V and Co: scenes from around here

 so much for creating star wars projects from the awesome star wars book i got while there are a bazillion legos to be put together

 in star wars theme of course... i think all the lego sets have almost been completely completed. (ha try saying that 10 times fast)
the christmas weekend kicked the trash out of me...too bad it didn't kick the trash out of my house. monday and tuesday was spent cleaning up christmas, and trying to get clothes out of the laundry dirty piles and into drawers. we're almost back to normal. just have to go grocery shopping, toilet cleaning...eh okay so normal isn't all that awesome either...but  i would like to finally use this lovely:

that the husband got me this year. no more "by hand" for me. YAY! i do have to say that the best part of it was that he bought it in chrome. not because i love gray. true i do. (duh everyone does right now) but his explanation on why he bought that one was because it was neutral enough to go with any other accent color i might like at the moment.
love that man.
because he TOTALLY gets me
and that he would totally take into consideration, before making a purchase, on the color or rather lack of color because of how i am.
yup, he's good to me.

homemade (messed up at first because i don't know if i can do it right) bread coming soon to our house!

im ready to sew though, and i'm hoping that all these legos go away soon, as i am pretty sure that my own personal hell will consist of making lego creation after lego creation after lego creation after lego creation and trying to find a piece lost in the carpet. but the boys like it. and the husband, as much as he says he didn't, had a lot of fun making that that falcon (we're on one name basis now, it's no longer "The millennium falcon" it's "the falcon") when the boys totally deserted it in the second hour of building it. best quotes during the completion of it:

"did you know that princess leah goes diarrhea on like everyone?" -noisemaker age 7 to other boy noisemakers.
and
"pretty sure i now know the other use for adult size diapers, that freaking took me 3 hours. i've got to go pee real bad." -husband to me after he was done building the falcon.

here's to a good in-between week (of christmas and new years celebrations)

hope all of you have enjoyed your family and holidays. i am enjoying mine, even if mainly all they do is talk about bodily functions while building legos. :)

V and Co: Merry Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. we've been trying to focus these few days on the main reason why this holiday is so special. so in between runs to the grocery store a bazillion times (seriously what is wrong with my brain that i keep forgetting 1 or 2 things every single time) wrapping presents, a visit from Santa, and all the prep that goes into everything...we are now finally slowing down and just relaxing and prayerfully pondering how really blessed we are with the simple things we take for granted... like waking up every morning, let alone in a bed with blankets and a roof over our head. yup, everything else is just extra. 

this year we have a perfectly groomed tree that came from a lot. it's nothing like  last year's tree or the gasp the year before. and sadly i kind of miss the funny story that came along with finding this tree. but it's okay because:

...without fail my kids and i are still playing that "clump the ornaments....unclump the ornaments....clump the ornaments....unclump the ornaments" game. you know the one that used to annoy the crap out of you when you used to want everything "perfect", and now you just find it cute and endearing because you've let go of "perfect" and one day when you finally get your "perfect" tree...you'll be missing and wishing you had the clumping of the ornaments game back.
but we're not there yet.
so for now i'll enjoy my imperfectly decorated tree, and having all my kids under our very blessed roof. 
merry Christmas.
it's a very special celebration.

we'll talk soon.

V and Co: how to: homemade hand warmers

the other day my son came in with a pink nose and yelled "MOM! I'M FREEEEEZING! do you still have that rice bag thing you made? can you heat it up?"
yeah i still have my rice bag feet warmer i use it all the time, because i'm like always cold.
so i said "yeah, i have it, hold on." i heated it up, gave it to him. as that son was warming up with oohs and ahhs coming out of his mouth, another one of my sons walked in from outside with pink nose in tow, and complained "hey i want that!"
they proceeded to fight over it...
and well at that moment the light bulb went off.

"stop it. i'm going to make you each rice hand warmers."

i started and then couldn't stop making them.

trust me you wont be able to make just one set either, you'll be making a mountain of them because of how cute they are, but also because you'll need to make extras for extra little(or big) hands that will seek shelter and warmth from being in the cold.
it's already been known to happen over here. true story.

*these are also great last minute neighbor and teacher gifts. :) 

ready to make your own?
materials needed for one set of hand warmers:
*grab some rice (i used white long grain, because that's what we eat)

*scrap of fabric (it just needs to be enough to fold over to cut out 1 strip (double fold) at 3 1/2" x 6"
*those strips of fabric cut again in half at 3 1/2" x 3"

to assemble hand warmers:

1. place right sides together for both sets of squares.

 2. using a 1/4" seam allowance sew along one side of your squares.

 **instead of doing each hand warmer separately, *chain* your squares.
to chain your squares sew your first seam and then instead of cutting the threads, place your next square to be sewn. you will end up with a couple of stitches that will not sew onto any fabric, hence making a chain.

this will be helpful is you are doing a lot of hand warmers.

 3. after you have sewn one side on all your squares, you can cut your *chain* like the picture above.

 *here is a picture of all the squares having one side sewn and then had the chain cut.
4. sew three sides of your squares (using the chain method for each side)
5. the fourth side sew your seam and leave a 1 1/2"  opening in the middle of your seam. (back stitch at the opening so it does not rip open for the following steps.

 6. once all four sides are sewn, cut at an angle your corners making sure you do not cut through the "X" your seams make.
7. turn inside out, and using a pin pull out your corners as much as you can.

 8. for filling we are using rice, so you will want to get your rice and if you have a funnel use it to get the rice inside the opening. (i made my own out of paper shaped into a funnel)

 8. fill up your hand warmer at least 3/4 full.

 9. and hand stitch closed.

WARMING INSTRUCTIONS:
*warm in the microwave for 15 seconds.
*hold in your hands and warm up your digits.
*can also be used as eye packs (freeze them for cool packs, or warm them for warm packs)
*i do not recommend heating them up for longer amounts than 15 seconds as it may cause burns on skin.

so far these have been a huge hit at our house, and at the neighbor's house, and with my kid's friends that have come over.


 i am including this Warning with these little guys:

**WARNING**
i can not be held responsible for boys using these as hacky saks and or pelting mechanisms. because trust me...mine have and yours probably will too. 
ALSO:
in cases where some of the hand warmers go missing...please go look in your daughter's playhouse...because they make really cute barbie pillows.

consider yourselves warned.
i hope your house enjoys them as much as our house has.
we'll talk soon

V and Co: cooks: 3 minute 3 ingredient mint fudge

last year i gave you this 3 minute fudge...well with the holidays in full swing lets add a little holiday twist to it shall we?

this fudge can go by many names: simple mint fudge, increase your jean size fudge, make your friends fat so you look good fudge...but i went with the "make you wanna make it cause you don't have time to keep up with the perfect homemaker down the street name": 3 minute, 3 ingredient mint fudge.

seriously, it's so easy that you can whip this bad boy up for neighbor gifts in like well...3 minutes. and have it look like you slaved away for hours when really you made it and then ate some before you brought it over.ready to make some?
okay.
ingredients needed:

 1. 14 oz condensed milk

2. CHOCOLATE: one 14 oz package of semi sweet chocolate chips. And one 10 oz package of Andes mint chips
3. 3 tablespoons of butter
*optional garnish is crush candy cane candy
instructions:

1. combine in your bowl your chocolate chips and your Andes mint chips
2. add condensed milk, and mix in. Add butter
3. microwave for three minutes, stir till smooth.
4. pour into a 9 x 9 pan for thick squares or a 9 x13 pan for thin squares

 *to garnish if you'd like get some candy cane looking candy, and crush them

 *sprinkle on top, and let cool.

 tada! place them on a cookie platter, or in a little bag for neighbor gifts, or just eat them all, i don't judge.

yum yum!
see you monday with a tutorial.

V and Co: star wars dorks we are

the husband came home the other day exclaiming quite excitedly that one of his students had made him the COOLEST present.
from behind his back he pulled out this little hand made yoda.
we love him, and he is happily residing in our bedroom for now till he goes to its final resting place, his office.
yup, dorks we are.
yup, yoda i speak often.

and of course this obsession love of star wars like things has trickled down to our children. santa may have even of found the millennium falcon on super sale this last october for $35 less than what it's selling for now (and with NO tax or shipping because it's amazon. I LOVE YOU AMAZON!) for all the boys to put together (yes, including the husband).
we have posters, we have outfits (the kids do, not jake and i, thank you very much), we have legos upon legos, we have little action figures. i even almost bought a large starwars lego alarm clock for the boys (but that's a little pricey for an alarm clock) so i'll wait till it goes on sale someday.
soooooo naturally when i saw this book:

the star wars craft book yup i went coo coo for coco puffs and HAD to have it. luckily i signed up for a swap (which i NEVER do because i'm crazy as it is in my own life to have to have people rely on me to do a swap is just plain dumb so i never sign up...BUT this swap was different.) for this swap all i had to do was say what i wanted for the cost of less than $15 and then my partner would buy it for me and send it my way...i in return would do the same for the person i had. (my gal asked for the farmer's wife block book) so i amazon-ed that baby and sent it her way too. hope you like it! (cause i know you'll ask the swap is a twitter swap and it's #ssswap) twitter it, i'm sure it will get even bigger next year cause seriously it was great.

okay so seriously.
my kids have been looking at this book since it arrived in my home.

they've made lists of things we're making this christmas vacation. which i'm thrilled about because christmas vacation is always the hardest on me with kids wanting to do nothing but play video games...so this vacay...we're making these admiral sackbar puppets and these ADORABLE washcloth wampas.

i'll try and see if i can find some good deals on star wars t-shirts and make something along the lines of a tote for the library or for the pool...and...

if i knew how to work any kind of yarn like projects like knitting or crocheting, i would soooo make one of those r2d2 beanies, but i am SOOOOO making that herb ATAT, and my 7 year old really wants the ewok head thing...but i'm afraid that's just too easy pickings and he'd be toast at school if he showed up on the school bus let alone on the playground with that thing on his head...maybe if he promises only to wear it at home...
the most FAVORITE project of the book i've got to say is this:

WAY too cute for words cuddly bantha. yeah, i may have to make one just for me too.

so there you have it. even though "nerd" is in right now, i have a feeling we'll still be loving it and BEING it when it's not.
ashamed we are not.
proud we will be.
ps:i'm almost done with a cute little gift idea (just have to take pictures) so watch for it monday.
talk soon we will. :)

V and Co: guest post at MADE

i'm guest posting over at MADE today.
check out how to make this mint fudge, you can make it faster than you can say "oh crap i need to go on a diet by the end of this holiday season."
think i'm lying. go check it out here.
now if you'll excuse me, i'm going back to sewing.
can't wait to show you what i'm making. ;)
we'll talk soon.

he's 10 today

my second noisemaker is 10 today.
here are a few things about you right now:
*you like to read. like a lot. (500 page books kind of reading)
*you are really smart. no really, you are, and i'm not just saying that cause i'm your mom...your testing shows that you are one smart kid. (we're still baffled as to where you got all that smart, your dad is pretty sure its him.)
*you are always thinking of other people's feelings. (even your pesky younger brother when he's bugging you)
*you make friends easily. you have a few kids you like to run with even after being here for only 4 months you have a pretty tight little group.
*you want to play basketball and possibly football and soccer.
*you love to go everywhere on your ripstick.
*your favorite food in the world is mexican, but all you like about it is burritos and tacos.
*you have a quick sense of humor, that can throw your whole family into laughter.
*you are very sentimental.
*you are a cat person.
*your two younger siblings look up to you, and your older brother likes to hang with you.
*you seek opportunities to help others.

you are a blessing in our lives. you make me look like a great parent, and i appreciate that. i hope you enjoy your own special day. we love you and we hope you have a wonderful birthday.
and yup tacos for dinner.

winner winner

winner of the awesome giveaway by modern fabric studio is lucky # 16:
cammie your email has been sent off to modern fabric studio and she will be getting back to you shortly so you can get all that wonderful fabric and patterns sent your way just in time for christmas!

i don't know about you guys but i have like 10 projects all staring at me. all saying the same thing "seriously? when you gonna finish me?" of course it doesn't help that i got lost and ended up halfway to chicago the other day...more on that story later. i did though in fact finish a few things...yet i'm still so far behind on so many others...so here's to getting a few more of those projects taken care of and only going the full way to chicago on purpose shall we?

V and Co: sponsored giveaway: modern fabric studio

today modern fabric studio is giving away enough fabric to make you think she was kidding. nope she's not, and here's your chance to put one more fabulous gift under your tree.
read more and enter to win here

V and Co: how to: fabric ornament

i fell to the peer pressure of emails and comments and actual face to face conversations of "how about ornaments? why haven't you done any ornaments?"
well, i did in fact have one planned before this one, but i felt like a sewing project was in order since i've not really shown you much of that lately. no worries more of it is coming. but for now here's a fabric ornament that will be a great teacher or neighbor gift. or heck, add them to your tree. :)

for one ornament
materials needed:
*1/4 yard fabric
*mason jar (wide mouth) or a cup will work just the same.
*pencil
* ribbon (around 8")
*hot glue gun

lets'g get started:

*fold your fabric in half with right sides facing.

*i used a mason jar (wide) mouth to make my circles. but any mouth of a cup or glass will work.

*place mouth of the jar down on the fabric and with a pencil trace 9 circles

*next you are going to sew right on your drawn lines. all the way around, and back stitch when you get back to where you began on your circle.

*picture 1: cut out all your circles.
*picture 2: pull your circle so you can...
*picture 3: cut open a small slit in the middle of your circle but make sure you only that one side.
*picture 4: turn inside out

* press with an iron.
this is what your now pressed circle will look like.

*do the same for all 9 circles.

now lets assemble the ornament:

*grab your ribbon

*place flat onto one circle (cut side up) in the middle making enough of a loop for hanging.
*place hot glue and secure your ribbon
**this is your base point of the ornament.

*next, grab your next circle, with the non cut side facing you, fold in half and place a line of hot glue as close to the folded edge as you can.
*place your curved edges to line up with the outside of your circle, and with the hot glue side down place your folded circle on top of your base circle, and press down in place.

*fold your next circle, repeat the above step but this time place it on the other half like the picture above.

*repeat this step for the total of 4 circles on this one side (so 2 & 2)

*now that you have one side done, lets flip over the ornament, and repeat this same process again with the 4 circles.

*this is what your ornament should look like when all your circles have been glued on.

okay now to make that honeycomb design:
*take EVERY TWO circle flaps of fabric, and place a small dab of hot glue on the inside edge of your flaps in the middle of the ornament facing you:

see how when i pull it apart it is glued in the middle? that's what i mean when i say "the middle".

*now take two of the glued flaps, and take the outside flaps, close to the top, add another small dab of hot glue on the inside edge and press:

you are now starting to get the honeycomb look, continue to do this around the top of the ornament.

*do the same to the bottom part of the ornament, on the same outside flaps as the top ones.

*you now have one completed ornament.

add solid color coordinating ones to the mix and you will have a very pretty set of ornaments.

come back tomorrow (monday) we will be having a fabric bundle giveaway. cause you know you need fabric to give to yourself as a present under that tree!