Love At First Stitch

Okay okay okay... as much as I love knit fabrics, I think I'm going to take a break from them for a little while. (My hubby would love a complete break for bit.. but i doubt that's going to happen..sorry!) I've been really itching to get out my book from Tilly and The Buttons again. (photo left)

She has such cute vintage looking skirts, dresses, tops, etc. I love it!! I've only tackled her Clémence skirt (see below!) and her super cute bow belt! But I really want to whip out some of her dresses. They are so cute. I was almost going to start making one...but then I didn't. (Probably got distracted with another project or something.) I still have the fabric for it. Maybe this means it's time to start it! The fabric is this super cute, super light blue with white designs. Also, the Mimi Blouse is adorable! That is definitely on my to-do in the very near future. (I just need some fabric for that..wink!..) If you are a beginning sewer, Tilly's book is a must have! It has great explanations on how to do the basics and has very useful techniques in sewing and construction. It's called Love at First Stitch. (I seriously had a love at my first stitch <3) Tilly is super adorable! I would totally go to one of her workshops if I lived in the UK.

Another plus with cotton fabric and other types of non knit fabric, they usually sell them for good prices at the fabric stores. (The down fall is some of the fabric types fray!) Knits are always way over priced and there really aren't that many cute, stylish options; which is why I usually always buy my super adorable knits from Girl Charlee. I've seen some other online sites with cute fabric options, but honestly, the prices doesn't beat Girl Charlee. I haven't found anything thing that comes close in comparison yet. (My apologies for those of you not in the US! The cost for shipping probably wouldn't make it worth it...sad day...) Oh my lanta...the fabrics here at Ray Stitch are super cute too! But they are from the uk...I'm going to see if I can maybe get a few eventually... so cute I almost can't handle it. :)

Anyway, please, please, please share with me where you get your patterns and fabric! I would love to grow my collection and discover new patterns that work really well! (I have a few patterns that I just use and abuse and alter and whatnot.) And I'll share what I find too!

Anyway, stay tuned for some super cute and new creations! I'll be more than happy to share. :)

(Photo props to Photography Hill!)

To Sweat With Love

So right now I'm in the second trimester of this one year program called the Pathway program. (I'm going back to school to finish my bachelors degree and this program allows me to go to the best online school ever! BYU-I Online!) And it's cheaper than anything. It's basically low cost educational opportunity that focuses on online classes and local gatherings, helping those who haven't been to school in awhile get reacquainted before starting full-time. Only two classes each term. (Not too shabby.)


Anyway, this trimester is Writing. We had this silly assignment to write a love letter to one of our favorite things using descriptions and use of the senses and whatnot. It also has to be an actual object or thing, not a person. (I guess it's made to be more on the silly side.) I chose Bikram Yoga, naturally... and I decided to share it with you! It's kind of lame, but I don't care. Enjoy!  :)

Dear Bikram Yoga,

   Words cannot express the way that I feel about you. It pains me to imagine life without you. You have become a part of my everyday life and I cannot let you go. You’ve changed me. You’ve made me into a better person. I cannot and will not go back to how my life was before you.

   When I first met you, sweating was almost the only thing I could do. The enveloping heat made it hard to breathe, and the humid air caused moisture to tickle the inside of my nose. Beads of perspiration multiplied exponentially as I strained to go deeper into each posture. The unfamiliarity of each pose caused my heart to race and made my head feel almost light enough to join the clouds. You worked me into the ground. But after that one class, that first encounter with you, I was hooked.

   I just love stretching out of my spine, reaching back as far as I can go, and straining to look for the floor behind me. I will continue to bend over backwards for you. It doesn’t matter how deep into each posture I am able to go or how far I am able to reach, I will always put in my best efforts—despite the pain you may cause me. I can’t complain, for you have brought my flexibility to a whole new level. You keep me on my toes and coming back for more, giving me the energy and stamina to move mountains. You electrify me. You make me sweat. You make me thirst. You make me feel things I haven’t felt before.

   Every day I hope to see you, feel you, and embrace your presence; that humid heat bearing presence that gives me great comfort. Even the scent of the room brings me to a special, peaceful place. With every deep inhale, every breath, I can feel you clearing my mind, my lungs and my soul. When I’m with you, the only thing I can focus on is my breath and that one spot in the mirror.

   There are times when I truly hate you, yet I will always love and yearn for you. But please forgive me, for sleep often gets the best of me and I can’t see you as regularly as I would like.

   I love you more than is fathomable. I will always remember you and the way you make me feel. Our relationship is one that is eternal. Our next encounter will always be just around the corner.

With love,

Refuse 'Demo'

Hello ladies and gents!

I am just so exciting right now! So a few years ago, I used to write music with my friend Mark. It was super fun. He's basically a musical genius. I only wish I was a musical genius... I only know like seven chords on a guitar...and I could maybe get better than barely decent on the piano...if I happened to have one in my disposal... Any who, I haven't really written anything in..uh...years. It's hard to write music when your happy and content. Sad songs are so much easier! And I love minor chords!

So with that, I whipped up something on garageband! It was kind of my little practice run. I wrote the song a few years ago. I spliced it up a bit though and I think it sounds pretty decent. Not as awesome as if I were able to have Mark assist me...but that's besides the point.



Go take a gander if you wish! Here! (Or click the picture..) I hope you like it. (At least just a little bit.) Hopefully we can look forward to some more music in the future. In the mean time, check out my other sounds. Fading Spaces


Thanks! :)

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

I must say, Raspberry Oatmeal Bars are some of the most delicious dessert bar things ever!! And it always saddens me because when I make them and take them to an activity or something, they get eaten quickly...and I hardly ever get to save any for later...

I also have this recipe completely memorized since I made them almost 4 different times within a two week span. (They are seriously that good...and addicting!) And they are just way too easy to make! 

I seriously want to make more and eat them all just by looking at this picture... But that there is the finished product

Prep time : approx 15 min.
Cook time : 35 min
Yield: 9-12 bars (depending on how you cut them)

BTW, I tend to make a double batch of this stuff because really, one is just not enough. But here is the recipe for a normal batch.

Ingredients: 

1 cup all- purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda,
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup rolled oats: old fashioned (I honestly don't know if it matters what kind of oats you use. I always use quick oats because it's what I already have on hand almost all the time...)
1/2 packed light-brown sugar (I usually just use golden brown sugar. Not sure what the difference is)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (Room temp works a little nicer!)
3/4 cup raspberry jam, seedless if preferred (You really can use any flavored jam that you'd like. I don't really measure this out either. I just put in what looks like enough. And I use homemade raspberry jam. So good!)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8in baking dish (I only use glass baking dishes for this) with aluminum foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang of foil on two sides. Grease foil.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in oats and brown sugar, and use clean fingertips (as needed) to break up brown sugar clumps. Add butter, and using fingertips, work butter into mixture until evenly moistened.

Add 2 cups of the oat mixture to the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer. Spread raspberry jam (or any other flavored jam) into an even layer over oat later, coming within 1/4-inch of all edges. Sprinkle top evenly with remaining oat mixture, then slightly press into jam layer.

Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 34-38 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before cutting into squares. Store in an airtight container. (Though you may not need a container if you eat them all!)

My crumble mixture! 

And after I pressed it into the pan..

And the jam! Don't forget to leave a 1/4 in gap from the foil.

Sprinkle the remaining over the top and slightly press. Ready to bake! 

All done! Let it cool for at least 30-45 min before cutting so it won't collapse in.

Enjoy! :)

And there you have it! The best raspberry oatmeal bars ever! <3 I hope you make them, love them, and share with your friends!

One Year Down - and Some Family Photos

So Scott and I have been married for just over a year now (yay!). This also means family photos! (more yay!) With that, every year (preferably in December because that is our anniversary month..) I want to take family pictures. I think its a great habit to get into, so cheers to that! And then when we have a house, I'll have a really nice collection of photos from every year since we've been married! So far we have one...when we got married...I need to get one of these new ones printed so I can put it up on the wall.

This last year has been great! Bumpy here and there, of course, but that's life. Scott and I have had many adventures this last year and I guarantee we will have plenty more this year!

One of the best things about getting married at the end of the year is it allows us to reflect on the previous year and look forward to the next! I am also so grateful that Scott and I were sealed together and married in the House of the Lord (In other words, an LDS Temple). This allows Scott and myself to be together forever! Time and all of eternity. How great is that?! I think it's pretty awesome. And we are a team so we are able to grow and learn together...forever!

Anyway, here are my favorite pictures from our little family photo shoot! Thank you to the wonderful  Annie for taking the photos! <3 (And if you couldn't tell, I am loving purple lately!)

I hope you all have a happy new year in 2015! Here is to becoming better versions of ourselves. (Since there is no reason to become a whole new you. You are already great!) And like my yogis say, this is a time for New Years good intentions, not necessarily resolutions. Sometimes the intent is all that matters.

Cheers!

The Start of 2015 Giveaway

I cannot believe that 2015 is here! I feel as if the past year just flew by! Some big things that happened in my past year was hit the one year milestone with my hubby, enjoyed two baby announcements in my family, trip with Scotts family in Moab, spent the summer in New York City, started sewing, and so much more! It was filled with good things, things that taught me life lessons, times for growth, and lots of reasons to smile. God is so good to bring us through another year.

Today I want to bring you a giveaway with a few of my blogging friends! It's perfect to start off the new year. Here are some things you will be winning!

• A blog planner
• Some fun little accessories from Modcloth
• And a "Cheers" banner from Ash's Party Accents! 

These items are perfect to bring your office space some organization and sparkle. See below for entry details!

"Cheers" garland

Blogging Planner

Here are a few of your sponsors! Be sure to check out their blogs!

Trissa // Kayty // Aleshea Ashley // Leah // Sarah

a Rafflecopter giveaway

​

The Lane Raglan Top

Oh my goodness....HAPPY NEW YEAR! I seriously can't believe that it is already 2015. Here is to an even better year!! :)

It's time I share some love on the Lane Raglan Top! The pattern can be purchased here! And I get my fabric from Girl Charlee! (The cutest stuff!) I do really like this shirt. It's super cute! However, I think the way they have you do the collar/neckline is completely silly...Seriously. If you purchase the pattern, you will understand what I mean. Good news though! You can do it a better way and not really have to change anything. :)

But if you aren't comfortable changing things up...go ahead and just follow the directions. It will still look darling. Also, in the near near future, I'll post about the two main necklines I do on my shirts and how to do them so you can do it the normal way! ;) haha The first is the T-Shirt neckline like these shirts and The Out and About Dress or the rolled neckline like The Day Tripper Top.

Anywho, here are my completed Lane Raglan Tops! (Hopefully more of them will come soon! And maybe a dress version!!)

.

These are the only two I have at the moment. The one at the bottom, I took in the sleeves a little bit. The first one I did not. I actually like it better how it should be without taking in the sleeves. (In my defense, most patterns are too big and I have to take them in...annoying! But this one is fine!)

Anyway, enjoy! This shirt is fun and not too difficult. :)