrimp
* 8 oz. dry spaghetti or linguine
* 1/4 cups dry roasted peanuts
* 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
For Marinade

* 1 T Soy sauce
* 1 T Brown sugar
* 1 T Peanut oil ( i used sesame)
* 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
For Peanut Sauce ( i took the advice of rose and 2x it)
* 1/2 c. Chicken broth
* 1/4 c. Creamy peanut butter
* 2 T Brown sugar
* 2 T Rice Vinegar
* 2 T Fresh Lime Juice
* 1 T Soy Sauce
* 1 T Fresh Ginger, minced
* 1 T Chili Garlic sauce
* 1/2 c. Fresh cilantro
For Cucumber Sambal (again, I doubled it. So good!)
* 1 c. cucumber (seed and dice if you don't use english cucs)
* 1/2 c. Scallions
* 1/4 c. Red bell pepper, diced
* 3 T Rice Vinegar
* 1 T Sugar
* 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
* 1/2 T Kosher salt

Preparation Instructions Don't be scared by the long list of ingredients. This meal is really easy to throw together. First, preheat grill to medium-high. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the spaghetti.

Combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Toss with chicken and grill for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Remove chicken from grill pan, and tent with foil while preparing the other ingredients.

Prepare the cucumber sambal by tossing together the sambal ingredients. Set aside till serving.

Cook the pasta according to pkg.

directions; drain and return to the pot. Meanwhile, prepare the peanut sauce. Heat broth, peanut butter, brown sugar, vinegar, lime juice, soy sauce, ginger, and chili garlic sauce in a saucepan over medium heat to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes.

Off heat, stir cilantro and salt, then pour sauce over pasta and toss to coat.

Top each chicken breast with pasta and cucumber sambal.

Garnish with more fresh cilantro and peanuts.

ruffle houndstooth baby blanket

linking here

and here,

and blue cricket designs here

and at someday crafts here

and here

also-check out other ruffley stuff here at ruffles and stuff

one of my friends had a new baby girl. i

wanted to make little lady a girly blankie that wasn't pink or purple.

i've been into ruffles lately and i thought "why not ruffle a blanket?"

so, ruffle i did... one side is cotton houndstooth and the other is teal flannel.

semi-fast,cute and super easy.

things i am loving as of late-

this darling poster from jenna at q.a. design etsy store these adorable and funky reconstructed hoodies from etsy seller mungo crafts ( seen on the dainty squid tumblr) i am loving this so much i can't stop thinking about it.
this amazingly cute tutorial for the little pink house seen on sew mama sew. i followed the link and explored the blog of checkout girl and everything that she does is amazing! i would love to have one made of our house.

these cookies! oh my goodness these were good. it's my free day today ( i'm doing body for life) and i wanted to make something that i could enjoy. seriously go try them. next time i make them i think i will chop some peanut butter cups up.
and of course LOST. seriously i can't even fall asleep after i watch it. i have been working out right after so i can think about what is going on for a bit. it helps my brain not feel so worthless. so what do you other losties think... is jacob good or bad? and what about the whole thing with ben? poor ben, i really actually felt sorry for him. and where the heck is sawyer? more sawyer less jack please.

it's national peanut butter day today. i love peanut butter. love love love peanut butter. mostly with chocolate, but also straight out of the jar. in honor of pb day i offer you my most favorite ways to eat pb.

*spread on graham crackers then dipped in milk

*Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake brownies modified from this recipe ( from picky palate)

Peanut butter cheesecake brownies-

1 box brownie mix prepared according to directions

8 oz softened cream cheese

1 egg

1/3 Cup sugar

10 regular size Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, cut into little pieces

1 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips

4 Tablespoons heavy cream (or milk works too)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees . make brownie mix according to directions. 2. Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Stir in egg until well combined then stir in peanut butter cups. Pour over cake layer and swirl with a knife and bake for 30 minutes or until cheesecake is cooked through Remove and let cool completely. 3. Carefully lift bars out of dish using ends of foil. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals until melted through. Stir in heavy cream and stir until glossy smooth. Spread chocolate over cheesecake layer, cut into squares and serve.

*and my most favorite??? school lunch peanut butter bars. remember those huge squares of heaven? lucky for you my great grandmother was a lunch lady and i have davis county schools peanut butter bar recipe- i made a printable copy for you to enjoy right here.

and for non treaty peanut butter stuff? thai peanut noodles. we had them last night in fact. i love these and these. long live peanut butter!!!