Time Out For Women - Tucson

Happy Sunday! This weekend has been fabulous! I had the opportunity to go to Time Out For Women, and this was the first time it was in Tucson! (Click here to watch a little video to find out more and if there is an event coming soon to your area!) TOFW is really a time out for women where we gather together for one purpose, to grow spiritually and draw closer to Christ. It's a two day event, Friday evening and Saturday morning to early afternoon. There are always fabulous presenters and wonderful music!

I'd love to share some thoughts that I took from the conference and things that I learned...

Christ had the power to change things. He turned water to wine, which was the first of many miracles. With the help of Christ's atonement and coming unto Him, we too can be changed. He can make our weakness become strengths. However, there is an expectation to do something when requesting a miracle.

Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weakthings become strong unto them.

The different works, trials, etc, that we do or go through on this Earth are preparing us for Heaven. Shaping us! And Heaven will teach us as much as we want to know. We just have to be willing to ask and put forth work.

Grace is the source of all righteousness.

Questions are good! They lead to answers, which leads to revelations, which in turn leads to knowledge.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, fear not, not be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, not forsake thee.

True conversion brings change in someone's believe, hope and self.

The finished product isn't always the most important part. It is a great gift to be able to learn and grow from our different journeys and experiences.

If you think of yourself as a failure, you are most likely wrong! A failure is an experience you didn't learn something from.

Idiot = Not professional. So basically we all have a little bit of an idiot inside us! ;)

The three most important things you can say to someone: 1. I love you 2. I appreciate you 3. I forgive you. Christ's whole life ended in forgiveness.

This too shall pass...like a kidney stone. In reference to trials and the difficult things we go through at times, it will pass! It may not be easy, but it indeed will pass.

In order to be a disciple, you must be a learner. To be a learner, you have to be disciplined. Letting go of a weakness often requires discipline.

In order to become who you really are, you need to let go of who you are not.

Pick your hard!

Believing is a choice and often takes discipline.

Moroni 7:19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ. 

Calee Reed was the musical presenter on Saturday. She is fabulous! She is also just so sweet. If you'd like, pop on over and read this lovely post from a few years ago. It's good that life isn't fair.

What a great and spiritually uplifting weekend that was! And I am super excited that I will also have the opportunity to attend the Phoenix TOFW in the fall tour. It is such a wonderful weekend and I love being surrounded by such lovely sisters in Zion. <3

Until next time!

 

Strawberries 101

Who doesn't love strawberries?! I recently purchased some to experiment with my seemingly greenish thumb. I love picking berries and eating them before I leave for work or when I come home!

I bought the strawberries below around February 11.

And they started producing berries! Some of them got fairly funky shaped... but they still tasted pretty swell. Not much berries since though. I've been picking them off so I can get more leaves! 

This here was my first real good looking berry. It was still pretty little compared to berries everywhere else, but I grew it! And it was so sweet! I'm hoping that when my plants get a little more established that they will be able to produce a little bit bigger berries. 

This here is what a cute little strawberry flower looks like. :) And yes, the middle is what will eventually turn into a strawberry. So precious! 

Berry Info: Quinault Strawberry

Planting: Space 6 to 18 inches apart, depending on type. (Read the stick tag that comes with the plant for specific spacing recommendations.) Be careful not to bury the crown of the plant, or it will rot.

Strawberries are also sprawling plants. So seedlings will send out runners, or ‘daughter’ plants, which in turn will send out their own runners. Pretty neat huh? Because of this, if you are wanting to plant quite a few of them, make sure you space them a little further apart. However, I didn't really do that... I have a balcony hanging planter thing that has 2 strawberry plants in them, and they are closer to 6 inches apart.. they seem to be doing fine though! My other one is in its own pot and seems to be doing great as well! 

Light requirements: Full sun. Strawberries require 6-10 hours a day of direct sunlight, so choose your planting site accordingly. I have my berries in the morning sun since I'm in zone 11 and I don't want the heat mixed with the sun to scorch my plants! 

Soil requirements: Strawberries need well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Amend heavy clay or sandy soil with compost or other organic matter prior to planting. Create raised beds if soil is heavy or drains poorly. Soil pH should be between 5.5 and 6.8.

In the first year, its a good idea to pick off blossoms. This discourages the plant from fruiting. If not allowed to bear fruit, they will spend their food reserves on developing healthy roots and more leaves. The yields will also be much greater the second year. 

Water requirements: Keep soil consistently moist throughout the growing season. Moisture is the key to plump, fully-formed berries. Mulch soil to reduce water evaporation. Moisture is incredibly important due to shallow roots. Water adequately, about one inch per week. They need a lot of water when the runners and flowers are developing and again in the fall when the plants are mature. Also, make sure you keep in mind about your climate! If it's warmer, you will need to water more frequently. 

Frost-fighting plan: Strawberry plants are sensitive to frost. Temperatures of 28º F or less (a hard frost) damage flowers. Protect newly planted seedlings and established, budded plants by covering plants with straw or a frost blanket. By fall, strawberry plants have formed the flower buds that will open the following spring. To protect them through winter, apply a 2- to 3-inch mulch of straw, pine straw, or other loose organic material.

Common issues: Slugs can be a problem when using organic mulch, so use plastic mulch to discourage them). Keep birds from feasting on berries by covering plants with plastic bird netting. Small, misshapen berries are can be caused by drought or high temperatures.

Harvesting: Pick berries in the morning, when fruits are cool. Select fully formed and colored berries, as unripe berries won’t continue to ripen once picked. Carefully pull strawberries (with stems) from plants. Aim to leave about a half-inch stem on each berry.

Storage: Refrigerate unwashed berries (caps still on) in a plastic container with a loose-fitting lid. Place a paper towel in the bottom of the container before adding berries, then arrange berries in single layers separated by clean paper towels. For peak flavor, use within 2 to 3 days, although berries may last up to 7 days.

vv Down there is my brand new and a two months later photo. vv 

It looks so great and healthy! I'm a little afraid that I won't be getting much more berries though. I feel like I'll have to water them a lot more to get good berries in this dry heat. They tend to dry out... I'm still in the process of figuring this all out, but so far so good. I love strawberries. Strawberry fields forever! <3

Happy planting! 

Mod Podge - Letters

So recently I rediscovered Mod Podge and oh my goodness, it is so fun! I honestly want to mod podge everything!! There is so much you can do! And there is so many cute ideas on pinterest!

Anywho... a few months ago I bought "S & T" at either Hobby Lobby or Joann's (I honestly can't remember which, they both have letters though) and the plan was to decorate them! The letters are about two inches thick and made out of some kind of cardboard material. First I tried Washi Tape. Fail. It really was a disaster hah. Washi tape wasn't made for that material of cardboardy letters. And then I was going to try wrapping yarn around them, because I've seen it before and it was so cute! Guess what? Another fail! That one was even MORE of a disaster! And I even started with the easiest letter! So there they sat... for awhile, away from sight, until I could actually decide what I was going to do with them...

Then about a week ago this girl I know reminded me of Mod Podge! And so it was decided, I was going to mod podge some super cute scrapbook paper on my letters. Boom. Target had this packet of scrapbook paper that was fairly inexpensive and I also bought a container of matte mod podge. (I didn't want to try making some from scratch just yet, but I pinned some recipes I'm going to try)

For this project, you will need...

• Mod Podge (store bought or homemade)
• Sponge brush (or any type of brush you have around)
• Letter's to decorate!
• Scrapbook paper
• Scissors or an exacto knife might work decently 
• Paint (Color of your choice)

I started off painting the outside of all the letters black. I also painted a little on the face of the letters incase I didn't do the best at cutting out the paper. :)

Note: Any type of paint should work just fine. You will end up coating the entire thing in the mod podge, which will seal it.

Peace of cake, though my paint had to dry for 24 hours... The paper letter's is where I had some slight issues. I kept trying to trace everything on the scrapbook paper upside down...which is a terrible idea. Erasing is also a pain so make sure you trace the letters correctly! And then cut them out. Make sure they are cut enough to fit nicely on top of the letters. I cut mine a little shorter so the paper didn't hang off the edge anywhere.

Now we get out the mod podge! Doing one letter at a time, sponge brush one layer of MP on the top of the letter and let it set for 30 seconds. Then, apply one more layer of mod podge on top. Stick on the letter and make sure there are no bubbles! Sometimes using a card helps to smooth everything out. Set that letter aside and repeat with all other letters. Let them dry at least 10-15 minutes. (You may want to avoid putting the mod podge on the back of the scrapbook paper to stick it down...it tends to start curling... it's especially annoying on the S)

Next you are going to cover the entire letter (except the back because I don't think there is a point for that). And don't worry, it dries clear! My paint dried glossy and the mod podge was matte, so it would look funny if I didn't completely coat all the sides. And, like I said before, it seals it up all nicely. I would suggest doing one coat, let it dry completely and then maybe apply one more coat. If you don't like the little brush marks, you could get really fine sand paper, but no one should be inspecting your work that closely. If they do, just poke them in the eye.

And that's about all there is to it! Mod podge can be used for SO many different applications, so let's get creative! I know I will be!

Also, be sure to check out my blog! Click the name below to check it out! <3

The Essential Dress

Happy Friday everyone! It's finally the weekend and I am super excited. This week flew by, which I am super grateful for. The weekends are just never long enough so I am always looking forward when they come around again! I also can't believe that April is almost halfway over. Where has this year gone?! It already feels like summer and soon it's going to be Christmas again! Yikes! 

Anywho... I love sewing and I absolutely love the Essential Dress. I made the pattern myself! It was fairly simple by using this tutorial on rubbing off pattern making.

I started off making The Essential Tee. I bought the original shirt from DownEast Basics. I loved the fit so much that I rubbed off the pattern to make my own! And guess what? It worked!! I then decided to extend it into a dress with the help of a Dritz Styling Design Ruler, also known as a French Curve. I love this particular one because it has every curve you need in altering or creating your own patterns; armhole, neck, waist, hip, etc. 

This dress is so comfortable too. And I love the elegance of the half sleeves. I also just absolutely love knit dresses in general. They are my favorite really. :) I definitely will be making others in different prints! This also would be cute at a full length dress! It's now on my list to do! <3

It's the Essential Dress because, well... It's essential!! 

Fabric from Girl Charlee! Photo props goes out to Photography-Hill!!

Happy sewing!! <3

Day Tripper Top - Embellish

Okay, this is my last update on the Day Tripper Top. This shirt is so cut and universal, I can't stop raving about it. It's also a really great top for beginners!

Don't be afraid to change the pattern up a little bit and have some fun! The orange gingham top, I cut the back into two pieces instead of just one. I like the look it gives! And I just love the gray one! I used a woven fabric on the back and for the pocket. I love how that one turned out as well. I threw the pocket on there so it wasn't so plain in the front. 

Anywho, enjoy the photos! Photo props goes out to Photography Hill! And as always, fabric is from Girl Charlee!

I recently purchased the Soho Top from See Kate Sew. I love it! It's so cute and the lining makes it look really professional. Stay tuned for updates and pictures on that! <3

And in the mean time, happy sewing!!