"my little McTeeny"

We (heart) scrub pants around here & some little person I know... ALWAYS wants to be/look like his daddy? So... I decided to free-cycle some old scrub pants into some for my little McTeeny...

first- trace around a pair of pants that fits them well (in his case- he adores these little warm-up pants).

then pin & cut around your traced lines (keeping the bottom & outer side ALL the way to the original hem line to avoid having to make a new one).

next- do the very same thing with the other leg (mirror image).

next- put the good sides together & pin the upper sides & sew just to the point (NOT down the leg).

next pin the inner legs together & sew...

now for the waist band- fold over a small amount, then press & sew (to make it look finished on the inside too).

next- make 2 button holes big enough for the draw string (I am NOT great @ button holes- maybe one day I'll break down & read my machine manual???). You could also use elastic- I just like the look of the string (and A-man LOVES orange)!!

finally- sew around the waist band & add the draw string!
TA-DA!!!
(10 minutes to a pair of pants he'll LOVE)

look out Dr. McDreamy & Dr. McSteamy... my little McTeeny is killer cute!!!
the DOCTOR is in...

and he didn't want to take them off for bath-time... but who could blame him? He looks handsome like his daddy now!!!!!!!

and they apparently make your muscles look very BIG too!!!!
(I think I'll try this little pattern on one of Joey's old t-shirts & on an old crib sheet that I couldn't part with???)

"just for you..."

O-kay so Cooner was going to host a cooking class for Catherine & I... but my kiddos got the funk AGAIN & she had to post-pone. NO WORRIES though- she is headed back here next month & I'm sure she will make time for us then. For now though- she has cooked up a storm for us & we L-O-V-E-D every single minute of it (Joey especially). She is working on a cook book one day... but until then here is a sneak peak into her NEVER recorded before FAMOUS... Are ya'll ready for it??

~Jackie's Cinnamon Rolls~

In glass bowl add 1 packet of yeast to 2 cups of warm water & 1/2 cup sugar. Next add in 1/3 cup oil ("stir with your hands until sugar & yeast have dissolved"). Then add 5 cups of all purpose flour & knead dough with hands for about 10 minutes ("beat the crap out of the dough"- in Cooner's words).

Finally.... transfer the dough into a greased bowl & cover with plastic wrap & a dark kitchen towel until it doubles in size (she ALWAYS uses a dark one- something about yeast & it loving the dark???).

Next roll out the dough onto a floured surface & "rub with butter and don't be stingy". Then sprinkle sugar & cinnamon.

Roll the dough into long roll.


Then cross/cut cut it with dental floss.


Arrange rolls in greased pan, then cover again with plastic wrap & a dark towel until they double in size again..

FINALLY... bake the rolls @ 350 "until they are done- I can't give you a number Ashly. When they are done- they are done. They start to look golden" about 28 minutes.
Then "smother" them with yummy cream cheese icing!!!

~Enjoy~
(like we did!!!)

p.s. We are taking Cooner back to the airport this morning.... I detest that place (it reminds me of when Joey & I were dating & I would visit/he would come home).... However- my refrigerator, pantry, freezer, & heart are FILLED to the brim from all of her goodness!!!!!! I miss her already. Thanks Cooner for EVERYTHING... We love you PICKLE!!!!!

"he's a BIG boy now..."

Well.. much has happened around here the last few days including taking (deep breath in) the crib down for the 1st time in 7 years!!!! I though that tears would be shed, but we had to take the door off to get the new bed in... & there really was NO time to get emotional. However I may shed a few when I go to take the Easter decorations down & see her up in the attic. Priss did ask me to "save it for her".... "Of course" was my answer- "but you must promise to NEVER never sell her!" I said suddenly very seriously. I couldn't believe that came out? I think that all the junking & tag-sale-shopping that Cooner & I have done has made me a little sad.. I can't believe how people sell family pictures & priceless family heirlooms... O-kay now I am a little misty-eyed. Enough about me... here is where my BIG boy is sleeping these days....

I found this amazing iron bed @ a tag sale a few weeks ago. I fell in love, bought him, then called Joey a little scared about how we would get him home? He is 1 piece- made custom for a little guy a very long time ago. I sprayed him chocolate brown & he is perfect!!!

Cooner did love the "growth chart". We got it hung & Priss measured A-man right away! My little guy couldn't be happier- he will NOT leave his room & suddenly is alright playing by himself for extended periods of time (hence the fact that he's in most of these pics).

The coat rack was a hit too (I decided to antique it a little more with some brown paint)- we hung it just behind his door & he LOVES it!!!

But... the bed & the bedding is his MOST favorite thing... I fell in love with this quilt from "Land of Nod" (it has his curtain color in it & more fun colors to boot)!

Did I mention that he "L-O-V-E-S" it???

I filled his toy box with some "besties" & put some fun new pillows on top for additional seating. He's BIG now.. he may want to have his buddies over to play??



NOW.. my boys get to snuggle at night together & that's the best part of all....

p.s. He stayed in ALL night & called out saying "all done bed- get out?" this morning!!! Praise God- I thought I might get a little visitor in the middle of the night...

p.s.s. PLEASE say another little prayer for my Priss- we were back to the doctor today... still having ear issues........

"the deed is DONE!"

We got this little bag today...
which means.....

We went as soon as the girls got up... (around 9:30). Priss said she needed to go "right now" before she got a stomach ache... She was in the words of her father "VERY brave like Lady J"- (a G.I Joe reference) we're Corny like like that!! There was only 1 girl- which meant 2 sticks @ 2 different times- YIKES!!!! Not even a single tear was shed... thatta girl Prissy!!!!!

p.s. tonight I cleaned out my jewelry box (one of Prissy's VERY favorite things) & I gave her some of my little earrings that I had saved for this day.... I will NEVER forget today- it was one of those life-list days!

"Meri Meri"

Holy-Moly!!! I just ordered the cutest cupcake kits for some upcoming special events.... from "Meri Meri".

Perfect for her ballet class- I like to make something fancy for the girls on rehearsal night...

and well these... I think you know who I had in mind!!!!!

It's the little things that really get me giddy!!!!!!

"do I love it or hate it?"

HELP- I just finished up making some wall art for A-man's new "big boy room". I wanted to try to incorporate more COLOR- because his new quilt has TONS in it.... Have you ever made something & just plain didn't know if you loved it or hated it??? What do ya'll think?

I made this "growth chart" from a piece of scrap wood from Lowe's- (it was only 25 cents s0 you will not offend me if you HATE it..)

this little coat rack is a toss-up too!

p.s. any suggestions for a cute wall clock??? I hope to do the BIG reveal for his room sometime this week.....

"cabin fever- CURED"

Well.... my travelers did get on their way this morning (although Priss did make an appearance @ the doctor's office last night=ear infection). She was looking well & begged to go... so her daddy said "yes". I know that the IN folks will take great care of her for me! A-man & I finally got out of the house this morning- THANK GOODNESS!!!!!! We went to some tag sales & got a doughnut... or maybe more than 1 (in any case I'm not telling & neither is he). He found a car that he is totally nuts over (and for 50 cents- me too). I found some pretty leather bound books & a little chair....

Now let me first start by saying- Joey is the furniture master & not me... I merely find the "good deals" with beaucoup potential & he does his magic. But... I couldn't resist this little girl. She was originally just blond wood with some ugly ORANGE detail (I should have taken a before/after photo to show you?) I sprayed her white & left her in the sun... Then I fired up Joey's sander & the rest is history!


I thought she might be a perfect fit for my vanity.... but I wasn't sure?? (I know Cooner will give me her opinion when she gets here- YEAH)!!


But for how she's just sitting in a corner of my bedroom- A-man adores her. It's funny how children can spot the 1 new thing in a room.... I think she was worth $7.00 don't you?

p.s. knowing what I know now about this little car... and how my little guy would start missing his daddy & Priss... and how much he LOVES it!!! I would have paid much MUCH more for it....

"UPDATES!"

#1- The mommy-daughter-daughter was a HUGE success!!! Most of ya'll know me & my weird-O antics about parenting... and that Joey & I decided when Priss was born that we would institute the "NO sleepover" policy. I know upon reading this you think I'm a prude?? Well maybe, but you can NEVER be too careful & since we have NO family close.... well- that's just the way it is! So with this being said when the opportunity arose to have a mother-daughter sleepover - I said "yes". However let me say that I LOVE sleepovers & we are going to have MANY over the next years to come @ Harris House- (starting with birthday #7 this summer)! And thanks to peer-pressure & the fact that "it only hurts for like 45 seconds" per Samie Grace- Priss woke up saying "Momma I've prayed about it & I'm going to get my ears pierced!". I was completely shocked, but I'm always up for new accessories!!!

#2- The new Barbie movie "Barbie in A Mermaid Tale" is so cute- if you have a girl I highly recommend that you get it & get ready to do some MAJOR rocking out to "She's the Queen of the Waves"!!!

#3- We showed the house again yesterday (I adore the 1 hour window that they give you- JK). Joey got home late.... I missed BUNCO again.... BOO!!! PLEASE do NOT kick me out just yet sweet girls????

#4- Joey & Priss are headed to IN this weekend & bringing Cooner back with them- YEAH!!!!! I guess he has finally given in to ALL the crying I've done over missing that girl.... Anyway A-man & I have BIG plans as well including finishing up his BIG-BOY-BED. I can't wait to show ya'll what I found for his room... Please keep my precious travelers in your prayers!

Have a great weekend!!!

"wishes do come true..."

"I sure wish we had a wind instrument Momma??" "Granted!" I said as I scaled the steps to the attic & opened the lid to my hope chest. In it I found many MANY fond memories of BGS & BHS, but the prize possession was found in my elementary school recorder from Mrs. Gilespy's music class (I loved her).... Priss loves her too now after hearing ALL about her today.... What do ya'll think?

We may have to add Music teacher on to her LONG list of things that she is going to be when she is grown. Let's see where we're at so far- nurse, eye doctor, ballet teacher, art teacher, fashion designer, singer.... sure I think she has time enough for 1 more- ha ha!!!!!

"giving is EVEN better than getting"

Today we are busy BUSY..... We are taking a meal to our sweet neighbor who has cancer. She is a young mother of 3 & my heart breaks for her & her family EVERY single day. I hope she will enjoy one our favorite soups (chemo & radiation are making it hard for her to eat solid foods).

~Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup~

4 meaty red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, cored & seeded
2 c. imported Italian canned tomatoes, seeded & drained
3 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled & finely minced
3 c. chicken stock
Salt & freshly ground pepper
Basil leaves

1. Puree the peppers & all the tomatoes in a food processor blender until finely textured but not completely smooth.

2. Heat the olive oil & garlic. When the garlic releases its fragrance, (after about 2 minutes), stir in the pureed pepper & tomato mixture. Add the chicken stock, bring to a boil & simmer for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (I like to serve it up with sour cream & yummy bread).

We made these GREEN St. Pat's cupcakes for her 3 children. Priss found some purple, green, & gold beads to send along too- her children were so excited! You just never know how much a little kindness can bless someone else... (We got to see how true it is that giving is WAY better than getting!!) Today I am even MORE thankful for my health & for moments like these with my kiddos!!!!!

p.s. Priss, Lucy Danyell, & I are headed out to theirs/mine very first mother-daughter-daughter sleepover this afternoon!!! I can't begin to tell you how excited we are for it!!! Let's just say that poor Lucy has been packed & sitting by the door ALL day long...... and Prissy has been packed for a solid week (at least)!