Super Stay At Home Mommy!

Adventures in the life of a stay at home wife and mom

May 7

The Liebster Award!

by linnaeasmom

I woke up this morning to a nomination for a Liebster blog award from fellow SAHM over at Creating My Niche! Thank you!!

An award! Woohoo! I am so excited…. but what the heck is a Liebster award??? Basically, it’s an award to recognize small bloggers (less than 200-300 followers).  So, in order to official “accept” the award, I need to do the following: List eleven random facts about myself, answer eleven questions given to me by Creating My Niche, and nominate eleven small blogs.

LiebsterAward_3lilapples

Here goes….

Eleven random facts about me:

1.) I played rugby in high school. I always love to throw that one out there because not many people can say they played rugby. It was tons of fun, but I still deal with lots of knee and shoulder pain from old injuries.

2.) I was the Fair and Rodeo Queen for my county in 2004. Yeehaw!

3.) My husband and I ran away to Vegas to get married. Yes, Elvis was there

4.) I hate, hate, HATE spiders. I couldn’t tell you why. I just hate them.

5.) I have 6 nieces and one adorable nephew. I love being an auntie.

6.) My guilty pleasure…. Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant, and Dance Moms. Why? No clue… My husband makes fun of me because I spend half the time yelling at the television because I can’t stand the girls or the shows. Ha!

7.) When I was younger, I never really wanted to get married or have children. Now that I have both, I can’t imagine my life any other way. Love it!

8.) Both of my daughters are named after flowers. Just not your typical “rose” or “daisy”

9.) I’m a choco-holic! Especially dark chocolate. YUM!

10.) Before having babies, I worked at a couple different animal hospitals. I may actually like animals more than I like most people…. lol!!

11.) Some day I’d love to start my own small business. Probably just out of the house… Decorating cakes or making clothes or homemade cosmetics. Some day :)

My Eleven Questions From Creating My Niche:

1.  If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy/do? Lame, but I would pay off all of our debts…. Then I would buy my parents a vacation home really close to us so that we could see them more often :)

2.  What is the first movie you saw in a theater? hmmm…. I have no idea. I can remember seeing The Lion King at the drive-in when I was little, does that count? lol.

3.  What is your dream car? A horse… LOL! I’m not much of a car person, but think it would be really cool if my hubby bought an old Camero and fixed it up for me (hint, hint)

4.  How would your closest friend describe you? Kind, quiet, silly, and caring

5.  What is your most cherished possession? Pictures. I am a crazy picture taking lady. I would be devastated if I ever lost them.

6.  What does “happy” mean to you? Happy for me is being surrounded by my family. Watching my girls grow. Being in the loving arms of my husband. My family is my happiness.

7.  If you could pick it, what would be your last meal? Tough one! I’m a food lover…. Let’s see, how about a juicy steak with a side of risotto, spaghetti, pizza, and lasagna. Oh, and a chocolate souffle for dessert. LOL!

8.  If you could meet anyone, past or present, who would you pick and why? Gordon Ramsey… to get some cooking lessons! (I know, I know, I should have picked someone more inspirational. But after the last question, all I can think about is food!)

9.  What is your favorite junk food? CHOCOLATE! Oh, and Doritos. Love Doritos :)

10.  What song have you listened to most often in the last few days? The classical music we have playing in Linnaea’s room.

11.  If you were stranded on a remote island, what three things would you want with you (besides food & water)? My family, Kindle, and toilet paper! haha…

My nominees are: (I follow a ton of blogs, but these were the only ones that met the requirements. I love all of them!)

1.) Robbyn’s Nest

2.) Dresses & Me

3.) Mom’s Place of Sanity

4.) When Harry Met Celery

My Eleven Questions for my nominees….

1.) What is your favorite childhood memory?

2.) What was your dream job as a child?

3.) What is your favorite food?

4.) If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

5.) If you could travel back in time, what year would you travel to and why?

6.) If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

7.) Beach or Mountains?

8.) What is your favorite season?

9.) What is your favorite movie?

10.) What made yo start blogging?

11.) Describe yourself in 3 words:

Yay! We’re all set… Can’t wait to read your answers! And thank you again, Creating My Niche, for the nomination!! Now go, check out her blog! And don’t forget to take a look at my nominees blogs too! They all have lots of fun stuff to share!

 

 

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May 2

FREE Girls Sewing Tutorials and Patterns!

by linnaeasmom

Unfortunately, I have had NO time to do any sewing. It’s amazing how hard it is to find a moment to sit down and work on a project when you’re busy snuggling a 6 week old and chasing around a 2.5 year old. I have found myself daydreaming about sewing, and imagining what my first project will be when I can get back to my hobby. Like many others out there, the first place I search is Pinterest, and my Pinterest sewing board has become over-filled with TONS of great free tutorials and patterns. I figured, since I can’t sew right now, I’d take this opportunity to share some of them with you!!

Dresses:

Twirly T-Shirt Dress from The Crafty Cupboard

Olivia’s Best Dress from Emily Taylor Design

Maxi Dress from Life is {Sew} Dailyfree sewing patterns and tutorials

One Hour Sundress from From an Igloo

Racerback Dress from Crafterhours

Delaney Dress from luvinthemommyhood

Snappy Toddler Dress from Prudent Baby

Junebug Dress from Craftiness is not an Option

Let’s God Fly a Kite Sundress from The Ribbon Retreat

Coraline Dress from Craftiness is not an Option

Vintage Heirloom Dress from Sew Set

The Playdate Dress from Sew Set

Toddler Maxi Dress and Shrug from Cat on a Limb

Itty Bitty Baby Dress from Made by Rae

Easter/Spring Dress from Moda Bake Shop

Ruffle Halter Dress from Ellie Inspired

Sweet Tartan Dress from Skirt as Top

Summer Picnic Dress from The Cottage Home

Brooklyn Frock from Sew Set

Butterfly Dress from Sewing in No Mans Land

The Perennial Dress from sewpony

Skirts:

Pleated Skirt from Fleece Fun

Tiered Petal Skirt from Life is {Sew} Daily

Twirly Skirt from House on Hill Road

Layer Cake Skirt from Prudent Baby

Reversible Circle Skirt from This Heart of Mine

Pleated Pocket Skirt from Sew Set

Tiered Skirt from Sew Set

Layered Skirt by Made

Tops:

Tank Top from Happy to Craft

Girls Tunic with Tank Top from Tea Rose Home

Julia Top from Shwin & Shwin

Reversible Apron Top from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

 

HAVE FUN!!!

Sewing

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Jan 18

Rag Quilt Tutorial

by linnaeasmom

I have been dying to sew up lots of cute baby stuff, but we are currently in the middle of a move so my sewing has slowed down quite a bit. One thing I have accomplished is a rag quilt. It was so quick and easy! I was able to put it all together in just a few days during Linnaea’s nap time. I think it is just perfect for a baby blanket :)

I followed THIS tutorial– the only difference is that I used 5″ squares instead of 7″ squares.

 

Don't you just LOVE those bright colors!

Don’t you just LOVE those bright colors! (Please forgive my phone pic….)

Sewing

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Jan 2

Burp Rag Tutorial

by linnaeasmom

With less than 11 weeks left until the baby is due, I have really started sewing like crazy to get some things prepared for her arrival. I’ll be sure to share all my projects and the tutorials I used to make them. I’ve found that making things myself has been a HUGE money saver for us! I’m a big sale shopper (and you all know my addiction to thrift stores and up-cycling old things!), so I’ve managed to get all of my supplies at half price or less!

The first project I wanted to share was baby burp rags. A friend of mine shared this tutorial with me (from Cloud9 Fabrics) and I LOVE them! They are super quick and easy to throw together. I made 8 of them, and it only took me a little over an hour from cut to finish. And this is a great way to use up some of those spare fat quarters you have laying around! Each fat quarter will make 2 burp rags, and just 1 yard of flannel (for the back) is all you need for a set of 8. So, 4 fat quarters and a yard of flannel later….. This is what I ended up with–

There are 2 of each pattern. Just LOVE them!

There are 2 of each pattern. Just LOVE them!

Sewing

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Dec 3

Low Carb Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner!

by linnaeasmom

Alright, I know we’ve already passed up Thanksgiving, but it’s not too early to start thinking about some healthier option for your Christmas dinner!

Traditionally, most people have ham or turkey for Christmas (at least in my family we do!) Turkey and ham are both carb free, however, to keep it that way do not use any sort of sugars to cook your meat it– this means no honey ham! We don’t need to really add any more sugar to the holiday season anyways, do we? :)

Here’s so recipes for low carb sides to go with your meal:

Instead of mashed potatoes, try mashed cauliflower

And top those off with this low carb gravy

Who doesn’t love green bean casserole? HERE’s an alternative recipe

We can’t forget the cranberry sauce!

And deviled eggs are always a great, low carb go to.

With THIS recipe, you can even enjoy rolls!

And don’t forget my broccoli salad recipe! I made this for Thanksgiving, and used dried cranberries instead of grapes. It was a huge hit!

For dessert, try out these– Pumpkin Cheesecake and Pecan Pie

And the Atkins diet website has some great recipes for low carb COOKIES, too!

It IS possible to enjoy the holiday season without worrying about gaining those dreaded extra pounds!

thanksgiving-dinner

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Oct 16

Kids Clothes Week Challenge Fall 2012

by linnaeasmom

Did anybody else complete the challenge? I’d love to see what everyone made!

Here’s some pictures of what I managed to get done this week….

 

I think this is my favorite thing I made all week! I’m OBSESSED with pleats, and just love how this skirt turned out… Here’s the tutorial so you can try it out too: Pleated Pocket Skirt

I’m always going back to circle skirts because they’re just so quick and easy! This one is for my daughter’s birthday outfit :) Circle Skirt Tutorial

Ok, so not clothes, but accessories count too right? I made this purse as a birthday present for my daughter. It didn’t take long, and I think it’s super cute! (The angle of the picture makes the top look a bit crooked, but it’s not really :) )

Make it yourself: Buttercup Bag Sewing Pattern

Finally, I made this beautiful cape! I thought it would be so cute to have a 2 year old in some old-time fashion! So, I decided to make my own twist on Little Red Riding Hood’s cape… I actually used a Little Red Riding Hood costume pattern to create this

Here’s the back. Not the best picture, but just wanted to point out the hood

Here’s the pattern I used: Simplicity 2571

I did include a lining in mine. Basically, to do this, you’ll want to cut out and sew 2 capes (one lining and one with the outside fabric.) You’ll then line them up, right side together, and pin. Sew the 2 pieces together along the outside, leaving a small opening. Turn right side out, and sew the opening shut. It was the first time I’ve sewed a lining into something so large. I was intimidated at first, but it ended up being a lot easier than I originally thought it would be. I also sewed a button closure instead of the recommended ribbon/tie closure.

So, there you have it! Got a lot accomplished, and I still have a few things left on my list to work on! Maybe I’ll get a few things done this week too :)

Sewing

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Oct 4

Kids Clothes Week Challenge!!

by linnaeasmom

Earlier this year, I posted about Kids Clothes Week Challenge (KCWC)… Well, it’s that time again!! Fall Kids Clothes Week Challenge starts October 8 and goes through the 14th! I had a great time last year and accomplished so much. Check out elsie marley’s blog to learn more! I encourage you to join in :) And stay tuned for pictures of everything I make!

Sewing

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Oct 4

A Word on Homeschooling….

by linnaeasmom

Actually, I suppose I could title this post “A Word on Teaching” or even “A Word on LEARNING”.

Recently, we began “toddler school” for our nearly 2 year old daughter. Basically, it has been an introduction to colors, shapes, letters, and numbers. In my research, I came across people asking, “If you start schooling that early, then what will they learn in kindergarten?” I’ll use this post as an opportunity to provide my personal answer and opinion on that matter.

In the last 4 weeks, I have discovered what a sponge a 2 year old’s brain truly is. They are aching to learn, to discover new things, to soak it all up. I am truly amazed at just how much Linnaea has learned in such a short period of time. She begs me every day for “school, school, school!!” She is anxious and excited to see what we’ll be learning about that day. Why not take advantage of that? Why not fill that sponge? She’s learning from a young age that school is great, learning is FUN, and it gives me great hope for the future.

Now, I’m not saying that everyone should sit their child down for a strict 8 hour school day. We simply set aside 20-30 minutes a day. We learn through playing, coloring, finger painting, and other creative little projects. We also sneak in some learning when she’s playing throughout the day. We use her toys, draw pictures, and point out letters in books that she knows. I’ll get more into our schedule and tools we use to learn at a later time…

Now, back to the original question, “What will they learn in Kindergarten?” Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I am pretty sure that kids are supposed to know their alphabet and numbers, etc. before entering kindergarten. If I am wrong, then your child will be ahead of the curve! This is the beauty of homeschooling, learning can be at your child’s pace. If, by the time Linnaea is of Kindergarten age, she has already learned and mastered all of the kindergarten criteria, then we move on to 1st grade curriculum. It’s that simple! I have always thought that that is one of the magical things about homeschooling. I was always ahead of everyone throughout school, I got bored easily and craved a challenge. In a home school atmosphere, once a child has mastered a topic, then you move on to the next. There is no class to wait for to catch up. There aren’t 29 other kids with questions. Your child is the focus. And the opposite is true as well– should they need a little extra time on a topic, you can give them that extra time. You’re not slowing down an entire classroom. Your child is learning at THEIR personal pace.

Ok, perhaps I got a little off path, but you can see what I’m saying. Don’t let comments like these stop you from starting to teach your child early. They want to learn so badly! Their little brains are just waiting to be filled with information. Take advantage!! You’ll be amazed, I promise.

 

Homeschooling

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Sep 8

Chicken Mango Kabobs

by linnaeasmom

This whole summer has flown by in the blink of an eye!! I can’t believe it’s Fall already! But, if you’re still able to find some yummy looking mangoes at the store, then you MUST try this recipe! My husband is doing P90x and is subscribed to the email newsletters. A few weeks ago he received an email with this recipe in it, and we just had to try it. I can only describe them in one word– DELICIOUS!! They are spicy, sweet, tangy, a great mixture of flavors that will leave you craving more!

Chicken Mango Kabobs

  • 1 tsp. lime rind, grated
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil (plus extra to grease grill surface)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut in 1-inch chunks
  • 2 tsp. honey
  • 2 mangoes
  • 1 sweet red pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
  • 1 small red or sweet onion, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • Medium bowl
  • Large bowl
  • 8 skewers
  • Brush for marinade

Light charcoal grill or preheat gas grill. In a small bowl, create marinade by whisking together lime rind, lime juice, oil, garlic, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper. Place chicken chunks in large bowl. Pour half of marinade over chicken, toss to coat, and let stand for 20 minutes. Stir honey into remaining marinade, cover, and refrigerate until needed. Cut mango flesh from each side of pit. Cut mango flesh in a grid pattern of 3/4-inch squares down to but not through the skin. Gently push skin to turn inside out and cut off the flesh. Alternately thread mango, pepper, onion, and chicken pieces onto each of 8 skewers. Brush with half of the reserved honey marinade. (Discard marinade that chicken soaked in.) Lightly grease grill surface and place kabobs on it over medium-high heat; close lid and grill, turning and basting kabobs once with remaining honey marinade until fruit is softened and chicken is browned and cooked through (with no pink inside) and juices run clear (about 8 minutes). Makes 4 servings (2 skewers each).

Preparation Time: 40 minutes

Cooking Time: 8 minutes

And even better, they are high in protein and low in calories and carbs. Nothing like a delicious meal that’s healthy too!
**Note** Don’t forget- if you use bamboo skewers, you MUST soak them in water first! Otherwise they will catch fire on the grill… Guess who forgot to soak the skewers– yep, that would be me. Ours still turned out tasty though, our skewers where just a touch burned. lol.

 

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Aug 13

Low Carb, Gluten-Free, Spinach Quiche!

by linnaeasmom

I follow the blog Frugal Feeding, and am always finding delicious things that I’d love to make. This particular recipe was just too good to pass up. I’d been looking for a good quiche recipe, and couldn’t have asked for a better one to meet my dietary requirements. AND it’s delicious too! Even Linnaea chowed down on some (and she’s a picky 2 year old!)

Because his blog is out of the UK, I thought I’d help you all out a little bit and convert some of the measurements :) To see the original recipe, go HERE

Crustless Spinach and Ricotta Quiche

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 10oz fresh spinach

• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed

• A little olive oil

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 8oz ricotta cheese

• 2 eggs, beaten

• Salt and pepper

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Fry the garlic in oil in a large saucepan. Add the spinach and cook until wilted. Beat the eggs, cream and cheese together in a mixing bowl until combined. Add the wilted spinach and season.

2. Transfer the spinach and cheese mixture to a buttered quiche dish and bake in the oven until just set. This should take around 20-25 minutes. Once cooked leave to cool for 2 minutes before very carefully slicing.

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