Blue Maiden: totus tuus

After a much needed break, I have decided to start blogging again. But not here. I will now be blogging at Life in Your Years. Come visit. :)

Posted by Jennifer B at 10:04 | 0 comments Links to this post  

Lately I have been reading a lot on the Domestic Church and it's traditions. Unfortunately, every book has a gap between Trinity Sunday to the Assumption/Dormition of Mary. Since today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart I have been trying to find celebrations and traditions associated with this holy day. I haven't had a whole lot of luck, sadly. What I have found is several sites I think would readily help me to develop traditions for my own Domestic Church. I blogged about them on Per Christum. One thought was to make something with strawberries, since they are in season and are (sort-of) heart-shaped. With this in mind I just had to post this recipe for Strawberries with Cream Cheese Filling from Southern Foods. I first had them at Carmel's baby shower. They are so good! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Ingredients:

* 32 fresh whole strawberries, large
* 11 to 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar (or Splenda in our house, lol)
* 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
* 2 tablespoons semisweet or milk chocolate, grated

Preparation:
Cut a thin slice from the stem end of each strawberry, allowing the berries to stand upright on flattened end. Place berries, cut side down, on a serving platter. Cut each berry carefully into 4 wedges, cutting almost to, but not through, bottoms. Fan wedges just slightly, taking care not to break; set berries aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and almond extract until light and fluffy. Gently fold in grated chocolate. Using a teaspoon or decorating bag with decorative tip, fill the strawberries. If desired, sprinkle with a little more grated chocolate. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
Makes about 32 filled strawberries.

Posted by Jennifer B at 10:01 | 0 comments Links to this post  
Labels: church, food

Recently I've picked up embroidery, and I love it! Not only is it relaxing, it is faster then say, knitting. I still like to knit. I just knit very slowly. Embroidery, right now, is a quick, crafty fix. I can sew any doodle I might have on the corner of my note paper or any drawing I might come across. So far, I have made a bib, this towel, and a few scrap doodles. I have yet to try any counted stitches, just embroidery stitches. For whatever reason, the counted stitches seem complicated at the moment. Well just not as quick. :)

This baby bath towel is for my newest niece, Grace. When I was younger, I loved these towels. The little "hat" corner was great because it kept the towel from sliding. Great for the imagination. In the second photo you can see the underside of the "hat."
I must (shamefully) admit to knotting several threads as I stitched. I was worried how these knots would rub Grace's little head. To fix this, and be cause the canvas material is so stiff, I cut up a wash clothe and sewed it in as backing. I say shamefully because technically you are not supposed to knot embroidery. The stitches are supposed to support and bind each other. However, the weave on this fabric was not really intended for what I made. It was intended for cross stitch. This caused several threads to pop through if tugged too much. It also caused me headaches with the design in general. The needle preferred to enter the pre-laid holes, however the pattern itself rarely followed them. I think it is most notable in the bubbles. It was frustrating and I had to walk away from it a few times. I'm glad I did because I'm happy with the finished project.

The bib was not on the cross stitch fabric. This made it 100% easier and faster to complete. Of course it had other issues. Like me melting the insides, lol. Originally, it was a quilted bib, but after I ironed on the transfer it became a flat, slightly stiff bib. Oh well it still came out super cute. Since it was no longer quilted, I decided to iron on some water proof backing. This actually made it usable. If left quilted with no backing, it would have merely been decorative.


I thought I took a photo of the bib, but it wasn't in the photos David downloaded. Maybe it is on his external drive. I will look. ***Update: I could not find a photo of it. I uploaded a photo of the pattern. It is a vintage pattern, purchased from Primrose Design.***

I know two posts in two days... my average has been three a month. Lol. I told you I had fun to share. :)

Posted by Jennifer B at 06:26 | 3 comments Links to this post  
Labels: crafts

Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie wants to see organizing baskets at work. While it's not quite a basket, I've been dying to show you my crazy, slightly over-ambitious, organizing project. Unfortunately, it has been stuck on my new camera, along with just about everything else I've wanted to post, for the past 4 months. But, I finally remembered to ask David to upload the photos. After long last, I have pictures to show. Woo hoo!

And I must show them. Here is the finished project:


What is it? It is a portable office for David.

I love my husband, but he is a messy person. Mostly, his mess consists of office items which would usually be contained within the walls of his office. But the office has lapsed into a disaster again and, well, it never got used anyways. Besides, he has a laptop so the office goes where ever it goes. This is usually to the floor in front of the TV. Have I mentioned he also eats there? (I am telling such family secrets today.) :) Papers, mail, plates, etc. orbit around his computer at all times. Between upkeep of two websites, two blogs and the occasional online class, plus prep for his students, his computer is attached to his hip...er hands. I am glad he has a laptop, otherwise he'd disappear into the office never to be seen again! But the mess. My biggest worry was that I would trip on some cord and knock a glass of water onto some important paper, or worse, on the computer itself! I'm horribly clumsy like that. Thus, I have been on a quest to contain this portable mess... er "office". But how?

One day, as I was watching Northanger Abbey, I saw this scene:

(I love Austin. I could write a whole post just on her. But I won't bore you when there is organization to be had!) My thoughts ran something like this:

"Ooo Isabella you mor.. Hey! David needs one of those desks!"

Of course, he'll tell you needs is a relative term.

I decided I must find one! I ran to search Wal-mart and Hobby Lobby for something similar. But, with no luck. :( I figured I'd just have to look online. I gave up my search and headed over to Goodwill. I thought since I'm out, I may as well indulge in a rummage. Goodwill is great fun for me. I love to look at treasures from bygone years, but antique stores are so pricey. Anyways, as I was rummaging this caught my eye:



An old silverware chest. (It was fully intact. I took this picture after I started pulling at the lining.)

I had hoped to get one for a wedding gift, and now here one was. But it is really too big to be practical in our tiny apartment. Then I thought it really looks like more of a desk. A DESK!

So I peeled out the insides:
I did save the silverware divider to use as a cord separator, but I tossed the knife divider in the drawer.

Then I papered them with leftover scrapbook paper. (Yes, I matched up the designs. I'm a nerd like that.) :

Modpodged the insides, to prevent the paper from lifting:



I doubled the foam where the hinge is.




The top holds the external hard drive, camera dock, headphones and a ruler. The bottom holds remotes, pens and whatever else he wants to stick in it. Those dividers can be moved. The cord separator was probably unnecessary, but it fits so snug it doesn't come out now. Lol. I have a basket for storing papers and magazines. Now everything has a home, and if I trip, the computer will not get wet. Paper on the floor will, but not the computer. I know this because after it was finished I did trip, water did spill, and paper did get wet... sigh.

Let's talk cost.
Silverware Chest: $5
Foam: $0.25
Wood slates: $1 (I forgot to add this in, sorry.)
Original cost of paper packet: $0.99 (It has been around for 2 years though)
Modpoge: used maybe $1 worth It is a high est. since I bought it several years ago)

Total project cost: about $8.25
Budget: $20
:D

I did have to buy sandpaper ($3) and a saw ($6), but since they are not project specific, I do not count them towards the total. Someday, I'd love to repair and re-stain it. There are some dings and stab wounds (above the drawer) that would require fill. I'm guessing a child was playing with it. To refurbish the outside would have cost me $25 for the stripper, stain, and wood putty. It will have to wait for another day. My dad would have had those items on hand but not us, not yet anyways. :)

Hopefully I will never see this items twin on Antiques Roadshow. I don't want to know what it would have been worth if I had not re-purposed it. Besides, the red fabric was gross.

Posted by Jennifer B at 06:19 | 5 comments Links to this post  
Labels: crafts, david, organizing, Saving Money

Too funny!! There is a little mitten paw at my MIL's house who uses similar tactics. LOL


Really, she only looks innocent. :)

Posted by Jennifer B at 08:06 | 2 comments Links to this post  
Labels: animals, random, tv

If for some strange reason you thought I was organized, or "with it", let me clear that up.

Here was yesterday's goals:
Take Library book back.
Organize recipes
Dent stack of paper - I hate paper... it never leaves.
Call Pyrex about glass bowl
Start packing boxes


My day yesterday:

(6:30) Wake up
Usual AM routine
Fill sink
Check blogs, mail, etc. I should email people, but geeze my eyes are bugging me.
Get annoyed with unfinished project - Project which has set happily for 2 months.
Pilates
Set up on kitchen table to work on project
Hey the plants need watered..
Start on project
Boy my eyes.. Oops I forgot to put my contacts in...
Oh geez I didn't make the bed!
I should fold the laundry... (everything but the sheets)
Put kitchen towels away
Oh yeah unfinished project!
Glue some more
(11:30)Gee I'm hungry..
(12:00)Eat check blogs, facebook, net, "why don't people update more"
I should update more.. about what?
Oo Mail!
Hey Martha came.
Read Martha.
(3:15)David's home
Leave to meet house inspector and then go to the Y
Never make it to the Y
Come home cook dinner
Drain sink because water is cold. Yes sink is still full. Gross, I know.
TV and reading time
Leave
Meet with real estate agent to sign more stuff
Stop by library
Home
Hey unfinished project!
Glue more
Bedtime
Hey I need to fold these sheets before we go to bed.
Ok now it's time for bed.

Summery:
I got the laundry folded at put away. Oh and I read Martha.
I did not finish the project or do the dishes (ew).

Goals accomplished: 1

Seriously I need a schedule.

Here is today's goals:
Finish stupid project - I just realized I need sand paper...
Dishes (did I mention ew)
Develop schedule and post it
Look up appliance stuff
If time finish yesterday's to dos (ha)

Posted by Jennifer B at 07:48 | 3 comments Links to this post  
Labels: memories, organizing, random

Dear Random Passers-by and Frequent Visitors,

David (DH) and I are currently looking at houses. It seems whatever house we get, we will need to buy some new appliances. We figure we will need at least a refrigerator, a washer and a dryer. Obviously we are trying to get the most bang for our buck, but we'd also like to get an Energy Star appliance. We have been looking at Lowe's (it's local) but with little experience to work with. Please HELP... :

What is a good size refrigerator? We are two people. We'd like to be three in a year or two (God willing). Still, it will be ~15 years before we need to feed a perpetually starving teenager, their friends, and potential siblings. How long do fridge's last? I think my parents had one from the late 70's to the early 80's and it died in 1989. I assume technology has improved. I'm not even sure what size we have in our apartment... I should figure that out, because it seems small some days.

Is Energy Star (ES) worth it? My mom is convinced that any ES products result in a tax return. However, on the website I can only find where it says household improvements (i.e. windows, furnace, etc.) qualify. We have been using the ES site's handy spread sheet to help us figure out our yearly savings. The cheapest ES fridge model is about $50 more then the comparable "normal" model. Handy spread sheet says it will result in a $6/year savings. That's almost eight and a half years before we recoup our loss, right? Will a fridge last much longer? With more expensive models the savings was estimated at $8/year and over ten years to recoup the price difference. Maybe I'm using the spread sheet wrong...hmm.

What are your thought's on side loading washers? Stackable washer/dryer units? I know side loaders are supposed to use less water. And that they can be a pain in the back if not lifted by blocks to a proper height. (Sounds redneck...lol) I also realize dryers do not receive ES ratings. I'm not too worried about which one we get, but any advice is welcome.

While we could put off purchasing the washer and dryer for a while, we really need the fridge. My mom firmly believes in never buying the cheapest model of anything. She usually goes for "middle of the road." DH prefers the most frugal path to quality. Any tips and experience you would like to share are greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance. :)

Jennifer


P.S. If you like frugal ideas head over to Frugal Friday on Biblical Womanhood for more.

P.S.S. We also need to think about lawn mowers... the lot is only 120x 170. Most of the neighbors have riding mowers! Just silly, imho. But I'd love to hear thoughts on the reel vs. the gas or electric push.



Suddenly I wish I had more traffic on this blog... :{

Posted by Jennifer B at 06:21 | 7 comments Links to this post  
Labels: house, questions, Saving Money