Bellin Run as Wonderwoman. 50 Running Songs to get me pumped!

Today is the Bellin Run.  My friend Amber and I are running it. After giving up on the idea of running as Snow White, I decided I wanted to be Wonder Woman.  I found a running shirt for sale at Walmart.  Less than $8 later (for all the material I needed!) and encouragement and lots of help from my crafty friend Sarah, I am ready to rumbo. 

In order to gear up for the run, I made sure to have my phone full of all kinds of music.  I put together my Bellin playlist.  I'm not sure I'm going to love all of these while running, but this is what I have:

112- Dance with me

Daft Punk- Get Lucky

Nappy Roots- Aw Naw

B.O.B. - Both of us

Busta Rhymes- Break ya Neck

Krewella- Can't Control Myself

Macklemore - Cant Hold Us

D-12- Purple Hills

Daft Punk - Around the world

Daft Punk - One more time

Daft Punk vs Benny Benassi - Put your hands up for technology

Ke$ha - Die Young

DMX- Party Up

Jessie J - Domino

Justin Timerberlake- Don't hold the wall

Eminem- Till I collapse

Enrique Inglesisas - I like it

Flogging Molly- Irish Pub Song

Flogging Molly - Seven Deadly Sins

Nelly- Here comes the Boom

Mumford & Sons- I will Wait

Icona Pop- I love it

Pitbull - International Love

Fun. - It Gets Better

Run DMC- It's Tricky

PCD- Jai Ho

J.Lo- Let's Get Loud

Ke$ha - Crazy kids

Justing Timberlake- Let the groove get in

Chris Brown- Look at me now

Selena Gomez - Love you like a love song

Mariah Carey ft O.D.B. - Fantasy

Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch- Good Vibrations

Cassie - Me & U

Michael Jackson- Beat it

N Sync- Bye Bye Bye

Missy Elliot - Lose Control

Dada Life- Rolling Stone T-Shirt

Outkast- Roses

Salt-N-Pepa - Push it

LMFAO- Sexy and I know it

Shakira- Hips Don't lie

Sir Mix A  Lot- Baby got Back!

Outkast- So Fresh and So clean

Katy Perry - The one that got away

Will Smith- Switch

Will.i.am. - Check it out

J.Cole- Work Out

Yolanda Be Cool- We No Americano

Postage Stamp Quilting

My sister and I have been working on cutting out our 2.5" squares.  We both want to make some version of the Postage Stamp Quilt.  While this is a lot of fun, and a huge project I might add,  the quilts need thousands of these little squares.  I mean, LOTS of squares.  Since I want my quilt to have as little amount of duplicates as possible,  I recently signed up for my very first swap!  Tiffany and I got together and cut out some fabric that we will be swapping towards the end of this month.  Then, I saw this post and knew I had to join in!  

Check out this blog for this awesome swap!  This great swap lets you swap to multiple people and that way you only need 50 fabrics enough to cut out 5 of these little "candy" size squares!  Please join up!
Sounds like an awesome good time!

Melissa

Banana Bread (with Chocolate Chips)

my favorite banana bread adapted from Betty Crocker

My son and I made a triple batch (we had a lot of ripe bananas) and he enjoyed every minute of it. Okay, he enjoyed the eating and stirring parts the best. I don't keep buttermilk in my fridge. It just breaks the bank around here. So, I make some of my own. add a half of a tablespoon lemon juice to a measuring cup, then fill the rest up with milk to reach 1/2 cup.  Let sit for 5 milks. Voila. Homemade buttermilk. 

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup margarine softened

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 medium)

1/2 cup buttermilk (or homemade buttermilk)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup mini chocolate chips

1. Move oven rack to lowest or second to lowest position and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of pan of two 8 inch loaf pans or one 9 inch. (or muffin tins)

2. Mix sugar and butter together until well mixed. Add in eggs and stir until well mixed. Add bananas, vanilla, and buttermilk. Mix until well blended.  Add flour, soda, and salt until just mixed.  Stir in chocolate chips. Divide between pans

3. Bake muffins 15-20 minutes, 8 inch pan about an hour, 9 inch pan about 1 1/4 hour.  Check doneness by inserting a toothpick until it comes out clean.

4.  Cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pan onto wire rack and cool completely. Store at room temp for 4 days or in fridge for 10 days.

Bacon Potato Chowder

Bacon Potato Chowder (adapted from cdkitchen.com)

I have seen all over pinterest lately baked potato soup. But I didn't want a soup base. I wanted something oh so creamy. I found it, and then of course made it my own. Also, this is a one pot meal. Here we go:

1 pound bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1 cup chopped onions

2 cloves garlic minced

4 cups diced potatoes

2 cups water (I used 2 1/2 c.)

1 teaspoon salt

pepper to taste

2 cans of cream of chicken soup

2 cups sour cream

3 cups milk

(optional garnish: cheddar cheese and extra bacon)

In a large pot, cook bacon until brown.  

Add onion and garlic and cook until tender.

Drain.

Add water and potatoes. Season with salt and pepper.

Cook about 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender

Reduce heat to medium low.

Add soup, sour cream, and milk. Mix well.  

Continue cooking and stirring until thoroughly heated.

Melissa

Pinterest Love

I have been on a Pinterest Kick lately.  Everything is just easier to see with a short description and a picture.  Simplifying my life with more things to do. BUT, it has helped!  Here are some of the things that i have found on pinterest lately that I have actually done!

I tried this out with my son's birthday party on Saturday and I think the kids loved it.  It was easy to set up and easy to get through (he turned 3) but I think we will definitely be trying this one again. (The pictures should link you to the websites)

One pot macaroni and cheese.  Delicious!

Jesse and I made this simple cards to send off to both sets of grandparents. 

No link for this one. Just brush on nail polish for cute fun bobby pins.

Cookie Dough Egg Roll.  Good. But I didnt cook them right.  Tried again with marshmallow fluff and chocolate chips. That was pretty good too.

Marshmallow Fluff. Yummy! 

And Ive tried these. My husband wasn't a huge fan, but my son and I gobbled them up. Delicious.

Now you can see why I love pinterest.  I actually try recipes that I bookmark. and I get to look back and see pictures of the things I want to do with the kids. and do it.  So, if you aren't already addicted to pinterest, let me know.  You can get invited and start pinning!!!

Poll: Who really is sexy?

My Son Jesse and I decided to enter a contest. We thought it might be fun to dance to a clip of "Sexy and I know it" and enter to win a trip to Los Angeles. Which would mean a trip to see Grandparents!!! Please go to this site:

Poll: Who really is sexy?

And vote for Melissa. We are the contestants with the Los Angeles gear on. We really want to go so we busted out our favorite move-- The Robot!!!!

Thanks for voting everyone!

~Melissa

Quilting Group

This was my first quilt. And my only quilt. I didn't really have to learn a lot. Just cut a bunch of rectangles, sew them into strips, and then sew white strips in between and around.  I really enjoyed making this quilt.

Yesterday, the ladies group at church (Relief Society) had a quilt group night.  I was a bit nervous for a couple reasons. 

1. Since we've moved to Wisconsin, I've found a job. My husband watches both kids while I am at work all day and leaving for two more hours in the evening would be kind of unfair to him.

2. I haven't quilted a lot. Much less in a group setting.

We (Tiffany and I) arrived and we were the first one's there.  What a relief. I didn't have to show everyone all at once that I am still a novice!  Tiffany and Laurie (the lady in charge) started talking blocks.  Way over my head.  

We were learning a Woven Twist Block.  A whaty-what what?  We learned how to do a partial seam and this is how my block turned out:

Its a little ske-wompy, but I was mostly happy with how it turned out.  I used fabric from my stash. (you might notice the brown fabric is the binding in the first quilt). 

We were supposed to make two blocks. One for a charity quilt with blocks from everyone from the group that goes all onto a quilt and then to a place like a hospital or a red cross.  I only was able to finish one block, but I plan on making more and putting them all together into a quilt.

I don't think that all my fabric is going to match because I don't have much of this left and because I'm hoping not to have to buy any for the quilt blocks each month. 

Winner!

'

Happy Fourth of July!

And now, for the winner.

Drumroll please!

Congratulations to Katie!

Thank you to everyone who entered and good luck on the next giveaway!

~Melissa and Tiffany

Loving Summer - In Pictures

I've been moving giveaway

After a lot of this:

and a lot of this:

and WAY too much of this:

and about 2,300 miles. We arrived! We moved to Wisconsin and now we are unpacking, looking for jobs, and trying not to get lost around our new neighborhood.

The good news is that Tiffany and I like about 6.5 minutes away from each other. With "traffic". Hee Hee.

So, in honor of trying to blog more (which hasn't happened yet), we are having another giveaway!  

You could win this:

There is about 1/2 yard of each fabric!

THE DETAILS

How to Enter:

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry

1. Comment on this post.  Say: Congrats on the big move and good luck unpacking!

2. Let us know if you follow

3.  Follow Tiffany's other Blog and let us know here!

4.  For three additional entries buy something from our etsy shop. (We are working on a bag pattern and the shop will have more items for sell in the next month or so)

We will ship to U.S. and Canada (if the strike ends of course :D). Please either leave your email or make sure it is attached to your blog account.  The giveaway will close Sunday July 3rd, just to make sure you have time to enter. Good Luck everyone! 

~Melissa and Tiffany

Thank you, Tiffany for providing the fabric for this giveaway! <3

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers day from our families to yours.

Giveaway Winner

Is number 2 - Cambric! Congrats!

Make sure to get your entering fingers ready for next month.  I'm debating between a purse, or a clutch.  Any preferences?? :D

Monthly Giveaway #1 - CLOSED

Hello! Happy Friday!  Today, we are having our first monthly giveaway!  It's easy peasy to enter, and here is what is up for grabs:

A crocheted flower with a scrubbie center, and a crocheted dishcloth.  Both are handmade by me. :D

To enter:
1. Leave a comment
2. Be a follower - and leave a comment saying you are
3. Like us on facebook - and leave a comment saying you did (Button is on the right of our blog!)
Fine print: Will ship to the US and Canada.  Will email if you win, so please make sure to either leave your email, or have an email attached to your blog id. Giveaway will close on Monday morning, May 29th.

So there you have it!  Every month we will be having something handmade or supplies for something for you to make.  Just a little something to say thank you for reading our ramblings, sharing our love of crafting, and inspiring us yourselves!

~Tiffany and Melissa~

Moving

My lovely sister, Melissa, is moving closer to me! About 5 minutes away from the now 3000 miles!! I am so excited!  We will have some lovely crafting time in a couple of weeks.  To celebrate this, I think we will be starting a *giveaway* tradition.  A once a month thing.  So check back tomorrow - you don't wanna miss it! :D

Love to all the followers!!
<3

_Tiffany_

Bells

Love these in the garden!

Happy Easter!!

Hope you all have a fun filled holiday weekend! <3

Moo Moo lunch bag

Here is my latest project! The pattern is from Joann's 

I return to work on Wednesday from the best 10 weeks of maternity leave ever. sigh

Since I am breastfeeding, I have to pump at work.  With my first child, I would just take a brown paper bag to store the milk in the fridge so that no one could see it.  But sometimes the bag would get wet and the bag would just fall apart.

I decided to whip up this quick bag. I skipped the insul-bright because the bag would be straight in the refrigerator after I pumped, and because my commute from work is ten minutes, so I didn't need the extra lining.  

I used the cow fabric from my stash. Thought it was cute. Kind of letting everyone know not to open my bag in the fridge! :D

FlashCards Love

I have recently made an Etsy Purchase I just had to gush about!

Number and Alphabet Flash Cards made by Katie.

Check them out in her shop here

She just added the Colors set and Shapes set. I bought those today and can't wait to print them out.  At $3 a  PDF set, they are a steal of a deal! You can print them out as many times as you want and get your kids to learning! :D  

I stole the pictures above from her blog, so stop by and take a look around. You might just fall in love like I did!  And hopefully those of you that have a toddler will go take a look at the awesome flash cards too!

My New Toy

Does this mean my crafting might suffer? Maybe.  But I think it's more like - another creative outlet can only help.  Isn't that how it works?? ;)

Springtime In Wisconsin - Wordless Wednesday

Going Manual

Recently I won an ebook from this giveaway.  

The book is called Say No to Auto! and you can buy your own copy here

I have been a bit terrified of switching to the manual mode on my camera because I don't know what I am doing. I do know that I just have the "kit" lens, and I still have a lot to learn, but today was my first day. I said No to auto.  I just did what Kristen suggests. I took a couple of pictures and didn't worry what they looked like, but rather just played with my settings.  Here are some of the pictures.  We had a bit of a rough potty training day, so we stayed indoors near the window instead of finding open shade outside.

These are two straight out of camera from AUTO:

And here are two straight out of camera on MANUAL:

These reflect more of a true coloring of what she was looking like.  I still have lots to learn, but it was fun experimenting today. 

Quilt in progress

For a baby in our ward,  kurt and I worked on this together. Will be perfect for the family. :-)

Tiffany

Do you own a Nuby Breast Pump?

Okay, so I recently purchased a Nuby Natural Touch Rhythm Breast Pump.  Wouldn't it be my luck that during the last couple of weeks of pregnancy baby brain, I lost the instructions manual?

If anyone has this breast pump, can I please get a copy of the instructions manual?

Thanks friends!

Yummy cookies

That's right,  cookies for breakfast.  But they have Oatmeal so it's okay. Harriet homemaker shared this recipe and I had to try them. Yum!

Baby Eleanor

Since my lovely sister Melissa is spending time with her adorable little girly...I'm posting some pictures to share with all of you.




Isn't she a cutie?  And Missy was right!  She was a good solid 8 lbs plus!