Free Pattern: Dish Towel Hangers

Hey everyone! Today, I have a FREE crochet pattern for you! :D This is easy enough for beginners and make a great gift paired with the best crocheted potholders ever!

These are a nice alternative to the crocheted towel toppers that are permanently stuck to the towels. Keep reading for the pattern. :)

Soothing the Strep.

I've been sick on and off for the past 3 months. It's been real fun. /sarcasm

But a few days ago, I noticed a familiar tickle in my throat. One I hadn't felt in a good...6-7 years, but one I could recognize very well. So, I grabbed a flashlight, went into the bathroom, and took a look at my throat.

Yup. That's strep.

But it's worse this time than when I was younger. This time, it was just one tonsil, and something happened. I don't want to say it ruptured, but there was a whole mess of not good stuff coming from it, running down my throat. I couldn't eat, I could barely swallow my own saliva. It was getting harder to open my mouth, and God forbid I move my tongue. So, since Kyle was at work, a great friend drove me and Gabey to the hospital so I could get looked at before it got any worse, and I got my antibiotics.

But I was still having an issue with eating.

Back in the day when I used to get strep throat atleast once a month, no exaggeration, I used to eat mashed potatoes all the time. And for someone who's trying to lose weight, this wasn't an option.

Enter some broccoli cheese soup.

It has all the comfort and warmth that you want.

But it's only 80-100 cal. per serving. I'm okay with that.

DIY: Mock Corset Cut Tee

Cut up shirts have been around for...a long time. 

Today, I'm going to show you one way to cut your shirt up.

I'm using one of the tye dye shirts Jesse and I did.

I call it a "mock corset" because the way it's cut reminds me of a laced up corset. Simple enough, huh?

Keep reading to see how I did it.

Pinteresting - 5 Minute Nail Polish Removal

Though Pinterest, I see quite a few things that just catch my eye.

DIY crafts I want to do, photos that I think would work well with my kids, food. You know how it goes.

But then I saw this pin from Gingerbreadmanne and knew I had to try it.

As a mom, we typically try to do things the easiest/simplest/fastest way possible, and that's more true when you have multiple kids, especially the younger ones.

This was the perfect time to try. My nail polish started chipping.

It looks messy, but the mess is fairly minimal. You can actually see your nail polish being "soaked" into the cotton.

Oh. And this isn't mentioned anywhere, so many it's just me, but my fingers got SUPER cold. Like chillin' chillin' cold.

The results were worth it.

These were done in about 5ish minutes, and SO much easier than the typical "soak a few cotton balls and make a huge mess" thing I did before.

Moral: I'll never go back to my old ways. This way FTW.

DIY: Beginner's Photography Backdrop

I don't have any WIP shots for this because...um...I suck.

Honestly, I got WAY way way into it once I started and there was just no time to go get my camera.
Plus, Kyle had to leave for work in a matter of hours and I wanted to make sure I got it done.

This was something that just sort of sparked in my head and I went with.

I used:
2+ yards muslin fabric ($5.89)
Sewology Eyelet Kit ($2.99)
Sewology Eyelet Refills ($3.49)
Tea (FRESH BREWED, over the stove)
Sewing machine + Thread

Things you should use to make your life easier:
Iron

This is literally thrown together. Work with me.

Step 1. Seam all the edges to one nice, flat, level seam. Or, as even as you can get.
Step 2. Pick which side will be your top. Double it over an inch. Sew it into place.
Step 3. Attach your eyelets following their directions in the 1 inch top.
Step 4. Tea dye the fabric (I used the tutorial here).
Instead of tea dyeing, you could just dye it with fabric dye. Throw some tye-dye swirls in there!

Then mount it using hooks onto a bar or even shower curtain thingies. Easy and simple for a beginner to use.

Also, to give you a size ratio, this will work for my kids in portrait all around. Landscape, however, will be a bit difficult. It'll have to be close-ups or them sitting on the floor. Individually, of course. Like I said, this was a "BAM in my head let's run with it" sort of thing, so size wasn't a huge deal for me. If/When I make another one, I'll make it much bigger.

However, I'll need some area to make it work.
Yeah, I heard it in Tim Gunn's voice, too.

I don't have the structure to mount it (yet, that's a WIP) so here's a thrown together set up to give you the idea.
Also, please excuse the lighting.
Double also, my typical sit down for photos child is in school right now. I had to use Gabe. I apologize.

This would be great for a beginner photographer that's wanting to grasp some studio photography practice without shelling out an arm and a leg for backdrops.

Or, you know, the SAHMs like me who try to do everything on a budget, including photographing our kids.

How I Edit My Photos

When I upload photos onto Facebook, it's no surprise that the quality drops. But that's okay. I deal with it.
I typically upload them into an album, and then I upload the edits into another album, one I made specifically for edited photos. Pretty often, I get messages from people asking what I do to my photos and what programs I use. It's kind of mind boggling, to be honest. I've seen professional photos and mine aren't there. But I figure I could just post this for the people who are curious.

I'm using a MacBook Pro and Adobe Lightroom.

First, I upload my photo into Lightroom.

All of my photos are shot RAW. Because of this I can change the white balance if I choose.

You cannot do this with JPEG.

I almost always select "Auto Tone". I can always undo it if I don't like it.

From here, I click "Develop". I can choose a preset if I feel like it, but I only use them if I'm wanting to achieve a certain look. There are hundreds of presets you can download for free online, or you can buy them.

Typically, I will boost up the blacks and contrast. I like a lot of contrast in my photos.

I also bring up the clarity. Sometimes the vibrance and brightness, but not always.

Then I always boost up the sharpening and detail. I also throw up the luminance to kind of remove the grain/noise. Not a ton, though. You don't want the photo looking like you smudged it all over the place.

You can end it here, or you can throw a vignette on it. For a vignette, I like using a preset. You don't have to, of course.

Then simply click File > Export.

Type in all the info you want/need.

Then you just click Export and wait for it to finish.

Pretty simple, not near as elaborate as most photographers, I'm sure. But it works for me.

And there you go. Easy peasy.
And now you know exactly what I do and how I do it.
Don't be scared to experiment with your photos. That's how you learn the best, in my opinion.

Lonely Girl Nights

Kyle's shifts at work leave me home alone a lot of nights. On those nights, I never feel like cooking a huge meal for me and the kids. Typically, we'll just get the kids something quick to eat and then I'll get something to throw in the microwave. It gets old. Quick. So I'm forever trying new things to make a quick, simple meal for myself.



Also, it's a well known fact that I love honey mustard way too much.

Summer = Zucchini

I think this started when I lived with my sister.

Actually, I'm almost positive that's where it started.

You see, I never really ate veggies growing up, no matter what they were in. I always thought they were disgusting and my stomach would wretch just thinking about them.

My sister made some zucchini bread one summer and I tried it.

And I liked it. A lot.

Ever since then, my mouth watered every summer for it.

And now, it's a summer thing in our house. Every summer, almost. And thank God my mom grows zucchini.

Milk, dark, white..I love 'em all.

It got cake crazy in my house for about a week.

It started with a TROLOLOLOLOL cake I made for a friend coming back from England after a 3 week stay.

Long story short, Kyle got jealous.

Kyle demanded a cake for him.

Apparently, what Kyle wants, Kyle gets.

TONS of calories and whatnot. But SO good.

I did cheat on the frosting, though. That was store bought because it was the specific kind Kyle wanted. *eye roll*

Oh, those italians.

I'm still not a fan of spaghetti, really.

I KNOW, I KNOW. Shoot me, right?

Still trying to find ways to actually eat it without an issue, and I think I found something to help.



Who doesn't love cheese stuffed balls?
Teehee.

Hotdogtopuses.

This is something that has been floating around the internet for quite some time now. I just got around to trying it.



My kids? They were excited to see them.
They weren't as excited to eat 'em.

Rollin' in the dough.

Hah. I wish.

Anywho.

I have a weird husband. I've talked about him.

Kyle..ugh. He will eat raw BREAD dough if you let him. He thinks it's delicious. I think it's disgusting.

As far as cookie dough is concerned, I can see his way of thinking. I think cookie dough is delicious, but I hate any of us eating it because of the raw eggs. I'm not a fan of putting my family at risk.

However, there IS a way to enjoy cookie dough...

...egg free!

You're so cheesy.

I don't know about how you do things in your home with your family, but when it's summer our family butts heads. Mainly, it's me. I hate the hot weather. Summers in Missouri kill me. I'll suck it up to take the kids to the park, but I hate the outdoors. And it doesn't help that I'm a mosquito magnet. There's only one thing we can agree on.

Summer = Grilling Time.

A lot of burgers happen, and these take the cake.

It looks like a typical burger, but there's a nice surprise inside.

Homespun Yarn.

Have you ever tried working with homespun yarn? Because I have. And it's a PAIN for me. It keeps unraveling and fraying and..ugh. Maddening, really.

I bought some Lion Brand Homespun Yarn in Lagoon with the intentions of having it become the start of a blanket. That ended QUICK when I started using it, so then it stayed in my craft room.

And stayed.

And stayed.

And stayed.

I haven't touched it since January.

Until today.



I figured I needed to get some destashing out so I'd have an excuse for more yarn.

And the yarn was/is SO soft. It'd be a shame not to make something of it.

So I made this.

It's a baby cocoon/baby basket/babypod/a lot of names. It's a photography prop for newborns. They go into it like they're still in utero, but some are still small enough to be able to stretch. I wanted to make sure I used something soft when making it, and I didn't have any wool. The pattern called for that homespun yarn so I figured, "Why not? If it doesn't work out, I frog it and it goes back in the craft room."

It worked. By some miracle, it worked. I'm SUPER happy with the results and the way the yarn feels. SO happy, infact, that I want more of this yarn.

Seriously.

I know, I know, I'm /facepalm-ing it up enough for myself right now. But I want more in different colors. It's just SO soft. And SO pretty. And SO...GAH I WANT MORE.

Someone shoot me.

OH. Pattern for the cocoon can be found here.

Out of our element.

When it comes to beef or pork, we're pretty basic people.

Bar-b-q.

Sometimes, I don't think we even know that there's other ways to prepare it. It just doesn't make sense to us. I can't really blame Kyle for it. He's a southern boy after all. But me? I'm just all over the place.

I really think I need a trip back north.

So, I've been trying to stay away from bar-b-q because..well...I don't like being outside. And with the schedule Kyle works, I'd have to be outside to do the grilling..I don't like that idea.

Well w00t for different ways to cook pork!

During the process, you'll probably step back and be all "Um, no. This is going to be disgusting."
Don't worry. It won't be.

Ravioli? Holy Cannoli!

Oh, how I miss Chris Farley. :(

Anywho.

Pretty much, any cheese or pasta dish is a huge hit in this house. Not so much with Kyle if veggies are involved, or minced garlic. He doesn't like the texture of it. Lame.

I'm constantly trying to find ways to make different pasta dishes aside from spaghetti and fettuccine alfredo because, let's be honest, these can only go so far before you're so beyond sick of it that walking down the pasta aisle at the store makes you nauseous. Food that's easy and kid friendly is also a plus.

There's honestly no way to really get a glamorous photo of this. No way. I tried. But you know what? If you make it, it speaks for yourself. Gabe actually finished it ALL, without much on the floor or table. That's saying a lot.

Snap. Crackle. Pop.

This is another SUPER easy dinner, one that kids will DEFINITELY approve of. Using an old favorite cereal of mine.

Yup.

RICE KRISPIES.

Did you know there's other things you can do with them without making rice krispie treats?!

Yeah. CHICKEN.

And yes, it pairs GREAT with mac 'n' cheese.

A House Divided.

Sometimes I wonder why Kyle and I are married.

And there's one very big reason for this.

KYLE DOESN'T LIKE CHINESE FOOD.

Okay, I grew up on a fair amount of Korean food. There's a lot that I don't like, such as kimchi, bean sprouts, etc. I can't handle spicy. Hell, I didn't like Chinese food until I was about 14. Same with seafood. My palette has changed a lot throughout the years.

When Kyle works nights, I usually get simple dinners for me and the kids. The last one I got for myself was sweet and sour chicken by Healthy Choice.

Worst. Mistake. Ever.

It was horrible. The chicken was dry, there was VERY LITTLE sauce, and...it was just a fail. I was disappointed.

So I decided that while the boy was away, the girl would play.

Tastewise, it reminds me a lot more of honey chicken, but it's so good, you won't care.

Also, this is baked. It won't be crispy unless you want to do it that way.

Take A Day Off. Or 4-6 Hours.

I honestly, 100% believe that the only people who dislike slow cookers don't have one.

Or have one, tried it, and failed. I don't know how, but I guess anyone could.

There are cons to using a slow cooker, like having to clean it (because that's a royal pain to me) and having to smell the heavenly aroma of food throughout your house ALL FREAKING DAY, but there is one pro that makes it worthwhile.

IT'S CALLED NOT REALLY HAVING TO DO MUCH OF ANYTHING ALL DAY.

Some recipes, like this one, will take an additional step, but typically they're small and easy.

And, come on. Tell me that isn't worth a little extra work.

Yeah. You can't. I know.

French Spaghetti.

To be quite honest, spaghetti isn't my favorite. 

Actually, I don't usually enjoy eating spaghetti. I need to be in a mood for it. Everyone else? They'll eat it like chocolate. Bleh.

In an attempt to make it easier for me to eat spaghetti..well..

...yeah. It's like a spaghetti calzone. And it's pretty great. I used my french bread recipe for the bread, but you can use frozen dough.