PERFECT...Yes, they are....

I love cookies.

My favorite is chocolate chip. A chocolate chip cookie (or 2 or 3 or 4) and a glass of milk=a wonderful snack.

So, when I saw a recipe for the PERFECT Chocolate Chip Cookie on How Does She? I couldn't wait to try it.

Oh yummy chocolate goodness! I almost didn't get this picture because these cookies didn't last too long in our house.

The cookies were delicious, easy to make and hours later still soft and chewy. They were quick to mix up but you do have to let the dough sit in the fridge for an hour before baking. Luckily I had nothing planned that day because I totally missed that when reading the recipe and drooling over the pictures. Also, take the first suggestion and get all your ingredients together before you start baking. You know, just in case you finished your vanilla the last time you baked and have to run down cellar to get more while you leave your 2 year old with a bowl of cookie dough..... just saying.

My son was happy to help with the most important part of the baking process-eating the chocolate chips, but not so happy to have his picture taken.

This is the response I got when I asked him if I could have a chocolate chip. His hands very slowly slid over and covered his pile of chocolate chips. No chips were leaving his pile.

The best part of making chocolate chip cookies!

Linked to Wordful Wednesday at parenting BY dummies

Safe eating.....

No new healthy eating habits here.

Or new ways to cook food.

Just found this as I was going through old pictures today.....

I'm assuming my oldest daughter did it.

My morning giggle.

Please be safe today as you snack!

I linked up to Wordful Wednesday at parenting By dummies

An apple a day....

But I think I have enough for a few months!

This past weekend was chilly but sunny and bright...a perfect time to be outdoors...so we headed over to the apple orchard.

We had a fun afternoon picking (and eating) apples.

I think this picture has Christmas card written all over it!

My oldest daughter wants to make an apple pie-her favorite-she's just waiting for mom to get the pie crust ready....i.e. get to the grocery store and buy one. One day, yeah, one day, I'll try crust from scratch

Since I don't think we'll ever be able to eat all the apples we have, I was looking around for some other goodies we could make and found some yummy ones! Like oh I wish I had these ingredients in the house yummy!

Like This recipe from How Does She? . Sounds so delicious. I'm almost afraid to make it. I might eat is all. But I have to. It sounds just too good. Anything that is described as dipped in heaven is my kind of goodie! I've never made carmel sauce so I can't wait to try it.

And this recipe for apple crisp. Right up my alley. I don't really care for apple crisp with oatmeal in the topping. Now if you made if for me I'd eat it but not my favorite. There's an easy apple sauce recipe too.

And a recipe for a different take on the classic apple pie at Hoosier Homemade. Yum for walnuts.

Oh, and apples are great for breakfast. I'd love to wake up to these apple strudel muffins. With a cup of coffee.

I'm linking up to Weekend Bloggy Reading with Amanda at Serenity Now.

Old Shirt = New Skirt

I've been hanging around you bloggers for too long.

But, that's a good thing!

This shirt was in a pile of clothes that was being given away.

A few stains, a bit stretched out, nothing too horrible.

As I was folding it, I thought "Boy, the bottom of this shirt would make a cute skirt!"
Which was immediately followed by the thought "and I wouldn't have to do all the gathering!"

I am constantly blown away by all you bloggers who refashion shirts, dresses, all kind of clothes, into some other beautiful item to wear. Then you share them with all of us and often tell us how you did it.

Just because.

So, I decided to try it.

First, I cut the bottom off of the shirt. I left enough fabric so I could fold it over to make my waistband. I first thought about adding on my own waistband but then figured I was just making work for myself.

I do have to admit, yeah, just keeping it real. I did mess up this step a bit. I was using 3/4 inch elastic so I brilliantly said "ok, my waistband needs to be an inch wide and I need about 1/4 to sew with." I then proceeded to cut up 1 1/4 inches totally forgetting that I had to fold over the fabric and it should have been 2 1/4 inches. Well, I really wanted to use a smaller elastic anyways. Chalk it up to rushing and the kids playing all around me.

I folded over the fabric I had cut, sewed close to the edge and then threaded my elastic through.

You know my mantra....quick and easy and my daughter loves it! A great skirt for the fall.

Now to use the scraps to fix up a shirt to match. The shirt had ties in the back that I removed so I have those, the trim around the neckline and the plain brown knit. I'd love to hear your ideas and suggestions.

Friday is a busy day for parties-I love, love, love to see everyone's projects and ideas.

I'm linking up to these parties
Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now, 30 Days Pity Party Friday, Look at Me Party at Fun to Craft, I'm Loving It Fridays at Tidy Mom, Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello

Unwanted visitor and a fun tag!

All craft organization has been put on hold for the present time due to a much unwanted visitor, at the way too early hour of 5:00 am, while I was just sleeping away and dreaming of how organized I was going to be!

picture source

I woke up to a strange noise that I first thought was the alarm clock and then realized it was the cat in the corner of the bedroom. I quickly retreated to the bathroom, closed the door and said to my husband "I think the cat has something". I stayed out of my husband's way, in the bathroom, while he took care of our unwanted visitor and sent it out the front door. My husband thought maybe the unwanted visitor hitchhiked a ride into the house in my tool storage case which had previously been in the garage. It's on the porch now and I think I'll wait until my husband checks it out and/or finds out how this unwanted visitor really got in the house!

Now, on to more fun thoughts, Amy at Keeping Up With The Schultz Family tagged me for a cute 8 question game. It's always fun to get to know other bloggers.

What was the last thing you ate? Aaahhh, I knew I should have done this before I finished lunch! The last thing I ate was 4 chocolate chip cookies with a cup of coffee-after I had my wrap and some chips.

What is one of your best childhood memories? Playing hide and seek in our neighborhood with all the kids. We had 5 families that lived next to or across the street from each other and base was the telephone pole in the corner of our front yard-fun times!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you were older? Something to do with fashion. Course if you saw how I looked most days, you'd never guess that!

Do you paint your toenails in the winter? No, not usually. I'm lucky if they get painted in the summer.

Do you watch any reality television? If so, what show is your favorite? Yes, my daughter loves Survivor and Dancing With the Stars so I watch those with her. We also watched Master Chef over the summer. I used to love The Apprentice but haven't watched the new one yet.

What were some of the "trends" when you were a kid? Definitely preppy-that was big when I was in high school-oxfords, fair isle sweaters, penny loafers. I used to have one of those pocketbooks with the wooden handles and you buttoned on different covers to match what you were wearing.

What is your favorite time of the year? Why? Spring-you know summer's coming but it's still not too hot out.

Do you have any hobbies? Sewing, reading, coaching, blogging.

If you'd like to play along, I'd love to see the answers to your questions!

Although I'd like to deny it.....

and with the warm weather we've been having...... yes, we were sweating at soccer today..... it just doesn't seem possible,

but when I see this as I look out my kitchen window,

and come into my living room to find that my 5 year old has decorated for me,

I have to accept it, fall is here!

I've started working on organizing all my crafting goodies, but was itching to do something crafty yesterday. My 7 year old's applique shirt with her initial on it-that she wears all the time-is getting to small for her. I found this tshirt at Target on clearance and with a scrap of fabric, dressed it up a bit. Quick and easy and cute!

I'm linking up to Weekend Bloggy Reading
with Amanda at Serenity Now

Must. Get. Crafting. Again.

I can't remember the last project I worked on. It's been waaayyy too long. My fingers are itching to sew and I'm missing my glue gun.

And although my lack of craftiness can partly be blamed on a busy summer and crazy kids' schedules, I (head bent in shame) have to take some of the blame.

A big part of the reason why I haven't worked on any projects is due to my unorganization.

Embarassing, but this is one of my craft drawers....

The corner of my bedroom and my closet shelves look pretty much the same.

Hard to work on a project at night when you know you're going to have to search for the supplies you need before you even begin.

So, I'm determined to become more organized or, well, at least know where all my craft supplies are at any moment.

Enter this cutie....

I got it from a friend who already had one and my husband is all set with his tools (yes, he has a workshop and has a garage for his stuff, but I don't resent that, not too much at least) and doesn't want it.

It has some really neat compartments and drawers that I think will be great for crafting supplies.

I can see all my bobbins in one place, scissors in another. Thread, beads, scrapbook paper, all with their own special place.

Sounds lovely.

And I can bring it around with me from place to place and store it out of site when it's not needed.

How perfect is that!!

I'd love to hear your ideas on how I can girl it up a bit-let me know what you think. I'll share again once I've got it all filled up with fun crafting lovliness.