(yarn) Party time! Excellent!

Party time!

It's been a suuuuuper long time since I've hosted a link party here, but I decided the return of the awesomest yarn series ever warranted a special celebration!!

I do hope you'll help me spread the word and link up your own projects.  Remember, they can be absolutely anything to do with yarn - kids crafts, wreaths, decor, paper crafts, crochet, knitting, sewing bags to hold your crocheting and knitting, wrapping stuff up, games, tips and tricks, clever ideas and uses, yarn storage,  how to untangle it... you get the idea.  We're pretty loose.  Yarn just has to be involved somehow. 

So.
1. Link up (yarn) projects.
2. Link back (you can use the button for your convenience!)  Share it on the project post or on your blog somewhere.
3. Spread the word!  

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Visit others.  Talk amongst yourselves.  Mingle.  Eat snacks.  (Sorry, snacks not provided...)

The link party will run from March 30th - April 19th, the entire duration of the series, in order to give you all time to link up.

I can't wait to see your yarn projects!  Oh, and feature some too!

An InLinkz Link-up

*Be sure to check below for all the fun parties I link to!

a revival

Ahem.  This is very important so go ahead and pause Breaking Bad or Parks and Rec or American Idol (if you still watch that) or whatever.  It's THAT big a deal.

Ready?

I'm doing a series.  Not just any series.  A series we all know and love.  Yes!  You're not dreaming!  It's true!

It's coming back this year!  Do you remember the first year of Yarn it all! in all it's glory?  

And the first comeback Yarn it all! made?

And then, sadly, it went on hiatus along with me when pip decided to kick my behind to the curb for months on end.

But all of that's in the past!  We're focusing on the here and now.  And the here and now is Yarn it all! 2014!  (cheering, applause, ovations, general adoration and some giddy and understandable mayhem)

Now try to control yourself.  This year will be slightly different than times past.  I generally have a cohost to take care of the crochet/knit side of things for me.  You know, since I'd only tie myself up in knots if I attempted that.  Alas, my partner in crime is otherwise engaged (did you hear??  Shannon, aka googiemomma, is in this season of PR&P!) so I let her off the hook.  For now (mwahahahahaha!!)

That means I've enlisted the help of several guest posters... er, guest crafters/bloggers to share their insane talents with you.  Oh, I'll be popping in too, don't you worry.  

Ah, yes!  There are also several similarities to years past.  Like, I cover lots of stuff in yarn.  Yea!  Also, there will be a link party (starting tomorrow!) and I will be featuring your yarn projects!  Also, there will be a giveaway!  Yes, for reals.  And it's awesome.  Also, there will be delicious cupcakes.  Ok, not really.  I'm just trying to entice you.  Like you need more enticement.  There's YARN!  And it's AWESOME!

Now you know what's in store.  Want to be a dear and help me get the word out?  Wonderful.  Thanks.

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*Be sure to check the right sidebar for all the fun parties I link to!

Little Lights

I don't take credit for the original idea, here.  I've seen several of these floating around pinterest.  But I'm throwing mine into the mix, too!  I love this simple idea because it can be used for so many things - decor, party decorations, party favors, a simple teacher or hostess gift, etc.

You have to admit, tea lights are a whole lot cuter when they're dressed up.  And this "project" is so easy, it's not even a project.

See?  Just stick, wrap, tear.  Voila.  And done in nice, bright Spring colors!  Because even though it's still snowing here, a girl can dream, right?

I used to be a Relief Society teacher for my ward - the women's Sunday School class for my church congregation.  I taught once a month and always tried to have a little something to give the ladies to remind them of the lesson throughout the week - sometimes just a paper handout, sometimes a magnet, most often chocolate (because that's the BEST kind of takeaway from class, right?)

While I was preparing a lesson a few months ago, this particular scripture from the Book of Mormon (another testament of Christ used as a companion to the Old and New Testaments) really stood out to me:

"...Hold up your light to the whole world.  Behold, I am the light which ye shall hold up." 

 - 3 Nephi, 18:24

It's a lot like this scripture found in Matthew.

And all at once I knew what I wanted to use for my handouts.

I made the tag in picmonkey and printed it on card stock.  

You can attach it any number of ways.  For example, if you are a procrastinator and doing this the night before and morning of your lesson, you can simply use double sided tape and stick that tea light right on the tag.
OR, if you have fewer people in your class or planned ahead (ha!) then you can slip them in a little clear favor bag, trim the top of the bag down, tie it shut with twine, punch a hole in the tag and tie it on.

Either way, really.

Whatever you use them for they are happy little lights, yes?  Oh, washi tape.  What would I do without you?

*Be sure to check the right sidebar for all the fun parties I link to!

WZWW #2 - A Valance

I just have to say, was she ever really this little?

Last time I did a "What Zoe Wore Wednesday" post, it was quite a bit more recent than this.  I have a few oldies - this is an idea that's been brewing for a while - so there's several flashbacks thrown in.  Even back then, mini was very particular about what she put on.

In these pictures, my daughter is wearing a valance.  Yeah.  Like you put on a window.

Graffiti Shirt - Granimals, Walmart - 2.50 on clearance (I buy all my granimals on clearance!)
Skirt - Made by me (from a valance!  Got it at a thrift store) 
Underskirt - Made by me (from thrift store eyelet)
Bright Pink Belt - Made by me (it was actually a headband, and before that it was a pair of knit tights)
Fringe Sandals - Walmart, hand me down

I admit it, I added the belt myself.  She's not that good.  But the rest was all her.

*Be sure to check the right sidebar for all the fun parties I link to!

So I eat dessert for breakfast. You're surprised???

A few weeks ago I had the thrilling opportunity to guest post on A Girl and a Glue Gun for her cool Food Friday series.  It was pretty much the bomb.  If you missed it (pshhhaw) OR if you want to see it again because it looks so delicious, here it is!

***

Hello!  I'm the me over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me - my name's Kim (which is the best name, am I right?).  I love to share my creative endeavors and I'm not ashamed to bear it all; the triumphs, the failures, the bad days, the REALLY bad days, and the insanity... I'm a writer, a wife to my polar opposite and best friend, a theatre major/wannabe budding actress turned SAHM to my 3 beauties, and a lover of yellow.  I craft, sew, bake, snapshot, and blog to stay sane and the truth is, I'm in love with the creative process - from beginning to finished result (whether good or bad) I just love the journey.  Furthermore, I'm beyond thrilled to be here on my namesake's blog sharing a delicious one of a kind recipe with you today!  (No, really.  THRILLED.  As you read this, I am likely giggling stupidly with giddy schoolgirl excitement.  I'll just let you picture that before we proceed shall I?  Ok, moving on.)

My mother is an amazing cook - as I'm sure many of our mother's are - and she has, fortunately, handed down a few of her cherished recipes.  When I'm feeling particularly blue, all I want is some good old-fashioned comfort food, a la mom - chicken and dumplings, creamy mac and cheese, cheesy broccoli soup, skin-on smashed potatoes, pecan bars... well, the list could go on and on, but I'm already drooling so I should stop.  Anyway, if there's one recipe that stands out from my childhood, it's hands down 

Yep.  That's right.  Porridge.  Straight from the bear family's table.  Don't ask me how my mom got their recipe, but she did and every single Thanksgiving morning I awoke to a steaming bowl of this delicious, creamy, fluffy, heavenly goodness and ate my fill while watching tiny people being pulled along by giant balloons as the Rockettes did a high-kick I could only duplicate in my dreams.

Fast forward to my wedding day, when the secrets of this delectable breakfast concoction were bestowed upon me - with a very serious charge to never.  NEVER.  reveal the secret of the woodland carnivores or a pox be upon my head.

Perhaps it's this never-ending, bone-chilling, soul-sucking, dreary, arctic winter (no seriously.  We've gotten over 60' of snow here) but I find myself craving Three Bears' Porridge pretty much constantly and though I always considered it only a Thanksgiving treat, I admit to making it much more often because the real secret behind this delicious breakfast?  IT'S SO DECEPTIVELY EASY.

 So, I take my life in my hands today in order to share this cozy comforting breakfast with you.  It'll warm you right up and your littles will love you.  They will beg you for more.  Honestly.  This is a favorite with my two picky eaters - who will inevitably lick the bowl clean while waiting for seconds.  Not only will this start your morning off right, make you nice and toasty, AND earn you bragging rights because it SEEMS so fancy pants but REALLY take you no effort at all, BUT it's ALSO super versatile.  The fluffy porridge is your base, but you can add just about anything in there and it'll be super tasty.  Our favorite is cherry pie filling, which admittedly makes it more dessert than breakfast.  Don't you judge me.

Without further ado, here's the recipe - in a printable 3x5 recipe card just for you!  

So, you know, if you're all healthy or whatever you could just cut up some fresh peaches or throw in some raspberries or blueberries or what have you.  When I was a kid my mom always added fruit cocktail - but she knew how much I hated the mushy, warm grapes so she'd pick them out for me.  Now THAT'S love.

I'm just going to give you this tip right now.  Make a double batch.  Trust me.

Excuse me a moment please...

So there.  I've given up the secret.  Just don't tell my mom.  I don't want a pox on my head.  

Wishful Thinking.

One of my favorite wreaths that I've made to date is the Farewell to Summer Wreath.  I just can't get over the nod to sunny days and the meticulously crafted roses.

Though I have been trying hard not to complain, this winter has been wretched.  The never-ending winter is hard on the soul and I miss the sun.  Which is likely why I just couldn't get this idea for an updated version out of my head.

Farewell winter - this time, even with all of your frigid beauty and quiet cold mornings, you will NOT be missed.  (The unfortunate and ironic point being that it snowed yesterday, and will likely snow again before winter is TRULY over here.)

You remember the first version?

I made the rosettes in exactly the same manner.  You'll excuse me, then, if I refer to the previous tutorial for the sake of time and non-repititiousness.  The photos are not so awesome, but that's mostly due to being in the dungeon craft room:

First, cut a bunch of tissue paper into strips the long way, about two inches wide or so.

Take your strips, one at a time, and twist them up,

then spread mod podge all along them.

Starting at the end, roll them up while twisting them - rolled rose style, like these.

Basically, you roll the middle, then fold the tail up, turn the rose 1/4, fold the tail up, turn the rose 1/4, fold the tail up again and so on until you run out of strip.  So you are turning and folding, pressing in gently to make it stick, but being careful not to squish the rose because you want it to stay somewhat fluffy.

When you get to the end, just smooth it down, it’ll look seamless with all the podge on there.

Now do this a bazillion more times.

You will probably need to make a few smaller ones, but you will want them to be the same thickness and fluffiness as the big ones, so don’t twist them any tighter or cut them any skinnier.  Just rip a little tissue paper off the ends of some of the strips you’ve already cut - maybe four inches or so - and construct them the same way as the big ones.

Yep, you're going to get mod podge all the heck over everything.  Prepare for that.
I made a few changes this time around - obviously using a normal wreath form instead of a floral foam circle.  I also used two different colors for the roses - or rather, two shades of the same color.  Below are some tips for the new sunny wreath:

I made the bow by simply creating loops of ribbon and hot gluing them around each other.  I then used a piece of skinny ribbon the same color to attach it to the looped ribbon the wreath hangs from.

I have to admit, I love the two-tone better.  The tissue paper rosettes might be a little time consuming to make at first, but after you do a few, they'll start flying by.  It's a great project to do in front of old office episodes or Zoolander.  Or Mean Girls.  Or Pitch Perfect.

Also, I have instructions for another project using these rosettes in my book (on sale on Amazon!).  It's a cute little topiary, you should check it out!

*Be sure to check the right sidebar for all the fun parties I link to!

Why You Need a Waffle Iron.

This was, officially, not my original idea.  You know that, don't you?

While perusing my pinterest boards a while ago, looking for something easy and delicious to make, I came across this:

Which I cannot, unfortunately, find the source for - ARG.  If it's you, I'm sorry.

So, I decided to test it out.  Results?

A much less appetizing photo collage.  
Also, Seriously tasty cinnabun waffles in a matter of mere minutes.  

The kids loved them.   I highly recommend them.  You know how sometimes you see stuff on pinterest and then you try it out and it's like, well, that was nice IN THEORY.

These aren't like that.  So feel free to make them, I already tested it for you.  You're welcome.

Now, did you know you can make your entire breakfast on this little waffle iron?  It's true!  I refer you to exhibit A:

Waffle Iron Eggs - Super Healthy Kids

Pair this with Exhibit B:

Waffle Iron Hashbrowns - Tablespoon

And add just a bit of Exhibit C:

Waffle Iron Bacon - One Good Thing by Jillee

And you've got an awesome breakfast right there!  But you could ALSO add French Toast!

Waffle Iron French Toast - Cooking With My Kid

Or, of course, waffles.  

Check out the buttermilk waffles I made along with vanilla custard sauce for a waffle bar dinner.

You could also make lunch with your waffle iron:

Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Fifteen Spatulas

Corn Dog Waffles - Pennywise Cooks

Dinner:

Oregon Summer Panino - the kitchen

 Waffleburger  - Waffleizer

AND DESSERT!!!

Waffle Brownies - Tea And Cookies

Orange Dream Waffles - Buns in My Oven

Waffle Iron Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies - Kirbie's Cravings

S'moreffles - Waffleizer

So, essentially, you could spend one day JUST COOKING ON YOUR WAFFLE IRON.  I'm totally going to do that.  Just to see if it works out.  Reason number 374 for why I love my waffle iron.

If you want more ideas of what you can make on your waffle iron, or need to justify purchasing an expensive waffle iron to your significant other, go to Waffleizer.  AWESOME. 

Oh, um, yes.  Happy St. Patrick's Day, too.   

*Be sure to check the right sidebar for all the fun parties I link to!