What's For Dinner: Week 2

(dessert from last time we ate at Heidi and Daniel's)

Last week went mostly well I forgot about a BBQ we had scheduled so I didn't do the honey rosemary chicken (which was fine since I didn't have the stuff on hand anyways).

Sunday: Went to a BBQ for Lunch so had some guac as dinner
Monday: Dinner at Heidi and Daniel's
Tuesday: Chicken Taco Salad (Corn, beans, cheese, avocados, pumpkin seeds)
Wednesday: Sausage and Acorn Squash
Thursday: Basil Sausage and Wine Tomato Pasta
Friday: Steak and Asian Stuffed Mushrooms*
Saturday: Shrimp and Cashew Nut Stir Fry

I'm trying to do at least one new recipe a week and I'm marking them with the fancy '*'. Last week's was the Vietnamese Vermicelli Salad, unfortunately I did not like how it came out.

As always I'd love to hear what meals you plan even if it's only one or if you have a new recipe you're hoping to get to this week.

eat it

Pattern Hate and Princess Love

Seriously why did I trust a pattern, I never do that. I measured the waist and the length and adjusted but I didn't think the freaking pattern would be so messed up in the neckline and back. So I'm unpicking the zippers and chopping a chunk out and adding a chunk to tira's since babies don't have clevage. I guess my own princess pattern will be a huge improvement. As you can see it's almost done. As soon as I work the tweaks out I'll add them to the shop. But these two need to be worn to a princess party tomorrow. So for now I'm improvising. Goodness you should see how low the neck is on Tira, at least Lanna's I can take the shoulders up or something. Errrr, I'm not sure how anyone one can sew from a pattern and be happy, I feel like I'm always making major adjustments.

Works In Progress: Costumes Galore

I'm been happily sewing non-stop since I've come home because I know when I finish these few last orders I'm on right now I get to start on these. Have I mentioned how much I love Halloween, and costumes, and making costumes for Halloween. Well I do. Here's what this pile of stuff will become.

1. Fancy Princess dress (recycled from a adult dress)
2. An even Fancier Fancy Nancy Dress
3. Birthday girl Tutu
4. Dorothy
5. Flower girl Dress
6. Princess dress for Lanna in the vein of Cinderella
7. Princess dress for Tira in the vein of Cinderella (they've got a princess party this weekend)
8. Pirate tunic
9. Pebbles
10. Bam Bam
11. Some Halloween Cake Shop Skirts

Happy Birthday Baby Lanna and SHOE GIVEAWAY (closed)

We celebrated Lanna's first birthday this weekend with a pool party. I had joked that she would be getting a pile of paper to eat because after all, that is what she likes! But on our trip we found an awesome rubber chicken and thought it would be really funny to give the baby a rubber chicken and then we thought it would be even funnier to make her a luchadore outfit in the vein of Nacho Libre. And of course because her mama and grandma refuse to buy her shoes and I get grossed out by her walking around stores barefoot I made her some snazzy kicks.


I made an extra pair of each the little deer and the polka dot shoes. I made the sole out of a good vinyl so they shouldn't be slippery but they are still soft soled for the new walkers (isn't that what they recommend these days?) Anyways they are Lanna size so about a year old (I'm thinking something like 9 to 18 months). Her foot is 4.5 inches long and 3 inches over the top at the fattest (and they are fat) part if that helps any

To enter to win these shoes:
1) Link back to this blog post on your blog, facebook, or other internet thing-y. Get an extra entry if you follow my blog for the first time (see the little widgets to the left to follow the blog or become a fan on facebook). Click here to create a blogger link.
2) Comment on this post telling me where you linked the post or that you became a fan or follower. Remember you can enter multiple times if you link back in multiple places or follow my blog for the first time. Please make a comment for every entry.

If it's your first time entering one of my giveaways or for more info on these giveaways and to see a list of past winners see this post.

This giveaway is open until 9/5/09

What's for Dinner: Week 1

So I'm trying something new, we got back from our vacation knowing we'd have to tighten our financial belt. But we had saved up for the reunion/trip so at least we could relax guilt free. On top of that, as always happens at the most convenient times, we had to fork out more money on car dumbness. That and the fact that I seriously need to lose weight (too many of my cute dresses just don't fit these days) has prompted me to try and plan our meals a bit more so here's my plan for this week.

Sunday: Parmesan Chicken and Two Potatoes (russet and yams...pictured above)
Monday: Calamari Caesar Salad
Tuesday: Zucchini and Sausage Campanelli
Wednesday: Chicken stuffed bread thing (at sister's)
Thursday: Pizza
Friday: Vermicelli Salad topped with Spring Rolls (basing it on this recipe)
Saturday: Honey Rosemary Chicken Wings with Hobo Potatoes

Do you guys have anything yummy planned that I may want to try next week?

eat it

Treasury love: Hootenanny

A big thanks to woolcrazy for creating this beautiful treasury. I've had great fun starting on some custom costume orders and I'm extra excited that it seems that people are getting a head start this year (last year I had to turn orders down because there just wasn't enough time). Anyways to get a closer look at the goodies on this list and direct links to each item click here.

I had a wonderful time!

Vacation was absolutely wonderful. We got to play with (for good chucks of time) some of my best friends throughout the years. The whole trip was motivated by my high school reunion. Even though I went to school in Thailand those of us stateside had all recently been back and/or couldn't afford an international trip so we met up in La. Before that I hung out with my friends I made during college and seriously the best thing about it all was laughing really really hard with people I love and I know love me. Also on the way home we got to hang out with a friend I made as a toddler in a community dance class for preschoolers. I really have been blessed with great friends!

I've got the post-vacation shock though, happily not eating out anymore, happy to be back to my own bed and kitchen but flailing a bit to catch up on orders and school stuff and more (like Lanna's first birthday celebration).

I'm excited about all the custom halloween costumes I get to do this year and some treats for Lanna's birthday party so you'll get a pick at those next week.

Giveaway over Yonder

I am finishing up my vacation but I just wanted to let you all know of a fun giveaway I'm doing over at the Dress Up Drawer. I'll be giving away a pair of rocker pink ruffle bottoms to help kick things off Today (Aug. 17) but seriously this gal has a TON (I think she said 9 a day!) of awesome giveaways lined up and they are only open for 5 days each. Head over there and check things out.

Beyond Interesting

Call me anal but I'm a planning list person. My favorite day in college was the day they released the schedule of classes for the next term. I LOVED planning the perfect schedule. Likewise I enjoy calculating my nutritional input. I like knowing what calories, fat, fiber, etc. are in the different things I'm eating. It's kind of like a puzzle.

If you have any interest in eating better or enjoy those eat this not that sorts of segments on the morning talk shows you need to read this article. Part of you will want to throw up at how bad some of these dishes actually are. Read it for fun, education or whatever, I found it fascinating.

So I'm in California

So I'm in California, hoping to get into Price is Right tomorrow, hit the Aquarium, Disneyland, eat chili cheese fries from Tops and spend so much time with old friends that I ache. But while I'm gone, I've scheduled a few posts. I may not be as close to the computer as normal but I should be able to attend to my email and etsy regularly enough.

So to kick things off I wanted to share some of my favorite California inspired items on Etsy.

1. foster's freeze
2. poppy toddler headband
3. california soda
4. pillow
5. california roll plushies
6. i heart california necklace
7. poppy earrings
8. bear shirt
9. pick earrings

Giveaway: Zazu Cake Shop Skirt (closed)

I'm loving my new Cake Shop Skirts (like the cupcake ones I shared last week) so I thought I'd give one a way. Here's a funky skirt perfect for twirling and playing since it's completely machine washable and dryable. Both Lanna and Tira wore theirs to the park. This one is made in what I'm calling the "petite size" I think it would be best for a 2 to 4 year old but really the waist is SO stretchy that as long as the length works your good (waist 16"-21" length 10"). (I bet it would stretch to more than 21" comfortably and really that's an easy fix if you want the waist to be bigger)

(didn't have a chance to nab a niece to model)

To enter to win this skirt:
1) Link back to this blog post on your blog, facebook, or other internet thing-y. Get an extra entry if you follow my blog for the first time (see the little widgets to the left to follow the blog or become a fan on facebook). Click here to create a blogger link.
2) Comment on this post telling me where you linked the post or that you became a fan or follower. Remember you can enter multiple times if you link back in multiple places or follow my blog for the first time. Please make a comment for every entry.

If it's your first time entering one of my giveaways or for more info on these giveaways and to see a list of past winners see this post.

This giveaway is open until 8/21/09

L.A. to Long Beach Jems? (Or down I15 from Utah)

Okay a quick call out to anyone who might know of wonderful hole in the wall little eateries or shops or activities anywhere from L.A. to Long Beach. We've got fun things planned but some of the eating is going to be left until the last minute and it would be fun to hit some smaller places (not too pricey would be awesome but not necessary). And I figured maybe you guys know of other cool things we might want to do while we're down there.

oh I just remembered if you know if any fun stops down I15 from Utah to Ca I'll take those too. I'm a big fan of Ma and Pa burger joints.

Thanks in advance,
Marissa

p.s. there will be a giveaway tomorrow

Is It Really Costume Time Again?

I've had an influx of costume orders lately which is good since last year I had to turn people away because I just couldn't get the orders done and shipped in time for Halloween. But goodness it still feels early. But regardless of whether I'm ready or not Halloween is coming, I flipped through etsy's front paged yesterday to spot my own little Dorothy Costume taunting me there.

Right now I'm just focusing on finishing the flurry of retro ruffler orders I received last week and a few fun giveaway items before my trip but I'm getting everything cut out and thought through so that when I'm back I can go full out on costumes.

I ADORE doing custom orders especially costumes and if you're considering having me do one for you please contact me sooner than later. I should have internet access on my trip so I can take orders and work out costume ideas, I just won't be able to sew until I get back.

And once again thank you SO SO much for the adorable costume ideas, seriously the veggies and baked potato totally crack me up (and I think I know how I could do it if I find the right fabric). If you have any other brilliant ideas let me know asap as I'll be doing the drafting/brainstorming part of the costume making on my trip. I'm so excited about a few goodies.

Go See the Wild Flowers

Seriously if there are wild flowers by you go see them...now. We took the two naughties and they totally tolerated it fine. It was a lot of fun and so pretty I felt like I was in the Sound of Music except with out the Nazis chasing me and all that. We went up to Alta just yesterday if you're in the Salt Lake area.

p.s. it counts as exercise, especially if you carry an extremely squishy almost 1 year old most of the time

Treasury Love: How Sweet It Is

Thanks so much for RozzyTots for creating this cute cupcake treasury. Click here to help with hotness, comment on the treasury, and get links to the various goodies.