Apple Eggrolls

Just an experiment, but turned out very yummy!
Peel, core, dice 1 medium apple.
Sprinkle 1 TBsp. lemon juice
2 TBsp white sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Stir well.
Place 1 TBsp cream cheese on the center of an open eggroll wrapper.
Add 1 tsp softened butter.
Sprinkle 1 tsp sugar.
Add 1 heaping TBsp apple mix.
Roll according to eggroll directions on wrapper.
To fry: heat oil to 350° and fry until golden brown.  Drain on paper towels.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar. 
To bake: heat oven to 400°.  Brush tops of rolls with butter and bake 10-12 minutes.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Makes about 6 rolls.
Also try with scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of warm caramel.

Little Girl's MaxiDress & Matching Pleated Bag

My daughter rarely likes anything I sew...often times I end up giving  away the pieces to a friend's daughter!
Today, however, she decided she wanted to help me make a dress and bag.  She "designed" it, allowed me to take her measurements and just when it was time to start sewing...she decided to go play.  She's 8 now and I thought some straight stitching is well within her range.

The pleated bag is a combination but smaller version of the one-hour-tote at Skip to My Lou and the pleated tote from laural@ Thimble.  I attached my straps to the inside and did not include a zipper, only one interior, simple pocket.








The maxidress, I followed A Small Snippet's directions but with my daughter's measurements of course.  I also added a ruffle around the bottom for detail (& her design!).  Very simple and adorable dress.  A tank top or t-shirt and a yard of fabric will do the dress and bag.  I used part of 2 fat quarters for the accent colors and liner on the bag.


Enjoy.

Whooooo Needs Wisdom?

I have the privilege of working with younger children on wednesday nights at church.  They range from pre-school, age 3, to 6th grade.  We have a rotation set up where students go from one classroom to the next - receiving lessons from God's word - as a Bible story, Bible Memory Verse, Hands-on Activity / Application lesson.

The time moves quickly and our resource book offers great lessons, but they are geared to 6-11 year olds, which means I often have to adapt my part to the pre-schoolers.  I sometimes struggle with the little ones - I teach high school, so the little ones...well, they scare me - which is perfect in a sense because anything I can accomplish with them is truly from God - I can take no credit - its one of those opportunities to rely on Him fully!

Our lessons currently focus on what winners do.  The focus last night was on Wisdom - winners use God's wisdom to make good choices.  The memory verse was

James 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  

I suppose I had the "owl" theme on my mind after making the bag yesterday, but for the little ones, I sketched an owl for them and as I wrote "Whooooo...needs wisdom?  Ask God! James 1:5" on their papers - we would all say it together and really emphasize the "Whoooooooooooo."  As I wrote this on each one, I got out the crayons and they were able to color their owls...waiting patiently and repeating the memory verse with me each time.  They are precious and I do count it a privilege to be planting seeds in their young minds and hearts...

For the next age group, they sketched their own owl with a little direction and demonstration from me.  I find this age groups does like to doodle and usually will say, "but I can't draw that..." and within just a few minutes they each had an owl on their papers.  Though each one was very different, you knew exactly what they had drawn.  To end the class, they used play-doh to create a 3D owl.

I am always searching for little ideas on how to present verses so that the students will remember them.  Hence the reason I am sharing this one I found to be successful.  And for me, well, I won't be seeing an owl anytime soon that I don't think..."Whoooo needs wisdom?  Ask God!"

Owl Tote Bag

A friend sent me a picture back in the spring of an adoreable owl tote bag.  Mine is not exact but still a cute birthday gift!

 Just right for piano books, folders, notebooks, crayons & pencils!

My Favorite Breakfast

A couple of summers ago, we enjoyed breakfast at Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney's Boardwalk resort.  So many great things to choose from on the menu, but I chose the eggs with spinach and feta.  Yum.

Last school year, we had several snow days and this quickly became my go-to breakfast dish on those days. This school year, however, we had zero snow days - luckily, my husband enjoys this dish and it became a favorite Sunday morning before church treat!

My picture will never do it justice, but at 250 calories and 17 grams of protein, its a great way to start your day!  Obviously, you can add more tomato, spinach or feta to your preference, but this is just the way I like it!



What you need (1 serving, but easily doubles, triples):
2 eggs, beaten
1 Roma tomato, diced
handful of fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1 TBsp. crumbled feta
salt/pepper to taste

In a skillet, scramble eggs until they are soft-set.  Add spinach and tomatoes, stir.  When spinach begins to wilt, sprinkle with feta, salt / pepper to liking.  Enjoy!

Tied Totes

The idea for these bags were from a vendor at St. James Art Fair last fall.  My friend Kim and I have attended at least every other October since she was in law school.  Its one of those weekends I look forward to all year long.
After looking at several bags, we challenged ourselves to creating one before our annual Christmas get-together in December.  I do not have a picture to post of my first prototype, nor of my Christmas tote, but with some input from friends and a bit of tweaking, these are what I've created.
I plan to take some pics of the process to create a tutorial in the near future.  
Items you need:
base solid heavier weight 1/4 yd
patterned heavier weight 1/6 yd
scraps pieced together to complete 3rd layer
1/2 yd for lining
coordinating thread
optional BIG button
recycled necktie...
Simple, quick. Finished bag is roomy and comfy to carry!

Heartprints

While clearing off a bookshelf, I ran across a book, Heartprints by Aldrich & Valentine.  I remember picking this up on a fall women's retreat to Tennessee a couple of years ago.  I enjoyed it as a morning devotional then filed it away.  As I thumbed through it this morning, I realized I need to revisit this one...

Heartprints shares amazing stories of how average, ordinary women  have inspired and encouraged others simply by loving, caring, praying and serving.  Its short chapters are uplifting and wonderful reminders of how we don't need to think of ourselves and unimportant and boring - but to celebrate how a smile, kind word or other simple gestures can leave "heartprints" on lives.

Heartprints

Heartprints 

Whatever our hands touch--

We leave fingerprints!

On the walls, on the furniture,

On doorknobs, dishes, books,

As we touch we leave our identity.

O God, wherever I go today,

Help me to leave heartprints!

Heartprints of compassion,

Of understanding and love.

Heartprints of kindness

and genuine concern.

May my heart touch

a lonely neighbor,

Or a runaway daughter,

Or an anxious mother,

Or, perhaps, a dear friend!

Lord, send me out today

To leave heartprints.

And if someone should say,

"I felt your touch,"

May that one sense your love

Touching through me.

—Ruth Harms Calkin 

© 1983

Fabric Fishy Purse

I ran across this adorable bag on Pinterest!  After reading MakeIt and LoveIt's pattern / directions, I knew I had lots of scraps, so I decided to give it a whirl!  So simple, easy to follow!  Thank you for sharing this cute bag idea!  

Make It and Love It blog

Of course, my nearly 8yo, like most everything else I sew, well, she's not a fan.  I suppose some other lucky girl will receive this as a birthday gift this summer.  Wish it was just a bit larger, I'd carry it myself!

Hope you find the pattern/directions as easy to follow as I did.