No matter how old I get the Waterpark always makes me tired. Today was a hectic day jam packed with so much fun I don't think I can handle it anymore!
  I got home so exhausted, it happened. I made a casserole.
  I feel similar pity to the casserole as I do the colour brown. Something that once was good, then got all mixed up beyond recognition. New and un-improved. All of the elements of a casserole are delicious on their own and then we have to mash them all together into a pot of suffering until all trace of texture has been distorted to a featureless pulp.
  With that in mind, I actually made a casserole I enjoyed!
It all starts with Million Dollar Spaghetti- if you have never tried it, Do it. (It's on my Pinterest on "My Style" or you could probably just search it.) Bacically spaghetti with a layer of a cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese mix between the noodles and sauce.  Finally a spaghetti I can get behind! Then comes the casserole part. I swapped the noodles for rice and added sautéed mushrooms on top! So good.

   I tried to take a picture but of course it turned out looking like a pile of mush, like every casserole. Then my computer won't load my crappy picture anyway so, no disappointing picture today!

   Today I awoke,stretched out my arms, had a cup of coffee, and sewed five fabulous summer dresses.

   Ok, maybe I didn't, maybe I have been fixing my glossy gaze at pinterest since five this morning, scheming my way to a better bathroom. Maybe I made some of these a couple years ago. However I did have a mad frenzy of sewing this year and made four dresses with two more loyally  awaiting my handiwork.

In this picture I made the one on the right.

I can now turn out a dress faster than I can shop for one, and shopping is on my list of skills. I am guaranteed a great fit, colours I love and natural fibres No Polyester Lining!

   Here's my secret; I use the same pattern over and over. I chose a very versatile pattern that offers different details (like collars or sleeves) and include co-ordinating accent colours for the waistband or collar. The combinations are so endless that I've made nine, eight of them for me, and I'm not sure people have caught on! 

  

   The second secret; I make them sweatshop style now. After making one or two dresses to establish fit, I go to the store and buy two meters each in assorted cotton fabric, (on a Sale day don't forget). I then wash it all, iron it all, and cut out pattern pieces for three or four dresses in different colours. Then it gets pretty fast to turn out three collars one day, then all three bodices the next. My mistakes are fresh in my mind so I never make them twice. Pretty soon you have three brand new dresses! 

   -Be forewarned: if you cut them out and sew them one at a time, it increases the risk of every crafters dreaded condition, Unfinished Projects Disorder.

Whoops, there's another one! They are everywhere!

   I love Sunday! The weekend had an air of adventure to it. I'm not sure if it was the smell of a new chainsaw cutting for the first time or the familiar yet rousing sound of The Waterpark horn announcing a new crack at the waves. Lets not forget, one bathroom cupboard  ripped from the wall, one pleasant picnic, two campfire roasted marshmallows, a stack of painted tins, a giant pot of spaghetti, a broken down Ford (surprise) and a bushel of homegrown beets that everybody got in on.
   All in all, very reflective, very productive, and a little silly.

Spray painted mint tins turned out great! Very necessary after I brought out a tin of junky treasures, offering them out, after I thought they were mints!

Everybody love beets, including my dogs it seems...

   I know you missed me yesterday, I was busy having the Ultimate day!
It started off great but who knew it would be an Ultimate day? There was a roller coaster ride, black  light mini-golf, a new coffee mug, an extravagant coffee,  hot tubbin', the creamiest scrambled eggs, bargain patterned duct tape,  and delicious dinner with no cooking.
   Ok, they were leftovers but I don't think we should let that detract from the 'ultimate' points.
The roller coaster may have you wondering. We got West Edmonton Mall Multiplay Pass! So much fun for the winter, one low-ish price. Who wants to go to mini-golfing, backlight mini-golfing, the Waterpark, Galaxyland, bowling, billiards, Sea lion show or sea life caverns?
   Oh! I almost forgot, the Government called Francis yesterday morning, asking all the usual vague questions that make the most honest of taxpayer start to sweat a little strangely in their bathrobe, only to discover the purpose of the call was to help him save money on his taxes!
   Yes, you read that right. The Government of Canada called my husband at home to help him save some money! I'm surprised, but it figures that Francis of all people would have that kind of fortune. The only person I know who loves doing taxes (it's all the paper and stapling I'm pretty sure). The lesson in all of this is if you can find a way to be excited (about anything even if you normaly dislike it), it will pay off, sometimes in the strangest of ways.

   With that I decided to fix my ironing board, which rudeley and abrubtley collapsed to the floor as if to declare exhaustion, sometime last month. Instead of granting it any form of

rest or recuperation, I propped it up like a 'Weekend at Bernie's' four and I'm pretty sure I stumbled upon a higher life form of The Ironing Board.        
                                                                 








This is exciting! Now, it is higher and holds my junk, all while being more rugged (for the iron-on transfer mega-pressing I enjoy so much). So I got to finishing a giant pile of aprons. I should lie and tell you all I just whipped up 29 aprons this morning, you know, between breakfast and lunch! I need to make tags that say "This took Forever!" or a picture of my judgy face guilting you into keeping it after you received it as a christmas gift!
   I think I better open some wine, it's starting to feel sweat-shoppy in here.

Grey day.

   So yesterday I got to participate in an adult treasure hunt, of sorts. Mystery goo on my kitchen floor had me following a trail of poo (not goo) all throughout the house. With three dogs and one cat (I already know, were crazy) the list of suspects was lengthy and whomever committed the crime had no sense of shame when questioned, leading me to place all my suspicion squarley on the Shih-tzu.
   I super mopped the whole upstairs while boiling noodles, chopping veggies, frying mushrooms, and sampling the dinner wine. After working up a sweat and eating dinner, I hear "I think it was Stan, (the cat), and I think he pooped in the bed."
   What the hell, cat.
   I really just want to smear some of my poo on his favourite spot, ya know? Like to send a message, cat style. Maybe just barf on His feet, (since he doesn't have any socks). But then I would start an un-winnable war and I lose in a phenomenal way in this scenario. In decided instead to make my favourite peanut butter cookies, which I will enjoy in front of Stan, no sharing.

   I can't even remember where I got this recipe, probably a family heirloom recipe (so, off the back of the box).

The Only Peanut Butter Cookies.

1 cup of peanut butter (Kraft or any other no sugar added variety)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg

That is it! Drop by teaspoons and you gotta put fork marks (wet the fork), bake at 350 about 10-ish minutes. Depends how big you make them and how squishy you want them.

   I'm telling you, I can make these drunk, people will think your magic. People will think there is no way you could be drunk! They are SO good. Guys, make these for your lady, She'll be all "omigowd, I can't believe you baked for me!" then you can be all, "I've never baked for anyone before".
   There is a secret, they are Gluten Free. I know that's a dirty word when recommending recipes however, I was making these WAY before gluten free, they are just that good.

Also, I picked up a new skirt pattern for winter. This on has some interesting techniques in the kick pleat, and I think I can give it a vintage vibe with buttons down one side of the front seams. I'm telling you ahead of time so when you see me, you can compliment me on it! Just joking, sorta...

   The weather is crappy. There, I said it. Not for lack of topics, but because I live in Alberta. We have a right to take a minute and complain because yesterday, it snowed. Not only did it snow, but there was snowfall warnings in my province! So, before all you So & So's that live in the nice provinces of Canada call me and ask "Are you alright? We heard about the warnings!" or " Oh really, I hadn't heard… it's 27 here." let me just tell you, We Know. We know all about it, the crazy weather, the super cold don't leave your house weather, the car won't start gas froze three hour tow wait weather, the weather where your cheeks get chapped for months because of the extreme cold. We know it's coming.
   But guess what? I don't care. Secretly it's part of why we stay because along with that comes some wild thunderstorms, super hot sunny prairie days, picturesque winter wonderlands and miles of sky. Also, giant hats, larger than your head! Now that we have that out of the way, yesterday I made some note cards! Nothing extravagant, simple but nice, just to write a quick note.

 First I sprayed a clear varnish on top of flat, dried leaves, then sprinkled with different fall colours of glitter. The I flipped them over, after a couple minutes dry time,  and sprayed the back with spray adhesive (I like 3M brand spray adhesive). Gently position on a blank card and flip over the card to press on the back, to fully press the leaf on and stick all areas without rubbing the delicate leaf.

 Then I made a bunch of these with my favourite stamp and some glittery embossing powder. Easy-Peasy!
   AND THEN, I've been working on a business card of sorts for family and friends to be able to find my blog. They became pretty complex, I printed double sided, made a button stamp to then stamp the centre and affix some embossing powder, then to melt the embossing powder, and punch out the card. Then there's the envelope. I used double coloured paper and a fancy Cricut machine. And finally, super glue to affix the paper button (made from a paper punch) and glue the envelope together. This IS my idea of fun! Although not really great of you ever give out cards all willy-nilly like.

Why Lego helps me with hooking.

   Lots of you know that I am a hooker. That is to say I hook handmade rugs with the Alberta Handicraft guild and we meet once a month. There are a lot of members (around 50-ish) and since I volunteer to run the store, I see most of them face to face at my table, so they can see the shame all over my face when I forget their name… again.  (Did I mention I have been a member for three years?)       It's something I'm working on.

   To help others avoid the same discomfort, I have decided to make myself a nice Lego name tag!

 Here's the glue I used, LePage Super Glue, and just glued two small magnets to the back (as well as used two more small magnets for the inside of my shirt) and the rest is just clipped to the front so I can change it but you could glue the mini figures if you felt fancy and committed. Tip: glue second magnet only after the first one dries, which is very quickly, but man those little magnets are strong!
 



   I have to say, the hardest part  was choosing all the little pieces and fitting them all in while still being able to read my name! ( I used my label maker for the name part but I think a print out  and some tape would do.)


And that's it! Now you are in the know. These make great gifts for all the Lego aficionados in your life young or old, Francis was so excited to make one with me! I still think his needs some flowers or jewels.