Birthday Boy!

Man, we're getting old! I think the Captain would've preferred to pretend it wasn't his birthday--he kept forgetting. "Oh yeah, it's my birthday tomorrow." "Oh yeah, it's my birthday today." We had a small celebration with chicken broccoli casserole (aka: chicken divan). So yummy! I put a lot of curry in mine and this time, made it with homemade cream of chicken instead of the can. I wish we could eat it weekly (no good for the waistline). But it's a good thing it's his favorite because it means we get to eat it at least once a year. He opened gifts and we washed it down with a couple German chocolate (his other favorite) cupcakes from the Little Cupcake Bake Shop. So good! I love these cupcakes. They aren't sickly sweet and make my teeth hurt like most well-know cake shops.

Happy Birthday, Babe! xoxo

Last One!

 I know I've dragged this out too long (not as bad as I've dragged out posting about our wedding and honeymoon though!! Those are two events that are still on my list of things to write about. Sheesh, I procrastinate). But here are a few final pics of our Winter Beach Retreat. I'm pining for some warmth right now and looking at these photos are making me nostalgic for the sun!

The first photo you can see our sunburns in full force. Like rookies we both fell asleep without sunscreen. The very thing I said I wouldn't do. Now, a month later, I've finally stopped peeling. The beach shots give a good idea of the luxury of Serenity Beach. It was a little beach oasis!

 We had beautiful blue skies five out of six days. And even the sixth day when it rained, the sun was nice and hot between storm clouds.

I think next time we go the the DR, we'll try Punta Cana...doesn't this look appetizing??
It's on the Caribbean side, so the water is that clear blue. Paradise!

via

Bijou!!

If you are in Utah, you must go...even if just for me since I can't be there. Shop your little hearts out. You won't regret it!! (and say hello to my family, here and here, for me!)

Click here for a list of vendors.

Felt Yummies - Tutorial

Here they are! Instructions for the felt desserts I posted last week. I hope they make sense!! I think the best thing will be to look at the pictures while following the step-by-steps since I didn't take photos as I made them. 

A couple notes that apply to all of the desserts:

* I used a wool blend purchased from Sweet Emma Jean on Esty. You can use the synthetic felt from the craft store, but I prefer the wool blends. I love the way it feels in my fingers and I think it looks better, too.

** If you opt to use a sewing machine, substitute with matching thread.

***For tutorials on embroidery stitches, go here. These are the best videos I've found.  

Click on the button to download the patterns!

Click on the continue reading link for the full instructions...

Felt Yummies

When my coworker, Veronica, invited us to her little girl's 3rd birthday party, I started to think about what we should get her. It's not very often, being this far away from family and friends out west, that we are invited to such events (though now that I think of it, we've been invited to two other birthdays for tots in the next couple weeks...so fun!)

Sure, there's the always cute, fun go-to outfit from BabyGap or Old Navy, but on a student budget I just couldn't find the extra cash.

Then I remembered (though in all honesty my craft basket is never far from my mind) my felt stash left over from Christmastime. It has been dying to be created into something.

I started with the cookies, because I've made them before and they are super easy. The chocolate cake and berry pie were a little more complicated since I made them up as I went. The adults were much more impressed than the kids were, but I'm still hoping Marlowe with enjoy playing with her felt baked goods.

If anyone out there is interested, I'd be happy to post some patterns and instructions later.